bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasmas for effective abatement of pathogenic biological aerosols
Authors: Gao Haotian , Wang Guoli , Chen Baihan , Zhang Yanzhe , Liu Dawei , Lu Xinpei , He Guangyuan , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19, viral influenza, tuberculosis, and other widespread infectious diseases evidence that pathogenic biological aerosols (PBAs) are a serious threat to public health. Different from traditional inactivation methods, such as ultraviolet (UV) light which are only safe to use when people are not present, and high-efficiency particulate filters (HEPA) which merely filter microbes without killing them, atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasma (APNP) has shown its tremendous potential in drastically diminishing the aerosol transmission route of the infectious agents through the abatement of PBAs. The key issues to develop high performance APNP based air purification system are critically reviewed. Systematic studies on the hazards of different PBAs and the spread of PBAs in indoor environments guide the development of APNP sources to control communicable diseases. The key six sampling and seven detection methods on PBAs are introduced to analyze the PBA abatement efficiency by APNP. Seven common APNP sources which can remove viruses and bacteria aerosols efficiently developed during the past 8 years are introduced. For the APNP sources with small plasma volume, the electric field and diffusion driven charging are the dominant mechanisms to charge PBAs, while the common methods of dusty plasma research can be adapted to atmospheric-pressure conditions to describe the charging effects of APNP sources with large plasma volume. Plentiful long- and short-lifetime reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated by APNP effectively contribute to inactivation of bacterial aerosols. Current studies suggest that viral aerosols are mainly inactivated by short-lifetime RONS including 1O2, ONOO− and ONOOH. The study on the dissolution and reaction of gaseous RONS in microdroplets and accurate measurements on the evolution of charged PBAs are envisaged to be the focus of future research. Opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborative research to advance the development of next-generation high-performance plasma-based air purifiers are highlighted.
Effect of substrate on superconducting and magnetic properties for the epitaxial FeSe0.5Te0.5 thin films
Authors: Zhang Yalin , Wang Tong , Wang Zhihe , Xing Zhongwen
Published: April 2021

High quality FeSe0.5Te0.5 (FST) epitaxial thin films were successfully prepared on SrTiO3 (STO), MgO and LaAlO3 substrates with a TiO2 buffer layer by pulsed laser deposition method, respectively. We present the results of a collaborative study on the superconducting and magnetic properties of the three types films, such as the critical temperature T
c, the anisotropy, and the critical current density J
c. A stronger matching between film and substrate plays an important role in enhancing the superconducting and magnetic properties. FST film on STO substrate shows the high superconducting transition temperature T
c about 14.6 K and the largest critical current density J
c above 106 A cm−2 at 4 K in self-field. In addition, the high-angle annular dark field imaging implies the interface sharpness at FST/TiO2 heterostructure, contributing to a deep understanding of bonding for the iron-based superconductors.
Shadow, deflection angle and quasinormal modes of Born-Infeld charged black holes
Authors: Jafarzade Khadije , Kord Zangeneh Mahdi , Lobo Francisco S.N.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we consider black holes in the consistent
Aoki-Gorji-Mukohyama theory of the four-dimensional
Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (4D EGB) gravity in the presence of
Born-Infeld (BI) nonlinear electrodynamics. We study several optical
features of these black holes such as the shadow radius, energy
emission rate and deflection angle, and analyse the effect of the
coupling constants, the electric charge and cosmological constant on
the considered optical quantities. Furthermore, we also employ the
connection between the shadow radius and quasinormal modes (QNMs)
and investigate small scalar perturbations around the black hole
solution. We show that the variation of the parameters of the theory
provide specific signatures on the optical features of the BI
charged black hole solution, thus leading to the possibility of
directly testing this consistent Aoki-Gorji-Mukohyama 4D EGB black
hole model by using astrophysical observations.
Pair production in Reissner-Nordström-Anti de Sitter black holes *
Authors: Zhang Jun , Lin Yi-Yu , Liang Hao-Chun , Chi Ke-Jia , Chen Chiang-Mei , Kim Sang Pyo , Sun Jia-Rui
Published: April 2021

We studied the pair production of charged scalar particles of a five-dimensional near extremal Reissner-Nordström-Anti de Sitter (RN-AdS5) black hole. The pair production rate and the absorption cross section ratio in full spacetime are obtained and are shown to have a concise relation with their counterparts in the near horizon region. In addition, the holographic descriptions of the pair production, both in the IR CFT in the near horizon region and the UV CFT at the asymptotic spatial boundary of the RN-AdS5 black hole, are analyzed in the AdS2/CFT1 and AdS5/CFT4 correspondences, respectively. This work gives a complete description of scalar pair production in a near extremal RN-AdS5 black hole.
A drought monitoring tool for South Asia
Authors: Saha Toma Rani , Shrestha Pallav K , Rakovec Oldrich , Thober Stephan , Samaniego Luis
Published: April 2021

