bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melting Pot or Salad Bowl: Metro Manila's Cultural Heterogeneity
Authors: Soriano Ronald N.
Published: November 2021

Metro Manila is the bustling capital of the Philippines that has varied cultural influences. This study determined the perceptions of 200 respondents from selected government and private companies’ employees in the National Capital Region towards Metro Manila’s Salad Bowl of Homogeneity and Cultural Heterogeneity. Concurrent Triangulation was utilized to gather the perceptions of 200 government and private companies’ employees and corroborate findings within the study. Based on the results, people who keep in touch with their immediate kin and sometimes visit home to celebrate usual practices have the highest mean score of 3.25. On the other hand, people who were born in Metro Manila to parents who were from provinces thrive to learn about their native culture and family practices have the lowest mean score of 2.12, such that Metro Manila is a cultural melting pot due to its cultural heterogeneity. Metro Manila is a blend of the world’s culture, food, and languages, and diverse way of life.
Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for growth, yield and yield related traits in maize genotypes
Authors: Rai Roshesh , Khanal Prakash , Chaudhary Prabin , Dhital Rabin
Published: November 2021

Evaluation of the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of traits is an essential task in any plant improvement program. Twenty maize genotypes were replicated twice in a randomized complete block design on a research plot of Prithu Technical College, Deukhuri Dang of Nepal from June 2017 to September 2017 to determine genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for different agronomic traits. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in the traits tassel length, ear height, days to fifty percent tasseling, days to fifty percent silking, kernels’ rows ear-1, kernels row-1 and grain yield. The highest GCV (31.53%) and PCV (39.20%) were recorded on grain yield. Grain yield and ear height recorded high heritability along with high genetic advance as a percent of mean (GAM). Tassel length and kernels row-1 showed high heritability integrated with moderate GAM and moderate heritability integrated with moderate GAM respectively. Further, grain yield showed a significant and positive correlation with plant height, tassel length, ear height, cob length, cob diameter, kernels’ rows ear-1, and kernels row-1. Thus the selection of ear height, tassel length and kernels row-1 is suggested as they performed better in terms of both heritability and GAM than other traits and they also recorded a significant and positive correlation with yield.
Sago and the indigenous peoples of Papua, Indonesia: A review
Authors: Sidiq Fathir Fajar , Coles David , Hubbard Carmen , Clark Beth , Frewer Lynn J.
Published: November 2021

A significant concern with the food security issue worldwide is indigenous peoples and their food resources. The indigenous peoples of Papua are still very dependent on rice, a heavily imported commodity. During the global pandemic, the indigenous peoples of Papua faced the issue of food supply and food resilience. Simultaneously, Indonesia has the largest sago (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) palm-growing areas, accounting for over half (51%) of the 2.3 million hectares of sago worldwide, and about 90% of sago is estimated to be in Papua and Maluku. Indigenous food crops such as sago are exceptionally resilient to adverse local environments, highlighting their crucial role in ensuring food and nutrition security, particularly during a natural disaster. However, despite sago’s multiple uses and benefits, it is still poorly evaluated as a food resource by the government, with consumption at relatively low levels. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art regarding indigenous peoples and their food resources, focusing on why sago is essential, not only for the indigenous peoples of Papua but also for the possibility of introducing sago to the world.
Perfil, produção e avaliação de participantes das Américas e África em uma especialização sobre drogas
Authors: Luis Margarita Antonia Villar , Lemes Alisséia Guimarães , Lima Deivson Wendell da Costa , Silva Liliane Santos da , Nascimento Vagner Ferreira do
Published: November 2021

Objetivo: identificar perfil, produção e avaliação dos profissionais das Américas e da África em Cursos de Especialização em drogas. Método: estudo retrospectivo documental, baseado em dados secundários, através das fichas de registro de todas as versões dos Cursos de Especialização para formação de pesquisadores em álcool e outras drogas psicoativas (2002 a 2015), promovido pela Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Resultados: houve a participação de 258 pessoas, sendo 62% da América do Sul e 38% da América do Norte, América Central e África Portuguesa. A maioria do sexo feminino (77,0%), faixa etária de 30 a 59 anos (81,8%), com mestrado (51,2%), da área de ciências da saúde (79,5%) e atuando como docentes universitários (82,6%). Dos participantes, 176 finalizaram o curso com publicações e submissões de trabalhos científicos. Na avaliação final, a maioria referiu satisfação com o curso e que indicaria para outros profissionais. Considerações finais: o estudo apresentou os resultados de uma experiência exitosa e organizada, oferecida pela enfermagem brasileira, na capacitação de pesquisadores, proporcionando a ampliação e disseminação do conhecimento científico sobre o fenômeno das drogas por mais de uma década, tanto em território nacional como em outros países da América e África.
Clinical Value of Stress Transaortic Flow Rate During Dobutamine Echocardiography in Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Vamvakidou Anastasia , Annabi Mohamed-Salah , Pibarot Phillipe , Plonska-Gosciniak Edyta , Almeida Ana G. , Guzzetti Ezequiel , Dahou Abdellaziz , Burwash Ian G. , Koschutnik Matthias , Bartko Philipp E. , Bergler-Klein Jutta , Mascherbauer Julia , Orwat Stefan , Baumgartner Helmut , Cavalcante Joao , Pinto Fausto , Kukulski Tomasz , Kasprzak Jaroslaw D. , Clavel Marie-Annick , Flachskampf Frank A. , Senior Roxy
Published: November 2021

