bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High serum PD‐L1 level is a poor prognostic biomarker in surgically treated esophageal cancer
Authors: Ito Masaaki , Yajima Satoshi , Suzuki Takashi , Oshima Yoko , Nanami Tatsuki , Sumazaki Makoto , Shiratori Fumiaki , Funahashi Kimihiko , Tochigi Naobumi , Shimada Hideaki 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundProgrammed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) inhibitor has been approved as one of the standard therapies for various cancers. Some reports have shown that serum PD‐L1 level is associated with advanced tumor stages and poor prognosis; however, corresponding pathological information in esophageal cancer patients is lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the clinicopathological and prognostic impact of serum PD‐L1 levels in surgically treated esophageal cancer.MethodsA total of 150 patients who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer were included in the study. Preoperative serum PD‐L1 levels were analyzed using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. A cutoff level of 65.6 pg/mL was used to divide the patients into two groups, and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses between these two groups.ResultsAlthough significant associations between serum PD‐L1 levels and clinicopathological variables were observed, serum PD‐L1 level was significantly associated with high neutrophil counts, high CRP levels, low albumin levels, and high squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels. Furthermore, serum PD‐L1 level was associated with poor overall survival independent to TNM factors.ConclusionsHigh preoperative level of serum PD‐L1 is a prognostic factor for poor overall survival in patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer.
Variability of integrated precipitable water over India in a warming climate
Authors: Mishra Anoop Kumar 
Published: December 2019

AbstractChanges in precipitation patterns as a result of increased atmospheric water vapour in a warming environment over the Indian region have been reported in the past few decades. However, these studies have not focused much on exploring the changes in atmospheric water vapour in a changing climate. The present study focuses on examining the variability of integrated precipitable water (IPW) over the Indian region derived from the Modern Era Retrospective‐Analysis for Research and Application (MERRA 2) model in a warming environment. The results suggest that the IPW has increased significantly in recent decades. Changes in the IPW are consistent with changes in regional warming over India. The results also point out an increase of about 4.98% ± 1.26% in the IPW for a 1°C increase in regional warming. The variability of IPW has been examined in a warming climate. An increase in regional temperature shows coherent variation with IPW. A decadal increase of about 1.69% has been reported in the IPW.
RETRACTED: An innovative panel containing a set of insertion/deletion loci for individual identification and its forensic efficiency evaluations in Chinese Hui ethnic minority
Authors: Cui Wei , Jin Xiaoye , Guo Yuxin , Chen Chong , Zhang Wenqing , Kong Tingting , Meng Haotian , Zhu Bofeng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundIndividual identification is one of the most important tasks in the field of forensic genetics. Insertion/Deletion (InDel) polymorphism marker has been a promising marker for individual identification. However, a part of InDel loci in commonly used commercial kit show low polymorphisms in Chinese populations.MethodsWe evaluated a panel of 35 InDel loci constructed previously for individual identifications in Hui group. Subsequently, population data of three Chinese populations from 1,000 Genomes Project database were used to evaluate individual identification performance of these 35 InDels. Forensic parameters, such as heterozygosity, power of exclusion, match probability and power of discrimination, were calculated to evaluate the forensic efficiency of these loci in Hui group. The heatmap of insertion allelic frequencies, Nei's genetic distances, pairwise fixation index values, principal component analyses and admixture analyses were used to analyze the genetic differentiations and structure between Hui group and other populations.ResultsIn studied Hui group, besides rs3054057, polymorphism information content values of the remaining loci were greater than 0.3. Values of expected heterozygosity of these loci were close to 0.5. The combined power of discrimination and power of exclusion values were 0.99999999999999659609 and 0.998682, respectively. Analyses of population genetics revealed that Chinese Hui group had closer genetic relationships with East Asian populations than other intercontinental populations.ConclusionThe forensic statistical analyses revealed these loci showed relatively high genetic polymorphisms in Chinese Hui group, and could be served as a useful tool for individual identifications in Hui group. Population genetic evaluations indicated that Chinese Hui group had close genetic relationships with East Asian populations.
