bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equality law obligations in higher education: reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 in assessment of students with unseen disabilities
Authors: Cameron Harriet , Coleman Bryan , Hervey Tamara , Rahman Sabrina , Rostant Philip
Published: March 2019

8% of UK students have an ‘unseen disability’: a specific learning difficulty, autistic spectrum condition, or mental ill health. A department with 1000 students has, on average, 80 students with such unseen disabilities. These students have a variety of potential sources of legal redress if they consider a university has failed properly to accommodate their disability. The most plausible is a claim under the Equality Act 2010. We have experienced a lack of clarity in understanding the nature and extent of those Equality Act entitlements, and the corresponding obligations that fall upon universities, and their staff. These confusions occur in many contexts, but the one that is most important to students is their entitlements where assessments are concerned. We set out to explain the relevant law, and to consider how it applies to some, perhaps typical, unseen disabilities in the context of a range of approaches taken by universities in assessing their students. Our principal and important conclusion is that there is no ‘quick fix’ approach according to which someone may say that they are Equality Act compliant. However, there are several considerations which will increase (or decrease) the likelihood of compliance. In brief, these constitute: effective communication; procedures that secure individual decisions, rather than blanket policies or approaches; and what amounts to no more than good inclusive educational practice for all students.
Indigeneity, Dissent, and Solidarity: Māori and Strikes in the Meat Industry inAotearoaNew Zealand During the Long 1970s
Authors: Boraman Toby
Published: March 2019

Studies of indigenous workers’ resistance focus largely on rural workers. In contrast, this article examines indigenous workers’ dissent in an industrialized and largely urbanized setting – that of Māori meat processing workers inAotearoaNew Zealand. I argue that far from being passive victims of colonization and capitalism, Māori meatworkers played an often vital role in the generally extensive informal and formal labour unrest that occurred in the meat industry during the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. However, Māori meatworkers’ resistance and solidarity was not universal, but instead varied significantly, both spatially and temporally. The dissent and solidarity that occurred were often a product of the multi-ethnic informal work groups that existed in many slaughterhouses. These workplace-whānau, in which Māori played a pivotal role, functioned similar to extended family networks on the killing floor. Workplace-whānaurepresented a significant intertwining of indigeneity and class. Nevertheless, as they were often based on masculine bonds, they frequently excluded female workers (including Māori women).
Treatment using diffuse laser energy of cochlear and vestibular fistulas caused by cholesteatoma
Authors: Basu S , Hamilton J
Published: March 2019

Objective

To measure the outcomes of laser treatment of cholesteatoma covering cochlear and vestibular fistulas.

Methods

Cholesteatoma matrix over the fistula was denatured; the power density was sufficient only to gradually heat, but not vaporise, the keratin-forming matrix. The denaturing speed was controlled so that the integrity of the fistula cover was maintained. The change in bone conduction threshold and the residual rate of cholesteatoma at the fistula were measured.

Results

Thirty-six fistulas were assessed. There were seven cochlear fistulas. All were 5 mm or less in maximum length. For the entire group, the average change in bone conduction threshold was −0.3 dB. For cochlear fistulas, the average change in bone conduction was + 0.2 dB. The distribution of hearing results for the entire group was Gaussian; the apparent changes in hearing could be attributed to errors associated with testing. All patients underwent second-stage surgery. In all cases, the cholesteatoma was completely cleared from the fistula site. There were no facial palsies.

Conclusion

Laser denaturing of cholesteatoma matrix over fistulas measuring 5 mm or less of vestibular apparatus and the cochlea is effective at eliminating cholesteatoma, and is not associated with cochlear hearing loss or facial palsy.
Exploring the Application of Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation in the Japanese National Health Insurance System
Authors: Ogura Hisayuki , Komoto Shigekazu , Shiroiwa Takeru , Fukuda Takashi
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Advances in health care due to the development and introduction of new drugs and medical devices have brought considerable benefits to people and patients in terms of upgraded quality of life and extended years of survival. However, some are concerned that the very advancement of health care would increase further the inflation of national healthcare costs. In response to these concerns, Japan's Central Social Insurance Medical Council (“Chuikyo”) began in 2012 to examine how cost-effectiveness evaluation might be applied to the national health insurance system, and has been working toward establishing a system for its usage.

Methods

Cost-effectiveness evaluation was adopted on a trial basis in fiscal year (FY) 2016, targeting seven drugs and six medical devices. Analyses and re-analyses were performed by manufacturers and a public expert organization, respectively. Based on these analyses, a cost-effectiveness evaluation expert organization conducted an overall assessment (“appraisal”). Results of the evaluation were used to adjust the prices of the target items.

Results

Following the trial adoption of cost-effectiveness evaluation, price adjustments were performed for three items in April 2018. Meanwhile, a decision was also made to examine seven items for which technical requirements were identified due to differences in the understanding of analysis methods between involved parties.

