bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Carbon Salicylate@Alumina Nanocomposite for Removal of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants from Wastewater
Authors: Moawed Elhossein A. , Mostafa Mohamed R. , El-Ghobashy Hala , Kiwaan Hala A.
Published: August 2022

In this paper, a novel nanocomposite (carbonic salicylate @ aluminum oxide nanocomposite, AC-COO-Sal@Al2O3) and modifier carbon biosorbents were synthesized from low-cost raw materials (commercial activated carbon). Infrared spectra demonstrated the presence of several active groups in the material matrixes of nanocomposite and biosorbents. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the surfaces were in the form of crystals embedded into the amorphous structure. There is good thermal stability up to 800 °C and also in acidic and alkaline mediums. The modifier of the activated carbon (AC), carbonic acid (AC-COOH), carbonic salicylate (MAC-COO-Sal), and the nanocomposite were applied to remove the hazard species from wastewater. The different parameters (pH, time, concentration, and temperature) were applied to explain the removal process. The removal percentages and capacities were 97–100% and 166–266 mg/g with a relative standard deviation of 0.2–0.8% (n = 5). The lower detection limit of the tested dye was 0.6–1.9 μg/L which indicates the higher sensitivity detection of methylene blue in wastewater. Also, the method was successfully applied for the removal of free chlorine and metal ions from the contaminated water samples.
Prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics and prognosis of isolated redundant foramen ovale flap
Authors: Li Yuntao , Pei Qiuyan , Yang Zhenjuan , Yan Yani , Xue Xiaowei
Published: August 2022

Objective

To analyze the prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics and prognosis of the isolated redundant foramen ovale flap (RFOF).

Methods

From January 2014 to December 2021, we collected data on fetal echocardiography analyses and perinatal outcomes for fetuses with isolated RFOF in Peking University People's Hospital.

Results

We found that 0.31% (87/28308) of participants have RFOF. The four-chamber results of the foramen ovale flap (FOF) showed that it was stiff and extended >50% or reached the lateral wall of the left atrium (LA) in diastole. As seen from the foramen ovale(FO) channel and four-chamber views, the hypermobile and redundant flap were observed shrinking and stretching with the fetal cardiac cycle, which is similar to jellyfish. The lateral displacement of flow from LA to the left ventricle (LV) around the FOF on color doppler demonstrated thin linear blood flow from the right to left and a reversal of flow across FO. A uniphasic, but not biphasic, pattern of FOF displacement was observed on M-mode. Stages I (23/87) and II (51/87) had a higher ratio of ventricular disproportion than Stage 0 (11/87) and III (2/87). We observed the RA/LA (right/left atrium) ​> ​1.2 in 53 cases (60.9%), RV/LV (right/left ventricle) ​> ​1.2 in 53 cases (60.9%), PA/AO (pulmonary/aortic artery) ​> ​1.2 in 53 cases (60.9%), and moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation in 10 cases and moderate pericardial effusion in 2 cases (2.2%). Seventy-four RFOF cases had follow-up data. Neonatal death occurred in 2 cases; 72 fetuses survived with normal or minor heart defects.

Conclusion

RFOF should be considered if the left side of the heart of a fetus is smaller and related to hypermobile FOF. For isolated RFOF cases, a monthly follow-up is recommended to monitor arrhythmia or fetal hydrop status. Prompt treatment is recommended for those with adequate gestational age and lung maturity.
Access to Remedy and the Construction of Collective Memory: New Perspectives in the Realm of the Colombian Transitional Justice Project
Authors: Velásquez-Ruiz Marco Alberto , Olarte-Bácares Carolina
Published: August 2022

This article intends to explore how the production of collective memory within transitional justice processes could be considered as a feasible avenue to advance the instrumentalization of the Access to Remedy Pillar of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This account considers that collective memory is a fundamental component of transitional justice as the attainment of both victims reparation and national reconciliation require the emergence of a shared historical narrative that fixes an explanation as to the implications of violence on the trajectory of the affected society. Hence the current Colombian transitional justice project, and particularly certain social dialogue activities conducted by its Truth Commission (hereafter the Commission), are presented as an embryonic and non-exhaustive case study that serves as the starting point of further research on the matter.
How can we design robust manufacturing metabolisms and reconsider the bioreactor?
Authors: Parker Brenda
Published: August 2022

Biological manufacturing platforms open exciting opportunities to generate new materials, replace extractive processes, and perform ecosystem services through the deployment of metabolic pathways that are both found in nature and engineered. Further possibilities are generated through inter-kingdom collaborations and consortia-based pathways for manufacturing or biodegradation. In tandem, bioreactor technologies to support biocatalysis or bioconversion through novel immobilisation techniques enable flexibility in deployment. The intersection of physical, chemical and biological parameters within a novel bioreactor design will influence performance and stability in contexts beyond the sterility of the production facility. The nature and scale of new applications may invite unconventional production systems, or even consider in situ manufacturing as a potential way of disrupting centralised manufacturing and distribution processes. We may also consider how new technologies underpinning this approach could help us move beyond linear supply chains towards an embodiment of industrial ecology principles. We invite contributions that go beyond optimisation of a single pathway for product formation under conventional homogeneous conditions. Responses to this question will explicitly challenge how we currently design bioreactors through aspects of spatial distribution, connected systems or facilitating novel metabolic assemblages for multi-functional biosynthetic outputs.
Levels of selected essential and non-essential metals in wheat (Triticum aestivum) flour in Ethiopia
Authors: Alemu Wudineh Dessie , Bulta Alemu Lelago , Doda Mesfin Bibiso , Kanido Camerun Kastro
Published: August 2022

