bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-invasive CMR-Based Quantification of Myocardial Power and Efficiency Under Stress and Ischemic Conditions in Landrace Pigs
Authors: Faragli Alessandro , Alogna Alessio , Lee Chong Bin , Zhu Miry , Ghorbani Niky , Lo Muzio Francesco Paolo , Schnackenburg Bernhard , Stehning Christian , Kuehne Titus , Post Heiner , Goubergrits Leonid , Nagel Eike , Pieske Burkert , Kelle Sebastian , Kelm Marcus
Published: July 2021

Background: Myocardial efficiency should be maintained stable under light-to-moderate stress conditions, but ischemia puts the myocardium at risk for impaired functionality. Additionally, the measurement of such efficiency typically requires invasive heart catheterization and exposure to ionizing radiation. In this work, we aimed to non-invasively assess myocardial power and the resulting efficiency during pharmacological stress testing and ischemia induction.

Methods: In a cohort of n = 10 healthy Landrace pigs, dobutamine stress testing was performed, followed by verapamil-induced ischemia alongside cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. External myocardial power, internal myocardial power, and myocardial efficiency were assessed non-invasively using geometrical and functional parameters from CMR volumetric as well as blood flow and pressure measurements.

Results: External myocardial power significantly increased under dobutamine stress [2.3 (1.6–3.1) W/m2 vs. 1.3 (1.1–1.6) W/m2, p = 0.005] and significantly decreased under verapamil-induced ischemia [0.8 (0.5–0.9) W/m2, p = 0.005]. Internal myocardial power [baseline: 5.9 (4.6–8.5) W/m2] was not affected by dobutamine [7.5 (6.9–9.0) W/m2, p = 0.241] nor verapamil [5.8 (4.7–8.8) W/m2, p = 0.878]. Myocardial efficiency did not change from baseline to dobutamine [21% (15–27) vs. 31% (20–44), p = 0.059] but decreased significantly during verapamil-induced ischemia [10% (8–13), p = 0.005].

Conclusion: In healthy Landrace pigs, dobutamine stress increased external myocardial power, whereas myocardial efficiency was maintained stable. On the contrary, verapamil-induced ischemia substantially decreased external myocardial power and myocardial efficiency. Non-invasive CMR was able to quantify these efficiency losses and might be useful for future clinical studies evaluating the effects of therapeutic interventions on myocardial energetics.
The Innate Immune cGAS-STING-Pathway in Cardiovascular Diseases – A Mini Review
Authors: Rech Lavinia , Rainer Peter P.
Published: July 2021

Inflammation plays a central role in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). One pathway under investigation is the innate immune DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and its downstream receptor stimulator of interferon genes (STING). cGAS-STING upregulates type I interferons in response to pathogens. Recent studies show that also self-DNA may activate cGAS-STING, for instance, DNA released from nuclei or mitochondria during obesity or myocardial infarction. Here, we focus on emerging evidence describing the interaction of cGAS-STING with cardiovascular risk factors and disease. We also touch on translational therapeutic opportunities and potential further investigations.
Flood Inundation Mapping with Limited Observations Based on Physics-Aware Topography Constraint
Authors: Sainju Arpan Man , He Wenchong , Jiang Zhe , Yan Da , Chen Haiquan
Published: July 2021

Spatial classification with limited observations is important in geographical applications where only a subset of sensors are deployed at certain spots or partial responses are collected in field surveys. For example, in observation-based flood inundation mapping, there is a need to map the full flood extent on geographic terrains based on earth imagery that partially covers a region. Existing research mostly focuses on addressing incomplete or missing data through data cleaning and imputation or modeling missing values as hidden variables in the EM algorithm. These methods, however, assume that missing feature observations are rare and thus are ineffective in problems whereby the vast majority of feature observations are missing. To address this issue, we recently proposed a new approach that incorporates physics-aware structural constraint into the model representation. We design efficient learning and inference algorithms. This paper extends our recent approach by allowing feature values of samples in each class to follow a multi-modal distribution. Evaluations on real-world flood mapping applications show that our approach significantly outperforms baseline methods in classification accuracy, and the multi-modal extension is more robust than our early single-modal version. Computational experiments show that the proposed solution is computationally efficient on large datasets.
Analysis of Hillslope Erosion Based on Excess Topography in Southeastern Tibet
Authors: Liu Weiming , Zhou Zhen , Zhou Liqin , Chen Xiaoqing , Yanites Brian , Zhou Yanlian , Li Xuemei , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: July 2021

