bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health Impact Assessment of the 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode: Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions
Authors: Liu Yisi , Austin Elena , Xiang Jianbang , Gould Tim , Larson Tim , Seto Edmund 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMajor wildfires starting in the summer of 2020 along the west coast of the United States made PM2.5 concentrations in this region rank among the highest in the world. Washington was impacted both by active wildfires in the state and aged wood smoke transported from fires in Oregon and California. This study aims to estimate the magnitude and disproportionate spatial impacts of increased PM2.5 concentrations attributable to these wildfires on population health. Daily PM2.5 concentrations for each county before and during the 2020 Washington wildfire episode (September 7–19) were obtained from regulatory air monitors. Utilizing previously established concentration‐response function (CRF) of PM2.5 (CRF of total PM2.5) and odds ratio (OR) of wildfire smoke days (OR of wildfire smoke days) for mortality, we estimated excess mortality attributable to the increased PM2.5 concentrations in Washington. On average, daily PM2.5 concentrations increased 97.1 μg/m3 during the wildfire smoke episode. With CRF of total PM2.5, the 13‐day exposure to wildfire smoke was estimated to lead to 92.2 (95% CI: 0.0, 178.7) more all‐cause mortality cases; with OR of wildfire smoke days, 38.4 (95% CI: 0.0, 93.3) increased all‐cause mortality cases and 15.1 (95% CI: 0.0, 27.9) increased respiratory mortality cases were attributable to the wildfire smoke episode. The potential impact of avoiding elevated PM2.5 exposures during wildfire events significantly reduced the mortality burden. Because wildfire smoke episodes are likely to impact the Pacific Northwest in future years, continued preparedness and mitigations to reduce exposures to wildfire smoke are necessary to avoid excess health burden.
Using Large Ensembles to Identify Regions of Systematic Biases in Moderate‐to‐Heavy Daily Precipitation
Authors: Goldenson N. , Thackeray C. W. , Hall A. D. , Swain D. L. , Berg N. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBecause of internal variability in both the real‐world and global climate models, it is unclear whether disagreement between models and observations reflects true systematic differences, or different phasing of internal variability in the short observational period. Here, we address this issue through an examination of moderate‐to‐heavy precipitation in large ensembles of global climate models. We find that model inconsistency with a global observational product is lowest for extratropical precipitation in northern hemisphere winter. The inconsistency is systematically greater for the southern hemisphere winter, but the difference between hemispheres could be due to observational quality. Moderate‐to‐heavy extratropical winter precipitation is less inconsistent than moderate‐to‐heavy tropical precipitation in most models. Within the tropics, moderate‐to‐heavy precipitation is particularly inconsistent with the reference in regions including the Caribbean (especially during JJA), the northern and southern flanks of the Pacific and Atlantic ITCZ, and the Indian Ocean.
Revealing the Morning Transition in the Mountain Boundary Layer Using Fiber‐Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing
Authors: Fritz A. M. , Lapo K. , Freundorfer A. , Linhardt T. , Thomas C. K. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn the morning, the nocturnal stable boundary layer, SBL, transitions into its daytime convective counterpart substantially impacting the distribution of temperature, humidity, and pollutants. Applying distributed temperature sensing (DTS) below a tethered balloon (2–200 m) and along a tower (0–11 m), for the first time we observed three morning transitions (MTs) in a mountain boundary layer with high temporal (<10 s) and spatial (<0.25 m) resolutions. We show that MTs are best derived from a change in static stability from synchronous DTS observations. Our findings confirm that the MT occurs at the SBL top and bottom simultaneously, and identify horizontal heat advection as a main driver aiding solar surface heating in this midrange mountain valley. We conclude that heterogenous land use and mountainous topography cause complex interactions between valley‐scale and local airflows leading to thermal signatures characterized by strong, small‐scale variability. Our study highlights DTS as a crucial tool for investigating complex thermodynamic processes.
