bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis: a case-based review of the therapeutic options
Authors: Bixio Riccardo , Bertelle Davide , Pistillo Francesca , Pedrollo Elisa , Carletto Antonio , Rossini Maurizio , Viapiana Ombretta
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction, often associated with other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis present an increased prevalence of myasthenia gravis compared to the general population. While these two diseases share some therapeutic options, such as glucocorticoids, methotrexate, and rituximab, there are no guidelines for treating concomitant disease. We aim to review the available evidence and to discuss the efficacy and safety of the therapeutic options in patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated with myasthenia gravis.

Method

We described three patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated with myasthenia gravis and we performed a systematic review of the associated literature.

Results

A 48-year-old man and two women (48 and 55 years old) with concomitant diagnoses of active rheumatoid arthritis and well-controlled myasthenia gravis are described. They were treated with methotrexate, leflunomide, upadacitinib, and adalimumab. None of them experienced changes in their myasthenic symptoms. We found 9 additional cases from our literature review. Methotrexate, rituximab, upadacitinib, diphenyl sulfone, auranofin, and loxoprofen sodium did not show an impact on the seven patients with previously well-controlled myasthenia. Glucocorticoids, methotrexate, and rituximab proved effective in active myasthenia gravis and arthritis. Conflicting data emerged for Tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors.

Conclusions

Although the available evidence remains scarce, we consider glucocorticoids, methotrexate, and rituximab as safe and effective options. The role of tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors remains uncertain. Eventually, Janus Kinase inhibitors are a novel interesting option for these patients.

Key Points• To date, the only evidence on the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant myasthenia gravis derives from case reports.• Based on the review of the available case reports and on the cases we described, we consider glucocorticoids, methotrexate, and rituximab as safe and effective options, while the role of Tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors remains uncertain.• Based on the cases we described, Janus Kinase inhibitors are a novel interesting option for patients with concomitant rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis.
How to Design a 2D Active Grid for Dynamic Inflow Modulation
Authors: Wester Tom T. B. , Krauss Johannes , Neuhaus Lars , Hölling Agnieszka , Gülker Gerd , Hölling Michael , Peinke Joachim
Published: January 2022

In free-field operation, many aerodynamic systems are confronted with changing turbulent inflow conditions. Wind turbines are a prominent example. Here, the rotation of the rotor blades causes incoming wind gusts to result in a local change in the angle of incidence for the blade segments, which changes the effective angle of attack and can lead to dynamic non-linear effects like dynamic stall. Dynamic stall is known to produce a significant overshoot in the acting forces and thus an increase in loads acting on the wind turbine, leading to long-term fatigue. To gain a better understanding, it is necessary to perform wind tunnel experiments under realistic and reproducible inflow with defined conditions. In this study, a so-called 2D active grid is presented, which allows the generation of defined two-dimensional inflow conditions for wind tunnel experiments. The focus is on generating sinusoidal transversal and longitudinal gusts with high amplitudes and frequencies. Different grid configurations and sizes are tested to investigate differences in the generated flow fields. Transversal gusts imposed in this way can be used to study dynamic phenomena without having to move the object under investigation itself. Inertial effects during force measurements and a changing shadow casting due to moving airfoils in particle image velocimetry measurements are thus avoided. The additional possibility to generate defined longitudinal gusts allows to generate a broad range of reproducible inflow situations like yaw or tower shadow effects during experimental investigations.
Sexual Victimization in the Digital Age: A Population-Based Study of Physical and Image-Based Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents
Authors: Pedersen Willy , Bakken Anders , Stefansen Kari , von Soest Tilmann
Published: January 2022

Adolescents increasingly use social media platforms, and these practices open up new forms of sexual victimization, in particular image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). Few studies have examined prevalence rates and correlates of both physical sexual victimization (PSV) and these new forms of victimization in representative samples. We used data from 5,245 adolescent girls (53%) and 4,580 adolescent boys (47%) from the population-based Young in Oslo Study (mean age 17.1 years, SD = 0.9). Of all respondents, 2.9% had experienced IBSA, 4.3% PSV, and 1.7% both IBSA and PSV in the course of the previous 12 months. Multivariate analyses revealed that PSV victims, after control for other variables, had many characteristics described in previous studies of sexual victimization. Girls had higher prevalence rates than boys, many had been victims of other types of violence, and were part of peer groups with much use of alcohol and drugs. PSV victims also reported early intercourse onset and a higher proportion had been commercially sexually exploited. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents had higher victimization rates. Victims of both PSV and IBSA had a similar but even more pronounced profile. The IBSA victims were different: They lacked many of the traditional risk factors for sexual victimization, there were no significant gender differences in this group, and IBSA victims more often came from high socioeconomic backgrounds. In conclusion, we observe a reconfigured landscape of sexual victimization patterns among Norway adolescents due to their increasing participation on social media and digital platforms.
Paediatric Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder and Comorbid Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Clinical Expression and Treatment Response
Authors: Racz Jason I. , Mathieu Sharna L. , McKenzie Matthew L. , Farrell Lara J.
Published: January 2022

