bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compassion-focused approaches to understanding the mental health of climate scientists
Authors: Calabria Luis , Peters Charlotte , Williams Marc
Published: October 2024

As we face a future of rising global temperatures, and associated extreme weather events, distressing emotional responses are understandable. Climate scientists comprise a unique group, in that they must regularly confront the reality, and consequences, of climate change. In this paper, we explore how the principles of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) might be applied to comprehend the responses of climate scientists to climate change; by doing so, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of these responses in order to consider fruitful avenues for providing support and investigating this area further. We consider how flows of compassion, and blocks to compassion, might play a role in climate scientists’ experiences. Additionally, we conceptualise a role for compassion towards the wider world and humanity more broadly. Finally, by applying the CFT Three Systems model to current understanding of climate scientists’ emotional experiences, we seek to proffer a potential conceptualisation of them.

Key learning aims

(1)

To formulate the emotional experiences of climate scientists from a compassion-focused therapy perspective.

(2)

To explore how blocks to flows of compassions serve to negatively impact and/or maintain difficult emotional experiences of climate scientists.

(3)

To consider ways in which the field of psychological therapy can support climate scientists through a difficult emotional journey, and how future research might explore this further.
Environmental identity-based therapies for climate distress: applying cognitive behavioural approaches
Authors: Doherty Thomas , Artman Salvia , Homan Jesse , Keluskar Jennifer , White Kristi E.
Published: October 2024

This paper describes an interdisciplinary integration of the concept of environmental identity into cognitive behavioural approaches to facilitate psychotherapy interventions for climate distress. Environmental identity encompasses one’s sense of self in relation to the natural world and other species, and is an important sub-identity analogous to gender, sexual and other forms of self and social identity recognized in psychotherapy. We provide a background on the construct of environmental identity as developed in social and environmental psychology and share culturally responsive methods for mental health practitioners and the public to evoke and explore their own environmental identity. We then discuss steps to create environmental identity-based therapy interventions using cognitive and behavioural approaches for climate distress. We highlight the potential for acceptance and commitment therapy to foster mindfulness and values-based action, dialectical behaviour therapy to support emotional regulation, and radically open dialectical behaviour therapy to mitigate perfectionism and over-controlled coping styles. We also describe a composite case study of environmental identity-based cognitive behavioural therapy for an LGBTQ+ client.

Key learning aims

(1)

The paper presents new opportunities and techniques for adapting cognitive behavioural interventions in a climate conscious manner, with insights and observations from the authors based on clinical practice, which informs research into psychotherapy best practices in the context of environmental and climate issues.

(2)

Readers will become familiar with the empirical basis of environmental identity drawn from theory and research in social and environmental psychology; how environmental experiences and values intersect with other forms of personal and social identity addressed in mental health practice; and culturally responsive ways to elicit environmental identity on the part of practitioners and those they serve.

(3)

Readers are guided through examples of environmental identity-based cognitive and behavioural interventions including (1) promoting values-based action using acceptance and commitment therapy, (2) addressing emotional dysregulation using dialectical behaviour therapy, and (3) modifying over-controlled or perfectionistic coping styles using radically open dialectical behaviour therapy.

(4)

A composite case study provides an example of environmental identity-based cognitive behavioural therapy for a 20-year-old LGBTQ+ person experiencing climate distress.
Do State Legislative Staffer Networks Influence Roll-call Voting? Evidence from Shared Personal Staffers in Arizona, Indiana, and New Mexico
Authors: Landgrave Michelangelo
Published: October 2024

Legislative staffers are an invisible force in legislative bodies that provide every imaginable service. It is doubtful that modern legislatures could operate without them. Prior studies of Congressional staffers have found evidence that staffers not only aid but also exert an independent influence on the policy-making process through network effects. In this article, I test if this extends to state legislative staffers using novel data from shared staffer networks in Arizona, Indiana, and New Mexico. I argue that, compared to their Congressional counterparts, state legislative staffers are more akin to ‘clerks’ than ‘political professionals’ and this limits their ability to independently influence policymaking at the state level.
Growth and fecundity of Palmer amaranth escaping glufosinate in cotton with and without grass competition
Authors: Jones Eric A.L. , Bradshaw Colden L. , Contreras Diego J. , Cahoon Charles W. , Jennings Katherine M. , Leon Ramon G. , Everman Wesley J.
Published: October 2024

