bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Diachronic Triangular Perspective on Landscapes: a Conceptual Tool for Research and Management Applied to Wadden Sea Salt Marshes
Authors: Schepers Mans , Meijles Erik W. , Bakker Jan P. , Spek Theo
Published: February 2021

Strong disciplinary academic fragmentation and sectoral division in policies lead to problems regarding the management of landscapes. As a result, there is a focus on the preservation and development of either cultural or natural landscapes. We argue that framing landscapes as “natural” or “cultural” will not help sustainable management. The goal of this paper is to show that even what is referred to as nature, virtually always features an intricate combination of physical geography, biology, and cultural history. It provides an analytical framework that visualizes the three forces at play in physical landscapes. Therefore, we introduce a diachronic triangular approach to study and manage landscapes from a holistic point of view, allowing an exchange of different perspectives. To test this approach, we have applied our model to a diachronic case study on Wadden Sea salt marshes. That area has been influenced by physical-geographical, biological, and cultural landscape forces, which are still visible in the landscape to a large extent. By placing different landscape zones in the triangular concept for different time periods, we can identify and visualize these driving forces through time for this specific landscape. These all play their specific roles in the appearance of the landscape over time in a close mutual interconnection. More importantly, we show that the diverse and complex interplay between these forces makes the current-day landscape what it is. We therefore conclude that the diachronic triangular approach provides a conceptual tool to define and operationalize landscape management in the Wadden Sea area. We welcome similar approaches in other landscapes to assess the usefulness of the diachronic triangular landscape approach.
Influence of DE-cluster refinement on numerical analysis of rockfall experiments
Authors: Sautter Klaus Bernd , Hofmann Helene , Wendeler Corinna , Wüchner Roland , Bletzinger Kai-Uwe
Published: February 2021

A numerical analysis is validated against a Swiss Federal Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI)—frame impact experiment conducted by the Swiss Company Geobrugg. The discrete element method is used to simulate the impacting object, while the highly nonlinear structural response is analysed with the finite element method. Both methods are coupled within an open-source multi-physics research code to exchange data and simulate the interaction. The successful practical application of the coupling algorithm is demonstrated with this work, as the numerical results show good agreement with the experimental results. Within this paper the main focus is the appropriate modelling of the impacting objects, which heavily influences the simulation results, while a simplified structural model allows a correct assessment of the global deformation behaviour and reaction forces.
Eculizumab use in a tertiary care nephrology center: data from the Vienna TMA cohort
Authors: Aigner Christof , Gaggl Martina , Stemer Gunar , Eder Michael , Böhmig Georg , Kain Renate , Prohászka Zoltán , Garam Nóra , Csuka Dorottya , Sunder-Plassmann Raute , Piggott Leah Charlotte , Haninger-Vacariu Natalja , Schmidt Alice , Sunder-Plassmann Gere
Published: February 2021

Background

Practice patterns of eculizumab use are not well described. We examined indications for, and outcomes of, eculizumab therapy in a tertiary care nephrology center.

Methods

We used the “Vienna TMA cohort” and the hospital pharmacy database at the Medical University of Vienna to identify patients that received eculizumab treatment between 2012 and 2019. We describe clinical characteristics, details of eculizumab use, and outcomes of patients with complement gene-variant mediated TMA (cTMA), secondary TMA (sTMA) and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G).

Results

As of December 2019, 23 patients received complement blockade at the Division of Nephrology and Dialysis: 15 patients were diagnosed with cTMA, 6 patients with sTMA and 2 patients with C3G. Causes of sTMA were bone marrow transplantation (n = 2), malignant hypertension, malignant tumor, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome and lung transplantation (each n = 1). Across all indications, patients had a median age of 31 and were predominantly female (78%) and the median duration of treatment was 227 days. Hematological recovery was seen in most patients, while renal response was best in patients with cTMA. Adverse events were recorded in 26%.

Conclusions

In summary, eculizumab is the treatment of choice for cTMA patients that do not respond to plasma therapy. In patients with sTMA and C3G, the response rates to therapy are much lower and therefore, the decision to start therapy needs to be considered carefully.

Graphic abstract
Hybrid structures applied to ideals in near-rings
Authors: Elavarasan B. , Muhiuddin G. , Porselvi K. , Jun Y. B.
Published: February 2021

