bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemistry and particle size distribution of respirable coal dust in underground mines in Central Eastern Europe
Authors: Trechera Pedro , Querol Xavier , Lah Robert , Johnson Diane , Wrana Aleksander , Williamson Ben , Moreno Teresa 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDespite international efforts to limit worker exposure to coal dust, it continues to impact the health of thousands of miners across Europe. Airborne coal dust has been studied to improve risk models and its control to protect workers. Particle size distribution analyses shows that using spraying systems to suppress airborne dusts can reduce particulate matter concentrations and that coals with higher ash yields produce finer dust. There are marked chemical differences between parent coals and relatively coarse deposited dusts (up to 500 µm, DD500). Enrichments in Ca, K, Ba, Se, Pb, Cr, Mo, Ni and especially As, Sn, Cu, Zn and Sb in the finest respirable dust fractions could originate from: (i) mechanical machinery wear; (ii) variations in coal mineralogy; (iii) coal fly ash used in shotcrete, and carbonates used to reduce the risk of explosions. Unusual enrichments in Ca in mine dusts are attributed to the use of such concrete, and elevated K to raised levels of phyllosilicate mineral matter. Sulphur concentrations are higher in the parent coal than in the DD500, probably due to relatively lower levels of organic matter. Mass concentrations of all elements observed in this study remained below occupational exposure limits.
'R&D and export performance: exploring heterogeneity along the export intensity distribution'
Authors: Benfratello L. , Bottasso A. , Piccardo C. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis study analyses the relationship between firm-level innovative effort as measured by R&D expenditures and export intensity. We apply quantile regression techniques to a sample of Italian firms to verify whether R&D expenditures’ effect varies along the conditional distribution of export intensity, after controlling for censoring and endogeneity issues. Empirical findings suggest that the effect of R&D expenditures on export intensity is positive and that firms taking most advantage from R&D activity are in the right tail of the export intensity distribution (from the 70th quantile onwards), that is, those exporting 50% of their sales or more. Overall, the results prove robust to several specification checks and suggest not only that firms’ innovative efforts help explaining heterogeneity in export intensity performance, but also that its positive effect differs across the export to sales ratio distribution. This implies that innovation policy measures might be more effective for firms characterised by a relatively high export intensive margin.
Pesticide residue levels in surface water, using a passive sampler and in the sediment along the littoral zone of Lake Ziway at selected sites
Authors: Mergia Mekuria Teshome , Weldemariam Ermias Deribe , Eklo Ole Martin , Yimer Girma Tilahun 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDiaion® HP-20 resin passive samplers deployed in water and sediment samples collected from Lake Ziway were analyzed for 30 organochlorine, organophosphorus, carboxamide, and pyrethroid pesticide residues. The samples were collected from purposely selected sampling stations in five sites on Lake Ziway. Levels of selected pesticides were determined by GC–MS/MS in all samples. p,p′DDE and boscalid residues were the only detected pesticides in sediment samples. Similarly, only metalaxyl and boscalid residues were recovered from HP-20 resins. The concentration of p,p′DDE and boscalid in sediment ranged from 0.66–7.23 and 0.1–15.26 ng g−1 dry weight respectively. The presence of p,p′DDE but no other metabolites of DDT in all sediment samples indicated that DDT residues in Ziway Lake were aged and probably originated from the weathered agricultural soils of the surrounding region. The highest level of boscalid was recorded at Site 2 (near the floriculture enterprises) both in sediment and in HP-20 resins with a mean concentration of 11.8 ng g−1 dw and 39.6 ng g−1 disk respectively. However, the concertation of metalaxyl was the highest in the HP-20 resins deployed at Site1 and Site 4 (near the intensive small-scale vegetable farm) with a mean concentration of 54.7 ng g−1 disk and 54.3 ng g−1 disk respectively. Generally, most sampling sites of p,p′DDE were found to have a moderate ecological risk based on levels specified in the sediment quality standards. Moreover, the relatively high boscalid and metalaxyl levels in HP-20 deployed in Lake Ziway would be the result of recent intensive pesticide use by floriculture enterprises and small-scale vegetable farmers in the region. A spatial variation on the accumulation of detected pesticides among the sampling sites depends on the anthropogenic activities, around the lake from the point and non-point sources. Although most of the analyzed pesticides were below the detectable limit, further studies and continued monitoring of currently used pesticide residues in the Lake are highly recommended.
Developing a More Tailored Approach to Patient and Public Involvement with Children and Families in Pediatric Clinical Research: Lessons Learned