Field experiments were conducted at Clayton and Rocky Mount, NC, during summer 2020 to determine the growth and fecundity of Palmer amaranth plants that survived glufosinate with and without grass competition in cotton. Glufosinate (590 g ai ha−1) was applied to Palmer amaranth early postemergence (5 cm tall), mid-postemergence (7 to 10 cm tall), and late postemergence (>10 cm tall) and at orthogonal combinations of those timings. Nontreated Palmer amaranth was grown in weedy, weed-free in-crop (WFIC) and weed-free fallow (WFNC) conditions for comparisons. Palmer amaranth control decreased as larger plants were treated; no plants survived the sequential glufosinate applications in both experiments. The apical and circumferential growth of Palmer amaranth surviving glufosinate treatments was reduced by more than 44% compared to the WFIC and WFNC Palmer amaranth in both experiments. The biomass of Palmer amaranth plants surviving glufosinate was reduced by more than 62% when compared with the WFIC and WFNC in all experiments. The fecundity of Palmer amaranth surviving glufosinate treatments was reduced by more than 73% compared to WFNC Palmer amaranth in all experiments. Remarkably, the plants that survived glufosinate were fecund as WFIC plants only in the Grass Competition experiment. The results prove that despite decreased vegetative growth of Palmer amaranth surviving glufosinate treatment, plants remain fecund and can be fecund as nontreated plants in cotton. These results suggest that a glufosinate-treated grass weed may not have a significant interspecific competition effect on Palmer amaranth that survives glufosinate. Glufosinate should be applied to 5 to 7 cm Palmer amaranth to cease vegetative and reproductive capacities.
Development of a Revised Urdu Version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale
Authors: Zahid Aqsa , Lau Sharlane C. L. , Rizwan Laiba , Parker James D. A. , Bagby R. Michael
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Introduction: The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) is the most widely used instrument to assess alexithymia and has recently been translated into Urdu. There are several shortcomings with this translation (e.g., removal of four items from the original instrument, grammatical errors, poor/complex item translation) that compromise the assessment of alexithymia for Urdu-speaking persons. In this study, we report the development of a revised Urdu translation of the TAS-20 (TAS-20-UR). Methods: All 20 items of the original TAS-20 were translated into Urdu using a back-translation method, administered to participants from Pakistan ( N = 524), and subjected to psychometric analyses. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the factor structure of the TAS-20-UR. We also examined the measurement invariance of the scale across Pakistani men and women as well as Pakistani and Canadian community adults using multigroup CFA (MGCFA). Results: The internal reliability was adequate. The three-factor model, which has been recovered in most translations of the scale, produced an adequate-to-good fit. MGCFA supported strict invariance across Pakistani men and women, and partial scalar invariance across Pakistani and Canadian community adults. Limitations: Further research is required to confirm the validity of the TAS-20-UR. Also, the findings are only generalizable to literate individuals in Pakistan since data was not collected from non-Urdu readers. Discussion: The TAS-20-UR is reliable and captures the alexithymia construct; we recommend it for use in research settings in which Urdu is spoken.
Three‐Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Coseismic Atmospheric Dynamics and Ionospheric Responses in Slant Total Electron Content Observations
Authors: Inchin P. A. , Kaneko Y. , Gabriel A.‐A. , Ulrich T. , Martire L. , Komjathy A. , Aguilar Guerrero J. , Zettergren M. D. , Snively J. B.
Published: October 2024

Despite routine detection of coseismic acoustic‐gravity waves (AGWs) in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) total electron content (TEC) observations, models of the earthquake‐atmosphere‐ionosphere dynamics, essential for validating data‐driven studies, remain limited. We present the results of three‐dimensional numerical simulations encompassing the entire coupling from Earth's interior to the ionosphere during the 7.8 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. Incorporating the impact of data/model uncertainties in estimating the ionospheric state, the results show a good agreement between observed and simulated slant TEC (sTEC) signals, assessed through a set of metrics. The signals exhibit intricate waveforms, resulting from the integrated nature of TEC and phase cancellation effects, emphasizing the significance of direct signal comparisons along realistic line‐of‐sight paths. By comparing simulation results initialized with kinematic and dynamic source models, the study demonstrates the quantifiable sensitivity of sTEC to AGW source specifications, pointing to their utility in the analysis of coupled dynamics.
Nonlinear Tide‐River‐Surge Interactions and Their Impacts on Compound Flooding During Typhoon Hato in the Pearl River Delta
Authors: Du Haoxuan , Fei Kai , Gao Liang
Published: October 2024

In coastal areas, multiple hydrodynamic processes co‐occur, including the astronomical tide, river discharge, and storm surge. Their propagation and interaction within coastal tidal river result in strong nonlinear behavior in inland areas. This study employed a hydrodynamic model and continuous wavelet transform analysis to investigate the complex tide‐river‐surge interactions and their impacts on compound flooding in the West River of the Pearl River Delta during an extreme typhoon event. Validated model outputs provided insights into the spatial and temporal variations of river discharge, water levels, and currents. Wavelet analysis revealed river discharge modulates tidal properties, causing nonstationary tides and asymmetries, with high flows suppressing tidal ranges but facilitating energy transfers to overtides. During Typhoon Hato, storm surges dominated high‐frequency water level fluctuations that rapidly propagated upstream. Crucially, strong high‐frequency tide‐river‐surge coupling induced significant water level amplifications, with interaction intensities increasing landward. In upstream areas where riverine and coastal drivers converged, flood risks exceeded typical estimates due to this vigorous multi‐driver compounding. Findings highlighted how existing flood mitigation approaches over simplistically superposing individual sources may severely underestimate flood levels by neglecting such nonlinear interactions. A comprehensive accounting of the cumulative, multiplicative effects of tides, discharge, storm surge, and sea level rise is imperative. This quantitative unraveling of key physical drivers offers transferable insights applicable to compound flood risk evaluations and policy guidance for enhancing resilience in other estuary and delta regions. Future work should focus on holistically modeling multivariate extremes and their interactions.
Another Ring of Objects Might Exist in the Outer Solar System
Authors: O’Callaghan Jonathan
Published: October 2024

