bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigation Aid use and Human Wayfinding: How to Engage People in Active Spatial Learning
Authors: Huston Vanessa , Hamburger Kai
Published: January 2023

In our daily life navigation systems play a pivotal role. These technical aids are used to find a way in unknown environments. Nowadays, they are already integrated into cars or available as smartphone apps. However, navigation is not necessarily successful when using such navigation aids. A highly debated but widely accepted consensus is that the increased use of navigation aids is associated with decreasing navigation skills (i.e., cognitive skills) and social interaction. In the current discussion paper, we therefore want to focus on how to reduce such (possibly) detrimental effects while engaging people in active spatial learning during the use of a navigation device. As we will demonstrate, such an active engagement can be realized rather easily and in a very simple manner: an explicit instruction (and people’s will to follow it). The way the instruction and the task are presented does not seem to matter (i.e., self-read, experimenter-read, or AI-read). The most simple but decisive element for effective wayfinding may be found on the individual psychological level, rather than on the design level for artificial systems. Thus, our discussion paper wants to 1) provide ideas on how to reduce possible detrimental effects in wayfinding (short-term and long-term) and 2) stimulate research on the psychological issues in addition to the technical issues.
Exploring the role of boundary work in a social-ecological synthesis initiative
Authors: Schröter Barbara , Sattler Claudia , Metzger Jean Paul , Rhodes Jonathan R. , Fortin Marie-Josée , Hohlenwerger Camila , Carrasco L. Román , Bodin Örjan
Published: January 2023

Inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration in environmental studies faces the challenge of communicating across disciplines to reach a common understanding of scientific problems and solutions in a changing world. One way to address current pressing environmental challenges is to employ a boundary work approach that uses activities across borders of separated field of research. But how can this look like in practice? In this research brief, we self-evaluated the boundary work approach in a synthesis group on socio-ecological systems, based on an online survey with participants. Here, we discuss how boundary work can be used to integrate the knowledge from natural and social scientists both working on social-ecological systems. We found participants were selected to be acted as boundary spanners and were willing to cooperate for solving multidisciplinary issues regarding the understanding, management, and maintenance of ecosystem services. A social-ecological network analysis framework served as a boundary concept and object for communication and knowledge integration. Being familiar with a joint boundary concept like ecosystem services prior to the working group event supported the communication of participants. These results indicate that synthesis initiatives could strategically leverage boundary work through the careful selection of members, with the inclusion of boundary spanners, as well as prior joint identification of boundary concepts and objects.
Is transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma really more challenging? A propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Corallino D. , Balla A. , Palmieri L. , Sperduti I. , Ortenzi M. , Guerrieri M. , Paganini A. M.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Minimally invasive surgery is the gold standard treatment for adrenal masses, but it may be a challenging procedure in the case of pheochromocytoma (PHEO). The aim of the present study is to report the results of transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TLA) in cases of PHEO in comparison to other types of adrenal lesions.

Methods

From 1994 to 2021, 629 patients underwent adrenalectomy. Twenty-two and thirty-five patients, respectively, were excluded because they underwent bilateral and open adrenalectomy, leaving 572 patients for inclusion. Of these, 114 patients had PHEO (Group A), and 458 had other types of lesions (Group B). To adjust for potential baseline confounders, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted.

Results

After PSM, 114 matched pairs of patients were identified from each group. Statistically significant differences were not observed when comparing the median operative time (85 and 90 min in Groups A and B, respectively, p = 0.627), conversion rate [6 (5.3%) in each group, p = 1.000], transfusion rate [4 (3.5%) and 3 (2.6%) in Groups A and B, respectively, p = 1.000], complication rate [7 (6.1%) and 9 (7.9%) in Groups A and B, respectively, p = 0.796), median postoperative hospital stay (3.9 and 3.6 days in Groups A and B, respectively, p = 0.110), and mortality rate [1 (0.9%) in each group, p = 1.000].

Conclusions

Based on this analysis, the results of TLA for PHEO are equivalent to those of TLA for other types of adrenal lesions, but the fundamental requirements are multidisciplinary patient management and adequate surgeon experience. Further prospective studies are required to draw definitive conclusions.
Defect Engineering of Disordered Carbon Anodes with Ultra-High Heteroatom Doping Through a Supermolecule-Mediated Strategy for Potassium-Ion Hybrid Capacitors
Authors: Zhao Lei , Sun Shirong , Lin Jinxin , Zhong Lei , Chen Liheng , Guo Jing , Yin Jian , Alshareef Husam N. , Qiu Xueqing , Zhang Wenli
Published: January 2023

