Impact of Hypernova νp-process Nucleosynthesis on the Galactic Chemical Evolution of Mo and Ru

We calculate the Galactic Chemical Evolution of Mo and Ru by taking into account the contribution from ν p-process nucleosynthesis. We estimate yields of p-nuclei such as 92,94Mo and 96,98Ru through the ν p-process in various supernova progenitors based upon recent models. In particular, the ν p-process in energetic hypernovae produces a large amount of p-nuclei compared to the yield in ordinary core-collapse SNe. Because of this, the abundances of 92,94Mo and 96,98Ru in the Galaxy are significantly enhanced at [Fe/H] = 0 by the ν p-process. We find that the ν p-process in hypernovae is the main contributor to the elemental abundance of 92Mo at low metallicity [Fe/H] < −2. Our theoretical prediction of the elemental abundances in metal-poor stars becomes more consistent with observational data when the ν p-process in hypernovae is taken into account.

Disciplined or Agile?

Software requirements changes become necessary due to changes in customer requirements and changes in business rules and operating environments; hence, requirements development, which includes requirements changes, is a part of a software process. Previous studies have shown that failing to manage software requirements changes well is a main contributor to project failure. Given the importance of the subject, there is a plethora of efforts in academia and industry that discuss the management of requirements change in various directions, ways, and means. This chapter provided information about the current state-of-the-art approaches (i.e., Disciplined or Agile) for RCM and the research gaps in existing work. Benefits, risks, and difficulties associated with RCM are also made available to software practitioners who will be in a position of making better decisions on activities related to RCM. Better decisions can lead to better planning, which will increase the chance of project success.

A Comparison of IPCC Guidelines and Allocation Methods to Estimate the Environmental Impact of Barley Production in the Basque Country through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

This study aimed to estimate the environmental impact of barley production in the Basque Country, Northern Spain, using cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, as well as to assess how methodological choices (i.e., the use of IPCC 2019 Guidelines versus allocation methods) can influence such estimation. The production of mineral fertiliser and the direct emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) resulting from the application of nitrogen (N) fertiliser were identified as the two main contributors (40% and 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions, respectively) to the environmental impact of barley production. Pertaining to GHG emissions themselves, the use of calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser was found to be the main contributor. Therefore, the optimization of N fertiliser application was established as a key process to reduce the environmental impact of barley production. The fertiliser-related release of N and phosphorous (P) to the environment was the main contributor to particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification, and terrestrial and marine eutrophication. The incorporation of environmental data on NH3, NOx, NO3−, and PO43− to the LCA led to a more accurate estimation of barley production impact. A sensitivity analysis showed that the use of economic allocation, compared to mass allocation, increased the estimation of climate change-related impact by 80%. In turn, the application of the IPCC 2019 Refinement Guidelines increased this estimation by a factor of 1.12 and 0.86 in wet regions and decreased in dry regions, respectively. Our results emphasise the importance of the choice of methodology, adapted to the specific case under study, when estimating the environmental impact of food production systems.

Emergence of representative signals for sudden stratospheric warmings beyond current predictable lead times

Major sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are extreme wintertime circulation events of the Arctic stratosphere that are accompanied by a breakdown of the polar vortex and are considered an important source of predictability of tropospheric weather on subseasonal to seasonal timescales over the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes and high latitudes. However, SSWs themselves are difficult to predict, with a predictability limit of around 1 to 2 weeks. The predictability limit for determining the type of event, i.e., wave-1 or wave-2 events, is even shorter. Here we analyze the dynamics of the vortex breakdown and look for early signs of the vortex deceleration process at lead times beyond the current predictability limit of SSWs. To this end, we employ a mode decomposition analysis to study the potential vorticity (PV) equation on the 850 K isentropic surface by decomposing each term in the PV equation using the empirical orthogonal functions of the PV. The first principal component (PC) is an indicator of the strength of the polar vortex and starts to increase from around 25 d before the onset of SSWs, indicating a deceleration of the polar vortex. A budget analysis based on the mode decomposition is then used to characterize the contribution of the linear and nonlinear PV advection terms to the rate of change (tendency) of the first PC. The linear PV advection term is the main contributor to the PC tendency at 25 to 15 d before the onset of SSW events for both wave-1 and wave-2 events. The nonlinear PV advection term becomes important between 15 and 1 d before the onset of wave-2 events, while the linear PV advection term continues to be the main contributor for wave-1 events. By linking the PV advection to the PV flux, we find that the linear PV flux is important for both types of SSWs from 25 to 15 d prior to the events but with different wave-2 spatial patterns, while the nonlinear PV flux displays a wave-3 wave pattern, which finally leads to a split of the polar vortex. Early signs of SSW events arise before the 1- to 2-week prediction limit currently observed in state-of-the-art prediction systems, while signs for the type of event arise at least 1 week before the event onset.

