bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semiparametric Factor Analysis for Item-Level Response Time Data
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Weimeng
Published: January 2022

Item-level response time (RT) data can be conveniently collected from computer-based test/survey delivery platforms and have been demonstrated to bear a close relation to a miscellany of cognitive processes and test-taking behaviors. Individual differences in general processing speed can be inferred from item-level RT data using factor analysis. Conventional linear normal factor models make strong parametric assumptions, which sacrifices modeling flexibility for interpretability, and thus are not ideal for describing complex associations between observed RT and the latent speed. In this paper, we propose a semiparametric factor model with minimal parametric assumptions. Specifically, we adopt a functional analysis of variance representation for the log conditional densities of the manifest variables, in which the main effect and interaction functions are approximated by cubic splines. Penalized maximum likelihood estimation of the spline coefficients can be performed by an Expectation-Maximization algorithm, and the penalty weight can be empirically determined by cross-validation. In a simulation study, we compare the semiparametric model with incorrectly and correctly specified parametric factor models with regard to the recovery of data generating mechanism. A real data example is also presented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method.
The Effect of Hyperoxemia on Neurological Outcomes of Adult Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hirunpattarasilp Chanawee , Shiina Hiroko , Na-Ek Nat , Attwell David
Published: January 2022

Hyperoxemia commonly occurs in clinical practice and is often left untreated. Many studies have shown increased mortality in patients with hyperoxemia, but data on neurological outcome in these patients are conflicting, despite worsened neurological outcome found in preclinical studies. To investigate the association between hyperoxemia and neurological outcome in adult patients, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to May 2020 for observational studies correlating arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) with neurological status in adults hospitalized with acute conditions. Studies of chronic pulmonary disease or hyperbaric oxygenation were excluded. Relative risks (RRs) were pooled at the study level by using a random-effects model to compare the risk of poor neurological outcome in patients with hyperoxemia and patients without hyperoxemia. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses and assessments of publication bias and risk of bias were performed. Maximum and mean PaO2 in patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes were compared using standardized mean difference (SMD). Of 6255 records screened, 32 studies were analyzed. Overall, hyperoxemia was significantly associated with an increased risk of poor neurological outcome (RR 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.23, statistical heterogeneity I2 58.8%, 22 studies). The results were robust across sensitivity analyses. Patients with unfavorable outcome also showed a significantly higher maximum PaO2 (SMD 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.30, I2 78.4%, 15 studies) and mean PaO2 (SMD 0.25, 95% CI 0.04–0.45, I2 91.0%, 13 studies). These associations were pronounced in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.14–1.56) and ischemic stroke (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.14–1.74), but not in patients with cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, or following cardiopulmonary bypass. Hyperoxemia is associated with poor neurological outcome, especially in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and ischemic stroke. Although our study cannot establish causality, PaO2 should be monitored closely because hyperoxemia may be associated with worsened patient outcome and consequently affect the patient’s quality of life.
Talent detection—importance of the will and the ability when starting a sport activity
Authors: Spies Fabienne , Schauer Leonie , Bindel Tim , Pfeiffer Mark
Published: January 2022

The early identification of sports talents includes finding the right sport and is of great importance for both scientists and practitioners. In this article, special attention will be paid to the entry into sports in general as a basis of a talent development process. Sport-specific evidence from a variety of talent development models will be listed and research gaps will be identified. For this purpose, this article refers to a model that can be classified as both process and structure oriented and tries to find domain-specific application. A framework is presented as a research approach in which the different scientific disciplines can bring together their subject areas. This enables so-called ability–personality profiles consisting individual constellations of motivation variables, interests, skills, and experience to be studied together and incorporated into the talent development process. The arrangement of movement offers should be oriented to the individual profiles. At the same time, movement experiences can offer the basis for the formation of interests, motivation, and sport-motor skills, i.e., of the will and the ability. Taking the will into account as well as the ability could lead people to detect their own talent (based on contents of the presented framework) and the sport that is suitable for them, and thus be ready for the entry to the path of talent development.
Traffic Signal Control Parameter Calculation Using Probe Data
Authors: Yoshioka Toshiya , Sakakibara Hajime , Tenhagen Robin , Lorkowski Stefan , Oguchi Takashi
Published: January 2022

In signal control, which is one of the main functions of traffic control systems, appropriate signal control parameters are calculated based on the measurement data from vehicle detectors installed on the road. However, the installation and maintenance of vehicle detectors is costly, so realization of a signal control system that can reduce the number of vehicle detectors used while maintaining control level is required. In this paper, we propose a method to calculate signal control parameters without using measurement data from vehicle detectors using traffic information obtained from probe data.
Analysis of nonlinear effects in fluid flows through porous media
Authors: Zolotukhin A. B. , Gayubov A. T.
Published: January 2022

