bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling of GPS total electron content over the African low latitude region using empirical orthogonal functions
Authors: Andima Geoffrey , Amabayo Emirant B. , Jurua Edward , Cilliers Pierre J.
Published: July 2018

Abstract. In this paper, an empirical total electron content (TEC) model and trends in TEC over the African low latitude region are presented. GPS-derived TEC data from Malindi, Kenya (geographic coordinates 40.194° E, 2.996° S) and global ionospheric maps (GIMs) were used. We employed empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis method together with least square regression to model the TEC. The EOF-based TEC model was validated through comparisons with GIMs, GPS-derived TEC and TEC derived from the International Reference Ionosphere-2016 (IRI-2016) model for selected quiet and storm conditions. The single station EOF-based TEC model over Malindi satisfactory reproduced the known diurnal, semiannual and annual variations in the TEC. Comparison of the EOF-based TEC model results with TEC derived from IRI-2016 model showed that the EOF-based model predicted the TEC over Malindi with less errors than the IRI-2016. For the selected storms, the EOF-based TEC model simulated the storm time TEC response over Malindi better than the IRI-2016. In the case of the regional model, the EOF-based TEC model was able to reproduce the TEC characteristics in the equatorial ionization anomaly region. The EOF-based TEC model was then used as a background in estimating TEC trends. A latitudinal dependence in the trends was observed over the African low latitude region.
Seasonal development of iron limitation in the sub-Antarctic zone
Authors: Ryan-Keogh Thomas J. , Thomalla Sandy J. , Mtshali Thato N. , van Horsten Natasha R. , Little Hazel J.
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The seasonal and sub-seasonal dynamics of iron availability
within the sub-Antarctic zone (SAZ; ∼40–45∘ S) play an
important role in the distribution, biomass and productivity of the
phytoplankton community. The variability in iron availability is due to an
interplay between winter entrainment, diapycnal diffusion, storm-driven
entrainment, atmospheric deposition, iron scavenging and iron recycling
processes. Biological observations utilizing grow-out iron addition
incubation experiments were performed at different stages of the seasonal
cycle within the SAZ to determine whether iron availability at the time of
sampling was sufficient to meet biological demands at different times of the
growing season. Here we demonstrate that at the beginning of the growing
season, there is sufficient iron to meet the demands of the phytoplankton
community, but that as the growing season develops the mean iron
concentrations in the mixed layer decrease and are insufficient to meet
biological demand. Phytoplankton increase their photosynthetic efficiency and
net growth rates following iron addition from midsummer to late summer, with no
differences determined during early summer, suggestive of seasonal iron
depletion and an insufficient resupply of iron to meet biological demand. The
result of this is residual macronutrients at the end of the growing season
and the prevalence of the high-nutrient low-chlorophyll (HNLC) condition. We
conclude that despite the prolonged growing season characteristic of the SAZ,
which can extend into late summer/early autumn, results nonetheless suggest
that iron supply mechanisms are insufficient to maintain potential maximal
growth and productivity throughout the season.
Comprehensive analysis of the start-up period of a full-scale drinking water biofilter provides guidance for optimization
Authors: Ramsay Loren , Breda Inês L. , Søborg Ditte A.
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The use of biofilters to produce drinking water from anaerobic
groundwater is widespread in some European countries. A major disadvantage of
biofilters is the long start-up period required for virgin filter medium to
become fully functional. Although individual aspects of biofilter start-up
have previously been investigated, no comprehensive study in full scale using
inherent inoculation has previously been documented. A thorough investigation
of a full-scale drinking water biofilter was carried out over 10 weeks of
start-up. The many spatial and temporal changes taking place during start-up
were documented using a holistic approach. In addition to collection of many
samples over time (frequency) and space (filter depth), this study entailed
the use of multiple sample media (water, backwash water and filter media) and
multiple types of analyses (physical, chemical and microbiological). The
decrease in filter effluent concentrations of individual substances to
compliance levels followed a specific order that was shown to coincide with
the spatiotemporal development of bacteria on the filter media. Due to the
abiotic nature of the iron removal process, iron disappears at the earliest
in the start-up period followed by substances that require growth of
microorganisms. Ammonium disappears next, with nitrite appearing briefly near
the end of ammonium removal, followed by manganese. The thorough overall
picture obtained by these efforts provides guidance for optimization and
monitoring of the start-up. Guidance for optimization includes shortening the
start-up by focusing on kick-starting the ammonium removal; limiting the
monitoring burden (at-line measurements of ammonium in finished water
supplemented with manual manganese measurements when ammonium removal is
complete); and improving filter design by isolating the removal processes in
separate, smaller filters.
Neutral temperature and atmospheric water vapour retrieval from
spectral fitting of auroral and airglow emissions
Authors: Chadney Joshua M. , Whiter Daniel K.
Published: July 2018

