bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory discretion: structuring power in the era of regulatory capitalism
Authors: Schmidt Rebecca , Scott Colin
Published: April 2021

Discretion gives decision makers choices as to how resources are allocated, or how other aspects of state largesse or coercion are deployed. Discretionary state power challenges aspects of the rule of law, first by transferring decisions from legislators to departments, agencies and street-level bureaucrats and secondly by risking the uniform application of key fairness and equality norms. Concerns to find alternative and decentred forms of regulation gave rise to new types of regulation, sometimes labeled ‘regulatory capitalism’. Regulatory capitalism highlights the roles of a wider range of actors exercising powers and a wider range of instruments. It includes also new forms of discretion, for example over automated decision making processes, over the formulation and dissemination of league tables or over the use of behavioural measures. This paper takes a novel approach by linking and extending the significant literature on these changing patterns of regulatory administration with consideration of the changing modes of deployment of discretion. Using this specific lens, we observe two potentially contradictory trends: an increase in determining and structuring administrative decision, leading to a more transparent use of discretion; and the increased use of automated decision making processes which have the potential of producing a less transparent black box scenario.
Fructose malabsorption: causes, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Benardout Miles , Le Gresley Adam , ElShaer Amr , Wren Stephen P.
Published: April 2021

This review intends to act as an overview of fructose malabsorption (FM) and its role in the aetiology of diseases including, but not limited to, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and infantile colic and the relationship between fructose absorption and the propagation of some cancers. IBS results in a variety of symptoms including stomach pains, cramps and bloating. Patients can be categorised into two groups, depending on whether the patients’ experiences either constipation (IBS-C) or diarrhoea (IBS-D). FM has been proposed as a potential cause of IBS-D and other diseases, such as infantile colic. However, our knowledge of FM is limited by our understanding of the biochemistry related to the absorption of fructose in the small intestine and FM’s relationship with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It is important to consider the dietary effects on FM and most importantly, the quantity of excess free fructose consumed. The diagnosis of FM is difficult and often requires indirect means that may result in false positives. Current treatments of FM include dietary intervention, such as low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols diets and enzymatic treatments, such as the use of xylose isomerase. More research is needed to accurately diagnose and effectively treat FM. This review is designed with the goal of providing a detailed outline of the issues regarding the causes, diagnosis and treatment of FM.
Goats fed with non-protein nitrogen: ruminal bacterial community and ruminal fermentation, intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance
Authors: Lopes A.S.M. , de Oliveira J.S. , Santos E.M. , Medeiros A.N. , Givisiez P.E.N. , Lemos M.L.P. , Santos F.N.S. , Silva N.M.V. , Azevedo P.S. , Sousa L.S. , Pereira D.M. , Oliveira C.J.B.
Published: April 2021

The current study assessed ruminal fermentation parameters and bacterial community, nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of goats fed diets containing buffel grass hay and ruminal ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3). Five rumen-cannulated mixed-breed castrated adult goats (45 ± 2.3 kg) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design represented by five N-NH3 levels (3.43, 9.95, 17.2, 23.0 and 33.7 mg/dl). Control animals were fed hay exclusively. Other treatments were represented by ruminal infusion composed of a mixture containing urea, ammonium sulphate and casein. The increasing N-NH3 concentrations did not affect rumen fluid pH, which averaged 6.43. Rumen ammoniacal nitrogen increased linearly in response to N-NH3. Volatile fatty acids were not affected by increasing N-NH3 concentrations. A higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae (Ruminococcus 1, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group) was observed in the rumen of goats infused with higher concentrations of N-NH3 (17.2 and 33.7 mg/dl N-NH3). There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.050) of N-NH3 levels on neutral detergent fibre intake with maximum values estimated at 13.7 mg/dl N-NH3. Nutrient intake, nitrogen excretion and nitrogen balance presented a positive linear effect (P < 0.050). In conclusion, 3.43 mg/dl of N-NH3 is the minimum level to maintain microbial activity, whereas the recommended level to optimize the microbial community is 14.5 mg/dl of N-NH3 in the rumen of goats fed buffel grass.
Assessment of sowing dates and plant densities using CSM-CROPGRO-Soybean for soybean maturity groups in low latitude
Authors: Sampaio L. S. , Battisti R. , Lana M. A. , Boote K. J.
Published: April 2021

Crop models can be used to explain yield variations associated with management practices, environment and genotype. This study aimed to assess the effect of plant densities using CSM-CROPGRO-Soybean for low latitudes. The crop model was calibrated and evaluated using data from field experiments, including plant densities (10, 20, 30 and 40 plants per m2), maturity groups (MG 7.7 and 8.8) and sowing dates (calibration: 06 Jan., 19 Jan., 16 Feb. 2018; and evaluation: 19 Jan. 2019). The model simulated phenology with a bias lower than 2 days for calibration and 7 days for evaluation. Relative root mean square error for the maximum leaf area index varied from 12.2 to 31.3%; while that for grain yield varied between 3 and 32%. The calibrated model was used to simulate different management scenarios across six sites located in the low latitude, considering 33 growing seasons. Simulations showed a higher yield for 40 pl per m2, as expected, but with greater yield gain increments occurring at low plant density going from 10 to 20 pl per m2. In Santarém, Brazil, MG 8.8 sown on 21 Feb. had a median yield of 2658, 3197, 3442 and 3583 kg/ha, respectively, for 10, 20, 30 and 40 pl per m2, resulting in a relative increase of 20, 8 and 4% for each additional 10 pl per m2. Overall, the crop model had adequate performance, indicating a minimum recommended plant density of 20 pl per m2, while sowing dates and maturity groups showed different yield level and pattern across sites in function of the local climate.
Comprehensive yield gap analysis and optimizing agronomy practices of soybean in Iran
Authors: Nehbandani A. , Soltani A. , Hajjarpoor A. , Dadrasi A. , Nourbakhsh F.
Published: April 2021