Identification of ecological networks for land-use planning with spatial conservation prioritization
Authors: Jalkanen Joel , Toivonen Tuuli , Moilanen Atte 
Published: December 2019

AbstractContextSpatial conservation prioritization (SCP) has most often been applied to the design of reserve network expansion. In addition to occurrences of species and habitats inside protected area candidate sites, one may also be interested about network-level connectivity considerations.ObjectivesWe applied SCP to the identification of ecological networks to inform the development of a new regional plan for the region of Uusimaa (South-Finland, including the Finnish capital district).MethodsInput data were 59 high-quality layers of biotope and species distribution data. We identified ecological networks based on a combination of a Zonation balanced priority ranking map and a weighted range size rarity map, to account for both relative and absolute conservation values in the process. We also identified ecological corridors between protected areas and other ecologically high-priority areas using the corridor retention method of Zonation. Furthermore, we identified candidate sites for habitat restoration.ResultsWe found seven large ecological networks (132–1201 km2) which stand out from their surrounding landscape in terms of ecological value and have clear connectivity bottlenecks between them. Highest restoration needs were found between large high-priority sites that are connected via remnant habitat fragments in comparatively highly modified areas.ConclusionsLand conversion should be avoided in areas of highest ecological priorities and network-level connectivity. Restoration should be considered for connectivity bottlenecks. Methods described here can be applied in any location where relevant spatial data are available. The present results are actively used by the regional council and municipalities in the region of Uusimaa.
Travel Time and Waveform Measurements of Global Multibounce Seismic Waves Using Virtual Station Seismogram Stacks
Authors: Lai Hongyu , Garnero Edward J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe construct geographically localized bin stacks of waveforms, called virtual stations, to enhance signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) for travel time and waveform measurements of multibounce S and ScS phases (S up to S6 and ScS up to ScS5), as well as direct S, ScS, and Sdiff, on tangential component data. Major arc S and ScS multibounce waves were also measured. Virtual station data are referenced to empirical wavelets constructed from direct S waves for each event. The virtual station approach is useful for low SNR data, bolstering wave path coverage in the southern hemisphere. Goodness of fit measurements between the adapted empirical wavelet and virtual station waveforms are documented, as well as SNRs, allowing for objective definition of travel time measurement quality. From a data set of 360 earthquakes and 8,407 seismographic stations, nearly 4 million records were utilized to construct 248,657 virtual station stacked seismograms, which were compared to best‐fitting empirical wavelets. After human inspection of virtual station results, 8,871 travel time measurements were retained from 19 different minor and major arc seismic wave types. Higher multibounce data improve sampling of the southern hemisphere. From 188,003 single seismograms, 3,331 multibounce wave measurements were also made. Comparisons of single seismogram and virtual station stack measurements show a consistent bias: Virtual stack onset times are systematically early due to a broadening effect from stacking records with arrival time differences, which we correct for. The travel time and waveform measurements are publicly available.
Features of Storm‐Induced Ionospheric Irregularities From Ground‐Based and Spaceborne GPS Observations During the 2015 St. Patrick's Day Storm
Authors: Zakharenkova Irina , Cherniak Iurii , Krankowski Andrzej 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDuring geomagnetic disturbances, the solo or combined effect of prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) and disturbance dynamo electric fields (DDEFs) alters radically regular pattern of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) occurrence. The severe 17–18 March 2015 storm is an excellent event to trace how the storm reshapes EPB generation at all longitudinal sectors. We present results of a comprehensive analysis of storm‐induced EPBs based on combination of in situ and remote sensing techniques including 6,100+ ground‐based GNSS stations, in situ plasma observations onboard Swarm, Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS), and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, COSMIC Global Positioning System (GPS) scintillations, and up‐looking GPS observations onboard Swarm. During the main storm phase, the PPEF‐induced postsunset EPBs occurred over Australian and Indian sectors. Both events were characterized by plasma bite‐out near the magnetic equator and strong plasma depletions at low/midlatitudes that caused strong GPS signal scintillations in the topside ionosphere. Long‐lasting DDEFs led to suppression of postsunset EPBs and promoted postmidnight/predawn EPBs in African/American/Pacific sectors. The first DDEF‐induced EPBs were registered ~6 hr after storm commencement in the midnight‐dawn sector of the Pacific Ocean during short‐term recovery period (09–12 UT on 17 March). In a succession of postsunset EPB suppression under DDEFs, an exclusive event with a single postsunset EPB development was registered in South America at the recovery phase beginning (23–24 UT) due to an unknown PPEF‐like source. During recovery phase, several large‐scale EPBs with an estimated inter‐bubble distance of ~1,000 km occurred almost simultaneously in the predawn sector in South America and was well sustained till ~07–08 LT in the morning.