Amorphous carbons are promising anodes for high-rate potassium-ion batteries. Most low-temperature annealed amorphous carbons display unsatisfactory capacities. Heteroatom-induced defect engineering of amorphous carbons could enhance their reversible capacities. Nevertheless, most lignocellulose biomasses lack heteroatoms, making it a challenge to design highly heteroatom-doped carbons (> 10 at%). Herein, we report a new preparation strategy for amorphous carbon anodes. Nitrogen/sulfur co-doped lignin-derived porous carbons (NSLPC) with ultra-high nitrogen doping levels (21.6 at% of N and 0.8 at% of S) from renewable lignin biomacromolecule precursors were prepared through a supramolecule-mediated pyrolysis strategy. This supermolecule/lignin composite decomposes forming a covalently bonded graphitic carbon/amorphous carbon intermediate product, which induces the formation of high heteroatom doping in the obtained NSLPC. This unique pyrolysis chemistry and high heteroatom doping of NSLPC enable abundant defective active sites for the adsorption of K+ and improved kinetics. The NSLPC anode delivered a high reversible capacity of 419 mAh g‒1 and superior cycling stability (capacity retention of 96.6% at 1 A g‒1 for 1000 cycles). Potassium-ion hybrid capacitors assembled by NSLPC anode exhibited excellent cycling stability (91% capacity retention for 2000 cycles) and a high energy density of 71 Wh kg–1 at a power density of 92 W kg–1.
Investigation of radionuclide levels and estimation for real emanated radon in rock samples collected from Sinai-Egypt
Authors: Saber A. , Aly Hanan. A. S.
Published: January 2023

In this work, the distributions of radionuclides activity as well as radon concentrations in selected rock samples collected from Sinai-Egypt were investigated. Radionuclides distribution, 238U, 232Th and 40K, in rock samples, which were gathered from Um-Bogma region, was calculated by HPGe detector. Also radon concentration has been measured by using (SSNTD) CR-39. Using empirical equations, the concentration of 222Rn emitted (226Ra decaying) was computed and compared to the tracks recorded by CR-39. From our data, the average specific activity in Bq kg−1 for 238U, 235U, 234U, 226Ra 232Th and 40K were obtained. Measured radon concentrations as generated alpha tracks owing to 222Rnm (measured radon) were compared to occurring 222Rnp (predicted radon) as 226Ra alpha decay to determine measured radon loss in natural samples taken from Sinai, Egypt. The geological structure appears to be the main factor affect on detected radon concentration and results shows that radon emanation was influenced by the rock type.
Finite Element and Finite Volume Methods for Heat Transfer and Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Reddy J. N. , Anand N. K. , Roy P.
Published: January 2023

Introduces the two most common numerical methods for heat transfer and fluid dynamics equations, using clear and accessible language. This unique approach covers all necessary mathematical preliminaries at the beginning of the book for the reader to sail smoothly through the chapters. Students will work step-by-step through the most common benchmark heat transfer and fluid dynamics problems, firmly grounding themselves in how the governing equations are discretized, how boundary conditions are imposed, and how the resulting algebraic equations are solved. Providing a detailed discussion of the discretization steps and time approximations, and clearly presenting concepts of explicit and implicit formulations, this graduate textbook has everything an instructor needs to prepare students for their exams and future careers. Each illustrative example shows students how to draw comparisons between the results obtained using the two numerical methods, and at the end of each chapter they can test and extend their understanding by working through the problems provided. A solutions manual is also available for instructors.
Condition of bob veal calves on arrival at an abattoir in Ohio
Authors: England Zachary A , Maggard Hannah L , Fisher Andrew D , Roadknight Natalie W , Pempek Jessica A
Published: January 2023

Previous research has shown surplus dairy calves arrive at ‘formula-fed’ veal operations in North America in sub-optimal condition; however, little is known about the condition of ‘bob’ veal calves on arrival at abattoirs. The objectives of this study were to assess the condition of bob veal calves on arrival at an abattoir in Ohio and determine risk factors for poor health outcomes. On arrival, 35 calves in each of 12 cohorts (n = 420 calves) were assessed using a standardised health examination. A blood sample was also collected to assess failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) and hypoglycaemia. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence of poor health outcomes. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to identify if calf breed, sex, or source were risk factors for poor health outcomes. The most common physical health concern observed on arrival at the abattoir was dehydration (mean: 68.6%), followed by thin body condition (39.8%), and navel inflammation (25.7%). Approximately one-quarter (23.4%) of calves had FTPI and 73.4% were hypoglycaemic. Male calves were more likely than females to arrive hypoglycaemic. Hydration status was associated with breed; Jersey and crossbreed calves were less likely to be dehydrated than Holstein-Friesian calves. Buying station tended to be associated with FTPI. These results underline the need for more studies investigating morbidity, mortality, and their underlying risk factors to promote calf welfare prior to slaughter in each stage of the production chain: on the dairy farm of birth, during marketing, and in transit.
French Criminal Law in Light of the European Court of Human Rights Requirements: Analysis of Some Recent Disputes
Authors: Aubert Bernadette
Published: January 2023