Drought is one of the most extreme climatic events in South Asia (SA) and has affected 1.44 billion people in last 68 years. The agriculture in many areas of this region is highly dependent on rainfall, which increases the vulnerability to drought. To mitigate the impact of drought on agriculture and food security, this study aims to develop a state-of-the-art system for monitoring agricultural drought over SA at a high spatial resolution (0.25∘) in near real-time. This study currently focuses on the rain-fed area, and the impact of irrigation is not incorporated. This open and interactive tool can assist in monitoring the near-present soil moisture conditions, as well as assessing the historical drought conditions for better management. The South Asia Drought Monitor (SADM) runs the mesoscale hydrologic model to simulate the soil moisture using observation-based meteorological forcing (at near real-time), morphological variables, and land cover data. The soil moisture index (SMI) has been calculated by estimating the percentile of the simulated soil moisture. The drought monitor displays the SMI in five classes based on severity: abnormally dry, moderate drought, severe drought, extreme drought and exceptional drought. The main functions of this open interactive system include the provisioning of up-to-date and historical drought maps, displaying long-term drought conditions and downloading soil moisture data. Comparison of the SMI with the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) shows that the SMI and SPEI depict similar temporal distribution patterns. However, the SPEI (for 4, 6, 9 and 12 months) differs in the representation of the dry conditions in 1992, 2009, and 2015 and the wet condition in 1983, 1988, and 1990. We evaluated the implications of using different precipitation forcings in a hydrological simulation. A comparison of major drought characteristics such as areal extent, duration, and intensity, using different precipitation datasets show that uncertainty in precipitation forcings can significantly influence model output and drought characteristics. For example, the areal extent of one of the most severe droughts from 1986 to 1988 differs by 9% between ERA5 and CHIRPSv2.
Using «Kansky indices» to Estimate Transport and Geographical Simplexes
Authors: Kazakov N A , Yumanova U V , Rostovtseva M M , Doronina K A
Published: April 2021

In the article, using the «γ» index as an example, we propose a way to use a number of «Kansky’s indices» to estimate transport-geographical simplexes. As a rule, «Kansky Indices» are used for comparative assessment of spatial and / or temporal differences in the transport network as a whole. However, in the system of mass public transport, subject to direct passenger traffic, through the projection of general properties formed by a combination of graphs of different routes, a «woven» graph onto its individual elements - vertices, these indices can serve to characterize certain stopping points and adjacent to them territories. They will demonstrate the level of stability of the transport network, of which the stopping point is a part, to possible traffic disruption in some of its sections, and, accordingly, will act as one of the indicators that characterize the degree of convenience for passengers of a particular stopping point.
The Method of Assessing Traffic Safety in Railway Transport
Authors: Baranovskyi D , Muradian L , Bulakh M
Published: April 2021

To identify and predict risks in the work, a method for assessing traffic safety in railway transport is proposed. On the basis of statistics on the failure of freight cars during operation, the characteristic distribution laws for types of wear were determined. As a result, the dependences of the probability of failure-free operation of freight cars on the operating life were obtained and the centers of gravity of the areas that are used to characterize and assess the risk were determined. When designing a freight car, it is possible to establish risk values obtained on the basis of statistical data, which opens up the possibility of improving traffic safety in railway transport. In the developed method for assessing traffic safety in railway transport, the use of a graphical risk matrix is proposed. It is also proposed to combine the dependencies of the probability of failure-free operation of freight cars to calculate the total risk. This allows you to get a graphical risk matrix taking into account three types of wear of a freight car to assess traffic safety. The number of dependencies of the probability of failure-free operation of freight cars can be increased if failures are observed for other reasons.
The Choice of Explosion Parameters for Obtaining Specified Pre-Collapse of a Rock Mass
Authors: Leshchinskiy A V , Shevkun E B , Lysak Yu A , Plotnikov A Yu , Kostyunina O A
Published: April 2021

When performing Stripping operations, it is not rational to spend energy on regrinding waste rock. in this case, it is sufficient to achieve a total value of the pre-destruction intensity coefficient equal to one. The explosion must be performed separately in each well with large decelerations. The study of the effect of the borehole grid showed that with an increase in the distance between the axes of wells from 4 to 8 m, the mass of the charge increases twice, and the number of wells on a block of 1000 m2 decreases by 3.75 times. Due to the greater intensity of reducing the number of wells, the cost of charging explosives for the entire block with a large grid is reduced by 1.9 times, the cost of drilling operations is reduced, and the productivity of drilling and blasting operations is increased. In the case of mining a mineral, for example, iron ore, which is subsequently crushed during processing, it is rational to use the energy of the explosion for grinding, since the mechanical methods of crushing the ore by crushers and especially by mills are incomparably more energy-intensive. By increasing the power of the explosion (the radius of the zone of destruction of wells), you can significantly increase the pre-destruction of rocks, achieving a uniform set of grinding.
Assessment of gender differences in letters of recommendation for pharmacy residency applicants
Authors: Rice Mikhaila L , Leung Jonathan G , Mara Kristin C , Leung Sarah B
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Letters of recommendation (LORs) are highly regarded components of pharmacy residency applications, as they provide insight into an applicant’s character and capabilities. In other medical fields, differences in language have been reported for letters written for female and male applicants; however, data on gender differences in LORs for pharmacy residency applications are currently lacking.

