bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of unstable spinopelvic fractures: outcome of three surgical techniques—a retrospective single-center case series
Authors: Romoli S. , Petrella L. , Becattini Eleonora , Pisano A. , Wembagher G. C. , De Biase P. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The aim of our retrospective study is to analyze how spinopelvic dissociations (SPDs) were treated in a single center trying to better understand how to improve surgical and non-surgical options.

Methods
Twenty patients of a single center surgically treated for SPDs between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively included in this study. Three surgical techniques have been used: modified triangular stabilization, triangular stabilization and double iliac screws stabilization. Follow-up was assessed for up to 11.6 ± 9.9 months through ODI, MRS, NRS, IIEF or FSFI, a CT scan and whole spine X-ray examination.

Results
Twenty patients were admitted to our ER for traumatic spinopelvic dissociation. Surgical treatment for spinopelvic dissociation has been performed on average 11.5 ± 6.7 days after the trauma event. Eighteen fractures were C3 type and two C2 types. Neurological examination showed nerve root injury (N2) in 5 patients, incomplete spinal cord injury (N3) in 4 patients and cauda equina syndrome in two patients (N4). In case of neurologic deficits, routinary nerve decompression was performed. Three different surgical techniques have been used: 8 triangular fixations (Group 1), 6 modified triangular stabilization (Group 2) and 6 double iliac screws triangular fixation (Group 3).

Conclusion
In patients with post-traumatic neurological deficit, decompression surgery and fracture reduction seem to be associated with clinical improvement; however, sexual disorders seem to be less responsive to the treatment. Some open stabilization techniques, such as the double iliac screw, could help in restoring the sagittal balance in case of severe deformities.
Comparing common fountain grass removal techniques: cost efficacy and response of native plant community
Authors: Rowe Helen I. , Sprague Tiffany A. , Staker Paul 
Published: August 2022

AbstractFountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) is a globally pervasive invasive species and a prime example of an escaped horticultural ornamental. In areas where it is not naturally found, it displaces native plant communities and disrupts ecological systems and processes. Cost-effective removal efforts that protect the native plant community are needed for its control. We conducted an experiment from March 2018 to March 2021 in 5 m × 5 m plots to test the efficacy and record costs for common removal techniques (cut and herbicide, herbicide one or two times per year, manual removal) in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, United States. Each treatment took 2.5 years to achieve control in the plots, and treatments did not negatively affect the native plant community. The response of native plants was mediated by year, such that native cover in treatment plots recovered to similar levels as uninvaded control plots with sufficient rainfall. Plots that received the manual removal treatment had almost five more native plant species than the invaded control treatment (22.7 ± 1.63 compared to 18.1 ± 1.61). Herbicide applied in spring and fall increased efficacy of removals in the first year but was not significantly different from the other treatments averaged over year. Herbicide once per year was most cost effective across different sized areas. Manual removal was also cost effective in small areas (< 0.06 hectares) but was more expensive than herbicide twice a year in larger areas. Our results provide a toolset that enables managers to select removal treatments based on a balance of convenience, resources, and scale of the infestation.
Estimating International Migration Flows for Pacific Island Countries: A Research Brief
Authors: Guan Qing , Raymer James , Pietsch Juliet 
Published: August 2022

AbstractInternational migration is an important source of population change and economic development for Pacific Island countries. Migration from the Pacific Island region contributes to labour recruitment in countries like Australia, New Zealand and the United States. However, there are substantial gaps in the understanding of overall migration patterns in this region, impeding the development of relevant policies. In the absence of good migration statistics, we propose and present an alternative approach to examining the levels of migration in the Pacific Island region using model-based estimates. Three sets of recently produced migration flow estimates are consulted to explore the immigration and emigration levels and key migration corridors in the Pacific Island region between 2000 and 2019. Where reported migration statistics are available, we evaluate the performance of model-based estimates and highlight if there are problems with the reported data. This research brief demonstrates the value of model-based estimates to inform migration in the Pacific Island region.