Human endeavours span a wide spectrum of activities which includes solving fascinating problems in the realms of engineering, arts, sciences, medical sciences, social sciences, economics and environment. To solve these problems, classical mathematics methods are insufficient. The real-world problems involve many uncertainties making them difficult to solve by classical means. The researchers world over have established new mathematical theories such as fuzzy set theory and rough set theory in order to model the uncertainties that appear in various fields mentioned above. In the recent days, soft set theory has been developed which offers a novel way of solving real world issues as the issue of setting the membership function does not arise. This comes handy in solving numerous problems and many advancements are being made now-a-days. Jun introduced hybrid structure utilizing the ideas of a fuzzy set and a soft set. It is to be noted that hybrid structures are a speculation of soft set and fuzzy set. In the present work, the notion of hybrid ideals of a near-ring is introduced. Significant work has been carried out to investigate a portion of their significant properties. These notions are characterized and their relations are established furthermore. For a hybrid left (resp., right) ideal, different left (resp., right) ideal structures of near-rings are constructed. Efforts have been undertaken to display the relations between the hybrid product and hybrid intersection. Finally, results based on homomorphic hybrid preimage of a hybrid left (resp., right) ideals are proved.
Correction to: Functionally Oriented Alignment of the Lower Extremity Reflecting the Direction of Gait for Healthy Elderly, Knee Osteoarthritis, and Total Knee Arthroplasty Subjects
Authors: Sato Takashi , Mochizuki Tomoharu , Katsumi Ryota , Takahashi Yuki
Published: February 2021

The article “Functionally Oriented Alignment of the Lower Extremity Reflecting the Direction of Gait for Healthy Elderly, Knee Osteoarthritis, and Total Knee Arthroplasty Subjects”, written by Takashi Sato · Tomoharu Mochizuki. Ryota Katsumi and Yuki Takahashi, was originally published Online First without Open Access. After publication in volume 40, issue 6, page 887–898 the author decided to opt for Open Choice and to make the article an Open Access publication. Therefore, the copyright of the article has been changed to © The Author(s) 2021 and the article is forthwith distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The original article has been corrected.
Human–AI collaborative decision-making as an organization design problem
Authors: Puranam Phanish
Published: February 2021

The promise of collaboration between humans and algorithms in producing good decisions is stimulating much experimentation. Drawing on research in organization design can help us to approach this experimentation systematically. I propose typologies for considering different forms of division of labor between human and algorithm as well as the learning configurations they are arranged in, as basic building blocks for this endeavor.
The ethics of regenerative medicine
Authors: Hermerén Göran
Published: February 2021

Most developments in regenerative medicine have in common that there are many uncertainties and knowledge gaps. These features make the evaluation of long-term consequences of the available options difficult and have consequences for the ethical issues raised. This paper presents an overview of ethical issues raised in regenerative medicine, using as a starting point a list of stakeholders and their interests. Ethical issues are introduced via a simplified account of a project that focuses on several difficult problems, as well as a conceptual framework consisting of the following key concepts: present situation, goals, difficulties on the road toward the goals, and strategies for dealing with the difficulties. The list of ethical issues discussed includes safety and efficacy, patient consent, information, professional responsibilities, as well as equity and fairness. The issues and the underlying values need to be clarified, specified, debated, and ranked in order of importance. A particular problem is that values sometimes clash: Certain values can be achieved only at the expense of others. If and when values clash, principles are available that can guide the decision making. The paper comments on two such principles with implications for the particular issue of patient access to experimental treatments: the precautionary principle and the principle of proportionality. The paper ends with some conclusions for the future.
On the Linear Integration of Attraction Choice Models in Business Optimization Problems
Authors: Bechler Georg , Steinhardt Claudius , Mackert Jochen
Published: February 2021

Decision problems from various fields (e.g., assortment optimization, product line selection, location planning) require to endogenously incorporate probabilistic choice behavior in dependence of the availability of given choice alternatives. A widely spread demand model in marketing and econometrics to represent such choices is the attraction choice model. Of this model, the well-known multinomial logit model and—in case of multiple latent customer segments—the finite-mixture logit model are special cases. However, integrating such models in optimization problems results in non-linear formulations. Thus, in recent years, several exact linearization approaches have been proposed. These approaches are based on different ideas, and they have appeared independently from each other in different fields of research. Thus, the question arises how these approaches differ and how they relate to each other. In this short communication, we settle this question by arguing that many of the proposed approaches—even though they might seem different at first glance—can be traced back to one of two underlying linearization ideas. Establishing a generic problem, we discuss the two ideas in a unified way by presenting two corresponding general model formulations that are shown to be equivalent. Based upon this, we are able to classify the major publications which integrate some type of attraction choice model in detail. In particular, for each formulation of the analyzed literature, we explain to which extent it is a special case of (one of) the presented generic formulations. This also makes clear under which context-specific conditions certain elements of the generic linearization can be omitted, potentially serving as helpful guideline for future applications of such linearizations.
Challenges in design process of gear micropump from plastics
Authors: Rodionov L. , Stryczek J. , Rekadze P. , Stryczek P. , Gafurov S. , Prokofiev A. , Shakhmatov E.
Published: February 2021

Plastics are more and more frequently applied in the construction of hydraulic components and systems, and recently, in the building of microhydraulic assemblies. The basic unit of the microhydraulic systems is a micropump. It is an object which is quite difficult to design and manufacture, especially when using plastics. The paper is a presentation of challenges that must be met in the process of designing gear pumps, and, at the same time, of the theoretical grounds for the designing of those objects. The challenges include the geometry and the gears, the construction of the pump body, the hydraulics of the pump, and the material—the plastic of which the pump is made. The knowledge on those issues was applied to make and to successfully test a prototype of a micropump.
Low sun exposure habits is associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of hypertension: a report from the large MISS cohort
Authors: Lindqvist Pelle G. , Landin-Olsson M. , Olsson H.
Published: February 2021