Methods

LORs for applicants to our institution’s postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program for the 2019-2020 academic year were extracted and processed by a natural language processing service. Words within 18 categories were identified and counted for each LOR. Total word count was also compared.

Results

Of the 473 LORs included for analysis, 320 (67.7%) were written for female applicants and 153 (32.3%) were written for male applicants. Approximately two-thirds of all writers were women for both female and male applicants. In comparing letters for women and men, there was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of LORs that contained terms in categories described as gendered, solitary/reserved, and desire. There was no statistically significant difference in total word count or in the presence of words in other categories such as grindstone, standout, agentic, or communal. When controlling for grade point average, writer gender, duration that the writer knew the applicant, and the writer’s professional position, there were no changes to the statistical findings.

Conclusion

Letters written for female and male applicants were largely similar with regard to length and word categories utilized. While no clear gender bias was found when evaluating pharmacy residency LORs, writers must continue to assess their implicit biases and how those biases might affect a candidate’s application.
Implementing a pharmacist-led transition of care model for posttransplant hyperglycemia
Authors: Do Vincent , Haakinson Danielle , Belfort-DeAguiar Renata , Cohen Elizabeth
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The implementation of a pharmacist-managed transition of care program for kidney transplant recipients with posttransplant hyperglycemia (PTHG) is described.

Methods

In September 2015, a collaborative practice agreement between pharmacists and transplant providers at an academic medical center for management of PTHG was developed. The goal of the pharmacist-run service was to reduce hospitalizations by providing care to patients in the acute phase of hyperglycemia while they transitioned back to their primary care provider or endocrinologist. For continuous quality improvement, preimplementation data were collected from August 2014 to August 2015 and compared to postimplementation data collected from August 2017 to August 2018. The primary endpoint was hospitalizations due to hyperglycemia within 90 days post transplantation. Secondary endpoints included emergency department (ED) visits due to hypoglycemia and the number of interventions performed, number of encounters completed, and number of ED visits or admissions for hypoglycemia. A Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical data, and a Student t test was used to compare continuous data. A P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Forty-three patients in the preimplementation group were compared to 35 patients in the postimplementation group. There was a significant reduction in hospitalizations due to hyperglycemia in the postimplementation versus the preimplementation group (9 vs 1, P < 0.05); there was a reduction in ED visits due to hyperglycemia (5 vs 0, P = 0.06). There were no ED visits or hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia in either group. Clinical transplant pharmacists performed an average of 8.3 (SD, 4.4) encounters per patient per 90 days.

Conclusion

A collaborative practice agreement was created and successfully implemented. A pharmacist-managed PTHG program could be incorporated into the standard care of kidney transplant recipients to help minimize rehospitalizations due to hyperglycemia.
Abdominoplasty in the Massive Weight Loss Patient: Are Aesthetic Goals and Safety Mutually Exclusive?
Authors: Restifo Richard J
Published: April 2021

Background

The goals of abdominoplasty in massive weight loss (MWL) patients are often functional, with a greater emphasis on safety than on aesthetic rejuvenation. As important as functional improvements and safety are, however, there may be room for increasing the aesthetic potential of abdominoplasties in these patients.

Objectives

To determine the safety of the pursuit of aesthetic goals for abdominoplasty in MWL patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective study examining 910 consecutive female patients consisting of 3 groups: postpartum (n = 718), dietary MWL (n = 65), and bariatric MWL (n = 127). All patients were approached with a well-defined set of aesthetic goals which were pursued as needed and as feasible.

Results

The utilization of aesthetic abdominoplasty components was similar in all groups, supporting the assertion that the groups were subjected to a similar aesthetic emphasis. Logistic regression showed that a history of bariatric MWL was an independent risk factor for multiple complications (odds ratio 2.738, P = 0.014) and that elevated body mass index (BMI), smoking, diabetes, and age were likewise independent risk factors for complications. Propensity score-matched case-control pairs showed that bariatric MWL patients were more likely than dietary MWL patients to experience multiple complications (9.52% vs 0%, P = 0.031).

Conclusions

Bariatric MWL patients but not dietary weight loss patients seem to have a higher risk than postpartum patients. Other comorbidities (elevated BMI, smoking, diabetes, and age) seem to be more important predictors of complications than MWL status. Select MWL patients can likely be approached with an emphasis on aesthetic goals, without increasing risks as compared with the postpartum population.

