bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of the SPARK Teen Mentoring Program for High School Students
Authors: Green Amy L. , Ferrante Stephen , Boaz Timothy L. , Kutash Krista , Wheeldon-Reece Brooke
Published: April 2022

This study employed a randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-intervention measurement to investigate the impact of the Speaking to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience Inside Every Kid (SPARK) Teen Mentoring program on knowledge of the principles of mind, thought, and consciousness; communication, decision making, and problem-solving skills; emotional regulation; and resilience. The SPARK program is a resilience-focused social-emotional learning program designed to promote youth resilience, emotional well-being, and academic success. Study participants included 396 9th through 12th grade students from four high schools. Random assignment occurred at the classroom level and resulted in 12 classes (n = 200 students) in the intervention condition and 12 classes (n = 172 students) in the comparison condition. Students in the intervention condition received the SPARK intervention while students in the comparison condition continued with the regularly scheduled school curriculum. Results revealed that levels of knowledge of the principles of mind, thought, and consciousness; communication, decision making, and problem-solving skills; emotional regulation; and resilience increased for students who received the intervention and either decreased or remained unchanged for students who did not receive the intervention. Results from this study provide initial evidence for the efficacy of the SPARK program with high school age youth and demonstrate the positive effects of the program on the development of emotional and interpersonal capacity required for pro-social behavior and academic success. Considerations for future program development and evaluation efforts are discussed.
Financial Disagreements and Money Management Among Older Married and Cohabiting Couples in Sweden
Authors: Kridahl Linda , Duvander Ann-Zofie
Published: April 2022

This study investigates how partners’ money management strategies are associated with the experience of financial disagreements among older couples (60–80 years old). Money management is a broad concept, and this study operationalizes whether the partners pool all money, the partners pool some money, one partner manages the money (and gives a share to the other partner for personal spending), or the partners keep all money separate. The data comprise a subsample from the Swedish Generations and Gender Survey from 2012 to 2013. The descriptive statistics show that 11% of older couples experience financial disagreements and that there is a large variation in how couples manage their money. Contrary to our expectations, logistic regression analyses further indicate that couples who pool all money are less likely to have financial disagreements than couples who either keep all money separate or adopt a lower degree of pooling. Whether some or all money is kept separate does not seem to be important for the likelihood of financial disagreements, as all these couples are more likely to experience disagreements. Among couples with financial hardship, partial pooling and keeping money separate are associated with a higher likelihood of financial disagreements than pooling all money. In conclusion, the greater probability of financial disagreements among couples who do not pool their earnings calls for greater awareness of the potential consequences of various money management contexts among individuals, couples, decision-makers and practitioners. In the worst cases, couples may have poor financial wellbeing.
The power of nostalgia: Age and preference for popular music
Authors: Davies Callum , Page Bill , Driesener Carl , Anesbury Zac , Yang Song , Bruwer Johan
Published: April 2022

Marketers need evidence to help them select music to promote their products. Ethnicity, social class and/or personality type can distinguish individual music tastes, but age and nostalgia may be the largest determinant of all (North, American Journal of Psychology,123, 199–208, 2010). Research into listener preference for music from different eras has found conflicting results. Papers generally agree that it takes an inverse U shape, but disagree on the era for which people are most nostalgic. The seminal paper found a peak for music released when listeners were 23 years of age (Holbrook & Schindler, Journal of Consumer Research,16, 119–124, 1989), a follow-up 9 years of age (Hemming, Musicae Scientiae,17, 293–304, 2013), and 19 years of age (Holbrook & Schindler, Musicae Scientiae,17, 305–308, 2013). This paper attempts to correct the issues raised by Holbrook & Schindler (Musicae Scientiae,17, 305–308, 2013) by improving the representativeness of the sample and introducing a new analysis technique, the two-lines test. This paper finds support for Holbrook & Schindler, but with a slightly younger age peak of roughly 17 years. Additionally, the larger sample allows investigation of differences by generation, which reveals differences that may be caused by their different current age, and so the relationship with, and interplay of nostalgia and music. The central conclusion of the paper is that people do exhibit a preference for music released during their late adolescence/early adulthood. When targeting consumers of a narrow age demographic, music released during this time is more likely to be preferred than any other.
Is the bryophyte soil diaspore bank buffered against nutrient enrichment and grazing exclusion?
Authors: Virtanen Risto , Bakker Jonathan D. , Jessen Maria-Theresa , Sullivan Lauren L. , Harpole W. Stanley , Eskelinen Anu
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Soil diaspore banks of bryophytes are poorly known in tundra grasslands, yet can be important for the maintenance of local bryophyte assemblages. We examined the effects of fertilization and grazing exclusion on above-ground bryophyte assemblages and soil diaspore banks in a tundra grassland.

Methods

We collected soil diaspore samples and recorded the cover of above-ground bryophytes from a full-factorial experiment with NPK fertilization and grazing exclusion treatments (a Nutrient Network site in NW Finland). Soil diaspore samples were germinated on trays in a greenhouse. We analyzed the compositions of diaspore bank assemblages and of above-ground assemblages and assessed their responses to the experimental treatments.