This study explored the expression, occurrence, and treatment outcomes of comorbid body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in 107 youth (7–17 years) seeking treatment for primary obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). In the overall sample, appearance anxiety (AA) was positively associated with OCD-related impairment, severity, symptom frequency, comorbid symptoms, and maladaptive emotion regulation. Comorbid BDD occurred in 9.35% of youth, equally affected males and females, and was associated with older age. AA negligibly reduced following treatment. Compared to those without (a) comorbid BDD and (b) without any comorbidity, youth with comorbid BDD reported greater social impairment and reduced global functioning but did not differ on the occurrence of comorbid anxiety and mood disorders. OCD response or remission rates did not differ. In youth with comorbid BDD, AA did not significantly reduce following treatment. Results suggest a more severe expression accompanies comorbid BDD in youth with OCD, with BDD persisting following OCD treatment.
Characterizing regional radon-in-air levels in rocks of the Canary Islands (Spain): new data and results
Authors: Rodríguez-Losada Jose A. , Eff-Darwich Antonio , Gutiérrez Luis E. Hernández , Pérez Ronaldo Viñas
Published: January 2022

In this work, a regional-scale strategy to characterize the radon activity levels in the Canary Islands (Spain) is described. The main objectives of this strategy consisted of (1) studying the likely relationship between radon concentration and lithology of the rock matrix through the lithological data of 247 samples from volcanic rocks of the Canary Islands and (2) implementing a series of monitoring sites in the form of boreholes and wells to study the evolution of radon-in-air activity on a daily to yearly timescale.
Recrystallization in non-conventional microstructures of 316L stainless steel produced via laser powder-bed fusion: effect of particle coarsening kinetics
Authors: Pinto F. C. , Aota L. S. , Souza Filho I. R. , Raabe D. , Sandim H. R. Z.
Published: January 2022

Alloys processed by laser powder-bed fusion show distinct microstructures composed of dislocation cells, dispersed nanoparticles, and columnar grains. Upon post-build annealing, such alloys show sluggish recrystallization kinetics compared to the conventionally processed counterpart. To understand this behavior, AISI 316L stainless steel samples were constructed using the island scan strategy. Rhodonite-like (MnSiO3) nanoparticles and dislocation cells are found within weakly-textured grains in the as-built condition. Upon isothermal annealing at 1150 °C (up to 2880 min), the nucleation of recrystallization occurs along the center of the melt pool, where nuclei sites, high stored elastic energy, and local large misorientation are found in the as-built condition. The low value of the Avrami coefficient (n = 1.16) can be explained based on the non-random distribution of nucleation sites. The local interaction of the recrystallization front with nanoparticles speeds up their coarsening causing the decrease of the Zener-Smith pinning force. This allows the progression of recrystallization in LPBF alloys, although sluggish. These results allow us to understand the progress of recrystallization in LPBF 316L stainless steel, shedding light on the nucleation mechanisms and on the competition between driving and dragging pressures in non-conventional microstructures. They also help to understand the most relevant microstructural aspects applicable for tuning microstructures and designing new LPBF alloys.

Graphical abstract
Tailor the antibacterial efficiency of copper alloys by oxidation: when to and when not to
Authors: Luo Jiaqi , Ahmed Aisha , Pierson Jean-François , Mücklich Frank
Published: January 2022

Copper and its relevant species, such as oxides and many alloys, have been recognised as potential antibacterial surfaces. Despite the relatively low antibacterial efficacy of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) compared to pure copper, it is still worth consideration in some scenarios. Taking copper-nickel co-sputtered thin films with two copper contents (55 and 92 at.%) as examples, this work investigated the potential of oxidation in altering the antibacterial behaviour of copper alloy surfaces. By heat treatment at 200–250 °C for 20–24 h, a layer mainly composed of Cu2O was successfully fabricated on the top of the Cu-Ni alloys. Antibacterial efficiency against Escherichia coli in 1 h was obtained by the droplet method and further compared. The coupons with 92 at.% copper became less effective after oxidation: the reduction rate declines from 97.0 to 74.3%; whereas the coupons with 55 at.% copper showed a large increase after oxidation, rising from 15.0 to 66.8%. The experiments described herein reveal a promising concept of oxidation in enhancing the less effective copper alloy surfaces for antibacterial applications.

Graphical abstract
Fast datalog evaluation for batch and stream graph processing
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Gévay Gábor E. , Quiané-Ruiz Jorge-Arnulfo , Markl Volker
Published: January 2022

Implementing complex algorithms for big data, artificial intelligence, and graph processing requires enormous effort. Succinct, declarative programs to solve complex problems that can be efficiently executed for batching and streaming data are in demand. This paper presents Nexus, a distributed Datalog evaluation system. It evaluates Datalog programs using thesemi-naivealgorithm for batch and streaming data using incremental and asynchronous iteration. Furthermore, we evaluate Datalog programs with aggregates to determine the advantages of implementing thesemi-naivealgorithm using incremental iteration on its performance. Our experimental results show that Nexus significantly outperforms acyclic dataflow-based systems.
Vibration-induced nanoscale friction modulation on piezoelectric materials
Authors: Cao Jiawei , Li Qunyang
Published: January 2022