Background:

Low rest transaortic flow rate (FR) has been shown previously to predict mortality in low-gradient aortic stenosis. However limited prognostic data exists on stress FR during low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography. We aimed to assess the value of stress FR for the detection of aortic valve stenosis (AS) severity and the prediction of mortality.

Methods:

This is a multicenter cohort study of patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and low-gradient aortic stenosis (aortic valve area <1 cm
2
and mean gradient <40 mm Hg) who underwent low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography to identify the AS severity and presence of flow reserve. The outcome assessed was all-cause mortality.

Results:

Of the 287 patients (mean age, 75±10 years; males, 71%; left ventricular ejection fraction, 31±10%) over a mean follow-up of 24±30 months there were 127 (44.3%) deaths and 147 (51.2%) patients underwent aortic valve intervention. Higher stress FR was independently associated with reduced risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94–0.99];
P
=0.01) after adjusting for age, chronic kidney disease, heart failure symptoms, aortic valve intervention, and rest left ventricular ejection fraction. The minimum cutoff for prediction of mortality was stress FR 210 mL/s. Following adjustment to the same important clinical and echocardiographic parameters, among the three criteria of AS severity during stress, ie, the guideline definition of aortic valve area <1cm
2
and aortic valve mean gradient ≥40 mm Hg, or aortic valve mean gradient ≥40 mm Hg, or the novel definition of aortic valve area <1 cm
2
at stress FR ≥210 mL/s, only the latter was independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.05–2.82];
P
=0.03). Furthermore aortic valve area <1cm
2
at stress FR ≥210 mL/s was the only severe aortic stenosis criterion that was associated with improved outcome following aortic valve intervention (
P
<0.001). Guideline-defined stroke volume flow reserve did not predict mortality.

Conclusions:

Stress FR during low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography was useful for the detection of both AS severity and flow reserve and was associated with improved prediction of outcome following aortic valve intervention.
Reference Standards for Cardiorespiratory Fitness by Cardiovascular Disease Category and Testing Modality: Data From FRIEND
Authors: Peterman James E. , Arena Ross , Myers Jonathan , Marzolini Susan , Ades Philip A. , Savage Patrick D. , Lavie Carl J. , Kaminsky Leonard A.
Published: November 2021

Background

The importance of cardiorespiratory fitness for stratifying risk and guiding clinical decisions in patients with cardiovascular disease is well‐established. To optimize the clinical value of cardiorespiratory fitness, normative reference standards are essential. The purpose of this report is to extend previous cardiorespiratory fitness normative standards by providing updated cardiorespiratory fitness reference standards according to cardiovascular disease category and testing modality.

Methods and Results

The analysis included 15 045 tests (8079 treadmill, 6966 cycle) from FRIEND (Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database). Using data from tests conducted January 1, 1974, through March 1, 2021, percentiles of directly measured peak oxygen consumption (VO
2peak
) were determined for each decade from 30 through 89 years of age for men and women with a diagnosis of coronary artery bypass surgery, myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or heart failure. There were significant differences between sex and age groups for VO
2peak
(
P
<0.001). The mean VO
2peak
was 23% higher for men compared with women and VO
2peak
decreased by a mean of 7% per decade for both sexes. Among each decade, the mean VO
2peak
from treadmill tests was 21% higher than the VO
2peak
from cycle tests. Differences in VO
2peak
were observed among the age groups in both sexes according to cardiovascular disease category.

Conclusions

This report provides normative reference standards by cardiovascular disease category for both men and women performing cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill or cycle ergometer. These updated and enhanced reference standards can assist with patient risk stratification and guide clinical care.
Cause of Death After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: SWEDEHEART Observational Study
Authors: Glaser Natalie , Persson Michael , Franco‐Cereceda Anders , Sartipy Ulrik
Published: November 2021

Background

Prior studies showed that life expectancy in patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) was lower than in the general population. Explanations for this shorter life expectancy are unknown. The aim of this nationwide, observational cohort study was to investigate the cause‐specific death following surgical AVR.