Conclusions

The Chuikyo will examine how to meet the newly identified technical requirements and discuss specific details with regard to establishing a system that incorporates cost-effectiveness evaluation. The Chuikyo plans to reach a conclusion by the end of FY 2018.
Scientific Productivity of Brazilian Ecological Stations
Authors: Alencar Heverton , Jepson Paul , Ladle Richard J , Correia Ricardo , Bragagnolo Chiara , Malhado Ana CM , Batista Vandick S
Published: March 2019

Protected areas are frequently used loci for ecological and conservation research, with several national/international designations identifying scientific research as a key objective. For example, Ecological Stations (ESs) in Brazil are strictly protected areas with the explicit goals of protecting nature and hosting scientific research. Nevertheless, simply mandating scientific research does not necessarily translate into action. Here, we quantitatively assess the scientific productivity of ESs and identify the main socio-ecological factors associated with different levels of scientific research. Specifically, we adopt a multi-model inference approach with a hurdle regression model to independently evaluate the factors associated with the presence/absence of research and the volume of studies in ESs. Surprisingly, given their stated remit, a large proportion of ESs had little or no scientific productivity. Results also indicate that older ESs were more likely to be associated with published research and that the volume of publications was associated with the number of years since the first article was published. The presence of a management plan and a management council were also significant positive drivers of research. Our results strongly suggest that, despite their clear mandate, ESs are not effectively fulfilling their role as a policy instrument for generating valuable scientific data.
TRANSMISSION OF MONETARY POLICY SHOCKS: DO INPUT–OUTPUT INTERACTIONS MATTER?
Authors: Singh Aarti , Di Crestvolant Stefano Tornielli
Published: March 2019

We examine whether input–output interactions among industries impact the transmission of monetary policy shocks through the economy. Using vector autoregressive (VAR) methods we find evidence of heterogeneity in the output response to a monetary policy shock in both finished goods industries and intermediate goods industries. While output responses in finished goods industries can be related to heterogeneity in industry characteristics, this relationship is not so obvious for intermediate goods industries. For the intermediate goods industries in our sample, we find new evidence of demand-spillover effects that impact the transmission of monetary policy via input–output linkages.
GENEALOGIES OF BAʿTHISM: MICHEL ʿAFLAQ BETWEEN PERSONALISM AND ARABIC NATIONALISM
Authors: WEISS MAX
Published: March 2019

This paper reframes the intellectual genealogy of Baʿthism in modern Syria through a close reading of the writings of one of its founding figures, Michel ʿAflaq. Rereading ʿAflaq's most important texts is part of a broader reconsideration of the intellectual history of modern Syria between nationalism and liberalism, revolution and reaction. While recognizing the traces of nineteenth-century German idealist philosophy and Romantic nationalism in ʿAflaq's thought, this piece complicates the conventional understanding of his work by showing a striking resemblance with the left-personalism of Emmanuel Mounier and theEspritgroup. This unexplored connection constitutes a “missing link” in the intellectual genealogy of Baʿthism. As such, this article contributes to a more expansive and complicated global history of personalism. At the same time, this reconsideration of Michel ʿAflaq suggests a more compelling account of the making of modern Syria, a history with roots more tangled than historians have hitherto imagined.
Understanding the Nature of Rural Change: The Benefits of Migration and the (Re)creation of Precarity for Men and Women in Rural Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Nooteboom Gerben
Published: March 2019

During the last two decades, rural-urban migration and government programs have improved livelihood conditions in Javanese villages and brought down levels of poverty considerably. This article, based on two extended surveys in nine villages in Central Java, aims to understand the nature of change in rural Java by focusing on gender and precarity. As a result of migration, old forms of precarity have not completely disappeared: Families without children, elderly and people unable to work continue to live precarious lives. For those who work in the cities, dependence on single-source, low incomes, predominantly earned by men who work in construction, continues to keep families and especially women vulnerable for livelihood shocks and stresses. Increasingly, women from poor families work in low-paid agricultural jobs or keep the family farm running.

Migration to the cities makes it possible for many families to stay in the village and live the ‘good’ village life. The village is generally perceived, socially and ideologically, as a ‘better’ place. The flip-side of this preference is a reproduction of traditional family values and limited room to maneuver for women. Very few interesting and suitable jobs for educated women exist in rural areas. Women from poorer families need to work in agriculture. Their dependence on working men with single sources of income, continues the risk to end up or fall back into living precarious lives.
Häusliche Gewalt: Ein wichtiger Risikofaktor für Kindesmisshandlung
Authors: Clemens Vera , Plener Paul L. , Kavemann Barbara , Brähler Elmar , Strauß Bernhard , Fegert Jörg M.
Published: March 2019

