bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WaSim model for subsurface drainage design using soil hydraulic parameters estimated by pedotransfer functions
Authors: Malota Mphatso , Mchenga Joshua , Chunga Brighton Austin
Published: June 2022

The agricultural drainage engineering community is steadily shifting the design of subsurface drainage systems from the experience-based design approach to the simulation-based design approach. As with any design problem, two challenges are faced; firstly, how to determine all the input data required by the simulation model, and secondly to, a priori, anticipate what the performance of the designed system will be. This study sought to evaluate the performance of the WaSim model to simulate fluctuating water table depths (WTD), and drainage discharges (DD) in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), which is an input to the WaSim model, was estimated by the Rosetta computer program, based on soil particle size distribution data, bulk density, and soil water retention characteristics at pressure heads of – 33 and – 1500 kPa. performance of the WaSim model was statistically assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2), coefficient of residual mass (CRM), mean absolute error (MAE), mean percent error (MPE), and the nash–sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). during the validation period, the WaSim model predicted WTDs with R2, CRM, MAE, MPE, and NSE of 0.86, 0.003, 4.9 cm, 6.0%, and 0.98, respectively. In the same validation period, the model predicted DDs with R2, CRM, MAE, MPE, and NSE of 0.57, 0.002, 0.30 mm day−1,11%, and 0.76, respectively. These results suggest that the use of Rosetta-estimated Ksat data as inputs to the WaSim model compromised its accuracy and applicability as a subsurface drainage design tool. Owing to the relatively low R2 value of 0.57, and that the WaSim model was empirically developed, we recommend further improvement on the calibration of the model for it to be suitable for application under the prevailing conditions. Also, in the absence of other means of determining Ksat, we caution the use of Rosetta-estimated Ksat data as inputs to the WaSim model for the design and analysis of subsurface drainage systems in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
The Struggle for AI’s Recognition: Understanding the Normative Implications of Gender Bias in AI with Honneth’s Theory of Recognition
Authors: Waelen Rosalie , Wieczorek Michał
Published: June 2022

AI systems have often been found to contain gender biases. As a result of these gender biases, AI routinely fails to adequately recognize the needs, rights, and accomplishments of women. In this article, we use Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition to argue that AI’s gender biases are not only an ethical problem because they can lead to discrimination, but also because they resemble forms of misrecognition that can hurt women’s self-development and self-worth. Furthermore, we argue that Honneth’s theory of recognition offers a fruitful framework for improving our understanding of the psychological and normative implications of gender bias in modern technologies. Moreover, our Honnethian analysis of gender bias in AI shows that the goal of responsible AI requires us to address these issues not only through technical interventions, but also through a change in how we grant and deny recognition to each other.
Generic identifiability of pairs of ternary forms
Authors: Beorchia Valentina , Galuppi Francesco
Published: June 2022

We prove that two general ternary forms of degrees $$c\le d$$

c
≤
d

are simultaneously identifiable only in the classical cases $$(c,d)=(2,2)$$

(
c
,
d
)
=
(
2
,
2
)

and $$(c,d)=(2,3)$$

(
c
,
d
)
=
(
2
,
3
)

. We translate the problem into the study of a certain linear system on a projective bundle on the plane, and we apply techniques from projective and birational geometry to prove that the associated map is not birational.
Mortality in cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 or seasonal influenza: an observational cohort study from a German-wide hospital network
Authors: Kodde Cathrin , Bonsignore Marzia , Schöndube Daniel , Bauer Torsten , Hohenstein Sven , Bollmann Andreas , Meier-Hellmann Andreas , Kuhlen Ralf , Nachtigall Irit
Published: June 2022

Purpose

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 was often compared to seasonal influenza. We aimed to compare the outcome of hospitalized patients with cancer infected by SARS-CoV-2 or seasonal influenza including intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality.

Methods

We analyzed claims data of patients with a lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 or seasonal influenza infection admitted to one of 85 hospitals of a German-wide hospital network between January 2016 and August 2021.

Results

29,284 patients with COVID-19 and 7442 patients with seasonal influenza were included.

Of these, 360 patients with seasonal influenza and 1625 patients with COVID-19 had any kind of cancer. Cancer patients with COVID-19 were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit than cancer patients with seasonal influenza (29.4% vs 24.7%; OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.00–1.73 p < .05). No statistical significance was observed in the mechanical ventilation rate for cancer patients with COVID-19 compared to those with seasonal influenza (17.2% vs 13.6% OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.96–1.86 p = .09). 34.9% of cancer patients with COVID-19 and 17.9% with seasonal influenza died (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.81–3.32 p < .01). Risk factors among cancer patients with COVID-19 or seasonal influenza for in-hospital mortality included the male gender, age, a higher Elixhauser comorbidity index and metastatic cancer.