A search for a new target for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft suggests that space beyond the Kuiper Belt could be an unexpectedly crowded place.
Unlocking the Power of Synthetic Aperture Radar for Geosciences
Authors: Meng Lingsheng , Yan Chi , Yan Xiao-Hai
Published: October 2024

Due to its unique ability to monitor Earth’s surface, Synthetic Aperture Radar plays a pivotal role in revolutionizing the geosciences.
Estimating Vertical Movement and Slip Distribution During the 2018 Boso, Japan, Slow Slip Event From Ocean Bottom Pressure Gauge Data and an Oceanic Model
Authors: Sato Toshinori , Shibata Saki , Murata Koichi , Usui Norihisa , Shiobara Hajime , Yamada Tomoaki , Shinohara Masanao
Published: October 2024

Many slow slip events (SSEs) occur beneath the ocean, and continuous ocean‐bottom pressure gauge (OBP) observations provide useful data. OBPs record both oceanic variations and crustal movements, so we developed a multi‐channel singular spectrum analysis method to remove oceanic variations and applied our method to OBPs and oceanic model data. Then components of the oceanic model with good correlations to the OBP data were subtracted from the observed data. This method compensates for the incompleteness of the oceanic model and removes oceanic variations better than use of the original model. We applied the method to OBP data for the 2018 Boso, Japan, SSE to estimate its slip distribution. Comparing slip distributions obtained with and without the OBP data, we found that the distribution obtained using OBP data extended further offshore, and the offshore estimation error was smaller. Our study shows that offshore observations using OBPs are important for characterizing SSEs.
Ancient Tsunami Records in the Viscous Remanent Magnetization of Reworked Boulders in the Kingdom of Tonga
Authors: Sato Tetsuro , Nakamura Norihiro , Sato Masahiko , Kato Chie , Goto Kazuhisa , Watanabe Masashi , Satake Kenji , Kula Taaniela
Published: October 2024

The movement history of boulders is crucial for the reconstruction of paleo‐tsunamis. We report findings from viscous remanent magnetization studies of the boulders on Tongatapu Island, aiming to reconstruct their reworkings. Two boulders exhibited viscous remanence, whereas two larger boulders lacked viscous components but exhibited stable remanence. Both the viscous and stable components deviated from the geomagnetic field direction. These observations indicate that: (a) the boulders with a viscous component were reworked before the latest event, which could have reworked all boulders, and (b) the magnitude of the latest event was larger than that of an earlier event. The reworked timing indicated that the event occurred between 3,000 years ago and the fifteenth century. The difference in the wave height required to move boulders on the eastern and western coasts suggests that the source of the earlier tsunami was likely an eruption due to volcanoes along the Tonga Ridge.
Moisture Transformation in Warm Air Intrusions Into the Arctic: Process Attribution With Stable Water Isotopes
Authors: Brunello C.F. , Gebhardt F. , Rinke A. , Dütsch M. , Bucci S. , Meyer H. , Mellat M. , Werner M.
Published: October 2024

Warm Airmass Intrusions (WAIs) from the mid‐latitudes significantly impact the Arctic water budget. Here, we combine water vapor isotope measurements from the MOSAiC expedition, with a Lagrangian‐based process attribution diagnostic to track moisture transformation in the central Arctic Ocean during two WAIs, under contrasting sea‐ice concentrations (SIC). During winter with high SIC, two moisture supplies are identified. The first is Arctic moisture, locally‐sourced over the sea ice, with isotopic composition influenced by kinetic fractionation during ice‐cloud formation and vapor deposition. This moisture is rapidly overprinted by low‐latitude moisture advected poleward during WAI. In summer under low SIC, moisture is supplied through evaporation from land and ocean, with moisture removal via liquid‐cloud and dew formation. The isotopic composition reflects the influence of higher relative humidity at the evaporation sites. Given the projected increase of frequency and duration of WAIs, our study contributes to assessing process changes in the Arctic water cycle.
Preferential Pathways Inversion From Cross‐Borehole Electrical Data
Authors: Lelimouzin Léa , Champollion Cédric , Lévy Léa , Roubinet Delphine
Published: October 2024

Identification of preferential flow‐paths, such as fractures, is required for various issues in geosciences. When chemicals are injected into the subsurface, monitoring the resulting structural and chemical changes remains a challenge. The ability of geophysical tomography to tackle this problem is not fully explored due to the lack of numerical methods suitable for modeling narrow structures. We explore how discrete representation of preferential flow‐paths provides innovative ways to invert electrical resistivity data collected during reagent injection at a contaminated site. The data set is inverted with a scheme where a new fracture is added at every iteration. This allows identifying newly created narrow conductive structures from the field data collected before and after injection. Fracture location remains overall consistent despite using different starting points for the fracture search. A prior constraint on fracture length improves convergence. These results show the potential of discrete inversion for identifying narrow structures from electrical resistivity monitoring.
Sporadic E Layer Intensification in the Winter of 2009 Examined by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC RO Data and GAIA Model
Authors: Andoh Satoshi , Saito Akinori , Shinagawa Hiroyuki
Published: October 2024

