bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequent prescribed fires favour ground‐nesting bees in southeastern U.S. forests
Authors: Ulyshen Michael D. , Wilson Audrey C. , Ohlson Gunnar C. , Pokswinksi Scott M. , Hiers John K.
Published: March 2021

Although most efforts to improve habitat for bees and other pollinators focus on floral resources, it is also important to consider the availability and suitability of nesting habitats in relation to various management activities.

We used soil emergence traps to compare the number of ground‐nesting bees among treatments in a long‐term fire frequency study in Florida. We regularly moved the traps, a strategy that appears to greatly improve the efficacy of this sampling approach. The experiment consisted of forested plots that have been burned annually, biennially or triennially for the past six decades as well as unburned reference plots.

Bee abundance was significantly lower in the unburned plots than in any of the burn treatments and was higher in annual plots than triennial plots. Bee richness was significantly higher in plots burned annually than in unburned plots. Bee Shannon's diversity was significantly higher in plots burned biennially or triennially than in unuburned plots. Evenness was significantly lower in annually burned plots than in any of the other treatments.

Indicator species analysis found six bee species to be significantly associated with one or more burn treatments. Four of them were strongly associated with plots burned annually or biennially while two species were significantly associated with plots burned biennially or triennially. None was significantly associated with unburned plots.

Our findings suggest that frequent fires generally improve habitat for ground‐nesting bees in southeastern U.S. forests and that tolerances for particular burn frequencies vary by species.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of perforator flaps in plantar defects: Risk analysis of complications
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Xinyi , Li Xiaojing
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for complications of perforator flaps in plantar reconstruction. A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases from their inception date up to October 2020. Only studies on reconstructing plantar defects with perforator flaps were included, and specific data were required for each patient in the included studies. A total of 14 studies involving 111 flaps were identified and included in the meta‐analysis. Our meta‐analysis identified two risk factors for postoperative complications: flap size over 50 cm2 (risk ratio [RR] = 3.12; P = .02), diabetes mellitus foot (RR = 3.26; P = .03). No significant differences were found regarding heel defects (P = .34), single perforator (P = .57), age older than 60 years (P = .19), chronic aetiology (P = .13), trauma (P = .33), tumour resection (P = .60), ulcer (P = .84), and burn (P = .76). Although more high‐quality studies with adequate sample sizes are needed, this meta‐analysis indicated that flap size over 50 cm2 and diabetes mellitus foot were significant risk factors for postoperative complications of perforator flaps in plantar reconstruction.
The role of mobile technology in promoting social inclusion among adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Martin Andrew J. , Strnadová Iva , Loblinzk Julie , Danker Joanne C. , Cumming Therese M.
Published: March 2021

Background

Mobile technology has the potential to assist adults with intellectual disabilities to initiate and maintain social connections in important areas of their lives, such as family, friends and work/volunteering.

Method

The present study investigated how specific aspects of mobile device/app use are associated with the social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. The study also examined what background attributes were associated with particular patterns of mobile device/app use and social inclusion.

Results

The findings revealed that the use of mobile technology among adults with intellectual disabilities was positively associated with their social inclusion with family, friends and work/volunteering. There were also some key background attributes associated with participants’ use of mobile technology and the extent to which mobile technology assisted their social inclusion.

Conclusions

Implications for practice and policy are discussed.
PTHR1 in osteosarcoma: Specific molecular mechanisms and comprehensive functional perspective
Authors: Sun Chaonan , Li Shenglong
Published: March 2021

Osteosarcoma occurs largely in children and adolescents and is the most common primary malignant tumour of bone. Although surgical advances and neoadjuvant chemotherapy have made great strides in recent years, rates of local recurrence and lung metastasis remain high, with a plateau in overall survival during the past decade. It is thus urgent to explore the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma and identify potential therapeutic targets. Parathyroid hormone receptor 1 (PTHR1) belongs to the broad family of G protein–coupled receptors, binding both parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone–related peptide (PTHrP, a paracrine factor). Previous studies have shown that in tissues and cells of osteosarcoma, expression of PTHR1 is markedly increased, correlating with aggressive biologic behaviour and a poor prognosis. PTHR1 expression also correlates closely with epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, post‐translational modification and protein interaction. Herein, we have summarized the latest research on the role played by PTHR1 in progression of osteosarcoma, assessing its clinical utility as a novel biomarker and its therapeutic ramifications.
Commentary: Deepening understanding of refugee children and adolescents using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological and PPCT models – A Commentary on Arakelyan and Ager (2020)
Authors: Hayes Sherrill W.
Published: March 2021

This commentary provides some context for issues highlighted in the article by Arakelyan & Ager (2020) and discusses potential implications of their analysis for theory, future research, practitioners, and policy makers. It discusses the current global scale of displacement, terminology surrounding refugees and asylum seekers, and the authors’ analyses of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological and person–process–context–time (PPCT) models. It also identifies additional areas of research and potential implications for integrating theory, research, policy, and practice.
Effects of age on blood pressure and heart rate responses to whey protein in younger and older men
Authors: Giezenaar Caroline , Oberoi Avneet , Jones Karen L. , Horowitz Michael , Chapman Ian , Soenen Stijn
Published: March 2021

Background

Postprandial falls in blood pressure (BP) are more common in older compared to younger individuals. The effects of protein compared to carbohydrates and fat on postprandial BP, and the relation to gastric emptying rates, are poorly studied.