Conclusion

Among cancer patients, SARS-CoV-2 was associated with a higher risk for in-hospital mortality than seasonal influenza. These findings underline the need of protective measurements to prevent an infection with either COVID-19 or seasonal influenza, especially in this high-risk population.
A theorem on the number of distinct eigenvalues
Authors: Marsli Rachid
Published: June 2022

A theorem on the number of distinct eigenvalues of diagonalizable matrices is obtained. Some applications related to the problem of separation of close eigenvalues, triangular defective matrices as well as adjacency and walk matrices of graphs are discussed. Other ideas and examples are provided.
Statistical applications of contrastive learning
Authors: Gutmann Michael U. , Kleinegesse Steven , Rhodes Benjamin
Published: June 2022

The likelihood function plays a crucial role in statistical inference and experimental design. However, it is computationally intractable for several important classes of statistical models, including energy-based models and simulator-based models. Contrastive learning is an intuitive and computationally feasible alternative to likelihood-based learning. We here first provide an introduction to contrastive learning and then show how we can use it to derive methods for diverse statistical problems, namely parameter estimation for energy-based models, Bayesian inference for simulator-based models, as well as experimental design.
Directives and Politeness in SPICE-Ireland
Authors: Ronan Patricia
Published: June 2022

Working from the perspective of Leech’s (The Pragmatics of Politeness. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014) modification to Blum-Kulkaet al.’s (Cross-cultural pragmatics: Requests and apologies. Norwood, NJ, Ablex, 1989) approach to classifying requests, this study investigates how far impositive directive speech acts are found in spoken Irish English, a variety of English which is well-known for avoiding face threats. The study further investigates how these impositive speech acts are influenced by the genre of the spoken category. In order to do so, this study uses data from the southern component of SPICE-Ireland, a pragmatically annotated corpus of spoken Irish English, and analyses data from six different genres of spoken conversation: Broadcast discussions, Business transactions, Classroom discussions, Face-to-face conversations, Legal presentations and Telephone conversations. These genres are classified in terms of the concepts of ‘language of distance’ versus ‘language of immediacy’. In the data, impositive strategies are frequently found, particularly so in private settings of ‘language of immediacy’. In the more public and formal settings of ‘language of distance’, by contrast, indirect strategies are more prominent.
Predicting the probability of finding missing older adults based on machine learning
Authors: Ruiz-Rizzo Adriana L. , Archila-Meléndez Mario E. , González Veloza José John Fredy
Published: June 2022

Person missingness is an enigmatic and frequent phenomenon that can bring about negative consequences for the missing person, their family, and society in general. Age-related cognitive changes and a higher vulnerability to dementia can increase the propensity of older adults to go missing. Thus, it is necessary to better understand the phenomenon of missingness in older adults. The present study sought to identify individual and environmental factors that might predict whether an older adult reported missing will be found. Supervised machine learning models were used based on the missing person cases open data of Colombia between 1930 and June 2021 (n = 7855). Classification algorithms were trained to predict whether an older adult who went missing would eventually be found. The classification models with the best performance in the test data were those based on gradient boosting. Particularly, the Gradient Boosting Classifier and the Light Gradient Boosting Machine algorithms showed, respectively, 10% and 9% greater area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve than a data-driven, reference model based on the mean of the reported time elapsed since the missingness observed in the training data. The features with the greatest contribution to the classification were the time since the missingness, the place where it occurred, and the age and sex of the missing person. The present results shed light on the societal phenomenon of person missingness while setting the ground for the application of machine learning models in cases of missing older persons.
Asymptotic analysis of subwavelength halide perovskite resonators
Authors: Alexopoulos Konstantinos , Davies Bryn
Published: June 2022

Halide perovskites are promising materials with many significant applications in photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Their highly dispersive permittivity relation leads to a non-linear relationship between the frequency and the wavenumber. This, in turn, means the resonance of the system is described by a highly non-linear eigenvalue problem, which is mathematically challenging to understand. In this paper, we use integral methods to quantify the resonant properties of halide perovskite nano-particles. We prove that, for arbitrarily small particles, the subwavelength resonant frequencies can be expressed in terms of the eigenvalues of the Newtonian potential associated with its shape. We also characterize the hybridized subwavelength resonant frequencies of a dimer of two halide perovskite particles. Finally, we examine the specific case of spherical resonators and demonstrate that our new results are consistent with previous works.
Artificial intelligence for right whale photo identification: from data science competition to worldwide collaboration
Authors: Khan Christin , Blount Drew , Parham Jason , Holmberg Jason , Hamilton Philip , Charlton Claire , Christiansen Fredrik , Johnston David , Rayment Will , Dawson Steve , Vermeulen Els , Rowntree Victoria , Groch Karina , Levenson J. Jacob , Bogucki Robert
Published: June 2022

