bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Biology of Canadian Weeds: 158.Galega officinalisL.
Authors: Darbyshire Stephen J. , Francis Ardath , Bromfield Eden S.P. , Mechanda Subbaiah
Published: May 2021

The biology of the weed goat’s-rue, Galega officinalis (Fabaceae), is reviewed. Introduced to Canada in the late 19th Century as an ornamental, it has become established at scattered localities and is spreading locally in southern Ontario. The plant is considered a noxious weed and is legally regulated in many jurisdictions due to the production of toxic alkaloids and its invasive characteristics. Primarily a weed of pastures, grasslands and perennial crops, it also displaces native vegetation in areas where it becomes established. Originally endemic in the Black Sea region, it was spread by humans through Europe and eastward to Pakistan as a herbal medicine. More recently it has been introduced widely as a forage and ornamental plant. As a folk remedy it has been used primarily to treat diabetes in humans and to enhance milk production in both humans and livestock. The plant has also been used as a forage by limiting consumption to early growth stages and the quantity ingested. Effective control has been achieved with 2,4-D, dicamba, tryclopyr, metsulfuron methyl and other herbicides. Goat’s-rue forms a highly specific nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the soil bacterium Neorhizobium galegae symbiovar officinalis. Successful establishment of Goat’s rue in new regions depends on the co-introduction of plant and bacterium. The lack of long-distance dispersal adaptations, soil pH requirements and its symbiont dependency, reduces the ability of G. officinalis to spread into novel areas without anthropogenic activities. These constraints to establishment may facilitate management and eradication strategies.
Biotic and stable-isotope characterization of the Toarcian Ocean Anoxic Event through a carbonate–clastic sequence from Somerset, UK
Authors: Boomer Ian , Copestake Philip , Page Kevin , Huxtable John , Loy Tony , Bown Paul , Dunkley Jones Tom , O'Callaghan Matt , Hawkes Sarah , Halfacree David , Reay Henry , Caughtry Natalie
Published: May 2021

This study focuses on a condensed sequence of alternating carbonate–clastic sediments of the Barrington Member, Beacon Limestone Formation (latest Pliensbachian to early Toarcian) from Somerset (SW England). Abundant ammonites confirm (apart from the absence of the Clevelandicum and Tenuicostatum ammonite subchronozones) the presence of Hawskerense Subchronozone to Fallaciosum–Bingmanni subchronozones. Well-preserved, sometimes diverse assemblages of ostracods, foraminifera, nannofossils and low-diversity dinoflagellate assemblages support the chronostratigraphic framework. Stable-isotope analyses demonstrate the presence of a carbon isotope excursion, relating to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, within the early Toarcian. Faunal, geochemical and sedimentological evidence suggest that deposition largely took place in a relatively deep-water (subwave base), mid-outer shelf environment under a well-mixed water column. However, reduced benthic diversity, the presence of weakly laminated sediments and changes in microplankton assemblage composition within the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event indicates dysoxic, but probably never anoxic, bottom-water conditions during this event. The onset of the carbon isotope excursion coincides with extinction in the nannofossils and benthos, including the disappearance of the ostracod suborder Metacopina. Faunal evidence indicates connectivity with the Mediterranean region, not previously recorded for the UK during the early Toarcian.
Informal Technology Education for Women Transitioning from Incarceration
Authors: Seo Hyunjin , Altschwager Darcey , Choi Baek-young , Song Sejun , Britton Hannah , Ramaswamy Megha , Schuster Bernard , Ault Marilyn , Ayinala Kaushik , Zaman Rafida , Tihen Ben , Yenugu Lohitha
Published: May 2021

As society increasingly relies on digital technologies in many different aspects, those who lack relevant access and skills are lagging increasingly behind. Among the underserved groups disproportionately affected by the digital divide are women who are transitioning from incarceration and seeking to reenter the workforce outside the carceral system (women-in-transition). Women-in-transition rarely have been exposed to sound technology education, as they have generally been isolated from the digital environment while in incarceration. Furthermore, while women have become the fastest-growing segment of the incarcerated population in the United States in recent decades, prison education and reentry programs are still not well adjusted for them. Most programs are mainly designed for the dominant male population. Consequently, women-in-transition face significant post-incarceration challenges in accessing and using relevant digital technologies and thus have added difficulties in entering or reentering the workforce. Against this backdrop, our multi-disciplinary research team has conducted empirical research as part of technology education offered to women-in-transition in the Midwest. In this article, we report results from our interviews with 75 women-in-transition in the Midwest that were conducted to develop a tailored technology education program for the women. More than half of the participants in our study are women of color and face precarious housing and financial situations. Then, we discuss principles that we adopted in developing our education program for the marginalized women and participants’ feedback on the program. Our team launched in-person sessions with women-in-reentry at public libraries in February 2020 and had to move the sessions online in March due to COVID-19. Our research-informed educational program is designed primarily to support the women in enhancing their knowledge and comfort with technology and nurturing computational thinking. Our study shows that low self-efficacy and mental health challenges, as well as lack of resources for technology access and use, are some of the major issues that need to be addressed in supporting technology learning among women-in-transition. This research offers scholarly and practical implications for computing education for women-in-transition and other marginalized populations.
Gender Differences in Hackathons as a Non-traditional Educational Experience
Authors: Hardin Caroline D.
Published: May 2021

