bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of non-connective discourse cues and their interaction with connectives
Authors: Crible Ludivine , Demberg Vera
Published: October 2021

The disambiguation and processing of coherence relations is often investigated with a focus on explicit connectives, such asbutorso. Other, non-connective cues from the context also facilitate discourse inferences, although their precise disambiguating role and interaction with connectives have been largely overlooked in the psycholinguistic literature so far. This study reports on two crowdsourcing experiments that test the role of contextual cues (parallelism, antonyms, resultative verbs) in the disambiguation of contrast and consequence relations. We compare the effect of contextual cues in conceptually different relations, and with connectives that differ in their semantic precision. Using offline tasks, our results show that contextual cues significantly help disambiguating contrast and consequence relations in the absence of connectives. However, when connectives are present in the context, the effect of cues only holds if the connective is acceptable in the target relation. Overall, our study suggests that cues are decisive on their own, but only secondary in the presence of connectives. These results call for further investigation of the complex interplay between connective types, contextual cues, relation types and other linguistic and cognitive factors.
An experimental study of the detection of clicks in English
Authors: Vigil Donny , Pinto Derrin
Published: October 2021

This experimental study sets out to determine whether people detect click sounds in American English. Recent
research has documented the use of non-phonemic clicks in a variety of languages to fulfill a range of functions such as sequence
management or signaling searches and different types of attitudinal stance. While these clicks are acoustically salient and have
been reported to occur with a frequency of up to 14 per minute in British English, they have not been widely investigated until
relatively recently. For this experiment, we designed video stimuli consisting of A and B pairs of approximately 10 seconds of
speech, one with a click and the other with the click edited out. We gave 118 participants a questionnaire and asked if they could
detect a difference between the pairs of videos. The results indicate that the majority of participants, between 79% and 86%, do
not detect click sounds.
Microturbulence in edge of a tokamak plasma with medium density and steep temperature gradient
Authors: Li Jingchun , Lin Zhihong , Dong Jiaqi , Xie Huasheng , Liu Songfen
Published: October 2021

Gyrokinetic simulations of electrostatic micro-turbulence have been carried out for transport barriers (TBs) in tokamak plasmas. It is found that the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode is dominant in the pedestal with medium density gradient and steep temperature gradient. The mode width shrinks with increase of the ratio of the density and temperature gradients, which is in good agreement with the analytic theory. Unstable mode with herringbone-like structure is excited in the simulation annulus. The simulation results also indicate that multiple ITG modes are induced by a high temperature gradient. Radial electric field shear decreases the mode growth rate while increases the real frequency. Finally, the generation of the GAM and its interaction with the turbulence are also observed in the nonlinear simulation.
Observables for recoil identification in high-definition Gas Time Projection Chambers
Authors: Ghrear M. , Vahsen S.E. , Deaconu C.
Published: October 2021

Directional detection of nuclear recoils is broadly desirable in nuclear and particle physics. At low recoil energies, this capability may be used to confirm the cosmological origin of a dark matter signal, to penetrate the so-called neutrino floor, or to distinguish between different neutrino sources. Gas Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) can enable directional recoil detection if the readout granularity is sufficiently high, as is the case when micro-pattern gaseous detectors (MPGDs) are utilized. A key challenge in such detectors is identifying and rejecting background electron recoil events caused by gamma rays from radioactive contaminants in the detector materials and the environment. We define new observables that can distinguish electron and nuclear recoils, even at keV-scale energies, based on the simulated ionization's topology. We perform a simulation study that shows these observables outperform the traditionally used discriminant, dE/dx, by up to three orders of magnitude. Furthermore, these new observables work well even at ionization energies well below 10keV and remain robust even in the regime where directionality fails.
2021-H0 odyssey: closed, phantom and interacting dark energy cosmologies
Authors: Yang Weiqiang , Pan Supriya , Di Valentino Eleonora , Mena Olga , Melchiorri Alessandro
Published: October 2021

Up-to-date cosmological data analyses have shown that (a) a closed universe is preferred by the Planck data at more than 99% CL, and (b) interacting scenarios offer a very compelling solution to the Hubble constant tension. In light of these two recent appealing scenarios, we consider here an interacting dark matter-dark energy model with a non-zero spatial curvature component and a freely varying dark energy equation of state in both the quintessential and phantom regimes. When considering Cosmic Microwave Background data only, a phantom and closed universe can perfectly alleviate the Hubble tension, without the necessity of a coupling among the dark sectors. Accounting for other possible cosmological observations compromises the viability of this very attractive scenario as a global solution to current cosmological tensions, either by spoiling its effectiveness concerning the H0 problem, as in the case of Supernovae Ia data, or by introducing a strong disagreement in the preferred value of the spatial curvature, as in the case of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations.
Energy spectrum of thermalizing high energy decay products in the early universe
Authors: Drees Manuel , Najjari Bardia
Published: October 2021