Intra-Tumour Heterogeneity is One of the Main Sources of Inter-Observer Variation in Scoring Stromal Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Stromal tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) are a strong prognostic marker in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Consistency scoring sTILs is good and was excellent when an internet-based scoring aid developed by the TIL-WG was used to score cases in a reproducibility study. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of sTILs assessment using this scoring aid in cases from routine practice and to explore the potential of the tool to overcome variability in scoring. Twenty-three breast pathologists scored sTILs in digitized slides of 49 TNBC biopsies using the scoring aid. Subsequently, fields of view (FOV) from each case were selected by one pathologist and scored by the group using the tool. Inter-observer agreement was good for absolute sTILs (ICC 0.634, 95% CI 0.539–0.735, p < 0.001) but was poor to fair using binary cutpoints. sTILs heterogeneity was the main contributor to disagreement. When pathologists scored the same FOV from each case, inter-observer agreement was excellent for absolute sTILs (ICC 0.798, 95% CI 0.727–0.864, p < 0.001) and good for the 20% (ICC 0.657, 95% CI 0.561–0.756, p < 0.001) and 40% (ICC 0.644, 95% CI 0.546–0.745, p < 0.001) cutpoints. However, there was a wide range of scores for many cases. Reproducibility scoring sTILs is good when the scoring aid is used. Heterogeneity is the main contributor to variance and will need to be overcome for analytic validity to be achieved.

Study on Acidity and Neutralizing Ability of Ions in the Chemical Composition of Rainwater

The acidity in rainwater is mainly controlled by the presence of H2SO4, HNO3 in combination with the ability to neutralize cations in rainwater. pH is an important value in the evaluation of acidity in rainwater. The research used a series of rainwater quality monitoring data from 2005 to 2018 in Vietnam. The research showed that the average pH distribution at 23 stations ranged from 5.83 ± 0.62. The rains with pH <5.6 appear in all years at the research stations. Considering the ability of acid neutralizing to various ions shows that Ca2+ is the main contributor to acid neutralization processes in rainwater, followed by Mg2 +, NH4+, and K+. While Ca2+ always play the highest acid neutralizing role at all stations; Depending on each station, Mg2+ and NH4+ ions play a role in neutralizing acidity in rainwater. The research also shows a match between the trend of H+ concentration and the tendency of cations to contribute to acid neutralization in rainwater.

Iron deficiency is not the main contributor to anemia in older Mexican adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-19

Objective. To describe the current status of anemia and iron deficiency (ID), as well as associated sociodemographic characteristics, in older adults (OA). Materials and meth­ods. Serum and capillary blood samples from a sample of OA participants (n=2 902) from the Ensanut 2018-19 were analyzed. ID was defined as s-ferritin<15 μg/L, and anemia was defined according to World Health Organization stan­dards. Logistic regression models were used to associate the characteristics of OA with anemia and ID. Results. Of the OA analyzed, anemia was present in 28.4%, ID in 5% and iron deficiency anemia in 2.07%. Diabetes (OR=2.14), renal insuf­ficiency (OR=10.4), higher age, and urban dwelling (OR=1.35) were conditions associated with higher odds for anemia (p<0.05). Belonging to the 70-79 year age group was the only condition associated with higher odds for ID (OR=1.86, p<0.05). Conclusions. Anemia affects a high proportion of OA, and ID is not the main contributor to anemia. Chronic comorbidities help explain the anemia problem in OA.