bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response of the mollusc communities to environmental factors along an anthropogenic salinity gradient
Authors: Sowa Agnieszka , Krodkiewska Mariola , Halabowski Dariusz , Lewin Iga
Published: November 2019

Anthropogenic salinisation of freshwater ecosystems is frequent across the world. The scale of this phenomenon remains unrecognised, and therefore, monitoring and management of such ecosystems is very important. We conducted a study on the mollusc communities in inland anthropogenic ponds covering a large gradient of salinity located in an area of underground coal mining activity. A total of 14 gastropod and 6 bivalve species were noted. No molluscs were found in waters with total dissolved solids (TDS) higher than 17.1 g L−1. The share of alien species in the communities was very high in waters with elevated salinity and significantly lower in the freshwaters. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that TDS, pH, alkalinity, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, iron, the content of organic matter in sediments, the type of substrate and the content of sand and gravel in sediments were the variables that were significantly associated with the distribution of molluscs. The regression analysis revealed that total mollusc density was positively related to alkalinity and negatively related to nitrate nitrogen. The taxa richness was negatively related to TDS, which is consistent with previous studies which indicated that a high salinity level is a significant threat to freshwater malacofauna, causing a loss of biodiversity and contributing to the colonisation and establishment of alien species in aquatic ecosystems.
Three-dimensional deformation time series of glacier motion from multiple-aperture DInSAR observation
Authors: Samsonov Sergey
Published: November 2019

The previously presented Multidimensional Small Baseline Subset (MSBAS-2D) technique computes two-dimensional (2D), east and vertical, ground deformation time series from two or more ascending and descending Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) data sets by assuming that the contribution of the north deformation component is negligible. DInSAR data sets can be acquired with different temporal and spatial resolutions, viewing geometries and wavelengths. The MSBAS-2D technique has previously been used for mapping deformation due to mining, urban development, carbon sequestration, permafrost aggradation and pingo growth, and volcanic activities. In the case of glacier ice flow, the north deformation component is often too large to be negligible. Historically, the surface-parallel flow (SPF) constraint was used to compute the static three-dimensional (3D) velocity field at various glaciers. A novel MSBAS-3D technique has been developed for computing 3D deformation time series where the SPF constraint is utilized. This technique is used for mapping 3D deformation at the Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, during January–March 2015, and the MSBAS-2D and MSBAS-3D solutions are compared. The MSBAS-3D technique can be used for studying glacier ice flow at other glaciers and other surface deformation processes with large north deformation component, such as landslides. The software implementation of MSBAS-3D technique can be downloaded from http://insar.ca/.
Constant length substitutions, iterated function systems and amorphic complexity
Authors: Fuhrmann Gabriel , Gröger Maik
Published: November 2019

We show how geometric methods from the general theory of fractal dimensions and iterated function systems can be deployed to study symbolic dynamics in the zero entropy regime. More precisely, we establish a dimensional characterization of the topological notion of amorphic complexity. For subshifts with discrete spectrum associated to constant length substitutions, this characterization allows us to derive bounds for the amorphic complexity by interpreting the subshift as the attractor of an iterated function system in a suitable quotient space. As a result, we obtain the general finiteness and positivity of amorphic complexity in this setting and provide a closed formula in case of a binary alphabet.
Three-dimensional imaging of podocyte ultrastructure using FE-SEM and FIB-SEM tomography
Authors: Miyaki Takayuki , Kawasaki Yuto , Hosoyamada Yasue , Amari Takashi , Kinoshita Mui , Matsuda Hironori , Kakuta Soichiro , Sakai Tatsuo , Ichimura Koichiro
Published: November 2019

Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells used for glomerular filtration in the kidney. They can be divided into the cell body, primary process and foot process. Here, we describe two useful methods for the three-dimensional(3D) visualization of these subcellular compartments in rodent podocytes. The first method, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with conductive staining, is used to visualize the luminal surface of numerous podocytes simultaneously. The second method, focused-ion beam SEM (FIB-SEM) tomography, allows the user to obtain serial images from different depths of field, or Z-stacks, of the glomerulus. This allows for the 3D reconstruction of podocyte ultrastructure, which can be viewed from all angles, from a single image set. This is not possible with conventional FE-SEM. The different advantages and disadvantages of FE-SEM and FIB-SEM tomography compensate for the weaknesses of the other. The combination renders a powerful approach for the 3D analysis of podocyte ultrastructure. As a result, we were able to identify a new subcellular compartment of podocytes, “ridge-like prominences” (RLPs).
Expression and activity of hyaluronidases HYAL-1, HYAL-2 and HYAL-3 in the human intervertebral disc
Authors: Krupkova Olga , Greutert Helen , Boos Norbert , Lemcke Johannes , Liebscher Thomas , Wuertz-Kozak Karin
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Hyaluronic acid plays an essential role in water retention of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and thus provides flexibility and shock absorbance in the spine. Hyaluronic acid gets degraded by hyaluronidases (HYALs), and some of the resulting fragments were previously shown to induce an inflammatory and catabolic response in human IVD cells. However, no data currently exist on the expression and activity of HYALs in IVD health and disease.

