bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of climate change on rainwater harvesting in households in Poland
Authors: Gwoździej-Mazur Joanna , Jadwiszczak Piotr , Kaźmierczak Bartosz , Kózka Karina , Struk-Sokołowska Joanna , Wartalska Katarzyna , Wdowikowski Marcin
Published: January 2022

In water management, climate changes require adaptation, protection of existing resources and the search for alternative water sources. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is increasingly becoming an alternative water source, applicable for many directions of its use. The aim of the research was to analyse the influence of long-term climate change on the potential for rainwater harvesting in households in Central Europe in Poland. The analysis of long-term climate changes impact on the household rainwater harvesting potential was conducted for the 50-year period for 19 cities in Poland. The water balance model was operated in a day-step mode, and the research was carried out in four “time scales approach”. For the purpose of all analyses, a standard weekly water demand profile was developed. It includes the daily sub-profiles for every working day and weekend, covering the washing and toilet flushing needs for a 4-person household. In order to evaluate the long-term changes in residential harvesting in Poland, a hypothetical residential RWH was investigated in 19 locations and rainfall conditions. To illustrate the time-spatial variation of annual rainfall amounts in the analyzed period, the heat map was prepared as the pre-simulation stage. Results show that the design of RWH systems should be based on archival data and take into account the many years of rainfall changes. This will improve performance and secure benefits for the users of this system.
Geophysical investigation of groundwater potential and aquifer protective capability in selected communities within Cape Coast municipality, Ghana
Authors: Agyemang Victor Ofori
Published: January 2022

Application of VES geophysical technique to investigate the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capability has been carried at Cape Coast Municipality, Ghana. The geology of Cape Coast is mainly made of the Secondian formation and the Eburnean Plutonic Suite. Twenty (20) VES points were selected after the profiling, and Schlumberger array was applied for the conduction of the VES. The PASI Resistivity Terrameter was used, and the maximum current electrode spacing (AB/2) was 100 m. Partial curve matching technique and computer iteration technique were applied in the interpretation data using WINRESIST software. The thematic maps of the parameters were generated to display their spatial variations using Surfer Golden software by the application of appropriate variograms depending on their range of values. The study revealed the presence of three to six layers curve types which include HKH (45%), QH (20%), HA (10%), KH (5%), QHKH (5%), A (5%), AKH (5%) and KHKH (5%) in the study area. The layers include topsoil (31.00–9135.00 Ω m), weathered layer (2.35–60,801.00 Ω m), fractured basement (4.39–32,431.00 Ω m), and fresh basement (59.40–22,521.00 Ω m). About 70% of the resistivities are less than 600 Ω m indicating the possibility of a fractured formation with high potential groundwater storage. The other 30% recorded high bedrock resistivities values of possible massive crystalline granitic rock with a limited fracture. Reflection coefficient and longitudinal conductance were calculated using appropriate equations and parameters. The values of the reflection coefficient ranged from 0.215606 to 0.997049. The study revealed that 20% of the total VES points have high groundwater potential, 65% showed medium potential, 5% showed low potential, while 10% showed very low potential. The study revealed poor (20%), moderate (35%), good (30%), and very good (15%) protective capacity ratings in the area. The technique has been effective in revealing the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capability of the area. The aquiferous zone of the Secondian formation falls within the range of 17–43 m of depth with a borehole yield of 210–240 l/m. The successful borehole in the granitic rocks shows a low yield of 10 l/m with a water-saturated zone within 20–48 m of depth.
Adsorptive behaviour of rutile phased titania nanoparticles supported on acid-modified kaolinite clay for the removal of selected heavy metal ions from mining wastewater
Authors: Ajala Mary Adejoke , Abdulkareem Ambali Saka , Tijani Jimoh Oladejo , Kovo Abdulsalami Sanni
Published: January 2022

This study investigated the removal of metal ions pollutants in mining wastewater such as Mn (II), Fe (III), Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions by acid-activated kaolinite clay (AAC) and titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles supported on the AAC (TiO2–AAC). TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesised using titanium salt precursor with leaves extract of Parkia biglobossa and impregnated on the AAC to develop TiO2-AAC as a nanoadsorbent. The AAC and TiO2–AAC nanocomposites were characterized using different analytical techniques. Actual concentrations of selected heavy metals in mining wastewater was determined prior and after treatment using the prepared adsorbents in batch adsorptive studies with atomic absorption spectrophometer. The characterisation studies confirmed that a rutile phase TiO2 was doped the on acid-activated kaolinite clay. Morphology analysis shows that the developed adsorbents were homogeneously dispersed and porous. The results of the surface area further revealed that the AAC, TiO2 and TiO2–AAC has 14.15, 10.23 and 32.98 m2/g, respectively. The percentage removal of heavy metals followed the order of TiO2–AAC > AAC due to the higher surface area and enhanced surface functionality of the former than the latter. The adsorption capacity increased from 86.13 to 91.99% (Fe (III)), 83.12 to 89.37% (Mn (II)), 68.48 to 81.95% (Cu (II)) and 29.49 to 32.39% (Pb (II)) from AAC to TiO2–AAC. The kinetic and isotherm models were best fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. Whilst the thermodynamic investigation found that, the adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous and chemisorption controlled. Conclusively, the TiO2–AAC nanocomposite exhibited better performance than AAC alone.
Quantitative assessment of pharmaceutical drugs in a municipal wastewater and overview of associated risks
Authors: Shipingana Loide Ndelimona Ndapandula , Shivaraju Harikaranahalli Puttaiah , Yashas Shivamurthy Ravindra
Published: January 2022

