bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring diversity from space: a global view of the free and open source rasterdiv R package under a coding perspective
Authors: Thouverai Elisa , Marcantonio Matteo , Bacaro Giovanni , Re Daniele Da , Iannacito Martina , Marchetto Elisa , Ricotta Carlo , Tattoni Clara , Vicario Saverio , Rocchini Duccio
Published: April 2021

The variation of species diversity over space and time has been widely recognised as a key challenge in ecology. However, measuring species diversity over large areas might be difficult for logistic reasons related to both time and cost savings for sampling, as well as accessibility of remote ecosystems. In this paper, we present a new package - - to calculate diversity indices based on remotely sensed data, by discussing the theory behind the developed algorithms. Obviously, measures of diversity from space should not be viewed as a replacement of in situ data on biological diversity, but they are rather complementary to existing data and approaches. In practice, they integrate available information of Earth surface properties, including aspects of functional (structural, biophysical and biochemical), taxonomic, phylogenetic and genetic diversity. Making use of the package can result useful in making multiple calculations based on reproducible open source algorithms, robustly rooted in Information Theory.
Revisiting Keynes in the Light of the Transition to Circular Economy
Authors: Ghisellini Patrizia , Passaro Renato , Ulgiati Sergio
Published: April 2021

The study briefly recalls the evolution and crisis of the theory and thought of John Maynard Keynes with the rise and progressive dominance of the neoliberalism paradigm. The exercise has been made for evaluating the effects of such process for the sustainability of the global economy and society. In this view, we explored how Keynes’ contribution could be useful for the global economy in building a new paradigm of socio-economic development underpinning the transition to circular economy (CE). We also evaluated the adoption of the Global Green New Deal including a case study of Italy for the purpose of suggesting how that topical political programme can be key in the CE transition. Given the urgency of environmental problems, we underline the importance of the adoption of Keynesian expansionary “green mission oriented” fiscal policies with the purpose of allowing the triggering of a virtuous circle of sustainable welfare involving the Green New deal and the transition to CE. At the basis of such virtuous circle, we propose a new paradigm based on a revisited Keynesian paradigm and models of economy within the framework of Genovesi’s “civil economy” that entails an active role and responsibility of all the societal actors (consumers, companies and institutions). In this view, the “spirit” of Keynes in the economy, policy and society could be appreciated once more and be extremely useful along with other scholars’ contributions in accelerating the CE transition and a more sustainable development.
Precision of fiducial marker alignment for correlative super‐resolution fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Fathima Adeeba , Quintana-Cataño César Augusto , Heintze Christoph , Schlierf Michael
Published: April 2021

Recent advances in microscopy techniques enabled nanoscale discoveries in biology. In particular, electron microscopy reveals important cellular structures with nanometer resolution, yet it is hard, and sometimes impossible to resolve specific protein localizations. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques developed over the recent years allow for protein-specific localization with ~ 20 nm precision are overcoming this limitation, yet it remains challenging to place those in cells without a reference frame. Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approaches have been developed to place the fluorescence image in the context of a cellular structure. However, combining imaging methods such as super resolution microscopy and transmission electron microscopy necessitates a correlation using fiducial markers to locate the fluorescence on the structures visible in electron microscopy, with a measurable precision. Here, we investigated different fiducial markers for super-resolution CLEM (sCLEM) by evaluating their shape, intensity, stability and compatibility with photoactivatable fluorescent proteins as well as the electron density. We further carefully determined limitations of correlation accuracy. We found that spectrally-shifted FluoSpheres are well suited as fiducial markers for correlating single-molecule localization microscopy with transmission electron microscopy.
Power in Ideas
Authors: Adams Kirsten , Kreiss Daniel
Published: April 2021

This Element argues that understanding media and democracy in troubled times requires an analytical framework that takes seriously the role of ideas in political life and communication. We develop a framework for analyzing ideas and argue that the empirical study of ideas should combine interpretive approaches to derive meaning and understand influence with quantitative analysis to help determine the reach, spread, and impact of ideas. We illustrate our approach through three case studies: the idea of reparations in Ta-Nehisi Coates's 'The Case for Reparations,' the idea of free expression in Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook policy speech at Georgetown, and Andrew Yang's idea of the “Freedom Dividend” as a form of universal basic income. We trace the landscapes and spheres within which these ideas emerged and were articulated within, the ways they were encoded in discourse, the fields they travelled across, and how they became powerful.
Attitudes toward genomics and precision medicine
Authors: DuBois James M. , Mozersky Jessica , Antes Alison , English Tammy , Parsons Meredith V. , Baldwin Kari
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

This paper reports on a novel measure, attitudes toward genomics and precision medicine (AGPM), which evaluates attitudes toward activities such as genetic testing, collecting information on lifestyle, and genome editing – activities necessary to achieve the goals of precision medicine.

Discussion:

The AGPM will be useful for researchers who want to explore attitudes toward genomics and precision medicine. The association of concerns about precision medicine activities with demographic variables such as religion and politics, as well as higher levels of education, suggests that further education on genomic and precision activities alone is unlikely to shift AGPM scores significantly.

