bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence lines for schedule networks
Authors: Lepel A , Hajdu M
Published: February 2022

An influence line graphs for project planning show how the changes of a selected activity duration affect the project duration. The name comes from the structural analysis where influence lines show on the ordinates of a graph the variation of the magnitude of, e.g., the bending moment at a specific point as a unit load traverses across the structure. This paper examines the principles of project planning influence lines: it discusses how to depict the six criticality types of activities, and it also shows what kind of transitions are possible among the criticality types. The findings help the greater understanding of the effects of the activity duration changes on the project duration.
Analysing the impact of partial replacement of basic concrete elements through WGP
Authors: Dixit Saurav
Published: February 2022

The study's purpose is to analyze the impact of productivity in Indian transportation infrastructure projects. The study's methodology is to identify and analyse productivity attributes based on a literature review and expert focus group interviews. The identified attributes were identified and examined based on the respondents' relative weight. The data was gathered using a structured questionnaire across India, using both online and offline methods. SPSS 21 software was used to analyse the collected data. To analyse the collected data, quantitative research methodology was used, and the following tools and techniques were applied to the data: Reliability analysis was used to ensure the consistency of the data collected for the study, and the Relative importance index (RII) was used to set priorities and rank the attributes based on the weighted average score provided by the respondents. The study's findings show that planning and scheduling have the greatest impact on productivity in Indian transportation infrastructure projects, followed by construction methodology, storage area, poor construction method, and direction and coordination, with relative importance indexes (RII) of 0.79, 0.78, 0.77, 0.76, and 0.74, respectively. This study contributes to the current knowledge bank by identifying and analysing the impact of productivity in Indian transportation infrastructure projects. The study provides a solution for construction managers and project managers to apply the study's findings to their projects in order to control the issues of low productivity and project delays
Scaling of self-compression of near-IR femtosecond pulses in hollow-core fibers down to the single-cycle limit
Authors: Dey Pritha , Vijayan C , Krishnan Sivarama
Published: February 2022

We numerically investigate the scaling of self-compression processes with experimental parameters for near-infrared ultrashort pulses (30 fs) in gas-filled hollow-core fiber (HCF). These simulations over a wide-range of input pulse energies as well as filling gas pressures reveal a remarkable scaling of the self-compression process and dynamics. As a function of soliton order N, we identify the relation between the propagation distance after which self-compression in the HCF begins and the subsequent propagation length up to which the pulse remains maximally compressed; both these length scales decrease with an increase in N, the soliton order. Although previous investigations revealed pulse compression scaling laws which provide a good approximation for input pulse-widths ∼100 fs down to the limit where soliton fission begins to dominate the dynamics, these are not sufficiently accurate to describe the entire scaling dynamics. Instead, we identify a more generalized set of scaling laws by taking both third-order dispersion and the saturation of the compression factor due to soliton fission into account. These conclusions about scaling are robust: our simulations were carried out over a wide range of realistic input pulse energies and gas pressures as implemented in laboratories taking into account higher-order dispersive properties of the gaseous propagating medium. Therefore, given that these numerical investigations consider conditions typically applied in practice in laboratories, this work provides elegant design principles and guideposts relevant to realizing systems capable of achieving self-compression at substantially high pulse energies down to the few-cycle limit; they are of paramount importance in generating single as well as trains of attosecond pulses and acceleration strategies for electrons and ions in intense laser pulses.
The surface waves propagating along the contact between the layer with the constant gradient of refractive index and photorefractive crystal
Authors: Savotchenko Sergey
Published: February 2022

We consider the photorefractive crystal with diffusion nonlinearity mechanism contacting with the linearly graded-index medium. The new types of the surface waves propagating along the contact are found and their properties are described. The transition between two types of the surface waves can be controlled by the waveguide temperature. The light field penetrates into the photorefractive crystal much deeper than into the graded-index medium. The maxima intensity monotonically increase with an increase in the propagation constant, and monotonically decrease with an increase in the temperature. The localization length of the surface waves decreases with an increase in the characteristic distance the graded-index medium and with a decrease in the propagation constant and the temperature. The discrete spectrum of the propagation constant for the special waveguide mode corresponding to the case of exponential damping of intensity maxima of the surface waves with an increasing temperature is obtained. It is shown that the intensity maxima in the photorefractive crystal depend parabolic on the temperature at low temperature waveguide mode.
Effect of ceramic surface texture on the tribological property of ceramics and carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide ceramic matrix composite (C/SiC)
Authors: Wei Jinhua , Wang Jie , Pei Tianhe , Yan Weidong , Hu Zhiyuan , Li Awen , Sui Tianyi , Wang Haoji , Lin Bin
Published: February 2022