Hackathons, the time-bound collaborative project-based computer science competitions increasingly popular with computer science students, are one of the largest-scale innovations in computing education of the past decade. This research examined three hackathons and 46,500 surveys to find that educational benefits were unequal between genders in ways that would especially impact women returning to the workforce.
Secrecy in International Relations and Foreign Policy
Authors: Carnegie Allison
Published: May 2021

Scholarship on the politics of secrecy in international relations and foreign policy has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. This article begins by providing an overview of this literature, analyzing the conditions under which leaders opt for secrecy in both economic and security domains. These motivations differ greatly depending on whether the presumed audience from which a leader keeps a secret is domestic, international, or corporate in nature. Next, it considers methodological innovations and challenges, particularly in the measurement of secrecy. Finally, it reflects on the lessons learned and discusses some exciting questions that scholars could explore in future research. As a burgeoning field within international relations, the study of secrecy offers a variety of promising and potentially fruitful directions.
Review—Different Ceramic Reinforcements In Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: N. M. Siddesh Kumar , Shashank T N , Dhruthi
Published: May 2021

The current study focuses on the effect of the different ceramic reinforcement on the aluminium composite. The pros and cons of AMMCs are studied. In SiC reinforced composite’s wear resistance, tensile strength and hardness will be improved, as it acts as an obstacle to the dislocation of atoms. B4C reinforced composites form more pores and agglomeration by the increase in B4C content however the hardness improves at the expense of ductility. TiC reinforced composite’s interfacial bonding is good below 600 °C and the coefficient of thermal expansion reduces by increasing TiC weight percentage also mechanical properties like tensile and compressive strength improves. Al2O3 reinforcement will make grains finer hence adding Al2O3 improves the mechanical properties of the composite and it doesn’t react with the matrix at high temperature. ZrO2 reinforcement will improve the hardness and wear resistance although primary wear happens due to micro-cutting and oxidation. As mentioned each reinforcement has both advantages and disadvantages, based on the application required reinforcement will be selected.
Magnetite Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene Oxide Composite as an Efficient and Recoverable Adsorbent for Removing Aqueous Ni(Ⅱ), Pb(Ⅱ)
Authors: Bulin Chaoke , Guo Ting , Zhang Bangwen , Ma Zeyu , Li Bo , Zhang Yanghuan , Xing Ruiguang , Ge Xin
Published: May 2021

Massive disposal of various heavy metals by industrial activities gives rise to serious environmental contamination. Herein, a magnetite nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide composite (MNGO) was facilely prepared via simple co-precipitation. The as fabricated MNGO was characterized and used as adsorbent to remove aqueous Ni(Π) and Pb(Π) with high efficiency. The removal performance was investigated, and the interaction mechanism between adsorbent and adsorbate was analyzed. Control experiment presents, MNGO outperforms either single Fe3O4 or graphene oxide (GO), which is owing to the mutual positive effects between the two phases. Concretely, MNGO efficiently adsorbs 391.63 mg·g–1, 373.59 mg·g–1 of Ni(Π), Pb(Π) in 5 min, respectively. In addition, Fe3O4 introduction brings magnetic separability, which make MNGO recoverable. Adsorptions are spontaneous, exothermic and randomness decreasing, which conform well to the Freundlich and pseudo second order models. The interaction mechanism is clarified as: oxygen atoms in C=O, C–O related groups chemically interact with Ni(Ⅱ), Pb(Ⅱ). The high efficiency performance of MNGO entails inspiring application in heavy metal scavenging.
Improving Convolutional Neural Networks with Competitive Activation Function
Authors: Ying Yao , Zhang Nengbo , He Ping , Peng Silong
Published: May 2021

The activation function is the basic component of the convolutional neural network (CNN), which provides the nonlinear transformation capability required by the network. Many activation functions make the original input compete with different linear or nonlinear mapping terms to obtain different nonlinear transformation capabilities. Until recently, the original input of funnel activation (FReLU) competed with the spatial conditions, so FReLU not only has the ability of nonlinear transformation but also has the ability of pixelwise modeling. We summarize the competition mechanism in the activation function and then propose a novel activation function design template: competitive activation function (CAF), which promotes competition among different elements. CAF generalizes all activation functions that use competition mechanisms. According to CAF, we propose a parametric funnel rectified exponential unit (PFREU). PFREU promotes competition among linear mapping, nonlinear mapping, and spatial conditions. We conduct experiments on four datasets of different sizes, and the experimental results of three classical convolutional neural networks proved the superiority of our method.
Research on Permanent Magnet-Type Super-Low-Frequency Mechanical Antenna Communication
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Zhang Wenhou , Zhou Xin , Cao Zhenxin , Quan Xin
Published: May 2021

