bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short-term storage of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) ovain vitro
Authors: Tan Chun , Liu Xueqing , Yang Jing , Liu Juanjuan , Du Hejun 
Published: January 2021

SummaryIn this study, we tried to maintain the vitality of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) ova before fertilization with several treatmentsin vitro. The ovulated eggs were allocated to groups with different incubation medium (coelomic fluid and artificial media), temperature (4°C and 16°C) and storage duration (2 h and 6 h). The maximum fertilization and hatching rate were observed for the control group in which the ova were fertilized immediately after spawning, with the values of 82.45% and 84.73%, respectively. Compared with the control group, the fertilization and hatching rate of all the treatment groups stored at 4°C or in coelomic fluid decreased significantly (P< 0.05). The fertilization rate of the treatment group stored in artificial medium at 16°C did not change obviously in the first 2 h (P> 0.05), but declined dramatically (P< 0.05) after 6 h. In comparison with the control group, no significant (P> 0.05) reduction was shown in hatching rate of the treatment group stored in artificial medium at 16°C for 6 h. The results showed that the ova of Chinese sturgeon can be stored for at least 6 h at 16°C in artificial medium without weakening; this provides a practical application method for the routine hatchery practice of Chinese sturgeon, as well as certain relevant research.
C57BL/6J mouse superovulation: schedule and age optimization to increase oocyte yield and reduce animal use
Authors: Lamas Sofia , Carvalheira Júlio , Gartner Fátima , Amorim Irina 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSuperovulation protocols have been described for different mouse strains, however the numbers of animals used are still high and still little information is known about hormone administration schedules and estrous cycle phases. In this study, we aimed to optimize a superovulation protocol by injecting 5 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin followed by 5 IU of hCG 48 h later, using three different schedules related to the beginning of the dark cycle (3, 5 and 7 pm) in a light cycle of 7 am to 7 pm, with light on at 7 am. C57BL/6J mice at 3, 4 and 5 weeks of age were used and the estrous cycle phase for times of PMSG and hCG injections was also analyzed. Total oocyte number was counted in the morning after hCG injection. Hormones given at 3 weeks of age at 3 pm (59 ± 15 oocytes) and 7 pm (61 ± 10 oocytes) produced a significantly higher oocyte number compared with oocytes numbers collected from females at the same age at 5 pm (P = 0.0004 and <0.0001 respectively). Females at 4 and 5 weeks of age produced higher numbers of oocytes when superovulated at 7 pm. No statistical differences between females at different phases of the estrous cycle were found. These results showed that in C57BL/6J mice, hormones should be given at 3 or 7 pm for females at 3 weeks of age, however older females should be superovulated closer to the beginning of the dark cycle to reduce female mouse use and increase the numbers of oocytes produced per female.
Global Estimates of Marine Gross Primary Production Based on Machine Learning Upscaling of Field Observations
Authors: Huang Yibin , Nicholson David , Huang Bangqin , Cassar Nicolas 
Published: January 2021

AbstractApproximately half of global primary production occurs in the ocean. While the large‐scale variability in net primary production (NPP) has been extensively studied, ocean gross primary production (GPP) has thus far received less attention. In this study, we derived two satellite‐based GPP models by training machine learning algorithms (Random Forest) with light‐dark bottle incubations (GPPLD) and the triple isotopes of dissolved oxygen (GPP17Δ). The two algorithms predict global GPPs of 9.2 ± 1.3 × 1015 and 15.1 ± 1.05 × 1015 mol O2 yr−1 for GPPLD and GPP17Δ, respectively. The projected GPP distributions agree with our understanding of the mechanisms regulating primary production. Global GPP17Δ was higher than GPPLD by an average factor of 1.6 which varied meridionally. The discrepancy between GPP17Δ and GPPLD simulations can be partly explained by the known biases of each methodology. After accounting for some of these biases, the GPP17Δ and GPPLD converge to 9.5 ∼ 12.6 × 1015 mol O2 yr−1, equivalent to 103 ∼ 150 Pg C yr−1. Our results suggest that global oceanic GPP is 1.5–2.2 fold larger than oceanic NPP and comparable to GPP on land.