Methods

Gene expression, protein expression and activity of HYALs were determined in human IVD biopsies with different degrees of degeneration (n = 50 total). Furthermore, freshly isolated human IVD cells (n = 23 total) were stimulated with IL-1β, TNF-α or H2O2, followed by analysis of HYAL-1, HYAL-2 and HYAL-3 gene expression.

Results

Gene expression of HYAL-1 and protein expression of HYAL-2 significantly increased in moderate/severe disc samples when compared to samples with no or low IVD degeneration. HYAL activity was not significantly increased due to high donor–donor variation, but seemed overall higher in the moderate/severe group. An inflammatory environment, as seen during IVD disease, did not affect HYAL-1, HYAL-2 or HYAL-3 expression, whereas exposure to oxidative stress (100 µM H2O2) upregulated HYAL-2 expression relative to untreated controls.

Conclusion

Although HYAL-1, HYAL-2 and HYAL-3 are all expressed in the IVD, HYAL-2 seems to have the highest pathophysiological relevance. Nonetheless, further studies will be needed to comprehensively elucidate its significance and to determine its potential as a therapeutic target.

Graphic abstract

These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Lurasidone compared to other atypical antipsychotic monotherapies for adolescent schizophrenia: a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Arango Celso , Ng-Mak Daisy , Finn Elaine , Byrne Aidan , Loebel Antony
Published: November 2019

This network meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and tolerability of lurasidone versus other oral atypical antipsychotic monotherapies in adolescent schizophrenia. A systematic literature review identified 13 randomized controlled trials of antipsychotics in adolescents with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. A Bayesian network meta-analysis compared lurasidone to aripiprazole, asenapine, clozapine, olanzapine, paliperidone extended-release (ER), quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone. Outcomes included Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S), weight gain, all-cause discontinuation, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and akathisia. Results were reported as median differences for continuous outcomes and odds ratios (ORs) for binary outcomes, along with 95% credible intervals (95% CrI). Lurasidone was significantly more efficacious than placebo on the PANSS (− 7.95, 95% CrI − 11.76 to − 4.16) and CGI-S (− 0.44, 95% CrI − 0.67 to − 0.22) scores. Lurasidone was associated with similar weight gain to placebo and statistically significantly less weight gain versus olanzapine (− 3.62 kg, 95% CrI − 4.84 kg to − 2.41 kg), quetiapine (− 2.13 kg, 95% CrI − 3.20 kg to − 1.08 kg), risperidone (− 1.16 kg, 95% CrI − 2.14 kg to − 0.17 kg), asenapine (− 0.98 kg, 95% CrI − 1.71 kg to − 0.24 kg), and paliperidone ER (− 0.85 kg, 95% CrI − 1.57 kg to − 0.14 kg). The odds of all-cause discontinuation were significantly lower for lurasidone than aripiprazole (OR = 0.28, 95% CrI 0.10–0.76) and paliperidone ER (OR = 0.25, 95% CrI 0.08–0.81) and comparable to other antipsychotics. Rates of EPS and akathisia were similar for lurasidone and other atypical antipsychotics. In this network meta-analysis of atypical antipsychotics in adolescent schizophrenia, lurasidone was associated with similar efficacy, less weight gain, and lower risk of all-cause discontinuation compared to other oral atypical antipsychotics.
Increased substantia nigra echogenicity correlated with visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease: a Chinese population-based study
Authors: Li Ting , Shi Jing , Qin Bin , Fan Dongsheng , Liu Na , Ni Jingnian , Zhang Tianqing , Zhou Hufang , Xu Xiaoqing , Wei Mingqing , Zhang Xuekai , Wang Xiangzhu , Liu Jianping , Wang Yongyan , Tian Jinzhou
Published: November 2019

As a noninvasive technique, transcranial sonography (TCS) of substantia nigra (SN) has gradually showed its effectiveness not only in diagnosis but also in understanding clinical features of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This study aimed to further evaluate TCS for clinical diagnosis of PD, and to explore the association between sonographic manifestations and visual hallucinations (VH). A total of 226 subjects including 141 PD patients and 85 controls were recruited. All participants received TCS. A series of rating scales to evaluate motor and non-motor symptoms were performed in PD patients. Results showed that 172 subjects were successfully assessed by TCS. The area of SN was greater in PD patients than that in controls (P< 0.001). As receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed, the best cutoff value for the larger SN echogenicity size was 23.5 mm2(sensitivity 70.3%, specificity 77.0%). Patients with VH had larger SN area (P= 0.019), as well as higher Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) scores (P= 0.018). Moreover, binary logistic regression analysis indicated that SN hyperechogenicity (odds ratio = 4.227,P= 0.012) and NMSS scores (odds ratio = 0.027,P= 0.042) could be the independent predictors for VH. In conclusion, TCS can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for Parkinson’s disease. Increased SN echogenicity is correlated with VH in Parkinson’s disease, possibly because the brain stem is involved in the mechanism in the onset of VH. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Perceived employability and ability self among Finnish university students
Authors: Räty Hannu , Hytti Ulla , Kasanen Kati , Komulainen Katri , Siivonen Päivi , Kozlinska Inna
Published: November 2019

