bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tech-facilitated violence: thinking structurally and intersectionally
Authors: Bailey Jane , Burkell Jacquie
Published: September 2021

Technologically-facilitated violence (TFV) can take many shapes and forms, In this thought piece, we reflect on TFV from structural and intersectional perspectives, examining how these might change our understanding of TFV, with particular attention to gender-based TFV. We are motivated to engage in this reflection for two main reasons. First, traditional understandings of violence, including gender-based violence, tend to prioritise physical acts (whether in word or in application), contributing to a trivialisation of the kinds of harms effected through digitised communications networks (Dunn, 2021). Second, if TFV is understood primarily in terms of individual interpersonal acts, our ability to understand how intersecting oppressions such as sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, colonialism affect the likelihood of being targeted and the experience of violence will be compromised. As Black feminist and critical race scholars such as Crenshaw (1991), Hill Collins (2017), and Jiwani, Berman and Cameron (2010) have ably demonstrated, individualistic single axis accounts of violence outside of technologised contexts have resulted in exclusionary and dangerous outcomes that selectively harm members of equality-seeking communities. The result of these individualised understandings of violence is that structural oppressions are ‘erased, trivialised, or contained within categories that evacuate the violation of [structural] violence’ (Jiwani, 2006, xi–xii). Among other effects, such erasure risks rendering invisible opportunities to intervene with respect to violence not carried out by individuals, often resulting in ‘remedies’ that emphasise interventions by the state against individual actors (for example, through criminal law), powers that already disproportionately target members of equality-seeking communities, and misses the potential need to intervene on capitalistic corporate systems and behaviours. In both cases, the prospect of achieving justice recedes.
Polarization-insensitive dual-wideband fractal meta-absorber for terahertz applications
Authors: Naveed Muhammad Ashar , Bilal Rana Muhammad Hasan , Rahim Arbab Abdur , Baqir Muhammad Abuzar , Ali Muhammad Mahmood
Published: September 2021

Terahertz (THz) metamaterial absorbers have realized a prodigious reputation due to the limitation of natural absorbing materials in this range. Getting wideband absorption characteristics is challenging and arduous, especially in the THz band. Self-similar repeated fractal elements offer a promising solution to attain broadband absorption response due to their inherent multiple resonance characteristics. Therefore, by captivating the advantage of fractal geometry, we proposed a dual and wideband meta-absorber operating in the THz regime. The metamaterial absorber design comprises the assembly of self-similar square-shaped blocks arranged in a specific pattern to construct the fractal geometry. The proposed THz absorber demonstrates 90% absorption under normal incident waves for two operating bands from 9.5–10.55 THz and 12.3–13.35 THz. The suggested metamaterial absorber also shows good and stable absorption responses under different oblique incidence angles for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) wave polarization. Moreover, this absorber manifests over 85% absorptivity in its entire operating range (9–14 THz) under the incidence angle of 60° and 70° for TM mode. Furthermore, it gives a polarization-insensitive behavior under the effect of different polarization angles. This kind of wideband absorber catches fascinating applications in THz detection, imaging, cloaking, and optoelectronic devices.
Simulation of quantum delayed-choice experiment through a single shot
Authors: Chen Dongxu , Wang Yunlong , Zhang Yu , Wu Qicheng , Zhao Junlong , Fang Yuliang , Yang Chuiping
Published: September 2021

A fundamental feature of micro objects is the wave-particle duality which is addressed by Bohr’s complementarity principle. To observe the wave and particle behaviours, quantum delayed-choice experiments based on linear optics have been realized at the single-photon level. Since they were performed by using a single photon as the input, repeating measurements were required in order to obtain different experimental data and adjusting experimental parameters was necessary prior to each of measurements. Different from the previous works, we here realize a simulation of quantum delayed-choice experiment through a single shot, which employs a classical intense light beam as the input instead of a single photon. Experimentally, we demonstrate the trade-off between distinguishability and visibility of photons in a two-arm interferometer in an intuitive way by utilizing the finite beam profile of the light. We observe the morphing between wave and particle natures of photons via a single shot of a charged-coupled-device camera. Since the image is captured within the exposure time which is several milliseconds, the phase fluctuation is negligible, and therefore our experimental setup is robust against the noise. This work provides a simple and new route to inspect quantum duality, which does not require adjusting experimental parameters frequently and only needs performing measurement once.
Mapping optical Bloch modes of a plasmonic square lattice in real and reciprocal spaces using cathodoluminescence spectroscopy
Authors: Bittorf Paul H. , Davoodi Fatemeh , Taleb Masoud , Talebi Nahid
Published: September 2021