We revisit the Boltzmann equation governing the spectrum of
energetic particles originating from the decay of massive
progenitors during the process of thermalization. We assume that
these decays occur when the background temperature T is much less
than the mass M of the progenitor. We pay special attention to
the IR cutoff provided by the thermal bath, and include the
suppression resulting from the interference of multiple scattering
reactions (LPM effect). We solve the resulting integral equation
numerically, and construct an accurate analytical fit of the
solutions.
Wormholes without exotic matter: quasinormal modes, echoes and shadows
Authors: Churilova M.S. , Konoplya R.A. , Stuchlík Z. , Zhidenko A.
Published: October 2021

An analytical solution representing traversable asymptotically flat and symmetric wormholes was obtained without adding exotic matter in two different theories independently: in the Einstein-Maxwell-Dirac theory and in the second Randall-Sundrum brane-world model. Further, a smooth normalizable asymmetric wormhole solution has been recently obtained numerically in the Einstein-Maxwell-Dirac theory. Using the time-domain integration method we study quasinormal ringing of all these wormholes with emphasis to the regime of mimicking the near extremal Reissner-Nordström black holes, which is characterised by echoes. In addition, we calculate radius of shadows cast by these wormholes.
Multiple recollisions in nonsequential double ionization below the recollision-ionization threshold*
Authors: Ma Xiao-Meng , Tong Ai-Hong , Wang Zhuo , Zhai Chun-Yang
Published: October 2021

By using the three-dimensional classical ensemble model, the recollision dynamics in nonsequential double ionization (NSDI) of Ar by 780-nm laser pulses at (6–1.2) ×1014 W/cm2 was extensively studied. We revealed the picture of multiple-recollision in the double ionization events at the laser intensity region below the recollision-ionization threshold. Via tracing the NSDI trajectories, it was found that the contribution of these multiple-recollision events increases as the laser intensity decreases. In this low intensity region, many multiple-recollision induced NSDI trajectories occur through the doubly excited states. The decay speed of the doubly excited state decreases with the decreasing laser intensity.
Physics studies of ADITYA & ADITYA-U tokamak plasmas using spectroscopic diagnostics
Authors: Manchanda R. , Chowdhuri M.B. , Ghosh J. , Ramaiya N. , Yadava N. , Patel S. , Shukla G. , Shah K. , Dey R. , Jadeja K.A. , Patel K.M. , Tanna R.L. , Pathak S.K. , Nair B.V. , Gupta C.N. , ADITYA-U Team
Published: October 2021

Several spectroscopic diagnostics encompassing the spectral emission range from the x-ray to near infrared (NIR) have been developed, installed and operated for diagnosing and physics studies in the ADITYA and ADITYA-U tokamaks. The recycling and impurity influxes and plasma Z
eff after lithium (Li) coating have been studied using a PMT (photomultiplier tube)-filter based system by capturing H
α
, O1+, C2+, and visible continuum emissions. Significant reduction in the Z
eff values has been observed in the discharge with the Li coated walls. The measured radial profile of H
α
emission using a filter-PMT array, has been modelled using a neutral transport code. The results show substantial contributions from the molecular hydrogen and molecular hydrogen ion dissociation (∼56%) and charge-exchange (∼30%) processes in the measured H
α
emission. Furthermore, a high-resolution, 1 m spectrometer with charge coupled device detector capable of multi-track measurements, has been used to study impurity transport, neutral and ion temperature and intrinsic plasma rotation. By modelling the measured radial profile of O4+ spectral line emission using an impurity transport code, substantial contribution of edge fluctuations on the oxygen transport has been observed. The toroidal (

u

T

max

∼ 20 km s−1 in core) and poloidal (

u

θ

max

∼ 4.5 km s−1 at edge) rotation velocities are measured using C5+ (529 nm) and C2+ (464.7 nm) passive line emissions respectively. The measurement of radial profile of toroidal plasma rotation revealed a reversal of rotation direction depending on the electron density content of the ADITYA-U plasmas. The neutral temperature measurements showed a poloidal asymmetry indicating a presence of asymmetrical source of neutral heating. Moreover, the modelling of measured Fe14+ and Fe15+ vacuum ultraviolet spectral lines has revealed the neo-classical nature of iron transport in ADITYA core. Fast visible camera images captured the formation of filament structures triggered by interchange instabilities during plasma disruptions.
A clustering approach to improve spatial representation in water-energy-food models
Authors: Shivakumar Abhishek , Alfstad Thomas , Niet Taco
Published: October 2021