Results

The diaspore bank contained c. 50% of taxa found in above-ground assemblages; 26 bryophyte taxa germinated from the diaspore bank, while 40 taxa were found in the above-ground assemblages. These communities had distinct species compositions: the diaspore bank was dominated by Pohlia nutans, while above-ground assemblages were dominated by several species. NPK fertilization and grazing exclusion had negative effects on bryophyte richness and cover in above-ground assemblages, and weaker effects on these responses in the diaspore bank.

Conclusion

Soil diaspore banks comprise about half of the bryophyte taxa encountered in above-ground assemblages. Bryophyte diaspore banks are more buffered against nutrient enrichment and grazing exclusion than above-ground assemblages, suggesting that diaspore banks may enhance persistence and recovery of local bryophyte assemblages from environmental changes.
Critical analysis of life cycle inventory datasets for organic crop production systems
Authors: Montemayor Erica , Andrade Edilene Pereira , Bonmatí August , Antón Assumpció
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Organic agriculture (OA) has gained widespread popularity due to its view as a more sustainable method of farming. Yet OA and conventional agriculture (CA) can be found to have similar or varying environmental performance using tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA). However, the current state of LCA does not accurately reflect the effects of OA; thus the aim of the present study was to identify gaps in the inventory stage and suggest improvements.

Methods

This article presents for the first time a critical analysis of the life cycle inventory (LCI) of state-of-the-art organic crop LCIs from current and recommended LCA databases ecoinvent and AGRIBALYSE®. The effects of these limitations on LCA results were analyzed and detailed ways to improve upon them were proposed.

Results and discussion

Through this analysis, unrepresentative plant protection product (PPP) manufacturing and organic fertilizer treatment inventories were found to be the main limitations in background processes, due to either the lack of available usage statistics, exclusion from the study, or use of unrepresentative proxies. Many organic crop LCIs used synthetic pesticide or mineral fertilizer proxies, which may indirectly contain OA prohibited chemicals. The effect of using these proxies can contribute between 4–78% to resource and energy-related impact categories. In a foreground analysis, the fertilizer and PPP emission models utilized by ecoinvent and AGRIBALYSE® were not well adapted to organic-authorized inputs and used simplified modeling assumptions. These critical aspects can be transferred to respective LCAs that use this data, potentially yielding unrepresentative results for relevant categories. To improve accuracy and to contribute novel data to the scientific community, new manufacturing LCIs were created for a few of the missing PPPs, as well as recommendations for fertilizer treatment LCIs and more precise emission models for PPPs and fertilizers.

Conclusions

The findings in the present article add much needed transparency regarding the limitations of available OA LCIs, offers guidance on how to make OA LCIs more representative, allow for more accurate comparisons between conventional and OA, and help practitioners to better adapt LCA methodology to OA systems.
The Concept of Unifier in Meinertsen: Metaphysics of States of Affairs
Authors: Tegtmeier Erwin
Published: April 2022

Meinertsen’s unifier is discussed on the background of Aristotle’s distinction between four kinds of unity. It argued that Meinertsen combines two different kinds of unity that exclude each other. Only Aristotle’s first meaning of unity seems to be relevant for Meinertsen’s unifier. But this meaning applies literally only to spatial complexes. Its application to states of affairs is problematic because they are mostly not spatial. It is also problematic because unity in the first sense requires an agent. Meinertsen’s unifiers are connectors between particulars and universals in states of affairs. It is objected that connectors in a state of affairs lead to a vicious infinite regress of further states of affairs. Meinertsen argues for his unifiers that states of affairs without them are non-mereological, that is, their existence is not entailed by the existence of their constituents. That does not seem a good argument if it is realised that a complex is not an additional entity and thus not existent if the existence of its parts is sufficient for its existence. It is also pointed out that the meaning of “mereological” involved is not related to the classical mereological calculus.
The efficiency of n- and p-type doping silicon carbide nanocage toward (NO2, SO2, and NH3) gases
Authors: Soliman Kamal A. , Aal S. Abdel
Published: April 2022

The sensitivity of pristine silicon carbide nanocage Si12C12 and their doping with n-type (SiP–Si11C12) and p-type (CB–Si12C11) were investigated for NO2, SO2, and NH3 gases using density functional theory (DFT). The reactivity of nanocages was examined through adsorption energy, charge transfer, the density of states (DOS), thermodynamic parameters, frontier molecular orbitals, molecular electrostatic potential, and nonlinear optical properties. The results revealed that doping with p-type has excellent sensitivity for SO2, NO2, and NH3 gases compared with pristine and n-type doped nanocages.
The dysfunctional paradox of identity politics in liberal democracies
Authors: Bein Simon
Published: April 2022