Since the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights and, above all, since the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights, national criminal law has been constrained. The legal authorities of the Member States must respect a certain number of obligations provided for by the text and interpreted by the European jurisdiction. If this is not the case, the applicants can appeal at the Court of Strasbourg and demand compensation for the violation of their fundamental rights. This is how the European Court, through its many decisions, has enabled a certain harmonization within the Council of Europe, which is now made up of 47 States. France does not escape condemnation. Even if it has sometimes resisted the Court’s injunctions, the latter’s judgments have nonetheless obliged France to contain its incriminations and to limit the restrictions on the rights of persons placed in detention. Freedom of expression is quite a remarkable illustration of the necessary delimitation of incriminations. While the Court accepts that States retain a margin of appreciation, it exercises an attentive and rigorous eye when States reduce the exercise of this freedom. The balance is always difficult to determine, but it must be right. Concerning the rights of detainees, the Court seems more flexible regarding States and hesitates in its positions. However, even if there is a restriction of freedoms, the incarcerated individuals remain citizens. They must therefore be able to exercise a certain number of rights. This is linked to their status as subjects of law.
Epistemic Democracy: Making Pluralism Productive
Authors: Müller Julian F.
Published: January 2023

What, if anything, is the import of Hayek to epistemic democracy? Although Hayek is revered by epistemic democrats for his insights into the epistemic aspects of the market sphere, it is generally believed that his theory is moot with respect to democratic reason. This paper aims to challenge this verdict. I argue that a Hayekian analysis of inclusive public deliberation contributes at least three valuable lessons: (1) Hayek makes the case that under certain conditions even unbiased deliberators are permanently unable to converge on the best available policy option. Call this the problem of ‘persistent hidden policy champions’. (2) He demonstrates that to unlock hidden policy champions, reasonable minority factions need the opportunity to act on their own evidential standards. (3) He challenges epistemic democrats to think more carefully about how to design the “epistemic basic structure” (Kurtulmus and Irzik 2017) of society in order to account for persistent hidden policy champions.
Innovation in government succession planning: A case study
Authors: Marrelli Anne F.
Published: January 2023

Formal succession planning is rare in the federal government compared to private sector organizations because there are multiple unique challenges in government. The Federal Merit System Principles and the Prohibited Personnel Practices established in Title 5 of the U.S. Code substantially limit flexibility in employee development and promotions, both key aspects of succession planning. For example, the merit system principle, “Recruit, select, and advance on merit after fair and open competition” prohibits the common succession planning practice of senior leaders personally identifying promising employees, providing them with special opportunities for development, and then promoting them into critical positions. This approach does not allow for fair and open competition and is thus seen as providing unfair advantages to some employees.
Hydrothermal alteration and element migration in the Egongtang uranium deposit, central Nanling Range, South China
Authors: Yan Jie , Zhong Fujun , Pan Jiayong , Xia Fei , Zeng Renyu , Wu Dehai
Published: January 2023

Hydrothermal alteration records fluid–rock interactions and can therefore be used to constrain element migrations during mineralization. Although hydrothermal alteration is widely developed in hydrothermal vein-type uranium deposits in South China, consideration of elemental mass changes during alteration has not been examined. The Egongtang uranium deposit in the central Nanling Range is mainly hosted by the Qingzhangshan granite in South China, and was strongly altered by K-feldspar, quartz, chlorite, illite, haematite, pyrite and carbonates. The alteration section can be divided into five horizontal zones: fresh granite (Zone V), a distal alkaline alteration zone (Zone IV), a chlorite-rich zone (Zone III), a close-to-ore sericite/illite alteration zone (Zone II) and a central mineralization zone with strong haematitization (Zone I). Whole-rock geochemistry of the altered samples indicates that from Zone IV to Zone I, the content of SiO2 and U increases significantly. The mass gains of SiO2, MgO and Fe2O3 were proportional to the concentration of U. The content of trace elements (such as Ba, K, La, Ce, Pr, Sr, P, Eu, etc.) gradually decreases from Zone V to Zone I. The rare earth elements manifest a decrease in light rare earth elements and a slight increase in heavy rare earth elements accordingly from Zone V to Zone I. This study shows that the ore materials of the Egongtang deposit were mainly derived from the Qingzhangshan granites. In the early alkali alterations, large amounts of U were partitioned into the fluids. In the ore-forming stage, ores precipitated accompanied by acid metasomatism such as chloritization, haematitization and carbonation.
From Dictatorship Syndrome to False Truths: The Political Evolution of Alaa al-Aswany
Authors: Faruqi Daanish
Published: January 2023

The majority of Egyptians are happy to be oppressed . . . They hated the revolution from the beginning because it embarrassed them in front of themselves . . . The Egyptians live in the Republic of False Truths . . . Everything in Egypt is a lie, except for the revolution. Only the revolution is true, which is why they hate it, because it shows up their corruption and their hypocrisy. (Republic, 386)