Methods and Results

We included 33 018 patients who underwent primary surgical AVR in Sweden between 1997 and 2018, with or without coronary artery bypass grafting. The SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web‐System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence‐Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) register and other national health‐data registers were used to obtain and characterize the study cohort and to identify causes of death, categorized as cardiovascular mortality, cancer mortality, or other causes of death. The relative risks for cause‐specific mortality in patients who underwent AVR compared with the general population are presented as standardized mortality ratios. During a mean follow‐up period of 7.3 years (maximum 22.0 years), 14 237 (43%) patients died. The cumulative incidence of death from cardiovascular, cancer‐related, or other causes was 23.5%, 8.3%, and 11.6%, respectively, at 10 years, and 42.8%, 12.8%, and 23.8%, respectively, at 20 years. Standardized mortality ratios for cardiovascular, cancer‐related, and other causes of death were 1.79 (95% CI, 1.75–1.83), 1.00 (95% CI, 0.97–1.04), and 1.08 (95% CI, 1.05–1.12), respectively.

Conclusions

We found that life expectancy following AVR was lower than in the general population. Lower survival after AVR was explained by an increased relative risk of cardiovascular death. Future studies should focus on the role of earlier surgery in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis and on optimizing treatment and follow‐up after AVR.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02276950.
Nanoliposomes Reduce Stroke Injury Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice
Authors: Ahmad Saif , Truran Seth , Karamanova Nina , Kindelin Adam , Lozoya Maria , Weissig Volkmar , Emerson Hannah , Griffiths Daniel R. , Vail Tyler , Lifshitz Jonathan , Ducruet Andrew F. , Migrino Raymond Q.
Published: November 2021

Background and Purpose:

Neuroprotective strategies for stroke remain inadequate. Nanoliposomes comprised of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and monosialogangliosides (nanoliposomes) induced an antioxidant protective response in endothelial cells exposed to amyloid insults. We tested the hypotheses that nanoliposomes will preserve human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells viability following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)–reoxygenation and will reduce injury in mice following middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Methods:

SH-SY5Y and human brain microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation–reoxygenation (3 hours 0.5%–1% oxygen and glucose-free media followed by 20-hour ambient air/regular media) without or with nanoliposomes (300 µg/mL). Viability was measured (calcein-acetoxymethyl fluorescence) and protein expression of antioxidant proteins HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1), NQO1 (NAD[P]H quinone dehydrogenase 1), and SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) were measured by Western blot. C57BL/6J mice were treated with saline (n=8) or nanoliposomes (10 mg/mL lipid, 200 µL, n=7) while undergoing 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Day 2 postinjury neurological impairment score and infarction size were compared.

Results:

SH-SY5Y and human brain microvascular endothelial cells showed reduced viability post–oxygen-glucose deprivation–reoxygenation that was reversed by nanoliposomes. Nanoliposomes increased protein expressions of HO-1, NQO1 in both cell types and SOD1 in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Nanoliposomes-treated mice showed reduced neurological impairment and brain infarct size (18.8±2% versus 27.3±2.3%,
P
=0.017) versus controls.

Conclusions:

Nanoliposomes reduced stroke injury in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion likely through induction of an antioxidant protective response. Nanoliposome is a candidate novel agent for stroke.
Characterizing English Variation across Social Media Communities with
BERT
Authors: Lucy Li , Bamman David
Published: November 2021

Much previous work characterizing language variation across Internet social groups has focused on the types of words used by these groups. We extend this type of study by employing BERT to characterize variation in the senses of words as well, analyzing two months of English comments in 474 Reddit communities. The specificity of different sense clusters to a community, combined with the specificity of a community’s unique word types, is used to identify cases where a social group’s language deviates from the norm. We validate our metrics using user-created glossaries and draw on sociolinguistic theories to connect language variation with trends in community behavior. We find that communities with highly distinctive language are medium-sized, and their loyal and highly engaged users interact in dense networks.
Provable Limitations of Acquiring Meaning from Ungrounded Form: What Will Future Language Models Understand?
Authors: Merrill William , Goldberg Yoav , Schwartz Roy , Smith Noah A.
Published: November 2021

Language models trained on billions of tokens have recently led to unprecedented results on many NLP tasks. This success raises the question of whether, in principle, a system can ever “understand” raw text without access to some form of grounding. We formally investigate the abilities of ungrounded systems to acquire meaning. Our analysis focuses on the role of “assertions”: textual contexts that provide indirect clues about the underlying semantics. We study whether assertions enable a system to emulate representations preserving semantic relations like equivalence. We find that assertions enable semantic emulation of languages that satisfy a strong notion of semantic transparency. However, for classes of languages where the same expression can take different values in different contexts, we show that emulation can become uncomputable. Finally, we discuss differences between our formal model and natural language, exploring how our results generalize to a modal setting and other semantic relations. Together, our results suggest that assertions in code or language do not provide sufficient signal to fully emulate semantic representations. We formalize ways in which ungrounded language models appear to be fundamentally limited in their ability to “understand”.
A new atypical splice mutation in PKD2 leading to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in a Chinese family
Authors: Zhang Junlin , Wang Yiting , Zhao Yingwang , Liu Fang
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a very common hereditary renal disorder. Mutations in PKD1 and PKD2, identified as disease-causing genes, account for 85% and 15% of the ADPKD cases, respectively.

