bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypotension Prediction Index with non-invasive continuous arterial pressure waveforms (ClearSight): clinical performance in Gynaecologic Oncologic Surgery
Authors: Frassanito Luciano , Giuri Pietro Paolo , Vassalli Francesco , Piersanti Alessandra , Longo Alessia , Zanfini Bruno Antonio , Catarci Stefano , Fagotti Anna , Scambia Giovanni , Draisci Gaetano
Published: October 2021

Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) is common during major surgery and is associated with a poor postoperative outcome. Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI) is an algorithm derived from machine learning that uses the arterial waveform to predict IOH. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic ability of HPI working with non-invasive ClearSight system in predicting impending hypotension in patients undergoing major gynaecologic oncologic surgery (GOS). In this retrospective analysis hemodynamic data were downloaded from an Edwards Lifesciences HemoSphere platform and analysed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate the performance of HPI working on the ClearSight pressure waveform in predicting hypotensive events, defined as mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg for > 1 min. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were computed at a cutpoint (the value which minimizes the difference between sensitivity and specificity). Thirty-one patients undergoing GOS were included in the analysis, 28 of which had complete data set. The HPI predicted hypotensive events with a sensitivity of 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73–0.94] and specificity of 0.85 (95% CI 0.74–0.95) 15 min before the event [area under the curve (AUC) 0.95 (95% CI 0.89–0.99)]; with a sensitivity of 0.82 (95% CI 0.71–0.92) and specificity of 0.83 (95% CI 0.71–0.93) 10 min before the event [AUC 0.9 (95% CI 0.83–0.97)]; and with a sensitivity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.78–0.93) and specificity 0.86 (95% CI 0.77–0.94) 5 min before the event [AUC 0.93 (95% CI 0.89–0.97)]. HPI provides accurate and continuous prediction of impending IOH before its occurrence in patients undergoing GOS in general anesthesia.
Heuristic Methods for Minimum-Cost Pipeline Network Design – a Node Valency Transfer Metaheuristic
Authors: Yeates Christopher , Schmidt-Hattenberger Cornelia , Weinzierl Wolfgang , Bruhn David
Published: October 2021

Designing low-cost network layouts is an essential step in planning linked infrastructure. For the case of capacitated trees, such as oil or gas pipeline networks, the cost is usually a function of both pipeline diameter (i.e. ability to carry flow or transferred capacity) and pipeline length. Even for the case of incompressible, steady flow, minimizing cost becomes particularly difficult as network topology itself dictates local flow material balances, rendering the optimization space non-linear. The combinatorial nature of potential trees requires the use of graph optimization heuristics to achieve good solutions in reasonable time. In this work we perform a comparison of known literature network optimization heuristics and metaheuristics for finding minimum-cost capacitated trees without Steiner nodes, and propose novel algorithms, including a metaheuristic based on transferring edges of high valency nodes. Our metaheuristic achieves performance above similar algorithms studied, especially for larger graphs, usually producing a significantly higher proportion of optimal solutions, while remaining in line with time-complexity of algorithms found in the literature. Data points for graph node positions and capacities are first randomly generated, and secondly obtained from the German emissions trading CO2 source registry. As political will for applications and storage for hard-to-abate industry CO2 emissions is growing, efficient network design methods become relevant for new large-scale CO2 pipeline networks.
Enhancing decision-making in user-centered web development: a methodology for card-sorting analysis
Authors: Macías José A. , Culén Alma L.
Published: October 2021

The World Wide Web has become a common platform for interactive software development. Most web applications feature custom user interfaces used by millions of people every day. Information architecture addresses the structural design of information to build quality web applications with improved usability of content, navigation, and findability. One of the most frequently utilized information architecture methods is card sorting—an affordable, user-centered approach for eliciting and evaluating categories and navigable items. Card sorting facilitates decision-making during the development process based on users’ mental models of a given application domain. However, although the qualitative analysis of card sorts has become common practice in information architecture, the quantitative analysis of card sorting is less widely applied. The reason for this gap is that quantitative analysis often requires the use of customized techniques to extract meaningful information for decision-making. To facilitate this process and support the structuring of information, we propose a methodology for the quantitative analysis of card-sorting results in this paper. The suggested approach can be systematically applied to provide clues and support for decisions. These might significantly impact the design and, thus, the final quality of the web application. Therefore, the approach includes proper goodness values that enable comparisons among the results of the methods and techniques used and ensure the suitability of the analyses performed. Two publicly available datasets were used to demonstrate the key issues related to the interpretation of card sorting results and the overall suitability and validity of the proposed methodology.
Chemical decarboxylation kinetics and identification of amino acid standards by benchtop NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Czajkowska Angelika , Dayi Defne Ilayda , Weinschrott Helga , Deigner Hans-Peter , Schmidt Magnus S.
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we examined the competence of amino acids as standards for instrumental biochemical analysis. The chosen amino acids were first dissolved in various aquatic solutions and then measured in a benchtop NMR spectrometer, which is not a common choice in such analytical investigations. Analysis by mass spectrometry was used in addition. As part of these investigations, we examined and determined the stability of the amino acids ornithine, glutamic acid, alanine, glycine, proline, pyroglutamic acid, phenylalanine and trans-4-hydroxy-D-proline under critical basic and acidic pH conditions and under various other conditions. We observed that not all solutions of the amino acid standards remain stable under the given conditions and a chemical transformation takes place. Given our findings by mass spectroscopy, additional kinetic measurements were carried out with the benchtop NMR spectrometer. We discovered that pyroglutamic acid becomes unstable under basic conditions and decarboxylates to pyrrolidone.
Does official development assistance affect a donor’s exports? South Korea’s case
Authors: Noh Bobae , Heshmati Almas
Published: October 2021