Photo identification is an important tool in the conservation management of endangered species, and recent developments in artificial intelligence are revolutionizing existing workflows to identify individual animals. In 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hosted a Kaggle data science competition to automate the identification of endangered North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). The winning algorithms developed by Deepsense.ai were able to identify individuals with 87% accuracy using a series of convolutional neural networks to identify the region of interest, create standardized photographs of uniform size and orientation, and then identify the correct individual. Since that time, we have brought in many more collaborators as we moved from prototype to production. Leveraging the existing infrastructure by Wild Me, the developers of Flukebook, we have created a web-based platform that allows biologists with no machine learning expertise to utilize semi-automated photo identification of right whales. New models were generated on an updated dataset using the winning Deepsense.ai algorithms. Given the morphological similarity between the North Atlantic right whale and closely related southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), we expanded the system to incorporate the largest long-term photo identification catalogs around the world including the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and New Zealand. The system is now fully operational with multi-feature matching for both North Atlantic right whales and southern right whales from aerial photos of their heads (Deepsense), lateral photos of their heads (Pose Invariant Embeddings), flukes (CurvRank v2), and peduncle scarring (HotSpotter). We hope to encourage researchers to embrace both broad data collaborations and artificial intelligence to increase our understanding of wild populations and aid conservation efforts.
A Systematic Review of Pharmacovigilance Systems in Developing Countries Using the WHO Pharmacovigilance Indicators
Authors: Garashi Hamza Y. , Steinke Douglas T. , Schafheutle Ellen I.
Published: June 2022

Background

In the context of the growth of pharmacovigilance (PV) among developing countries, this systematic review aims to synthesise current research evaluating developing countries’ PV systems’ performance.

Methods

EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2012 and 2021. Reference lists of included studies were screened. Included studies were quality assessed using Hawker et al.'s nine-item checklist; data were extracted using the WHO PV indicators checklist. Scores were assigned to each group of indicators and used to compare countries’ PV performance.

Results

Twenty-one unique studies from 51 countries were included. Of a total possible quality score of 36, most studies were rated medium (n = 7 studies) or high (n = 14 studies). Studies obtained an average score of 17.2 out of a possible 63 of the WHO PV indicators. PV system performance in all 51 countries was low (14.86/63; range: 0–26). Higher average scores were obtained in the ‘Core’ (9.27/27) compared to ‘Complementary’ (5.59/36) indicators. Overall performance for ‘Process’ and ‘Outcome’ indicators was lower than that of ‘Structural’.

Conclusion

This first systematic review of studies evaluating PV performance in developing countries provides an in-depth understanding of factors affecting PV system performance.
Mercury prediction in groundwater of Naameh Landfill using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model
Authors: Kanj Farah , Sawaya Rana , Halwani Jalal , Nehmeh Nada
Published: June 2022

Mercury is a highly poisonous metal which is mostly found in environment. It is considered at the top of the parameters of water quality that requires investigations for planning and management. To understand the status of mercury in the groundwater of Naameh Landfill, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were used as indicators of water quality and for the prediction of Mercury. Two types of feed forward networks have been used including multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF). A number of different MLP neural networks algorithms and RBF networks trained and developed with reference to pH, EC, TDS, TON, calcium and magnesium to predict Mercury concentration in groundwater. Six scenarios were used to train MLP and RBF networks for choosing the best-fit model for predicting water quality parameters in groundwater of Naameh Landfill. The performances of MLP and RBF models were evaluated by utilizing the coefficient of determination (R2). The results showed that the computed values of R2 for MLP and RBF were 0.791 and 0.881respectively. In addition, the prediction results showed that both types of networks are very good for predicting Mercury concentration in the ground water of our study area. Moreover, the results showed that there are mercury residues for 2 years ahead even if there is no discharge in this place. As a matter of fact, there are no studies that encompass status of heavy metals in municipal solid waste landfills in Lebanon or neighboring countries using ANN models. Thus, this study can be described as unique as it demonstrated a 9 year groundwater data (2011-2019), presented data and projected data for two upcoming years. This is crucial especially in the continual waste crisis that Lebanon is facing and the absence of sustainable disposal practices. This data is a rigid base and a solid reference for developing adequate solutions to prevent future contamination of groundwater with its associated negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of individuals.
Children's Eyewitness Testimony and Event Memory
Authors: Arterberry Martha E.
Published: June 2022

This Element addresses the factors that influence children's accuracy in reporting on events and draws implications for children's ability to serve as reliable eyewitnesses. This Element focusses on short- and long-term memory for event details, memory for stressful events, memory for the temporal order of events, memory for the spatial location of events, the ways poorly worded questions or intervening events interfere with memory, and individual differences in language development, understanding right from wrong and emotions, and cognitive processes. In addition, this Element considers how potential jurors perceive children as eyewitnesses and how the findings of the research on children's event memory inform best practices for interviewing children.
Issues for recruitment and retention of clinical research professionals at academic medical centers: Part 1 – collaborative conversations Un-Meeting findings
Authors: Knapke Jacqueline M. , Snyder Denise C. , Carter Karen , Fitz-Gerald Meredith B. , Fritter Jessica , Kolb H. Robert , Marchant Mark , Mendell Angela , Petty Megan , Pullum Cherese , Jones Carolynn T.
Published: June 2022

Background:

Identification of evidence-based factors related to status of the clinical research professional (CRP) workforce at academic medical centers (AMCs) will provide context for National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) policy considerations and guidance. The objective of this study is to explore barriers and opportunities related to the recruitment and retention of the CRP workforce.