Level of Evidence: 2
EMNUSS: a deep learning framework for secondary structure annotation in cryo-EM maps
Authors: He Jiahua , Huang Sheng-You
Published: April 2021

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become one of important experimental methods in structure determination. However, despite the rapid growth in the number of deposited cryo-EM maps motivated by advances in microscopy instruments and image processing algorithms, building accurate structure models for cryo-EM maps remains a challenge. Protein secondary structure information, which can be extracted from EM maps, is beneficial for cryo-EM structure modeling. Here, we present a novel secondary structure annotation framework for cryo-EM maps at both intermediate and high resolutions, named EMNUSS. EMNUSS adopts a three-dimensional (3D) nested U-net architecture to assign secondary structures for EM maps. Tested on three diverse datasets including simulated maps, middle resolution experimental maps, and high-resolution experimental maps, EMNUSS demonstrated its accuracy and robustness in identifying the secondary structures for cyro-EM maps of various resolutions. The EMNUSS program is freely available at http://huanglab.phys.hust.edu.cn/EMNUSS.
Maximum Entropy Principle Underlies Wiring Length Distribution in Brain Networks
Authors: Song Yuru , Zhou Douglas , Li Songting
Published: April 2021

A brain network comprises a substantial amount of short-range connections with an admixture of long-range connections. The portion of long-range connections in brain networks is observed to be quantitatively dissimilar across species. It is hypothesized that the length of connections is constrained by the spatial embedding of brain networks, yet fundamental principles that underlie the wiring length distribution remain unclear. By quantifying the structural diversity of a brain network using Shannon’s entropy, here we show that the wiring length distribution across multiple species—including Drosophila, mouse, macaque, human, and C. elegans—follows the maximum entropy principle (MAP) under the constraints of limited wiring material and the spatial locations of brain areas or neurons. In addition, by considering stochastic axonal growth, we propose a network formation process capable of reproducing wiring length distributions of the 5 species, thereby implementing MAP in a biologically plausible manner. We further develop a generative model incorporating MAP, and show that, for the 5 species, the generated network exhibits high similarity to the real network. Our work indicates that the brain connectivity evolves to be structurally diversified by maximizing entropy to support efficient interareal communication, providing a potential organizational principle of brain networks.
Stability-Indicating Chromatographic Methods for the Simultaneous Determination of Probenecid and Colchicine in Their Combined Tablet
Authors: Tantawy Mahmoud A , Wahba Israa A , Saad Samah S , Ramadan Nesrin K
Published: April 2021

Two stability-indicating chromatographic methods have been established and validated for concurrent determination of probenecid (PRO), colchicine (COL) along with the degradation product of colchicine (COL deg). PRO and COL were exposed to a stress stability study, which includes acidic, alkaline, oxidative, photolytic and thermal degradations. Chromatographic methods included the use of thin layer chromatography (TLC-densitometry) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the first method, separation was achieved by using aluminum TLC plates that were precoated with silica gel G.F254 as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate–methanol–33%ammonia (8:1:1, by volume) as a mobile phase. The obtained chromatograms were scanned at 254 nm. The second method was based on HPLC using a RP- C18 column with isocratic elution. Good separation was obtained through a mobile phase comprised of phosphate buffer pH 5–acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1 and ultraviolet detection at 254 nm. Different parameters affecting efficiency of the two methods were studied accurately for optimum separation of the three cited components. The suggested methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and were applied for bulk powder and commercial tablets.
Hyperkalaemia management and related costs in chronic kidney disease patients with comorbidities in Spain
Authors: Olry de Labry Lima Antonio , Díaz Castro Óscar , Romero-Requena Jorge M , García Díaz-Guerra M de los Reyes , Arroyo Pineda Virginia , de la Hija Díaz M Belén , Ascanio Meritxell , Darbà Josep , Cruzado Josep M
Published: April 2021

Background

Hyperkalaemia (HK) is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or treated with renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis). The aim of this study is to determine the severity, current management and cost of chronic HK.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic HK and CKD, heart failure or diabetes mellitus between 2011 and 2018. The study follow-up was 36 months.

Results

A total of 1499 patients with chronic HK were analysed: 66.2% presented with mild HK, 23.4% with moderate HK and 10.4% with severe HK. The severity was associated with CKD stage. Most patients (70.4%) were on RAASi therapies, which were frequently discontinued (discontinuation rate was 39.8, 49.8 and 51.8% in mild, moderate and severe HK, respectively). This RAASi discontinuation was similar with or without resin prescription. Overall, ion-exchange resins were prescribed to 42.5% of patients with HK and prescriptions were related to the severity of HK, being 90% for severe HK. Adherence to resin treatment was very low (36.8% in the first year and 17.5% in the third year) and potassium remained elevated in most patients with severe HK. The annual healthcare cost per patient with HK was €5929, reaching €12 705 in severe HK. Costs related to HK represent 31.9% of the annual cost per HK patient and 58.8% of the specialized care cost.