This paper studies the impact of official development assistance (ODA) provided by South Korea for its exports to recipient countries. The empirical analysis is based on data from 1996 to 2014 and covers 121 recipient countries. The paper uses a 3SLS estimation method that accounts for a two-way causal relationship between ODA and exports while the endogeneity and sample selection bias are accounted for. Using the gravity model, we confirm the positive effects of ODA when fixed unobserved effects are controlled. The model is further generalized by disaggregating ODA into its underlying types of aid. Our results show that technical cooperation and loans have positive and significant effects, but grants have a negative impact on South Korea’s exports to recipient countries. In addition, we also examine South Korea’s ODA allocations. Our findings suggest that there is a two-stage decision-making process in the provision of aid. In the first stage, the aid’s humanitarian purpose plays a key role in responding to countries’ needs even when there is lower bilateral trade with these countries. In the second stage, decisions regarding the size of ODA are considered and these present a mixed purpose for giving ODA to higher importer countries.
Sexual Response Differs During Partnered Sex and Masturbation in Men with and Without Sexual Dysfunction: Implications for Treatment
Authors: Rowland David L. , Hamilton Benjamin D. , Bacys Katelyn R. , Hevesi Krizstina
Published: October 2021

Background

It is unclear whether men who experience sexual difficulty during partnered sex experience similar difficulty during masturbation.

Aim

To determine whether sexual functionality and dysfunctionality were similar or different during masturbation vs partnered sex.

Methods

We compared sexual responsivity during masturbation vs partnered sex in a multinational sample of 4,209 men with and without a sexual dysfunction to determine whether dysfunctionality was greater, less, or about the same during these 2 types of sexual activity.

Outcomes

Consistently lower impairment of sexual function was found during masturbation compared with partnered sex for all 3 sexual problems assessed: erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and delayed ejaculation.

Clinical Translation

These findings reiterate the potential value of assessing sexual responsivity during masturbation as well as melding masturbation strategies with couples therapy in order to attenuate impaired response during partnered sex.

Strength & Limitations

Although this study provides the first empirical evidence based on a large multinational sample indicating that sexual functionality is consistently higher during masturbation than partnered sex, it does not provide an empirically-derived explanation for this difference.

CONCLUSION

Understanding a man’s response potential during masturbation may be important to improving sexual response during partnered sex, with the need for more targeted research that more directly evaluates the use of such strategies in the treatment of men’s sexual problems.
Analysis and extension of the quadratic constitutive relation for RANS methods
Authors: Sabnis K. , Babinsky H. , Spalart P.R. , Galbraith D.S. , Benek J.A.
Published: October 2021

The quadratic constitutive relation was proposed as an extension of minimal complexity to linear eddy-viscosity models in order to improve mean flow predictions by better estimating turbulent stress distributions. However, the successes of this modification have been relatively modest and are limited to improved calculations of flow along streamwise corners, which are influenced by weak secondary vortices. This paper revisits the quadratic constitutive relation in an attempt to explain its capabilities and deficiencies. The success in streamwise corner flows cannot be entirely explained by significant improvements in turbulent stress estimates in general, but is instead due to better prediction of the particular turbulent stress combinations which appear in the mean streamwise vorticity equation. As a consequence of this investigation, a new formulation of turbulent stress modification is proposed, which appears to better predict the turbulent stress distributions for a variety of flows: channel flow, equilibrium boundary layers, pipe flow, separated boundary layers and square duct flow.
Optimisation analysis of reinforced cable distribution on the airship
Authors: Zhao H. , Chen Z. , Chen J.
Published: October 2021

Reinforced cables are usually installed on flexible airship structures to enhance their load-bearing capability. However, reinforced cables also increase the total weight of the airship. In order to find a balance between large loading-bear capability and light weight, a multi-objective optimisation scheme based on the genetic algorithm NSGA-II is put forward for the reinforced cable distribution on the airship. Firstly, different cable distribution schemes are presented according to engineering experience and the optimal one is determined by load analysis. Then, the CAE method and optimisation analysis are combined to achieve structure design optimisation. The parametric model of the airship structure with reinforced cables is established by ABAQUS secondary development and the load analysis is carried out. Parameter passing and optimisation algorithm are operated by Isight software and the optimisation analysis is conducted based on the NSGA-II algorithm. Finally, we draw some conclusions of the rules of optimised reinforcing cable distribution. The work of this paper has crucial engineering significance for improving performance of the airship structure design.
On spatial matchings: The first-in-first-match case
Authors: Manjrekar Mayank
Published: October 2021