Methods:

In this study, the mutation analysis of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) genes was performed in a Chinese family with suspected ADPKD using targeted clinical exome sequencing (CES). The candidate pathogenic variants were further tested by using Sanger sequencing and validated for co-segregation. In addition, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to test for abnormal splicing and assess its potential pathogenicity.

Results:

A novel atypical splicing mutation that belongs to unclassified variants (UCVs), IVS6+5G>C, was identified in three family members by CES and was shown to co-segregate only with the affected individuals. The RT-PCR revealed the abnormal splicing of exon 6, which thus caused truncating mutation. These findings suggested that the atypical splice site alteration, IVS6+5G>C, in the PKD2 gene was the potential pathogenic mutation leading to ADPKD in this Chinese family.

Conclusion:

The data available in this study provided strong evidence that IVS6+5G>C is the potential pathogenic mutation for ADPKD. In addition, our findings emphasised the significance of functional analysis of UCVs and genotype–phenotype correlation in ADPKD.
Dengue virus infection among renal transplant recipients in Singapore: a 15-year, single-centre retrospective review
Authors: Tan Sophie Seine Xuan , Ho Quan Yao , Thangaraju Sobhana , Tan Thuan Tong , Kee Terence , Chung Shimin Jasmine
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection endemic in Singapore. Its impact on renal transplantation is limited to small case series. We aimed to characterise the clinical presentation and outcomes of dengue infection among renal transplant recipients in Singapore.

Methods:

We conducted a 15-year retrospective review of dengue in renal transplant patients treated at Singapore General Hospital between January 2005 and October 2019. The diagnosis of dengue was made if there were a compatible clinical syndrome and a positive dengue diagnostic assay (dengue non-structural 1 antigen, immunoglobulin M or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction).

Results:

Of the 31 patients diagnosed with dengue, 18 (58.1%) were deceased donor recipients. The median age was 52 (interquartile range [IQR] 40–61) years; 16 (51.6%) were females. The median time to diagnosis was 99 (IQR 18–169) months from transplant. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (87.1%), myalgia (41.9%), gastrointestinal symptoms (38.7%) and headache (25.8%). Nineteen (61.3%) patients had dengue without warning signs, nine (29.0%) had dengue with warning signs, three (9.7%) had severe dengue and 30 (96.8%) were hospitalised. Seventeen (54.8%) patients had graft dysfunction, 16 (94.1%) of whom had recovery of graft function. One (3.2%) patient required dialysis and subsequently died. There were two cases of donor-derived infections (DDIs) with favourable outcomes.

Conclusion:

Our experience with dengue in renal transplant recipients is concordant with published data. Although graft dysfunction is common, it is often transient with favourable outcomes. Outpatient management may be considered for mild infections. Although dengue DDIs are uncommon, more stringent donor screening may be considered in endemic regions.
Attacking Punitive Retribution at Its Heart – A Restorative Justice Thrust
Authors: van Willigenburg Theo , Van der Borght Eduardus
Published: November 2021

Restorative justice, aimed at restoring human relations instead of just punishing offenders, is often defended with reference to biblical values like reconciliation, forgiveness, and mercy. Advocates of retributivism, which is the philosophy that underlies the practice of punishing perpetrators with the sole goal of inflicting hardship on them, regularly ridicule such defenses. In response we will not directly defend restorative justice, but critically inquire in the main theoretical arguments with which advocates of retributivism seek to rationalize their view. We point out the weaknesses of these arguments and why we believe that restorative procedures can do much better in serving the goals of (criminal) justice.
Reacting to the Decline of the West?
Authors: Didier Brice
Published: November 2021

This article discusses the European Union (EU)’s strategic adaptation to the relative decline of the United States (US)-led Western world order by introducing the concept of hedging: a strategy of concomitant engagement with the system leader and its competitors aiming to minimise the risks of confrontation with either of them. To grasp the EU’s shift towards strategic hedging, the article analyses the subsequent 2003 Security Strategy, 2008 Implementation Report, 2015 Strategic Review and ongoing 2016 Global Strategy, and then puts the latter’s core concepts of ‘principled pragmatism’ and ‘strategic autonomy’ into perspective vis-à-vis international developments since 2016, related to ‘America First’ and the Sino-American rivalry. The article ultimately argues that, confronted with global power diffusion but constrained by the preponderance of transatlanticism, hedging has become a primary strategic option for the EU to emancipate from the US without alienating it and to compensate for the waning of the Western world order.
ERA5-Derived Precipitation: Insights from Historical Rainfall Networks in Southern Africa
Authors: Terblanche Deon , Lynch Amanda , Chen Zihan , Sinclair Scott
Published: November 2021

