bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract P490: Vascular Rarefaction And Decreased Angiogenic Potential In The Development Of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction In Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Fopiano Katie Anne , Tian Yanna , Buncha Vadym , Lang Liwei , Bagi Zsolt
Published: November 2021

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) develops in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, also known as diastolic heart failure), but the nature of the underlying pathomechanisms behind this prevalent disease remain poorly understood. The hypothesis tested was that coronary microvascular rarefaction contributes to left ventricle (LV) diastolic function in HFpEF. The obese ZSF1 rat model of human HFpEF was employed and using transthoracic echocardiography it was found that 18-week-old male obese ZSF1 rats exhibited a significantly reduced E/A ratio (E=early, A=late mitral inflow peak velocities) and increased DT (E wave deceleration time) with no change in ejection fraction, indicating diastolic dysfunction. Coronary arteriolar and capillary trees were labeled using Tomato Lectin (Lycopersicon esculentum) DyLight®594 and were imaged by fluorescent confocal microscopy to generate image stacks for 3D reconstruction. Unbiased automated tracing of the microvasculature was done using VesselLucida360 software (MBF) followed by a morphometric analysis (VesselLucida Explorer). It was found that total vessel length and the number of vessel’s branching nodes were reduced in the obese ZSF1 rats, whereas the total vessel’s volumes remained consistent, when compared to the lean ZSF1 controls. These changes in the microvasculature were accompanied by decreased angiogenesis in the coronary arteries in the obese ZSF1 rats when compared to the lean ZSF1 rats using an
ex vivo
endothelial sprouting assay. From these results, it was concluded that vascular rarefaction and decreased angiogenesis both play a role in the development of LV diastolic dysfunction in the obese ZSF1 rat model of human HFpEF.
Abstract P499: Histone H4K20 Trimethylation Is Differentially Regulated In Heart Disease
Authors: Hickenlooper Samuel , Davis Kathryn , Valdez Steven , Bia Ryan , Szulik Marta , Franklin Sarah
Published: November 2021

It has been well established that many cardiac pathologies result from dynamic changes in gene expression and conversely that modulating key epigenetic factors in murine models is capable of preventing or abrogating ischemic injury and pathological remodeling. One epigenetic mechanism is the post-translational modification of histones, which are reversibly methylated on lysine (K) residues and can accept up to three methyl groups (Me1, Me2 and Me3). In the heart, significant changes in global levels of histone H3K4Me3 and H3K9Me3 have been previously reported to be upregulated and downregulated, respectively, during hypertrophy and failure in mice. However, the majority of post-translational modifications on histones have never been examined to quantify global abundance in the heart during disease. In particular, histone H4K20Me3 is important in heterochromatin formation and gene repression in non-cardiac cells but has never been evaluated in the heart. Therefore, we utilized cardiac tissue from three animal models of cardiac stress and employed western blotting and mass spectrometry to quantify the global abundance of total histone H4 and H4K20 methylation. We specifically evaluated tissue from mice subjected to LAD ligation, transverse aortic banding and isoproterenol infusion (via mini-osmotic pump). In addition, we also utilized primary neonatal cardiomyocytes treated with the hypertrophic agonist phenylephrine to quantify H4K20 methylation. Our data show that global levels of histone H4K20Me3 are differentially regulated in some models of cardiac dysfunction, but not all (i.e. isoproterenol infusion). In addition, we measured the abundance of histone methyltransferases and demethylases (via western blotting and qPCR) which are responsible for adding or removing this methyl mark in mouse cardiac tissue, and compared this to published data from human heart failure patients. These analyses allowed us to identify two enzymes, the methyltransferase Smyd5 and demethylase KDM7B, which are also differentially expressed in cardiac tissue during disease. Together these results are the first analysis of histone H4K20 methylation in the heart and suggest a novel role for this methylation site in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.
Abstract P500: Naltrindole And Naltrindole Derivatives Exhibit Potent Cardioprotection In Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Singh Sunit , Verwoert Alexis , Bamimore Michael , Nair Arjun , Dean Tameka , Harrell Kayla , Stinson Cameron , Chen Qian , Barsotti Robert , Young Lindon
Published: November 2021