We describe a process where two types of particles, marked red and blue, arrive in a domain at a constant rate. When a new particle arrives into the domain, if there are particles of the opposite color present within a distance of 1 from the new particle, then, among these particles, it matches to the one with the earliest arrival time, and both particles are removed. Otherwise, the particle is simply added to the system. Additionally, particles may lose patience and depart at a constant rate. We study the existence of a stationary regime for this process, when the domain is either a compact space or a Euclidean space. In the compact setting, we give a product-form characterization of the stationary distribution, and then prove an FKG-type inequality that establishes certain clustering properties of the particles in the steady state.
Unethical pro-organizational behavior as an outcome of servant leadership
Authors: Uymaz Ali Osman , Arslan Serdar
Published: October 2021

This study tested the relationship between servant leadership, unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) of employee, trust in managers, and employees' positive reciprocity beliefs (PRB). Data were collected from 392 employees who work in four and five-star hotels in Alanya, Turkey. Structural equation modeling and artificial neural network analyses provided evidence for direct and indirect relationships between servant leadership and employee UPB via trust in manager and PRB. Specifically, trust in manager and PRB strengthened the relationship of servant leadership with employee UPB. These findings suggest that servant leadership could have a previously unexplored dark side in certain contexts. The study enhances the servant leadership and UPB literature. It also suggests certain practical implications for hotel managers to be able to reduce employee UPB. The limitations and future research suggestions of the study are discussed.
DEGREE SPECTRA OF ANALYTIC COMPLETE EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS
Authors: ROSSEGGER DINO
Published: October 2021

We study the bi-embeddability and elementary bi-embeddability relation on graphs under Borel reducibility and investigate the degree spectra realized by these relations. We first give a Borel reduction from embeddability on graphs to elementary embeddability on graphs. As a consequence we obtain that elementary bi-embeddability on graphs is a
$\boldsymbol {\Sigma }^1_1$
complete equivalence relation. We then investigate the algorithmic properties of this reduction. We obtain that elementary bi-embeddability on the class of computable graphs is
$\Sigma ^1_1$
complete with respect to computable reducibility and show that the elementary bi-embeddability and bi-embeddability spectra realized by graphs are related.
WAYS OF DESTRUCTION
Authors: FARKAS BARNABÁS , ZDOMSKYY LYUBOMYR
Published: October 2021

We study the following natural strong variant of destroying Borel ideals:
$\mathbb {P}$

$+$
-destroys
$\mathcal {I}$
if
$\mathbb {P}$
adds an
$\mathcal {I}$
-positive set which has finite intersection with every
$A\in \mathcal {I}\cap V$
. Also, we discuss the associated variants
$$ \begin{align*} \mathrm{non}^*(\mathcal{I},+)=&\min\big\{|\mathcal{Y}|:\mathcal{Y}\subseteq\mathcal{I}^+,\; \forall\;A\in\mathcal{I}\;\exists\;Y\in\mathcal{Y}\;|A\cap Y|<\omega\big\},\\ \mathrm{cov}^*(\mathcal{I},+)=&\min\big\{|\mathcal{C}|:\mathcal{C}\subseteq\mathcal{I},\; \forall\;Y\in\mathcal{I}^+\;\exists\;C\in\mathcal{C}\;|Y\cap C|=\omega\big\} \end{align*} $$
of the star-uniformity and the star-covering numbers of these ideals.

Among other results, (1) we give a simple combinatorial characterisation when a real forcing
$\mathbb {P}_I$
can
$+$
-destroy a Borel ideal
$\mathcal {J}$
; (2) we discuss many classical examples of Borel ideals, their
$+$
-destructibility, and cardinal invariants; (3) we show that the Mathias–Prikry,
$\mathbb {M}(\mathcal {I}^*)$
-generic real
$+$
-destroys
$\mathcal {I}$
iff
$\mathbb {M}(\mathcal {I}^*)\ +$
-destroys
$\mathcal {I}$
iff
$\mathcal {I}$
can be
$+$
-destroyed iff
$\mathrm {cov}^*(\mathcal {I},+)>\omega $
; (4) we characterise when the Laver–Prikry,
$\mathbb {L}(\mathcal {I}^*)$
-generic real
$+$
-destroys
$\mathcal {I}$
, and in the case of P-ideals, when exactly
$\mathbb {L}(\mathcal {I}^*)$

$+$
-destroys
$\mathcal {I}$
; and (5) we briefly discuss an even stronger form of destroying ideals closely related to the additivity of the null ideal.
‘Impossible to provide an accurate estimate’: the interested calculation of the Ottoman public debt, 1875–1881
Authors: Stolz Daniel A.
Published: October 2021