In the present study, the levels and probable public health risks of selected metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb) in nine wheat flour samples collected from Amhara, Oromia, South region, and the Strategic Food Reserve Agency were determined using FAAS and compared with results of prior studies and critical level. The wet digestion method using 65 % HNO3 and 72 % HClO4 in 300°C for 3 h was used when preparing the sample. Validation of the optimised digestion method was assessed using the spiking method, and an acceptable percent recovery from all metals. The levels of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni and Cd ranged between 8⋅5297 and 11⋅1535, 1⋅633 and 4⋅2346, 3⋅1875 and 8⋅5313, 2⋅3589 and 2⋅7719, 0⋅154 and 0⋅854, and 0⋅0411 and 0⋅216 mg/kg, respectively, for Ethiopian wheat flour, while the level of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb were ranged between 8⋅0099 and 8⋅1089, 1⋅663 and 1⋅6691, 4⋅5625 and 4⋅6250, 2⋅3015 and 2⋅3072, 0⋅9423 and 1⋅1346, 0⋅1593 and 0⋅1606, and 0⋅13 and 0⋅1381 mg/kg, respectively, for imported wheat flour. However, Pb had a concentration of less than 0⋅043 mg/kg for Ethiopian wheat flour. Findings indicate that Ethiopian wheat is comparatively higher in Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cd, but lower in Ni and Pb than imports. From the result of the study, it can be concluded that the level of heavy metals determined in this study was within the permissible limit, and no probable health risk because both the Hazard quotient (HQ) and the Hazard Index (HI) are found to be below 1⋅0 regarding study metals.
Platymerella—a cool-water virgianid brachiopod fauna in southern Laurentia during the earliest Silurian
Authors: Jin Jisuo , Santamaria Jose , Mikulic Donald , Chowns Timothy
Published: August 2022

Platymerella from the lower Red Mountain Formation in Georgia and Tennessee, the Bowling Green Dolomite of west-central Illinois, and the Elwood Dolomite of northeastern Illinois represents a paleosubtropical, cool-water occurrence of virgianid brachiopods in Laurentia during the early Silurian (middle–late Rhuddanian). These occurrences were located in the southern Appalachian foreland basin and the distal end of the Sebree Trough, likely subjected to frequent cool-water current and upwelling from Gondwana. Compared with broadly coeval species of Virgiana from lower paleotropical to equatorial latitudes, Platymerella has significantly smaller, dorsoventrally flattened shells, with subequal ventral and dorsal umbones and beaks that extend only slightly above the hinge line. Relative to its shell size, however, Platymerella has more prominent thickening of the shell wall, median septum, spondylium, and hinge plates than Virgiana, resembling more closely the extravagant shell thickening of Tcherskidium and Proconchidium from the Late Ordovician (late Katian) equatorial regions. The thickening of hinge plates resulted in the formation of a pseudocruralium, which separates Platymerella from Virgiana. In latest Ordovician–earliest Silurian virgianids, there was a general morphological gradient toward a smaller shell, reduction in the ventral-valve convexity, and reduction in the size and height of the ventral umbo from paleoequatorial to southern subtropical regions, with Platymerella representing the most southerly forms.
‘Mediators mediating themselves’: tensions within the family mediator profession
Authors: Blakey Rachael
Published: August 2022

The demand for family mediation to adapt and change has risen sharply in the contemporary English and Welsh family justice system. This paper focuses on a crucial, yet overlooked, barrier to reform: the tensions felt within the family mediator profession. It first provides an important overview of the introduction of family mediation in the late twentieth century, highlighting the distinction between the traditional therapeutic mediator and the subsequent lawyer mediator. Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that friction exists amongst the two mediator sub-groups, similar to earlier tensions felt between lawyers and mediators. The remainder of this paper is based on an empirical study, comprising 17 interviews with family mediators, which confirms these tensions, as well as a lack of national identity across the profession. However, the data also reveal mediators’ desire for collaboration and community within the profession. The paper is hopeful that regulatory reform can help mediators to ‘mediate themselves’ going forward, and questions whether this transition is supported by a new hybrid mediator.
First molecular assessment on Cosmocerca spp. from Brazilian anurans and description of a new species of Cosmocerca (Ascaridomorpha: Cosmocercoidea) from the white-spotted humming frog Chiasmocleis albopunctata (Boettger, 1885) (Anura: Microhylidae)
Authors: Alcantara E.P. , Ebert M.B. , Müller M.I. , Úngari L.P. , Ferreira-Silva C. , Emmerich E. , Santos A.L.Q. , O'Dwyer L.H. , da Silva R.J.
Published: August 2022

