bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of zoogeographical boundaries differ between vertebrate groups
Authors: Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Mazel Florent , Falaschi Mattia , Marta Silvio , Thuiller Wilfried
Published: July 2021

Aim

Worldwide distribution patterns of living animals are structured in multiple zoogeographical regions, characterized by faunas with homogeneous composition that are separated by sharp boundaries. These zoogeographical regions can differ depending on the considered animal group, probably because they have distinct characteristics such as dispersal, metabolism, or evolutionary history, and thus divergent responses to major biogeographical drivers, such as tectonic movements, abrupt climate transitions and orographic barriers. Here, we tested if the drivers of biogeographical boundaries are different between vertebrate classes with strongly divergent traits and evolutionary history.

Location

Global.

Time period

Present.

Major taxa studied

Amphibians, birds and mammals.

Methods

We focused on terrestrial biogeographical boundaries, considering multiple potential drivers: spatial heterogeneity of present‐day climate, altitudinal variation, long‐term tectonic movements and past climate change (temperature). We used spatially explicit regression models and geographically weighted regressions to select and quantify the factors explaining the position of the biogeographical boundaries between vertebrate classes.

Results

For mammals, tectonic movements, abrupt climatic transitions and orographic barriers jointly determined extant biogeographical boundaries, with tectonic movements being the most important. For birds, abrupt climatic transitions played the strongest role, while the effect of orographic barriers was weak. For amphibians, biogeographical boundaries mostly corresponded to areas with abrupt climatic transitions. The strongest transitions of amphibian faunas occur in areas with abrupt shifts of temperature and precipitation regimes.

Main conclusions

Our analyses confirmed that different drivers have jointly shaped the global vertebrate biogeographical regions, and highlight that taxa with different features show heterogeneous responses across the globe. Eco‐physiological constraints likely increase the importance of spatial heterogeneity of climate, while dispersal limitations magnify the relevance of physical barriers (mountain chains and long‐term tectonic instability). Integrating among‐taxa heterogeneity into analyses thus provides a more complete view of how different processes determine biodiversity variation across the globe.
Histories of the pox
Authors: Weisser Olivia
Published: July 2021

This essay charts key approaches to the history of disease by focusing in particular on how historians of early modern Europe have examined venereal disease, commonly called the pox. In offering a state of the field overview, the essay covers studies of past understandings of the disease, the place of the pox in early modern medical practice, the history of hospitals, literary methods, and newer cultural and realist approaches to the topic. Rather than uphold any one method as more valuable than the next, the essay looks at various historical debates and approaches, as well as the assumptions and questions that underlie them, to chart a path for how the field might develop.
Runt‐related transcription factor 1 (Runx1) aggravates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by promoting p53 expression
Authors: Zhang Dianhong , Liang Cui , Li Pengcheng , Yang Lulu , Hao Zhengyang , Kong Lingyao , Tian Xiaoxu , Guo Chenran , Dong Jianzeng , Zhang Yanzhou , Du Binbin
Published: July 2021

Cardiac hypertrophy and the resultant heart failure are among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide; thus, identifying the key factor mediating pathological cardiac hypertrophy is critically important for developing the strategy to protect against heart failure. Runx1 (Runt‐related transcription factor 1) acts as an essential transcription factor that functions in a variety of cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, tissue growth and DNA damage response. However, relatively little is known about the role of Runx1 in heart, especially cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In the present study, we investigated the role of Runx1 in experimentally pathological cardiac hypertrophy. The in vitro model was induced by Ang II exposure to cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and the in vivo pathological cardiac hypertrophy models were induced by chronic pressure overload in mice. Runx1 expression is increased in heart tissues from mice with pressure overload–induced cardiac hypertrophy and in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in response to Ang II stimulation. Moreover, knockdown of cardiac Runx1 alleviates the pressure overload–induced cardiac hypertrophy. Mechanistically, Runx1 activates the p53 signalling by binding to the p53 gene and promotes its transcription. Rescue experiments indicate that Runx1 promotes cardiac hypertrophy in a p53‐dependent manner. Remarkably, we demonstrated that Ro5‐3335 (a Runx1 inhibitor) acts as a potential therapeutic drug for treating pathological cardiac hypertrophy. In summary, we conclude that Runx1 is a novel mediator and therapeutic target for pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
Etiological links between autism and difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep: a familial co‐aggregation and twin study
Authors: Taylor Mark J. , Larsson Henrik , Lundström Sebastian , Lichtenstein Paul , Butwicka Agnieszka
Published: July 2021

Background

Difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) are frequent features of autism, yet little is known about why these conditions co‐occur. One possibility is that they share etiological factors, yet this hypothesis remains to be tested using quantitative genetic designs. We thus investigated etiological links between autism and DIMS using familial co‐aggregation and twin methods.

Methods

Twins, siblings, half‐siblings, and cousins of 50,097 individuals with autism were identified from Swedish population registries. Their risk of DIMS, defined through diagnoses of insomnia and/or melatonin prescriptions, was then estimated. Twin analyses conducted on 15,279 child and adolescent twin pairs investigated etiological links between DIMS and ASD.