In prospective observational cohort studies, increasing sun exposure habits have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality. Our aim was to assess possible observational mechanisms for this phenomenon. A written questionnaire was answered by 23,593 women in the year 2000 regarding risk factors for melanoma, including factors of possible interest for hypertension, such as detailed sun exposure habits, hypertension, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, exercise, and chronic high stress. Hypertension was measured by the proxy “use of hypertension medication” 2005–2007, and high stress by “need of anti-depressive medication”. Sun exposure habits was assessed by the number of `yes’ to the following questions; Do you sunbath during summer?, During winter vacation?, Do you travel south to sunbath?, Or do you use sun bed? Women answering ‘yes’ on one or two questions had moderate and those answering ‘yes’ on three or four as having greatest sun exposure. The main outcome was the risk of hypertension by sun exposure habits adjusted for confounding. As compared to those women with the greatest sun exposure, women with low and moderate sun exposure were at 41% and 15% higher odds of hypertension (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.3‒1.6, p < 0.001 and OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.1‒1.2, p < 0.001), respectively. There was a strong age-related increased risk of hypertension. Other risk factors for hypertension were lack of exercise (OR 1.36), a non-fair phenotype (OR 1.08), chronic high stress level (OR 1.8), and lack of university education (OR 1.3). We conclude that in our observational design sun exposure was associated with a dose-dependent reduced risk of hypertension, which might partly explain the fewer deaths of cardiovascular disease with increasing sun exposure.
Business Ethics from the Standpoint of Redemption: Adorno on the Possibility of Good Work
Authors: Reeves Craig , Sinnicks Matthew
Published: February 2021

Given his view that the modern world is “radically evil,” Theodor Adorno is an unlikely contributor to business ethics. Despite this, we argue that his work has a number of provocative implications for the field that warrant wider attention. Adorno regards our social world as damaged, unfree, and false, and we draw on this critique to outline why the achievement of good work is so rare in contemporary society, focusing in particular on the ethical demands of roles and the ideological nature of management’s self-understanding. Nevertheless, we show that Adorno’s comments on activities such as art and philosophy mean that it is possible to draw on his work in a way that contributes constructively to the conversation about good and meaningful work within business ethics.
Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on US Hospitals and Patients, April–July 2020
Authors: Sapiano Mathew R. P. , Dudeck Margaret A. , Soe Minn , Edwards Jonathan R. , O’Leary Erin N. , Wu Hsiu , Allen-Bridson Katherine , Amor Agasha , Arcement Rashad , Chernetsky Tejedor Sheri , Dantes Ray , Gross Cindy , Haass Kathryn , Konnor Rebecca , Kroop Seth R. , Leaptrot Denise , Lemoine Kent , Nkwata Allan , Peterson Kelly , Wattenmaker Lauren , Weiner-Lastinger Lindsey M. , Pollock Daniel , Benin Andrea L. ,   the NHSN Hospital COVID-19 Team
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) throughout key regions of the United States in early 2020 placed a premium on timely, national surveillance of hospital patient censuses. To meet that need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), the nation’s largest hospital surveillance system, launched a module for collecting hospital coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data. We present time-series estimates of the critical hospital capacity indicators from April 1 to July 14, 2020.

Design:

From March 27 to July 14, 2020, the NHSN collected daily data on hospital bed occupancy, number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and the availability and/or use of mechanical ventilators. Time series were constructed using multiple imputation and survey weighting to allow near–real-time daily national and state estimates to be computed.

Results:

During the pandemic’s April peak in the United States, among an estimated 431,000 total inpatients, 84,000 (19%) had COVID-19. Although the number of inpatients with COVID-19 decreased from April to July, the proportion of occupied inpatient beds increased steadily. COVID-19 hospitalizations increased from mid-June in the South and Southwest regions after stay-at-home restrictions were eased. The proportion of inpatients with COVID-19 on ventilators decreased from April to July.

Conclusions:

The NHSN hospital capacity estimates served as important, near–real-time indicators of the pandemic’s magnitude, spread, and impact, providing quantitative guidance for the public health response. Use of the estimates detected the rise of hospitalizations in specific geographic regions in June after they declined from a peak in April. Patient outcomes appeared to improve from early April to mid-July.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, central-line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI): The urgent need to refocus on hardwiring prevention efforts
Authors: Fakih Mohamad G. , Bufalino Angelo , Sturm Lisa , Huang Ren-Huai , Ottenbacher Allison , Saake Karl , Winegar Angela , Fogel Richard , Cacchione Joseph
Published: February 2021

Background:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a considerable impact on US hospitalizations, affecting processes and patient population.