This article examines the nonlinear effects of fluid flow in a porous medium, governed by a new semi-analytical equation, from three aspects: equation derivation, experimental verification, and macroscale simulation modelling. The rigorous derivation of the new equation is presented with a semi-analytical approach in which the gas slippage effect and inertial forces are described. The latter effect is controlled by Fochheimer number, which is defined as a product of tortuosity and Reynolds number. The new equation successfully predicts the deviations from Darcy’s law in low-permeability media when the gas slippage effect occurs. The Klinkenberg gas slippage factor is obtained as a function of porous media’s structural parameter (porosity and intrinsic permeability) and gas property (mean free path of gas molecules). The equation validations are performed by core flow experiments for a wide range of reservoir properties, which yield good matching relationship between modelled and observed values. In addition, the proposed semi-analytical equation is used to simulate gas flow in the radial model.
Pflegevisite auf der Intensivstation: Patienten in den Mittelpunkt der Pflege rücken
Authors: Krüger Lars , Mannebach Thomas
Published: January 2022

Hintergrund

Seit über 20 Jahren wird in Deutschland zu Pflegevisiten (PV) im Krankenhaus berichtet. Zur PV auf der Intensivstation gibt es national bisher noch keine wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Primäres Ziel dieser Evaluationsstudie war zu untersuchen, ob es durch kollegial-beratende PV auf einer Intensivstation aus Sicht der Pflegenden zu einer Förderung der Patientenzentrierung kommt, und ob es einen Unterschied zwischen Pflegenden gibt, die an mindestens einer Visite praktisch teilgenommen haben, und solchen, die nicht teilgenommen haben. Sekundäre Ziele waren die Ermittlung von Optimierungspotenzialen bei der Durchführung der PV sowie weiterer Rahmenbedingungen und eine abschließende Bewertung zur PV.

Methode

Die Evaluationsstudie wurde im September 2017 als quantitative Vollerhebung (n = 69) mittels eines standardisierten Fragebogens durchgeführt. Zur Datenauswertung wurden Methoden der deskriptiven Statistik angewendet.

Ergebnisse

Mit einem Rücklauf von 63,8 % (n = 44) bestätigten die an der PV teilnehmenden Pflegenden mit 86,7 % (n = 26) und die nichtteilnehmenden Pflegenden mit 85,7 % (n = 12) eine Förderung der Patientenzentrierung. Es gaben 83,3 % (n = 25) der Teilnehmenden sowie 42,9 % (n = 6) der Nichtteilnehmenden an, dass pflegerische Maßnahmen optimierter an die Bedürfnisse der Patienten angepasst werden konnten. PV sollten wöchentlich stattfinden und wurden im Mittelwert mit 2,1 (SD = 1,1;n = 28) bewertet.

Schlussfolgerungen

PV auf der Intensivstation stellen aus Sicht der Pflegenden ein hilfreiches, praxisnahes Instrument dar, um die Patientenzentrierung sowie die weitere Versorgung zu optimieren.
Investor Capitalism, Sustainable Investment and the Role of Tax Relief
Authors: Katelouzou Dionysia , Micheler Eva
Published: January 2022

This contribution examines the connection between investor capitalism and sustainable investment. It will be observed in this article that investor capitalism has gone through a structural change. Individual investors have been replaced by funds. Financial service providers have emerged that assist investors in managing and holding investments. This development coincided and was arguably facilitated by the growth in workplace and personal pensions. Pensions are subsidised by the government through tax relief. This financial contribution of the government is justified on social policy grounds. But it has the effect that pension savers, who receive substantial return by saving tax, are deprived of a reason to take an interest in how their money is invested. This not only deprives the service providers assisting pension savers from oversight from their ultimate customers. It also can help to explain why pension savers do not actively select investment products but rely on the default settings suggested by their employers. If the government is serious about encouraging investor capitalism to bring about sustainable business it should start with its own financial contribution, which has coincided with the emergence of the current model of investor capitalism, and connect pension tax relief to sustainable investment practices.
A reconsideration of university gap funds for promoting biomedical entrepreneurship
Authors: Hall Everett G. , Krenning Thomas M. , Reardon Robert J. , Toker Emre , Kinch Michael S.
Published: January 2022

The last 50 years have seen an increasing dependence on academic institutions to develop and commercialize new biomedical innovations, a responsibility for which many universities are ill-equipped. To address this need, we created LEAP, an asset development and gap fund program at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). Beyond awarding funds to promising projects, this program aimed to promote a culture of academic entrepreneurship, and thus improve WUSTL technology transfer, by providing university inventors with individualized consulting and industry expert feedback. The purpose of this work is to document the structure of the LEAP program and evaluate its impact on the WUSTL entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our analysis utilizes program data, participant surveys, and WUSTL technology transfer office records to demonstrate that LEAP consistently attracted new investigators and that the training provided by the program was both impactful and highly valued by participants. We also show that an increase in annual WUSTL start-up formation during the years after LEAP was established and implicate the program in this increase. Taken together, our results illustrate that programs like LEAP could serve as a model for other institutions that seek to support academic entrepreneurship initiatives.
FebriDx host response point-of-care testing improves patient triage for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the emergency department
Authors: Mansbridge Christopher T. , Tanner Alex R. , Beard Kate R. , Borca Florina , Phan Hang T.T. , Brendish Nathan J. , Poole Stephen , Hill Christopher , Kiuber Michael , Crouch Robert , Waddington Daniel , Clark Tristan W.
Published: January 2022

