bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging of large volume subcutaneous deposition using MRI: exploratory clinical study results
Authors: Pettis Ronald J. , Woodley Wendy D. , Ossege Kevin C. , Blum Adam , Bolick Natasha G. , Rini Christopher J.
Published: March 2023

Subcutaneous (SC) delivery is a preferred route of administration for biotherapeutics but has predominantly been limited to volumes below 3 mL. With higher volume drug formulations emerging, understanding large volume SC (LVSC) depot localization, dispersion, and impact on the SC environment has become more critical. The aim of this exploratory clinical imaging study was to assess the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify and characterize LVSC injections and their effect on SC tissue as a function of delivery site and volume. Healthy adult subjects received incremental injections of normal saline up to 5 mL total volume in the arm and up to 10 mL in the abdomen and thigh. MRI images were acquired after each incremental SC injection. Post-image analysis was performed to correct imaging artifacts, identify depot tissue location, create 3-dimensional (3D) SC depot rendering, and estimate in vivo bolus volumes and SC tissue distention. LVSC saline depots were readily achieved, imaged using MRI, and quantified via subsequent image reconstructions. Imaging artifacts occurred under some conditions, necessitating corrections applied during image analysis. 3D renderings were created for both the depot alone and in relation to the SC tissue boundaries. LVSC depots remained predominantly within the SC tissue and expanded with increasing injection volume. Depot geometry varied across injection sites and localized physiological structure changes were observed to accommodate LVSC injection volumes. MRI is an effective means to clinically visualize LVSC depots and SC architecture allowing assessment of deposition and dispersion of injected formulations.

Trial Registration: Not applicable for this exploratory clinical imaging study.

Graphical Abstract
Human–coastal coupled systems: Ten questions
Authors: McNamara Dylan E. , Lazarus Eli D. , Goldstein Evan B.
Published: March 2023

Given the inevitability of sea-level rise, investigating processes of human-altered coastlines at the intermediate timescales of years to decades can sometimes feel like an exercise in futility. Returning to the big picture and long view of feedbacks, emergent dynamics, and wider context, here we offer 10 existential questions for research into human–coastal coupled systems.
Impact of changing case definitions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization on pandemic metrics
Authors: Shappell Claire N. , Klompas Michael , Chan Christina , Chen Tom , Rhee Chanu
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To examine the impact of commonly used case definitions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations on case counts and outcomes.

Design, patients, and setting:

Retrospective analysis of all adults hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2022, at 5 Massachusetts acute-care hospitals.

Interventions:

We applied 6 commonly used definitions of COVID-19 hospitalization: positive severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay within 14 days of admission, PCR plus dexamethasone administration, PCR plus remdesivir, PCR plus hypoxemia, institutional COVID-19 flag, or COVID-19 International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Outcomes included case counts and in-hospital mortality. Overall, 100 PCR-positive cases were reviewed to determine each definition’s accuracy for distinguishing primary or contributing versus incidental COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Results:

Of 306,387 hospital encounters, 15,436 (5.0%) met the PCR-based definition. COVID-19 hospitalization counts varied substantially between definitions: 4,628 (1.5% of all encounters) for PCR plus dexamethasone, 5,757 (1.9%) for PCR plus remdesivir, 11,801 (3.9%) for PCR plus hypoxemia, 15,673 (5.1%) for institutional flags, and 15,868 (5.2%) for ICD-10 codes. Definitions requiring dexamethasone, hypoxemia, or remdesivir selected sicker patients compared to PCR alone (mortality rates 12.2%, 10.7%, and 8.8% vs 8.3%, respectively). Definitions requiring PCR plus remdesivir or dexamethasone did not detect a reduction in in-hospital mortality associated with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. ICD-10 codes had the highest sensitivity (98.4%) but low specificity (39.5%) for distinguishing primary or contributing versus incidental COVID-19 hospitalizations. PCR plus dexamethasone had the highest specificity (92.1%) but low sensitivity (35.5%).

Conclusions:

Commonly used definitions for COVID-19 hospitalizations generate variable case counts and outcomes and differentiate poorly between primary or contributing versus incidental COVID-19 hospitalizations. Surveillance definitions that better capture and delineate COVID-19–associated hospitalizations are needed.
Estimating the effect of active detection and isolation on Clostridioides difficile infections in a bone marrow transplant unit
Authors: Reagan Kelly A. , Chan David M. , Vanhoozer Ginger , Bearman Gonzalo
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To model the effects of active detection and isolation (ADI) regarding Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in the bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit of our hospital.

Setting:

ADI was implemented in a 21-patient bone marrow unit.

Patients:

Patients were bone marrow recipients on this unit.

Interventions:

We compared active ADI, in which patients who tested positive for colonization of C. difficile before their hospital stay were placed under extra contact precautions, with cases not under ADI.

Results:

Within the BMT unit, ADI reduced total cases of CDI by 24.5% per year and reduced hospital-acquired cases by ∼84%. The results from our simulations also suggest that ADI can save ∼$67,600 per year in healthcare costs.