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in hospitals.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective study of CLABSIs and CAUTIs in 78 US 12 months before COVID-19 and 6 months during COVID-19 pandemic.

Results:

During the 2 study periods, there were 795,022 central-line days and 817,267 urinary catheter days. Compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, CLABSI rates increased by 51.0% during the pandemic period from 0.56 to 0.85 per 1,000 line days (P < .001) and by 62.9% from 1.00 to 1.64 per 10,000 patient days (P < .001). Hospitals with monthly COVID-19 patients representing >10% of admissions had a National Health Safety Network (NHSN) device standardized infection ratio for CLABSI that was 2.38 times higher than hospitals with <5% prevalence during the pandemic period (P = .004). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus CLABSIs increased by 130% from 0.07 to 0.17 events per 1,000 line days (P < .001), and Candida spp by 56.9% from 0.14 to 0.21 per 1,000 line days (P = .01). In contrast, no significant changes were identified for CAUTI (0.86 vs 0.77 per 1,000 catheter days; P = .19).

Conclusions:

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with substantial increases in CLABSIs but not CAUTIs. Our findings underscore the importance of hardwiring processes for optimal line care and regular feedback on performance to maintain a safe environment.
Maternal vitamin B12 status in early pregnancy and its association with birth outcomes in Canadian mother–newborn Dyads
Authors: Tan Amy , Sinclair Graham , Mattman Andre , Vallance Hilary D. , Lamers Yvonne
Published: February 2021

Vitamin B12 (B12) is a co-enzyme essential for fetal growth and development. Lower maternal B12 status has been associated with preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks) and low birth weight (<2500 g), which are linked to morbidity and mortality across the lifespan. In Canada, 17–25 % of women in early pregnancy had a serum total B12 concentration <148 pmol/l and maternal total B12 concentration decreased throughout pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the association between maternal B12 status and birth outcomes in Canadian mother–newborn dyads. A secondary analysis of 709 mother–newborn dyads in British Columbia (BC), Canada, was conducted. Bio-banked first- (n 656) and second-trimester (n 709) maternal serum samples of apparently healthy South Asian (50 %) and European (50 %) women from the BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program were quantified for B12 biomarkers (total B12, holotranscobalamin (holoTC), methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy)). Obstetric history and birth outcome data were obtained from the BC Perinatal Data Registry. All associations were determined using multiple linear regression. Maternal serum total B12, holoTC, MMA and tHcy had a mean weekly decrease of 3·64 pmol/l, 1·04 pmol/l, 1·44 nmol/l and 0·104 μmol/l, respectively (P < 0·001). Despite a total B12 concentration <148 pmol/l among 20–25 % of the women, maternal B12 biomarker concentrations were not associated with birth weight z-score, head circumference z-score and gestational age at birth (P > 0·05). Additional research in women at high risk of adverse birth outcomes and the association between maternal B12 status and functional, for example, cognitive, outcomes is needed.
Using stakeholder’s perspectives of ‘Managed Access’ to guide management efforts in small-scale fisheries
Authors: Bowman Chad A , Mangi Stephen C , Oxenford Hazel A
Published: February 2021

Controlling and monitoring fishing effort and understanding human perspectives on fisheries management strategies are paramount to the successful management and sustainability of fisheries. Open-access fishing, which is commonplace in the small-scale fisheries (SSFs) of developing countries, poses severe challenges to management, and to address many of these challenges, Belize implemented a country-wide rights-based fishery (RBF) management strategy known as Managed Access (MA). This study uses Q methodology to explore the perspectives of four key stakeholder groups on the early impacts of the strategy, revealing five distinct perspectives. Perspective 1 supported MA but believed some components needed revision. Perspective 2 had high confidence in MA and expected improvements with financial investments. Perspective 3 did not believe in the strategy and expressed frustration with it not protecting fishers’ rights. Perspective 4 captured the biological concerns not addressed by the strategy, while Perspective 5 focused on the strategy’s inability to make the fisheries more profitable thus far. The different perspectives indicate that MA will be unlikely to meet its objectives without more financial investment in enforcement and stakeholder engagement, research and the strengthening of institutional capacity. This study contributes to the scarce scientific information on the early stages of RBF systems implementation in SSFs.
Is there a Meaningful General Factor of Personality?
Authors: Van der Linden Dimitri , Dunkel Curtis S. , Wu Peiqian
Published: February 2021

Numerous studies and meta-analyses have now confirmed that personality traits tend to correlate such that a general factor of personality (GFP) emerges. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate about what these correlations, and therefore the GFP, represents. One interpretation is that the GFP reflects a substantive factor that indicates general social effectiveness or emotional intelligence. Another interpretation is that the GFP merely is an artifact based on measurement or response bias. In the present paper, we elaborate on a selection of topics that are central to the debate about this construct. Specifically, we discuss (a) the GFP in relation to more specific personality dimensions (e.g., Big Five, facets), (b) the validity of the GFP and under what circumstances it seems to ‘disappear’, and (c) the theoretical and practical relevance of the general factor. Overall, the review should provide insight into the nature of the GFP and whether or not it represents a meaningful factor that can contribute to a better understanding of personality.
Blueberry and blackberry are tolerant to repeated indaziflam applications
Authors: Grey Timothy L. , Hurdle Nicholas L. , Rucker Keith , Basinger Nicholas T.
Published: February 2021