The Relative Importance of Geomagnetic Storm Signatures on the Total Electron Content Perturbations Over the Continental US
Authors: Debchoudhury Shantanab , Sardana Disha , Earle Gregory D. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA study of 37 large solar storms occurring in the equinox periods from 2000 to 2018 is presented to quantify their effects on total electron content (TEC) variations in the ionosphere over the North American sector. The dependence of storm‐related TEC enhancements and depletions is studied as a function of various storm parameters using machine‐learning and statistical algorithms to quantify their relative importance. The variables under consideration include the onset time and duration of each storm, as well as characteristic scalar values derived from ring current variations detected by a network of ground‐based magnetometers. The TEC data used in the study are taken from the Continuously Operating Reference Station network of ground‐based GPS measurements, archived in the Madrigal database. The agreement and disagreement of the results across the different methods studied, along with the relative uncertainties in model prediction capability of the machine‐learning study, show that the geo‐effectiveness of large storms in the equinox periods is more closely related to the storm onset time and to ionospheric preconditioning than to any other parameters used in characterizing the storm. The effects in the higher latitude regions are shown to be very different from the lower latitude regions over the North American sector. This behavior can possibly be explained through storm‐induced changes in the atmospheric chemistry and the related temperature‐dependent production and loss processes at the higher latitudes.
Linking Deep and Shallow Convective Mass Fluxes via an Assumed Entrainment Distribution in CAM5‐CLUBB: Parameterization and Simulated Precipitation Variability
Authors: Yang Ben , Wang Minghuai , Zhang Guang J. , Guo Zhun , Huang Anning , Zhang Yaocun , Qian Yun 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe modify the Zhang‐McFarlane (ZM) deep convection scheme in the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 to couple it with a unified parameterization for boundary‐layer turbulence and shallow convection, that is, Cloud Layers Unified by Binormals (CLUBB). By assuming a lognormal distribution of entrainment rate across the entire moist convective regimes, we link mass fluxes between shallow and deep convection, which are partitioned by the entrainment rate of the shallowest deep convective plume. Hence, a new deep convective closure is established which is coupled to the sub‐grid vertical motion variability in CLUBB. The convection feedback (or memory) effects are also considered to decrease the entrainment spectrum width and enhance the vertical velocity variability that further affect deep convection. Results show that the revised scheme improves the precipitation simulations in terms of the mean state and variability at various timescales, such as the alleviated double‐intertropical convergence zone and more realistic simulations of the seasonal variation of monsoon precipitation over East Asia, Madden‐Julian Oscillation, and precipitation diurnal phase propagations downstream of large terrains. The improvements are still seen in many aspects such as the mean‐state precipitation when turning off the convection feedback impacts in the revised scheme, emphasizing the benefits of using the modified mass‐flux closure. However, the convection feedbacks have considerable effects on the precipitation diurnal cycle simulations over regions with late‐afternoon precipitation peaks. Overall, the revised scheme provides a unified treatment for sub‐grid vertical motions across regimes of boundary‐layer turbulence, shallow convection, and deep convection, leading to better‐simulated precipitation at various timescales.
Robust Inter‐Hemispheric Asymmetry in the Response to Symmetric Volcanic Forcing in Model Large Ensembles
Authors: Pauling Andrew G. , Bushuk Mitchell , Bitz Cecilia M. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe climate response to volcanic eruptions in the twentieth century is difficult to separate from the influence of anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing and internal variability. Here, we make use of recently available large ensembles of Earth‐system model simulations to better understand the forced climate response to contemporary volcanic eruptions. While the Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 resulted in approximately symmetric forcing between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the ensemble‐mean simulated temperature and sea ice responses it produces are asymmetric. The strongest cooling and sea ice expansion occur in the Arctic, while the responses in the Antarctic are weak. The damped high‐latitude Southern Hemisphere response to volcanic forcing is analogous to the fast response to increased greenhouse gas concentrations, despite the differing physical nature of the forcing. We find that Arctic cooling in response to a Pinatubo‐scale eruption may not occur due to the high internal variability in that region
Contributions of Arctic Sea‐Ice Loss and East Siberian Atmospheric Blocking to 2020 Record‐Breaking Meiyu‐Baiu Rainfall
Authors: Chen Xiaodan , Dai Aiguo , Wen Zhiping , Song Yuanyuan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHeavy Meiyu‐Baiu rainfall occurred over central‐east China and Japan in June–July 2020. This study analyzes observational and reanalysis data and performs atmospheric model simulations to investigate its causes. It is found that low Arctic sea ice cover (SIC) in late spring‐early summer of 2020 along the Siberian coast was an important factor. The low SIC caused local warming and high pressure, resulted in excessive atmospheric blockings over East Siberia, which caused cold air outbreaks into the Meiyu‐Baiu region, stopped the seasonal northward march of the Meiyu‐Baiu front, and increased the thermal contrast across the front, leading to record‐breaking rainfall in June–July 2020. Our results suggest that the 2020 extreme Meiyu‐Baiu was partly caused by the low SIC around the Siberian coast through its impact on East Siberian blockings. As sea ice along the Siberian coast decreases under global warming, its variations and thus influence on Meiyu‐Baiu rainfall may weaken.