Materials and Methods:

Qualitative data from a series of Un-Meeting breakout sessions and open-text survey questions were analyzed to explore barriers and recommendations for improving AMC CRP recruitment, retention and diversity.

Results:

While certain institutions have established competency-based frameworks for job descriptions, standardization remains generally lacking across CTSAs. AMCs report substantial increases in unfilled CRP positions leading to operational instability. Data confirmed an urgent need for closing gaps in CRP workforce at AMCs, especially for attracting, training, retaining, and diversifying qualified personnel. Improved collaboration with human resource departments, engagement with principal investigators, and overcoming both organizational and resource challenges were suggested strategies, as well as development of outreach to universities, community colleges, and high schools raising awareness of CRP career pathways.

Discussion:

Based on input from 130 CRP leaders at 35 CTSAs, four National Institute of General Medical Sciences’ Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program sites, along with industry and government representatives, we identified several barriers to successful recruitment and retention of a highly trained and diverse CRP workforce. Results, including securing institutional support, champions, standardizing and adopting proven national models, improving local institutional policies to facilitate CRP hiring and job progression point to potential solutions.
Additional floristic study of planktonic and seaweed-associated diatoms in Chuuk, Micronesia
Authors: Park Joon Sang , Lobban Christopher S. , Lee Kyun-Woo , Jung Seung Won
Published: June 2022

The present study enhances knowledge of the biodiversity of diatoms in Chuuk, Micronesia following our 2018 study on the seaweed-associated diatoms. We collected planktonic samples of diatoms from five sites of reef flats using a 20 μm mesh net, and two samples of seaweeds with epiphytes by hand from an islet on the barrier reef. In addition, the seaweed-associated diatoms from our 2018 study were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. A total of 109 diatom taxa are documented in the present study. Of these, 70 species were from net samples, and 39 species from the seaweed-associated diatoms. Thirty-one species are newly recorded from Micronesian waters. Most taxa are benthic or tychoplanktonic; euplanktonic diatoms were rare. The occurrence of benthic diatoms from the water column might be related to the Chuuk environmental conditions which include shallow water, strong light intensity and high grazing pressure, to which benthic diatoms seem to be able to better adapt than planktonic diatoms.
Values, principles, strategies, and frameworks underlying patient and public involvement in health technology assessment and guideline development: a scoping review
Authors: Pinho-Gomes Ana-Catarina , Stone James , Shaw Toni , Heath Andrea , Cowl Jane , Norburn Laura , Thomas Victoria , Scott Sarah
Published: June 2022

The importance of patient and public involvement (PPI) is recognized by agencies involved in health technology assessment (HTA) and guideline development. However, a comprehensive overview of the underlying PPI principles, values, strategies, and frameworks is lacking. This scoping review aimed to summarize the available evidence on principles, values, frameworks, and strategies underpinning PPI carried out by agencies involved in HTA and guideline development. A total of twelve records were included, of which four referred to guidelines and eight to HTA. Overall, this review demonstrated a lack of consistency in the definition and application of the concepts of values and principles to PPI in the context of guideline development and HTA. There was significant overlap between values and principles, with some broad themes emerging, such as representation, transparency, relevance, equity, fairness, and reconciling different types of knowledge. Frameworks were typically based on the stages of guideline development or HTA, despite heterogeneity in how stages were labeled and described. Strategies were also mapped to the stages of guideline development and HTA and varied substantially depending on the context and setting. Both strategies and frameworks demonstrated patients and the public can be involved, albeit to a variable extent, throughout the stages of guideline development and HTA. However, frameworks often failed to explicitly link the values and principles with the HTA and guideline development stages through actionable PPI strategies. Further research is warranted to better understand the values, principles, and frameworks underpinning PPI in guideline development and HTA.
HOW LARGE IS THE JUMP DISCONTINUITY IN THE DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT OF A TIME-HOMOGENEOUS DIFFUSION?
Authors: Robert Christian Y.
Published: June 2022

We consider high-frequency observations from a one-dimensional time-homogeneous diffusion process Y. We assume that the diffusion coefficient
$\sigma $
is continuously differentiable in y, but with a jump discontinuity at some level y, say