Asmaa had hoped against hope, that the uprising would uplift the Egyptian people from their shackles. But as she bore the brunt of the counterrevolution's crackdown, enduring sexually humiliating virginity tests by the Egyptian state's “Apparatus”, she eventually decided that Egypt was beyond saving. By the end of Alaa al-Aswany's latest novel, The Republic of False Truths, his revolutionary heroine has decided to leave Egypt and seek exile in the UK. In her final letter to her comrade and putative love interest Mazen, she begs her confidante to follow suit, and leave Egypt as soon as he has been released from state custody. Yet even as the uprising failed to supplant dictatorship, it remains sacred in the hearts of its supporters. This is evidenced by Madany, father of the fallen revolutionary leader Khaled, who exacts his own justice by arranging a hit on the police officer who murdered his son. The revolution lives on, but only when the revolutionaries take justice into their own hands.
San Sebastián del Monte Mixtec
Authors: Cortés Félix , Mantenuto Iara , Steffman Jeremy
Published: January 2023

San Sebastián del Monte Mixtec (SSM) (ISO:mks), also known as Tò’on Ndà’vi, is a language of the Mixtecan family, Otomanguean stock (Rensch 1976). The Mixtecan language family consists of Mixtec, Cuicatec and Trique, though Mixtec and Cuicatec are part of the same subgroup, also called Mixtecan (Josserand 1983: 99–101). SSM is part of the Mixteca Baja region of Oaxaca (Josserand 1983: 107). San Sebastián del Monte is a town in the Santo Domingo Tonalá municipality of Oaxaca State, Mexico, in the district of Huajuapan de León, 45 km southwest of Huajuapan de León (see Figure 1), with a population of approximately 2000 people (latitude: 17.677778, longitude: −98.021944).
Development of automaticity in processing L2 collocations: The roles of L1 collocational knowledge and practice condition
Authors: Jeong Hyojin , DeKeyser Robert
Published: January 2023

This study examined the development of automaticity in processing L2 collocations, and the roles of L1 collocational knowledge and practice conditions in the development process. Korean learners of English were assigned to one of two practice conditions (practice in identical or varied contexts). The learning gains for word combinations with and without equivalent counterparts in the L1 (L1-only and L2-only collocations) were assessed using response times (RTs) and coefficients of variation (CV) from a phrasal decision task. The results demonstrated that the learners in both groups showed significantly improved collocation processing for both types of items in terms of speed (RT) and automaticity (CV) over time. The RT and CV analyses indicated that both groups’ improvements in collocation processing in the later stages of learning were associated with automatization. Interestingly, L1 collocational knowledge played a facilitative role in processing speed only in the early stages of learning. No reliable evidence for the differential effects of the two types of practice conditions on developing automaticity in collocation processing was found.
Ship routing optimisation based on forecasted weather data and considering safety criteria
Authors: Kytariolou Ageliki , Themelis Nikos
Published: January 2023

A weather routing tool is presented based on forecasted weather data along the route and considering safety aspects. The tool aims to determine the optimal path for the minimisation of the fuel oil consumption, ensuring a safe passage. It is developed in MATLAB and considers detailed ship characteristics. Specifically, ship's motions and fuel oil consumption of the main engine during a potential path are estimated. For the latter, a physics-based model for a specific vessel is developed where tools of different level of detail are utilised to calculate the various resistance components. A speed management strategy along the route is specified as well as safety criteria representing acceptable limits of ship's responses. When the set criteria and constraints have been set, a genetic algorithm is used to find the optimal route by means of ship's heading or by considering both heading and ship's power settings as variables to minimise the fuel oil consumption. The search space of the algorithm lies within a predefined envelop, but still the evolutionary optimisation approach used has no pre-assigned values to any possible candidate waypoint.
Over-expansion of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits during transcatheter pulmonary valve placement
Authors: Boucek Dana M. , Qureshi Athar M. , Aggarwal Varun , Spigel Zachary A. , Johnson Joyce , Gray Robert G. , Martin Mary Hunt
Published: January 2023

Objectives:

To determine the safety and feasibility of over-expansion of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits during transcatheter pulmonary valve placement.

Background:

Transcatheter pulmonary valve placement is an alternative to surgical pulmonary valve replacement. Traditionally, it was thought to be unsafe to expand a conduit to >110% of its original size.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study from two centers includes patients with right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits with attempted transcatheter pulmonary valve placement from 2010 to 2017. Demographic, procedural, echocardiographic and follow-up data, and complications were evaluated in control and overdilation (to >110% original conduit size) groups.

Results:

One hundred and seventy-two patients (51 overdilation and 121 control) had attempted transcatheter pulmonary valve placement (98% successful). The overdilation group was younger (11.2 versus 16.7 years, p < 0.001) with smaller conduits (15 versus 22 mm, p < 0.001); however, the final valve size was not significantly different (19.7 versus 20.2 mm, p = 0.2). Baseline peak echocardiographic gradient was no different (51.8 versus 55.6 mmHg, p = 0.3). Procedural complications were more frequent in overdilation (18%) than control (7%) groups (most successfully addressed during the procedure). One patient from each group required urgent surgical intervention, with no procedural mortality. Follow-up echocardiographic peak gradients were similar (24.1 versus 26 mmHg, p = 0.5).