When the Ottoman Empire defaulted on its public debt in 1875, British bondholders launched a campaign to win government intervention on their behalf. This article interprets the unprecedented success of this campaign as a matter of knowledge production. Mobilizing the newly established Corporation of Foreign Bondholders as a kind of ‘centre of calculation’, bondholders argued that they deserved assistance because of the unique size of the Ottoman default and the proportion of it that was held by British subjects. Yet neither of these numbers was easily calculated. In fact, influential bondholders worked closely with accountants and members of the Statistical Society to devise an accurate method for quantifying the Ottoman debt – and concluded that such a method did not exist. Historians of quantification and accounting have argued that the scientific status of nineteenth-century accounting depended on its disinterestedness. In the case of the Ottoman default, however, calculation was understood to be inseparable from material interest and political debate.
When good attitudes are not enough: understanding intentions to keep yellow-shouldered Amazons as pets on Margarita Island, Venezuela
Authors: Sánchez-Mercado Ada , Blanco Oriana , Sucre Bibiana , Briceño-Linares José Manuel , Peláez Carlos , Rodríguez Jon Paul
Published: October 2021

Unsustainable harvesting to supply the demand for pets is the second most significant threat to parrots (Psittacidae). Given that parrot keeping is widespread, in-depth and culturally sensitive research is needed to inform and develop interventions targeted at changing consumer preferences and purchasing behaviours. Parrot keeping is thought to be driven mainly by a desire for companionship (the affection hypothesis). Alternative hypotheses include a deeply ingrained culture of parrot ownership (the tradition hypothesis) or the influence of socio-economic context (the contextual hypothesis). We used the theory of planned behaviour to evaluate the relative importance of behavioural and contextual factors influencing the intention to keep the yellow-shouldered AmazonAmazona barbadensisas a pet. We interviewed 150 owners and non-owners of parrots in two locations in Macanao Peninsula, Margarita Island, Venezuela, where the primary population of this species is located. We found mixed evidence supporting both the affection and contextual hypotheses: intention to keep parrots was higher in non-owners with high education level, strong affective attitudes regarding human–animal relationships, and higher expectations about social norms (41% of explained variance). Our study expands previous research on the illegal parrot trade by taking into account behavioural measures beyond attitudes, highlighting the role of social norms frequently ignored in such research. We discuss how a behaviour change campaign could redirect affective attitudes in the human–parrot relationship, and promote new social norms that support parrot conservation. Future research should consider the inclusion of moral and injunctive norms, and monitoring of intervention effectiveness.
Acoustic competition within a tropical bird community: the case of the Resplendent QuetzalPharomachrus mocinnoin Guatemala
Authors: Bolaños-Sittler Pablo , Aubin Thierry , Padilla Andrea , Sueur Jérôme
Published: October 2021

The structure of ecological communities is thought to be mainly driven by competition processes between species. One special case of resource shaping community dynamics is the acoustic space. However, the acoustic communities have been rarely described for tropical birds. Here, we aimed at estimating acoustic competition between the iconic speciesPharomachrus mocinnoand the other bird species occupying the same habitat. An acoustic survey was conducted in a cloud forest in Guatemala for 17 days in six simultaneous recording sites. All species occurring in the same frequency bandwidth were identified, and the acoustic overlapping betweenP. mocinnoand these species was estimated. Eighteen species were identified as acoustic competitors. Ecological traits and phylogenetic distance were defined for all species. The rate of acoustic competition betweenP. mocinnoand other species was related to different ecological traits and competition for resources. The acoustic overlap was high with species competing for similar food resources and phylogenetically close species and low with predator species and phylogenetically distant species. These unique observations provide new behavioural and ecological information that might be useful for the knowledge of this species and the cloud forest.
Accelerated epigenetic aging at birth interacts with parenting hostility to predict child temperament and subsequent psychological symptoms
Authors: Manczak Erika M. , Scott Samantha R. , Millwood Summer N.
Published: October 2021

In an effort to elucidate new factors that may contribute to developmental psychopathology, the current study examined whether accelerated epigenetic aging at birth related to children's differential susceptibility to the effects of aversive parenting on early emerging mental health risk. Using data from a multiethnic birth cohort, the interaction between Horvath's methylation age in umbilical cord blood and hostile parenting behaviors was examined in relation to perceptions of infant's temperament at 6 months and to children's psychological symptoms at 3 years in 154 families. Results broadly revealed that children with higher levels of accelerated methylation aging evinced more unpredictable temperaments and more psychological symptoms if their mothers reported more hostile parenting, but showed fewer difficulties if mothers engaged in less hostile parenting; children with lower levels of accelerated methylation age did not show associations between hostility and temperament or psychological symptoms. Effects were not accounted for by gestational age at birth, demographic factors, or the distribution of cell subtypes. These findings suggest that accelerated epigenetic age may function as a form of differential susceptibility, signaling increased risk for psychopathology in more aversive contexts but decreased risk in less aversive early environments. Taken together, they point to a novel biological process to consider within risk for psychopathology.
Characterization and potential utilization of recently available milk thistle, Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., wild type and mutant accessions
Authors: Martinelli Tommaso , Baumann Karin , Börner Andreas
Published: October 2021