Soybean is one of the key oil crops in global food security. The objective of the current study was to determine the magnitude of soybean yield and yield gaps (Yg) in the main producing regions in Iran, the main causes and possible solutions to reduce these gaps and improve yields. This study uses an integrated approach of crop simulation and on-farm information. The SSM-iCrop2 model was used to calculate the potential yield (Yp). Furthermore, management information of soybean farms (the number of monitored farms was 224) was collected and analysed with two methods, including stepwise regression (a production model was created and based on it, the yield-limiting factors were determined) and boundary line analysis (show the optimum level of crop management and simultaneously the percentage of farms that were out of the optimal range of a specific management procedure). The results showed a Yp of 4681 kg/ha while actual yield (Ya) was around 2257 kg/ha. The main factors causing Yg of soybean in Iran were irrigation, nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and sowing date. Altering soybean sowing date to late June or early July, irrigating at least five times during the growing season, applying at least 50 kg/ha nitrogen and 45 kg/ha phosphorus base application are foremost management practices that could shrink the soybean yield gap in Iran. The results presented in this study can bring relevant transferable information to other soybean production areas sharing the same latitudes and climate, and the approach can be used for other crops worldwide.
Importance of light status on phytoplankton biomass in the turbid Bisan Strait, Japan: results from a high-frequency sampling study
Authors: Yamaguchi Hitomi , Hasegawa Keigo , Tada Kuninao , Kishimoto Koji , Ichimi Kazuhiko
Published: April 2021

The dynamics of phytoplankton biomass in the vertically mixed south-eastern part of the Bisan Strait, in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, may be considered to be strongly dependent not only on nutrients but also on light status. This was investigated by examining variations in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), nutrients, and Secchi-disc depth through high-frequency sampling (a mean of once every 1.7 days) at the same station from April to October 2019. Precipitation during the Japanese rainy season (East Asian monsoon rains) was associated with a decrease in salinity from 32 to 31 in late July. The highest concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), the most deficient nutrient, also was recorded in late July in association with seasonal precipitation. However, the measured Chl-a peak (max. 4 μg l−1) in early August was not as high as expected, possibly due to low water clarity. A relatively small but substantial peak of DIN (max. 4 μM) was recorded in mid-August, which coincided with the passing of a typhoon. The small peak of DIN coupled with higher water clarity thereafter was followed by a phytoplankton bloom from mid-August to early September, at which the highest Chl-a (7 μg l−1) occurred. It is suggested that increased light penetration enhanced the efficiency of nutrient assimilation and thereby triggered the late-summer phytoplankton bloom. In contrast to the adjacent stratified areas, light rather than nutrient status appears to be the key determinant for the onset of phytoplankton blooms in the Bisan Strait.
Working Less, Not More in a Workfare Programme: Group Solidarity, Informal Norms and Alternative Value Systems Amongst Activated Participants
Authors: HANSEN LASSE SCHMIDT , NIELSEN MATHIAS HERUP
Published: April 2021

This article uses extensive ethnographic methods to explore the lived reality of a Danish workfare programme. The programme requires social assistance recipients to perform manual labour for their benefits at municipal work sites. The contrast between the political rhetoric that justifies the workfare programme and the lived reality of it is striking. While the programme is justified as a means to put the passive unemployed to work, there is a norm of working less, not more at the site. The participants spend most of their time waiting or conducting seemingly meaningless work assignments. However, over time, the majority of the participants begin to embrace this modus operandi at the site. This article answers this apparent paradox by turning to concepts from the anthropology of industrial work. Such concepts allow us to analyse how camaraderie exists amongst participants as well as work supervisors at the site. Particularly, the camaraderie is based on group solidarity, an informal regulation of work efficiency and an alternative system of value. Hereby, the article adds to previous findings on the ‘lived experiences’ of welfare recipients.
Coda: Repositioning Early Modern Prague on the Global Stage
Authors: Ivanič Suzanna
Published: April 2021