Pharmaceuticals compounds are the emerging contaminants known for their refractory and environmental persistence, which pose threat to flora and fauna. In the present study, the occurrence and possible contamination sources of four drugs, namely paracetamol, diclofenac, salbutamol and ceftriaxone in wastewater of Mysuru, India, were investigated. The said pharma compounds were analyzed in the effluent of select health care establishments and municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP). The results revealed that diclofenac was omnipresent in all the samples with the peak concentration of 4.2 µg/mL, whereas salbutamol and ceftriaxone were in the range of 0.7–18.7 µg/mL and 1.25–29.15 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, paracetamol was detected only at the inlet of MWWTP with a concentration of 4.6 µg/mL. Surprisingly, the presence of relative amounts of these drugs in the treated water released from MWWTP was observed. Further, the ‘risk quotient method’ for ecological risk assessment was adopted to assess the magnitude of risk toward aquatic species. Next, the study employed the concept of citizen science to gather information on disposal and management methods of unused and expired medications at household and health care centers. This survey revealed that hospital discharges and community disposal of unused medicines contributed to incidence of pharmaceutical compounds in the local environment. Finally, a precise perspective and future challenge for the safe management of drugs are presented.
Taguchi Analysis for Improving Optimization of Integrated Forward/Reverse Logistics
Authors: Behmanesh Elham , Pannek Jürgen
Published: January 2022

The distribution–allocation problem is known as one of the most comprehensive strategic decisions. In real-world cases, it is impossible to solve a distribution–allocation problem completely in acceptable time. This forces the researchers to develop efficient heuristic techniques for the large-term operation of the whole supply chain. These techniques provide near optimal solution and are comparably fast particularly for large-scale test problems. This paper presents an integrated supply chain model which is flexible in the delivery path. As solution methodology, we apply a memetic algorithm with a novelty in population presentation. To identify the optimum operating condition of the proposed memetic algorithm, Taguchi method is adopted. In this study, four factors, namely population size, crossover rate, local search iteration and number of iteration, are considered. Determining the best level of the considered parameters is the outlook of this research.
Case Report: Angiomyomatous Hamartoma of the Lymph Node
Authors: Short Emma , Burke Nadine , Cotton David , Clague Gavin , Soukias Jean-Marc , Dojcinov Stefan
Published: January 2022

Angiomyomatous hamartoma (AMH) of the lymph node is a rare, hamartomatous lesion which typically occurs in the inguinal and femoral regions. Although benign, it can clinically and radiologically cause a suspicion of malignancy. Due to its rarity, pathological diagnosis, particularly on small needle biopsies, may be challenging. We present the case of a 67-year-old male with AMH, with a summary of the published cases and discussion of the differential diagnoses.
Metaphor identification in cybersecurity texts: a lightweight linguistic approach
Authors: Hilton Kelsey , Siami Namin Akbar , Jones Keith S.
Published: January 2022

The use of metaphor in cybersecurity discourse has become a topic of interest because of its ability to aid communication about abstract security concepts. In this paper, we borrow from existing metaphor identification algorithms and general theories to create a lightweight metaphor identification algorithm, which uses only one external source of knowledge. The algorithm also introduces a real time corpus builder for extracting collocates; this is, identifying words that appear together more frequently than chance. We implement several variations of the introduced algorithm and empirically evaluate the output using the TroFi dataset, a de facto evaluation dataset in metaphor research. We find first, contrary to our expectation, that adding word sense disambiguation to our metaphor identification algorithm decreases its performance. Second, we find, that our lightweight algorithms perform comparably to their existing, more complex, counterparts. Finally, we present the results of several case studies to observe the utility of the algorithm for future research in linguistic metaphor identification in text related to cybersecurity texts and threats.
Excited state dynamics of Zn–salophen complexes
Authors: O’Keeffe Patrick , Catone Daniele , Turchini Stefano , Paladini Alessandra , Dalla Cort Antonella , Bodo Enrico , Piccirillo Susanna
Published: January 2022

