bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectrophotometrical purity and stability testing of a photosensitizer based on an indotricarbocyanine dye
Authors: Belko Nikita V. , Samtsov Michael P. , Tarasau Dzmitry S.
Published: April 2021

The express method for testing purity and stability of an indotricarbocyanine dye based photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy was developed. Storage of the hydrophilic photosensitizer under unfavorable conditions resulted in contamination with a hydrophobic dye. The absorption spectrum of the hydrophobic dye was characterized by a new band at 514 nm that was absent in the absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. There was no spectral overlap between this absorption band and the absorbance of the photosensitizer. Therefore, presence of the band at 514 nm allowed us to detect contamination of the photosensitizer substance with the hydrophobic dye. It was established that the optimal photosensitizer concentration for purity testing is ca. 0.8 mmol/L, when as little as 0.6 wt. % of the impurity can be detected. The developed method is not time consuming and requires accessible equipment only. Data obtained with this method was verified with the aid of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Physico-chemical and electro-optical properties of liquid crystals doped with chemically modified nanocline minerals
Authors: Lapanik Valeri I. , Lugovsky Anatoly P. , Timofeev Sergei N.
Published: April 2021

The object of study is nematic and smectic (ferroelectric) liquid crystals containing chemically modified nanoclay based on montmorillonite. The aim of the work is to develop new composite materials with improved physico-chemical and electro-optical properties. During the study, chemical methods were developed for modification of the surface of nanoclay; the mesomorphic, dielectric, and electro-optical properties of nematic and ferroelectric compositions doped with a nanoclay with a modified surface are studied. On the basis of experimental data, the regularities of the influence of functional groups grafted onto the surface of nanoclay on the mesomorphic, dielectric and electro-optical properties of nematic and ferroelectric compositions are established. It has been shown experimentally that the addition of a small amount of nanoclay to a nematic and ferroelectric liquid crystal material can significantly improve the electro-optical response time and reduce the threshold and saturation voltage values. For ferroelectric liquid crystals, the addition of nanoclay leads to an increase in the tilt angle in the layer and an increase in spontaneous polarization.
Regimes of substrates processing and deposition nanofilms using the laser-plasma method
Authors: Goncharov Victor K. , Puzyrev Michail V. , Prakapenia Dzmitry P. , Shulhan Nikita I. , Stupakevich Valery Yu.
Published: April 2021

The physical processes occurring in a laser-plasma source is used for deposition nanostructures. The laser-plasma source is an erosion laser plume of the target material and a substrate located in a vacuum chamber. It has been proposed to place a grid between the laser target and the substrate. A negative potential is applied to the grid relative to the laser target to smoothly adjust the parameters of the particles deposited on the substrate. As a result, a particles flow is formed after a grid. This particle flow is predominantly consisting of ions. The energy of the ions can be reliably and smoothly controlled by applying a positive potential to the grid relative to the substrate. It has been experimentally proved method for deposition of nanofilms using ion beams from the laser plasma. It has been shown that different regimes of substrate surface treatment can be implemented in the laser-plasma source for deposition nanostructures. Using this source, you can sequentially clean the surface of the substrate without depressurizing the vacuum chamber, and create a pseudodiffusion layer of the laser target material near the surface layer of the substrate. It will allow producing it possible to obtain highly adhesive nanofilms with predetermined parameters.
Алгоритм обнаружения дыма лесного пожара на видеоизображении
Authors: Bohush Rykhard P. , Ablameyko Sergey V.
Published: April 2021

Предлагается алгоритм обнаружения дыма лесного пожара на видеопоследовательностях, формируемых стационарными камерами наблюдения. На первом этапе улучшается контраст кадров. Затем на основе анализа динамических и статических признаков выполняется обнаружение областей с медленной скоростью движения на видео. Для этого используются адаптивное вычитание фона и цветовая сегментация. На третьем шаге осуществляется пространственно-временной анализ блоков малых размеров, которые формируются для сегментированных на предыдущем шаге областей. Для этого создаются наборы признаков на основе дескрипторов ковариации, а для дальнейшей классификации используется метод опорных векторов с радиальной базисной функцией ядра. Представлены результаты экспериментов на реальных видеопоследовательностях, подтверждающие эффективность применения алгоритма для раннего обнаружения возгораний в лесу.
Value transformation of modern Belarusian society (as results of sociological research)
Authors: Lashuk Iryna V.
Published: April 2021