Methods:

We wrote items to represent psychological and health benefits of precision medicine activities, and concerns about privacy, social justice, harm to embryos, and interfering with nature. We validated the measure through factor analysis of its structure, and testing associations with trust in the health information system and demographic variables such as age, sex, education, and religion.

Results:

The AGPM had excellent alpha reliability (.92) and demonstrated good convergent validity with existing measures. Variables most strongly associated with higher levels of concern with precision medicine activities included: regular religious practice, republican political leanings, and higher levels of education.
The essential coexistence phenomenon in Hamiltonian dynamics
Authors: CHEN JIANYU , HU HUYI , PESIN YAKOV , ZHANG KE
Published: April 2021

We construct an example of a Hamiltonian flow
$f^t$
on a four-dimensional smooth manifold
$\mathcal {M}$
which after being restricted to an energy surface
$\mathcal {M}_e$
demonstrates essential coexistence of regular and chaotic dynamics, that is, there is an open and dense
$f^t$
-invariant subset
$U\subset \mathcal {M}_e$
such that the restriction
$f^t|U$
has non-zero Lyapunov exponents in all directions (except for the direction of the flow) and is a Bernoulli flow while, on the boundary
$\partial U$
, which has positive volume, all Lyapunov exponents of the system are zero.
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19): Invoking Force Majeure and Doctrine of Frustration: An Analysis From an Indian Law Perspective
Authors: Sahni Aseem
Published: April 2021

The on-going global Coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, has affected a countless number of people around the world, businesses, and the global economies alike and is certainly nothing short of a ticking time bomb. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic after noting that COVID-19 has increased 13-fold in countries other than China. A few state governments in India have also termed COVID-19 as an epidemic. In testing times like these, India, currently amidst an unprecedented nationwide lock-down, which has subsequently been extended until May 3, 2020 and has resulted in a temporary or partial shutdown of most business(es)-in India—whether they be small, medium or big business houses, with the exception of only a list of services notified by the relevant governmental authorities which have been deemed to be and are categorized as ‘essential services’ and allowing functioning of select additional activities (such as allowing manufacturing activities in certain sectors to take place), which have also only been permitted to start from April 20, 2020.
The modern rule of releases
Authors: Whayman Derek
Published: April 2021

This paper considers the history and nature of the ‘modern rule of releases’, concerning compromises to settle or preclude litigation. The rule holds that only matters the parties had contemplated as well as what they intended to release will in fact be released, even if the compromise has been made in the most general terms. Thus the rule is engaged when the releasor executes a general release but does not appreciate the existence of some of the claims the words used purport to release. This paper shows how the rule is a confusion of different conceptual bases and lines of authority and was created by accidentally muddling them together. It argues that, despite this, it successfully straddles both bases, functions well conceptually and serves a vital role.
VARRO AND POMPEY: SOME MORE (MULTIPLE) HEBDOMADS?
Authors: Geiger Joseph
Published: April 2021

This article argues that a group of fourteen female statues seen in the Theatre of Pompey in Rome by Tatian belonged to Greek female poets. This group, along with the statues representing the fourteen nationes vanquished by Pompey, and certain groups of statues in the Forum of Augustus should all be ascribed to the influence of the Hebdomades of Pompey's familiaris Varro.
Global Board Reforms and the Pricing of IPOs
Authors: Chen Yangyang , Goyal Abhinav , Zolotoy Leon
Published: April 2021

We document that global board reforms are associated with a significant reduction in the underpricing of initial public offerings (IPOs). The effect is amplified for IPOs with greater agency problems and mitigated for IPOs certified by reputable intermediaries, IPOs with greater disclosure specificity, and IPOs in countries with better shareholder protection and stringent financial reporting regulations. Furthermore, global board reforms have led to an improvement in the long-term market performance, proceeds, and subscription level of IPOs and have enhanced board independence in the issuing firms. Our findings suggest that global board reforms have strengthened board oversight in the issuing firms, leading to less underpriced IPOs.
Intergenerational transmission of suicide attempt in a cohort of 4.4 million children
Authors: Ranning Anne , Uddin Md Jamal , Sørensen Holger J. , Laursen Thomas Munk , Thorup Anne A. E. , Madsen Trine , Nordentoft Merete , Erlangsen Annette
Published: April 2021

Background

The association between suicide attempts (SAs) in parents and children is unclear, and risk indicators for intergenerational transmission remain undocumented. We aimed to assess this association, considering the child's developmental period at the time of parents' attempted suicide, and the parental relation.

Methods

Using a prospective cohort design, nationwide population data were linked to the Psychiatric Central Register and National Patient Register for all individuals aged 10 years or older living in Denmark between 1980 and 2016. We assessed incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and cumulative hazards for children's first SA.