Zn–salophen complexes are a promising class of fluorescent chemosensors for nucleotides and nucleic acids. We have investigated, by means of steady state UV–Vis, ultrafast transient absorption, fluorescence emission and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) the behavior of the excited states of a salicylidene tetradentate Schiff base (Sal), its Zn(II) coordination compound (Zn–Sal) and the effect of the interaction between Zn–Sal and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). TD-DFT shows that the deactivation of the excited state of Sal occurs through torsional motion, due to its rotatable bonds and twistable angles. Complexation with Zn(II) causes rigidity so that the geometry changes in the excited states with respect to the ground state structure are minimal. By addition of ADP to a freshly prepared Zn–Sal ethanol solution, a longer relaxation constant, in comparison to Zn–Sal, was measured, indicative of the interaction between Zn–Sal and ADP. After a few days, the Zn–Sal–ADP solution displayed the same static and dynamic behavior of a solution containing only the Sal ligand, demonstrating that the coordination of the ADP anion to Zn(II)leads to the demetallation of the Sal ligand. Fluorescence measurements also revealed an enhanced fluorescence at 375 nm following the addition of ADP to the solution, caused by the presence of 2,3-diamino naphthalene that is formed by demetallation and partial decomposition of the Sal ligand. The efficient fluorescence of this species at 375 nm could be selectively detected and used as a probe for the detection of ADP in solution.

Graphical abstract
Traffic conflict reduction based on distributed stochastic task allocation
Authors: Öreg Zs. , Shin H.-S. , Tsourdos A.
Published: January 2022

The aim of this paper is to provide preliminary results on a traffic coordination framework based on stochastic task allocation. General trends and the predicted advent of personal aerial vehicles increase traffic rapidly, but current air traffic management methods admittedly cannot scale appropriately. A hierarchical system is proposed to overcome the problem, the middle layer of which is elaborated in this paper. This layer aims to enable stochastic control of traffic behaviour using a single parameter, which is achieved by applying distributed stochastic task allocation. The task allocation algorithm is used to allocate speeds to vehicles in a scalable way. By regulating the speed distribution of vehicles the conflict rates remain manageable. Multi-agent simulation results show that it is possible to control ensemble dynamics and together with that traffic safety and throughput via a single parameter. Using transient simulations the dynamic performance of the system is analysed. It is shown that the traffic conflict reduction problem can be transformed into a control design problem. The performance of a simple controller is also evaluated. It was shown that by applying the controller, quicker transients can be achieved for the mean speed of the system.
Single-cell sequencing and its applications in bladder cancer
Authors: Wei Wang , Rong Yuan , Sanhe Liu , Chunxiu Yang , Thokerunga Erick , Cui Diansheng , Wang Fubing
Published: January 2022

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumour of the urinary system that is characterised by significant intra-tumoural heterogeneity. While large-scale sequencing projects have provided a preliminary understanding of tumour heterogeneity, these findings are based on the average signals obtained from the pooled populations of diverse cells. Recent advances in single-cell sequencing (SCS) technologies have been critical in this regard, opening up new ways of understanding the nuanced tumour biology by identifying distinct cellular subpopulations, dissecting the tumour microenvironment, and characterizing cellular genomic mutations. By integrating these novel insights, SCS technologies are expected to make powerful and meaningful changes to the current diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer through the identification and usage of novel biomarkers as well as targeted therapeutics. SCS can discriminate complex heterogeneity in a large population of tumour cells and determine the key molecular properties that influence clinical outcomes. Here, we review the advances in single-cell technologies and discuss their applications in cancer research and clinical practice, with a specific focus on bladder cancer.
Directional Kronecker algebra for -actions
Authors: LIU CHUNLIN , XU LEIYE
Published: January 2022

In this paper, directional sequence entropy and directional Kronecker algebra for
$\mathbb {Z}^q$
-systems are introduced. The relation between sequence entropy and directional sequence entropy are established. Meanwhile, directional discrete spectrum systems and directional null systems are defined. It is shown that a
$\mathbb {Z}^q$
-system has directional discrete spectrum if and only if it is directional null. Moreover, it turns out that a
$\mathbb {Z}^q$
-system has directional discrete spectrum along q linearly independent directions if and only if it has discrete spectrum.
New approach to weighted topological entropy and pressure
Authors: TSUKAMOTO MASAKI
Published: January 2022

Motivated by fractal geometry of self-affine carpets and sponges, Feng and Huang [J. Math. Pures Appl.106(9) (2016), 411–452] introduced weighted topological entropy and pressure for factor maps between dynamical systems, and proved variational principles for them. We introduce a new approach to this theory. Our new definitions of weighted topological entropy and pressure are very different from the original definitions of Feng and Huang. The equivalence of the two definitions seems highly non-trivial. Their equivalence can be seen as a generalization of the dimension formula for the Bedford–McMullen carpet in purely topological terms.
The effects of citrus flavonoids and their metabolites on immune-mediated intestinal barrier disruption using an in vitro co-culture model
Authors: Stevens Yala , de Bie Tessa , Pinheiro Iris , Elizalde Montserrat , Masclee Ad , Jonkers Daisy
Published: January 2022

