bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The assessment of water quality in river Molo water basin, Kenya
Authors: Chebet Emily B. , Kibet Joshua K. , Mbui Damaris 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe monitoring of water quality for both domestic and commercial use is absolutely essential for policy formulation that affects both public and environmental health. This study investigates the quality of water of river Molo system which lies in the Kenyan Rift Valley. The river is considered a vital source of water for the residents and industrial activities in Nakuru and Baringo Counties. Six water samples were collected during the dry season of December 2017. Various physicochemical parameters were determined in situ by use of a portable pH meter. These parameters included pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS). Anions such as fluorides, sulfates, phosphates, nitrates, chlorides, carbonates and bicarbonates were determined using conventional methods such as titrimetry and (ultra-violet visible) UV–Vis techniques. The cations including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium were determined using flame photometry. The results showed that the water had pH values ranging from 7.90 to 9.66 units, temperature ranged from 14.02 to 31.5 °C, while electrical conductivity ranged from 181 to 1637 μS/cm, TDS (69–823 mg/L), F (2.76–3.28 mg/L), sulfates (4.97–85.66 mg/L), phosphates (0.13–11.06 mg/L), nitrates (1.73–6.16 mg/L), chlorides (38.5–69.4 mg/L), carbonates (18–148 mg/L), bicarbonates (54–384 mg/L), sodium (19–1800 mg/L), potassium (8.9–121 mg/L), magnesium (4.8–106.8 mg/L) and calcium (13.4–77.4 mg/L). The pH, temperature, fluorides and sodium were above the World Health Organization permissible limits for drinking water in S4 and S5. All the water samples fall under bicarbonate or freshwater zone. The sampling points can be classified into five water types: Na–Mg–Ca–HCO3, Na–HCO3, Na–Ca–Mg–HCO3–CO3, Na and Na–Ca–HCO3–CO3. Chemical indices such as sodium adsorption ratio, magnesium hazard, percent sodium and permeability index are reported. Accordingly, the findings from this work indicate that the river Molo water in general is good for irrigation.
Role-Value Maps and General Concept Inclusions in the Minimal Description Logic with Value Restrictions or Revisiting Old Skeletons in the DL Cupboard
Authors: Baader Franz , Théron Clément 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe investigate the impact that general concept inclusions and role-value maps have on the complexity and decidability of reasoning in the description logic$$\mathcal{FL}_0$$FL0. On the one hand, we give a more direct proof for ExpTime-hardness of subsumption w.r.t. general concept inclusions in$$\mathcal{FL}_0$$FL0. On the other hand, we determine restrictions on role-value maps that ensure decidability of subsumption, but we also show undecidability for the cases where these restrictions are not satisfied.
Analyzing the condition of Japanese electricity cost linkages by fossil fuel sources after the Fukushima disaster
Authors: Aruga Kentaka 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study analyzes the dynamics of the linkages among costs of electricity generation via crude oil, natural gas, and coal for the periods before and after the Fukushima accident. We find that Markov regime switching in the cost spreads between the fossil fuels has become more frequent after the Fukushima accident. Johansen and Bierens–Martins cointegration tests also indicate that since the accident, the oil and gas relationship has become more evident, while the cost relationships between coal and other fossil fuels have weakened. These results might reflect changes in Japanese energy policy since the accident to promote LNG and compensate for the reduced energy supply from closing the nuclear power plants, while concurrently coping to meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement to reduce CO2emissions.
Exploring the associations between middle adolescent romantic activity and positive youth development
Authors: Beckmeyer Jonathon J. , Weybright Elizabeth H. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTIntroductionAlthough prior research has demonstrated romantic involvement can negatively impact adolescent well‐being, it may also provide a context for developing characteristics of positive youth development (PYD). The present study explored the associations between adolescent romantic involvement and PYD. Study aim‐1 determined if participation in different romantic activities was associated with PYD. Study aim‐2 specifically focused on adolescents in romantic relationships, testing if relationship quality was associated with PYD.MethodsThe study was a secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data from the age‐15 assessment of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Study aim‐1 used data from 826 15‐year‐olds (50% female) who reported their romantic socializing, dating, and relationship involvement. Study aim‐2 used data from 190 15‐year‐olds (52% female) in romantic relationships who reported positive and negative interactions in their relationships. For both study aims, PYD was assessed as psychosocial maturity, peer competence, and school bonding.ResultsBased on hierarchical regression models, romantic socializing was positively associated with psychosocial maturity, peer competence, and school bonding; dating was positively associated with peer competence and school bonding; and relationship involvement was negatively associated with psychosocial maturity and school bonding. In terms of relationship quality, only one significant association emerged such that positive interactions were positively associated with peer competence.ConclusionsOverall, results supported the expectation that romantic involvement is associated with PYD during middle adolescence. However, the potential benefits of romantic involvement may be limited to the on‐time romantic activities of romantic socializing and dating.