Altered relationship between subjective perception and central representation of touch hedonics in adolescents with autism-spectrum disorder
Authors: Perini Irene , Gustafsson Per A. , Igelström Kajsa , Jasiunaite-Jokubaviciene Brigita , Kämpe Robin , Mayo Leah M. , Molander Johanna , Olausson Håkan , Zetterqvist Maria , Heilig Markus 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAn impairment of social communication is a core symptom of autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). Affective touch is an important means of social interaction, and C-Tactile (CT) afferents are thought to play a key role in the peripheral detection and encoding of these stimuli. Exploring the neural and behavioral mechanisms for processing CT-optimal touch (~3 cm/s) may therefore provide useful insights into the pathophysiology of ASD. We examined the relationship between touch hedonics (i.e. the subjective pleasantness with which affective touch stimuli are perceived) and neural processing in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS). This region is less activated to affective touch in individuals with ASD, and, in typically developing individuals (TD), is correlated positively with touch pleasantness. TD and ASD participants received brushing stimuli at CT-optimal, and CT-non-optimal speeds during fMRI. Touch pleasantness and intensity ratings were collected, and affective touch awareness, a measure of general touch hedonics was calculated. As expected, slow touch was perceived as more pleasant and less intense than fast touch in both groups, whereas affective touch awareness was moderately higher in TD compared to ASD. There was a strong, positive correlation between right pSTS activation and affective touch awareness in TD, but not in ASD. Our findings suggest that altered neural coupling between right pSTS and touch hedonics in ASD may be associated with social touch avoidance in ASD.
Germline variants at SOHLH2 influence multiple myeloma risk
Authors: Duran-Lozano Laura , Thorleifsson Gudmar , Lopez de Lapuente Portilla Aitzkoa , Niroula Abhishek , Went Molly , Thodberg Malte , Pertesi Maroulio , Ajore Ram , Cafaro Caterina , Olason Pall I. , Stefansdottir Lilja , Bragi Walters G. , Halldorsson Gisli H. , Turesson Ingemar , Kaiser Martin F. , Weinhold Niels , Abildgaard Niels , Andersen Niels Frost , Mellqvist Ulf-Henrik , Waage Anders , Juul-Vangsted Annette , Thorsteinsdottir Unnur , Hansson Markus , Houlston Richard , Rafnar Thorunn , Stefansson Kari , Nilsson Björn 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMultiple myeloma (MM) is caused by the uncontrolled, clonal expansion of plasma cells. While there is epidemiological evidence for inherited susceptibility, the molecular basis remains incompletely understood. We report a genome-wide association study totalling 5,320 cases and 422,289 controls from four Nordic populations, and find a novel MM risk variant at SOHLH2 at 13q13.3 (risk allele frequency = 3.5%; odds ratio = 1.38; P = 2.2 × 10−14). This gene encodes a transcription factor involved in gametogenesis that is normally only weakly expressed in plasma cells. The association is represented by 14 variants in linkage disequilibrium. Among these, rs75712673 maps to a genomic region with open chromatin in plasma cells, and upregulates SOHLH2 in this cell type. Moreover, rs75712673 influences transcriptional activity in luciferase assays, and shows a chromatin looping interaction with the SOHLH2 promoter. Our work provides novel insight into MM susceptibility.