Hesperidin and naringin are citrus flavonoids with known anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence from previous studies indicates that both these compounds and the metabolites that are formed during intestinal metabolism are able to exert beneficial effects on intestinal barrier function and inflammation. However, so far, studies investigating the relative contributions of the various compounds are lacking. Therefore, we assessed the effect of citrus flavonoids and their intestinal metabolites on immune-mediated barrier disruption in an in vitro co-culture model. Caco-2 cell monolayers were placed in co-culture with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated THP-1-Blue™ NF-κB cells for 30 h. At baseline, the citrus flavonoids and their metabolites were added to the apical compartment (50 or 100 µM per compound). After 24 h, THP-1 cells were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the basolateral compartment for 6 h. Incubation with citrus flavonoids and their metabolites did not induce changes in transepithelial electrical resistance, fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran 4 kDa permeation or gene expression of barrier-related genes for any of the compounds tested. After LPS stimulation, NF-κB activity was significantly inhibited by all compounds (100 µM) except for one metabolite (all P ≤ 0·03). LPS-induced production of the cytokines IL-8, TNF-α and IL-6 was inhibited by most compounds (all P < 0·05). However, levels of IL-1β were increased, which may contribute to the lack of an improved barrier effect. Overall, these results suggest that citrus flavonoids may decrease intestinal inflammation via reduction of NF-κB activity and that the parent compounds and their metabolites formed during intestinal metabolism are able to exert comparable effects.
Can individual fatty acids be used as functional biomarkers of dairy fat consumption in relation to cardiometabolic health? A narrative review
Authors: Sellem Laury , Jackson Kim G. , Paper Laura , Givens Ian D. , Lovegrove Julie A.
Published: January 2022

In epidemiological studies, dairy food consumption has been associated with minimal effect or decreased risk of some cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). However, current methods of dietary assessment do not provide objective and accurate measures of food intakes. Thus, the identification of valid and reliable biomarkers of dairy product intake is an important challenge to best determine the relationship between dairy consumption and health status. This review investigated potential biomarkers of dairy fat consumption, such as odd-chain, trans- and branched-chain fatty acids (FA), which may improve the assessment of full-fat dairy product consumption. Overall, the current use of serum/plasma FA as biomarkers of dairy fat consumption is mostly based on observational evidence, with a lack of well-controlled, dose–response intervention studies to accurately assess the strength of the relationship. Circulating odd-chain SFA and trans-palmitoleic acid are increasingly studied in relation to CMD risk and seem to be consistently associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in prospective cohort studies. However, associations with CVD are less clear. Overall, adding less studied FA such as vaccenic and phytanic acids to the current available evidence may provide a more complete assessment of dairy fat intake and minimise potential confounding from endogenous synthesis. Finally, the current evidence base on the direct effect of dairy fatty acids on established biomarkers of CMD risk (e.g. fasting lipid profiles and markers of glycaemic control) mostly derives from cross-sectional, animal andin vitrostudies and should be strengthened by well-controlled human intervention studies.
The effects of sex, nation, ethnicity, age and self-reported pubertal development on participant-measured right-left 2D:4D (Dr-l) in the BBC internet study
Authors: Manning J.T. , Fink B. , Mason L. , Kasielska-Trojan A. , Trivers R.
Published: January 2022

Digit ratio (2D:4D) – a proxy for prenatal sex steroids – shows sex, nationality and ethnic differences and is linked to pubertal onset. It is unclear whether right-left 2D:4D (Dr-l) also correlates with prenatal sex steroids, as evidence of these differences has been less conclusive. The present study examined the effects of sex, nation, ethnicity, age and self-reported pubertal development (i.e. the rate of physical development and age at menarche [females] or first shave [males]) on Dr-l in a large online study (the BBC internet study). Digit lengths were self-measured in 201,865 adults (110,955 males) and the sample of nations included 41 countries. Participants reported the self-perceived rate of physical pubertal development on a five-point scale (from very slow to very fast) and provided information on the age at menarche or first shave. Adult (>17 years) males had lower Dr-l than females with weak effect size across 41 nations (males-females; d = −.065, p < .0001). There were sex and ethnicity effects on Dr-l across seven ethnic groups with males < females and lower Dr-l in Whites and Middle/Near Eastern participants compared to Asian, Black and Chinese respondents. Considering age effects, the authors focused on participants >12 years; there were stable sex differences and a weak positive effect of age on Dr-l. Dr-l showed a positive relationship with the rate of physical development and a negative relationship with age at menarche or first shave. Relationships were present in males and females with stronger effects in the latter. It is concluded that Dr-l shows a weak sex difference (males < females) independent of nation, ethnicity and age, and suggest that Dr-l is a proxy for prenatal sex steroids.
How many growing vestibular schwannomas tend to stop growing without any treatment?
Authors: Donghun K , Crowther J A , Taylor W A S , Locke R , Kontorinis G
Published: January 2022

Objective

To determine the long-term, spontaneous growth arrest rates in a large cohort of vestibular schwannoma patients.