This study examines the role of winds in wintertime sporadic E layer intensification (WEsLI) in 2009 from a global viewpoint. Previous studies showed that sporadic E layer (EsL) intensity had increased for 20–30 days in some winters, although intense EsLs do not form generally in winter. A recent study found that vertical ion convergence (VIC) driven by intensified migrating semidiurnal (SW2) tides caused WEsLI at middle latitudes in 2009. However, no studies have investigated the global distributions and generation mechanisms of WEsLI in 2009. Herein, we employed FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC radio occultations to investigate the global distributions of WEsLI in 2009. Distributions of VIC driven by winds obtained from the Ground‐to‐topside model of Atmosphere and Ionosphere for Aeronomy were compared with global WEsLI distributions to elucidate the role of winds in WEsLI. We found that WEsLI in 2009 occurred at geomagnetic low/middle latitudes except between W and E. WEsLI was observed below 120 km altitudes, especially at 12–17 local times. WEsLI was attributable to VIC driven by SW2 tides, migrating diurnal tides, and eastward propagating diurnal tides with wavenumber 3. Tidal amplifications were possibly related to mesospheric/stratospheric atmospheric variations such as sudden stratospheric warming, zonal mean zonal winds, and quasi‐biennial oscillations. WEsLI in 2009 is further evidence of the coupling between EsLs and mesospheric/stratospheric atmospheric variations through tidal modifications.
Detailed Occurrence of Feather Features in Quartz in Experimentally Shocked Granite
Authors: Tada Toshihiro , Kurosawa Kosuke , Tomioka Naotaka , Nagaya Takayoshi , Isa Junko , Hamann Christopher , Ono Haruka , Niihara Takafumi , Okamoto Takaya , Matsui Takafumi
Published: October 2024

Feather features (FFs) in quartz consist of a planar fracture (PF) and associated fine lamellae (FF lamellae; FFL) and have been observed in various natural impact structures. However, the mechanisms and conditions of FF formation are poorly understood. We conducted shock recovery experiments on granite using decaying compressive pulses to investigate the formation conditions of FFs. We characterized the recovered samples using an optical microscope equipped with a universal stage, a scanning electron microscope combined with an electron back‐scattered diffraction detector, and a transmission electron microscope. We found that FFs are formed over a wide range of peak pressures (2–18 GPa) and that FFs can be divided into at least three types (I–III) based on the crystallographic orientation of the PFs and FFL, the angle between the orientation of the FFL and the propagation direction of the compression wave, and the presence/absence of amorphous silica in the FFL. The peak pressures that produce type I–III FFs are estimated to be <12, 12–14, and >16 GPa, respectively. We propose that FFs can be used as a shock barometer for quartz‐bearing rocks.
The Role of Nutrient and Energy Limitation on Microbial Decomposition of Deep Podzolized Carbon: A Priming Experiment
Authors: Champiny Ryan E. , Inglett Kanika S. , Lin Yang
Published: October 2024

Soil carbon decomposition is primarily driven by microbial activities and is regulated by factors which stimulate or impede microbial functions. Deep podzolized carbon (DPC), found in the United States Southeastern Coastal Plain, is situated well below the soil surface in horizons isolated from active plant input. This carbon is characterized by high C:N ratios (>30) which could reflect nutrient limitation of microbial decomposition. To uncover the energy or nutrient limitation on DPC degradation, a 90‐day priming experiment was performed with soils from the surface horizon and DPC horizons (i.e., Bh1 and Bh2) received the additions of 13C‐labeled alanine and glucose. This resulted in prominent priming effects: addition of alanine increased basal decomposition of soil organic carbon by 918 ± 51% and 737 ± 7% in Bh2 and Bh1, respectively. Glucose relative priming was 505 ± 28% in Bh1 and 606 ± 77% of basal respiration in Bh2. These strong responses to substrate input highlight the susceptibility of DPC to loss when microbial carbon and nutrient constraints are alleviated. After 90 days, glucose addition increased the microbial biomass in DPC horizons relative to alanine addition, with the latter showing no difference from ultrapure‐water control. The response of the microbial biomass indicates constraint by a lack of energy sources both by the paucity of labile substrates and reduced availability of organic matter as a result of podzolization. Our study has important implications for predicting the response of DPC in Coastal Plain soils in the context of land management and global change.
Seasonal and Climatic Drivers of Wet Deposition Organic Matter at the Continental Scale
Authors: Murray Desneiges S. , Wymore Adam S.
Published: October 2024

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations and composition within wet deposition are rarely monitored despite contributing a large input of bioavailable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) to the Earth's surface. Lacking from the literature are spatially comprehensive assessments of simultaneous measurements of wet deposition DOC and DON chemistry and their dependencies on metrics of climate and environmental factors. Here, we use archived precipitation samples from the US National Atmospheric Deposition Program collected in 2017 to 2018 from 17 sites across six ecoregions to investigate variability in the concentration and composition of depositional DOM. We hypothesize metrics of DOM chemistry vary with ecoregion, season, large‐scale climate drivers, and precipitation geographic source. Findings indicate differences in DOC and DON concentrations and loads among ecoregions. The highest wet deposition concentrations are from sites in the Northern Forests and lowest concentrations from sites in Marine West Coast Forests. Summer and autumn samples contained the highest DOC concentrations and DON concentrations that were consistently above detection limit, corresponding with seasonality of peak air temperatures and the phenology of the growing season in the northern hemisphere. Compositional trends suggest lighter DOM molecules in autumn and winter and heavier molecules in spring and summer. Climate drivers explain 51% of variation in DOM chemistry, revealing differing drivers on the concentrations and loads of DOC versus DON in wet deposition. This study highlights the necessity of incorporating DOC and DON measurements into national deposition monitoring networks to understand spatial and temporal feedbacks between climate change, atmospheric chemistry and landscape biogeochemistry.
Automatic Segmentation Model and Parameter Extraction Algorithm for Lightning Whistlers
Authors: Xiang Tian , Liu Moran , He Shimin , Wang Xiang , Zhou Chen
Published: October 2024