Liberal democracy, according to a popular criticism, cannot create a common identity from sources of itself, is only a means to the end of fulfilling individual identity and autonomy needs. So, what holds the society of a liberal democracy together? A necessary common, explicitly political identity seems inevitably fragile under these conditions. Thus, the central question, then, is whether this paradox generates dysfunctionalities that endanger current liberal democratic orders and, if so, how to ground a functional model of democratic political identity. To this end, the paper shows, first, that the current identity crisis is related with the concepts of modernity and liberalism. Second, in the central theoretical section, the cause of this must be explored, namely the paradox of identity politics in liberal democracies. In connection with this, third, an anomic state is discussed as a possible consequence, which can manifest itself on several levels through loss of identity and trust, radicalization, or withdrawal, thereby manifesting dysfunctionalities. In the concluding part, it will be argued for an imaginable solution handling this tension between democratic universalism and relational demarcation that can ultimately point towards the possibility of a common democratic identity and thus the avoidance of anomie.
Moral Shock
Authors: STOCKDALE KATIE
Published: April 2022

This paper defends an account of moral shock as an emotional response to intensely bewildering events that are also of moral significance. This theory stands in contrast to the common view that shock is a form of intense surprise. On the standard model of surprise, surprise is an emotional response to events that violated one's expectations. But I show that we can be morally shocked by events that confirm our expectations. What makes an event shocking is not that it violated one's expectations, but that the content of the event is intensely bewildering (and bewildering events are often, but not always, contrary to our expectations). What causes moral shock is, I argue, our lack of emotional preparedness for the event. And I show that, despite the relative lack of attention to shock in the philosophical literature, the emotion is significant to moral, social, and political life.
Regional transmission patterns of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales: A healthcare network analysis
Authors: Tadese Bekana K. , Fujimoto Kayo , DeSantis Stacia M. , Mgbere Osaro , Darkoh Charles
Published: April 2022

Objective:

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) pose a serious public health threat and spread rapidly between healthcare facilities (HCFs) during interfacility patient movement. We examined patterns of transmission of CRE associated with network clustering and positions during patient interfacility transfer.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Greater Houston region ofTexas, , and social network analysis was performed by constructing facility-to-facility patient transfer network using CRE surveillance data. The network method (community detection algorithm) was used to detect clustering patterns of CRE in the network. In addition, network measures of centrality and local connectivity (clustering coefficient) were computed for each healthcare facility. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis was applied to test the association between network measures and facility-specific incidence rate of CRE.

Results:

A network of 268 healthcare facilities was identified, in which 10 acute-care hospitals (ACHs) alone accounted for 63% of identified CRE cases. Transmission of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase–producing CRE occurred in 3 clusters, yet all cases were traced to patients who had had medical care abroad. The incidence rate of CRE attributed to ACHs was >4-fold (adjusted rate ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.02–6.72) higher than that of long-term care facilities. Each additional patient shared with another HCF conferred a 3% (95% CI, 2%–4%) increase in the incidence rate of CRE at that HCF.

Conclusions:

The incidence rates of CRE at a given HCF was predicted by the healthcare network metrics. Increased surveillance and selective targeting of high-risk facilities are warranted.
Food and nutrient intake in dietary supplement users: a nationwide school-based study in Japan
Authors: Ishitsuka Kazue , Asakura Keiko , Sasaki Satoshi
Published: April 2022

Dietary supplements can be used to compensate for an inadequate diet. However, some studies indicate that supplement users consume healthier diets than non-users, although such data are lacking in Japanese children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the food and nutrient intake of dietary supplement users among school-aged children in Japan. A nationwide school dietary survey was conducted at fourteen elementary schools and thirteen junior high schools in twelve prefectures in Japan. Three-day non-consecutive semi-weighed dietary records were obtained on two weekdays and one weekend day. Analysis of covariance was performed to investigate differences in food and nutrient intake from meals consumed at school and outside of school between dietary supplement users and non-users, adjusted for socio-demographic and health-related characteristics. Of the 910 children included in this analysis, 80 (8⋅8 %) reported supplement use. Based on 3-d dietary records, dietary supplement users consumed higher mean amounts of oils and lower amounts of fruits and vegetables than non-users. In school lunches, users consumed significantly higher amounts of oils and lower amounts of protein than non-users. In meals consumed outside of school, dietary supplement users consumed significantly higher amounts of confectioneries and lower amounts of fruits and vegetables, folate, vitamin C and dietary fibre than non-users. Collectively, our findings indicate that dietary supplement users consumed less healthy diets than non-users. Additional studies are warranted to confirm these results and identify factors contributing to poorer dietary habits in supplement users.
Editors’ Note
Authors: Wasserman Stanley , Brandes Ulrik
Published: April 2022

We welcome our new editors and provide background on an unusual duo of articles in this issue.
Differential alterations in brain structural network organization during addiction between adolescents and adults
Authors: Joo Yoonji , Lee Suji , Hwang Jaeuk , Kim Jungyoon , Cheon Young-Hoon , Lee Hyangwon , Kim Shinhye , Yurgelun-Todd Deborah A. , Renshaw Perry F. , Yoon Sujung , Lyoo In Kyoon
Published: April 2022

Background

The adolescent brain may be susceptible to the influences of illicit drug use. While compensatory network reorganization is a unique developmental characteristic that may restore several brain disorders, its association with methamphetamine (MA) use-induced damage during adolescence is unclear.