Results

In a cohort of 4 419 651 children, 163 056 (3.7%) had experienced a parental SA. An SA was recorded among 6996 (4.3%) of the exposed children as opposed to 70112 (1.6%) in unexposed individuals. Higher rates were noted when a parental SA occurred during early childhood (0 ⩽ age < 2) [IRR, 4.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2–5.4] v. late childhood (6 ⩽ age < 13) (IRR, 3.6; 95% CI 3.4–3.8) when compared to those unexposed. Children exposed prior to age 2 had the highest rates of all sub-groups when reaching age 13–17 (IRR, 6.5; 95% CI 6.0–7.1) and 18–25 years (IRR, 6.8; 95% CI 6.2–7.4). Maternal SA (IRR, 3.4; 95% CI 3.2–3.5) was associated with higher rates than paternal (IRR, 2.8; 95% CI 2.7–2.9).

Conclusion

Parental SA was associated with children's own SA. Exposure during early developmental stages was associated with the highest rates. Early preventive efforts are warranted as is monitoring of suicide risk in the children from age 13.
Continuum beliefs and mental illness stigma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of correlation and intervention studies
Authors: Peter Lina-Jolien , Schindler Stephanie , Sander Christian , Schmidt Silke , Muehlan Holger , McLaren Thomas , Tomczyk Samuel , Speerforck Sven , Schomerus Georg
Published: April 2021

Background

Promulgating a continuum model of mental health and mental illness has been proposed as a way to reduce stigma by decreasing notions of differentness. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines whether continuum beliefs are associated with lower stigma, and whether continuum interventions reduce stigma.

Methods

Following a pre-defined protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42019123606), we searched three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) yielding 6726 studies. After screening, we included 33 studies covering continuum beliefs, mental illness, and stigma. Of these, 13 studies were included in meta-analysis.

Results

Continuum beliefs are consistently associated with lower stigma. Interventions were effective at manipulating continuum beliefs but differ in their effects on stigmatising attitudes.

Conclusions

We discuss whether and to what extent attitudes towards people with mental illness can be improved by providing information on a mental health-mental illness continuum. It appeared to be relevant whether interventions promoted a feeling of ‘us’ and a process of identification with the person with mental illness. We discuss implications for the design of future interventions.
Simplified olfactory reminiscence to help maintain the mental health in community-dwelling older adults
Authors: Hanaoka Hideaki , Muraki Toshiaki , Kaneko Fumiko , Yamane Shingo , Okamura Hitoshi
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of simplified reminiscence practice using olfactory stimuli on depression and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Accordingly, 61 individuals were randomly divided into two groups. In the intervention group, 12 sessions of reminiscence were performed using olfactory cards. In the control group, reminiscence sessions were similarly performed, but with language cards. The Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) was used to measure mental health status and the Five Cognitive Test was used to measure cognitive function at baseline and after completion of the intervention. The final sample included 27 participants in the intervention group and 23 participants in the control group. Basic characteristics of the participants at baseline were compared and a significant difference was observed between the two groups in age (p = 0.029). Repeated-measures analysis of covariance with age as the covariate revealed a significant interaction between time and group on the GDS-15 (p = 0.04). Furthermore, a before and after comparison using a paired t-test showed a significant difference only in the intervention group (p = 0.01). The results of this study suggest that simplified reminiscence practice using olfactory cards could serve as an intervention to help maintain the mental health of community-dwelling older adults.
Distributed task allocation with critical tasks and limited capacity
Authors: Zhang An , Yang Mi , Bi Wenhao , Gao Fei
Published: April 2021

This paper considers the task allocation problem under the requirement that the assignments of some critical tasks must be maximized when the network capacity cannot accommodate all tasks due to the limited capacity for each unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). To solve this problem, this paper proposes an extended performance impact algorithm with critical tasks (EPIAC) based on the traditional performance impact algorithm. A novel task list resizing phase is developed in EPIAC to deal with the constraint on the limited capacity of each UAV and maximize the assignments of critical tasks. Numerical simulations demonstrate the outstanding performance of EPIAC compared with other algorithms.
Value Conservatism and its Challenge to Consequentialism
Authors: Sass Reuben
Published: April 2021

G. A. Cohen's value conservatism entails that we ought to preserve some existing sources of value in lieu of more valuable replacements, thereby repudiating maximizing consequentialism. Cohen motivates value conservatism through illustrative cases. The consequentialist, however, can explain many Cohen-style cases by taking extrinsic properties, such as historical significance, to be sources of final value. Nevertheless, it may be intuitive that there's stronger reason to preserve than to promote certain sources of value, especially historically significant things. This motivates an argument that the weights of our reasons to preserve such things are especially strong relative to the amounts of value they bear. The value conservative can then explain these intuitions in non-consequentialist terms. There may be reason to preserve historically significant things as a matter of recognition respect for a cultural and historical heritage, or because it is virtuous to cultivate the right kind of connection with such a heritage.
Impact of childhood maltreatment and resilience on behavioral and neural patterns of inhibitory control during emotional distraction
Authors: Demers Lauren A. , Hunt Ruskin H. , Cicchetti Dante , Cohen-Gilbert Julia E. , Rogosch Fred A. , Toth Sheree L. , Thomas Kathleen M.
Published: April 2021