Conclusions

HK was usually managed by RAASi discontinuation and ion-exchange resin treatment. Most patients with HK were non-adherent to resins and those with severe HK remained with high potassium levels, despite bearing elevated healthcare expenditures.
Personality of hosts and their brood parasites
Authors: Møller Anders Pape , Si Xingfeng
Published: April 2021

Brood parasites such as the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus exploit the parental abilities of their hosts, hosts avoid brood parasitism and predation by showing specific behavior such as loss of feathers, emission of fear screams and contact calls, displaying wriggle behavior to avoid hosts or potential prey, pecking at hosts and prey, and expressing tonic immobility (showing behavior like feigning death or rapid escape from predators and brood parasites). These aspects of escape behavior are consistent for individuals but also among sites, seasons, and years. Escape behavior expressed in response to a broad range of cuckoo hosts and prey are consistently used against capture by humans, but also hosts and brood parasites and predators and their prey. An interspecific comparative phylogenetic analysis of escape behavior by hosts and their brood parasites and prey and their predators revealed evidence of consistent behavior when encountering potential parasites or predators. We hypothesize that personality axes such as those ranging from fearfulness to being bold, and from neophobic to curiosity response in brood parasites constitute important components of defense against brood parasitism that reduces the overall risk of parasitism.
Understanding the Resilience of Sal and Teak Forests to Climate Variability Using NDVI and EVI Time Series
Authors: Patasaraiya Maneesh Kumar , Devi Rinku Moni , Sinha Bhaskar , Bisaria Jigyasa , Saran Sameer , Jaiswal Rajeev
Published: April 2021

This study attempts to understand the climatic resilience of two forest types of central India—that is, Tectona grandis (Teak) forest of Satpura Tiger Reserve and Shorea robusta (Sal) forest of Kanha Tiger Reserve—using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI) extracted from MODIS, and climate variable data sets at highest spatial and temporal scales. Teak and Sal forests within the core area of the selected tiger reserves represent the least anthropogenic disturbances, and therefore, the observed changes in NDVI and EVI over the past 16 years could be analyzed in the context of climate change. The correlation analysis between climatic variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, mean temperature, and total annual rainfall) and forest response indicators (NDVI/EVI) at seasonal and annual scales revealed that Teak and Sal forests are more sensitive to change in past temperature as compared with rainfall. Also, the changes in NDVI and EVI of Sal forest are correlated more to minimum temperature, and that of Teak forest to maximum temperature. The analysis of sapling girth class of Sal and Teak further revealed that Sal as compared with Teak is more affected because of the changing climate variables of the recent past. The findings of the study will help manage forests more efficiently in the context of changing climate.
Assessing Tree Mortality Probability in Harvested Hardwood Stands Using Long-Term Forest Inventory Data
Authors: Brandeis Thomas J , Brandeis Consuelo
Published: April 2021

Partial harvesting (here defined as removal of ≤50% of preharvest volume) is the predominant silvicultural scheme applied to hardwood forest types in the eastern United States. Future stand conditions are largely reliant on trees retained after harvest, so their mortality because of harvesting activity damage should be minimized or taken into account when planning. We quantify partially harvested stand characteristics and postharvest mortality using data from 32,057 forested conditions, 366,953 trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 2.5 cm, of which 4,469 trees were cut and used in partially harvested stands. On average 23.3% of stand volume was selectively harvested with an additional 2.5% of volume lost to harvesting-caused mortality. Of the trees killed by logging activity in harvested stands, 90.7% were under 28 cm dbh. The likelihood of mortality was 1.31 times higher (95% CI of 1.20 to 1.44) for trees retained in stands that had undergone partial harvesting than for trees growing in unharvested stands. Commercial species had lower odds of mortality (0.88 times) in harvested stands than noncommercial species. Residual trees in harvested stands on private lands had a higher probability of mortality (1.23 times) than those on harvested public lands.
Prediction of Freeze Damage and Minimum Winter Temperature of the Seed Source of Loblolly Pine Seedlings Using Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Lu Yuzhen , Walker Trevor D , Acosta Juan J , Young Sierra , Pandey Piyush , Heine Austin J , Payn Kitt G
Published: April 2021

The most important climatic variable influencing growth and survival of loblolly pine is the yearly average minimum winter temperature (MWT) at the seed source origin, and it is used to guide the transfer of improved seed lots throughout the species’ distribution. This study presents a novel approach for the assessment of freeze-induced damage and prediction of MWT at seed source origin of loblolly pine seedlings using hyperspectral imaging. A population comprising 98 seed lots representing a wide range of MWT at seed source origin was subjected to an artificial freeze event. The visual assessment of freeze damage and MWT were evaluated at the family level and modeled with hyperspectral image data combined with chemometric techniques. Hyperspectral scanning of the seedlings was conducted prior to the freeze event and on four occasions periodically after the freeze. A significant relationship (R2 = 0.33; p < .001) between freeze damage and MWT was observed. Prediction accuracies of freeze damage and MWT based on hyperspectral data varied among seedling portions (full-length, top, middle, and bottom portion of aboveground material) and scanning dates. Models based on the top portion were the most predictive of both freeze damage and MWT. The highest prediction accuracy of MWT [RPD (ratio of prediction to deviation) = 2.12, R2 = 0.78] was achieved using hyperspectral data obtained prior to the freeze event. Adoption of this assessment method would greatly facilitate the characterization and deployment of well-adapted loblolly pine families across the landscape.
Traumatic Brain Injury Impairs Systemic Vascular Function through Disruption of Inward-Rectifier Potassium Channels
Authors: Sackheim Adrian M , Villalba Nuria , Sancho Maria , Harraz Osama F , Bonev Adrian D , D’Alessandro Angelo , Nemkov Travis , Nelson Mark T , Freeman Kalev
Published: April 2021