Three processing methods including grinding, polishing, laser engraving were used on ZrO2 and Si3N4 surfaces. Two types of surface textures were obtained including micro dimples and micro grooves through the laser engraving. Therefore, the friction experiments of the eight surfaces mated with C/SiC were conducted under a dry condition at ambient temperature. The results indicated that surface texture does not necessarily have a positive effect on the tribological properties which are largely influenced by the countrpart materials and the texture type. Ground ZrO2-C/SiC and Si3N4 with micro dimples-C/SiC have a better tribological property, and the former shows the best performance during the tests. The formation and the falling off of wear debris are accompanied with the whole friction process while C/SiC rubbing against Si3N4 disc with micro dimples thus resulting in a worse result.
Effect of shear stress and compressive stress deformation on LPSO phase kink behavior of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy
Authors: Wu Yaojin , Meng Yingze , Yu Huisheng , He Yayun , Yu Jianmin , Wang Zhen , Zhang Zhimin
Published: February 2022

Using torsion and compression experiments, the kink behavior of the long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase under different stress deformation of the Mg-13Gd-4Y-2Zn-0.5Zr alloy were studied. The results show that different stress states have different effects on the kink of LPSO phase. The grain deformation of the shear stress deformed (SSD) alloy is relatively weak, where LPSO phases are mostly C-shaped or S-shaped kinks. The kink forms can be divided into parallel kinks and angular kinks. The grains of compressive stress deformed (CSD) alloy are significantly elongated and perpendicular to the compression direction, in which occur more Z-shaped zigzag kinks. The kink angle and kink times of the shear stress deformed alloy are small, while the relative kink width is larger. There are large number kink bands during compressive stress deformation, almost all of which are distributed in perpendicular to the compression direction. The difference in the kink behavior is due to the non-basal slip of SSD is easy to active, while in the CSD alloy, the non-basal slip is relatively difficult to active, resulting in more dislocation pile-up. Different forms of kinks can release stress concentration, and all of kinks make the grains deflect in the direction with higher non-basal slip schmid factor.
Equivalence of finite group actions on Riemann surfaces and algebraic curves
Authors: Broughton S.
Published: February 2022

We consider conformal actions of the finite groupGGon a closed Riemann surfaceSS, as well as algebraic actions ofGGon smooth, complete, algebraic curves over an arbitrary, algebraically closed field. There are several notions of equivalence of actions, the most studied of which is topological equivalence, because of its close relationship to the branch locus of moduli space. A second important equivalence relation is that induced by representation ofGGon spaces of holomorphicqq-differentials. The notion of topological equivalence does not work well in positive characteristic. We shall discuss an alternative to topological equivalence, which we dub equisymmetry, that may be applied in all characteristics. The relation is induced by families of curves withGG-action, and it works well with rotation constants andqq-differentials, which are also defined in positive characteristic. After giving an overview of the various equivalence relations (conformal/algebraic, topological,qq-differentials, rotation constants, equisymmetry) we focus on the interconnections among rotation constants,qq-differentials, and equisymmetry.
Arithmetic of dihedral origami
Authors: Davis Rachel , Goins Edray
Published: February 2022

We study Galois branched covers of elliptic curves, with dihedral Galois group and branched over one point. We give an explicit construction of such covers. In particular, we describe the field of definition of the preimages of points.
Universal 𝑞-gonal tessellations and their Petrie paths
Authors: Kattan Doha , Singerman David
Published: February 2022

In [Sin88] the second author showed that the Farey map

F

\mathbb {F}

is a model of the universal triangular tessellation. This is a tessellation that covers every other triangular tessellation on an orientable surface. More precisely, the automorphism group of

F

\mathbb {F}

is the classical modular group

Γ
=
P
S
L
(
2
,

Z

)

\Gamma =PSL(2,\mathbb {Z})

and every triangular map is the quotient of

F

\mathbb {F}

by a subgroup of

Γ
\Gamma

. The aim of this paper is to describe universal

q
q

-gonal tessellations. Here the modular group will be replaced by Hecke groups.

In [SS16] it was shown that the Petrie paths of the Farey map pass through vertices whose numerators and denominators are Fibonacci numbers. In section 8 we consider Hecke-Fibonacci sequences which arise out of universal

q
q

-gonal tessellations.
Matched Sampling Methodology Reconsidered: The Role of Trust in Studying Remittance Transfers Between Ghanaian Immigrants in the UK and their Relatives in Ghana
Authors: Ampah Geraldine Asiwome
Published: February 2022

Matched sampling methodology (MSM) has been used in remittance studies to understand remittance transfers. However, a detailed examination of the role of trust as a central element in producing reliable and valid research conclusions when a matched sample methodology is used has been missing in the literature. This paper fills this lacuna by arguing that cultivating trust in matched sampling research on remittance transfers, a sensitive subject matter, between African immigrants and their relatives presents a more nuanced narrative of remittance transfers. This approach shows that not only do African immigrants in the ‘Global North’ send remittances back home, but immigrants also receive remittances (reverse remittances) from their relatives on the continent. Using remittance research conducted among Ghanaian immigrants in the UK and their relatives in Ghana, this article identifies three ‘avenues of trust’—‘public avenues of trust’, ‘intermediate avenues of trust’, and ‘private avenues of trust’—to highlight the processes and challenges that researchers encounter while establishing contact with research participants and the role that trust plays in gathering accurate information. Focusing on the role of trust in MSM is in line with recent theoretical paradigms of remittance research that call for soliciting information from both origin and destination countries.
Measurement Error Affecting Web- and Paper-Based Dietary Assessment Instruments: Insights From the Multi-Cohort Eating and Activity Study for Understanding Reporting Error
Authors: Kirkpatrick Sharon I , Troiano Richard P , Barrett Brian , Cunningham Christopher , Subar Amy F , Park Yikyung , Bowles Heather R , Freedman Laurence S , Kipnis Victor , Rimm Eric B , Willett Walter C , Potischman Nancy , Spielgelman Donna , Baer David J , Schoeller Dale A , Dodd Kevin W
Published: February 2022