Mechanical vibration, as an alternative of application of solid/liquid lubricants, has been an effective means to modulate friction at the macroscale. Recently, atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments and model simulations also suggest a similar vibration-induced friction reduction effect for nanoscale contact interfaces, although an additional external vibration source is typically needed to excite the system. Here, by introducing a piezoelectric thin film along the contact interface, we demonstrate that friction measured by a conductive AFM probe can be significantly reduced (more than 70%) when an alternating current (AC) voltage is applied. Such real-time friction modulation is achieved owing to the localized nanoscale vibration originating from the intrinsic inverse piezoelectric effect, and is applicable for various material combinations. Assisted by analysis with the Prandtl—Tomlinson (P—T) friction model, our experimental results suggest that there exists an approximately linear correlation between the vibrational amplitude and the relative factor for perturbation of sliding energy corrugation. This work offers a viable strategy for realizing active friction modulation for small-scale interfaces without the need of additional vibration source or global excitation that may adversely impact device functionalities.
Highly efficient direct visible-light-mediated oxidative esterification of aldehydes
Authors: Lindroth Rickard , Bryce-Rogers Hogan P. , Merke Thomas P. M. , Wallentin Carl-Johan
Published: January 2022

A very efficient one-pot procedure for the direct oxidation of aldehydes to esters mediated by visible-light is presented. Utilizing a combination of indium triflate and N-bromosuccinimide, NBS, with either ortho-esters or alcohols provided rapid access to a variety of esters. Certain substrates convert fully within a few seconds, other more challenging tert-butyl esters were formed in good yield after no more than 4 h.

Graphical abstract
Creativity in Word Formation and Word Interpretation
Authors: Körtvélyessy Lívia , Štekauer Pavol , Kačmár Pavol
Published: January 2022

There are many ways in which we, as speakers, are creative in how we form and interpret new words. Working across the interfaces of psychology, linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics, this book presents cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, showing how we manipulate the range of linguistic tools at our disposal to create an infinite range of words and meanings. It provides both a theoretical account of creativity in word-formation and word-interpretation, and an experimental framework with the corresponding results obtained from more than seven hundred participants. Data drawn from this vast range of speakers shows how creativity varies across gender and age, and demonstrates the complexity of relationships between the examined variables. Pioneering in its scope, this volume will pave the way for a brand new area of research in the formation and interpretation of complex words.
A Student's Introduction to English Grammar
Authors: Huddleston Rodney , Pullum Geoffrey K. , Reynolds Brett
Published: January 2022

A new edition of a successful undergraduate textbook on contemporary international Standard English grammar, based on Huddleston and Pullum's earlier award-winning work, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (2002). The analyses defended there are outlined here more briefly, in an engagingly accessible and informal style. Errors of the older tradition of English grammar are noted and corrected, and the excesses of prescriptive usage manuals are firmly rebutted in specially highlighted notes that explain what older authorities have called 'incorrect' and show why those authorities are mistaken. Intended for students in colleges or universities who have little or no background in grammar or linguistics, this teaching resource contains numerous exercises and online resources suitable for any course on the structure of English in either linguistics or English departments. A thoroughly modern undergraduate textbook, rewritten in an easy-to-read conversational style with a minimum of technical and theoretical terminology.
Integrated market and nonmarket strategies: Empirical evidence from the S&P 500 firms’ climate strategies
Authors: Kim Younsung
Published: January 2022

Firms with well-formulated competitive market strategies could still fail due to their lack of effective nonmarket strategy. Climate change poses significant threats to firms and presents firms’ need to develop nonmarket strategy integrated with market strategy. Relying on the unique dataset of US S&P 500 firms’ responses to climate change, this study seeks to ask why some firms attempt to engage in climate policy making, while others do not do so. The results found that firms with organizational resources and capabilities underlying their carbon market strategy are more likely to support mandatory climate policy. It sheds light on the significance of integrated market and nonmarket strategies, particularly when business opportunities are controlled more by governments than by markets.
On several notions of complexity of polynomial progressions
Authors: KUCA BORYS
Published: January 2022

For a polynomial progression
$$ \begin{align*}(x,\; x+P_1(y),\ldots,\; x+P_{t}(y)),\end{align*} $$
we define four notions of complexity: Host–Kra complexity, Weyl complexity, true complexity and algebraic complexity. The first two describe the smallest characteristic factor of the progression, the third refers to the smallest-degree Gowers norm controlling the progression, and the fourth concerns algebraic relations between terms of the progressions. We conjecture that these four notions are equivalent, which would give a purely algebraic criterion for determining the smallest Host–Kra factor or the smallest Gowers norm controlling a given progression. We prove this conjecture for all progressions whose terms only satisfy homogeneous algebraic relations and linear combinations thereof. This family of polynomial progressions includes, but is not limited to, arithmetic progressions, progressions with linearly independent polynomials
$P_1, \ldots ,\!P_t$
and progressions whose terms satisfy no quadratic relations. For progressions that satisfy only linear relations, such as
$$ \begin{align*}(x,\; x+y^2,\; x+2y^2,\; x+y^3,\; x+2y^3),\end{align*} $$
we derive several combinatorial and dynamical corollaries: first, an estimate for the count of such progressions in subsets of
$\mathbb {Z}/N\mathbb {Z}$
or totally ergodic dynamical systems; second, a lower bound for multiple recurrence; and third, a popular common difference result in
$\mathbb {Z}/N\mathbb {Z}$
. Lastly, we show that Weyl complexity and algebraic complexity always agree, which gives a straightforward algebraic description of Weyl complexity.
Increased potential for shell competition among hermit crabs (Pagurus beringanus and Pagurus granosimanus) in the rocky intertidal
Authors: Torjman Brooke Z. , Iyengar Erika V.
Published: January 2022

