bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taking diversity seriously: Within‐group heterogeneity in African American extended family support networks
Authors: Taylor Robert Joseph , Chatters Linda M. , Cross Christina J.
Published: July 2021

Objective

This study examined the correlates of involvement in extended family social support networks among African Americans.

Background

Previous literature has documented the importance of informal social support from extended family members for the African American population. Most research has investigated black‐white differences in network involvement or has focused on impoverished African American families. Both approaches conceal important within‐group variation in participation among the total African American population.

Method

This study relied on nationally representative data from the African American sub‐sample of the National Survey of American Life (n = 3538). It employed ordinary least squares regression analysis to examine the sociodemographic and family factors that are associated with four key measures of involvement in extended family support networks: receiving and providing extended family support, frequency of family contact, and degree of subjective closeness.

Results

African Americans routinely interacted with members of their family, displayed a high degree of family closeness, and exchanged support fairly frequently. Findings also revealed significant variation in network involvement by sociodemographic characteristics: women, younger adults, and Southerners were typically most involved; individuals who experienced greater material hardship, were previously incarcerated, or served in the military reported less involvement. Results also showed that family closeness and family contact were particularly salient factors shaping the extent to which network members engaged in support exchanges.

Conclusion

The magnitude of within‐group heterogeneity in network involvement underscores the importance of considering issues of intragroup diversity in the developing literature on African American extended family networks.
Measurement error in US regional economic data
Authors: Carpenter Craig Wesley , Van Sandt Anders , Loveridge Scott
Published: July 2021

Estimates of publicly suppressed and unrevised regional economic data produce error and potentially bias statistical inference. This article estimates measurement error in suppressed cell estimated data sets (SCEDs) relative to unsuppressed federal administrative data. In a cross section, coefficient estimates based on relatively aggregated SCEDs are attenuated by about 31%, increasing to 50% in panel data. Coefficient estimates based on less‐aggregated SCEDs are not generally reliable. A review of the limited options for identification emphasizes both the systemic limitations suppression places on research inference and the value of retrospective revisions in confidential data, highlighting the importance of confidential data access and use.
Infrastructure, enforcement, and COVID‐19 in Mumbai slums: A first look
Authors: Tandel Vaidehi , Gandhi Sahil , Patranabis Shaonlee , Bettencourt Luís M. A. , Malani Anup
Published: July 2021

This study is among the first to investigate whether patterns of access to basic services could explain the disproportionately severe impact of COVID‐19 in slums. Using geolocated containment zones and COVID‐19 case data for Mumbai, India's most populous city, we find that cases and case fatality rates are higher in slums compared with formal residential buildings. Our results show that access to toilets for men is associated with lower COVID‐19 prevalence. However, the effect is opposite in the case of toilets for women. This could be because limited hours for safely using toilets and higher waiting times increase the risk of exposure, and women and children sharing toilet facilities results in crowding. Proximity to water pipelines has no effect on prevalence, likely because slumdwellers are disconnected from formal water supply networks. Indoor crowding does not seem to have an effect on case prevalence. Finally, while police capacity—measured by number of police station outposts—is associated with lower prevalence in nonslum areas, indicating effective enforcement of containment, this relationship does not hold in slums. The study highlights the urgency of finding viable solutions for slum improvement and upgrading to mitigate the effects of contagion for some of the most vulnerable populations.
Gender‐specific estimates of sleep problems during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Alimoradi Zainab , Gozal David , Tsang Hector W. H. , Lin Chung‐Ying , Broström Anders , Ohayon Maurice M. , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: July 2021

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) changed lifestyles worldwide and subsequently induced individuals’ sleep problems. Sleep problems have been demonstrated by scattered evidence among the current literature on COVID‐19; however, little is known regarding the synthesised prevalence of sleep problems (i.e. insomnia symptoms and poor sleep quality) for males and females separately. The present systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to answer the important question regarding prevalence of sleep problems during the COVID‐19 outbreak period between genders. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guideline and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale checklist, relevant studies with satisfactory methodological quality searched for in five academic databases (Scopus, PubMed Central, ProQuest, Web of Science , and EMBASE) were included and analysed. The protocol of the project was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; identification code CRD42020181644). A total of 54 papers (N = 67,722) in the female subgroup and 45 papers (N = 45,718) in the male subgroup were pooled in the meta‐analysis. The corrected pooled estimated prevalence of sleep problems was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19%–29%) for female participants and 27% (95% CI 24%–30%) for male participants. Although in both gender subgroups, patients with COVID‐19, health professionals and general population showed the highest prevalence of sleep problems, it did not reach statistical significance. Based on multivariable meta‐regression, both gender groups had higher prevalence of sleep problems during the lockdown period. Therefore, healthcare providers should pay attention to the sleep problems and take appropriate preventive action.
Linking insect herbivory with plant traits: Phylogenetically structured trait syndromes matter
Authors: Těšitel Jakub , Tahadlová Markéta , Lepš Jan , Hölzel Norbert
Published: July 2021

Questions

Herbivory is a fundamental ecological interaction underlying energy and mass flow between primary producers and consumers. Ecological theory describes plant biomass quality in terms of food for herbivores as a functional effect trait. We asked how leaf functional traits affect insect herbivory in a species‐rich meadow community.