Previously, naltrindole (NTI; selective delta opioid receptor antagonist) was shown to improve post-reperfused cardiac function and reduced infarct size when given prior to ischemia (I)/ reperfusion (R) in ex-vivo rat hearts. Conversely, naloxone (NX, broad-spectrum opioid antagonist) and nor-binaltrophine (BNI, selective kappa receptor antagonist) were similar to control hearts. In this study, the effects of NTI derivatives naltriben (NTB, delta receptor antagonist) and guanidonaltrindole (GNTI, kappa receptor antagonist) were compared to NTI, BNI, and NX. Isolated hearts from male SD rats (300g) were subjected to global I(30min)/R(45min). Treatments were given 5 min before I (preconditioning) and during the first 5 min of R. Left ventricular (LV) cardiac function was measured using a pressure transducer. At the end of reperfusion, infarcted heart tissue was compared to total tissue weight. Data were evaluated using ANOVA. As shown in Table 1, NTI, NTB, and GNTI significantly improved post-reperfused cardiac function and reduced infarct size compared to control hearts. NTI and NTB elicited direct effects on cardiac function when given during preconditioning in contrast to all other study groups and were the most robust at reducing infarct size and restoring post reperfusion cardiac function. The negative inotropic effects of NTI and NTB were correlated with a decrease in the rise of ischemic pressure. GNTI also elicited significant improvement in post-reperfused cardiac function and reduction of infarct size compared to BNI which suggests a separate cardioprotective mechanism that this NTI derivative may exert in contrast to kappa opioid receptor inhibition. Results suggest that NTI and derivatives, GNTI and NTB, are cardioprotective against I/R injury resulting in reduced ischemic peak pressure (NTI/NTB) and infarct size. In future studies, we will examine the mechanism of the protective effects of NTI and derivatives in hearts subjected to I/R injury.
Abstract P507: Comprehensive Characterization Of Poly(a)-clickseq Data Sets Reveal Novel Polyadenylation Signals In Human Right Ventricle Failure
Authors: Amirthalingam Thandavarayan Rajarajan A , Yalamanchili Hari Krishna , Mahalingam Rajasekaran , Collum Scott D , Youker Keith , Wagner Eric , Bhimaraj Arvind , Karmouty-quintana Harry , Guha Ashrith
Published: November 2021

Background:
Many human genes hold more than 1 poly(A) site, and polyadenylation gives rise to transcripts with different 3′ untranslated regions (3’UTR) lengths, and this process known as alternative polyadenylation (APA). It plays a significant role in many cellular processes and dysregulation of APA leads to many human diseases. However, the functional consequences of APA events in the right ventricle (RV) failure in humans remain unexplored.

Objective:
To understand whether a global APA event is presented in the progression of RV failure by using the novel algorithm PolyA miner in the RV of healthy donors and patients with RV failure.

Methods and Results:
RV tissue samples were obtained from failing human hearts at the time of cardiac transplantation at the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital. The RV tissues were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at –80°C until use. Normal tissue samples were obtained from donor hearts that were not used for transplantation and were collected and stored in the same manner. We characterized the APA profiles of RV failing patients and compared them to healthy RV specimens by using Poly(A)-ClickSeq (PAC-seq) RNA sequencing and the PolyA-miner algorithm. We determined shortening versus lengthening of 3′UTRs based on the PolyA index, a metric unit that determines the length of 3′UTR. Based on these scores, we identified 435 transcripts with a significant shift in cleavage site usage. Further, we discovered 3'UTR shortening and lengthening of many genes in failing RV compared to healthy RV specimens. By examining polyadenylation events in these hearts, we identified disease-specific APA signatures in many genes. In addition, differential APA events in RV failure regulate many pathways important for the progression of the RV failure.

Conclusions:
Our study highlights the important roles for APA in human RV failure, including reforming multiple pathways and regulating specific gene expression, representing the complex interplay between APA and other biological processes in the RV failure.
Abstract P513: Adenylosuccinate Synthase Is A Novel Methylation Target Of Smyd1
Authors: Creed Magnus , Szulik Marta , Bia Ryan , Tracy Chris , Makaju Aman , Franklin Sarah
Published: November 2021

Among the metabolic shifts in chronic heart failure is a dysregulation of purine metabolism, which has been shown to negatively impact patient outcomes, especially in individuals affected by hypertension, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, via increased serum uric acid levels and cellular oxidative stress. The underlying mechanisms which drive these changes in purine metabolism in the cardiomyocyte and ultimately reactive oxygen species and uric acid accumulation in heart failure patients remain largely unknown. We recently discovered that the methyltransferase Smyd1 interacts with the metabolic enzyme Adss (Adenylosuccinate synthetase), a key component of purine metabolism in the heart involved in AMP synthesis, via co-immunoprecipitation. We confirmed this novel interaction between Smyd1b and Adss in mouse heart and cultured primary cardiomyocytes, which is further enhanced during phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy in the latter. Our hypothesis was that Smyd1b methylates Adss to regulate its activity, therefore, we examined lysine methylation on Adss via western blotting and mass spectrometry and quantified its ability to convert IMP to sAMP
in vitro
in the presence and absence of Smyd1b. Using a pan-methylation antibody we initially detected di- and tri-methylation on Adss which was increased in the presence of Smyd1b. Then utilizing bottom-up proteomics, we achieved 98% sequence coverage of Adss via mass spectrometry and identified trimethylation on K373 only in the presence of Smyd1b. In addition, utilizing an enzymatic assay
in vitro
we have shown that Smyd1b enhances the activity of Adss as it converts IMP to s-AMP. While it has been well-established that the activities of metabolic enzymes are modulated via post-translational modifications (e.g. phosphorylation, acetylation), we believe this is the first report of a metabolic enzyme regulated by lysine methylation. These exciting results highlight a novel role for Smyd1b in regulating purine metabolism in the myocyte and begin to lay the groundwork for examining this mechanism in the setting of disease.
Abstract P515: Dynamics Of Cardiomyocyte Differentiation In Isogenic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived From Trisomy21 Patients Hints Molecular Pathology Of Congenital Heart Defects In Down Syndrome
Authors: Chaklader Malay , Rothermel Beverly A
Published: November 2021

Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequently occurring human chromosomal disorder and is responsible for a range of both congenital defects and progressive, degenerative conditions. For instance, an estimated 50% DS neonates are born with congenital heart defects (CHD) and more than 50% of DS adults develop early onset Alzheimer’s. Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from DS patients and isogenic controls we previously demonstrated the presence of a hyper-metabolic, hyper-fused mitochondrial network in trisomic iPSCs (3S-iPSCs) compared to disomic (2S-iPSCs) controls. Furthermore, mitochondrial function was normalized by siRNA depletion of RCAN1, an inhibitor of the protein phosphatase calcineurin (CN). Both CN signaling and mitochondrial metabolism have been implicated in a variety of steps during the progression from embryonic stem cells to cardiac progenitors, including self-renewal, exit from pluripotency, and commitment to cardiac verses hematopoietic lineages. Based on this, we hypothesized that the dynamics of many of these processes will be altered over the course of differentiation of 3S-iPSCs to cardiomyocytes when compared to 2S-iPSCs. Here, we investigate the temporal expression of pluripotency associated genes and lineage associated genes as well as cardiac mesoderm and mature cardiomyocyte specific genes. We also define and compare changes in CN activity, expression of specific CN isoforms, mitochondrial expansion, ROS generation, and activation of stress responses. Our study identifies early developmental and metabolic sequelae capable of contributing to CHD in DS that may result from a disruption in the normal balance in crosstalk between CN and RCAN1.
Morphological Subtypes of Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Arteriosclerosis and the Risk of Stroke
Authors: van den Beukel Tim C. , van der Toorn Janine E. , Vernooij Meike W. , Kavousi Maryam , Akyildiz Ali C. , de Jong Pim A. , van der Lugt Aad , Ikram M. Kamran , Bos Daniel
Published: November 2021

Background:

Accumulating evidence highlights the existence of distinct morphological subtypes of intracranial carotid arteriosclerosis. So far, little is known on the prevalence of these subtypes and subsequent stroke risk in the general population. We determined the prevalence of morphological subtypes of intracranial arteriosclerosis and assessed the risk of stroke associated with these subtypes.

Methods:

Between 2003 and 2006, 2391 stroke-free participants (mean age 69.6, 51.7% women) from the population-based Rotterdam Study underwent noncontrast computed tomography to visualize calcification in the intracranial carotid arteries as a proxy for intracranial arteriosclerosis. Calcification morphology was evaluated according to a validated grading scale and categorized into intimal, internal elastic lamina (IEL), or mixed subtype. Follow-up for stroke was complete until January 1, 2016. We used multivariable Cox regression to assess associations of each subtype with incident stroke.

Results:

The prevalence of calcification was 82% of which 39% had the intimal subtype, 48% IEL subtype, and 13% a mixed subtype. During a median follow-up of 10.4 years, 155 participants had a stroke. All 3 subtypes were associated with a higher risk of stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI] for intimal: 2.11 [1.07–4.13], IEL: 2.66 [1.39–5.11], and mixed subtype 2.57 [1.18–5.61]). The association of the IEL subtype with stroke was strongest among older participants. The association of the intimal subtype with stroke was noticeably stronger in women than in men.

Conclusions:

Calcification of the IEL was the most prevalent subtype of intracranial arteriosclerosis. All 3 subtypes were associated with an increased risk of stroke, with noticeable age and sex-specific differences.
Identity-Based Patterns in Deep Convolutional Networks: Generative Adversarial Phonology and Reduplication
Authors: Beguš Gašper
Published: November 2021

This paper models unsupervised learning of an identity-based pattern (or copying) in speech called reduplication from raw continuous data with deep convolutional neural networks. We use the ciwGAN architecture (Beguš, 2021a) in which learning of meaningful representations in speech emerges from a requirement that the CNNs generate informative data. We propose a technique to wug-test CNNs trained on speech and, based on four generative tests, argue that the network learns to represent an identity-based pattern in its latent space. By manipulating only two categorical variables in the latent space, we can actively turn an unreduplicated form into a reduplicated form with no other substantial changes to the output in the majority of cases. We also argue that the network extends the identity-based pattern to unobserved data. Exploration of how meaningful representations of identity-based patterns emerge in CNNs and how the latent space variables outside of the training range correlate with identity-based patterns in the output has general implications for neural network interpretability.
Revision of the genus Jethsura Cameron, 1902 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae: Phaeogenini)
Authors: CLARIDGE BRANDON
Published: November 2021

The genus Jethsura Cameron is revised. Jethsura euthenia sp. nov., Jethsura gondawindua sp. nov., and Jethsura serpentina sp. nov. are newly described from Colombia, and Jethsura rubricauda sp. nov. is described from Mexico. Jethsura pyriformis (Provancher) from the Nearctic region is redescribed. Species images, distribution maps and an illustrated key is provided.
New data on morphology and distribution of Alona werestschagini Sinev, 1999—the only Arcto-Alpine species of Chydoridae (Cladocera: Anomopoda) known to date
Authors: SINEV ARTEM Y. , GARIBIAN PETR G. , KIROVA NADEZHDA А. , NEPLYUKHINA ALISA A.
Published: November 2021