We examined the prevalence and shell use of two species of hermit crabs (Pagurus granosimanus and Pagurus beringanus) in exposed and protected microhabitats at five sites in the rocky temperate intertidal on San Juan Island, Washington, to compare present habitat partitioning and potential interspecific competition to that reported nearly 50 years ago. We found that, in contrast to previous findings, the two species of hermit crabs overlapped extensively at some sites, typically those with less wave action. While the hermit crabs typically inhabited certain types of shells significantly more than others, and that use was congruent across microhabitats and species of hermit crabs at the same site, the dominant domicile differed substantially across sites. We provide a more complete ranking of shell use than previous authors and note site-specific dominant shell use. We conclude that previous habitat partitioning by depth may have weakened at protected sites. We hypothesize that increasing temperatures have caused P. granosimanus to expand its range deeper into the intertidal, which may increase the degree of interspecific competition for shells at the edge of the species’ tidal height range, where they overlap. Whether the habitat shift by this hermit crab is due to recent alterations in climate (particularly elevated temperatures, ocean acidification and lower local open ocean salinity) is unknown, but warrants further study.
Overcoming the Other America: José Martí's Immanent Critique of the Unionist Paradigm
Authors: Simon Joshua
Published: January 2022

This article offers a new interpretation of the Cuban intellectual José Martí's international political thought. It argues that Martí's analysis of early US imperialism and call for Spanish American unity are best understood as an immanent critique of the “unionist paradigm,” a tradition of international political thought that originated in the American independence movements. Martí recognized the impediments that racism had placed in the way of both US and Spanish American efforts to stabilize the hemisphere's republics by uniting them under regional institutions. He argued that, in his own time, Anglo-Saxon supremacism had deprived US-led Pan-Americanism of all legitimacy, causing a crisis of international political order in the Americas. In the context of this crisis, he developed a revised, antiracist unionism that, he argued, would free Spanish America's republics from imperial aggression and interstate conflicts, making the region a global model of stable and inclusive self-rule.
Fregel: a functional domain-specific language for vertex-centric large-scale graph processing
Authors: IWASAKI HIDEYA , EMOTO KENTO , MORIHATA AKIMASA , MATSUZAKI KIMINORI , HU ZHENJIANG
Published: January 2022

The vertex-centric programming model is now widely used for processing large graphs. User-defined vertex programs are executed in parallel over every vertex of a graph, but the imperative and explicit message-passing style of existing systems makes defining a vertex program unintuitive and difficult. This article presents Fregel, a purely functional domain-specific language for processing large graphs and describes its model, design, and implementation. Fregel is a subset of Haskell, so Haskell tools can be used to test and debug Fregel programs. The vertex-centric computation is abstracted using compositional programming that uses second-order functions on graphs provided by Fregel. A Fregel program can be compiled into imperative programs for use in the Giraph and Pregel+ vertex-centric frameworks. Fregel’s functional nature without side effects enables various transformations and optimizations during the compilation process. Thus, the programmer is freed from the burden of program optimization, which is manually done for existing imperative systems. Experimental results for typical examples demonstrated that the compiled code can be executed with reasonable and promising performance.
The Ethics of Algorithms in Healthcare
Authors: Oxholm Christina , Christensen Anne-Marie S. , Nielsen Anette S.
Published: January 2022

The amount of data available to healthcare practitioners is growing, and the rapid increase in available patient data is becoming a problem for healthcare practitioners, as they are often unable to fully survey and process the data relevant for the treatment or care of a patient. Consequently, there are currently several efforts to develop systems that can aid healthcare practitioners with reading and processing patient data and, in this way, provide them with a better foundation for decision-making about the treatment and care of patients. There are also efforts to develop algorithms that provide suggestions for such decisions. However, the development of these systems and algorithms raises several concerns related to the privacy of patients, the patient–practitioner relationship, and the autonomy of healthcare practitioners. The aim of this article is to provide a foundation for understanding the ethical challenges related to the development of a specific form of data-processing systems, namely clinical algorithms.
Recommended Instruments for Analyzing Cyber Dating Violence: A Systematic Review
Authors: Martínez Soto Ainize , Ibabe Izaskun
Published: January 2022