Numerous perennial horticultural crops are grown across the southeastern United States. Blueberry and blackberry (also known as caneberry) are commonly found in roadside stands, promote agritourism via pick-your-own markets, are important for fresh market commercial production in the region, and when processed, provide desirable value added products. Season-long weed control using residual herbicides is crucial for these perennial fruit crops to maximize berry quality and yield. Studies performed from 2012 to 2014 in Lanier and Clinch counties in Georgia evaluated the effects of repeated applications of indaziflam at 35, 75, or 145 g ai ha−1 applied biannually in March and September (five total applications) on growth of ‘Alapaha’ rabbiteye and ‘Palmetto’ highbush blueberry, and ‘Apache’ thornless blackberry. All indaziflam treatments were mixed with glufosinate, and a glufosinate-only treatment was included as a check. Minor leaf chlorosis (<10%) was noted within 30 d after application for all blueberries for all treatments, but this was always transient. Blueberry stem diameter was not different for any treatment, even when indaziflam was applied up to 725 g ai ha−1 over 3 yr as compared to glufosinate alone. There was no chlorosis or stem diameter differences for blackberry noted for any treatment. Indaziflam applied in blueberry and blackberry production provides season-long control of numerous troublesome weed species, without causing injury or negatively impacting crop growth.
A Combined Neural Network‐ and Physics‐Based Approach for Modeling Plasmasphere Dynamics
Authors: Zhelavskaya I. S. , Aseev N. A. , Shprits Y. Y.
Published: February 2021

In recent years, feedforward neural networks (NNs) have been successfully applied to reconstruct global plasmasphere dynamics in the equatorial plane. These neural network‐based models capture the large‐scale dynamics of the plasmasphere, such as plume formation and erosion of the plasmasphere on the nightside. However, their performance depends strongly on the availability of training data. When the data coverage is limited or non‐existent, as occurs during geomagnetic storms, the performance of NNs significantly decreases, as networks inherently cannot learn from the limited number of examples. This limitation can be overcome by employing physics‐based modeling during strong geomagnetic storms. Physics‐based models show a stable performance during periods of disturbed geomagnetic activity if they are correctly initialized and configured. In this study, we illustrate how to combine the neural network‐ and physics‐based models of the plasmasphere in an optimal way by using data assimilation. The proposed approach utilizes advantages of both neural network‐ and physics‐based modeling and produces global plasma density reconstructions for both quiet and disturbed geomagnetic activity, including extreme geomagnetic storms. We validate the models quantitatively by comparing their output to the in‐situ density measurements from RBSP‐A for an 18‐month out‐of‐sample period from June 30, 2016 to January 01, 2018 and computing performance metrics. To validate the global density reconstructions qualitatively, we compare them to the IMAGE EUV images of the He+ particle distribution in the Earth's plasmasphere for a number of events in the past, including the Halloween storm in 2003.
Impact of EMIC‐Wave Driven Electron Precipitation on the Radiation Belts and the Atmosphere
Authors: Hendry A. T. , Seppälä A. , Rodger C. J. , Clilverd M. A.
Published: February 2021

In recent years, there has been a growing body of direct experimental evidence demonstrating electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves driving energetic electron precipitation (EEP) at unexpectedly low, sub‐MeV energies—as low as only a few hundred keV. EMIC‐wave driven scattering at these energies has important ramifications for our understanding of not only radiation belt electron dynamics, but also the importance of EMIC‐driven EEP to the chemical balance of the Earth's atmosphere. In this study, we use three experimentally derived EMIC‐driven EEP flux spectra to investigate the impact of this precipitation on trapped radiation belt fluxes. In doing so, we resolve an apparent contradiction with earlier results derived from trapped electron flux populations that suggested EMIC waves only caused significant scattering at ultrarelativistic energies. We show that strong sub‐MeV EEP measurements are not necessarily mutually exclusive with a strongly relativistic‐only trapped flux response, as the sub‐MEV peak precipitation is comparatively much smaller than the trapped population at those energies. Using a further six EEP spectra, we also demonstrate that EMIC‐driven EEP can generate significant ionization of the Earth's atmosphere above 40 km, leading to the loss of mesospheric ozone. We find poor correlation between EMIC‐driven EEP fluxes and geomagnetic activity proxies, such that EMIC‐driven EEP is likely to be poorly specified in the forcing factors of modern coupled‐climate models.
Wave Steepening in Ionospheric Total Electron Density due to the 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
Authors: Sun Yang‐Yi , Shen Mitchell M. , Tsai Yu‐Lin , Lin Chi‐Yen , Chou Min‐Yang , Yu Tao , Lin Kai , Huang Qian , Wang Jin , Qiu Lihui , Chen Chieh‐Hung , Liu Jann‐Yenq
Published: February 2021