Methods

This paper describes a retrospective case series of 735 vestibular schwannoma patients organised into four groups: group A patients showed tumour growth which then stopped without any treatment; group B patients showed tumour growth which continued, but were managed conservatively; group C patients had a growing vestibular schwannoma and received active treatment; and group D patients had a stable, non-growing vestibular schwannoma. Demographics, tumour size and vestibular schwannoma growth rate (mm/month) were recorded.

Results

A total of 288 patients (39.2 per cent) had growing vestibular schwannomas. Of the patients, 103 (35.8 per cent) were managed conservatively, with 52 patients (50.5 per cent of the conservative management group, 18 per cent of the total growing vestibular schwannoma group) showing growth arrest, which occurred on average at four years following the diagnosis. Eighty-two per cent of vestibular schwannomas stopped growing within five years. Only differences between age (p = 0.016) and vestibular schwannoma size (p = 0.0008) were significant.

Conclusion

Approximately 20 per cent of growing vestibular schwannomas spontaneously stop growing, predominantly within the first five years; this is important for long-term management.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic effectiveness of positron emission tomography-computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging in the post-treatment surveillance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Y , McLaren O , Hardman J , Evans J , Williams R
Published: January 2022

Objective

There is currently no consensus on the ideal protocol of imaging for post-treatment surveillance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This study aimed to consolidate existing evidence on the diagnostic effectiveness of positron emission tomography-computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging.

Method

Systematic electronic searches were conducted using Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library (updated February 2021) to identify studies directly comparing positron emission tomography-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans for detecting locoregional recurrence or residual disease for post-treatment surveillance.

Results

Searches identified 3164 unique records, with three studies included for meta-analysis, comprising 176 patients. The weighted pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity for scans performed three to six months post-curative treatment were: positron emission tomography-computed tomography, 0.68 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.49–0.84) and 0.89 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.84–0.93); magnetic resonance imaging, 0.72 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.54–0.88) and 0.85 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.79–0.89), respectively.

Conclusion

Existing studies do not provide evidence for superiority of either positron emission tomography-computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in detecting locoregional recurrence or residual disease following curative treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Acquiring the language of instruction: Effect of home language experience
Authors: Shorbagi Sadek Hefni , Dias Martins Claudia , Bialystok Ellen
Published: January 2022

The study followed 6-year-old children in Canadian French Immersion for three years to investigate the effect of home language background on acquisition of French, the language of schooling. None of the children knew French before beginning the program. French proficiency was indicated by French vocabulary and verbal fluency tasks. A language background questionnaire was used to (a) assign children to monolingual or bilingual groups and (b) provide a continuous score for degree of bilingual experience. Categorical analyses showed bilingual children had smaller English vocabulary than monolingual children when they entered the program. For French vocabulary, categorical comparisons revealed no language group differences in the first two years but higher French scores for bilingual children in the third year. In contrast, analyses of the continuous scores revealed a relation between more bilingual experience and higher French vocabulary throughout. Similarly, categorical analyses of verbal fluency results indicated no significant language group differences for either semantic or phonological fluency, but continuous analyses of semantic fluency showed an association between more bilingual experience and better outcomes in each year. These results suggest that language experience impacts progress in learning the language of schooling and that different analytic approaches reveal different aspects of the pattern.
Fifty shades of deservingness: an analysis of state-level variation and effect of social constructions on policy outcomes
Authors: Kreitzer Rebecca J. , Maltby Elizabeth A. , Smith Candis Watts
Published: January 2022

A patchwork of policies exists across the United States. While citizens’ policy preferences in domains such as the criminal legal system, gun regulations/rights, immigration, and welfare are informed by their political predispositions, they are also shaped by the extent to which policy targets are viewed as deserving. This article centres the idea that collective evaluations matter in policymaking, and it ascertains whether subnational levels of deservingness evaluations of several target groups differ across space to illuminate the link between these judgements and state policy design. We leverage original survey data and multilevel regression and poststratification to create state-level estimates of deservingness evaluations. The analyses elucidate the heterogeneity in state-level deservingness evaluations of several politically relevant groups, and they pinpoint a link between these social reputations and policy design. The article also delivers a useful methodological tool and measures for scholars of state policy design to employ in future research.
THE BRAZILIAN ECONOMY DURING THE OLD REGIME CRISIS (1750-1807)
Authors: Carrara Angelo Alves , Menz Maximiliano Mac , Melo Felipe Souza , Dominguez Rodrigo da Costa
Published: January 2022