Abstract. We have developed a spectral fitting method to retrieve upper atmospheric parameters at multiple altitudes simultaneously during times of aurora, allowing us to measure neutral temperatures and column densities of water vapour. We use the method to separate airglow OH emissions from auroral O+ and N2 in observations between 725–740 nm using the High Throughput Imaging Echelle Spectrograph (HiTIES), located on Svalbard. In this paper, we describe our new method and show the results of Monte-Carlo simulations using synthetic spectra which demonstrate the validity of the spectral fitting method as well as provide an indication of uncertainties on the retrieval of each atmospheric parameter.
Land surface model parameter optimisation using in-situ flux data:
comparison of gradient-based versus random search algorithms
Authors: Bastrikov Vladislav , MacBean Natasha , Bacour Cédric , Santaren Diego , Kuppel Sylvain , Peylin Philippe
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Land surface models (LSMs), used within earth system models, rely on numerous processes for describing carbon, water and energy budgets, often associated with highly uncertain parameters. Data assimilation (DA) is a useful approach for optimising the most critical parameters in order to improve model accuracy and refine future climate predictions. In this study, we compare two different DA methods for optimising the parameters of seven plant functional types (PFTs) of the ORCHIDEE land surface model using daily averaged eddy-covariance observations of net ecosystem exchange and latent heat flux at 78 sites across the globe. We perform a technical investigation of two classes of minimisation methods – local gradient-based (the L-BFGS-B algorithm) and global random search (the genetic algorithm) – by evaluating their relative performance in terms of the model–data fit and the difference in retrieved parameter values. We examine the performance of each method for two cases: when optimising parameters at each site independently (single-site approach) and when simultaneously optimising the model at all sites for a given PFT using a common set of parameters (multi-site approach). We find that for the single site case the random search algorithm results in lower values of the cost function (i.e. lower model – data root mean square differences) than the gradient-based method; the difference between the two methods is smaller for the multi-site optimisation due to a smoothing of the cost function shape with a greater number of observations. The spread of the cost function, when performing the same tests with 16 random first guess parameters, is much larger with the gradient based method, due to the higher likelihood of being trap in local minima. When using pseudo-observations tests the genetic algorithm results in a closer approximation of the true posterior parameter value in the L-BFGS-B algorithm. We demonstrate the advantages and challenges of different DA techniques and provide some advice on using it for the LSM parameters optimisation.
Nitrogen attenuation, dilution and recycling in the intertidal hyporheic zone of a subtropical estuary
Authors: Lamontagne Sébastien , Cosme Frédéric , Minard Andrew , Holloway Andrew
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Tidal estuarine channels have complex and dynamic interfaces controlled by
upland groundwater discharge, waves, tides and channel velocities that also
control biogeochemical processes within adjacent sediments. In an Australian
subtropical estuary, discharging groundwater with elevated
(> 300 mg N L−1) NH4+ and NO3-
concentrations had 80 % of the N attenuated at this interface, one of the
highest N removal rates (> 100 mmol m−2 day−1)
measured for intertidal sediments. The remaining N was also diluted by a
factor of 2 or more by mixing with surface water before being discharged to
the estuary. Most of the mixing occurred in a hyporheic zone in the upper
50 cm of the channel bed. However, groundwater entering this zone was
already partially mixed (12 %–60 %) with surface water via tide-induced
circulation. Below the hyporheic zone (50–125 cm below the channel bed),
NO3- concentrations declined slightly faster than
NH4+ concentrations and δ15NNO3 and
δ18ONO3 gradually increased, suggesting a co-occurrence
of anammox and denitrification. In the hyporheic zone,
δ15NNO3 continued to become enriched (consistent with
either denitrification or anammox) but δ18ONO3 became
more depleted (indicating some nitrification). A high
δ15NNO3 (23 ‰–35 ‰) and a low
δ18ONO3 (1.2 ‰–8.2 ‰) in all porewater samples
indicated that the original synthetic nitrate pool (industrial
NH4NO3; δ15N ∼ 0 ‰;
δ18O ∼ 18 ‰–20 ‰) had turned over completely during
transport in the aquifer before reaching the channel bed. Whilst porewater
NO3- was more δ18O depleted than its synthetic source,
porewater δ18OH2O (−3.2 ‰ to −1.8 ‰) was
enriched by 1 ‰–4 ‰ relative to rainfall-derived groundwater mixed
with seawater. Isotopic fractionation from H2O uptake during the N
cycle and H2O production during synthetic NO3-
reduction are the probable causes for this δ18OH2O
enrichment. Whilst occurring at a smaller spatial scale than tide-induced
circulation, hyporheic exchange can provide a similar magnitude of mixing and
biogeochemical transformations for groundwater solutes discharging through
intertidal zones.
Multimodel assessment of climate change-induced hydrologic impacts for a Mediterranean catchment
Authors: Perra Enrica , Piras Monica , Deidda Roberto , Paniconi Claudio , Mascaro Giuseppe , Vivoni Enrique R. , Cau Pierluigi , Marras Pier Andrea , Ludwig Ralf , Meyer Swen
Published: July 2018