Cyber dating violence is an emerging form of dating violence that may have serious health effects on adolescents and young people, and in recent years interest in its study has increased. In order to understand completely the nature and magnitude of the problem, a clear understanding of the concept, constructs and well-established measurement tools are needed. The goal of this study was to analyze the measurement instruments of cyber dating violence in adolescents and young adults, and to determine which are the best suitable to use. To accomplish these objectives a systematic review was carried out. After reviewing the literature, twenty-four measurement instruments were analyzed, with important differences found between them in terms, constructs, dimensions and measurement attributes, as well as differences in their assessed psychometric properties. Once the methodological quality evaluation of the instruments was carried out following COSMIN (COnsensus based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) guidelines, three scales were found to be recommendable depending on the age and cultural context of participants: Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire (Borrajo, Gámez-Guadix, Pereda, et al., 2015), Technology-facilitated Abuse in Relationships Scale (Brown & Hegarty, 2021), and Abuse in Teen Relationships (CARPA; Calvete et al., 2021).
Biologically effective dose of flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone for control of multiple herbicide–resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) in soybean
Authors: Ferrier James , Soltani Nader , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: January 2022

Two studies were conducted to ascertain the biologically effective dose (BED) of flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone for multiple herbicide–resistant (MHR) waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer] control in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in southwestern Ontario, Canada, during 2016 and 2017. In the flumioxazin study, the predicted flumioxazin doses for 50%, 80%, and 90% MHR A. tuberculatus control were 19, 37, and 59 g ai ha−1 at 2 wk after application (WAA) and 31, 83, and 151 g ai ha−1, respectively, at 12 WAA. The predicted flumioxazin doses to cause 5% and 10% soybean injury were 129 and 404 g ai ha−1, respectively, at 2 wk after emergence (WAE), and the predicted flumioxazin doses to obtain 50%, 80%, and 95% of the weed-free control plot’s yield were determined to be 3, 14, and 65 g ai ha−1, respectively. In the pyroxasulfone study, the predicted pyroxasulfone doses that provided 50%, 80%, and 90% MHR A. tuberculatus visible control were 25, 50, and 88 g ai ha−1 at 2 WAA and 41, 109, and 274 g ai ha−1 at 12 WAA, respectively. The dose of pyroxasulfone predicted for 80% reduction in MHR A. tuberculatus density was 117 g ai ha−1, and the doses of pyroxasulfone predicted for 80% and 90% reduction in A. tuberculatus biomass were 204 and 382 g ai ha−1, respectively. The predicted doses of pyroxasulfone that caused 5% and 10% injury in soybean at 2 WAE were 585 and 698 g ai ha−1, respectively. The predicted doses of pyroxasulfone required to obtain 50%, 80%, and 95% yield relative to the weed-free plots were 6, 24, and 112 g ai ha−1, respectively. Flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone applied preemergence at the appropriate doses provided early-season MHR A. tuberculatus control in soybean.
Extracting Hierarchical Dynamical Structure From a Multistable Geological System—The Himalayan Paleomonsoon
Authors: Gipp M. R.
Published: January 2022

The author presents an iterative approach to describing a data set, such as a paleoclimatic proxy or a model output, in terms of automata of successively higher order. The automata reflect dynamics acting on successively longer timescales and larger spatial scales. The method uses the computed probability density function from reconstructed state space portraits, over successive overlapping windows in time, of the record of magnetic susceptibility of loess and paleosols at Luochuan, central China. Areas of consistently high probability across several time windows represent areas of metastability, which are used as the predictive and successor states of a succession of Markov Chains that characterize the variability of the strength of the East Asian paleomonsoon at different time scales. Seven metastable states are thus identified, forming four Markov Chains, which show a marked increase in complexity of behavior of the paleomonsoon system throughout the Quaternary. A higher‐order automaton is suggested by the sequence of Markov Chains, suggesting differing cycles of dynamic behavior in the Early and Late Quaternary.
Increasing Heat‐Stress Inequality in a Warming Climate
Authors: Alizadeh Mohammad Reza , Abatzoglou John T. , Adamowski Jan F. , Prestemon Jeffrey P. , Chittoori Bhaskar , Akbari Asanjan Ata , Sadegh Mojtaba
Published: January 2022

Adaptation is key to minimizing heatwaves' societal burden; however, our understanding of adaptation capacity across the socioeconomic spectrum is incomplete. We demonstrate that observed heatwave trends in the past four decades were most pronounced in the lowest‐quartile income region of the world resulting in >40% higher exposure from 2010 to 2019 compared to the highest‐quartile income region. Lower‐income regions have reduced adaptative capacity to warming, which compounds the impacts of higher heatwave exposure. We also show that individual contiguous heatwaves engulfed up to 2.5‐fold larger areas in the recent decade (2010–2019) as compared to the 1980s. Widespread heatwaves can overwhelm the power grid and nullify the electricity dependent adaptation efforts, with significant implications even in regions with higher adaption capacity. Furthermore, we compare projected global heatwave exposure using per‐capita gross domestic product as an indicator of adaptation capacity. Hypothesized rapid adaptation in high‐income regions yields limited changes in heatwave exposure through the 21st century. By contrast, lagged adaptation in the lower‐income region translates to escalating heatwave exposure and increased heat‐stress inequality. The lowest‐quartile income region is expected to experience 1.8‐ to 5‐fold higher heatwave exposure than each higher income region from 2060 to 2069. This inequality escalates by the end of the century, with the lowest‐quartile income region experiencing almost as much heatwave exposure as the three higher income regions combined from 2090 to 2099. Our results highlight the need for global investments in adaptation capabilities of low‐income countries to avoid major climate‐driven human disasters in the 21st century.
An Ancient >200 m Cumulative Normal Faulting Displacement Along the Futagawa Fault Dextrally Ruptured During the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan, Earthquake Identified by a Multiborehole Drilling Program
Authors: Shibutani Susumu , Lin Weiren , Sado Koichiro , Aizawa Akihiro , Koike Katsuaki
Published: January 2022