$y=0$
. We first study sign-constrained kernel estimators of functions of the left and right limits of

$\sigma $
at

$0$
. These functions intricately depend on both limits. We propose a method to extricate these functions by searching for bandwidths where the kernel estimators are stable by iteration. We finally provide an estimator of the discontinuity jump size. We prove its convergence in probability and discuss its rate of convergence. A Monte Carlo study shows the finite sample properties of this estimator.
Effectiveness of alteplase infusion for the management of prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis in paediatric age group and proposed algorithm
Authors: Mashali Mohamed H , Ahmad Zaheer , Omar Galal Mohammed , Al-Kouatli Amjad
Published: June 2022

Introduction:

The incidence of prosthetic valve implantation is increasing in the paediatric population. Prosthetic valve thrombosis leading to obstruction could potentially be a life-threatening complication. There is a debate regarding optimal management of this complication, and there is limited use of thrombolytic therapy in childhood in the setting of valve thrombosis.

Objective:

We aim to share our experience of successfully using fibrinolytic therapy in terms of alteplase for paediatric prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis and to propose a management algorithm.

Methods:

This retrospective analysis of the database was conducted at our hospital including patients who underwent thrombolysis (alteplase) for prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis from June, 2011 to June, 2021. A total of 10 patients with 20 attempts of alteplase infusion were found in our record.

Results:

Alteplase was successful in 19 attempts to relieve valve thrombosis. The safe and effective dose of alteplase was between 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg/hour. There were no associated major bleeding complications and alteplase was administered either by central or peripheral line.

Conclusion:

Thrombolysis by alteplase infusion was found to be successful in relief of prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis in paediatric population without major bleeding complications.
Successful transesophageal pacing in a very-low-birth-weight-infant with atrioventricular block
Authors: Nomura Ryunosuke , Shiraga Kazuhiro , Inuzuka Ryo
Published: June 2022

A baby with complete atrioventricular block was born with a birth weight of 1403 g. Isoproterenol was ineffective and emergency pacing was required. Since transcutaneous pacing was ineffective and transvenous pacing was untenable due to small body size, transesophageal pacing was performed for 3.5 hours until permanent pacemaker implantation. There were no complications. This is the first report of continuous transesophageal pacing in a very-low-birth-weight infant.
Torsion of wandering spleen after Fontan operation in a patient with situs inversus: a rare complication
Authors: Miyamura Fumiya , Matsuo Osamu , Nakamura Kimitoshi
Published: June 2022

Torsion of wandering spleen after the Fontan operation with situs inversus is rare.

Here, we report the case of a 6-year-old girl with a single ventricle and complete situs inversus who developed torsion of wandering spleen due to splenomegaly caused by post-operative haemodynamics of the Fontan operation. The platelet count was suggested to be useful in predicting splenic torsion.
Describing the Challenges of Prehospital Rapid Sequence Intubation by Macintosh Blade Video Laryngoscopy Recordings
Authors: Hayes-Bradley Clare , Gemal Hugo , Miller Matthew , Ware Sandra
Published: June 2022

Study Objective:

Structured review of video laryngoscopy recordings from physician team prehospital rapid sequence intubations (RSIs) may provide new insights into why prehospital intubations are difficult. The aim was to use laryngoscope video recordings to give information on timings, observed features of the airway, laryngoscopy technique, and laryngoscope performance. This was to both describe prehospital airways and to investigate which factors were associated with increased time taken to intubate.

Methods:

Sydney Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS; the aeromedical wing of New South Wales Ambulance, Australia) has a database recording all intubations. The database comprises free-text case detail, airway dataset, scanned case sheet, and uploaded laryngoscope video. The teams of critical care paramedic and doctor use protocol-led intubations with a C-MAC Macintosh size four laryngoscope and intubation adjunct. First-pass intubation rate is approximately 97%. Available video recordings and their database entries were retrospectively analyzed for pre-specified qualitative and quantitative factors.

Results:

Prehospital RSI video recordings were available for 385 cases from January 2018 through July 2020. Timings revealed a median of 58 seconds of apnea from laryngoscope entering mouth to ventilations. Median time to intubate (laryngoscope passing lips until tracheal tube inserted) was 35 seconds, interquartile range 28-46 seconds. Suction was required prior to intubation in 29% of prehospital RSIs. Fogging of the camera lens at time of laryngoscopy occurred in 28%. Logistic regression revealed longer time to intubate was associated with airway soiling, Cormack-Lehane Grade 2 or 3, multiple bougie passes, or change of bougie.