Objectives

To determine the effects of a whey protein compared to a control drink on systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), and heart rate (HR) in healthy younger and older men, and to relate these effects to gastric emptying.

Design

A pooled analyses of two randomized, double‐blind, cross‐over studies.

Setting

Two acute clinical intervention studies with identical study design.

Participants

Nineteen older (age: 74 ± 1 years, body mass index: 26 ± 1 kg/m2) and 13 younger (23 ± 1 years, 24 ± 1 kg/m2) healthy men.

Intervention

A 70 g/280 kcal whey‐protein or control (water with diet cordial, ~2 kcal) drink (450 ml).

Measurements

BP and HR were assessed with an automated device immediately before and at 3‐min intervals after drink ingestion (0–180 min). Gastric emptying of the drinks was measured using 3D ultrasonography (0–180 min).

Results

Older versus younger men exhibited a greater fall in SBP (−23 ± 2 vs −15 ± 2 mmHg, p = 0.001) after whey‐protein versus control, as BP did not change after the two drinks in younger men (p > 0.05). The nadir in SBP occurred later in the older than younger men (114 ± 11 vs 62 ± 14 min; p < 0.001), with SBP still apparently declining 180 min after whey‐protein ingestion in the older men. The magnitude of the rise in HR was greater (p < 0.05) in the younger than older men.

Conclusion

Following ingestion of 70 g whey protein, healthy older men exhibited a sustained fall in BP, despite an increase in HR, whereas in younger men there was no change in BP. BP may need to be monitored after high protein meals in older people at risk of postprandial hypotension.
Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on emotional regulation and loneliness of divorced women in Iran
Authors: Mahmoudpour Abdolbaset , Rayesh Neda , Ghanbarian Elahe , Rezaee Marziyeh
Published: March 2021

Ineffective emotional regulation and loneliness both play a key role in the development of mental disorders. Divorced individuals are particularly predisposed to loneliness in cultures where post‐divorce relationships are uncommon or stigmatized. The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on the emotional regulation and loneliness of divorced women in Iran, a culture with strong honor values that condemn post‐divorce relationships for women leading to increased levels of loneliness and social exclusion in divorced Iranian women. The present study was carried out using a pretest‐posttest control group study design. The research sample consisted of 30 divorced women who were randomly assigned to experimental (vs. control) groups. In order to evaluate the variables of interest, the emotional regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used. Divorced women in the experimental group were treated using ACT techniques in eight sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. Results of analysis of covariance showed a significant increase in the adaptive emotional regulation of divorced women in the experimental group after the intervention. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the loneliness of divorced women who received the ACT intervention. We find that the ACT intervention improves emotional regulation and reduces loneliness in divorced women in Iran.
Systematic Review ‐ Neuroprotection of ketosis in acute injury of the mammalian central nervous system: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gambardella Ivancarmine , Ascione Raimondo , D’Agostino Dominic P. , Ari Csilla , Worku Berhane , Tranbaugh Robert F. , Ivascu Natalia , Villena‐Vargas Jonathan , Girardi Leonard N.
Published: March 2021

To evaluate the neuroprotection exerted by ketosis against acute damage of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Search engines were interrogated to identify experimental studies comparing the mitigating effect of ketosis (intervention) versus non‐ketosis (control) on acute CNS damage. Primary endpoint was a reduction in mortality. Secondary endpoints were a reduction in neuronal damage and dysfunction, and an ‘aggregated advantage’ (composite of all primary and secondary endpoints). Hedges' g was the effect measure. Subgroup analyses evaluated the modulatory effect of age, insult type, and injury site. Meta‐regression evaluated timing, type, and magnitude of intervention as predictors of neuroprotection. The selected publications were 49 experimental murine studies (period 1979–2020). The intervention reduced mortality (g 2.45, SE 0.48, p < .01), neuronal damage (g 1.96, SE 0.23, p < .01) and dysfunction (g 0.99, SE 0.10, p < .01). Reduction of mortality was particularly pronounced in the adult subgroup (g 2.71, SE 0.57, p < .01). The aggregated advantage of ketosis was stronger in the pediatric (g 3.98, SE 0.71, p < .01), brain (g 1.96, SE 0.18, p < .01), and ischemic insult (g 2.20, SE 0.23, p < .01) subgroups. Only the magnitude of intervention was a predictor of neuroprotection (g 0.07, SE 0.03, p 0.01 per every mmol/L increase in ketone levels). Ketosis exerts a potent neuroprotection against acute damage to the mammalian CNS in terms of reduction of mortality, of neuronal damage and dysfunction. Hematic levels of ketones are directly proportional to the effect size of neuroprotection.