Cosmocerca spp. are common nematode parasites of amphibians. We provide herein molecular data for two species of Cosmocerca and describe a new species, Cosmocerca albopunctata n. sp., using light microscopy and molecular data (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 – COI mtDNA). Cosmocerca albopunctata n. sp. can be easily distinguished from other congeneric species by the combination of characteristics such as body size, length of spicules and gubernaculum, and the arrangements and number of caudal papillae (7 + 1:1 + 1:6). The phylogenetic results based on the partial COI mtDNA sequences clustered the new species in a monophyletic clade along with the other sequences of Cosmocerca spp. Therefore, our results contribute to the knowledge about the species diversity and genetic data for Cosmocerca spp. in the Neotropical region.
Extratemporal facial nerve branching patterns: systematic review of 1497 cases
Authors: Poutoglidis A , Paraskevas G K , Lazaridis N , Georgalas C , Vlachtsis K , Markou K , Gougousis S , Fyrmpas G , Keramari S , Tsentemeidou A , Vardaxi X , Garefis K , Poutoglidou F , Tsetsos N
Published: August 2022

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the complex anatomy of the extratemporal portion of the facial nerve with an accurate description of the branching patterns based on the Davis classification.

Method

Medline, ScienceDirect and the Cochrane Library databases as well as other sources were searched by two independent reviewers.

Results

Analysis of 21 studies with a total of 1497 cases showed that type III is the most common branching pattern accounting for 26.8 per cent of cases. The type I pattern, previously considered as the normal anatomy in most textbooks, was the fourth most common branching pattern at 16.3 per cent. The majority of specimens (96.4 per cent) were found to have a bifurcated main trunk, and only 3.2 per cent were found with a trifurcated main trunk.

Conclusion

Surgeons should be aware of anatomical variations in the course of the facial nerve. An early identification of the branching pattern during surgery reduces the risk for iatrogenic facial nerve injury.
Marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in the Chagos Archipelago
Authors: Carr Peter , Trevail Alice M. , Koldewey Heather J. , Sherley Richard B. , Wilkinson Tim , Wood Hannah , Votier Stephen C.
Published: August 2022

Seabirds are declining globally and are one of the most threatened groups of birds. To halt or reverse this decline they need protection both on land and at sea, requiring site-based conservation initiatives based on seabird abundance and diversity. The Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) programme is a method of identifying the most important places for birds based on globally agreed standardised criteria and thresholds. However, while great strides have been made identifying terrestrial sites, at-sea identification is lacking. The Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean, supports four terrestrial IBAs (tIBAs) and two proposed marine IBAs (mIBAs). The mIBAs are seaward extensions to breeding colonies based on outdated information and, other types of mIBA have not been explored. Here, we review the proposed seaward extension mIBAs using up-to-date seabird status and distribution information and, use global positioning system (GPS) tracking from Red-footed Booby Sula sula – one of the most widely distributed breeding seabirds on the archipelago – to identify any pelagic mIBAs. We demonstrate that due to overlapping boundaries of seaward extension to breeding colony and pelagic areas of importance there is a single mIBA in the central Indian Ocean that lays entirely within the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area (MPA). Covering 62,379 km2 it constitutes ~10% of the MPA and if designated, would become the 11th largest mIBA in the world and 4th largest in the Indian Ocean. Our research strengthens the evidence of the benefits of large-scale MPAs for the protection of marine predators and provides a scientific foundation stone for marine biodiversity hotspot research in the central Indian Ocean.
RoLEX: The development of an extended Romanian lexical dataset and its evaluation at predicting concurrent lexical information
Authors: Lőrincz Beáta , Irimia Elena , Stan Adriana , Barbu Mititelu Verginica
Published: August 2022

In this article, we introduce an extended, freely available resource for the Romanian language, named RoLEX. The dataset was developed mainly for speech processing applications, yet its applicability extends beyond this domain. RoLEX includes over 330,000 curated entries with information regarding lemma, morphosyntactic description, syllabification, lexical stress and phonemic transcription. The process of selecting the list of word entries and semi-automatically annotating the complete lexical information associated with each of the entries is thoroughly described.

The dataset’s inherent knowledge is then evaluated in a task of concurrent prediction of syllabification, lexical stress marking and phonemic transcription. The evaluation looked into several dataset design factors, such as the minimum viable number of entries for correct prediction, the optimisation of the minimum number of required entries through expert selection and the augmentation of the input with morphosyntactic information, as well as the influence of each task in the overall accuracy. The best results were obtained when the orthographic form of the entries was augmented with the complete morphosyntactic tags. A word error rate of 3.08% and a character error rate of 1.08% were obtained this way. We show that using a carefully selected subset of entries for training can result in a similar performance to the performance obtained by a larger set of randomly selected entries (twice as many). In terms of prediction complexity, the lexical stress marking posed most problems and accounts for around 60% of the errors in the predicted sequence.
Psychological predictors of health anxiety and pain in ambulatory presentations in a hospital emergency department
Authors: Parker Hannah , Carlton Edward , Harris Sophie , Daniels Jo
Published: August 2022

Background:

Health anxiety in attendees of out-patient medical clinics is well established; however, there has been a lack of research into health anxiety within emergency settings.