Objectives:

Patients presenting to hospital with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on clinical symptoms, are routinely placed in a cohort together until polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results are available. This procedure leads to delays in transfers to definitive areas and high nosocomial transmission rates. FebriDx is a finger-prick point-of-care test (PoCT) that detects an antiviral host response and has a high negative predictive value for COVID-19. We sought to determine the clinical impact of using FebriDx for COVID-19 triage in the emergency department (ED).

Design:

We undertook a retrospective observational study evaluating the real-world clinical impact of FebriDx as part of an ED COVID-19 triage algorithm.

Setting:

Emergency department of a university teaching hospital.

Patients:

Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, placed in a cohort in a ‘high-risk’ area, were tested using FebriDx. Patients without a detectable antiviral host response were then moved to a lower-risk area.

Results:

Between September 22, 2020, and January 7, 2021, 1,321 patients were tested using FebriDx, and 1,104 (84%) did not have a detectable antiviral host response. Among 1,104 patients, 865 (78%) were moved to a lower-risk area within the ED. The median times spent in a high-risk area were 52 minutes (interquartile range [IQR], 34–92) for FebriDx-negative patients and 203 minutes (IQR, 142–255) for FebriDx-positive patients (difference of −134 minutes; 95% CI, −144 to −122; P < .0001). The negative predictive value of FebriDx for the identification of COVID-19 was 96% (661 of 690; 95% CI, 94%–97%).

Conclusions:

FebriDx improved the triage of patients with suspected COVID-19 and reduced the time that severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR-negative patients spent in a high-risk area alongside SARS-CoV-2–positive patients.
Overpromising Social Welfare Benefits? Electoral Competition and Welfare Politics in Taiwan
Authors: Shim Jaemin
Published: January 2022

Drawing insights from legislative, electoral and welfare studies, the article investigates whether and to what extent electoral competition affects incumbent politicians’ overpromising of social welfare benefits. For this, Taiwan is chosen as the case and the article examines the fate of elite-level social welfare legislative proposals in the period between 1992 and 2016. Findings drawn from quantitative bill sponsorship patterns demonstrate that political elites tend to propose failure-prone social welfare bills during election periods. Moreover, this tendency grew even more clearly in tandem with the rising levels of electoral democracy. The article argues that the overpromising of social welfare benefits is likely due to cognitive biases on the voter side allowing politicians to make promises without necessarily facing the negative consequences of under-delivery. The article contributes to the comparative welfare state literature by adding much-needed nuance to the existing debates on the relationship between democratic deepening, electoral competition, and the development of welfare politics.
A model for bubble dynamics in a protein solution
Authors: Zhong Xiaoxu , Ardekani Arezoo M.
Published: January 2022

This paper presents a model for bubble dynamics in a protein solution, including varying surface tension and dynamic adsorption/desorption of protein onto the bubble surface. We model the protein-coated bubble surface as a linear viscoelastic interface. Two cases are studied to understand the importance of the surface excess stress: (1) bubble dissolution in a protein solution due to gas diffusion; and (2) bubble response to an imposed fluctuating pressure field. In the first case study, the surface excess stress stabilizes the bubble against dissolution. Initially, the surface excess stress is negligible, and the dissolution rate is governed by the Weber number, which compares the gas inertial force and the surface tension force. As the bubble shrinks, the surface excess stress grows and eventually balances the surface tension. After that, the dissolution rate is governed by the protein desorption rate and the elasto-capillary number, which compares the surface tension and the surface dilatational elasticity. Our model predictions for the dissolution process agree with experiments before the bubble buckles. In the second case study, the surface dilatational viscosity and dilatational elasticity add resistance and stiffness to the system, respectively. Including the surface excess stress increases (or reduces) the amplitude of the bubble radius if the frequency of the imposed fluctuating pressure is greater (or less) than a critical value. These results highlight the importance of the surface rheology on the protein-coated bubble dynamics, which has applications in drug delivery and ultrasound contrast agents.
The sponge pump as a morphological character in the fossil record
Authors: Aragonés Suarez Pablo , Leys Sally P.
Published: January 2022