Conclusion:

Video recordings averaging 35 seconds for first-pass success prehospital RSI with an adjunct give bed-side “definitions of difficulty” of 30 seconds for no glottic view, 45 seconds for no bougie placement, and 60 seconds for no endotracheal tube placement. Awareness of apnea duration can help guide decision making for oxygenation. All emergency intubators need to be cognizant of the need for suctioning. Improving the management of bloodied airways and bougie usage may reduce laryngoscopy duration and be a focus for training. Video screen fogging and missed recordings from some patients may be something manufacturers can address in the future.
Political Survival through Religious Instrumentalism: Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazlur Rehman's Resistance to Madrassah Reforms in Pakistan
Authors: Shah Abdur Rehman , Qazi Afsah
Published: June 2022

Pakistan has strived though unsuccessfully to introduce reforms into thousands of religious seminaries. Among the different sects of seminaries, Deobandi madaris which are mostly led by Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) have posed the greatest challenge. This paper seeks to analyze why and how JUI-F obstructs the state's attempts of convincing madaris for reforms. Based on the findings of elite group interviews and constructs of “elite instrumentalism” and “political survival theory,” this study argues that JUI-F has political interests, both strategic-cum-existential and tactical, at stake in resisting these reforms. This study of Fazlur Rehman's behavior vis-à-vis state's madrassah reform initiatives allows one to bring home the theoretical premises set by “political survival theory” and “elite instrumentalism.” Accordingly, JUI-F opposes madrassah reforms because the instrumental use of religion (madaris) has long been vital for retaining its political power which in turn has ensured party's political survival.
Unraveling the mechanism of resistance in a glufosinate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) accession
Authors: Carvalho-Moore Pamela , Norsworthy Jason K. , González-Torralva Fidel , Hwang Jeong-In , Patel Jinesh D. , Barber L. Tom , Butts Thomas R. , McElroy J. Scott
Published: June 2022

Glufosinate resistance in Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) was recently detected in three accessions from Arkansas, USA. Amaranthus palmeri is the first and only broadleaf weed species resistant to this herbicide, and the resistance mechanism is still unclear. A previous study characterized the glufosinate resistance level in the accessions from Arkansas. A highly glufosinate-resistant accession was further used to investigate the mechanism conferring glufosinate resistance in A. palmeri. Experiments were designed to sequence the herbicide target enzyme cytosolic and chloroplastic glutamine synthetase isoforms (GS1 and GS2, respectively) and quantify copy number and expression. Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of glufosinate using the 14C-labeled herbicide were also evaluated in the resistant and susceptible accessions. The glufosinate-resistant accession had an increase in copy number and expression of GS2 compared with susceptible plants. All accessions showed only one GS1 copy and no differences in expression. No mutations were identified in GS1 or GS2. Absorption (54% to 60%) and metabolism (13% to 21%) were not different between the glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible accessions. Most residues of glufosinate (94% to 98%) were present in the treated leaf. Glufosinate translocation to tissues above the treated leaf and in the roots was not different among accessions. However, glufosinate translocation to tissues below the treated leaf (not including roots) was greater in the resistant A. palmeri (2%) compared with the susceptible (less than 1%) accessions. The findings of this paper strongly indicate that gene amplification and increased expression of the chloroplastic glutamine synthetase enzyme are the mechanisms conferring glufosinate resistance in the A. palmeri accession investigated. Thus far, no additional resistance mechanism was observed, but further investigations are ongoing.
The Response of Saturn's Dawn Field‐Aligned Currents to Magnetospheric and Ring Current Conditions During Cassini's Proximal Orbits: Evidence for a Region 2 Response at Saturn
Authors: Hunt G. J. , Provan G. , Bradley T. J. , Cowley S. W. H. , Dougherty M. K. , Roussos E.
Published: June 2022

Cassini's 2017 proximal orbits provided the opportunity to examine the auroral field‐aligned currents in the northern hemisphere dawn sector in relation to wider magnetospheric conditions. We combine three recent studies to examine the response of the dawn region auroral field‐aligned currents and the azimuthal ring currents to compressions and expansions of the Saturnian magnetosphere. For compressions of Saturn's magnetosphere resulting in tail reconnection, the currents within the downward current sheet, located equatorward of the main auroral oval, increases in strength with increasing total ring current and location of the peak downwards current moves inwards toward Saturn. While the inverse relation occurs during intervals of quiet or expanded magnetospheric conditions. During compression events there is an increase in the energetic particle intensities, in particular in the protons (35–506 keV), within the downward current region. This current system is akin to an Earth‐like “region 2” field aligned current within Saturn's magnetosphere, with tail reconnection occurring when the magnetosphere is compressed resulting in a partial nightside ring current closed by a downward current near to dawn. Within the upward current sheet, mapping to Saturn's main auroral oval, both non‐rotating subcorotating current and the rotating Planetary Period Oscillations (PPOs) currents flow. The upward current is strongly modulated by the PPOs but also increases in strength, with enhanced high‐energy protons, during intervals of magnetospheric compressions and tail reconnection. We conclude that the enhanced plasma injected into the midnight‐dawn sector during tail reconnection events results in an enhanced subcorotation current system.
Global System for Atmospheric Modeling: Model Description and Preliminary Results
Authors: Khairoutdinov Marat F. , Blossey Peter N. , Bretherton Christopher S.
Published: June 2022