Methods

Using independent component (IC) analysis on structural magnetic resonance imaging data, spatially ICs described as morphometric networks were extracted to examine the effects of MA use on gray matter (GM) volumes and network module connectivity in adolescents (51 MA users v. 60 controls) and adults (54 MA users v. 60 controls).

Results

MA use was related to significant GM volume reductions in the default mode, cognitive control, salience, limbic, sensory and visual network modules in adolescents. GM volumes were also reduced in the limbic and visual network modules of the adult MA group as compared to the adult control group. Differential patterns of structural connectivity between the basal ganglia (BG) and network modules were found between the adolescent and adult MA groups. Specifically, adult MA users exhibited significantly reduced connectivity of the BG with the default network modules compared to control adults, while adolescent MA users, despite the greater extent of network GM volume reductions, did not show alterations in network connectivity relative to control adolescents.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the potential of compensatory network reorganization in adolescent brains in response to MA use. The developmental characteristic to compensate for MA-induced brain damage can be considered as an age-specific therapeutic target for adolescent MA users.
Childlessness, personal social networks and wellbeing at advanced ages: a cross-sectional study in a Southern European familistic welfare state
Authors: Vicente Henrique Testa , Guadalupe Sónia
Published: April 2022

During the past decades, childless old age has attracted a considerable amount of scholarly interest. However, few studies address this phenomenon in Southern European familistic welfare states, where there is a pervading expectation that family members, especially spouses and children, care for their older relatives. The present cross-sectional study aims to analyse the relationship between childlessness, social networks and wellbeing in a sample of 612 Portuguese individuals aged 65 and over, comprising two sub-samples: parents (N = 540) and childless (N = 72). Data were collected through a research protocol that included a sociodemographic questionnaire, a personal social network assessment inventory, and several validated psychometric measures of psychological wellbeing focusing on mental health, loneliness, depression and satisfaction with life. Childless older adults' social networks are smaller but more diverse, including a more significant proportion of friends and neighbours. No differences were found in perceived support from significant others, but network reciprocity was lower among non-parents. The childless subsample also reported more feelings of loneliness and less life satisfaction, but regression analysis showed that parenthood status, per se, is not significantly related to any outcome measures. Besides the central role of sociodemographic characteristics and personal functioning measures in explaining psychological wellbeing variance, several network factors were also identified as influential predictors. Implications for micro-level network intervention and macro-level social policy making are discussed.
Is patent foramen ovale the cause of stroke in a patient with moyamoya disease?
Authors: Guan Zhengyan , Wu Dengjun , Chen Xiaobin
Published: April 2022

We reported a case of ischaemic stroke with moyamoya disease with simultaneous occurrence of patent foramen ovale. The patient underwent percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale and was scheduled for follow-up.
A rare cause of hemoptysis in childhood: peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm to bronchial fistula in a case with tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Guner Selin , Saritas Turkay , Oner Taliha
Published: April 2022

We herein report a patient complaining from significant hemoptysis due to secondary fistulisation of the peripheral branch of the left pulmonary artery and the left bronchial tree, which was successfully treated with a transcatheter angiography.
Inter-Rater Reliability and Agreement Among Mass-Casualty Incident Algorithms Using a Pediatric Trauma Dataset: A Pilot Study
Authors: Fisher Emilia H. , Claudius Ilene , Kaji Amy H. , Shaban Alaa , McGlynn Nicholas , Cicero Mark X. , Santillanes Genevieve , Gausche-Hill Marianne , Chang Todd P. , Donofrio-Odmann J. Joelle
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Many triage algorithms exist for use in mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) involving pediatric patients. Most of these algorithms have not been validated for reliability across users.

Study Objective:

Investigators sought to compare inter-rater reliability (IRR) and agreement among five MCI algorithms used in the pediatric population.

Methods:

A dataset of 253 pediatric (<14 years of age) trauma activations from a Level I trauma center was used to obtain prehospital information and demographics. Three raters were trained on five MCI triage algorithms: Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) and JumpSTART, as appropriate for age (combined as J-START); Sort Assess Life-Saving Intervention Treatment (SALT); Pediatric Triage Tape (PTT); CareFlight (CF); and Sacco Triage Method (STM). Patient outcomes were collected but not available to raters. Each rater triaged the full set of patients into Green, Yellow, Red, or Black categories with each of the five MCI algorithms. The IRR was reported as weighted kappa scores with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Descriptive statistics were used to describe inter-rater and inter-MCI algorithm agreement.

Results:

Of the 253 patients, 247 had complete triage assignments among the five algorithms and were included in the study. The IRR was excellent for a majority of the algorithms; however, J-START and CF had the highest reliability with a kappa 0.94 or higher (0.9-1.0, 95% CI for overall weighted kappa). The greatest variability was in SALT among Green and Yellow patients. Overall, J-START and CF had the highest inter-rater and inter-MCI algorithm agreements.