Location

Čertoryje National Nature Reserve, Bílé Karpaty (White Carpathians) Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic.

Methods

We assessed herbivory of 24 plant species co‐occurring in a species‐rich semi‐natural grassland by measuring herbivore damage caused by leaf‐chewing insects. Identification of trait–herbivory links was conducted by a comparative analysis based on a phylogenetically informed regression.

Results

Plant species strongly differed in leaf‐chewer herbivory. Interspecific differences in herbivory and most traits displayed a strong phylogenetic signal associated with the deep evolutionary split between monocot graminoids and dicot forbs. There were also pronounced correlations among individual traits. Herbivory was tightly related to an intercorrelated trait set describing fibre composition and Ca content. There was also a less pronounced negative effect of leaf biomass C:N ratio on herbivory. However, the observed association between traits and herbivory was phylogenetically structured in agreement with the univariate tests of phylogenetic signal.

Conclusion

Herbivory was associated with a whole syndrome of intercorrelated traits, among which it is not possible to choose a single best trait predictor. Moreover, the principal pattern in this trait syndrome was related to a macro‐evolutionary singularity. Such linkage among an ecosystem process, traits, and phylogeny complicates linking ecosystem processes with particular functional traits and may also occur elsewhere in natural ecosystems.
Women's embroidered self‐portraiture in the late 18th century: Authorship, agency, and artistry
Authors: Strobel Heidi A.
Published: July 2021

In 18th‐century Europe and North America, portraiture satisfied multiple purposes: the creation of individual and/or familial identity, verisimilitude, and the decoration of a home. Self‐portraiture, a likeness of an artist created by the artist, often served as an artist's statement that articulated professional goals. Textile self‐portraits, however, unlike the more popular sculpted and painted versions, have been neglected by scholars of the early modern period. Three examples were made by English embroiderers Mary Linwood (1755–1845), Mary Knowles (1733–1807), and Marie Thérèsa Lasselle (1735–1819), a New World settler whose family traded with Native American peoples on behalf of the British. Because the lives of these women are poorly documented, their embroidered self‐portraits were more than just a likeness, for they served an important autobiographical function. The iconography and materiality of these portraits conveys information about late 18th‐century beliefs about femininity, self‐expression, and individual agency.
Population genomics reveals variable patterns of immune gene evolution in monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
Authors: Tan Wen‐Hao , Talla Venkat , Mongue Andrew J. , de Roode Jacobus C. , Gerardo Nicole M. , Walters James R.
Published: July 2021

Humoral and cellular immune responses provide animals with major defences against harmful pathogens. While it is often assumed that immune genes undergo rapid diversifying selection, this assumption has not been tested in many species. Moreover, it is likely that different classes of immune genes experience different levels of evolutionary constraint, resulting in varying selection patterns. We examined the evolutionary patterns for a set of 91 canonical immune genes of North American monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), using as an outgroup the closely related soldier butterfly (Danaus eresimus). As a comparison to these immune genes, we selected a set of control genes that were paired with each immune for approximate size and genomic location. As a whole, these immune genes had a significant but modest reduction in Tajima's D relative to paired‐control genes, but otherwise did not show distinct patterns of population genetic variation or evolutionary rates. When further partitioning these immune genes into four functional classes (recognition, signalling, modulation, and effector), we found distinct differences among these groups. Relative to control genes, recognition genes exhibit increased nonsynonymous diversity and divergence, suggesting reduced constraints on evolution, and supporting the notion that coevolution with pathogens results in diversifying selection. In contrast, signalling genes showed an opposite pattern of reduced diversity and divergence, suggesting evolutionary constraints and conservation. Modulator and effector genes showed no statistical differences from controls. These results are consistent with patterns found in immune genes in fruit flies and Pieris butterflies, suggesting that consistent selective pressures on different classes of immune genes broadly govern the evolution of innate immunity among insects.
Plant‐phenotypic changes induced by parasitoid ichnoviruses enhance the performance of both unparasitized and parasitized caterpillars
Authors: Cusumano Antonino , Urbach Serge , Legeai Fabrice , Ravallec Marc , Dicke Marcel , Poelman Erik H. , Volkoff Anne‐Nathalie
Published: July 2021