Exposure to childhood maltreatment (CM) may disrupt typical development of neural systems underlying impulse control and emotion regulation. Yet resilient outcomes are observed in some individuals exposed to CM. Individual differences in adult functioning may result from variation in inhibitory control in the context of emotional distractions, underpinned by cognitive–affective brain circuits. Thirty-eight healthy adults with a history of substantiated CM and 34 nonmaltreated adults from the same longitudinal sample performed a Go/No-Go task in which task-relevant stimuli (letters) were presented at the center of task-irrelevant, negative, or neutral images, while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. The comparison group, but not the maltreated group, made increased inhibitory control errors in the context of negative, but not neutral, distractor images. In addition, the comparison group had greater right inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral frontal pole activation during inhibitory control blocks with negative compared to neutral background images relative to the CM group. Across the full sample, greater adaptive functioning in everyday contexts was associated with superior inhibitory control and greater right frontal pole activation. Results suggest that resilience following early adversity is associated with enhanced attention and behavioral regulation in the context of task-irrelevant negative emotional stimuli in a laboratory setting.
A new portrait type for Faustina the Younger
Authors: Beckmann Martin
Published: April 2021

This note identifies a new portrait type of Faustina the Younger, which appears on medallions and on a single aureus. On medallions the type appears in a single, closely die-linked group, indicating a synchronous emission. I suggest that this emission should be placed in a prominent gap in the (dated) medallion issues of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, which in turn dates this newly identified portrait of Faustina to 153/4 CE.
Coronary aneurysm in a young patient with Turner syndrome
Authors: van der Linde Denise , Budde Ricardo P. J. , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W.
Published: April 2021

A young woman with Turner syndrome was found to have a large coronary aneurysm in the left anterior descending coronary artery upon CT angiogram screening for aortic pathology.
T1 mapping and conditional survival in paediatric dilated cardiomyopathy with advanced heart failure
Authors: Raj Shashi , Kothari Richa , Arun Kumar N , Sigamani Alben , Raj Vimal
Published: April 2021

Myocardial fibrosis is associated with adverse events in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement can detect myocardial fibrosis. We evaluated the conditional survival of children and adolescents based on native T1 mapping (combined proton signal from myocytes and interstitium prior to contrast administration by the measurement of myocardial and blood relaxation time) as a means to assess myocardial fibrosis. This retrospective case–cohort over a 3-year period included all consecutive patients (aged ≤ 21 years) with advanced heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy (echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45% and NYHA class ≥ 2) who underwent cardiac MRI.

Conditional survival (follow-up ≥ 6 months after cardiac MRI) was assessed to include NYHA functional class and time to event (death or heart transplantation). A total of 57 patients (mean age 11.7 ± 6.1 years; 58% male) had a median NYHA Class III (31/57) and median left ventricular ejection fraction 25% (20–38%). Survival data were available in 82% patients (46/57) and the crude mortality rate was 24% (11/46) and one patient (2%) underwent heart transplantation. The median native T1 was elevated at 1351 ms (95% CI 1332, 1394) and it showed no difference between the groups who survived to those who died. Performing a multilevel regression analysis on prognosis failed to predict 6-month conditional survival.
Severe conduit stenosis in a patient with Fontan circulation with a Y-shaped Dacron conduit
Authors: Takajo Daiji , Balakrishnan Preetha L. , Aggarwal Sanjeev
Published: April 2021

Conduit stenosis is a major, albeit rare, complication following the Fontan palliation. A single-baffle conduit with polytetrafluoroethylene is widely used for an extracardiac type Fontan palliation. A polyethylene terephthalate conduit (Dacron) is sometimes used for the conduit when more flexibility is required. A Y-shaped conduit is rarely used, but it may reduce the energy loss and achieve better hepatic flow distribution. Data on the long-term patency and complications when using a Y-shaped Dacron conduit is lacking. We report a case of a severely stenotic Y-shaped Dacron conduit in a patient who underwent extracardiac Fontan palliation.
Detachable coil embolisation for iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistula in patients with CHDs
Authors: Sugiyama Hisashi , Asagai Seiji
Published: April 2021

We present two cases of patients with iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistula who underwent successful embolisation using three-dimensional shape detachable coils. A 49-year-old male with Tetralogy of Fallot had arteriovenous fistula which developed from the common femoral artery to the femoral vein with an aneurysm and a 17-year-old female with single ventricle after total-cavo-pulmonary-connection had two arteriovenous fistulas which developed from the internal iliac artery to the femoral vein. A total of six and seven pieces of detachable coils were necessary for complete occlusion, respectively. No complications were recorded. The advantage of the detachable coil is a wide variation and repositioning until the coil achieves good stabilisation and an ideal configuration.
HECKE OPERATORS AND THE COHERENT COHOMOLOGY OF SHIMURA VARIETIES
Authors: Fakhruddin Najmuddin , Pilloni Vincent
Published: April 2021

We consider the problem of defining an action of Hecke operators on the coherent cohomology of certain integral models of Shimura varieties. We formulate a general conjecture describing which Hecke operators should act integrally and solve the conjecture in certain cases. As a consequence, we obtain p-adic estimates of Satake parameters of certain nonregular self-dual automorphic representations of