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The role of central corticotrophin‐releasing factor receptor signalling in plasma glucose maintenance through ghrelin secretion in calorie‐restricted mice
Authors: Kimura Risa , Kondo Daisuke , Takemi Shota , Fujishiro Miyuki , Tsukahara Shinji , Sakai Takafumi , Sakata Ichiro
Published: March 2021

Under severe calorie restriction (CR), the ghrelin‐growth hormone axis in mice is involved in the maintenance of plasma glucose levels. Ghrelin, a stomach‐derived acylated peptide, is up‐regulated by the sympathetic nerve in the negative energy status. Central corticotrophin‐releasing factor receptor (CRF‐R) signalling stimulates the sympathetic tone. The present study aimed to examine the effect of central CRF‐R signalling on the maintenance of plasma glucose concentrations in severe calorie‐restricted mice with the involvement of ghrelin. Intracerebroventricular injections of urocorin‐1 and urocorin‐2, which are natural ligands for CRF‐R1 and CRF‐R2, elevated plasma ghrelin concentrations and ghrelin elevation with an i.c.v. injection of urocorin‐1 was cancelled by atenolol (β1 adrenergic receptor antagonist) administration. We then established a mice model of 60% CR and found that the administration of [d‐Lys3]‐GHRP‐6 (a ghrelin receptor antagonist) in mice under 60% CR reduced the plasma glucose concentration more compared to the vehicle mice. Similarly, the atenolol injection in mice under 60% CR significantly reduced the plasma glucose concentration, which was rescued by the co‐administration of ghrelin. An i.c.v. injection of the alpha helical CRH, a non‐selective corticotrophin‐releasing factor receptor antagonist, in mice under 60% CR significantly reduced the plasma glucose concentration, although the co‐administration of α‐helical CRH with ghrelin maintained plasma glucose levels. These results suggest that central CRF‐R signalling is involved in the maintenance of plasma glucose levels in mice under severe CR via the sympathetic‐ghrelin pathway.
Effects of a nutraceutical supplement on gastrointestinal health in racing standardbreds
Authors: Wellard Leah , Medyk Katryna , Pearson Wendy
Published: March 2021

Background

Feed additives that accelerate gastrointestinal transit time may help support normal gastrointestinal function in horses at risk for impaction colic. Previous research has demonstrated significant stimulatory effect of a hemp‐based nutraceutical product (Gs Formula; GF) on contractility of gastric smooth muscle and gastrin productionin vitro.

Objectives

To quantify effects of GF on indicators of GIT transit time and tight junction proteins.

Study Design

Randomized placebo‐controlled cross‐over study.

Methods

Eight Standardbreds were administered 200 plastic beads by nasogastric tube before (baseline; BL) and after receiving a diet containing GF (CON: 0 g/day, LO: 160 g/day or HI: 480 g/day) for 28 days. Total manure collection occurred every 2 hours for 72 hours after bead administration. Outcome measures included GIT transit time, faecal dry matter (DM), water intake, and complete biochemistry and haematology screens.

Results

There was no effect of GF on GIT transit time. Faecal output was significantly lower in LO and HI horses than CON horses after 28 days on the supplement. HI horses have significantly lower rouleaux formation and lower faecal DM on Day 28 compared with BL. GF also produced changes in electrolytes associated with pH balance, which may indicate a role for GF as an alkalinizing compound in exercising horses. Clinical pathology results support the safety of GF up to 480 g/day for 28 days with no adverse effects being observed in haematology or biochemistry results.

Main Limitations

Future studies on GF should focus on evaluating effect of GF on gastrointestinal transit in horses with naturally or experimentally delayed gastrointestinal motility, and its effect on exercise performance and onset of fatigue.

Conclusions

GF may help support normal gastrointestinal function in horses at risk for impaction colic by reducing faecal DM and rouleaux formation.
Echocardiographic reference intervals for volumetric measurements of the left ventricle using the Simpson's method of discs in 1331 dogs
Authors: Wess Gerhard , Bauer Alexander , Kopp Antonia
Published: March 2021

Background

Echocardiographic measurements play an important role in detecting cardiac enlargement and assessing cardiac function. In human cardiology, M‐mode measurements have been widely replaced by volumetric measurements of the left ventricle (LV) using Simpson's method of disc (SMOD). In veterinary cardiology, more large‐scale studies are necessary to generate reference intervals (RIs) for SMOD LV volume measurements.

Objective

To generate body size independent RIs for LV volume measurements in dogs.

Animals

Healthy adult dogs (n = 1331) of variable size and somatotype.

Methods

Prospective study. The SMOD was measured from the right parasternal long axis and the left apical 4‐chamber view in clinically healthy dogs. The SMOD measurements were normalized to various allometric scales (kg, kg2/3, or kg1/3). RIs for LV end‐diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end‐systolic volume (LVESV) using SMOD were estimated as prediction intervals of both a linear and an additive regression model. Additionally, after normalization to body weight, 95% RIs were determined using nonparametric methods with 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles serving as the lower and upper limits. Separate analyses were performed for 120 sighthound breeds and 1211 other breeds.

