bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hessian averaging in stochastic Newton methods achieves superlinear convergence
Authors: Na Sen , Dereziński Michał , Mahoney Michael W.
Published: December 2022

We consider minimizing a smooth and strongly convex objective function using a stochastic Newton method. At each iteration, the algorithm is given an oracle access to a stochastic estimate of the Hessian matrix. The oracle model includes popular algorithms such as Subsampled Newton and Newton Sketch, which can efficiently construct stochastic Hessian estimates for many tasks, e.g., training machine learning models. Despite using second-order information, these existing methods do not exhibit superlinear convergence, unless the stochastic noise is gradually reduced to zero during the iteration, which would lead to a computational blow-up in the per-iteration cost. We propose to address this limitation with Hessian averaging: instead of using the most recent Hessian estimate, our algorithm maintains an average of all the past estimates. This reduces the stochastic noise while avoiding the computational blow-up. We show that this scheme exhibits local Q-superlinear convergence with a non-asymptotic rate of $$(\varUpsilon \sqrt{\log (t)/t}\,)^{t}$$

(
Υ

log
(
t
)
/
t

)

t

, where $$\varUpsilon $$
Υ
is proportional to the level of stochastic noise in the Hessian oracle. A potential drawback of this (uniform averaging) approach is that the averaged estimates contain Hessian information from the global phase of the method, i.e., before the iterates converge to a local neighborhood. This leads to a distortion that may substantially delay the superlinear convergence until long after the local neighborhood is reached. To address this drawback, we study a number of weighted averaging schemes that assign larger weights to recent Hessians, so that the superlinear convergence arises sooner, albeit with a slightly slower rate. Remarkably, we show that there exists a universal weighted averaging scheme that transitions to local convergence at an optimal stage, and still exhibits a superlinear convergence rate nearly (up to a logarithmic factor) matching that of uniform Hessian averaging.
Insect netting: effect of mesh size and shape on exclusion of some fruit pests and natural enemies under laboratory and orchard conditions
Authors: Chouinard G. , Pelletier F. , Larose M. , Knoch S. , Pouchet C. , Dumont M.-J. , Tavares J. R.
Published: December 2022

To improve exclusion systems for fruit trees, insect nets of various types were evaluated for their permeability to different beneficial and pest species, under laboratory and field conditions. Pests studied were the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Beneficials were Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Aphelinus abdominalis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Mesh nets with five different apertures (square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus and hexagon) and six different sizes (from 0.4 to 2.8 mm) were 3D-printed from strands of polylactic acid and tested in the laboratory along with two commercially available nets made of polyethylene. The physical and behavioral characteristics of the six studied species affected their ability to cross the nets. For an equal size (open area), the intrusion rate was generally greater through the square- and/or hexagonal-shaped meshes. Rectangular-shaped apertures totally excluded the apple maggot in both laboratory and field trials, provided their shortest side did not exceed 1.9 mm. For the spotted wing drosophila, a maximum of 1.0 mm was similarly required for exclusion in the laboratory. The shape factor (length/width ratio) of the apertures appeared to affect net selectivity. Field trials confirmed that more aphid predators and leafroller parasitoids colonized trees covered with larger mesh nets (2.3 × 3.4 mm), while still excluding the apple maggot. Thus, for a similar aperture size (area), an elongated rectangular-shaped mesh appears to facilitate access for beneficials, while continuing to provide effective protection against apple pests.
The consequences of debris flows in Brazil: a historical analysis based on recorded events in the last 100 years
Authors: Cabral Victor , Reis Fábio , Veloso Vinicius , Correa Claudia , Kuhn Caiubi , Zarfl Christiane
Published: December 2022

This study aims at providing an overview of the socioeconomic consequences that debris-flow events have caused in Brazil, positioning the country in the international scenario and identifying areas where targeted actions are necessary. The analysis is conducted by calculating the debris-flow mortality rate (MR) and by using the so-called F-N plots (frequency of events that have caused N or more fatalities vs. the number of fatalities), based on a compilation of debris-flow-related disasters from 1920 to 2021. In total, 45 debris-flow events were documented in the considered period, responsible for 5771 fatalities and more than 5.5 billion USD in economic losses. The Serra do Mar Mountain Range is the main site of reported debris-flow occurrences (64.5%), followed by Serra da Mantiqueira (13.3%), and Serra Geral (13.3%). Southeast Brazil (SEB) is the region most affected by debris-flow events, due to the highest population density and the development of several cities in hilly areas, such as Petrópolis (Rio de Janeiro state) and Cubatão (São Paulo state). The debris-flow MR of SEB is higher than any other region in Brazil, pushing the national debris-flow MR upwards, and the F-N curve of SEB consolidates the region as the one with the highest risk to the phenomenon, indicating a higher probability of fatal events. The F-N plots further show that debris-flow events in Brazil represent a higher societal risk than in countries such as China, Japan and Italy. While there are differences in country size and the scale effect should be considered, these results highlight the urgent need for investments in disaster prevention and preparedness programs.
On the fractal properties of cosmic rays and Sun dynamics cross-correlations
Authors: Sierra-Porta D.
Published: December 2022