Results

22.8% of autistic individuals had DIMS. Monozygotic co‐twins of individuals with autism were most at risk of DIMS compared to the reference group (OR = 6.6 [2.5–17.4]), followed by dizygotic co‐twins (OR = 2.6 [1.5–4.5]) and full siblings (OR = 2.5 [2.4–2.6]). Half‐siblings and cousins of individuals with autism were least likely to have DIMS relative to the reference group (OR range = 1.3–1.5). Twin analyses estimated a correlation of 0.57 (0.53–0.61) between autism and DIMS, with a genetic correlation of 0.62 (0.60–0.68). These overlapping genetic factors explained 94% of the covariance between these conditions. Autistic traits also showed genetic overlap with DIMS.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that shared genetic mechanisms underlie autism and DIMS, which may lead them to co‐occur. Untangling the etiological overlap between these conditions has potential to assist in understanding the etiology of each condition, as well as their associated outcomes.
Too big to succeed? Overstaffing in firms
Authors: Hvide Hans K. , Zhang Yanren
Published: July 2021

Overstaffing appears to be a source of significant inefficiencies in organizations, but there is little economic theory that informs us why. We extend the canonical Lazear–Rosen tournament model to a dynamic setting that yields overstaffing at the managerial level. Overstaffing can be optimal in first best, without moral hazard, if the redundant manager gains experience and increases the firm's future productivity. In second best, overstaffing can be a way to provide incentives to young workers without “overpaying” middle‐aged workers, a point that is illustrated with several examples from real world organizations. The model may offer some independent interest by integrating a generational structure into a tournament model.
Opening the black box: Evaluating the care of people with serious illness in Medicare Advantage
Authors: Ankuda Claire K. , Hunt Lauren J.
Published: July 2021

This editorial comments on the article by Teno et al. in this issue.
Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease: Genetic profile of patients from a large Brazilian neuromuscular reference center
Authors: Uchôa Cavalcanti Eduardo Boiteux , Santos Savana Camilla de Lima , Martins Carlos Eduardo Speck , de Carvalho Daniel Rocha , Rizzo Isabela Maria Pinto de Oliveira , Freitas Maria Cristina Del Negro Barroso , da Silva Freitas Denise , de Souza Francineide Sadala , Junior Altamir Monteiro , do Nascimento Osvaldo José Moreira
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to describe the clinical, genetic, and epidemiological features of Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease (CMT) in Brazilian patients from a tertiary center, and to compare our data with previously published findings. This retrospective observational study conducted between February 2015 and July 2020 evaluated 503 patients (94 families and 192 unrelated individuals), diagnosed with CMT. Clinical and neurophysiological data were obtained from electronic medical records and blood samples were used for genetic analyses. Multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification was used to assess duplications/deletions in PMP22. Sanger sequencing of GJB1 was performed in cases of suspected demyelinating CMT. Targeted gene panel sequencing was used for the remaining negative demyelinating cases and all axonal CMT cases. The first decade of life was the most common period of disease onset. In all, 353 patients had demyelinating CMT, 39 had intermediate CMT, and 111 had axonal CMT. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified in 197 index cases. The most common causative genes among probands were PMP22 (duplication) (n = 116, 58.88%), GJB1 (n = 23, 11.67%), MFN2 (n = 12, 6.09%), GDAP1 (n = 7, 3.55%), MPZ (n = 6, 3.05%), PMP22 (point mutation) (n = 6, 3.05%), NEFL (n = 3, 1.52%), SBF2 (n = 3, 1.52%), and SH3TC2 (n = 3, 1.52%). Other identified variants were ≤1% of index cases. This study provides further data on the frequency of CMT subtypes in a Brazilian clinical‐based population and highlights the importance of rarer and previously undiagnosed variants in clinical practice.
Machine learning advances for time series forecasting
Authors: Masini Ricardo P. , Medeiros Marcelo C. , Mendes Eduardo F.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we survey the most recent advances in supervised machine learning (ML) and high‐dimensional models for time‐series forecasting. We consider both linear and nonlinear alternatives. Among the linear methods, we pay special attention to penalized regressions and ensemble of models. The nonlinear methods considered in the paper include shallow and deep neural networks, in their feedforward and recurrent versions, and tree‐based methods, such as random forests and boosted trees. We also consider ensemble and hybrid models by combining ingredients from different alternatives. Tests for superior predictive ability are briefly reviewed. Finally, we discuss application of ML in economics and finance and provide an illustration with high‐frequency financial data.
Alteration of circulating cell‐free DNA level by external cephalic version: A potential biomarker for direct evaluation of placental damage
Authors: Yabuzaki Keiko , Kamide Taizan , Ejima Ruriko , Tsuruoka Yuto , Sato Mariko , Kondo Ibuki , Hasegawa Akihiro , Sato Taisuke , Samura Osamu , Okamoto Aikou
Published: July 2021

Aim

To confirm that variations in cell‐free fetal DNA (cffDNA) are indicators of external placental damage, we quantitatively investigated cffDNA alterations in maternal peripheral blood during external cephalic version (ECV).