Results

Echocardiographic LV volumes correlated best with weight in kilograms. The additive model proved to be more flexible and accurate than the other 2 methods to generate RIs. Separate RIs for sighthound and all other breeds are provided.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Body size and breed‐independent RIs for LV volume measurements using SMOD were generated prospectively from a large and diverse population of dogs and are available for clinical use.
Whole genomes reveal multiple candidate genes and pathways involved in the immune response of dolphins to a highly infectious virus
Authors: Batley Kimberley C. , Sandoval‐Castillo Jonathan , Kemper Catherine M. , Zanardo Nikki , Tomo Ikuko , Beheregaray Luciano B. , Möller Luciana M.
Published: March 2021

Wildlife species are challenged by various infectious diseases that act as important demographic drivers of populations and have become a great conservation concern particularly under growing environmental changes. The new era of whole genome sequencing provides new opportunities and avenues to explore the role of genetic variants in the plasticity of immune responses, particularly in non‐model systems. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has emerged as a major viral threat to cetacean populations worldwide, contributing to the death of thousands of individuals of multiple dolphin and whale species. To understand the genomic basis of immune responses to CeMV, we generated and analysed whole genomes of 53 Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) exposed to Australia's largest known CeMV‐related mortality event that killed at least 50 dolphins from three different species. The genomic data set consisted of 10,168,981 SNPs anchored onto 23 chromosome‐length scaffolds and 77 short scaffolds. Whole genome analysis indicated that levels of inbreeding in the dolphin population did not influence the outcome of an individual. Allele frequency estimates between survivors and nonsurvivors of the outbreak revealed 15,769 candidate SNPs, of which 689 were annotated to 295 protein coding genes. These included 50 genes with functions related to innate and adaptive immune responses, and cytokine signalling pathways and genes thought to be involved in immune responses to other morbilliviruses. Our study characterised genomic regions and pathways that may contribute to CeMV immune responses in dolphins. This represents a stride towards clarifying the complex interactions of the cetacean immune system and emphasises the value of whole genome data sets in understanding genetic elements that are essential for species conservation, including disease susceptibility and adaptation.
FoEG1, a secreted glycoside hydrolase family 12 protein from Fusariumoxysporum, triggers cell death and modulates plant immunity
Authors: Zhang Lin , Yan Jianpei , Fu Zhenchao , Shi Wenjiong , Ninkuu Vincent , Li Guangyue , Yang Xiufen , Zeng Hongmei
Published: March 2021

Fusarium oxysporum is an important soilborne fungal pathogen with many different formae speciales that can colonize the plant vascular system and cause serious crop wilt disease worldwide. We found a glycoside hydrolase family 12 protein FoEG1, secreted by F. oxysporum, that acted as a pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP) targeting the apoplast of plants to induce cell death. Purified FoEG1 protein triggered cell death in different plants and induced the plant defence response to enhance the disease resistance of plants. The ability of FoEG1 to induce cell death was mediated by leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) receptor‐like kinases BAK1 and SOBIR1, and this ability was independent of its hydrolase activity. The mutants of cysteine residues did not affect the ability of FoEG1 to induce cell death, and an 86 amino acid fragment from amino acid positions 144 to 229 of FoEG1 was sufficient to induce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. In addition, the expression of FoEG1 was strongly induced in the early stage of F. oxysporum infection of host plants, and FoEG1 deletion or loss of enzyme activity reduced the virulence of F. oxysporum. Therefore, our results suggest that FoEG1 can contribute to the virulence of F. oxysporum depending on its enzyme activity and can also act as a PAMP to induce plant defence responses.
Lykaon, der Wolfsmann, und Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus
Authors: Emmrich Thomas
Published: March 2021

Viele der rezenten Studien zur Ästhetik des Monströsen nehmen auf Michel Foucaults Vorlesungsreihe Les anormaux Bezug, in der er u. a. der diskursiven Transformation des Monsters von einem somatischen hin zu einem moralischen Abweichungsphänomen nachgeht. Dass Foucaults Ausführungen mitunter nur unzureichend differenziert sind, soll der vorliegende Beitrag nachweisen. Auch wenn die Literatur in Les anormaux eine untergeordnete Rolle spielt, eher als peripheres Beleg‐ oder Anschauungsmaterial dient denn als Gegenstand einer eigenen Untersuchung, ist gerade sie es, die Foucaults genealogische Analyse der notwendigen Komplexitätssteigerung zuführen und ihre Leerstellen ausfüllen kann. Zu diesem Zweck werden exemplarisch Ovids Lykaon‐Mythos aus dem ersten Buch der Metamorphosen sowie Mary Shelleys Roman Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus herangezogen. Neben der gebotenen Korrektur von Les anormaux vermögen beide Texte Foucaults Befund von der diskursiven Produktivität des Monströsen zu bestätigen und anzureichern: Sowohl Ovid als auch Shelley dokumentieren eine Wertschätzung und Wertschöpfung des Monströsen und stehen damit quer zu konventionellen Narrativen, die das Monster als etwas rein Destruktives und Dämonisches oder als das radikal Andere des Menschen in Szene setzen, ohne auf die kulturellen Profite und anthropologischen Einsichten zu reflektieren, die sich aus jenem gewinnen lassen.
The aesthetics of scientific experiments
Authors: Ivanova Milena
Published: March 2021

