bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Normal fetal development of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine: A postmortem study based on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Yuan Xianshun , Peng Zhao , Jian Nan , Tian Mimi , Feng Xiang , Lin Xiangtao , Wang Ximing
Published: June 2021

Objective

Before evaluating spinal pathology, it is essential to have knowledge of the normal spinal development at different gestational ages. This study aims to characterize normal spinal growth in human fetuses during the second and third trimesters.

Methods

Postmortem 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 55 fetuses at 17–42 gestational weeks by using three‐dimensional T2‐weighted sequences. Morphological changes and quantitative measurements of the fetal spine were assessed. The correlation between centrum ossification center volume (COCV) and gestational age was investigated.

Results

The cervical, thoracic, and lumbar COCVs showed a positive relationship with gestational age (p < 0.05). No gender differences were found in the volumetric development of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar centrum ossification centers (COCs). The average volumetric growth rate per COC was larger in the lumbar spine than in the cervical and thoracic spine. The L1–L5 COCVs also showed a linear positive relationship with gestational age.

Consults

Postmortem 3.0 T MRI clearly demonstrated spinal changes in external contour and internal structure with gestational age. These findings expand our understanding of the early growth pattern of the human spine and could be further used to assess the developmental conditions of the fetal spine.
Maize mycorrhizas decrease the susceptibility of the foliar insect herbivore Spodoptera frugiperda to its homologous nucleopolyhedrovirus
Authors: García‐Gómez Griselda , Real‐Santillán Raúl Omar , Larsen John , Pérez Luis López , de la Rosa José Isaac Figueroa , Pineda Samuel , Martínez‐Castillo Ana Mabel
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND

The multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus of Spodoptera frugiperda (SfMNPV) plays an important role in regulating its natural host and has high potential for use as a bioinsecticide. However, information about how agricultural practices such as fertilization and plant biotic interactions affect the biocontrol efficacy of SfMNPV is limited. In this study, we examined how multitrophic maize–mycorrhiza–insect herbivore interactions affect the biocontrol efficacy of SfMNPV against S. frugiperda under full and reduced mineral nitrogen fertilization. Two fully factorial greenhouse pot experiments with three factors were performed: (i) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (with and without AMF), (ii) nitrogen fertilization (50% and 100% N), and (iii) insect (with and without of S. frugiperda). The biocontrol efficacy of SfMNPV against S. frugiperda was examined using detached leaves under controlled environmental conditions.

RESULTS

Associating maize with AMF resulted in multitrophic cascade effects. Plants with AMF showed suppression of plant growth and increased leaf N and P content, which coincided with increased foliar herbivory and larval biomass that finally reduced the susceptibility of S. frugiperda to SfMNPV. Reduced levels of N fertilization mitigated these observed cascade effects on the biocontrol efficacy of SfMNPV with maize mycorrhizas.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that AMF can modulate S. frugiperda–SfMNPV interactions via plant‐mediated phenotypic responses to the mycorrhizal association and are most likely linked with increased leaf food quality for S. frugiperda. These results call for further studies to address the mode of interaction and possible implications for pest management in maize agroecosystems. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Smart contract‐based land registry system to reduce frauds and time delay
Authors: Panda Sandeep Kumar , Mohammad Gouse Baig , Nandan Mohanty Sachi , Sahoo Sipra
Published: June 2021

In today's scenario, many news related to counterfeit land titles, fraud land registry, delay in ownership transfer, the involvement of government officers in fraudulent activities is frequently being heard. However, this depicts that the existing land registry system is not efficient to provide security and timely settlement of transactions between the seller and buyer. To solve this problem, we proposed a blockchain‐based land registry system in this article. The specialty and popularity of blockchain technology is its transparency and security. Blockchain is being inculcated with the trait of persistence, immutability, decentralization. Its ascent to new opportunity of efficiency and cost saving. It can provide right framing for digital asset, online payment, and transfer of remittance. Additional to this it can check upon black money laundering. Enterprise that can use blockchain technology can gain faith of consumer. In this article, we proposed a decentralized application. In particular, for creating and deploying the smart contract, we used Ethereum network. The deployed contracts are interacted through frontend web pages. React is used for the development of web page. For server and routing purposes, Next.js is used. Finally, the results and analysis show that our proposed model is efficient and viable.
Public food forest opportunities and challenges in small municipalities
Authors: Coffey Sarah E. , Munsell John F. , Hübner Rico , Friedel Curtis R.
Published: June 2021

The opportunities and challenges associated with public food forest initiatives in small municipalities are understudied compared with large metropolitan counterparts. Research in small population centers is needed to identify and understand factors affecting the growth of public food forests where resources more commonly available in cities often are lacking. To study these factors, we surveyed mayors in Virginia, United States, serving communities with populations under 25,000. Out of 176 mayors who received a paper survey through the mail, 68 (39%) responded. Mayors perceived long‐term maintenance as the greatest barrier to public food forests and education, recreation, and spiritual experience as the most desirable benefits. Nearly 70% noted that their town has some form of food production on public land but only one‐fifth include food‐producing trees and shrubs. Most municipalities (78%) do not have food‐producing trees and shrubs land use codes. Summated variables representing mayoral ratings of public support and physical space for food forests in their municipalities were used in a k‐means cluster analysis to group towns into four types: (a) ambivalent and resource‐poor, (b) optimistic and capable, (c) doubtful and unsupported, and (d) unsure with potential. Each community has unique challenges and opportunities, but mayors stressed that providing sociocultural programs and education rather than food access is the most compelling aspect of a public food forest.
Mechanistic understanding of the pollutant removal and transformation processes in the constructed wetland system
Authors: Malyan Sandeep K. , Yadav Shweta , Sonkar Vikas , Goyal V. C. , Singh Omkar , Singh Rajesh
Published: June 2021

Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are biologically and physically engineered systems to mimic the natural wetlands which can potentially treat the wastewater from the various point and nonpoint sources of pollution. The present study aims to review the various mechanisms involved in the different types of CWs for wastewater treatment and to elucidate their role in the effective functioning of the CWs. Several physical, chemical, and biological processes substantially influence the pollutant removal efficiency of CWs. Plants species Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, and Typha angustifolia are most widely used in CWs. The rate of nitrogen (N) removal is significantly affected by emergent vegetation cover and type of CWs. Hybrid CWs (HCWS) removal efficiency for nutrients, metals, pesticides, and other pollutants is higher than a single constructed wetland. The contaminant removal efficiency of the vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSFCW) commonly used for the treatment of domestic and municipal wastewater ranges between 31% and 99%. Biochar/zeolite addition as substrate material further enhances the wastewater treatment of CWs. Innovative components (substrate materials, plant species) and factors (design parameters, climatic conditions) sustaining the long‐term sink of the pollutants, such as nutrients and heavy metals in the CWs should be further investigated in the future.

Practitioner points

Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are efficient natural treatment system for on‐site contaminants removal from wastewater.

Denitrification, nitrification, microbial and plant uptake, sedimentation and adsorption are crucial pollutant removal mechanisms.

Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, and Typha angustifolia are widely used emergent plants in constructed wetlands.

Hydraulic retention time (HRT), water flow regimes, substrate, plant, and microbial biomass substantially affect CWs treatment performance.
Variability of acquisition phase of computed tomography angiography in acute ischemic stroke in a real-world scenario
Authors: Pfaff Johannes A. R. , Füssel Bianka , Harlan Marcial E. , Hubert Alexander , Bendszus Martin
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The informative value of computed tomography angiography (CTA) depends on the contrast phase in the vessels which may differ depending on the level of local expertise.

Methods

We retrospectively measured vessel contrast density from CTA scans in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) or to one of eight primary stroke centers (PSC). CTAs were classified into arterial or venous phases as well as into 1 of 5 phases (early arterial, peak arterial, equilibrium, peak venous, and late venous).

Results

Overall, n = 871 CTAs (CSC: n = 431 (49.5%); PSC: n = 440 (50.5%)) were included in the final analysis. A higher venous than arterial contrast density at the level of the circle of Willis was only rarely observed (overall n = 13 (1.5%); CSC: n = 3/431 (0.7%); PCS: n = 10/440 (2.3%); p = 0.09). CTAs acquired in the CSC showed more often an early arterial contrast phase (CSC: n = 371 (86.1%); PSC: n = 153 (34.8%), p < 0.01). Equilibrium contrast phase, i.e., a slightly stronger arterial contrast with clear venous contrast filling, was more frequent in CTAs from the PSCs (CSC: n = 6 (1.4%); PSC: n = 47 (10.7%); p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Despite different technical equipment and examination protocols, the overall number of CTAs with venous contrast was low and did not differ between the CSC and the PCSs. Differences between the further differentiated contrast phases indicate potential for further improvement of CTA acquisition protocols.

Key Points

• Despite different technical equipment and examination protocols in the diagnostic workup of acute ischemic stroke, the total number of computed tomography angiography (CTA) with venous contrast was low (n = 13/871; 1.5%).

• A higher venous than arterial contrast density at the level of the circle of Willis was not more frequent in CTAs from the centers with a high patient volume (comprehensive stroke center) compared to the hospital with lower patient volume (primary stroke centers).

• Differences between the further differentiated contrast phases indicate that there is potential for further improvement of CTA acquisition protocols.
On the Maximal Colorings of Complete Graphs Without Some Small Properly Colored Subgraphs
Authors: Fang Chunqiu , Győri Ervin , Xiao Jimeng
Published: June 2021

Let $$\mathrm{pr}(K_{n}, G)$$

pr
(

K
n

,
G
)

be the maximum number of colors in an edge-coloring of $$K_{n}$$

K
n

with no properly colored copy of G. For a family $${\mathcal {F}}$$
F
of graphs, let $$\mathrm{ex}(n, {\mathcal {F}})$$

ex
(
n
,
F
)

be the maximum number of edges in a graph G on n vertices which does not contain any graphs in $${\mathcal {F}}$$
F
as subgraphs. In this paper, we show that $$\mathrm{pr}(K_{n}, G)-\mathrm{ex}(n, \mathcal {G'})=o(n^{2}), $$

pr

(

K
n

,
G
)

-
ex

(
n
,

G
′

)

=
o

(

n
2

)