A Later Onset of the Rainy Season in California
Authors: Luković Jelena , Chiang John C. H. , Blagojević Dragan , Sekulić Aleksandar 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCalifornian hydroclimate is strongly seasonal and prone to severe water shortages. Recent changes in climate trends have induced shifts in seasonality, thus exacerbating droughts, wildfires, and adverse water shortage effects on the environment and economy. Previous studies have examined the timing of the seasonal cycle shifts mainly as temperature driven earlier onset of the spring season. In this paper, we address quantitative changes in the onset, amounts, and termination of the precipitation season over the past 6 decades, as well as the large‐scale atmospheric circulation underpinning the seasonal cycle changes. We discover that the onset of the rainy season has been progressively delayed since the 1960s, and as a result the precipitation season has become shorter and sharper in California. The progressively later onset of the rainy season is shown to be related to the summer circulation pattern extending into autumn across the North Pacific, in particular, a delay in the strengthening of the Aleutian Low and later southward displacement of the North Pacific westerlies.
Deep Meteoric Water Circulation in Earth's Crust
Authors: McIntosh Jennifer C. , Ferguson Grant 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDeep meteoric waters comprise a key component of the hydrologic cycle, transferring water, energy, and life between the Earth's surface and deeper crustal environments, yet little is known about the nature and extent of meteoric water circulation. Using water stable isotopes, we show that maximum circulation depths of meteoric waters across North America vary considerably from <1 to 5 km, with the deepest circulation in Western North America in areas of greater topographic relief. Shallower circulation occurs in sedimentary and shield‐type environments with subdued topography. The amount of topographic relief available to drive regional groundwater flow and flush saline fluids is an important control on the extent of meteoric water circulation, in addition to permeability. The presence of an active flow system in the upper few kilometers of the Earth's crust and stagnant brines trapped by negative buoyancy offers a new framework for understanding deep groundwater systems.
Slab Dehydration in Sumatra: Implications for Fast and Slow Earthquakes and Arc Magmatism
Authors: Ji Yingfeng , Yan Ruyu , Zeng Deng , Xie Chaodi , Zhu Weiling , Qu Rui , Yoshioka Shoichi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe catastrophic 2004 Sumatra‐Andaman Mw9.1 earthquake associated with destructive tsunamis has characterized Sumatra as one of the most dangerous convergence zones. Nevertheless, the effects of the thermohydrous state on the strongly coupled megathrust of the incoming plate remain enigmatic. By using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) thermomechanical model to compute the temperature variation and the complicated phase transition process of the water‐bearing descending plate which generates unstable thrust slips, we find that Sumatran earthquakes at varying depths are likely under the control of the inter or intraplate hydrothermal regime, which occurs in or close to the petrological metamorphism transition area. The slab dehydration of the water‐rich mid‐ocean‐ridge basalts (MORB) and the ultramafic rocks in the oceanic lithosphere releases a large amount of fluid to the continental wedge and further facilitates arc magmatism. The fluids are prone to upwelling following the subduction channel along the plate interface and thus contribute to the clustering of earthquakes updip of the dehydration front beneath offshore Sumatra. Brittle failure and dehydration embrittlement at depth, along with the temperature differences caused by variant slab geometry, are conjectured to greatly influence the occurrence of fast and slow earthquakes in Sumatra.
Future Changes in Northern Hemisphere Summer Weather Persistence Linked to Projected Arctic Warming
Authors: Kornhuber Kai , Tamarin‐Brodsky Talia 
Published: January 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the response of the large‐scale atmospheric circulation to climatic change remains a key challenge. Specifically, changes in the equator‐to‐pole temperature difference have been suggested to affect the midlatitudes, potentially leading to more persistent extreme weather, but a scientific consensus has not been established so far. Here we quantify summer weather persistence by applying a tracking algorithm to lower tropospheric vorticity and temperature fields to analyze changes in their propagation speeds. We find significant links between slower propagating weather systems and a weaker equator‐to‐pole temperature difference in observations and models. By end of the century, the propagation of temperature anomalies over midlatitude land is projected to decrease by −3%, regionally strongest in southern North America (−45%) under a high emission scenario (CMIP5 RCP8.5). Even higher decreases are found (−10%, −58%) in models which project a decreasing equator‐to‐pole temperature difference. Our findings provide evidence that hot summer weather might become longer‐lasting, bearing the risk of more persistent heat extremes.