Authors: Preston J. , Nafria B. , Ohmer A. , Gaillard S. , Dicks P. , West L. , Turner M. A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractListening to, and acting on, the voices of children and families during clinical research and innovation is fundamental to ensuring enhanced pediatric health care, medicines development, and technological advances. While this is often discussed as an important step in ensuring patient-centered care, involving children and families across the life cycle of clinical research is not currently routine. The pediatric research community needs to address how to meaningfully involve children and families if they are to succeed in designing clinical research that suits the needs of pediatric patients and their families. This paper describes how an international community working under the umbrella International Children’s Advisory Network (iCAN) and European Young Person’s Advisory Group Network (eYPAGnet) has involved children and families in the design and delivery of pediatric clinical research. It offers practical solutions through various case studies assessed against seven patient engagement quality criteria within the Patient Engagement Quality Guidance (PEQG) tool, highlighting some of the lessons learnt from involving and engaging with children and families across different stages of clinical research, including pediatric trials for drug development programs.
Near‐Surface Geophysics Perspectives on Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science
Authors: Salman M. , Slater L. , Briggs M. , Li L. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPointing to the Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (ICON‐FAIR) principles, we have determined several opportunities for implementation within the realm of near‐surface geophysics (NSG), representing a broad range of data acquisition and processing technologies. Our work explores the multifaceted community‐driven nature of NSG and, by applying ICON‐FAIR principles, we identify three key strategic objectives: (i) the development of an approach to integrating NSG into other geoscience data collection projects, (ii) the creation of coordinated and open standardized NSG data, and (iii) the networking of post‐secondary institutions to foster an equipment sharing consortium. The precedence within the geoscientific community demonstrates that there are significant opportunities for advancing interdisciplinary applications of NSG through the implementation of structural change within the ICON‐FAIR framework.
Changes in Magnetic Properties of Magnetite Nanoparticles Upon Microbial Iron Reduction
Authors: Wang Pengcong , Shi Taiheng , Mehta Neha , Yang Shanshan , Wang Hongmei , Liu Deng , Zhu Zongmin 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe magnetic signals of magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) preserved in rocks, soils, and sediments are effective index for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. It has been demonstrated that magnetite NPs can serve as a terminal electron sink for the microbial respiration (i.e., microbial iron reduction). The magnetic properties of magnetite NPs may be altered by microbial iron reduction, which is a critical but often overlooked process in paleomagnetism. In this study, three magnetite NPs with different particle sizes were reduced by a dissimilatory iron‐reducing bacterium (Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1) under a non‐growth condition mimicking that of the early Earth and modern oligotrophic environment. The changes in magnetic, chemical as well as crystallographic properties of the magnetite NPs during the microbial reduction process were examined. Our results showed that the bioreduction rate of magnetite NPs was mainly controlled by their particle size and redox state. In addition, the microbial iron reduction could affect both the crystallographic and magnetic properties of three types of magnetite NPs used herein. After bioreduction, the crystal lattice parameters and magnetic susceptibility of the magnetite NPs increased, while their remanence recording capability and coercivity decreased (i.e., “softer” magnetism). Furthermore, bioreduced magnetite NPs had a larger remanence loss near the Verwey transition region with low‐temperature magnetic analysis. These results indicate that the microbial reduction of magnetite NPs deserves attention when sedimentary magnetites are used in paleoenvironment reconstruction.
Relativistic Electron Enhancements Through Successive Dipolarizations During a CIR‐Driven Storm
Authors: Xiong Senlin , Dai Lei , Wang Chi , Wygant John R. , Cattell Cynthia A. , Tao Xin , Baker Daniel N. , Blake J. Bernard 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRelativistic electrons in the Earth's radiation belts are highly dynamic on a variety of timescales during the geomagnetic storm. Using Van Allen Probe spacecraft data, we investigate rapid enhancements of relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt during a corotating interaction region (CIR) driven storm. Successive dipolarizations associated with 100keV‐MeV electron injections are identified. The evolution of energetic electrons is analyzed in the space of adiabatic invariants (μ, K and L*). Within less than a few hours, the phase space density (PSD) of the relativistic electrons promptly increases corresponding to injections of MeV electrons. The PSD of MeV electrons cumulatively increases by a factor of 4–10 at L* = 4.5–5.8 which is likely due to successive groups of dipolarizations and injections. Both near‐equatorial (small K) and off‐equatorial (large K) energetic electrons increase significantly. The increases in the near‐equatorial electrons are still dominant, suggesting the operation of betatron acceleration. The event study shows that successive dipolarizations associated with the CIR‐driven storm may rapidly affect relativistic electrons of the outer radiation belt over a wide range in the phase space.
A Fractal Model for Effective Excess Charge Density in Variably Saturated Fractured Rocks
Authors: Guarracino Luis , Jougnot Damien 
Published: February 2022