There is increasing awareness that interactions between plants and insects can be mediated by microbial symbionts. Nonetheless, evidence showing that symbionts associated with organisms beyond the second trophic level affect plant‐insect interactions are restricted to a few cases belonging to parasitoid‐associated bracoviruses. Insect parasitoids harbour a wide array of symbionts which, like bracoviruses, can be injected into their herbivorous hosts to manipulate their physiology and behaviour. Yet, the function of these symbionts in plant‐based trophic webs remains largely overlooked. Here, we provide the first evidence of a parasitoid‐associated symbiont belonging to the group of ichnoviruses which affects the strength of plant‐insect interactions. A comparative proteomic analysis shows that, upon parasitoid injection of calyx fluid containing ichnovirus particles, the composition of salivary glands of caterpillars changes both qualitatively (presence of two viral‐encoded proteins) and quantitatively (abundance of several caterpillar‐resident enzymes, including elicitors such as glucose oxidase). In turn, plant phenotypic changes triggered by the altered composition of caterpillar oral secretions affect the performance of herbivores. Ichnovirus manipulation of plant responses to herbivory leads to benefits for their parasitoid partners in terms of reduced developmental time within the parasitized caterpillar. Interestingly, plant‐mediated ichnovirus‐induced effects also enhance the performances of unparasitized herbivores which in natural conditions may feed alongside parasitized ones. We discuss these findings in the context of ecological costs imposed to the plant by the viral symbiont of the parasitoid. Our results provide intriguing novel findings about the role played by carnivore‐associated symbionts on plant‐insect‐parasitoid systems and underline the importance of placing mutualistic associations in an ecological perspective.
Food for everyone: Differential feeding habits of cryptic bat species inferred from DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Andriollo Tommy , Michaux Johan R. , Ruedi Manuel
Published: July 2021

Ecological theory postulates that niches of co‐occurring species must differ along some ecological dimensions in order to allow their stable coexistence. Yet, many biological systems challenge this competitive exclusion principle. Insectivorous bats from the Northern Hemisphere typically form local assemblages of multiple species sharing highly similar functional traits and pertaining to identical feeding guilds. Although their trophic niche can be accessed with unprecedented details using genetic identification of prey, the underlying mechanisms of resource partitioning remain vastly unexplored. Here, we studied the differential diet of three closely‐related bat species of the genus Plecotus in sympatry and throughout their entire breeding season using DNA metabarcoding. Even at such a small geographic scale, we identified strong seasonal and spatial variation of their diet composition at both intra‐ and interspecific levels. Indeed, while the different bats fed on a distinct array of prey during spring, they showed higher trophic niche overlap during summer and fall, when all three species switched their hunting behaviour to feed on few temporarily abundant moths. By recovering 19 ecological traits for over 600 prey species, we further inferred that each bat species used different feeding grounds and hunting techniques, suggesting that niche partitioning was primarily habitat‐driven. The two most‐closely related bat species exhibited very distinct foraging habitat preferences, while the third, more distantly‐related species was more generalist. These results highlight the need of temporally comprehensive samples to fully understand species coexistence, and that valuable information can be derived from the taxonomic identity of prey obtained by metabarcoding approaches.
Behavioral responses of humpback whales to biopsy sampling on a breeding ground: the influence of age‐class, reproductive status, social context, and repeated sampling
Authors: Garrigue Claire , Derville Solène
Published: July 2021

The short‐term response of humpback whales to boat approach and remote biopsy sampling was investigated in a breeding ground according to age‐class, sex, female reproductive status, social context, sampling system, habitat, and repeated sampling with more than 20 years of data. In a total of 2,248 observed behavioral responses to biopsy sampling, 58.7% showed no response, 40.7% were considered to be weak or moderate responses, and only 0.5% were considered to be strong. No significant difference was found between the response of calves (young‐of‐the‐year) and that of adults, whereas juveniles responded significantly more strenuously. The response of adult whales was influenced by sex, female reproductive status, and social context. Mothers showed the most frequent response to the boat approach, but the weakest response to the biopsy sampling itself, whereas nonlactating females had the strongest response to biopsy sampling. Males responded less when sampled within a competitive group. Repeated sampling of individual adults resulted in decreasing intensity of responses across years. This comprehensive assessment has implications for management authorities, notably in approving research permits for sampling different age classes on breeding grounds.
Plant growth: the What, the How, and the Why
Authors: Hilty Jonas , Muller Bertrand , Pantin Florent , Leuzinger Sebastian
Published: July 2021

Growth is a widely used term in plant science and ecology, but it can have different meanings depending on the context and the spatiotemporal scale of analysis. At the meristem level, growth is associated with the production of cells and initiation of new organs. At the organ or plant scale and over short time periods, growth is often used synonymously with tissue expansion, while over longer time periods the increase in biomass is a common metric. At even larger temporal and spatial scales, growth is mostly described as net primary production. Here, we first address the question ‘what is growth?’. We propose a general framework to distinguish between the different facets of growth, and the corresponding physiological processes, environmental drivers and mathematical formalisms. Based on these different definitions, we then review how plant growth can be measured and analysed at different organisational, spatial and temporal scales. We conclude by discussing why gaining a better understanding of the different facets of plant growth is essential to disentangle genetic and environmental effects on the phenotype, and to uncover the causalities around source or sink limitations of plant growth.
Canopy occupation volume as an indicator of canopy photosynthetic capacity
Authors: Liu Fusang , Song Qingfeng , Zhao Jinke , Mao Linxiong , Bu Hongyi , Hu Yong , Zhu Xin‐Guang
Published: July 2021

Leaf angle and leaf area index together influence canopy light interception and canopy photosynthesis. However, so far, there is no effective method to identify the optimal combination of these two parameters for canopy photosynthesis.