,

where $$\mathcal {G'}=\{G-M: M \text { is a matching of }G\}$$

G
′

=

{
G
-
M
:
M

is a matching of

G
}

. Furthermore, we determine the value of $$\mathrm{pr}(K_{n}, P_{l})$$

pr
(

K
n

,

P
l

)

for sufficiently large n and the exact value of $$\mathrm{pr}(K_{n}, G)$$

pr
(

K
n

,
G
)

, where G is $$C_{5}, C_{6}$$

C
5

,

C
6

and $$K_{4}^{-}$$

K

4

-

, respectively. Also, we give an upper bound and a lower bound of $$\mathrm{pr}(K_{n}, K_{2,3})$$

pr
(

K
n

,

K

2
,
3

)

.
Impact of homocysteine levels on mortality risk in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia undergoing revascularization
Authors: Takahara Mitsuyoshi , Iida Osamu , Soga Yoshimitsu , Kodama Akio , Terashi Hiroto , Azuma Nobuyoshi
Published: June 2021

The current study aimed to reveal the clinical impact of plasma homocysteine levels in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) patients undergoing revascularization. This was a sub-analysis of a prospective multicenter registry of CLTI patients, named the Surgical reconstruction versus Peripheral INtervention in pAtients with critical limb isCHemia (SPINACH) study. The current analysis included 192 non-dialysis-dependent CLTI patients who underwent revascularization for CLTI, and whose plasma homocysteine levels at baseline were available. The association of clinical characteristics with homocysteine levels was evaluated with the linear regression model. The association of homocysteine levels with the mortality risk was investigated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was independently associated with log-transformed homocysteine levels; the adjusted standardized regression coefficient (95% confidence interval) was − 0.432 (− 0.657 to − 0.253; P < 0.001). Homocysteine levels were significantly associated with the mortality risk in the univariate model (P = 0.017); the unadjusted hazard ratio was 1.71 (1.13–2.50) per twofold increase. The association was significantly attenuated when adjusted for cystatin C-based eGFR (P < 0.001); the hazard ratio adjusted for cystatin C-based eGFR was 1.28 (0.80–1.90; P = 0.29). An apparent association of homocysteine levels with an increased risk of mortality could be explained by renal dysfunction. Future studies will be needed to validate the current findings.
A review of proficiency exercises offered by the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) and Moffett Proficiency Testing Laboratory from 2012 to 2018
Authors: Nemser Sarah , Lindemann Samantha , Chen Yang , Lopez Salvador , Pickens Shannon , Ulaszek Jodie , Kmet Matthew , Powers Christopher , Ensley Steve , Schrunk Dwayne , Rumbeiha Wilson , Tkachenko Andriy , Guag Jake , Ceric Olgica , Jones Jennifer , Reimschuessel Renate , Reddy Ravinder
Published: June 2021

The Food and Drug Administration’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network is comprised of more than 40 animal diagnostic laboratories within North America and offers voluntary Proficiency Exercises to these participating laboratories. The joint Proficiency Exercise Program is run in collaboration with the Center for Food safety and Nutrition and Institute for Food safety and Health, located at the Moffett Proficiency Testing Laboratory. From 2012 to 2018, the Proficiency Exercise Program offered 20 proficiency tests or interlaboratory comparison exercises focused on veterinary analytes of interest. The program evaluated performance of laboratories, individual analysts, and the methods used. Over the six-year period, the program improved exercise schemes, as well as offered network laboratories exercises with analytes not routinely seen such as animal tissue with naturally occurring residues. Animal diagnostic laboratories can use performance results to assist with accreditation, demonstrate proficiency, and improve diagnostic capabilities.
One-year results of a novel self-adhesive bulk-fill restorative and a conventional bulk-fill composite in class II cavities—a randomized clinical split-mouth study
Authors: Cieplik Fabian , Scholz Konstantin J. , Anthony Julian C. , Tabenski Isabelle , Ettenberger Sarah , Hiller Karl-Anton , Buchalla Wolfgang , Federlin Marianne
Published: June 2021

Objectives

In the context of the phase-down of amalgam, development of easily applicable, permanent restorative materials is of high clinical interest. Aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a novel, tooth-colored, self-adhesive bulk-fill restorative (SABF, 3M Oral Care) and a conventional bulk-fill composite (Filtek One, 3M Oral Care; FOBF) for restoring class II cavities. The null-hypothesis tested was that both materials perform similar regarding clinical performance.

Materials and methods

In this randomized split-mouth study, 30 patients received one SABF and one FOBF restoration each. Scotchbond Universal (3M Oral Care) was used as adhesive for FOBF (self-etch mode), while SABF was applied directly without adhesive. Restorations were evaluated by two blinded examiners at baseline, 6 months and 12 months employing FDI criteria. Non-parametric statistical analyses and χ2-tests (α = 0.05) were applied.

Results

Thirty patients (60 restorations) were available for the 6- and 12-month recalls exhibiting 100% restoration survival. All restorations revealed clinically acceptable FDI scores at all time points and for all criteria. Only regarding esthetic properties, FOBF performed significantly better than SABF regarding surface lustre (A1) and color match and translucency (A3) at all time points and marginal staining (A2b) at 12 months.

Conclusions

The null-hypothesis could not be rejected. Both materials performed similarly regarding clinical performance within the first year of clinical service. SABF exhibited slightly inferior, but clinically fully acceptable esthetic properties as compared to FOBF.