The Mw 7.0 mainshock of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence was triggered by dextral rupture of the Futagawa fault within the Aso volcanic region, Southwestern Japan. To reproduce its faulting patterns and to reveal the geological and geophysical characteristics of the fault and surrounding lithological units, we report the results of a multiple‐borehole drilling program penetrating the Futagawa fault zone. By combining core descriptions with geophysical logs, we identified >200 m of normal faulting displacement along the currently dextral strike‐slip Futagawa fault. Considering previous kinematic and chronological studies of the fault, we interpret that the Futagawa fault dominantly slipped as a normal fault in a short period (∼300–87 ka) before switching to its current transtensional (dominant strike‐slip) regime ∼87 ka caused by a local change in the stress field associated with the termination of the Aso caldera‐forming eruptions. In the main borehole, three damage/slip zones were penetrated at depths of ∼354, 461, and 576 m. The 461 damage zone was identified as ∼45 m in vertical thickness and thicker than the other damage zones (∼3–6 m vertically) and was characterized by high fracture density and the presence of strike‐slip slickenlines. Depth profiles of physical properties revealed different patterns near the three damage zones; both the resistivity and the P‐wave velocity showed stronger deterioration at the 461 damage zone than the others. Based on these geological and geophysical observations, we suggest that the 461 damage zone is the primary candidate for seismogenic faulting during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake mainshock.
The Influence of the Trend, Basin Interactions, and Ocean Dynamics on Tropical Ocean Prediction
Authors: Alexander Michael A. , Shin Sang‐Ik , Battisti David S.
Published: January 2022

The trend, connections between tropical ocean basins and dynamical processes on sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height (SSH) forecast skill are investigated using a linear inverse model (LIM) framework. The warming trend has a strong influence on 6‐month SST forecast skill in the Indian Ocean, Western Pacific, and north tropical Atlantic, but little effect on El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) prediction. ENSO strongly impacts the SST forecast skill in all three ocean basins including most of the Indian Ocean and the north tropical Atlantic. Without interactions with the Indian Ocean, the 6‐month SST forecast skill is substantially reduced in the western tropical Pacific and SSH skill decreases in the central Pacific. Atlantic and Indian Ocean interactions with the Pacific enhance ENSO forecast skill at 6–12 months leads. The Indian Ocean influences SSH in the eastern Atlantic, while the tropical Atlantic affects SST forecasts in portions of the Indian Ocean.
Geophysics and Thermodynamics at South Pole Lake Indicate Stability and a Regionally Thawed Bed
Authors: Hills Benjamin H. , Christianson Knut , Hoffman Andrew O. , Fudge T. J. , Holschuh Nicholas , Kahle Emma C. , Conway Howard , Christian John E. , Horlings Annika N. , O’Connor Gemma K. , Steig Eric J.
Published: January 2022

Subglacial lakes require a thawed bed either now or in the past; thus, their presence and stability have implications for current and past basal conditions, ice dynamics, and climate. Here, we present the most extensive geophysical exploration to date of a subglacial lake near the geographic South Pole, including radar‐imaged stratigraphy, surface velocities, and englacial vertical velocities. We use a 1.5‐dimensional temperature model, optimized with our geophysical data set and nearby temperature measurements, to estimate past basal‐melt rates. The ice geometry, reflected bed‐echo power, surface and vertical velocities, and temperature model indicate that the ice‐bed interface is regionally thawed, contradicting prior studies. Together with an earlier active‐source seismic study, which showed a 32‐m deep lake underlain by 150 m of sediment, our results suggest that the lake has been thermodynamically stable through at least the last 120,000 years and possibly much longer, making it a promising prospective site for sediment coring.
Sharp Transition to Strongly Anomalous Transport in Unsaturated Porous Media
Authors: Velásquez‐Parra Andrés , Aquino Tomás , Willmann Matthias , Méheust Yves , Le Borgne Tanguy , Jiménez‐Martínez Joaquín
Published: January 2022

The simultaneous presence of liquid and gas in porous media increases flow heterogeneity compared to saturated flows. However, the impact of saturation on flow and transport has so far remained unclear. The presence of gas in the pore space leads to flow reorganization. We develop a theoretical framework that captures the impact of that reorganization on pore‐scale fluid velocities. Preferential flow is distributed spatially through a backbone, and flow recirculation occurs in flow dead‐ends. We observe, and predict theoretically, that this previously identified flow structure induces a marked change in the scaling of the velocity probability density function compared to the saturated configuration and a sharp transition to strongly anomalous transport. We develop a transport model using the continuous time random walk theory that predicts advective transport dynamics for all saturation degrees. Our results provide a new modeling framework linking phase heterogeneity to flow heterogeneity in unsaturated porous media.
Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: How to Accurately Compute the Hydrological Load Effect?
Authors: Rao Weilong , Sun Wenke
Published: January 2022