In this study, first a robust high‐throughput method for accurate segmentation of maize organs based on 3D point clouds data was developed, then the segmented plant organs were used to generate new 3D point clouds for the canopy of altered architectures. With this, we simulated the synergistic effect of leaf area and leaf angle on canopy photosynthesis.

The results show that, compared to the traditional parameters describing the canopy photosynthesis including leaf area index, facet angle and canopy coverage, a new parameter – the canopy occupation volume (COV) – can better explain the variations of canopy photosynthetic capacity. Specifically, COV can explain > 79% variations of canopy photosynthesis generated by changing leaf angle and > 84% variations of canopy photosynthesis generated by changing leaf area.

As COV can be calculated in a high‐throughput manner based on the canopy point clouds, it can be used to evaluate canopy architecture in breeding and agronomic research.
Integrated 3D intracardiac ultrasound imaging with detailed pulmonary vein delineation guided fluoroless ablation of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Antolič Bor , Kajdič Nina , Vrbajnščak Mojca , Jan Matevž , Žižek David
Published: July 2021

Background

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has become an all‐round tool for ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) since it plays an important role in all procedural steps. The key upgrade to the usefulness of ICE is its integration into three‐dimensional (3D) electroanatomic mapping (EAM) system (ICE/EAM automatic integration system). The aim of this single‐center retrospective study was to evaluate feasibility, safety and acute efficacy of ICE/EAM automatic integration system guided fluoroless ablation of AF.

Methods

The study included patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF undergoing first pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation (RFCA) from September 2017 to August 2020. All procedures were performed without the use of fluoroscopy. A detailed 3D virtual anatomy of the left atrium (LA) and structures relevant to AF ablation was constructed from ultrasound contours obtained with ICE probe inside the LA. Pulmonary veins (PVs) and antral regions were additionally mapped with fast anatomical mapping (FAM). PVI was performed with contact force (CF) sensing catheter. Procedural endpoint was successful PVI.

Results

A total of 98 consecutive patients underwent RFCA (34.7% females, median age 64.4 years, 64.3% paroxysmal AF). Acute PVI was achieved in all patients (100%). Forty‐three patients (43.9%) underwent additional ablations for concomitant arrhythmias. Adverse events were detected in four patients (4.1%). The median procedure duration was 130 min (IQR 103.8‐151.3). If only PVI was done the median procedure duration was 110.5 (IQR 100.0‐133.8)

Conclusions

ICE/EAM automatic integration system guided fluoroless ablation of AF is feasible, safe and acutely effective method for treatment of symptomatic AF.
Gibberellins orchestrate panicle architecture mediated by DELLA–KNOX signalling in rice
Authors: Su Su , Hong Jun , Chen Xiaofei , Zhang Changquan , Chen Mingjiao , Luo Zhijing , Chang Shuwei , Bai Shaoxing , Liang Wanqi , Liu Qiaoquan , Zhang Dabing
Published: July 2021

Panicle architecture is a key determinant of grain yield in cereals, but the mechanisms governing panicle morphogenesis and organ development remain elusive. Here, we have identified a quantitative trait locus (qPA1) associated with panicle architecture using chromosome segment substitution lines from parents Nipponbare and 9311. The panicle length, branch number and grain number of Nipponbare were significantly higher than CSSL‐9. Through map‐based cloning and complementation tests, we confirmed that qPA1 was identical to SD1 (Semi Dwarf1), which encodes a gibberellin 20‐oxidase enzyme participating in gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis. Transcript analysis revealed that SD1 was widely expressed during early panicle development. Analysis of sd1/osga20ox2 and gnp1/ osga20ox1 single and double mutants revealed that the two paralogous enzymes have non‐redundant functions during panicle development, likely due to differences in spatiotemporal expression; GNP1 expression under control of the SD1 promoter could rescue the sd1 phenotype. The DELLA protein SLR1, a component of the GA signalling pathway, accumulated more highly in sd1 plants. We have demonstrated that SLR1 physically interacts with the meristem identity class I KNOTTED1‐LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX) protein OSH1 to repress OSH1‐mediated activation of downstream genes related to panicle development, providing a mechanistic link between gibberellin and panicle architecture morphogenesis.
When agency “fits” regardless of gender: Perceptions of applicant fit when job and organization signal male stereotypes
Authors: Dutz Regina , Hubner Sylvia , Peus Claudia
Published: July 2021