Aims:

This study explored the prevalence of health anxiety in ambulatory presentations in a tertiary emergency department (ED) as well as the factors associated with pain and health anxiety in this setting.

Method:

A cross-sectional questionnaire design was used to gather data from adult ED ambulatory attendees across a 4-day sampling period to assess psychological and physical health variables. Number of attendances to ED over the previous 12 months was accessed through healthcare records.

Results:

Of the final sample (n = 106), 77% were white British, 54% were male, and 14% presented with severe health anxiety as measured by the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (≥18). Participants with pre-existing health conditions had significantly higher levels of health anxiety (M = 12.36, SE = 1.59) compared with those without (M = 7.79, SE = 0.66). Stepwise multiple regression analyses identified anxiety sensitivity and pain catastrophizing as significant independent predictors of health anxiety, explaining 51% of the variance in health anxiety. Pain catastrophizing was also a significant independent predictor of pain level, accounting for 20% of the variance.

Conclusion:

This study provides insight into the prevalence of health anxiety in ED ambulatory presentations and key psychological predictors of health anxiety and pain. This has implications for treatment in an ED setting whereby patients may benefit from referral to medical psychology or mental health services.
A New History of Refugee Protection in Post-World War Two Southeast Asia: Lessons from the Global South
Authors: YACOUB Natasha Emma
Published: August 2022

This article proposes re-thinking the history of refugee protection in the Southeast Asia region, focusing on the post-World War Two period (1945–1979). It fills a gap in the literature on this period, drawing on archival material. It disrupts a narrative of “human rights exceptionalism” in Southeast Asia. First, it examines the small but powerful role of Southeast Asian states during the drafting of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. These states challenged colonial powers and asserted human rights. Second, it considers the role of key refugee-hosting states in Southeast Asia in developing—with other post-colonial states—regional standards to protect refugees under the auspices of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, the Aliens Principles of 1961 and Bangkok Principles of 1966. Third, it places international and regional action in the domestic context by drawing on the example of Thailand's protection of Vietnamese refugees. It concludes that the approach in the post-WWII years points to an extended history of protecting refugees in Southeast Asia, and valuable lessons from the Global South for the region and beyond.
The use of vitamin D for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Matias Júlia Novaes , Lima Vinícius Marinho , Nutels Giovanna Soares , Laurindo Lucas Fornari , Barbalho Sandra Maria , de Alvares Goulart Ricardo , Araújo Adriano Cressoni , Suzuki Rodrigo Buzinaro , Guiguer Elen Landgraf
Published: August 2022

Abstract: As vitamin D (VD) plays an essential role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), this systematic review aimed to update the participation of this vitamin in the prevention or remission of these diseases. This review has included studies in MEDLINE–PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The authors have followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis) guidelines. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, twenty-two randomized clinical trials were selected. In total, 1,209 patients were included in this systematic review: 1034 received only VD and 175 received VD in combination with calcium. The average doses of VD supplementation were from oral 400 IU daily to 10,000 IU per kilogram of body weight. Single injection of 300,000 IU of VD was also used. Several studies have shown the crucial role that VD plays in the therapeutic approach of IBD due to its effects on the immune system. It effectively decreased inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ (p<0.05) and provided a reduction in disease activity assessed through different scores such as Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) (p<0.05) and Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity Index (UCDAI) (p<0.05). Unfortunately, the available clinical trials are not standardized for of doses and routes of administration. Existing meta-analyses are biased because they compare studies using different doses or treatments in combination with different drugs or supplements such as calcium. Even though VD has crucial effects on inflammatory processes, there is still a need for standardized studies to establish how the supplementation should be performed and the doses to be administered.
Melting Sea Ice May Mean the End of Driftwood in Iceland
Authors: Sima Richard
Published: August 2022

Driftwood floats thousands of kilometers from Siberia to Iceland, but it may drift no longer by 2060 due to climate change.
11 Discoveries Awaiting Us at Solar Max
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: August 2022

Each solar cycle might seem like the same old story, but one thing has changed significantly since the previous solar maximum–our technology.
Spatial Extent of Mid‐To Late‐Holocene Sedimentary Record of Tsunamis Along the Southern Kuril Trench, Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Nakanishi Ryo , Ashi Juichiro , Miyairi Yosuke , Yokoyama Yusuke
Published: August 2022

With their complex cycles and rupture modes, infrequent megathrust earthquakes require a high‐resolution spatiotemporal record of tsunami inundations over thousands of years to provide more accurate long‐term forecasts. The geological record suggests that Mw > 8 earthquakes in the Kuril Trench occurred at intervals of several hundred years. However, uncertainties remain regarding the rupture zone, owing to the limited survey areas and chronological data. Therefore, we investigated the tsunami deposits in a coastal wetland of southeastern Hokkaido, Japan, to characterize the tsunamis that originated from the Kuril Trench over the last 4,000 years. On the Erimo coast, more than seven sand layers exhibited common features of tsunami deposits, such as sheet distributions of several hundred meters, normal grading structures, and sharp basal contacts. According to numerical tsunami simulations, the 17th‐century sand layer could be reproduced using a multiple rupture zone model (Mw ∼ 8.8). We used high‐resolution radiocarbon dating and tephras to correlate the tsunami deposits from the last 4,000 years with those reported from regions ∼100 km away. The tsunami history revealed here shows good agreement with the histories of adjacent regions. However, the paleotsunamis reported to have occurred in regions >200 km away include events that differ from those in this study, suggesting a diversity of Mw > 8 earthquakes in the Kuril Trench. We clarified the history and extents of earthquake‐generated tsunamis along the southwestern end of the Kuril Trench, which were previously unknown. Our results provide a framework for magnitude estimations and long‐term forecasts of earthquakes.
Convergence Effects on the Ionosphere During and After the Annular Solar Eclipse on 21 June 2020
Authors: Wang Jin , Sun Yang‐Yi , Yu Tao , Wang Yungang , Mao Tian , Yang Heng , Xia Chunliang , Yan XiangXiang , Yang Na , Huang Guangliang , Yifan qi
Published: August 2022