Zusammenfassung. Belastende Kindheitserlebnisse (adverse childhood experiences; ACE) wie Misshandlung, aber auch das Erleben von Gewalt in der Paarbeziehung der Eltern (häusliche Gewalt) in der Kindheit, können das Leben auf vielfältige Weise beeinträchtigen. Obwohl bekannt ist, dass ACEs häufig gemeinsam auftreten, gibt es kaum Untersuchungen zu der Bedeutung von Kindesmisshandlung bei häuslicher Gewalt und deren Langzeitfolgen. Daher haben wir das Auftreten von Kindesmisshandlung in Abhängigkeit zu dem Erleben von häuslicher Gewalt in einer repräsentativen Stichprobe der deutschen Bevölkerung ( N = 2531) untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ein deutlich erhöhtes Risiko für alle Formen von Kindesmisshandlung, wenn häusliche Gewalt gegen die Mutter berichtet wurde (Odds Ratios je nach Form der Kindesmisshandlung 4.4 bis 10.3). Für weibliche Teilnehmende stieg das Risiko für sexuellen Missbrauch, körperliche Misshandlung und körperliche Vernachlässigung stärker an als bei männlichen. Der Zusammenhang von häuslicher Gewalt gegen die Mutter mit einer niedrigeren Lebenszufriedenheit im Erwachsenenalter wurde partiell durch Kindesmisshandlung vermittelt, das erhöhte Risiko für eine schlechtere Gesundheit im Erwachsenenalter sogar vollständig. Kindesmisshandlung vermittelt somit einen großen Ateil des Zusammenhanges von schlechterer Gesundheit und geringerer Zufriedenheit bei Erwachsenen, die in der Kindheit häusliche Gewalt erlebt haben. Vor diesem Hintergrund sind ein größeres Bewusstsein für die erhöhten Risiken von Kindern, die in Haushalten mit häuslicher Gewalt aufwachsen, und Unterstützungsangebote, in denen der Kinderschutz eine zentrale Rolle spielt, zu empfehlen.
Kindesmisshandlung und deren Langzeitfolgen – Analyse einer repräsentativen deutschen Stichprobe
Authors: Witt Andreas , Brown Rebecca , Plener Paul L. , Brähler Elmar , Fegert Jörg M. , Clemens Vera
Published: March 2019

Zusammenfassung. Kindesmisshandlung stellt einen bedeutenden Risikofaktor für die Entwicklung dar. Einzelne Formen von Kindesmisshandlung treten häufig nicht isoliert auf, sondern das gemeinsame Auftreten verschiedener Formen von Kindesmisshandlung stellt eher die Regel als die Ausnahme dar. Neben den langfristigen und vielfältigen individuellen Folgen führt Kindesmisshandlung jährlich zu einer hohen gesamtgesellschaftlichen Belastung. Die WHO hat Kindesmisshandlung als großes Public Health Problem identifiziert und die Vereinten Nationen haben den Kampf gegen Kindesmisshandlung zum Ziel in ihrer Agenda für nachhaltige Entwicklung gemacht. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Häufigkeit sowie das gemeinsame Auftreten unterschiedlicher Formen von Kindesmisshandlung sowie deren Assoziation mit psychischen und somatischen Folgen auf Basis einer bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Stichprobe untersucht und dargestellt. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen den Zusammenhang zwischen der Kumulation verschiedener Formen von Misshandlung und negativen Folgen für die Betroffenen. So ist das Risiko für negative Konsequenzen beim Erleben von vier oder mehr Formen von Misshandlung um das bis zu 10-fache erhöht. Viel zu selten werden die kumulativen Effekte von mehreren Belastungen berücksichtigt. Gerade weil die Wirkweisen über die Misshandlung, die Gesundheit beeinflusst, zunehmend gut untersucht sind, muss dieses Wissen im Gesundheitswesen stärker bei der Konzeption von Präventions- und Interventionsmaßnahmen berücksichtigt werden.
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder
Authors: Friedenberg Jay
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Recent studies have shown that preference judgments can vary considerably from one person to another and when these data are averaged the results can be misleading. In the current study, we examine individual differences in aesthetic preference for randomized visual patterns. In Experiment 1, we start with a structured checkerboard and progressively randomize its alternating black and white squares by 10% increments. In Experiment 2, we begin with a structured square array of vertical line segments and progressively randomize line orientation. In both experiments, there were strong differences in responding with most participants favoring either ordered or randomized versions. We found differences in Big-Five trait scores across these groupings. Individuals who scored high on extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness all preferred random patterns. Preference results for openness and neuroticism varied across the experiments. Explanations for predicted and obtained trait outcomes are provided.
Intratidal and Fortnightly Variability of Vertical Mixing in a Macrotidal Estuary: The Gironde
Authors: Ross Lauren , Huguenard Kimberly , Sottolichio Aldo
Published: March 2019

Intratidal and fortnightly variability of turbulence at the mouth of a macrotidal estuary is explored in this study. Profiles of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation were estimated from a Vertical Microstructure Profiler, and velocity shear measurements and current velocities were collected with a vessel‐mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. Gradient Richardson numbers were quantified using density measurements from a Conductivity, Temperature, Depth profiler and squared vertical shear quantified from current velocities. All measurements were collected over one complete semidiurnal tidal cycle in both neap and spring tide conditions. Vertical eddy viscosity (Az) was quantified from the available data and was used as a proxy for vertical mixing. Results showed intratidal asymmetries in bottom‐generated turbulence during neap with Az larger during ebb tide (∼10−2 m2/s) than flood tide (∼10−3 m2/s) with the opposite occurring during spring tide with larger Az during flood (10−1 m2/s) than ebb (10−2 m2/s). Lateral processes produced elevated near‐surface mixing decoupled from bottom‐generated turbulence at the end of flood and ebb tide during neap and spring. The secondary flows were driven by Coriolis, and these flows either enhanced (neap tide, end of flood) or maintained (spring tide, end of ebb) total shear through slack tides producing near‐surface to midwater column turbulence. These results are the first of their kind to show midwater column mixing from lateral circulation driven by Coriolis in a well‐mixed system, which vary from the lateral processes previously shown to destabilize water columns in estuaries more influenced by stratification.
The Dominant Global Modes of Recent Internal Sea Level Variability
Authors: Hamlington B. D. , Cheon S. H. , Piecuch C. G. , Karnauskas K. B. , Thompson P. R. , Kim K.‐Y. , Reager J. T. , Landerer F. W. , Frederikse T.
Published: March 2019