Currently available water-energy-food (WEF) modelling frameworks to analyse cross-sectoral interactions often share one or more of the following gaps: (a) lack of integration between sectors, (b) coarse spatial representation, and (c) lack of reproducible methods of nexus assessment. In this paper, we present a novel clustering tool as an expansion to the Climate-Land-Energy-Water-Systems modelling framework used to quantify inter-sectoral linkages between water, energy, and food systems. The clustering tool uses Agglomerative Hierarchical clustering to aggregate spatial data related to the land and water sectors. Using clusters of aggregated data reconciles the need for a spatially resolved representation of the land-use and water sectors with the computational and data requirements to efficiently solve such a model. The aggregated clusters, combined together with energy system components, form an integrated resource planning structure. The modelling framework is underpinned by an open-source energy system modelling tool—OSeMOSYS—and uses publicly available data with global coverage. By doing so, the modelling framework allows for reproducible WEF nexus assessments. The approach is used to explore the inter-sectoral linkages between the energy, land-use, and water sectors of Viet Nam out to 2030. A validation of the clustering approach confirms that underlying trends actual crop yield data are preserved in the resultant clusters. Finally, changes in cultivated area of selected crops are observed and differences in levels of crop migration are identified.
Nonautonomous discrete elementary Toda orbits and their ultradiscretization
Authors: Kobayashi Katsuki
Published: October 2021

We derive a nonautonomous discrete analogue of the elementary Toda orbits via a spectral transformation of certain biorthogonal Laurent polynomials. We obtain particular solutions of the system by using the theory of biorthogonal polynomials. The obtained system can be written in subtraction-free form and thus can be ultradiscretized. We introduce a new family of cellular automata generalizing Takahashi and Satsuma’s box-ball system with a carrier capacity.
Slice monogenic functions of a Clifford variable via the 𝑆-functional calculus
Authors: Colombo Fabrizio , Kimsey David , Pinton Stefano , Sabadini Irene
Published: October 2021

In this paper we define a new function theory of slice monogenic functions of a Clifford variable using the

S
S

-functional calculus for Clifford numbers. Previous attempts of such a function theory were obstructed by the fact that Clifford algebras, of sufficiently high order, have zero divisors. The fact that Clifford algebras have zero divisors does not pose any difficulty whatsoever with respect to our approach. The new class of functions introduced in this paper will be called the class of slice monogenic Clifford functions to stress the fact that they are defined on open sets of the Clifford algebra

R

n

\mathbb {R}_n

. The methodology can be generalized, for example, to handle the case of noncommuting matrix variables.
The minimality of the Georges–Kelmans graph
Authors: Brinkmann Gunnar , Goedgebeur Jan , McKay Brendan
Published: October 2021

In 1971, Tutte wrote in an article that it is tempting to conjecture that every 3-connected bipartite cubic graph is hamiltonian. Motivated by this remark, Horton constructed a counterexample on

96
96

vertices. In a sequence of articles by different authors several smaller counterexamples were presented. The smallest of these graphs is a graph on 50 vertices which was discovered independently by Georges and Kelmans. In this article we show that there is no smaller counterexample. As all non-hamiltonian 3-connected bipartite cubic graphs in the literature have cyclic 4-cuts—even if they have girth 6—it is natural to ask whether this is a necessary prerequisite. In this article we answer this question in the negative and give a construction of an infinite family of non-hamiltonian cyclically 5-connected bipartite cubic graphs.

In 1969 Barnette gave a weaker version of the conjecture stating that 3-connected planar bipartite cubic graphs are hamiltonian. We show that Barnette’s conjecture is true up to at least 90 vertices. We also report that a search of small non-hamiltonian 3-connected bipartite cubic graphs did not find any with genus less than 4.
Stability and convergence analysis for the implicit-explicit method to the Cahn-Hilliard equation
Authors: Li Dong , Quan Chaoyu , Tang Tao
Published: October 2021

Implicit-explicit methods have been successfully used for the efficient numerical simulation of phase field problems such as the Cahn-Hilliard equation or thin film type equations. Due to the lack of maximum principle and stiffness caused by the effect of small dissipation coefficient, most existing theoretical analysis relies on adding additional stabilization terms, mollifying the nonlinearity or introducing auxiliary variables which implicitly either changes the structure of the problem or trades accuracy for stability in a subtle way. In this work, we introduce a robust theoretical framework to analyze directly the stability and accuracy of the standard implicit-explicit approach without stabilization or any other modification. We take the Cahn-Hilliard equation as a model case and provide a rigorous stability and convergence analysis for the original semi-discrete scheme under certain time step constraints. These settle several questions which have been open since the work of Chen and Shen [Comput. Phys. Comm. 108 (1998), pp. 147–158].
Free group representations: Duplicity and oddity on the boundary
Authors: Hebisch Waldemar , Kuhn Gabriella , Steger Tim
Published: October 2021

We present a powerful theorem for proving the irreducibility of tempered unitary representations of the free group.
Small eigenvalues of random 3-manifolds
Authors: Hamenstädt Ursula , Viaggi Gabriele
Published: October 2021

We show that for everyg≥2g\geq 2there exists a numberc=c(g)>0c=c(g)>0such that the smallest positive eigenvalue of a random closed 3-manifoldMMof Heegaard genusggis at mostc(g)/vol(M)2c(g)/{\mathrm {vol}}(M)^2.
CNOT3 interacts with the Aurora B and MAPK/ERK kinases to promote survival of differentiating mesendodermal progenitor cells
Authors: Sarkar Moumita , Martufi Matteo , Roman-Trufero Monica , Wang Yi-Fang , Whilding Chad , Dormann Dirk , Sabbattini Pierangela , Dillon Niall
Published: October 2021