The timing of early animal evolution remains one of the biggest conundrums in biology. Molecular data suggest Porifera diverged from the metazoan lineage some 800 Ma to 650 Ma, which contrasts with the earliest widely accepted fossils of sponges at 535 Ma. However, the lack of criteria by which to recognize the earliest animals in the fossil record presents a challenge. The sponge body plan is unchanged since the early Cambrian, which makes a sponge-type animal a good candidate for the earliest fossils. Here we propose a method for identifying an organism as sponge grade by translating the sponge pump character into a quantifiable morphological trait. We show that the ratio between the two major components of the aquiferous system, the cross-sectional area of the osculum (OSA) and the surface area of the whole sponge (SA), is an effective metric of the pump character of extant sponges and that the slope of this ratio is distinct for three classes of Porifera: Demospongiae, Calcarea, and Hexactinellida. Furthermore, this metric is effective at distinguishing as sponges both extant taxa and fossils from two extremes of the Phanerozoic, the Cambrian and Paleogene. We tested this metric on the putative Ediacaran spongeThectardis avalonensisfrom Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, and foundThectardisfits both with Cambrian sponges and with modern demosponges. These analyses show that the OSA/SA ratio is a reliable character by which to identify fossils as sponge grade, opening up exciting possibilities for classifying new fossils as sponges.
Stationary solutions to the Keller–Segel equation on curved planes
Authors: Nagy Ákos
Published: January 2022

We study stationary solutions to the Keller–Segel equation on curved planes. We prove the necessity of the mass being $8 \pi$ and a sharp decay bound. Notably, our results do not require the solutions to have a finite second moment, and thus are novel already in the flat case. Furthermore, we provide a correspondence between stationary solutions to the static Keller–Segel equation on curved planes and positively curved Riemannian metrics on the sphere. We use this duality to show the nonexistence of solutions in certain situations. In particular, we show the existence of metrics, arbitrarily close to the flat one on the plane, that do not support stationary solutions to the static Keller–Segel equation (with any mass). Finally, as a complementary result, we prove a curved version of the logarithmic Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev inequality and use it to show that the Keller–Segel free energy is bounded from below exactly when the mass is $8 \pi$, even in the curved case.
Energy Requirements Undermine Substrate Independence and Mind-Body Functionalism
Authors: Thagard Paul
Published: January 2022

Substrate independence and mind-body functionalism claim that thinking does not depend on any particular kind of physical implementation. But real-world information processing depends on energy, and energy depends on material substrates. Biological evidence for these claims comes from ecology and neuroscience, while computational evidence comes from neuromorphic computing and deep learning. Attention to energy requirements undermines the use of substrate independence to support claims about the feasibility of artificial intelligence, the moral standing of robots, the possibility that we may be living in a computer simulation, the plausibility of transferring minds into computers, and the autonomy of psychology from neuroscience.
Does Neuroplasticity Support the Hypothesis of Multiple Realizability?
Authors: Maimon Amber , Hemmo Meir
Published: January 2022

It is commonly maintained that neuroplastic mechanisms in the brain provide empirical support for the hypothesis of multiple realizability. We show in various case studies that neuroplasticity stems from preexisting mechanisms and processes inherent in the neural (or biochemical) structure of the brain. We argue that not only does neuroplasticity fail to provide empirical evidence of multiple realization, its inability to do so strengthens the mind-body identity theory. Finally, we argue that a recently proposed identity theory called Flat Physicalism can be enlisted to explain the current state of the mind-body problem more adequately.
Islamic State's Terrorist Attacks Disengage Their Supporters: Robust Evidence from Twitter
Authors: Barceló Joan , Labzina Elena
Published: January 2022

This article responds to Hansen's (2022) comment on the use of social media data to evaluate the effects of terrorist attacks on related online behavior. Hansen casts doubts on our previous finding that terrorist attacks disengage supporters of terrorist groups. The author speculates that this result might not hold when considering the bias introduced by the timing of Twitter account suspensions. We contend that this critique is deficient in several respects. First, Hansen speculates about a possible bias, yet no empirical evidence is offered to support this claim. Second, the author largely ignores our discussion of the role of Twitter account suspensions and our measures of Twitter suspension efforts and Anonymous reporting activity to alleviate this concern. In this article, rather than engaging in a qualitative debate on the amount of bias, we make two contributions. First, we offer an empirical investigation of the fragility of our previous finding to the presence of omitted variable bias. Once we account for Twitter suspension activities, we find that an extreme, unlikely amount of confounding is required to alter the estimated effect of terrorist attacks on disengagement. Second, we employ sequential g-estimation to calculate the average controlled direct effect of terrorist attacks on disengagement after controlling for two intermediate confounders: Twitter suspension behavior and Anonymous reporting activities. The estimated average controlled direct effect indicates that Islamic State's terrorist attacks significantly reduced followers in Islamic State-related Twitter accounts after de-mediating this effect from Twitter suspension efforts and Anonymous reporting activities. Further, we show that this average controlled direct effect is robust to a massive, and implausible, violation of the sequential unconfoundedness assumption. Overall, these analyses show that the timing of Twitter account suspensions, as well as any other confounder, is extremely unlikely to alter our conclusion: Islamic State's terrorist attacks disengage their supporters. We conclude this article by offering guidance on how to address practical challenges in political science research using social media data.
The use of modified Montgomery T-tubes as frontal sinus stents: how I do it
Authors: Bandino F , Bates J , Qureishi A , Martinez-Devesa P
Published: January 2022

Background

Frontal sinus surgery is challenging as the frontal recess is prone to re-stenosis and there is subsequent occlusion of the frontal sinus outflow tract. In an attempt to maintain the frontal recess calibre and reduce frontal sinus re-stenosis, frontal sinus stents have been used with different materials and varying results.