The extension of a cloud‐resolving model, the System for Atmospheric Modeling (SAM), to global domains is described. The resulting global model, gSAM, is formulated on a latitude‐longitude grid. It uses an anelastic dynamical core with a single reference profile (as in SAM), but its governing equations differ somewhat from other anelastic models. For quasihydrostatic flows, they are isomorphic to the primitive equations (PE) in pressure coordinates but with the globally uniform reference pressure playing the role of actual pressure. As a result, gSAM can exactly maintain steady zonally symmetric baroclinic flows that have been specified in pressure coordinates, produces accurate simulations when initialized or nudged with global reanalyses, and has a natural energy conservation equation despite the drawbacks of using the anelastic system to model global scales. gSAM employs a novel treatment of topography using a type of immersed boundary method, the Quasi‐Solid Body Method, where the instantaneous flow velocity is forced to stagnate in grid cells inside a prescribed terrain. The results of several standard tests designed to evaluate the accuracy of global models with and without topography as well as results from real Earth simulations are presented.
Asymmetries in Circulation Anomalies Related to the Phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation on Synoptic Time Scales
Authors: Schmith T. , Olsen S. M. , Yang S. , Christensen J. H.
Published: June 2022

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index is often characterized by independent positive and negative NAO events with a characteristic spatial pattern and a typical lifetime of around 1 week. These events are separated by periods of near‐neutral NAO conditions. Here, we challenge this view by showing in reanalysis and observed data that the strength and spatial shape of NAO events depends on the NAO index prior to the window of 1 week and this dependency is most pronounced for negative NAO events. The influence is seen in the mean sea level pressure, and in other important features, including blocking frequency and jet stream characteristics, and also in air surface temperature and precipitation in parts of Europe. This new appreciation is important for efforts to improve methods for subseasonal‐to‐seasonal predictions of NAO.
A Semi‐Empirical Approach for Tsunami Inundation: An Application to the Coasts of South Italy
Authors: Melito Lorenzo , Lalli Francesco , Postacchini Matteo , Brocchini Maurizio
Published: June 2022

Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea have been increasingly investigated recently due to past destructive events. We present a novel operational approach for evaluating tsunami‐induced inundation, based on a generalization of Green's law and a chain of intermediate and small‐scale simulations. At the intermediate level, simulations with a linear solver are made to identify the distribution of a novel parameter, namely α, condensing all nearshore wave transformations other than shoaling. α represents a proxy for coastal susceptibility to the tsunami impact. Small‐scale modeling of coastal flooding performed at locations for which a DTM is freely available, at the Esaro river estuary (Calabria) and in Bari (Apulia), yields inundation levels that compare well with those obtained via intermediate‐scale modeling, with a saving in computational time of about 41%. This demonstrates the value of α to “scale” the offshore wave input and reduce computational effort to evaluate flooding at regional scale.
A Dynamical Linkage Between Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclones and Indian Monsoon Low‐Pressure Systems
Authors: Srujan K. S. S. Sai , Sandeep S. , Suhas E. , Kodamana Hariprasad
Published: June 2022

The relatively weak tropical storms, known as low‐pressure systems (LPSs), contribute as much as 60% of the seasonal precipitation over the hugely populated central India. More than a third of LPSs are formed by the downstream amplification of the westward propagating disturbances from the Pacific. Here, we show that the downstream LPS genesis is associated with the tropical cyclones (TCs) in the Western North Pacific (WNP). Four major clusters of landfalling TCs that have a relatively lesser degree of recurvature account for about 83% of the downstream LPS genesis. Causality in the fluctuations of the sea level pressure over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) prior to the initiation of LPSs is attributed to the Rossby wave activity over WNP through transfer entropy analysis. Our results suggest a potential for the prediction of the downstream synoptic activity over the BoB at least seven days ahead.
Constraints on the Role of Laplace Pressure in Multiphase Reactions and Viscosity of Organic Aerosols
Authors: Petters Sarah S.
Published: June 2022