The uplift state of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is determined by tectonic displacement and hydrological load displacement. However, it is unknown how much the load effect contributes to the uplift of the plateau. Typically, the vertical displacement due to the mass load is calculated based on the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data and the spherical harmonic analysis method. However, because the GRACE data are truncated at lower harmonic degrees and tectonic mass changes are contained in the GRACE‐derived mass changes, the validity of using GRACE data to estimate the load displacement of the TP is questionable and needs further discussion. This study presents a reasonable approach to computing the loading effect by considering the global hydrological mass budget (seawater, lake, glacier, river, snow, soil water, canopy water, and groundwater). The TP's mean vertical load displacement rate we obtained is 0.15 mm/yr, contributing to 16 percent of the average TP uplift rate. Comparing the hydrologically computed load displacements and the GRACE‐derived load displacements indicates that the GRACE‐derived displacement differs significantly from the real hydrological load displacement. That is, we found that the GRACE‐derived load effect cannot be applied to correct the Global Positioning System (GPS) displacement, but the one computed with hydrological data works well. We claim that the load displacement effect for any GPS station should be calculated by Green's function method based on global hydrological data. Finally, we present a distribution map of the valid load vertical displacement of the TP and the load displacement correction for all the collected GPS stations.
Large‐Scale Crustal Deformation, Slip‐Rate Variation, and Strain Distribution Along the Kunlun Fault (Tibet) From Sentinel‐1 InSAR Observations (2015–2020)
Authors: Zhao Dezheng , Qu Chunyan , Bürgmann Roland , Gong Wenyu , Shan Xinjian , Qiao Xin , Zhao Lei , Chen Han , Liu Lian
Published: January 2022

Large‐scale geodetic measurements of crustal deformation in the north‐central Tibetan Plateau are crucial for improved understanding of earthquake‐cycle processes and long‐term seismic hazard assessment. We use GPS velocities and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations (2015–2020) on eight descending and eight ascending Sentinel‐1 tracks to map surface motions and their gradients for an area of over ∼2,000 km × 350 km around the Kunlun‐Manyi fault system. The derived line‐of‐sight (LOS) and 3D velocity fields demonstrate ongoing postseismic transients along the ruptured segments of the 1997 Manyi and 2001 Kokoxili earthquakes, interseismic deformation along locked fault segments, and strain accumulation on a large subsidiary fault (i.e., the Kunlun Pass fault). We use elastic dislocation and analytical postseismic deformation models constrained by our dense InSAR measurements to quantify the interseismic and postseismic contributions, which reveal the along‐fault distribution of fault slip rate and locking depth along the entire length of the fault. The results indicate that the slip rate of the Kunlun fault systematically decreases toward the west to the west of the Taiyang Lake fault. We also find that the interseismic strain accumulation rate along the main trace of the Kunlun fault is to first‐order spatially constant (0.1–0.15 microstrain/yr), except around its restraining bend. As the historically unruptured segments, especially the eastern segments (from 95°E to 101°E) of the Kunlun fault, have relatively fast slip rates and high locking depths (>15 km), they have the potential to generate large and damaging earthquakes in this region.
Estimation and Spatiotemporal Analysis of NO2 Pollution in East Asia During 2001–2016
Authors: Hu Mingyun , Chen Yiang , Yuan Dehao , Yu Rui , Lu Xingcheng , Fung Jimmy C. H. , Chen Wanying , Huang Yeqi , Lau Alexis K. H.
Published: January 2022

Ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) not only has adverse health effects on humans but also contributes to the production of two major secondary atmospheric pollutants, ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In this study, surface NO2 concentrations in East Asia from 2001 to 2016 were estimated by combining an ensemble backpropagation neural network method, satellite NO2 column data, and reanalysis data. The estimated monthly and annual mean NO2 concentrations were well‐correlated with the observations, with R (correlation coefficient) values of 0.89 and 0.91, respectively. Our results indicate that the NO2 concentrations in most areas of East Asia peaked during 2011–2013. The NO2 concentrations in autumn and winter, especially in the eastern and northern parts of China, were much higher than those in summer. In terms of population NO2 exposure, over 25 million South Korea residents (∼45% of the population) were exposed to NO2 concentrations higher than the 2005 World Health Organization's annual standard (40 μg/m3, ∼22 ppbv at 25°C) in 2015. In contrast, the entire populations of some developing countries, such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Lao PDR, were exposed to NO2 concentrations less than 14 ppbv. Based on the estimation, NO2‐related asthma cases in East Asia increased by 1.37% annually from 2001 to 2015, reaching 139,000 cases (95% confidence interval: 37,400–263,400) in 2015. NOx emission inventories vary from country to country in East Asia; thus, more targeted NOx emission‐control policies are urgently required.
Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Biological N2 Fixation in a Cool Temperate Bog
Authors: Živković T. , Helbig M. , Moore T. R.
Published: January 2022