In this study, we analyze the observations of the ionosondes at Wuhan (30.4°N, 114.4°E, 82.4% obscuration), Xiamen (24.2°N, 118.07°E, 97.8% obscuration), and Nanning (22.7°N, 109.25°E, 81.1% obscuration), as well as the total electron content (TEC) from the global ionosphere maps (GIMs) to examine the ionospheric behaviors in the F‐region on 21 June 2020 solar eclipse day. The observations show that a TEC enhancement occurred after the major depression near the center path of the solar eclipse, and it lasts to midnight on the solar eclipse day. Notes that the occurrence of the TEC enhancement is accompanied by the prominent TEC depletion in the southern side of the center path in the nighttime. The independent in situ electron density (Ne) observation from the Swarm‐B satellite and the calibrated TEC profile from the radio occultation technique onboard the FORMOSAT‐7/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate‐2 satellites also observed the long‐lasting enhancement in the F2 region near midnight. The solar eclipse‐induced convergence effects can result in the long‐lasting ionospheric perturbations, which may further cause the spread‐F in the nighttime.
First Results of the Wave Measurements by the WHU VLF Wave Detection System at the Chinese Great Wall Station in Antarctica
Authors: Gu Xudong , Wang Qingshan , Ni Binbin , Xu Wei , Wang Shiwei , Yi Juan , Hu Ze‐Jun , Li Bin , He Fang , Chen Xiang‐Cai , Hu Hong‐Qiao
Published: August 2022

A Very Low Frequency (VLF) wave detection system has been designed at Wuhan University (WHU) and recently deployed by the Polar Research Institute of China at the Chinese Great Wall station (GWS, 62.22°S, 58.96°W) in Antarctica. With a dynamic range of ∼110 dB and timing accuracy of ∼100 ns, this detection system can provide observational data with a resolution that can facilitate space physics and space weather studies. This paper presents the first results of the wave measurements by the WHU VLF wave detection system at GWS to verify the performance of the system. With the routine operation for 3 months, the system can acquire the dynamic changes of the wave amplitudes and phases of various ground‐based VLF transmitter signals emitted in both North America and Europe. A preliminary analysis indicates that the properties of the VLF transmitter signals observed at GWS during the X‐class solar flare events are consistent with previous studies. As the HWU‐GWS path crosses the South Atlantic Anomaly region, the observations also imply a good connection in space and time between the VLF wave disturbances and the lower ionosphere variation potentially caused by magnetospheric electron precipitation during the geomagnetic storm period. It is therefore well expected that the acquisition of VLF wave data at GWS, in combination with datasets from other instruments, can be beneficial for space weather studies related to the radiation belt dynamics, terrestrial lightning discharge, whistler wave propagation, and the lower ionosphere disturbance, etc., in the polar region.
Nightside Auroral Electrons at Mars: Upstream Drivers and Ionospheric Impact
Authors: Xu Shaosui , Mitchell David L. , McFadden James P. , Fowler Christopher M. , Hanley Kathleen , Weber Tristan , Brain David A. , DiBraccio Gina A. , Liemohn Michael W. , Lillis Robert J. , Halekas Jasper S. , Ruhunusiri Suranga , Andersson Laila , Mazelle Christian , Curry Shannon M.
Published: August 2022

Discrete aurorae have been observed at Mars by multiple spacecraft, including Mars Express, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), and most recently the United Arab Emirates Hope spacecraft. Meanwhile, there have been studies on the source particles responsible for producing these detectable aurorae (termed “auroral electrons”). By utilizing empirical criteria to select auroral electrons established by Xu et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL097757), we conduct statistical analyses of the impact of upstream drivers on the occurrence rate and fluxes of auroral electrons. We find the occurrence rate increases with upstream dynamic pressure and weakly depends on the interplanetary magnetic field strength. Meanwhile, the integrated auroral electron flux somewhat decreases with increasing upstream drivers. Auroral electron precipitation also occurs more frequently and is more intense over regions of strong crustal fields compared to weak crustal fields. Aside from emissions, auroral electrons are expected to cause significant impact ionization and enhance the plasma density locally. In this study, we also quantify the nightside ionospheric impact of auroral electron precipitation, specifically the thermal ion (O+, , and ) density enhancement, with MAVEN observations. Our results show that the ion density is increased by up to an order of magnitude at low altitudes. The crustal effects on ion density profiles for nominal electron and auroral electron precipitation are also discussed.
The Hydrologic Response to a Meteotsunami in an Isolated Wetland: Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, USA
Authors: Robertson Wendy M. , Kluver Daria B. , Allen John T. , Anderson Eric J.
Published: August 2022