In the super-low-frequency (

30
∼
300
 Hz

) band communication, the traditional antenna covers a large area and has low radiation efficiency. The excitation of electromagnetic waves by the mechanical motion of permanent magnets enables miniaturized technology for super-low-frequency communication. For this miniaturization technique, this paper proposes a super-low-frequency communication architecture framework. Theoretical analysis and experimental verification of each unit module in the structural framework are carried out to achieve high-quality communication. For the radiation unit, permanent magnet parameters and communication distances are introduced to establish a rotating permanent magnet radiation power analysis model and to study the radiation characteristics of rotating permanent magnets. For the receiver unit, a sensitivity normalization characterization method based on the ratio of the coil thermal noise voltage to the induced voltage is proposed. Based on the sensitivity analysis model, a square coil was developed that meets the communication requirements of a mechanical antenna and an experimental platform was built. Experiments are conducted on the factors affecting radiated power and coil sensitivity, and 2FSK signal modulation communication experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility of the communication structure framework. The volume of the mechanical antenna permanent magnets in the experiment is all below 10 cm3, and the operating frequency is continuously adjustable from 0 to 250 Hz. The experimental results show that the near-field radiated power of a rotating permanent magnet is proportional to square of the volume of the rotating permanent magnet; the sensitivity of the coil is proportional to the number of turns and the area of the coil. By controlling the speed in real time, you can control the frequency of the signal and modulate it.
Functionally Separation Axioms on General Topology
Authors: Mhemdi Abdelwaheb , Al-shami Tareq M.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we define a new family of separation axioms in the classical topology called functionally

T

i

spaces for

i
=
0,1,2

. With the assistant of illustrative examples, we reveal the relationships between them as well as their relationship with

T

i

spaces for

i
=
0,1,2

. We demonstrate that functionally

T

i

spaces are preserved under product spaces, and they are topological and hereditary properties. Moreover, we show that the class of each one of them represents a transitive relation and obtain some interesting results under some conditions such as discrete and Sierpinski spaces.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cinnamon Oil Soft Capsule in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Zobeiri Mehdi , Parvizi Fatemeh , Shahpiri Zahra , Heydarpour Fatemeh , Pourfarzam Morteza , Memarzadeh Mohammad Reza , Rahimi Roja , Farzaei Mohammad Hosein
Published: May 2021

Background. Different effects of cinnamon and its oil in traditional medicine in the treatment of diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases, were reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) in patients with functional dyspepsia in a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Methods. Soft gelatin capsule was made using the rotary die process, and the final capsule was standardized based on its cinnamaldehyde amount and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Sixty-four patients with symptomatic functional dyspepsia were randomized to receive cinnamon oil soft capsule (n = 29) or sesame oil soft capsule as placebo (n = 35) for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was the sum score of the patient’s gastrointestinal symptom (five‐point scale). Secondary variables were the scores of each dyspeptic symptom including severity of vomiting, sickness, nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, early satiety, acidic eructation/heartburn, loss of appetite, retrosternal discomfort, and epigastric pain/upper abdominal pain, as well as any reported adverse events. Results. The results showed that, after 6 weeks of treatment, the cinnamon oil and placebo groups significantly decreased the total dyspepsia score compared to the baseline at the endpoint (

P
<
0.001

). However, there was no significant difference between the cinnamon oil and placebo groups in terms of the baseline and endpoint values of the outcome variables (

P
=
0.317

and

P
=
0.174

, respectively). Two patients in the cinnamon oil group complained of rashes, and three patients in the placebo group complained of nausea. Conclusion. This study showed significant improvements in gastrointestinal symptom score in both treatment and placebo groups. However, there was no significant difference between the cinnamon oil and sesame oil groups in terms of the baseline and endpoint values of the outcome variables. This study was registered as https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/IRCT20170802035460N2, 29 December 2017, in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with https://www.IRCT.ir.
CPIDM: A Clustering‐Based Profound Iterating Deep Learning Model for HSI Segmentation
Authors: Mahajan Kriti , Garg Urvashi , Shabaz Mohammad
Published: May 2021