Conclusion:

The IRR was excellent for a majority of the algorithms. The SALT algorithm, which contains subjective components, had the lowest IRR when applied to this dataset of pediatric trauma patients. Both J-START and CF demonstrated the best overall reliability and agreement.
Prehospital Tourniquet Usage and Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Increased Incidence, Odds, and Risk of Acute Kidney Injury: A Pilot Study
Authors: Paquette Roland , Wampler David , Schaefer Randall , Blume Ashlee , Casillas Holly , Echols Briana , Greene Katelyn , McFarland Mallory , Allen Paul
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Tourniquets are the standard of care for civilian and military prehospital treatment of massive extremity hemorrhages. Over the past 17 years, multiple military studies have demonstrated rare complications related to tourniquet usage. These studies may not translate well to civilian populations due to differences in baseline health. Experimental studies have demonstrated increased rates of post-traumatic acute kidney injuries (AKIs) in rats with obesity and increased oxidative stress, suggesting that comorbidities may affect AKI incidence with tourniquet usage. Two recently published retrospective studies, focused on the safety of tourniquets deployed within civilian sectors, documented increased incidence of AKI in patients with a prehospital tourniquet as compared to previously published military results. This study aimed to provide descriptive data concerning the association between the use of prehospital tourniquets and AKIs amongst civilian patient populations as AKIs increase mortality in hospitalized patients.

Methods:

This was a single-center, observational, cross-sectional, pilot study involving chart review of participants presenting to a tertiary Level 1 trauma center. Patient data were extracted from prehospital and hospital electronic medical records. For this study, AKI was defined using theKidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes(KDIGO) guidelines.

Results:

A total of 255 participants were included. Participants with a history of diabetes mellitus had a significantly higher incidence of AKI as compared to those without. Analysis revealed an increased odds of AKI with diabetes in association to the use of a prehospital tourniquet. Participants with diabetes had an increased relative risk of AKI in association to the use of a prehospital tourniquet. The incidence of AKI was statistically higher than what was previous reported in the military population in association with the use of a prehospital tourniquet.

Conclusion:

The incidence of AKIs was higher than previously reported. Patients with diabetes had an associated higher risk and incidence of sustaining an AKI after the use of a prehospital tourniquet in association with the use of a prehospital tourniquet. This may be due to the known deleterious effects of diabetes mellitus on renal function. This study provides clinically relevant data that warrant further multi-site investigations to further investigate this study’s associated findings and potential causation. It also stresses the need to assess whether renally-impacting environmental and nutritional stressors affect AKI rates amongst military personnel and others in which prehospital tourniquets are used.
Women and self-defence: an empirical and doctrinal analysis
Authors: McPherson Rachel
Published: April 2022

The problem of women's access to self-defence has been internationally recognised. This paper presents original empirical data on women's use of self-defence in practice alongside critical feminist analysis of the requirements of self-defence under Scots law. The empirical findings confirm that women are rarely successful with self-defence at trial level and the doctrinal analysis further demonstrates that self-defence does not adequately reflect women's experience of violence, especially sexual violence, and instead continues to reflect male experiences of (public) violence. It is intended that this research will form part of a larger developing evidence base, the type of which has been called for (Fitz-Gibbon and Vannier, 2017) and can be used to support reform in this area. As such, it represents a significant contribution to socio-legal work that has considered the issue of women's access to criminal defences.
Modeling and Assessment of Vegetation Water Content on Soil Moisture Retrieval via the Synergistic Use of Sentinel‐1 and Sentinel‐2
Authors: Wang Qi , Jin Taoyong , Li Jiancheng , Chang Xin , Li Yunwei , Zhu Yongchao
Published: April 2022

As an indispensable surface parameter, soil moisture is of great significance for analyzing global water cycle, establishing the hydrological model and assessing drought. Due to differences in the capability of establishing vegetation water content (VWC) models based on different vegetation indices, the influence of the different VWC models on retrieval accuracy has not been effectively assessed. Therefore, the suitability of vegetation parameters obtained from different VWC models established by different vegetation indices for accurate soil moisture retrieval requires further investigation. In this study, the different VWC models were established by different vegetation indices derived from Sentinel‐2 data and compared. Based on the Sentinel‐1 Synthetic Aperture Radar and Sentinel‐2 data, combined with microwave scattering models, the impact of different VWC models on the accuracy of soil moisture retrieval was investigated using the Look Up Table algorithm. The results indicate that, an exponential relationship between the measured VWC and different vegetation indices was obtained in the growth cycle of winter wheat, except for quadratic relationship of Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index vegetation index. Compared with other VWC models, higher accuracy of VWC could be retrieved using NDWI1, and the short‐wave infrared band located at 1610 nm achieved higher accuracy than the band located at 2190 nm. With respect to all VWC models, the combination of near‐infrared and short‐wave infrared bands was more suitable for VWC retrieval. When the contribution of soil scattering exceeded that of vegetation scattering, the results of soil moisture retrieval with different VWC models established by vegetation indices exhibit no discernible difference, regardless of the differences that occurred in VWC itself.
The Impact of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation on the Mesosphere and Ionosphere
Authors: Sun Ruidi , Gu Sheng‐Yang , Dou Xiankang , Zhang Ruilong , Kuai Jiawei , Tsuda Toshitaka
Published: April 2022