Clinical relevance

Within the limitations of this study, the self-adhesive bulk-fill restorative showed promising results and may be recommended for clinical use.
Heterogeneous Catalytic Method for the Copper(II)-Catalysed Addition of H-Phosphinates and Secondary Phosphine Oxides to Phenylacetylene
Authors: Juhász Kinga , Varga Bence , Bagi Péter , Hell Zoltán
Published: June 2021

Copper(II) on 4 Å molecular sieve was found to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the addition of different H-phosphinates and secondary phosphine oxides to phenylacetylene. All hydrophosphinylation reactions were completely regioselective, as only β-isomers were formed, and the E-alkenylphosphinates and E-alkenylphosphine oxides were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields. The catalyst could be reused multiple times in the reaction.

Graphic Abstract
Beyond the “STEM Pipeline”: Expertise, Careers, and Lifelong Learning
Authors: Skrentny John D. , Lewis Kevin
Published: June 2021

Studies of education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) commonly use a pipeline metaphor to conceptualize forward movement and persistence. However, the “STEM pipeline” carries implicit assumptions regarding length (i.e. that it “starts” and “stops” at specific stages in one’s education or career), contents (i.e. that some occupational fields are “in” the pipeline while others are not), and perceived purpose (i.e. that “leakage,” or leaving STEM, constitutes failure). Using the National Survey of College Graduates, we empirically measure each of these dimensions. First, we show that a majority of STEM workers report skills training throughout their careers, suggesting no clear demarcation between education and work. Second, we show that using on-the-job expertise requirements (rather than occupational titles) paints a very different portrait of the STEM workforce—and persistence in it (where substantial attrition remains evident, especially among women and African Americans). Third, we show that STEM-educated workers are well-prepared for but dissatisfied with non-STEM jobs, complicating our understanding of leaving. Collectively, these results recommend expanded conceptions of STEM education and careers and contribute to studies of science and engineering workforce transitions and diversity.
Economic policy uncertainty and investment in Spain
Authors: Dejuan-Bitria Daniel , Ghirelli Corinna
Published: June 2021

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of economic policy uncertainty on firms’ investment decisions. We focus on Spain for the period 1998–2014. To measure policy-related uncertainty, we borrow the economic policy uncertainty (EPU) indicator available for this country. We find strong evidence that uncertainty reduces corporate investment. This relationship appears to be nonlinear, being the marginal effect of uncertainty attenuated toward zero during periods of high uncertainty levels. Furthermore, the heterogeneous results suggest that the adverse effect of uncertainty is particularly relevant for highly vulnerable firms. Overall, these results are consistent with the hypotheses that economic policy-related uncertainty reduces corporate investment through increases in precautionary savings or to worsening of credit conditions.
Incorporating dynamic flight network in SEIR to model mobility between populations
Authors: Ding Xiaoye , Huang Shenyang , Leung Abby , Rabbany Reihaneh
Published: June 2021

Current efforts of modelling COVID-19 are often based on the standard compartmental models such as SEIR and their variations. As pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases can spread the disease between populations through travel, it is important to incorporate mobility between populations into the epidemiological modelling. In this work, we propose to modify the commonly-used SEIR model to account for the dynamic flight network, by estimating the imported cases based on the air traffic volume and the test positive rate. We conduct a case study based on data found in Canada to demonstrate how this modification, called Flight-SEIR, can potentially enable (1) early detection of outbreaks due to imported pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, (2) more accurate estimation of the reproduction number and (3) evaluation of the impact of travel restrictions and the implications of lifting these measures. The proposed Flight-SEIR is essential in navigating through this pandemic and the next ones, given how interconnected our world has become.
A novel big data approach to measure and visualize urban accessibility
Authors: Jiang Yuqin , Guo Diansheng , Li Zhenlong , Hodgson Michael E.
Published: June 2021

Accessibility is a topic of interest to multiple disciplines for a long time. In the last decade, the increasing availability of data may have exceeded the development of accessibility modeling approaches, resulting in a modeling gap. In part, this modeling gap may have resulted from the differences needed for single versus multimodal opportunities for access to services. With a focus on large volumes of transportation data, a new measurement approach, called Urban Accessibility Relative Index (UARI), was developed for the integration of multi-mode transportation big data, including taxi, bus, and subway, to quantify, visualize and understand the spatiotemporal patterns of accessibility in urban areas. Using New York City (NYC) as the case study, this paper applies the UARI to the NYC data at a 500-m spatial resolution and an hourly temporal resolution. These high spatiotemporal resolution UARI maps enable us to measure, visualize, and compare the variability of transportation service accessibility in NYC across space and time. Results demonstrate that subways have a higher impact on public transit accessibility than bus services. Also, the UARI is greatly affected by diurnal variability of public transit service.
The influence of exposure to violence on adolescents’ physical aggression: The protective influence of peers
Authors: Coleman Jasmine N. , Farrell Albert D.
Published: June 2021

Introduction

This study examined the degree to which peers can serve as a protective factor to mitigate the negative effects of exposure to violence (i.e., victimization, witnessing violence) on adolescents' physical aggression. Four specific dimensions of peer influence were examined — friends' support for nonviolence, friends' support for fighting, peer pressure for fighting, and friends’ delinquent behavior.