Few biomarker-based validation studies have examined error in online self-report dietary assessment instruments, and food records (FRs) have been considered less than food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and 24-hour recalls (24HRs). We investigated measurement error in online and paper-based FFQs, online 24HRs, and paper-based FRs in 3 samples drawn primarily from 3 cohorts, comprising 1,393 women and 1,455 men aged 45–86 years. Data collection occurred from January 2011 to October 2013. Attenuation factors and correlation coefficients between reported and true usual intake for energy, protein, sodium, potassium, and respective densities were estimated using recovery biomarkers. Across studies, average attenuation factors for energy were 0.07, 0.07, and 0.19 for a single FFQ, 24HR, and FR, respectively. Correlation coefficients for energy were 0.24, 0.23, and 0.40, respectively. Excluding energy, the average attenuation factors across nutrients and studies were 0.22 for a single FFQ, 0.22 for a single 24HR, and 0.51 for a single FR. Corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.31, 0.34, and 0.53, respectively. For densities (nutrient expressed relative to energy), the average attenuation factors across studies were 0.37, 0.17, and 0.50, respectively. The findings support prior research suggesting different instruments have unique strengths that should be leveraged in epidemiologic research.
Impact of the Timing of Stay-at-Home Orders and Mobility Reductions on First-Wave COVID-19 Deaths in US Counties
Authors: Audirac Michelle , Tec Mauricio , Meyers Lauren Ancel , Fox Spencer , Zigler Cory
Published: February 2022

As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission continues to evolve, understanding the contribution of location-specific variations in nonpharmaceutical interventions and behaviors to disease transmission during the initial epidemic wave will be key for future control strategies. We offer a rigorous statistical analysis of the relative effectiveness of the timing of both official stay-at-home orders and population mobility reductions during the initial stage of the US coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. We used a Bayesian hierarchical regression to fit county-level mortality data from the first case on January 21, 2020, through April 20, 2020, and quantify associations between the timing of stay-at-home orders and population mobility with epidemic control. We found that among 882 counties with an early local epidemic, a 10-day delay in the enactment of stay-at-home orders would have been associated with 14,700 additional deaths by April 20 (95% credible interval: 9,100, 21,500), whereas shifting orders 10 days earlier would have been associated with nearly 15,700 fewer lives lost (95% credible interval: 11,350, 18,950). Analogous estimates are available for reductions in mobility—which typically occurred before stay-at-home orders—and are also stratified by county urbanicity, showing significant heterogeneity. Results underscore the importance of timely policy and behavioral action for early-stage epidemic control.
PIPENN: protein interface prediction from sequence with an ensemble of neural nets
Authors: Stringer Bas , de Ferrante Hans , Abeln Sanne , Heringa Jaap , Feenstra K Anton , Haydarlou Reza
Published: February 2022

Motivation

The interactions between proteins and other molecules are essential to many biological and cellular processes. Experimental identification of interface residues is a time-consuming, costly and challenging task, while protein sequence data are ubiquitous. Consequently, many computational and machine learning approaches have been developed over the years to predict such interface residues from sequence. However, the effectiveness of different Deep Learning (DL) architectures and learning strategies for protein–protein, protein–nucleotide and protein–small molecule interface prediction has not yet been investigated in great detail. Therefore, we here explore the prediction of protein interface residues using six DL architectures and various learning strategies with sequence-derived input features.

Results

We constructed a large dataset dubbed BioDL, comprising protein–protein interactions from the PDB, and DNA/RNA and small molecule interactions from the BioLip database. We also constructed six DL architectures, and evaluated them on the BioDL benchmarks. This shows that no single architecture performs best on all instances. An ensemble architecture, which combines all six architectures, does consistently achieve peak prediction accuracy. We confirmed these results on the published benchmark set by Zhang and Kurgan (ZK448), and on our own existing curated homo- and heteromeric protein interaction dataset. Our PIPENN sequence-based ensemble predictor outperforms current state-of-the-art sequence-based protein interface predictors on ZK448 on all interaction types, achieving an AUC-ROC of 0.718 for protein–protein, 0.823 for protein–nucleotide and 0.842 for protein–small molecule.