Conclusions:

Institutions with active BMT units should consider implementing ADI.
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings
Authors: Truscott Jake S.
Published: March 2023

Supreme Court confirmation hearings place the often-reclusive institution in the public spotlight and afford members of the Senate Judiciary Committee the ability to pursue important personal and party goals. I construct and evaluate a measure of rhetorical sentiment that considers the positive and negative behaviors of committee members during Supreme Court confirmation hearings between 1971 and 2020. While some observers have pointed to the evolving dynamics of confirmation hearings as being the result of key inflection points, I find that these events alone do not explain rhetorical behaviors. Instead, my results suggest that rhetorical behaviors have been predominately mediated by structures of party control and the balance of interbranch political power since at least the 1970s. I conclude by noting how these behaviors can further deteriorate the public’s perceptions that the Court remains insulated from the contentious political environment.
Board Interlock Tenure and Firm Internationalization
Authors: Zhu Ziyan , Deng Ziliang
Published: March 2023

To overcome liabilities of foreignness and outsidership during internationalization, board interlock is an effective conduit of foreign knowledge inflows and organizational learning that firms require. We focus on the time dimension of such influence and hypothesize that the tenure of board interlocks with firms with experience in outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in a country promotes the OFDI decision of the focal firm to that particular country. However, such an effect diminishes as the tenure of interlock ties increases. Moreover, as an alternative knowledge source, OFDI knowledge from the focal firm's neighboring region may weaken the baseline effect. Based on longitudinal data of listed firms in China, our empirical results support the hypotheses. This study enriches the literature on social network learning by identifying its temporal nature and the substitution between different knowledge sources. It also demonstrates the importance of rotating a firm's board members, so that knowledge acquisition and learning remain fresh.
How to tackle food security and sustainability using a One Health Perspective?
Authors: Alders Robyn
Published: March 2023

There are multiple challenges concerning food security and sustainability that a One Health perspective can help tackle. We propose that the community focus on the following three shared by the 100 questions initiative (https://the100questions.org/) which they kindly proposed we publish on their behalf:
Growth allometry and dental topography in Upper Triassic conodonts support trophic differentiation and molar-like element function
Authors: Kelz Valentin , Guenser Pauline , Rigo Manuel , Jarochowska Emilia
Published: March 2023

Conodont elements have high rates of morphological evolution, but the drivers of this disparity are debated. Positive allometric relationships between dimensions of food-processing surfaces and entire P1 elements have been used to argue that these elements performed mechanical digestion. If involved in food processing, the surface of the element should grow at a rate proportional to the increase in energy requirements of the animal. This inference of function relies on the assumption that the energy requirements of the animal grew faster (≅ mass0.75) than the tooth area (≅ mass0.67). We reevaluate this assumption based on metabolic rates across animals and calculate the allometry in platform-bearing P1 elements of Late Triassic co-occurring taxa, Metapolygnathus communisti and Epigondolella rigoi, using 3D models of ontogenetic series. Positive allometry is found in platform and element dimensions in both species, supporting a grasping-tooth hypothesis, based on the assumption that metabolic rate in conodonts scaled with body mass similarly to that in fish and ectotherms. We also calculate the curvature of the P1 platform surface using the Dirichlet normal energy (DNE) as a proxy for diet. DNE values increase with body mass, supporting the assumption that conodont metabolic rates increased faster than mass0.67. We finally find that adults in both taxa differ in their food bases, which supports trophic diversification as an important driver of the remarkable disparity of conodont elements.
Spatial distributions of Tribrachidium, Rugoconites, and Obamus from the Ediacara Member (Rawnsley Quartzite), South Australia
Authors: Boan Phillip C. , Evans Scott D. , Hall Christine M. S. , Droser Mary L.
Published: March 2023

The spatial distribution of in situ sessile organisms, including those from the fossil record, provides information about life histories, such as possible dispersal and/or settlement mechanisms, and how taxa interact with one another and their local environments. At Nilpena Ediacara National Park (NENP), South Australia, the exquisite preservation and excavation of 33 fossiliferous bedding planes from the Ediacara Member of the Rawnsley Quartzite reveals in situ communities of the Ediacara Biota. Here, the spatial distributions of three relatively common taxa, Tribrachidium, Rugoconites, and Obamus, occurring on excavated surfaces were analyzed using spatial point pattern analysis. Tribrachidium have a variable spatial distribution, implying that settlement or post-settlement conditions/preferences had an effect on populations. Rugoconites display aggregation, possibly related to their reproductive methods in combination with settlement location availability at the time of dispersal and/or settlement. Additionally, post-settlement environmental controls could have affected Rugoconites on other surfaces, resulting in lower populations and densities. Both Tribrachidium and Rugoconites also commonly occur as individuals or in low numbers on a number of beds, thus constraining possible reproductive strategies and environmental/substrate preferences. The distribution of Obamus is consistent with selective settlement, aggregating near conspecifics and on substrates of mature microbial mat. This dispersal process is the first example of substrate-selective dispersal among the Ediacara Biota, thus making Obamus similar to numerous modern sessile invertebrates with similar dispersal and settlement strategies.
COMPARABILITY OF RADIOCARBON MEASUREMENTS IN DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON OF SEAWATER PRODUCED AT ETH-ZURICH
Authors: Castrillejo Maxi , Hansman Roberta L , Graven Heather D , Lester Joanna G , Bollhalder Silvia , Kündig Kayley , Wacker Lukas
Published: March 2023