Methods

Analyses were conducted on four waves of data collected every 3 months (i.e., fall, winter, spring, summer) from a predominantly African‐American (78%) sample of 2575 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders attending three public middle schools in the United States. The sample was 52% female, with a mean age of 12.3 years (SD = 1.00).

Results

Findings for relations with victimization differed by sex. For boys, low levels of friends' delinquent behavior attenuated the relation between victimization and changes in physical aggression across all three waves. The protective effect of low levels of peer pressure for fighting was only evident in the winter for boys, whereas the protective effect of friends' support for nonviolence was only evident in the summer. For girls, high levels of friends’ support for nonviolence attenuated the relation between victimization in the winter and changes in physical aggression in the spring. In contrast, none of the peer factors moderated the relation between witnessing violence and physical aggression.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that prevention and interventions that increase positive peer influences and decrease negative peer influences may benefit adolescents by reducing risks associated with victimization.
Health Crisis Measures and Standards for Fair Decision-Making: A Normative and Empirical-Based Account of the Interplay Between Science, Politics and Courts
Authors: POPELIER Patricia , KLEIZEN Bjorn , DECLERCK Carolyn , GLAVINA Monika , VAN DOOREN Wouter
Published: June 2021

This paper examines, in the light of the COVID-19 crisis, the room for judicial oversight of health crisis measures based on the public’s expectations of how governments should act in the interplay with experts. The paper explains how trust theory and procedural rationality review help to address concerns related to legitimacy and expertise. The paper argues that courts should distinguish between two stages. In the initial stage, fear as a driver for government support based on expertise justifies that the proportionality test is limited to the question of whether measures were based on virologist expert advice. In the next stage, people expect the government to take expert-informed decisions, but also require that the government takes into account societal needs. Procedural rationality review in this stage demands that courts examine whether the decision was based on an informed balance of rights and interests.
Fabrication of disk-shaped, deuterated resorcinol/formaldehyde foam target for laser–plasma experiments
Authors: Kaneyasu Yumi , Nagai Keiji , Cadatal-Raduban Marilou , Golovin Daniil , Shokita Satoshi , Yogo Akifumi , Jitsuno Takahisa , Norimatsu Takayoshi , Yamanoi Kohei
Published: June 2021

Resorcinol/formaldehyde (RF) foam resin is an attractive material as a low-density target in high-power laser–plasma experiments because of its fine network structure, transparency in the visible region, and low-Z element (hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen) composition. In this study, we developed disk-shaped RF foam and deuterated RF foam targets with 40–200 μm thickness and approximately 100 mg/cm3 density having a network structure from 100 nm to a few micrometers cell size. By deuteration, the polymerization rate was drastically slowed down owing to kinetic isotope effects. These targets were used in high-power laser experiments where a megaelectronvolt proton beam was successfully generated.
Autonomic activity, posttraumatic and nontraumatic nightmares, and PTSD after trauma exposure
Authors: Mäder Thomas , Oliver Katelyn I. , Daffre Carolina , Kim Sophie , Orr Scott P. , Lasko Natasha B. , Seo Jeehye , Kleim Birgit , Pace-Schott Edward Franz
Published: June 2021

Background

Nightmares are a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This strong association may reflect a shared pathophysiology in the form of altered autonomic activity and increased reactivity. Using an acoustic startle paradigm, we investigated the interrelationships of psychophysiological measures during wakefulness and PTSD diagnosis, posttraumatic nightmares, and nontraumatic nightmares.

Methods

A community sample of 122 trauma survivors were presented with a series of brief loud tones, while heart rate (HRR), skin conductance (SCR), and orbicularis oculi electromyogram (EMGR) responses were measured. Prior to the tone presentations, resting heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed. Nightmares were measured using nightmare logs. Three dichotomous groupings of participants were compared: (1) current PTSD diagnosis (n= 59), no PTSD diagnosis (n= 63), (2) those with (n= 26) or without (n= 96) frequent posttraumatic nightmares, and (3) those with (n= 22) or without (n= 100) frequent nontraumatic nightmares.

Results

PTSD diagnosis was associated with posttraumatic but not with nontraumatic nightmares. Both PTSD and posttraumatic nightmares were associated with a larger mean HRR to loud tones, whereas nontraumatic nightmare frequency was associated with a larger SCR. EMGR and resting HRV were not associated with PTSD diagnosis or nightmares.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a shared pathophysiology between PTSD and posttraumatic nightmares in the form of increased HR reactivity to startling tones, which might reflect reduced parasympathetic tone. This shared pathophysiology could explain why PTSD is more strongly related to posttraumatic than nontraumatic nightmares, which could have important clinical implications.
The role of corrective feedback and lexical guidance in perceptual learning of a novel L2 accent in dialogue
Authors: Felker Emily , Broersma Mirjam , Ernestus Mirjam
Published: June 2021