Meteotsunamis are both a well‐known and poorly understood phenomenon. In particular, the influence of and disturbance by meteotsunamis on isolated coastal wetlands is largely unknown. This paper documents a case illustrating how water levels in an incipient foredune/swale complex in northern Lake Michigan responded to a meteotsunami event. We identified potential meteotsunami influence on wetland water levels through slope‐break and wavelet analysis, verified the presence of meteotsunami waves at surrounding lake water level gauge stations with wavelet analysis, analyzed both regional and small‐scale meteorological data to establish what source of atmospheric forcing resulted in meteotsunami formation, and used a hydrodynamic model to simulate lake surface response and meteotsunami generation. On 20 July 2019, an atmospheric bore wave propagating away from a convective storm formed a meteotsunami event in Lake Michigan that struck Sand Bay, Beaver Island and generated a 36 cm increase in subsurface wetland water levels over the course of a 1‐hr period. The potential for multiple sources of meteorological forcing and secondary wave refraction highlights several challenges with predicting generation of and effects from meteotsunami events. Additionally, while irregular, the effects of these events on isolated wetland systems have the potential to alter hydrologic and sediment budgets, vegetation growth, and dune stability; yet meteotsunami influence on isolated wetlands is an understudied phenomenon. The event presented in this study make a strong case for focused research on coastal wetland response to meteotsunamis (and meteotsunami‐like events) to address this understudied impact given its implications for coastal processes and resiliency.
Spatiotemporal Variability of the Southern Second Mode and Its Influence on June Precipitation in Southern China
Authors: Huang Sijing , Qin Jun , Li Shuanglin , Yuan Zhengxuan , Mbululo Yassin
Published: August 2022

Based on the Empirical Orthogonal Functions decomposition of the Sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies over the southern extratropic, the second pattern is defined as a southern second mode (SMD2), and its corresponding principal component is named the southern second mode index. The most significant feature of SMD2 is the seesaw pattern of SLP, which indicates the opposite phase of the Amundsen Low and surroundings. The spatial mode of EOF2 varies in different months but EOF2 in March is most similar to SMD2. This study shows that the March SMD2 is negatively associated with the June precipitation in southern China. The mechanisms can be briefly summarized as follows: The March SMD2 is negatively correlated with sea surface temperature (SST) in the midlatitude. Surface wind changes can affect surface heat flux and heat transport, leading to the SST changes. The SST anomaly acts as the “oceanic bridge” to preserve the March SMD2 signal and persists into late summer. The key area of SST is associated with Maritime Continent convective activity anomalies, which can excite and maintain the Pacific‐Japan pattern resulting in precipitation anomalies in south China. Through sea‐air interactions, the SMD2 can affect the precipitation in southern China across seasons. This work is expected to provide a new perspective for forecasting summer precipitation in southern China.
High Flux of Small Sulfate Aerosols During the 1970s Reconstructed From the SE‐Dome Ice Core in Greenland
Authors: Iizuka Y. , Uemura R. , Matsui H. , Oshima N. , Kawakami K. , Hattori S. , Ohno H. , Matoba S.
Published: August 2022

Aerosols significantly affect Earth's radiation budget, thus influencing global climate. In the Arctic, sulfate aerosols are thought to have reduced the warming during the twentieth century. However, trends in past sulfate aerosols are poorly known, especially the aerosol sizes and compositions. Here, we analyze a high‐resolution ice core from southeastern Greenland, comparing the seasonal deposition flux of large sulfate salt particles and small sulfur compounds, including non‐neutralized sulfuric acid, between the anthropogenic sulfate maximum (1973–1975) and after sulfur emissions control (2010–2012). Between these periods, we find that the large‐diameter (>0.4 μm) flux remains roughly unchanged, yet the small‐diameter (<0.4 μm) aerosol flux significantly decreases. The results indicate that small sulfates were efficiently activated as cloud condensation nuclei during the 1970s, and thus likely increased cloud albedo, offsetting the warming.
Local immune cell contributions to fracture healing in aged individuals – A novel role for interleukin 22
Authors: Bucher Christian H. , Berkmann Julia C. , Burkhardt Lisa-Marie , Paschke Carolin , Schlundt Claudia , Lang Annemarie , Wolter Angelique , Damerau Alexandra , Geissler Sven , Volk Hans-Dieter , Duda Georg N. , Schmidt-Bleek Katharina
Published: August 2022