The question that sparked this forum was to what extent we can see Prague as an important stage for Renaissance and Reformation exchange and as an internationally connected city. It is striking, though not unexpected, that all the authors have been drawn to some extent to sources and subjects in Rudolfine Prague. It must be stressed, however, that the emphasis of each of these studies is somewhat different to an older field of “Rudolfine studies.” The researchers here do not focus on the emperor's court but use it as context. It is tangential to their main focal points—on Jewish communities, religious change, and the exchange of scientific and musical knowledge—and these are first and foremost historians not of Prague but of social and cultural history, music, art, material culture, and religion. This indicates a marked shift from the historiography. For this generation of scholars, Prague is not only a city that is home to a fascinating and intriguing art historical moment but is also a city of early modern international connections. It provides a unique context for understanding communities, everyday experiences, religion, and culture in early modern Europe—a multilingual, multiconfessional, and multicultural mixing pot whose composition changed dramatically across the early modern period. Rudolf's court was certainly a catalyst for these crossings and encounters, but they did not fade away after his death in 1612, nor were they limited to the confines of the castle above the city.
Argumentation and explainable artificial intelligence: a survey
Authors: Vassiliades Alexandros , Bassiliades Nick , Patkos Theodore
Published: April 2021

Argumentation and eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) are closely related, as in the recent years, Argumentation has been used for providing Explainability to AI. Argumentation can show step by step how an AI System reaches a decision; it can provide reasoning over uncertainty and can find solutions when conflicting information is faced. In this survey, we elaborate over the topics of Argumentation and XAI combined, by reviewing all the important methods and studies, as well as implementations that use Argumentation to provide Explainability in AI. More specifically, we show how Argumentation can enable Explainability for solving various types of problems in decision-making, justification of an opinion, and dialogues. Subsequently, we elaborate on how Argumentation can help in constructing explainable systems in various applications domains, such as in Medical Informatics, Law, the Semantic Web, Security, Robotics, and some general purpose systems. Finally, we present approaches that combine Machine Learning and Argumentation Theory, toward more interpretable predictive models.
A PROBABILISTIC ℓ1 METHOD FOR CLUSTERING HIGH-DIMENSIONAL DATA
Authors: Asamov Tsvetan , Ben-Israel Adi
Published: April 2021

In general, the clustering problem is NP-hard, and global optimality cannot be established for non-trivial instances. For high-dimensional data, distance-based methods for clustering or classification face an additional difficulty, the unreliability of distances in very high-dimensional spaces. We propose a probabilistic, distance-based, iterative method for clustering data in very high-dimensional space, using the ℓ1-metric that is less sensitive to high dimensionality than the Euclidean distance. For K clusters in ℝn, the problem decomposes to K problems coupled by probabilities, and an iteration reduces to finding Kn weighted medians of points on a line. The complexity of the algorithm is linear in the dimension of the data space, and its performance was observed to improve significantly as the dimension increases.
Effects of betaine on non-alcoholic liver disease
Authors: Chen Weiqiang , Xu Minjuan , Xu Minwen , Wang Yucai , Zou Qingyan , Xie Shuixiang , Wang Liefeng
Published: April 2021

The increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a growing challenge in terms of its prevention and treatment. The ‘multiple hits’ hypothesis of multiple insults, such as dietary fat intake, de novo lipogenesis, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis and hepatic inflammation, can provide a more accurate explanation of the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Betaine plays important roles in regulating the genes associated with NAFLD through anti-inflammatory effects, increased free fatty oxidation, anti-lipogenic effects and improved insulin resistance and mitochondrial function; however, the mechanism of betaine remains elusive.
Role alteration predicts anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of infants with congenital heart disease: a pilot study
Authors: Lisanti Amy J. , Kumar Aparna , Quinn Ryan , Chittams Jesse L. , Medoff-Cooper Barbara , Demianczyk Abigail C.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Parents of infants born with critical congenital heart disease are at risk for adverse mental health symptoms. The purpose of this study was to identify infant-, parent-, and environmental-based stressors for mothers and fathers after their infants’ cardiac surgery, and to explore relationships between stressors and mental health symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Methods:

This study enrolled 28 biological mother-father dyads from families admitted to the paediatric cardiac intensive care unit for cardiac surgery at one free-standing children’s hospital in the Northeast. Paired t-tests were used to examine group differences between mothers and fathers on perceived stressors and mental health symptoms, while linear mixed effects modelling was used to explore the predictive relationship between perceived stressors, personal factors, and mental health symptoms.

Results:

Mothers reported higher perceived stressor scores of parental role alteration (t = 4.03, p < 0.01) and infant appearance and behaviour (t = 2.61, p = 0.02), and total perceived stress (t = 2.29 p = 0.03), compared to fathers. Mothers also reported higher anxiety (t = 2.47, p = 0.02) and depressive symptoms (t = 3.25, p < 0.01) than fathers. In multivariable analysis, parental role alteration significantly predicted anxiety (t = 5.20, p < 0.01, d = 0.77) and depressive symptoms (t = 7.09, p < 0.01, d = 1.05) for mothers and fathers. The consensus subscale of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale also significantly predicted depressive symptoms (t = −2.42, p = 0.02, d = 0.04).