The existing work on unsupervised segmentation frequently does not present any statistical extent to estimating and equating procedures, gratifying a qualitative calculation. Furthermore, regardless of the datum that enormous research is dedicated to the advancement of a novel segmentation approach and upgrading the deep learning techniques, there is an absence of research comprehending the assessment of eminent conventional segmentation methodologies for HSI. In this paper, to moderately fill this gap, we propose a direct method that diminishes the issues to some extent with the deep learning methods in the arena of a HSI space and evaluate the proposed segmentation techniques based on the method of the clustering‐based profound iterating deep learning model for HSI segmentation termed as CPIDM. The proposed model is an unsupervised HSI clustering technique centered on the density of pixels in the spectral interplanetary space and the distance concerning the pixels. Furthermore, CPIDM is a fully convolutional neural network. In general, fully convolutional nets remain spatially invariant preventing them from modeling position‐reliant outlines. The proposed network maneuvers this by encompassing an innovative position inclined convolutional stratum. The anticipated unique edifice of deep unsupervised segmentation deciphers the delinquency of oversegmentation and nonlinearity of data due to noise and outliers. The spectrum efficacy is erudite and incidental from united feedback via deep hierarchy with pooling and convolutional strata; as a consequence, it formulates an affiliation among class dissemination and spectra along with three‐dimensional features. Moreover, the anticipated deep learning model has revealed that it is conceivable to expressively accelerate the segmentation process without substantive quality loss due to the existence of noise and outliers. The proposed CPIDM approach outperforms many state‐of‐the‐art segmentation approaches that include watershed transform and neuro‐fuzzy approach as validated by the experimental consequences.
Genotyping of ABCC8, KCNJ11, and HADH in Iranian Infants with Congenital Hyperinsulinism
Authors: Hashemian Somayyeh , Esfehani Reza Jafarzadeh , Karimdadi Siroos , Ghaemi Nosrat , Eshraghi Peyman , Gonabadi Najmeh Malekzadeh , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Vakili Rahim , Abbaszadegan Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2021

Background. Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a heterogeneous disease with various underlying genetic causes. Among different genes considered effective in the development of CHI, ABCC8, KCNJ11, and HADH genes are among the important genes, especially in a population with a considerable rate of consanguineous marriage. Mutational analysis of these genes guides clinicians to better treatment and prediction of prognosis for this rare disease. The present study aimed to evaluate genetic variants in ABCC8, KCNJ11, and HADH genes as causative genes for CHI in the Iranian population. Methods. The present case series took place in Mashhad, Iran, within 11 years. Every child who had a clinical phenotype and confirmatory biochemical tests of CHI enrolled in this study. Variants in ABCC8, KCNJ11, and HADH genes were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction and sequencing in our patients. Results. Among 20 pediatric patients, 16 of them had variants in ABCC8, KCNJ11, and HADH genes. The mean age of genetic diagnosis was 18.6 days. A homozygous missense (c.2041-21G > A) mutation in the ABCC8 gene was seen in three infants. Other common variants were frameshift variants (c.3438dup) in the ABCC8 gene and a missense variant (c.287-288delinsTG) in the KCNJ11 gene. Most of the variants in our population were still categorized as variants of unknown significance and only 7 pathogenic variants were present. Conclusion. Most variants were located in the ABCC8 gene in our population. Because most of the variants in our population are not previously reported, performing further functional studies is warranted.
Environmental perception by the visitors of urban parks in the city of Maringá, Southern region of Brazil
Authors: Santos Silvio Alexandre , Oliveira Felipe Rafael , Velho Ana Paula Machado , Velho Luiz Felipe Machado
Published: May 2021

Urban parks are essential in improving the quality of life of the population in the cities. In this study, we sought to understand the perception of citizens about the importance of urban parks in the city of Maringá-PR, and the environmental aspects that involve their relationship with green areas. The parks analyzed were Parque do Ingá and Parque Municipal Alfredo Werner Nyffeler, both of which are widely frequented by the population. Exploratory field research was used, through the application of questionnaires, which covered questions related to the user’s profile, environmental perception and the structure of the parks. 212 people were interviewed, 106 in each park. The feeling of well-being, as well as the benefits related to physical and mental health, and contact with nature, were the most highly valued attributes. It can be seen that these green areas make the urban environment more pleasant and play a fundamental role in improving the quality of life of the researched public. The subjective perception developed by visitors to green areas in urban centers shows the importance of developing public policies aimed at the implementation, conservation and management of urban parks, with a consequent expansion and improvement of urban sustainability.
From Systemic Inflammation to Myocardial Fibrosis
Authors: Paulus Walter J. , Zile Michael R.
Published: May 2021

In accordance with the comorbidity-inflammation paradigm, comorbidities and especially metabolic comorbidities are presumed to drive development and severity of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction through a cascade of events ranging from systemic inflammation to myocardial fibrosis. Recently, novel experimental and clinical evidence emerged, which strengthens the validity of the inflammatory/profibrotic paradigm. This evidence consists among others of (1) myocardial infiltration by immunocompetent cells not only because of an obesity-induced metabolic load but also because of an arterial hypertension-induced hemodynamic load. The latter is sensed by components of the extracellular matrix like basal laminin, which also interact with cardiomyocyte titin; (2) expression in cardiomyocytes of inducible nitric oxide synthase because of circulating proinflammatory cytokines. This results in myocardial accumulation of degraded proteins because of a failing unfolded protein response; (3) definition by machine learning algorithms of phenogroups of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with a distinct inflammatory/profibrotic signature; (4) direct coupling in mediation analysis between comorbidities, inflammatory biomarkers, and deranged myocardial structure/function with endothelial expression of adhesion molecules already apparent in early preclinical heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF stage A, B). This new evidence paves the road for future heart failure with preserved ejection fraction treatments such as biologicals directed against inflammatory cytokines, stimulation of protein ubiquitylation with phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitors, correction of titin stiffness through natriuretic peptide—particulate guanylyl cyclase—PDE9 (phosphodiesterase 9) signaling and molecular/cellular regulatory mechanisms that control myocardial fibrosis.
Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Heart Failure
Authors: Lopaschuk Gary D. , Karwi Qutuba G. , Tian Rong , Wende Adam R. , Abel E. Dale
Published: May 2021