Objective

This paper presents the technique of using a modified Montgomery T-tube as a frontal sinus stent.

Results and conclusion

The use of a soft, self-retaining and non-absorbable stent that can be used for stenting of the frontal sinus is described. Our technique is safe, effective, inexpensive and well tolerated.
Corporate Governance with Chinese Characteristics: Party Organization in State-owned Enterprises
Authors: Beck Kasper Ingeman , Brødsgaard Kjeld Erik
Published: January 2022

This article analyses the role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the corporate governance of Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including a case study of a central-level SOE holding group. Relying on official documents, secondary literature and interviews with enterprise managers, government officials and academics, the article documents how the CCP has actively formalized its role in Chinese business by embedding itself in the corporate governance structure of SOEs. Through the application of Chinese indigenous administrative corporate governance concepts such as “bidirectional entry, cross appointment” and “three majors, one big,” the CCP has consolidated its dominance of enterprise decision-making procedures and personnel appointment and created a hybrid, Party-led model of corporate governance. While this hybrid model can secure enterprise compliance, communication with higher state and Party organs, as well as long-term development planning, it is unlikely to help solve SOE efficiency problems and may even undermine other SOE reforms.
Supraventricular tachycardia associated with severe diabetic ketoacidosis in a child with new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shati Ayed A. , Al-Asmari Own J. , Alhayani Abdullah A. , Alqahtani Youssef A. , Alshehri Salem A. , Alhelali Ibrahim A.
Published: January 2022

Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the most serious and common complications of diabetes, with between 15 and 70% of new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus worldwide presented with diabetic ketoacidosis. Supraventricular tachycardia, however, is an infrequent complication of diabetic ketoacidosis. We present the case of a child with a new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus with supraventricular tachycardia as a complication of paediatric diabetic ketoacidosis. The patient received intravenous fluid resuscitation, insulin, and potassium supplementation and subsequently developed stable supraventricular tachycardia initially, confirmed on a 12-lead electrocardiogram despite a structurally normal heart and normal electrolytes. Vagal manoeuvers failed to achieve sinus rhythm. The patient went into respiratory distress and was intubated, for mechanical ventilation. She received one dose of adenosine with successful conversion to sinus rhythm and a heart rate decreased from 200 to 140 beats per minutes. We conclude that supraventricular tachycardia can occur as a complication of diabetic ketoacidosis, including in new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, a combination of acidosis, potassium derangement, falling magnesium, and phosphate levels may have precipitated the event. Here, we report a case of supraventricular tachycardia as a complication of paediatric diabetic ketoacidosis.
A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis of Drone Attacks
Authors: Barten Dennis G. , Tin Derrick , De Cauwer Harald , Ciottone Robert G. , Ciottone Gregory R.
Published: January 2022

Background:

The rapid popularization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs; also referred to as drones), in both the recreational and industrial sectors, has paved the way for rapid developments in drone capabilities. Although the threat of UAVs used by terrorists has been recognized by specialists in both Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM), there are limited data on the extent and characteristics of drone use by terrorist organizations.

Methods:

Data collection was performed using a retrospective database search through the Global Terrorism Database (GTD). The GTD was searched using the internal database search functions for all terrorist attacks using UAVs from January 1, 1970 - December 31, 2019. Years 2020 and 2021 were not yet available at the time of the study. Primary weapon type, number and type of UAVs used, related attacks, location (country, world region), and number of deaths and injuries were collated. Results were exported into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Corp.; Redmond, Washington USA) for analysis.

Results:

There were 76 terrorist attacks using UAVs. The first attack occurred in 2016, and the number of attacks per year varied considerably (range: 4-36). Forty-seven of the 76 attacks (70%) were successful. Twenty-seven individually listed events (36%) were related and part of nine coordinated, multi-part incidents. A total of 50 deaths and 132 injuries were recorded, which equated to 1.09 deaths (range: 0-6) and 2.89 injuries (range: 0-20) per successful attack. The mean number of UAVs used in an attack was 1.28 (range: 1-5) and multiple UAVs were used in 22% of attacks.