With increasing age, the risk of bone fractures increases while regenerative capacity decreases. This variation in healing potential appears to be linked to adaptive immunity, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. This study sheds light on immunoaging/inflammaging, which impacts regenerative processes in aging individuals. In an aged preclinical model system, different levels of immunoaging were analyzed to identify key factors that connect immunoaged/inflammaged conditions with bone formation after long bone fracture. Immunological facets, progenitor cells, the microbiome, and confounders were monitored locally at the injury site and systemically in relation to healing outcomes in 12-month-old mice with distinct individual levels of immunoaging. Bone tissue formation during healing was delayed in the immunoaged group and could be associated with significant changes in cytokine levels. A prolonged and amplified pro-inflammatory reaction was caused by upregulated immune cell activation markers, increased chemokine receptor availability and a lack of inhibitory signaling. In immunoaged mice, interleukin-22 was identified as a core cell signaling protein that played a central role in delayed healing. Therapeutic neutralization of IL-22 reversed this specific immunoaging-related disturbed healing. Immunoaging was found to be an influencing factor of decreased regenerative capacity in aged individuals. Furthermore, a novel therapeutic strategy of neutralizing IL-22 may successfully rejuvenate healing in individuals with advanced immune experiences.
A circuit from lateral septum neurotensin neurons to tuberal nucleus controls hedonic feeding
Authors: Chen Zijun , Chen Gaowei , Zhong Jiafeng , Jiang Shaolei , Lai Shishi , Xu Hua , Deng Xiaofei , Li Fengling , Lu Shanshan , Zhou Kuikui , Li Changlin , Liu Zhongdong , Zhang Xu , Zhu Yingjie
Published: August 2022

Feeding behavior is regulated by both the homeostatic needs of the body and hedonic values of the food. Easy access to palatable energy-dense foods and the consequent obesity epidemic stress the urgent need for a better understanding of neural circuits that regulate hedonic feeding. Here, we report that neurotensin-positive neurons in the lateral septum (LSNts) play a crucial role in regulating hedonic feeding. Silencing LSNts specifically promotes feeding of palatable food, whereas activation of LSNts suppresses overall feeding. LSNts neurons project to the tuberal nucleus (TU) via GABA signaling to regulate hedonic feeding, while the neurotensin signal from LSNts→the supramammillary nucleus (SUM) is sufficient to suppress overall feeding. In vivo calcium imaging and optogenetic manipulation reveal two populations of LSNts neurons that are activated and inhibited during feeding, which contribute to food seeking and consumption, respectively. Chronic activation of LSNts or LSNts→TU is sufficient to reduce high-fat diet-induced obesity. Our findings suggest that LSNts→TU is a key pathway in regulating hedonic feeding.
LncRNA 1700020I14Rik promotes AKR1B10 expression and activates Erk pathway to induce hepatocyte damage in alcoholic hepatitis
Authors: Wu Yue , Qi Yabin , Bai Yangqiu , Zhang Haihui , Zhu Wenliang , Zhou Shengli , Zhang Yanrui
Published: August 2022

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH), a kind of alcoholic liver disease, shows poor prognosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert critical role in liver diseases. Here, we intended to investigate the possible molecular mechanism that 1700020I14Rik-based regulation of microRNA (miR)-137/Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) affecting the inflammatory response and hepatocyte damage in AH. AH-related genes and the down-stream regulatory pathway were screnned by bioinformatics. Mouse normal hepatocyte cell line AML12 was selected to construct an ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury model for in vitro mechanistic validation, while we also established an AH mouse model using the ethanol with gradually increased concentration of 2–4% (v/v) for in vivo study. Specific role of 1700020I14Rik/miR-137/AKR1B10 in AML12 cell viability, proliferation and apoptotic capacity as well as inflammation and liver damage in mice were analyzed following ectopic and depletion approaches. We found elevated AKR1B10 and 1700020I14Rik but reduced miR-137 in AH. 1700020I14Rik was able to elevated miR-137-mediated AKR1B10. In vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments validated that 1700020I14Rik reduced ethanol-induced hepatocyte damage and inflammation in AH mice through regulation of miR-137–mediated AKR1B10/Erk axis. The current study underlied that 1700020I14Rik could activate AKR1B10/Erk signaling through inhibition of miR-137, thereby promoting the hepatocyte damage in AH mice.
HOMEFOOD randomized trial—beneficial effects of 6-month nutrition therapy on body weight and physical function in older adults at risk for malnutrition after hospital discharge
Authors: Blondal B. S. , Geirsdottir O. G. , Beck A. M. , Halldorsson T. I. , Jonsson P. V. , Sveinsdottir K. , Ramel A.
Published: August 2022

Background/objectives

Malnutrition is common among older adults. Dietary intervention studies in older adults aiming to improve anthropometrics measures and physical function have been inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the effects of nutrition therapy in combination with home delivered meals and oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in community-dwelling older adults discharged from hospital.

Methods

A total of 106 participants (>65 years) were randomized into the intervention group (n = 53) and into the control group (n = 53). The intervention group received individual nutrition therapy (five in person visits and three phone calls) and freely delivered energy- and protein- rich foods, while the control group received standard care. Dietary intake, anthropometrics, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) were assessed at baseline and at endpoint.

Results

Energy intake at baseline was similar in both groups (~1500 kcal at the hospital) but there was a significant increase in energy intake and body weight in the intervention group (+919 kcal/day and 1.7 kg, P < 0.001 in both cases) during the study period, compared to a significant decrease in both measures among controls (−815 kcal/day and −3.5 kg, P < 0.001 in both cases). SPPB score increased significantly in the intervention group while no changes were observed among controls.