Radiocarbon observations (Δ14C) in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of seawater provide useful information about ocean carbon cycling and ocean circulation. To deliver high-quality observations, the Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP) at ETH-Zurich developed a new simplified method allowing the rapid analysis of radiocarbon in DIC of small seawater samples, which is continually assessed by following internal quality controls. However, a comparison with externally produced 14C measurements to better establish an equivalency between methods was still missing. Here, we make the first intercomparison with the National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (NOSAMS) facility based on 14 duplicate seawater samples collected in 2020. We also compare with prior deep-water observations from the 1970s to 1990s. The results show a very good agreement in both comparisons. The mean Δ14C of 12 duplicate samples measured by LIP and NOSAMS were statistically identical within one sigma uncertainty while two other duplicate samples agreed within two sigma. Based on this small number of duplicate samples, LIP values appear to be slightly lower than the NOSAMS values, but more measurements will be needed for confirmation. We also comment on storage and preservation techniques used in this study, including the freezing of samples collected in foil bags.
Racial Equality and Anticolonial Solidarity: Anténor Firmin’s Global Haitian Liberalism
Authors: HOLLEY JARED
Published: March 2023

This article recovers Anténor Firmin’s contribution to anticolonial political thought by excavating his liberal worldmaking project of global racial equality and anticolonial solidarity. I assess Firmin’s contrast between “true” and “false” liberalism in Haiti, reconstructing his understanding of true Haitian liberalism as committed to the core ideas of historical progress, national regeneration, and rehabilitation of the Black race globally. I contextualize his Equality of the Human Races in metropolitan Paris during his first exile, arguing that his critique of anthropological racism should be seen as integral to his commitment to Haitian liberalism. I then situate his discussion of what he called “European Solidarity” in wider legitimating languages of French colonialism. This recovers Firmin’s neglected critique of colonialism as a reciprocal system of economic exploitation and discursive domination, and his attempt to rescue the universal ideal of solidarity from its truncated expression in languages of racial inequality and practices of colonization.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D response to vitamin D supplementation using different lipid delivery systems in middle-aged and older adults: a randomised controlled trial.
Authors: McCourt Aislinn F. , Mulrooney Steven L. , O’Neill Graham J. , O’Riordan E. Dolores , O’Sullivan Aifric M.
Published: March 2023

Food fortification improves vitamin D intakes but is not yet mandated in many countries. Combining vitamin D with different dietary lipids altered vitamin D absorption in in vitro and postprandial studies. This randomised, placebo-controlled trial examined the effect of the lipid composition of a vitamin D-fortified dairy drink on change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations. Sixty-three healthy adults aged 50+ years were randomised to one of the following for 4 weeks: vitamin D-fortified olive oil dairy drink, vitamin D-fortified coconut oil dairy drink, vitamin D supplement or placebo control dairy drink. All vitamin D groups received 20 µg of vitamin D3 daily. Serum was collected at baseline and post-intervention to measure 25(OH)D concentrations and biomarkers of metabolic health. Repeated-measures general linear model ANCOVA (RM GLM ANCOVA) compared changes over time. There was a significant time × treatment interaction effect on 25(OH)D concentrations for those classified as vitamin D-insufficient (P < 0·001) and -sufficient at baseline (P = 0·004). 25(OH)D concentrations increased significantly for all insufficient participants receiving vitamin D3 in any form. However, for vitamin D-sufficient participants at baseline, 25(OH)D concentrations only increased significantly with the coconut oil dairy drink and supplement. There was no effect of vitamin D on biomarkers of metabolic health. Vitamin D fortification of lipid-containing foods may be used in lieu of supplementation when supplement adherence is low or for individuals with dysphagia. These results are important given the recent recommendation to increase vitamin D intakes to 15–20 µg for older adults in Ireland.
Does analytic theology belong in the public university?
Authors: Schilbrack Kevin
Published: March 2023

An overarching question in William Wood's Analytic Theology and the Academic Study of Religion concerns the conditions under which theology belongs in the public university. On this question, many or most academics today are methodological naturalists, and they would not accept explanations that appeal to supernatural entities. Wood devotes a chapter to arguing against that position. Nevertheless, Wood is not a ‘sectarian’ who argues that Christian theology should only answer to its own, tradition-specific norms, and so it is important to see how close his proposal and methodological naturalism (MN) actually are. In this response, I seek to clarify both MN and Wood's proposal regarding the proper norms for academic inquiry. Key to my argument is a distinction between a MN based on strict or scientific naturalism and a MN based on liberal or expansive naturalism. Analytic theologians and expansive naturalists can agree both that a theology that operates according to proper norms for academic inquiry belongs in the public university and that strict naturalism is not the norm that we want.
Outsider Bodies, Everyday Lives: Single Mothers and Their Children in Red Vienna
Authors: McEwen Britta
Published: March 2023