Abstract. This work addresses the impact of climate change on the hydrology of a
catchment in the Mediterranean, a region that is highly susceptible to
variations in rainfall and other components of the water budget. The
assessment is based on a comparison of responses obtained from five
hydrologic models implemented for the Rio Mannu catchment in southern
Sardinia (Italy). The examined models – CATchment HYdrology (CATHY), Soil
and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), TOPographic Kinematic APproximation and
Integration (TOPKAPI), TIN-based Real time Integrated Basin Simulator
(tRIBS), and WAter balance SImulation Model (WASIM) – are all distributed
hydrologic models but differ greatly in their representation of terrain
features and physical processes and in their numerical complexity. After
calibration and validation, the models were forced with bias-corrected,
downscaled outputs of four combinations of global and regional climate models
in a reference (1971–2000) and future (2041–2070) period under a single
emission scenario. Climate forcing variations and the structure of the
hydrologic models influence the different components of the catchment
response. Three water availability response variables – discharge, soil
water content, and actual evapotranspiration – are analyzed. Simulation
results from all five hydrologic models show for the future period decreasing
mean annual streamflow and soil water content at 1 m depth. Actual
evapotranspiration in the future will diminish according to four of the five
models due to drier soil conditions. Despite their significant differences,
the five hydrologic models responded similarly to the reduced precipitation
and increased temperatures predicted by the climate models, and lend strong
support to a future scenario of increased water shortages for this region of
the Mediterranean basin. The multimodel framework adopted for this study
allows estimation of the agreement between the five hydrologic models and
between the four climate models. Pairwise comparison of the climate and
hydrologic models is shown for the reference and future periods using a
recently proposed metric that scales the Pearson correlation coefficient with
a factor that accounts for systematic differences between datasets. The
results from this analysis reflect the key structural differences between the
hydrologic models, such as a representation of both vertical and lateral
subsurface flow (CATHY, TOPKAPI, and tRIBS) and a detailed treatment of
vegetation processes (SWAT and WASIM).
Review of Locke's Image of the World by Michael Jacovides
Authors: Rockwood Nathan
Published: July 2018

A review of Michael Jacovides's recent book, Locke's Image of the World (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2017).
Toxicity Effects of Selected Heavy Metals on Lactuca sativa and Hydra viridissima used for Sustainable Crop Production
Authors: Diaz Lina Maria Caceres , Campos Claudia , Oron Gideon
Published: July 2018

This study examines the prospects for using Hydra viridissima toxicity test 96-h LC50, served as a model invertebrate, Lactuca sativa L. was applied for seeds toxicity test (120-h IC50) and a model plant for an acute toxicity assessment of heavy metals content in water. The heavy metals used to assess the acute toxicity of the water utilized for agricultural irrigation in arid regions includes cadmium (CdCl2.2H2O), chromium (K2Cr2O7), zinc (ZnSO4. 7H2O), and boron (H3BO3). A grading of the substances was conducted, and it was found that the toxicity levels for H. viridissima and L. sativa were, with the least harmful first: B < Cr < Zn < Cd and Zn < B < Cr < Cd, respectively. Results indicate that H. viridissima was a more sensitive indicator of toxicity for all of the evaluated substances. However, L. sativa could also be used successfully to rank toxicants in order of their potential hazards.
Excavating the Centrality of Materiality for a Posthuman “Anthropomediality”: Steps toward an Ecological Approach
Authors: Micali Alberto , Pasqualini Nicolò
Published: July 2018

The concept of “anthropomediality” traces a new path for the anthropological study of media, moving toward the posthuman. Matter here is central, signaling incarnated relations between humans and technologies. This article proposes a theoretical and programmatic delineation of a relational tool: an ecological approach that focuses on materiality in the form of an analysis of strata by means of an excavating movement.
A imprensa católica a serviço da reforma ultramontana: o caso do Mensageiro do Coração de Jesus
Authors: Silva Ana Rosa Cloclet da , Lourenço Lais da Silva
Published: July 2018

O presente artigo visa analisar o periódico jesuíta Mensageiro do Coração de Jesus, entre 1896 e 1900. Inserido no contexto das reformas ultramontanas, a normatização clerical, a afirmação da infalibilidade papal e a defesa da subordinação da Igreja à Santa Sé passaram a ser difundidas por diversos atores, tanto leigos, quanto clérigos. É nesse momento que os jesuítas retornam ao Brasil, estabelecendo-se na então Vila de Itú, no ano de 1856. Elaborando estratégias de fixação na soiedade local, tais clérigos atuaram para além da esfera religiosa. Nessa perspectiva, um dos campos de sua ação fora a imprensa, através do Mensageiro do Coração de Jesus, periódico cuja análise nos permite compreender as relações entre imprensa, ultramontanismo e atuação jesuítica no Brasil do fim do século XIX e início do XX. Através da análise desta fonte, o presente artigo busca averiguar a natureza do projeto de modernidade elaborado por estes clérigos, articuladamente a outros projetos em voga: como o liberal e o projeto da Igreja, de moldes tridentinos. Como contribuição geral, busca-se colaborar na compreensão dos rumos assumidos pelas reformas ultramontanas no Brasil durante o período analisado, revelador da especificidade do processo de secularização em curso.
Evaluation of an enhanced recovery protocol on patients having radical cystectomy for bladder cancer
Authors: Liu Bonnie , Domes Trustin , Jana Kunal
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are multimodal perioperative care protocols that are designed to shorten recovery time and reduce complication rates.1,2 An ERAS protocol was implemented in the Saskatoon Health region for radical cystectomy patients in 2013. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of the protocol for patients having radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Methods: Length of stay (LOS), early in-hospital complication rates, 30-day readmission rates, age, and gender were collected for patients seen for bladder cancer requiring radical cystectomy in Saskatoon between January 2007 and December 2016. Of these patients, 176 were pre-ERAS implementation (control group) and 84 were post-ERAS implementation (experimental group). The data from each variable was compared between the groups using a Z-test.