Mesendoderm cells are key progenitors of the mesoderm and endoderm that form at the primitive streak during gastrulation. Phosphorylation of the CCR4-NOT protein CNOT3 by Aurora B increases interaction between CNOT3 and ERK in differentiating mesendoderm, stabilizing phosphorylated ERK and promoting cell survival.
An updated SYSCILIA gold standard (SCGSv2) of known ciliary genes, revealing the vast progress that has been made in the cilia research field
Authors: Vasquez Suly Saray Villa , van Dam John , Wheway Gabrielle
Published: October 2021

SCGSv2 is a manually curated list of known ciliary components compiled with expert review, with entries grouped into first-order and second-order cilia genes, elaborating a concept first put forward by Reiter and Leroux (2017, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 18, 533-547). A comparison of SCGSv1 and SCGSv2 is provided to give an overview of the advances made in the cilia field since 2013.
Counting actin in contractile rings reveals novel contributions of cofilin and type II myosins to fission yeast cytokinesis
Authors: Malla Mamata , Pollard Thomas D. , Chen Qian
Published: October 2021

Cytokinesis depends on actomyosin contractile rings, but little is known about the amount of polymerized actin in them. We counted such actin molecules in wild-type and mutant fission yeast. The cofilin mutant had twice as much actin and a proportional increase in type II myosins and formin. Myosin mutants reduced actin by half and slowed the rate of actin loss.
Male and Female Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Attraction to Sound and Its Relevance to Potential Applications in Vector Surveillance
Authors: Steele Cassandra H , McDermott Emily G
Published: October 2021

Mosquito hearing is a complex process primarily involved in intraspecific communication between males and females. Although mosquitoes previously were believed to possess a relatively rudimentary auditory system, we now know that they can hear sounds at greater distances and process sounds through an efferent pathway, similar to vertebrates. In mating swarms, mosquitoes use acoustic signals created by conspecific wingbeats to locate and respond to one another through harmonic convergence. Male capture is an emerging area of interest for monitoring sterile insect release programs, and numerous studies have explored using female flight tones (wing-beat frequencies) to attract and capture male mosquitoes by altering or developing novel acoustic traps. It is also important to consider sound pattern, volume, and sound pressure levels of broadcasted noises, as well as implementing other attractive cues, such as swarm markers, to acoustic traps to increase success in the field. Female attraction to sound-baited traps has also been explored in the laboratory and field, using frequencies similar to male wing-beats and stereotypical vertebrate host calls, such as frogs and birds. In this review, the physiological and behavioral aspects of mosquito hearing are explored, as well as the importance of acoustic signals for mate choice and successful mating. The use of acoustic traps for male and female capture are discussed, as well as the implications for vector surveillance, and the limitations to using these traps.
Environmental Influences on Sleep in the California Teachers Study Cohort
Authors: Zhong Charlie , Longcore Travis , Benbow Jennifer , Chung Nadia T , Chau Khang , Wang Sophia S , Lacey James V , Franklin Meredith
Published: October 2021

Only two-thirds of Americans meet the recommended 7 hours of sleep nightly. Insufficient sleep and circadian disruption have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several environmental disruptors of sleep have been reported, such as artificial light at night (ALAN) and noise. These studies tended to evaluate exposures individually. We evaluated several spatially derived environmental exposures (ALAN, noise, green space, and air pollution) and self-reported sleep outcomes obtained in 2012–2015 in a large cohort of 51,562 women in the California Teachers Study. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for sleep duration and latency. After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, chronotype, use of sleep medication, and self-reported trouble sleeping, ALAN (per 5 millicandela (mcd)/m2 luminance, OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.20) and air pollution (per 5 μg/m3 PM2.5, OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.09) were associated with shorter sleep duration (<7 hours), and noise was associated with longer latency (>15 minutes) (per 10 decibels, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10). Green space was associated with increased duration (per 0.1 units, OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.60) and decreased latency (per 0.1 units, OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.78). Further research is necessary to understand how these and other exposures (e.g., diet) perturb an individuals’ inherited sleep patterns and contribute to downstream health outcomes.
Efficiency of antlion trap design and larval behavior in capture success
Authors: Klokočovnik Vesna , Devetak Dušan
Published: October 2021