Conclusion:

Parents were distressed during their infant’s admission for surgical repair for critical congenital heart disease. Parental role alteration was significantly associated with parental anxiety and depressive symptoms, while poor relationship quality was associated with depressive symptoms, highlighting areas for potential nursing-led psychosocial led interventions.
Effects of a novel combination of two mutated acetolactate synthase (ALS) isozymes on resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in flixweed (Descurainia sophia)
Authors: Xu Yufang , Xu Lina , Shen Jing , Li Xuefeng , Zheng Mingqi
Published: April 2021

Flixweed [Descurainia sophia(L.) Webb ex Prantl] is a notorious broadleaf weed that is widely distributed in winter wheat–growing areas of China and has evolved resistance to tribenuron-methyl mainly due to target-site resistance (TSR) mutations in acetolactate synthase (ALS). In the current research, twoALSgenes were identified in tribenuron-methyl–susceptible (TS) or tribenuron-methyl–resistant (TR)D. sophia. Resistance mutations of Asp-376-Glu and Pro-197-Ala were identified on ALS1 and ALS2 isozymes in TRD. sophia, respectively. The TRD. sophiaevolved 10,836.3-fold resistance to tribenuron-methyl and displayed cross-resistance to multiple ALS-inhibiting herbicides with different chemical structures. Dose response experiments and ALS activity assay indicated that two mutated ALS isozymes contributed differentially in resistance to tribenuron-methyl, flucetosulfuron, and pyribenzoxim. In addition, the relative expression level of theALS1gene was 2.2- and 1.6-fold higher thanALS2genes in TRD. sophiaat 1 and 7 d after tribenuron-methyl treatment, respectively. In contrast, the relative expression level ofALS1andALS2in TSD. sophiais similar. This is the first research that explored different roles of ALS isozymes in resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides, which might provide a new perspective for the weed resistance management.
Superresolution Imaging With a Deep Multipath Network for the Reconstruction of Satellite Cloud Images
Authors: Zhang Jinglin , Yang Zhipeng , Jia Zhaoying , Bai Cong
Published: April 2021

Satellite cloud images play an important role in weather analysis and forecast. High‐resolution satellite images play a significant role in the study of mesoscale weather systems such as typhoons. With the increasing demands of locating and tracking techniques, the resolution of satellite images is no longer satisfactory. Enhancing their resolution with superresolution (SR) methods can help in identifying and locating weather systems. In this paper, we propose a multipath network model, called SRCloudNet, that involves joint training of a back‐projection network and a local residual network. SRCloudNet integrates features extracted from back‐projection units and residual dense blocks to achieve more accurate image reconstruction. We also developed a novel natural‐color cloud and contrail image data set, constituting the first‐ever satellite cloud image data set established for SR research. Because of the special features, contrail images were first used to test the performance of SRCloudNet. Extensive experiments demonstrated that SRCloudNet achieves superior performance.
Study of a Quasi‐27‐Day Wave in the MLT Region During Recurrent Geomagnetic Storms in Autumn 2018
Authors: Ma Zheng , Gong Yun , Zhang Shaodong , Xue Junwei , Luo Jiahui , Zhou Qihou , Huang Chunming , Huang Kaiming , Yu You , Li Guozhu
Published: April 2021

A quasi‐27‐day wave (Q27DW) caused by the rotational period of solar radiation is commonly observed in the atmospheric dynamics. In the present study, we report an enhancement of a Q27DW during recurrent geomagnetic storms in the autumn of 2018 based on the zonal wind observations in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region over Beijing (BJ, 40.3°N, 116.2°E). According to our analysis, the solar radiation and the seasonal variation are not important in exciting the observed Q27DW. A 27‐day oscillation exists in both solar wind data and Kp index during the recurrent geomagnetic storms. The Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) temperature and ozone data also reveal a Q27DW signature at 97 km. Using the long‐term observation of BJ meteor radar, two more cases are found during springtime in 2010 and 2018 under the solar quiet condition. Our results indicate that the recurrent geomagnetic storms due to high‐speed solar winds can modulate the temperature and ozone in the MLT region, which is responsible for generating a Q27DW in the MLT zonal winds over BJ. This study suggests that the variation of planetary waves in the MLT neutral winds at mid‐latitude is likely associated with the recurrent geomagnetic storms and high‐speed solar winds.
The Cusp Plasma Imaging Detector (CuPID) CubeSat Observatory: Mission Overview
Authors: Walsh B. M. , Collier M. R. , Atz E. , Billingsley L. , Broll J. M. , Connor H. K. , Chornay D. , Cragwell T. , Dobson N. , Eckert S. , Einhorn D. , Gallant G. , Jackson K. , Karki S. , Kujawski J. , Kuntz K. D. , Naldoza V. , Nutter R. A. , Moore J. , O’Brien C. , Perez‐Rosado A. , Porter F. S. , Sibeck D. G. , Simms K. , Skelton W. , Thomas N. , Turner D. L. , Yousuff A. , Weatherwax A. , Zosuls A. , Thomas E.
Published: April 2021