Evaluators’ fit assessments are not only influenced by applicants’ qualities, but also by stereotypes, especially in recruitment for high‐status jobs in male‐dominated fields. The unidimensional agentic stereotype of these work contexts signals agentic job and organizational requirements (stereotypically male qualities such as achievement orientation), although the actual requirements usually also include communality (stereotypically female qualities such as interpersonal skills). In five experiments, we investigate the relevance of perceived applicant agency for perceived applicant fit, the influence of recruitment material, contextual differences, and the role of applicant gender. Our findings indicate that perceived applicant agency drives perceived person‐job and person‐organization fit in strictly male stereotyped work contexts, regardless of gender, and agentic recruitment material enhances this effect. Contrasting different contexts (high‐ with low‐status jobs and a male‐dominated with a gender‐balanced and female‐dominated field) revealed that the relevance of perceived agency increases with perceived job status, and the relevance of perceived communality decreases with the expected share of men. Although women were perceived as highly agentic in strictly male stereotyped work contexts, their need to be perceived as agentic also was higher than for men, due to the perceived lack of fit between women and high‐status jobs.
The effects of child anxiety and depression on concordance between parent‐proxy and self‐reported health‐related quality of life for pediatric liver transplant patients
Authors: Grant Amy , Ng Vicky L. , Nicholas David , Dhawan Anil , Yazigi Nada , Ee Looi C. , Stormon Michael O. , Gilmour Susan M. , Schreiber Richard A. , Carmody Erin , Otley Anthony R. ,   PeLTQL Study Group
Published: July 2021

Background

HRQOL is a key outcome following pediatric LT. Parent‐proxy reports may substitute for patients unable to report their own HRQOL. This study compared parent‐proxy and self‐reported HRQOL in children who have undergone LT.

Methods

Pediatric LT recipients between the ages of 8 and 18 years, and a parent, completed self and proxy versions of the PeLTQL questionnaire, PedsQL Generic and Transplant modules, and standardized measures of depression and anxiety.

Results

Data from 129 parent–patient dyads were included. Median parent age was 44 years, and most (89%) were mothers. Median patient age was 2.5 years at LT and 13.6 years at the time of study participation. Parents had significantly lower scores than patients on PedsQL total generic (70.8 ± 18.5 and 74.3 ± 19.0, p = .01), PeLTQL coping and adjustment (63.0 ± 15.6 and 67.3 ± 16.2, p < .01), and social‐emotional (66.3 ± 14.9 and 71.9 ± 15.6, p < .001) domains. Higher patient anxiety and depression were related to larger absolute differences between parent‐proxy and self‐reported scores on all HRQOL measures (all p < .05). In this disparity, parents reported higher HRQOL scores than their child as self‐reported anxiety and depression scores increased.

Conclusions

Differences in concordance between parent‐proxy and self‐reported HRQOL scores can be more prominent when children have more symptoms of anxiety and depression. Children's mental health symptoms should be queried, if feasible, when interpreting differences in parent and child reports of HRQOL.
‘Varieties of Skeptical Invariantism I & II’
Authors: Kyriacou Christos
Published: July 2021

I review proposed skepticisms in recent literature (or skeptical invariantisms, if we understand skepticism semantically), contrast their basic commitments and highlight some of their comparative theoretical attractions and problems. To help set the scene for the discussion, I start with Unger’s (1975) modern classic of global skepticism about knowledge (and justification). I then distinguish three extant categories of skepticism in the recent literature: two non‐traditional and one more traditional. On the non‐traditional side are fallibilist science‐based skepticism (which relaxes thestringencyof the standard of knowledge) and practical skepticism (which questions theintellectualcharacter of the standard of knowledge) and on the traditional side high‐standard/infallibilist. I then briefly present and discuss representatives of each category.
Behavioral problems in the children of women who are victims of intimate partner violence
Authors: Pahn Jihyon , Yang Youngran
Published: July 2021

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the maternal experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) and children's behavioral problems.

Sample

The secondary data of the National Survey on Women's Health and Life Experience, which included 980 Cambodian children aged 6–12 years whose mothers responded to questions, were analyzed.

Measurements

IPV was measured as any experience of physical or sexual violence against a woman by her husband. The children's behavioral problems were indicated by nightmares, bed‐wetting, timidity, and aggressive behavior as reported by their mothers.

Results

The children of the women who had experienced sexual violence had a higher prevalence of nightmares (adjusted OR (aOR) = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.421–3.470), bed‐wetting (aOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.398−3.308), and timidity (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.075–3.019) than those without reported IPV. The children of mothers who had experienced physical violence had a higher rate of aggression (OR  =  2.19, 95% CI: 1.321–3.630).

Conclusion

The Cambodian children exposed to IPV against their mothers experienced more behavioral problems. This study presents evidence to support changes in current policy to prevent violence and alleviate behavioral problems.
Developing and implementing a co‐curricular IPE program: AHEC Scholars Program
Authors: Moreno‐Vasquez Andrea , Gandara Eduardo , Idar Annette Z. , Recto Pamela , Zapata Jose , Lesser Janna
Published: July 2021