Based on the magnetic field data recorded by the ZH‐1 electromagnetic satellite, we cerat a training set of 1,300 spectrograms containing the dispersion spectrum of lightning whistlers (LW). The Segment Anything Model (SAM) in the field of image segmentation is trained through the training set to obtain a fine‐tuned SAM model that can be used to detect and segment the dispersion spectrum of LW at pixel level. All track regions of LW are effectively separated from other non‐lightning whistlers regions in the spectrograms after being segmented by the model. The segmentation effect is excellent and detection accuracy is 96.89%, which is better than the previous segmentation model for LW based on ground station data. Then we apply the traditional image processing methods to extract the dispersion spectrum of LW one by one, and develop an algorithm to automatically extract the physical parameters of each LW. The root mean square error between the automatically extracted dispersion parameter and the manually extracted dispersion parameter is only 0.1654 s1/2. The model and algorithm studied in this paper are employed to analyze the dispersion of LW received by the ZH‐1 satellite over China. It is found that the whistlers dispersion received by satellites during summer in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere shows opposite trends with receiving latitude. Both trends can be explained by the relationship between the dispersion and the length of propagation paths of LW.
Experimental Visualization and Modeling of the Transport Behaviors of Monofilament Microplastic Fibers Through an Idealized Porous Media
Authors: Fouty Tyler T. , Engdahl Nicholas B.
Published: October 2024

Microplastic fibers (MPF) are the largest fraction of microplastics in the environment by mass. The endpoints of these contaminants' movement is generally known at large‐scale (i.e., their origins and where they end up), but the mechanics of how they get to those sinks remains poorly understood. The objective of this work was to improve understanding of the mechanisms driving MPF migration through terrestrial systems by directly imaging their motion through idealized representations of porous media. Monofilament line with 0.3 mm diameter was passed through a bench‐scale, pseudo‐2d flow cell to capture trajectories of MPFs of three different lengths and trajectories of passive micro‐bead tracers were also captured. Video processing and automated image analysis converted the video of the experiments into a database of trajectories, allowing comparison of the experimental data to various numerical models. Simple advection‐dispersion models were adequate for modeling the passive tracer but did not provide a good description of MPF transport. A physics‐based, distributed model was able to generate realistic trajectories through the domain, but the speeds of the fibers in the initial simulation were too fast, despite working well for the passive tracer. Adding a delay (waiting time) process resulted in good description of the trajectories and travel times. The specifics of the delay process could not be deduced from these experiments, but its overall impact on transport provides mechanistic insights. These direct observation of the trajectories and speeds of MPFs moving through porous media show that MPFs likely have strong interactions with their surroundings.
Mortality and causes of death of traumatic spinal cord injury in Finland
Authors: Johansson Elina , Koskinen Eerika , Helminen Mika , Vainionpää Aki , Luoto Teemu M.
Published: October 2024

Study design

Prospective cohort study.

Objectives

To study the mortality rates of TSCI patients compared to matched controls and to examine possible TSCI-related mortality risk factors and causes of death.

Setting

Oulu and Tampere University Hospital, Finland.

Methods

All consecutive patients with a new TSCI were included in a prospective study (n = 344, 2012-16). All patients were followed until death or the end of 2019. Patients were compared to a control group formed by randomly choosing gender, age, municipality, and calendar time-matched controls (5 controls/TSCI patient). Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated using general population mortality rates. Mortality information was extracted from the Statistics of Finland (Helsinki, Finland).

Results

TSCI patients had an increased mortality (SMR = 2.9) compared with the Finnish population. During the observation period, 26% of TSCI patients and 12% of the matched controls died. Of the TSCI patient deaths, 51% occurred within the first two years postinjury. Increased age, severity of TSCI (as per International SCI Core Data Set) and fall were related to mortality (p < 0.05). The two most common etiologies of death were: circulatory (30%), and pulmonary diseases (28%). Pneumonia was the single most frequent disease leading to death among TSCI patients.