Methods

We recruited 48 singleton pregnant women who underwent ECV in our hospital. Before and immediately after ECV, we harvested 10 ml of maternal peripheral blood samples for cffDNA analysis. cffDNA alterations were assessed based on the fetal fraction (FF) rate. We performed ECV without epidural anesthesia but administered epidural anesthesia if ECV was disrupted due to severe pain.

Results

The FF increased from 22.9% ± 5.7% to 27.0% ± 5.7% (p < 0.05) after ECV. The FF increased in both successful (before, 24.4% ± 5.9%; after, 28.1% ± 5.9%; p < 0.05) and unsuccessful (before, 21.8% ± 3.8%; after, 27.3% ± 4.2%; p < 0.05) cases, as well as in patients who received epidural anesthesia (before, 23.9% ± 4.7%; after, 28.5% ± 4.4%; p < 0.05) or underwent ECV more than once (before, 23.5% ± 6.1%; after, 28.4% ± 5.3%; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

FF alterations increased due to external stresses during ECV; the alterations were markedly greater when the strength and duration of external stress increased. These FF alterations may serve as potential biomarkers for the direct assessment of placental damage.
Treatment outcomes and complications in FIGO stage IIIC and IVB endometrioid endometrial cancer patients presenting as nodal spreads following systematic lymphadenectomy and adjuvant therapy
Authors: Kong Tae‐Wook , Jo Eunae , Son Joo‐Hyuk , Paek Jiheum , Chang Suk‐Joon , Ryu Hee‐Sug
Published: July 2021

Objective

To evaluate the treatment outcomes and complications of patients with FIGO stage IIIC and IVB endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC) presenting primarily as nodal spreads following systematic lymphadenectomy and adjuvant therapy.

Material and Methods

Forty‐four FIGO stage IIIC and IVB endometrioid EC patients between July 2003 and March 2020 received staging procedures including systematic lymphadenectomy. The survival outcomes and late treatment‐related complications were compared between adjuvant chemoradiation‐based group and chemotherapy‐based group.

Results

Of the 44 patients, 16 (36.4%) had stage IIIC1, 26 (59.1%) had stage IIIC2, and 2 (4.5%) had stage IVB disease. The median follow‐up time was 54 months (range, 10–185 months). There was no statistical difference in mortality between the microscopic and macroscopic nodal groups (6.2% vs 4.3%, p > 0.999). Eleven patients (25.0%) and 33 patients (75.0%) received adjuvant chemoradiation and chemotherapy, respectively. The 5‐year disease‐free and overall survival rates were not different between the two groups (disease‐free survival, 81.8% vs 82.1%, p = 0.743; overall survival, 90.9% vs 95.8%, p = 0.537). The incidence rates of grade 2 lymphedema (36.4% vs 9.1%, p = 0.032) and grade 2/3 gastrointestinal complications (36.4% vs 0.0%, p < 0.001) were higher in the chemoradiation‐based group than those in the chemotherapy‐based group.

Conclusions

Systematic lymphadenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy might be the preferred treatment for FIGO stage IIIC and IVB endometrioid EC patients presenting as nodal spreads given that no difference in patient survival was found, but a higher incidence of treatment‐related complications was observed in the chemoradiation‐based group.
Stakeholder Governance for Responsible Innovation: A Theory of Value Creation, Appropriation, and Distribution
Authors: Bacq Sophie , Aguilera Ruth V.
Published: July 2021

In the face of intractable societal grand challenges, organizations increasingly resort to responsible innovation – that is, they pledge to create value for multiple stakeholders through developing new products or services that avoid doing harm and improve conditions for people and the planet. While the link between responsible innovation and societal improvements has been established, organizations pursuing responsible innovation lack governance mechanisms to guide the allocation of the value created – both economic and social – among heterogeneous stakeholders, in line with their responsible intent. We combine the value‐based strategy and stakeholder perspectives and infuse a deliberative process to design a three‐stage model of value allocation that rests on three key organizational decisions: i) what value to create and for whom, ii) how to appropriate the value created vis‐à‐vis unintended value appropriators, and iii) how to distribute the value appropriated among intended stakeholders. We propose a framework of stakeholder governance comprised of four novel mechanisms by which organizations can allocate value among their multiple principal stakeholders as part of participative processes. Our study contributes to responsible innovation and corporate governance research by unpacking how new value is managed to solve societal grand challenges.
Artifacts and errors in the measurement of the stickiness of liquid foods with tack tests
Authors: Kazemeini Seyed Mostafa , Rosenthal Andrew J.
Published: July 2021