Traps constructed by an animal reduce the amount of energy required to seek prey. The main risk of trap-building predators is the greater uncertainty of encountering prey, owing to their immobility. Sometimes environmental characteristics do not allow them to build efficient traps, resulting in lower capture success. We observed prey escape, capture success, and behavior of two antlion species, Cueta lineosa, a habitat specialist, and Myrmeleon hyalinus, a generalist, building geometrically different traps. The traps of C. lineosa are elaborate and deep, consisting of two inverted cones, while M. hyalinus builds simple inverted cones. Prey escape was observed from traps with antlion larvae present and from artificially constructed traps without antlions. We used a 3D printer to create a replica model of both trap types, pressing the model onto the substrate surface to create a trap. The C. lineosa artificial trap slowed prey escape more effectively than the simpler artificial trap of M. hyalinus. Prey escape time was four times longer for two ant species and three times longer for woodlice from C. lineosa traps. Escape time also decreased with increasing prey length. We also found behavioral differences between these two antlion species. The behavior of M. hyalinus is much more efficient in catching prey than that of C. lineosa. The results indicate that both species are efficient trap-building predators; however, it appears that capture success depends not only on trap design but also on larval behavior.
Social Workers Migrating between England and Australia: Linking Social Hierarchies, Bureaucracy, Trust and Politeness
Authors: Hakak Yohai , Bosah Sophia , Amponsah Kwaku , Cheung Kei Long
Published: October 2021

For many years, several Western countries have been relying on migrating social workers to fill local shortages. While studies documented the assumption that migrants moving between Commonwealth English-speaking countries will find it easier to integrate, scholars found that such transitions are often more complicated than assumed. Despite this general awareness, research has neglected to explore the impact of the specific culture migrating social workers are coming from and the new culture in which they find themselves. This is the gap we aim to fill. Using a mixed method approach that included online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, we explore the experiences of migration and integration of Australian trained social workers in England and English trained social workers in Australia. Using National Habitus as a key theoretical concept, the findings highlight cultural differences connected with the acceptance of social hierarchies in England compared with the cultural emphasis on egalitarianism between white people in Australia. Such hierarchies produce in England a strong top-down approach which is more bureaucratic and procedural while also emphasising a less direct and more inhibited form of interpersonal communication with line-managers, colleagues and service users compared with Australia. Our findings will help better support future migrating social workers.
Investigating impact of cardiorespiratory fitness in reducing brain tissue loss caused by ageing
Authors: Kundu Shinjini , Huang Haiqing , Erickson Kirk I , McAuley Edward , Kramer Arthur F , Rohde Gustavo K
Published: October 2021

Mitigating the loss of brain tissue due to age is a major problem for an ageing population. Improving cardiorespiratory fitness has been suggested as a possible strategy, but the influence on brain morphology has not been fully characterized. To investigate the dependent shifts in brain tissue distribution as a function of cardiorespiratory fitness, we used a 3D transport-based morphometry approach. In this study of 172 inactive older adults aged 58–81 (66.5 ± 5.7) years, cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by VO2 peak (ml/kg/min) during graded exercise and brain morphology was assessed through structural magnetic resonance imaging. After correcting for covariates including age (in the fitness model), gender and level of education, we compared dependent tissue shifts with age to those due to VO2 peak. We found a significant association between cardiorespiratory fitness and brain tissue distribution (white matter, r = 0.30, P = 0.003; grey matter, r = 0.40, P < 0.001) facilitated by direct visualization of the brain tissue shifts due to cardiorespiratory fitness through inverse transformation—a key capability of 3D transport-based morphometry. A strong statistical correlation was found between brain tissue changes related to ageing and those associated with lower cardiorespiratory fitness (white matter, r = 0.62, P < 0.001; grey matter, r = 0.74, P < 0.001). In both cases, frontotemporal regions shifted the most while basal ganglia shifted the least. Our results highlight the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness in maintaining brain health later in life. Furthermore, this work demonstrates 3D transport-based morphometry as a novel neuroinformatic technology that may aid assessment of therapeutic approaches for brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.
Temporal relationship between systemic endothelial dysfunction and alterations in erythrocyte function in a murine model of chronic heart failure
Authors: Mohaissen Tasnim , Proniewski Bartosz , Targosz-Korecka Marta , Bar Anna , Kij Agnieszka , Bulat Katarzyna , Wajda Aleksandra , Blat Aneta , Matyjaszczyk-Gwarda Karolina , Grosicki Marek , Tworzydlo Anna , Sternak Magdalena , Wojnar-Lason Kamila , Rodrigues-Diez Raquel , Kubisiak Agata , Briones Ana , Marzec Katarzyna M , Chlopicki Stefan
Published: October 2021

Aims

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) are both prognostic factors in heart failure (HF), but the relationship between them is not clear. In this study, we used a unique mouse model of chronic HF driven by cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of activated Gαq protein (Tgαq*44 mice) to characterize the relationship between the development of peripheral ED and the occurrence of structural nanomechanical and biochemical changes in red blood cells (RBCs).