Aerosol chemistry has broad relevance for climate and global public health. The role of interfacial phenomena in condensed‐phase aerosol reactions remains poorly understood. In this work, liquid drop formalisms are coupled with high‐pressure transition state theory to formulate an expression for predicting the size‐dependence of aerosol reaction rates and viscosity. Insights from high‐pressure synthesis studies suggest that accretion and cyclization reactions are accelerated in 3–10‐nm particles smaller than 10 nm. Reactions of peroxide, epoxide, furanoid, aldol, and carbonyl functional groups are accelerated by up to tenfold. Effective rate enhancements are ranked as: cycloadditions >> aldol reactions > epoxide reactions > Baeyer‐Villiger oxidation >> imidazole formation (which is inhibited). Some reactions are enabled by the elevated pressure in particles. Viscosity increases for organic liquids but decreases for viscous or solid particles. Results suggest that internal pressure is an important consideration in studies of the physics and chemical evolution of nanoparticles.
Transient Retention of Floating Particles Captured by Emergent Vegetation Through Capillarity
Authors: Shi Wei , Peruzzo Paolo , Defina Andrea
Published: June 2022

This work presents and discusses a series of experiments focusing on the transport of floating particles, mimicking seeds and propagules, within an array of randomly arranged cylinders mimicking emergent vegetation stems. The focus is on the temporary capture process by which particles colliding with a cylinder are trapped by surface tension for finite but relatively long retention times, thus promoting a large mechanical dispersion. Video analysis of the particle paths within the array shows that the probability of particles being captured, either temporarily or permanently, as well as the mean retention time, vary with flow velocity while being weakly affected by stem density. On the contrary, stem density plays a significant role in determining the frequency of the temporary captures; in particular, the probability of having temporary, rather than permanent, captures increases with vegetation density. We also propose some relationships to predict the probability of having temporary capture events and their mean duration based on experimental results.
Incidence of primary congenital hypothyroidism over 24 years in Finland
Authors: Danner Emmi , Niuro Laura , Huopio Hanna , Niinikoski Harri , Viikari Liisa , Kero Jukka , Jääskeläinen Jarmo
Published: June 2022

Background

A rise in the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has been reported worldwide. This nationwide study aimed to describe the secular trends and current incidence of CH in Finland.

Methods

Two independent study cohorts, a national and a regional, were collected from national registers and patient records. The national cohort represents all CH cases born in Finland between 1994 and 2017. Birth data, results of the screening test, and the incidence of CH were reviewed.

Results

Between 1994 and 2017, 1,400,028 children were born in Finland. Of these children, 503 were diagnosed with primary CH (incidence 1:2783). Male-to-female sex ratio was 1:2.0. The nationwide incidence was 33 cases per 100,000 live births between 1994 and 1999, 38 cases per 100,000 live births between 2000 and 2005, 40 cases per 100,000 live births between 2006 and 2011, and 33 cases per 100,000 live births between 2012 and 2017. In the regional cohort (n = 139), the incidence of transient CH was 3.6%. The incidence of mild, moderate, and severe CH remained constant.

Conclusions

In Finland, the incidence of CH has not changed during the 24-year study period.

Impact

As opposed to recent reports worldwide, the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism has not changed between 1994 and 2017 in Finland.

The proportions of mild, moderate, and severe congenital hypothyroidism did not change significantly over the study period.

Lowering the TSH cut-off limit or increasing immigration did not affect the incidence rate of primary congenital hypothyroidism in Finland.
Clinical, gut microbial and neural effects of a probiotic add-on therapy in depressed patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Schaub Anna-Chiara , Schneider Else , Vazquez-Castellanos Jorge F. , Schweinfurth Nina , Kettelhack Cedric , Doll Jessica P. K. , Yamanbaeva Gulnara , Mählmann Laura , Brand Serge , Beglinger Christoph , Borgwardt Stefan , Raes Jeroen , Schmidt André , Lang Undine E.
Published: June 2022

A promising new treatment approach for major depressive disorder (MDD) targets the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, which is linked to physiological and behavioral functions affected in MDD. This is the first randomized controlled trial to determine whether short-term, high-dose probiotic supplementation reduces depressive symptoms along with gut microbial and neural changes in depressed patients. Patients with current depressive episodes took either a multi-strain probiotic supplement or placebo over 31 days additionally to treatment-as-usual. Assessments took place before, immediately after and again four weeks after the intervention. The Hamilton Depression Rating Sale (HAM-D) was assessed as primary outcome. Quantitative microbiome profiling and neuroimaging was used to detect changes along the MGB axis. In the sample that completed the intervention (probiotics N = 21, placebo N = 26), HAM-D scores decreased over time and interactions between time and group indicated a stronger decrease in the probiotics relative to the placebo group. Probiotics maintained microbial diversity and increased the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus, indicating the effectivity of the probiotics to increase specific taxa. The increase of the Lactobacillus was associated with decreased depressive symptoms in the probiotics group. Finally, putamen activation in response to neutral faces was significantly decreased after the probiotic intervention. Our data imply that an add-on probiotic treatment ameliorates depressive symptoms (HAM-D) along with changes in the gut microbiota and brain, which highlights the role of the MGB axis in MDD and emphasizes the potential of microbiota-related treatment approaches as accessible, pragmatic, and non-stigmatizing therapies in MDD. Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT02957591.