Healthy bodies were central to the welfare projects of Red Vienna, 1919–34. This article traces the discourse of care surrounding single mothers and their children within the interwar Viennese welfare system, paying particular attention to the ways their bodies were described, monitored, and maximized for social utility. It establishes a shift in the perception of “worth” for these citizens, and then contrasts this stated value with the remembered experiences of children growing up without legal fathers in Red Vienna.
Volunteers’ spiritual care competence and its relationship with attitudes toward palliative care: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Jingrong , Jing Limei , Wang Hui , Ma Yanan , Xu Yifan , Li Tiantian , Jue Xing , Shu Zhiqun , Hui Jue , Li Xueying
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Given the rising burden of palliative care and the limited human resources for its facilitation in China, volunteers are becoming increasingly indispensable. In particular, there is a high demand for volunteers who can serve as spiritual caregivers. However, a volunteer’s ability to provide good spiritual care in a palliative setting may be influenced by their attitude toward palliative care. To uncover the current state of spiritual caregiving in palliative settings in China and insights into best practices for its improvement, this study measured spiritual care competence and identified its influencing factors and explored its relationship with attitudes toward palliative care among volunteers. Notably, this study is the first to consider spiritual care competence alongside attitudes toward palliative care.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study using online survey methods was conducted with 385 volunteers in Shanghai, China. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire.

Results

Volunteers demonstrated relatively low levels of spiritual care competence (58.50 ± 10.92). Statistically significant correlations were found between spiritual care competence and the following variables: age, educational background, marital status, religious beliefs, occupational status, and relevant training and practical experience. Attitude toward palliative care significantly correlated with spiritual care competence (r = 0.49, p < 0.001).

Significance of results

To continually improve volunteers’ spiritual care competence, diversified education and training programs about spiritual care should be designed for different kinds of volunteers; moreover, because attitude toward palliative care significantly impacted spiritual care competence, such programs should encourage positive attitudes toward palliative care.
Nature, Nurture, and the Meaning of Educational Attainment: Differences by Sex and Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Arpawong Thalida Em , Gatz Margaret , Zavala Catalina , Gruenewald Tara L. , Walters Ellen E. , Prescott Carol A.
Published: March 2023

Estimated heritability of educational attainment (EA) varies widely, from 23% to 80%, with growing evidence suggesting the degree to which genetic variation contributes to individual differences in EA is highly dependent upon situational factors. We aimed to decompose EA into influences attributable to genetic propensity and to environmental context and their interplay, while considering influences of rearing household economic status (HES) and sex. We use the Project Talent Twin and Sibling Study, drawn from the population-representative cohort of high school students assessed in 1960 and followed through 2014, to ages 68−72. Data from 3552 twins and siblings from 1741 families were analyzed using multilevel regression and multiple group structural equation models. Individuals from less-advantaged backgrounds had lower EA and less variation. Genetic variance accounted for 51% of the total variance, but within women and men, 40% and 58% of the total variance respectively. Men had stable genetic variance on EA across all HES strata, whereas high HES women showed the same level of genetic influence as men, and lower HES women had constrained genetic influence on EA. Unexpectedly, middle HES women showed the largest constraints in genetic influence on EA. Shared family environment appears to make an outsized contribution to greater variability for women in this middle stratum and whether they pursue more EA. Implications are that without considering early life opportunity, genetic studies on education may mischaracterize sex differences because education reflects different degrees of genetic and environmental influences for women and men.
Hourly Sea Level Prediction‐Based GNSS‐IR Inversions by Combining the Least Squares Learning Cross‐Checking Method With the Gaussian Kernel Model L2 Constraint and LSTM
Authors: Zheng Naiquan , Chai Hongzhou , Ma Yongchao , Chen Lingqiu , Wang Min , Bai Tengfei
Published: March 2023

Multisatellite systems and multi‐signal‐to‐noise ratio types provide a more prosperous data basis for the inversion of sea level by GNSS‐IR technology. However, there are few studies on data reconstruction of the retrieved sea level height. This study takes the SPBY station as an example and introduces the least squares learning cross‐checking method with the Gaussian kernel model (GKM) L2 constraint. Furthermore, research on hourly sea level reconstruction based on GNSS‐IR is carried out. Compared with the measured sea level, the sea level height in 2021 obtained after the fusion of multisource data has an R of 0.905 and an RMSE of 0.144 m. And the result obtained after data reconstruction has an R of 0.958 and an RMSE of 0.090 m. Compared with the multisource data fusion results before reconstruction, R is increased by 5.9%, and RMSE is decreased by 37.5%. Finally, using the reconstructed sea level data based on Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) artificial neural network to carry out the research on sea level prediction, which verifies the conclusion that more reliable forecast values can be obtained based on 5 months of training data. Among them, the R from 1 to 24 hr is 0.905, and the RMSE is 0.145 m. Compared with the inversion accuracy of GNSS‐IR, the R is increased by 2.0%, and the RMSE is decreased by 21.4%. This study demonstrates the feasibility of GNSS‐IR technology and L2‐constrained least squares learning cross‐checking method based on the GKM to reconstruct sea level data with high temporal resolution and high accuracy. The reliability of the sea level prediction based on GKM reconstruction and LSTM is verified in the sea level forecast of the next 24 epochs, which has essential applications in sea level data recovery and forecasting.
Magmatic System and Seismicity of the Arxan Volcanic Group in Northeast China
Authors: Li Jie , Tian You , Zhao Dapeng , Yan Dong , Li Zhiqiang , Li Hongli
Published: March 2023