We encounter stickiness in many areas of our daily life and as humans, we are able to discriminate different levels of stickiness. Yet attempts to measure stickiness with instruments have been challenging. One of the commonest approaches has been the “tack test” in which a probe is brought into contact with the sticky food and then pulled away while measuring the resisting force—various indices, such as the maximum force or the area below the force curve have been used to describe stickiness. This work rationalizes results from tack tests for liquid foods and helps us explain the influence of probe geometry. Photographic evidence of the way that the liquid adheres/detaches from the probe suggests that the terms “cohesive” and “adhesive” failure depend on the speed of the test. Application of a fixed deformation with time shows rapid loss of adhesive force suggesting that liquid samples flow from the probe. We propose that stickiness of liquid foods is entirely due to the liquid's viscosity and surface tension, and that measurements of tack for liquid foods—while highly reproducible—are entirely artifacts of the test method employed and are in effect snapshots in time of non‐equilibrium processes.
Age‐related changes to the speckle patterns on wild Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins
Authors: Yagi Genfu , Sakai Mai , Kogi Kazunobu
Published: July 2021

Age estimating wild dolphins using noninvasive methods will improve our understanding of their ontogeny. Speckles appear on the ventral through to the lateral areas of Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) as they age. Age‐related changes in the speckle density and shape were examined using type classification. Speckles first appeared on the ventral area of the genital area at approximately 6.5 years. They increased in two specific directions, from the genital area to the jaw and from the ventral side to the lateral side. The speckle shape changed with aging from a dot‐shape to oblong. Individuals aged over 35 years possessed more speckles than those aged 24–26 years. The oldest age category of dolphins in this study was over 35 years. The speckling area similarly increased with age for all individuals. Therefore, the results suggest that speckle condition can be used to estimate age. The relationship between speckling area and age showed no significant sexual dimorphism except near the genital slit area. There was no speckle area around the genital slit which differed in shape between the sexes. Therefore, speckle patch shape may be a useful sex confirmation tool.
Microbiome‐mediated effects of habitat fragmentation on native plant performance
Authors: Kiesewetter Kasey N. , Afkhami Michelle E.
Published: July 2021

Habitat fragmentation is a leading cause of biodiversity and ecosystem function loss in the Anthropocene. Despite the importance of plant–microbiome interactions to ecosystem productivity, we have limited knowledge of how fragmentation affects microbiomes and even less knowledge of its consequences for microbial interactions with plants.

Combining field surveys, microbiome sequencing, manipulative experiments, and random forest models, we investigated fragmentation legacy effects on soil microbiomes in imperiled pine rocklands, tested how compositional shifts across 14 fragmentation‐altered soil microbiomes affected performance and resource allocation of three native plant species, and identified fragmentation‐responding microbial families underpinning plant performance.

Legacies of habitat fragmentation were associated with significant changes in microbial diversity and composition (across three of four community axes). Experiments showed plants often strongly benefited from the microbiome’s presence, but fragmentation‐associated changes in microbiome composition also significantly affected plant performance and resource allocation across all seven metrics examined. Finally, random forest models identified ten fungal and six bacterial families important for plant performance that changed significantly with fragmentation.

Our findings not only support the existence of significant fragmentation effects on natural microbiomes, but also demonstrate for the first time that fragmentation‐associated changes in microbiomes can have meaningful consequences for native plant performance and investment.
Regulatory agencies, reputational threats, and communicative responses
Authors: Bach Tobias , Jugl Marlene , Köhler Dustin , Wegrich Kai
Published: July 2021

A key claim in bureaucratic reputation literature is that reputation has several dimensions. This presents agencies with a difficult choice concerning which dimension(s) they should emphasize in the management of their reputation. This paper analyzes how regulatory agencies manage their reputation through communicative responses to public judgments, based on a single‐case study of the German financial regulator BaFin. Our theoretical argument underscores the importance of different reputational dimensions for regulatory agencies that simultaneously considers their distinct reputation reserves. Our main finding was that BaFin prioritizes responses to public judgments targeting reputational dimensions that are central to its mission and for which the agency has a weak reputation, as opposed to judgments targeting dimensions that are central to its mission and for which it has a strong reputation, or judgments targeting peripheral dimensions. The paper demonstrates the importance of agency missions for reputation management and suggests directions for further research.
GGM Knockoff Filter: False Discovery Rate Control for Gaussian Graphical Models
Authors: Li Jinzhou , Maathuis Marloes H.
Published: July 2021

We propose a new method to learn the structure of a Gaussian graphical model with finite sample false discovery rate control. Our method builds on the knockoff framework of Barber and Candès for linear models. We extend their approach to the graphical model setting by using a local (node-based) and a global (graph-based) step: we construct knockoffs and feature statistics for each node locally, and then solve a global optimization problem to determine a threshold for each node. We then estimate the neighbourhood of each node, by comparing its feature statistics to its threshold, resulting in our graph estimate. Our proposed method is very flexible, in the sense that there is freedom in the choice of knockoffs, feature statistics and the way in which the final graph estimate is obtained. For any given data set, it is not clear a priori what choices of these hyperparameters are optimal. We therefore use a sample-splitting-recycling procedure that first uses half of the samples to select the hyperparameters, and then learns the graph using all samples, in such a way that the finite sample FDR control still holds. We compare our method to several competitors in simulations and on a real data set.
A case report of pleuro‐pericardial effusion in a patient on hemodialysis and a cardiac pacemaker
Authors: Jaryal Ajay , Vikrant Sanjay , Sarkar Malay , Asotra Sanjeev , Gupta Dalip , Agarwal Sahil
Published: July 2021