Alterations in cardiac energy metabolism contribute to the severity of heart failure. However, the energy metabolic changes that occur in heart failure are complex and are dependent not only on the severity and type of heart failure present but also on the co-existence of common comorbidities such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The failing heart faces an energy deficit, primarily because of a decrease in mitochondrial oxidative capacity. This is partly compensated for by an increase in ATP production from glycolysis. The relative contribution of the different fuels for mitochondrial ATP production also changes, including a decrease in glucose and amino acid oxidation, and an increase in ketone oxidation. The oxidation of fatty acids by the heart increases or decreases, depending on the type of heart failure. For instance, in heart failure associated with diabetes and obesity, myocardial fatty acid oxidation increases, while in heart failure associated with hypertension or ischemia, myocardial fatty acid oxidation decreases. Combined, these energy metabolic changes result in the failing heart becoming less efficient (ie, a decrease in cardiac work/O
2
consumed). The alterations in both glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in the failing heart are due to both transcriptional changes in key enzymes involved in these metabolic pathways, as well as alterations in NAD redox state (NAD
+
and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels) and metabolite signaling that contribute to posttranslational epigenetic changes in the control of expression of genes encoding energy metabolic enzymes. Alterations in the fate of glucose, beyond flux through glycolysis or glucose oxidation, also contribute to the pathology of heart failure. Of importance, pharmacological targeting of the energy metabolic pathways has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach to improving cardiac efficiency, decreasing the energy deficit and improving cardiac function in the failing heart.
Molecular Genetic Basis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Marian A.J.
Published: May 2021

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease of the myocardium characterized by a hypertrophic left ventricle with a preserved or increased ejection fraction. Cardiac hypertrophy is often asymmetrical, which is associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Myocyte hypertrophy, disarray, and myocardial fibrosis constitute the histological features of HCM. HCM is a relatively benign disease but an important cause of sudden cardiac death in the young and heart failure in the elderly. Pathogenic variants (PVs) in genes encoding protein constituents of the sarcomeres are the main causes of HCM. PVs exhibit a gradient of effect sizes, as reflected in their penetrance and variable phenotypic expression of HCM.
MYH7
and
MYBPC3
, encoding β-myosin heavy chain and myosin binding protein C, respectively, are the two most common causal genes and responsible for ≈40% of all HCM cases but a higher percentage of HCM in large families. PVs in genes encoding protein components of the thin filaments are responsible for ≈5% of the HCM cases. Whereas pathogenicity of the genetic variants in large families has been firmly established, ascertainment causality of the PVs in small families and sporadic cases is challenging. In the latter category, PVs are best considered as probabilistic determinants of HCM. Deciphering the genetic basis of HCM has enabled routine genetic testing and has partially elucidated the underpinning mechanism of HCM as increased number of the myosin molecules that are strongly bound to actin. The discoveries have led to the development of mavacamten that targets binding of the myosin molecule to actin filaments and imparts beneficial clinical effects. In the coming years, the yield of the genetic testing is expected to be improved and the so-called missing causal gene be identified. The advances are also expected to enable development of additional specific therapies and editing of the mutations in HCM.
Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Intracranial Dolichoectasia in Individuals With Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Del Brutto Victor J. , Gutierrez Jose , Goryawala Mohammed Z. , Sacco Ralph L. , Rundek Tatjana , Romano Jose G.
Published: May 2021

Background and Purpose:

Acute ischemic stroke is a known complication of intracranial dolichoectasia (IDE). However, the frequency of IDE causing brain infarction is unknown. We aim to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of IDE in acute ischemic stroke by employing an objective IDE definition for major intracranial arteries of the anterior and posterior circulation.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to a tertiary-care hospital during a 4-month period were analyzed. Intracranial arterial diameter, length, and tortuosity were determined by semiautomatic vessel segmentation and considered abnormal if ≥2 SDs from the study population mean. Either ectasia (increased diameter) or dolichosis (increased length or tortuosity) of at least one proximal intracranial artery defined IDE. Symptomatic IDE was considered when the infarct was located in the territory supplied by an affected artery in the absence of any alternative pathogenic explanation. Multivariate models were fitted to determine IDE clinical correlates.