Milk thistle, Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae), is an economically important medicinal plant utilized for silymarin production. Moreover, the species has been positively evaluated for vegetable oil and biomass production. Despite these positive characteristics, milk thistle is still marked by traits that are typical of undomesticated species (most importantly natural fruit dispersal at maturity) and requires further genetic improvement for its complete exploitation. This manuscript summarizes all the information collected through time about a collection of nine milk thistle wild and mutant lines and it discusses the possible further utilization of these genotypes. The accessions are characterized by interesting traits related to: fruit silymarin composition (S. marianum chemotype A and B), fruit fatty acid composition (high oleic and high stearic acid lines), fruit condensed tannins content, vegetative biomass composition (modification of xylans or lignin content), vegetative biomass structure (dwarf and tall lines), modifications of leaf variegation (hypervareigated line) and different types of fruit shatter resistance at maturity. All the lines underwent subsequent generations of selfing and are stable for all the described traits. The accessions will be made available at the Genebank of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK, Gatersleben) and may prove to be a useful genetic material for the improvement of qualitative fruit traits (silymarin quality, fatty acid composition) and for the further development of shatter-resistant S. marianum genotypes towards the complete domestication of this promising species.
Testing Methods for Reconstructing Glacial Antarctic Circumpolar Current Transport in an Isotope‐Enabled Climate Model
Authors: Li Lingwei , Liu Zhengyu , Lynch‐Stieglitz Jean , He Chengfei , Gu Sifan , Zhang Jiaxu , Otto‐Bliesner Bette
Published: October 2021

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) plays a vital role in the interbasin exchange of ocean properties. A robust method to reconstruct the ACC baroclinic transport is helpful to assess the ACC's sensitivity to a changed climate. Here we test the reconstruction methods at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ∼20 ka) using end‐member water masses in a fully coupled, isotope‐enabled Community Earth System Model. Model results suggest that the density profile at the northern side of ocean margins across the ACC can be reconstructed well from end‐member water masses of Subtropical Surface Water (STSW), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), and Lower Circumpolar Deep Water. One additional pore fluid observation at 1,000 m can substantially improve transport reconstruction and is essential to constrain the sign of change in ACC transport during the LGM. Moreover, the uncertainty in transport calculation is large when salinities for STSW and AAIW are reconstructed independently based on the δ18Osw‐Salinity relationship of surface and intermediate waters in the South Indian Ocean. More direct measurements of LGM temperature and salinity may allow better transport reconstruction.
Amplified Drought and Flood Risk Under Future Socioeconomic and Climatic Change
Authors: Tabari Hossein , Hosseinzadehtalaei Parisa , Thiery Wim , Willems Patrick
Published: October 2021

The economic stress and damage from natural hazards are escalating at an alarming rate, calling for anticipatory risk management. Yet few studies have projected flood and drought risk, owing to large uncertainties, strong non‐linearities, and complex spatial‐temporal dynamics. Here, we develop an integrative global risk analysis framework encapsulating future changes in flood and drought hazards as well as associated exposure and vulnerability dimensions. Flood characteristics are quantified by fitting a generalized extreme value distribution (GEV) to the annual flow maxima time series, while drought properties are characterized by the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and the standardized precipitation index (SPI). The drivers of drought and flood risk changes at the global and regional scales are explored, and the wide cascade of uncertainties in the risk assessment is decomposed. We find a substantial increase in both flood and drought risk towards the end of the century over most of the globe, driven by compounding changes in exposure, vulnerability, and hazard. A shift from a fossil‐fueled development to a sustainable one decreases the global area facing a risk doubling from 61% to 33% for flood and from 41% to 23% for drought. South America and Africa are identified as hotspot regions where a concomitant, large increase in both flood and drought risk are projected. The hazard quantification method is ubiquitously the dominant uncertainty source for drought risk changes, while the contribution of uncertainty sources for flood risk changes is highly variable in space.
Training the Next Generation of Physical Data Scientists
Authors: McGovern Amy , Allen John
Published: October 2021

Preparing a diverse new generation of scientists who can use artificial intelligence and data science to better understand and predict geoscience phenomena requires revamped training.
Aerosol Loading and Radiation Budget Perturbations in Densely Populated and Highly Polluted Indo‐Gangetic Plain by COVID‐19: Influences on Cloud Properties and Air Temperature
Authors: Khatri P. , Hayasaka T. , Holben B. , Tripathi S. N. , Misra P. , Patra P. K. , Hayashida S. , Dumka U. C.
Published: October 2021

Aerosols emitted in densely populated and industrialized Indo‐Gangetic Plain, one of the most polluted regions in the world, modulate regional climate, monsoon, and Himalayan glacier retreat. Thus, this region is important for understanding aerosol perturbations and their resulting impacts on atmospheric changes during COVID‐19 lockdown period, a natural experimental condition created by the pandemic. By analyzing 5 years (2016–2020) data of aerosols and performing a radiative transfer calculation, we found that columnar and near‐surface aerosol loadings decreased, leading to reductions in radiative cooling at the surface and top of the atmosphere and atmospheric warming during lockdown period. Further, satellite data analyses showed increases in cloud optical thickness and cloud‐particle effective radius and decrease in lower tropospheric air temperature during lockdown period. These results indicate critical influences of COVID‐19 lockdown on regional climate and water cycle over Indo‐Gangetic Plain, emphasizing need for further studies from modeling perspectives.
Initial Acoustoelastic Measurements in Olivine: Investigating the Effect of Stress on P‐ and S‐Wave Velocities
Authors: Traylor T. K. , Burnley P. C. , Whitaker M. L.
Published: October 2021