There are multiple causes of pleuro‐pericardial effusion (PPEF) and more so in a patient with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is a loosely defined term for occurrence of pericardial and/or pleural effusion (PLEF), low‐grade fever, with or without systemic upset, which occurs after myocardial infarction (MI), and other cardiac interventions. PPEF is one of its salient manifestations. We report occurrence of PCIS, presenting as pericardial effusion and massive PLEF, after insertion of cardiac pacemaker in a patient with ESRD, on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). It was successfully managed with a short course of oral steroids.
The presence of other‐race people disrupts spontaneous level‐2 visual perspective taking
Authors: Zhai Jing , Xie Jiushu , Chen Jiahan , Huang Yujie , Ma Yuchao , Huang Yanli
Published: July 2021

Visual perspective taking is an essential skill for effective social interaction. Previous studies have tested various perceiver‐based factors that affect intentional perspective taking; however, the factors affecting spontaneous perspective taking remain unknown. To fill this gap, the present study used a novel spontaneous visual perspective taking paradigm to explore how an agent’s race and emotion affect spontaneous level‐2 visual perspective taking. In Experiment 1, the participants completed a mental rotation task while a human agent simultaneously gazed at the target with positive, negative, or neutral facial expressions. The agent was African, Caucasian, or Chinese. The results revealed that the other‐race agents disrupted the participants’ spontaneous level‐2 visual perspective taking, while emotion weakly affected it. Experiment 2 retested whether emotion could affect spontaneous level‐2 visual perspective taking while only own‐race agents were used. The participants completed the same task as that in Experiment 1. The results revealed that emotions weakly affected spontaneous level‐2 visual perspective taking. In summary, the present study first examined what target‐based factors affect spontaneous level‐2 visual perspective taking. The results extend the representation and incorporation of the close others’ responses (RICOR) model. Specifically, people routinely construct representations of other people’s points of view when they share the same racial group.
Effect of red blood cell transfusion on inflammation, endothelial cell activation and coagulation in the critically ill
Authors: van Manen Lisa , van Hezel Maike E. , Boshuizen Margit , Straat Marleen , de Man Angelique M. E. , Dekimpe Charlotte , Vanhoorelbeke Karen , van Bruggen Robin , Juffermans Nicole P.
Published: July 2021

Background and Objectives

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a frequently applied intervention in an intensive care unit. However, transfusion is associated with adverse outcomes including organ failure and thrombo‐embolic events. Mechanisms of these effects are not known but may be related to activation of the endothelium or of the coagulation or inflammatory system. We hypothesized that a RBC transfusion in the critically ill would result in further activation of these systems.

Materials and Methods

In 74 non‐bleeding critically ill patients receiving one RBC unit, markers of inflammation, endothelial cell activation and coagulation were measured before transfusion, at 1 h after transfusion and 24 h after transfusion. The impact of disease severity of the recipient on these changes was assessed by comparing septic and non‐septic patients (according to sepsis‐3 definition) and by correlation of biomarkers with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score.

Results

Levels of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), soluble ICAM‐1, soluble thrombomodulin, fibrinogen and d‐dimer were already high at baseline, whereas ADAMTS13 levels were low. VWF levels increased significantly 24 h after RBC transfusion (median 478% (338–597) vs. 526% (395–623), p = 0.009). The other biomarkers did not change significantly. Post transfusion change was not dependent on the presence of sepsis and was not correlated with SOFA score.

Conclusion

RBC transfusion in critically ill patients was associated with an increase in circulating vWF levels, suggesting a further increase in activation of the endothelium, a finding that was independent of the presence of sepsis or organ injury level.
Encoding of vestibular and optic flow cues to self‐motion in the posterior superior temporal polysensory area
Authors: Zhao Bin , Zhang Yi , Chen Aihua
Published: July 2021

Key points

Neurons in the posterior superior temporal polysensory area (STPp) showed significant directional selectivity in response to vestibular, optic flow and combined visual–vestibular stimuli.

By comparison to the dorsal medial superior temporal area, the visual latency was slower in STPp but the vestibular latency was faster.

Heading preferences under combined stimulation in STPp were usually dominated by visual signals.

Cross‐modal enhancement was observed in STPp when both vestibular and visual cues were presented together at their heading preferences.