While some authors defend the existence of a widespread economic crisis in Brazil during the 18th century, motivated by the fall in the extraction of precious metals, others suggest that the colonial economy maintained a positive performance thanks to the growth of its domestic market. The main goal of this article is to challenge these two explanations, showing that different rhythms of development characterised Brazil's economy in each of its regions. We show that between the 1750s and 1790s, the Amazon region (Maranhão and Pará) experienced uninterrupted growth. Despite some fluctuations, Bahia and Pernambuco showed a tendency towards growth while the centre-south (Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais) suffered an economic contraction. We conclude that there was a stagnation in the added value of exports from all regions, whilst simultaneous growth for all territories occurred only after 1790.
Useful charlatans: Giovanni Succi and Stefano Merlatti’s fasting contest in Paris, 1886
Authors: Nieto-Galan Agustí
Published: January 2022

Argument

This paper analyzes the public fasts of two Italian “hunger artists,” Giovanni Succi and Stefano Merlatti, in Paris in 1886, and their ability to forego eating for a long period (thirty and fifty days respectively). Some contemporary witnesses described them as clever frauds, but others considered them to be interesting physiological anomalies. Controversies about their fasts entered academic circles, but they also spread throughout the urban public at different levels. First, Succi and Merlatti steered medical debates among physicians on the “scientific” explanations of the limits of human resistance to inanition, and acted as ideal mediators for doctors’ professional interests. Second, they became useful tools for science popularizers in their attempt to gain authority in drawing the boundaries between “orthodox” and “heterodox” knowledge. Finally, in the 1880s, Succi and Merlatti’s contest, the controversy around the liquids they ingested, and their scientific supervision by medical doctors, all reinforced their own professional status as itinerant fasters in a golden decade for that kind of endeavor. For all those reasons, Succi and Merlatti can be viewed as useful, epistemologically-active charlatans.
Drug resistance characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates obtained between 2018 and 2020 in Sichuan, China
Authors: Zhou Ruifeng , Zheng Tianli , Luo Dongxia , Zhu Ma , Li Qingfeng , Xu Yuanhong , Wang Dongmei , Luo Jia , Zeng Chongliang , Wei Guo , Tang Mingyuan , Zhao Xing , Zhou Mi , Zuo Haojiang , Pei Xiaofang
Published: January 2022

We investigated the drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from patients with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, and those diagnosed with only TB in Sichuan, China. TB isolates were obtained from January 2018 to December 2020 and subjected to drug susceptibility testing (DST) to 11 anti-TB drugs and to GeneXpert MTB/RIF testing. The overall proportion of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) isolates was 32.1% (n = 10 946). HIV testing was not universally available for outpatient TB cases, only 29.5% (3227/10 946) cases had HIV testing results. The observed proportion of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) isolates was almost double than that of the national level, with approximately 1.5% and 0.1% of the isolates being extensively drug resistant and universally drug resistant, respectively. The proportions of resistant isolates were generally higher in 2018 and 2019 than in 2020. Furthermore, the sensitivities of GeneXpert during 2018–2020 demonstrated a downward trend (80.9, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 76.8–85.0; 80.2, 95% CI 76.4–84.1 and 75.4, 95% CI 70.7–80.2, respectively). Approximately 69.0% (7557/10 946) of the TB cases with DST results were subjected to GeneXpert detection. Overall, the DR-TB status and the use of GeneXpert in Sichuan have improved, but DR-TB challenges remain. HIV testing for all TB cases is recommended.
Treatment strategies for clozapine-induced nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence: a systematic review
Authors: Tanzer Timothy , Warren Nicola , McMahon Laura , Barras Michael , Kisely Steve , Brooks Emily , Wong Emily , Siskind Dan
Published: January 2022

Background

Clozapine is the most effective medication for treatment-refractory schizophrenia but is associated with significant adverse drug reactions, including nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence. This side effect can be burdensome and lead to medication nonadherence and psychotic relapse. Evidence to guide treatment of clozapine-induced nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence is sparse. We therefore aimed to synthesize the evidence base to guide management for clinicians, patients, and their carers.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Trial Registry databases from inception to May 2021 for publications on management of clozapine-induced nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence using a PROSPERO preregistered search strategy.

Results

We identified 22 case reports and case series describing 74 patients. Interventions included clozapine dose reduction, nonpharmacological treatment, and pharmacological treatments. Among pharmacological treatments, desmopressin, oxybutynin, trihexyphenidyl, tolterodine, imipramine, amitriptyline, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, aripiprazole, and verapamil were associated with complete resolution of nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence. Balancing evidence for effectiveness against risk of adverse effects, we developed a management framework for clozapine-induced nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence.