The Cusp Plasma Imaging detector (CuPID) Cube Satellite Observatory is a six‐unit Cube Satellite developed to study macroscale properties of dayside magnetopause reconnection. Reconnection will be studied through imaging spatial and temporal ion dispersion signatures in the magnetospheric cusps. As reconnection enables shocked solar wind plasma to enter the cusp, high charge state solar wind ions will charge‐exchange with Earth's neutral exosphere. This process generates soft X‐rays imaged by the spacecraft. CuPID is in a circular, highly inclined (97.6°), sun‐synchronous, low Earth orbit (550 km), where it views upward through the cusp from its low altitude footprint. The mission carries three science instruments, an energetic (>50 keV) radiation detector, a soft X‐ray (0.1–2 keV) imager, and a body‐mounted magnetometer. The soft X‐ray imager employs a novel, wide field‐of‐view (4.6°) slumped micropore optical element to focus X‐rays. The radiation detector uses collimated micro‐dosimeters with blocking foils to discriminate particle species. The three‐axis magnetometer is part of the attitude determination and control system and has been calibrated to provide scientifically useful data.
The Formation of Subtropical Phytoplankton Blooms Is Dictated by Water Column Stability During Winter and Spring in the Oligotrophic Northwestern North Pacific
Authors: Matsumoto K. , Sasai Y. , Sasaoka K. , Siswanto E. , Honda M. C.
Published: April 2021

Subtropical phytoplankton blooms were observed in winter and late spring (rather than in early spring, as is typical) via shipboard observations in an area south of the Kuroshio Extension in the northwestern North Pacific subtropical gyre. Satellite‐based observations revealed that these submesoscale blooms occurred in warmer water masses in winter and in cooler water masses in late spring. The fact that winter blooms occurred in warmer areas suggests that they depend on water column stratification caused by solar heating. In contrast, the fact that the late‐spring blooms occurred in cooler areas suggests a breakdown of stratification due to a recurrence of convective mixing. Mesoscale blooms occurred at intermediate water temperatures in early spring, suggesting a repeating sequence of stratification and mixing during this period. Wintertime deep convective mixing in the northwestern North Pacific subtropical gyre creates Subtropical Mode Water. The behavior of the wintertime mixed‐layer depth, which determines the thickness of Subtropical Mode Water, also dictates the characteristics of subtropical blooms such as their magnitude and the timing of onset and demise. Based on in situ observations and a model analysis, we conclude that deeper winter mixing, which increases nutrient concentrations, will intensify early‐spring blooms and facilitate the formation of episodic blooms in winter and late spring. On the other hand, shallower winter mixing should increase stratification and thus facilitate the formation of smaller blooms, even in winter.
A Nonlinear System Science Approach to Find the Robust Solar Wind Drivers of the Multivariate Magnetosphere
Authors: Blunier S. , Toledo B. , Rogan J. , Valdivia J. A.
Published: April 2021

We propose a method, based on Neural Networks, that detects the nonlinear robust interplanetary solar wind variables, with varying delays, driving the coupled behavior of three geomagnetic indices (Dst, AL, and AU). As opposed to minimizing a prediction error, the method is based on degrading the prediction by distorting the inputs of the trained Neural Networks in order to highlight the most sensible drivers. We show that the z component of the magnetic field, the duskward oriented electric field, and the speed of the particles of the interplanetary medium, at particular time delays, seem to be the most efficient drivers of the three coupled geomagnetic indices. Using only the sensible or robust drivers in the model, we demonstrate that iterated predictions during geomagnetic storm are significantly improved from models that only use one of the outstanding drivers with multiple time delays. The derived robust nonlinear Neural Network model is also a significant improvement over linear approximations, specially when used as iterated predictors.
Declining Sediment Discharge in the Yangtze River From 1956 to 2017: Spatial and Temporal Changes and Their Causes
Authors: Tian Q. , Xu K. H. , Dong C. M. , Yang S. L. , He Y. J. , Shi B. W.
Published: April 2021

A sharp decline in the Sediment load at the seaward most Datong station (DTS) of the Yangtze River occurred at an average rate of 7.22 × 106 t/yr since 1956, and this drop had a staircase pattern that can be divided into five distinct periods (1956–1968, 1969–1991, 1992–2002, 2003–2012, and 2013–2017). In this study, a new holistic basin‐wide Sediment Budget Method (SBM) was developed using sediment data from a total of 74 gauging stations (arguably the largest datasets so far) to estimate the sediment contributions to DTS from tributaries and mainstream. Our results show that the Jinsha River in upper basin between Panzhihua and Xiangjiaba used to be one of the largest contributors to DTS in 1956–2002 (16%–33%), but its contribution decreased sharply after 2003 due to the impoundment of Three Gorges Dam (TGD) and decreased further to nearly nil in 2013–2017 due to the impoundment of new cascade dams (CDs) which were upstream of TGD. In contrast, the mainstream between Yichang and Datong contributed 50%–64% of the DTS in 2003–2017, owing to the active channel erosion downstream of TGD. Before 2003 about 66%–84% of the DTS was contributed by the upper reach, but 72%–91% of the DTS was from the middle‐lower reaches after 2003, reflecting a drastic shift in sediment suppliers from upper to middle‐lower reaches. On average, the drop of DTS was 128.37 × 106 t/yr due to TGD impoundment in 2003–2012 and 27.28 × 106 t/yr due to CDs impoundment in 2013–2017 because of the reservoir trapping and the inhibition of historically eroding channels in the reservoir area. This new SBM can be applied to other large and small rivers around the world to track sediment sources/sinks and provide valuable results for sediment resource management.
Blanket Peat Restoration: Numerical Study of the Underlying Processes Delivering Natural Flood Management Benefits
Authors: Goudarzi Salim , Milledge David G. , Holden Joseph , Evans Martin G. , Allott Timothy E. H. , Shuttleworth Emma L. , Pilkington Michael , Walker Jonathan
Published: April 2021