Characterizing Long Transients in Consumer–Resource Systems With Group Defense and Discrete Reproductive Pulses
Authors: Arroyo-Esquivel Jorge , Hastings Alan , Baskett Marissa L. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractDuring recent years, the study of long transients has been expanded in ecological theory to account for shifts in long-term behavior of ecological systems. These long transients may lead to regime shifts between alternative states that resemble the dynamics of alternative stable states for a prolonged period of time. One dynamic that potentially leads to long transients is the group defense of a resource in a consumer–resource interaction. Furthermore, time lags in the population caused by discrete reproductive pulses have the potential to produce long transients, either independently or in conjunction to the transients caused by the group defense. In this work, we analyze the potential for long transients in a model for a consumer–resource system in which the resource exhibits group defense and reproduces in discrete reproductive pulses. This system exhibits crawl-by transients near the extinction and carrying capacity states of resource, and a transcritical bifurcation, under which a ghost limit cycle appears. We estimate the transient time of our system from these transients using perturbation theory. This work advances an understanding of how systems shift between alternate states and their duration of staying in a given regime and what ecological dynamics may lead to long transients.
Novel Surface Topography and Microhardness Characterization of Laser Clad Layer on TC4 Titanium Alloy Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
Authors: Al-Sayed Samar Reda , Samad Fatma Abdel , Mohamed Tarek , Youssef Doaa 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis study was performed to characterize surface topography and microhardness of 40 wt pct NiCrBSiC-60 wt pct WC hard coating on TC4 titanium after coaxial laser claddingviaLaser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and machine learning. The high content of the hard WC particles is accomplished to enhance the abrasion wear resistance of such alloy. Various powder feeding rates were carried out during laser cladding process. The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis assured that W content in the metal matrix notably increased from 26.19 to 53.49 pct while the Ti content decreased from about 15.16 to 0.46 pct for the clad layer processed at 20 and 60 g min−1, respectively. The LIBS measurements successfully estimated such elements’ concentration as well as the clad layers' topography indicating that the effect of material matrix is a crucial challenge. Therefore, canonical correlation analysis and Belsley collinearity diagnostics were established to identify the essential emission lines from the whole spectra. Then, an optimized adaptive boosted random forest classifier was developed for microhardness investigation, with accuracy, sensitivity, and F1 score values of 0.9667. The results, confirmed by the metallurgical study, clarified that most of the titanium and tungsten emission lines have a significant impact on the surface topography as well as the microhardness values. The misclassification was attributed to the matrix effect such that the samples processed at 40 and 60 g min−1were comparable in microstructure and chemical characterization unlike the one processed at 20 g min−1. Vickers microhardness of the metal matrix coating increased with the increase in the powder feeding rate, which is assured by the quantitative classification model.Graphical Abstract
Biochar mitigates the biotoxicity of heavy metals in livestock manure during composting
Authors: Chen Xiaomeng , Du Zhuang , Liu Dan , Wang Liqin , Pan Chaonan , Wei Zimin , Jia Liming , Zhao Ran 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe addition of biochar could mitigate the bioavailability of heavy metals during livestock manure composting. However, the main action mechanism of biochar, such as how it worked, was ambiguous. Therefore, in this study, materials (biochar, alkali modified biochar, pretreated cotton ball) were added by embedding with nylon mesh bags to explore the adsorption performance of added materials and its influence on the composting process. The results showed that embedded materials promoted the formation of humic acid and reduced the distribution proportion of bioavailable fraction of heavy metals during composting (Cu: at least 15.72%; Zn: at least 33.44%). The surface of biochar extracted from composting contained attachments, however, the attachment of heavy metal was not detected and functional groups on the materials did no change significantly. This indicated that the addition of biochar did not directly adsorb heavy metals. Most notably, the microbial network changed after embedding materials, and the succession of microbial community promoted the formation of humic acid. Ultimately, structural equation models verified that embedded materials promoted the formation of humic acid through stable microbial groups, thereby accelerating the passivation of heavy metals during composting. This study provides theoretical and technical supports for mitigating the biotoxicity of heavy metals by biochar during composting.