The article presents the results of the study of the structure of the basic values of the Belarusian society using the method of constructing functional-oriented clusters of basic values by N. I. Lapin. The values that ensure the integration of the population of Belarus as a whole, as well as mediate the inclusion of the individual in the life-supporting, power-political and socio-cultural structures of society, were identified. The analysis of the degree of respondents’ support for basic values, grouped on additional grounds: according to their belonging to terminal (values-goals) or instrumental (values-means) values, and in accordance with cultural types of values (traditional, modern, universal values). It is revealed that the stable integrating core of the basic values of the Belarusian society are the values of human life and order. The recognition of the value and inviolability of human life occupies a dominant position in the hierarchy of basic values of Belarusians. The high level of support for the value of order indicates the great importance for the Belarusian society of stability and the organisation of social relations based on compliance with established laws and norms. However, the means of achievement have changed due to the increased importance of moral choice, which is expressed in the ability to help other people in need, even to the detriment of themselves, and the instrumental value of power, which is manifested in the desire to influence other people. A comparative analysis by year shows that in 2020 there was a serious increase in the importance of the universal group of values due to the decline in the demand for traditional and modern values. As in 2017, terminal values are more significant than instrumental values. Among the values-goals, the greatest support of the population in 2020 is human life, order and freedom; among the values-means – sacrifice and power. In order to study the variability of the value structure, a comparative study of the basic values of different age groups of the population was carried out. The intergenerational axiological analysis showed that in all age groups the integrating components are human life and order. At the same time, in the youth cohort, svoboda also entered the integrating core.
Interaction of Parenting Style of Mothers and Paediatric Diabetes Management
Authors: Žilinskienė Jolanta , Šumskas Linas , Antinienė Dalia , Jonynienė Jolita
Published: April 2021

Background. Parent-child relationship and parenting style are very important for the child’s mental and physical health. This study was focused on investigating the association between mothers’ parenting style (PS) and their children’s with type I diabetes (T1DM) disease management. We hypothesized that mothers’ PS interact with their children’s T1DM outcomes.
Methods. One hundred thirty-one mothers, the main caregivers of their diabetic children, filled in the parenting style and demographic questionnaires. The indicator of diabetes management was Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) – the main form of glycosylated haemoglobin. PS scales and subscales were associated with glycaemic management indices. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied for the assessment of the association between mothers’ PS and their children’s with T1DM disease management.
Results. While logistic regression analysis did not demonstrate statistically significant interaction of T1DM management and mothers’ PS scales and subscales, cluster analysis showed that in the confrontation with T1DM, the relationships between children and parents were dominated by negative elements of PS: lack of emotional warmth, support, reasoning and especially democratic participation.
Conclusion. Children’s T1DM management and their mothers’ PS scales and subscales did not demonstrate statistically significant interaction. PS negative elements dominate in mothers’ upbringing: lack of emotional warmth, support, reasoning and especially democratic participation.
Keywords: type 1 diabetes, parenting skills, parenting style, diabetes management.
The Role of Gestures and Mimics in Conveying Affirmation Concept
Authors: Ismaiylly T.
Published: April 2021

The research object and the purpose of this article is the gestures, various body movements, the position of facial expressions that have a role in the delivery of our affirmative thoughts. The concept of affirmation is a complex process associated with reviving the images of “completeness”, “existence”, “being”, and “nearness” in our brains. Asking others for their opinions, evaluate the success of others, use sincere facial expressions and gestures, sympathize others’ problems, and so on are examples of micro-affirmations. Affirmation, which is primarily a semantic category, has a close relation with Psychology and Philosophy. Communication is not just a matter of words. Symbols play an important role in communication. Non-verbal communication contains 60/80 percent of the secret information of the thought process. Gestures are movements of the head and other parts of the body (lips, eyebrows, eyelashes, nose) that reflect different emotions. Gestures were created by different peoples at different times. People use signs and symbols which describe the places and things they want do explain during communication. People increase the effect of what they say by adding different meanings to their speech through body language. Without the use of gestures, body movements, speech is understood as simple, emotionally draining and boring. In this case, the listener will not feel the effect of what is emphasized, because he will not receive any stimuli. Body language is considered the most important aspect of communication because it sends a signal of how we actually feel. In all cultures, however, there are common gestures, including the gestures used to convey the concept of affirmation. But gestures are culturally based, so awareness of their different meanings in different countries provide us with strong communication.
Formation of Organizational Abilities in High Schol Students as a Requirement of New Pedagogical Thinking
Authors: Gasimova H.
Published: April 2021

In order to gain an active position in society in the new pedagogical thinking, an individual must have a number of qualities, skills and abilities. It is important to be enterprising, independent and active. Of course, at the same time he must have organizational skills. Students who acquire basic organizational skills in childhood, and then develop these skills in secondary schools and universities and turn them into organizational abilities, will play an important role in society in the future, will successfully lead departments and enterprises, teams. The article considers the formation of organizational skills in high school students as a requirement of new pedagogical thinking.
THE ROLE OF CINEMATOGRAPHY IN FORMATION PROCESS OF THE IMAGE HISTORICAL FIGURE AS NATIONAL HERO ON THE EXAMPLE OF WINSTON CHURCHILL’S PERSONALITY
Authors:   National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation, YUTSCHENKO OLGA , GAMALEEVA YULIA
Published: April 2021