Patterns of freshwater availability—its variability and distribution—are already shifting as a function of global climate change and climate variability. High-resolution global gridded reanalysis products present an important tool to understand the already observed changes and thereby improve future scenarios as the climate evolves. A historical 100-yr-long district rainfall dataset and a unique set of highly detailed rainfall data from the highveld of South Africa spanning a 10-yr period provide an opportunity to independently evaluate the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ERA5 reanalysis product. Evaluation is challenged by the episodic nature of significant rainfall events of southern Africa as well as differences in spatial and temporal resolution between model output and surface precipitation data. Here we present a convergent methodology spanning annual to event time scales and regional to gauge-level spatial scales to identify the characteristics of systematic biases in variability and amount of rain as well as timing of events. We find that ERA5 is consistently wetter than observed in ways that affect the timing of individual events while performing well on metrics associated with large-scale trends and seasonal variability. Errors are associated with both stratiform and convective rainfall types, but the timing of onset of convective rainfall is a challenge that is critical in this summer-rainfall-dominated region.

Significance Statement

High-resolution gridded datasets are invaluable tools for gaining improved understanding of historical rainfall variations under the influence of climate change. In addition, these datasets provide consistent information for purposes such as water resources management. Quantification of dataset biases provides important guidance for robust decision-making as well as for the development of future climate scenarios. However, rainfall is an especially challenging quantity to assess. With the increasing incidence of drought and flood, methods that independently validate this high-resolution gridded data are needed to ensure high-quality knowledge support. This study demonstrates an approach using convergent streams of evidence to assess the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts gridded rainfall dataset with the purpose of better understanding the evolving characteristics of rainfall in southern Africa.
Rainfall Microphysics Influenced by Strong Wind during a Tornadic Storm
Authors: Bolek Abdullah , Testik Firat Y.
Published: November 2021

Rainfall microphysical characteristics including raindrop fall speed, axis ratio, and canting angle were measured through field observations by using a high-speed optical disdrometer (HOD) during and after tornadic severe storm passage. High and low wind and turbulence characteristics were observed during and after passage, respectively, which provided an opportunity to compare the effects of the different wind and turbulence characteristics on raindrop characteristics. During passage, 9.4% of the raindrops larger than 1.0 mm in volume equivalent diameter (D) were identified as subterminal, whereas only 0.5% of the raindrops of the same size were detected as subterminal after passage. Contrary to findings in literature, we could not find any distinct superterminal fall speed behavior for raindrops with D < 1.0 mm during or after passage. For raindrops with D > 2.0 mm, deviations of the axis ratio distribution from the predicted distribution for the equilibrium raindrops were observed, and the deviations during passage were larger than those after passage. The deviations of the axis ratio distributions from the predicted distributions for the equilibrium raindrops were also observed for midsized (1.0 < D < 2.0 mm) raindrops; however, these deviations during and after passage were of similar magnitude. The canting angle distribution for raindrops with D > 2.0 mm was found to have the mean value of approximately 0° both during and after passage and the standard deviation values of 24.7° during passage and 13.6° after passage. This study shows the clear influence of wind on various rainfall microphysical characteristics and documents the observed value ranges of these characteristics under strong wind that are of importance for a number of rainfall applications, including radar rainfall retrievals and rainfall modeling.
Forecast Skill for California Heavy Precipitation Periods from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh Model and the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System
Authors: Dougherty Kevin J. , Horel John D. , Nachamkin Jason E.
Published: November 2021

Precipitation forecasts from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model (HRRR) of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the Navy’s Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) are examined during heavy precipitation periods in California. Precipitation forecast discrepancies between the two models are examined during a recent heavy winter precipitation episode in California from 6 to 8 December 2019. The skill of initial 12-h precipitation forecasts is examined objectively from 1 December 2018 to 28 February 2019 from the HRRR, COAMPS, and NCEP’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM-3km). The HRRR exhibited lower seasonal biases and higher skill based on several metrics applied to a sample of 48 12-h periods during California’s second wettest winter season during the past 20 years. Overall, the NAM-3km and COAMPS exhibited a large wet bias over the interior mountain regions while the HRRR model indicated a dry bias along the northern coastal region. All models tended to underestimate precipitation along the coastal mountains of Northern California. To highlight the regional and localized nature of forecast skill, the fraction skill score (FSS) metric is applied across ranges of spatial scales and precipitation values. For the domain as a whole, the HRRR had higher precipitation forecast skill compared to the other two models, particularly within radial distances of 20–30 km and moderate (10–50 mm) precipitation totals. FSS computed locally highlights the HRRR’s overall higher skill as well as enhanced skill in the southern half of the state.
How Is COVID-19 Affected by Weather? Metaregression of 158 Studies and Recommendations for Best Practices in Future Research
Authors: Tan Ling , Schultz David M.
Published: November 2021