Conclusions

Most Icelandic older adults experience substantial weight loss after hospital discharge when receiving current standard care. However, a 6-month multi-component nutrition therapy, provided by a clinical nutritionist in combination with freely delivered supplemental energy- and protein-dense foods has beneficial effects on body weight, physical function, and nutritional status.

Study registration

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03995303).
Specificity of the Hox member Deformed is determined by transcription factor levels and binding site affinities
Authors: Pinto Pedro B. , Domsch Katrin , Gao Xuefan , Wölk Michaela , Carnesecchi Julie , Lohmann Ingrid
Published: August 2022

Hox proteins have similar binding specificities in vitro, yet they control different morphologies in vivo. This paradox has been partially solved with the identification of Hox low-affinity binding sites. However, anterior Hox proteins are more promiscuous than posterior Hox proteins, raising the question how anterior Hox proteins achieve specificity. We use the AP2x enhancer, which is activated in the maxillary head segment by the Hox TF Deformed (Dfd). This enhancer lacks canonical Dfd-Exd sites but contains several predicted low-affinity sites. Unexpectedly, these sites are strongly bound by Dfd-Exd complexes and their conversion into optimal Dfd-Exd sites results only in a modest increase in binding strength. These small variations in affinity change the sensitivity of the enhancer to different Dfd levels, resulting in perturbed AP-2 expression and maxillary morphogenesis. Thus, Hox-regulated morphogenesis seems to result from the co-evolution of Hox binding affinity and Hox dosage for precise target gene regulation.
AMPK deficiency in smooth muscles causes persistent pulmonary hypertension of the new-born and premature death
Authors: Moral-Sanz Javier , Lewis Sophronia A. , MacMillan Sandy , Meloni Marco , McClafferty Heather , Viollet Benoit , Foretz Marc , del-Pozo Jorge , Mark Evans A.
Published: August 2022

AMPK has been reported to facilitate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction but, paradoxically, its deficiency precipitates pulmonary hypertension. Here we show that AMPK-α1/α2 deficiency in smooth muscles promotes persistent pulmonary hypertension of the new-born. Accordingly, dual AMPK-α1/α2 deletion in smooth muscles causes premature death of mice after birth, associated with increased muscularisation and remodeling throughout the pulmonary arterial tree, reduced alveolar numbers and alveolar membrane thickening, but with no oedema. Spectral Doppler ultrasound indicates pulmonary hypertension and attenuated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Age-dependent right ventricular pressure elevation, dilation and reduced cardiac output was also evident. KV1.5 potassium currents of pulmonary arterial myocytes were markedly smaller under normoxia, which is known to facilitate pulmonary hypertension. Mitochondrial fragmentation and reactive oxygen species accumulation was also evident. Importantly, there was no evidence of systemic vasculopathy or hypertension in these mice. Moreover, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was attenuated by AMPK-α1 or AMPK-α2 deletion without triggering pulmonary hypertension.
Tropical volcanoes synchronize eastern Canada with Northern Hemisphere millennial temperature variability
Authors: Wang Feng , Arseneault Dominique , Boucher Étienne , Gennaretti Fabio , Yu Shulong , Zhang Tongwen
Published: August 2022

Although global and Northern Hemisphere temperature reconstructions are coherent with climate model simulations over the last millennium, reconstructed temperatures tend to diverge from simulations at smaller spatial scales. Yet, it remains unclear to what extent these regional peculiarities reflect region-specific internal climate variability or inadequate proxy coverage and quality. Here, we present a high-quality, millennial-long summer temperature reconstruction for northeastern North America, based on maximum latewood density, the most temperature-sensitive tree-ring proxy. Our reconstruction shows that a large majority (31 out of 44) of the coldest extremes can be attributed to explosive volcanic eruptions, with more persistent cooling following large tropical than extratropical events. These forced climate variations synchronize regional summer temperatures with hemispheric reconstructions and simulations at the multidecadal time scale. Our study highlights that tropical volcanism is the major driver of multidecadal temperature variations across spatial scales.
BRAT1 links Integrator and defective RNA processing with neurodegeneration
Authors: Cihlarova Zuzana , Kubovciak Jan , Sobol Margarita , Krejcikova Katerina , Sachova Jana , Kolar Michal , Stanek David , Barinka Cyril , Yoon Grace , Caldecott Keith W. , Hanzlikova Hana
Published: August 2022

Mutations in BRAT1, encoding BRCA1-associated ATM activator 1, have been associated with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders characterized by heterogeneous phenotypes with varying levels of clinical severity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of disease pathology remain poorly understood. Here, we show that BRAT1 tightly interacts with INTS9/INTS11 subunits of the Integrator complex that processes 3’ ends of various noncoding RNAs and pre-mRNAs. We find that Integrator functions are disrupted by BRAT1 deletion. In particular, defects in BRAT1 impede proper 3’ end processing of UsnRNAs and snoRNAs, replication-dependent histone pre-mRNA processing, and alter the expression of protein-coding genes. Importantly, impairments in Integrator function are also evident in patient-derived cells from BRAT1 related neurological disease. Collectively, our data suggest that defects in BRAT1 interfere with proper Integrator functions, leading to incorrect expression of RNAs and proteins, resulting in neurodegeneration.