Results: There was no significant difference in age or gender of patients between the groups. Average LOS pre-ERAS was 14.25±14.57 days, which is significantly longer than the post-ERAS average of 10.91±8.56 days (p=0.043). There was no significant difference in 30-day readmission rate (19.87% pre-ERAS vs. 19.05% post-ERAS; p=0.873) or complication rate (51.7% pre-ERAS vs. 46.4% post-ERAS; p=0.425).

Conclusions: The implementation of an ERAS protocol for radical cystectomy reduces LOS, with no effect on early complication rates or 30-day readmission rates. This indicates that the protocol is safe for patients when compared to previous practices and is an effective means of reducing LOS.
Gender Norms and Agricultural Innovation: Insights from Six Villages in Bangladesh
Authors: Aregu Lemlem , Choudhury Afrina , Rajaratnam Surendran , Locke Catherine , McDougall Cynthia
Published: July 2018

The ability of development interventions to catalyse and support innovation for—and by— women and men is undermined by lack of specific understanding about how gender norms interact with gender relations and what this means for innovation. This is also the case for Bangladesh despite substantive research and development investments in the past decade that have placed emphasis on gender norms, particularly those inhibiting women and girl’s education, women and girl’s health, and women’s economic empowerment. This paper analyses how men and women in South West Bangladesh perceive gender norms to affect their ability to innovate, adopt, and benefit from new technologies in aquaculture, fisheries and agricultural systems. Our qualitative findings from six villages in 2014 confirm that the engagement of women and men smallholders with agricultural innovation and its opportunities is gender-differentiated. We explore further: how gender norms shape these differences; which gender norms are most significant in the given context, when and for whom; and, finally, when and how are some women and men able to innovate in the context of these norms. In doing so, we highlight how gender norms interact with gender relations and wider structural inequalities to constrain and/or enable innovation for different women and men. We conclude that technical organizations seeking to promote innovation need to go beyond itemizing gender ‘gaps’ to engage more closely with underlying gender norms and the way they influence various women’s, and men’s, motivations, spheres of innovation, and valuations of outcomes.
Effects of Heifer Calving Date on Longevity and Lifetime Productivity in Western Canada
Authors: Damiran Daalkhaijav , Larson Kathy , Pearce Leah , Erickson Nathan , Lardner H. A.
Published: July 2018

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of calving early as a heifer on lifetime production in western Canada. This study evaluated the longevity and life time production data on 211 individual heifers (data gathered for 16 years) at the Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC), Saskatchewan. Heifers were classified as calving in the first (period 1; n= 87), second (period 2; n = 66), or third (period 3; n = 58) 21-day period of the calving season. For each subsequent calf born to the cow, calving period was reassigned in the same manner. The current study showed that the average life time number of calves weaned for heifers that calved in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 21-day period was 5.4 ± 0.32, 4.5 ± 0.37, and 4.2 ± 0.39, respectively. Retaining percentage rate of period 1 cows was 4.3-17.8 and 2.1-19.1% units greater than those of period 2 and period 3 cows, respectively. Period 1 heifers had the greatest life time produced total cumulative weaning weight (p <0.01) value of 1157 kg/cow, followed by period 2 and period 3 heifers, 947 and 841 kg/cow, respectively. Period 1 cows generated an additional $718 to $1077 in weaned calf revenues over their lifetime. This study suggested that, in western Canada, heifers that calved earlier had greater pregnancy rates, remained in the herd longer, and produced one more calf in their lifetime than those that calved in the later periods.
Utility of Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase Compared With BAP1 Immunohistochemistry, and CDKN2A and NF2 Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Separating Reactive Mesothelial Proliferations From Epithelioid Malignant Mesotheliomas
Authors: Berg Kyra B. , Dacic Sanja , Miller Caitlyn , Cheung Simon , Churg Andrew
Published: July 2018

Context.—

The separation of reactive from malignant mesothelial proliferations is often a difficult morphologic problem. There is contradictory information in the literature on whether methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) immunohistochemistry can be used for this purpose.