As part of a new directive, the Human Resources Services Administration (HRSA) mandated Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Programs across the nation to implement an interprofessional education (IPE) program for health professional students, with the goal of fostering collaborative practice among health profession students and motivating students to work in medically underserved areas post‐graduation. The South Texas AHEC Program collaboratively developed and implemented a co‐curricular IPE initiative, the AHEC Scholars Program, including didactic and practicum components, focused on the needs of communities in our area. A pre‐post quasi‐experimental design was used to evaluate the student outcomes related to IPEC Competencies and knowledge and preparation for the practice of core topic areas mandated by HRSA. Student outcomes showed statistically significant improvement in all measures. In order to obtain more detailed accounts of students’ practicum experiences, students were asked to complete reflective journals after each practicum. The AHEC Scholars Program provides students with opportunities to work with underserved populations and enables students to explore the benefits of team‐based care. This article summarizes the collaborative process of the development and implementation of the AHEC Scholars Program; secondly, it details student outcomes from a 3‐month pilot study.
Building k‐partite association graphs for finding recommendation patterns from questionnaire data
Authors: Maduako Iyke , Gong Yaqi , Wachowicz Monica
Published: July 2021

Graph‐pattern association rules have been explored for detecting frequent subgraph structures in real‐world network data, which can reveal new insights for decision‐making, recommender systems, and predictive models. However, questionnaire data have been neglected so far even though they are one of the most affordable ways to gather quantitative data. Questionnaires can cover every aspect of a topic, generating new strategies and trends for many organisations. The challenge is twofold: develop a model for handling nominal/Boolean data and ordinal data simultaneously, as well as multiple values assigned to a single item. In this article, the synergy between the well‐known Apriori algorithm and k‐partite graph modelling is proposed to discover frequent recommendation patterns from questionnaire data. Using graph centrality and similarity measures, the large number of association rules are further analysed to discover meaningful spatial structures in non‐metric spaces. Counting triangles is also used to uncover hidden thematic structures of link recommendations. We demonstrate how our proposed approach can be applied to a tourism questionnaire survey to reveal frequent patterns in k‐partite graphs, which can further be used for recommender systems.
Unraveling the relationship between geomorphodiversity and sediment connectivity in a small alpine catchment
Authors: Bollati Irene Maria , Cavalli Marco
Published: July 2021

Mountain regions are characterized by a spatial geomorphic heterogeneity that confers on the environment a significant geomorphodiversity. A methodology based on a different scale/spatial/resolution approach is proposed to evaluate the relationship existing among geomorphodiversity, geomorphological processes. and sediment connectivity. Starting from the geomorphological mapping of the Veglia Devero Natural Park (Lepontine Alps), indexes of fragmentation (IFrm) and geomorphodiversity (IGmf) were computed. The results were used to select a meaningful sub‐area (Buscagna stream catchment) for calculating the index of connectivity (IC). The relationships among these three indexes are discussed, using a semi‐quantitative approach including descriptive statistics (i.e., box plot) and analysis of the different geomorphoconnectivity sectors, testifying to the role of geomorphic processes in regulating sediment fluxes and, consequently, controlling landscape units. IGmf turned out to be more conservative than IFrm and more management‐oriented for protected areas, while IC was confirmed to be particularly suitable to characterize connectivity in small mountain catchments featuring different geomorphic processes and a complex topography. This study suggests that coupling the sediment connectivity with the geomorphology and geomorphodiversity of a given area represents a quite novel approach that could be usefully applied in the framework of protected areas to investigate also biodiversity patterns and consequently environmental evolution in space and time.
Tools for Transport: Driven to Learn With Connected Vehicles
Authors: Morris Nichole , Craig Curtis , Mirman Jessica Hafetz
Published: July 2021

Vehicle automation and assistance technologies have been touted as a means to reduce traffic collisions by minimizing or eliminating “error‐prone” and inefficient human operators. In concept, automation exists on a continuum that includes engaged driving by a human operator augmented by automated support features, vigilant driver monitoring of vehicle behavior with the possibility of driver take‐over, to full automation with no active monitoring by a human operator. Moreover, the degree of automation varies by vehicle features (e.g., lane centering, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, parking), by setting, meaning that automated features may or may not be available depending on specific attributes of the traffic environment (e.g., traffic volume, road geometry, etc), and by implementation (e.g., haptic vs. auditory warnings). Thus, these automotive “transportation tools” are highly heterogeneous and pose unique challenges and opportunities for driver training. In this paper, we report the results of an experimental study (n = 36) to determine if enhanced vehicle feedback influences driver trust, effort, frustration, and performance (indexed by reaction time) in a virtual driving environment. Results are contextualized in the extant literature on learning to operate motor vehicles and outline key research questions essential for understanding the processes by which skilled performance develops with respect to a real‐world practical tool: the increasingly automated automobile.
Identification and characterization of xanthone biosynthetic genes contributing to the vivid red coloration of red‐flowered gentian
Authors: Sasaki Nobuhiro , Nemoto Keiichirou , Nishizaki Yuzo , Sugimoto Naoki , Tasaki Keisuke , Watanabe Aiko , Goto Fumina , Higuchi Atsumi , Morgan Ed , Hikage Takashi , Nishihara Masahiro
Published: July 2021