Conclusions

During the first years after injury, the mortality of the patients with TSCI is double compared to the controls. Most deaths occur within two years postinjury. Elderly patients with more severe fall-related injury have the highest mortality risk. Circulatory diseases and pulmonary diseases, especially pneumonia, are the foremost causes of death after TSCI.
Ligand engineering enhances (photo) electrocatalytic activity and stability of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks via in-situ surface reconstruction
Authors: Huang Zheao , Wang Zhouzhou , Rabl Hannah , Naghdi Shaghayegh , Zhou Qiancheng , Schwarz Sabine , Apaydin Dogukan Hazar , Yu Ying , Eder Dominik
Published: October 2024

The current limitations in utilizing metal-organic frameworks for (photo)electrochemical applications stem from their diminished electrochemical stability. In our study, we illustrate a method to bolster the activity and stability of (photo)electrocatalytically active metal-organic frameworks through ligand engineering. We synthesize four distinct mixed-ligand versions of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67, and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the structural evolution and self-reconstruction during electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reactions. In contrast to the conventional single-ligand ZIF, where the framework undergoes a complete transformation into CoOOH via a stepwise oxidation, the ligand-engineered zeolitic imidazolate frameworks manage to preserve the fundamental framework structure by in-situ forming a protective cobalt (oxy)hydroxide layer on the surface. This surface reconstruction facilitates both conductivity and catalytic activity by one order of magnitude and considerably enhances the (photo)electrochemical stability. This work highlights the vital role of ligand engineering for designing advanced and stable metal-organic frameworks for photo- and electrocatalysis.
HIF1α-regulated glycolysis promotes activation-induced cell death and IFN-γ induction in hypoxic T cells
Authors: Shen Hongxing , Ojo Oluwagbemiga A. , Ding Haitao , Mullen Logan J. , Xing Chuan , Hossain M. Iqbal , Yassin Abdelrahman , Shi Vivian Y. , Lewis Zach , Podgorska Ewa , Andrabi Shaida A. , Antoniewicz Maciek R. , Bonner James A. , Shi Lewis Zhichang
Published: October 2024

Hypoxia is a common feature in various pathophysiological contexts, including tumor microenvironment, and IFN-γ is instrumental for anti-tumor immunity. HIF1α has long been known as a primary regulator of cellular adaptive responses to hypoxia, but its role in IFN-γ induction in hypoxic T cells is unknown. Here, we show that the HIF1α-glycolysis axis controls IFN-γ induction in both human and mouse T cells, activated under hypoxia. Specific deletion of HIF1α in T cells (Hif1α–/–) and glycolytic inhibition suppresses IFN-γ induction. Conversely, HIF1α stabilization by hypoxia and VHL deletion in T cells (Vhl–/–) increases IFN-γ production. Hypoxic Hif1α–/– T cells are less able to kill tumor cells in vitro, and tumor-bearing Hif1α–/– mice are not responsive to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in vivo. Mechanistically, loss of HIF1α greatly diminishes glycolytic activity in hypoxic T cells, resulting in depleted intracellular acetyl-CoA and attenuated activation-induced cell death (AICD). Restoration of intracellular acetyl-CoA by acetate supplementation re-engages AICD, rescuing IFN-γ production in hypoxic Hif1α–/– T cells and re-sensitizing Hif1α–/– tumor-bearing mice to ICB. In summary, we identify HIF1α-regulated glycolysis as a key metabolic control of IFN-γ production in hypoxic T cells and ICB response.
Polyclonality overcomes fitness barriers in Apc-driven tumorigenesis
Authors: Sadien Iannish D. , Adler Sam , Mehmed Shenay , Bailey Sasha , Sawle Ashley , Couturier Dominique-Laurent , Eldridge Matthew , Adams David J. , Kemp Richard , Lourenço Filipe C. , Winton Douglas J.
Published: October 2024

Loss-of-function mutations in the tumour suppressor APC are an initial step in intestinal tumorigenesis1,2. APC-mutant intestinal stem cells outcompete their wild-type neighbours through the secretion of Wnt antagonists, which accelerates the fixation and subsequent rapid clonal expansion of mutants3–5. Reports of polyclonal intestinal tumours in human patients and mouse models appear at odds with this process6,7. Here we combine multicolour lineage tracing with chemical mutagenesis in mice to show that a large proportion of intestinal tumours have a multiancestral origin. Polyclonal tumours retain a structure comprising subclones with distinct Apc mutations and transcriptional states, driven predominantly by differences in KRAS and MYC signalling. These pathway-level changes are accompanied by profound differences in cancer stem cell phenotypes. Of note, these findings are confirmed by introducing an oncogenic Kras mutation that results in predominantly monoclonal tumour formation. Further, polyclonal tumours have accelerated growth dynamics, suggesting a link between polyclonality and tumour progression. Together, these findings demonstrate the role of interclonal interactions in promoting tumorigenesis through non-cell autonomous pathways that are dependent on the differential activation of oncogenic pathways between clones.
Smooth trends in fermium charge radii and the impact of shell effects
Authors: Warbinek Jessica , Rickert Elisabeth , Raeder Sebastian , Albrecht-Schönzart Thomas , Andelic Brankica , Auler Julian , Bally Benjamin , Bender Michael , Berndt Sebastian , Block Michael , Brizard Alexandre , Chauveau Pierre , Cheal Bradley , Chhetri Premaditya , Claessens Arno , de Roubin Antoine , Devlin Charlie , Dorrer Holger , Düllmann Christoph E. , Ezold Julie , Ferrer Rafael , Gadelshin Vadim , Gaiser Alyssa , Giacoppo Francesca , Goriely Stephane , Gutiérrez Manuel J. , Harvey Ashley , Hasse Raphael , Heinke Reinhard , Heßberger Fritz-Peter , Hilaire Stephane , Kaja Magdalena , Kaleja Oliver , Kieck Tom , Kim EunKang , Kneip Nina , Köster Ulli , Kraemer Sandro , Laatiaoui Mustapha , Lantis Jeremy , Lecesne Nathalie , Loria Basto Andrea Tzeitel , Mistry Andrew Kishor , Mokry Christoph , Moore Iain , Murböck Tobias , Münzberg Danny , Nazarewicz Witold , Niemeyer Thorben , Nothhelfer Steven , Péru Sophie , Raggio Andrea , Reinhard Paul-Gerhard , Renisch Dennis , Rey-Herme Emmanuel , Romans Jekabs , Romero Romero Elisa , Runke Jörg , Ryssens Wouter , Savajols Hervé , Schneider Fabian , Sperling Joseph , Stemmler Matou , Studer Dominik , Thörle-Pospiech Petra , Trautmann Norbert , Urquiza-González Mitzi , van Beek Kenneth , Van Cleve Shelley , Van Duppen Piet , Vandebrouck Marine , Verstraelen Elise , Walther Thomas , Weber Felix , Wendt Klaus
Published: October 2024