Perceptual learning of novel accents is a critical skill for second-language speech perception, but little is known about the mechanisms that facilitate perceptual learning in communicative contexts. To study perceptual learning in an interactive dialogue setting while maintaining experimental control of the phonetic input, we employed an innovative experimental method incorporating prerecorded speech into a naturalistic conversation. Using both computer-based and face-to-face dialogue settings, we investigated the effect of two types of learning mechanisms in interaction: explicit corrective feedback and implicit lexical guidance. Dutch participants played an information-gap game featuring minimal pairs with an accented English speaker whose /ε/ pronunciations were shifted to /ɪ/. Evidence for the vowel shift came either from corrective feedback about participants’ perceptual mistakes or from onscreen lexical information that constrained their interpretation of the interlocutor’s words. Corrective feedback explicitly contrasting the minimal pairs was more effective than generic feedback. Additionally, both receiving lexical guidance and exhibiting more uptake for the vowel shift improved listeners’ subsequent online processing of accented words. Comparable learning effects were found in both the computer-based and face-to-face interactions, showing that our results can be generalized to a more naturalistic learning context than traditional computer-based perception training programs.
War and peace in liberated North Korea: Soviet military administration and the creation of North Korean police force in 1945
Authors: Lebedev Vasilii
Published: June 2021

The North Korean police were arguably one of the most important organisations in liberated North Korea. It was instrumental in stabilising the North Korean society and eventually became one of the backbones for both the new North Korean regime and its military force. Scholars of different political orientation have attempted to reconstruct its early history leading to a set of views ranging from the “traditionalist” sovietisation concept to the more contemporary “revisionist” reconstruction that portrayed it as the cooperation of North Korean elites with the Soviet authorities in their bid for the control over the politics and the military, in which the Soviets merely played the supporting role. Drawing from the Soviet archival documents, this paper presents a third perspective, arguing that initially, the Soviet military administration in North Korea did not pursue any clear-cut political goals. On the contrary, the Soviet administration initially viewed North Koreans with distrust, making Soviets constantly conduct direct interventions to prevent North Korean radicals from using the police in their political struggle.
Accounting for Transport Error in Inversions: An Urban Synthetic Data Experiment
Authors: Ghosh Subhomoy , Mueller Kimberly , Prasad Kuldeep , Whetstone James
Published: June 2021

We present and discuss the use of a high‐dimensional computational method for atmospheric inversions that incorporates the space‐time structure of transport and dispersion errors. In urban environments, transport and dispersion errors are largely the result of our inability to capture the true underlying transport of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to observational sites. Motivated by the impact of transport model error on estimates of fluxes of GHGs using in situ tower‐based mole‐fraction observations, we specifically address the need to characterize transport error structures in high‐resolution large‐scale inversion models. We do this using parametric covariance functions combined with shrinkage‐based regularization methods within an Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter inversion setup. We devise a synthetic data experiment to compare the impact of transport and dispersion error component of the model‐data mismatch covariance choices on flux retrievals and study the robustness of the method with respect to fewer observational constraints. We demonstrate the analysis in the context of inferring CO2 fluxes starting with a hypothesized prior in the Washington D.C. /Baltimore area constrained by a synthetic set of tower‐based CO2 measurements within an observing system simulation experiment framework. This study demonstrates the ability of these simple covariance structures to substantially improve the estimation of fluxes over standard covariance models in flux estimation from urban regions.
Controls on the Distributions of Dissolved Cd, Cu, Zn, and Cu‐Binding Organic Ligands in the East China Sea
Authors: Wong Kuo Hong , Obata Hajime , Ikhsani Idha Yulia , Muhammad Ronald
Published: June 2021

The East China Sea (ECS) is a complex marginal sea with potential sources and sinks of trace metals. In this study, we investigated the distributions of dissolved Cd, Cu, Zn, and Cu‐binding organic ligands in the ECS. Concentrations of Cd and macronutrients were below detection limit in the surface Kuroshio waters. Surface Zn concentrations increased along the Kuroshio Current, which may be attributed to atmospheric deposition. We detected two classes of Cu‐binding organic ligands in those waters, classified as L1 (log K = 13.6–15.2) and L2 (log K = 11.2–13.1), respectively. L1 could be related to biological production while L2 distributions appeared to be controlled by water mass mixing. Particularly, the Kuroshio Surface Water had relatively low L2 concentrations. There were no significant sources of Cu‐binding organic ligands in the intermediate waters. Cd, Cu, and Zn exhibited strong positive relationships with phosphate in the intermediate waters, suggesting that phytoplankton uptake and subsequent regeneration were the dominant controls of these elements at these depths. In deep waters, the distributions of Cd, Cu, and Zn were mainly controlled by water mass mixing. This was apparent from the unique trace metal to macronutrient ratios propagating from the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea to the ECS, according to water mass mixing patterns. Cd/phosphate, Zn/phosphate, Zn/silicate, and Cu/silicate ratios in the ECS were comparable with those in the North Pacific region. This implies the absence of additional supplies of Cd, Cu, Zn, and macronutrients from marginal sources in the ECS.
Seasonal and Mesoscale Variability of the Two Atlantic Water Recirculation Pathways in Fram Strait
Authors: Hofmann Zerlina , von Appen Wilken‐Jon , Wekerle Claudia
Published: June 2021