Results:

Among 211 cases screened, 200 patients (mean age 67±14 years, 47.5% men) with available intracranial vessel imaging were included. IDE was identified in 24% cases (5% with isolated ectasia, 9.5% with isolated dolichosis, and 9.5% with both ectasia and dolichosis). IDE was considered the most likely pathogenic mechanism in 12 cases (6% of the entire cohort), which represented 23.5% of strokes initially categorized as undetermined cause. In addition, 21% of small-artery occlusion strokes had the infarct territory supplied by a dolichoectatic vessel (3% of the entire cohort). IDE was independently associated with male sex (odds ratio, 4.2 [95% CI, 1.7–10.6]) and its component of ectasia was associated with advanced age (odds ratio, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.3–9.5]). Vascular risk profile was similar across patients with stroke with and without IDE.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that IDE is an arteriopathy frequently found in patients with acute ischemic stroke and is likely responsible for a sizable fraction of strokes initially categorized as of undetermined cause and perhaps also in those with small-artery occlusion.
Prospective evolutionary drivers of allocare in wild belugas
Authors: Aubin Jaclyn A. , Michaud Robert , Vander Wal Eric
Published: May 2021

Allocare, investment in offspring from non-parents, poses an evolutionary enigma. While the fitness trade-offs driving parental care are universal, alloparents may be driven by kin selection, reciprocation, the need to acquire parenting skills (‘learning-to-parent’), an indiscriminate attraction towards infants (‘natal attraction’), or a combination of multiple drivers. Among belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), allocare has been reported in wild and captive populations, but its underlying mechanisms remain untested. Using over 1800 focal observations, we quantified alloparental associations in St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) belugas to determine whether the learning-to-parent and natal attraction hypotheses are consistent with patterns of allocare in this population. We found that subadults showed little interest in providing allocare and that alloparental investment remained constant across offspring age classes. As the observed patterns of allocare are inconsistent with both the learning-to-parent and natal attraction hypotheses, allocare in SLE belugas is likely driven by kin selection, reciprocation, or a combination thereof.
Perceiving Tempo in Incongruent Audiovisual Presentations of Human Motion: Evidence for a Visual Driving Effect
Authors: Wang Xinyue , Wöllner Clemens , Shi Zhuanghua
Published: May 2021

Compared to vision, audition has been considered to be the dominant sensory modality for temporal processing. Nevertheless, recent research suggests the opposite, such that the apparent inferiority of visual information in tempo judgements might be due to the lack of ecological validity of experimental stimuli, and reliable visual movements may have the potential to alter the temporal location of perceived auditory inputs. To explore the role of audition and vision in overall time perception, audiovisual stimuli with various degrees of temporal congruence were developed in the current study. We investigated which sensory modality weighs more in holistic tempo judgements with conflicting audiovisual information, and whether biological motion (point-light displays of dancers) rather than auditory cues (rhythmic beats) dominate judgements of tempo. A bisection experiment found that participants relied more on visual tempo compared to auditory tempo in overall tempo judgements. For fast tempi (150 to 180 BPM), participants judged ‘fast’ significantly more often with visual cues regardless of the auditory tempo, whereas for slow tempi (60 to 90 BPM), they did so significantly less often. Our results support the notion that visual stimuli with higher ecological validity have the potential to drive up or down the holistic perception of tempo.
Impatiens bullatisepala (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China
Authors: PENG SHUAI , CONG YI-YAN , TIAN JING , ZHANG CAI-FEI , HU GUANG-WAN , WANG QING-FENG
Published: May 2021

Impatiens bullatisepala (Balsaminaceae), a new species supported by morphological and phylogenetic evidence from Fanjing Mountain, Guizhou province in China, is described here. It is morphologically similar to I. davidii but can be distinguished by its dorsally ridged lateral sepals with sunk reticulate veins and bullate projections on abaxial surface, 2–2.5 cm deep saccate lower sepal with ca. 0.8 cm long narrowly triangular tip at the mouth, and broadly ovate dorsal petal. Phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset of nuclear ITS and plastid atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer DNA sequences furtherly confirmed its novelty.
New species of Laxotela Winterton & Irwin from Australia (Diptera: Therevidae: Agapophytinae)
Authors: WINTERTON SHAUN L.
Published: May 2021

Two new species of the endemic Australian stiletto fly genus Laxotela Winterton & Irwin are described and figured. Laxotela elongata sp. nov. is described from Queensland while Laxotela plata sp. nov. is described from south-eastern mainland Australia. Laxotela ornata (Kröber) comb. nov. (originally Spatulipalpa Kröber) was recently placed as incertae sedis within Therevidae, but is herein transferred to Laxotela. A revised key to Laxotela species is presented.
On a little-known work by A.H. Haliday containing nomenclatural notes on Diptera genus-group names (Insecta: Brachycera)
Authors: EVENHUIS NEAL L.
Published: May 2021