The southeastern Tibetan Plateau has been deeply dissected by major rivers and their tributaries into high-relief topography with deep gorges. In this region, most hillslope gradients in the high-relief areas approach a threshold value, and landslides are the dominant surface erosion process. For this work, we analyzed the hillslope erosion process by determining the excess topography from the threshold hillslope. Slope analysis found a similar normal distribution of slope values for six large drainage basins with different lithology, precipitation, and tectonic settings. Overall, 82% of the slopes in our study area were 30 ± 5°, so this was taken as a reasonable range of threshold hillslope angles. We determined that the excess topography calculated for different threshold values all occur along major fluvial inner gorges. We found a linear relationship between excess topography and the mean erosion rate in drainage basins, which indicates that hillslope erosion, especially landslides, is the main erosion process. In contrast, the correlation between excess topography and the slope is only found for low-relief topography. This suggests that excess topography is a better metric than the slope to reflect the spatial distribution of erosion rates in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In addition, for a threshold value of 30°, we collected data from 4,430 landslides and found that 71% of these landslides had occurred in an area of excess topography. This implies that most recent landslides did not reduce the slope below the threshold value. As a result, the potential for future landslides remains high in areas where landslides have recently occurred.
Soil Characteristics and Hydromorphological Patterns Control Denitrification at the Floodplain Scale
Authors: Kaden Ute Susanne , Fuchs Elmar , Geyer Sophie , Hein Thomas , Horchler Peter , Rupp Holger , Scholz Mathias , Schulz-Zunkel Christiane , Weigelhofer Gabriele
Published: July 2021

Nitrate pollution in aquatic ecosystems is still a major problem in Germany. There is a great potential to permanently remove nitrate from aquatic systems through denitrification as a relevant ecosystem function. However, the controlling factors and the dimension of the denitrification potential are still not fully understood due to the high complexity of the process. This study presents the combined assessment of potential soil denitrification rates, physical and chemical soil parameters, and hydrological parameters from six floodplains of four large German rivers, namely the Rhine, the Elbe, the Weser, and the Main. Based on multivariate statistics, results show that the denitrification potential of soil was almost solely controlled by soil pH. The lab assays showed mean soil denitrification potentials of 6.4–11.4 mg N m−2h−1(pH < 7) and 23.0–30.5 mg N m−2h−1(pH > 7). We contend that when upscaling these estimates to annual rates of potential denitrification, the duration of average inundation should be incorporated, as this accounts for water saturation and nutrient supply − the major controlling variables for denitrification. Results provide evidence that the denitrification potential can only be fully exploited in frequently inundated floodplains. Thus, despite favorable soil conditions for denitrification, floodplains that have suffered from anthropogenic impacts, lose their importance in nitrate removal for the river system. We conclude that pH and lateral hydrological connectivity are likely to be key factors that should be considered when estimating denitrification as an ecosystem function.
Event-Triggered Forecasting-Aided State Estimation for Active Distribution System With Distributed Generations
Authors: Bai Xingzhen , Zheng Xinlei , Ge Leijiao , Qin Feiyu , Li Yuanliang
Published: July 2021

In this study, the forecasting-aided state estimation (FASE) problem for the active distribution system (ADS) with distributed generations (DGs) is investigated, considering the constraint of data transmission. First of all, the system model of the ADS with DGs is established, which expands the scope of the ADS state estimation from the power network to the DGs. Moreover, in order to improve the efficiency of data transmission under the limited communication bandwidth, a component-based event-triggered mechanism is employed to schedule the data transmission from the measurement terminals to the estimator. It can efficiently reduce the amount of data transmission while guaranteeing the performance of system state estimation. Second, an event-triggered unscented Kalman filter (ET-UKF) algorithm is proposed to conduct the state estimation of the ADS with mixed measurements. To this end, the unscented transform (UT) technique is employed to approximate the probability distribution of the state variable after nonlinear transformation, which can reach more than second order, and then, an upper bound of the filtering error covariance is derived and subsequently minimized at each iteration. The gain of the desired filter is obtained recursively by following a certain set of recursions. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by using the IEEE-34 distribution test system.
The Association Between Particulate Air Pollution and Respiratory Mortality in Beijing Before, During, and After the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Authors: Breitner Susanne , Su Chang , Franck Ulrich , Wiedensohler Alfred , Cyrys Josef , Pan Xiaochuan , Wichmann H-Erich , Schneider Alexandra , Peters Annette
Published: July 2021

To improve ambient air quality during the 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Chinese Government and Beijing’s municipal government implemented comprehensive emission control policies in Beijing and its neighboring regions before and during this period. The goal of this study was to investigate the association between particulate air pollution and cause-specific respiratory mortality before, during and after the period of the Olympic Games. Further, we wanted to assess whether changes in pollutant concentrations were linked to changes in respiratory mortality. We obtained daily data on mortality due to respiratory diseases (coded as J00-J99 according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th revision [ICD10]) and pneumonia (ICD10: J12–18), meteorology, particulate matter less than 10 µm or 2.5 μm in diameter (PM10, PM2.5) and particle number size distribution from official monitoring networks and sites located on the Peking University campus between May 20 and December 1, 2008. We assessed the effects of particulate air pollution on daily respiratory mortality using confounder-adjusted Quasi-Poisson regression models. Furthermore, we estimated air pollution effects for three periods—before (May 20 to July 20, 2008), during (August 1 to September 20, 2008) and after (October 1 to December 1, 2008)—by including interaction terms in the models. We found associations between different particle metrics and respiratory and pneumonia mortality, with more pronounced effects in smaller particle size ranges. For example, an interquartile range increase of 7,958 particles/cm3 in ultrafine particles (particles <100 nm in diameter) led to a 16.3% (95% confidence interval 4.3%; 26.5%) increase in respiratory mortality with a delay of seven days. When investigating the sub-periods, results indicate that a reduction in air pollution during the Olympics resulted in reduced (cause-specific) respiratory mortality. This reduction was especially pronounced for pneumonia mortality. The findings suggest that even a short-term reduction in pollution concentrations may lead to health benefits and that smaller particles in the ultrafine size range may be particularly important for respiratory health.
Public Acceptance of Nature-Based Solutions for Natural Hazard Risk Reduction: Survey Findings From Three Study Sites in Europe
Authors: Anderson Carl C. , Renaud Fabrice G. , Hanscomb Stuart , Munro Karen E. , Gonzalez-Ollauri Alejandro , Thomson Craig S. , Pouta Eija , Soini Katriina , Loupis Michael , Panga Depy , Stefanopoulou Maria
Published: July 2021