We studied the responses of the mesosphere and ionosphere to the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) in the stratosphere using meteor radar zonal wind observations over monitoring station Kototabang (KB, 0.2°S, 100.3°E), global zonal wind data from the thermosphere and ionosphere extension of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM‐X), equatorial electrojet (EEJ) data over the monitoring station Jicamarca (12°S, 77°W) and global total electron content (TEC) maps. The Fourier fitting method was applied to obtain the monthly mean amplitudes of zonal wind, TEC and EEJ. The least squares fitting method was utilized to perform a spectral analysis. Our data indicate that the QBOs of the stratosphere and mesosphere are present in the zonal winds between 20 and 40 km and 82 and 96 km at KB. The QBO is also present in the global TEC at 40°S to 40°N latitude and is characterized by the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). We propose that the QBOs in the mesosphere are linked to the QBOs in the ionosphere through the modulation of the E region dynamo by neutral winds and the equatorial ionospheric fountain effect. This model is verified by the QBO signals in the EEJ and diurnal tides in the E region of the ionosphere. The absence of QBO signals in the zonal wind at 250 km confirms that QBO signals in the TEC are not modulated by the zonal wind in the F region ionosphere, which further substantiates the model.
The Control of Plant and Soil Hydraulics on the Interannual Variability of Plant Carbon Uptake Over the Central US
Authors: Zhang Xue‐Yan , Niu Guo‐Yue , Zeng Xubin
Published: April 2022

The interannual variability (IAV) of gross primary productivity (GPP) reflects the sensitivity of GPP to climate variations and contributes substantially to the variations and long‐term trend of the atmospheric CO2 growth rate. Analyses of three observation‐based GPP products indicate that their IAVs are consistently correlated to terrestrial water storage anomaly over the central US, where episodic droughts occur. A land surface model explicitly representing plant hydraulics and groundwater capillary rise with an adequate soil hydraulics well captures the observed GPP IAV. Our sensitivity experiments indicate that, without representations of plant hydraulics and groundwater capillary rise or using an alternative soil hydraulics, the land model substantially overestimates the GPP IAV and the GPP sensitivity to water in the central US. This study strongly suggests the use of the van Genuchten water retention model to replace the most commonly used Brooks–Corey model, which generally produces too strong matric suction of soil water especially in dry conditions, in land surface modeling. This study highlights the importance of plant and soil hydraulics and surface–groundwater interactions to Earth system modeling for projections of future climates that may experience more intense and frequent droughts.
Impact of Fkbp5 × early life adversity × sex in humanised mice on multidimensional stress responses and circadian rhythmicity
Authors: Nold Verena , Portenhauser Michelle , Del Prete Dolores , Blasius Andrea , Harris Isabella , Koros Eliza , Peleh Tatiana , Hengerer Bastian , Kolassa Iris-Tatjana , Slezak Michal , Allers Kelly Ann
Published: April 2022

The cumulative load of genetic predisposition, early life adversity (ELA) and lifestyle shapes the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human FKBP5 gene were shown to modulate disease risk. To enable investigation of disease-related SNPs in behaviourally relevant context, we generated humanised mouse lines carrying either the risk (AT) or the resiliency (CG) allele of the rs1360780 locus and exposed litters of these mice to maternal separation. Behavioural and physiological aspects of their adult stress responsiveness displayed interactions of genotype, early life condition, and sex. In humanised females carrying the CG- but not the AT-allele, ELA led to altered HPA axis functioning, exploratory behaviour, and sociability. These changes correlated with differential expression of genes in the hypothalamus, where synaptic transmission, metabolism, and circadian entrainment pathways were deregulated. Our data suggest an integrative role of FKBP5 in shaping the sex-specific outcome of ELA in adulthood.
Comparison of UK paediatric SARS-CoV-2 admissions across the first and second pandemic waves
Authors: Swann Olivia V. , Pollock Louisa , Holden Karl A. , Munro Alasdair P. S. , Bennett Aisleen , Williams Thomas C. , Turtle Lance , Fairfield Cameron J. , Drake Thomas M. , Faust Saul N. , Sinha Ian P. , Roland Damian , Whittaker Elizabeth , Ladhani Shamez N. , Nguyen-Van-Tam Jonathan S. , Girvan Michelle , Donohue Chloe , Donegan Cara , Spencer Rebecca G. , Hardwick Hayley E. , Openshaw Peter J. M. , Baillie J. Kenneth , Harrison Ewen M. , Docherty Annemarie B. , Semple Malcolm G. ,   on behalf of ISARIC4C Investigators
Published: April 2022

Background

We hypothesised that the clinical characteristics of hospitalised children and young people (CYP) with SARS-CoV-2 in the UK second wave (W2) would differ from the first wave (W1) due to the alpha variant (B.1.1.7), school reopening and relaxation of shielding.