In reviewing the Diptera literature for the earliest subsequent designations for genus-group names in Diptera as part of the Biosystematic database of World Diptera (BDWD) project (Thompson, 2006), I came across a lengthy review article by A.H. Haliday in The Natural History Review in 1855. In this work, Haliday reviews works on northern European Diptera by Zetterstedt, Staeger, Stenhammar, Wahlberg, Boheman, and Dahlman. His reviews include his own views on the status of various taxa proposed in these works including synonymies and his views on classification in comparing the taxa in these works with the British taxa. In his rather detailed review of Zetterstedt’s works, Haliday gives type designations for nine genus-group names, with three of them earlier than previously recorded. I give notice of these earliest type-species designations here in the hope that it will provide useful information for the student of dipterology. The designations in Haliday (1855) are of the same type species as those designated by Rondani, so there is no change in taxonomic concepts of the three genus-group names listed here.
Two new species and four new records of Diduga (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from Laos
Authors: BAYARSAIKHAN ULZIIJARGAL , CHA YEONG-BIN , LEE TAK-GI , JANG CHANG-MOON , KWON HYUNG WOOK , BAE YANG-SEOP
Published: May 2021

Two new species, Diduga hastata sp. nov. and Diduga mucronata sp. nov. are described from Laos along with four newly recorded species, D. annulata Hampson, 1900, D. amoenusa Bucsek, 2012, D. allodubatolovi Bayarsaikhan, Li & Bae, 2020 and D. luteogibbosa Bayarsaikhan, Li & Bae, 2020. Illustrations of adults and genitalia of examined species from Laos are provided.
Preparation and Dosimetry Assessment of 166Dy2O3/166Ho2O3-iPSMA Nanoparticles for Targeted Hepatocarcinoma Radiotherapy
Authors: Canseco-Hernández Omar , Ferro-Flores Guillermina , Jimenez-Mancilla Nallely , Aranda-Lara Liliana , Ocampo-Garcia Blanca , Trujillo-Benitez Diana , Ancira-Cortés Alejandra , Morales-Avila Enrique , Santos-Cuevas Clara
Published: May 2021

This research aimed to prepare 166Dy2O3-iPSMA/166Ho2O3-iPSMA nanoparticles (166Dy2O3/166Ho2O3-iPSMA NPs) and assess the radiation absorbed dose produced
by the nanosystem to hepatic cancer cells by using experimental in vitro and in vivo biokinetic data. Dy2O3NPs were synthesized and functionalized with the prostate-specific membrane antigen inhibitor peptide (iPSMA). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DSL) and zeta potential analyses indicated the formation of Dy2O3-iPSMA NPs (46.11 ± 13.24 nm). After neutron activation, a stable 166Dy2O3/166Ho2O3-
iPSMA nanosystem was obtained, which showed adequate affinity to the PSMA receptor in HepG2 cancer cells (Kd = 9.87 ± 2.27 nM). in vitro studies indicated high 166Dy2O3/166Ho2O3-iPSMA internalization
in cancer cells, with high radiation doses to cell nuclei (107 Gy) and cytotoxic effects, resulting in a significant reduction in HepG2 cell viability (decreasing to 2.12 ± 0.31%). After intratumoral administration in mice, the nanosystem biokinetic profile indicated significant retention
into the tumoral mass, producing ablative radiation doses (>70 Gy).
Nanoparticles Determination by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Luo Wenhe , Li Tao , Wang Meng , Dai Wanqin , Jiao Chunlei , Ma Yuhui , Ding Yayun , Yang Fang , He Xiao , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: May 2021

Quantitatively studying the biodistribution and transformation of nanomaterials is of great importance for nanotoxicological evaluation. Recently, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry has been employed to distinguish nanoparticles (NPs) with their dissolved ions
in biological samples. The principle of the proposal is based on a hypothesis that the intact NPs sampled by laser ablation will generate discrete sharp pulses of signals in ICP-MS measurement, being totally different from the continuous, relatively lower signals generated by ions. However,
it is still a controversy whether NPs could maintain their intactness during the laser ablation. This work found a way to exactly determine the number of NPs sampled for each LA-ICP-MS measurement. It made possible to reveal the signal profile of a single NP in LA-ICP-MS analysis. The results
suggest that AuNR, AgNP and TIO2 NP were broken into much smaller secondary NPs during the laser ablation, therefore generating continuous signals in the analyzer. There was a certain probability that the fragmentation of large-sized NP or multiple NPs by laser ablation was not
sufficient, leaving some NPs unbroken or some secondary NPs with relatively large sizes to generate discrete pulses of signals in the analyzer. When the intactness of NPs during laser ablation cannot be assured, it is impossible to determine the attribution of mass spectrum signals. These
findings compromise the reliability of distinguishing NPs from their dissolved ions by LA-ICP-MS.
Microphysical Characteristics and Evolution of Seeded Orographic Clouds
Authors: Friedrich Katja , French Jeffrey R. , Tessendorf Sarah A. , Hatt Melinda , Weeks Courtney , Rauber Robert M. , Geerts Bart , Xue Lulin , Rasmussen Roy M. , Blestrud Derek R. , Kunkel Melvin L. , Dawson Nicholas , Parkinson Shaun
Published: May 2021