Climate change is one factor increasing the risk of hydro-meteorological hazards globally. The use of nature-based solutions (NbS), and more specifically ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction measures (Eco-DRR), has become a popular response for risk reduction that also provides highly-valued co-benefits. Public acceptance is of particular importance for NbS since they often rely on local collaborative implementation, management, and monitoring, as well as long-term protection against competing societal interests. Although public engagement is a common goal of NbS projects, it is rarely carried out with a sufficient understanding of the (de)motivating factors tied to public perceptions. Successful collaboration demands consideration of societal attitudes and values in relation to risk, nature, and place. However, existing research does not sufficiently explore these themes together, their interactions, and their implications for the public acceptance of NbS. This may lead to misaligned public expectations and failed participatory initiatives, while jeopardizing the success of NbS projects and their continued funding and uptake. We conducted citizen surveys within local NbS “host” communities to determine the degree of pro-NbS attitudes and behavior, associated variables, and how these may be leveraged to increase acceptance. We compared results across sites, relying primarily on correlations and regression models along with survey comments and expert knowledge. Three distinct rural NbS being implemented within the OPERANDUM project aim to reduce risk from (socio-)natural hazards in Scotland (landslides and coastal erosion; n = 66 respondents), Finland (eutrophication and algal blooms; n = 204) and Greece (river flooding and water scarcity; n = 84). Our research thus centers on rural NbS for risk reduction within a large EU project. Trust in implementers is a consistent factor for defining attitudes towards the NbS across the sites, and attitudes are strongly associated with respondents’ commitment to nature and behavioral acceptance (i.e., willingness to engage). Behaviorial acceptance is most consistently predicted by connectedness to place and the extent of expected future impacts. Skepticism of NbS effectiveness leads to high public demand for relevant evidence. To increase public acceptance, we recommend greater framing of NbS in relation to place-based values as well as demonstration of the effectiveness of NbS for risk reduction. However, distinct hazard types, proposed NbS, and historical characteristics must be considered for developing strategies aimed at increasing acceptance. An understanding of these characteristics and their interactions leads to evidence-based recommendations for our study sites and for successful NbS deployment in Europe and beyond.
Diazotrophic Cyanobacteria are Associated With a Low Nitrate Resupply to Surface Waters in Lake Tanganyika
Authors: Ehrenfels Benedikt , Bartosiewicz Maciej , Mbonde Athanasio Stephano , Baumann Kathrin B.L. , Dinkel Christian , Junker Julian , Kamulali Tumaini M. , Kimirei Ismael A. , Niederdorfer Robert , Odermatt Daniel , Pomati Francesco , Sweke Emmanuel A. , Wehrli Bernhard
Published: July 2021

In Lake Tanganyika, blooms of nitrogen-fixing (diazotrophic) cyanobacteria emerge, when the upper water column re-stratifies after a period of upwelling and convective mixing. During this seasonal transition, diazotrophic cyanobacteria exploit the abundant phosphate and fix nitrogen after other phytoplankton taxa have consumed the available nitrate. However, it remains less clear, which mechanisms favour diazotrophic cyanobacteria under more heavily stratified conditions with lower levels of excess phosphate and persistent nitrate-depletion. Here, we collected profiles of physicochemical parameters, nutrients and photo-pigments, as well as the medium- to large-sized phytoplankton community during two lake-wide cruises to elucidate to what extent the abundance of diazotrophic cyanobacteria in Lake Tanganyika may be controlled by the nitrate resupply through the thermocline into the euphotic zone. At stations where nitrate was depleted, but phosphate remained available near the surface, high densities of diazotrophic cyanobacteria were associated with a low nitrate supply to surface waters. Our data provide first support for two conceptual scenarios, where the relative position of the thermocline and the euphotic depth may create a functional niche for diazotrophic cyanobacteria: when the upward transport of nitrate into the euphotic zone is reduced by a subjacent thermocline, diazotrophic cyanobacteria, comprising Dolichospermum and Anabaenopsis, are key players in the medium-to large-sized phytoplankton community. By contrast, a thermocline located within the euphotic zone allows for a rapid vertical transport of nitrate for a thriving nitrate-assimilating phytoplankton community that evidently outcompetes diazotrophic cyanobacteria. This study highlights that, under nitrogen-depleted conditions, diazotrophic cyanobacteria can also grow in response to a reduced nutrient resupply to the productive surface waters.
Phylogenomic Assessment of Biodiversity Using a Reference-Based Taxonomy: An Example With Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma)
Authors: Leaché Adam D. , Davis Hayden R. , Singhal Sonal , Fujita Matthew K. , Lahti Megan E. , Zamudio Kelly R.
Published: July 2021