It is well known that elasticity is a key physical property in the determination of the structure and composition of the Earth and provides critical information for the interpretation of seismic data. This study investigates the stress‐induced variation in elastic wave velocities, known as the acoustoelastic effect, in San Carlos olivine. A recently developed experimental ultrasonic acoustic system, the Directly Integrated Acoustic System Combined with Pressure Experiments (DIASCoPE), was used with the D‐DIA multi‐anvil apparatus to transmit ultrasonic sound waves and collect the reflections. We use the DIASCoPE to obtain longitudinal (P) and shear (S) elastic wave velocities from San Carlos olivine at pressures ranging from 3.2–10.5 GPa and temperatures from 450–950°C which we compare to the stress state in the D‐DIA derived from synchrotron X‐ray diffraction. We use elastic‐plastic self‐consistent (EPSC) numerical modeling to forward model X‐ray diffraction data collected in D‐DIA experiments to obtain the macroscopic stress on our sample. We can observe the relationship between the relative elastic wave velocity change (ΔV/V) and macroscopic stress to determine the acoustoelastic constants, and interpret our observations using the linearized first‐order equation based on the model proposed by Hughes and Kelly (1953), https://doi.org/10.1103/physrev.92.1145. This work supports the presence of the acoustoelastic effect in San Carlos olivine, which can be measured as a function of pressure and temperature. This study will aid in our understanding of the acoustoelastic effect and provide a new experimental technique to measure the stress state in elastically deformed geologic materials at high pressure conditions.
The Cross‐Shore Component in the Vertical Structure of Wave‐Induced Currents and Resulting Offshore Transport
Authors: Lu Jing , Han Guoqi , Song Dehai , Oliver Thomas , Teng Yong , Guo Jingsong , Wu Lunyu , Zhang Cong , Jiang Xingjie
Published: October 2021

A comprehensive field survey was conducted, and a numerical model based on the Princeton Ocean Model was established to investigate the vertical structure of current induced by surface waves and identify its effect on sand loss from a beach. Previous studies have examined wave‐induced longshore transport, whereas this study focused on cross‐shore transport caused by waves. The introduction of vertically dependent radiation stress revealed that wave‐induced vertical gyres existed with onshore and offshore flows in the upper and lower layers, respectively, besides the well‐known wave‐induced longshore flow. It was found that the vertical gyres were caused by the onshore wave force (a gradient of radiation stress) in the upper layer and the offshore wave force usually existed in the lower layer, as well as the horizontal imbalance of local wave force. The locations of wave‐induced vertical gyres were found to correspond to the location of sediment erosion, and thus the lower part of the vertical gyres drove the offshore transport of eroded sediment. Moreover, the vertical gyres were located in areas with a highly variable topographic gradient (e.g., at a bar), and their driven offshore currents (undertow/return flow) extended far beyond the surf zone. The topographic slope had a profound effect on the vertical structure. Numerical experiments showed that an extended breakwater from the eastern headland of the bay could prevent sediment from being eroded. Furthermore, the shear front at the rim of a horizontal gyre could retain suspended sediment in the center of the gyre.
Dietary predictors of prenatal per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances exposure
Authors: Eick Stephanie M. , Goin Dana E. , Trowbridge Jessica , Cushing Lara , Smith Sabrina Crispo , Park June-Soo , DeMicco Erin , Padula Amy M. , Woodruff Tracey J. , Morello-Frosch Rachel
Published: October 2021

Background

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are commonly detected in a variety of foods and food packaging materials. However, few studies have examined diet as a potential source of PFAS exposure during pregnancy. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined prenatal PFAS levels in relation to self-reported consumption of meats, dairy products, and processed foods during pregnancy.

Methods

Participants were enrolled in the Chemicals in Our Bodies study, a demographically diverse pregnancy cohort in San Francisco, CA (N = 509). Diet was assessed using a self-reported interview questionnaire administered during the second trimester. Participants were asked on average how many times a day, week, or month they ate 11 different foods since becoming pregnant. Responses were categorized as at least once a week or less than once a week and foods were grouped into three categories: processed foods, dairy products, and meats. Twelve PFAS (ng/mL) were measured in second trimester serum samples. We investigated relationships between consumption of individual dairy products, meats, and processed foods and natural log-transformed PFAS using separate linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, and nativity.

Results

Seven PFAS were detected in ≥65% of participants. Consumption of dairy milk and cheese at least once per week was moderately associated with elevated levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA) relative to those who ate dairy products less than once week. The strongest associations observed were with PFDeA for dairy milk (β = 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.39) and PFNA for cheese (β = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.41). Eating fish, poultry, and red meat at least once per week was associated with higher levels of perfluoroundecanoic acid, PFDeA, PFNA, and perflucorooctane sulfonic acid.