The advances in the modern sea level observing system have allowed for a new level of knowledge of regional and global sea level in recent years. The combination of data from satellite altimeters, Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, and Argo profiling floats has provided a clearer picture of the different contributors to sea level change, leading to an improved understanding of how sea level has changed in the present and, by extension, may change in the future. As the overlap between these records has recently extended past a decade in length, it is worth examining the extent to which internal variability on timescales from intraseasonal to decadal can be separated from long‐term trends that may be expected to continue into the future. To do so, a combined modal decomposition based on cyclostationary empirical orthogonal functions is performed simultaneously on the three data sets, and the dominant shared modes of variability are analyzed. Modes associated with the trend, seasonal signal, El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and Pacific decadal oscillation are extracted and discussed, and the relationship between regional patterns of sea level change and their associated global signature is highlighted.
Evidence of New Particle Formation Within Etna and Stromboli Volcanic Plumes and Its Parameterization From Airborne In Situ Measurements
Authors: Sahyoun Maher , Freney Evelyn , Brito Joel , Duplissy Jonathan , Gouhier Mathieu , Colomb Aurélie , Dupuy Regis , Bourianne Thierry , Nowak John B. , Yan Chao , Petäjä Tuukka , Kulmala Markku , Schwarzenboeck Alfons , Planche Céline , Sellegri Karine
Published: March 2019

Volcanic emissions can significantly affect the Earth's radiation budget by emitting aerosol particles and gas‐phase species that can result in the new particle formation (NPF). These particles can scatter solar radiation or modify cloud properties, with consequences on health, weather, and climate. To our knowledge, this is the first dedicated study detailing how gas‐phase precursors emitted from volcanic plumes can influence the NPF. A series of airborne measurements were performed around the Etna and Stromboli volcanoes within the framework of the CLerVolc and STRAP projects. The ATR‐42 aircraft was equipped with a range of instrumentation allowing the measurement of particle number concentration in diameter range above 2.5 nm and gaseous species to investigate the aerosol dynamics and the processes governing the NPF and their growth within the volcanic plumes. We demonstrate that NPF occurs within the volcanic plumes in the free troposphere (FT) and boundary layer (BL). Typically, the NPF events were more pronounced in the FT, where the condensational sink was up to two orders of magnitude smaller and the temperature was ~20 °C lower than in the BL. Within the passive volcanic plume, the concentration of sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and N2.5 were as high as 92 ppbV, 5.65 × 108 and 2.4 × 105 cm−3, respectively. Using these measurements, we propose a new parameterization for NPF rate (J2.5) within the passive volcanic plume in the FT. These results can be incorporated into mesoscale models to better assess the impact of the particle formed by natural processes, that is, volcanic plumes, on climate.
Changing Lake Dynamics Indicate a Drier Arctic in Western Greenland
Authors: Finger Higgens R. A. , Chipman J. W. , Lutz D. A. , Culler L. E. , Virginia R. A. , Ogden L. A.
Published: March 2019

The water balance of the Arctic tundra is shifting as permafrost stability, seasonality, and the ratio of precipitation to evaporation respond to amplified Arctic warming. While in some northern tundra locations there has been a notable increase in the number of water bodies, generally, the tundra landscape has experienced a decline in the number and area of lakes. We analyzed changes in small lake count (<10,000 m2), large lake count (>10,000 m2), and lake surface area across the periglacial tundra of western Greenland, using historical satellite and aerial imagery and weather data from the late 1960s to present. Overall, we found a decrease in lake count (21%) and surface area (2%) across our study region. Specifically, smaller ponds were particularly prone to change, with decreases of 28% in count and 15% in surface area. Shrinking lakes often became revegetated by both emergent aquatic and terrestrial vegetation, which captures potential successional trajectories following Arctic lake drying. Additionally, while annual precipitation may be increasing, it occurred primarily during the winter months in the form of snow, which may or may not contribute to the overall growing season water budget. Conversely, the peak growing season months of June, July, and August all have experienced significant increases in potential evaporation rates, thus likely creating a water deficit for much of the growing season. These results suggest that a large section of deglaciated Greenland appears likely to become drier in the summer months, which may result in widespread ecological consequences.
Large Vertical Migrations ofPyrosoma atlanticumPlay an Important Role in Active Carbon Transport
Authors: Henschke Natasha , Pakhomov Evgeny A. , Kwong Lian E. , Everett Jason D. , Laiolo Leonardo , Coghlan Amy R. , Suthers Iain M.
Published: March 2019