Conclusions

Following assessment of urological, psychiatric, pharmacological, and common comorbid medical issues, first-line treatments should be nonpharmacological, including bathroom alarms, voiding before bedtime, and nocturnal fluid restriction. If these interventions do not provide adequate relief, aripiprazole should be trialed. Desmopressin may be considered for severe refractory cases, but monitoring for hyponatremia is essential.
Expressive Survey Responding: A Closer Look at the Evidence and Its Implications for American Democracy
Authors: Malka Ariel , Adelman Mark
Published: January 2022

Concerns about public opinion-based threats to American democracy are often tied to evidence of partisan bias in factual perceptions. However, influential work on expressive survey responding suggests that many apparent instances of such bias result from respondents insincerely reporting politically congenial views in order to gain expressive psychological benefits. Importantly, these findings have been interpreted as “good news for democracy” because partisans who knowingly report incorrect beliefs in surveys can act on their correct beliefs in the real world. We synthesize evidence and commentary on this matter, drawing two conclusions: (1) evidence for insincere expressive responding on divisive political matters is limited and ambiguous and (2) when experimental manipulations in surveys reduce reports of politically congenial factual beliefs, this is often because such reported beliefs serve as flexible and interchangeable ways of justifying the largely stable allegiances that guide political behavior. The expressive value of acting on political commitments should be viewed as a central feature of the American political context rather than a methodological artifact of surveys.
Explaining the Chile–Uruguay Divergence in Democratic Inclusion: Left Parties and the Political Articulation Hypothesis
Authors: Chouhy Gabriel
Published: January 2022

This article develops a political articulation-based explanation of divergence in democratic inclusion between two champions of liberal democracy in Latin America: Chile and Uruguay. Political articulation scholars depart from the traditional reflection models of political parties as mere expression of preexisting social cleavages, highlighting the relative autonomy of parties’ practices and their strategic role in structuring state-society relations. My work extends this current trend in comparative-historical sociology to the Latin American Left turn after the demise of the market-fundamentalist Washington Consensus, empirically identifying a set of strategies that boost Left parties’ capacity to articulate on a specifically class basis. These strategies, I argue, are endowed with causal efficacy, driving democratic variation beyond the restrictions and opportunities of the institutional environment. Combining process tracing account of historical sequences with my own analyses of labor statistics, protest events, and party linkages and manifestos, I show that differences in Left parties’ ability to build linkages with labor and advance its institutional representation as a class actor are at the root of the divergence in political inclusion between these two countries. This finding has substantial implications for contemporary democratic theory: after neoliberalism, strongly organized mass parties of the Left may not be a necessary condition for a given democracy’s stability and consolidation, but they may be a sufficient condition for a particular democracy’s realization of the normative ideal of political equality.
Precambrian Tectonic Evolution of Southern Kongling Terrane, Yangtze Craton: Constraint From the Detrital Zircon U‐Pb Geochronology of the Metasedimentary Rocks
Authors: Jiang Xingfu , Peng Songbai , Wang Qing
Published: January 2022

The Kongling terrane (Huangling dome) outcrops Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Yangtze craton. However, the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the southern Kongling terrane remains poorly constrained. In this contribution, we report zircon geochronology of the metasedimentary rocks from southern Kongling terrane of the Yangtze craton. Zircon U‐Pb dating results yielded magmatic age clusters at ca. 3,000 Ma, ca. 1,520 Ma, ca. 1,150 Ma, ca. 860 Ma, 900–920 Ma, and 980 Ma, and metamorphic age at ca. 2,900 Ma. These data display that the southern Kongling terrane witnessed Mesoarchean magmatism and metamorphic event, Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic magmatism. In combination with previous studies, it is proposed that the Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Yangtze craton was amalgamated by the multi‐stage subduction‐collision processes at ca. 3,000–2,900 Ma, ca. 2,000–1,800 Ma, and ca. 1,100–940 Ma. In addition, the Proterozoic processes were related to the assembly and breakup of Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents.
Two Types of the East Asian Cold Surge and Their Impacts on El Niño
Authors: Feng Jie , Lian Tao , Ding Yihui , Li Xichen , Sun Cheng , Chen Dake
Published: January 2022

Case studies have shown that the East Asian cold surge (CS) in winter exerts considerable impact on the development of El Niño by changing the surface wind over the western equatorial Pacific. However, a statistical assessment of the conditions under which the CS is more likely to make such an impact is lacking. Our statistical analysis shows that the CS can be divided into two types with respect to their prevailing area. The western CS type passing through the South China Sea rarely influences the equatorial surface wind owing to blocking and friction effects from high mountains in Borneo, whereas the eastern CS type passing through the Philippine Sea induces strong equatorial surface westerly anomalies. Observations and model experiments show that only the eastern CS type can efficiently trigger El Niño.
Intense Abyssal Flow Through the Yap‐Mariana Junction in the Western North Pacific
Authors: Zhou Chun , Xu Hongzhou , Xiao Xin , Zhao Wei , Yang Jiayan , Yang Qingxuan , Jiang Huichang , Xie Qiang , Long Tong , Wang Tinghao , Huang Xiaodong , Zhang Zhiwei , Guan Shoude , Tian Jiwei
Published: January 2022