Conclusions

Results indicate that consumption of animal products may contribute to elevated prenatal PFAS levels.
MedFuseNet: An attention-based multimodal deep learning model for visual question answering in the medical domain
Authors: Sharma Dhruv , Purushotham Sanjay , Reddy Chandan K.
Published: October 2021

Medical images are difficult to comprehend for a person without expertise. The scarcity of medical practitioners across the globe often face the issue of physical and mental fatigue due to the high number of cases, inducing human errors during the diagnosis. In such scenarios, having an additional opinion can be helpful in boosting the confidence of the decision maker. Thus, it becomes crucial to have a reliable visual question answering (VQA) system to provide a ‘second opinion’ on medical cases. However, most of the VQA systems that work today cater to real-world problems and are not specifically tailored for handling medical images. Moreover, the VQA system for medical images needs to consider a limited amount of training data available in this domain. In this paper, we developMedFuseNet, an attention-based multimodal deep learning model, for VQA on medical images taking the associated challenges into account. OurMedFuseNetaims at maximizing the learning with minimal complexity by breaking the problem statement into simpler tasks and predicting the answer. We tackle two types of answer prediction—categorization and generation. We conducted an extensive set of quantitative and qualitative analyses to evaluate the performance ofMedFuseNet. Our experiments demonstrate thatMedFuseNetoutperforms the state-of-the-art VQA methods, and that visualization of the captured attentions showcases the intepretability of our model’s predicted results.
Molecular mechanism of oil induced growth inhibition in diatoms using Thalassiosira pseudonana as the model species
Authors: Kamalanathan Manoj , Mapes Savannah , Hillhouse Jessica , Claflin Noah , Leleux Joshua , Hala David , Quigg Antonietta
Published: October 2021

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil-spill exposed the microbes of Gulf of Mexico to unprecedented amount of oil. Conclusive evidence of the underlying molecular mechanism(s) on the negative effects of oil exposure on certain phytoplankton species such as Thalassiosira pseudonana is still lacking, curtailing our understanding of how oil spills alter community composition. We performed experiments on model diatom T. pseudonana to understand the mechanisms underpinning observed reduced growth and photosynthesis rates during oil exposure. Results show severe impairment to processes upstream of photosynthesis, such as light absorption, with proteins associated with the light harvesting complex damaged while the pigments were unaffected. Proteins associated with photosynthetic electron transport were also damaged, severely affecting photosynthetic apparatus and depriving cells of energy and carbon for growth. Negative growth effects were alleviated when an organic carbon source was provided. Further investigation through proteomics combined with pathway enrichment analysis confirmed the above findings, while highlighting other negatively affected processes such as those associated with ferroxidase complex, high-affinity iron-permease complex, and multiple transmembrane transport. We also show that oxidative stress is not the primary route of negative effects, rather secondary. Overall, this study provides a mechanistic understanding of the cellular damage that occurs during oil exposure to T. pseudonana.
Identification of candidate genes from androgenic gland in Macrobrachium nipponense regulated by eyestalk ablation
Authors: Jin Shubo , Fu Yin , Hu Yuning , Fu Hongtuo , Jiang Sufei , Xiong Yiwei , Qiao Hui , Zhang Wenyi , Gong Yongsheng , Wu Yan
Published: October 2021

The eyestalk of crustaceans, such as Macrobrachium nipponense, contains many neurosecretory hormones affecting the process of reproduction, molting, metabolism of glucose, and other functions. In this study, important metabolic pathways and candidate genes involved in male sexual development were selected from M. nipponense. The methodology involved performing long-read and next generation transcriptome sequencing of genes from the androgenic gland after eyestalk ablation. qPCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of Mn-IAG was significantly increased after ablation of both the single-side (SS) and double-side (DS) eyestalk, compared with the control group (CG). The long-read transcriptome generated 49,840 non-redundant transcripts. A total of 1319, 2092 and 4351 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between CG versus SS, SS versus DS and CG versus DS, respectively. These data indicated that ablation of the double-sided eyestalk played stronger regulatory roles than the single-side ablation on male sexual development in M. nipponense. This was consistent with the qPCR analysis. Cell Cycle, Cellular Senescence, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis and Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis were the primary enriched metabolic pathways in all three comparisons, and the important genes from these metabolic pathways were also selected. qPCR permitted secondary confirmation of ten DEGs identified through RNA-seq. RNAi-mediated silencing analyses of Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase like 1 (HSDL1) revealed that HSDL1 has a positive regulatory effect on testes development. This study provides valuable insight into male sexual development in M. nipponense, including metabolic pathways and genes, paving the way for advanced studies on male sexual development in this species and in other crustaceans.
Evolution﻿ of spin freezing transition and structural, magnetic phase diagram of Dy$$_{2-\textit{x}}$$La$$_\textit{x}$$Zr$$_{2}$$O$$_{7}$$ (0 $$\le$$ $$\textit{x}$$ $$\le$$ 2.0)
Authors: Sheetal  , Yadav C. S.
Published: October 2021

Dy$$_{2}$$

2

Zr$$_{2}$$

2

O$$_{7}$$

7

a disordered pyrochlore system, exhibits the spin freezing behavior under the application of the magnetic field. We have performed detailed magnetic studies of Dy$$_{2-\textit{x}}$$