Methods

Prospective multicentre observational cohort study of patients <19 years hospitalised in the UK with SARS-CoV-2 between 17/01/20 and 31/01/21. Clinical characteristics were compared between W1 and W2 (W1 = 17/01/20-31/07/20,W2 = 01/08/20-31/01/21).

Results

2044 CYP < 19 years from 187 hospitals. 427/2044 (20.6%) with asymptomatic/incidental SARS-CoV-2 were excluded from main analysis. 16.0% (248/1548) of symptomatic CYP were admitted to critical care and 0.8% (12/1504) died. 5.6% (91/1617) of symptomatic CYP had Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). After excluding CYP with MIS-C, patients in W2 had lower Paediatric Early Warning Scores (PEWS, composite vital sign score), lower antibiotic use and less respiratory and cardiovascular support than W1. The proportion of CYP admitted to critical care was unchanged. 58.0% (938/1617) of symptomatic CYP had no reported comorbidity. Patients without co-morbidities were younger (42.4%, 398/938, <1 year), had lower PEWS, shorter length of stay and less respiratory support.

Conclusions

We found no evidence of increased disease severity in W2 vs W1. A large proportion of hospitalised CYP had no comorbidity.

Impact

No evidence of increased severity of COVID-19 admissions amongst children and young people (CYP) in the second vs first wave in the UK, despite changes in variant, relaxation of shielding and return to face-to-face schooling.

CYP with no comorbidities made up a significant proportion of those admitted. However, they had shorter length of stays and lower treatment requirements than CYP with comorbidities once those with MIS-C were excluded.

At least 20% of CYP admitted in this cohort had asymptomatic/incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This paper was presented to SAGE to inform CYP vaccination policy in the UK.
Inflammation and atherosclerosis: signaling pathways and therapeutic intervention
Authors: Kong Peng , Cui Zi-Yang , Huang Xiao-Fu , Zhang Dan-Dan , Guo Rui-Juan , Han Mei
Published: April 2022

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease driven by traditional and nontraditional risk factors. Genome-wide association combined with clonal lineage tracing and clinical trials have demonstrated that innate and adaptive immune responses can promote or quell atherosclerosis. Several signaling pathways, that are associated with the inflammatory response, have been implicated within atherosclerosis such as NLRP3 inflammasome, toll-like receptors, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, which are of importance for atherosclerosis development and regression. Targeting inflammatory pathways, especially the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and its regulated inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β, could represent an attractive new route for the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. Herein, we summarize the knowledge on cellular participants and key inflammatory signaling pathways in atherosclerosis, and discuss the preclinical studies targeting these key pathways for atherosclerosis, the clinical trials that are going to target some of these processes, and the effects of quelling inflammation and atherosclerosis in the clinic.
Synthetic bacterial community derived from a desert rhizosphere confers salt stress resilience to tomato in the presence of a soil microbiome
Authors: Schmitz Lucas , Yan Zhichun , Schneijderberg Martinus , de Roij Martijn , Pijnenburg Rick , Zheng Qi , Franken Carolien , Dechesne Annemarie , Trindade Luisa M , van Velzen Robin , Bisseling Ton , Geurts Rene , Cheng Xu
Published: April 2022

The root bacterial microbiome is important for the general health of the plant. Additionally, it can enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses, exemplified by plant species found in extreme ecological niches like deserts. These complex microbe-plant interactions can be simplified by constructing synthetic bacterial communities or SynComs from the root microbiome. Furthermore, SynComs can be applied as biocontrol agents to protect crops against abiotic stresses such as high salinity. However, there is little knowledge on the design of a SynCom that offers a consistent protection against salt stress for plants growing in a natural and, therefore, non-sterile soil which is more realistic to an agricultural setting. Here we show that a SynCom of five bacterial strains, originating from the root of the desert plant Indigofera argentea, protected tomato plants growing in a non-sterile substrate against a high salt stress. This phenotype correlated with the differential expression of salt stress related genes and ion accumulation in tomato. Quantification of the SynCom strains indicated a low penetrance into the natural soil used as the non-sterile substrate. Our results demonstrate how a desert microbiome could be engineered into a simplified SynCom that protected tomato plants growing in a natural soil against an abiotic stress.
Microbiome and related structural features of Earth’s most archaic plant indicate early plant symbiosis attributes
Authors: Satjarak Anchittha , Golinski G. Karen , Trest Marie T. , Graham Linda E.
Published: April 2022