Water‐mass transports in the vast and seemingly quiescent abyssal ocean, basically along topographically‐guided pathways, play a pivotal role in the Earth's climate. The pulse of abyssal circulations can be taken with observations at topographic choke points. The Yap‐Mariana Junction (YMJ) is the exclusive choke point through which the Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW) enters the Philippine Sea. Here, we quantify the LCDW transport and its variability based on mooring observations at the YMJ and the Mariana Trench (MT). The LCDW flows northward toward the Philippine Sea as an intensified current on the western side of the YMJ, with maximum mean velocity reaching 7.6 cm/s. The mean LCDW transports through the MT and the YMJ are 2.2 ± 1.0 Sv and 2.1 ± 0.4 Sv, respectively. Reversal flow at autumn in both the YMJ and MT is captured, indicating seasonal variability of the abyssal flow.
Abyssal Manganese Nodule Recording of Global Cooling and Tibetan Plateau Uplift Impacts on Asian Aridification
Authors: Jiang X. D. , Zhao X. , Zhao X. Y. , Chou Y.‐M. , Roberts A. P. , Hein J. R. , Yu J. M. , Sun X. M. , Shi X. F. , Cao W. , Liu Q. S.
Published: January 2022

The impact of central Asian aridification on the low latitude North Pacific Ocean since the late Miocene remains unclear. To address this question, we systematically studied an abyssal manganese nodule from the northwestern Pacific Ocean, which is expected to be sensitive to eolian dust sourced from central Asia. Geochemical variations and the fossilized remains of magnetotactic bacteria within the studied nodule manifest two prominent Asian aridification events at ∼8–7 Ma and 3.6–0 Ma. These results suggest that central Asian aridification impacted both primary productivity and abyssal microbial activity in the NW Pacific Ocean via eolian dust inputs. In contrast to the Pliocene aridification event, the late Miocene event was associated with a primary productivity bloom that is not evident in coeval global primary productivity records, which indicates that the ∼8–7 Asian aridification event was likely due to NE Tibetan Plateau uplift rather than to global cooling.
Onset Conditions and Features of Equatorial F Region Irregularities: New Insight From Collocated Digisonde and Radar Observations From Gadanki
Authors: Das S. K. , Janardana Reddy G. , Patra A. K. , Niranjan K.
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we study the onset conditions and features of equatorial F region irregularities linked with equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) using observations made simultaneously by using a DPS‐4D digisonde and the Gadanki Ionospheric Radar Interferometer (GIRI), both collocated at Gadanki. Importantly, we have employed specific analysis tools on DPS‐4D observations, providing range‐time displays of radio frequency and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the reflected/backscattered echoes and the angle‐of‐arrival of the echoes, to characterize the echoes and to study the ambient and disturbed states of the ionosphere. Observations clearly show noticeably different background conditions, in terms of the height of the F layer base, electron density gradient and vertical drift, for the freshly generated and drifting EPBs. The zonal wavelengths of the pre‐sunset large‐scale wave structures (LSWS) observed using the DPS‐4D, however, are found to show a close connection with EPB spacings for freshly generated and drifting EPBs, consistent with earlier findings. The satellite traces were observed just prior to the equatorial spread F (ESF) and were found to be associated with the bottomside upwellings. Comparison of the range‐time displays of radio frequency and SNR of the DPS‐4D observations and the height‐time variations of SNR of the GIRI observations demonstrates that the relatively weak echoes in the DPS‐4D observations, which represent the ESF echoes, correlate fairly well temporally with the plume structures observed by the GIRI. The GIRI observations also reproduce the bottomside upwellings observed by the DPS‐4D. We propose that the bottomside upwellings are due to the growth of the LSWS and these bottomside upwellings are instrumental for the growth of the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability generating EPBs. Finally, the new aspects of the digisonde observations are discussed with regard to their usefulness in understanding and forecasting EPBs/ESF.
Effects of Subauroral Polarization Streams on the Equatorial Electrojet During the Geomagnetic Storm on 1 June 2013: 2. The Temporal Variations
Authors: Zhang Kedeng , Wang Hui , Yamazaki Yosuke
Published: January 2022

Using ground‐based magnetic field measurements and numerical simulations from the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere Electrodynamic General Circulation Model (TIEGCM), a first paper (Zhang, Yamazaki, et al., 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029681; under review) introduced the potential roles of disturbance dynamo electric field due to subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) on the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) during a moderate geomagnetic storm on 1 June 2013. Our second study investigated the temporal responses of equatorial electrojet to SAPS. At noon, the residual EEJ (ΔEEJ) owing to SAPS flows westward, that is, counter equatorial electrojet (CEJ). The temporal variation of CEJ excited by the dynamo electric field was basically consistent with that by SAPS, and the effects of zonal wind were larger than those of meridional wind. The relative time delay of CEJ and SAPS was related to the propagation time of disturbance wind from mid‐latitudes to low‐latitudes. It took 2–3 hr for SAPS‐related disturbance wind to propagate to the equatorial region and change the polarity of EEJ. The influence of meridional winds on the temporal variations of ΔEEJ is related to the generation of eastward currents at mid‐latitudes, which can accumulate the positive charges at dusk terminator and then generate a westward electric field at lower latitudes.