Because many viral respiratory diseases show seasonal cycles, weather conditions could affect the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although many studies pursued this possible link early in the pandemic, their results were inconsistent. Here, we assembled 158 quantitative empirical studies examining the link between weather and COVID-19. A metaregression analysis was performed on their 4793 correlation coefficients to explain these inconsistent results. We found four principal findings. First, 80 of the 158 studies did not state the time lag between infection and reporting, rendering these studies ineffective in determining the weather–COVID-19 relationship. Second, the research outcomes depended on the statistical analysis methods employed in each study. Specifically, studies using correlation tests produced outcomes that were functions of the geographical locations of the data from the original studies, whereas studies using linear regression produced outcomes that were functions of the analyzed weather variables. Third, Asian countries had more positive associations for air temperature than other regions, possibly because the air temperature was undergoing its seasonal increase from winter to spring during the rapid outbreak of COVID-19 in these countries. Fourth, higher solar energy was associated with reduced COVID-19 spread, regardless of statistical analysis method and geographical location. These results help to interpret the inconsistent results and motivate recommendations for best practices in future research. These recommendations include calculating the effects of a time lag between the weather and COVID-19, using regression analysis models, considering nonlinear effects, increasing the time period considered in the analysis to encompass more variety of weather conditions and to increase sample size, and eliminating multicollinearity between weather variables.

Significance Statement

Many respiratory viruses have seasonal cycles, and COVID-19 may, too. Many studies have tried to determine the effects of weather on COVID-19, but results are often inconsistent. We try to understand this inconsistency through statistics. For example, half of the 158 studies we examined did not account for the time lag between infection and reporting a COVID-19 case, which would make these studies flawed. Other studies showed that more COVID-19 cases occurred at higher temperatures in Asian countries, likely because the season was changing from winter to spring as the pandemic spread. We conclude with recommendations for future studies to avoid these kinds of pitfalls and better inform decision-makers about how the pandemic will evolve in the future.
Application of an Implementation Framework Using Mixed Methods in Preschool Settings
Authors: Farewell Charlotte V. , Bergling Emily , Maiurro Emily , Puma Jini
Published: November 2021

Research Findings. Application of mixed methods in a dissemination and implementation framework can give researchers a better understanding of the reach and delivery of early childhood obesity prevention programs in preschool settings, as well as potential facilitators and barriers related to implementation and sustainability. This study utilized a simultaneous, exploratory, mixed-methods design to investigate individual-, organizational-, and intervention-level factors that were related to the implementation and sustainability of policy, system, and environment (PSE) changes as part of a larger obesity prevention program in a randomly selected sample of preschool centers ( n = 20). Individual-level factors, and specifically the attitudes and skills of preschool providers, were identified in both the qualitative and quantitative data as important factors related to the sustainability of PSE changes ( r = .56, p < .01). Staff and leadership engagement and adaptability of the program were also identified as important factors related to the implementation and sustainability of PSE changes. Practice or Policy. These findings highlight the complexity of implementation success and suggest PSE obesity prevention interventions in preschool centers require the consideration of numerous, multilevel factors to ensure programming is impactful and sustained over time.
Percutaneous Versus Surgical Insertion of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Agarwal Anirudh , Whitlock Reid H. , Bamforth Ryan J. , Ferguson Thomas W. , Sabourin Jenna M. , Hu Qiming , Armstrong Sean , Rigatto Claudio , Tangri Navdeep , Dunsmore Sara , Komenda Paul
Published: November 2021

Background:

Home-based peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an alternative to facility-based hemodialysis and has lower costs and greater freedom for patients with kidney failure. For a patient to undergo PD, a safe and reliable method of accessing the peritoneum is needed. However, different catheter insertion techniques may affect patient health outcomes.

Objective:

To compare the risk of infectious and mechanical complications between surgical (open and laparoscopic) PD catheter insertion and percutaneous catheter insertion.

Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting:

We searched for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and SCOPUS from inception until June 2018. Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers based on a preformed template.

Patients:

Adult (aged 18+) patients with kidney failure who underwent a PD catheter insertion procedure.

Measurements:

We analyzed leak, malfunction, and bleed as early complications (occurring within 1 month of catheter insertion). Infectious complications (exit-site infections, tunnel infections, and peritonitis) were presented as both early complications and with the longest duration of follow-up.