Occurrence of Pulmonary Oil Microembolism After Testosterone Undecanoate Injection: A Postmarketing Safety Analysis
Authors: Pastuszak Alexander W. , Hu Yiqun , Freid Jeffrey D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe Aveed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program was instituted because of potential risk of pulmonary oil microembolism (POME) and/or anaphylaxis after intramuscular injection of Aveed (testosterone undecanoate), indicated for treatment of adult male patients with congenital or acquired primary hypogonadism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.AimTo analyze the reporting rate of POME associated with testosterone undecanoate administration (750 mg/3 mL) during postmarketing surveillance.MethodsThe Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc database was searched for POME reports occurring from testosterone undecanoate approval on March 5, 2014, through June 30, 2018. Each case was reviewed and adjudicated by a drug safety physician to confirm the reported event had predefined clinical characteristics consistent with POME.OutcomesAnnual rate and clinical features of spontaneously reported POME cases were characterized.ResultsDuring the 4.3-year period, 90,092 doses of intramuscular testosterone undecanoate were distributed via an Aveed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program to health-care professionals for patient treatment. Of 633 individual case safety reports in the Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc safety database, 28 spontaneously reported adverse events were classified as POME, for a yearly spontaneously reported adverse event per-injection rate of &lt;0.1%. Most (21/22) events resolved, and of those with a resolution time reported, most (13/17) resolved in ≤30 minutes. More than 60% (13/21) of patients required no medical intervention (ie, the POME event resolved spontaneously). One fatality was reported 18 months after a documented POME event and appeared unrelated to the reported testosterone undecanoate injection or subsequent injections after the POME event. In 3 out of 4 POME cases with symptoms serious enough to require an emergency room visit, issues with injection technique or dosing were identified as a potential contributing factor.Clinical ImplicationsInjection technique and proper product usage are key elements in the prevention of POME events.Strengths & LimitationsThe reported rate of POME events was determined from a real-world clinical practice patient population; however, postmarketing safety data typically are underreported and retrospective in nature.ConclusionPOME events appear to be rare, with resolution occurring quickly without medical intervention in most cases.
Phase II Randomized, Clinical Trial Evaluating 2 Schedules of Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Patel Premal , Katz Jonathan , Lokeshwar Soum D. , Molina Manuel , Reis Isildinha M. , Clavijo Raul , Ramasamy Ranjith 
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate safety and clinical response of Low-intensity Shockwave Therapy (Li-SWT) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Materials & Methods
A single-institution, 2 arm, phase II randomized clinical trial was conducted between February 2017 and April 2019. Patients were randomized into 2 groups, with Li-SWT delivering a total of 3,600 shocks over 5 days (720 once a day, Group A) or over 2 weeks (600 once a day, 3 times a week, Group B). Patients were evaluated for the safety of therapy and completed the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain and the Erectile Hardness Scale assessment at baseline, and at 1, 3, and 6 months visits.

Results
Among 87 evaluable patients, 45 and 42 were allocated to Groups A and B treatment schedules, respectively, and 80 patients (40 per group) completed the 6-month evaluation. No adverse events were reported during treatment or during follow-up. There were statistically significant (P &lt; .05) improvements in International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function score (mean increase of 2.7 [95% CI = 1.2, 4.2] and 2.7 points [95% CI = 1.4, 4.1] for Groups A and B, respectively) and in Erectile Hardness Scale (mean increase of 0.6 points (95% CI = 0.3, 0.8) and 0.5 (95% CI = 0.2, 0.8) for Groups A and B, respectively) at 6 months, with no differences between groups.

Conclusion
No difference in outcomes was found when Li-SWT 3,600 shocks were delivered over 1 or 2 weeks at 6 months follow-up and both schedules were safe with no adverse events during or after treatment. Further trials with longer follow-up and sham arm will provide valuable information regarding treatment efficacy and durability.
Comparative Assessment of Various Machine Learning‐Based Bias Correction Methods for Numerical Weather Prediction Model Forecasts of Extreme Air Temperatures in Urban Areas
Authors: Cho Dongjin , Yoo Cheolhee , Im Jungho , Cha Dong‐Hyun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractForecasts of maximum and minimum air temperatures are essential to mitigate the damage of extreme weather events such as heat waves and tropical nights. The Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model has been widely used for forecasting air temperature, but generally it has a systematic bias due to its coarse grid resolution and lack of parametrizations. This study used random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), artificial neural network (ANN) and a multi‐model ensemble (MME) to correct the Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System (LDAPS; a local NWP model over Korea) model outputs of next‐day maximum and minimum air temperatures (
and
) in Seoul, South Korea. A total of 14 LDAPS model forecast data, the daily maximum and minimum air temperatures of in‐situ observations, and five auxiliary data were used as input variables. The results showed that the LDAPS model had an R2 of 0.69, a bias of −0.85 °C and an RMSE of 2.08 °C for
forecast, whereas the proposed models resulted in the improvement with R2 from 0.75 to 0.78, bias from −0.16 to −0.07 °C and RMSE from 1.55 to 1.66 °C by hindcast validation. For forecasting
, the LDAPS model had an R2 of 0.77, a bias of 0.51 °C and an RMSE of 1.43 °C by hindcast, while the bias correction models showed R2 values ranging from 0.86 to 0.87, biases from −0.03 to 0.03 °C, and RMSEs from 0.98 to 1.02 °C. The MME model had better generalization performance than the three single machine learning models by hindcast validation and leave‐one‐station‐out cross‐validation.