Detailed study of morphology of Alona werestschagini Sinev, 1999 (Crustacea: Cladocera) confirms its affinities with Alona guttata Sars, 1862. A. werestschagini is the only Arcto-Alpine species among the family Chydoridae, distributed along Arctic coast of Eurasia and in mountains of Central Asia, newer recorded in temperate lowlands of the continent. In our opinion, the species evolved in mountainous regions of Central Asia, while its spreading to Arctic regions took place in Pleistocene.
A simple, low-cost device for collecting mushroom-dwelling Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)
Authors: VON GROLL ELISA , ALOQUIO SERGIO , LOPES-ANDRADE CRISTIANO
Published: November 2021

The shining fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) comprise more than 1800 described species, which are usually small (≅0.84–14.30 mm long) (Tang et al. 2014 ; Löbl & Ogawa 2016) and found on bracket and resupinate fungi, mushrooms and slime molds (Newton 1984; Löbl & Leschen 2003; Löbl 2018). They are known to be diverse in forests of tropical and subtropical regions, which contrast to the low number of species currently known from Brazil: only 34 species and two subspecies from seven genera (Löbl 2018; von Groll & Lopes-Andrade, 2021). Any active search for Scaphidiinae in the Brazilian Atlantic forest reveals a considerable abundance and diverse of these organisms (pers. obs.), but they disperse rapidly if disturbed, and the success of field collections relies on the collectors’ skills, luck and collecting techniques and devices. The most common methods and devices for collecting shinning fungus beetles are sifting leaf litter, rotten wood and fungi, flight intercept (FIT) and V-flight intercept (V-FIT) traps, aspirators, sweeping, and hand collecting (Löbl & Leschen 2003; Tang et al. 2014; Löbl et al. 2021). Hand collecting is considered the best method, because the host fungi and larvae can be collected together to make associations (Löbl & Leschen 2003).
Ropivacaine magnetic nanoparticles: An efficient local anesthetic nerve conduction blocker
Authors: Su Junying , Chen Xiaohu , Liu Huizhang , Luo Yuhui
Published: November 2021

Ropivacaine (Rop) is one of the commonly used local nerve blocks in clinical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia and it inhibits the stimulation of peripheral nociceptive pain. However, Rop alone is not effective enough to exert a controllable anesthetic effect in patients with peripheral
nociceptive pain. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the targeting of the local anesthetic effect of Rop and reduce its potential chronic or acute toxicity. In this study, a novel Rop nanocomposite hydrogel drug, N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid/ropivacaine magnetic nanoparticles
(NIP-MAA/Rop MNPs), was constructed on magnetic iron oxide. The unique pH and temperature response of NIP-MAA can effectively retain magnetic properties, improve the stability and targeting controllability of magnetic nanoparticles, and avoid excessive drug diffusion. Therefore, the NIP-MAA/Rop
MNPs is expected to open a new field of vision for the research of clinical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia.
Mechanism of long-chain non-coding RNA hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-antisense RNA 1 regulating chemotherapy resistance of retinoblastoma by inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-α expression
Authors: Gu Cao , Li Qing , Zhao Shaofei , Gao Yu , Lu Peirong
Published: November 2021

Retinoblastoma (Rb) mostly occurs in infants and young children with weak resistance. Surgical treatment causes great damage to children’s appearance, so adjuvant chemotherapy is needed to reduce the damage. But chemotherapeutic resistance affects treatment effectiveness and may
even lead to the death of the child. Exploring the specific mechanism of drug resistance in Rb children is helpful to improve the therapeutic effect. It was found that the relative expression in Rb cell Y79, SO-Rb50, and HXO-Rb44 was greatly higher than that in normal hum an retinal cells.
After transfection of SI-HIF1A-AS1 into Rb cells, the expression of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 was decreased greatly, and the level of HIF-1α was down-regulated. Suppress lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression can reduce cell proliferation and improve apoptosis. Based on the overexpression of HIF-1α,
the cell proliferation ability was restored partially, and the apoptosis ability was reduced greatly. When cells were cultured with vincristine, we found that suppress lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression can decrease cell survival, and overexpression of HIF-1α improved cell survival.
The above results confirmed that inhibition of lncRNA HIF1AAS1 expression could reduce drug resistance of Y97 cells, while overexpression of HIF-1α can antagonize the drug resistance of low expression lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 against Rb cells. Therefore, this study suggests that lncRNA
HIF1A-AS1 may regulate Rb cells’ resistance to vincristine by regulating HIF-1α expression.
The Role of the Maritime Continent SST Anomalies in Maintaining the Pacific–Japan Pattern on Decadal Time Scales
Authors: Xie Mingmei , Wang Chunzai , Chen Sheng
Published: November 2021