Restoration of eroded blanket peatlands through revegetation and gully blocking is observed to also deliver significant natural flood management (NFM) benefits (reduce and delay floodpeaks). But there is a lack of clear understanding regarding how different catchment processes interact/counteract under each intervention scenario. We seek to provide more insight by rigorously calibrating TOPMODEL rainfall‐runoff model to different experimental catchments each representing an intervention scenario. Through numerical experimentation with the calibrated parameters, we estimate the impact‐magnitude of different processes. Our findings confirm the NFM benefits of these restoration‐focused interventions. In both interventions and in our largest storms, both the delay and reduced floodpeaks are primarily due to surface roughness reducing the floodwave speed thus thickening the overland flow; we conceptualize this as an increase in a “kinematic storage.” Impact of gully blocking in increasing kinematic storage is very significant and comparable to that of revegetation alone. Interventions' impact on “static storage” (interception + ponding + evapotranspiration) becomes important for smaller storms. Although interventions always increase lag times, they can be less effective in reducing peak magnitude when maximum rainfall intensity is sustained for durations longer than mean catchment delay. We propose two approaches to further increase catchment's static and kinematic storage. Finally, while our field‐scale numerical study contributes to the evidence‐base for NFM's effectiveness, it also provides a basis for modeling these interventions in the future. Such catchment‐scale numerical studies are necessary to extend our findings to spatial scales where flooding can cause socioeconomic damage, and to provide a tool for optimizing the distributed configuration of these interventions.
Tackling Challenges of a Drier, Hotter, More Fire-Prone Future
Authors: Fu Rong , Hoell Andrew , Mankin Justin , Sheffield Amanda , Simpson Isla
Published: April 2021

Research is increasingly showing how drought, heat, and wildfire influence each other. Ongoing collaborations provide templates for how best to study these phenomena and plan for their future impacts.
Late Oligocene Precipitation Seasonality in East Asia Based on δ13C Profiles in Fossil Wood
Authors: Vornlocher J. R. , Lukens W. E. , Schubert B. A. , Quan C.
Published: April 2021

The onset, characteristics, and drivers of paleo‐monsoon conditions in East Asia remain a topic of heated debate. Records from the Eocene suggest pronounced rainfall seasonality consistent with monsoon rainfall across China, likely driven by migrations of the Inter‐Tropical Convergence Zone. Model simulations indicate that modern‐like monsoon circulation of China was established by the early Miocene at the latest, but uncertainty remains due to a paucity of proxy records from the Oligocene. Here, we provide the first annually resolved, quantitative estimates of seasonal precipitation from East Asia during the Oligocene, based upon intra‐annual variation in carbon isotopes across growth rings of exquisitely preserved fossil wood from southern China. We find a clear pattern of consistent, summer‐dominated precipitation with ∼4.5 times more precipitation in summer (Ps) than winter (Pw). Seasonal precipitation estimates were calculated using Monte Carlo resampling, resulting in median Ps = 1,042 (95% C.I. = 628–1,517) and Pw = 235 (95% C.I. = 50–578), which are indistinguishable from the instrument record at a nearby weather station, where Ps = 977 (95% C.I. = 662–1,434) and Pw = 292 (95% C.I. = 165–515), and from proxy application on two modern trees near the fossil site, where Ps = 1,058 (95% C.I. = 617–1,558) and Pw = 188 (95% C.I. = 31–583). These data demonstrate that by the late Oligocene, precipitation patterns in East Asia had similar strength and seasonality to modern conditions, which suggests the presence of an East Asian Monsoon‐style system prior to the Neogene.
Flexible high-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries using nanocarbon-embedded fibrous sulfur cathodes and membrane separators
Authors: Park Jun-Woo , Jo Seong-Chan , Kim Min-Ju , Choi Ik-Hyeon , Kim Byung Gon , Lee You-Jin , Choi Hae-Young , Kang Sung , Kim TaeYoung , Baeg Kang-Jun
Published: April 2021

To obtain soft electronics, it is essential to develop high-performance and mechanically flexible energy storage at the industry level. Herein, we report flexible high-energy-density lithium-sulfur (Li–S) batteries based on all-fibrous sulfur cathodes and separators. To implement free-standing and flexible sulfur cathodes, electrically conductive single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are impregnated with cellulose nanofibers. This fibrous structure forms a 3D porous electrode with a large surface area to improve redox kinetics and achieve a high sulfur loading content without the use of a metal collector, which can then be applied in high-energy-density batteries. These flexible sulfur cathodes are combined with a commercial glass fiber separator coated with a CNT layer through a cost-effective solution process to suppress the shuttle effects of lithium–polysulfide, thereby exhibiting robust cycling stability. The prepared Li–S batteries exhibit high capacities of 940 mAh g−1 at a charge current density of 1.57 mA cm−2 and at 25 °C, and the Coulombic efficiency exceeds 90% even after 50 charge/discharge cycles. Moreover, Li-S batteries with a high gravimetric energy density of 443 Wh kg−1 per cell is achieved, and these batteries demonstrate excellent reliability in regard to electrochemical performance even under severe mechanical stress conditions for over 100 cycles.
Testing short distance anisotropy in space
Authors: Mann Robert B. , Husin Idrus , Patel Hrishikesh , Faizal Mir , Sulaksono Anto , Suroso Agus
Published: April 2021