The spatial distribution and magnitude of snowfall resulting from cloud seeding with silver iodide (AgI) is closely linked to atmospheric conditions, seeding operations, and dynamical, thermodynamical, and microphysical processes. Here, microphysical processes leading to ice and snow production are analyzed in orographic clouds for three cloud-seeding events, each with light or no natural precipitation and well-defined, traceable seeding lines. Airborne and ground-based radar observations are linked to in situ cloud and precipitation measurements to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of ice initiation, particle growth, and snow fallout in seeded clouds. These processes and surface snow amounts are explored as particle plumes evolve from varying amounts of AgI released, and within changing environmental conditions, including changes in liquid water content (LWC) along and downwind of the seeding track, wind speed, and shear. More AgI did not necessarily produce more liquid equivalent snowfall (LESnow). The greatest amount of LESnow, largest area covered by snowfall, and highest peak snowfall produced through seeding occurred on the day with the largest and most widespread occurrence of supercooled drizzle, highest wind shear, and greater LWC along and downwind of the seeding track. The day with the least supercooled drizzle and the lowest LWC downwind of the seeding track produced the smallest amount of LESnow through seeding. The stronger the wind was, the farther away the snowfall occurred from the seeding track.
Beyond the mean: long-term variabilities in precipitation and temperature on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Guo Tong , Tang Yanhong
Published: May 2021

Long-term variabilities in daily precipitation and temperature are critical for assessing the impacts of climate change on ecosystems. We characterized intra- and interannual variabilities in daily precipitation and temperature obtained from 1960 to 2015 at 78 meteorological stations on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The results show that 1) The intra-annual variability of daily precipitation increases for 55 meteorological stations with a rate of 0.08 mm per decade. In contrast, the intra-annual variability markedly decreases for daily mean, daytime mean, and nighttime mean temperatures with a rate of 0.09, 0.07, and 0.12 °C per decade, respectively at 90% or more of stations. 2) Variabilities of daily precipitation and temperatures are quite sensitive to high altitudes (> 3500 m). The intra- and interannual variabilities of daily precipitation significantly decrease at 1.0 and 0.07 mm per 1000 m, respectively. However, variations of high altitudes increase the intra- and interannual variabilities of daily mean temperature at 1.0 °C and 0.2 °C per 1000 m. Moreover, the interannual variability of nighttime mean temperature varies at 0.3 °C per 1000 m, the fastest rate among three temperature indices. 3) A larger mean annual precipitation is accompanied by a higher intra- and interannual variability of daily precipitation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau; however, a higher mean annual temperature leads to lower variabilities of daily temperatures. This study illustrates that long-term climatic variability is understudied in alpine ecosystems characterized by high climatic sensitivity. Precipitation and temperature variabilities should be characterized to improve predictions of vulnerable ecosystems responding to climate change.
On using the finescale parameterization and Thorpe scales to estimate turbulence from glider data
Authors: Howatt Tara , Waterman Stephanie , Ross Tetjana
Published: May 2021

Turbulence plays a key role in many oceanic processes, but a shortage of turbulence observations impedes its exploration. Parameterizations of turbulence applied to readily-available CTD data can be useful in expanding our understanding of the space-time variability of turbulence. Typically tested and applied to shipboard data, these parameterizations have not been rigorously tested on data collected by underwater gliders, which show potential to observe turbulence in conditions that ships cannot. Using data from a 10-day glider survey in a coastal shelf environment, we compare estimates of turbulent dissipation from the finescale parameterization and Thorpe scale method to those estimated from microstructure observations collected on the same glider platform. We find that the finescale parameterization captures the magnitude and statistical distribution of dissipation, but cannot resolve spatiotemporal features in this relatively shallow water depth. In contrast, the Thorpe scale method more successfully characterizes the spatiotemporal distribution of turbulence; however, the magnitude of dissipation is overestimated, largely due to limitations on the detectable density overturn size imposed by the typical glider CTD sampling frequency of 0.5 Hz and CTD noise. Despite these limitations, turbulence parameterizations provide a viable opportunity to use CTD data collected by the multitude of gliders sampling the ocean to develop greater insight into the space-time variability of ocean turbulence and the role of turbulence in oceanic processes.
Evaluating Complex Interventions Using Qualitative Longitudinal Research: A Case Study of Understanding Pathways to Violence Prevention
Authors: Makleff Shelly , Garduño Jovita , Zavala Rosa Icela , Valades Jimena , Barindelli Florencia , Cruz Mariana , Marston Cicely
Published: May 2021

Evaluating social change programs requires methods that account for changes in context, implementation, and participant experience. We present a case study of a school-based partner violence prevention program with young people, where we conducted 33 repeat interviews with nine participants during and after an intervention and analyzed participant trajectories. We show how repeat interviews conducted during and after a social change program were useful in helping us understand how the intervention worked by providing rich contextual information, elucidating gradual shifts among participants, and identifying aspects of the intervention that appear to influence change. Long-term effects of social change interventions are very hard to quantify or measure directly. We argue that a qualitative longitudinal approach provides a way to measure subtle changes that can serve as proxies for longer term impacts.