Human neuroimaging data implicated that the superior temporal polysensory area (STP) might be involved in vestibular–visual interaction during heading computations, but the heading selectivity has not been examined in the macaque. Here, we investigated the convergence of optic flow and vestibular signals in macaque STP by using a virtual‐reality system and found that 6.3% of STP neurons showed multisensory responses, with visual and vestibular direction preferences either congruent or opposite in roughly equal proportion. The percentage of vestibular‐tuned cells (18.3%) was much smaller than that of visual‐tuned cells (30.4%) in STP. The vestibular tuning strength was usually weaker than the visual condition. The visual latency was significantly slower in STPp than in the dorsal medial superior temporal area (MSTd), but the vestibular latency was significantly faster than in MSTd. During the bimodal condition, STP cells’ response was dominated by visual signals, with the visual heading preference not affected by the vestibular signals but the response amplitudes modulated by vestibular signals in a subadditive way.
Low-Speed Vehicle Path-Tracking Algorithm Based on Model Predictive Control Using QPKWIK Solver
Authors: Zhang Yihuai , Shi Baijun , Hu Xizhi , Ai Wandong
Published: July 2021

Automated valet parking is a part of autonomous vehicles. Path tracking is a vital capability of autonomous vehicles. In the scenario of automatic valet parking, the existing control algorithm will produce a high tracking error and a high computational burden. This paper proposes a path-tracking algorithm based on model predictive control to adapt to low-speed driving. By using the model predictive control method and vehicle kinematics model, a path tracking controller is designed. Combining the dual algorithm to further optimize the solver, a new quadratic programming (QP) knows what it knows (QPKWIK) solver is proposed. The simulation results show that the solution time of the QPKWIK solver is 25% less than that of the QP solver, and the tracking error is reduced by up to 41% compared with the QP solver. In the parking lot, the tracking performance is tested under four common scenarios, and the experimental results show that this controller has better tracking performance.
The role of the ultrasound examination in atypical placental site trophoblastic tumour differential diagnosis and management. A case report
Authors: Cirstoiu Monica Mihaela , Sajin Maria , Baros Alexandru , Vasilescu Sorin , Turcan Natalia
Published: July 2021

Placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) is a very rare and unique form of gestational trophoblastic tumour, representing about 1-2% of all gestational trophoblastic tumours. Usually, the pattern is a slow growing nodule implicating the endometrium and myometrium, accompanied by abnormal uterine bleeding. Three ultrasound types of PSTT are described, but thereis no specific characteristic for diagnosis. We present the case of a patient with an atypical placental site trophoblastic tumour diagnosed two months after a caesarean scar pregnancy. In the presented case there are several particularities, such as the rapid growth and progression of the tumour, the limitation to the myometrium and the difficulty of the differential diagnosis and approach.
#SportPsychMapping: An Exploratory Interview Framework for Sport and Exercise Psychology
Authors: Latinjak Alexander T. , Morelló-Tomás Eduardo , Figal-Gómez Lucia
Published: July 2021

The aim of this article is to present an exploratory interview framework called #SportPsychMapping that can serve as guidance to practitioners in exploring the psychological reality of individuals and collectives. To meet their aim, in this article, the authors address (a) the context in which the exploratory interview framework was developed, (b) the theoretical structure used to select topics and questions, (c) the structure of the interview, (d) the topics and questions in the central section of the interview, (e) the summary section of the interview, and (f) different ways the exploratory interview framework has been applied. The hallmarks of #SportPsychMapping are the structure that includes an opening, central, and summary section; the central section, in which external variables, biopsychological states and traits, and psychological skills are explored; and the summary section, where an individual map is created with key concepts and phrases that reflect the interviewee’s main responses.
Did a Chinese team ‘obscure’ early coronavirus sequences?
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: July 2021

Preprint's claim inflames already divisive origin debate.
When plastics are precious
Authors: Kean Sam
Published: July 2021

To prevent museum artifacts from falling apart, conservators experiment with preservation methods.
Lost in post-translational modification—Dengue virus writes its own sequel
Authors: Yandamuri Soumya S. , O’Connor Kevin C.
Published: July 2021

Elevated frequency of afucosylated IgG1 antibodies during dengue virus infection is associated with prior infection and predicts severe disease.
StemLoop-Finder: a Tool for the Detection of DNA Hairpins with Conserved Motifs
Authors: Pratt Alyssa A. , Torrance Ellis L. , Kasun George W. , Stedman Kenneth M. , de la Higuera Ignacio
Published: July 2021

Nucleic acid secondary structures play important roles in regulating biological processes. StemLoop-Finder is a computational tool to recognize and annotate conserved structural motifs in large data sets. The program is optimized for the detection of stem-loop structures that may serve as origins of replication in circular replication-associated protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses.
EndogenousStreptococcus mitispanophthalmitis in a patient visiting the Dominican Republic
Authors: Liu Victoria , Pirbhai Adnan , Masood Syed Faraz
Published: July 2021