This article explores the aesthetic dimensions of scientific experimentation, addressing specifically how aesthetic features enter the construction, evaluation and reception of an experiment. I highlight the relationship between experiments and artistic acts in the early years of the Royal Society where experiments do not serve only epistemic aims but also aim to generate feelings of awe and pleasure. I turn to analysing which aspects of experiments are appreciated aesthetically, identifying several contenders, from the ability of an experiment to uncover nature's beauty, to encapsulating original designs and human creativity. Following this analysis, I focus on the notion of beauty: what makes an experiment beautiful? Several common qualities are explored, from the simplicity and economy of the experiment, to the significance of the experimental results.
Nationalism, Patriotism, and Support for the European Union
Authors: Huddy Leonie , Del Ponte Alessandro , Davies Caitlin
Published: March 2021

Does attachment to a nation enhance or dampen support for the European Union (EU)? Using the 2003 and 2013 ISSP national‐identity modules, we isolate and provide multi‐item measures of two distinct types of national attachment—nationalism and patriotism. We find that they are positively related yet have divergent effects. We validate the measures showing that nationalism increases, and patriotism decreases, support for nationalistic policies (anti‐immigration and protectionism) as expected. We then test the effects of nationalism and patriotism on EU attitudes and find that nationalism increases, and patriotism decreases, opposition to the EU. The presence of a neo‐nationalist political party enhanced the effects of nationalism on opposition to the EU, underscoring the importance of political rhetoric in shaping nationalistic EU opposition. In further support of the rhetoric hypothesis, the most‐educated nationalists are most likely to oppose the EU in countries with a neo‐nationalist political party and vote for such parties when present.
Introducing a new elusive reason
Authors: Cohen Rossi Benjamin
Published: March 2021

In this paper, I introduce a new species of elusive reason–reasons that it is impossible for an agent to act, or be motivated to act,for–and I show how this kind of elusive reason undermines a plausible claim about normative reasons, the Motivational Constraint. To defend the existence of this new kind of elusive reason, I respond to the objection that our intuitions are tracking another normative or evaluative phenomenon, such as reasons to have certain affective responses or reasons for others to act. In addition, because accepting the new kind of elusive reason requires affirming the claim thatSacts for a reason p only ifSregards p as a reason toA,I develop an account of what it is forSto regard p as a reason toA. Finally, as part of arguing for the former claim, I argue that the idea of being moved toAfor a reason p entails the idea of being moved toA in light ofp, which itself entails the idea of regarding p as a reason.
HLA‐DRB1 molecules and the presentation of anchor peptides from RhD, RhCE, and KEL proteins
Authors: De Souza Conceição Pinheiro , Baleotti Wilson , Moritz Elyse , Sanches Sidneia , Lopes Larissa Barbosa , Chiba Akemi Kuroda , Donadi Eduardo Antônio , Bordin José Orlando
Published: March 2021

Background

Antigens from the Rh and Kell systems are recognized as the most immunogenic in clinical practice. This study evaluated the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of antigenic peptides with the DRB1 molecules, which help to explain the high frequency of anti‐K and association of D + C antibodies in transfusion and incompatible pregnancy.

Study Design and Methods

We included 201 patients with antibodies against antigens from the Rh and Kell systems and compare them with 174,015 controls. HLA‐DRB1 genotyping and in silico analysis were performed. The NetMHCIIpan software was used to identify RhD‐, RhCE‐, and KEL‐derived anchor peptides that bind to DRB1 molecules.

Results

HLA‐DRB1*15 is associated with an increased risk of D, C, E, and K alloimmunization, while the HLA‐DRB1*01 and *12 alleles are overrepresented in patients with anti‐C and anti‐D, respectively. In silico analysis showed that three polymorphic points (60I, 68S, and 103S) common to C and D antigens can be presented by several DRB1 molecules, including DRB1*15:01. The DRB1*09:01 molecule, although not showing statistical significance, was able to interact strongly with almost all five anchor peptides from the sequence containing the polymorphic determinants of E antigen, except 217‐WMFWPSVNS‐225.