Phylogenomic investigations of biodiversity facilitate the detection of fine-scale population genetic structure and the demographic histories of species and populations. However, determining whether or not the genetic divergence measured among populations reflects species-level differentiation remains a central challenge in species delimitation. One potential solution is to compare genetic divergence between putative new species with other closely related species, sometimes referred to as a reference-based taxonomy. To be described as a new species, a population should be at least as divergent as other species. Here, we develop a reference-based taxonomy for Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma; 17 species) using phylogenomic data (ddRADseq data) to provide a framework for delimiting species in the Greater Short-horned Lizard species complex (P. hernandesi). Previous species delimitation studies of this species complex have produced conflicting results, with morphological data suggesting thatP. hernandesiconsists of five species, whereas mitochondrial DNA support anywhere from 1 to 10 + species. To help address this conflict, we first estimated a time-calibrated species tree forP. hernandesiand close relatives using SNP data. These results support the paraphyly ofP. hernandesi;we recommend the recognition of two species to promote a taxonomy that is consistent with species monophyly. There is strong evidence for three populations withinP. hernandesi, and demographic modeling and admixture analyses suggest that these populations are not reproductively isolated, which is consistent with previous morphological analyses that suggest hybridization could be common. Finally, we characterize the population-species boundary by quantifying levels of genetic divergence for all 18Phrynosomaspecies. Genetic divergence measures for western and southern populations ofP. hernandesifailed to exceed those of otherPhrynosomaspecies, but the relatively small population size estimated for the northern population causes it to appear as a relatively divergent species. These comparisons underscore the difficulties associated with putting a reference-based approach to species delimitation into practice. Nevertheless, the reference-based approach offers a promising framework for the consistent assessment of biodiversity within clades of organisms with similar life histories and ecological traits.
Endemism Patterns of Planthoppers (Fulgoroidea) in China
Authors: Zhao Zhengxue , Yang Lin , Long Jiankun , Chang Zhimin , Zhou Zhengxiang , Zhi Yan , Yang Liangjing , Li Hongxing , Sui Yongjin , Gong Nian , Wang Xiaoya , Chen Xiangsheng
Published: July 2021

Studies on endemism are always of high interest in biogeography and contribute to better understanding of the evolution of species and making conservation plans. The present study aimed to investigate the endemism patterns of planthoppers in China by delimiting centers of endemism and areas of endemism. We collected 6,907 spatial distribution records for 860 endemic planthopper species from various resources. Centers of endemism were identified using weighted endemism values at 1° grid size. Parsimony analysis of endemicity and endemicity analysis were employed to detect areas of endemism at 1°, 1.5°, and 2° grid sizes. Six centers of endemism located in mountainous areas were identified: Taiwan Island, Hainan Island, eastern Yungui Plateau, Wuyi Mountains, western Qinling Mountains, and western Yunnan. We also delimited six areas of endemism, which were generally consistent with centers of endemism. Our findings demonstrated that mountainous areas have an essential role in facilitating the high level of endemism and formation of areas of endemism in planthoppers through the combined effects of complex topography, a long-term stable environment, and geological events. Dispersal ability and distribution of host plants also have important effects on the patterns of planthoppers’ endemism.
A Novel Multi-Exon Deletion of PACS1 in a Three-Generation Pedigree: Supplements to PACS1 Neurodevelopmental Disorder Spectrum
Authors: Liu Yuan , Ding Hongke , Yan Tizhen , Liu Ling , Yu Lihua , Huang Yanlin , Li Fake , Zeng Yukun , Huang Weiwei , Zhang Yan , Yin Aihua
Published: July 2021