The decadal Pacific–Japan (PJ) pattern, the dominant decadal mode of summer vorticity anomaly over East Asia, is characterized as a meridionally arranged wave pattern with one anomalous cyclone located over Taiwan, and two anomalous anticyclones around the South China Sea (SCS) and the Bohai Sea. This pattern can cause wetter and colder conditions in Southeast China and dryer and warmer conditions in North China. The local SST–rainfall relationship reveals that the Maritime Continent (MC) SST can act as an engine to regulate and maintain the decadal PJ pattern. Driven by enhanced convection over the MC, anomalous divergent flows in the upper troposphere move northward, cross the equator, and then converge and subside over the SCS. The SCS low-level divergence, maintained by this meridional overturning circulation under the Sverdrup vorticity balance, further works as a Rossby wave source and excites the decadal PJ pattern pointing straight northward. The transhemispheric impacts of the MC SST are well reproduced by both the atmospheric general circulation model and the dry linear baroclinic model, with the former emphasizing the MC’s original forcing role and the latter highlighting the SCS anticyclone’s role in relaying and amplifying those climatic impacts. Thus, our results indicate that SST variations over the MC region can be viewed as a potential source of East Asian decadal climate predictability.
Demonstrating a Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Estimate for Evaluating Precipitation Forecasts in Complex Terrain
Authors: Bytheway Janice L. , Abel Mimi R. , Cifelli Rob , Mahoney Kelly , English Jason M.
Published: November 2021

Accurate quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) at high spatial and temporal resolution are difficult to obtain in regions of complex terrain due to the large spatial heterogeneity of orographically enhanced precipitation, sparsity of gauges, precipitation phase variations, and terrain effects that impact the quality of remotely sensed estimates. The large uncertainty of QPE in these regions also makes the evaluation of high-resolution quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) challenging, as it can be difficult to choose a reference QPE that is reliable at both high and low elevations. In this paper we demonstrate a methodology to combine information from multiple high-resolution hourly QPE products to evaluate QPFs from NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model in a region of Northern California. The methodology uses the quantiles of monthly QPE distributions to determine a range of hourly precipitation that correspond to “good,” “possible,” “underestimated,” or “overestimated” QPFs. In this manuscript, we illustrate the use of the methodology to evaluate QPFs for seven atmospheric river events that occurred during the 2016–17 wet season in Northern California. Because the presence of frozen precipitation is often not captured by traditional QPE products, we evaluate QPFs both for all precipitation, and with likely frozen precipitation excluded. The methodology is shown to provide useful information to evaluate model performance while taking into account the uncertainty of available QPE at various temporal and spatial scales. The potential of the technique to evaluate changes between model versions is also shown.
The Influence of WSR-88D Intra-Volume Scanning Strategies on Thunderstorm Observations and Warnings in the Dual-Polarization Radar Era: 2011–20
Authors: Kingfield Darrel M. , French Michael M.
Published: November 2021

The Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network has undergone several improvements in the last decade with the upgrade to dual-polarization capabilities and the ability for forecasters to rescan the lowest levels of the atmosphere more frequently through the use of Supplemental Adaptive Intra-volume Scanning (SAILS). SAILS reduces the revisit period for scanning the lowest 1 km of the atmosphere but comes at the cost of a longer delay between scans at higher altitudes. This study quantifies how often radar volume coverage patterns (VCPs) and all available SAILS options are used during the issuance of 148 882 severe thunderstorm and 18 263 tornado warnings, and near 10 474 tornado, 58 934 hail, and 127 575 wind reports in the dual-polarization radar era. A large majority of warnings and storm reports were measured with a VCP providing denser low-level sampling coverage. More frequent low-level updates were employed near tornado warnings and reports compared to severe thunderstorm warnings and hail or wind hazards. Warnings issued near a radar providing three extra low-level scans (SAILSx3) were more likely to be verified by a hazard with a positive lead time than warnings with fewer low-level scans. However, extra low-level scans were more frequently used in environments supporting organized convection as shown using watches issued by the Storm Prediction Center. In recent years, the number of midlevel radar elevation scans is declining per hour, which can adversely affect the tracking of convective polarimetric signatures, like ZDR columns, which were found above the lowest elevation angle in over 99% of cases examined.
Socio-Economic Characterisation of Resettled Smallholder Farmers in Rural Zimbabwe
Authors: Ndhlovu Emmanuel
Published: November 2021

The socio-economic characterisation of resettled small-holder farmers under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) in Zimbabwe has blind spots in relation to the emergent transformative social policy features such as ‘social cohesion’, ‘cooperation’, ‘protection’ and ‘accumulation’ which are equally important among land beneficiaries. Using the Sangwe farm, this article departs from the conventional use of the political economy, sustainable livelihoods, human rights-based and neo-patrimonial approaches to experiment with the transformative social policy approach. Using both quantitative and qualitative data in an exploratory research design, the article shows that viewed from the transformative social policy approach, the FTLRP was neither a resounding success nor a complete disaster. The programme actually produced mixed results. The article thus, recommends the use of in-depth, ideologically free and neutral approaches in its analysis so as to reveal its detailed outcomes. Additional studies in which existing land reform policies can be considered in the collective efforts of improving the transformative agenda of the FTLRP across the country are needed.
Gender inclusivity through maize breeding in Africa: A review of the issues and options for future engagement
Authors: Voss Rachel C. , Donovan Jason , Rutsaert Pieter , Cairns Jill E.
Published: November 2021