Conclusion:

The use of UAVs to carry out terrorist attacks is on the rise. Seventy-six terrorist attacks using this novel method were recorded since 2016, killing 50 and injuring 132 people. While the use of UAV-related explosives appears less lethal than traditional explosive attacks, advancing technologies and swarming capabilities, increasing ability to carry larger payloads, and the possibility of UAVs to disperse chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons will likely increase UAV lethality in the future, requiring CTM specialists be more proactive.
The challenge of making climate adaptation profitable for farmers: evidence from Sri Lanka's rice sector
Authors: Scognamillo Antonio , Sitko Nicholas , Bandara Sidath , Hewage Shantha , Munaweera Thilani , Kwon Jihae
Published: January 2022

Adapting agricultural systems to changes in seasonal precipitation is critical for the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. This paper presents evidence on the adoption drivers and the welfare impacts of agricultural strategies adopted by Sri Lankan rice farmers to adapt to low rainfall conditions. We estimate the causal impact of adopting different adaptive strategies across three different dimensions: (a) sensitivity to water stress, (b) household productivity, and (c) household livelihood conditions. The results highlight important trade-offs faced by farmers between reducing vulnerability to water stress and maximizing profitability and welfare outcomes. These findings are important for informing policies to support climate adaptation among smallholders, and to build and improve the climate resilience of Sri Lanka's rice sector.
Diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) in Qatar’s primary care settings
Authors: Sedeeq Saad Thamer , AlTamimi Mohammad Jamil Mohammad , Hamed Ehab , Syed Mohamed Ahmed
Published: January 2022

This cross-sectional study was designed to establish diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 in Qatar’s primary care population. The data required for the study were anonymously extracted from Qatar’s primary care electronic medical record system. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, negative values and optimal cut-off points were calculated for the tool. A total of 6921 individuals met the study’s inclusion criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of cut-off values was calculated for scores 1–6. Based on the Youden’s index (0.58), a score of 2 was identified as the most optimal cut-off. It offers a sensitivity of 88.73% and specificity of 69.31%. Further studies should aim to confirm the results using alternative study designs and to report them in accordance to population characteristics both in Qatar and internationally.
Recent Advances in Gas Injection System-Free Cryo-FIB Lift-Out Transfer for Cryo-Electron Tomography of Multicellular Organisms and Tissues
Authors: Klumpe Sven , Kuba Jakub , Schioetz Oda H. , Erdmann Philipp S. , Rigort Alexander , Plitzko Jürgen M.
Published: January 2022

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) enables visualization of protein complexes within their native cellular environment at molecular resolution. Most cells and all tissues, however, are too thick to be imaged directly by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Overcoming this limitation requires the production of thin biological sections called lamellae. The procedure to obtain lamellae of cells, either seeded or grown directly on electron microscopy grids, requires cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling to thin the samples. This method faces an additional challenge when dealing with tissues and multicellular organisms, as these samples must be high-pressure frozen, which embeds the sample in a thick layer of ice. Nonetheless, lamellae can still be prepared from such samples by extracting a small volume and transferring it to a receiver grid for lamella preparation, a process called lift-out. Here, we describe the available workflows to produce lamellae by lift-out at cryogenic conditions and recent developments in gas injection system (GIS)-free approaches to the lift-out transfer. These advances expand the applications of cryo-ET, enabling the investigation of tissues and whole organisms in situ at molecular resolution.
Differences in Radiative Forcing, Not Sensitivity, Explain Differences in Summertime Land Temperature Variance Change Between CMIP5 and CMIP6
Authors: Chan Duo , Rigden Angela , Proctor Jonathan , Chan Pak Wah , Huybers Peter
Published: January 2022

How summertime temperature variability will change with warming has important implications for climate adaptation and mitigation. CMIP5 simulations indicate a compound risk of extreme hot temperatures in western Europe from both warming and increasing temperature variance. CMIP6 simulations, however, indicate only a moderate increase in temperature variance that does not covary with warming. To explore this intergenerational discrepancy in CMIP results, we decompose changes in monthly temperature variance into those arising from changes in sensitivity to forcing and changes in forcing variance. Across models, sensitivity increases with local warming in both CMIP5 and CMIP6 at an average rate of 5.7 ([3.7, 7.9]; 95% c.i.) × 10−3°C per W m−2 per °C warming. We use a simple model of moist surface energetics to explain increased sensitivity as a consequence of greater atmospheric demand (∼70%) and drier soil (∼40%) that is partially offset by the Planck feedback (∼−10%). Conversely, forcing variance is stable in CMIP5 but decreases with warming in CMIP6 at an average rate of −21 ([−28, −15]; 95% c.i.) W2 m−4 per °C warming. We examine scaling relationships with mean cloud fraction and find that mean forcing variance decreases with decreasing cloud fraction at twice the rate in CMIP6 than CMIP5. The stability of CMIP6 temperature variance is, thus, a consequence of offsetting changes in sensitivity and forcing variance. Further work to determine which models and generations of CMIP simulations better represent changes in cloud radiative forcing is important for assessing risks associated with increased temperature variance.
Population Exposure Projections to Intensified Summer Heat
Authors: Park Chang‐Eui , Jeong Sujong
Published: January 2022