Probabilistic Forecasting of El Niño Using Neural Network Models
Authors: Petersik Paul Johannes , Dijkstra Henk A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe apply Gaussian density neural network and quantile regression neural network ensembles to predict the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Both models are able to assess the predictive uncertainty of the forecast by predicting a Gaussian distribution and the quantiles of the forecasts, respectively. This direct estimation of the predictive uncertainty for each given forecast is a novel feature in the prediction of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation by statistical models. The predicted mean and median, respectively, show a high‐correlation skill for long lead times (r=0.5, 12 months) for the 1963–2017 evaluation period. For the 1982–2017 evaluation period, the probabilistic forecasts by the Gaussian density neural network can better estimate the predictive uncertainty than a standard method to assess the predictive uncertainty of statistical models.
The Persistent Ionospheric Responses Over Japan After the Impact of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
Authors: Chou Min‐Yang , Cherniak Iurii , Lin Charles C.H. , Pedatella N.M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this study, we report the persistent impacts of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami on the ionosphere using the ground‐based Global Navigation Satellite System and FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC total electron content. Multiple unusual ionospheric phenomena, such as ionospheric irregularities, nighttime medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs), and planar traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), were observed after the emergence of tsunami‐induced concentric gravity waves. The ionospheric irregularities initially developed over the Hokkaido region following the interference of gravity waves at ~8:45 UT. Remarkably, the Perkins‐type nighttime MSTIDs accompanying the planar TIDs were discernible over Japan following the irregularities. By comparing with the tsunami model simulation and ocean buoy observations, it is determined that these planar TIDs, lasting for about 10 hr, were likely related to tsunami ocean waves reflected by seamounts, ridges, islands, and seafloor topography in the Pacific Ocean. Due to the absence of sporadic E layers, we suggest that the coupling between the tsunami‐generated gravity waves and the Perkins instability plays an essential role in initiating the equinoctial nighttime MSTIDs. The long‐lasting tsunami can continuously impact the ionosphere, affecting the nighttime ionospheric electrodynamics and making the conditions conducive for the development of midlatitude nighttime ionospheric irregularities and instabilities.
Using Natural Experiments and Counterfactuals for Causal Assessment: River Salinity and the Ganges Water Agreement
Authors: Penny Gopal , Mondal M. Shahjahan , Biswas Subir , Bolster Diogo , Tank Jennifer L. , Müller Marc F. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe effect of environmental policy on water resources is often challenging to evaluate due to dynamic interactions between people and water, particularly in data‐scarce watersheds. Increasing interactions between society and hydrology present a need to understand causal relations for improved assessment and prediction in complex human‐water systems. Conventional approaches to causal assessment in hydrology are sometimes insufficient due to data scarcity or system complexity. We argue that natural experiments present a promising and complementary avenue for assessing causal relations in such systems. In this spirit, we describe a natural experiment to assess causal effects of the Ganges water treaty, between India and Bangladesh, on streamflow and channel salinity in the Ganges delta in Bangladesh. We apply causal inference to assess the effect of the treaty on streamflow and use the results to generate synthetic ensembles of streamflow and salinity under a realistic scenario (with the treaty) and a counterfactual scenario (without the treaty). We then use synthetic streamflow ensembles to model salinity ensembles. The Ganges water treaty increased dry‐season streamflow in Bangladesh by approximately 18% and decreased channel salinity by approximately 10%. The treaty has the greatest effect on salinity in Bangladesh in the driest years, but the overall effect is small compared with natural variability. We show that our approach accounts for natural hydrologic variability to accurately assess the causal effect of the treaty, compared with a naive approach that greatly overestimates the effect. This research demonstrates the value of natural experiments for causal assessment in coupled human‐water systems.