The purpose of research. The article deals with the general tendencies of the formation process of a historical figure as a national hero in media space. Winston Churchill’s cinematography imagery is analyzed and the features of interpretation of his role in history are defined. The purpose of research is determination of specificities in the formation process of imagery’s historical figure as national hero in cinematography. Results. Nowadays the way of representing historical space through the media sphere is one of the most popular for auditory and at the same time, it represents the new vision of the historical past. The tendency of connecting historical past and historical figure together drifts the angle from the whole epoch to «historical faces». That's the reason why historical epochs are translated through imagery of figures from the past. In this case historical space is gradually tapered to the person’s story and becomes more individual.
THE LOCARNO SYSTEM: DECLINE AND BRITISH ATTEMPTS AT MODIFICATION, 1935-1937 (THROUGH THE LENS OF IVAN MAISKY’S "DIPLOMAT’S DIARY")
Authors:   National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation, KHAKHALKINA ELENA , TROITSKIY EVGENY
Published: April 2021

The Diary of Ivan Maisky, a diplomat, Soviet Envoy (later Ambassador) to the United Kingdom from 1932 to 1943 is one of the valuable sources on the interwar history of international relations and WWII. Maisky never saw his diaries returned to him after they had been confiscated at the time of his arrest in 1953. It was declassified by the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation and published in 2006-2009 with the commentaries of Russian scholars. The analysis of the Diary which contains unique details about Soviet-British relations casts new light on the roles of Great Britain and the USSR in the pre-war international crises and allows for a re-evaluation of the two powers’ efforts aimed at preventing or delaying the war. When the Diary is juxtaposed with the declassified British archive materials, the degree to which the British officials trusted the Soviet Envoy/Ambassador as well as the level of his awareness of the undercurrents of British politics become clearer. The authors argue that the Versailles System had failed by the mid-1920s and was replaced by the Locarno System based on the guarantees of Germany’s western borders. In the mid-1930s the Locarno System was in disarray despite British efforts to save it through concessions and the appeasement policy. The «Diplomat’s Diary» shows a struggle within the British elite between the supporters and the opponents of the appeasement policy linked with the search for a new configuration of the European system of security.
Towards a Platform for Robot-Assisted Minimally-Supervised Therapy of Hand Function: Design and Pilot Usability Evaluation
Authors: Ranzani Raffaele , Eicher Lucas , Viggiano Federica , Engelbrecht Bernadette , Held Jeremia P. O. , Lambercy Olivier , Gassert Roger
Published: April 2021

Background

Robot-assisted therapy can increase therapy dose after stroke, which is often considered insufficient in clinical practice and after discharge, especially with respect to hand function. Thus far, there has been a focus on rather complex systems that require therapist supervision. To better exploit the potential of robot-assisted therapy, we propose a platform designed for minimal therapist supervision, and present the preliminary evaluation of its immediate usability, one of the main and frequently neglected challenges for real-world application. Such an approach could help increase therapy dose by allowing the training of multiple patients in parallel by a single therapist, as well as independent training in the clinic or at home.

Methods

We implemented design changes on a hand rehabilitation robot, considering aspects relevant to enabling minimally-supervised therapy, such as new physical/graphical user interfaces and two functional therapy exercises to train hand motor coordination, somatosensation and memory. Ten participants with chronic stroke assessed the usability of the platform and reported the perceived workload during a single therapy session with minimal supervision. The ability to independently use the platform was evaluated with a checklist.

Results

Participants were able to independently perform the therapy session after a short familiarization period, requiring assistance in only 13.46 (7.69–19.23)% of the tasks. They assigned good-to-excellent scores on the System Usability Scale to the user-interface and the exercises [85.00 (75.63–86.88) and 73.75 (63.13–83.75) out of 100, respectively]. Nine participants stated that they would use the platform frequently. Perceived workloads lay within desired workload bands. Object grasping with simultaneous control of forearm pronosupination and stiffness discrimination were identified as the most difficult tasks.