The Arxan volcanic group is one of the largest active volcanic fields in China. Its last eruption occurred ∼2,000 years ago, but it still has a potential of eruption in the future. The spatial distribution and migration channel of its magmatic reservoirs are still unclear. Here we precisely locate microearthquakes and study the detailed 3‐D velocity structure of the volcanic area using a large number of high‐quality P and S wave arrival‐time data recorded at 227 portable seismometers. A swarm of microearthquakes (M < 1.5) related to magmatic activity were recorded, which lasted about 4 days during 13–16 September 2020. Our tomographic results show that 12 Arxan volcanoes share the same magmatic system. The melt fraction of a magma chamber below the Tianchi volcano at ∼0–8 km depths is estimated to be ∼6.1%–8.6% from the seismic velocity reductions. Our results indicate that the Arxan magmatic system is still active at present.
Density Derivation Using Controlled Spacecraft Potential in Earth's Magnetosheath and Multi‐Scale Fluctuation Analysis
Authors: Teubenbacher D. , Roberts O. W. , Nakamura R. , Narita Y. , Vörös Z. , Torkar K. , Lindqvist P.‐A. , Ergun R. E.
Published: March 2023

In situ measurements from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission are used to estimate electron density from spacecraft potential and investigate compressive turbulence in the Earth's magnetosheath. During the MMS Solar Wind Turbulence Campaign in February 2019, the four MMS spacecraft were arranged in a logarithmic line constellation enabling the study of measurements from multiple spacecraft at varying distances. We estimate the electron density from spacecraft potential for a time interval in which the ion emitters actively control the potential. The derived electron density data product has a higher temporal resolution than the plasma instruments, enabling the examination of fluctuation for scales down to the sub‐ion range. The inter‐spacecraft separations range from 132 to 916 km; this corresponds to scales of 3.5–24.1 ion inertial lengths. As an example, the derived density and magnetic field data are used to study fluctuations in the magnetosheath through time lags on a single spacecraft and spatial lags between pairs of spacecraft over almost one decade in scale. The results show an increase in anisotropy as the scale decreases, similar for the density and the magnetic field. This suggests different drivers in the strongly compressive magnetosheath and the weakly compressive solar wind. Compressive structures such as magnetic holes, compressive vortices and jets might play key roles.
Fusion of Multiple Models for Improving Gross Primary Production Estimation With Eddy Covariance Data Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Tian Zhenkun , Yi Chuixiang , Fu Yingying , Kutter Eric , Krakauer Nir Y. , Fang Wei , Zhang Qin , Luo Hui
Published: March 2023

Terrestrial gross primary production (GPP) represents the magnitude of CO2 uptake through vegetation photosynthesis, and is a key variable for carbon cycles between the biosphere and atmosphere. Light use efficiency (LUE) models have been widely used to estimate GPP for its physiological mechanisms and availability of data acquisition and implementation, yet each individual GPP model has exhibited large uncertainties due to input errors and model structure, and further studies of systematic validation, comparison, and fusion of those models with eddy covariance (EC) site data across diverse ecosystem types are still needed in order to further improve GPP estimation. We here compared and fused five GPP models (VPM, EC‐LUE, GOL‐PEM, CHJ, and C‐Fix) across eight ecosystems based on FLUXNET2015 data set using the ensemble methods of Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) separately. Our results showed that for individual models, EC‐LUE gave a better performance to capture interannual variability of GPP than other models, followed by VPM and GLO‐PEM, while CHJ and C‐Fix were more limited in their estimation performance. We found RF and SVM were superior to BMA on merging individual models at various plant functional types (PFTs) and at the scale of individual sites. On the basis of individual models, the fusion methods of BMA, SVM, and RF were examined by a five‐fold cross validation for each ecosystem type, and each method successfully improved the average accuracy of estimation by 8%, 18%, and 19%, respectively.
Three‐Dimensional Differentiation of the Contribution of Climatic Factors to Vegetation Change in the Pan‐Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Xueqin , Li Xiang
Published: March 2023