Strong electron-light interactions supported by the surface plasmon polaritons excited in metallic thin films can lead to faster optoelectronic devices. Merging surface polaritons with photonic crystals leads to the formation of Bloch plasmons, allowing for the molding of the flow of polaritons and the controlling of the optical density of states for even stronger electron-light interactions. Here, we use a two-dimensional square lattice of holes incorporated inside a plasmonic gold layer to investigate the interaction of surface plasmon polaritons with the square lattice and the formation of plasmonic Bloch modes. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging are used for imaging the spatio-spectral near-field distribution of the optical Bloch modes in the visible to near infrared spectral ranges. In addition, the higher-order Brillouin zones of the plasmonic lattice are demonstrated by using angle-resolved cathodoluminescence mapping. We further complement our experimental results with numerical simulations of the optical modes supported by the plasmonic lattice that helps to better resolve the superposition of the various modes excited by the electron beam. Next to previous works in this context, our results thus place cathodoluminescence scanning spectroscopy and angle-resolved mapping as complementary techniques to uncover the spatio-spectral distribution of optical Bloch modes in real and reciprocal spaces.
Strong single-photon optomechanical coupling in a hybrid quantum system
Authors: Chen Jiaojiao , Li Zhuanxia , Luo Xiao-Qing , Xiong Wei , Wang Mingfeng , Li Hai-Chao
Published: September 2021

Engineering strong single-photon optomechanical couplings is crucial for optomechanical systems. Here, we propose a hybrid quantum system consisting of a nanobeam (phonons) coupled to a spin ensemble and a cavity (photons) to overcome it. Utilizing the critical property of the lower-branch polariton (LBP) formed by the ensemble-phonon interaction, the LBP-cavity coupling can be greatly enhanced by three orders magnitude of the original one, while the upper-branch polariton (UBP)-cavity coupling is fully suppressed. Our proposal breaks through the condition of the coupling strength less than the critical value in previous schemes using two harmonic oscillators. Also, strong Kerr effect can be induced in our proposal. This shows our proposed approach can be used to study quantum nonlinear and nonclassical effects in weakly coupled optomechanical systems.
Highly efficient actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
Authors: Zhu Zhanda , Lv Shiwei , Zhang Hanyi , Hui Yongling , Lei Hong , Li Qiang
Published: September 2021

A novel gain medium structure is designed providing Q-switched pulses with high efficiency. The use of an improved corner-side hybrid pump structure achieves a high absorption efficiency of pump light by crossing through the active media 13 times Nd:YAG. A layer of Sm:YAG is bonded around the active media, which suppresses parasitic oscillation and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) effectively. A high-efficient actively Q-switched laser is successfully realized with a pulse energy of 104 mJ. The corresponding optical-optical conversion efficiency is 30.5%. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest optical to optical efficiency for an actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at the hundred milli-joules level.
Single-shot, double-pulse determination of the detonation energy in nanosecond-laser ablation using the blast model
Authors: Nagel L. A. , Skrodzki P. J. , Finney L. A. , Nawara R. , Burger M. , Nees J. , Jovanovic I.
Published: September 2021

We demonstrate a novel single-shot method to determine the detonation energy of laser-induced plasma and investigate its performance. This approach can be used in cases where there are significant shot-to-shot variations in ablation conditions, such as laser fluctuations, target inhomogeneity, or multiple filamentation with ultrashort pulses. The Sedov blast model is used to fit two time-delayed shadowgrams measured with a double-pulse laser. We find that the reconstruction of detonation parameters is insensitive to the choice of interpulse delay in double-pulse shadowgraphy. In contrast, the initial assumption of expansion dimensionality has a large impact on the reconstructed detonation energy. The method allows for a reduction in the uncertainties of blast wave energy measurements as a diagnostic technique employed in various laser ablation applications.
Demonstration of contrast improvement and spectral broadening in thin solid plates
Authors: Lu Xiaoming , Leng Yuxin
Published: September 2021

Here we demonstrate that the pulses in thin solid plates (TSPs) can simultaneously realize contrast improvement and spectral broadening. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we used nine thin fused silica plates to make the beam form a series of foci in sequence, by which the divergence of the beam of the main pulse was seriously changed. After the last plate, the intense center spot of the output beam was picked out, and the energy of about 129 µJ was obtained for the 400 µJ input pulses, corresponding to a total transmission efficiency of more than 30%. The contrast measurement showed that the contrast was improved by 2 orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, the cleaned pulses were broadened spectrally, spanning from 680 to 930 nm at the

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intensity level and giving a compressed pulse of 11.3 fs. These characteristics make the TSP method suitable to generate broadband seed pulses for high-contrast, few-cycle intense lasers.
Top-down convergence of near-infrared photonics with silicon substrate-integrated electronics
Authors: Bernard Martino , Acerbi Fabio , Paternoster Giovanni , Piccoli Gioele , Gemma Luca , Brunelli Davide , Gola Alberto , Pucker Georg , Pancheri Lucio , Ghulinyan Mher
Published: September 2021