Availability and implementation

Source code and datasets are available at https://github.com/ibivu/pipenn/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Evolutionary dynamics of climatic niche influenced the current geographical distribution of Viperidae (Reptilia: Squamata) worldwide
Authors: Esparza-Estrada Citlalli Edith , Terribile Levi Carina , Rojas-Soto Octavio , Yáñez-Arenas Carlos , Villalobos Fabricio
Published: February 2022

An understanding of patterns of climatic niche evolution has important implications for ecological and evolutionary theory and conservation planning. However, despite considerable testing, niche evolution studies continue to focus on clade-wide, homogeneous patterns, without considering the potentially complex dynamics (i.e. phylogenetic non-stationarity) along the evolutionary history of a clade. Here, we examine the dynamics of climatic niche evolution in vipers and discuss its implication for their current patterns of diversity and distribution. We use comparative phylogenetic methods and global-scale datasets, including 210 viper species with phylogenetic and climatic data. We find that climatic niche evolution in Viperidae shows an overall pattern of phylogenetic conservatism, but with different dynamics depending on the niche feature (niche breadth or niche position) and the evolutionary history of particular lineages within the family, thus resulting in phylogenetic non-stationarity. Indeed, we find several shifts in niche breadth evolution that were probably influenced by the main geological and environmental changes experienced during the evolutionary history of the family. These results highlight the importance of considering complex patterns of climatic niche evolution and their role in shaping patterns of diversity and distribution.
Semiparametric Bayesian inference for optimal dynamic treatment regimes via dynamic marginal structural models
Authors: Rodriguez Duque Daniel , Stephens David A , Moodie Erica E M , Klein Marina B
Published: February 2022

Considerable statistical work done on dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs) is in the frequentist paradigm, but Bayesian methods may have much to offer in this setting as they allow for the appropriate representation and propagation of uncertainty, including at the individual level. In this work, we extend the use of recently developed Bayesian methods for Marginal Structural Models to arrive at inference of DTRs. We do this (i) by linking the observational world with a world in which all patients are randomized to a DTR, thereby allowing for causal inference and then (ii) by maximizing a posterior predictive utility, where the posterior distribution has been obtained from nonparametric prior assumptions on the observational world data-generating process. Our approach relies on Bayesian semiparametric inference, where inference about a finite-dimensional parameter is made all while working within an infinite-dimensional space of distributions. We further study Bayesian inference of DTRs in the double robust setting by using posterior predictive inference and the nonparametric Bayesian bootstrap. The proposed methods allow for uncertainty quantification at the individual level, thereby enabling personalized decision-making. We examine the performance of these methods via simulation and demonstrate their utility by exploring whether to adapt HIV therapy to a measure of patients’ liver health, in order to minimize liver scarring.
Cause-specific mortality and life years lost in people with epilepsy: a Danish cohort study
Authors: Dreier Julie Werenberg , Laursen Thomas Munk , Tomson Torbjörn , Plana-Ripoll Oleguer , Christensen Jakob
Published: February 2022

Mortality rates are two to three times higher in people with epilepsy than in the general population. This study aimed to quantify how this increased mortality translates into reduced life expectancy and to identify the underlying causes of deaths, thereby offering suggestions for how to reduce mortality associated with epilepsy.

In this population-based cohort study, we included all individuals aged 0–94 years who were living in Denmark between 2000 and 2015. Using the nationwide registers, we identified people diagnosed with epilepsy and estimated the excess of life years lost due to 13 overall and nine specific causes of death.

Among 6 022 160 people, we identified 129 598 with epilepsy (52.6% males), with a mean age of epilepsy onset of 36.5 years (standard deviation = 26.3 years). During the 16 years of follow-up, 851 087 individuals died, and of these 36 923 had been diagnosed with epilepsy. The average reduction in life expectancy in people with epilepsy was 11.84 years in males (95% confidence interval: 11.66–12.00) and 10.91 years in females (95% confidence interval: 10.70–11.11) compared to the general population. Life expectancy was reduced irrespective of epilepsy aetiology (symptomatic ∼14 years; idiopathic ∼8–10 years), and in particular in people with epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidity (∼13–16 years). Excess mortality was evident across all causes of death including cardiovascular disorders, accidents, and suicide.

People with epilepsy experience a substantial reduction in lifespan that can only partly be explained by underlying conditions. Prevention of epilepsy-related deaths should focus on the consequences of psychiatric comorbidity and on modifiable risk factors associated with preventable causes of death such as accidents and neurological and cardiovascular disorders.
Widespread white matter oedema in subacute COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms
Authors: Rau Alexander , Schroeter Nils , Blazhenets Ganna , Dressing Andrea , Walter Lea I , Kellner Elias , Bormann Tobias , Mast Hansjörg , Wagner Dirk , Urbach Horst , Weiller Cornelius , Meyer Philipp T , Reisert Marco , Hosp Jonas A
Published: February 2022

While neuropathological examinations in patients who died from COVID-19 revealed inflammatory changes in cerebral white matter, cerebral MRI frequently fails to detect abnormalities even in the presence of neurological symptoms. Application of multi-compartment diffusion microstructure imaging (DMI), that detects even small volume shifts between the compartments (intra-axonal, extra-axonal and free water/CSF) of a white matter model, is a promising approach to overcome this discrepancy.