Foxq1 promotes metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by inducing vasculogenic mimicry via the EGFR signaling pathway
Authors: Luo Yunfan , Wang Jie , Wang Fan , Liu Xiong , Lu Juan , Yu Xiaoxiao , Ma Xuemin , Peng Xiaohong , Li Xiangping 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the treatment of tumor metastasis and recurrence is challenging and is associated with poor clinical efficacy. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a new blood-supply model of malignant tumor that is closely related to tumors’ distant metastasis. Our previous study demonstrated that miR-124 could target Foxq1 to inhibit NPC metastasis. Whether Foxq1 affects metastasis through vasculogenic mimicry is worth consideration. In this study, we show that VM formation positively correlates with the expression of Foxq1, and EGFR, and the TNM stage in 114 NPC patient samples. Meanwhile, we show that VM-positive NPC patients have a poor prognosis. Furthermore, using in vitro and vivo approaches, we confirm that Foxq1 has a significant effect on NPC metastasis through promoting VM formation, which could be effectively inhibited by EGFR inhibitors (Nimotuzumab or Erlotinib). Also a synergistic efficacy of anti-EGFR and anti-VEGF drugs has been found in NPC inhibition. Mechanistically, the luciferase reporter gene and CHIP assays show that Foxq1 directly binds to the EGFR promoter region and regulates EGFR transcription. In conclusion, our results show that Foxq1 is regulated by miR-124 and that it promotes NPC metastasis by inducing VM via the EGFR signaling pathway. Overall, these results provide a new theoretical support and a novel target selection for anti-VM therapy in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
CPA-seq reveals small ncRNAs with methylated nucleosides and diverse termini
Authors: Wang Heming , Huang Rong , Li Ling , Zhu Junjin , Li Zhihong , Peng Chao , Zhuang Xuran , Lin Haifan , Shi Shuo , Huang Pengyu 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHigh-throughput sequencing reveals the complex landscape of small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs). However, it is limited by requiring 5′-monophosphate and 3′-hydroxyl in RNAs for adapter ligation and hindered by methylated nucleosides that interfere with reverse transcription. Here we develop Cap-Clip acid pyrophosphatase (Cap-Clip), T4 polynucleotide kinase (PNK) and AlkB/AlkB(D135S)-facilitated small ncRNA sequencing (CPA-seq) to detect and quantify sRNAs with terminus multiplicities and nucleoside methylations. CPA-seq identified a large number of previously undetected sRNAs. Comparison of sRNAs with or without AlkB/AlkB(D135S) treatment reveals nucleoside methylations on sRNAs. Using CPA-seq, we profiled the sRNA transcriptomes (sRNomes) of nine mouse tissues and reported the extensive tissue-specific differences of sRNAs. We also observed the transition of sRNomes during hepatic reprogramming. Knockdown of mesenchymal stem cell-enriched U1-5′ snsRNA promoted hepatic reprogramming. CPA-seq is a powerful tool with high sensitivity and specificity for profiling sRNAs with methylated nucleosides and diverse termini.
Non-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests
Authors: Signori-Müller Caroline , Oliveira Rafael S. , Barros Fernanda de Vasconcellos , Tavares Julia Valentim , Gilpin Martin , Diniz Francisco Carvalho , Zevallos Manuel J. Marca , Yupayccana Carlos A. Salas , Acosta Martin , Bacca Jean , Chino Rudi S. Cruz , Cuellar Gina M. Aramayo , Cumapa Edwin R. M. , Martinez Franklin , Mullisaca Flor M. Pérez , Nina Alex , Sanchez Jesus M. Bañon , da Silva Leticia Fernandes , Tello Ligia , Tintaya José Sanchez , Ugarteche Maira T. Martinez , Baker Timothy R. , Bittencourt Paulo R. L. , Borma Laura S. , Brum Mauro , Castro Wendeson , Coronado Eurídice N. Honorio , Cosio Eric G. , Feldpausch Ted R. , Fonseca Letícia d’Agosto Miguel , Gloor Emanuel , Llampazo Gerardo Flores , Malhi Yadvinder , Mendoza Abel Monteagudo , Moscoso Victor Chama , Araujo-Murakami Alejandro , Phillips Oliver L. , Salinas Norma , Silveira Marcos , Talbot Joey , Vasquez Rodolfo , Mencuccini Maurizio , Galbraith David 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNon-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are major substrates for plant metabolism and have been implicated in mediating drought-induced tree mortality. Despite their significance, NSC dynamics in tropical forests remain little studied. We present leaf and branch NSC data for 82 Amazon canopy tree species in six sites spanning a broad precipitation gradient. During the wet season, total NSC (NSCT) concentrations in both organs were remarkably similar across communities. However, NSCT and its soluble sugar (SS) and starch components varied much more across sites during the dry season. Notably, the proportion of leaf NSCT in the form of SS (SS:NSCT) increased greatly in the dry season in almost all species in the driest sites, implying an important role of SS in mediating water stress in these sites. This adjustment of leaf NSC balance was not observed in tree species less-adapted to water deficit, even under exceptionally dry conditions. Thus, leaf carbon metabolism may help to explain floristic sorting across water availability gradients in Amazonia and enable better prediction of forest responses to future climate change.