Cultivated Japanese gentians traditionally produce vivid blue flowers because of the accumulation of delphinidin‐based polyacylated anthocyanins. However, recent breeding programs developed several red‐flowered cultivars, but the underlying mechanism for this red coloration was unknown. Thus, we characterized the pigments responsible for the red coloration in these cultivars. A high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array analysis revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, including flavones and xanthones, as well as the accumulation of colored cyanidin‐based anthocyanins. The chemical structures of two xanthone compounds contributing to the coloration of red‐flowered gentian petals were determined by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The compounds were identified as norathyriol 6‐O‐glucoside (i.e., tripteroside designated as Xt1) and a previously unreported norathyriol‐6‐O‐(6′‐O‐malonyl)‐glucoside (designated Xt2). The copigmentation effects of these compounds on cyanidin 3‐O‐glucoside were detected in vitro. Additionally, an RNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify the cDNAs encoding the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of these xanthones. Recombinant proteins encoded by the candidate genes were produced in a wheat germ cell‐free protein expression system and assayed. We determined that a UDP‐glucose‐dependent glucosyltransferase (StrGT9) catalyzes the transfer of a glucose moiety to norathyriol, a xanthone aglycone, to produce Xt1, which is converted to Xt2 by a malonyltransferase (StrAT2). An analysis of the progeny lines suggested that the accumulation of Xt2 contributes to the vivid red coloration of gentian flowers. Our data indicate that StrGT9 and StrAT2 help mediate xanthone biosynthesis and contribute to the coloration of red‐flowered gentians via copigmentation effects.
The d‐mannose/l‐galactose pathway is the dominant ascorbate biosynthetic route in the moss Physcomitrium patens
Authors: Sodeyama Tsubasa , Nishikawa Hitoshi , Harai Kenji , Takeshima Daiki , Sawa Yoshihiro , Maruta Takanori , Ishikawa Takahiro
Published: July 2021

Ascorbate is an abundant and indispensable redox compound in plants. Genetic and biochemical studies have established the d‐mannose/l‐galactose (d‐Man/l‐Gal) pathway as the predominant ascorbate biosynthetic pathway in streptophytes, while the d‐galacturonate (d‐GalUA) pathway is found in prasinophytes and euglenoids. Based on the presence of the complete set of genes encoding enzymes involved in the d‐Man/l‐Gal pathway and an orthologous gene encoding aldonolactonase (ALase) – a key enzyme for the d‐GalUA pathway – Physcomitrium patens may possess both pathways. Here, we have characterized the moss ALase as a functional lactonase and evaluated the ascorbate biosynthesis capability of the two pathways using knockout mutants. Physcomitrium patens expresses two ALase paralogs, namely PpALase1 and PpALase2. Kinetic analyses with recombinant enzymes indicated that PpALase1 is a functional enzyme catalyzing the conversion of l‐galactonic acid to the final precursor l‐galactono‐1,4‐lactone and that it also reacts with dehydroascorbate as a substrate. Interestingly, mutants lacking PpALase1 (Δal1) showed 1.2‐fold higher total ascorbate content than the wild type, and their dehydroascorbate content was increased by 50% compared with that of the wild type. In contrast, the total ascorbate content of mutants lacking PpVTC2‐1 (Δvtc2‐1) or PpVTC2‐2 (Δvtc2‐2), which encode the rate‐limiting enzyme GDP‐l‐Gal phosphorylase in the d‐Man/l‐Gal pathway, was markedly decreased to 46 and 17%, respectively, compared with that of the wild type. Taken together, the dominant ascorbate biosynthetic pathway in P. patens is the d‐Man/l‐Gal pathway, not the d‐GalUA pathway, and PpALase1 may play a significant role in ascorbate metabolism by facilitating dehydroascorbate degradation rather than ascorbate biosynthesis.
Integration of the SMXL/D53 strigolactone signalling repressors in the model of shoot branching regulation in Pisum sativum
Authors: Kerr Stephanie C. , Patil Suyash B. , de Saint Germain Alexandre , Pillot Jean‐Paul , Saffar Julie , Ligerot Yasmine , Aubert Grégoire , Citerne Sylvie , Bellec Yannick , Dun Elizabeth A. , Beveridge Christine A. , Rameau Catherine
Published: July 2021