Methods:

Random effects meta-analyses with the generic inverse variance method to estimate pooled rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We quantified heterogeneity by using the I2 statistic for inconsistency and assessed heterogeneity using the χ2 test. Sensitivity analysis was performed by removing studies at high risk of bias as measured with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Results:

Twenty-four studies (22 observational, 2 RCTs) with 3108 patients and 3777 catheter insertions were selected. Data from 2 studies were unable to be extracted and were qualitatively assessed. In the remaining 22 studies, percutaneous insertion was associated with a lower risk of both exit-site infections (risk ratio [RR] = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.24-0.53, I2 = 0%) and peritonitis (RR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.36-0.77, I2 = 3%) within 1 month of the procedure. There was no difference in mechanical complication rates between the 2 techniques.

Limitations:

Lack of consistency in the time periods for the various outcomes reported, risk of bias concerns with respect to population comparability, and the inability to analyze individual component causes of primary nonfunction (catheter obstruction, catheter migration, and leak).

Conclusions:

Our meta-analysis suggests differences in early infectious complications in favor of percutaneous insertion and no significant differences in mechanical complications compared with surgical insertion. These findings have implications on the direction of PD programs in terms of maximizing operating room resources.
Fatigue Property of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V under Nonproportional Multiaxial Loading
Authors: Kimura Yuya , Ogawa Fumio , Itoh Takamoto
Published: November 2021

The low cycle fatigue strength properties of the additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy are experimentally investigated under proportional and nonproportional multiaxial loading. The fatigue tests were conducted using hollow cylinder specimens with and without heat treatments, at room temperature in air. Two fatigue tests were conducted: one for proportional loading and one for nonproportional loading. The proportional loading was represented by a push-pull strain path (PP) and the nonproportional loading by a circle strain path (CI). The failure lives of the additively manufactured specimens were clearly reduced drastically by internal voids and defects. However, the sizes of the defects were measured, and the defects were found not to cause a reduction in fatigue strength above a critical size. The fracture surface was observed using scanning electron microscopy to investigate the fracture mechanisms of the additively manufactured specimens under the two types of strain paths. Different fracture patterns were recognized for each strain paths; however, both showed retention of the crack propagation, despite the presence of numerous defects, probably because of the interaction of the defects. The crack propagation properties of the materials with numerous defects under nonproportional multiaxial loading were clarified to increase the reliability of the additively manufactured components.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase gene family in poplar
Authors: Cheng Zihan , Zhang Xuemei , Yao Wenjing , Gao Yuan , Zhao Kai , Guo Qing , Zhou Boru , Jiang Tingbo
Published: November 2021

Background

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) family plays an important role in cell wall reconstruction and stress resistance in plants. However, the detailed characteristics of XTH family genes and their expression pattern under salt stress have not been reported in poplar.

Results

In this study, a total of 43 PtrXTH genes were identified from Populus simonii × Populus nigra, and most of them contain two conserved structures (Glyco_hydro_16 and XET_C domain). The promoters of the PtrXTH genes contain mutiple cis-acting elements related to growth and development and stress responses. Collinearity analysis revealed that the XTH genes from poplar has an evolutionary relationship with other six species, including Eucalyptus robusta, Solanum lycopersicum, Glycine max, Arabidopsis, Zea mays and Oryza sativa. Based on RNA-Seq analysis, the PtrXTH genes have different expression patterns in the roots, stems and leaves, and many of them are highly expressed in the roots. In addition, there are11 differentially expressed PtrXTH genes in the roots, 9 in the stems, and 7 in the leaves under salt stress. In addition, the accuracy of RNA-Seq results was verified by RT-qPCR.

Conclusion

All the results indicated that XTH family genes may play an important role in tissue specificity and salt stress response. This study will lay a theoretical foundation for further study on molecular function of XTH genes in poplar.
Trait correlated expression combined with eQTL and ASE analyses identified novel candidate genes affecting intramuscular fat
Authors: Liu Yan , Long Huan , Feng Simin , Ma Tingting , Wang Mufeng , Niu Lizhu , Zhang Xinyi , Wang Lianni , Lei Yu , Chen Yilong , Wang Qiankun , Xu Xuewen
Published: November 2021

Background

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is a determining factor for meat taste. The Luchuan pig is a fat-type local breed in southern China that is famous for its desirable meat quality due to high IMF, however, the crossbred offspring of Luchuan sows and Duroc boars displayed within-population variation on meat quality, and the reason remains unknown.