In this monocentric prospective study, a cohort of 20 COVID-19 inpatients (57.3 ± 17.1 years) with neurological symptoms (e.g. delirium, cranial nerve palsies) and cognitive impairments measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA test; 22.4 ± 4.9; 70% below the cut-off value <26/30 points) underwent DMI in the subacute stage of the disease (29.3 ± 14.8 days after positive PCR). A comparison of whole-brain white matter DMI parameters with a matched healthy control group (n = 35) revealed a volume shift from the intra- and extra-axonal space into the free water fraction (V-CSF). This widespread COVID-related V-CSF increase affected the entire supratentorial white matter with maxima in frontal and parietal regions. Streamline-wise comparisons between COVID-19 patients and controls further revealed a network of most affected white matter fibres connecting widespread cortical regions in all cerebral lobes. The magnitude of these white matter changes (V-CSF) was associated with cognitive impairment measured by the MoCA test (r = −0.64, P = 0.006) but not with olfactory performance (r = 0.29, P = 0.12). Furthermore, a non-significant trend for an association between V-CSF and interleukin-6 emerged (r = 0.48, P = 0.068), a prominent marker of the COVID-19 related inflammatory response. In 14/20 patients who also received cerebral 18F-FDG PET, V-CSF increase was associated with the expression of the previously defined COVID-19-related metabolic spatial covariance pattern (r = 0.57; P = 0.039). In addition, the frontoparietal-dominant pattern of neocortical glucose hypometabolism matched well to the frontal and parietal focus of V-CSF increase.

In summary, DMI in subacute COVID-19 patients revealed widespread volume shifts compatible with vasogenic oedema, affecting various supratentorial white matter tracts. These changes were associated with cognitive impairment and COVID-19 related changes in 18F-FDG PET imaging.
Startle responses in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a novel biomarker of brain dystrophin deficiency
Authors: Maresh Kate , Papageorgiou Andriani , Ridout Deborah , Harrison Neil A , Mandy William , Skuse David , Muntoni Francesco
Published: February 2022

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by loss of dystrophin in muscle, however patients also have variable degree of intellectual disability and neurobehavioural co-morbidities. In contrast to muscle, in which a single full-length dystrophin isoform (Dp427) is produced, multiple isoforms are produced in the brain, and their deficiency accounts for the variability of CNS manifestations, with increased risk of comorbidities in patients carrying mutations affecting the 3′ end of the gene, which disrupt expression of shorter Dp140 and Dp71 isoforms. A mouse model (mdx mouse) lacks Dp427 in muscle and CNS and exhibits exaggerated startle responses to threat, linked to the deficiency of dystrophin in limbic structures such as the amygdala, which normalize with postnatal brain dystrophin-restoration therapies. A pathological startle response is not a recognized feature of DMD, and its characterization has implications for improved clinical management and translational research.

To investigate startle responses in DMD, we used a novel fear-conditioning task in an observational study of 56 males aged 7–12 years (31 affected boys, mean age 9.7 ± 1.8 years; 25 controls, mean age 9.6 ± 1.4 years). Trials of two neutral visual stimuli were presented to participants: one ‘safe’ cue presented alone; one ‘threat’ cue paired with an aversive noise to enable conditioning of physiological startle responses (skin conductance response and heart rate). Retention of conditioned physiological responses was subsequently tested by presenting both cues without the aversive noise in an ‘Extinction’ phase. Primary outcomes were the initial unconditioned skin conductance and change in heart rate responses to the aversive ‘threat’ and acquisition and retention of conditioned responses after conditioning. Secondary and exploratory outcomes were neuropsychological measures and genotype associations.

The mean unconditioned skin conductance response was greater in the DMD group than controls [mean difference 3.0 µS (1.0, 5.1); P = 0.004], associated with a significant threat-induced bradycardia only in the patient group [mean difference –8.7 bpm (–16.9, –0.51); P = 0.04]. Participants with DMD found the task more aversive than controls, with increased early termination rates during the Extinction phase (26% of DMD group versus 0% of controls; P = 0.007).

This study provides the first evidence that boys with DMD show similar increased unconditioned startle responses to threat to the mdx mouse, which in the mouse respond to brain dystrophin restoration. Our study provides new insights into the neurobiology underlying the complex neuropsychiatric co-morbidities in DMD and defines an objective measure of this CNS phenotype, which will be valuable for future CNS-targeted dystrophin-restoration studies.
The human orbitofrontal cortex, vmPFC, and anterior cingulate cortex effective connectome: emotion, memory, and action
Authors: Rolls Edmund T , Deco Gustavo , Huang Chu-Chung , Feng Jianfeng
Published: February 2022

The human orbitofrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and anterior cingulate cortex are involved in reward processing and thereby in emotion but are also implicated in episodic memory. To understand these regions better, the effective connectivity between 360 cortical regions and 24 subcortical regions was measured in 172 humans from the Human Connectome Project and complemented with functional connectivity and diffusion tractography. The orbitofrontal cortex has effective connectivity from gustatory, olfactory, and temporal visual, auditory, and pole cortical areas. The orbitofrontal cortex has connectivity to the pregenual anterior and posterior cingulate cortex and hippocampal system and provides for rewards to be used in memory and navigation to goals. The orbitofrontal and pregenual anterior cortex have connectivity to the supracallosal anterior cingulate cortex, which projects to midcingulate and other premotor cortical areas and provides for action-outcome learning including limb withdrawal or flight or fight to aversive and nonreward stimuli. The lateral orbitofrontal cortex has outputs to language systems in the inferior frontal gyrus. The medial orbitofrontal cortex connects to the nucleus basalis of Meynert and the pregenual cingulate to the septum, and damage to these cortical regions may contribute to memory impairments by disrupting cholinergic influences on the neocortex and hippocampus.
Frequency and Geographic Distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Babesia microti Infections in New England Residents
Authors: Johnston Demerise , Kelly Jill R , Ledizet Michel , Lavoie Nathalie , Smith Robert P , Parsonnet Jeffrey , Schwab Jonathan , Stratidis John , Espich Scott , Lee Giyoung , Maciejewski Kaitlin R , Deng Yanhong , Majam Victoria , Zheng Hong , Bonkoungou Sougr-nooma , Stevens June , Kumar Sanjai , Krause Peter J
Published: February 2022

Background

Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that relatively recently has been reported to infect humans. It causes an acute undifferentiated febrile illness that can include meningoencephalitis and relapsing fever. Like Borrelia burgdorferi, it is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks in the northeastern United States and by Ixodes pacificus ticks in the western United States. Despite reports of clinical cases from North America, Europe, and Asia, the prevalence, geographic range, and pattern of expansion of human B. miyamotoi infection are uncertain. To better understand these characteristics of B. miyamotoi in relation to other tickborne infections, we carried out a cross-sectional seroprevalence study across New England that surveyed B. miyamotoi, B. burgdorferi, and Babesia microti infections.

Methods

We measured specific antibodies against B. miyamotoi, B. burgdorferi, and B. microti among individuals living in 5 New England states in 2018.

Results

Analysis of 1153 serum samples collected at 11 catchment sites showed that the average seroprevalence for B. miyamotoi was 2.8% (range, 0.6%–5.2%), which was less than that of B. burgdorferi (11.0%; range, 6.8%–15.6%) and B. microti (10.0%; range, 6.5%–13.6%). Antibody screening within county residence in New England showed varying levels of seroprevalence for these pathogens but did not reveal a vectoral geographical pattern of distribution.

Conclusions

Human infections caused by B. miyamotoi, B. burgdorferi, and B. microti are widespread with varying prevalence throughout New England.
Real-World Effectiveness of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA Vaccines in Preventing Confirmed Infection in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Butt Adeel A , Talisa Victor B , Yan Peng , Shaikh Obaid S , Omer Saad B , Mayr Florian B
Published: February 2022

Background

Persons on chronic hemodialysis have a significantly diminished humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Whether this translates to reduced vaccine effectiveness (VE) is unknown.

Methods

We used the US Department of Veterans Affairs COVID-19 Shared Data Resource to identify all veterans who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between 26 January and 31 August 2021. Using International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, codes and attendance at a dialysis clinic/center, we identified those who were on chronic hemodialysis. We used a test-negative, case-control design using a doubly robust logistic regression model to determine the VE of the BNT-162b2 (Pfizer) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccines in preventing confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results

Among 847 199 veterans tested for SARS-CoV-2 between 26 January and 31 August 2021, there were 6076 veterans on chronic hemodialysis. Among those, we identified 1270 cases (580 fully vaccinated) and 2959 controls (2120 fully vaccinated). The overall VE >14 days after the second dose in preventing documented infection was 68.2% (95% CI: 62.6–72.9%). VE was 68.9% (95% CI: 61.9–74.7%) for Pfizer BNT-162b2 and 66.7% (95% CI: 58.9–73.0%) for Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine. There was no difference in VE by age (<70 vs >70 years), race, or sex. There were no events recorded in persons with a Charlson’s comorbidity index score <2.

Conclusions

VE of 2 doses of current mRNA vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in persons on chronic hemodialysis is lower than historic VE rates in the general population. Effects of additional doses in improving VE in this special population need further study.
A market for work permits
Authors: Lokshin Michael , Ravallion Martin
Published: February 2022

It will be politically difficult to liberalize international economic migration without some form of compensation for host-country workers. The paper explores the scope for managing migration using a government-regulated competitive market for work permits (WPs). We propose that host-county workers should be granted the legal option of renting out their WPs for a period of their choice, while foreigners can purchase taxable time-bound WPs. The proposed market is anonymous, with no need for personalized matchings of those on its two sides. The market can have either one price or be differentiated by occupation or region. There would probably be some losers, but potentially large gains, including through enhanced social protection in host countries. Using its power to tax WPs, the host country can achieve any desired floor to labour earnings. The market for WPs can also provide a new instrument for implementing industrial and regional development policies.
Changing Population Size in McDonald–Kreitman Style Analyses: Artifactual Correlations and Adaptive Evolution between Humans and Chimpanzees
Authors: Soni Vivak , Moutinho Ana Filipa , Eyre-Walker Adam
Published: February 2022

It is known that methods to estimate the rate of adaptive evolution, which are based on the McDonald–Kreitman test, can be biased by changes in effective population size. Here, we demonstrate theoretically that changes in population size can also generate an artifactual correlation between the rate of adaptive evolution and any factor that is correlated to the strength of selection acting against deleterious mutations. In this context, we have investigated whether several site-level factors influence the rate of adaptive evolution in the divergence of humans and chimpanzees, two species that have been inferred to have undergone population size contraction since they diverged. We find that the rate of adaptive evolution, relative to the rate of mutation, is higher for more exposed amino acids, lower for amino acid pairs that are more dissimilar in terms of their polarity, volume, and lower for amino acid pairs that are subject to stronger purifying selection, as measured by the ratio of the numbers of nonsynonymous to synonymous polymorphisms (pN/pS). All of these correlations are opposite to the artifactual correlations expected under contracting population size. We therefore conclude that these correlations are genuine.
Recovery of Love wave overtone waveforms and dispersion curves from single-station seismograms using time-warping
Authors: Brown M G , Lin G , Matsuzawa H , Yoshizawa K
Published: February 2022

Time-warping is a signal processing technique that, when applied to an isolated measurement of a transient signal that propagates in a waveguide, allows contributions to that signal from individual mode numbers to be isolated and extracted. Dispersion curves for individual mode numbers can, in turn, be recovered. Isolation of contributions associated with individual mode numbers is possible because after time-warping—a special environmentally dependent non-uniform sampling—is applied, the signal energy corresponding to each mode number is isolated in the frequency spectrum of the time-warped signal. Here we derive the time-warping transform for teleseismic Love waves, assuming the Earth structure is approximately known, and we illustrate the utility of time-warping using both synthetic and measured seismograms.
Joint inversion of 3-D magnetotelluric and ambient noise dispersion data sets with cross-gradient constraints: methodology and application
Authors: Wu Pingping , Tan Handong , Ding Zhifeng , Kong Wenxin , Peng Miao , Wang Xingchen , Xu Lehong
Published: February 2022

The integrating technique of multigeophysical data sets has been treated as a feasible way to improve the imaging resolution of the subsurface structure. Based on the limited memory quasi-Newton approach, we obtain the electrical and velocity structure through the individual inversions of magnetotelluric (MT) and ambient noise dispersion data, and propose an alternating joint inversion strategy for integrating the MT and dispersion data with the cross-gradient structure constraints. A synthetic model has been applied to test the reliability and effectiveness of the joint inversion scheme. Some significant improvements have been achieved and shown in the joint inversion maps: the resolution of deep electric features is improved, especially that of the structure beneath the conductive layer; a finer velocity model is obtained than that of the ambient noise tomography. Based on the complementary advantages of the two geophysical methods, resistivity and velocity models with higher geometrical resemblance can be obtained. We also apply the method to the field data from the Tanlu fault zone, Eastern China. Structure similarities have been observed in the main features of the joint inversion models, which further validates the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed joint inversion strategy.
Opium use and risk of bladder cancer: a multi-centre case-referent study in Iran
Authors: Hadji Maryam , Rashidian Hamideh , Marzban Maryam , Naghibzadeh-Tahami Ahmad , Gholipour Mahin , Mohebbi Elham , Safari-Faramani Roya , Seyyedsalehi Monireh Sadat , Hosseini Bayan , Bakhshi Mahdieh , Alizadeh-Navaei Reza , Ahmadi Lida , Rezaianzadeh Abbas , Moradi Abdolvahab , Ansari-Moghaddam Alireza , Nejatizadeh Azim , ShahidSales Soodabeh , Zohrabi Farshad , Mohammadi Reza , Nowroozi Mohammad Reza , Poustchi Hossein , Nasrollahzadeh Dariush , Najafi Farid , Haghdoost Ali Akbar , Rahimi-Movaghar Afarin , Etemadi Arash , Mohagheghi Mohammad Ali , Malekzadeh Reza , Brennan Paul , Schüz Joachim , Boffetta Paolo , Weiderpass Elisabete , Kamangar Farin , Zendehdel Kazem , Pukkala Eero
Published: February 2022

Background

Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common type of cancer worldwide and the fourth most common type of cancer in Iran. Opium use is considered as one of the risk factors for BC. We aim to assess the association between various parameters of opium use, which in Iran is mainly ingested or smoked in various forms, and the risk of BC.

Method

In this multi-centre case-referent study in Iran, 717 BC cases and 3477 referents were recruited to the study from May 2017 until July 2020. Detailed histories of opium use (duration, amount, frequency) and potential confounders were collected by trained interviewers. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression models were used to measure adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The ORs were adjusted for age, gender, place of residence and pack-years of cigarette smoking.

Results

Regular opium consumption was associated with an increased risk of BC (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.8, 4.3) compared with subjects who never used opium. Compared with continuous users, the risk decreased to one-third for those who stopped opium more than 10 years ago. The adjusted OR for those who used both crude opium (teriak) and opium juice was 7.4 (95% CI: 4.1, 13.3). There was a joint effect of opium and tobacco (OR for users of both opium and tobacco 7.7, 95% CI: 6.0, 9.7).