We investigate the cosmic rays and ten physical parameters of heliosphere behavior considering the scaling features of their temporal evolution. Our analysis start with the cosmic rays measurements by a neutron monitor station located in Moscow, as well sunspot, Ap index, Na/Np, Alfven mach number, DST index, Kp index, Plasma beta ($\beta $
β
), Proton temperature, $F_{10.7}$

F
10.7

index and Field magnitude $|B|$
|
B
|
(Interplanetary Magnetic Field, IMF), for the period 1976 to early 2020. Each of these datasets was analyzed by using the Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis and Multifractal Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis in order to investigate intrinsic properties, like self-similarity and the spectrum of singularities. The main result obtained is that the cosmic rays time series as well the 10 heliospheric parameters exhibit positive long-range correlations with multifractal behavior.
The Happiness that Qualifies Nonduality: Jñāna, Bhakti, and Sukha in Rāmānuja’s Vedārthasaṃgraha
Authors: Ram-Prasad Chakravarthi
Published: December 2022

The great eleventh-century figure, Rāmānuja, belonged to the Śrīvaiṣṇava community that worshiped the divine as Viṣṇu-with-Śrī, the Lord-and-Consort. But he also embarked on a project to develop an interpretation of the first-century Vedāntasūtra, which presented the supposedly core teachings of the major Upaniṣads, traditionally the last segment of the sacred corpus of the Vedas. Rāmānuja sought to reconcile the devotional commitments of Śrīvaiṣṇavism—which was built on the human yearning for the divine that was incomprehensibly Other while graciously accessible—with the conceptual demands of the Vedānta in which a profound identity between the individual self (ātman) and the impersonal, ultimate explanatory principle (brahman) was taught. This reconciliation of difference and identity came to be called “Qualified Nondualism.” In his earliest work, the Vedārthasaṃgraha, one of the ways Rāmānuja points to reconciliation is through identifying a single state of consciousness as both cognition of nonduality (the Vedāntic project) and the emotionally valent experience of happiness (the supreme expression of the human encounter with the divine). It does not seem that he systematically pursues this conception of how a state can be both cognitive and affective, and such an analysis will require independent philosophical analysis. Thus, this article argues that if a state of consciousness were indeed both cognitive and affective in this way, we would have a full explanation for how the devotional approach of a human being to Viṣṇu-with-Śrī can also be the self’s realization of identity with brahman.
Perceived tax audit aggressiveness, tax control frameworks and tax planning: an empirical analysis
Authors: Blaufus Kay , Reineke Jakob , Trenn Ilko
Published: December 2022

This paper examines whether a perceived increase in tax audit aggressiveness is associated with lower tax planning effort and a higher quality of internal tax control frameworks. Using survey data on corporate tax functions from approximately 200 firms from different countries, contrary to expectations, we find that neither internal nor external resources devoted to tax planning are lower for firms that perceive an increase in tax audit aggressiveness. Nevertheless, for these firms, we find a positive association with the quality of their tax control framework and their investments in the reputation management and communication skills of their tax department staff. In line with this, we find that an increase in perceived audit aggressiveness is directly (indirectly) associated with an increase in resources allocated to the tax function “controversy and audit defense” (“risk management and governance”). In addition, our results show a positive relationship between the quality of the tax control framework and the need for comprehensive improvements in human capital and internal processes, suggesting that the tax control framework affects the firms' perceptions of their tax capabilities and drives organizational changes. Overall, these findings are in line with the rationale that an increase in audit aggressiveness changes the costs of compliance errors such that firms improve the quality of their tax control framework to reduce future errors. In contrast, it remains unclear whether tax audit aggressiveness actually changes tax planning behavior, as we find no negative association with the firms' investment in tax planning.
Working from home and management controls
Authors: Flassak Konstantin , Haag Julia , Hofmann Christian , Lechner Christopher , Schwaiger Nina , Zacherl Rafael
Published: December 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic and the corresponding shift toward working from home (WFH) amplifies control problems within organizations and poses severe challenges for management control as employees’ tasks are difficult to observe under WFH conditions. We examine the association between WFH and action controls. Based on a survey among employees in a large international corporation, we find that under WFH conditions the organization more intensively uses standardization and planning participation. We also examine the association between WFH and employee outcomes. The findings suggest that WFH is associated with more time employees spend in meetings and a higher job focus. Overall, the study adds to the literature by exploring the association between WFH and the use of management controls in organizations.
How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected eating habits and physical activity in breast cancer survivors: the DianaWeb study
Authors: Acito Mattia , Rondini Tommaso , Gargano Giuliana , Moretti Massimo , Villarini Milena , Villarini Anna
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Breast cancer (BC) survivors are increasingly interested in learning about healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of BC recurrence and mortality. The DianaWeb study, a community-based participatory research, offers BC patients a specific interactive website to help them in adopting and maintain correct lifestyles, in line with World Cancer Research Fund recommendations. However, to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries introduced restrictions which, inevitably, caused sudden lifestyle changes.