A 67-year-old woman presented with painful, acute vision loss after 5 days of fever and muscle aches while visiting the Dominican Republic. She had no recent history of ocular surgery, dental work or recent trauma. Anterior chamber aspiration confirmed an initial diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis, positive forStreptococcus mitis that progressed to panophthalmitis on return to Canada. Treatment included systemic antibiotics, intravitreal antibiotics and intravitreal dexamethasone. Despite the best medical treatment, the left eye progressed to corneal perforation 5 weeks after presentation. An evisceration with fitted orbital implant was successful in alleviating pain following the surgery.S. mitisis a rare, but possible cause of endogenous endophthalmitis and panophthalmitis. It was important to work with a multidisciplinary and global team to coordinate and offer appropriate treatment measures. Although vision was lost, evisceration of the left eye provided ocular comfort and good cosmetic outcomes for the patient.
Facial subcutaneous emphysema due to rectum injury after pelvic fracture
Authors: Kuipers Joost H , Bos P Koen , Meuffels Duncan E
Published: July 2021

A 35-year old dockworker sustained a pelvic injury when he was caught by a large loading clamshell grab. Primary survey revealed an open book pelvic fracture with soft tissue defects of the left thigh and groin. CT scanning of the thorax and abdomen did not reveal significant additional injuries. Partly due to patient’s haemodynamical instability, osteosynthesis of the pelvic fracture was performed immediately after resuscitation, whereby the severely contaminated wound of the thigh was debrided and irrigated. The following days, progressive facial subcutaneous emphysema developed, but patient remained clinically stable. Several specialists were consulted, but did not find a cause. At day 7, a second surgery was planned to treat a pelvic surgical wound infection. Unexpectedly, we found faecal contamination in the pelvic surgical wound. The consulted gastro/intestinal-surgeon performed a laparoscopic colostomy for a rectal laceration. Awareness for bowel injuries with open pelvic fracture should be high, also when subcutaneous emphysema is found remotely.
Proton pump inhibitors and risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Abrahami Devin , McDonald Emily Gibson , Schnitzer Mireille E , Barkun Alan N , Suissa Samy , Azoulay Laurent
Published: July 2021

Objective

To determine whether proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, compared with histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs).

Design

The United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink was used to identify initiators of PPIs and H2RA from 1990 to 2018, with follow-up until 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to estimate marginal HRs and 95% CIs of colorectal cancer. The models were weighted using standardised mortality ratio weights using calendar time-specific propensity scores. Prespecified secondary analyses assessed associations with cumulative duration, cumulative dose and time since treatment initiation. The number needed to harm was calculated at five and 10 years of follow-up.

Results

The cohort included 1 293 749 and 292 387 initiators of PPIs and H2RAs, respectively, followed for a median duration of 4.9 years. While the use of PPIs was not associated with an overall increased risk of colorectal cancer (HR: 1.02, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.14), HRs increased with cumulative duration of PPI use (<2 years, HR: 0.93, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.04; 2–4 years, HR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.60; ≥4 years, HR: 1.60, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.80). Similar patterns were observed with cumulative dose and time since treatment initiation. The number needed to harm was 5343 and 792 for five and 10 years of follow-up, respectively.

Conclusion

While any use of PPIs was not associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer compared with H2RAs, prolonged use may be associated with a modest increased risk of this malignancy.
Airborne laser scanning for quantifying criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management in Canada
Authors: Goodbody Tristan R.H. , Coops Nicholas C. , Luther Joan E. , Tompalski Piotr , Mulverhill Christopher , Frizzle Catherine , Fournier Richard , Furze Shane , Herniman Sam
Published: July 2021

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) has emerged as a technology capable of generating descriptors of vegetation structure and best available terrain information. Research and operational implementations of ALS data have highlighted their value for characterizing forest structure and generating spatially explicit and objective spatial coverages and mapping products for forest management. Continued emphasis to enhance forest stewardship is promoting novel methods to integrate ALS to detail non-timber ecosystem values like habitat, soil, and water. Standardized criteria and indicator frameworks such as the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers provide a reliable starting point for where ALS has opportunities to characterize ecosystems objectively regardless of location. In this review of primarily Canadian work, we highlight how ALS is becoming an increasingly viable technology for deriving meaningful indicators to meet sustainable forest management criteria. We review and highlight the value of ALS for quantifying indicators of biological diversity, ecosystem condition and productivity, soil and water, and the role of forests in global ecological cycles. We conclude by highlighting the need for increased education, tech transfer, flexible software, and reporting frameworks alongside five key considerations for using ALS to derive meaningful indicators of sustainable forest management.
Overexpression of mm9_circ_013935 alleviates renal inflammation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy via the miR-153-3p/NFIC axis
Authors: Zhang Li , Zhang Lei , Li Shancheng , Zhang Qin , Luo Yonggang , Zhang Chunhong , Huan Qin , Zhang Chunling
Published: July 2021