$\mathrm {GL}_n$
.
Do cost-share programs increase cover crop use? Empirical evidence from Iowa
Authors: Sawadgo Wendiam , Plastina Alejandro
Published: April 2021

Cover crops can generate both on-farm and water-quality benefits. However, their use in Iowa remains subdued, partly due to implementation costs faced by farmers. We tested the hypothesis that monetary incentives through cost-share programs are effective at increasing the area of farmland planted to cover crops in Iowa, as opposed to the alternative in which the participants of cost-share programs would have planted the same cover-crop acreage in the absence of payment. We found that cost-share payments induced a 15 percentage-point expansion in cover-crop acreage beyond what would have been planted in the absence of payment, among farmers who participated in cost-share programs. The estimated additionality rate was 54%, suggesting at least half of cost-share expenditures funded cover-crop acreage that would not have been planted without payment. Furthermore, we estimated the public cost to reduce nitrogen loads to Iowa waterways via cover crop, beyond what would have occurred in the absence of cost-share programs, to be $1.72–$4.70 lb−1N ($3.79–$10.36 kg−1N). Farmers absorbed about 70% of those costs as private losses, and cost-share payments offset the remaining 30%. Although the additionality rate estimated in this study is less than what has been found in other states, the cost-share programs in Iowa have been relatively cost-effective, due to their lower payment rate.
Characteristic Features of the Clouds Producing Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements
Authors: Svechnikova E. K. , Ilin N. V. , Mareev E. A. , Chilingarian A. A.
Published: April 2021

Thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs) are fluxes of energetic particles multiplied in thunderclouds, which may be registered by ground‐based detectors. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, the state of the atmosphere with a 1‐km horizontal resolution is modeled for convective events accompanied by TGEs observed at the high altitude Aragats Research Station in Armenia (40.47 N, 44.18 E, 3,200 m above sea level). By comparing the data obtained in observations with the results of simulations using a microphysical parameterization for WRF, a technique is developed for estimating charge distribution parameters. A typical charge distribution in a TGE‐producing cloud is found to be well approximated by a two‐layered charge structure with a lower positive charge region formed by graupel particles and an upper negative charge region formed by snow particles. The characteristic charge density is 0.01 nC/m3 for the graupel cluster and −0.02 nC/m3 for the snow cluster. A vertical distance of about 1–2 km between the lower positive and upper negative layers is sufficient for the development of an energetic particle avalanche.
Lockdown Measures Which Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions With Little Negative Impact on Quality of Life
Authors: Niemi Maria , Skelton Alasdair , Noone Kevin , Olsson Mats J.
Published: April 2021

Lockdown measures in response to the new Covid‐19 virus have caused the largest ever fall of annual greenhouse gas emissions. A key question that we attempt to answer in this study is which, if any, of these measures can be productively encouraged post‐lockdown in efforts to sustain at least part of this reduction in emissions. Sweden is uniquely suited for our study because the voluntary nature of lockdown in Sweden allowed us to assess the level of compliance to recommendations and its effects on greenhouse gas emissions. First, we assessed the change of perceived quality of life (QOL) among 746 individuals from Stockholm region due to adhering to lockdown measures. Second, we calculated the associated change of annual per capita greenhouse emissions. We found that avoiding travel for work, avoiding purchasing, and avoiding restaurants had the least negative effect on QOL, and at the same time the largest positive effect on carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emission reductions. We conclude that these are potential leverage points for stimulating behavioral change that has a positive climatic impact.
Structure and Variability of Abyssal Current in Northern South China Sea Based on CPIES Observations
Authors: Zheng Hua , Zhang Chuanzheng , Zhao Ruixiang , Zhu Xiao‐Hua , Zhu Ze‐Nan , Liu Zhao‐Jun , Wang Min
Published: April 2021

The abyssal current is important for water renewal and energy conversion in the deep South China Sea (SCS), and it potentially contributes to the upper and middle circulations. A mooring array including 11 current and pressure‐recording inverted echo sounders was deployed in the northern SCS between July 2016 and April 2019 to observe large‐scale and long‐term abyssal currents. The yearly averaged current flows southwestward following the boundary with a maximum velocity of 2.25–2.52 cm/s. The spatial structure exhibits a weaker and wider current in the north, where topography is subdued, whereas the current enhances and narrows on the steep slopes. The southwestward current is strong in the summer and autumn but is insignificant in the winter and spring. In the autumn, the current is narrower and closer to the boundary than that in the summer, and a northeastward countercurrent is found ∼60 km away from the western boundary. The southwestward and northeastward currents constitute the cyclonic circulation. Drastic temporal variability is observed in the deep ocean. The abyssal current is dominated by semidiurnal tides, diurnal tides, and near‐inertial waves (NIWs) in the high‐frequency band. Bursts of NIWs are observed in the deep ocean after two typhoons, and the NIWs propagate southwestward at a velocity of 2.4 m/s. The low‐frequency band is dominated by a westward‐propagating 70‐day fluctuation following the characteristics of topographic Rossby waves.
An Atmospheric Water Balance Perspective on Extreme Rainfall Potential for the Contiguous US
Authors: Su Yibing , Smith James A.
Published: April 2021