Formation of a 3‐D Oscillatory Current System Associated With Global High‐Correlation Pi 2 Event: A Case Study
Authors: Uozumi T. , Yoshikawa A. , Ohtani S. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe present a typical example of the formation of a three‐dimensional (3‐D) oscillatory current system associated with a global high‐correlation Pi 2 event. The time variation of the field‐aligned current (FAC) density in the magnetosphere is estimated using multisatellite magnetic field data in the near‐Earth plasma sheet (~10 RE, ~23 MLT). Pi 2 pulsations, which were accompanied with the development of the upward and downward FACs in the substorm current wedge, were observed at mid‐latitude stations in the pre‐midnight sector (20.6 and 22.6 MLT), and the periodicity of the FAC fluctuations was correlated with the estimated current‐density fluctuations in the near‐Earth plasma sheet. Compressional signals of the Pi 2 pulsation were observed by an equatorial ground station and a geosynchronous satellite located in the midnight sector (0.1 and 0.4 MLT). A detailed comparison of the Pi 2 waveforms, which were simultaneously observed on the ground and in the near‐Earth magnetosphere, revealed high correlations between the fluctuations of the FACs and compressional pulses. These observations strongly suggest the formation of a 3‐D oscillatory current system associated with the global high‐correlation Pi 2 event. The sources of the oscillatory current system and compressional pulses were confirmed to be closely coupled with one another.
VLF Remote Sensing of the D Region Ionosphere Using Neural Networks
Authors: Gross N. C. , Cohen M. B. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNarrowband very low frequency (VLF) remote sensing has proven to be a useful tool for characterizing the ionosphere's D region (60‐ to 90‐km altitude) electron density. This work expands upon single transmitter‐receiver pair electron density profile inference methods to create a more generalized narrowband VLF remote sensing method that concurrently resolves a two‐parameter electron density profile for an arbitrary number of transmitter‐receiver pairs. A target function is constructed to take in a single time step of narrowband amplitude and phase observations from an arbitrary number of transmitter and receiver combinations and return the inferred average waveguide parameters along all paths. The target function is approximated using an artificial neural network (ANN). Synthetic training data are generated using the U.S. Navy's Long‐Wavelength Propagation Capability program, which is then used to train the ANN. Performance of the ANN with real‐world data is measured in two ways. First, ANN inferred average waveguide parameters are compared to a variety of previously published narrowband VLF remote sensing experiments. Second, ANN inferred average waveguide parameters are used in Long‐Wavelength Propagation Capability to predict narrowband VLF amplitude and carrier phase at a receiver that was withheld when performing the average waveguide parameter inference. Results show the approximated target function performs well in capturing temporal and spatial characteristics of the D region.
Diagnosing the Role of Alfvén Waves in Global Field‐Aligned Current System Dynamics During Southward IMF: Swarm Observations
Authors: Pakhotin I.P. , Mann I.R. , Knudsen D.J. , Lysak R.L. , Burchill J.K. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractField‐aligned currents (FACs) are a primary signature of magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling (MIC). However, establishing FACs requires the propagation of Alfvén waves. Large‐scale quasi‐static FACs are well‐organized into large‐scale Region 1 (R1) and Region 2 (R2) systems during intervals of southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF); however, the scale‐dependent spatiotemporal variability and related electrodynamics are less well understood. Using the electric and magnetic field data from Swarms A and C, we examine the role of Alfvén waves in MIC at a range of scales during two auroral crossings during southward IMF on May 16, 2016. Interspacecraft techniques reveal large amplitude small‐scale (10s km) non‐stationary magnetic fields inconsistent with a quasi‐static formulation. Cross‐phase techniques reveal a frequency‐dependent E/B ratio and E‐B phase difference consistent with an Alfvén wave interpretation, validated using the Lysak (1991, https://doi.org/10.1029/90JA02154) ionospheric Alfvén resonator model constrained by inferred local Swarm plasma mass density. Local large amplitude E and B fields indicate the importance of Alfvénic energy transport at small scales. Evidence for Poynting flux concentration at the boundary between large‐scale upward and downward FACs is also presented. Our results suggest that cross‐scale FAC characteristics can be explained by a single Alfvén wave paradigm: quasi‐static large‐scale FACs representing the ω → 0 limit of a broader continuum of spatial scales associated with MIC. Future work should assess in more detail the energetic significance of small scales and the potential localization of large amplitude small‐scale disturbances at large scale FAC boundaries and assess related scale‐dependent MIC including Alfvénic ionospheric feedback.
Effects of Solar Wind Plasma Flow and Interplanetary Magnetic Field on the Spatial Structure of Earth's Radiation Belts
Authors: Li L.Y. , Yang S.S. , Cao J.B. , Yu J. , Luo X.Y. , Blake J.B. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBased on the statistical data measured by Van Allen Probes from 2012 to 2016, we analyzed the effects of solar wind plasma flow and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the spatial distribution of Earth's radiation belt electrons (>100 keV). The statistical results indicate that the increases in solar wind plasma density and flow speed can exert different effects on the spatial structure of the radiation belts. The high solar wind plasma density (≥6 cm−3)/flow pressure (≥2.5 nPa) and a large southward IMF (Bz < −6 nT) usually appear in the front of high‐speed solar wind streams (≥450 km/s), and they tend to narrow the outer radiation belt but broaden the slot region. In contrast, the increase in solar wind flow speed can broaden the outer radiation belt but narrows the slot region. When the solar wind speed exceeds 500 km/s, the outer radiation belt electrons can penetrate into the slot region (L < 3) and even enter the inner radiation belt (L < 2). The lower‐energy electrons penetrate into the deeper (smaller‐L) region than the higher‐energy electrons.