Objective.—

To determine the utility of MTAP immunohistochemistry in distinguishing reactive from malignant mesothelial proliferations.

Design.—

We stained a tissue microarray containing 20 epithelioid malignant mesotheliomas and 17 reactive mesothelial proliferations. For the mesotheliomas, comparisons were made between MTAP staining and BRCA-associated nuclear protein 1 (BAP1) immunohistochemistry, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) fluorescence in situ hybridization, and neurofibromin 2 (NF2) fluorescence in situ hybridization, which are established techniques for making this separation.

Results.—

Loss of MTAP was seen in 0 of 17 reactive mesothelial proliferations and 13/20 (65%) malignant mesotheliomas. Almost all cases with loss showed loss in 100% of mesothelial cells. Background inflammatory and stromal cells served as a positive internal control. CDKN2A fluorescence in situ hybridization on the mesotheliomas showed concordance with MTAP staining in 14 of 17 evaluable cases. BAP1 immunohistochemistry showed loss of nuclear staining in 11 of 20 mesotheliomas (55%). No cases showed loss of NF2. A total of 18 of 20 mesotheliomas (90%) showed loss of either MTAP or BAP1.

Conclusions.—

In the context of a mesothelial proliferation, loss of MTAP staining is 100% specific for malignant mesothelioma. In this study the combination of MTAP and BAP1 immunohistochemical staining allowed separation of reactive from epithelial malignant mesothelial proliferations in 90% of cases.
Slope-Adjusted Surface Area Computations in Digital Terrain
Authors: Ghandehari Mehran , P. Buttenfield Barbara
Published: July 2018

Area is an integral part of any spatial database and has a significant role in many geographic analyses and applications. Planar algorithms that are widely used to calculate area ignore the slope and curvature of the terrain and result in under-estimation, particularly as pixel size increases or in uneven terrain. Calculating surface area using a regular DEM can overcome this issue by considering localized variations on the terrain surface. This paper investigates the scale- and algorithm-dependence of surface area calculations. The expectation is that for any individual pixel, the improvement in measurements can be relatively small, however, the additive effects across the study area can become significant. The method of dividing each DEM pixel into eight 3D triangles is commonly used to calculate surface area. In this research, the elevation of triangle vertices are estimated using different interpolation methods to establish rates of under-estimation for progressively larger pixels. These methods are validated against vertex elevations on a 3 meter lidar data benchmark. Bi-Cubic interpolation outperforms other interpolation methods for calculating DEM surface areas, with Linear, Bi-Linear and Jenness methods performing nearly as well, especially at coarser resolution. Relative accuracies are shown to degrade somewhat in rougher terrain.
Slope ranking and geohazards correlation analysis for combined open-underground mining area
Authors: Jin Zhang
Published: July 2018

Geohazards in mining areas are mainly ground subsidence, slope landslides and ground cracks, surface cover degradation and environmental ecological pattern destruction. The classification and rank of terrain slope and the feature area extraction of the slope are the important content for the correlation analysis with the geohazards. The slope classification and rank index system for soil and water conservation, land use and man-made ground disasters was analyzed. According to the characteristics of open pit and underground associated mining area, we comprehensively analyzed the spatial correlation between different ground disaster and terrain features and landform types, and propose a new slope ranking index, dividing slope zones and forming slope classification map. Especially slope area of 35-45 degrees and more than 45 degrees was extracted, and the relationship between regional geohazards and slope zone was analyzed. The application of terrestrial laser scanning technology to establish open-pit high precision digital elevation model, extraction of slope, slope type, gully density characteristic factor, topography factor data sets are established, and correlation analysis, to enhance disaster information content.
The effect of resolution on terrain feature extraction
Authors: Arundel Samantha T , Li Wenwen , Zhou Xiran
Published: July 2018

Recent increase in the production of high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) from lidar data has led to interest in their use for terrain mapping. Although the impact of different resolutions has been studied relative to terrain characteristics like roughness, slope and curvature, its relationship to the extraction of terrain features remains unclear. To address this question, this study tests the impact of four resolutions on the capture of glacial cirques from DEMs. Mean curvature was derived from one arc-second, one-third arc-second, one-ninth arc-second and half meter DEMs representing a cirque-covered mountainous region southwest of Lake Tahoe, California. Using a GEOBIA workflow, ridge objects were identified, and three scales - via the multi-resolution scale parameter (SP) - of objects bordering the ridges were classified as cirque objects. The resulting classifications were compared to reference cirques digitized at a scale of ~1:10,000. Results show that the one-third arc-second DEM produces the set of cirque objects most closely resembling the reference cirques. The one-ninth arc-second DEM afforded the second-best classification. These results emphasize the importance in carefully choosing resolution relative to the features extracted, rather than using the highest resolution data available. In the case of GEOBIA workflows, the choice of scale parameter is equally important.
The voluntary control of piloerection
Authors: Heathers James A.J. , Fayn Kirill , Silvia Paul J. , Tiliopoulos Niko , Goodwin Matthew S.
Published: July 2018