Trauma can lead to widespread vascular dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Inward-rectifier potassium channels (Kir2.1) play a critical role in the dynamic regulation of regional perfusion and blood flow. Kir2.1 channel activity requires phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a membrane phospholipid that is degraded by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in conditions of oxidative stress or inflammation. We hypothesized that PLA2-induced depletion of PIP2 after trauma impairs Kir2.1 channel function. A fluid percussion injury model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats was used to study mesenteric resistance arteries 24 h after injury. The functional responses of intact arteries were assessed using pressure myography. We analyzed circulating PLA2, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and metabolites to identify alterations in signaling pathways associated with PIP2 in TBI. Electrophysiology analysis of freshly-isolated endothelial and smooth muscle cells revealed a significant reduction of Ba2+-sensitive Kir2.1 currents after TBI. Additionally, dilations to elevated extracellular potassium and BaCl2- or ML 133-induced constrictions in pressurized arteries were significantly decreased following TBI, consistent with an impairment of Kir2.1 channel function. The addition of a PIP2 analog to the patch pipette successfully rescued endothelial Kir2.1 currents after TBI. Both H2O2 and PLA2 activity were increased after injury. Metabolomics analysis demonstrated altered lipid metabolism signaling pathways, including increased arachidonic acid, and fatty acid mobilization after TBI. Our findings support a model in which increased H2O2-induced PLA2 activity after trauma hydrolyzes endothelial PIP2, resulting in impaired Kir2.1 channel function.
Validation of functional polymorphisms affecting maize plant height by unoccupied aerial systems discovers novel temporal phenotypes
Authors: Adak Alper , Conrad Clarissa , Chen Yuanyuan , Wilde Scott C , Murray Seth C , Anderson II Steven L , Subramanian Nithya K
Published: April 2021

Plant height (PHT) in maize (Zea mays L.) has been scrutinized genetically and phenotypically due to relationship with other agronomically valuable traits (e.g., yield). Heritable variation of PHT is determined by many discovered quantitative trait loci; however, phenotypic effects of such loci often lack validation across environments and genetic backgrounds, especially in the hybrid state grown by farmers rather than the inbred state more often used by geneticists. A previous genome-wide association study using a topcrossed hybrid diversity panel identified two novel quantitative trait variants controlling both PHT and grain yield. Here, heterogeneous inbred families demonstrated that these two loci, characterized by two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), cause phenotypic variation in inbred lines, but that size of these effects were variable across four different genetic backgrounds, ranging from 1 to 10 cm. Weekly unoccupied aerial system flights demonstrated the two SNPs had larger effects, varying from 10 to 25 cm, in early growth while effects decreased toward the end of the season. These results show that allelic effect sizes of economically valuable loci are both dynamic in temporal growth and dynamic across genetic backgrounds, resulting in informative phenotypic variability overlooked following traditional phenotyping methods. Public genotyping data show recent favorable allele selection in elite temperate germplasm with little change across tropical backgrounds. As these loci remain rarer in tropical germplasm, with effects most visible early in growth, they are useful for breeding and selection to expand the genetic basis of maize.
Cross-Sectional and Prospective Associations of Rest–Activity Rhythms With Circulating Inflammatory Markers in Older Men
Authors: Xiao Qian , Qian Jingyi , Evans Daniel S , Redline Susan , Lane Nancy E , Ancoli-Israel Sonia , Scheer Frank A J L , Stone Katie
Published: April 2021

Chronic increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in older adults, known as inflammaging, are an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the aging population. It has been suggested that circadian disruption may play a role in chronic inflammation, but there has been limited study that investigated the overall profile of 24-hour rest–activity rhythms in relation to inflammation using longitudinal data. In the Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men Study, we applied the extended cosine model to derive multiple rest–activity rhythm characteristics using multiday actigraphy, and examined their associations with 6 inflammatory markers (ie, C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin 6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], tumor necrosis factor alpha soluble receptor II [TNF-α-sRII], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], interferon gamma [IFN-γ]) measured from fasting blood. We assessed both the cross-sectional association between rest–activity rhythms and inflammatory markers measured at baseline, and the prospective association between baseline rest–activity rhythms and changes in inflammatory markers over 3.5 years of follow-up. We found that multiple rest–activity characteristics, including lower amplitude and relative amplitude, and decreased overall rhythmicity, were associated with higher levels of CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and TNF-α-sRII, but not IL-1β and IFN-γ at baseline. Moreover, the lowest quartile of these 3 rest–activity characteristics was associated with an approximately 2-fold increase in the odds of having elevated inflammation (ie, having 3 or more markers in the highest quartile) at baseline. However, we found little evidence supporting a relationship between rest–activity rhythm characteristics and changes in inflammatory markers. Future studies should clarify the dynamic relationship between rest–activity rhythms and inflammation in different populations, and evaluate the effects of improving rest–activity profiles on inflammation and related disease outcomes.
Job Transitions and Mental Health Outcomes Among U.S. Adults Aged 55 and Older During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Abrams Leah R , Finlay Jessica M , Kobayashi Lindsay C
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Adults around retirement age are especially vulnerable to the effects of the recent economic downturn associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study investigated disturbances to working life and mental health among Americans aged at least 55 during the early months of the pandemic.