Conclusion

The DRB1*15 molecule has specific physicochemical characteristics in residues 11P and 13R in the P4 pocket that can favor the response to various antigenic peptides. Anti‐K alloimmunization is unrestricted for interaction with specific DRB1 molecules, which suggests that almost all individuals in our population have DRB1 molecules capable of binding to KEL‐derived anchor peptides and produce anti‐K when stimulated.
Effect of spontaneous movement on respiration in preterm infants
Authors: Zuzarte Ian , Paydarfar David , Sternad Dagmar
Published: March 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The respiratory centres in the brainstem that control respiration receive inputs from various sources, including proprioceptors in muscles and joints and suprapontine centres, which all affect limb movements. What is the effect of spontaneous movement on respiration in preterm infants?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Apnoeic events tend to be preceded by movements. These activity bursts can cause respiratory instability that leads to an apnoeic event. These findings show promise that infant movements might serve as potential predictors of life‐threatening apnoeic episodes, but more research is required.

A common condition in preterm infants (<37 weeks’ gestational age) is apnoea resulting from immaturity and instability of the respiratory system. As apnoeas are implicated in several acute and long‐term complications, prediction of apnoeas may preempt their onset and subsequent complications. This study tests the hypothesis that infant movements are a predictive marker for apnoeic episodes and examines the relation between movement and respiration. Movement was detected using a wavelet algorithm applied to the photoplethysmographic signal. Respiratory activity was measured in nine infants using respiratory inductance plethysmography; in an additional eight infants, respiration and partial pressure of airway carbon dioxide () were measured by a nasal cannula with side‐stream capnometry. In the first cohort, the distribution of movements before and after the onset of 370 apnoeic events was compared. Results showed that apnoeic events were associated with longer movement duration occurring before apnoea onsets compared to after. In the second cohort, respiration was analysed in relation to movement, comparing standard deviation of inter‐breath intervals (IBI) before and after apnoeas. Poincaré maps of the respiratory activity quantified variability of airwayin phase space. Movement significantly increased the variability of IBI and. Moreover, destabilization of respiration was dependent on the duration of movement. These findings support that bodily movements of the infants precede respiratory instability. Further research is warranted to explore the predictive value of movement for life‐threatening events, useful for clinical management and risk stratification.
Dynamics of longitudinal dentate gyrus axons associated with seizure
Authors: Choi Gona , Kang Hyeri , Chu Wenkei , Yang Sunggu , Yang Sungchil
Published: March 2021

Key points

Axon collaterals of DG granule neurons project towards neighbouring DG granule cell layer

Longitudinal axons in the DG‐DG circuit possess denser synapses than transverse axons in the DG‐CA3 circuit

The size of varicosities of the longitudinal axons, but not transverse ones, is regulated by seizures as measured behaviourally

Varicosity size of DG‐DG axons can be a symptomatic marker of DG‐related brain diseases

The hippocampus network has captured the attention of neuroscientists as a model for understanding cognition and behaviour. Previously, we have identified interlamellar, namely longitudinal, axons between CA1 pyramidal neurons analogous to recurrent connections between CA3 pyramidal neurons. Currently it is unknown whether longitudinal axons of DG granule neurons are present and how they are associated with the behavioural symptoms of seizure. We found longitudinal axons projections from DG granule cells extending to neighbouring DG granule cell layers. These DG‐DG axons have more numerous varicosities and are thinner than the DG‐CA3 axons, suggesting heavy synaptic formation along a longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the size of varicosities in the DG‐DG but not DG‐CA3 axons is regulated by seizures as measured behaviourally. The results suggest that the dynamics of longitudinal DG axons is a symptomatic marker of DG‐related brain diseases.
Indexing Highly Repetitive String Collections, Part I
Authors: Navarro Gonzalo
Published: March 2021

Two decades ago, a breakthrough in indexing string collections made it possible to represent them within their compressed space while at the same time offering indexed search functionalities. As this new technology permeated through applications like bioinformatics, the string collections experienced a growth that outperforms Moore’s Law and challenges our ability to handle them even in compressed form. It turns out, fortunately, that many of these rapidly growing string collections are highly repetitive, so that their information content is orders of magnitude lower than their plain size. The statistical compression methods used for classical collections, however, are blind to this repetitiveness, and therefore a new set of techniques has been developed to properly exploit it. The resulting indexes form a new generation of data structures able to handle the huge repetitive string collections that we are facing. In this survey, formed by two parts, we cover the algorithmic developments that have led to these data structures.

In this first part, we describe the distinct compression paradigms that have been used to exploit repetitiveness, and the algorithmic techniques that provide direct access to the compressed strings. In the quest for an ideal measure of repetitiveness, we uncover a fascinating web of relations between those measures, as well as the limits up to which the data can be recovered, and up to which direct access to the compressed data can be provided. This is the basic aspect of indexability, which is covered in the second part of this survey.
heSRPT
Authors: Berg Benjamin , Vesilo Rein , Harchol-Balter Mor
Published: March 2021

Modern data centers serve workloads which can exploit parallelism. When a job parallelizes across multiple servers it completes more quickly. However, it is unclear how to share a limited number of servers between many parallelizable jobs.