Atlantic Water (AW), which is transported northward by the West Spitsbergen Current (WSC), partly recirculates (i.e., turns westward) in Fram Strait. This determines how much heat and salt reaches the Arctic Ocean, and how much joins the East Greenland Current on its southward path. We describe the AW recirculation's location, seasonality, and mesoscale variability by analyzing the first observations from moored instruments at five latitudes in central Fram Strait, spanning a period from August 2016 to July 2018. We observe recirculation on the prime meridian at 78°50’N and 80°10’N, respectively south and north of the Molloy Hole, and no recirculation further south at 78°10’N and further north at 80°50’N. At a fifth mooring location northwest of the Molloy Hole at 79°30’N, we observe some influence of the two recirculation pathways. The southern recirculation is observed as a continuous westward flow that carries AW throughout the year, though it may be subject to broadening and narrowing. It is affected by eddies in spring, likely due to the seasonality of mesoscale instability in the WSC. The northern recirculation is observed solely as passing eddies on the prime meridian, which are strongest during late autumn and winter, and absent during summer. This seasonality is likely affected both by the conditions set by the WSC and by the sea ice. Open ocean eddies originating from the WSC interact with the sea ice edge when they subduct below the fresher, colder water.
Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth’s Heating Rate
Authors: Loeb Norman G. , Johnson Gregory C. , Thorsen Tyler J. , Lyman John M. , Rose Fred G. , Kato Seiji
Published: June 2021

Earth's Energy Imbalance (EEI) is a relatively small (presently ∼0.3%) difference between global mean solar radiation absorbed and thermal infrared radiation emitted to space. EEI is set by natural and anthropogenic climate forcings and the climate system's response to those forcings. It is also influenced by internal variations within the climate system. Most of EEI warms the ocean; the remainder heats the land, melts ice, and warms the atmosphere. We show that independent satellite and in situ observations each yield statistically indistinguishable decadal increases in EEI from mid‐2005 to mid‐2019 of 0.50 ± 0.47 W m−2 decade−1 (5%–95% confidence interval). This trend is primarily due to an increase in absorbed solar radiation associated with decreased reflection by clouds and sea‐ice and a decrease in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) due to increases in trace gases and water vapor. These changes combined exceed a positive trend in OLR due to increasing global mean temperatures.
MYH9-dependent polarization of ATG9B promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by accelerating focal adhesion assembly
Authors: Zhong Yan , Long Ting , Gu Chuan-Sha , Tang Jing-Yi , Gao Ling-Fang , Zhu Jia-Xian , Hu Zhi-Yan , Wang Xia , Ma Yi-Dan , Ding Yan-Qing , Li Zu-Guo , Wang Xiao-Yan
Published: June 2021

Tumour metastasis is a major reason accounting for the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), and the discovery of targets in the primary tumours that can predict the risk of CRC metastasis is now urgently needed. In this study, we identified autophagy-related protein 9B (ATG9B) as a key potential target gene for CRC metastasis. High expression of ATG9B in tumour significantly increased the risk of metastasis and poor prognosis of CRC. Mechanistically, we further find that ATG9B promoted CRC invasion mainly through autophagy-independent manner. MYH9 is the pivotal interacting protein for ATG9B functioning, which directly binds to cytoplasmic peptide segments aa368–411 of ATG9B by its head domain. Furthermore, the combination of ATG9B and MYH9 enhance the stability of each other by decreasing their binding to E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1, therefore preventing them from ubiquitin-mediated degradation, which further amplified the effect of ATG9B and MYH9 in CRC cells. During CRC cell invasion, ATG9B is transported to the cell edge with the assistance of MYH9 and accelerates focal adhesion (FA) assembly through mediating the interaction of endocytosed integrin β1 and Talin-1, which facilitated to integrin β1 activation. Clinically, upregulated expression of ATG9B in human CRC tissue is always accompanied with highly elevated expression of MYH9 and associated with advanced CRC stage and poor prognosis. Taken together, this study highlighted the important role of ATG9B in CRC metastasis by promoting focal adhesion assembly, and ATG9B together with MYH9 can provide a pair of potential therapeutic targets for preventing CRC progression.
Prrx1 promotes stemness and angiogenesis via activating TGF-β/smad pathway and upregulating proangiogenic factors in glioma
Authors: Chen Zetao , Chen Yihong , Li Yan , Lian Weidong , Zheng Kehong , Zhang Yuxuan , Zhang Yujie , Lin Chuang , Liu Chaoqun , Sun Fei , Sun Xinlin , Wang Jihui , Zhao Liang , Ke Yiquan
Published: June 2021