Employability is an increasing concern for university students. Our survey set out to examine university students’ perceptions of their employability and the ways in which these perceptions relate to positions that subsequently connect students to working life: students’ self-representational position or “ability self”, and students’ life-historical positions such as chosen field of study, phase of degree and working life experience. The participants comprised a sample of students (N = 1819) from two Finnish universities, representing diverse fields of study. It was found that apart from the field of study, the perceived proximity to graduation and working life was associated with the perception of employability. Furthermore, a set of self-attributed capabilities was associated with students’ perceptions of employability, particularly extroversion, ambitious competitiveness, mental strength and the desired characteristics of a good employee; however, the attribution of academic skills showed opposing effects. It was concluded that both self-representational and live-historical positions are part of the construction of students’ optimism regarding their employability.
Metabolic transcriptional analysis on copper tolerance in moderate thermophilic bioleaching microorganismAcidithiobacillus caldus
Authors: Feng Shoushuai , Hou Shaoxiang , Cui Yaquan , Tong Yanjun , Yang Hailin
Published: November 2019

Bioleaching, an alternative environmental smelting technology, typically uses high concentrations of heavy metal ions, especially in the subsequent phase, due to metal ion accumulation from the mineral. In this study, we analyzed the overall response of the bioleaching microorganism Acidithiobacillus caldus to copper stress through physiological and transcriptomic analyses. Scanning electron microscopy results showed higher extracellular polymeric substances secretion and cell aggregation under copper stress. Intracellular levels of glutamic acid, glycine and cysteine increased, favoring the synthesis of glutathione for maintenance of the oxidation–reduction state. GSH, during copper stress conditions, the activity of GSH-PX and CAT increased, resulting in reduced oxidative damage while maintaining stable intracellular pH. Higher unsaturated and cyclopropane fatty acid levels resulted in increased membrane fluidity and compactness and decreased ATP levels to support the energy requirements for stress resistance. Initially, H+-ATPase activity increased to provide energy for proton output and decreased later at higher copper ion stress. From transcriptome analysis, 140 genes were differentially expressed under low copper stress (1 g/L), while 250 genes exhibited altered transcriptional levels at higher copper stress (3 g/L). These differentially expressed genes were involved primarily in metabolic pathways such as energy metabolism, two-component systems, amino acid metabolism, and signal transduction. The Sox family cluster gene cluster involved in the conversion of thiosulfate to sulfate was upregulated in the sulfur metabolism pathway. In the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, genes participating in the synthesis of NADH oxidoreductase and cytochrome c oxidase, nuoL, cyoABD (cyoA, cyoB and cyoD) and cydAB (cydA and cydB), were downregulated. The TCS element ompR, closely associated with the osmotic pressure, exhibited active response, while Cu2+ efflux system gene cusRS was upregulated. In the amino acid metabolism, the glnA involved in nitrogen fixation was upregulated and promoted the synthesis of glutamine synthetase for reducing excessive oxidative stress. This study provides new insights into the mechanism underlying A. caldus response to heavy-metal ion stress under harsh bioleaching conditions.
Current and Future Directions of Stem Cell Therapy for Bladder Dysfunction
Authors: Shin Jung Hyun , Ryu Chae-Min , Yu Hwan Yeul , Shin Dong-Myung , Choo Myung-Soo
Published: November 2019

Stem cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into a range of cell types and promote the release of chemokines and progenitor cells necessary for tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent progenitor cells with enhanced proliferation and differentiation capabilities and less tumorigenicity than conventional adult stem cells; these cells are also easier to acquire. Bladder dysfunction is often chronic in nature with limited treatment modalities due to its undetermined pathophysiology. Most treatments focus on symptom alleviation rather than pathognomonic changes repair. The potential of stem cell therapy for bladder dysfunction has been reported in preclinical models for stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, detrusor underactivity, and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Despite these findings, however, stem cell therapy is not yet available for clinical use. Only one pilot study on detrusor underactivity and a handful of clinical trials on stress urinary incontinence have reported the effects of stem cell treatment. This limitation may be due to stem cell function loss following ex vivo expansion, poor in vivo engraftment or survival after transplantation, or a lack of understanding of the precise mechanisms of action underlying therapeutic outcomes and in vivo behavior of stem cells administered to target organs. Efficacy comparisons with existing treatment modalities are also needed for the successful clinical application of stem cell therapies. This review describes the current status of stem cell research on treating bladder dysfunction and suggests future directions to facilitate clinical applications of this promising treatment modality, particularly for bladder dysfunction.
Screening of lactic starter from Tunisian fermented vegetables and application for the improvement of caper (Capparis spinosa) fermentation through an experimental factorial design
Authors: Ziadi Manel , Bouzaiene Taroub , Lakhal Samia , Zaafouri Kaouther , Massoudi Soumaya , Dousset Xavier , Hamdi Mokhtar
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This study aims at designing a lactic starter for caper fermentation isolated from Tunisian fermented vegetables to improve the process and produce consistent and high-quality product.