In this paper we consider a typical scenario where a data center composed of N servers will be tasked with completing a set of M parallelizable jobs. Typically, M is much smaller than N. In our scenario, each job consists of some amount of inherent work which we refer to as a job's size. We assume that job sizes are known up front to the system, and each job can utilize any number of servers at any moment in time. These assumptions are reasonable for many parallelizable workloads such as training neural networks using TensorFlow [2]. Our goal in this paper is to allocate servers to jobs so as to minimize the mean slowdown across all jobs, where the slowdown of a job is the job's completion time divided by its running time if given exclusive access to all N servers. Slowdown measures how a job was interfered with by other jobs in the system, and is often the metric of interest in the theoretical parallel scheduling literature (where it is also called stretch), as well as the HPC community (where it is called expansion factor).
On the Analysis of Spatially Constrained Power of Two Choice Policies
Authors: Panigrahy Nitish K. , Basu Prithwish , Towsley Don , Swami Ananthram , Leung Kin K.
Published: March 2021

We consider a class of power of two choice based assignment policies for allocating users to servers, where both users and servers are located on a two-dimensional Euclidean plane. In this framework, we investigate the inherent tradeoff between the communication cost, and load balancing performance of different allocation policies. To this end, we first design and evaluate a Spatial Power of two (sPOT) policy in which each user is allocated to the least loaded server among its two geographically nearest servers sequentially. When servers are placed on a two-dimensional square grid, sPOT maps to the classical Power of two (POT) policy on the Delaunay graph associated with the Voronoi tessellation of the set of servers. We show that the associated Delaunay graph is 4-regular and provide expressions for asymptotic maximum load using results from the literature. For uniform placement of servers, we map sPOT to a classical balls and bins allocation policy with bins corresponding to the Voronoi regions associated with the second order Voronoi diagram of the set of servers. We provide expressions for the lower bound on the asymptotic expected maximum load on the servers and prove that sPOT does not achieve POT load balancing benefits. However, experimental results suggest the efficacy of sPOT with respect to expected communication cost. Finally, we propose two non-uniform server sampling based POT policies that achieve the best of both the performance metrics. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of our proposed policies.
A Rent-Seeking Framework for Multipath TCP
Authors: Raj Pokhrel Shiva , Williamson Carey
Published: March 2021

Network utility maximization (NUM) for Multipath TCP (MPTCP) is a challenging task, since there is no well-defined utility function for MPTCP [6]. In this paper, we identify the conditions under which we can use Kelly's NUM mechanism, and explicitly compute the equilibrium. We obtain this equilibrium by using Tullock's rent-seeking framework from game theory to define a utility function for MPTCP. This approach allows us to design MPTCP algorithms with common delay and/or loss constraints at the subflow level. Furthermore, this utility function has diagonal strict concavity, which guarantees a globally unique (normalized) equilibrium.
Sliding-Window QPS (SW-QPS)
Authors: Meng Jingfan , Gong Long , Xu Jun (Jim)
Published: March 2021

In this work, we first propose a parallel batch switching algorithm called Small-Batch Queue-Proportional Sampling (SB-QPS). Compared to other batch switching algorithms, SB-QPS significantly reduces the batch size without sacrificing the throughput performance and hence has much lower delay when traffic load is light to moderate. It also achieves the lowest possible time complexity of O(1) per matching computation per port, via parallelization. We then propose another algorithm called Sliding-Window QPS (SW-QPS). SW-QPS retains and enhances all benefits of SB-QPS, and reduces the batching delay to zero via a novel switching framework called sliding-window switching. In addition, SW-QPS computes matchings of much higher qualities, as measured by the resulting throughput and delay performances, than QPS-1, the state-of-the-art regular switching algorithm that builds upon the same underlying bipartite matching algorithm.
Prefetching and Caching for Minimizing Service Costs
Authors: Quan Guocong , Eryilmaz Atilla , Tan Jian , Shroff Ness
Published: March 2021

In practice, prefetching data strategically has been used to improve caching performance. The idea is that data items can either be cached upon request (traditional approach) or prefetched into the cache before the requests actually occur. The caching and prefetching operations compete for the limited cache space, whose size is typically much smaller than the number of data items. A key challenge is to design an optimal prefetching and caching policy, assuming that the future requests can be predicted to a certain extent. This is a non-trivial challenge even under the idealized assumption that future requests are precisely known.
Demystifying the Placement Policies of the NVIDIA GPU Thread Block Scheduler for Concurrent Kernels
Authors: Gilman Guin , Ogden Samuel S. , Guo Tian , Walls Robert J.
Published: March 2021