In this study, we examine extremes of atmospheric water balance components through analyses of annual maxima of precipitable water and water vapor transport. Our analyses are grounded in Extreme Value Theory, using the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution as a platform for assessing water balance extremes. Annual maxima of atmospheric water balance terms are computed from North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) fields for the 40‐year period extending from 1979 to 2018 on a grid of approximately 0.3‐degree resolution. We assess nonstationarities in the annual maximum time series through tests for monotonic trends. Estimates of the location, scale, and shape parameters for the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution are used to examine the spatial variability of water balance extremes. We focus on estimates of the GEV shape parameter, which dictates the “thickness” of the upper tail of the distribution. Estimates of the GEV shape parameter for precipitable water generally point to bounded distributions, but clusters of unbounded, thick‐tailed distributions are linked to exceptionally large record values of precipitable water associated with tropical cyclones in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic. Larger regions of “thick‐tailed” distributions are found for integrated water vapor transport (IVT). Non‐stationary GEV models are used to examine the impacts of trends on extremes of the atmospheric water balance. Mixtures of rare events associated with tropical cyclones and extratropical cyclones play a central role in analyses of water balance extremes.
Seismic Visibility of Eclogite in the Earth’s Upper Mantle—Implications From High Pressure‐Temperature Single‐Crystal Elastic Properties of Omphacite
Authors: Hao Ming , Zhang Jin S. , Zhou Wen‐Yi , Wang Qin
Published: April 2021

Identifying and locating the geochemical and geophysical heterogeneities in the Earth’s interior is one of the most important and challenging tasks for the deep Earth scientists. Subducted oceanic crust metamorphizes into the dense eclogite in the upper mantle and is considered as a major cause of geochemical and geophysical heterogeneities in the deep Earth. In order to detect eclogitic materials inside the Earth, precise measurements of the high pressure‐temperature single‐crystal elasticity of major minerals in eclogite are thus exceedingly important. Omphacite, a Na,Al‐bearing clinopyroxene, constitutes up to 75 vol% of eclogite. In the present study, we performed the first high pressure‐temperature single‐crystal elasticity measurements of omphacite using Brillouin spectroscopy. Utilizing the finite‐strain approach, we obtained the following thermoelastic parameters for omphacite: KS0’ = 4.5(1), G0’ = 1.53(5), ∂KS0/∂T = −0.029(5) GPa/K, ∂G0/∂T = −0.013(5) GPa/K, with KS0 = 123(3) GPa, G0 = 74(2) GPa, and ρ0 = 3.34(1) g/cm3. We found that the seismic velocities of undeformed eclogite are similar to pyrolite at the depths of 200–300 and 410–500 km, thus eclogite is seismically invisible at these depths. Combined with the lattice‐preferred orientations of the omphacite in naturally deformed eclogites, we also modeled seismic anisotropy of eclogite at various pressure‐temperature conditions. A 10 km thick subducted eclogitic crust can result in ∼0.2 s shear wave splitting in the Earth’s upper mantle.
Thank You to Our 2020 Peer Reviewers
Authors: Huber Matthew , Röhl Ursula (Ulla)
Published: April 2021

Once a year we take the opportunity to thank the reviewers whose difficult, important work is never sufficiently recognized. This year is special. Due to the vicissitudes of COVID19, submissions were up just as reviewing came at a higher personal cost than ever before. Reviewers had to dig deep and make real sacrifices to respond to the community's needs for critical, thorough reviews aiming to improve manuscripts, while simultaneously dealing with very difficult personal and professional circumstances. Without their intense, robust, and helpful attention, all the science we do would be diminished. Ulla and I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for your efforts this year and our hope for improvement in 2021 and beyond.
Dysregulation of threat neurocircuitry during fear extinction: the role of anhedonia
Authors: Young Katherine S. , Bookheimer Susan Y. , Nusslock Robin , Zinbarg Richard E. , Damme Katherine S. F. , Chat Iris Ka-Yi , Kelley Nicholas J. , Vinograd Meghan , Perez Marcelina , Chen Kelly , Cohen Aileen Echiverri , Craske Michelle G.
Published: April 2021