2
-
x

La$$_\textit{x}$$

x

Zr$$_{2}$$

2

O$$_{7}$$

7

to understand the evolution of the magnetic spin freezing in the system. Our studies suggest the stabilization of the pyrochlore phase with the substitution of non-magnetic La along with the biphasic mixture of fluorite and pyrochlore phases for the intermediate compositions. We observed that the spin freezing (T$$_{f}$$

f

$$\sim$$
∼
17 K) at higher La compositions (1.5 $$\le$$
≤
$$\textit{x}$$
x
$$\le$$
≤
1.99) is similar to the field-induced spin freezing for low La compositions (0 $$\le$$
≤
$$\textit{x}$$
x
$$\le$$
≤
0.5) and the well-known spin ice systems Dy$$_{2}$$

2

Ti$$_{2}$$

2

O$$_{7}$$

7

and Ho$$_{2}$$

2

Ti$$_{2}$$

2

O$$_{7}$$

7

. The low-temperature magnetic state for higher La compositions (1.5 $$\le$$
≤
$$\textit{x}$$
x
$$\le$$
≤
1.99) culminates into a spin-glass like state below 6 K. Cole–Cole plot and Casimir-du Pr$$\acute{e}$$

e
´

fit shows the narrow distribution of spin relaxation time in these compounds.
Effective Landé factors for an electrostatically defined quantum point contact in silicene
Authors: Rzeszotarski Bartłomiej , Mreńca-Kolasińska Alina , Peeters François M. , Szafran Bartłomiej
Published: October 2021

The transconductance and effective Landé $$g^*$$

g
∗

factors for a quantum point contact defined in silicene by the electric field of a split gate is investigated. The strong spin–orbit coupling in buckled silicene reduces the $$g^*$$

g
∗

factor for in-plane magnetic field from the nominal value 2 to around 1.2 for the first- to 0.45 for the third conduction subband. However, for perpendicular magnetic field we observe an enhancement of $$g^*$$

g
∗

factors for the first subband to 5.8 in nanoribbon with zigzag and to 2.5 with armchair edge. The main contribution to the Zeeman splitting comes from the intrinsic spin–orbit coupling defined by the Kane–Mele form of interaction.
Host response transcriptomic analysis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever pathogenesis in the cynomolgus macaque model
Authors: Arnold Catherine E. , Shoemaker Charles J. , Smith Darci R. , Douglas Christina E. , Blancett Candace D. , Graham Amanda S. , Minogue Timothy D.
Published: October 2021

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a highly pathogenic tick-borne RNA virus prevalent in Asia, Europe, and Africa, and can cause a hemorrhagic disease (CCHF) in humans with mortality rates as high as 60%. A general lack of both effective medical countermeasures and a comprehensive understanding of disease pathogenesis is partly driven by an historical lack of viable CCHF animal models. Recently, a cynomolgous macaque model of CCHF disease was developed. Here, we document the targeted transcriptomic response of non-human primates (NHP) to two different CCHFV strains; Afghan09-2990 and Kosova Hoti that both yielded a mild CCHF disease state. We utilized a targeted gene panel to elucidate the transcriptomic changes occurring in NHP whole blood during CCHFV infection; a first for any primate species. We show numerous upregulated genes starting at 1 day post-challenge through 14 days post-challenge. Early gene changes fell predominantly in the interferon stimulated gene family with later gene changes coinciding with an adaptive immune response to the virus. There are subtle differences between viral strains, namely duration of the differentially expressed gene response and biological pathways enriched. After recovery, NHPs showed no lasting transcriptomic changes at the end of sample collection.
Efflux transporters in rat placenta and developing brain: transcriptomic and functional response to paracetamol
Authors: Koehn L. M. , Huang Y. , Habgood M. D. , Nie S. , Chiou S. Y. , Banati R. B. , Dziegielewska K. M. , Saunders N. R.
Published: October 2021

Adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC) transporters transfer lipid-soluble molecules across cellular interfaces either directly or after enzymatic metabolism. RNAseq analysis identified transcripts for ABC transporters and enzymes in rat E19, P5 and adult brain and choroid plexus and E19 placenta. Their functional capacity to efflux small molecules was studied by quantitative analysis of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and its metabolites using liquid scintillation counting, autoradiography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Animals were treated acutely (30 min) and chronically (5 days, twice daily) with paracetamol (15 mg/kg) to investigate ability of brain and placenta barriers to regulate ABC transport functionality during extended treatment. Results indicated that transcripts of many efflux-associated ABC transporters were higher in adult brain and choroid plexus than at earlier ages. Chronic treatment upregulated certain transcripts only in adult brain and altered concentrations of paracetamol metabolites in circulation of pregnant dams. Combination of changes to metabolites and transport system transcripts may explain observed changes in paracetamol entry into adult and fetal brains. Analysis of lower paracetamol dosing (3.75 mg/kg) indicated dose-dependent changes in paracetamol metabolism. Transcripts of ABC transporters and enzymes at key barriers responsible for molecular transport into the developing brain showed alterations in paracetamol pharmacokinetics in pregnancy following different treatment regimens.