Due to the heterogeneous terrains and unique alpine climate environment, the three‐dimensional differentiation of climatic impacts on vegetation change and its possible mechanism in the Pan‐Tibetan Plateau (PTP) are complex and lack adequate research. Hence, we here quantify the three‐dimensional differentiation of the contribution of climatic factors to vegetation change using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Results indicate that the overall PTP has been warmer and wetter but partially drier, with a remarkable fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) increase since 2000. Moreover, the total areas with FVC changes accounting for approximately 49.3% of PTP are significantly driven by climate factors. Precipitation and potential evaporation predominate the vegetation change at relatively high altitudes and latitudes, while temperature affects the vegetation change at relatively low latitudes and parts of low elevations. Meanwhile, relative humidity dominates the vegetation change at middle altitudes and latitudes. Furthermore, the hydrothermal conditions and climate change magnitudes modulate the three‐dimensional differentiation. On the one hand, the effects of heat conditions on FVC change overwhelm the moisture conditions in alpine areas or warm and wet regions, in sharp contrast with the dominant role of water conditions in most dry areas. On the other hand, the spatial heterogeneity in climate change magnitudes influences the contribution of climatic factors in most hydrothermal conditions. Additionally, interventions challenging to quantify, such as climatic and mountainous hazards, anthropogenic activities, and vegetation feedback, will lead to the differentiation’s uncertainties. Our research hopefully provides theoretical support for national ecosystem management and major construction projects across PTP.
A live dengue virus vaccine carrying a chimeric envelope glycoprotein elicits dual DENV2-DENV4 serotype-specific immunity
Authors: Young Ellen , Yount Boyd , Pantoja Petraleigh , Henein Sandra , Meganck Rita M. , McBride Jennifer , Munt Jennifer E. , Baric Thomas J. , Zhu Deanna , Scobey Trevor , Dong Stephanie , Tse Longping V. , Martinez Melween I. , Burgos Armando G. , Graham Rachel L. , White Laura , DeSilva Aravinda , Sariol Carlos A. , Baric Ralph S.
Published: March 2023

The four dengue virus serotypes co-circulate globally and cause significant human disease. Dengue vaccine development is challenging because some virus-specific antibodies are protective, while others are implicated in enhanced viral replication and more severe disease. Current dengue tetravalent vaccines contain four live attenuated serotypes formulated to theoretically induce balanced protective immunity. Among the number of vaccine candidates in clinical trials, only Dengvaxia is licensed for use in DENV seropositive individuals. To simplify live-virus vaccine design, we identify co-evolutionary constraints inherent in flavivirus virion assembly and design chimeric viruses to replace domain II (EDII) of the DENV2 envelope (E) glycoprotein with EDII from DENV4. The chimeric DENV2/4EDII virus replicates efficiently in vitro and in vivo. In male macaques, a single inoculation of DENV2/4EDII induces type-specific neutralizing antibodies to both DENV2 and DENV4, thereby providing a strategy to simplify DENV vaccine design by utilizing a single bivalent E glycoprotein immunogen for two DENV serotypes.
Reducing charge noise in quantum dots by using thin silicon quantum wells
Authors: Paquelet Wuetz Brian , Degli Esposti Davide , Zwerver Anne-Marije J. , Amitonov Sergey V. , Botifoll Marc , Arbiol Jordi , Vandersypen Lieven M. K. , Russ Maximilian , Scappucci Giordano
Published: March 2023

Charge noise in the host semiconductor degrades the performance of spin-qubits and poses an obstacle to control large quantum processors. However, it is challenging to engineer the heterogeneous material stack of gate-defined quantum dots to improve charge noise systematically. Here, we address the semiconductor-dielectric interface and the buried quantum well of a28Si/SiGe heterostructure and show the connection between charge noise, measured locally in quantum dots, and global disorder in the host semiconductor, measured with macroscopic Hall bars. In 5 nm thick28Si quantum wells, we find that improvements in the scattering properties and uniformity of the two-dimensional electron gas over a 100 mm wafer correspond to a significant reduction in charge noise, with a minimum value of 0.29 ± 0.02 μeV/Hz½at 1 Hz averaged over several quantum dots. We extrapolate the measured charge noise to simulated dephasing times toCZ-gate fidelities that improve nearly one order of magnitude. These results point to a clean and quiet crystalline environment for integrating long-lived and high-fidelity spin qubits into a larger system.
Non-falciparum malaria infection and IgG seroprevalence among children under 15 years in Nigeria, 2018
Authors: Herman Camelia , Leonard Colleen M. , Uhomoibhi Perpetua , Maire Mark , Moss Delynn , Inyang Uwem , Abubakar Ado , Ogunniyi Abiodun , Mba Nwando , Greby Stacie M. , Okoye McPaul I. , Iriemenam Nnaemeka C. , Maikore Ibrahim , Steinhardt Laura , Rogier Eric
Published: March 2023

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the dominant malaria parasite in Nigeria though P. vivax (Pv), P. ovale (Po), and P. malariae (Pm) are also endemic. Blood samples (n = 31,234) were collected from children aged 0-14 years during a 2018 nationwide HIV survey and assayed for Plasmodium antigenemia, Plasmodium DNA, and IgG against Plasmodium MSP1-19 antigens. Of all children, 6.6% were estimated to have Pm infection and 1.4% Po infection with no Pv infections detected. The highest household wealth quintile was strongly protective against infection with Pm (aOR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05–0.22) or Po (aOR= 0.01, 0.00–0.10). Overall Pm seroprevalence was 34.2% (95% CI: 33.3-35.2) with lower estimates for Po (12.1%, 11.6-12.5) and Pv (6.3%, 6.0-6.7). Pm seropositivity was detected throughout the country with several local government areas showing >50% seroprevalence. Serological and DNA indicators show widespread exposure of Nigerian children to Pm with lower rates to Po and Pv.
Aqueous spinning of robust, self-healable, and crack-resistant hydrogel microfibers enabled by hydrogen bond nanoconfinement
Authors: Shi Yingkun , Wu Baohu , Sun Shengtong , Wu Peiyi
Published: March 2023