Conclusions:

Over-expansion of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits during transcatheter pulmonary valve placement can be performed successfully. Procedural complications are more frequent with conduit overdilation, but there was no difference in the rate of life-threatening complications. There was no difference in valve function at most recent follow-up, and no difference in rate of reintervention. The long-term outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve placement with conduit over-expansion requires further study.
Effect of different dose regimens of everolimus in a series of neonates with giant cardiac rhabdomyomas
Authors: Babaoğlu Kadir , Başar Eviç Zeynep , Usta Emre , Yılmaz Emine Hekim , Günlemez Ayla
Published: January 2023

Everolimus is a mTOR inhibitor that has been increasingly used in high-risk cardiac rhabdomyomas in recent years. There are questions regarding the optimal dose and duration of therapy with everolimus for cardiac rhabdomyomas. The purpose of this study was to examine retrospectively the dosage-efficacy relationship in seven babies diagnosed with rhabdomyoma treated with different everolimus dose regimens retrospectively. Cardiac rhabdomyoma diagnosis was made in six of seven babies during the prenatal period. Indication of everolimus was an obstruction in six patients and supraventricular tachycardia which is resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs in the remaining one patient. The median age was 8 days (range; 2–105 days) at the time of starting everolimus. It was administered at a dose of 0.25 mg twice a day for two days a week in four patients; 0.1 mg/day in two and 0.4 mg/day in one patient. Serum everolimus level was kept between 5 and 15 ng/ml. All seven cases showed significant regression of cardiac rhabdomyoma within four weeks, and supraventricular tachycardia was controlled in two weeks after everolimus administration.

This study demonstrates that everolimus was effective in accelerating regression of the cardiac rhabdomyoma. Dose with 2 × 0,25 mg/day, 2 days a week, seems appropriate. However, lower doses such as 0.1 mg/day are also effective. But dose adjustment should be made according to serum level monitoring.
Detangling experiential, cognitive, and sociopsychological individual differences in second language speech learning: Cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations
Authors: Suzukida Yui , Saito Kazuya
Published: January 2023

In this two-part study, we conducted both cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations on the relative weights of experiential, cognitive, and sociopsychological factors in adult L2 speech learning. In the cross-sectional phase (Study 1), speech was elicited from 73 Japanese speakers of English via a picture description task, and rated for accentedness and comprehensibility. These scores were linked to scores on a range of tests designed to measure aptitude, motivation, and anxiety. The results showed that comprehensibility was exclusively linked to experiential variables (e.g., the amount of L2 use outside classrooms), while accentedness was linked to phonemic coding ability and anxiety. In the longitudinal phase (Study 2), we tracked the same participants' L2 comprehensibility and accentedness development when they received four weeks of explicit pronunciation instruction. According to the results of pre- and post-tests, participants significantly improved the comprehensibility and accentedness of their speech regardless of cognitive and sociopsychological differences.
Kunstbasierte Lernaktivitäten didaktisch begründet gestalten
Authors: Eberhardt Doris
Published: January 2023

Zusammenfassung. Es wird ein Planungsmodell vorgestellt, das für die Lehre entwickelt wurde, um Studierenden ein Instrument an die Hand zu geben, mit dem die Gestaltung kunstbasierter Lernarrangements systematisch durchdacht und geplant werden kann. Ein Praxisbeispiel verknüpft das Modell mit einer Anwendungssituation.
Patientenedukation in der humanitären Hilfe
Authors: Lutz Andreas Friedrich
Published: January 2023

Zusammenfassung. Patientenedukation in der Pflege spielt auch in der humanitären Hilfe eine wichtige Rolle. Vertrauensvolle zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen sind Grundvoraussetzungen, damit Patienten- und Angehörigenedukation gelingen können – ein Erfahrungsbericht über ein Krankenhausprojekt mit Ärzte ohne Grenzen e.V. (MSF) im Südsudan (2019–2020).
Quantification of Global Cloud Properties With Use of Spherical Harmonic Functions
Authors: Ding Jiachen , Yang Ping , Wang Lifan , Oran Elaine , Loeb Norman G. , Smith William L. , Minnis Patrick
Published: January 2023

Spherical harmonic (SH) expansion is a useful tool to study any variable that has valid values at all latitudes and longitudes. The variable can be quantified as a sum of different spherical harmonic components, which are the spherical harmonic functions multiplied by their expansion coefficients. We find that the SH components of cloud radiative effect (CRE) have correlations with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Hadley Circulation (HC). In particular, the expansion degree 2 () SH power spectrum component anomaly of CRE is strongly correlated with ENSO. The two dipole patterns appearing in the SH component anomaly map can be reasonably explained by a known mechanism of ENSO's impact on cloud properties. The and SH power spectrum components are correlated with HC intensity, whereas the and components are correlated with HC latitudinal widths. In ENSO warm and cold phases, the HC‐correlated SH components have opposite anomalies, which suggests the impact of ENSO on HC. This study illustrates that the SH expansion technique provides a different perspective to study the impacts of large‐scale atmospheric circulation on global cloud properties and radiative effects.
Land‐Atmosphere Coupling Constrains Increases to Potential Evaporation in a Warming Climate: Implications at Local and Global Scales
Authors: Kim Yeonuk , Garcia Monica , Johnson Mark S.
Published: January 2023