Graphical Abstract
Measuring the Economic Impacts of a Circular Economy: an Evaluation of Indicators
Authors: Kulakovskaya A. , Knoeri C. , Radke F. , Blum N. U. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractA circular economy (CE) is often seen as a promising way to address pressing environmental challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. However, the CE concept remains contested, and the implementation of circular strategies (CS) does not automatically improve all dimensions of sustainability. However, assessing the economic impacts of CS implementation is crucial to making the transition from linear to circular value chains. Despite the broad literature on CE indicators, a critical evaluation of economic CE indicators (eCEis) that conduct assessments on a value-chain level is still missing. This study addresses this gap by critically evaluating how capable eCEis are of measuring the economic impacts of implementing CS at the value-chain level. We first identify existing meso eCEis through a literature review, deriving a sample of 13 meso eCEis. We then qualitatively evaluate the eCEis based on criteria synthesised from requirements for CE indicators proposed in the literature. We find that existing meso eCEis only partly fulfil these criteria and consequently have limited capabilities for measuring the economic impacts of the implementation of CS at a value-chain level. The indicators largely satisfy the specific criteria diagnostic and useful, moderately satisfy the criterion practical, and barely satisfy the criteria systemic and transparent. We therefore recommend that future studies on eCEis place a stronger focus on adopting a systemic perspective, discuss their limitations and uncertainties in more detail, and consider combining meso eCEis with the indicators of other dimensions (environmental, social) and levels (micro, macro).
Passengers receptivity of a new public transport mode: case of a BRT project in Lebanon
Authors: Al-Shaar Walid , Nehme Nabil , Bonin Olivier , Adjizian-Gérard Jocelyne , Al-Shaar Mohamad 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis study examines how far the level of knowledge on a new public transport mode in Lebanon might affect mode choice. Indeed, passenger mode choice is a major issue associated with the effectiveness of new transport projects, as their level of effectiveness and feasibility will depend on the number of new adopters. This investigation is performed by developing mode choice models based on data collected via a questionnaire-based survey. The models were used to compare preferences among private cars, current public transport modes and a newly proposed Bus Rapid Transit system. The driving factors are divided into two categories: economic and psychological. The results reveal that explicit evaluations of several factors on the proposed transport modes yields mode choices different from direct evaluation. Besides, the structure of the utility function reveals that economic driving factors prevail over the psychological aspects, which is the opposite of what is observed with direct mode assessment. Moreover, people’s expectations of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit were significantly positive in terms of usability in addition to operational and economic reliability. This study shows that people’s level of knowledge of previous transport modes and their perceptual expectations of new travel modes must be taken into consideration in the feasibility studies of any transport implementations in the developing countries where the public transport services are discouraged.
Absorption Chiller/Kalina Cycle Coupled System for Low-Grade Waste Heat Recovery in Hydrate-Based CO2 Capture Process: An Economic and Exergetic Study
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Wang Kangrui , Xie Nan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis study investigates a coupled system combined by a LiBr/H2O absorption refrigeration cycle and a Kalina cycle, to recover waste heat from a hydrate-based CO2 capture process. The optimal system operation has been obtained. Payback time, Return on investment, Net present value and Discounted cash flow rate of return are selected as the evaluation indicators for a comprehensive economic analysis. Cash flow patterns are obtained for different discounted interest rates and electricity prices. Exergy analysis is conducted and the exergy loss of each component is calculated. Results show that in comparison with the individual Kalina cycle, the net electricity generation is increased by around 45%. The highest thermal efficiency of this coupled system is 16.78%. Payment balance can be achieved with a payback time of 6 years. The purchase price of heat exchanger occupies the largest capital investment. Exergy efficiency of this system is obtained as 36.89%. Major system irreversibility occurs in heat transfer processes of heat exchangers and the largest exergy loss is found in generators of both subcycles. Reducing the heat transfer irreversibility and the size of heat exchangers are greatly encouraged in future efforts.