Methods

In this study, the lactic starter was isolated by exploring the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of Tunisian artisanal fermented vegetables. Identification was carried out by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Screening was based on salt tolerance and antagonistic activities against Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 10541. Caper fermentation was optimized through a full factorial experimental design (23), by exploring three factors: starter inoculum size, NaCl concentration, and acetate content. Differences in pH values, Total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and LAB counts between the beginning and end of fermentation are selected as responses and corresponding regression coefficients were calculated.

Results

The lactic microbiota is mainly represented by Lactobacillus plantarum group. Based on salt tolerance and antimicrobial activity, the strain Lactobacillus plantarum F3 was selected as starter for caper fermentation. The effect of NaCl concentration, acetate content, and inoculum size on acidity, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count, and LAB count after 1 week and 1 month of caper fermentation was studied. Depending on the fermentation time, either 1 week or 1 month, the initial conditions should comprise 0% acetate, 108 CFU/mL inoculum, and 5% NaCl for 1 week against 5% acetate, 107 CFU/mL inoculum, and 10% NaCl for 1 month lasting caper fermentation. A protocol for caper fermentation was set up ensuring hygienic quality and LAB viability.

Conclusion

Lb. plantarum F3 was selected as lactic starter for caper fermentation, and initial fermentation conditions were optimized through a full factorial design. This work has shown loss in LAB viability after 1 week of fermentation. Based on results obtained, an optimized fermentation protocol was set up. This protocol ensures LAB survival and high hygienic quality of the product.
Immigration and the Wage Distribution in the United States
Authors: Lin Ken-Hou , Weiss Inbar
Published: November 2019

This article assesses the connection between immigration and wage inequality in the United States. Departing from the focus on how the average wages of different native groups respond to immigration, we examine how immigrants shape the overall wage distribution. Despite evidence indicating that an increased presence of low-skilled immigrants is associated with losses at the lower end of wage distribution, we do not observe a similar result between high-skilled immigrants and natives at the upper end. Instead, the presence of foreign-born workers, whether high- or low-skilled, is associated with substantial gains for high-wage natives, particularly those at the very top. Consequently, increased immigration is associated with greater wage dispersion.
A survey of traditional and deep learning-based feature descriptors for high dimensional data in computer vision
Authors: Georgiou Theodoros , Liu Yu , Chen Wei , Lew Michael
Published: November 2019

Higher dimensional data such as video and 3D are the leading edge of multimedia retrieval and computer vision research. In this survey, we give a comprehensive overview and key insights into the state of the art of higher dimensional features from deep learning and also traditional approaches. Current approaches are frequently using 3D information from the sensor or are using 3D in modeling and understanding the 3D world. With the growth of prevalent application areas such as 3D games, self-driving automobiles, health monitoring and sports activity training, a wide variety of new sensors have allowed researchers to develop feature description models beyond 2D. Although higher dimensional data enhance the performance of methods on numerous tasks, they can also introduce new challenges and problems. The higher dimensionality of the data often leads to more complicated structures which present additional problems in both extracting meaningful content and in adapting it for current machine learning algorithms. Due to the major importance of the evaluation process, we also present an overview of the current datasets and benchmarks. Moreover, based on more than 330 papers from this study, we present the major challenges and future directions.
Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 5a: a novel biomarker regulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Xu Wei , Geng Houfa , Liu Xuekui , Wang Xiuli , Li Rui , Lv Qian , Liu Yin , Wang Jie , Yang Manqing , Jones Peter M. , Liang Jun
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is sustained by insulin resistance (IR) and reduced β-cell mass, which is largely due to insulin secretory dysfunction. Wnt5a protein is essential to islet formation and β-cell migration in the development of pancreas in vertebrates. Levels of the Wnt5a protein antagonist plasma secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5) were elevated in patients with T2DM. However, the association between Wnt5a, T2DM patients and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unknown. We aim to investigate the circulating Wnt5a levels in in different clinical stages of T2DM and evaluate its correlation of duration of diabetes mellitus chronic complication.

Methods

A total of 329 participants (187 males, 142 females; age range 40 to 80 years) were enrolled in this study. Serum Wnt5a levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The demographic and clinical parameters evaluated in subjects with new onset T2DM, onset T2DM after treatment and DKD at different clinical phases.

Results

Wnt5a was significantly down-regulated in newly diagnosed T2DM patients and gradually increased after 3 months of treatment. Interesting, serum wnt5a was gradually increased in patients with long-term diabetes and kidney disease compared to patients with T2DM and onset DKD.

Conclusions

We speculated that the Wnt5a protein might regulate islet function and be involved in the onset of diabetes as a protective factor. It may be one of the inflammatory factors adversely involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy.
Kangaroo mother care practice, knowledge, and perception among NICU nurses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Shehri Hassan , Binmanee Abdulaziz
Published: November 2019

Background:

The imapct of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in neonates is positively reported in the literature. However, several challenges hindered the wide-scale application of this practice.

Objectives:

To assess the levels of knowledge and competency of kangaroo mother care (KMC) among nurses and to identify the potential barriers to practice.