The quantum-mechanical nuclear-shell structure determines the stability and limits of the existence of the heaviest nuclides with large proton numbers Z ≳ 100 (refs. 1–3). Shell effects also affect the sizes and shapes of atomic nuclei, as shown by laser spectroscopy studies in lighter nuclides4. However, experimental information on the charge radii and the nuclear moments of the heavy actinide elements, which link the heaviest naturally abundant nuclides with artificially produced superheavy elements, is sparse5. Here we present laser spectroscopy measurements along the fermium (Z = 100) isotopic chain and an extension of data in the nobelium isotopic chain (Z = 102) across a key region. Multiple production schemes and different advanced techniques were applied to determine the isotope shifts in atomic transitions, from which changes in the nuclear mean-square charge radii were extracted. A range of nuclear models based on energy density functionals reproduce well the observed smooth evolution of the nuclear size. Both the remarkable consistency of model prediction and the similarity of predictions for different isotopes suggest a transition to a regime in which shell effects have a diminished effect on the size compared with lighter nuclei.
The rise and transformation of Bronze Age pastoralists in the Caucasus
Authors: Ghalichi Ayshin , Reinhold Sabine , Rohrlach Adam B. , Kalmykov Alexey A. , Childebayeva Ainash , Yu He , Aron Franziska , Semerau Lena , Bastert-Lamprichs Katrin , Belinskiy Andrey B. , Berezina Natalia Y. , Berezin Yakov B. , Broomandkhoshbacht Nasreen , Buzhilova Alexandra P. , Erlikh Vladimir R. , Fehren-Schmitz Lars , Gambashidze Irina , Kantorovich Anatoliy R. , Kolesnichenko Konstantin B. , Lordkipanidze David , Magomedov Rabadan G. , Malek-Custodis Katharina , Mariaschk Dirk , Maslov Vladimir E. , Mkrtchyan Levon , Nagler Anatoli , Fazeli Nashli Hassan , Ochir Maria , Piotrovskiy Yuri Y. , Saribekyan Mariam , Sheremetev Aleksandr G. , Stöllner Thomas , Thomalsky Judith , Vardanyan Benik , Posth Cosimo , Krause Johannes , Warinner Christina , Hansen Svend , Haak Wolfgang
Published: October 2024

The Caucasus and surrounding areas, with their rich metal resources, became a crucible of the Bronze Age1 and the birthplace of the earliest steppe pastoralist societies2. Yet, despite this region having a large influence on the subsequent development of Europe and Asia, questions remain regarding its hunter-gatherer past and its formation of expansionist mobile steppe societies3–5. Here we present new genome-wide data for 131 individuals from 38 archaeological sites spanning 6,000 years. We find a strong genetic differentiation between populations north and south of the Caucasus mountains during the Mesolithic, with Eastern hunter-gatherer ancestry4,6 in the north, and a distinct Caucasus hunter-gatherer ancestry7 with increasing East Anatolian farmer admixture in the south. During the subsequent Eneolithic period, we observe the formation of the characteristic West Eurasian steppe ancestry and heightened interaction between the mountain and steppe regions, facilitated by technological developments of the Maykop cultural complex8. By contrast, the peak of pastoralist activities and territorial expansions during the Early and Middle Bronze Age is characterized by long-term genetic stability. The Late Bronze Age marks another period of gene flow from multiple distinct sources that coincides with a decline of steppe cultures, followed by a transformation and absorption of the steppe ancestry into highland populations.
A high-quality genome of the early diverging tychoplanktonic diatom Paralia guyana
Authors: Jian Jianbo , Du Feichao , Wang Binhu , Fang Xiaodong , Larsen Thomas Ostenfeld , Li Yuhang , Sonnenschein Eva C.
Published: October 2024