Challenging the Use of Ring Current Indices During Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Sandhu J. K. , Rae I. J. , Walach M.‐T. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe ring current experiences dramatic enhancements during geomagnetic storms; however, understanding the global distribution of ring current energy content is restricted by spacecraft coverage. Many studies use ring current indices as a proxy for energy content, but these indices average over spatial variations and include additional contributions. We have conducted an analysis of Van Allen Probes' data, identifying the spatial distribution and storm‐time variations of energy content. Ion observations from the HOPE and RBSPICE instruments were used to estimate energy content in L‐MLT bins. The results show large enhancements particularly in the premidnight sector during the main phase, alongside reductions in local time asymmetry and intensity during the recovery phase. A comparison with estimated energy content using the Sym‐H index was conducted. In agreement with previous results, the Sym‐H index significantly overestimates (by up to ∼4 times) the energy content, and we attribute the difference to contributions from additional current systems. A new finding is an observed temporal discrepancy, where energy content estimates from the Sym‐H index maximize 3–9 h earlier than in‐situ observations. Case studies reveal a complex relationship, where variable degrees of agreement between the Sym‐H index and in‐situ measurements are observed. The results highlight the drawbacks of ring current indices and emphasize the variability of the storm time ring current.
Contrast Relationships Between Arctic Oscillation and Ozone in the Stratosphere Over the Arctic in Early and Mid‐to‐Late Winter
Authors: Liu Meichen , Hu Dingzhu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPrevious studies paid more attention on the winter‐mean relationship between the surface Arctic Oscillation (AO) and stratospheric ozone over the Arctic. However, few studies focused on the subseasonal relationship between the stratospheric ozone and surface AO in boreal winter. We investigated the subseasonal relationship between the AO and stratospheric ozone over the Arctic in each boreal winter month during 1980–2017 that is independent on the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation signals using Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 reanalysis data sets. Results showed that the positive AO phases correspond to two negative anomalous ozone centers located in the middle stratosphere (∼30 hPa) and upper troposphere–lower stratosphere over the Arctic in each month. There is an in‐phase relationship between the AO and the Arctic ozone at 70–100 hPa in December, which is opposite to the out‐of‐phase relationship between these two metrics in mid‐to‐late winter. In December, the subtropical jet in the Pacific under the positive AO phase shifts poleward with strengthened planetary wavenumber‐2 waves in the lower stratosphere. The strengthened wavenumber‐2 wave flux contributes to the positive ozone anomalies at 70–100 hPa via modifying the asymmetric component of polar vortex. However, in January and February, the subtropical jet weakens during the positive AO years, along with less planetary wavenumber‐1 waves propagating into the Arctic lower stratosphere. This weakened wavenumber‐1 wave tends to result in the negative ozone anomalies via weakening the downwelling branch of Brewer–Dobson circulation and strengthening the stratospheric Arctic vortex.
Heat Flux Constraints From Variance Spectra of Pluto and Charon Using Limb Profile Topography
Authors: Conrad J. W. , Nimmo F. , Beyer R. A. , Bierson C. J. , Schenk P. M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe derive a topography data set from images of Pluto and Charon that contain the body edge (i.e., limb profiles) which will help in understanding the comparative history of the binary system. We use the profiles to derive topographic variance spectra and find that while the variance spectrum of Pluto fits a single power law, Charon's spectrum displays a clear breakpoint at ∼150 km wavelength. Assuming the breakpoint is a result of topographic flexure, we find that Charon's elastic thickness must have been 20 ± 10 km during topography formation. A lack of a breakpoint for Pluto sets a minimum elastic thickness for Pluto of 60 km. We use these elastic thickness estimates to calculate a maximum heat flux of ∼13 m Wm−2 on Pluto during and after topography formation. On Charon, however, we find that the heat flux during topography formation was m Wm−2. This range of values far exceeds the likely radiogenic heat production and is consistent with either heat released following the Charon‐forming impact event or (more likely) tidal heating during Charon's early history.