Pyrosomes are efficient grazers that can form dense aggregations. Their clearance rates are among the highest of any zooplankton grazer, and they can rapidly repackage what they consume into thousands of fecal pellets per hour. In recent years, pyrosome swarms have been found outside of their natural geographical range; however, environmental drivers that promote these swarms are still unknown. During the austral spring of 2017 aPyrosoma atlanticumswarm was sampled in the Tasman Sea. Depth‐stratified sampling during the day and night was used to examine the spatial and vertical distribution ofP. atlanticumacross three eddies. Respiration rate experiments were performed onboard to determine minimum feeding requirements for the pyrosome population.P. atlanticumwas 2 orders of magnitude more abundant in the cold core eddy (CCE) compared to both warm core eddies, with maximum biomass of 360 mg WW·m−3, most likely driven by high chlorophyllaconcentrations.P. atlanticumexhibited diel vertical migration and migrated to a maximum depth strata of 800–1,000 m. Active carbon transport in the CCE was 4 orders of magnitude higher than the warm core eddies. Fecal pellet production contributed to the majority (91%) of transport, and total downward carbon flux below the mixed layer was estimated at 11 mg C·m−2·d−1. When abundant,P. atlanticumswarms have the potential to play a major role in active carbon transport, comparable to fluxes for zooplankton and micronekton communities.
Minimizing Evaporation by Optimal Layering of Topsoil: Revisiting Ovsinsky's Smart Mulching‐Tillage Technology Via Gardner‐Warrick's Unsaturated Analytical Model and HYDRUS
Authors: Kacimov A. R. , Obnosov Yu.V. , Šimůnek J.
Published: March 2019

Ovsinsky (1899, https://www.rulit.me/books/novaya‐sistema‐zemledeliya‐read‐193251‐1.html) suggested and tested a water conserving soil no‐till technology for rain‐snow‐fed field crops in a semiarid environment in southern Russia. We model Ovsynsky's unsaturated flow fragment, in which 1‐D steady evaporation and evapotranspiration through a two‐layered soil from a horizontal static water table to a dry soil surface takes place. Gardner's exponential and algebraic functions are used for the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity‐suction head relations. The vertical evaporation flux depends on the dyads and triads (correspondingly) of the parameters of these functions, for example, the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the sorptive number of the two layers. The flux, as a function of the relative thickness of the upper stratum, is analytically found from the solution of one or two nonlinear equations. This relation can be nonmonotonic and exhibits either a minimum or maximum depending on whether this stratum is coarser or finer than the subjacent stratum fed from a horizontal isobar. HYDRUS‐1D simulations confirm these extrema. This explains the experimental results from the literature on mulching/tillage/soil crusting‐sealing, which can increase, decrease, or have no impact on evaporation from a shallow water table. Alterations of the soil's homogeneity to reduce evaporation losses can improve the hydrological balance of soil profiles.
Equivalence of Discrete Fracture Network and Porous Media Models by Hydraulic Tomography
Authors: Dong Yanhui , Fu Yunmei , Yeh Tian‐Chyi Jim , Wang Yu‐Li , Zha Yuanyuan , Wang Liheng , Hao Yonghong
Published: March 2019

Hydraulic tomography (HT) has emerged as a potentially viable method for mapping fractures in geologic media as demonstrated by recent studies. However, most of the studies adopted equivalent porous media (EPM) models to generate and invert hydraulic interference test data for HT. While these models assign significant different hydraulic properties to fractures and matrix, they may not fully capture the discrete nature of the fractures in the rocks. As a result, HT performance may have been overrated. To explore this issue, this study employed a discrete fracture network (DFN) model to simulate hydraulic interference tests. HT with the EPM model was then applied to estimate the distributions of hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (Ss) of the DFN. Afterward, the estimated fields were used to predict the observed heads from DFN models, not used in the HT analysis (i.e., validation). Additionally, this study defined the spatial representative elementary volume (REV) of the fracture connectivity probability for the entire DFN dominant. The study showed that if this spatial REV exists, the DFN is deemed equivalent to EPM and vice versa. The hydraulic properties estimated by HT with an EPM model can then predict head fields satisfactorily over the entire DFN domain with limited monitoring wells. For a sparse DFN without this spatial REV, a dense observation network is needed. Nevertheless, HT is able to capture the dominant fractures.
Better Approaches to Managing Drought in the American Southwest
Authors: Lambert Patrick , Titus Timothy , Ostroff Andrea
Published: March 2019

USGS Southwest Region 2018 Science Exchange Workshop: Drought Science; Fort Collins, Colorado, 25–27 September 2018
Will the Desert Darken Your Door?
Authors: Villar-Argaiz Manuel
Published: March 2019

Wildfires are becoming more common as climate changes. So too are the arid landscapes that spread in their wake.
Fast Warming of the Surface Ocean Under a Climatological Scenario
Authors: Jamet Q. , Dewar W. K. , Wienders N. , Deremble B.
Published: March 2019

We examine various strategies for forcing ocean‐only models, including an atmospheric boundary layer model. This surface forcing allows air‐sea exchanges to affect atmospheric temperature and relative humidity, thus removing the assumption of an infinite atmospheric heat capacity associated with the prescription of these variables. When exposed to climatological winds, the simulated North Atlantic oceanic temperature warms considerably at the surface as compared to a model with full atmospheric variability. This warming is mainly explained by a weakened upper‐ocean vertical mixing in response to the weakly varying climatological winds. Specifying the atmospheric temperatures inhibits this warming but depends on the unrealistic large atmospheric heat capacity. We thus interpret the simulated warmer ocean as a more physically consistent ocean response. We conclude the use of an atmospheric boundary layer model provides many benefits for ocean only modeling, although a “normal” year strategy is required for maintaining high‐frequency winds.
Thank You to Our 2018 Peer Reviewers
Authors: East Amy E. , Buffington John , Coco Giovanni , Finnegan Noah J. , Hoitink Ton A. J. F. , Hubbard Bryn
Published: March 2019