The diatom Paralia guyana is a tychoplanktonic microalgal species that represents one of the early diverging diatoms. P. guyana can thrive in both planktonic and benthic habitats, making a significant contribution to the occurrence of red tide events. Although a dozen diatom genomes have been sequenced, the identity of the early diverging diatoms remains elusive. The understanding of the evolutionary clades and mechanisms of ecological adaptation in P. guyana is limited by the absence of a high-quality genome assembly. In this study, the first high-quality genome assembly for the early diverging diatom P. guyana was established using PacBio single molecular sequencing. The assembled genome has a size of 558.85 Mb, making it the largest diatom genome on record, with a contig N50 size of 26.06 Mb. A total of 27,121 protein-coding genes were predicted in the P. guyana genome, of which 22,904 predicted genes (84.45%) were functionally annotated. This data and analysis provide innovative genomic resources for tychoplanktonic microalgal species and shed light on the evolutionary origins of diatoms.
Genome guided, organ-specific transcriptome assembly of the European flounder (P. flesus) from the Baltic Sea
Authors: Pomianowski Konrad , Kulczykowska Ewa , Burzyński Artur
Published: October 2024

Although the European flounder is frequently used in research and has economic importance, there is still lack of comprehensive transcriptome data for this species. In the present research we show RNA-Seq data from ten selected organs of P. flesus female inhabiting brackish waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea). High throughput Next Generation Sequencing technology NovaSeq 6000 was used to generate 500 M sequencing reads. These were mapped against European flounder reference genome and reads extracted from the mapping were assembled producing 61k reliable contigs. Gene ontology (GO) terms were assigned to the majority of annotated contigs/unigenes based on the results of PFAM, PANTHER, UniProt and InterPro protein databases searches. BUSCOs statistics for eukaryota, metazoa, vertebrata and actinopterygii databases showed that the reported transcriptome represents a high level of completeness. The data set can be successfully used as a tool in design of experiments from various research fields including biology, aquaculture and toxicology.
Community composition and seasonal dynamics of microplastic biota in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Davidov Keren , Marsay Katherine S. , Itzahri Sheli , Rubin-Blum Maxim , Sobral Paula , Kranzler Chana F. , Oren Matan
Published: October 2024

Marine plastic pollution poses a growing environmental threat, with microplastics accumulating in the global oceans. This study profiles the seasonal dynamics and taxonomic composition of the plastisphere, the microplastic ecosystem, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Using long-read 16 S and 18 S metabarcoding, we analyzed offshore microplastic and whole seawater samples across each season over a two-year period. The analysis revealed a higher richness of prokaryotic communities on microplastics compared to seawater, which was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota and exhibited notable seasonal variability. Benthic eukaryotes were enriched on microplastics compared to the surrounding seawater. Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), in particular, showed significant enrichment within the microplastic eukaryotic community with primarily pennate diatoms of Amphora, Navicula, and Nitzschia genera, whereas the seawater included mostly centric diatoms. Seasonal fluctuations were less pronounced in the microplastic communities than in seawater, highlighting the relative stability of this new human-made ecosystem. These findings underscore the unique ecological niche of microplastic-associated communities in marine environments.
Characterization of white blood cell ratios in South American camelids presented at a veterinary teaching hospital
Authors: Wagener Matthias Gerhard , Kornblum Max , Ganter Martin , Kiene Frederik
Published: October 2024

White blood cell (WBC) ratios are used as diagnostic markers for various inflammatory or tumor diseases as well as stress in a broad range of species. The aim of this work was to provide data on five WBC ratios (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], band neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [BLR], band neutrophil-to-neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [BNLR], band neutrophil-to-neutrophil ratio [BNR] and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR]) in South American camelids (SAC) and characterize their association with demographic and important diagnostic parameters. Medical records of 307 SAC (275 alpacas, 32 llamas) that were presented at a veterinary teaching hospital were evaluated retrospectively. WBC ratios were calculated based on hematologic results of the initial blood samples. The influence of species, sex, age, body condition score, WBC count, and anemia on those ratios was investigated using descriptive statistics and generalized linear models. NLR, BLR and LMR were found to be significantly influenced by age and WBC count. Associations of individual WBC ratios with species, nutritional status or an anemic condition could be detected. NLR was 4.32; 2.31–7.81 (median; IQR), BLR 0.24; 0.07–0.87, BNLR 3.66 × 10–3; 1.17 × 10–3 − 14.20 × 10–3, BNR 0.06; 0.02–0.15 and LMR was 7; 3.54–14.67. Our data might serve as a basis for further studies on WBC ratios in SAC. The animals in this study showed a variety of underlying diseases. It should hence be noted that these values are orientation values and provide a representative overview of conditions in a clinic, but are not suitable as reference values for healthy animals.
The effect of trusting contexts in social dilemmas with collective and individual solutions
Authors: Lo Iacono Sergio , Sonmez Burak , Fairbrother Malcolm
Published: October 2024

Trust encourages members of communities to cooperate and provide public goods. However, the literature has yet to fully investigate how high and low trusting communities deal with collective action dilemmas with multiple solutions. The latter may raise the risk of coordination failure. Using a preregistered interactive experiment (N participants/groups = 371/70), we investigated people’s decisions when they have three possible choices in confronting a collective action dilemma: investing in an individual solution, investing in a collective solution, and free-riding. We manipulated the incentives for trusting and trustworthy interactions among community members, and, consistent with our expectations, we found that people in high-trust contexts invest more in collective solutions, compared to people in low-trust contexts. In the latter case, participants opted more for individual solutions, using resources less efficiently. However, we found no difference in the prevalence of free-riding in high- compared to low-trust contexts.