Results

In the present study, we identified 212 IMF-correlated genes (FDR ≤ 0.01) using correlation analysis between gene expression level and the value of IMF content. The IMF-correlated genes were significantly enriched in the processes of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial energy metabolism, as well as the AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway. From the IMF-correlated genes, we identified 99 genes associated with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) or allele-specific expression (ASE) signals, including 21 genes identified by both cis-eQTL and ASE analyses and 12 genes identified by trans-eQTL analysis. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of IMF identified a significant QTL on SSC14 (p-value = 2.51E−7), and the nearest IMF-correlated gene SFXN4 (r = 0.28, FDR = 4.00E−4) was proposed as the candidate gene. Furthermore, we highlighted another three novel IMF candidate genes, namely AGT, EMG1, and PCTP, by integrated analysis of GWAS, eQTL, and IMF-gene correlation analysis.

Conclusions

The AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway together with the processes of lipid and mitochondrial energy metabolism plays a vital role in regulating porcine IMF content. Trait correlated expression combined with eQTL and ASE analysis highlighted a priority list of genes, which compensated for the shortcoming of GWAS, thereby accelerating the mining of causal genes of IMF.
A NIM PET/CT phantom for evaluating the PET image quality of micro-lesions and the performance parameters of CT
Authors: Lu Shujie , Zhang Peng , Li Chengwei , Sun Jie , Liu Wenli , Zhang Pu
Published: November 2021

Background

The commonly used NEMA IEC Body phantom has a number of defects, hindering its application for detecting micro-lesions and measuring the performance parameters of computed tomography (CT). This study aimed to propose a PET/CT phantom designed by National Institute of Metrology (NIM), China, which is capable of simultaneously testing the performance of PET and CT systems, and to evaluate the quality of imaging.

Methods

The phantom developed in the present study, the NIM PET/CT phantom, is composed of a PET imaging module and a CT imaging module, and these modules are connected together through bolts, which can simultaneously measure the imaging performance of PET and CT systems. Hot spheres were filled with 4:1 sphere-to-background activity concentration using18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), and cold spheres were filled with non-radioactive water. We compared the results of imaging obtained from the NIM PET/CT phantom and the NEMA IEC Body phantom to assess their diagnostic efficacy. In order to evaluate the generalization ability of the NIM PET/CT phantom, three different PET/CT systems were used to scan on the same scanning protocol. To evaluate the effects of image reconstruction algorithms on image quality assessment, ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM), OSEM-point-spread function (PSF), OSEM-TOF, and OSEM-PSF-TOF algorithms were employed.

Results

The imaging quality of the NIM PET/CT phantom and the NEMA IEC Body phantom was relatively consistent. The NIM PET/CT phantom could detect 7 mm spheres without influencing the imaging quality. It was found that PSF reconstruction exhibited to reduce the speed of convergence, the contrast and background variability of spheres (13–28 mm) were significantly improved after two iterations. In addition to improve the image contrast and background variability, TOF could markedly improve the overall image quality and instrument detection limit. TOF-PSF could noticeably reduce noise level, enhance imaging details, and improve quality of imaging.

Conclusions

The results showed that in comparison with the NEMA IEC Body phantom, the NIM PET/CT phantom outperformed in evaluating the PET image quality of micro-lesions and the performance parameters of CT.
The importance of adverse childhood experiences for labour market trajectories over the life course: a longitudinal study
Authors: Hansen Claus D. , Kirkeby Mette J. , Kjelmann Kristian G. , Andersen Johan H. , Møberg Rasmus J.
Published: November 2021

Background

Transitioning from school to work is important in influencing people’s trajectories throughout their life course. This study investigated the extent to which adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were associated with differences in labour market trajectories for young adults in the context of a Nordic child care regime with low levels of child poverty.

Methods

Information on labour market participation, educational events, and public transfer records was recoded into seven state spaces for each month between ages 16 and 32 for a cohort of Danish adolescents born in a rural county in 1983 (N = 3373). Cluster analysis of the sequences using the optimal matching algorithm was used to identify groups with similar trajectories. Multinomial regression was used to assess the association between self-reported ACEs and cluster membership, taking gender and family of origin into account.

Results

‘In employment’ was the state space in which the young adults spent the most time over their early life courses (mean: 85 out of 204 months; 42%). Cluster analysis identified three clusters. Cluster 3 was most distinct, where the mean time ‘outside the labour market’ was 149 months (73%), and only 17 months (8%) were spent ‘in employment’. Cumulative ACEs increased the probability of being included in Cluster 3 (OR: 1.51). Experiencing parental divorce (OR: 3.05), witnessing a violent event (OR: 3.70), and being abused (OR: 5.64) were most strongly associated with Cluster 3 membership.

Conclusions

Labour market trajectories among adolescents with a higher number of ACEs consisted of more time outside the labour market, compared to adolescents who had experienced fewer adversities. The lasting consequences of childhood adversity should be taken more into account in welfare policies, even in countries such as Denmark, with high social security levels and high-quality universal childcare.