DWARF53 (D53) in rice (Oryza sativa) and its homologs in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2‐LIKE 6 (SMXL6), SMXL7 and SMXL8, are well established negative regulators of strigolactone (SL) signalling in shoot branching regulation. Little is known of pea (Pisum sativum) homologs and whether D53 and related SMXLs are specific to SL signalling pathways. Here, we identify two allelic pea mutants, dormant3 (dor3), and demonstrate through gene mapping and sequencing that DOR3 corresponds to a homolog of D53 and SMXL6/SMXL7, designated PsSMXL7. Phenotype analysis, gene expression, protein and hormone quantification assays were performed to determine the role of PsSMXL7 in regulation of bud outgrowth and the role of PsSMXL7 and D53 in integrating SL and cytokinin (CK) responses. Like D53 and related SMXLs, we show that PsSMXL7 can be degraded by SL and induces feedback upregulation of PsSMXL7 transcript. Here we reveal a system conserved in pea and rice, whereby CK also upregulates PsSMXL7/D53 transcripts, providing a clear mechanism for SL and CK cross‐talk in the regulation of branching. To further deepen our understanding of the branching network in pea, we provide evidence that SL acts via PsSMXL7 to modulate auxin content via PsAFB5, which itself regulates expression of SL biosynthesis genes. We therefore show that PsSMXL7 is key to a triple hormone network involving an auxin–SL feedback mechanism and SL–CK cross‐talk.
Modeling the Transport of Fuel Mixture Perturbations and Entropy Waves in the Linearized Framework
Authors: Kaiser Thomas Ludwig , Oberleithner Kilian
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a new method is introduced to model the transport of entropy waves and equivalence ratio fluctuations in turbulent flows. The model is based on the Navier–Stokes equations and includes a transport equation for a passive scalar, which may stand for entropy or equivalence ratio fluctuations. The equations are linearized around the mean turbulent fields. These serve as the input to the model in addition to a turbulent eddy viscosity, which accounts for turbulent diffusion of the perturbations. Based on these inputs, the framework is able to predict the linear response of the flow velocity and passive scalar to harmonic perturbations that are imposed at the boundaries of the computational domain. These, in this study, are fluctuations in the passive scalar and/or velocities at the inlet of a channel flow. The code is first validated against analytic results, showing very good agreement. Then, the method is applied to predict the convection, mean flow dispersion, and turbulent mixing of passive scalar fluctuations in a turbulent channel flow, which has been studied in previous work with direct numerical simulations (DNS). Results show that our code reproduces the dynamics of coherent passive scalar transport in the DNS with very high accuracy and low numerical costs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that turbulent mixing has a significant effect on the transport of the passive scalar fluctuations. Finally, we apply the method to explain experimental observations of transport of equivalence ratio fluctuations in the mixing duct of a model burner.
A Multi-Source Data Feature Fusion and Expert Knowledge Integration Approach on Lithium-Ion Battery Anomaly Detection
Authors: Wang Yudong , Bai Xiwei , Liu Chengbao , Tan Jie
Published: July 2021

To meet voltage and capability needs, batteries are grouped into packs as power sources. Abnormal ones in a pack will lead to partial heating and reduced available life, so removing anomalies out during manufacturing is of great significance. The conventional methods to detect abnormal batteries mainly rely on grading systems and manual operations. Current data-driven methods use statistical, machine learning and neural network approaches, building models, then applying them on the unlabeled. However, both cannot make full use of multiple source data and expert knowledge. Therefore, how to use these multi-source data and knowledge to improve the effect of battery anomaly detection process has become a research focus. We put forward a data-driven multi-source data feature fusion and expert knowledge integration (FFEKI) network architecture that follows encoder-decoder structure with multiple integration units and a corresponding joint loss function. First, we collect multi-source data and obtain fusion features. Then, we refine filters from expert knowledge and transform them into neural network layers as components of integration units. By this way, supervisory knowledge is integrated into our network. We evaluate our scheme by sets of experiments comparing with most widely used approaches on real manufacturing data. Results show that FFEKI obtains a maximum 100% anomaly detection rate (ADR). Meanwhile, when the number of detection T is greater than the actual number of anomalies in the testing set, our method can achieve full ADR faster. It is concluded that the proposed FFEKI achieves effective performance on power lithium-ion battery anomaly detection.
Basement-decoupled hyperextension rifting: The tectono-stratigraphic record of the salt-rich Pyrenean necking zone (Arzacq Basin, SW France)
Authors: Ducoux M. , Masini E. , Tugend J. , Gómez-Romeu J. , Calassou S.
Published: July 2021

Half grabens and supra-detachment basins correspond to end-member basin types of magma-poor rift settings, each of them showing a characteristic stratigraphic architecture. The occurrence of a basement-cover décollement has been shown to drastically change the stratigraphic architecture of half graben basins, however, the effect of such basement-cover décollement remains to be documented in supra-detachment basins formed during hyper-extension. We investigate the tectono-stratigraphic record of the Arzacq Basin (SW France) recording the formation of a salt-rich Cretaceous hyperextended rift system. Combining 2-D and 3-D seismic reflection calibrated from well data, we show that this basin is an asymmetric syn-rift extensional syncline growing above a pre-kinematic salt layer. By mapping the sub-salt basement, we show that the formation of this syncline is controlled by the South-Arzacq Fault (SAF), soling in the sub-salt basement. Based on crosscutting relationships and the observed southward migration of syn-rift depocenters, this N110°-striking, 20°-dipping structure accommodates >10 km of thick-skinned extension. The overlying supra-salt cover coherently glided, following the basement geometry. The 3-D segmentation of the SAF and the sub-salt stratigraphic architecture of the Arzacq Basin suggest a roughly dip-slip kinematic. A post-kinematic kilometer-scale uplift is documented on the southern side of the Arzacq Basin. It may result from the increasing lithospheric thinning and thermal support at the end of asymmetric hyperextension. As salt commonly occurs in extensional settings, we believe that our description of the tectono-stratigraphic record of a basement-decoupled supra-detachment basin has global applicability to unleash the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of worldwide hyper-extended rifted margins.