Methodology:

Structured web-based questionnaires were submitted to nurses working at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants were asked to answer 23 questions distributed in four main domains, namely, demographic data, knowledge about KMC, practice levels, and barriers to KMC practice. For answers to the knowledge and barriers to practice domains, the mean scores (standard deviations) were calculated to present participants' perceptions and beliefs from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Results:

Two hundred nine NICU nurses responded (95.2% females, 89.5% working in a government hospital, 69.9% obtained a Bachelor's degree). The majority of respondents perceived KMC as promoting maternal-infant bonding (4.47 ± 1.3) and enhancing successful breastfeeding (4.44 ± 0.9), while there were considerable uncertainties about KMC application in infants weighing < 1000 g (2.21 ± 1.2). Most of the nurses encouraged parents to perform KMC (92.8%) and provided sufficient information to optimize practice (90%). However, several barriers were apparent, including fear of accidental extubation, lack of time due to workload, familial reluctance to initiate KMC, and lack of privacy during KMC practice.

Conclusion:

There is reasonable knowledge among NICU nurses, and most of them are actively engaged in practice. There is an urgent need to address the reported barriers through the implementation of clear practice guidelines, provision of suitable educational programs, optimization of staff numbers, and financial support for the development of areas conducive to KMC.
A systematic review of the use of virtual reality and its effects on cognition in individuals with neurocognitive disorders
Authors: Moreno Alexander , Wall Kylie Janine , Thangavelu Karthick , Craven Lucas , Ward Emma , Dissanayaka Nadeeka N.
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Virtual reality (VR) interventions are increasingly used in individuals with brain injuries. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of VR on overall cognitive functioning in individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs).

Methods

Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, a systematic review of the published literature on immersive and nonimmersive VR technologies targeting cognition in minor and major NCDs was conducted: (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019121953).

Results

A total of 22 studies were included in the review, for an aggregated sample of 564 individuals with NCDs. Most of the studies were conducted on patients who had stroke (27.3%), followed by mild cognitive impairment (22.7%) and Alzheimer's disease (13.6%). VR interventions used for cognitive rehabilitation suggested to improve cognition (e.g. memory, dual tasking, and visual attention), and secondarily to psychological functioning (e.g. reduction of anxiety, higher levels of well‐being, and increased use of coping strategies).

Conclusion

VR interventions are useful to improve cognition and psychological symptoms in NCDs.
Feasibility of an at‐home, web‐based, interactive exercise program for older adults
Authors: Feng Nicole C. , Ryan Eliza , Kidane Mhretab , Tusch Erich S. , McFeeley Brittany M. , Carlsson Roger , Mohammed Abdul H. , Håkansson Krister , Daffner Kirk R.
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Increased physical exercise is linked to enhanced brain health and reduced dementia risk. Exercise intervention studies usually are conducted at facilities in groups under trainer supervision. To improve scalability, accessibility, and engagement, programs may need to be structured such that individuals can execute and adjust routines in their own homes.

Methods

One hundred eighty‐three healthy older adults from two sites (the United States and Sweden) were screened. One hundred fifty‐six subjects (mean age 73.2), randomly assigned to one of four interventions (PACE‐Yourself physical exercise program, mindfulness meditation, or Cogmed® adaptive or nonadaptive computerized working memory training) began the study. All interventions were structurally similar: occurring in subjects' homes using interactive, web‐based software, over five weeks, ∼175 minutes/week. In the PACE‐Yourself program, video segments presented aerobic exercises at different pace and intensity (P&I). The program paused frequently, allowing subjects to indicate whether P&I was “too easy,” “too hard,” or “somewhat hard.” P&I of the subsequent exercise set was adjusted, allowing subjects to exercise at a perceived exertion level of “somewhat hard.” Program completion was defined as finishing ≥60% of sessions.

Results

A high percentage of participants in all groups completed the program, although the number (86%) was slightly lower in the PACE‐Yourself group than the other three. Excluding dropouts, the PACE‐Yourself group had a lower adherence rate of 93%, compared with the other three (∼98%). Over the five weeks, PACE‐Yourself participants increased exercising at the highest intensity level, consistent with augmented aerobic activity over time. The number of exercise sessions completed predicted the postintervention versus preintervention increase in self‐reported level of physical activity.

Discussion

This study supports the feasibility of a home‐based, subject‐controlled, exercise program in which P&I is regulated via real‐time participant feedback, which may promote self‐efficacy. Further study is needed to determine if similar results are found over longer periods and in more diverse populations.
A Study of Variation of the 11-yr Solar Cycle before the onset of the Spoerer Minimum based on Annually measured 14C Content in tree Rings
Authors: Moriya Toru , Miyahara Hiroko , Ohyama Motonari , Hakozaki Masataka , Takeyama Mirei , Sakurai Hirohisa , Tokanai Fuyuki
Published: November 2019