Can We Estimate Air‐Sea Flux of Biological O2 From Total Dissolved Oxygen?
Authors: Huang Yibin , Eveleth Rachel , Nicholson David , Cassar Nicolas 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn this study, we compare mechanistic and empirical approaches to reconstruct the air‐sea flux of biological oxygen () by parameterizing the physical oxygen saturation anomaly (ΔO2[phy]) in order to separate the biological contribution from total oxygen. The first approach matches ΔO2[phy] to the monthly climatology of the argon saturation anomaly from a global ocean circulation model's output. The second approach derives ΔO2[phy] from an iterative mass balance model forced by satellite‐based physical drivers of ΔO2[phy] prior to the sampling day by assuming that air‐sea interactions are the dominant factors driving the surface ΔO2[phy]. The final approach leverages the machine‐learning technique of Genetic Programming (GP) to search for the functional relationship between ΔO2[phy] and biophysicochemical parameters. We compile simultaneous measurements of O2/Ar and O2 concentration from 14 cruises to train the GP algorithm and test the validity and applicability of our modeled ΔO2[phy] and . Among the approaches, the GP approach, which incorporates ship‐based measurements and historical records of physical parameters from the reanalysis products, provides the most robust predictions (R2 = 0.74 for ΔO2[phy] and 0.72 for ; RMSE = 1.4% for ΔO2[phy] and 7.1 mmol O2 m−2 d−1 for ). We use the empirical formulation derived from GP approach to reconstruct regional, inter‐annual, and decadal variability of based on historical oxygen records. Overall, our study represents a first attempt at deriving from snapshot measurements of oxygen, thereby paving the way toward using historical O2 data and a rapidly growing number of O2 measurements on autonomous platforms for independent insight into the biological pump.
Local Time Response of Auroral Electrojet During Magnetically Disturbed Periods: DMSP and CHAMP Coordinated Observations
Authors: Zhong Yunfang , Wang Hui , Zhang Kedeng , Xia Hao , Qian Chengyu 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBased on 10 years of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and Challenging Minisatellite Payload coordinated observations, we investigated the local time variation in the response time and strength of the auroral electrojet (AEJ) with respect to the sudden change in solar wind inputs, including merging electric field (Em), substorm, and interplanetary (IP) shock. The daytime (nighttime) AEJ responded several minutes (>30 min) after the key time of Em enhancement. For substorms and IP shocks, the AEJ at all local times showed an instantaneous response. The local time with a westward enhancement of the AEJ was wider during substorms than those during Em enhancement and IP shock. The times when the AEJ or disturbance AEJ attained peaks varied for different disturbances. At IP shock onset, the AEJ in the prenoon and postnoon increased in opposite directions to that in the quiet time. During Em enhancement and IP shock, the duskside AEJ attained a peak faster than the dawnside owing to the more rapid change in the duskside Hall conductance. The relative effects of the convection electric field and Hall conductance on the disturbance AEJ are disclosed at different local times. This study offers insights into the physical mechanisms of local time differences in the response time and strength of AEJ during disturbed periods.
Frictional and Hydraulic Properties of Plate Interfaces Constrained by a Tidal Response Model Considering Dilatancy/Compaction
Authors: Sakamoto Ryunosuke , Tanaka Yoshiyuki 
Published: August 2022

AbstractTidal triggering of tectonic tremors has been observed at plate boundaries around the circum‐Pacific region. It has been reported that the response of tremors to tidal stress during episodic tremor and slow slip (ETS) changes between the early and later stages of ETS. Several physical models have been constructed, with which observations for the tidal response during ETS have been partly reproduced. However, no model has been proposed that reproduces all the observations. In this study, a model adopted in previous studies is extended to include the effects of dilatancy/compaction that occur in the fault creep region. The analytical approximate solution derived in this study and numerical computational results reveal how the tidal response depends on the physical properties of the fault. Furthermore, the model reproduces all the above observations simultaneously for a specific range of fault parameters. Of particular importance is that the occurrence of dilatancy/compaction is essential to reproduce the tidal response at the early stage of the ETS. The value of the critical distance is constrained to be approximately . This agrees with the values that have been widely used in seismic cycle numerical simulations rather than those obtained in laboratory experiments. The fluid pressure diffusivity is constrained to be at least or less, and the effective normal stress is constrained to . In conclusion, this study shows that reproducing the tidal response of tectonic tremors during the ETS is useful for estimating fault physical properties, including hydraulic properties.