The process of completing and communicating rigorous, high‐impact science depends heavily on obtaining quality peer review prior to publication. As AGU journals strive continually to publish excellent work, we recognize the demand that this places on reviewers' time, especially as most of us seem to receive ever‐increasing numbers of requests to review manuscripts. JGR‐Earth Surface typically strives to obtain three reviews per manuscript, to best ensure the quality of the science that we publish. We thank the members of the earth‐surface community who volunteered their time to complete these reviews for JGR‐Earth Surface in 2018: a total of 874 reviews provided by 650 scientists. We greatly appreciate your time, your thoughtful and constructive review comments, and especially your dedication to this all‐important part of producing high‐quality science.
Telomere length is associated with childhood trauma in patients with severe mental disorders
Authors: Aas Monica , Elvsåshagen Torbjørn , Westlye Lars T. , Kaufmann Tobias , Athanasiu Lavinia , Djurovic Srdjan , Melle Ingrid , van der Meer Dennis , Martin-Ruiz Carmen , Steen Nils Eiel , Agartz Ingrid , Andreassen Ole A.
Published: March 2019

Reduced telomere length (TL) and structural brain abnormalities have been reported in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). Childhood traumatic events are more frequent in SZ and BD than in healthy individuals (HC), and based on recent findings in healthy individuals could represent one important factor for TL and brain aberrations in patients. The study comprised 1024 individuals (SZ [n = 373]; BD [n = 249] and HC [n = 402]). TL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and childhood trauma was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Diagnosis was obtained by the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-IV (DSM-IV). FreeSurfer was used to obtain regional and global brain volumes from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. All analyses were adjusted for current age and sex. Patients had on average shorter TL (F = 7.87, p = 0.005, Cohen’s d = 0.17) and reported more childhood trauma experiences than HC (χ2 = 148.9, p < 0.001). Patients with a history of childhood sexual, physical or emotional abuse had shorter TL relative to HC and to patients without a history of childhood abuse (F = 6.93, p = 0.006, Cohen’s d = 0.16). After adjusting for childhood abuse, no difference in TL was observed between patients and HC (p = 0.12). There was no statistically significant difference in reported childhood abuse exposure or TL between SZ and BD. Our analyses revealed no significant associations between TL and clinical characteristics or brain morphometry. We demonstrate shorter TL in SZ and BD compared with HC and showed that TL is sensitive to childhood trauma experiences. Further studies are needed to identify the biological mechanisms of this relationship.
A comprehensive, mechanistically detailed, and executable model of the cell division cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Münzner Ulrike , Klipp Edda , Krantz Marcus
Published: March 2019

Understanding how cellular functions emerge from the underlying molecular mechanisms is a key challenge in biology. This will require computational models, whose predictive power is expected to increase with coverage and precision of formulation. Genome-scale models revolutionised the metabolic field and made the first whole-cell model possible. However, the lack of genome-scale models of signalling networks blocks the development of eukaryotic whole-cell models. Here, we present a comprehensive mechanistic model of the molecular network that controls the cell division cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We use rxncon, the reaction-contingency language, to neutralise the scalability issues preventing formulation, visualisation and simulation of signalling networks at the genome-scale. We use parameter-free modelling to validate the network and to predict genotype-to-phenotype relationships down to residue resolution. This mechanistic genome-scale model offers a new perspective on eukaryotic cell cycle control, and opens up for similar models—and eventually whole-cell models—of human cells.
Optimal features for auditory categorization
Authors: Liu Shi Tong , Montes-Lourido Pilar , Wang Xiaoqin , Sadagopan Srivatsun
Published: March 2019

Humans and vocal animals use vocalizations to communicate with members of their species. A necessary function of auditory perception is to generalize across the high variability inherent in vocalization production and classify them into behaviorally distinct categories (‘words’ or ‘call types’). Here, we demonstrate that detecting mid-level features in calls achieves production-invariant classification. Starting from randomly chosen marmoset call features, we use a greedy search algorithm to determine the most informative and least redundant features necessary for call classification. High classification performance is achieved using only 10–20 features per call type. Predictions of tuning properties of putative feature-selective neurons accurately match some observed auditory cortical responses. This feature-based approach also succeeds for call categorization in other species, and for other complex classification tasks such as caller identification. Our results suggest that high-level neural representations of sounds are based on task-dependent features optimized for specific computational goals.
The exonuclease Xrn1 activates transcription and translation of mRNAs encoding membrane proteins
Authors: Blasco-Moreno Bernat , de Campos-Mata Leire , Böttcher René , García-Martínez José , Jungfleisch Jennifer , Nedialkova Danny D. , Chattopadhyay Shiladitya , Gas María-Eugenia , Oliva Baldomero , Pérez-Ortín José E. , Leidel Sebastian A. , Choder Mordechai , Díez Juana
Published: March 2019