The current study aimed at evaluating changes in lifestyle in BC survivors before, during, and after the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We used data of 224 BC cancer survivors enrolled in the DianaWeb study. We evaluated the adherence to physical activity (PA) guidelines, to Mediterranean diet (MD), and WCRF recommendations, at baseline, during and after the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the association between PA, MD, and WCRF adherence with sociodemographic characteristics, years from enrolment in the DianaWeb study, and type of breast cancer.

Results

As expected, during confinement periods, we observed a significant decrease in walking activity and in the percentage of patients performing vigorous PA. In post-quarantine, total weekly energy expenditure increased significantly. BC patients participating in the DianaWeb study for more than 3 years were more likely to be more active. There were no changes in MD and WCRF adherence.

Conclusions

Our results show that the proposed interactive website was useful in achieving durable lifestyle changes, that have not been undermined either during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Patient education is essential for guiding BC survivors toward improving their health outcomes; therefore, an interactive website like the one proposed by the DianaWeb study may be useful to improve healthy lifestyles.
Pseudo-differential operators on Orlicz modulation spaces
Authors: Toft Joachim , Üster Rüya
Published: December 2022

We deduce continuity properties for pseudo-differential operators with symbols in quasi-Banach Orlicz modulation spaces when rely on other quasi-Banach Orlicz modulation spaces. In particular we extend some earlier results.
LINC00460 Promotes Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression Through Stabilizing ELAVL1 Protein
Authors: Xue Chunli , Yang Zuxian , Yang Ben , Xiong Hailin , Ye Wei
Published: December 2022

Long intergenic noncoding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) 460 is reportedly associated with carcinogenesis and progression in various types of cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying its action in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) remain unclear. LINC00460 mRNA expression was analysed using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Cell growth, migration, and invasion were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), transwell migration and invasion assays after inducing LINC00460 knockdown. A xenograft tumour model was used to determine the effects of LINC00460 on tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. To examine the interaction between LINC00460 and ELAVL1, RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed. LINC00460 was found to be significantly upregulated in CSCC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, LINC00460 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Consistent with this, when LINC00460 expression decreased, CSCC tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo were inhibited. Mechanistically, LINC00460 binds to embryonic lethal abnormal vision like RNA binding protein 1 (ELAVL1) and enhances its stability by inhibiting the β-transducin repeats-containing protein (β-TrCP)-mediated ubiquitination of ELAVL1. Moreover, the effect of LINC00460 silencing on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CSCC cells could be reversed by overexpressing ELAVL1. Our findings demonstrated that LINC00460 plays a critical role in regulating ELAVL1 function. This highlights the potential targets for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CSCC.
What are general models about?
Authors: Elliott-Graves Alkistis
Published: December 2022

Models provide scientists with knowledge about target systems. An important group of models are those that are called general. However, what exactly is meant by generality in this context is somewhat unclear. The aim of this paper is to draw out a distinction between two notions of generality that has implications for scientific practice. Some models are general in the sense that they apply to many systems in the world and have many particular targets. Another sense is captured by models that are aimed at understanding the fundamental or underlying dynamics of a phenomenon, as opposed to how it manifests in each particular case. They have non-specific, i.e. generic targets. While both notions of generality and genericness are legitimate and correspond to different aspects of scientific practice, they must be distinguished. Failing to do so obscures the danger of overgeneralisation faced by general models and facilitates the illegitimate use of generic models as general models. This can lead to a reduction of the explanatory and predictive power of both.
Non-coding RNA regulation of integrins and their potential as therapeutic targets in cancer
Authors: Verhoeff Tristan Joseph , Holloway Adele F. , Dickinson Joanne L.
Published: December 2022

Background

Integrins are integral to cell signalling and management of the extracellular matrix, and exquisite regulation of their expression is essential for a variety of cell signalling pathways, whilst disordered regulation is a key driver of tumour progression and metastasis. Most recently non-coding RNAs in the form of micro-RNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) have emerged as a key mechanism by which tissue dependent gene expression is controlled. Whilst historically these molecules have been poorly understood, advances in ‘omic’ technologies and a greater understanding of non-coding regions of the genome have revealed that non-coding RNAs make up a large proportion of the transcriptome.