Population aging, an increasing share of the elderly to the total population, can exacerbate heat vulnerability to intensified heat hazards. However, the aging impacts on increases in exposure of the elderly to unprecedented hot summers (UHSs) could be variable in the warming climate. Here, we present considerable contribution of age structure changes to increases in the elders' exposure to intensified UHSs in countries with a high percentage of youth population, namely, China, India, and Brazil, by analyzing combined scenarios of climate change with population structure. In the aforementioned regions, increases in exposure to stronger UHSs relevant to rapid aging will exceed at least half of the warming impact, which primarily causes frequent occurrence of stronger UHSs. Conversely, the United States and Europe, which have already entered an aged society, show a negligible aging impact. These results suggest that the future evolution of a society's age structure is an important constraint for projecting population exposure to strengthened summer heat.
Atmospheric Electron Spatial Range Extended by Thundercloud Electric Field Below the Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanche Threshold
Authors: Diniz G. , Wada Y. , Ohira Y. , Nakazawa K. , Enoto T.
Published: January 2022

Cosmic‐ray shower, hitting the atmosphere all the time, includes high‐energy electrons. Electric fields in thunderstorms accelerate these electrons so that they can reach farther distances with producing secondary electrons. The strong field above 0.284 MV m−1 causes the Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanches (RREA) process with an exponential increase of electrons. Even with lower electric fields below this RREA threshold which are usually measured in thunderstorms, an increase in electrons' kinetic energy and production of secondary electrons can occur without avalanche processes, known as Modification Of Spectra (MOS) of the cosmic‐ray shower. Both phenomena are related to observed gamma ray glow, which is bremsstrahlung emission from accelerated electrons in thunderstorms. We calculate an extended range and kinetic energy of electrons below the RREA threshold using an analytical evaluation and Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations. For example, at 0.280 MV m−1 slightly below the RREA threshold, 3 MeV electrons gain 100% of their original kinetic energy through the passage of the continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA) range defined at the null electric field, which is consistent with results in previous studies as the transition to the RREA process. Even at a lower field of 0.260 MV m−1, the energy recovery by the field allows an injected 20 MeV electron beam to extend its average electron range from 73 m, in the null field configuration, to 562 m. We have performed analytical calculation and Geant4 simulations of atmospheric electron behavior for initial electron energy of 0.1–100 MeV and an electric field below 0.290 MV m−1.
The ubiquitin E3 ligase ARIH1 regulates hnRNP E1 protein stability, EMT and breast cancer progression
Authors: Howley Breege V. , Mohanty Bidyut , Dalton Annamarie , Grelet Simon , Karam Joseph , Dincman Toros , Howe Philip H.
Published: January 2022

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that is aberrantly activated in cancer and facilitates metastasis to distant organs, requires coordinated transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression. The tumor-suppressive RNA binding protein, hnRNP-E1, regulates splicing and translation of EMT-associated transcripts and it is thought that it plays a major role in the control of epithelial cell plasticity during cancer progression. We have utilized yeast 2 hybrid screening to identify novel hnRNP-E1 interactors that play a role in regulating hnRNP-E1; this approach led to the identification of the E3 ubiquitin ligase ARIH1. Here, we demonstrate that hnRNP-E1 protein stability is increased upon ARIH1 silencing, whereas, overexpression of ARIH1 leads to a reduction in hnRNP-E1. Reduced ubiquitination of hnRNP-E1 detected in ARIH1 knockdown (KD) cells compared to control suggests a role for ARIH1 in hnRNP-E1 degradation. The identification of hnRNP-E1 as a candidate substrate of ARIH1 led to the characterization of a novel function for this ubiquitin ligase in EMT induction and cancer progression. We demonstrate a delayed induction of EMT and reduced invasion in mammary epithelial cells silenced for ARIH1. Conversely, ARIH1 overexpression promoted EMT induction and invasion. ARIH1 silencing in breast cancer cells significantly attenuated cancer cell stemness in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Finally, we utilized miniTurboID proximity labeling to identify novel ARIH1 interactors that may contribute to ARIH1’s function in EMT induction and cancer progression.
LncRNAs LCETRL3 and LCETRL4 at chromosome 4q12 diminish EGFR-TKIs efficiency in NSCLC through stabilizing TDP43 and EIF2S1
Authors: Li Yankang , Shen Yue , Xie Mengyu , Wang Bowen , Wang Teng , Zeng Jiajia , Hua Hui , Yu Jinming , Yang Ming
Published: January 2022