Autonomic nervous systems in the human body are named for their operation outside of conscious control. One rare exception is voluntarily generated piloerection (VGP)—the conscious ability to induce goosebumps—whose physiological study, to our knowledge, is confined to three single-individual case studies. Very little is known about the physiological nature and emotional correlates of this ability. The current manuscript assesses physiological, emotional, and personality phenomena associated with VGP in a sample of thirty-two individuals. Physiological descriptions obtained from the sample are consistent with previous reports, including stereotypical patterns of sensation and action. Most participants also reported that their VGP accompanies psychological states associated with affective states (e.g., awe) and experience (e.g., listening to music), and higher than typical openness to new experiences. These preliminary findings suggest that this rare and unusual physiological ability interacts with emotional and personality factors, and thus merits further study.
Effect of underwater visual survey methodology on bias and precision of fish counts: a simulation approach
Authors: Pais Miguel Pessanha , Cabral Henrique N.
Published: July 2018

Bias in underwater visual census has always been elusive. In fact, the choice of sampling method and the behavioural traits of fish are two of the most important factors affecting bias, but they are still treated separately, which leads to arbitrarily chosen sampling methods. FishCensus, a two-dimensional agent-based model with realistic fish movement, was used to simulate problematic behavioural traits in SCUBA diving visual census methods and understand how sampling methodology affects the precision and bias of counts. Using a fixed true density of 0.3 fish/m2 and a fixed visibility of 6 m, 10 counts were simulated for several combinations of parameters for transects (length, width, speed) and point counts (radius, rotation speed, time), generating trait-specific heatmaps for bias and precision. In general, point counts had higher bias and were less precise than transects. Fish attracted to divers led to the highest bias, while cryptic fish had the most accurate counts. For point counts, increasing survey time increased bias and variability, increasing radius reduced bias for most traits but increased bias in the case of fish that avoid divers. Rotation speed did not have a significant effect in general, but it increased bias for fish that avoid divers. Wider and longer transects and a faster swim speed are beneficial when sampling mobile species, but a narrower, shorter transect with a slow swim is beneficial for cryptic fish.
Catastrophic Health Expenditures for In-State and Out-of-State Abortion Care
Authors: Wasser Ortal , Ralph Lauren J. , Kaller Shelly , Biggs M. Antonia
Published: November 2024

Importance

Most US individuals who access abortion care pay out of pocket due to insurance coverage restrictions on abortion. More research is needed on the financial and psychological burdens of abortion seeking, particularly for those traveling across state lines for care.

Objectives

To estimate the proportion of patients seeking abortion who incur abortion-related catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs), assess whether CHE differs between those seeking care in state vs out of state, and examine the association of CHE with mental health symptoms.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cross-sectional study conducted before the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, surveys were administered between January and June 2019 among individuals aged 15 to 45 years seeking abortion in 4 clinics located in abortion-supportive states (California, Illinois, and New Mexico). Participants completed self-administered questionnaires while awaiting their abortion appointment. Analyses were conducted from November 2023 to April 2024.

Exposure

Travel for abortion care, categorized as either out of state or in state based on participants’ state of residence and the clinic location.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Self-reported abortion care costs and additional non–health care costs (eg, transportation, accommodation, and missed work), which were considered catastrophic if they were 40% or greater of participants’ ability to pay (defined as monthly income remaining after meeting subsistence needs). Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between CHE, out-of-state travel for abortion care, and mental health symptoms including stress, anxiety, and depression.

Results

Among the 675 participants included in the analytic sample, mean (SD) age was 27.33 (6.27) years; most were in their 20s (374 [55%]), and all but 196 (29%) sought abortion before or at 12 weeks’ gestation. A total of 285 participants (42%) were estimated to incur abortion-related CHEs, which was associated with anxiety (APR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19) and depression (APR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.39). Of people traveling from out of state (212 [31%]), more were likely to incur CHEs (138 [65%]) compared with those seeking care in state (147 of 463 [32%]) (APR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.67-3.00).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study of US patients seeking abortion, many individuals and their households were estimated to incur CHEs, particularly those traveling from out of state. The financial and psychological burdens of abortion seeking have likely worsened after the Dobbs decision, as more people need to cross state lines to reach abortion care. The findings suggest expansion of insurance coverage to ensure equitable access to abortion care, irrespective of people’s state of residence, is needed.
Parental Acceptance of Fetal Tissue Donation
Authors: Dawood Yousif , van den Hoff Maurice J. B. , Ravelli Anita C. J. , de Bakker Bernadette S. , Pajkrt Eva
Published: November 2024

Importance

Human fetal tissue is essential for biomedical research, providing unparalleled insights into human development and disease.

Objective

To assess changes in parental decisions to donate fetal tissue following termination of pregnancy after the introduction of the Dutch Fetal Biobank (DFB) and to identify factors associated with consent to donate.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study collected data from all individuals assigned female at birth (hereafter referred to as participants) who underwent a termination of pregnancy at the Amsterdam University Medical Center from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2022. No exclusion criteria were applied.