Gondwanan Inheritance on the Building of the Western Central Andes (Domeyko Range, Chile): Structural and Thermochronological Approach (U‐Pb and40Ar/39Ar)
Authors: Espinoza M. , Oliveros V. , Vásquez P. , Giambiagi L. , Morgan L. , González R. , Solari L. , Bechis F. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTectonics inheritance controls the evolution of many orogens. To unravel the role of the Gondwanan heritage (late Paleozoic to Triassic) over the building of the Central Andes in northern Chile (Domeyko Range), we performed detrital U‐Pb zircon and40Ar/39Ar muscovite geochronology along with structural analyses (kinematics and structural balancing).40Ar/39Ar dating of detrital muscovite reveals contrasting cooling histories for the Paleozoic basement of Triassic rift sub‐basins, indicating that NW‐striking crustal structures segmented the Andean forearc since at least the middle Permian, likely related to an accretional fabric developed along SW Gondwana. These structures can be inferred based on scattered faults, gravimetric data, and basement age disruptions. During the Late Triassic, NS‐striking master faults and secondary NW‐ to NNW‐striking faults configured an oblique rift, primarily driven by subduction dynamics. We suggest that along SW Gondwana, the slab‐pull would have controlled the development of subduction‐related rift basins close to the trench whereas Triassic inland rifts were mainly driven by Pangea‐breakup stresses. Compressional tectonics began in the Late Cretaceous, yet the inversion of the Triassic rift would have started during the Eocene with the inception of the metallogenic‐fertile transpressional Domeyko fault system. Thus, the structural style of this range was determined by the architecture of the Triassic rift, where the inversion of deep‐seated faults accounted for west‐vergent thick‐ and thin‐skinned structures. Pre‐Andean NW‐striking structures also accommodated tectonic rotations during the Incaic orogeny (Eocene‐Oligocene) and may delimit the rupture zone of large earthquakes, suggesting an underestimated role of such ancient discontinuities in Andean neotectonics.
Hourly Prediction of Phytoplankton Biomass and Its Environmental Controls in Lowland Rivers
Authors: Pathak Devanshi , Hutchins Michael , Brown Lee , Loewenthal Matthew , Scarlett Peter , Armstrong Linda , Nicholls David , Bowes Michael , Edwards François 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHigh‐resolution river modeling is valuable to study diurnal scale phytoplankton dynamics and understand biomass response to short‐term, rapid changes in its environmental controls. Based on theory contained in the Quality Evaluation and Simulation Tool for River‐systems model, a new river model is developed to simulate hourly scale phytoplankton growth and its environmental controls, thus allowing to study diurnal changes thereof. The model is implemented along a 62 km stretch in a lowland river, River Thames (England), using high‐frequency water quality measurements to simulate flow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and phytoplankton concentrations for 2 years (2013–2014). The model satisfactorily simulates diurnal variability and transport of phytoplankton with Nash and Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) > 0.7 at all calibration sites. Even without high‐frequency data inputs, the model performs satisfactorily with NSE > 0.6. The model therefore can serve as a powerful tool both for predictive purposes and for hindcasting past conditions when hourly resolution water quality monitoring is unavailable. Model sensitivity analysis shows that the model with cool water diatoms as dominant species with an optimum growth temperature of 14°C performs the best for phytoplankton prediction. Phytoplankton blooms are mainly controlled by residence time, light and water temperature. Moreover, phytoplankton blooms develop within an optimum range of flow (21–63 m3 s−1). Thus, lowering river residence time with short‐term high flow releases could help prevent major bloom developments. The hourly model improves biomass prediction and represents a step forward in high‐resolution phytoplankton modeling and consequently, bloom management in lowland river systems.