Origin of earliest land plants from ancestral algae dramatically accelerated the evolution of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems, in which microbial symbioses have played key roles. Recent molecular diversification analyses identify the rare, geographically-limited mossTakakiaas Earth’s most archaic modern land plant. Despite occupying a phylogenetic position pivotal for understanding earliest plants,Takakiamicrobial associations are poorly known. Here, we describe symbiosis-related structural features and contig-based metagenomic data that illuminate the evolutionary transition from streptophyte algae to early embryophytes. We observed thatT. lepidozioidesshares with streptophyte algae secretion of microbe-harboring mucilage and bacterial taxa such asRhizobiumand genes indicating nitrogen fixation. We find thatTakakia root-analogs produce lateral mucilage organs that are more complex than generally understood, having structural analogies to angiosperm lateral roots adapted for N-fixation symbioses, including presence of intracellular microbes. We also find structural and metagenomic evidence for mycorrhiza-like species of glomalean fungi (includingRhizophagus irregularis) not previously known for mosses, as well as ascomycete fungi (e.g.Rhizoscyphus ericae) that associate with other early-diverging plants. BecauseTakakiais the oldest known modern plant genus, this study of plants of a remote locale not strongly influenced by human activities may indicate microbiome features of early land plants.
An insight into tetracycline photocatalytic degradation by MOFs using the artificial intelligence technique
Authors: Gheytanzadeh Majedeh , Baghban Alireza , Habibzadeh Sajjad , Jabbour Karam , Esmaeili Amin , Mohaddespour Ahmad , Abida Otman
Published: April 2022

Tetracyclines (TCs) have been extensively used for humans and animal diseases treatment and livestock growth promotion. The consumption of such antibiotics has been ever-growing nowadays due to various bacterial infections and other pathologic conditions, resulting in more discharge into the aquatic environments. This brings threats to ecosystems and human bodies. Up to now, several attempts have been made to reduce TC amounts in the wastewater, among which photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process, is known as an eco-friendly and efficient technology. In this regard, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been known as the promising materials as photocatalysts. Thus, studying TC photocatalytic degradation by MOFs would help scientists and engineers optimize the process in terms of effective parameters. Nevertheless, the costly and time-consuming experimental methods, having instrumental errors, encouraged the authors to use the computational method for a more comprehensive assessment. In doing so, a wide-ranging databank including 374 experimental data points was gathered from the literature. A powerful machine learning method of Gaussian process regression (GPR) model with four kernel functions was proposed to estimate the TC degradation in terms of MOFs features (surface area and pore volume) and operational parameters (illumination time, catalyst dosage, TC concentration, pH). The GPR models performed quite well, among which GPR-Matern model shows the most accurate performance with R2, MRE, MSE, RMSE, and STD of 0.981, 12.29, 18.03, 4.25, and 3.33, respectively. In addition, an analysis of sensitivity was carried out to assess the effect of the inputs on the TC photodegradation by MOFs. It revealed that the illumination time and the surface area play a significant role in the decomposition activity.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of urine biomarkers among women with dysfunctional voiding
Authors: Jiang Yuan-Hong , Jhang Jia-Fong , Ho Han-Chen , Hsu Yung-Hsiang , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: April 2022

The current study aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of urine biomarkers among female patients with dysfunctional voiding (DV). Urine samples were collected from 43 female patients with DV and 25 controls. Oxidative stress biomarkers (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG], 8-isoprostane, and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) and inflammatory markers (interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β], IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha, nerve growth factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels were analyzed. In total, 26 patients with DV received further treatment with biofeedback pelvic floor muscle exercise or external urethral sphincter botulinum toxin A injections. Patients with DV had significantly higher urine 8-OHdG, IL-1β, IL-8, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels than controls. Both urine 8-OHdG and IL-1β levels were positively correlated with clinical symptoms. Patients with DV who had successful treatment outcomes had significantly lower pretreatment urine 8-isoprostane and TAC levels than those with unsuccessful outcomes. The pretreatment urine TAC level was the only independent predictor of successful treatment outcomes (odds ratio: 0.995). Compared with controls, female patients with DV had distinct urine oxidative stress biomarker and inflammatory marker profiles, which also mapped their clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes. These urine analytes might have diagnostic and prognostic values among female patients with DV.
Multimodal electrochemistry coupled microcalorimetric and X-ray probing of the capacity fade mechanisms of Nickel rich NMC – progress and outlook
Authors: Quilty Calvin D. , West Patrick J. , Li Wenzao , Dunkin Mikaela R. , Wheeler Garrett P. , Ehrlich Steven , Ma Lu , Jaye Cherno , Fischer Daniel A. , Takeuchi Esther S. , Takeuchi Kenneth J. , Bock David C. , Marschilok Amy C.
Published: April 2022

Combining calorimetry with hard and soft X-ray characterization elucidates bulk and surface phenomena responsible for capacity fade in LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 cathodes.
An investigation on catalytic nitrite reduction reaction by bioinspired CuII complexes
Authors: Chang Yu-Lun , Chen Hsing-Yin , Chen Si-Hong , Kao Chai-Lin , Chiang Michael Y. , Hsu Sodio C. N.
Published: April 2022

Catalytic nitrite reductions by CuII complexes containing anionic Me2Tp, neutral Me2Tpm, or neutral iPrTIC ligands in the presence of l-ascorbic acid, which served as an electron donor and proton source, were investigated.
On intermittency in sheared granular systems
Authors: Kramár Miroslav , Cheng Chao , Basak Rituparna , Kondic Lou
Published: April 2022

We consider a system of granular particles, modeled by two dimensional frictional soft elastic disks, that is exposed to externally applied time-dependent shear stress in a planar Couette geometry.