Methods and results

Systemic ED was detected in vivo in 8-month-old Tgαq*44 mice, as evidenced by impaired acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in the aorta and increased endothelial permeability in the brachiocephalic artery. ED in the aorta was associated with impaired nitric oxide (NO) production in the aorta and diminished systemic NO bioavailability. ED in the aorta was also characterized by increased superoxide and eicosanoid production. In 4- to 6-month-old Tgαq*44 mice, RBC size and membrane composition displayed alterations that did not result in significant changes in their nanomechanical and functional properties. However, 8-month-old Tgαq*44 mice presented greatly accentuated structural and size changes and increased RBC stiffness. In 12-month-old Tgαq*44 mice, the erythropathy was featured by severely altered RBC shape and elasticity, increased RDW, impaired RBC deformability, and increased oxidative stress (gluthatione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) ratio). Moreover, RBCs taken from 12-month-old Tgαq*44 mice, but not from 12-month-old FVB mice, coincubated with aortic rings from FVB mice, induced impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation and this effect was partially reversed by an arginase inhibitor [2(S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid].

Conclusion

In the Tgαq*44 murine model of HF, systemic ED accelerates erythropathy and, conversely, erythropathy may contribute to ED. These results suggest that erythropathy may be regarded as a marker and a mediator of systemic ED in HF. RBC arginase and possibly other RBC-mediated mechanisms may represent novel therapeutic targets for systemic ED in HF.
Correlates of Korean Hangul Reading in Children With Hearing Loss
Authors: Park Soon-Gil , Ryu Sung-Yong , Cho Jeung-Ryeul
Published: October 2021

This study examined the associations of vocabulary and phonological and orthographic awareness with Hangul word reading in Korean children, aged between 7 and 10 years, who were deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) and children with typical hearing (TH). The participants were 24 children with hearing aids (HAs), 24 children with cochlear implants (CIs), and 24 TH children in Korea. The three groups were matched for chronological age, vocabulary age, and nonverbal intelligence. Results showed that there were no differences between children with CIs and those with HAs in reading fluency and cognitive skills, except word-reading accuracy, whereas children with CIs and HAs were delayed in all measures compared with their TH peers. Regression analyses showed that syllable and phoneme awareness uniquely explained word-reading accuracy in children with DHH and those with TH. However, word-reading fluency was uniquely explained by syllable awareness in the DHH children and by vocabulary and orthographic awareness in the TH children. These results suggest that DHH and TH children in Korea rely on phonological awareness for Korean word recognition. However, DHH and TH Korean children tend to use different strategies based on sublexical versus lexical information, respectively, to read Korean words fluently.
Lives or Livelihoods? Perceived Trade-Offs and Policy Views
Authors: Settele Sonja , Shupe Cortnie
Published: October 2021

We study the role of perceived trade-offs between human lives and economic benefits in shaping policy views. In an online experiment with a representative sample from the United States conducted during the early Covid-19 pandemic, we provide randomised information on the medium-run costs of restricting economic activity to mitigate infections. A one standard deviation lower perceived economic cost of lockdowns increases support by about twice as much as having a Covid at-risk condition, and by half as much as being a Democrat. Varying projected health benefits has a similar effect. Personal exposure to health risks reduces people’s responsiveness to cost-benefit considerations.
Exporting and Offshoring with Monopsonistic Competition
Authors: Egger Hartmut , Kreickemeier Udo , Moser Christoph , Wrona Jens
Published: October 2021

We develop a model of international trade with heterogeneous firms and monopsonistically competitive labour markets. We show that due to monopsonistic competition our model makes sharply different predictions about the effects of the export of goods and the offshoring of tasks. Trade in goods is unambiguously welfare increasing as domestic resources are reallocated to large firms with high productivity and firms with low productivities exit the market thereby reducing the monopsony distortion present in autarky. Offshoring, however, gives firms additional scope for exercising monopsony power by reducing their domestic size and therefore can lead to welfare losses.
Considering the Counterfactual: Real Wages in the First Industrial Revolution
Authors: Crafts Nicholas , Mills Terence C
Published: October 2021

We investigate a structural model of demographic-economic interactions for England during 1570 to 1850. We estimate that the annual rate of population growth consistent with constant real wages was 0.4% before 1760 but 1.5% thereafter. We find that exogenous shocks increased population growth dramatically in the early decades of the Industrial Revolution. Simulations of our model show that if these demographic shocks had occurred before the Industrial Revolution the impact on real wages would have been catastrophic and that these shocks were largely responsible for very slow growth of real wages during the Industrial Revolution.
Gestational potential space hypothesis
Authors: Abrahim Mohammed
Published: October 2021

Homo sapiens, as well as other primates, developed the evolutionary advantage of storing excess energy as body fat, primarily in the readily accessible visceral fat compartment when food is plentiful for use during scarcity. However, uniquely to female humans, a second transient dimorphic phenotypic change begins at menarche and is reversed by menopause. It is the diversion of visceral fat stores from the abdominal cavity to the gluteofemoral region. The evolutionary purpose for this remains unclear. The author proposes the gestational potential space hypothesis: that such fat diversion is for the reproductive purpose of increasing the potential abdominal space available for gestation and reducing the intra-abdominal pressure. This hypothesis is supported by the basic laws of physics and increased rates of maternal and fetal complications experienced by those with visceral adiposity.
The Revolution Will Be Hard to Evaluate: How Co-Occurring Policy Changes Affect Research on the Health Effects of Social Policies
Authors: Matthay Ellicott C , Hagan Erin , Joshi Spruha , Tan May Lynn , Vlahov David , Adler Nancy , Glymour M Maria
Published: October 2021