The isotropy of space is not a logical requirement but rather is an empirical question; indeed there is suggestive evidence that universe might be anisotropic. A plausible source of these anisotropies could be quantum gravity corrections. If these corrections happen to be between the electroweak scale and the Planck scale, then these anisotropies can have measurable consequences at short distances and their effects can be measured using ultra sensitive condensed matter systems. We investigate how such anisotropic quantum gravity corrections modify low energy physics through an anisotropic deformation of the Heisenberg algebra. We discuss how such anisotropies might be observed using a scanning tunnelling microscope.
Supercritical-CO2 extraction, identification and quantification of polyprenol as a bioactive ingredient from Irish trees species
Authors: Alaydi Hadil , Downey Peter , McKeon-Bennett Michelle , Beletskaya Tanya
Published: April 2021

This study ascertained the accumulation of polyprenol from four Irish conifer species Picea sitchensis, Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’, Pinus sylvestris and Taxus baccata and one flowering tree Cotoneaster hybrida using supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE-CO2) and solvent extraction. The effects of SFE-CO2 parameters such as temperature (ranged from 40 to 70 $$^\circ{\rm C}$$

∘

C

), pressure (ranged from 100 to 350 bars) and dynamic time (from 70 min to 7 h) were analysed on the extraction efficiency of polyprenol. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of polyprenol was examined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results showed that P. sylvestris accumulated the highest polyprenol yield of 14.00  ± $$0.4$$

0.4

mg g−1 DW when extracted with hexane:acetone (1:1 v/v). However, with SFE-CO2 conditions of 200 bars, 70 $$^\circ{\rm C}$$

∘

C

, 7 h, with absolute ethanol as a cosolvent with a flow rate of 0.05 ml min−1, P. sitchensis accumulated the highest polyprenol yield of 6.35 ± $$0.4$$

0.4

mg g−1DW. This study emphasised the potential application of SFE-CO2 in the extraction of polyprenol as an environmentally friendly method to be used in pharmaceutical and food industries.
Time-resolved nanosecond optical pyrometry of the vapor to plasma transitions in exploding bridgewires
Authors: Feagin T. A. , Heatwole E. M. , Rae P. J. , Rettinger R. C. , Parker G. R.
Published: April 2021

Electrically exploded wires find uses throughout high-energy physics. For example, they are commonly used as high-temperature sources, X-ray generators, and in precision timing detonators. However, the detailed and complete physics that occurs is complex and still poorly understood. A full mechanistic description of these complex phenomena is beyond the scope of a single paper. Instead, we focus on the formation of metal vapor and its transition to plasma. This single transition is commonly assumed to comprise “bridge-burst”. We use a suite of diagnostics including a novel, fiber-based, high-speed, optical pyrometer to better characterize this transition. The primary finding from this project is that peak light output from an exploding wire does not temporally match the peak temperature. Additionally, it is found that peak light does not align with peak bridge-burst voltage and that the peak temperature is not voltage-dependent. These findings are non-intuitive and will allow for the correction of false assumptions previously made about this topic.
Ferric carboxymaltose vs. ferrous sulfate for the treatment of anemia in advanced chronic kidney disease: an observational retrospective study and cost analysis
Authors: Cirillo Luigi , Somma Chiara , Allinovi Marco , Bagalà Alfredo , Ferro Giuseppe , Di Marcantonio Elio , Bellelli Stefania , Dallari Lorenzo Antonio , Ballo Piercarlo , Dattolo Pietro Claudio
Published: April 2021