Discussion

Our findings demonstrate that a robot-assisted therapy device can be rendered safely and intuitively usable upon first exposure with minimal supervision through compliance with usability and perceived workload requirements. The preliminary usability evaluation identified usability challenges that should be solved to allow real-world minimally-supervised use. Such a platform could complement conventional therapy, allowing to provide increased dose with the available resources, and establish a continuum of care that progressively increases therapy lead of the patient from the clinic to the home.
The Injury Mechanism of Traumatic Amputation
Authors: Rankin Iain A. , Nguyen Thuy-Tien , McMenemy Louise , Clasper Jonathan C. , Masouros Spyros D.
Published: April 2021

Traumatic amputation has been one of the most defining injuries associated with explosive devices. An understanding of the mechanism of injury is essential in order to reduce its incidence and devastating consequences to the individual and their support network. In this study, traumatic amputation is reproduced using high-velocity environmental debris in an animal cadaveric model. The study findings are combined with previous work to describe fully the mechanism of injury as follows. The shock wave impacts with the casualty, followed by energised projectiles (environmental debris or fragmentation) carried by the blast. These cause skin and soft tissue injury, followed by skeletal trauma which compounds to produce segmental and multifragmental fractures. A critical injury point is reached, whereby the underlying integrity of both skeletal and soft tissues of the limb has been compromised. The blast wind that follows these energised projectiles completes the amputation at the level of the disruption, and traumatic amputation occurs. These findings produce a shift in the understanding of traumatic amputation due to blast from a mechanism predominately thought mediated by primary and tertiary blast, to now include secondary blast mechanisms, and inform change for mitigative strategies.
Application of Immune Infiltration Signature and Machine Learning Model in the Differential Diagnosis and Prognosis of Bone-Related Malignancies
Authors: Li Guo-Qi , Wang Yi-Kai , Zhou Hao , Jin Lin-Guang , Wang Chun-Yu , Albahde Mugahed , Wu Yan , Li Heng-Yuan , Zhang Wen-Kan , Li Bing-Hao , Ye Zhao-Ming
Published: April 2021

Bone-related malignancies, such as osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, multiple myeloma, and cancer bone metastases have similar histological context, but they are distinct in origin and biological behavior. We hypothesize that a distinct immune infiltrative microenvironment exists in these four most common malignant bone-associated tumors and can be used for tumor diagnosis and patient prognosis. After sample cleaning, data integration, and batch effect removal, we used 22 publicly available datasets to draw out the tumor immune microenvironment using the ssGSEA algorithm. The diagnostic model was developed using the random forest. Further statistical analysis of the immune microenvironment and clinical data of patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma was carried out. The results suggested significant differences in the microenvironment of bone-related tumors, and the diagnostic accuracy of the model was higher than 97%. Also, high infiltration of multiple immune cells in Ewing’s sarcoma was suggestive of poor patient prognosis. Meanwhile, increased infiltration of macrophages and B cells suggested a better prognosis for patients with osteosarcoma, and effector memory CD8 T cells and type 2 T helper cells correlated with patients’ chemotherapy responsiveness and tumor metastasis. Our study revealed that the random forest diagnostic model based on immune infiltration can accurately perform the differential diagnosis of bone-related malignancies. The immune microenvironment of osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma has an important impact on patient prognosis. Suppressing the highly inflammatory environment of Ewing’s sarcoma and promoting macrophage and B cell infiltration may have good potential to be a novel adjuvant treatment option for osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma.
SCRIB Promotes Proliferation and Metastasis by Targeting Hippo/YAP Signalling in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Shen Hengyang , Huang Changzhi , Wu Jingyu , Li Jie , Hu Tao , Wang Zhenling , Zhang Hongqiang , Shao Yu , Fu Zan
Published: April 2021

The complex in which scribble planar cell polarity protein (SCRIB) is located is one of the three main polar protein complexes that play an important role in maintaining epithelial polarity and affecting tumour growth. However, the role of SCRIB in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely unknown. This study used date from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and clinical samples to determine the expression of SCRIB in CRC and explored its mechanism through bioinformatics analysis and in vivo and in vitro experiments. In this study, SCRIB was found to be highly expressed in CRC patients, and it was often associated with malignant characteristics, such as proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, we found that SCRIB may interact with the Hippo signalling pathway and affect the phosphorylation of YAP and its distribution inside and outside of the nucleus. We concluded that increased expression of SCRIB is likely to inhibit the Hippo signalling pathway by promoting YAP phosphorylation. This role of SCRIB in the progression of CRC provides an important information for the treatment of CRC.
Autophagy in Hepatic Steatosis: A Structured Review
Authors: Ramos Vitor de Miranda , Kowaltowski Alicia J. , Kakimoto Pamela A.
Published: April 2021

Steatosis is the accumulation of neutral lipids in the cytoplasm. In the liver, it is associated with overeating and a sedentary lifestyle, but may also be a result of xenobiotic toxicity and genetics. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) defines an array of liver conditions varying from simple steatosis to inflammation and fibrosis. Over the last years, autophagic processes have been shown to be directly associated with the development and progression of these conditions. However, the precise role of autophagy in steatosis development is still unclear. Specifically, autophagy is necessary for the regulation of basic metabolism in hepatocytes, such as glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, response to insulin and glucagon signaling, and cellular responses to free amino acid contents. Also, genetic knockout models for autophagy-related proteins suggest a critical relationship between autophagy and hepatic lipid metabolism, but some results are still ambiguous. While autophagy may seem necessary to support lipid oxidation in some contexts, other evidence suggests that autophagic activity can lead to lipid accumulation instead. This structured literature review aims to critically discuss, compare, and organize results over the last 10 years regarding rodent steatosis models that measured several autophagy markers, with genetic and pharmacological interventions that may help elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved.
The Gut-Brain-Microbiome Axis and Its Link to Autism: Emerging Insights and the Potential of Zebrafish Models
Authors: James David M. , Davidson Elizabeth A. , Yanes Julio , Moshiree Baharak , Dallman Julia E.
Published: April 2021

Research involving autism spectrum disorder (ASD) most frequently focuses on its key diagnostic criteria: restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, altered sensory perception, and communication impairments. These core criteria, however, are often accompanied by numerous comorbidities, many of which result in severe negative impacts on quality of life, including seizures, epilepsy, sleep disturbance, hypotonia, and GI distress. While ASD is a clinically heterogeneous disorder, gastrointestinal (GI) distress is among the most prevalent co-occurring symptom complex, manifesting in upward of 70% of all individuals with ASD. Consistent with this high prevalence, over a dozen family foundations that represent genetically distinct, molecularly defined forms of ASD have identified GI symptoms as an understudied area with significant negative impacts on quality of life for both individuals and their caregivers. Moreover, GI symptoms are also correlated with more pronounced irritability, social withdrawal, stereotypy, hyperactivity, and sleep disturbances, suggesting that they may exacerbate the defining behavioral symptoms of ASD. Despite these facts (and to the detriment of the community), GI distress remains largely unaddressed by ASD research and is frequently regarded as a symptomatic outcome rather than a potential contributory factor to the behavioral symptoms. Allowing for examination of both ASD’s impact on the central nervous system (CNS) as well as its impact on the GI tract and the associated microbiome, the zebrafish has recently emerged as a powerful tool to study ASD. This is in no small part due to the advantages zebrafish present as a model system: their precocious development, their small transparent larval form, and their parallels with humans in genetics and physiology. While ASD research centered on the CNS has leveraged these advantages, there has been a critical lack of GI-centric ASD research in zebrafish models, making a holistic view of the gut-brain-microbiome axis incomplete. Similarly, high-throughput ASD drug screens have recently been developed but primarily focus on CNS and behavioral impacts while potential GI impacts have not been investigated. In this review, we aim to explore the great promise of the zebrafish model for elucidating the roles of the gut-brain-microbiome axis in ASD.
Novel Approaches in Cardiac Imaging for Non-invasive Assessment of Left Heart Myocardial Fibrosis
Authors: Mandoli Giulia Elena , D'Ascenzi Flavio , Vinco Giulia , Benfari Giovanni , Ricci Fabrizio , Focardi Marta , Cavigli Luna , Pastore Maria Concetta , Sisti Nicolò , De Vivo Oreste , Santoro Ciro , Mondillo Sergio , Cameli Matteo
Published: April 2021

In the past, the identification of myocardial fibrosis was only possible through invasive histologic assessment. Although endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard, recent advances in cardiac imaging techniques have enabled non-invasive tissue characterization of the myocardium, which has also provided valuable insights into specific disease processes. The diagnostic accuracy, incremental yield and prognostic value of speckle tracking echocardiography, late gadolinium enhancement and parametric mapping modules by cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac computed tomography have been validated against tissue samples and tested in broad patient populations, overall providing relevant clinical information to the cardiologist. This review describes the patterns of left ventricular and left atrial fibrosis, and their characterization by advanced echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac computed tomography, allowing for clinical applications in sudden cardiac death and management of atrial fibrillation.
Magnetic Properties of a Holocene Sediment Core from the Yeongsan Estuary, Southwest Korea: Implications for Diagenetic Effects and Availability as Paleoenvironmental Proxies
Authors: Ahn Hyeon–Seon , Lim Jaesoo , Kim Sung Won
Published: April 2021

The sensitivity of magnetic properties, which characterize the mineralogy, concentration, and grain size distribution of magnetic minerals, to environmental processes may provide useful information on paleoenvironmental changes in estuarine environments. Magnetic property studies of estuaries are less common than other environments and, due to the west coast of South Korea having an abundance of estuaries, it provides a good place to study these processes. In this study, we analyzed a variety of magnetic properties based on magnetic susceptibility, hysteresis parameters, progressive acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization and first-order reversal curve data from a Holocene muddy sediment core recovered from the Yeongsan Estuary on the west coast of South Korea. We examined diagenetic effects on magnetic properties and tested their availability as proxies of paleoenvironmental change. The presence of generally low magnetic susceptibility, ubiquitous greigite-like authigenic magnetic component, and very fine magnetic particle occurrence suggested that the analyzed sediments had undergone considerable early diagenetic alteration. Electron microscopic observations of magnetic minerals support this suggestion. Our results confirm that the use of initial bulk susceptibility as a stand-alone environmental change proxy is not recommended unless it is supported by additional magnetic analyses. We recognized the existence of ferromagnetic-based variabilities related to something besides the adverse diagenetic effects, and have examined possible relationships with sea-level and major climate changes during the Holocene. The most remarkable finding of this study is the two distinct intervals with high values in magnetic coercivity (Bc), coercivity of remanence (Bcr), and ratio of remanent saturation moment to saturation moment (Mrs/Ms) that were well coincident with the respective abrupt decelerations in the rate of sea-level rise occurred at around 8.2 and 7 thousand years ago. It is then inferred that such condition with abrupt drop in sea-level rise rate would be favorable for the abrupt modification of grain size distribution toward more single-domain-like content. We modestly propose consideration of the Bc, Bcr, and Mrs/Ms variability as a potential indicator for the initiation/occurrence of sea-level stillstand/slowstand or highstand during the Holocence, at least at estuarine environments in and around the studied area.
Challenges in the Direct Determination of 17Oexcess in Microliter Amount of Water Extracted From Speleothem Fluid Inclusions
Authors: Affolter Stéphane , Leuenberger Markus C.
Published: April 2021

Water isotopes are powerful proxies able to deliver valuable information about past climate conditions at the precipitation site, along the path of the moisture or at its source. We use a recently developed microliter sampling technique associated with continuous-flow laser spectroscopy in order to investigate its potential for direct determination of17Oexcesson microliter amount of water released from speleothem crushing. Results from Milandre Cave stalagmite (Switzerland) suggest that17Oexcessfrom speleothem fluid inclusion water could likely be used as a paleoclimate proxy and to resolve past hydroclimatic changes mainly depending on (i) the technical capability to produce precise and accurate direct measurements and (ii) our understanding of which factors influence the17Oexcessproxy in speleothem fluid inclusion water. With our setup, the main challenge regarding17Oexcessmeasurements is the very low amount of water released by the crushing of speleothem samples, which also lead to the difficulty of producing sample replications. The precision achieved based on duplicate measurements is ∼30 per meg, which is currently a value too high to retrieve robust paleoclimate information. We suggest sample replications and further improvement of the presented method through the increase of the signal to noise ratio and correction for isotope composition—mixing ratio dependence to reach the required precision of 10 per meg or less.
Magmatic Processes at La Soufrière de Guadeloupe: Insights From Crystal Studies and Diffusion Timescales for Eruption Onset
Authors: Metcalfe Abigail , Moune Séverine , Komorowski Jean-Christophe , Kilgour Geoff , Jessop David E. , Moretti Roberto , Legendre Yoann
Published: April 2021

Signals of volcanic unrest do not usually provide insights into the timing, size and style of future eruptions, but detailed analysis of past eruptions may uncover patterns that can be used to understand future eruptive behavior. Here, we examine basaltic-andesitic to andesitic eruption deposits from La Soufrière de Guadeloupe, covering a range of eruption styles, ages and magnitudes. Our work is timely given unrest at La Soufrière de Guadeloupe has increased over the last 25 years. We constrain the timescales of magmatic processes preceding four eruptions: 1657 Cal. CE (Vulcanian), 1010 Cal. CE (Plinian), ∼341 Cal. CE (Strombolian) and 5680 Cal. BCE (La Soufrière de Guadeloupe’s first known Plinian eruption). Using crystal-specific analyses of diffusion in orthopyroxenes, we calculate the timescale occurring between the last recharge/mixing event in the magma reservoir and the eruption. We use backscattered electron images, coupled with EMPA of the outermost crystal rim, to derive magmatic timescales. We model the timescale populations as random processes whose probability distributions provide expected (“mean”) timescales and the associated standard errors for each eruption. This provides a new statistical method for comparing magmatic timescales between disparate eruptions. From this, we obtain timescales of magma storage at La Soufriére de Guadeloupe ranging from 18.8 ± 0.37 days to 361 ± 0.40 days, with no clear distinction between eruption style/size and timescales observed. Based on these data, magmatic interaction timescales are a poor predictor of eruption style/size. This study shows that magmatic processes prior to eruption can occur on relatively short timescales at La Soufrière de Guadeloupe. Further to this basaltic-andesitic to andesitic volcanoes can rapidly produce large-scale eruptions on short timescales. These relatively short timescales calculated for volcanic processes at this system constitute a critical new data set and warrant an urgency in enhancing modeling and interpretation capabilities for near-real time monitoring data. These integrated efforts will improve early warning, eruption forecasting and crisis response management for different scenarios, as well as planning for long-term risk reduction.
High-Resolution Crustal S-wave Velocity Model and Moho Geometry Beneath the Southeastern Alps: New Insights From the SWATH-D Experiment
Authors: Sadeghi-Bagherabadi Amir
Published: April 2021