Extensive empirical health research leverages variation in the timing and location of policy changes as quasi-experiments. Multiple social policies may be adopted simultaneously in the same locations, creating co-occurrence that must be addressed analytically for valid inferences. The pervasiveness and consequences of co-occurring policies have received limited attention. We analyzed a systematic sample of 13 social policy databases covering diverse domains including poverty, paid family leave, and tobacco use. We quantified policy co-occurrence in each database as the fraction of variation in each policy measure across different jurisdictions and times that could be explained by covariation with other policies. We used simulations to estimate the ratio of the variance of effect estimates under the observed policy co-occurrence to variance if policies were independent. Policy co-occurrence ranged from very high for state-level cannabis policies to low for country-level sexual minority-rights policies. For 65% of policies, greater than 90% of the place-time variation was explained by other policies. Policy co-occurrence increased the variance of effect estimates by a median of 57-fold. Co-occurring policies are common and pose a major methodological challenge to rigorously evaluating health effects of individual social policies. When uncontrolled, co-occurring policies confound one another, and when controlled, resulting positivity violations may substantially inflate the variance of estimated effects. Tools to enhance validity and precision for evaluating co-occurring policies are needed.
Solar and geomagnetic activity enhance the effects of air pollutants on atrial fibrillation
Authors: Zilli Vieira Carolina L , Link Mark S , Garshick Eric , Peralta Adjani A , Luttmann-Gibson Heike , Laden Francine , Liu Man , Gold Diane R , Koutrakis Petros
Published: October 2021

Aims

Cardiac arrhythmias have been associated with intense solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) and exposures to air pollution.

Methods and results

We examined whether oscillations of SGA can modify the effect of hourly exposures to air pollutants on atrial fibrillation ≥30 s (AF) risk in patients with dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The effects of SGA on ambient particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles (PN), and associations with AF were assessed. Measures of SGA included solar wind proton density (SW), total interplanetary magnetic field strength (IMF), and Kp index, a measure of global geomagnetic activity. Overall time lags between 0 and 24 h, periods of increased SGA (>50th percentile in IMF, SW, and Kp index) enhanced the effects of all three air pollutants on AF, while during periods of reduced SGA the associations were considerably weaker or absent. During periods of intense SW 6 h prior to an AF event, the odds ratio (OR) for PM2.5 exposure per interquartile range (IQR) of 5.6 µg/m3 was 1.7 [95% confident interval (CI) 1.3–2.3, P = 0.0001]. For periods of reduced SW, the OR for PM2.5 exposure per IQR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.9–1.5; P = 0.27). There were similar effects for PN and BC exposures. In patients with multiple AF events per hour, the associations with air pollutants during intense SGA were even greater.

Conclusion

The effects of air pollutants up to 24 h before AF events were enhanced during periods of increased SGA. Our results suggest that these effects may account for variation in AF risk.
SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on Danish mink farms and mitigating public health interventions
Authors: Dall Schmidt Torben , Mitze Timo
Published: October 2021

Background

First severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on Danish mink farms were reported in June 2020 and thereupon spread geographically. We provide population-level evidence on excess human incidence rates in Danish municipalities affected by disease outbreaks on mink farms and evaluate the effectiveness of two non-pharmaceutical interventions, i.e. culling of infected mink and local lockdowns.

Methods

We use information on SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on mink farms in 94 Danish municipalities together with data on human SARS-CoV-2 cases and tested persons in Weeks 24–51 of 2020. Difference-in-difference estimation and panel event studies for weekly human incidence rates are applied to (i) identify epidemiological trends of human SARS-CoV-2 infections associated with disease outbreaks on mink farms, and (ii) quantify the mitigating effects from the two non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Results

SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on mink farms in a municipality associate with an increase in weekly human incidence rates by about 75%; spatial spillover effects to neighbouring municipalities are also observed. Local lockdowns reduce human incidence rates, while culling of mink appears to be more effective in combination with a lockdown. The temporal lag between an outbreak on a mink farm and a significant increase in human incidence rates is estimated to be 1–3 weeks; lockdowns and culling of mink neutralize this effect 4–8 weeks after the initial outbreak.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 infections among farmed mink in Denmark significantly link to local human infection trends. Strict animal and human disease surveillance in regions with mink farming should be pursued internationally to mitigate future epidemic developments.
Assessing the Impact of a Viral Infection on the Expression of Transposable Elements in the Cabbage Looper Moth (Trichoplusia ni)
Authors: Muller Héloïse , Loiseau Vincent , Guillier Sandra , Cordaux Richard , Gilbert Clément
Published: October 2021