The highly conserved 5’–3’ exonuclease Xrn1 regulates gene expression in eukaryotes by coupling nuclear DNA transcription to cytosolic mRNA decay. By integrating transcriptome-wide analyses of translation with biochemical and functional studies, we demonstrate an unanticipated regulatory role of Xrn1 in protein synthesis. Xrn1 promotes translation of a specific group of transcripts encoding membrane proteins. Xrn1-dependence for translation is linked to poor structural RNA contexts for translation initiation, is mediated by interactions with components of the translation initiation machinery and correlates with an Xrn1-dependence for mRNA localization at the endoplasmic reticulum, the translation compartment of membrane proteins. Importantly, for this group of mRNAs, Xrn1 stimulates transcription, mRNA translation and decay. Our results uncover a crosstalk between the three major stages of gene expression coordinated by Xrn1 to maintain appropriate levels of membrane proteins.
Ultra-strong long-chain polyamide elastomers with programmable supramolecular interactions and oriented crystalline microstructures
Authors: Song Lingzhi , Zhu Tianyu , Yuan Liang , Zhou Jiangjun , Zhang Yaqiong , Wang Zhongkai , Tang Chuanbing
Published: March 2019

Polyamides are one of the most important polymers. Long-chain aliphatic polyamides could bridge the gap between traditional polyamides and polyethylenes. Here we report an approach to preparing sustainable ultra-strong elastomers from biomass-derived long-chain polyamides by thiol-ene addition copolymerization with diamide diene monomers. The pendant polar hydroxyl and non-polar butyrate groups between amides allow controlled programming of supramolecular hydrogen bonding and facile tuning of crystallization of polymer chains. The presence of thioether groups on the main chain can further induce metal–ligand coordination (cuprous-thioether). Unidirectional step-cycle tensile deformation has been applied to these polyamides and significantly enhances tensile strength to over 210 MPa while maintaining elasticity. Uniaxial deformation leads to a rearrangement and alignment of crystalline microstructures, which is responsible for the mechanical enhancement. These chromophore-free polyamides are observed with strong luminescence ascribed to the effect of aggregation-induced emission (AIE), originating from the formation of amide clusters with restricted molecular motions.
Slab morphology and deformation beneath Izu-Bonin
Authors: Zhang Haijiang , Wang Fan , Myhill Robert , Guo Hao
Published: March 2019

Seismic tomography provides unique constraints on the morphology, the deformation, and (indirectly) the rheology of subducting slabs. We use teleseismic double-difference P-wave tomography to image with unprecedented clarity the structural complexity of the Izu-Bonin slab. We resolve a tear in the slab in the mantle transition zone (MTZ) between 26.5° N and 28° N. North of the tear, the slab is folded in the MTZ. Immediately above the fold hinge, a zone of reduced P-wavespeed may result from viscous dissipation within an incipient shear zone. To the south of the tear, the slab overturns and lies flat at the base of the MTZ. The ~680 km deep 2015 Bonin earthquake (Mw~7.9) is located at the northernmost edge of the overturning part of the slab. The localised tearing, shearing and buckling of the Izu-Bonin slab indicates that it remains highly viscous throughout the upper mantle and transition zone.
Cervicovaginal microbiota and local immune response modulate the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery
Authors: Elovitz Michal A. , Gajer Pawel , Riis Valerie , Brown Amy G. , Humphrys Michael S. , Holm Johanna B. , Ravel Jacques
Published: March 2019

Failure to predict and understand the causes of preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, have limited effective interventions and therapeutics. From a cohort of 2000 pregnant women, we performed a nested case control study on 107 well-phenotyped cases of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and 432 women delivering at term. Using innovative Bayesian modeling of cervicovaginal microbiota, seven bacterial taxa were significantly associated with increased risk of sPTB, with a stronger effect in African American women. However, higher vaginal levels of β-defensin-2 lowered the risk of sPTB associated with cervicovaginal microbiota in an ethnicity-dependent manner. Surprisingly, even in Lactobacillus spp. dominated cervicovaginal microbiota, low β-defensin-2 was associated with increased risk of sPTB. These findings hold promise for diagnostics to accurately identify women at risk for sPTB early in pregnancy. Therapeutic strategies could include immune modulators and microbiome-based therapeutics to reduce this significant health burden.
Polarization-state-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids
Authors: Klemke N. , Tancogne-Dejean N. , Rossi G. M. , Yang Y. , Scheiba F. , Mainz R. E. , Di Sciacca G. , Rubio A. , Kärtner F. X. , Mücke O. D.
Published: March 2019