Robust damage-tolerant hydrogel fibers with high strength, crack resistance, and self-healing properties are indispensable for their long-term uses in soft machines and robots as load-bearing and actuating elements. However, current hydrogel fibers with inherent homogeneous structure are generally vulnerable to defects and cracks and thus local mechanical failure readily occurs across fiber normal. Here, inspired by spider spinning, we introduce a facile, energy-efficient aqueous pultrusion spinning process to continuously produce stiff yet extensible hydrogel microfibers at ambient conditions. The resulting microfibers are not only crack-insensitive but also rapidly heal the cracks in 30 s by moisture, owing to their structural nanoconfinement with hydrogen bond clusters embedded in an ionically complexed hygroscopic matrix. Moreover, the nanoconfined structure is highly energy-dissipating, moisture-sensitive but stable in water, leading to excellent damping and supercontraction properties. This work creates opportunities for the sustainable spinning of robust hydrogel-based fibrous materials towards diverse intelligent applications.
Structural basis of vitamin C recognition and transport by mammalian SVCT1 transporter
Authors: Wang Mingxing , He Jin , Li Shanshan , Cai Qianwen , Zhang Kaiming , She Ji
Published: March 2023

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient for human health, and its deficiency has long been known to cause scurvy. Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCTs) are responsible for vitamin C uptake and tissue distribution in mammals. Here, we present cryogenic electron microscopy structures of mouse SVCT1 in both the apo and substrate-bound states. Mouse SVCT1 forms a homodimer with each protomer containing a core domain and a gate domain. The tightly packed extracellular interfaces between the core domain and gate domain stabilize the protein in an inward-open conformation for both the apo and substrate-bound structures. Vitamin C binds at the core domain of each subunit, and two potential sodium ions are identified near the binding site. The coordination of sodium ions by vitamin C explains their coupling transport. SVCTs probably deliver substrate through an elevator mechanism in combination with local structural arrangements. Altogether, our results reveal the molecular mechanism by which SVCTs recognize vitamin C and lay a foundation for further mechanistic studies on SVCT substrate transport.
Plastic waste discharge to the global ocean constrained by seawater observations
Authors: Zhang Yanxu , Wu Peipei , Xu Ruochong , Wang Xuantong , Lei Lili , Schartup Amina T. , Peng Yiming , Pang Qiaotong , Wang Xinle , Mai Lei , Wang Ruwei , Liu Huan , Wang Xiaotong , Luijendijk Arjen , Chassignet Eric , Xu Xiaobiao , Shen Huizhong , Zheng Shuxiu , Zeng Eddy Y.
Published: March 2023

Marine plastic pollution poses a potential threat to the ecosystem, but the sources and their magnitudes remain largely unclear. Existing bottom-up emission inventories vary among studies for two to three orders of magnitudes (OMs). Here, we adopt a top-down approach that uses observed dataset of sea surface plastic concentrations and an ensemble of ocean transport models to reduce the uncertainty of global plastic discharge. The optimal estimation of plastic emissions in this study varies about 1.5 OMs: 0.70 (0.13–3.8 as a 95% confidence interval) million metric tons yr−1 at the present day. We find that the variability of surface plastic abundance caused by different emission inventories is higher than that caused by model parameters. We suggest that more accurate emission inventories, more data for the abundance in the seawater and other compartments, and more accurate model parameters are required to further reduce the uncertainty of our estimate.
Compensatory gene expression potentially rescues impaired brain development in Kit mutant mice
Authors: Minei Ryuhei , Aoki Hitomi , Ogura Atsushi , Kunisada Takahiro
Published: March 2023

While loss-of-function mutations in the murine dominant whitespotting/Kit (W)locus affect a diverse array of cell lineages and organs, the brain, organ with the highest expression show the least number of defective phenotypes. We performed transcriptome analysis of the brains ofKitWembryos and found prominent gene expression changes specifically in the E12.5KitW/Whomozygous mutant. Although other potentially effective changes in gene expression were observed, uniform downregulation of ribosomal protein genes and oxidative phosphorylation pathway genes specifically observed in the E12.5 brain may comprise a genetic compensation system exerting protective metabolic effects against the deleterious effect ofKitW/Wmutation in the developing brain.
Preparation of asymmetric Janus hollow silica microparticle and its application on oily wastewaters
Authors: Zhang Hailong , Qu Ting , Wang Hairong , Wu Weixing , Lu Fangfang , Ou Jiguang , Zhu Genmin , Gao Liangjun , Cheng Longsheng
Published: March 2023