Methods

Using data from the nationwide COVID-19 Coping Study (N = 6,264), we examined rates of job loss, furloughs, hour/income reductions, and work from home, along with unchanged work status, by age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and occupation. We next described sources of worry by job transition group and tested the adjusted associations of COVID-19-related job transitions with life satisfaction, loneliness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms.

Results

Most job losses occurred among respondents younger than age 65 and those without college degrees. Job loss and reduced hours/income were more common among Hispanics compared to other racial/ethnic groups, and work from home transitions were most common among respondents with high educational attainment and jobs in government- and education-related occupations. Workers who lost their jobs had the lowest life satisfaction and the highest loneliness and depressive symptoms, followed by workers who were furloughed and workers with reduced hours/income. Work from home was associated with more anxiety than unchanged work.

Discussion

COVID-19-related job transitions are detrimental to mental health, even when they might keep workers safe. These results enhance our understanding of the potentially long-term mental health effects of social and economic aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the need for economic and mental health support for aging Americans.
Sex Differences in the Association of Cigarette Craving With Insula Structure
Authors: Perez Diaz Maylen , Pochon Jean-Baptiste , Ghahremani Dara G , Dean Andy C , Faulkner Paul , Petersen Nicole , Tyndale Rachel F , Donis Andrea , Paez Diana , Cahuantzi Citlaly , Hellemann Gerhard S , London Edythe D
Published: April 2021

Background

Cigarette craving, which can negatively impact smoking cessation, is reportedly stronger in women than in men when they initiate abstinence from smoking. Identifying approaches to counteract craving in people of different sexes may facilitate the development of personalized treatments for Tobacco Use Disorder, which disproportionately affects women. Because cigarette craving is associated with nicotine dependence and structure of the insula, this study addressed whether a person’s sex influences these associations.

Methods

The research participants (n = 99, 48 women) reported daily cigarette smoking and provided self-reports of nicotine dependence. After overnight abstinence from smoking, they underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging scanning to determine cortical thickness of the left and right anterior circular insular sulcus, and self-rated their cigarette craving before and after their first cigarette of the day.

Results

Women reported stronger craving than men irrespective of smoking condition (i.e., pre- and post-smoking) (P = .048), and smoking reduced craving irrespective of sex (P < .001). A 3-way interaction of sex, smoking condition, and right anterior circular insular sulcus thickness on craving (P = .033) reflected a negative association of cortical thickness with pre-smoking craving in women only (P = .012). No effects of cortical thickness in the left anterior circular insular sulcus were detected. Nicotine dependence was positively associated with craving (P < .001) across groups and sessions, with no sex differences in this association.

Conclusions

A negative association of right anterior insula thickness with craving in women only suggests that this region may be a relevant therapeutic target for brain-based smoking cessation interventions in women.
Detection of Variants With Reduced Baloxavir Marboxil and Oseltamivir Susceptibility in Children With Influenza A During the 2019–2020 Influenza Season
Authors: Sato Masatoki , Takashita Emi , Katayose Masahiko , Nemoto Kenji , Sakai Nobuko , Fujisaki Seiichiro , Hashimoto Koichi , Hosoya Mitsuaki
Published: April 2021

Background

We aimed to detect influenza variants with reduced susceptibility to baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) and oseltamivir and identify differences in the clinical course between children with and without these variants after antiviral treatment.

Methods

During the 2019–2020 influenza season, we enrolled children with confirmed influenza A (20 treated with baloxavir and 16 with oseltamivir). We analyzed patients’ sequential viral RNA loads and infectious virus titers, the drug susceptibilities of clinical isolates, and amino acid substitutions in the viral polymerase acidic protein subunits or neuraminidase. We assessed patients’ clinical information using questionnaires.

Results

All viral RNA loads and virus titers were significantly decreased after treatment, but we detected baloxavir-resistant and oseltamivir-resistant variants in 5 of 20 and 3 of 16 patients, respectively. The duration of fever was similar between patients with and without the variants, but infectious viral shedding lasted 3 days longer in patients with baloxavir-resistant variants. In addition, the duration to improvement of clinical symptoms was longer in these patients (75.0 vs 29.5 hours; P = .106).