Proxy-based observations of solar activity in the past have revealed long-term variations, such as the Gleissberg cycle (~88 yr), de Vries cycle (~200 yr), and the Hallstatt cycle (~2000 yr). Such long-term variations of solar activity sometimes cause the disappearance of sunspots for several decades. Currently, solar activity is becoming weaker, and there is a possibility that another long-term sunspot minimum could occur. However, the detailed mechanism of the weakening in solar activity is unknown, and the prediction of solar activity is ambiguous. In this study, we investigate the transitions of solar cycle length before the onset of the Spoerer Minimum, the longest grand minimum in the past 2000 yr. We measured the 14C content in an asunaro tree (Thujopsis dolabrata) excavated at Shimokita Peninsula from 1368–1420 CE using the compact AMS system at Yamagata University. It is found that the solar cycle lengthened to be 14–16 yr from 2 cycles before the onset of the Spoerer Minimum.
Manatee habitat characterization using side-scan sonar
Authors: McLarty Mindy J. , Gonzalez-Socoloske Daniel , Alvarez-Alemán Anmari , Angulo-Valdés Jorge
Published: November 2019

Identifying benthic substrates is important to researchers studying aquatic organisms in fresh and salt water systems. Benthic substrates are often not visible from the surface making it necessary to find another method to gather these data. Previous research has demonstrated that low cost side-scan sonar is a reliable way to identify hard substrates, such as rock and gravel, in a small, freshwater stream. In this study, the reliability of the side-scan sonar to accurately identify softer substrates such as grass and mud was tested in a large, brackish lagoon system. A total area of 11.55 km2 was surveyed with the sonar. Videos and pictures were taken at various points to groundtruth the sonar images and provide a measure of accuracy. Five substrate types were identified: dense seagrass, sparse seagrass, mangrove soil, mangrove soil with rock, and silt. Unidentifiable substrates were classified as unknown. A manually zoned benthic substrate map was created from the sonar recordings. Dense seagrass was most accurately identified. Sparse seagrass was the least accurately identified. A bathymetric map was also created from the sonar recordings.
Fifty years of tagging skates (Rajidae): using mark-recapture data to evaluate stock units
Authors: Bird C. , Burt G. J. , Hampton N. , McCully Phillips S. R. , Ellis J. R.
Published: November 2019

Despite increased focus on ascertaining the status of elasmobranch fish, the stock units for many species are uncertain. Data from mark-recapture tagging studies undertaken from 1959–2017 were analysed for 13 batoid species. Data were most comprehensive for skates (Rajidae), with 22,374 released and 3342 (14.9%) returned. Most data related to thornback ray Raja clavata, blonde ray R. brachyura and spotted ray R. montagui. Tags were generally returned from areas less than 50 km from their release, and usually from the ICES Division in which they were released. However, straight-line distances travelled of up to 910 km (R. brachyura) and 772 km (R. clavata) were recorded, highlighting that individual skates are capable of longer-distance movements. The maximum time at liberty was 16.6 years (R. clavata). Whilst mark-recapture data indicated that the current stock units used by ICES are broadly appropriate, southward movements of several skate species tagged off Northern Ireland (Division 6.a) to the Irish Sea (Division 7.a) were observed. In contrast, skates tagged in the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel (Division 7.f) generally remained in that area, with only occasional recaptures from Division 6.a.
PROCESSING VARIABILITY IN INTENTIONAL AND INCIDENTAL WORD LEARNING
Authors: Hui Bronson
Published: November 2019

I investigated the trajectory of processing variability, as measured by coefficient of variation (CV), using an intentional word learning experiment and reanalyzing published eye-tracking data of an incidental word learning study (Elgort et al., 2018). In the word learning experiment, native English speakers (N = 35) studied Swahili-English word pairs (k = 16) before performing 10 blocks of animacy judgment tasks. Results replicated the initial CV increase reported in Solovyeva and DeKeyser (2018) and, importantly, captured a roughly inverted U-shaped development in CV. In the reanalysis of eye-tracking data, I computed CVs based on reading times on the target and control words. Results did not reveal a similar inverted U-shaped development over time but suggested more stable processing of the high-frequency control words. Taken together, these results uncovered a fuller trajectory in CV development, differences in processing demands for different aspects of word knowledge, and the potential use of CV with eye-tracking research.
Steady states and dynamics of a thin-film-type equation with non-conserved mass
Authors: JI HANGJIE , WITELSKI THOMAS P.
Published: November 2019

We study the steady states and dynamics of a thin-film-type equation with non-conserved mass in one dimension. The evolution equation is a non-linear fourth-order degenerate parabolic partial differential equation (PDE) motivated by a model of volatile viscous fluid films allowing for condensation or evaporation. We show that by changing the sign of the non-conserved flux and breaking from a gradient flow structure, the problem can exhibit novel behaviours including having two distinct classes of co-existing steady-state solutions. Detailed analysis of the bifurcation structure for these steady states and their stability reveals several possibilities for the dynamics. For some parameter regimes, solutions can lead to finite-time rupture singularities. Interestingly, we also show that a finite-amplitude limit cycle can occur as a singular perturbation in the nearly conserved limit.
Linking women-led community kitchens to school food programmes: lessons learned from the Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Children intervention in Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
Authors: Ghattas Hala , Choufani Jowel , Jamaluddine Zeina , Masterson Amelia Reese , Sahyoun Nadine R
Published: November 2019

Objective:

Decades of marginalization have led Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon to experience multigenerational poverty and food insecurity. The Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Children programme implemented and examined the impact of a two-pronged intervention that employed women through community kitchens to deliver a subsidized healthy daily school snack to elementary-school children in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. We describe the rationale, study design, theorized impact pathways, and discuss lessons learned.