Circ-RBM4 (mm9_circ_013935) has been revealed to have low expression in the renal tissues of diabetic nephropathy (DN) mice, and its underlying regulatory mechanism remains unexplored. The high glucose (HG) – treated mouse podocytes were used to establish DN cell models. A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to examine the viability of mouse podocytes. The expression of proteins related to fibrosis (collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin) was detected using Western blot. The concentration of inflammation cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-8) in mouse podocytes was assessed by ELISA. The interaction between genes was explored by luciferase reporter assays. HG treatment decreased the viability and elevated the expression of fibrosis and inflammation factors in mouse podocytes. Circ-RBM4 expression was downregulated in HG-treated mouse podocytes. Circ-RBM4 overexpression reversed HG-induced increase in levels of proteins related to fibrosis and the concentration of inflammation factors. The miR-153-3p was revealed to bind with circ-RBM4 and directly targeted nuclear factor I/C (NFIC) in mouse podocytes. Rescue assays indicated that circ-RBM4 attenuated HG-induced fibrosis and inflammation response in mouse podocytes by inhibiting miR-153-3p expression or upregulating NFIC expression. Circ-RBM4 alleviated the renal inflammation and renal fibrosis in DN by targeting the miR-153-3p/NFIC axis.
S-shell $$\varLambda \varLambda $$ hypernuclei based on chiral interactions
Authors: Le Hoai , Haidenbauer Johann , Meißner Ulf-G. , Nogga Andreas
Published: July 2021

We generalize the Jacobi no-core shell model (J-NCSM) to study double-strangeness hypernuclei. All particle conversions in the strangeness$$S=-1,-2$$S=-1,-2sectors are explicitly taken into account. In two-body space, such transitions may lead to the coupling between states of identical particles and of non-identical ones. Therefore, a careful consideration is required when determining the combinatorial factors that connect the many-body potential matrix elements and the free-space two-body potentials. Using second quantization, we systematically derive the combinatorial factors in question for$$S=0,-1,-2$$S=0,-1,-2sectors. As a first application, we use the J-NCSM to investigate$$\varLambda \varLambda $$ΛΛs-shell hypernuclei based on hyperon-hyperon (YY) potentials derived within chiral effective field theory at leading order (LO) and up to next-to-leading order (NLO). We find that the LO potential overbinds$$^{\,\,\,{\,}6}_{\varLambda \varLambda }\text {He}$$ΛΛ6Hewhile the prediction of the NLO interaction is close to experiment. Both interactions also yield a bound state for$$^{\text { }\text { }\text { } \text {}5}_{\varLambda \varLambda }\text {He}$$ΛΛ5He. The$$^{\text {}\text { }\text { }\text {}4}_{\varLambda \varLambda }\text {H}$$ΛΛ4Hsystem is predicted to be unbound.
Study on anisotropic charged strange stars within the framework of Rastall–Maxwell theory: Conformal Killing vector
Authors: Salako Ines G. , Boko R. D. , Baffou Etienne , Arouko M. Z.
Published: July 2021

The strange quark matter (SQM) for which the distribution is governed by the equation of state of the simplified MIT bag model such as: [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] the bag constant, in the presence of a load distribution given by [Formula: see text] has been the subject of a series of investigations within the framework of Rastall–Maxwell theory. We used the Modified Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff (TOV) equation in Rastall gravity to generate the solutions by make using the conformal Killing vector. In order to check the physical acceptability of our solutions from conformal Killing vector method, we investigated around the Energy conditions, the Mass–Radius relation, Modified TOV equation, redshift and the stability of the system through Adiabatic Index, the Compactification factor and Causality condition. For physical values of Rastall parameters, we noticed that the stellar systems become more massive in proportion to their size. Then, this leads them into less dense compact objects which reveals that the alternative theory of Rastall is appropriate to better explain the behavior of massive stellar objects.
Effect of Perineum Block Anesthesia Combined with Unprotected Perineal Delivery on the Perineal Integrity Rate and Maternal-Infant Outcomes in Primiparas Taking Health Products Containing Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Liu Xu , Ge Jianyun , Zhang Jiejie , Du Boxiang
Published: July 2021

Objective. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of perineum block anaesthesia combined with unprotected perineal delivery on the perineal integrity rate and maternal-infant outcomes in primiparas taking health products containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods. A total of 120 puerperae admitted to our hospital from July 2019 to July 2020 were selected as study subjects and divided into group A (n = 60) and group B (n = 60), according to the number table method. Both groups took health products containing TCM, and the puerperae in group A received perineum block anaesthesia combined with unprotected perineal delivery, while those in group B were treated with routine delivery combined with routine protected perineal delivery. After that, the effect of different delivery modes on the perineal integrity rate and maternal-infant outcomes in puerperae was analyzed by the comparison of delivery condition, perineal condition, and postpartum quality of life between the two groups. Results. There were no significant differences in average age and other general data between the two groups (P>0.05); the duration in first, second, and third stages of labor in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.001); the Apgar score in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (P<0.001); the number of puerperae with integrated perineum in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (P<0.05), while the number of puerperae receiving episiotomy in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.05); the quality of life score in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (P<0.001); the incidence of maternal postpartum complications in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.05). Conclusion. Perineum block anaesthesia combined with unprotected perineal delivery can effectively shorten maternal labor duration, improve perineal integrity rate, and reduce laceration of perineum, with a significant therapeutic effect, which is worthy of application and promotion.