Conclusions and Perspectives

This review examines the regulation of integrin genes by ncRNAs, provides and overview of their mechanism of action and highlights how exploitation of these discoveries is informing the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer. MiRNA molecules have been the most extensively characterised and negatively regulate most integrin genes, classically regulating genes through binding to recognition sequences in the mRNA 3′-untranslated regions of gene transcripts. LncRNA mechanisms of action are now being elucidated and appear to be more varied and complex, and may counter miRNA molecules, directly engage integrin mRNA transcripts, and guide or block both transcription factors and epigenetic machinery at integrin promoters or at other points in integrin regulation. Integrins as therapeutic targets are of enormous interest given their roles as oncogenes in a variety of tumours, and emerging therapeutics mimicking ncRNA mechanisms of action are already being trialled.
Richards’s curve induced Banach space valued multivariate neural network approximation
Authors: Anastassiou George A. , Karateke Seda
Published: December 2022

Here, we present multivariate quantitative approximations of Banach space valued continuous multivariate functions on a box or $${\mathbb {R}}^{N},$$

R

N

,

$$N\in {\mathbb {N}},$$

N
∈
N
,

by the multivariate normalized, quasi-interpolation, Kantorovich-type and quadrature-type neural network operators. We examine also the case of approximation by iterated operators of the last four types. These approximations are achieved by establishing multidimensional Jackson type inequalities involving the multivariate modulus of continuity of the engaged function or its high-order Fréchet derivatives. Our multivariate operators are defined using a multidimensional density function induced by the Richards’s curve, which is a generalized logistic function. The approximations are pointwise, uniform and $$L_{p}.$$

L
p

.

The related feed-forward neural network is with one hidden layer.
Demand Prediction and Optimal Allocation of Shared Bikes Around Urban Rail Transit Stations
Authors: Yu Liang , Feng Tao , Li Tie , Cheng Lei
Published: December 2022

The imbalance between the supply and demand of shared bikes is prominent in many urban rail transit stations, which urgently requires an efficient vehicle deployment strategy. In this paper, we propose an integrated model to optimize the deployment of shared bikes around urban rail transit stations, incorporating a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with long short-term memory (SARIMA-LSTM) hybrid model that is used to predict the heterogeneous demand for shared bikes in space and time. The shared bike deployment strategy was formulated based on the actual deployment process and under the principle of cost minimization involving labor and transportation. The model is applied using the big data of shared bikes in Xicheng District, Beijing. Results show that the SARIMA-LSTM hybrid model has great advantages in predicting the demand for shared bikes. The proposed allocation strategy provides a new way to solve the imbalance challenge between the supply and demand of shared bikes and contributes to the development of a sustainable transportation system.
Solution for the Dynamic Elastically Compressible Power-Law Strain Hardening Cylindrical Cavity-Expansion Problem
Authors: Warren T. L. , Johnsen J. , Kristoffersen M. , Børvik T.
Published: December 2022

A closed form analytical solution for both the quasi-static or dynamic strain hardening cylindrical cavity-expansion (CCE) problems requires the plastic region to be incompressible. This is due to the fact that in both cases a hydrostatic stress state must be explicitly included in the strain hardening function, making an analytical solution intractable. Additionally, for the dynamic problem the elastic region must be compressible to avoid a logarithmic singularity at infinity. An alterative for the dynamic analytical formulation is to use the finite element method (FEM). With the FEM weak formulation, solutions for the radial stress at the cavity surface and the elastic–plastic interface interface velocity as functions of the cavity-expansion velocity can be obtained when both the strain hardening plastic and elastic regions are elastically compressible. In this study, a comparison is made using results from both analytical (strong formulations), and FE simulations for both strain hardening and perfectly plastic dynamic CCE problems. It is concluded that with increasing cavity-expansion velocities, the elastically compressible strain hardening FEM solution is less resistive than the corresponding closed form analytical solution with an incompressible plastic region. Additionally, it is shown that the elastic–plastic interface velocity asymptotes at the bulk wave speed for completely elastically compressible solutions. Furthermore, the completely elastically compressible solutions remain valid for cavity-expansion velocities beyond the critical cavity-expansion velocity associated with the closed-form analytical strain hardening solution.
Positivism and Unity
Authors: Yarom Meir H.
Published: December 2022

This article examines the grappling of modern positivists with the question of legal unity. It presents and contrasts two antagonistic positivist strands—naturalist and normativist—epitomized in the works of Austin and Kelsen, respectively. The two strands correspond to two contrasting models of legal authority—criterial and coherence-based—and they accordingly diverge on the proper explanation of unity. Naturalist, criterial models purport to explain the unity of law based on extra-legal facts alone; normativist, coherence-based models resort strictly to the interrelation of legal elements themselves. Against this backdrop, the article argues that Raz’s work on the subject is torn between Austin and Kelsen: While his naturalist ancestors accounted for legal unity externally, Raz’s prominent works are captivated by the Kelsenian realization that the unity of law must be accounted for internally. Two central upshots follow. First, the analysis provides a litmus test for the (in)ability of naturalist positivism to explain legal unity. Second, Raz’s strategic reliance on Kelsen distorts his work: Both the Grundnorm and validity chains are upended to fit Raz’s naturalist commitments.
The Proximity of Disaster Experiences and Financial Preparedness for Emergencies in the US
Authors: Feng Guanggang , Cong Zhen
Published: December 2022

Objective:

This study investigated how the proximity of disaster experience was associated with financial preparedness for emergencies.

Methods:

The data used were from the 2018 National Household Survey, which was administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The working sample included 4779 respondents.