AbstractEstimating hydraulic properties and monitoring water flow in fractured rocks using self‐potential observations essentially relies on our ability to model streaming potential. One of the most promising approaches for modeling electrokinetic couplings is based on the macroscopic quantification of the excess charge which is effectively transported by pore water flow. In this study, we derive a fractal model to predict the effective excess charge density for fully and partially water saturated fractured media. Fractures are conceptualized as parallel plates with a fractal pattern described by the Sierpinski carpet. From the calculation of the excess charge in a single fracture and a flux averaging upscaling procedure, we obtain closed‐form expressions for the effective excess charge density. This new analytical model explicitly depends on the fracture water ionic concentration, interface properties, water saturation, porosity and permeability. Model predictions under saturated conditions are compared to published data measured in laboratory during hydraulic fracturing. The model development also shows the independence of the excess charge from the pore shapes: when expressed in terms of hydrological parameters, one can find an expression identical to recently published models for sedimentary porous media using capillary tubes. These results extend the validity of the existing models to fractured rocks and highlight the importance of hydraulic parameters for an accurate modeling of electrokinetic couplings.
A Broadband Kinematic Source Inversion Method Considering Realistic Earth Models and Its Application to the 1992 Landers Earthquake
Authors: Wang Xiang‐Chao , Wang Jin‐Ting , Zhang Chu‐Han 
Published: February 2022