Conclusions

Regular opium use is associated with an approximately 4-fold risk for BC. The OR decreases along with the increasing time since stopping opium use.
Effects of pharmaceutical care interventions on humanistic outcomes in hypertensive people living with HIV: results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jackson Idongesit L , Ukwe Chinwe V
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of pharmaceutical care (PC) interventions on humanistic outcomes in HIV-positive patients with hypertension.

Methods

This prospective, open-label, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in the HIV clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, from August 2018 to October 2019. Eligible patients were randomized sequentially and equally into two study arms: the control arm (CA), where participants received the traditional care and the intervention arm (IA), where participants received PC by the research pharmacist. The patient’s HIV knowledge questionnaire, the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale, the Medical Outcome Study-HIV Health Survey and the Patient Satisfaction with Pharmaceutical Service questionnaire were used to assess participants’ HIV-related knowledge, hypertension-related knowledge, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and satisfaction with PC, respectively. These were self-completed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Data were analysed using SPSS (IBM version 25.0).

Key findings

Out of the 206 participants randomized, 182 completed the 12-month follow-up. After 12 months, there was a significant improvement in HIV-related knowledge (∆ = 11.28%, t(180) = 4.41, P < 0.001) and hypertension-related knowledge (∆ = 5.94%, t(180) = 3.25, P = 0.001) in the IA over and above those observed in the CA. Similarly, PC interventions led to significant improvements in HRQoL (∆ = 6.5%, t(180) = 5.50, P < 0.001) and satisfaction with PC in the IA (∆ = 18.12%, t(180) = 11.85, P < 0.001) at the end of the study.

Conclusions

PC significantly improved humanistic outcomes in HIV-positive patients with hypertension after a 12-month intervention.
Dose-Response of a Norovirus GII.2 Controlled Human Challenge Model Inoculum
Authors: Rouphael Nadine , Beck Allison , Kirby Amy E , Liu Pengbo , Natrajan Muktha S , Lai Lilin , Phadke Varun , Winston Juton , Raabe Vanessa , Collins Matthew H , Girmay Tigisty , Alvarez Alicarmen , Beydoun Nour , Karmali Vinit , Altieri-Rivera Joanne , Lindesmith Lisa C , Anderson Evan J , Wang Yuke , El-Khorazaty Jill , Petrie Carey , Baric Ralph S , Baqar Shahida , Moe Christine L , Mulligan Mark J
Published: February 2022

Background

Genogroup II noroviruses are the most common cause of acute infectious gastroenteritis. We evaluated the use of a new GII.2 inoculum in a human challenge.

Methods

Forty-four healthy adults (36 secretor-positive and 8 secretor-negative for histo-blood group antigens) were challenged with ascending doses of a new safety-tested Snow Mountain virus (SMV) GII.2 norovirus inoculum (1.2 × 104 to 1.2 × 107 genome equivalent copies [GEC]; n = 38) or placebo (n = 6). Illness was defined as diarrhea and/or vomiting postchallenge in subjects with evidence of infection (defined as GII.2 norovirus RNA detection in stool and/or anti-SMV immunoglobulin G [IgG] seroconversion).

Results

The highest dose was associated with SMV infection in 90%, and illness in 70% of subjects with 10 of 12 secretor-positive (83%) and 4 of 8 secretor-negative (50%) becoming ill. There was no association between prechallenge anti-SMV serum IgG concentration, carbohydrate-binding blockade antibody, or salivary immunoglobulin A and infection. The median infectious dose (ID50) was 5.1 × 105 GEC.

Conclusions

High rates of infection and illness were observed in both secretor-positive and secretor-negative subjects in this challenge study. However, a high dose will be required to achieve the target of 75% illness to make this an efficient model for evaluating potential norovirus vaccines and therapeutics.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02473224.
Partnered Operations and the Positive Duties of Co-Parties
Authors: Wentker Alexander
Published: February 2022

A key issue in partnered operations is the extent to which partners have obligations under international law as regards each other’s conduct. For partnered operations in situations of armed conflict, this issue has generated a rich and vivid debate on the existence of a duty to ensure respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) by one’s partners, and in particular, whether this duty would require taking positive action. Rather than weighing in on the general question of whether all States bear such duties, this article sheds light on one aspect that this debate has tended to overlook. The article specifically looks at the situation in which multiple parties are engaged in the same armed conflict alongside one another against a common adversary—here labelled ‘co-parties’. It investigates which positive obligations these parties have as regards each other’s conduct. The central argument is that co-parties in an armed conflict have multiple complementary sets of duties to take positive steps vis-à-vis the conduct of their fellow co-parties. The resulting network of duties reflects the central role of the parties to the conflict to ensure that armed conflicts are carried out in accordance with the protective purposes of IHL. Built into the established structure of the legal framework regulating armed conflict, the account of the duties of co-parties presents a more refined conception to the allocation of obligations under IHL in cooperation settings, which, if implemented, may contribute to addressing the protection challenges raised by partnered operations.