Results:

Logistic Regression showed that the likelihood of setting aside emergency funds tended to be the highest between 2-5 years after experiencing a disaster, which declined slightly but persisted even after 16 years. Recent disaster experience within 1 year did not show a significant impact, indicating a period of substantial needs. However, the proximity of disaster experience did not significantly affect the amount of money set aside.

Conclusion:

It is suspected that increased risk perception related to previous experiences of disasters is more relevant to the likelihood of preparing financially; whereas other capacity-related factors such as income and having a disability have more effect on the amount of money set aside.
A hypervolume approach to niche specialism, tested for the old-growth indicator status of calicioids
Authors: Ellis Christopher J.
Published: December 2022

Certain lichen epiphytes are restricted to old-growth forest stands with long ‘ecological continuity’, explained by i) niche specialism and their dependence on microhabitats associated with old stands including veteran or senescent trees, and/or ii) dispersal limitation with probabilities of colonization being relaxed over extended time periods. ‘Calicioid’ species are among the most important old-growth indicators, yet they reproduce sexually via small spores that appear widely dispersed at ecological scales. This suggests that they should have a high level of niche specialism compared to lichen epiphytes in general, explaining their role as old-growth indicators. However, comparisons of niche specialism are challenging, and this study uses epiphytic, corticolous calicioid species as an appropriate test case. Having measured 20 variables that constrain the lichen epiphyte niche, these were collapsed into a ‘hypervolume’ representing the sampled environmental space available for occupancy by lichens in Scotland as a study system. It was then possible to examine the occupancy of this hypervolume by individual lichens (niche breadth), with the proportion/percent occupied used to estimate a niche specialism score. Consequently, epiphyte calicioid species are confirmed to have a high degree of niche specialism compared to lichen epiphytes in general, and compared to other old-growth indicators, with their niche position directed towards drier climates including locally sheltered microhabitats associated with old-growth forest structure.
The association between persistent cognitive difficulties and depression and functional outcomes in people with major depressive disorder
Authors: Matcham F. , Simblett S. K. , Leightley D. , Dalby M. , Siddi S. , Haro J. M. , Lamers F. , Penninx B. W. H. J. , Bruce S. , Nica R. , Zormpas S. , Gilpin G. , White K. M. , Oetzmann C. , Annas P. , Brasen J. C. , Narayan V. A. , Hotopf M. , Wykes T. ,   for the RADAR-CNS consortium
Published: December 2022

Background

Cognitive symptoms are common during and following episodes of depression. Little is known about the persistence of self-reported and performance-based cognition with depression and functional outcomes.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a prospective naturalistic observational clinical cohort study of individuals with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD;N= 623). Participants completed app-based self-reported and performance-based cognitive function assessments alongside validated measures of depression, functional disability, and self-esteem every 3 months. Participants were followed-up for a maximum of 2-years. Multilevel hierarchically nested modelling was employed to explore between- and within-participant variation over time to identify whether persistent cognitive difficulties are related to levels of depression and functional impairment during follow-up.

Results

508 individuals (81.5%) provided data (mean age: 46.6,s.d.: 15.6; 76.2% female). Increasing persistence of self-reported cognitive difficulty was associated with higher levels of depression and functional impairment throughout the follow-up. In comparison to low persistence of objective cognitive difficulty (<25% of timepoints), those with high persistence (>75% of timepoints) reported significantly higher levels of depression (B= 5.17,s.e.= 2.21,p= 0.019) and functional impairment (B= 4.82,s.e.= 1.79,p= 0.002) over time. Examination of the individual cognitive modules shows that persistently impaired executive function is associated with worse functioning, and poor processing speed is particularly important for worsened depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

We replicated previous findings of greater persistence of cognitive difficulty with increasing severity of depression and further demonstrate that these cognitive difficulties are associated with pervasive functional disability. Difficulties with cognition may be an indicator and target for further treatment input.
Recognising ligamentous atresia in double aortic arch
Authors: Bendrick Tyler , Polito Dillon , Richardson Randy , Anderson Robert H. , Prasad Deepa
Published: December 2022