Dimensional models of anxiety and depression highlight common and distinct symptom clusters that are thought to reflect disruptions in underlying functional processes. The current study investigated how functioning of threat neurocircuitry relates to symptom dimensions of anxiety and depression. Participants were aged 18–19 years (n = 229, 158 female) and were selected to ensure a range of scores on symptom measures. Symptom dimensions of “General Distress” (common to anxiety disorders and depression), “Fears” (more specific to anxiety disorders), and “Anhedonia-apprehension” (more specific to depression) were evaluated. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm. Multilevel modeling analyses estimated relationships between symptom dimensions and activation in threat neural circuitry. Exploratory whole brain analyses were also conducted. Threat-related neural activity was not associated with General Distress or Fears. Anhedonia-apprehension was associated with activation of bilateral amygdala, anterior insula and dACC during late extinction. We found no evidence to support an association between symptom dimensions of General Distress or Fears with threat circuitry activation in a large sample of young adults. We did, however, find that the symptom dimension of Anhedonia-apprehension was significantly associated with threat-related neural activation during fear extinction. This effect requires replication in future work but may reflect anhedonic impairments in learning when contingencies are altered, possibly linked to the rewarding relief of an unexpectedly absent threat.
What is the effect of MRI with targeted biopsies on the rate of patients discontinuing active surveillance? A reflection of the use of MRI in the PRIAS study
Authors: Luiting H. B. , Remmers S. , Valdagni R. , Boevé E. R. , Staerman F. , Rueb J. , Somford D. M. , Pickles T. , Rannikko A. , Roobol M. J. ,   the PRIAS consortium
Published: April 2021

Background

The reduction of overtreatment by active surveillance (AS) is limited in patients with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) due to high rates of patients switching to radical treatment. MRI improves biopsy accuracy and could therewith affect inclusion in or continuation of AS. We aim to assess the effect of MRI with target biopsies on the total rate of patients discontinuing AS, and in particular discontinuation due to Grade Group (GG) reclassification.

Methods

Three subpopulations included in the prospective PRIAS study with GG 1 were studied. Group A consists of patients diagnosed before 2009 without MRI before or during AS. Group B consists of patients diagnosed without MRI, but all patients underwent MRI within 6 months after diagnosis. Group C consists of patients who underwent MRI before diagnosis and during follow-up. We used cumulative incidence curves to estimate the rates of discontinuation.

Results

In Group A (n = 500), the cumulative probability of discontinuing AS at 2 years is 27.5%; GG reclassification solely accounted for 6.9% of the discontinuation. In Group B (n = 351) these numbers are 30.9 and 22.8%, and for Group C (n = 435) 24.2 and 13.4%. The three groups were not randomized, however, baseline characteristics are highly comparable.

Conclusions

Performing an MRI before starting AS reduces the cumulative probability of discontinuing AS at 2 years. Performing an MRI after already being on AS increases the cumulative probability of discontinuing AS in comparison to not performing an MRI, especially because of an increase in GG reclassification. These results suggest that the use of MRI could lead to more patients being considered unsuitable for AS. Considering the excellent long-term cancer-specific survival of AS before the MRI era, the increased diagnostic accuracy of MRI could potentially lead to more overtreatment if definitions and treatment options of significant PCa are not adapted.
Evaluating the interreader agreement and intrareader reproducibility of Visual Field Defects in Thyroid Eye Disease– Compressive Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Garip Kuebler Aylin , Halfter Kathrin , Reznicek Lukas , Klingenstein Annemarie , Priglinger Siegfried , Hintschich Christoph
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To categorize visual field (VF) defects according to Freitag and Tanking’s (FT) classification in Thyroid Eye Disease-Compressive Optic Neuropathy (TED-CON) and evaluate the interreader agreement and intrareader reproducibility of the classification.

Subjects and methods

In this retrospective, observational study we included medical reports of 96 eyes (51 patients), who underwent VF testing with TED-CON in Ludwig-Maximilians-University (2008–2019). Two readers separately examined the VFs at the time of the TED-CON diagnosis, each offering two readings of the same VF in a time interval of 1 month. None of our patients were diagnosed with only VF testing. The visual field testing was only performed when the inclusion criteria for TED-CON were met.

Results

The most common VF defects upon TED-CON diagnosis were stage 1b defects in FT classification (34.4% for reader 1, 35.4% for reader 2), followed by stage 2b (10.4% for reader 1, 14.6% for reader 2), and stage 3 (10.4% for both readers).

The overall interreader agreement between 2 examiners was substantial for the first reading (69.8% agreement, kappa 0.635 (95% CI [0.525–0.745])) and moderate for the second reading (66.7% agreement, kappa 0.598 (95% CI [0.488–0.708])). The intrareader reproducibility ranged from substantial to almost perfect (78.1% agreement) between readings (kappa 0.736 (95%CI [0.638–0.834])) for reader 1 and 90.6% agreement (kappa 0.885 (95%CI [0.814–0.956])) for reader 2.

Conclusion

We found good BCVA (LogMAR ≤ 0.2), in nearly half of the cases (44 eyes, 45.8%) and also, strikingly near perfect visual acuity (BCVA LogMAR ≤0.1) in 22.9% of the cases (22 eyes) with TED-CON. We conclude that clinicians should be alert to VF defects in the inferior region (stage 1a/1b in the FT classification) even in patients with a good BCVA.
Modular synthesis of chiral 1,2-dihydropyridines via Mannich/Wittig/cycloisomerization sequence that internally reuses waste
Authors: Mu Bo-Shuai , Cui Xiao-Yuan , Zeng Xing-Ping , Yu Jin-Sheng , Zhou Jian
Published: April 2021