AbstractGenerating broadband ground motions requires fine enough scales in the source model, but small scales may lead to unacceptable computational efforts for source inversion. To resolve this challenge, a novel kinematic source inversion method is proposed in this study to map the detailed rupture process associated with broadband seismic radiation. This method addresses two key issues for imaging the rupture process of earthquakes: proper source models describing the rupture process and accurate Green’s functions. For the first issue, the rupture process of target earthquakes is modeled by a recently proposed multidimension source model, which is composed of several superimposed layers with degressive scales to generate broadband ground motions. Due to the self‐similarity of the parameters of subsource on different layers, the number of variables to be considered in the inversion procedure is comparable to that of the conventional finite‐fault source model. For the second issue, the spectral element method is used to compute the Green’s functions with high‐resolution topography and three‐dimensional (3D) velocity structures. The introduction of accurate 3D velocity structures enables to reproduce the ground motions of target earthquakes in a wide range of frequency. With the multidimension source model and accurate Green’s functions, an evolutionary many‐objective optimization algorithm is used to search for the best rupture‐process parameters. The rupture process of the 1992 Landers earthquake is mapped by the proposed inversion method, and the ground motions from the forward simulation with the inverted rupture process have an impressive agreement with the records in a wide range of frequency.
Critical Zone Structure by Elastic Full Waveform Inversion of Seismic Refractions in a Sandstone Catchment, Central Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Liu Xuejian , Zhu Tieyuan , Hayes Jorden 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSeismic imaging provides key information for revealing structures within Earth's critical zone (CZ) and quantifying subsurface fluid properties. The P‐wave velocity (Vp) models estimated by seismic refraction tomography or acoustic full waveform inversion (FWI) are useful to delineate the thicknesses of weathered bedrock but ambiguously map fluid properties in CZ. Considering the complementary sensitivity of S‐wave to subsurface fluid saturation, we explore advanced elastic full waveform inversion (EFWI) to estimate both Vp and S‐wave velocity (Vs) models simultaneously. Several strategies are proposed for robust EFWI implementation of noisy single (vertical) component refraction data: (a) we window seismic data to preserve early arrivals mainly including P‐wave, converted waves, and S‐wave refractions; (b) we use a correlative misfit rather than the classic L2 misfit to alleviate the interference of unreliable data amplitudes; and (c) we perform inversion using a multiscale frequency strategy with the iterative constraint with the rule of Vp/Vs > 1. We validate that the EFWI approach reliably reconstructs Vp and Vs models using synthetic data. Then, we apply our EFWI approach to seismic refraction data acquired at the Garner Run site of the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory. The inverted Vp and Vs models indicate three distinguished layers and with significant lateral and depth heterogeneities (e.g., low Vp and Vs zones). Joint analyses of Vp, Vs, and Vp/Vs with rock‐physics knowledge reveal potential gas or water gathering zones.
Observed Changes in the Arctic Freshwater Outflow in Fram Strait
Authors: Karpouzoglou T. , de Steur L. , Smedsrud L. H. , Sumata H. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWe have updated time series of liquid fresh water transport (FWT) in the East Greenland Current (EGC) in the western Fram Strait with mooring observations since 2015. Novel data have been used to correct earlier estimates when instrument coverage was lower. The updated FWT (reference salinity 34.9) shows that the increased export between 2010 and 2015 has not continued, but FWT has decreased to pre‐2009 levels. Salt transport independent of a reference salinity is shown not to be sensitive to salinity changes. Between 2015 and 2019, the FWT in the Polar Water (PW) decreased to an average of 59.9 (±4.5) mSV, 15% less than the 2003–2019 long‐term mean, however, high FWT events occurred in 2017. The overall decrease is related to a slowdown of the EGC, partly attributed to a decrease of the zonal density gradient, due to stronger salinification of the halocline waters (26.5 < σθ < 27.7 kg/m3) over the shelf. This salinification counterbalances the freshening of the surface layer (σθ < 26.5 kg/m3) and the fresh water content decreases. Our results show changes in the PW between 2003 and 2019: Salinity stratification increased as the salinity difference between 155 and 55 m increased by 0.63 psu, the PW layer became thinner by 40–50 m and the Polar‐Atlantic front moved ∼10 km west in June 2015. All processes point to an “Atlantification” of the western Fram Strait and a reduced Polar outflow. Including the novel data sets reduced the uncertainty of the FWT to an average of 8% after 2015, as opposed to 17% in earlier estimates.
A Simple Condensation Model for the H2SO4‐H2O Gas‐Cloud System on Venus
Authors: Dai Longkang , Zhang Xi , Shao Wencheng D. , Bierson Carver J. , Cui Jun 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe current Venus climate is largely regulated by globally covered concentrated sulfuric acid clouds from binary condensation of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and water (H2O). To understand this complicated H2SO4‐H2O gas‐cloud system, previous theoretical studies either adopted complicated microphysical calculations or assumed that both H2SO4 and H2O vapor follow their saturation vapor pressure. In this study, we developed a simple one‐dimensional cloud condensation model including condensation, diffusion and sedimentation of H2SO4 and H2O but without detailed microphysics. Our model is able to explain the observed vertical structure of cloud and upper haze mass loading, cloud acidity, H2SO4, and H2O vapor, and the mode‐2 particle size on Venus. We found that most H2SO4 is stored in the condensed phase above 48 km, while the partitioning of H2O between the vapor and clouds is complicated. The cloud cycle is mostly driven by evaporation and condensation of H2SO4 rather than H2O and is about seven times stronger than the H2SO4 photochemical cycle. Most of the condensed H2O in the upper clouds is evaporated before the falling particles reach the middle clouds. The cloud acidity is affected by the temperature and the condensation‐evaporation cycles of both H2SO4 and H2O. Because of the large chemical production of H2SO4 vapor and relatively inefficient cloud condensation, the simulated H2SO4 vapor above 60 km is largely supersaturated by more than two orders of magnitude, which could be tested by future observations.
Fetal sex and maternal fasting glucose affect neonatal cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells
Authors: Weiss Elisa , Leopold-Posch Barbara , Schrüfer Anna , Cvitic Silvija , Hiden Ursula 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Maternal cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in pregnancy, i.e., obesity and hyperglycemia, transmit to the fetus and affect placental and fetal endothelial function. Moreover, a sex dimorphism in endothelial function and susceptibility towards CVRF exists already in utero. Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) are circulating endothelial progenitors highly present in neonatal cord blood and sensitive to CVRF. This study investigated whether fetal sex or subtle maternal metabolic changes within healthy range alter fetal ECFC outgrowth.