Conclusions

After antiviral treatment, the emergence of baloxavir-resistant variants may affect the patients’ clinical course, but oseltamivir-resistant variants had no clinical impact.
1′-Acetoxychavicol acetate inhibits NLRP3-dependent inflammasome activation via mitochondrial ROS suppression
Authors: Sok Sophia P M , Ori Daisuke , Wada Ayana , Okude Haruna , Kawasaki Takumi , Momota Masatoshi , Nagoor Noor Hasima , Kawai Taro
Published: April 2021

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing (NLRP) 3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that triggers Caspase-1-mediated IL-1β production and pyroptosis, and its dysregulation is associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. 1′-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) is a natural compound in the rhizome of tropical ginger Alpinia species with anti-microbial, anti-allergic and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we found that ACA suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and human THP-1 monocytes. ACA inhibited Caspase-1 activation and IL-1β production by NLRP3 agonists such as nigericin, monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, and ATP. Moreover, it suppressed oligomerization of the adapter molecule, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and Caspase-1-mediated cleavage of pyroptosis executor Gasdermin D. Mechanistically, ACA inhibited generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevented release of oxidized mitochondrial DNA, which trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation. ACA also prevented NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vivo, as evidenced in the MSU crystal-induced peritonitis and dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mouse models accompanied by decreased Caspase-1 activation. Thus, ACA is a potent inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome for prevention of NLRP3-associated inflammatory diseases.
Facebook’s exploitative and exclusionary abuses in the two-sided market for social networks and display advertising
Authors: Lodvdahl Gormsen Liza , Llanos Jose Tomas
Published: April 2021

The German Facebook case has directly addressed the contentious interplay between data protection and competition law for the first time. The Bundeskartellamt’s theory of harm, which directly linked privacy violations to the strengthening of Facebook’s market power, proved controversial: it elicited strong criticism from the appeals court, but then was partially endorsed by the Bundesgerichtshof (German Federal Supreme Court). This article shows that an enforcement action against Facebook under Article 102 TFEU need not be controversial. We present empirical evidence confirming that Facebook’s ‘envelopment by privacy policy tying’ strategy exploits consumers, as it causes clear consumer harm on the market for social networks in the form of lack of choice and degradation of quality. In turn, such consumer harm on the ‘free’ side leads to a weakening of the competitive market structure and foreclosure of competitors on the ‘paid’ market for display advertising and other adjacent markets. This strategy falls neatly within the scope of Article 102 TFEU, irrespective of whether it also violates EU data protection law. In addition, the enveloping by privacy policy tying forms part of an overall anti-competitive strategy over which the Commission can assert jurisdiction and prosecute as a single and continuous infringement.
Heat stress during late pregnancy and postpartum influences genetic parameter estimates for birth weight and weight gain in dual-purpose cattle offspring generations
Authors: Halli Kathrin , Brügemann Kerstin , Bohlouli Mehdi , Yin Tong , König Sven
Published: April 2021

Impact of direct heat stress (HS) on genetic parameter estimates, i.e., HS close to the trait recording date, was verified in several previous studies conducted in dairy and beef cattle populations. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of time-lagged HS at different recording periods during late pregnancy (a.p.) and postpartum (p.p.) on genetic parameter estimates for birth weight (BWT) and weight gain traits (200 d- and 365 d-weight gain (200dg, 365dg)) in offspring of the dual-purpose cattle breed “Rotes Höhenvieh” (RHV). Furthermore, we estimated genetic correlations within traits across time-lagged climatic indicators, in order to proof possible genotype by environment interactions (G×E). Trait recording included 5,434 observations for BWT, 3,679 observations for 200dg and 2,998 observations for 365dg. Time-lagged climatic descriptors were classes for the mean temperature humidity index (mTHI) and number of HS days (nHS) from the following periods: 7 d-period a.p. (BWT), 56 d-period a.p., and 56 d-period p.p. (200dg and 365dg). Genetic parameters were estimated via 2-trait animal models, i.e., defining the same trait in different climatic environments as different traits. Genetic variances and heritabilities for all traits increased with increasing mTHI- and nHS-classes for all recording periods, indicating pronounced genetic differentiation with regard to time-lagged in utero HS and HS directly after birth. Similarly, in low mTHI- and nHS-classes indicating cold stress, genetic variances, and heritabilities were larger than for temperate climates. Genetic correlations substantially smaller than 0.80 indicating G × E were observed when considering same traits from mTHI- and nHS-classes in greater distance. Estimated breeding values (EBV) of the 10 most influential sires with the largest number of offspring records fluctuated across mTHI- and nHS-classes. Correlations between sire EBV for same traits from distant climatic classes confirmed the genetic correlation estimates. Sires displaying stable EBV with climatic alterations were also identified. Selection of those sires might contribute to improved robustness in the RHV outdoor population genetically.