PACS1 neurodevelopmental disorder (PACS1-NDD) is a category of rare disorder characterized by intellectual disability, speech delay, dysmorphic facial features, and developmental delay. Other various physical abnormalities of PACS1-NDD might involve all organs and systems. Notably, there were only two unique missense mutations [c.607C > T (p.Arg203Trp) and c.608G > A (p.Arg203Gln)] in PACS1 that had been identified as pathogenic variants for PACS1-NDD or Schuurs-Hoeijmakers syndrome (SHMS). Previous reports suggested that these common missense variants were likely to act through dominant-negative or gain-of-function effects manner. It is still uncertain whether the intragenic deletion or duplication in PACS1 will be disease-causing. By using whole-exome sequencing, we first identified a novel heterozygous multi-exon deletion covering exons 12–24 in PACS1 (NM_018026) in four individuals (two brothers and their father and grandfather) in a three-generation family. The younger brother was referred to our center prenatally and was evaluated before and after the birth. Unlike SHMS, no typical dysmorphic facial features, intellectual problems, and structural brain anomalies were observed among these four individuals. The brothers showed a mild hypermyotonia of their extremities at the age of 3 months old and recovered over time. Mild speech and cognitive delay were also noticed in the two brothers at the age of 13 and 27 months old, respectively. However, their father and grandfather showed normal language and cognitive competence. This study might supplement the spectrum of PACS1-NDD and demonstrates that the loss of function variation in PACS1 displays no contributions to the typical SHMS which is caused by the recurrent c.607C > T (p.Arg203Trp) variant.
Predicting Protein Therapeutic Candidates for Bovine Babesiosis Using Secondary Structure Properties and Machine Learning
Authors: Goodswen Stephen J. , Kennedy Paul J. , Ellis John T.
Published: July 2021

Bovine babesiosis causes significant annual global economic loss in the beef and dairy cattle industry. It is a disease instigated from infection of red blood cells by haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia in the phylum Apicomplexa. Principal species are Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia divergens. There is no subunit vaccine. Potential therapeutic targets against babesiosis include members of the exportome. This study investigates the novel use of protein secondary structure characteristics and machine learning algorithms to predict exportome membership probabilities. The premise of the approach is to detect characteristic differences that can help classify one protein type from another. Structural properties such as a protein’s local conformational classification states, backbone torsion angles ϕ (phi) and ψ (psi), solvent-accessible surface area, contact number, and half-sphere exposure are explored here as potential distinguishing protein characteristics. The presented methods that exploit these structural properties via machine learning are shown to have the capacity to detect exportome from non-exportome Babesia bovis proteins with an 86–92% accuracy (based on 10-fold cross validation and independent testing). These methods are encapsulated in freely available Linux pipelines setup for automated, high-throughput processing. Furthermore, proposed therapeutic candidates for laboratory investigation are provided for B. bovis, B. bigemina, and two other haemoprotozoan species, Babesia canis, and Plasmodium falciparum.
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Davies Kristen , Ng Wan-Fai
Published: July 2021

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease which primarily affects the exocrine glands, but can also affect other organs, including the nervous system. Many studies have reported evidence of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in pSS which may contribute to a wide range of symptoms and functional burden. Symptoms of ANS dysfunction are common and widespread among patients with pSS and are associated with other features of the disease, particularly fatigue. Accumulating data on the inter-relationship between the ANS and the immune systemviathe vagus nerve have been reported. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has also been associated with improvement in fatigue in patients with pSS. Taken together, these data suggest that the ANS may be a potential treatment target for pSS, in particularly those with fatigue being a predominant symptom. Future research to dissect the link between the ANS, immune dysregulation and clinical manifestations in pSS and to evaluate the potential of VNS as a therapy for pSS is warranted.
Immunosuppressive Protein Signatures Carried by Syncytiotrophoblast-Derived Exosomes and Their Role in Human Pregnancy
Authors: Mincheva-Nilsson Lucia
Published: July 2021

The syncytiotrophoblast (STB) of human placenta constitutively and throughout pregnancy produces and secretes exosomes - nanometer-sized membrane-bound extracellular vesicles from the endosomal compartment that convey cell-cell contact ‘by proxy’ transporting information between donor and recipient cells locally and at a distance. Released in the maternal blood, STB-derived exosomes build an exosomal gradient around the feto-placental unit acting as a shield that protects the fetus from maternal immune attack. They carry signal molecules and ligands that comprise distinct immunosuppressive protein signatures which interfere with maternal immune mechanisms, potentially dangerous for the ongoing pregnancy. We discuss three immunosuppressive signatures carried by STB exosomes and their role in three important immune mechanisms 1) NKG2D receptor–mediated cytotoxicity, 2) apoptosis of activated immune cells and 3) PD-1-mediated immunosuppression and priming of T regulatory cells. A schematic presentation is given on how these immunosuppressive protein signatures, delivered by STB exosomes, modulate the maternal immune system and contribute to the development of maternal-fetal tolerance.
Interleukin-18 Is a Potential Biomarker to Discriminate Active Adult-Onset Still’s Disease From COVID-19
Authors: Chen Po-Ku , Lan Joung-Liang , Huang Po-Hao , Hsu Jye-Lin , Chang Ching-Kun , Tien Ni , Lin Hui-Ju , Chen Der-Yuan
Published: July 2021

Background

Hyperinflammation with dysregulated production of galectins and cytokines may develop in COVID-19 or adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). Given the similar clinical features in both diseases, it is necessary to identify biomarkers that can differentiate COVID-19 from AOSD. However, the related data remain scarce currently.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, plasma levels of galectin-3, galectin-9, and soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) were determined by ELISA in 55 COVID-19 patients (31 non-severe and 24 severe), 23 active AOSD patients, and 31 healthy controls (HC). The seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was examined using an immunochromatographic assay, and cytokine profiles were determined with the MULTIPLEX platform.