This study shows that a supersonic moon shadow of a total solar eclipse can steepen the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) wave on August 21, 2017. A data‐adaptive method named Hilbert‐Huang transform is employed to examine the nonlinear and non‐stationary evolution of the waves. The results show that the TEC wave behaves as a traveling ionospheric disturbance before the totality appearance, turns later into steepening, and breaks eventually. A TEC wave with a period of ∼40 min and wavelength of ∼1,000 km propagates mainly in an east‐southward direction before the totality appearance. The wave amplitude and scales, respectively, increases and reduce by near ∼50% as the moon shadow approaches the western coast of the continental United States. The short‐period TEC waves (period ∼2 min) reveal that the wave may break eventually when the wave gets steeper. The steepness of the TEC wave is reconstructed according to the constructive interference.
Study of Sediment Transport in a Tidal Channel‐Shoal System: Lateral Effects and Slack‐Water Dynamics
Authors: Zhou Zaiyang , Ge Jianzhong , van Maren D. S. , Wang Zheng Bing , Kuai Yu , Ding Pingxing
Published: February 2021

Lateral flows redistribute sediment and influence the morphodynamics of channel‐shoal systems. However, our understanding of lateral transport of suspended sediment during high and low water slack is still fairly limited, especially in engineered estuaries. Human interventions such as dike‐groyne structures influence lateral exchange mechanisms. The present study aims to unravel these mechanisms in a heavily engineered, turbid channel‐shoal system in the Changjiang Estuary, using a high‐resolution unstructured‐grid three‐dimensional model and in situ observations. Analysis of model results reveals two typical transport patterns during slack‐water conditions, that is, shoal‐to‐channel transport during low water slack and channel‐to‐shoal transport during high water slack. A momentum balance analysis is carried out to explain mechanisms driving the lateral transport of suspended sediment during high water slack, revealing the importance of lateral pressure gradients, Coriolis force, and the curvature‐induced term. Groyne fields play a crucial role in sediment transport, especially during low water slack. A model scenario in which one groyne is removed reveals that groyne fields strongly influence lateral sediment transport. The decomposition of the sediment transport flux reveals that the turbidity maximum is shaped by a balance between seaward advection by residual flows, and landward transport by tidal pumping and gravitational circulation. Within the turbidity maximum, sediment is laterally redistributed by lateral flows during slack‐water conditions, greatly influencing estuarine channel morphology.
Rain Evaporation, Snow Melt, and Entrainment at the Heart of Water Vapor Isotopic Variations in the Tropical Troposphere, According to Large‐Eddy Simulations and a Two‐Column Model
Authors: Risi Camille , Muller Caroline , Blossey Peter
Published: February 2021

We aim at developing a simple model as an interpretative framework for the water vapor isotopic variations in the tropical troposphere over the ocean. We use large‐eddy simulations of disorganized convection in radiative‐convective equilibrium to justify the underlying assumptions of this simple model, to constrain its input parameters and to evaluate its results. We also aim at interpreting the depletion of the water vapor isotopic composition in the lower and midtroposphere as precipitation increases, which is a salient feature in tropical oceanic observations. This feature constitutes a stringent test on the relevance of our interpretative framework. Previous studies, based on observations or on models with parameterized convection, have highlighted the roles of deep convective and mesoscale downdrafts, rain evaporation, rain‐vapor diffusive exchanges, and mixing processes. The interpretative framework that we develop, valid in case of disorganized convection, is a two‐column model representing the net ascent in clouds and the net descent in the environment. We show that the mechanisms for depleting the troposphere as the precipitation rate increases all stem from the higher tropospheric relative humidity. First, when the relative humidity is larger, less snow sublimates before melting and a smaller fraction of rain evaporates. Both effects lead to more depleted rain evaporation and eventually more depleted water vapor. This mechanism dominates in regimes of large‐scale ascent. Second, the entrainment of dry air into clouds reduces the vertical isotopic gradient and limits the depletion of tropospheric water vapor. This mechanism dominates in regimes of large‐scale descent.
The Novel Hydroxylated Tetraether Index RI‐OH′ as a Sea Surface Temperature Proxy for the 160‐45 ka BP Period Off the Iberian Margin
Authors: Davtian Nina , Bard Edouard , Darfeuil Sophie , Ménot Guillemette , Rostek Frauke
Published: February 2021