We compiled a dataset of continuous recordings from the temporary and permanent seismic networks to compute the high-resolution 3D S-wave velocity model of the Southeastern Alps, the western part of the external Dinarides, and the Friuli and Venetian plains through ambient noise tomography. Part of the dataset is recorded by the SWATH-D temporary network and permanent networks in Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia between October 2017 and July 2018. We computed 4050 vertical component cross-correlations to obtain the empirical Rayleigh wave Green’s functions. The dataset is complemented by adopting 1804 high-quality correlograms from other studies. The fast-marching method for 2D surface wave tomography is applied to the phase velocity dispersion curves in the 2–30 s period band. The resulting local dispersion curves are inverted for 1D S-wave velocity profiles using the non-perturbational and perturbational inversion methods. We assembled the 1D S-wave velocity profiles into a pseudo-3D S-wave velocity model from the surface down to 60 km depth. A range of iso-velocities, representing the crystalline basement depth and the crustal thickness, are determined. We found the average depth over the 2.8–3.0 and 4.1–4.3 km/s iso-velocity ranges to be reasonable representations of the crystalline basement and Moho depths, respectively. The basement depth map shows that the shallower crystalline basement beneath the Schio-Vicenza fault highlights the boundary between the deeper Venetian and Friuli plains to the east and the Po-plain to the west. The estimated Moho depth map displays a thickened crust along the boundary between the Friuli plain and the external Dinarides. It also reveals a N-S narrow corridor of crustal thinning to the east of the junction of Giudicarie and Periadriatic lines, which was not reported by other seismic imaging studies. This corridor of shallower Moho is located beneath the surface outcrop of the Permian magmatic rocks and seems to be connected to the continuation of the Permian magmatism to the deep-seated crust. We compared the shallow crustal velocities and the hypocentral location of the earthquakes in the Southern foothills of the Alps. It revealed that the seismicity mainly occurs in the S-wave velocity range between ∼3.1 and ∼3.6 km/s.
Bombax ceiba is a Good Native Tree Species for Performing Reforestation to Restore Highly Degraded Tropical Forests in Hainan Island, China
Authors: Luo Jinhuan , Hong Wenjun , Yang Jindian , Jiang Kai , Tan Zhaoyuan , He Qifang , Zhang Hui , Cui Jie
Published: April 2021

Reforestation is an effective way to alleviate deforestation and its negative impacts on ecosystem services. It is widely recognized that the most key step for reforestation is using suitable native species, but selecting suitable native tree species is much more complex and challenging than the selection of non-native tree species that have been widely used for reforestation. Here, we quantify whether the native tree species (Bombax ceiba) can be suitable for performing reforestation to restore a 0.2 km2 highly degraded tropical monsoon forest in Baopoling Mountain (BPL), Sanya, China, due to 20 years of limestone mining for cement production. We found that stomatal closure helped Bombax ceiba develop higher drought stress tolerance than the most dominant native tree species (Bridelia tomentosa) in an undisturbed tropical rainforest in BPL, thereby better adapting well to drought stress in the dry season. These characteristics in turn facilitated it to have high survival rate (92% ± 4%) and fast growth rate, after three years of monoculture in BPL. Thus, Bombax ceiba is very suitable for performing reforestation to recover highly degraded tropical forests in Hainan Island, China.
Biochar-Swine Manure Impact on Soil Nutrients and Carbon Under Controlled Leaching Experiment Using a Midwestern Mollisols
Authors: Banik Chumki , Koziel Jacek A. , De Mriganka , Bonds Darcy , Chen Baitong , Singh Asheesh , Licht Mark A.
Published: April 2021