NOTCH3, a crucial target of miR-491-5p/miR-875-5p, promotes gastric carcinogenesis by upregulating PHLDB2 expression and activating Akt pathway
Authors: Kang Wei , Zhang Jinglin , Huang Tingting , Zhou Yuhang , Wong Chi Chun , Chan Ronald C. K. , Dong Yujuan , Wu Feng , Zhang Bin , Wu William K. K. , Chan Michael W. Y. , Cheng Alfred S. L. , Yu Jun , Wong Nathalie , Lo Kwok Wai , To Ka Fai 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAberrant Notch activation has been implicated in multiple malignancies and the identification of NOTCH receptors and related pathways is critical for targeted therapy. In this study, we aim to delineate the most prominent dysregulated NOTCH receptor and comprehensively reveal its deregulation in gastric cancer (GC). In the four Notch members, NOTCH3 was found uniformly upregulated and associated with poor clinical outcomes in multiple GC datasets. siRNA-mediated NOTCH3 knockdown demonstrated antitumor effects by suppressing cell proliferation, inhibiting monolayer formation, and impairing cell invasion abilities. Its depletion also induced early and late apoptosis. NOTCH3 was confirmed to be a direct target of two tumor suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs), namely miR-491-5p and miR-875-5p. The activation of NOTCH3 is partly due to the silence of these two miRNAs. Through RNA-seq profiling and functional validation, PHLDB2 was identified as a potent functional downstream modulator for NOTCH3 in gastric carcinogenesis. PHLDB2 expression demonstrated a positive correlation with NOTCH3, but was negatively correlated with miR-491-5p. Akt-mTOR was revealed as the downstream signaling of PHLDB2. The NOTCH3-PHLDB2-Akt co-activation was found in 33.7% GC patients and the activation of this axis predicted poor clinical outcome. GC cells treated with siNOTCH3, siPHLDB2, miR-491-5p, miR-875-5p, were more sensitive to Cisplatin and 5-FU. Taken together, the NOTCH3-PHLDB2-Akt cascade plays oncogenic role in gastric carcinogenesis and serves as a therapeutic target. Our study provided insights into Notch-mediated underlying molecular mechanisms and implied translational potential.
Assessment of planning reproducibility in three-dimensional field-in-field radiotherapy technique for breast cancer: impact of surgery-simulation interval
Authors: Lee Dong Soo , Lee Young Kyu , Kang Young Nam , Won Yong Gyun , Park Seung Hwan , Kim Yong Seok , Kim Jeong Soo , Won Hye Sung 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe three-dimensional field-in-field (3-D FIF) technique for radiotherapy is an advanced, state-of-the-art method that uses multileaf collimators to generate a homogeneous and conformal dose distribution via segmental subfields. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric reproducibility of 3-D FIF plans using the original simulation computed tomography (iCT) scans and re-simulation CT (rCT) scans for whole breast irradiation (WBI) schedule. This study enrolled a total of 34 patients. The study population underwent iCT scans for standard WBI and took rCT scans after 45 Gy of WBI for cone down boost plans. The dosimetric parameters (V105%, V103%, V100%, V98%, V95%, V90%, V50%), plan quality indices (conformity index, homogeneity index) and clinical parameters (isocenter-breast axis, isocenter-lung axis, soft tissue volumes within radiation field, lung volumes within radiation field) were assessed. The median time interval from surgery to iCT was 33 days and from iCT to rCT was 35 days. All dosimetric parameters exhibited statistically significant differences between iCT and rCT among cohorts with a surgery-iCT interval of < 60 days. Homogeneity index showed a statistically significant increase from iCT to rCT among all cohorts. Soft tissue volumes (p = 0.001) and isocenter-breast axis (p = 0.032) exhibited statistically significant differences among cohorts with surgery-iCT interval < 60 days. Regarding the reproducibility of the 3-D FIF WBI plans, significant changes were observed in dosimetric and clinical factors, particularly in study cohorts with a surgery-simulation interval < 60 days. The main contributing factor of these transitions seemed to be the changes in volume of the soft tissue within the WBI field. Further confirmative studies are necessary to determine the most suitable timing and technique for WBI.