RI‐OH′ and RI‐OH (ring index of hydroxylated tetraethers) are two novel organic paleothermometers which could either complement or replace more established paleothermometric proxies, such as UK′37 (C37 ketone unsaturation ratio) and TEX86 (TetraEther indeX of tetraethers consisting of 86 carbon atoms). Despite a few promising attempts, the paleothermometric potential of RI‐OH′ and RI‐OH is not fully constrained. Here we present new high‐resolution temperature records over the 160‐45 ka BP (before present = year 1950 CE) period using four organic proxies (RI‐OH′, RI‐OH, TEX86, and UK′37) from three deep sea sediment cores located in a north‐south transect along the Iberian Margin. We analyzed all organic proxies from a single set of lipid extracts to optimize proxy‐proxy comparisons and phase relationship studies. RI‐OH′ responds to Dansgaard‐Oeschger and Heinrich events, better resembles UK′37 than TEX86, and better records the influence of (sub)polar waters during Heinrich events than does RI‐OH. While RI‐OH′ gives realistic sea surface temperatures and latitudinal gradients coherent with those from independent paleothermometers, a more extensive RI‐OH′‐temperature calibration for the North Atlantic is clearly needed. However, the absence of a significant warm bias in RI‐OH′‐based temperatures compared to a shallow sea site suggests that endemic, deep‐dwelling archeal communities affect TEX86 but not RI‐OH′ in the Iberian Margin. TEX86 leads RI‐OH′ and UK′37 during four Heinrich‐like events, potentially due to background fluxes from deep waters for nonhydroxylated tetraethers summed with primary productivity dependent fluxes from surface waters for all investigated lipid classes. Relationships with Greenland temperatures further support RI‐OH′‐based paleothermometry.
Exposure to chemical components of fine particulate matter and ozone, and placenta-mediated pregnancy complications in Tokyo: a register-based study
Authors: Michikawa Takehiro , Morokuma Seiichi , Yamazaki Shin , Takami Akinori , Sugata Seiji , Yoshino Ayako , Takeda Yuki , Nakahara Kazushige , Saito Shinji , Hoshi Junya , Kato Kiyoko , Nitta Hiroshi , Nishiwaki Yuji
Published: February 2021

Background

Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was associated with pregnancy complications. However, we still lack comprehensive evidence regarding which specific chemical components of PM2.5 are more harmful for maternal and foetal health.

Objective

We focused on exposure over the first trimester (0–13 weeks of gestation), which includes the early placentation period, and investigated whether PM2.5 and its components were associated with placenta-mediated pregnancy complications (combined outcome of small for gestational age, preeclampsia, placental abruption, and stillbirth).

Methods

From 2013 to 2015, we obtained information, from the Japan Perinatal Registry Network database, on 83,454 women who delivered singleton infants within 23 Tokyo wards (≈627 km2). Using daily filter sampling of PM2.5 at one monitoring location, we analysed carbon and ion components, and assigned the first trimester average of the respective pollutant concentrations to each woman.

Results

The ORs of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications were 1.14 (95% CI = 1.08–1.22) per 0.51 μg/m3 (interquartile range) increase of organic carbon and 1.11 (1.03–1.18) per 0.06 μg/m3 increase of sodium. Organic carbon was also associated with four individual complications. There was no association between ozone and outcome.

Significance

There were specific components of PM2.5 that have adverse effects on maternal and foetal health.
Longitudinal evaluation of whole blood miRNA expression in firefighters
Authors: Jung Alesia M. , Zhou Jin , Beitel Shawn C. , Littau Sally R. , Gulotta John J. , Wallentine Darin D. , Moore Paul K. , Burgess Jefferey L.
Published: February 2021

Background

Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression could provide a mechanism linking firefighter exposure to increased cancer risk.

Objective

To determine if changes in longitudinal miRNA expression in firefighters are associated with occupational exposures.

Methods

Whole blood MiRNA was evaluated in 52 new recruits prior to live-fire training and 20–37 months later. Linear mixed effects models adjusted for age, ethnicity, BMI, and batch effects were used to determine associations separately for all fires and structure fires only between employment duration, cumulative fire-hours and fire-runs, and time since most recent fire with (1) nine a priori and (2) the full array of 799 miRNAs.

Results

For multivariable models including all fires, two a priori miRNAs were associated with employment duration and four with time since most recent fire. For multivariable models restricted to structure fires, three a priori miRNAs were associated with employment duration and one with fire-runs. Additional miRNAs from the full array were associated with employment duration for all fires and/or structure fires. In general, tumor suppressive miRNAs decreased and oncogenic miRNAs increased with exposure.

Significance

Changes in miRNAs may serve as biomarkers of exposure effects and a mechanism for increased cancer risk in firefighters.
Testicular torsion: its effect on autoimmunisation, pituitary–testis axis and correlation with primary gonadal dysfunction in boys
Authors: Osemlak Paweł , Miszczuk Konrad , Jędrzejewski Grzegorz , Nachulewicz Paweł , Beń-Skowronek Iwona , Brzozowska Agnieszka
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Background

Torsion of the testis is an urgent surgical condition that endangers the viability of the gonad and the fertility of the patient. Our aim was to assess potential autoimmune processes and hormonal abnormalities in boys operated on due to that illness.