Results

Significantly higher levels of galectin-3, galectin-9, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-10, IFN-α2, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α were observed in severe COVID-19 and active AOSD patients compared with HC (all p<0.001). AOSD, but not COVID-19, showed significantly higher IFN-γ and IL-17A compared with HC (both p<0.01). Moreover, active AOSD patients had 68-fold higher IL-18 levels and 5-fold higher ferritin levels than severe COVID-19 patients (both p<0.001). IL-18 levels at the cut-off value 190.5pg/mL had the highest discriminative power for active AOSD and severe COVID-19, with AUC 0.948, sensitivity 91.3%, specificity 95.8%, and accuracy of 91.5% (p<0.005). Multivariate regression analysis revealed IL-18 as a significant predictor of active AOSD (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Active AOSD patients share features of hyperinflammation and cytokine storm with severe COVID-19 patients but possess a distinct cytokine profile, including elevated IL-18, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-17A. IL-18 is a potential discriminator between AOSD and COVID-19 and may significantly predict active AOSD.
Winter Biogeochemical Cycling of Dissolved and Particulate Cadmium in the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean (GEOTRACES GIpr07 Transect)
Authors: Cloete Ryan , Loock Jean C. , van Horsten Natasha R. , Fietz Susanne , Mtshali Thato N. , Planquette Hélène , Roychoudhury Alakendra N.
Published: July 2021

Winter distributions of dissolved cadmium (dCd) and particulate cadmium (pCd) were measured for the first time in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean thereby contributing a unique spatial and seasonal dataset. Seven depth profiles, between 41°S and 58°S, were collected along the 30°E longitude during the 2017 austral winter to investigate the biogeochemical cycling of cadmium during a period characterized by contrasting upper water column dynamics compared to summer. Our results support an important role for biological uptake during winter months albeit weaker compared to summer. Distinct, biologically driven changes in cadmium cycling across the transect were observed. For example, surface ratios of pCd to phosphorus (P; pCd:P) increased from 0.37 to 1.07 mmol mol–1 between the subtropical zone (STZ) and the Antarctic zone (AAZ) reflecting increased Cd requirements for diatoms at higher latitudes which, in turn, was driven by a complex relationship between the availability of dCd and dissolved iron (dFe), zinc (dZn) and manganese (dMn). Vertical profiles of pCd:P displayed near-surface maxima consistent with (1) P occurring in two phases with different labilities and the lability of Cd being somewhere in-between and (2) increasing dCd to phosphate (PO4; dCd:PO4) ratios with depth at each station. North of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF), a secondary, deeper pCd:P maximum may reflect an advective signal associated with northward subducting Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW). The strong southward increase in surface dCd and dCd:PO4, from approximately 10–700 pmol kg–1 and 40–400 μmol mol–1, respectively, reflected the net effect of preferential uptake and regeneration of diatoms with high Cd content and the upwelling of Cd enriched water masses in the AAZ. Furthermore, distinct dCd versus PO4 relationships were observed in each of the intermediate and deep water masses suggesting that dCd and PO4 distributions at depth are largely the result of physical water mass mixing.
Participatory Monitoring—A Citizen Science Approach for Coastal Environments
Authors: Kasten Paula , Jenkins Stuart R. , Christofoletti Ronaldo A.
Published: July 2021

In this article the authors share their experiences, results, and lessons learned during the creation of a coastal biodiversity participatory monitoring initiative. Throughout 2019, we delivered five training workshops to 51 citizen scientists. Data collected by the citizens scientists were validated by checking its similarities against that gathered by specialists. High similarity values were found, indicating that, if proper training is provided, there is a great potential for citizen scientists to contribute biodiversity data with high value. During this process a certain level of variation in data produced by specialists was found, drawing attention to the need for prior alignment among specialists who may offer training for citizens. In addition, despite overall similar results between specialists and participants, some differences emerged in particular parts of the habitat; for example, the bivalve zones presented higher complexity and hence greater challenge. Identifying key challenges for participants is key to developing appropriate citizen science protocols. Here it is provided preliminary evidence that supports the use of the monitoring protocol to obtain biodiversity data gathered by citizen scientists, assuring its scientific quality. Enhancing participation by the community and specialists is key to further validate the approach and to effectively expand such protocols, enhancing the level of biodiversity data collection. In order to promote participation, and maintain citizen scientist engagement in the initiative, it is recommended the development of new investigations that assess the interests and motivations of the public to take part. It is also fundamentally important to have an effective strategy to communicate the results of participants’ monitoring and their applicability to local and global issues, thus maximizing the continuity of engagement of citizen scientists.
Abundance and Structure of the Zooplankton Community During a Post-eruptive Process: The Case of the Submarine Volcano Tagoro (El Hierro; Canary Islands), 2013-2018
Authors: Fernández de Puelles María Luz , Gazá Magdalena , Cabanellas-Reboredo Miguel , González-Vega Alba , Herrera Inma , Presas-Navarro Carmen , Arrieta Jesús M. , Fraile-Nuez Eugenio
Published: July 2021