Design:

The programme was quasi-experimental. We conducted formative and process evaluation of both components of the intervention to elucidate the pathways to programme impact.

Setting:

Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

Participants:

Thirty-three women participated in the kitchens and provided subsidized snacks to 714 children.

Results:

Snacks were healthy, traditional Palestinian recipes designed by women and a nutritionist. Participation fluctuated but eventually increased after modifying the meals to ensure acceptability by children. The main challenges to sustainability related to the need for subsidization of the meals and the lack of school policies around the regulation of sales of school food, which together led to fluctuations in programme participation.

Conclusions:

The study provides lessons learned on the potential of this model to improve the human capital of two generations of protracted refugees. The availability of schools as a constant market for these social enterprises offers an opportunity for sustainable livelihood generation and food security gains. Challenges to sustainability remain and could be addressed through social (subsidies to support the programme) and structural (policies to restrict unhealthy food sales) measures.
The bio-habitable zone and atmospheric properties for planets of red dwarfs
Authors: Wandel A. , Gale J.
Published: November 2019

The Kepler data show that habitable small planets orbiting Red Dwarf stars (RDs) are abundant, and hence might be promising targets to look at for biomarkers and life. Planets orbiting within the habitable zone of RDs are close enough to be tidally locked. Some recent works have cast doubt on the ability of planets orbiting RDs to support life. In contrast, it is shown that temperatures suitable for liquid water and even for organic molecules may exist on tidally locked planets (TLPs) of RDs for a wide range of atmospheres. We chart the surface temperature distribution as a function of the irradiation, greenhouse factor and heat circulation. The habitability boundaries and their dependence on the atmospheric properties are derived. By extending our previous analyses of TLPs, we find that tidally locked as well as synchronous (not completely locked) planets of RDs and K-type stars may support life, for a wider range of orbital distance and atmospheric conditions than previously thought. In particular, it is argued that life clement environments may be possible on tidally locked and synchronously orbiting planets of RDs and K-type stars, with conditions supporting oxygenic photosynthesis, which on Earth was a key to complex life. Different climate projections and the biological significance of tidal locking on putative complex life are reviewed. We show that when the effect ofcontinuousradiation is taken into account, the photo-synthetically active radiation available on TLPs, even of RDs, could produce a high-potential plant productivity, in analogy to mid-summer growth at high latitudes on Earth. Awaiting the findings of TESS and JWST, we discuss the implications of the above arguments to the detection of biomarkers such as liquid water and oxygen, as well as to the abundance of biotic planets and life.
Filling the Gaps in Ocean Maps
Authors: Liu Xiaoming , Wang Menghua
Published: November 2019

A new software application merges ocean color data from instruments aboard two satellites to provide gap-free, near-real-time monitoring of the global ocean environment.
Lethal Volcanic Gases at an Italian Country Club
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: November 2019

High levels of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide emitted by volcanic outgassing caused a deadly accident near Rome, Italy, in 2011, geoscientists have shown.
Integrating Global Seagrass and Mangrove Ecosystem Observations
Authors: Duffy J. Emmett , Rebelo Lisa , Miloslavich Patricia
Published: November 2019

Coordinating the Implementation of Mangrove and Seagrass Essential Observations: A joint GOOS/MBON community outreach workshop to implement EOV/EBVs (Sea Plants Workshop), Consortium for Ocean Leadership; Washington, D.C., 10–11 June 2019
Some Communities Feel the Effects of Air Pollution More Than Others
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: November 2019

A new study compares exposure to power plant emissions among communities based on race, income, and geography. Black Americans are most at risk.
Transient Response of MJO Precipitation and Circulation to Greenhouse Gas Forcing
Authors: Bui Hien X. , Maloney Eric D.
Published: November 2019

Recent studies have shown that Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) precipitation anomaly amplitude tends to increase while associated circulations weaken at the end of 21st century in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 models under Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5. Transient changes of MJO characteristics earlier in the 21st century have received less attention. In this study, changes of MJO precipitation and circulation amplitude during these interim time periods under Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 are examined in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 models. Multimodel mean changes in MJO precipitation and circulation amplitude are not individually detectable in the early and middle 21st century relative to the historical period (1986–2005). However, robust multimodel mean decreases in the ratio of MJO wind to precipitation anomalies occur even early in the 21st century. This decreased ratio is explained by increasingly large tropical static stability as the climate warms, which under weak temperature gradient balance mandates that a diabatic heating anomaly is balanced by an increasingly weaker circulation anomaly. These results suggest the robustness of weak temperature gradient theory for explaining MJO dynamics, not only in an equilibrium climate but also in the transient response.
Ancient Refertilization Process Preserved in the Plagioclase Peridotites: An Example From the Shuanggou Ophiolite, Southwest China
Authors: Hu Wen‐Jun , Zhong Hong , Chu Zhu‐Yin , Zhu Wei‐Guang , Bai Zhong‐Jie , Zhang Chang
Published: November 2019