Attosecond metrology sensitive to sub-optical-cycle electronic and structural dynamics is opening up new avenues for ultrafast spectroscopy of condensed matter. Using intense lightwaves to precisely control the fast carrier dynamics in crystals holds great promise for next-generation petahertz electronics and devices. The carrier dynamics can produce high-order harmonics of the driving field extending up into the extreme-ultraviolet region. Here, we introduce polarization-state-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids, which provides deeper insights into both electronic and structural sub-cycle dynamics. Performing high-harmonic generation measurements from silicon and quartz, we demonstrate that the polarization states of the harmonics are not only determined by crystal symmetries, but can be dynamically controlled, as a consequence of the intertwined interband and intraband electronic dynamics. We exploit this symmetry-dynamics duality to efficiently generate coherent circularly polarized harmonics from elliptically polarized pulses. Our experimental results are supported by ab-initio simulations, providing evidence for the microscopic origin of the phenomenon.
Syngas to light olefins conversion with high olefin/paraffin ratio using ZnCrOx/AlPO-18 bifunctional catalysts
Authors: Su Junjie , Zhou Haibo , Liu Su , Wang Chuanming , Jiao Wenqian , Wang Yangdong , Liu Chang , Ye Yingchun , Zhang Lin , Zhao Yu , Liu Hongxing , Wang Dong , Yang Weimin , Xie Zaiku , He Mingyuan
Published: March 2019

Direct synthesis of light olefins from syngas (STO) using a bifunctional catalyst composed of oxide and zeolite has attracted extensive attention in both academia and industry. It is highly desirable to develop robust catalysts that could enhance the CO conversion while simultaneously maintain high selectivity to C2-C4 olefins. Herein, we report a bifunctional catalyst consisting of ZnCr binary oxide (ZnCrOx) and low-Si AlPO-18 zeolite, showing both satisfying selectivity to C2-C4 olefins of 45.0% (86.7%, CO2free) and high olefin/paraffin ratio of 29.9 at the CO conversion of 25.2% under mild reaction conditions (4.0 MPa, 390 °C). By optimizing the reaction conditions, the CO conversion could be markedly increased to 49.3% with a slight drop in selectivity. CD3CN/CO-FTIR characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate that low-Si AlPO-18 zeolite has lower acid strength, and is therefore less reactive toward the hydride transfer in the STO reaction, leading to a higher olefin/paraffin ratio.
Spinal sagittal alignment and trapezoidal deformity in patients with degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis
Authors: Murata Kazuma , Endo Kenji , Suzuki Hidekazu , Matsuoka Yuji , Takamatsu Taichiro , Nishimura Hirosuke , Yamamoto Kengo
Published: March 2019

Degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis (DCS) is a cervical deformity arising from regressive changes where trapezoidal deformity characterized by hypertrophic osteophytes of spinal elements is often observed. There is a paucity of literature about the spinal contour of DCS and trapezoidal vertebrae. We conducted this research to clarify the relationship between spinal sagittal alignment and trapezoidal deformity in DCS. Total seventy-nine patients with cervical spondylosis were enrolled. Twenty-four patients who exhibited cervical spondylolisthesis were classified into DCS group. Other patients were classified into a control group. Measurements of radiographic parameters and trapezoidal deformity were made. DCS was found mostly in C3-C4 and C4-C5 (16 and 10 cases, respectively). T1S and T1-T4 TK was larger in the DCS group than in the control (T1S: 29.9 ± 2.3° vs. 23.7 ± 1.5°, T1-T4 TK: 14.9 ± 2.1° vs. 9.0 ± 1.4°). C2-C7A was smaller in DCS (3.5 ± 3.6° vs. 11.9 ± 2.3°). Trapezoidal deformity was apparent in the vertebra below the slipped segment. Among sagittal parameters, T1S and T1-T4 TK were positively correlated with DCS (r = 0.523 and r = 0.438, respectively). For these correlations with DCS, both logistic and linear regression models predicted threshold values of approximately 30° for T1S and 15° for T1-T4 TK responsible for DCS. DCS was mostly found in the middle cervical region. Among sagittal parameters, enlarged T1S and T1-T4 TK, which were strongly correlated with amount of slippage, was considered affected to DCS. Cervical kyphosis and trapezoidal deformity also exhibited strong correlations with DCS, and were considered responsible for clinical instability.
Simultaneous production of two kinds of sounds in relation with sonic mechanism in the boxfish Ostracion meleagris and O. cubicus
Authors: Parmentier Eric , Solagna Laura , Bertucci Frédéric , Fine Michael L. , Nakae Masanori , Compère Philippe , Smeets Sarah , Raick Xavier , Lecchini David
Published: March 2019

In fishes, sonic abilities for communication purpose usually involve a single mechanism. We describe here the sonic mechanism and sounds in two species of boxfish, the spotted trunkfish Ostracion meleagris and the yellow boxfish Ostracion cubicus. The sonic mechanism utilizes a T-shaped swimbladder with a swimbladder fenestra and two separate sonic muscle pairs. Extrinsic vertical muscles attach to the vertebral column and the swimbladder. Perpendicularly and below these muscles, longitudinal intrinsic muscles cover the swimbladder fenestra. Sounds are exceptional since they are made of two distinct types produced in a sequence. In both species, humming sounds consist of long series (up to 45 s) of hundreds of regular low-amplitude pulses. Hums are often interspersed with irregular click sounds with an amplitude that is ten times greater in O. meleagris and forty times greater in O. cubicus. There is no relationship between fish size and many acoustic characteristics because muscle contraction rate dictates the fundamental frequency. We suggest that hums and clicks are produced by either separate muscles or by a combination of the two. The mechanism complexity supports an investment of boxfish in this communication channel and underline sounds as having important functions in their way of life.