Janus nanoparticles have aroused the interest of scholars because of their highly efficient emulsification of spilled oils in wastewater. In this work, interfacially active Janus hollow glass microparticles (J-HGMPs) of asymmetric wettability were designed and synthesized in order to achieve more efficient separation of emulsified oil droplets from oily wastewater. Surface characteristic techniques such as FTIR, SEM, zeta potential and contact angle measurements had been employed to assess the amphiphilic surface properties of J-HGMPs. The oil removal/recovery performance of J-HGMPs in different oil–water systems and their interfacial activities were studied. As a particulate emulsifier, J-HGMPs could remove/recover > 96% oil from oil–water mixed phase. The results showed that J-HGMPs had strong interfacial activities and anchored firmly at oil/water interfaces. This high adsorption energy was also evaluated and verified via the calculation of Gibbs free energy. Overall, this study provided a novel and low-cost oil recovery method via a convenient buoyancy force that could be effectively applied in the treatment of oil spills while achieving the goal of benign and green environmental protection.
A multicentre study reveals dysbiosis in the microbial co-infection and antimicrobial resistance gene profile in the nasopharynx of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Mahmud A. Sayeed. M. , Seers Christine A. , Shaikh Aftab Ali , Taznin Tarannum , Uzzaman Mohammad Samir , Osman Eshrar , Habib Md. Ahashan , Akter Shahina , Banu Tanjina Akhtar , Sarkar Md. Murshed Hasan , Goswami Barna , Jahan Iffat , Okeoma Chioma M. , Khan Md. Salim , Reynolds Eric C.
Published: March 2023

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the nasopharyngeal microbiome has not been well characterised. We sequenced genetic material extracted from nasopharyngeal swabs of SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals who were asymptomatic (n = 14), had mild (n = 64) or severe symptoms (n = 11), as well as from SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals who had never-been infected (n = 5) or had recovered from infection (n = 7). Using robust filters, we identified 1345 taxa with approximately 0.1% or greater read abundance. Overall, the severe cohort microbiome was least diverse. Bacterial pathogens were found in all cohorts, but fungal species identifications were rare. Few taxa were common between cohorts suggesting a limited human nasopharynx core microbiome. Genes encoding resistance mechanisms to 10 antimicrobial classes (> 25% sequence coverages, 315 genes, 63 non-redundant) were identified, with β-lactam resistance genes near ubiquitous. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 (asymptomatic and mild) had a greater incidence of antibiotic resistance genes and a greater microbial burden than the SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals. This should be considered when deciding how to treat COVID-19 related bacterial infections.
Mangiferin relieves CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Liu Chuhe , Yin Liufang , Huang Cheng , Fan Shengjie
Published: March 2023

Hepatic fibrosis is a late stage process of many chronic liver diseases. Blocking the fibrosis process will be beneficial to the treatment and recovery of the diseases. Mangiferin has many pharmacological activities. Recently, it has been reported that mangiferin may relieve tissue fibrosis, including renal, myocardial, pulmonary fibrosis via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects in animal models. Here, we investigate the effects of mangiferin on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanism in mice. Thirty-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8 in each group), injected with carbon tetrachloride (10% CCl4) for 8 weeks, and oral administrated with mangiferin (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) from the fifth week. The serum levels of ALT, AST were analyzed to evaluate liver function. H&E, Masson’s trichrome and Sirius red staining were used to assess liver morphology and the degree of liver fibrosis. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were used to assay the gene expression and protein levels. The results showed that mangiferin alleviated the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TBA and TBIL, reduced liver lesions, prevented hepatic parenchymal necrosis, and ameliorated collagen accumulation in the liver of CCl4-treated mice. Meanwhile, mangiferin inhibited the expression of inflammatory genes IL-6 and IL-1β, fibrogenic genes α-SMA, TGF-β and MMP-2 and bile acid metabolism genes ABCB4, ABCB11, SULT2A1 in the liver of CCl4-treated mice. Furthermore, mangiferin reduced collagen accumulation and HSCs activation, inhibited the p-IκB and p-p65 protein levels. Our results suggest that mangiferin could alleviate liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated mice through inhibiting NF-κB signaling, and mango consuming may have beneficial effects to hepatic fibrosis.
Long-term high-fat diet increases glymphatic activity in the hypothalamus in mice
Authors: Delle Christine , Cankar Neža , Digebjerg Holgersson Christian , Hvorup Knudsen Helle , Schiøler Nielsen Elise , Kjaerby Celia , Mori Yuki , Nedergaard Maiken , Weikop Pia
Published: March 2023

Obesity affects millions of people worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline. The glymphatic system is a brain-wide metabolic waste clearance system, dysfunction of which is linked to dementia. We herein examined glymphatic transport in mice with long-term obesity induced by a high-fat diet for 10 months. The obese mice developed hypertension and elevated heart rate, neuroinflammation and gliosis, but not apparent systemic inflammation. Surprisingly, glymphatic inflow was globally unaffected by the high-fat diet except for the hypothalamus, which displayed increased influx and elevated AQP4 vascular polarization compared to the normal weight control group. We propose that a long-term high-fat diet induced metabolic alteration of hypothalamic neurons and neuroinflammation, which in turn enhanced glymphatic clearance in the effected brain region.