With the prioritization of social inclusion in agricultural development, donors and research centers have shown growing interest in gender-intentional varietal development and delivery. Breeding maize varieties that respond to gender-based differences in trait preferences now represents a central objective of maize R&D in the CGIAR and elsewhere. Drawing on literature on gender and maize seed adoption, variety preferences, and seed system constraints, we take stock of knowns and unknowns related to gender-responsive and gender-intentional maize breeding. While recent research on farmers’ variety preferences across crops has yielded insights into gender-based differences, we find that evidence of gender-differentiated preferences for maize varieties remains inconclusive. Ultimately, we identify several research priorities to support gender-intentional maize breeding, including a more nuanced understanding of gender relations in maize production and maize seed decision-making, new and more gender-responsive approaches to measuring farmer preferences and seed demand more broadly, and research to address operational challenges in gender-intentional breeding. We close by identifying some institutional constraints to achieving impact through gender-intentional maize breeding.
Classification of clothing images based on a parallel convolutional neural network and random vector functional link optimized by the grasshopper optimization algorithm
Authors: Zhou Zhiyu , Deng Wenxiong , Wang Yaming , Zhu Zefei
Published: November 2021

To improve accuracy in clothing image recognition, this paper proposes a clothing classification method based on a parallel convolutional neural network (PCNN) combined with an optimized random vector functional link (RVFL). The method uses the PCNN model to extract features of clothing images. Then, the structure-intensive and dual-channel convolutional neural network (i.e., the PCNN) is used to solve the problems of traditional convolutional neural networks (e.g., limited data and prone to overfitting). Each convolutional layer is followed by a batch normalization layer, and the leaky rectified linear unit activation function and max-pooling layers are used to improve the performance of the feature extraction. Then, dropout layers and fully connected layers are used to reduce the amount of calculation. The last layer uses the RVFL as optimized by the grasshopper optimization algorithm to replace the SoftMax layer and classify the features, further improving the stability and accuracy of classification. In this study, two aspects of the classification (feature extraction and feature classification) are improved, effectively improving the accuracy. The experimental results show that on the Fashion-Mnist dataset, the accuracy of the algorithm in this study reaches 92.93%. This value is 1.36%, 2.05%, 0.65%, and 3.76% higher than that of the local binary pattern (LBP)-support vector machine (SVM), histogram of oriented gradients (HOG)-SVM, LBP-HOG-SVM, and AlexNet-sparse representation-based classifier algorithms, respectively, effectively demonstrating the classification performance of the algorithm.
A new robust Kalman filter with measurement loss based on mixing distribution
Authors: Shan Chenghao , Zhou Weidong , Yang Yefeng , Shan Hanyu
Published: November 2021

A new robust Kalman filter (KF) based on mixing distribution is presented to address the filtering issue for a linear system with measurement loss (ML) and heavy-tailed measurement noise (HTMN) in this paper. A new Student’s t-inverse-Wishart-Gamma mixing distribution is derived to more rationally model the HTMN. By employing a discrete Bernoulli random variable (DBRV), the form of measurement likelihood function of double mixing distributions is converted from a weighted sum to an exponential product, and a hierarchical Gaussian state-space model (HGSSM) is therefore established. Finally, the system state, the intermediate random variables (IRVs) of the new STIWG distribution, and the DBRV are simultaneously estimated by utilizing the variational Bayesian (VB) method. Numerical example simulation experiment indicates that the proposed filter in this paper has superior performance than current algorithms in processing ML and HTMN.
A large-stroke rapid motion controller for servo applications with speed and control constraints
Authors: Yu Wentao , Cheng Guoyang
Published: November 2021

Large-stroke rapid motion is required in many industrial servo systems (e.g. pick-and-place applications), on which constraints of control input and motion speed are usually imposed. This paper presents a hybrid control scheme for large-stroke rapid motion in such systems. The controller resorts to the time-optimal control (TOC) for maximum acceleration initially and then switches into a linear control law to achieve smooth settling. A speed regulation stage is inserted in the tracking process to prevent violating the speed constraint. To tackle the unmeasured speed and unknown disturbance, an extended state observer (ESO) can be included in the controller. The controller is applied to a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo system for large-stroke position regulation. Digital simulation via MATLAB is conducted first, followed by an experimental verification using a TMS320F28335 board. The results confirm that the proposed controller can track a wide range of target references with desirable performance under speed constraint and load disturbance and has a competitive advantage over the popular active disturbance-rejection control (ADRC) scheme.
Age-Adjusted Normative Values for Hip Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
Authors: Sharfman Zachary T. , Safran Nathan , Amar Eyal , Varshneya Kunal , Safran Marc R. , Rath Ehud
Published: November 2021

Background:

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential clinical instruments used for assessing patient function, assisting in clinical decision making, and quantifying outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management. However, PROMs are often designed using patients with preexisting pathology and typically assume that a patient without the pathology would have a perfect or near perfect score. This may result in unrealistic expectations or falsely underestimate how well a patient is doing after treatment. The influence of age on PROMs about the hip of healthy individuals has not been studied.