Exposure

Introduction of the DFB on September 1, 2017, which offers the option to donate fetal tissue after pregnancy termination.

Main Outcome and Measure

Rates of fetal tissue donation before and after DFB introduction and associations between patient characteristics (maternal age, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gestational age, and reason for termination) and consent to donation were assessed using multivariable binary logistic regression modeling.

Results

Of a total of 1272 participants (mean [SD] age, 33.0 [5.4] years), 576 (45.3%) were nulliparous. The mean (SD) gestational age at termination was 18 weeks 3 days (26 days), and reasons for termination were primarily because of structural defects (567 participants [44.6%]), with only a small portion (58 participants [4.6%]) terminating for social reasons (eg, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy). Fetal tissue donations increased from 1.2% (8 donations among 663 terminations) before the DFB introduction to 21.7% (132 donations among 609 terminations) after its introduction. This rise was primarily due to a shift from collective cremation to donation, while individual cremation or burial rates remained stable. The consent rate was 30.3% (132 of 436) for participants informed about the donation option. No significant demographic differences were found between participants who consented and those who did not, except for gestational age; consent rates decreased with advanced gestational age (odds ratio per week, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.94). Higher consent rates were observed for terminations due to social reasons (odds ratio, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.40-9.10).

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that a substantial proportion of individuals may be willing to donate fetal tissue for biomedical research after pregnancy termination. Integrating donation options in posttermination counseling respects patient autonomy and could ethically increase tissue availability for research. Expanding biobanks and fostering international collaboration is crucial for standardizing practices and ensuring equitable research benefits.
ASAM affirms pharmacists are needed in SUD treatment
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2024

After a spate of reports showing that physicians don't want to or can't prescribe treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) (see ADAW https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.34212), the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has reiterated its July recommendations that pharmacists play a greater role in providing medications. In “The Role of Pharmacists in Medications for Addiction Treatment,” ASAM noted that pharmacists already help by dispensing buprenorphine. However, some pharmacies are reluctant to provide it, “possibly conflating harms associated with diversion of medications like oxycodone and alprazolam with buprenorphine's diversion risks,” ASAM wrote in the introduction to the policy statement. “Pharmacies are crucial to accessing and improving the utilization of medications for addiction treatment, however.”
Ballot measures to legalize drugs fail in four states
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2024

Last week's election saw the defeat of four legalization measures on state ballots: recreational marijuana in Florida, psychedelics in Massachusetts, and the third cycle of defeats in North Dakota and South Dakota.
Study links adolescent cannabis use with psychosis
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2024

A cohort study of 11,868 adolescents found that those who used cannabis at any point reported a greater number of psychosis symptoms, and more distress from those symptoms, compared to teens who never used cannabis. This study, “Psychosis Spectrum Symptoms Before and After Adolescent Cannabis Use Initiation,” published last week in JAMA Psychiatry, sought to answer the question of whether the cannabis use is an effort to self‐medicate underlying psychosis, or contributes to increased vulnerability to psychosis. Findings were consistent with the self‐medication hypothesis. The researchers concluded that it is important to account for both shared vulnerability, and self‐medication effects, when modeling cannabis‐psychosis risk associations. The study used data from 5 waves across 4 years of followup from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.
Formation of Chemically Complex Intergranular Glass Film: An Effective Strategy to Hinder Grain Coarsening
Authors: Fu Le , Lei Zihua , Yu Wenjun , Liu Yang
Published: November 2024

Thermally driven grain coarsening is a commonly encountered issue in nanocrystalline ceramics, particularly in high‐temperature environments. The intergranular glass film (IGF) constitutes a crucial component of most ceramics and plays a pivotal role in the process of grain coarsening. In this study, it is proposed to impede grain coarsening by constructing a chemically complex IGF comprising multiple dopants with distinct ionic radii. Ternary dopants encompassing Al3+, Y3+, and La3+ ions are simultaneously incorporated into a ZrO2–SiO2 nanocomposite. To fabricate the nanocomposite, an amorphous precursor powder with uniformly dispersed dopants is prepared using a chemical coprecipitation method, followed by rapid hot pressing to obtain a dense bulk sample. The distribution behavior of ternary dopants at IGFs between adjacent ZrO2 nanocrystallites (NCs) is carefully examined. It is revealed that the ternary dopants coexist at the IGFs. Moreover, Si4+ ions exhibit preferential enrichment at the IGFs. Remarkably, the presence of chemically complex IGFs significantly enhances the resistance to grain coarsening in ZrO2 NCs up to 1000 °C. In these findings, valuable insights are offered for designing and fabricating nanocomposites with exceptional resistance against grain coarsening.
Investigation of Solid‐State Interface Reactions Between the Compositionally Complex Solid Solution Noble Metal Alloy Ag‐Au‐Pd‐Pt and Si
Authors: Li Yujiao , Kostka Aleksander , Savan Alan , Ludwig Alfred
Published: November 2024