Methods

The authors evaluated the levels of antibodies against sperm and Leydig cells, concentrations of follicle-stimulating, luteinizing and anti-Müllerian hormone, testosterone, oestradiol and vascular endothelial growth factor in the serum in 28 boys operated on due to torsion of the testis. Patients’ sexual maturity was assessed according the Tanner scale (group G1, G4 and G5).

Results

No antibodies against sperm or Leydig cells were found in the serum. Statistically significant differences in follicle-stimulating and anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations were observed in the G1, and they were higher in the study than in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in luteinizing hormone, testosterone, oestradiol and vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in the study group or control group. Testosterone concentration was unrelated to total testicular volume.

Conclusions

Results did not confirm the autoimmune process in boys with torsion of the testis. The pituitary–testis axis seems to have sufficient compensation capabilities. However, study results suggest that primary gonadal dysfunction may predispose to torsion.

Impact

Significant differences exist between the literature data and own results on the formation of antibodies and hormonal changes due to testicular torsion in boys.

It is a novel, prospective study on antibodies against sperms and Leydig cells in the serum and on hormonal processes occurring as a result of the testicular torsion from the prenatal period to the adolescence with division into pubertal groups.

The study has revealed sufficient compensation capabilities of the pituitary–testis axis and no autoimmune process in boys with torsion of the testis.
Cell death in head and neck cancer pathogenesis and treatment
Authors: Raudenská Martina , Balvan Jan , Masařík Michal
Published: February 2021

Many cancer therapies aim to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. Nevertheless, the presence of oncogenic alterations in these cells and distorted composition of tumour microenvironment largely limit the clinical efficacy of this type of therapy. Luckily, scientific consensus describes about 10 different cell death subroutines with different regulatory pathways and cancer cells are probably not able to avoid all of cell death types at once. Therefore, a focused and individualised therapy is needed to address the specific advantages and disadvantages of individual tumours. Although much is known about apoptosis, therapeutic opportunities of other cell death pathways are often neglected. Molecular heterogeneity of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) causing unpredictability of the clinical response represents a grave challenge for oncologists and seems to be a critical component of treatment response. The large proportion of this clinical heterogeneity probably lies in alterations of cell death pathways. How exactly cells die is very important because the predominant type of cell death can have multiple impacts on the therapeutic response as cell death itself acts as a second messenger. In this review, we discuss the different types of programmed cell death (PCD), their connection with HNSCC pathogenesis and possible therapeutic windows that result from specific sensitivity to some form of PCD in some clinically relevant subgroups of HNSCC.
Autophagy buffers Ras-induced genotoxic stress enabling malignant transformation in keratinocytes primed by human papillomavirus
Authors: Cararo-Lopes Eduardo , Dias Matheus H. , da Silva Marcelo S. , Zeidler Julianna D. , Vessoni Alexandre T. , Reis Marcelo S. , Boccardo Enrique , Armelin Hugo A.
Published: February 2021

Malignant transformation involves an orchestrated rearrangement of cell cycle regulation mechanisms that must balance autonomic mitogenic impulses and deleterious oncogenic stress. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is highly prevalent in populations around the globe, whereas the incidence of cervical cancer is 0.15%. Since HPV infection primes cervical keratinocytes to undergo malignant transformation, we can assume that the balance between transforming mitogenic signals and oncogenic stress is rarely attained. We showed that highly transforming mitogenic signals triggered by HRasG12V activity in E6E7–HPV–keratinocytes generate strong replication and oxidative stresses. These stresses are counteracted by autophagy induction that buffers the rapid increase of ROS that is the main cause of genotoxic stress promoted by the oncoprotein. As a result, autophagy creates a narrow window of opportunity for malignant keratinocytes to emerge. This work shows that autophagy is crucial to allow the transition of E6E7 keratinocytes from an immortalized to a malignant state caused by HRasG12V.
Polycysteine as a new type of radio-protector ameliorated tissue injury through inhibiting ferroptosis in mice
Authors: Zhang Junling , Li Kui , Zhang Qianru , Zhu Zhimei , Huang Gongchao , Tian Hongqi
Published: February 2021

Amifostine has been the only small molecule radio-protector approved by FDA for decades; however, the serious adverse effects limit its clinical use. To address the toxicity issues and maintain the good potency, a series of modified small polycysteine peptides had been prepared. Among them, compound 5 exhibited the highest radio-protective efficacy, the same as amifostine, but much better safety profile. To confirm the correlation between the radiation-protective efficacy and the DNA binding capability, each of the enantiomers of the polycysteine peptides had been prepared. As a result, the l-configuration compounds had obviously higher efficacy than the corresponding d-configuration enantiomers; among them, compound 5 showed the highest DNA binding capability and radiation-protective efficacy. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has proved their correlations using direct comparison. Further exploration of the mechanism revealed that the ionizing radiation (IR) triggered ferroptosis inhibition by compound 5 could be one of the pathways for the protection effect, which was different from amifostine. In summary, the preliminary result showed that compound 5, a polycysteine as a new type of radio-protector, had been developed with good efficacy and safety profile. Further study of the compound for potential use is ongoing.