Hypothesis:

We hypothesize that in asymptomatic individuals hip-specific PROM scores will decrease in an age-dependent manor.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

In this multicenter survey study, volunteers who denied preexisting hip pathology and previous hip surgery completed 3 PROMs online or as traditional paper questionnaires. The International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT), the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), and the Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL) and HOS—Sport were completed. Analysis of variance with a Tukey post hoc test was used to analyze differences in PROMs among subgroups. An independent-samples Student t test and a χ2 test were used to analyze differences in continuous and categorical data, respectively.

Results:

In total 496, 571, 534, and 532 responses were collected for the iHOT, mHHS, HOS-ADL, and HOS–Sport, respectively. Respondents’ PROMs were scored and arranged into 3 groups by age: <40 years, 40 to 60 years, and >60 years. The iHOT, mHHS, HOS-ADL, and HOS–Sport of these asymptomatic respondents all decreased in an age-dependent manner: iHOT (<40, 94.1; 40-60, 92.4; >60, 87.0), mHHS (<40, 94.8; 40-60, 91.3; >60, 89.1), HOS-ADL (<40, 98.4; 40-60, 95.0; >60, 90.9), and HOS–Sport (<40, 95.7; 40-60, 82.9; >60, 72.9) (analysis of variance between-group differences, P < .05).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that the iHOT, mHHS, and HOS-ADL and HOS–Sport scores in asymptomatic people decrease in an age-dependent manner. It is important to compare a patient’s outcome scores with the age-normalized scores to establish an accurate reference frame with which to interpret outcomes.
Positive Correlation Between Women’s Status and Intimate Partner Violence Suggests Violence Backlash in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Kilgallen Joseph A. , Schaffnit Susan B. , Kumogola Yusufu , Galura Anthony , Urassa Mark , Lawson David W.
Published: November 2021

Urbanization in low and middle-income nations is characterized by economic and demographic shifts largely understood to be beneficial to women’s empowerment. These changes include increased education and wage-labor opportunities, a disruption of traditional patrilocal residence systems, and reductions in spousal age gap and fertility. However, such changes may drive a “violence backlash,” with men increasing intimate partner violence (IPV) in efforts to challenge women’s shifting status. To date, tests of this idea primarily relate to women’s changing economic status, with less known about the demographic correlates of IPV in urbanizing settings. Addressing this, we conducted a cross-sectional study of IPV behavior and attitudes in an urbanizing community in Mwanza, northern Tanzania ( n = 317). Consistent with a violence backlash, IPV was reported more often among women educated at higher levels than their husband, and women earning similar, rather than lower, wages to their husband were more likely to report that he condones IPV. These findings were independent of women’s absolute education and income. Furthermore, less frequent paternal kin contact, and relatively small spousal age gaps, generally understood to boost women’s empowerment, were associated with an increased risk of experiencing IPV. Less frequent paternal kin contact was also associated with an increased likelihood that a husband condones IPV. Contrary to our predictions, relatively lower fertility, generally linked to higher women’s empowerment, did not predict IPV behavior and women with high, rather than low, fertility were more likely to report that their husband condones IPV. Overall, our results support the notion of a violence backlash corresponding to economic changes for women that accompany urbanization. In contrast, demographic changes associated with urbanization have more variable relationships. Drawing on these results, we suggest future research avenues for better understanding the vulnerability of women to IPV in urbanizing settings.
Effect of convective boundary condition on unsteady flow of CNT-H2O nanofluid towards a stagnation-point on a shrinking/expanding flat sheet
Authors: Rajput Sohita , Pandey Amit Kumar , Bhattacharyya Krishnendu , Pop Ioan
Published: November 2021

A model study of unsteady stagnation-point flow of most important nanoparticles, that is, carbon nanotubes suspended nanofluid towards shrinking/expanding sheet with convective boundary condition is demonstrated. Two types of carbon nanotubes, namely, single-wall and multi-wall nanotubes are carefully considered. Numerical solutions of converted equations from governing equation of the problem are obtained and those are graphically presented. Similar to without carbon nanotubes case, dual and unique solutions in specific ranges of velocity ratio parameter are achieved. Analysis disclosures that the condition on range where dual solutions exist is unaltered with solid-volume fraction and type of carbon nanotubes. The surface drag-force and heat transfer rate from wall are larger for single-walled carbon nanotubes nanofluid than multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanofluid. An increment in the parameter related to convective boundary condition generates high rate of heat transfer. After stability analysis, it is identified that in case of dual solutions, upper branch is stable and lower branch is unstable, while unique solution is always stable.
Improvement of performance and emission characteristic of waste plastic pyrolytic oil blended diesel fuel in variable compression diesel engine using graphene nano additive
Authors: Das Amar Kumar , Panda Achyut K.
Published: November 2021

A growing interest in extracting oil from waste plastics has converged with rising demand for petro-fuels and issues in disposing of waste plastics. The characteristics of pyrolytic oil produced from plastic wastes were compared to diesel and found to be sufficiently similar to be used as an alternative fuel. In this paper, an attempt has been taken to enhance the combustion properties of waste plastic oil blended diesel following dispersion of nanographene particles. The performance and emissions of a single-cylinder direct injection compression ignition engine with compression ratios ranging from 16:1 to 18:1 was evaluated using 50, 70, and 100 ppm by using 50, 70, and 100 ppm by mass of nanographene dispersed in 20% waste plastic oil blended diesel without any engine modification. By supercharging the engine with nanographene at various compression ratios, the performance of a 20% plastic oil blended diesel is compared to that of a neat diesel. The brake thermal efficiency of 20% plastic oil blended 100 ppm graphene dispersed diesel fuel increased by 1.16% at a compression ratio of 17:1 when compared to diesel. The CO, HC, NOx emissions also dropped significantly by adding 100 ppm nanographene to WPO as compared to the other combinations of fuels.
Faecal haemoglobin concentrations in women and men diagnosed with colorectal cancer in a national screening programme
Authors: Clark Gavin RC , Digby Jayne , Fraser Callum G , Strachan Judith A , Steele Robert JC
Published: November 2021

Objective

There is evidence that colorectal cancer screening using faecal haemoglobin is less effective in women than men. The faecal haemoglobin concentrations were therefore examined in women and men with screen-detected colorectal cancer.

Setting

Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, following the introduction of a faecal immunochemical test from November 2017, to March 2020.

Methods

Data were collated on faecal haemoglobin concentrations, pathological stage and anatomical site of the main lesion in participants who had colorectal cancer detected. The data in women and men were compared.

Results

For the faecal haemoglobin concentrations studied (>80 µg Hb/g faeces), the distributions indicated lower concentrations in women. Marked differences were found between women and men diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The median faecal haemoglobin concentration for women ( n = 720) was 408 µg Hb/g faeces compared to 473 µg Hb/g faeces for men ( n = 959) ( p = 0.004) and 50.6% of the results were >400 µg Hb/g faeces in women; in men, this was 57.8%. The difference in faecal haemoglobin concentrations in women and men became less statistically significant as stage advanced from stages I–IV. For right-sided, left-sided and rectal colorectal cancer, a similar gender difference persisted in all sites. Differences in faecal haemoglobin between the genders were significant for left-sided cancers and stage I and approached significance for rectal cancers and stage II, but all sites and stages showed lower median faecal haemoglobin concentrations for women.

Conclusions

To minimise gender inequalities, faecal immunochemical test-based colorectal cancer screening programmes should evaluate a strategy of using different faecal haemoglobin concentration thresholds in women and men.
Production of granulomas in Mycoplasma bovis infection associated with meningitis-meningoencephalitis, endocarditis, and pneumonia in cattle
Authors: Suwanruengsri Mathurot , Uemura Ryoko , Kanda Takuya , Fuke Naoyuki , Nueangphuet Phawut , Pornthummawat Apisit , Yasuda Masahiro , Hirai Takuya , Yamaguchi Ryoji
Published: November 2021

Mycoplasma bovis, the most important primary pathogen in the family Mycoplasmataceae, causes pneumonia, arthritis, otitis media, and mastitis in cattle. Histopathologic pulmonary changes associated with M. bovis infection have been characterized as suppurative-to-caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia; infection in other organs has been reported in only a few studies that examined caseonecrotic endocarditis and suppurative meningitis. Granulomatous lesions associated with M. bovis infection have been reported only rarely. We studied the granulomatous inflammation associated with M. bovis infection in several organs of 21 Japanese Black cattle. M. bovis was detected by isolation and loop-mediated isothermal amplification methods; other bacteria were detected using culture on 5% blood sheep agar and a MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper. Tissues were examined by histopathology and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti– M. bovis, anti-Iba1, anti-iNOS, and anti-CD204 antibodies. All 21 cases, which included 2 cases of meningitis-meningoencephalitis, 8 cases of endocarditis, and 11 cases of bronchopneumonia, had caseonecrotic granulomatous inflammation associated with M. bovis infection. The IHC for macrophages revealed a predominance of iNOS-labeled (M1) macrophages in the inner layer of the caseonecrotic granulomas associated with meningitis-meningoencephalitis, endocarditis, and bronchopneumonia in Japanese Black cattle naturally infected with M. bovis.
Thermomechanical performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer synchronizer friction liners
Authors: Häggström Daniel , Sellgren Ulf , Björklund Stefan
Published: November 2021

To improve the ability of a thermomechanical simulation model for carbon fiber reinforced polymer lined synchronizers to predict synchronization performance and reliability, temperature dependent material data for the specific carbon fiber reinforced polymer lining is needed. The compressive modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, specific heat and thermal conductivity are determined experimentally. The effect of each material property on the focal surface temperature is analyzed, and it is shown that the compressive modulus has the largest influence for all analyzed load cases. Physical tests show that surface hot spots begin to appear at a simulated focal surface temperature of 200[Formula: see text]C, while performance degradation occurs at a simulated focal surface temperature of 230[Formula: see text]C–250[Formula: see text]C.