Ligamentous atresia of the left side of a double arch distal to the left subclavian artery is a rare form of vascular ring, which can easily be confused, on transthoracic echocardiography, with the right-sided aortic arch when there is mirror-imaged branching. Because of its rapid acquisition, computed tomographic angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction has now become the modality of choice for accurate diagnosis of the various forms of double aortic arch. It can be performed without sedation in any age group, including neonates. It provides excellent visualisation of the aortic arch and its branching pattern, thus permitting accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. We present a case series of six children with this rare vascular ring assessed using CT, highlighting their outcomes.
Sleep and Daily Positive Emotions – Is Heart Rate Variability a Mediator?
Authors: Ballesio Andrea , Zagaria Andrea , Salaris Andrea , Terrasi Michela , Lombardo Caterina , Ottaviani Cristina
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Sleep quality is considered a basic dimension of emotional health. The psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the associations between sleep quality and positive emotions are still largely unknown, yet autonomic regulation may play a role. This study employed a two-day ecological momentary assessment methodology in a sample of young adults to investigate whether subjective sleep quality reported in the morning was associated with daily positive emotional experience and whether this association was mediated by heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac vagal tone. Sleep quality was assessed using an electronic sleep diary upon awakening, while resting HRV and positive emotions were inspected at random times throughout the day using photoplethysmography and an electronic diary, respectively. Relevant confounding variables such as smoking, alcohol intake, and physical exercise between each measurement were also assessed. The sample included 121 participants (64.8% females, Mage = 25.97 ± 5.32 years). After controlling for relevant confounders including health behaviors and psychiatric comorbidities, mediation analysis revealed that greater sleep quality positively predicted daily HRV (β = .289, p < .001) which, in turn, had a direct influence on positive emotions (β = .244, p = .006). Also, sleep quality directly predicted positive emotional experience (β = .272, p = .001). Lastly, the model showed an indirect effect between sleep quality and positive emotions via HRV (β = .071, 95% BCI [.011, .146]). Results support the view of HRV as a process variable linking sleep to positive emotions. Experimental data is needed to consolidate the present findings.
Disgust-Eliciting Pathogen Threats and Salivary Immune Responses
Authors: Wicks Lahai A. M. , Baldwin Debora R. , Richesin Matthew T.
Published: December 2022

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the effects of different sensory modality presentations of disgusting stimuli on aspects of immunity (behavioral and physiological) and affect in men and women. Sixty-four college students participated, and all participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups based on sensory modality stimuli type (visual or olfactory) and manipulation (experimental or control). Results indicated that olfactory stimuli were rated as more disgusting than visual stimuli. When collapsed across sensory modality, females tended to self-report greater disgust sensitivity than males. Overall, there was a significant negative association between disgust ratings and changes in resting heart rate (HR). Baseline salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration was significantly positively correlated with disgust ratings in men. Our findings suggest that the behavioral and physiological immune systems are indeed coordinated, but future studies are needed to examine the extent to which multisensory disgusting cues influence immune system responses as a function of gender.
Why Does Grief Hurt?
Authors: Moreira Diana , Azeredo Andreia , Sá Moreira Diana , Fávero Marisalva , Sousa-Gomes Valéria
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Grief is a major physical and psychological health concern for adults, as well as a key risk factor for depression. The direct and indirect costs of depression in adults place heavy burdens on societal resources. Indeed, bereavement is a stressful and profound life experience, with the grieving process combining reactions to a loss that may originate in complications for bereaved individuals. The goal of this systematic review is to synthesize the findings regarding depression and grief. Studies related to the topic were obtained from multiple databases through rigorous exclusion and inclusion criteria. Only empirical studies with quantitative methodologies were included. Objectives, sample (type of sample, % male, and age), instruments, and main conclusions were extracted from each study. Overall, there are personality and contextual factors that, in addition to affecting depressive reactions following a loss, may also interface with one’s ability to grieve. Furthermore, after the patient’s death, there was a decrease in depressive symptoms over time, indicating that these symptoms are dynamic. Individuals who experience prolonged grief exhibit depressive symptoms, and those who suffer a loss may have depressive symptoms, but in a natural and non-pathological way, that is, sadness and not depression. Depression tends to decrease over time, with the existence of more children and a focus on occupation.
Use of Hydrological Models in Global Stochastic Flood Modeling
Authors: Olcese Gaia , Bates Paul D. , Neal Jeffrey C. , Sampson Christopher C. , Wing Oliver E. J. , Quinn Niall , Beck Hylke E.
Published: December 2022

Typical flood models do not take into consideration the spatial structure of flood events, which can lead to errors in the estimation of flood risk at regional to continental scales. Large‐scale stochastic flood models can simulate synthetic flood events with a realistic spatial structure, although this method is limited by the availability of gauge data. Simulated discharge from global hydrological models has been successfully used to drive stochastic modeling in data‐rich areas. This research evaluates the use of discharge hindcasts from global hydrological models in building stochastic river flood models globally: synthetic flood events in different regions of the world (Australia, South Africa, South America, Malaysia, Thailand, and Europe) are simulated using both gauged and modeled discharge. By comparing them, we analyze how a model‐based approach can simulate spatial dependency in large‐scale flood modeling. The results show a promising performance of the model‐based approach, with errors comparable to those obtained over data‐rich sites: a model‐based approach simulates the joint occurrence of relative flow exceedances at two given locations similarly to when a gauge‐based statistical model is used. This suggests that a network of synthetic gauge data derived from global hydrological models would allow the development of a stochastic flood model with detailed spatial dependency, generating realistic event sets in data‐scarce regions and loss exceedance curves where exposure data are available.
Adaptive working memory training does not produce transfer effects in cognition and neuroimaging
Authors: Ripp Isabelle , Emch Mónica , Wu Qiong , Lizarraga Aldana , Udale Robert , von Bastian Claudia Christina , Koch Kathrin , Yakushev Igor
Published: December 2022

Despite growing interest in cognitive interventions from academia and industry, it remains unclear if working memory (WM) training, one of the most popular cognitive interventions, produces transfer effects. Transfer effects are training-induced gains in performance in untrained cognitive tasks, while practice effects are improvements in trained task. The goal of this study was to evaluate potential transfer effects by comprehensive cognitive testing and neuroimaging. In this prospective, randomized-controlled, and single-blind study, we administered an 8-week n-back training to 55 healthy middle-aged (50–64 years) participants. State-of-the-art multimodal neuroimaging was used to examine potential anatomic and functional changes. Relative to control subjects, who performed non-adaptive WM training, no near or far transfer effects were detected in experimental subjects, who performed adaptive WM training. Equivalently, no training-related changes were observed in white matter integrity, amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, glucose metabolism, functional and metabolic connectivity. Exploratory within-group comparisons revealed some gains in transfer tasks, which, however, cannot be attributed to an increased WM capacity. In conclusion, WM training produces transfer effects neither at the cognitive level nor in terms of neural structure or function. These results speak against a common view that training-related gains reflect an increase in underlying WM capacity. Instead, the presently observed practice effects may be a result of optimized task processing strategies, which do not necessarily engage neural plasticity.
Kinesin-5 Eg5 is essential for spindle assembly, chromosome stability and organogenesis in development
Authors: Yu Wen-Xin , Li Yu-Kun , Xu Meng-Fei , Xu Chen-Jie , Chen Jie , Wei Ya-Lan , She Zhen-Yu
Published: December 2022

Chromosome stability relies on bipolar spindle assembly and faithful chromosome segregation during cell division. Kinesin-5 Eg5 is a plus-end-directed kinesin motor protein, which is essential for spindle pole separation and chromosome alignment in mitosis. Heterozygous Eg5 mutations cause autosomal-dominant microcephaly, primary lymphedema, and chorioretinal dysplasia syndrome in humans. However, the developmental roles and cellular mechanisms of Eg5 in organogenesis remain largely unknown. In this study, we have shown that Eg5 inhibition leads to the formation of the monopolar spindle, chromosome misalignment, polyploidy, and subsequent apoptosis. Strikingly, long-term inhibition of Eg5 stimulates the immune responses and the accumulation of lymphocytes in the mouse spleen through the innate and specific immunity pathways. Eg5 inhibition results in metaphase arrest and cell growth inhibition, and suppresses the formation of somite and retinal development in zebrafish embryos. Our data have revealed the essential roles of kinesin-5 Eg5 involved in cell proliferation, chromosome stability, and organogenesis during development. Our findings shed a light on the cellular basis and pathogenesis in microcephaly, primary lymphedema, and chorioretinal dysplasia syndrome of Eg5-mutation-positive patients.
Structural insights into a shared mechanism of human STING activation by a potent agonist and an autoimmune disease-associated mutation
Authors: Xie Zuoquan , Wang Zhen , Fan Fengying , Zhou Jinpei , Hu Zhaoxue , Wang Qingxia , Wang Xiyuan , Zeng Qingzhong , Zhang Yan , Qiu Jiaxuan , Zhou Xiaoqian , Xu Hui , Bai Hudagula , Zhan Zhengsheng , Ding Jian , Zhang Huibin , Duan Wenhu , Yu Xuekui , Geng Meiyu
Published: December 2022

Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) is increasingly exploited for the potential in cancer immunotherapy, yet its mechanism of activation remains not fully understood. Herein, we designed a novel STING agonist, designated as HB3089 that exhibits robust and durable anti-tumor activity in tumor models across various cancer types. Cryo-EM analysis reveals that HB3089-bound human STING has structural changes similar to that of the STING mutant V147L, a constitutively activated mutant identified in patients with STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI). Both structures highlight the conformational changes of the transmembrane domain (TMD), but without the 180°-rotation of the ligand binding domain (LBD) previously shown to be required for STING activation. Further structure-based functional analysis confirmed a new STING activation mode shared by the agonist and the SAVI-related mutation, in which the connector linking the LBD and the TMD senses the activation signal and controls the conformational changes of the LBD and the TMD for STING activation. Together, our findings lead to a new working model for STING activation and open a new avenue for the rationale design of STING-targeted therapies either for cancer or autoimmune disorders.
A novel FLNA variant in a fetus with skeletal dysplasia
Authors: Oshina Kyoko , Kamei Yoshimasa , Hori Asuka , Hasegawa Fuyuki , Taniguchi Kosuke , Migita Ohsuke , Itakura Atsuo , Hata Kenichiro
Published: December 2022