The mesozooplankton community was analyzed over a 6-year period (2013-2018) during the post-eruptive stage of the submarine volcano Tagoro, located south of the island of El Hierro (Canary Archipelago, Spain). Nine cruises from March 2013 to March 2018 were carried out in two different seasons, spring (March-April) and autumn (October). A high-resolution study was carried out across the main cones of Tagoro volcano, as well as a large number of reference stations surrounding El Hierro (unaffected by the volcano). The zooplankton community at the reference stations showed a high similarity with more than 85% of the variation in abundance and composition attributable to seasonal differences. Moreover, our data showed an increase in zooplankton abundance in waters affected by the volcano with a higher presence of non-calanoid copepods and a decline in the diversity of the copepod community, indicating that volcanic inputs have a significant effect on these organisms. Fourteen different zooplankton groups were found but copepods were dominant (79%) with 59 genera and 170 species identified. Despite the high species number, less than 30 presented a larger abundance than 1%. Oncaea and Clausocalanus were the most abundant genera followed by Oithona and Paracalanus (60%). Nine species dominated (>2%):O. media, O. plumifera, andO. setigeraamong the non-calanoids andM. clausi, P. nanus,P. parvus, C. furcatus, C. arcuicornis, andN. minoramong the calanoids. After the initial low abundance of the copepods as a consequence of the eruption, an increase was observed in the last years of the study, where besides the small Paracalanus and Clausocalanus, the Cyclopoids seem to have a good adaptive strategy to the new water conditions. The increase in zooplankton abundance and the decline in the copepod diversity in the area affected by the volcano indicate that important changes in the composition of the zooplankton community have occurred. The effect of the volcanic emissions on the different copepods was more evident in spring when the water was cooler and the mixing layer was deeper. Further and longer research is recommended to monitor the zooplankton community in the natural laboratory of the Tagoro submarine volcano.
Hypoxia-Enhanced N2O Production Under Ocean Acidification in the Bohai Sea
Authors: Gu Ting , Jia Dai , Ma Xing , Peng Liying , Zhang Guicheng , Wei Yuqiu , Lou Tingting , Sun Jun
Published: July 2021

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas that degrades ozone. Hypoxia and ocean acidification are becoming more intense as a result of climate change. The former stimulates N2O emissions, whereas the effects of the latter on N2O production vary by the ocean. Hypoxia and ocean acidification may play a critical role in the evolution of future oceanic N2O production. However, the interactive effects of hypoxia and ocean acidification on N2O production remain unclear. We conducted a research cruise in the Bohai Sea of China to assess the occurrence of ocean acidification in the seasonal oxygen minimum zone of the sea and further conducted laboratory incubation experiments to determine the effects of ocean acidification and hypoxia on N2O production. When pH decreased by 0.25, N2O production decreased by 50.77 and 72.38%, respectively. In contrast, hypoxia had a positive impact; when dissolved oxygen (DO) decreased to 3.7 and 2.4 mg L−1, N2O production increased by 49.72 and 278.68%, respectively. The incubation experiments demonstrated that the coupling of ocean acidification and hypoxia significantly increased N2O production, but, individually, there was an antagonistic relationship between the two. Structural equation modeling showed that the total effects of hypoxia treatment on N2O production changes weakened the effects of ocean acidification, with overall positive effects. Generally speaking, our results suggest that N2O production from the coastal waters of the Bohai Sea may increase under future climate change scenarios due to increasingly serious ocean acidification and hypoxia working in combination.
First Application of 360-Degree Camera Technology to Marine Predator Bio-Logging
Authors: Gallagher Austin J. , Alsudairy Nourah A. , Shea Brendan D. , Payne Nicholas L. , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: July 2021

Animal-borne video camera systems have long-been used to capture the fine-scale behaviors and unknown aspects of the biology of marine animals. However, their utility to serve as robust scientific tools in the greater bio-logging research community has not been fully realized. Here we provide, for the first time, an application of 360-degree camera technology to a marine organism, using a large tiger shark as a proof-of-concept case study. Leveraging the three-dimensional nature of the imaging technology, we derived 224 seafloor habitat assessments over the course of the nearly 1-h track, whereby the shark was able to survey ∼23,000 square meters of seafloor; over three-times greater than the capacity of non 360-degree cameras. The resulting data provided detailed information on habitat use, diving behavior, and swimming speed, as well seafloor mapping. Our results suggest that 360-degree cameras provide complimentary benefits—and in some cases superior efficiency—than unidirectional video packages, with an enhanced capacity to map seafloor.
Sediment Bulk Density Effects on Benthic Macrofauna Burrowing and Bioturbation Behavior
Authors: Wiesebron Lauren E. , Steiner Natalie , Morys Claudia , Ysebaert Tom , Bouma Tjeerd J.
Published: July 2021