In non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD), erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron supplementation are essential for anemia management. Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is a relatively novel intravenous iron formulation used in different clinical settings, although scarce data exist in NDD-CKD patients. Primary objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of FCM compared with oral ferrous sulfate for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in a cohort of NDD-CKD patients, considering also the treatment costs. This was a monocentric, retrospective observational study reviewing 349 NDD-CKD patients attending an outpatient clinic between June 2013 and December 2016. Patients were treated by either FCM intravenous infusion or oral ferrous sulfate. We collected serum values of hemoglobin, ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) and ESAs doses at 12 and 18 months. The costs related to both treatments were also analysed. 239 patients were treated with FCM intravenous infusion and 110 patients with oral ferrous sulfate. The two groups were not statistically different for age, BMI and eGFR values. At 18 months, hemoglobin, serum ferritin and TSAT values increased significantly from baseline in the FCM group, compared with the ferrous sulfate group. ESAs dose and rate of infusion decreased only in the FCM group. At 18 months, the treatment costs, analysed per week, was higher in the ferrous sulfate group, compared with the FCM group, and this was mostly due to a reduction in ESAs prescription in the FCM group. Routine intravenous FCM treatment in an outpatient clinic of NDD-CKD patients results in better correction of iron-deficiency anemia when compared to ferrous sulfate. In addition to this, treating NDD-CKD patients with FCM leads to a significant reduction of the treatment costs by reducing ESAs use.
Vitamin D receptor upregulates lncRNA TOPORS-AS1 which inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and associates with favorable prognosis of ovarian cancer
Authors: Fu Yuanyuan , Katsaros Dionyssios , Biglia Nicoletta , Wang Zhanwei , Pagano Ian , Tius Marcus , Tiirikainen Maarit , Rosser Charles , Yang Haining , Yu Herbert
Published: April 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important biological functions, but their involvement in ovarian cancer remains elusive. We analyzed high-throughput data to identify lncRNAs associated with ovarian cancer outcomes. Our search led to the discovery of lncRNA TOPORS Antisense RNA 1 (TOPORS-AS1). Patients with high TOPORS-AS1 expression had favorable overall survival compared to low expression. This association was replicated in our study and confirmed by meta-analysis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpressing TOPORS-AS1 in ovarian cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation and inhibited aggressive cell behaviors, including migration, invasion, and colony formation. Analysis of tumor cell transcriptomes indicated TOPORS-AS1′s influence on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Additional experiments revealed that TOPORS-AS1 increased the phosphorylation of β-catenin and suppressed the expression of CTNNB1, disrupting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our experiments further discovered that vitamin D receptor (VDR) upregulated TOPORS-AS1 expression and that inhibition of β-catenin by TOPORS-AS1 required a RNA binding protein, hnRNPA2B1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1). Taken together, these findings suggest that TOPORS-AS1 may behave like a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer through interrupting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and that VDR upregulates the expression of TOPORS-AS1. Assessing TOPORS-AS1 expression in ovarian cancer may help predict disease prognosis and develop treatment strategy
Exogenous 5-azaCitidine accelerates flowering and external GA3 increases ornamental value in Iranian Anemone accessions
Authors: Yari Vahideh , Roein Zeynab , Sabouri Atefeh
Published: April 2021

The Anemone genus is a tuberous geophyte which undergoes a dormancy period during unfavorable environmental conditions for growth. Five species of the Anemone genus naturally grow in several regions of Iran. The diverse uses of Anemone in gardens for landscaping, cut flowers, and potted plants indicate its high ornamental potential. Its dormancy and flowering are influenced by various factors. The present paper was conducted to explore the flowering behavior of Anemone accessions in response to different pre-treatments. For this purpose, tubers of 18 Anemone accessions (A. coronaria and A. biflora) were collected from natural regions of six provinces in Iran. These tubers were subjected to different conditions of non-chilling (20 °C, 90 days), chilling (4 °C, 90 days), GA3 (150 mgL-1; 24 h), and 5-azaCitidine (5-azaC; 40 µM; 24 h) prior to the cultivation. Most of the accessions were able to enter the flowering stage without chilling. The shortest period for the sprouting of tubers (16.89 ± 7.83 days) belonged to 5-azaC pre-treatment. In addition, this treatment accelerated the flowering time (about 30 days earlier) and diameter of the stem, bud, and flower. Morphological characteristics, such as stem height, number of leaves, bud, and petal and the longevity of flowers on the plant were significantly affected by GA3 pre-treatment. Our results indicated a positive correlation between flower length, stem height, and stem diameter with flower longevity under different pre-treatment conditions. The present study demonstrated that accessions Anm3, Anm12, and Anm18 had ornamental values higher than the population mean across four conditions.
Association of sonic hedgehog signaling pathway genes IHH, BOC, RAB23a and MIR195-5p, MIR509-3-5p, MIR6738-3p with gastric cancer stage
Authors: Fattahi Sadegh , Nikbakhsh Novin , Ranaei Mohammad , Sabour Davood , Akhavan-Niaki Haleh
Published: April 2021

Gastric cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Given the importance of gastric cancer in public health, identifying biomarkers associated with disease onset is an important part of precision medicine. The hedgehog signaling pathway is considered as one of the most significant widespread pathways of intracellular signaling in the early events of embryonic development. This pathway contributes also to the maintenance of pluripotency of cancer stem cells pluripotency. In this study, we analyzed the expression levels of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway genes IHH, BOC, RAB23a and their regulatory miRNAs including MIR-195-5p, MIR-509-3-5p, MIR-6738-3p in gastric cancer patients. In addition, the impact of infection status on the expression level of those genes and their regulatory miRNAs was investigated. One hundred samples taken from 50 gastric cancer patients (50 tumoral tissues and their adjacent non-tumoral counterparts) were included in this study. There was a significant difference in all studied genes and miRNAs in tumoral tissues in comparison with their adjacent non-tumoral counterparts. The lower expression of IHH, BOC, RAB23, miR-195-5p, and miR-6738-3p was significantly associated with more advanced cancer stage. Additionally, IHH upregulation was significantly associated with CMV infection (P < 0.001). Also, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that mir-195 was significantly related to several clinicopathological features including tumor stage, grade, age, gender, and infection status of gastric cancer and can be considered as a potential diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer. This study confirms the important role of Shh signaling pathway genes in gastric cancer tumorigenesis and their potential as novel molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets.