bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can f(R) gravity isotropise a pre-bounce contracting universe?
Authors: Arora Simran , Mandal Sanjay , Chakraborty Saikat , Leon Genly , Sahoo P.K.
Published: September 2022

We address the important issue of isotropisation of a pre-bounce contracting phase in f(R) gravity, which would be relevant to constructing any viable nonsingular bouncing scenario in f(R) gravity. The main motivation behind this work is to investigate whether the f(R) gravity, by itself, can isotropise a contracting universe starting initially with small anisotropy without incorporating a super-stiff or non-ideal fluid, impossible in general relativity. Considering Bianchi I cosmology and employing a dynamical system analysis, we see that this is not possible for R
n (n > 1) and R + αR
2 (α > 0) theory, but possible for 1/α
eαR
(α > 0) theory. On the other hand, if one does not specify an f(R) theory a priori but demands a cosmology smoothly connecting an ekpyrotic contraction phase to a nonsingular bounce, the ekpyrotic phase may not fulfil the condition for isotropisation and physically viability simultaneously.
Shadows and gravitational weak lensing by the Schwarzschild black hole in the string cloud background with quintessential field*
Authors: Mustafa G. , Atamurotov Farruh , Hussain Ibrar , Shaymatov Sanjar , Övgün Ali
Published: September 2022

In this study, we observe that, in the presence of the string cloud parameter a and the quintessence parameter γ, with the equation of state parameter

, the radius of the shadow of the Schwarzschild black hole increases as compared with that in the pure Schwarzschild black hole case. The existence of both quintessential dark energy and the cloud of strings increases the shadow size; hence, the strength of the gravitational field around the Schwarzschild black hole increases. Using the data collected by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration for M87* and Sgr A*, we obtain upper bounds on the values of a and γ. Further, we see the effects of a and γ on the rate of emission energy for the Schwarzschild black hole. We notice that the rate of emission energy is higher in the presence of clouds of strings and quintessence. Moreover, we study the weak deflection angle using the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. We show the influence of a and γ on the weak deflection angle. We notice that both a and γ increase the deflection angle α.
Bio-inspired materials to control and minimise insect attachment
Authors: Bergmann Johannes B , Moatsou Dafni , Steiner Ullrich , Wilts Bodo D
Published: September 2022

More than three quarters of all animal species on Earth are insects, successfully inhabiting most ecosystems on the planet. Due to their opulence, insects provide the backbone of many biological processes, but also inflict adverse impacts on agricultural and stored products, buildings and human health. To countermeasure insect pests, the interactions of these animals with their surroundings have to be fully understood. This review focuses on the various forms of insect attachment, natural surfaces that have evolved to counter insect adhesion, and particularly features recently developed synthetic bio-inspired solutions. These bio-inspired solutions often enhance the variety of applicable mechanisms observed in nature and open paths for improved technological solutions that are needed in a changing global society.
Facile fabrication of Bi-layered perfusable hydrogel tubes as biomimetic 3D arterial construct
Authors: Manigandan Amrutha , Dhandapani Ramya , Bagewadi Shambhavi , Sethu Palaniappan , Sethuraman Swaminathan , Subramanian Anuradha
Published: September 2022

Small-diameter arterial conduits with native physiological and biological equivalence continues to be a constant global demand posing critical challenges in fabrication. Advent of various strategies towards mimicking the structural hierarchy of a native blood vessel, often involve complex instrumentation and template-assistance with post-processing complications eventually compromising structural fidelity. In the present research, we report a template-free, facile strategy- ‘3D wet writing’ by peripheral-core differential ionic gelation to fabricate perfusable customizable constructs of any dimension, thickness and length in <5 mins. Dual-crosslinking using di-diol complexation of borax with Alginate- poly (vinyl alcohol) was performed to enhance the stability of fabricated bi-layered tubular constructs (BLT). These fabricated BLTs demonstrated non-linear mechanical characteristics of native blood vessels in withstanding physiological (120/80 mmHg) hemodynamic loading conditions with cyclic strain (5.82 ± 0.88%). The BLTs also ensured adequate longitudinal (0.176 ± 0.03 MPa) & circumferential (0.29 ± 0.012 MPa) tensile strength and burst pressure strength of 353.875 ± 22.69 mmHg. Hemocompatible characteristics of BLT were clearly evident with lower hemolytic index (0.21 ± 0.03%) and maintenance of erythrocyte structural integrity under dynamic conditions. Further, non-thrombogenic and non-inflammatory characteristics of BLTs were confirmed by in-activated platelets and monocytes under dynamic conditions. The developed wet-writing technique exhibited facile integration of layer-specific cells concurrently with the BLT fabrication. The spatial cell-specific expressions of smooth muscle (α-SMA) and endothelial (CD-31) cells in BLT were comparable to native hierarchical cellular organization with the multi-layered medial and mono-layered intimal layers. Further, ex-vivo dynamic studies on anastomotic interface between BLT and rat abdominal aorta clearly evidenced the functional efficacy of fabricated BLTs as physiologically relevant small-diameter vascular construct.
Vertical pattern of organic matter decomposability in cryoturbated permafrost-affected soils
Authors: Beer Christian , Knoblauch Christian , Hoyt Alison M , Hugelius Gustaf , Palmtag Juri , Mueller Carsten W , Trumbore Susan
Published: September 2022

Permafrost thaw will release additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere resulting in a positive feedback to climate change. However, the mineralization dynamics of organic matter (OM) stored in permafrost-affected soils remain unclear. We used physical soil fractionation, radiocarbon measurements, incubation experiments, and a dynamic decomposition model to identify distinct vertical pattern in OM decomposability. The observed differences reflect the type of OM input to the subsoil, either by cryoturbation or otherwise, e.g. by advective water-borne transport of dissolved OM. In non-cryoturbated subsoil horizons, most OM is stabilized at mineral surfaces or by occlusion in aggregates. In contrast, pockets of OM-rich cryoturbated soil contain sufficient free particulate OM for microbial decomposition. After thaw, OM turnover is as fast as in the upper active layer. Since cryoturbated soils store ca. 450 Pg carbon, identifying differences in decomposability according to such translocation processes has large implications for the future global carbon cycle and climate, and directs further process model development.
Multipartite entanglement in qudit hypergraph states
Authors: Malpetti D , Bellisario A , Macchiavello C
Published: September 2022

We study entanglement properties of hypergraph states in arbitrary finite dimension. We compute multipartite entanglement of elementary qudit hypergraph states, namely those endowed with a single maximum-cardinality hyperedge. We show that, analogously to the qubit case, also for arbitrary dimension there exists a lower bound for multipartite entanglement of connected qudit hypergraph states; this is given by the multipartite entanglement of an equal-dimension elementary hypergraph state featuring the same number of qudits as the largest-cardinality hyperedge. We highlight interesting differences between prime and non-prime dimension in the entanglement features.
Accumulation times for diffusion-mediated surface reactions
Authors: Bressloff Paul C
Published: September 2022

In this paper we consider a multiparticle version of a recent probabilistic framework for studying diffusion-mediated surface reactions. The basic idea of the probabilistic approach is to consider the joint probability density or generalized propagator for particle position and the so-called boundary local time. The latter characterizes the amount of time that a Brownian particle spends in the neighborhood of a totally reflecting boundary; the effects of surface reactions are then incorporated via an appropriate stopping condition for the local time. The propagator is determined by solving a Robin boundary value problem, in which the constant rate of reactivity is identified as the Laplace variable z conjugate to the local time, and then inverting the solution with respect to z. Here we reinterpret the propagator as a particle concentration in which surface absorption is counterbalanced by particle source terms. We investigate conditions under which there exists a non-trivial steady state solution, and analyze the relaxation to steady state by calculating the corresponding accumulation time. In particular, we show that the first two moments of the stopping local time density have to be finite.
Speculative Aesthetic Expressivism
Authors: Robson Jon , Sinclair Neil
Published: September 2022

In this paper we sketch a new version of aesthetic expressivism. We argue that one advantage of this view is that it explains various putative norms on the formation and revision of aesthetic judgement. We begin by setting out our proposed explananda and a sense in which they can be understood as governing the correct response to putative higher-order evidence in aesthetics. We then summarise some existing discussions of expressivist attempts to explain these norms, and objections raised to them. This will allow us to identify the pitfalls that a good expressivist explanation needs to avoid. Finally, we sketch our preferred version of aesthetic expressivism which includes as a crucial part a hypothesis concerning the distinctive expressive function of aesthetic practice. We then consider how this theory can explain the putative aesthetic norms whilst avoiding the previous objections.
The Added Value of Pharmacotherapy to Cognitive Behavior Therapy And Vice Versa in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: van Amsterdam Jan , Blanken Peter , Spijkerman Renske , van den Brink Wim , Hendriks Vincent
Published: September 2022

Aim

To explore whether combined interventions i.e. psychotherapeutic plus psychosocial interventions are more effective than monotherapies in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Methods

Systematic review of the results of randomized controlled trials that compared combined therapies with monotherapies (either pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy).

Results

The search resulted in 28 eligible studies. Data from these RCTs showed that 10 out of 19 RCTs (53%) demonstrated an added value of combined therapy (psychotherapy + pharmacotherapy) compared to psychotherapy only, whereas only three out of nine RCTs (33%) comparing combined therapy with pharmacotherapy showed a possible added value for combined therapy.

Conclusions

Pharmacotherapy is effective to treat AUD with or without psychotherapy and that psychotherapy can best be offered in combination with pharmacotherapy.
Seed size effects on plant establishment under low atmospheric CO2, with implications for seed size evolution
Authors: McCann Honour C , Sage Rowan F
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims

Low atmospheric CO2 concentration depresses photosynthesis and resource use efficiency, and therefore can inhibit phases of the life cycle such as seedling establishment. Seed reserves can compensate for photosynthetic inhibition by accelerating seedling growth. We therefore hypothesize that seedlings arising from large seeds show less inhibition from low atmospheric CO2 than young plants from small seeds. Seed size effects on seedling responses to low CO2 may also be enhanced in warm environments, due to greater photorespiration at high temperature.

Methods

Phaseolus and Vigna seeds differing in mass by over two orders of magnitude were planted and grown for 14 d in growth chambers with CO2 concentrations of 370, 180 or 100 ppm, in thermal regimes of 25 °C/19 °C, 30 °C/24 °C or 35 °C/29 °C (day/night). We measured leaf area expansion, shoot growth and mortality of the seedlings arising from the variously sized seeds at 14 days after planting (14 DAP).

Key Results

Relative to small-seeded plants, large-seeded genotypes produced greater leaf area and shoot mass at 14 DAP across the range of CO2 treatments in the 25 °C/19 °C and 30 °C/24 °C regimes, and at 100 ppm in the 35 °C/29 °C treatment. The proportional decline in leaf area and seed mass with CO2 reduction was generally greater for seedlings arising from small than from large seeds. Reductions in leaf area due to CO2 reduction increased in the warmer temperature treatments. In the 35 °C/19 °C treatment at 100 ppm CO2, seedling mortality was greater in small- than in large-seeded genotypes, and the small-seeded genotypes were unable to exit the seedling stage by the end of the experiment.

Conclusions

The results support a hypothesis that seedlings from large seeds grow and establish better than seedlings from small seeds in warm, low CO2 environments. During low CO2 episodes in Earth’s history, such as the past 30 million years, large seeds may have been favoured by natural selection in warm environments. With the recent rise in atmospheric CO2 due to human activities, trade-offs between seed size and number may already be affected, such that seed size today may be non-optimal in their natural habitats.
Resolution, conflict and rate shifts: insights from a densely sampled plastome phylogeny forRhododendron(Ericaceae)
Authors: Mo Zhi-Qiong , Fu Chao-Nan , Zhu Ming-Shu , Milne Richard I , Yang Jun-Bo , Cai Jie , Qin Han-Tao , Zheng Wei , Hollingsworth Peter M , Li De-Zhu , Gao Lian-Ming
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims

Rhododendron is a species-rich and taxonomically challenging genus due to recent adaptive radiation and frequent hybridization. A well-resolved phylogenetic tree would help to understand the diverse history of Rhododendron in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains where the genus is most diverse.

Methods

We reconstructed the phylogeny based on plastid genomes with broad taxon sampling, covering 161 species representing all eight subgenera and all 12 sections, including ~45 % of the Rhododendron species native to the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains. We compared this phylogeny with nuclear phylogenies to elucidate reticulate evolutionary events and clarify relationships at all levels within the genus. We also estimated the timing and diversification history of Rhododendron, especially the two species-rich subgenera Rhododendron and Hymenanthes that comprise >90 % of Rhododendron species in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains.

Key Results

The full plastid dataset produced a well-resolved and supported phylogeny of Rhododendron. We identified 13 clades that were almost always monophyletic across all published phylogenies. The conflicts between nuclear and plastid phylogenies suggested strongly that reticulation events may have occurred in the deep lineage history of the genus. Within Rhododendron, subgenus Therorhodion diverged first at 56 Mya, then a burst of diversification occurred from 23.8 to 17.6 Mya, generating ten lineages among the component 12 clades of core Rhododendron. Diversification in subgenus Rhododendron accelerated c. 16.6 Mya and then became fairly continuous. Conversely, Hymenanthes diversification was slow at first, then accelerated very rapidly around 5 Mya. In the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains, subgenus Rhododendron contained one major clade adapted to high altitudes and another to low altitudes, whereas most clades in Hymenanthes contained both low- and high-altitude species, indicating greater ecological plasticity during its diversification.

Conclusions

The 13 clades proposed here may help to identify specific ancient hybridization events. This study will help to establish a stable and reliable taxonomic framework for Rhododendron, and provides insight into what drove its diversification and ecological adaption. Denser sampling of taxa, examining both organelle and nuclear genomes, is needed to better understand the divergence and diversification history of Rhododendron.
Profile of Embedded Validity Indicators in Criminal Defendants with Verified Valid Neuropsychological Test Performance
Authors: Finley John-Christopher A , Brook Michael , Kern Daniel M , Reilly James L , Hanlon Robert E
Published: September 2022

Objective

Few studies have examined the use of embedded validity indicators (EVIs) in criminal-forensic practice settings, where judgements regarding performance validity can carry severe consequences for the individual and society. This study sought to examine how various EVIs perform in criminal defendant populations, and determine relationships between EVI scores and intrapersonal variables thought to influence performance validity.

Method

Performance on 16 empirically established EVI cutoffs were examined in a sample of 164 criminal defendants with valid performance who were referred for forensic neuropsychological evaluation. Subsequent analyses examined the relationship between EVI scores and intrapersonal variables in 83 of these defendants.

Results

Half of the EVIs (within the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Digit Span Total, Conners’ Continuous Performance Test Commissions, Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory I and II, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Trail Making Test Part B, and Stroop Word and Color) performed as intended in this sample. The EVIs that did not perform as intended were significantly influenced by relevant intrapersonal variables, including below-average intellectual functioning and history of moderate–severe traumatic brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorder.

Conclusions

This study identifies multiple EVIs appropriate for use in criminal-forensic settings. However, based on these findings, practitioners may wish to be selective in choosing and interpreting EVIs for forensic evaluations of criminal court defendants.
metaLINCS: an R package for meta-level analysis of LINCS L1000 drug signatures using stratified connectivity mapping
Authors: Kwee Ivo , Martinelli Axel , Khayal Layal Abo , Akhmedov Murodzhon
Published: September 2022

Accessing the collection of perturbed gene expression profiles, such as the LINCS L1000 connectivity map, is usually performed at the individual dataset level, followed by a summary performed by counting individual hits for each perturbagen. With the metaLINCS R package, we present an alternative approach that combines rank correlation and gene set enrichment analysis to identify meta-level enrichment at the perturbagen level and, in the case of drugs, at the mechanism of action level. This significantly simplifies the interpretation and highlights overarching themes in the data. We demonstrate the functionality of the package and compare its performance against those of three currently used approaches.

Availability and implementation

metaLINCS is released under GPL3 license. Source code and documentation are freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/bigomics/metaLINCS).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
ASTRAL-Pro 2: ultrafast species tree reconstruction from multi-copy gene family trees
Authors: Zhang Chao , Mirarab Siavash
Published: September 2022

Motivation

Species tree inference from multi-copy gene trees has long been a challenge in phylogenomics. The recent method ASTRAL-Pro has made strides by enabling multi-copy gene family trees as input and has been quickly adopted. Yet, its scalability, especially memory usage, needs to improve to accommodate the ever-growing dataset size.

Results

We present ASTRAL-Pro 2, an ultrafast and memory efficient version of ASTRAL-Pro that adopts a placement-based optimization algorithm for significantly better scalability without sacrificing accuracy.

Availability and implementation

The source code and binary files are publicly available at https://github.com/chaoszhang/ASTER; data are available at https://github.com/chaoszhang/A-Pro2_data.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Better Bang for the Buck? Generalizing Trust in Online Drug Markets
Authors: Munksgaard Rasmus , Ferris Jason A , Winstock Adam , Maier Larissa J , Barratt Monica J
Published: September 2022

Past research into illicit online markets suggests that trust is produced by governance, reputation systems and the formation of social ties. In this paper, we draw on accounts of abstract and institutional trust, examining whether using a market is associated with general positive beliefs about product quality. Using data from the 2018 Global Drug Survey (n = 25,471) we utilize propensity score matching and multilevel linear regression to examine the association between having purchased drugs online and general expectations about product quality in value, weight, purity and price. We find strong evidence of a positive association between general beliefs and individual experience. This suggests that trust in illicit online markets can extend beyond interpersonal relations and towards an abstract market.
Empathetic Attuning: ‘How Would I Feel If I Had to Expose Myself All the Time?’—Strategies for Managing Personal and Intimate Care in Swedish Formal Home Care
Authors: Andersson Katarina , Lövgren Veronica , Ahnlund Petra , Kalman Hildur
Published: September 2022

Sweden, as a welfare state, has a long tradition of providing formal home care and support to their citizens in their own homes, either through home care services or personal assistance. A large percentage of frail elderly and persons with disability who receive formal home care require personal and intimate care, such as help with eating, showering, getting dressed and personal hygiene. Managing intimacy and safeguarding the care recipient’s integrity pose particular challenges for staff. The aim of this qualitative interview study is to describe and analyse care workers’ (CWs) and personal assistants’ (PAs) strategies for managing situations and challenges related to provision of personal and intimate care in the context of formal home care. Semi-structured interviews with eleven CWs and nine PAs were conducted. Our analysis reveals a complex repertoire of relational and communicative strategies, within an overall approach—which we labelled ‘empathetic attuning’—of relating to the current situation and task at hand whilst safeguarding integrity. These strategies were intertwined with dimensions of time. The possibility to accomplish satisfactory personal and intimate care rests on structural and organisational conditions that promote sustainable working conditions, where relations characterised by continuity, integrity and respect can be realised.
Impact of Social and Personal Factors on Psychological Distress in the Spanish Population in the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Dorado Barbé Ana Isabel , Pérez Viejo Jesús Manuel , Brea Iglesias Juan , López Pérez Jorge
Published: September 2022

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis has had an unprecedented impact on Spanish society regarding health and social issues. The purpose of this study is to analyse the potential relationship that may exist between social and personal factors and the levels of psychological distress experienced by the Spanish population during lockdown. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an ad hoc online questionnaire consisting of forty-three questions. The survey was administered to a sample of 3,436 people that were living in Spain during the second extension of the State of Alarm. A linear mixed model with random intersection has been used. Our findings demonstrate the intersectional vulnerability of young women and the impact different factors such as a COVID-19 diagnosis, experiencing symptoms compatible with COVID, an existing disability, a previous illness or solitary confinement may have on psychological distress levels. Conversely, higher resilience levels have shown a correlation with lower psychological distress levels.
The use of plasma biomarker-derived clusters for clinicopathologic phenotyping: results from the Boston Kidney Biopsy Cohort
Authors: Schmidt Insa M , Myrick Steele , Liu Jing , Verma Ashish , Srivastava Anand , Palsson Ragnar , Onul Ingrid F , Stillman Isaac E , Avillach Claire , Patil Prasad , Waikar Sushrut S
Published: September 2022

Background

Protein biomarkers may provide insight into kidney disease pathology but their use for the identification of phenotypically distinct kidney diseases has not been evaluated.

Methods

We used unsupervised hierarchical clustering on 225 plasma biomarkers in 541 individuals enrolled into the Boston Kidney Biopsy Cohort, a prospective cohort study of individuals undergoing kidney biopsy with adjudicated histopathology. Using principal component analysis, we studied biomarker levels by cluster and examined differences in clinicopathologic diagnoses and histopathologic lesions across clusters. Cox proportional hazards models tested associations of clusters with kidney failure and death.

Results

We identified three biomarker-derived clusters. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 72.9 ± 28.7, 72.9 ± 33.4 and 39.9 ± 30.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 in Clusters 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The top-contributing biomarker in Cluster 1 was AXIN, a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. The top-contributing biomarker in Clusters 2 and 3 was Placental Growth Factor, a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family. Compared with Cluster 1, individuals in Cluster 3 were more likely to have tubulointerstitial disease (P < .001) and diabetic kidney disease (P < .001) and had more severe mesangial expansion [odds ratio (OR) 2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29, 4.64] and inflammation in the fibrosed interstitium (OR 2.49 95% CI 1.02, 6.10). After multivariable adjustment, Cluster 3 was associated with higher risks of kidney failure (hazard ratio 3.29, 95% CI 1.37, 7.90) compared with Cluster 1.

Conclusion

Plasma biomarkers may identify clusters of individuals with kidney disease that associate with different clinicopathologic diagnoses, histopathologic lesions and adverse outcomes, and may uncover biomarker candidates and relevant pathways for further study.
A Novel Construction Of Certificateless Aggregate Signature Scheme For Healthcare Wireless Medical Sensor Networks
Authors: Qiao Zirui , Yang Qiliang , Zhou Yanwei , Yang Bo , Zhang Mingwu
Published: September 2022

To ensure privacy and security of healthcare wireless medical sensor networks (HWMSNs), several concrete constructions of efficient certificateless aggregate signature (CLAS) scheme without bilinear pairing were proposed in the last few years. However, many previous constructions of CLAS scheme were found to be impractical, which either fail to meet the claimed security or contain design flaws. For example, in some of the previous proposals, any adversary can forge a valid signature on any new message. In this paper, we first demonstrate some security issues and design flaws in the previous proposals of CLAS scheme. As follows, to further address the above deficiencies, a new construction of CLAS scheme with improved security is presented, and the formal security proof is given using Forking Lemma in the random oracle model, assuming that the discrete logarithm problem is hard. Compared with the previous CLAS schemes, our construction has similar computational costs, and it provides better security guarantees. Therefore, compared with the existing solutions, our proposal with strong security and high computational efficiency is more suitable for use in HWMSNs.
Robust Image Hashing Combining 3D Space Contour and Vector Angle Features
Authors: Liu Shuai , Zhao Yan
Published: September 2022

In this paper, an image hashing scheme combining 3D space contour (TDSC) features with vector angle (VA) features is proposed. The proposed algorithm extracts the 3D contours of the local component variation features of the image and the expression changes of the local component of the image in the form of a 3D VA to improve the performance. First, the gray component of the color image is used to construct a 3D space and the contour change features of the local component of the gray image are extracted using multi-perspectives. Then, the opposite color component and the brightness component Y of the YCbCr color space are extracted from the input image. The angular features of several image components are, respectively, extracted in the 3D space. Finally, the TDSC features are combined with the VA features to obtain image hashing. The simulations demonstrate and validate that the proposed image hashing scheme not only has better classification performance compared with the other image hashing techniques but is also equipped with the performance of tamper localization.
Signed and unsigned partial information decompositions of continuous network interactions
Authors: Milzman Jesse , Lyzinski Vince
Published: September 2022

We investigate the partial information decomposition (PID) framework as a tool for edge nomination. We consider both the $I_{\cap}^{\text{min}}$ and $I_{\cap}^{\text{PM}}$ PIDs, from Williams & Beer (2010, Nonnegative decomposition of multivariate information, CoRR, arXiv:2106.12393) and Finn & Lizier (2018, Entropy, 20, 297), respectively, and we both numerically and analytically investigate the utility of these frameworks for discovering significant edge interactions. In the course of our work, we extend both the $I_{\cap}^{\text{min}}$ and $I_{\cap}^{\text{PM}}$ PIDs to a general class of continuous trivariate systems. Moreover, we examine how each PID apportions information into redundant, synergistic and unique information atoms within the source-bivariate PID framework. Both our simulation experiments and analytic inquiry indicate that the atoms of the $I_{\cap}^{\text{PM}}$ PID have a non-specific sensitivity to high predictor-target mutual information, regardless of whether or not the predictors are truly interacting. By contrast, the $I_{\cap}^{\text{min}}$ PID is quite specific, although simulations suggest that it lacks sensitivity.
The illogic of plausible deniability: why proxy conflict in cyberspace may no longer pay
Authors: Canfil Justin Key
Published: September 2022

Cyber proxies—whether mercenaries, patriotic zealots, pranksters, or simply allies of convenience—are thought to be widespread. By outsourcing to proxies, this logic goes, a host government can plausibly deny its involvement in operations that advance its military and foreign policy aims. This presents central challenge to empirical researchers. If the value of proxies derives from their deniability, this same quality should mean that implausibly deniable types—the types sponsors supposedly wish to avoid—receive disproportionate attention in data and discourse. Accordingly, proxy activity appears to have flagged across several widely used datasets, depending on how the data are parsed. Do proxies still pay? A formal model is used to hypothesize about how new norms of attribution (specifically, the willingness of victims to make accusations on the basis of circumstantial evidence) can encourage capable states to insource more than they outsource. In the model, victims have the power to decide whether denials are plausible. “Usual suspects” who learn that they will take the heat regardless have fewer incentives to rely on proxies. Empirical evidence on insourcing patterns offers backdoor support for this proposition. The findings should decrease our confidence in plausible deniability as a logic for why states outsource to proxies. The paper joins an emerging body of research that has questioned the role of plausible deniability in covert action, including cyber conflict.
Longitudinal Models of Reading and Mathematics Achievement in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Authors: Cawthon Stephanie W , Barker Elizabeth , Daniel Johny , Cooc North , Vielma Ana G
Published: September 2022

Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students often experience systemic barriers to academic success, especially low expectations of what they know and can do. Longitudinal data analysis is critical to understanding how academic achievement for DHH students progresses over time and where they may need additional support on their academic journey to achieve at the level of their hearing peers. This study provides an analysis of NWEA MAP® Growth™ data from grades 2 to 8 across seven reading and mathematics domains over a period of 5 years. Results indicate that both DHH and hearing students continue to build skills through this period, and that DHH students, contrary to many previously held assumptions, do not necessarily plateau in the elementary grades.
Trading Favours through the Revolving Door: Evidence from China’s Primary Land Market*
Authors: Chen Ting , Han Li , Kung James , Xie Jiaxin
Published: September 2022

By matching data on land transactions in China’s primary land market with detailed curricula vitae of board directors in publicly listed firms, we identify a pattern of ‘revolving-door’ exchanges between local officials and firms. The officials discounted the price of land that they sold to the said firms, and were subsequently rewarded with board appointments upon retirement. Specifically, these ‘client officials’ are three times as likely to be recruited by the ‘patron firms’ as board directors and enjoy a salary that is 23% higher, and 81% more company shares by comparison with directors who did not help firms to secure cheap land deals. All of these, however, are conditional on patron firms being able to receive a price discount, which averaged 19.4% when they purchased them in normal times. However, when client officials were constrained from providing a price discount during a surprise audit, the likelihood of client officials recruited as board directors was halved, with the price discount and extra compensation received by the patrons and clients, respectively, vanishing altogether. By providing evidence of the reciprocal benefits received by both parties, we demonstrate that the revolving door is used as a ‘payment’ rather than a ‘connection’ device in the Chinese context.
The Emperor’s Geography—City Locations, Nature and Institutional Optimisation
Authors: Düben Christian , Krause Melanie
Published: September 2022

The emergence of cities in specific locations depends on both geographical features (such as elevation and proximity to rivers) and institutional factors (such as centrality within an administrative region). In this paper, we analyse the importance of these factors at different levels of the urban hierarchy. To do so, we exploit a unique data set on the locations of cities of different status in imperial China from 221 BCE to 1911 CE, a geographically diverse empire with a long history of centralised rule. Developing a stylised theoretical model, we combine econometrics with machine learning techniques. Our results suggest that the higher a city is in the urban hierarchy, the less important are local geographical features compared to institutional factors. At the lower end of the scale, market towns without government responsibilities are most strongly shaped by geographical characteristics. We also find evidence that many cities of political importance in imperial times still enjoy a special status nowadays, underlining the modern relevance of these historical factors.
Must Agreements Be Kept? Residential Leases During Covid-19*
Authors: Ater Itai , Elster Yael , Genesove David , Hoffmann Eran B
Published: September 2022

We study residential lease payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of Israeli renters shows that nearly one in eight did not pay full rent during the first lockdown in March–April 2020. These households held back two-thirds of their contractually due rent on average. Financially fragile households with large income cuts withheld a greater share. Both formal and relational aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship affected payments: tenants paid more of their rent if their leases included formal provisions against non-payment, and less if they had strong relationships with their landlords. We use bargaining and relational contract theories to explain our findings.
In Defence of the ‘Halt and Repel’ Formula? A Reply to Yishai Beer
Authors: Ruys Tom
Published: September 2022

In ‘When Should a Lawful War of Self-Defence End?’, Yishai Beer zooms in on the scenario where a state engaged in an act of aggression subsequently retreats from the victim state’s territory. In particular, Beer challenges the idea that such behaviour terminates the victim state’s right of self-defence since the key to ending a war should not be left to the aggressor. While the article is a welcome and thought-provoking addition to the debate, this reply questions the wisdom of abandoning the default ‘halt-and-repel’ approach to the termination of self-defence.
The impact of face-mask mandates on all-cause mortality in Switzerland: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: De Giorgi Giacomo , Geldsetzer Pascal , Michalik Felix , Speziali M Maddalena
Published: September 2022

Background

Whereas there is strong evidence that wearing a face mask is effective in reducing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), evidence on the impact of mandating the wearing of face masks on deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and all-cause mortality is more sparse and likely to vary by context. Focusing on a quasi-experimental setting in Switzerland, we aimed to determine (i) the effect of face-mask mandates for indoor public spaces on all-cause mortality; and (ii) how the effect has varied over time, and by age and sex.

Methods

Our analysis exploited the fact that between July and October 2020, nine cantons in Switzerland extended a face-mask mandate at different time points from being restricted to public transportation only to applying to all public indoor places. We used both a Difference-in-Differences approach with fixed-effects for canton and week and an event-study approach.

Results

In our main Difference-in-Differences model, the face-mask mandate was associated with a 0.3% reduction in all-cause mortality [95% confidence interval (CI): −3.4% to 2.7%; P = 0.818]. This null effect was confirmed in the event-study approach and a variety of robustness checks. Combining the face-mask mandate with social distancing rules led to an estimated 5.1% (95% CI: −7.9% to −2.4%; P = 0.001) reduction in all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Mandating face-mask use in public indoor spaces in Switzerland in mid-to-late 2020 does not appear to have resulted in large reductions in all-cause mortality in the short term. There is some suggestion that combining face-mask mandates with social distancing rules reduced all-cause mortality.
Being the Alice of academia: lessons from the Red Queen hypothesis
Authors: Negatu S G , Arreguin M C , Jurado K A , Vazquez C
Published: September 2022

Viruses and hosts must navigate environments in which each tries to outcompete the other for survival or to coexist within the same spaces. In Lewis Carrol’s Through the Looking Glass, the Red Queen tells Alice, “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!” Borrowing from this idea, the Red Queen hypothesis asserts that organisms, such as viruses, must continuously adapt to environmental pressures to survive. In this commentary, we draw parallels between the Red Queen hypothesis and the experiences scientists of color navigate to thrive in academic spaces. In both phenomena, adapting to environmental pressures is necessary for survival. We identify the various pressures and bottlenecks faced by historically underrepresented groups in academia, as well as the adaptation strategies they must implement to persist in academia.
Adaptation of the yeast gene knockout collection is near-perfectly predicted by fitness and diminishing return epistasis
Authors: Persson Karl , Stenberg Simon , Tamás Markus J , Warringer Jonas
Published: September 2022

Adaptive evolution of clonally dividing cells and microbes is the ultimate cause of cancer and infectious diseases. The possibility of constraining the adaptation of cell populations, by inhibiting proteins enhancing the evolvability, has therefore attracted interest. However, our current understanding of how genes influence adaptation kinetics is limited, partly because accurately measuring adaptation for many cell populations is challenging. We used a high-throughput adaptive laboratory evolution platform to track the adaptation of >18,000 cell populations corresponding to single-gene deletion strains in the haploid yeast deletion collection. We report that the preadaptation fitness of gene knockouts near-perfectly (R2= 0.91) predicts their adaptation to arsenic, leaving at the most a marginal role for dedicated evolvability gene functions. We tracked the adaptation of another >23,000 gene knockout populations to a diverse range of selection pressures and generalized the almost perfect (R2=0.72–0.98) capacity of preadaptation fitness to predict adaptation. We also reconstructed mutations in FPS1, ASK10, and ARR3, which together account for almost all arsenic adaptation in wild-type cells, in gene deletions covering a broad fitness range and show that the predictability of arsenic adaptation can be understood as a by global epistasis, where excluding arsenic is more beneficial to arsenic unfit cells. The paucity of genes with a meaningful evolvability effect on adaptation diminishes the prospects of developing adjuvant drugs aiming to slow antimicrobial and chemotherapy resistance.
Comparative genomics reveals putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation in the American pika (Ochotona princeps)
Authors: Sjodin Bryson M F , Russello Michael A
Published: September 2022

High-elevation environments have lower atmospheric oxygen content, reduced temperatures, and higher levels of UV radiation than found at lower elevations. As such, species living at high elevations must overcome these challenges to survive, grow, and reproduce. American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are alpine lagomorphs that are habitat specialists typically found at elevations >2,000 m. Previous research has shown putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation; however, investigations to date have been limited to a fraction of the genome. Here, we took a comparative genomics approach to identify putative regions under selection using a chromosomal reference genome assembly for the American pika relative to 8 other mammalian species targeted based on phylogenetic relatedness and (dis)similarity in ecology. We first identified orthologous gene groups across species and then extracted groups containing only American pika genes as well as unclustered pika genes to inform functional enrichment analyses; among these, we found 141 enriched terms with many related to hypoxia, metabolism, mitochondrial function/development, and DNA repair. We identified 15 significantly expanded gene families within the American pika across all orthologous gene groups that displayed functionally enriched terms associated with hypoxia adaptation. We further detected 196 positively selected genes, 41 of which have been associated with putative adaptation to hypoxia, cold tolerance, and response to UV following a literature review. In particular, OXNAD1, NRDC, and those genes critical in DNA repair represent important targets for future research to examine their functional implications in the American pika, especially as they may relate to adaptation to rapidly changing environments.
Continuity of Care Among Postmenopausal Women With Cardiometabolic Diseases in the United States Early During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the Women’s Health Initiative
Authors: Wong Eugenia , Franceschini Nora , Tinker Lesley F , Wise Thomas Sherrie , Manson JoAnn E , Saquib Nazmus , Liu Simin , Vitolins Mara , Mouton Charles P , Pettinger Mary , Gillette Chris
Published: September 2022

Background

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures, including stay-at-home orders, were widely instituted in the United States by March 2020. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of these measures on continuity of care among older adults living with chronic diseases.

Methods

Beginning in June 2020, participants of the national Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) (N = 64 061) were surveyed on the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of their health and well-being since March 2020, including access to care appointments, medications, and caregivers. Responses received by November 2020 (response rate = 77.6%) were tabulated and stratified by prevalent chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Results

Among 49 695 respondents (mean age = 83.6 years), 70.2% had a history of hypertension, 21.8% had diabetes, and 18.9% had CVD. Half of the respondents reported being very concerned about the pandemic, and 24.5% decided against seeking medical care to avoid COVID-19 exposure. A quarter reported difficulties with getting routine care, and 45.5% had in-person appointments converted to telemedicine formats; many reported canceled (27.8%) or rescheduled (37.7%) appointments. Among those taking prescribed medication (88.0%), 9.7% reported changing their method of obtaining medications. Those living with and without chronic diseases generally reported similar changes in care and medication access.

Conclusions

Early in the pandemic, many older women avoided medical care or adapted to new ways of receiving care and medications. Therefore, optimizing alternative services, like telemedicine, should be prioritized to ensure that older women continue to receive quality care during public health emergencies.
Pulmonary Function Trajectories Preceding Death Among Older Adults: A Long-Term Community-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Jiao , Guo Jie , Dove Abigail , Yang Wenzhe , Li Xuerui , Qi Xiuying , Bennett David A , Xu Weili
Published: September 2022

Background

Poor pulmonary function (PF) has been linked to mortality, but the timing of PF changes before death remains unclear. We aimed to examine the association between PF and mortality and identify different PF trajectories precedes death.

Methods

Within the Rush Memory and Aging Project, 1 438 participants without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were followed for up to 22 years. PF was assessed annually using a composite score (tertiled as low, medium, and high) based on forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Survival status was observed during the follow-up period. Data were analyzed using Cox regression, Laplace regression, and mixed-effect models.

Results

During the follow-up, 737 (51.25%) participants died. Compared to high PF, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of mortality was 1.35 (1.05, 1.72)/1.63 (1.25, 2.12) for medium/low PF. The median survival time (95% CI) was shortened by 0.80 (0.01–1.61)/1.72 (0.43–3.01) years for participants with medium/low PF, compared to high PF. In multiadjusted trajectory analysis, the significant differences between decedents and survivors occurred at 7 years before death for composite PF (mean difference [95% CI]: 0.14 [0.02–0.25]), 6 years for FEV1 (0.21 [0.08–0.33]) and FVC (0.21 [0.08–0.34]), and 8 years for PEF (0.21 [0.06–0.37]), and became greater thereafter.

Conclusion

Poor PF is associated with elevated mortality and shortens survival for nearly 2 years. An acceleration in PF decline tends to occur 7 years before death. Poor PF, together with its decline, might be a predictor of mortality among community-dwelling older adults.