Energetic Particle Signatures Above Saturn's Aurorae
Authors: Bader A. , Badman S. V. , Ray L. C. , Paranicas C. P. , Lorch C. T. S. , Clark G. , André M. , Mitchell D. G. , Constable D. A. , Kinrade J. , Hunt G. J. , Pryor W. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNear the end of its mission, NASA's Cassini spacecraft performed several low‐altitude passes across Saturn's auroral region. We present ultraviolet auroral imagery and various coincident particle and field measurements of two such passes, providing important information about the structure and dynamics of Saturn's auroral acceleration region. In upward field‐aligned current regions, upward proton beams are observed to reach energies of several tens of keV; the associated precipitating electron populations are found to have mean energies of about 10 keV. With no significant wave activity being apparent, these findings indicate strong parallel potentials responsible for auroral acceleration, about 100 times stronger than at Earth. This is further supported by observations of proton conics in downward field‐aligned current regions above the acceleration region, which feature a lower energy cutoff above
50 keV—indicating energetic proton populations trapped by strong parallel potentials while being transversely energized until they can overcome the trapping potential, likely through wave‐particle interactions. A spacecraft pass through a downward current region at an altitude near the acceleration region reveals plasma wave features, which may be driving the transverse proton acceleration generating the conics. Overall, the signatures observed resemble those related to the terrestrial and Jovian aurorae, the particle energies and potentials at Saturn appearing to be significantly higher than at Earth and comparable to those at Jupiter.
The Influence of Spacecraft Charging on Low‐Energy Ion Measurements Made by RPC‐ICA on Rosetta
Authors: Bergman Sofia , Stenberg Wieser Gabriella , Wieser Martin , Johansson Fredrik Leffe , Eriksson Anders 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSpacecraft charging is problematic for low‐energy plasma measurements. The charged particles are attracted to or repelled from the charged spacecraft, affecting both the energy and direction of travel of the particles. The Ion Composition Analyzer (RPC‐ICA) on board the Rosetta spacecraft is suffering from this effect. RPC‐ICA was measuring positive ions in the vicinity of comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko, covering an energy range of a few eV/q to 40 keV/q. The low‐energy part of the data is, however, heavily distorted by the negatively charged spacecraft. In this study we use the Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software to model the influence of the spacecraft potential on the ion trajectories and the corresponding distortion of the field of view (FOV) of the instrument. The results show that the measurements are not significantly distorted when the ion energy corresponds to at least twice the spacecraft potential. Below this energy the FOV is often heavily distorted, but the distortion differs between different viewing directions. Generally, ions entering the instrument close to the aperture plane are less affected than those entering with extreme elevation angles.
Importance of Bias Correction in Data Assimilation of Multiple Observations Over Eastern China Using WRF‐Chem/DART
Authors: Ma Chaoqun , Wang Tijian , Jiang Ziqiang , Wu Hao , Zhao Ming , Zhuang Bingliang , Li Shu , Xie Min , Li Mengmeng , Liu Jane , Wu Rongsheng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThree types of observations, aerosol optical depth from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, surface particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 (PM2.5) and 10 μm (PM10), and aerosol extinction coefficient (AEXT) profiles from ground‐based lidars, were separately and simultaneously assimilated using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with the Chemistry/Data Assimilation Research Testbed (WRF‐Chem/DART). Two cases in June and November 2018 were selected over middle and eastern China. Experiments assimilating single‐type and multiple observations were evaluated by cross validating their analysis and forecast against the three observation types. Compared to the experiment without data assimilation (DA), DA of single‐type observations is always closer to the type of observations assimilated. However, DA of aerosol optical depth or AEXT sometimes significantly degraded the error performance for PM2.5. This problem is caused by the inconsistency of bias tendencies when modeling aerosol optical properties and surface aerosol mass. It is found that WRF‐Chem tends to predict dryer air within the boundary layer over eastern China, which may have played a role in the underestimation of AEXT even when PM2.5 was overestimated. After applying a simple bias correction (BC), the problem was alleviated. DA of multiple observations with BC gives the best overall error performance when validated against all types of observations and even performs better than any DA of single‐type observations experiments in reproducing AEXT profiles. The results illustrate that BC is important in DA of multiple observations and that the simultaneous DA of aerosol observations with different vertical information can work synergistically to improve aerosol forecasts.