Biochar application to the soil can improve soil quality and nutrient leaching loss from swine manure adapted soils. Our working hypothesis was that the biochar-incubated with manure could be a better soil amendment than conventional manure application. The manure-biochar application to the soil would decrease nutrient leaching from manure and increase plant-available nutrients. The study objectives were to 1) assess the physicochemical properties of the manure-biochar mixture after lab incubation and 2) evaluate the impact of biochar-treated swine manure on soil total C, N, and other major and minor nutrients in comparison to conventional manure application to soil. Three biochars 1) neutral pH red-oak (RO), 2) highly alkaline autothermal corn (Zea mays) stover (HAP), and 3) mild acidic Fe-treated autothermal corn stover (HAPE) were incubated with swine manure for a month. The biochar-manure mixture was applied in triplicate to soil columns with an application rate determined by the P2O5-P content in manure or manure-biochar mixtures after the incubation. The ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3‒), and reactive P concentrations in soil column leachates were recorded for eight leaching events. Soil properties and plant-available nutrients were compared between treatments and control manure and soil. Manure-(HAP&HAPE) biochar treatments significantly increased soil organic matter (OM), and all biochar-manure mixture increased (numerically) soil total C, N, and improved soil bulk density. Concentrations of NH4+and NO3‒significantly increased in MHAPE column leachates during this 4-week study and the KCl-extractable NH4+and NO3‒in the soil at the end of the experiment. A significant reduction in soil Mehlich3 Cu was also observed for the manure-HAPE mixture compared with the manure control. The manure-red oak biochar significantly increased the soil Mn availability than other manure-biochar treatments or manure control. Overall, the manure-biochar incubation enabled biochar to stabilize the C and several nutrients from manure. The subsequent manure-biochar mixture application to soil improved soil quality and plant nutrient availability compared to conventional manure application. This proof-of-the-concept study suggests that biochars could be used to solve both environmental and agronomic challenges and further improve the sustainability of animal and crop production agriculture.
Toward a Gender-Sensitive Securitization of the Common European Asylum System
Authors: Le Bellec Amandine
Published: April 2021

EU Member States may legally designate a country as a Safe Country of Origin when human rights and democratic standards are generally respected. For nationals of these countries, asylum claims are treated in an accelerated way, the underlying objective of the “safe country” designation being to facilitate the rapid return of unsuccessful claimants to their country of origin. The concept of “safe country” was initially blind to gender-based violence. Yet, in the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which began in 2016, the European Commission proposed two changes: first, that a common list of “safe countries” should be applied in all Member States, and second, that this concept should be interpreted in a “gender-sensitive” manner. In consequence, the generalization of a policy that has been documented as largely detrimental to asylum seekers has been accompanied by the development of special guarantees for LGBTI+ asylum seekers. In light of this, there is a need to examine the impact of “safe country” practices on LGBTI+ claimants and to investigate the extent to which the securitization of European borders is compatible with LGBTI+ inclusion. Based on a qualitative document analysis of EU “safe country” policies and on interviews with organizations supporting LGBTI+ asylum seekers, this article shows that despite the implementation of gender-sensitive safeguards, LGBTI+ asylum seekers are particularly affected by “safe country” practices. These practices permeate European asylum systems beyond the application of official lists, depriving many LGBTI+ asylum seekers of their right to have their protection claims fairly assessed.
Antibody Responses in COVID-19: A Review
Authors: Chvatal-Medina Mateo , Mendez-Cortina Yorjagis , Patiño Pablo J. , Velilla Paula A. , Rugeles Maria T.
Published: April 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread worldwide as a severe pandemic. Although its seroprevalence is highly variable among territories, it has been reported at around 10%, but higher in health workers. Evidence regarding cross-neutralizing response between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 is still controversial. However, other previous coronaviruses may interfere with SARS-CoV-2 infection, since they are phylogenetically related and share the same target receptor. Further, the seroconversion of IgM and IgG occurs at around 12 days post onset of symptoms and most patients have neutralizing titers on days 14-20, with great titer variability. Neutralizing antibodies correlate positively with age, male sex, and severity of the disease. Moreover, the use of convalescent plasma has shown controversial results in terms of safety and efficacy, and due to the variable immune response among individuals, measuring antibody titers before transfusion is mostly required. Similarly, cellular immunity seems to be crucial in the resolution of the infection, as SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells circulate to some extent in recovered patients. Of note, the duration of the antibody response has not been well established yet.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Hybrid Biophysical Approach to Wave Energy Extraction: Bio-Oscillator
Authors: Hildebrand Tabea , Fischer Christian , Relano Veronica , Gorman Richard , Stevens Craig
Published: April 2021

A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is described for a novel wave energy converters (WEC) design based on a marine hybrid bio-structure—a combination of macroalgae, shellfish or other species on a built frame. The Bio-Oscillator design utilises a hard “skeleton” (e.g., carbon fibre, wood) on which biological organisms (e.g., shellfish, large macroalgae) are grown. As waves pass by, the load generated by the oscillating drag and inertia is transferred through mooring lines to power takeoff technology. This novel approach essentially reverses the typical marine engineering view that “bio-fouling is bad” and instead leverages off the added-drag of biological growth on structures. The approach results in a structure that is largely biodegradable, naturally self-replicating and synergistic with the background environment, self-de-risking in terms of failure impact and can leverage off its own form to enhance energy capture beyond a conventional design. This reduces impact while connecting with conventional marine industries such as aquaculture. A CBA examines the economic pros and cons of this approach, focusing on installation and material costs, along with benefits from synergistic production. The analysis suggests that in addition to typical wave energy obstacles (e.g., cable length, capture width, and power take off) the benefits (biodegradability, harvestability, and carbon reduction) of replacing much of the mass of the structure with living biological material can be included.