China's Food Supply Sources Under Trade Conflict With the United States and Limited Domestic Land and Water Resources
Authors: Liu Wenfeng , Yang Hong , Ciais Philippe , Kummu Matti , Hoekstra Arjen Y. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe U.S.‐China trade conflict has already considerably reshaped China's food imports, and should the conflict continue, it might have substantial impacts on global food supply dynamics as well as China's food supply sources. We address these implications by analyzing recent trends in China's food imports and associated use of land and water resources. We show that China's limited land and water availability will make it challenging to replace soybean imports from the United States with its own production, but switching to new trading partners by investment and cooperation could secure China's food supply while avoiding much negative environmental impacts on exporting countries.
Emergent Simplicity of Continental Evapotranspiration
Authors: McColl Kaighin A. , Rigden Angela J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEvapotranspiration (ET) is challenging to model because it depends on heterogeneous land surface features—such as soil moisture, land cover type, and plant physiology—resulting in rising model complexity and substantial disagreement between models. We show that the evaporative fraction (ET as a proportion of available energy at the surface) can be estimated accurately across a broad range of conditions using a simple equation with no free parameters and no land surface information; only near‐surface air temperature and specific humidity observations are required. The equation performs well when compared to eddy covariance measurements at 76 inland continental sites, with prediction errors comparable to errors in the eddy covariance measurements themselves, despite substantial variability in surface conditions across sites. This reveals an emergent simplicity to continental ET that has not been previously recognized, in which land‐atmosphere coupling efficiently embeds land surface information in the near‐surface atmospheric state on daily to monthly time scales.
The Seasonality of Submesoscale Energy Production, Content, and Cascade
Authors: Dong Jihai , Fox‐Kemper Baylor , Zhang Hong , Dong Changming 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSubmesoscale processes in the upper ocean vary seasonally, in tight correspondence with mixed layer thickness variability. Based on a global high‐resolution MITgcm simulation, seasonal evaluation of strong vorticity and spectral analysis of the kinetic energy in the Kuroshio Extension System show the strongest submesoscales occur in March, implying a lag of about a month behind mixed layer thickness maximum in February. An analysis of spectral energy sources and transfers indicates that the seasonality of the submesoscale energy content is a result of the competition between the conversion of available potential energy into submesoscale kinetic energy via a buoyancy production/vertical buoyancy flux associated with mixed layer instability and nonlinear energy transfers to other scales associated with an energy cascade. The buoyancy production is seasonally in phase with the mixed layer depth, but the transfers of energy across scales makes energizing the reservoir of submesoscale kinetic energy lag behind by a month.
Analysis of Electric and Magnetic Lightning‐Generated Wave Amplitudes Measured by the Van Allen Probes
Authors: Ripoll J.‐F. , Farges T. , Malaspina D. M. , Lay E. H. , Cunningham G. S. , Hospodarsky G. B. , Kletzing C. A. , Wygant J. R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe provide a statistical analysis of both electric and magnetic field wave amplitudes of very low frequency lightning‐generated waves (LGWs) based on the equivalent of 11.5 years of observations made by the Van Allen Probes encompassing ~24.6 × 106 survey mode measurements. We complement this analysis with data from the ground‐based World Wide Lightning Location Network to explore differences between satellite and ground‐based measurements. LGW mean amplitudes are found to be low compared with other whistler mode waves (1 ± 1.6 pT and 19 ± 59 μV/m). Extreme events (1/5,000) can reach 100 pT and contributes strongly to the mean power below L = 2. We find excellent correlations between World Wide Lightning Location Network‐based power and wave amplitudes in space at various longitudes. We reveal strong dayside ionospheric damping of the LGW electric field. LGW amplitudes drop for L < 2, contrary to the Earth's intense equatorial lightning activity. We conclude that it is difficult for equatorial LGW to propagate and remain at L < 2.
Cell-type-specific role of CHK2 in mediating DNA damage-induced G2 cell cycle arrest
Authors: van Jaarsveld Marijn T. M. , Deng Difan , Ordoñez-Rueda Diana , Paulsen Malte , Wiemer Erik A. C. , Zi Zhike 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCancer is a life-threatening disease that affects one in three people. Although most cases are sporadic, cancer risk can be increased by genetic factors. It remains unknown why certain genes predispose for specific forms of cancer only, such as checkpoint protein 2 (CHK2), in which gene mutations convey up to twofold higher risk for breast cancer but do not increase lung cancer risk. We have investigated the role of CHK2 and the related kinase checkpoint protein 1 (CHK1) in cell cycle regulation in primary breast and lung primary epithelial cells. At the molecular level, CHK1 activity was higher in lung cells, whereas CHK2 was more active in breast cells. Inhibition of CHK1 profoundly disrupted the cell cycle profile in both lung and breast cells, whereas breast cells were more sensitive toward inhibition of CHK2. Finally, we provide evidence that breast cells require CHK2 to induce a G2–M cell cycle arrest in response of DNA damage, whereas lung cells can partially compensate for the loss of CHK2. Our results provide an explanation as to whyCHK2germline mutations predispose for breast cancer but not for lung cancer.