Glioma is one of the most lethal cancers with highly vascularized networks and growing evidences have identified glioma stem cells (GSCs) to account for excessive angiogenesis in glioma. Aberrant expression of paired-related homeobox1 (Prrx1) has been functionally associated with cancer stem cells including GSCs. In this study, Prrx1 was found to be markedly upregulated in glioma specimens and elevated Prrx1 expression was inversely correlated with prognosis of glioma patients. Prrx1 potentiated stemness acquisition in non-stem tumor cells (NSTCs) and stemness maintenance in GSCs, accompanied with increased expression of stemness markers such as SOX2. Prrx1 also promoted glioma angiogenesis by upregulating proangiogenic factors such as VEGF. Consistently, silencing Prrx1 markedly inhibited glioma proliferation, stemness, and angiogenesis in vivo. Using a combination of subcellular proteomics and in vitro analyses, we revealed that Prrx1 directly bound to the promoter regions of TGF-β1 gene, upregulated TGF-β1 expression, and ultimately activated the TGF-β/smad pathway. Silencing TGF-β1 mitigated the malignant behaviors induced by Prrx1. Activation of this pathway cooperates with Prrx1 to upregulate the expression of stemness-related genes and proangiogenic factors. In summary, our findings revealed that Prrx1/TGF-β/smad signal axis exerted a critical role in glioma stemness and angiogeneis. Disrupting the function of this signal axis might represent a new therapeutic strategy in glioma patients.
Inhibition of the DNA damage response phosphatase PPM1D reprograms neutrophils to enhance anti-tumor immune responses
Authors: Uyanik Burhan , Goloudina Anastasia R. , Akbarali Aamir , Grigorash Bogdan B. , Petukhov Alexey V. , Singhal Sunil , Eruslanov Evgeniy , Chaloyard Jeanne , Lagorgette Lisa , Hadi Tarik , Baidyuk Ekaterina V. , Sakai Hiroyasu , Tessarollo Lino , Ryffel Bernhard , Mazur Sharlyn J. , Lirussi Frederic , Garrido Carmen , Appella Ettore , Demidov Oleg N.
Published: June 2021

PPM1D/Wip1 is a negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53 and is overexpressed in several human solid tumors. Recent reports associate gain-of-function mutations of PPM1D in immune cells with worse outcomes for several human cancers. Here we show that mice with genetic knockout of Ppm1d or with conditional knockout of Ppm1d in the hematopoietic system, in myeloid cells, or in neutrophils all display significantly reduced growth of syngeneic melanoma or lung carcinoma tumors. Ppm1d knockout neutrophils infiltrate tumors extensively. Chemical inhibition of Wip1 in human or mouse neutrophils increases anti-tumor phenotypes, p53-dependent expression of co-stimulatory ligands, and proliferation of co-cultured cytotoxic T cells. These results suggest that inhibition of Wip1 in neutrophils enhances immune anti-tumor responses.
Lasp1 regulates adherens junction dynamics and fibroblast transformation in destructive arthritis
Authors: Beckmann Denise , Römer-Hillmann Anja , Krause Annika , Hansen Uwe , Wehmeyer Corinna , Intemann Johanna , de Gorter David J. J. , Dankbar Berno , Hillen Jan , Heitzmann Marianne , Begemann Isabell , Galic Milos , Weinhage Toni , Foell Dirk , Ai Rizi , Kremerskothen Joachim , Kiener Hans P. , Müller Sylvia , Kamradt Thomas , Schröder Christopher , Leitão Elsa , Horsthemke Bernhard , Rosenstiel Philip , Nordström Karl , Gasparoni Gilles , Gasparoni Nina , Walter Jörn , Li Na , Yang Xinyi , Chung Ho-Ryun , Pavenstädt Hermann , Lindemann Nico , Schnittler Hans J. , Wang Wei , Firestein Gary S. , Pap Thomas , Korb-Pap Adelheid
Published: June 2021

The LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (Lasp1) was originally cloned from metastatic breast cancer and characterised as an adaptor molecule associated with tumourigenesis and cancer cell invasion. However, the regulation of Lasp1 and its function in the aggressive transformation of cells is unclear. Here we use integrative epigenomic profiling of invasive fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and from mouse models of the disease, to identify Lasp1 as an epigenomically co-modified region in chronic inflammatory arthritis and a functionally important binding partner of the Cadherin-11/β-Catenin complex in zipper-like cell-to-cell contacts. In vitro, loss or blocking of Lasp1 alters pathological tissue formation, migratory behaviour and platelet-derived growth factor response of arthritic FLS. In arthritic human TNF transgenic mice, deletion of Lasp1 reduces arthritic joint destruction. Therefore, we show a function of Lasp1 in cellular junction formation and inflammatory tissue remodelling and identify Lasp1 as a potential target for treating inflammatory joint disorders associated with aggressive cellular transformation.
Spin pinning effect to reconstructed oxyhydroxide layer on ferromagnetic oxides for enhanced water oxidation
Authors: Wu Tianze , Ren Xiao , Sun Yuanmiao , Sun Shengnan , Xian Guoyu , Scherer Günther G. , Fisher Adrian C. , Mandler Daniel , Ager Joel W. , Grimaud Alexis , Wang Junling , Shen Chengmin , Yang Haitao , Gracia Jose , Gao Hong-Jun , Xu Zhichuan J.
Published: June 2021

Producing hydrogen by water electrolysis suffers from the kinetic barriers in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that limits the overall efficiency. With spin-dependent kinetics in OER, to manipulate the spin ordering of ferromagnetic OER catalysts (e.g., by magnetization) can reduce the kinetic barrier. However, most active OER catalysts are not ferromagnetic, which makes the spin manipulation challenging. In this work, we report a strategy with spin pinning effect to make the spins in paramagnetic oxyhydroxides more aligned for higher intrinsic OER activity. The spin pinning effect is established in oxideFM/oxyhydroxide interface which is realized by a controlled surface reconstruction of ferromagnetic oxides. Under spin pinning, simple magnetization further increases the spin alignment and thus the OER activity, which validates the spin effect in rate-limiting OER step. The spin polarization in OER highly relies on oxyl radicals (O∙) created by 1st dehydrogenation to reduce the barrier for subsequent O-O coupling.