Spatially interacting phosphorylation sites and mutations in cancer
Authors: Huang Kuan-lin , Scott Adam D. , Zhou Daniel Cui , Wang Liang-Bo , Weerasinghe Amila , Elmas Abdulkadir , Liu Ruiyang , Wu Yige , Wendl Michael C. , Wyczalkowski Matthew A. , Baral Jessika , Sengupta Sohini , Lai Chin-Wen , Ruggles Kelly , Payne Samuel H. , Raphael Benjamin , Fenyö David , Chen Ken , Mills Gordon , Ding Li 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAdvances in mass-spectrometry have generated increasingly large-scale proteomics datasets containing tens of thousands of phosphorylation sites (phosphosites) that require prioritization. We develop a bioinformatics tool called HotPho and systematically discover 3D co-clustering of phosphosites and cancer mutations on protein structures. HotPho identifies 474 such hybrid clusters containing 1255 co-clustering phosphosites, including RET p.S904/Y928, the conserved HRAS/KRAS p.Y96, and IDH1 p.Y139/IDH2 p.Y179 that are adjacent to recurrent mutations on protein structures not found by linear proximity approaches. Hybrid clusters, enriched in histone and kinase domains, frequently include expression-associated mutations experimentally shown as activating and conferring genetic dependency. Approximately 300 co-clustering phosphosites are verified in patient samples of 5 cancer types or previously implicated in cancer, including CTNNB1 p.S29/Y30, EGFR p.S720, MAPK1 p.S142, and PTPN12 p.S275. In summary, systematic 3D clustering analysis highlights nearly 3,000 likely functional mutations and over 1000 cancer phosphosites for downstream investigation and evaluation of potential clinical relevance.
Olefin oligomerization by main group Ga3+ and Zn2+ single site catalysts on SiO2
Authors: LiBretto Nicole J. , Xu Yinan , Quigley Aubrey , Edwards Ethan , Nargund Rhea , Vega-Vila Juan Carlos , Caulkins Richard , Saxena Arunima , Gounder Rajamani , Greeley Jeffrey , Zhang Guanghui , Miller Jeffrey T. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn heterogeneous catalysis, olefin oligomerization is typically performed on immobilized transition metal ions, such as Ni2+ and Cr3+. Here we report that silica-supported, single site catalysts containing immobilized, main group Zn2+ and Ga3+ ion sites catalyze ethylene and propylene oligomerization to an equilibrium distribution of linear olefins with rates similar to that of Ni2+. The molecular weight distribution of products formed on Zn2+ is similar to Ni2+, while Ga3+ forms higher molecular weight olefins. In situ spectroscopic and computational studies suggest that oligomerization unexpectedly occurs by the Cossee-Arlman mechanism via metal hydride and metal alkyl intermediates formed during olefin insertion and β-hydride elimination elementary steps. Initiation of the catalytic cycle is proposed to occur by heterolytic C-H dissociation of ethylene, which occurs at about 250 °C where oligomerization is catalytically relevant. This work illuminates new chemistry for main group metal catalysts with potential for development of new oligomerization processes.
Two chemically distinct root lignin barriers control solute and water balance
Authors: Reyt Guilhem , Ramakrishna Priya , Salas-González Isai , Fujita Satoshi , Love Ashley , Tiemessen David , Lapierre Catherine , Morreel Kris , Calvo-Polanco Monica , Flis Paulina , Geldner Niko , Boursiac Yann , Boerjan Wout , George Michael W. , Castrillo Gabriel , Salt David E. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractLignin is a complex polymer deposited in the cell wall of specialised plant cells, where it provides essential cellular functions. Plants coordinate timing, location, abundance and composition of lignin deposition in response to endogenous and exogenous cues. In roots, a fine band of lignin, the Casparian strip encircles endodermal cells. This forms an extracellular barrier to solutes and water and plays a critical role in maintaining nutrient homeostasis. A signalling pathway senses the integrity of this diffusion barrier and can induce over-lignification to compensate for barrier defects. Here, we report that activation of this endodermal sensing mechanism triggers a transcriptional reprogramming strongly inducing the phenylpropanoid pathway and immune signaling. This leads to deposition of compensatory lignin that is chemically distinct from Casparian strip lignin. We also report that a complete loss of endodermal lignification drastically impacts mineral nutrients homeostasis and plant growth.