The magnitude and extent of runoff reduction, drought intensification, and dryland expansion under climate change are unclear and contentious. A primary reason is disagreement between global circulation models and current potential evaporation (PE) models for the upper limit of evaporation under warming climatic conditions. An emerging body of research suggests that current PE models including Penman‐Monteith and Priestley‐Taylor may overestimate future evaporation for non‐water‐stressed conditions. However, they are still widely used for climatic impact analysis although the underlying physical mechanisms for PE projections remain unclear. Here, we show that current PE models diverge from observed non‐water‐stressed evaporation across site (>1,500 flux tower site years), watershed (>10,000 watershed‐years), and global (25 climate models) scales. By not incorporating land‐atmosphere coupling processes, current models overestimate non‐water‐stressed evaporation and its driving factors for warmer and drier conditions. To resolve this, we introduce a land‐atmosphere coupled PE model by extending the Surface Flux Equilibrium theory. The proposed PE model accurately reproduces non‐water‐stressed evaporation across spatiotemporal scales. We find that terrestrial PE will increase at a similar rate to ocean evaporation but much slower than rates suggested by current PE models. This finding suggests that land‐atmosphere coupling moderates continental drying trends. Budyko‐based runoff projections incorporating our PE model are well aligned with those from coupled climate simulations, implying that land‐atmosphere coupling is key to improving predictions of climatic impacts on water resources. Our approach provides a simple and robust way to incorporate coupled land‐atmosphere processes into water management tools.
Variability of the Shelf Circulation Around South Georgia, Southern Ocean
Authors: Combes V. , Matano R. P. , Meredith M. P. , Young E. F.
Published: January 2023

A high‐resolution ocean model is used to characterize the variability of the shelf circulation and cross‐shelf transport around the South Georgia island (SG). The time‐mean shelf circulation consists of a counterclockwise flow with a net onshelf mass flow in the south and a net offshelf mass flow in the north. In the south, the cross‐shelf exchanges show a two‐layer structure with an offshelf flow below 350 m and onshelf flow above. In the north, the cross‐shelf exchanges show a three‐layer structure with the onshelf flow found only between 350 and 50 m. Correlation analysis shows that winds and the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front (SACCF) current modulate the variability of the shelf circulation and cross‐shelf transport. Local wind stress is significantly correlated with the coastal currents, mid‐shelf jet, and cross‐shelf transports in the upper layer, while the SACCF modulates the shelf and cross‐shelf transports in the southwestern shelf. Likewise, an Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis indicates that the first mode of shelf circulation variability is highly correlated with the SACCF, while the second mode is explained by the local wind stress and significantly correlated with the Antarctic Oscillation. The El Niño Southern Oscillation does not significantly contribute to the shelf circulation but is significantly correlated with the surface temperature variability. The atmospheric teleconnection drives changes in local heat flux, such that warm El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific are associated with a cooling of the SG waters. This superposes local signals onto temperature anomalies advected from upstream in the ACC found in previous studies.
Firn Core Evidence of Two‐Way Feedback Mechanisms Between Meltwater Infiltration and Firn Microstructure From the Western Percolation Zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Authors: McDowell Ian E. , Keegan Kaitlin M. , Wever Nander , Osterberg Erich C. , Hawley Robert L. , Marshall Hans‐Peter
Published: January 2023

The relationship between firn microstructure and water movement is complex: firn microstructure controls the routing of meltwater through the firn while continuously being altered by liquid water flow processes. Importantly, microstructural transitions within the firn column can stall vertical meltwater percolation, which creates heterogeneities in liquid water content resulting in different rates of firn metamorphism. Physics‐based firn models aim to describe these processes to accurately predict ice layer or firn aquifer formation, but require detailed observations of firn structure to validate and inform percolation schemes. Here, we present grain size measurements and ice layer stratigraphy from seven firn cores collected in western Greenland's percolation zone during the 2016 Greenland Traverse for Accumulation and Climate Studies (GreenTrACS). Grain size transitions within the cores are negatively correlated with all temperature proxies for meltwater supply. Additionally, the number of grain size transitions are strongly anticorrelated with the number of ice layers within each core, despite these transitions, particularly fine‐over‐coarse transitions, promoting meltwater ponding and potential ice layer formation. To investigate if these negative correlations can be understood with firn model physics, we simulate water movement along stratigraphic transitions using the SNOWPACK model. We find that grain size transitions diminish from rapid grain growth in wet firn where ice layers can form, suggesting these microstructural transitions are unlikely to survive repeated meltwater infiltration. Incorporating these microstructure—meltwater feedbacks in firn models could improve their ability to model processes such as ice slab formation or firn aquifer recharge that require accurate predictions of meltwater infiltration depth.
Microbiota–gut–brain axis mechanisms in the complex network of bipolar disorders: potential clinical implications and translational opportunities
Authors: Ortega Miguel A. , Álvarez-Mon Miguel Angel , García-Montero Cielo , Fraile-Martínez Óscar , Monserrat Jorge , Martinez-Rozas Lucia , Rodríguez-Jiménez Roberto , Álvarez-Mon Melchor , Lahera Guillermo
Published: January 2023