Studying the stability of polyelemental systems such as compositionally complex solid solutions (CCSS) on the atomic scale against thermal decomposition or reaction with other elements is necessary to evaluate their suitability for applications. For this, the combinatorial processing platform approach is used to report on the stability of an exemplary noble metal CCSS thin film system (Ag‐Au‐Pd‐Pt). The thin film is sputter‐deposited at room temperature on flat and pre‐sharpened Si microtip array surfaces, protected solely by their native oxide. The as‐deposited film is a fcc solid solution which is subjected to sequential annealing up to 400 °C. Up to 300 °C, the native Si oxide is a sufficient reaction barrier. However, after annealing at 400 °C solid‐state reactions between the noble metal film and the Si substrate occur, forming mainly a ternary Pd‐Pt‐Si silicide with a crystal structure of Pd₂Si (space group P6̅m2), as revealed by a semi‐correlative APT/TEM analysis. Removal of Pd and Pt from the thin film causes partial decomposition of the initial fcc solid solution, with the formation of a Ag‐Au‐rich phase. Moreover, the interaction of the quaternary alloy system with Si is compared to that of pure Pt/Pd with Si. From this, information of preferential silicide formation is derived.
Piezo1 Regulates Stiffness‐Dependent DRG Axon Regeneration via Modifying Cytoskeletal Dynamics
Authors: Lei Mengshi , Wang Weiyou , Zhang Hong , Gong Jihong , Cai Hanmian , Wang Zhili , Zhu Le , Yang Xiaofei , Wang Shen , Ma Cong
Published: November 2024

Despite medical interventions, the regenerative capacity of the peripheral nervous system is limited. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons possess the capacity to detect mechanical signals from their microenvironment, but the impact and mechanism by which these signals regulate axon regrowth and even regeneration in DRG neurons remain unclear. In this study, DRG neurons from newborn rats are cultured on substrates with varying degrees of stiffness in vitro to investigate the role of mechanical signals in axon regrowth. The findings reveal that substrate stiffness plays a crucial role in regulating axon regrowth, with an optimal stiffness required for this process. In addition, the data demonstrate that Piezo1, a mechanosensitive cation channel, detects substrate stiffness at the growth cone and regulates axon regrowth through activating downstream Ca2+–CaMKII–FAK–actin cascade signaling pathway. Interestingly, knocking down Piezo1 in adult rat DRG neurons leads to enhanced axon regeneration and accelerated recovery of sensory function after sciatic nerve injury. Overall, these findings contribute to the understanding of the role of mechanical signals in axon regeneration and highlight microenvironmental stiffness as a promising therapeutic target for repairing nerve injuries.
Electrical Microneedles for Wound Treatment
Authors: Wang Yu , Cai Lijun , Fan Lu , Wang Li , Bian Feika , Sun Weijian , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: November 2024

Electrical stimulation has been hotpot research and provoked extensive interest in a broad application such as wound closure, tissue injury repair, and nerve engineering. In particular, immense efforts have been dedicated to developing electrical microneedles, which demonstrate unique features in terms of controllable drug release, real‐time monitoring, and therapy, thus greatly accelerating the process of wound healing. Here, a review of state‐of‐art research concerning electrical microneedles applied for wound treatment is presented. After a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms of electrical stimulation on wound healing, the derived three types of electrical microneedles are clarified and summarized. Further, their applications in wound healing are highlighted. Finally, current perspectives and directions for the development of future electrical microneedles in improving wound healing are addressed.
Spherical DNA Nanomotors Enable Ultrasensitive Detection of Active Enzymes in Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Deng Jinqi , Zhao Shuai , Xie Kai , Liu Chao , Sheng Chuangui , Li Junhong , Dai Bo , Wan Shuo , Li Lele , Sun Jiashu
Published: November 2024

Enzymes encapsulated in extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold promise as biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis. However, precise measurement of their catalytic activities within EVs remains a notable challenge. Here, we report an enzymatically triggered spherical DNA nanomotor (EDM) that enables one‐pot, cascaded, and highly sensitive analysis of the activity of EV‐associated or free apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1, a key enzyme in base excision repair) across various biological samples. The EDM capitalizes on APE1‐triggered activation of DNAzyme (Dz) and its autonomous cleavage of substrates to achieve nonlinear signal amplification. Using EDM, we demonstrate a strong correlation between APE1 activity in EVs and that of their parental cancer cells. Additionally, EV APE1 mirrors the fluctuation of cellular APE1 activity in response to chemotherapy‐induced DNA damage. In a pilot clinical study (n=63), the EDM‐based assay reveals that more than 80 % of active APE1 in serum samples is EV‐encapsulated. Notably, EV APE1 can differentiate early prostate cancer (PCa) patients from healthy donors (HDs) with an overall accuracy of 92 %, outperforming free APE1 in sera. We anticipate that EDM will become a versatile tool for quantifying EV‐associated enzymes.