1,2-Dihydropyridines are valuable and reactive synthons, and particularly useful precursors to synthesize piperidines and pyridines that are among the most common structural components of pharmaceuticals. However, the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of structurally diverse 1,2-dihydropyridines is limited to enantioselective addition of nucleophiles to activated pyridines. Here, we report a modular organocatalytic Mannich/Wittig/cycloisomerization sequence as a flexible strategy to access chiral 1,2-dihydropyridines from N-Boc aldimines, aldehydes, and phosphoranes, using a chiral amine catalyst. The key step in this protocol, cycloisomerization of chiral N-Boc δ-amino α,β-unsaturated ketones recycles the waste to improve the yield. Specifically, recycling by-product water from imine formation to gradually release the true catalyst HCl via hydrolysis of SiCl4, whilst maintaining a low concentration of HCl to suppress side reactions, and reusing waste Ph3PO from the Wittig step to modulate the acidity of HCl. This approach allows facile access to enantioenriched 2-substituted, 2,3- or 2,6-cis-disubstituted, and 2,3,6-cis-trisubstituted piperidines.
Ion-exchange mechanisms and interfacial reaction kinetics during aqueous corrosion of sodium silicate glasses
Authors: Deng Lu , Miyatani Katsuaki , Suehara Michinori , Amma Shin-ichi , Ono Madoka , Urata Shingo , Du Jincheng
Published: April 2021

The ion-exchange and associated interfacial reaction mechanisms of silicate glasses are critical in elucidating their aqueous corrosion behaviors, surface modification and property changes, hence have potential impact on both science and technology. This work reports findings of the atomic and nanoscale details of the glass–water interfacial reactions revealed by applying reactive force field (ReaxFF) based molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, from which the key mechanisms of the ion exchange, as well as the kinetics of associated interfacial reactions, are elucidated. It was found that the Na+ and H+ ion exchange can happen between two oxygen ions on a single silicon oxygen tetrahedron or adjacent tetrahedra. In addition, the clustered reaction of two non-bridging oxygens mediated by an adjacent water molecule was also identified. The latter reaction might be the main mechanism of water transport after initial surface reactions that consume the non-bridging oxygen species on the surface. Water molecules thus can play two roles: as an intermediate during the proton transfer processes and as a terminator of the clustered reactions. Statistical analyses were performed to obtain reaction kinetics and the results show that silanol formation is a more favored process than the silanol re-formation within the first 3 ns of interfacial reactions. The results obtained thus shed lights on the complex ion-exchange mechanisms during glass hydration and enable more detailed understanding of the corrosion and glass–water interactions of silicate glasses.
Epidemiology, treatment patterns and healthcare utilizations in multiple sclerosis in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Chia-Yun , Ro Long-Sun , Chen Li-Ju , Chang Chun-Wei , Chang Kuo-Hsuan , Wu I-Hsuan , Lin Amy , Hsiao Fei-Yuan
Published: April 2021

“Real-world” data on the nationwide epidemiology and treatment patterns of multiple sclerosis (MS) is very scarce in Asia. This study is aim to evaluate the 10-years trends in epidemiology and treatment patterns of MS with Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD). Patients aged 20 years or older and were newly diagnosed with MS between 2007 and 2016 were identified. The crude incidences of MS were presented annually and stratified by sex and age. Baseline characteristics and treatment patterns, particularly disease-modifying drugs (DMDs), were also analyzed. This study included 555 MS patients (mean age was 36.9 and 74.4% were female). The crude incidence rate of MS decreased slightly from 0.43 per 100,000 persons in 2007 to 0.24 per 100,000 persons in 2015. The female to male ratios remained mainly between 2 to 3. Approximately 80% of MS patients received initial DMDs, with interferon β-1a as the dominant one. Furthermore, 37.5% of MS patients received subsequent DMDs, with fingolimod being the most frequently used. The median times from diagnosis to initial and to subsequent DMDs were 77 and 1239 days, respectively. This nationwide study provides up-to-date and sophisticated estimates of MS epidemiology and treatment pattern in “real-world” setting in Taiwan.
Association of sex differences in dementia risk factors with sex differences in memory decline in a population-based cohort spanning 20–76 years
Authors: Anstey Kaarin J. , Peters Ruth , Mortby Moyra E. , Kiely Kim M. , Eramudugolla Ranmalee , Cherbuin Nicolas , Huque Md Hamidul , Dixon Roger A.
Published: April 2021

Sex differences in late-life memory decline may be explained by sex differences in dementia risk factors. Episodic memory and dementia risk factors were assessed in young, middle-aged and older adults over 12 years in a population-based sample (N = 7485). For men in midlife and old age, physical, cognitive and social activities were associated with less memory decline, and financial hardship was associated with more. APOE e4 and vascular risk factors were associated with memory decline for women in midlife. Depression, cognitive and physical activity were associated with memory change in older women. Incident midlife hypertension (β = − 0.48, 95% CI − 0.87, − 0.09, p = 0.02) was associated with greater memory decline in women and incident late-life stroke accounted for greater memory decline in men (β = − 0.56, 95% CI − 1.12, − 0.01), p = 0.05). Women have fewer modifiable risk factors than men. Stroke and hypertension explained sex differences in memory decline for men and women respectively.