In this work, we empirically derive the scheduler's behavior under concurrent workloads for NVIDIA's Pascal, Volta, and Turing microarchitectures. In contrast to past studies that suggest the scheduler uses a round-robin policy to assign thread blocks to streaming multiprocessors (SMs), we instead find that the scheduler chooses the next SM based on the SM's local resource availability. We show how this scheduling policy can lead to significant, and seemingly counter-intuitive, performance degradation; for example, a decrease of one thread per block resulted in a 3.58X increase in execution time for one kernel in our experiments. We hope that our work will be useful for improving the accuracy of GPU simulators and aid in the development of novel scheduling algorithms.
Frequency scaling in multilevel queues
Authors: Elahi Maryam , Marin Andrea , Rossi Sabina , Williamson Carey
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we study a variant of PS+PS multilevel scheduling, which we call the PS+IS queue. Specifically, we use Processor Sharing (PS) at both queues, but with linear frequency scaling on the second queue, so that the latter behaves like an Infinite Server (IS) queue. The goals of the system are low response times for small jobs in the first queue, and reduced power consumption for large jobs in the second queue. The novelty of our model includes the frequency scaling at the second queue, and the batch arrival process at the second queue induced by the busy period structure of the first queue which has strictly higher priority. We derive a numerical solution for the PS+IS queueing system in steady-state, and then study its properties under workloads obtained from fitting of TCP flow traces. The simulation results confirm the e
Heavy Traffic Analysis of Approximate Max-Weight Matching Algorithms for Input-Queued Switches
Authors: Huang Yu , Huang Longbo
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we propose a class of approximation algorithms for max-weight matching (MWM) policy for input-queued switches, called expected 1-APRX. We establish the state space collapse (SSC) result for expected 1-APRX, and characterize its queue length behavior in the heavy-traffic limit.
Only Relative Speed Matters
Authors: Pourghassemi Behnam , Amiri Sani Ardalan , Chandramowlishwaran Aparna
Published: March 2021

Causal profiling is a novel and powerful profiling technique that quantifies the potential impact of optimizing a code segment on the program runtime. A key application of causal profiling is to analyze what-if scenarios which typically require a large number of experiments. Besides, the execution of a program highly depends on the underlying machine resources, e.g., CPU, network, storage, so profiling results on one device does not translate directly to another. This is a major bottleneck in our ability to perform scalable performance analysis and greatly limits cross-platform software development.

In this paper, we address the above challenges by leveraging a unique property of causal profiling: only relative performance of different resources affects the result of causal profiling, not their absolute performance. We first analytically model and prove causal profiling, the missing piece in the seminal paper. Then, we assert the necessary condition to achieve virtual causal profiling on a secondary device. Building upon the theory, we design VCoz, a virtual causal profiler that enables profiling applications on target devices using measurements on the host device. We implement a prototype of VCoz by tuning multiple hardware components to preserve the relative execution speeds of code segments. Our experiments on benchmarks that stress different system resources demonstrate that VCoz can generate causal profiling reports of Nexus 6P (an ARM-based device) on a host MacBook (x86 architecture) with less than 16% variance.
Optimal Control in Fluid Models of nxn Input-Queued Switches under Linear Fluid-Flow Costs
Authors: Lu Yingdong , Squillante Mark S. , Suk Tonghoon
Published: March 2021

We consider a fluid model of n x n input-queued switches with associated fluid-flow costs and derive an optimal scheduling control policy to an infinite horizon discounted control problem with a general linear objective function of fluid cost. Our optimal policy coincides with the cμ-rule in certain parameter domains, but more generally, takes the form of the solution to a flow maximization problem. Computational experiments demonstrate the benefits of our optimal scheduling policy over variants of max-weight scheduling and the cμ-rule.
Natural Hydroxyapatite: Green Catalyst for the Synthesis of Pyrroles, Inhibitors of Corrosion
Authors: Louroubi Abdelhadi , Nayad Abdallah , Hasnaoui Ali , Idouhli Rachid , Abouelfida Abdessalam , El Firdoussi Larbi , Ait Ali Mustapha
Published: March 2021

Polysubstituted pyrroles have been synthesized in good yields via a four-component one-pot reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, amines, aldehydes, and nitroalkanes using natural hydroxyapatite (HAp) as an efficient green catalyst. This strategy provides advantages such as simple experimental and work-up procedures, mild conditions, high selectivity, low cost, high atom economy, and environmental friendliness; it uses a green commercial catalyst and does not require a solvent. The electrochemical behavior of S300 steel in 1 M hydrochloric acidic was studied in the presence of these heterocyclic compounds. The results showed good inhibition efficiency for steel in acidic media.
Diabetes Risk Data Mining Method Based on Electronic Medical Record Analysis
Authors: Liu Yang , Yu Zhaoxiang , Yang Yunlong
Published: March 2021

In today’s society, the development of information technology is very rapid, and the transmission and sharing of information has become a development trend. The results of data analysis and research are gradually applied to various fields of social development, structured analysis, and research. Data mining of electronic medical records in the medical field is gradually valued by researchers and has become a major work in the medical field. In the course of clinical treatment, electronic medical records are edited, including all personal health and treatment information. This paper mainly introduces the research of diabetes risk data mining method based on electronic medical record analysis and intends to provide some ideas and directions for the research of diabetes risk data mining method. This paper proposes a research strategy of diabetes risk data mining method based on electronic medical record analysis, including data mining and classification rule mining based on electronic medical record analysis, which are used in the research experiment of diabetes risk data mining method based on electronic medical record analysis. The experimental results in this paper show that the average prediction accuracy of the decision tree is 91.21%, and the results of the training set and the test set are similar, indicating that there is no overfitting of the training set.