Otopalatodigital spectrum disorder (OPDSD) is characterized by variable phenotypes, including skeletal dysplasia, and is caused by pathogenic variants in filamin A-encoding FLNA. FLNA variants associated with lethal OPDSD primarily alter the CH2 subdomain of the ABD of FLNA. Herein, we report a novel FLNA mutation in a fetus with severe skeletal dysplasia in a pregnant multigravida female with a history of repeated miscarriages and terminations.
Reported sleep duration reveals segmentation of the adult life-course into three phases
Authors: Coutrot A. , Lazar A. S. , Richards M. , Manley E. , Wiener J. M. , Dalton R. C. , Hornberger M. , Spiers H. J.
Published: December 2022

Classically the human life-course is characterized by youth, middle age and old age. A wide range of biological, health and cognitive functions vary across this life-course. Here, using reported sleep duration from 730,187 participants across 63 countries, we find three distinct phases in the adult human life-course: early adulthood (19-33yrs), mid-adulthood (34-53yrs), and late adulthood (54+yrs). They appear stable across culture, gender, education and other demographics. During the third phase, where self-reported sleep duration increases with age, cognitive performance, as measured by spatial navigation, was found to have an inverted u-shape relationship with reported sleep duration: optimal performance peaks at 7 hours reported sleep. World-wide self-reported sleep duration patterns are geographically clustered, and are associated with economy, culture, and latitude.
BA.2 and BA.5 omicron differ immunologically from both BA.1 omicron and pre-omicron variants
Authors: Rössler Annika , Netzl Antonia , Knabl Ludwig , Schäfer Helena , Wilks Samuel H. , Bante David , Falkensammer Barbara , Borena Wegene , von Laer Dorothee , Smith Derek J. , Kimpel Janine
Published: December 2022

Several studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 omicron is an immune escape variant. Meanwhile, however, omicron BA.2 and BA.5 became dominant in many countries and replaced BA.1. As both have several mutations compared to BA.1, we analyzed whether BA.2 and BA.5 show further immune escape relative to BA.1. Here, we characterized neutralization profiles against the BA.2 and BA.5 omicron sub-variants in plasma samples from individuals with different history of exposures to infection/vaccination and found that unvaccinated individuals after a single exposure to BA.2 had limited cross-neutralizing antibodies to pre-omicron variants and to BA.1. Consequently, our antigenic map including all Variants of Concern and BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5 omicron sub-variants, showed that all omicron sub-variants are distinct to pre-omicron variants, but that the three omicron variants are also antigenically distinct from each other. The antibody landscapes illustrate that cross-neutralizing antibodies against the current antigenic space, as described in our maps, are generated only after three or more exposures to antigenically close variants but also after two exposures to antigenically distant variants. Here, we describe the antigenic space inhabited by the relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants, the understanding of which will have important implications for further vaccine strain adaptations.
Sliding induced multiple polarization states in two-dimensional ferroelectrics
Authors: Meng Peng , Wu Yaze , Bian Renji , Pan Er , Dong Biao , Zhao Xiaoxu , Chen Jiangang , Wu Lishu , Sun Yuqi , Fu Qundong , Liu Qing , Shi Dong , Zhang Qi , Zhang Yong-Wei , Liu Zheng , Liu Fucai
Published: December 2022

When the atomic layers in a non-centrosymmetric van der Waals structure slide against each other, the interfacial charge transfer results in a reversal of the structure’s spontaneous polarization. This phenomenon is known as sliding ferroelectricity and it is markedly different from conventional ferroelectric switching mechanisms relying on ion displacement. Here, we present layer dependence as a new dimension to control sliding ferroelectricity. By fabricating 3 R MoS2 of various thicknesses into dual-gate field-effect transistors, we obtain anomalous intermediate polarization states in multilayer (more than bilayer) 3 R MoS2. Using results from ab initio density functional theory calculations, we propose a generalized model to describe the ferroelectric switching process in multilayer 3 R MoS2 and to explain the formation of these intermediate polarization states. This work reveals the critical roles layer number and interlayer dipole coupling play in sliding ferroelectricity and presents a new strategy for the design of novel sliding ferroelectric devices.
Histone H3.3 deposition in seed is essential for the post-embryonic developmental competence in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhao Ting , Lu Jingyun , Zhang Huairen , Xue Mande , Pan Jie , Ma Lijun , Berger Frédéric , Jiang Danhua
Published: December 2022

The acquisition of germination and post-embryonic developmental ability during seed maturation is vital for seed vigor, an important trait for plant propagation and crop production. How seed vigor is established in seeds is still poorly understood. Here, we report the crucial function of Arabidopsis histone variant H3.3 in endowing seeds with post-embryonic developmental potentials. H3.3 is not essential for seed formation, but loss of H3.3 results in severely impaired germination and post-embryonic development. H3.3 exhibits a seed-specific 5′ gene end distribution and facilitates chromatin opening at regulatory regions in seeds. During germination, H3.3 is essential for proper gene transcriptional regulation. Moreover, H3.3 is constantly loaded at the 3′ gene end, correlating with gene body DNA methylation and the restriction of chromatin accessibility and cryptic transcription at this region. Our results suggest a fundamental role of H3.3 in initiating chromatin accessibility at regulatory regions in seed and licensing the embryonic to post-embryonic transition.