Petrology, geochemistry, platinum group elements (PGEs: Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, and Pd), and Re‐Os isotope data of harzburgites and plagioclase lherzolites from the Shuanggou ophiolite (southwest China) are presented in this study, in order to determine whether ancient refertilization process can be preserved in ophiolitic plagioclase peridotites. The harzburgites in the Shuanggou ophiolite are divided into two groups: (1) the Group‐1 harzburgites have 187Os/188Os ratios (0.12297–0.12727) and PGE abundances similar to those of oceanic peridotites, thereby representing the convecting upper mantle; (2) the Group‐2 harzburgites have extremely low 187Os/188Os ratios (0.11307–0.11651) with considerable fractionation in iridium group PGEs (Os, Ir, and Ru), indicative of an ancient refractory mantle in the oceanic lithosphere. The plagioclase lherzolites were formed by melt impregnation of the Group‐2 harzburgites, according to the PGE compositions and the petrographic features. However, the large Os isotope difference between the lherzolites (187Os/188Os: 0.12470–0.12666) and the Group‐2 harzburgites indicates that the refertilization process took place much earlier than the exhumation of the mantle at 0.4 Ga. In addition, clinopyroxene composition suggests that the percolating melt is different from the Shuanggou diabases and typical mid‐ocean ridge basalts. This study therefore demonstrates that some plagioclase lherzolites possibly were not related to mantle exhumation beneath the spreading center but formed by much older melt impregnation processes in the mantle instead.
High Pressure‐Temperature Study on the Thermal Equations of State of Seifertite andCaCl2‐Type SiO2
Authors: Sun Ningyu , Shi Weigang , Mao Zhu , Zhou Cijin , Prakapenka Vitali B.
Published: November 2019

In this study, we have determined the thermal equations of state (EoS) of CaCl2‐type SiO2 and seifertite (α‐PbO2‐type SiO2) from 55 to 147 GPa up to 3500 K using X‐ray diffraction in laser‐heated diamond anvil cells. The phase transition from stishovite to CaCl2‐type SiO2 is in good agreement with previous experimental results, whereas the transition from CaCl2‐type SiO2 to seifertite was observed to strongly rely on the starting material. For CaCl2‐type SiO2, we obtained a bulk modulus, KT0 = 245(7) GPa with a fixed KT′ = 4, V0 = 48.1(2) Å3, γ0 = 1.3(3), q = 1(fixed), and θD0 = 1100(400) K. Seifertite has a greater KT0 = 290(10) GPa (KT′ = 4 fixed) than CaCl2‐type SiO2. Other thermoelastic parameters of seifertite are V0 = 92.3(5) Å3, γ0 = 1.6(2), q = 1 (fixed), and θD0 = 1600(200) K. Using the obtained results and phase boundary in previous studies, we have found that the phase transition from stishovite to CaCl2‐type SiO2 cannot cause a noticeable change in density but can lower the bulk sound velocity (VФ) by ~10%. This phase transition in the subducted oceanic crust with 20 vol.% SiO2 was estimated to generate a ~2% discontinuity in VФ, which could be related to the observed seismic velocity anomalies at depths of 1,400–1,800 km. At the bottom of the lower mantle, CaCl2‐type SiO2 to seifertite phase transition can lead to a 0.3% jump in ρ and a 0.8% jump in VΦ considering 20 vol.% SiO2 in the subducted mid‐ocean ridge basalt, which may contribute to the formation of the D″ discontinuity above the core‐mantle boundary.
Insights From Micromechanical Modeling of Intact Rock Failure: Event Characteristics, Stress Drops, and Force Networks
Authors: van der Baan Mirko , Chorney Drew
Published: November 2019

We use a bonded‐particle method to investigate event characteristics, b values, internal force distributions, and stress drops in triaxial deformation tests. We simulate brittle through ductile deformation regimes. We find the following: (1) Event rates are proportional to anelastic axial strain: (i) significant and accelerating events rates only occur near peak stress (brittle deformation); (ii) event rates gradually increase until the anelastic strain plateaus (ductile deformation). (2) b value patterns show a systematic decrease when approaching peak stress, after which (i) they increase again (brittle case) or (ii) reach a constant minimum (ductile case). A decrease in b values is indicative of progressive internal damage, with an increasing event rate. (3) Weak‐ and strong‐force networks exist within the sample. Macrofailure of the sample occurs due to collapse of the strong‐force network. Acoustic emissions predominantly occur (i) within the weak‐force network allowing for tensile crack opening and closing despite the large compressive external stresses, and (ii) in areas with the largest spatial force gradients, close to the strong‐force networks. All internal compressive and extensional normal forces display exponential distributions despite uniform boundary stresses. (4) Stress drops of the largest events are inversely proportional to peak stress; the largest stress drops occur for brittle failure, progressively approaching a zero magnitude for ductile deformation. The systemic correlations between b values, the number of acoustic emissions, and stress drops with the maximum principal stress may offer opportunities to invert for changes in the stress state from these remote observables during earthquake cycles.