Bipolar disorders (BD) represent a severe leading disabling mental condition worldwide characterized by episodic and often progressive mood fluctuations with manic and depressive stages. The biological mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of BD remain incompletely understood, but it seems that there is a complex picture of genetic and environmental factors implicated. Nowadays, gut microbiota is in the spotlight of new research related to this kind of psychiatric disorder, as it can be consistently related to several pathophysiological events observed in BD. In the context of the so-called microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis, it is shown to have a strong influence on host neuromodulation and endocrine functions (i.e., controlling the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin or mediating the activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis), as well as in modulation of host immune responses, critically regulating intestinal, systemic and brain inflammation (neuroinflammation). The present review aims to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms derived from the MGB axis disruption and possible therapeutic approaches mainly focusing on gut microbiota in the complex network of BD. Understanding the mechanisms of gut microbiota and its bidirectional communication with the immune and other systems can shed light on the discovery of new therapies for improving the clinical management of these patients. Besides, the effect of psychiatric drugs on gut microbiota currently used in BD patients, together with new therapeutical approaches targeting this ecosystem (dietary patterns, probiotics, prebiotics, and other novelties) will also be contemplated.
Widening Access: what do dental school websites signal to prospective students?
Authors: Kawecki Michal M. , Newton Philip M.
Published: January 2023

Introduction Widening Access (WA) policies aim to ensure that a professional workforce reflects the community that it serves by facilitating the admission of applicants from under-represented demographics. WA has not been extensively studied in UK dental education. Website discourses are an important element in students' higher education choices and have the potential to engage those who might be under-represented.

Methods Critical discourse analysis was used to investigate contents of the 16 UK dental school webpages in relation to WA, based on a previous study within medical education. Data were contextualised through identification of drivers and levers, as well as warrants of WA.

Results Discourses emphasising social mobility, and the resultant advancement within social hierarchy of an individual, dominated the narrative rationalising WA as an initiative. WA was depicted as a mechanism to support applicants of high academic ability and exhibiting commitment to studying dentistry but who were unable to show their true potential due to their underprivileged backgrounds. This presentation portrayed dental schools as generous establishments, selectively granting career-advancement opportunities to disadvantaged students. Discourses on the benefits of WA for patient care and workforce diversification were largely absent.

Conclusions Discourses representing WA on websites of UK dental schools are limited and do not portray applicants from deprived backgrounds or under-represented groups as individuals bringing unique positive benefits to dentistry and patient care. We encourage dental schools to consider alternate messages for attracting applicants from under-represented demographics.
Manipulation of sterol homeostasis for the production of 24-epi-ergosterol in industrial yeast
Authors: Jiang Yiqi , Sun Zhijiao , Lu Kexin , Wu Zeyu , Xue Hailong , Zhu Li , Li Guosi , Feng Yun , Wu Mianbin , Lin Jianping , Lian Jiazhang , Yang Lirong
Published: January 2023

Brassinolide (BL) is the most biologically active compound among natural brassinosteroids. However, the agricultural applications are limited by the extremely low natural abundance and the scarcity of synthetic precursors. Here, we employ synthetic biology to construct a yeast cell factory for scalable production of 24-epi-ergosterol, an un-natural sterol, proposed as a precursor for BL semi-synthesis. First, we construct an artificial pathway by introducing a Δ24(28) sterol reductase from plants (DWF1), followed by enzyme directed evolution, to enable de novo biosynthesis of 24-epi-ergosterol in yeast. Subsequently, we manipulate the sterol homeostasis (overexpression of ARE2, YEH1, and YEH2 with intact ARE1), maintaining a balance between sterol acylation and sterol ester hydrolysis, for the production of 24-epi-ergosterol, whose titer reaches to 2.76 g L−1 using fed-batch fermentation. The sterol homeostasis engineering strategy can be applicable for bulk production of other economically important phytosterols.
Estimation and implications of the genetic architecture of fasting and non-fasting blood glucose
Authors: Qiao Zhen , Sidorenko Julia , Revez Joana A. , Xue Angli , Lu Xueling , Pärna Katri , Snieder Harold ,   Lifelines Cohort Study, Visscher Peter M. , Wray Naomi R. , Yengo Loic
Published: January 2023