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective targeted therapy drugs for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients carrying sensitized EGFR mutations. The rapid development of EGFR-TKIs resistance represents a major clinical challenge for managing NSCLC. The chromosome 4q12 is the first genome-wide association study (GWAS)-reported locus associated with progression-free survival (PFS) of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs. However, the biological significance of the noncoding transcripts at 4q12 in NSCLC remains elusive. In the present study, we identified two 4q12 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) LCETRL3 and LCETRL4 which could significantly dimmish EGFR-TKIs efficiency. In line with their oncogenic role, evidently higher LCETRL3 and LCETRL4 levels were observed in NSCLC tissues as compared with normal specimens. Importantly, lncRNA LCETRL3 can interact with oncoprotein TDP43 and inhibit ubiquitination and degradation of TDP43. Similarly, lncRNA LCETRL4 can bind and stabilize oncoprotein EIF2S1 through reducing ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of EIF2S1. In particular, elevated levels of LCETRL3 or LCETRL4 in NSCLC cells resulted in stabilization of TDP43 or EIF2S1, increased levels of NOTCH1 or phosphorylated PDK1, activated AKT signaling and, thus, EGFR-TKIs resistance. Taken together, our data revealed a novel model that integrates two lncRNAs transcribed from the 4q12 locus into the regulation of EGFR-TKIs resistance in NSCLC. These findings shed new light on the importance of functionally annotating lncRNAs in the GWAS loci and provided insights to declare novel druggable targets, i.e., lncRNAs, which may unlock the therapeutic potential of EGFR-TKIs resistant NSCLC in the clinic.
Identification of sex-specific genetic associations in response to opioid analgesics in a White, non-Hispanic cohort from Southeast Minnesota
Authors: Lopes Guilherme S. , Lopes Jaime L. , Bielinski Suzette J. , Armasu Sebastian M. , Zhu Ye , Cavanaugh Dana C. , Moyer Ann M. , Jacobson Debra J. , Wang Liwei , Jiang Ruoxiang , St. Sauver Jennifer L. , Larson Nicholas B.
Published: January 2022

The study of sex-specific genetic associations with opioid response may improve the understanding of inter-individual variability in pain treatments. We investigated sex-specific associations between genetic variation and opioid response. We identified participants in the RIGHT Study prescribed codeine, tramadol, hydrocodone, and oxycodone between 01/01/2005 and 12/31/2017. Prescriptions were collapsed into codeine/tramadol and hydrocodone/oxycodone. Outcomes included poor pain control and adverse reactions within six weeks after prescription date. We performed gene-level and single-variant association analyses stratified by sex. We included 7169 non-Hispanic white participants and a total of 1940 common and low-frequency variants (MAF > 0.01). Common variants in MACROD2 (rs76026520), CYP1B1 (rs1056837, rs1056836), and CYP2D6 (rs35742686) were associated with outcomes. At the gene level, FAAH, SCN1A, and TYMS had associations for men and women, and NAT2, CYP3A4, CYP1A2, and SLC22A2 had associations for men only. Our findings highlight the importance of considering sex in association studies on opioid response.
Evaluation of the EMPAR study population on the basis of metabolic phenotypes of selected pharmacogenes
Authors: Fracowiak Jochen , Huebner Tatjana , Heß Steffen , Roethlein Christoph , Langner Daria , Schneider Udo , Falkenberg Felix , Scholl Catharina , Linder Roland , Stingl Julia , Haenisch Britta , Steffens Michael
Published: January 2022

The impact of genetic variability of pharmacogenes as a possible risk factor for adverse drug reactions is elucidated in the EMPAR (Einfluss metabolischer Profile auf die Arzneimitteltherapiesicherheit in der Routineversorgung/English: influence of metabolic profiles on the safety of drug therapy in routine care) study. EMPAR evaluates possible associations of pharmacogenetically predicted metabolic profiles relevant for the metabolism of frequently prescribed cardiovascular drugs. Based on a German study population of 10,748 participants providing access to healthcare claims data and DNA samples for pharmacogenetic assessment, first analyses were performed and evaluated. The aim of this first evaluation was the characterization of the study population with regard to general parameters such as age, gender, comorbidity, and polypharmacy at baseline (baseline year) as well as important combinations of cardiovascular drugs with relevant genetic variants and predicted metabolic phenotypes. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) on July 6, 2018 (DRKS00013909).
Estimating heritability using family-pooled phenotypic and genotypic data: a simulation study applied to aquaculture
Authors: Khalilisamani Nima , Thomson Peter Campbell , Raadsma Herman Willem , Khatkar Mehar Singh
Published: January 2022

Estimating heritability based on individual phenotypic and genotypic measurements can be expensive and labour-intensive in commercial aquaculture breeding. Here, the feasibility of estimating heritability using within-family means of phenotypes and allelic frequencies was investigated. Different numbers of full-sib families and family sizes across ten generations with phenotypic and genotypic information on 10 K SNPs were analysed in ten replicates. Three scenarios, representing differing numbers of pools per family (one, two and five) were considered. The results showed that using one pool per family did not reliably estimate the heritability of family means. Using simulation parameters appropriate for aquaculture, at least 200 families of 60 progeny per family divided equally in two pools per family was required to estimate the heritability of family means effectively. Although application of five pools generated more within- and between- family relationships, it reduced the number of individuals per pool and increased within-family residual variation, hence, decreased the heritability of family means. Moreover, increasing the size of pools resulted in increasing the heritability of family means towards one. In addition, heritability of family mean estimates were higher than family heritabilities obtained from Falconer’s formula due to lower intraclass correlation estimate compared to the coefficient of relationship.