Most studies of stress-induced transposable element (TE) expression have so far focused on abiotic sources of stress. Here, we analyzed the impact of an infection by the AcMNPV baculovirus on TE expression in a cell line (Tnms42) and midgut tissues of the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni). We find that a large fraction of TE families (576/636 in Tnms42 cells and 503/612 in midgut) is lowly expressed or not expressed at all [≤ 4 transcripts per million (TPM)] in the uninfected condition (median TPM of 0.37 in Tnms42 and 0.46 in midgut cells). In the infected condition, a total of 62 and 187 TE families were differentially expressed (DE) in midgut and Tnms42 cells, respectively, with more up- (46) than downregulated (16) TE families in the former and as many up- (91) as downregulated (96) TE families in the latter. Expression log2 fold changes of DE TE families varied from −4.95 to 9.11 in Tnms42 cells and from −4.28 to 7.66 in midgut. Large variations in expression profiles of DE TEs were observed depending on the type of cells and on time after infection. Overall, the impact of AcMNPV on TE expression in T. ni is moderate but potentially sufficient to affect TE activity and genome architecture. Interestingly, one host-derived TE integrated into AcMNPV genomes is highly expressed in infected Tnms42 cells. This result shows that virus-borne TEs can be expressed, further suggesting that they may be able to transpose and that viruses may act as vectors of horizontal transfer of TEs in insects.
Aerobic Exercise Attenuates Frailty in Aging Male and Female C57Bl/6 Mice and Effects Systemic Cytokines Differentially by Sex
Authors: Bisset Elise S , Heinze-Milne Stefan , Grandy Scott A , Howlett Susan E
Published: October 2021

Aerobic exercise is a promising intervention to attenuate frailty, but preclinical studies have used only male animals. We investigated the impact of voluntary aerobic exercise on frailty, biological age (FRailty Inferred Geriatric Health Timeline [FRIGHT] clock), predicted life expectancy (Analysis of FRAIlty and Death [AFRAID] clock), and mortality in both sexes and determined whether exercise was associated with changes in inflammation. Older (21–23 months) male (n = 12) and female (n = 22) C57Bl/6 mice matched for baseline frailty scores were randomized into exercise (running wheel) and sedentary (no wheel) groups. Frailty index scores were measured biweekly (13 weeks), and 23 serum cytokines were measured at midpoint and end point. Exercise levels varied between mice but not between the sexes. Exercise had no effect on mortality, but it attenuated the development of frailty in both sexes (female = 0.32 ± 0.04 vs 0.21 ± 0.01; p = .005; male = 0.30 ± 0.02 vs 0.22 ± 0.02; p = .042) and reduced frailty in older females after 10 weeks. FRIGHT scores were unaffected by exercise but increased with time in sedentary males indicating increased biological age. Exercise prevented the age-associated decline in AFRAID scores in older females such that exercised females had a longer life expectancy. We investigated whether aerobic exercise was associated with changes in systemic inflammation. Cytokine levels were not affected by exercise in males, but levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were positively correlated with the frequency of exercise in females. Despite increases in systemic inflammation, exercise reduced frailty and increased life span in older females. Thus, voluntary aerobic exercise, even late in life, has beneficial effects on health in both sexes but may be especially helpful in older females.
Education and Cardiovascular Health as Effect Modifiers of APOE ε4 on Dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Authors: Lee Mark , Hughes Timothy M , George Kristen M , Griswold Michael E , Sedaghat Sanaz , Simino Jeannette , Lutsey Pamela L
Published: October 2021

Background

Both education and cardiovascular risk factors are strongly associated with dementia risk. However, it is not clear whether these associations persist or vary among individuals with high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. We examined the interactive relationship between lifestyle and genetic dementia risk factors in a prospective cohort study.

Methods

Our data came from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants (n = 13 715; baseline age 45–64; 25% Black; 55% female), who were followed for incident dementia from 1987 through 2017. We used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the risk of dementia (ascertained through in-person examination, telephone cognitive screeners, and/or hospital and death records) associated with baseline education and cardiovascular risk factors (measured using the American Heart Association’s “Life Simple 7”) among ε4 carriers and non-carriers separately. We also examined differences by race and sex.

Results

Two thousand two hundred and twenty-six incident dementia cases occurred over a median 25 years of follow-up. Lower educational attainment and poorer cardiovascular health were associated with greater risk of incident dementia. There was an education by apolipoprotein E (APOE) status interaction (p = .005) whereby the association of education and dementia was weaker for ε4 carriers (HR college graduates vs less than high school: 0.71 [0.59–0.84] than non-carriers (0.54 [0.47–0.63]). There was no interaction between APOE status and cardiovascular health on dementia risk. These relationships did not vary significantly by race or sex.

Conclusions

Education and cardiovascular health were associated with lower dementia risk regardless of APOE genotype, though the protective effects of education were somewhat diminished among ε4 carriers.