Methods
Outgrowth of ECFC from cord blood of male (n = 31) and female (n = 26) neonates was analyzed after healthy pregnancies and related to fetal sex and maternal metabolic parameters.

Results
Male ECFC grew out earlier (−20.57% days; p = 0.031) than female. Although all women were non-diabetic, higher levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at midpregnancy increased the time required for colony outgrowth (OR: 1.019; p = 0.030), which, after stratifying for fetal sex, was significant only in the males. Gestational weight gain and BMI did not affect outgrowth. Colony number was unchanged by all parameters.

Conclusions
Fetal sex and maternal FPG within normal range alter ECFC function in utero. A role of ECFC in postnatal angiogenesis and vasculogenesis has been suggested, which may be affected by altered outgrowth dynamics.

Impact

This study is the first to report that a sexual dimorphism exists in ECFC function, as cells of female progeny require a longer period of time until colony outgrowth than ECFC of male progeny.

Our data show that ECFC function is highly sensitive and affected by maternal glucose levels even in a normal, non-diabetic range.

Our data raise the question of whether maternal plasma glucose in pregnancy should be considered to play a critical role even in the non-diabetic setting.
Comprehensive screening for drugs that modify radiation-induced immune responses
Authors: Okumura Masayuki , Du Junyan , Kageyama Shun-Ichiro , Yamashita Riu , Hakozaki Yumi , Motegi Atsushi , Hojo Hidehiro , Nakamura Masaki , Hirano Yasuhiro , Okuma Yusuke , Okuma Hitomi S. , Tsuchihara Katsuya , Akimoto Tetsuo 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Combination therapy based on radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was recently reported as effective for various cancers. The radiation-induced immune response (RIIR) is an essential feature in ICI-combined radiotherapy; however, the effects of drugs used concomitantly with RIIR remain unclear. We screened for drugs that can modify RIIR to understand the mutual relationship between radiotherapy and combined drugs in ICI-combined radiotherapy.

Methods
We established a high-throughput system with reporter gene assays for evaluating RIIR, focusing on factors acting downstream of the STING-IRF pathway, which can stimulate cancer cells, T cells, and dendritic cells. We further quantified the effects of 2595 drugs, including those approved by the Food and Drug Administration, on RIIR in vitro.

Results
The reporter assay results correlated well with the expression of immune response proteins such as programmed death-ligand 1. This high-throughput system enabled the identification of drugs including cytotoxic agents, molecular-targeted agents, and other agents that activate or suppress RIIR.

Conclusions
Our study provides an encyclopedic catalogue of clinically approved drugs based on their effect on RIIR. In ICIs combined radiotherapy, activation of STING-IFN may improve the therapeutic effect and our result could form a biological basis for further clinical trials combining radiotherapy with ICIs.