Quantifying Mechanisms of Aeolian Dust Emission: Field Measurements at Etosha Pan, Namibia
Authors: Wiggs Giles F. S. , Baddock Matthew C. , Thomas David S. G. , Washington Richard , Nield Joanna M. , Engelstaedter Sebastian , Bryant Robert G. , Eckardt Frank D. , von Holdt Johannah R. C. , Kötting Shayne 
Published: August 2022

AbstractDetermining the controls on aeolian dust emissions from major sources is necessary for reliable quantification of atmospheric aerosol concentrations and fluxes. However, ground‐based measurements of dust emissions at‐source are rare and of generally short duration, failing to capture the annual cycle. Here, we provide new insights into dust dynamics by measuring aerosol concentrations and meteorological conditions for a full year (July 2015–June 2016) at Etosha Pan, Namibia, a globally significant dust source. Surface deployed field instrumentation provided 10‐min averaged data on meteorological conditions, aerosol concentration (mg/m3), and horizontal dust flux (g/m2/min10). A Doppler lidar provided additional data for some of the period. 51 significant dust events were identified in response to strong E‐ENE winds. We demonstrate that these events occurred throughout the year and were not restricted to the austral winter, as previously indicated by satellite observations. Peak horizontal flux occurred in the spring (November) due to strengthening erosive winds and highly desiccating conditions increasing surface erodibility. We identify a strong seasonal differentiation in the meteorological mechanisms controlling dust uplift; low‐level jets on dry winter mornings (61% of all events), and cold pool outflows in humid summer evenings (39% of events). Significantly, we demonstrate a very strong bias toward the contribution of low frequency and high magnitude events, with nearly 31% of annual horizontal dust flux generated by only 6 individual events. Our study demonstrates how longer‐term (≈1 year), ground‐based, and at‐source field measurements can radically improve interpretations of dust event dynamics and controls at major source locations.
Modeling Global Carbon Costs of Plant Nitrogen and Phosphorus Acquisition
Authors: Braghiere R. K. , Fisher J. B. , Allen K. , Brzostek E. , Shi M. , Yang X. , Ricciuto D. M. , Fisher R. A. , Zhu Q. , Phillips R. P. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractMost Earth system models (ESMs) do not explicitly represent the carbon (C) costs of plant nutrient acquisition, which leads to uncertainty in predictions of the current and future constraints to the land C sink. We integrate a plant productivity‐optimizing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition model (fixation & uptake of nutrients, FUN) into the energy exascale Earth system (E3SM) land model (ELM). Global plant N and P uptake are dynamically simulated by ELM‐FUN based on the C costs of nutrient acquisition from mycorrhizae, direct root uptake, retranslocation from senescing leaves, and biological N fixation. We benchmarked ELM‐FUN with three classes of products: ILAMB, a remotely sensed nutrient limitation product, and CMIP6 models; we found significant improvements in C cycle variables, although the lack of more observed nutrient data prevents a comprehensive level of benchmarking. Overall, we found N and P co‐limitation for 80% of land area, with the remaining 20% being either predominantly N or P limited. Globally, the new model predicts that plants invested 4.1 Pg C yr−1 to acquire 841.8 Tg N yr−1 and 48.1 Tg P yr−1 (1994–2005), leading to significant downregulation of global net primary production (NPP). Global NPP is reduced by 20% with C costs of N and 50% with C costs of NP. Modeled and observed nutrient limitation agreement increases when N and P are considered together (r2 from 0.73 to 0.83).