The genetic regulation of post-prandial glucose levels is poorly understood. Here, we characterise the genetic architecture of blood glucose variably measured within 0 and 24 h of fasting in 368,000 European ancestry participants of the UK Biobank. We found a near-linear increase in the heritability of non-fasting glucose levels over time, which plateaus to its fasting state value after 5 h post meal (h2 = 11%; standard error: 1%). The genetic correlation between different fasting times is > 0.77, suggesting that the genetic control of glucose is largely constant across fasting durations. Accounting for heritability differences between fasting times leads to a ~16% improvement in the discovery of genetic variants associated with glucose. Newly detected variants improve the prediction of fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes in independent samples. Finally, we meta-analysed summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of random and fasting glucose (N = 518,615) and identified 156 independent SNPs explaining 3% of fasting glucose variance. Altogether, our study demonstrates the utility of random glucose measures to improve the discovery of genetic variants associated with glucose homeostasis, even in fasting conditions.
Gold nanoparticle-enhanced X-ray microtomography of the rodent reveals region-specific cerebrospinal fluid circulation in the brain
Authors: Pan Shelei , Yang Peter H. , DeFreitas Dakota , Ramagiri Sruthi , Bayguinov Peter O. , Hacker Carl D. , Snyder Abraham Z. , Wilborn Jackson , Huang Hengbo , Koller Gretchen M. , Raval Dhvanii K. , Halupnik Grace L. , Sviben Sanja , Achilefu Samuel , Tang Rui , Haller Gabriel , Quirk James D. , Fitzpatrick James A. J. , Esakky Prabagaran , Strahle Jennifer M.
Published: January 2023

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is essential for the development and function of the central nervous system (CNS). However, the brain and its interstitium have largely been thought of as a single entity through which CSF circulates, and it is not known whether specific cell populations within the CNS preferentially interact with the CSF. Here, we develop a technique for CSF tracking, gold nanoparticle-enhanced X-ray microtomography, to achieve micrometer-scale resolution visualization of CSF circulation patterns during development. Using this method and subsequent histological analysis in rodents, we identify previously uncharacterized CSF pathways from the subarachnoid space (particularly the basal cisterns) that mediate CSF-parenchymal interactions involving 24 functional-anatomic cell groupings in the brain and spinal cord. CSF distribution to these areas is largely restricted to early development and is altered in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Our study also presents particle size-dependent CSF circulation patterns through the CNS including interaction between neurons and small CSF tracers, but not large CSF tracers. These findings have implications for understanding the biological basis of normal brain development and the pathogenesis of a broad range of disease states, including hydrocephalus.
Inversions maintain differences between migratory phenotypes of a songbird
Authors: Lundberg Max , Mackintosh Alexander , Petri Anna , Bensch Staffan
Published: January 2023

Structural rearrangements have been shown to be important in local adaptation and speciation, but have been difficult to reliably identify and characterize in non-model species. Here we combine long reads, linked reads and optical mapping to characterize three divergent chromosome regions in the willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, of which two are associated with differences in migration and one with an environmental gradient. We show that there are inversions (0.4–13 Mb) in each of the regions and that the divergence times between inverted and non-inverted haplotypes are similar across the regions (~1.2 Myrs), which is compatible with a scenario where inversions arose in either of two allopatric populations that subsequently hybridized. The improved genomes allow us to detect additional functional differences in the divergent regions, providing candidate genes for migration and adaptations to environmental gradients.
Anxiety and functional impairment affects undergraduate psychology students’ learning in remote emergency teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: de Sá Vitor Rabelo , Gulá Paula Victoria Sozza Silva , Prizon Tamiris , Falcoski Raquel Messi , Ruggiero Rafael Naime , Padovan-Neto Fernando E.
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to explore the impact of anxiety and functional impairment measures on a sample of undergraduate psychology students. Learning performance was evaluated during the emergency remote teaching during the first wave and in the post-vaccination period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Data modeling revealed that psychometric indicators of severe anxiety and severe functional impairment predicted students with lower learning performance in pairs of pre- and post-test multiple-choice questions. This is the first study to highlight the association between measures of generalized anxiety and functional impairment having a deleterious impact on students’ learning performance. This manuscript highlights that educational policies should be designed to deal with students’ mental health under stressful situations.
ACSS2-mediated NF-κB activation promotes alkaliptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Que Dongwen , Kuang Feimei , Kang Rui , Tang Daolin , Liu Jiao
Published: January 2023

Alkaliptosis is a recently discovered type of pH-dependent cell death used for tumor therapy. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks are largely unknown. Here, we report that the acetate-activating enzyme acetyl-CoA short-chain synthase family member 2 (ACSS2) is a positive regulator of alkaliptosis in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Using qPCR and western blot analysis, we found that the mRNA and protein expression of ACSS2 was upregulated in human PDAC cell lines (PANC1 and MiaPaCa2) in response to the classic alkaliptosis activator JTC801. Consequently, the knockdown of ACSS2 by shRNAs inhibited JTC801-induced cell death in PDAC cells, and was accompanied by an increase in cell clone formation and a decrease in intracellular pH. Mechanically, ACSS2-mediated acetyl-coenzyme A production and subsequent histone acetylation contributed to NF-κB–dependent CA9 downregulation, and this effect was enhanced by the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. These findings may provide new insights for understanding the metabolic basis of alkaliptosis and establish a potential strategy for PDAC treatment.