Benthic macrofauna are a key component of intertidal ecosystems. Their mobility and behavior determine processes like nutrient cycling and the biogeomorphic development of intertidal flats. Many physical drivers of benthic macrofauna behavior, such as sediment grain size, have been well-studied. However, little is known about how sediment bulk density (a measure of sediment compaction and water content) affects this behavior. We investigated the effect of bulk density on the burrowing rate, burrowing depth, bioturbation activity, and oxygen consumption of bivalves (Limecola balthica, Scrobicularia plana, and Cerastoderma edule) and polychaetes (Hediste diversicolor and Arenicola marina) during a 29-day mesocosm experiment. We compared four sediment treatments consisting of two sediments of differing grain size classes (sandy and muddy) with two bulk densities (compact and soft). Overall, bulk density had a strong effect on benthic macrofauna behavior. Benthic macrofauna burrowed faster and bioturbation more intensely in soft sediments with low bulk density, regardless of grain size. In addition, L. balthica burrowed deeper in low bulk density sediment. Finally, we found that larger bivalves (both C. edule and S. plana) burrowed slower in compact sediment than smaller ones. This study shows that benthic macrofauna change their behavior in subtle but important ways under different sediment bulk densities which could affect animal-sediment interactions and tidal flat biogeomorphology. We conclude that lower bulk density conditions lead to more active macrofaunal movement and sediment reworking.
Mid-Level Riverine Outflow Matters: A Case of Microplastic Transport in the Jiulong River, China
Authors: Li Yifan , Liu Siguang , Liu Mengyang , Huang Wei , Chen Kai , Ding Yongcheng , Wu Fangzhu , Ke Hongwei , Lou Linghao , Lin Yan , Zhang Mingyu , Liu Fengjiao , Wang Chunhui , Cai Minggang
Published: July 2021

Riverine outflow is one of the major pathways for microplastic transportation to coastal environments. Research on the output of microplastics in small- or medium-sized rivers will help accurately understand the status of their marine loads. In this study, we used both trawling and pumping methods to collect microplastics of different sizes in the Jiulong River Estuary and Xiamen Bay. We found that the abundance of small microplastics (44 μm–5.0 mm) was at least 20 times higher than the large particles (0.33–5.0 mm). The abundance of the large particles ranges from 4.96 to 16.3 particles/m3, and that of the small particles ranged from 82.8 to 918 particles/m3. Granule was the dominant shape (>60%), and polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most common components. The riverine flux of small microplastics (44 μm–5 mm, 472 ± 230 t/y) was at a medium level and was eight times greater than that of large particles (0.33–5.0 mm, 61.2 ± 2.6 t/y). The behavior of the large microplastics was relatively conservative, whose abundance had a significant correlation with salinity (R2 = 0.927) and was mainly influenced by physical factors. In contrast, results of statistical analysis revealed that more complicated factors influenced the small microplastics.
A Switchable Ultra-Wideband Metamaterial Absorber with Polarization-Insensitivity and Wide-incident Angle at THz Band
Authors: Wang Liansheng , Xia Dongyan , Fu Quanhong , Ding Xueyong , Wang Yuan
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we report a switchable ultra-wideband metamaterial absorber with polarization-insensitivity and wide-incident angle at THz band which is composed of VO2 disk, polyimide dielectric substrate, and gold ground plane. The results show that the absorption is greater than 90% from 3.5–8 THz for a temperature of 300 K and this absorption band disappears when the temperature rises to 350 K. The absorption property of our proposed metamaterial absorber is insensitive to polarization states and angles and it can withhold high absorption of more than 80% for wide-incident angles, up to 60° for TE mode and TM mode. The wideband absorption mechanism is elucidated using an effective medium and surface current analysis.
Efficacy and Safety of Remimazolam in Endoscopic Sedation—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhu Xianlin , Wang Hongbai , Yuan Su , Li Yinan , Jia Yuan , Zhang Zhe , Yan Fuxia , Wang Zaiping
Published: July 2021

Background: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam in clinical endoscopic procedure sedation.

Methods: The authors searched the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published until January 2, 2021, that reported remimazolam sedation for endoscopic procedures. The sedative efficiency and the incidence of adverse events were assessed as outcomes. Cochrane Review Manager Software 5.3 was used to perform the statistical analyses.

Results: Seven relevant studies involving a total of 1,996 patients were identified. We conducted a meta-analysis of the different controls used in the studies, that is, the placebo, midazolam, and propofol. The results demonstrated that remimazolam had a strong sedative effect, and its sedative efficiency was significantly higher than that of placebo [OR = 0.01, 95% CI: (0.00, 0.10), I2 = 30%, p <0.00001]. The sedative efficiency of remimazolam was significantly higher than that of midazolam [OR = 0.12, 95% CI: (0.08, 0.21), I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001] but lesser than that of propofol [OR = 12.22, 95% CI: (1.58, 94.47), I2 = 0%, p = 0.02]. Regarding the adverse events, remimazolam is associated with a lower incidence of hypotension than placebo and midazolam. Similarly, remimazolam was associated with a lower incidence of hypotension and hypoxemia than propofol.

Conclusions: Remimazolam is a safe and effective sedative for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. The sedative efficiency of remimazolam was significantly higher than that of midazolam but slightly lower than that of propofol. However, the respiration and circulation inhibitory effects of remimazolam were weaker than those of midazolam and propofol.