Northern peatlands are globally important carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sinks due to slow decomposition rates resulting in long‐term organic matter accumulation. Despite their large N storage, peatlands depend on sources of bio‐available N to sustain their biomass production. Di‐nitrogen (N2) fixation represents an important biological N source in ombrotrophic bogs, but its environmental controls are still poorly understood. We examined seasonal and spatial variability of Sphagnum‐associated N2 fixation across a hydrological transect (hummock‐hollow‐beaver pond edge) in a temperate ombrotrophic bog. We measured N2 fixation in live Sphagnum plants by acetylene reduction assay calibrated with a 15N2 tracer method, bi‐weekly, from May to November over two growing seasons. We found that N2 fixation increased with soil temperature at 5 cm in the living Sphagnum mat explaining the seasonal variability in N2 fixation. Peak N2 fixation rates occur in mid‐August, when N2 fixation rates are about 10 times larger than during the shoulder seasons (May and November). Spatially, N2 fixation was larger in wetter Sphagnum with larger gravimetric water content in Sphagnum. This relationship was most pronounced in the peak growing season when N2 fixation rates were the highest. Finally, we estimated that the Mer Bleue bog receives around 0.3 g N m−2 annually through Sphagnum‐associated N2 fixation, which accounts for about a fourth of the N accumulated annually into Sphagnum. Future contributions from Sphagnum‐associated N2 fixation to N budgets in peatlands will depend on temperature and moisture changes which have contrasting effects on N2 fixation rates.
Oncogenic E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4 binds to KLF8 and regulates the microRNA-132/NRF2 axis in bladder cancer
Authors: Mao Minghuan , Yang Liang , Hu Jingyao , Liu Bing , Zhang Xiling , Liu Yili , Wang Ping , Li Hangyu
Published: January 2022

The neuronally expressed developmentally downregulated 4 (NEDD4) gene encodes a ubiquitin ligase that targets the epithelial sodium channel for degradation and has been implicated in tumor growth in various cancers. Hence, in this study, we intended to characterize the functional relevance of the NEDD4-mediated Kruppel-like factor 8/microRNA-132/nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (KLF8/miR-132/NRF2) axis in the development of bladder cancer. NEDD4 and KLF8 were overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues and were associated with poorer patient survival rates. In bladder cancer cells, NEDD4 intensified the stability and transcriptional activity of KLF8 through ubiquitination to augment cell viability and migratory ability. Our investigations revealed that NEDD4 promotes the binding of KLF8 to the miR-132 promoter region and inhibits the expression of miR-132. KLF8 inhibited the expression of miR-132 to augment the viability and migratory ability of bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, miR-132 downregulated the expression of NRF2 to restrict the viability and migratory ability of bladder cancer cells. In addition, in vivo findings verified that NEDD4 regulates the KLF8/miR-132/NRF2 axis by accelerating tumor growth and lung metastasis. In conclusion, this study highlights NEDD4 as a potential therapeutic target against tumor recurrence and metastasis in bladder cancer.
Reducing the number of systematic biopsy cores in the era of MRI targeted biopsy—implications on clinically-significant prostate cancer detection and relevance to focal therapy planning
Authors: Lee Alvin Y. M. , Chen Kenneth , Tan Yu Guang , Lee Han Jie , Shutchaidat Vipatsorn , Fook-Chong Stephanie , Cheng Christopher W. S. , Ho Henry S. S. , Yuen John S. P. , Ngo Nye Thane , Law Yan Mee , Tay Kae Jack
Published: January 2022

Background

The optimal number of systematic biopsy cores in the era of multi-parametric MRI targeted biopsy remains unclear, especially on its impact of focal therapy planning. Our objective is to investigate the impact of reducing the number of systematic cores on prostate cancer detection in the era of MRI-US fusion targeted biopsy and as well as its relevance in template planning for focal therapy.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of 398 consecutive men who underwent both systematic saturation (~24 cores) and MRI-US fusion targeted biopsy was performed. Four reduced-core systematic biopsy strategies (two-thirds, half, one-third and one-quarter systematic cores) were modelled and the detection rates of clinically-significant prostate cancer (csPCa defined as grade group ≥2) were compared to that of a full systematic biopsy using McNemar’s test. Focal therapy treatment plans were made based on positive cores on combined (targeted and systematic) biopsy and the various reduced-cores strategies to compare the proportion who had a change in treatment plan.

Results

csPCa was detected in 42% (168/398) of this patient cohort. Non-targeted systematic saturation biopsy had a 21% (83/398) csPCa detection rate. Our four strategies reduced the mean number of non-targeted systematic cores from 21.8 to 14.5, 10.9, 7.3 and 5.4 cores and their csPCa detection rates were significantly decreased to 16%, 13%, 9% and 8% respectively (all p < 0.05). Compared to the reduced-core strategies, a full systematic saturation biopsy resulted in change to the focal therapy treatment plan in 12% (2/3 cores), 19% (1/2 cores), 24% (1/3 cores) and 29% (1/4 cores) of the time (p = 0.0434).

Conclusions

Reducing the number of systematic biopsies when performing an MRI-targeted biopsy leads to reduced detection of csPCa and alter the treatment plans for focal therapy, possibly limiting its oncological efficacy.