On-chip direct coupling of dielectric waveguides to Si substrate-integrated photodetectors has been realized within a top-down approach. A first-run 44% external quantum efficiency at 850 nm is shown for an oxynitride photonic integrated circuit at room temperature.
Cerebellar complex spikes multiplex complementary behavioral information
Authors: Markanday Akshay , Inoue Junya , Dicke Peter W. , Thier Peter
Published: September 2021

Purkinje cell (PC) discharge, the only output of cerebellar cortex, involves 2 types of action potentials, high-frequency simple spikes (SSs) and low-frequency complex spikes (CSs). While there is consensus that SSs convey information needed to optimize movement kinematics, the function of CSs, determined by the PC’s climbing fiber input, remains controversial. While initially thought to be specialized in reporting information on motor error for the subsequent amendment of behavior, CSs seem to contribute to other aspects of motor behavior as well. When faced with the bewildering diversity of findings and views unraveled by highly specific tasks, one may wonder if there is just one true function with all the other attributions wrong? Or is the diversity of findings a reflection of distinct pools of PCs, each processing specific streams of information conveyed by climbing fibers? With these questions in mind, we recorded CSs from the monkey oculomotor vermis deploying a repetitive saccade task that entailed sizable motor errors as well as small amplitude saccades, correcting them. We demonstrate that, in addition to carrying error-related information, CSs carry information on the metrics of both primary and small corrective saccades in a time-specific manner, with changes in CS firing probability coupled with changes in CS duration. Furthermore, we also found CS activity that seemed to predict the upcoming events. Hence PCs receive a multiplexed climbing fiber input that merges complementary streams of information on the behavior, separable by the recipient PC because they are staggered in time.
Dynamic modelling of the PI3K/MTOR signalling network uncovers biphasic dependence of mTORC1 activity on the mTORC2 subunit SIN1
Authors: Ghomlaghi Milad , Yang Guang , Shin Sung-Young , James David E. , Nguyen Lan K.
Published: September 2021

The PI3K/MTOR signalling network regulates a broad array of critical cellular processes, including cell growth, metabolism and autophagy. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) kinase functions as a core catalytic subunit in two physically and functionally distinct complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2, which also share other common components including MLST8 (also known as GβL) and DEPTOR. Despite intensive research, how mTORC1 and 2 assembly and activity are coordinated, and how they are functionally linked remain to be fully characterized. This is due in part to the complex network wiring, featuring multiple feedback loops and intricate post-translational modifications. Here, we integrate predictive network modelling, in vitro experiments and -omics data analysis to elucidate the emergent dynamic behaviour of the PI3K/MTOR network. We construct new mechanistic models that encapsulate critical mechanistic details, including mTORC1/2 coordination by MLST8 (de)ubiquitination and the Akt-to-mTORC2 positive feedback loop. Model simulations validated by experimental studies revealed a previously unknown biphasic, threshold-gated dependence of mTORC1 activity on the key mTORC2 subunit SIN1, which is robust against cell-to-cell variation in protein expression. In addition, our integrative analysis demonstrates that ubiquitination of MLST8, which is reversed by OTUD7B, is regulated by IRS1/2. Our results further support the essential role of MLST8 in enabling both mTORC1 and 2’s activity and suggest MLST8 as a viable therapeutic target in breast cancer. Overall, our study reports a new mechanistic model of PI3K/MTOR signalling incorporating MLST8-mediated mTORC1/2 formation and unveils a novel regulatory linkage between mTORC1 and mTORC2.
Trends in the prevalence of microscopically-confirmed schistosomiasis in the South African public health sector, 2011–2018
Authors: De Boni Liesl , Msimang Veerle , De Voux Alex , Frean John
Published: September 2021

Background

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a chronic parasitic blood fluke infection acquired through contact with contaminated surface water. The illness may be mild or can cause significant morbidity with potentially serious complications. Children and those living in rural areas with limited access to piped water and services for healthcare are the most commonly infected. To address the prevalence of the disease in parts of South Africa (SA) effective national control measures are planned, but have not yet been implemented. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and trends of public sector laboratory-confirmed schistosomiasis cases in SA over an eight-year (2011–2018) period, to inform future control measures.

Methodology & principal findings

This is a descriptive analysis of secondary data from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). The study included all records of patients for whom microscopic examination detected Schistosoma species eggs in urine or stool specimens from January 2011 to December 2018. Crude estimates of the prevalence were calculated using national census mid-year provincial population estimates as denominators, and simple linear regression was used to analyse prevalence trends. A test rate ratio was developed to describe variations in testing volumes among different groups and to adjust prevalence estimates for testing variations.

A total number of 135 627 schistosomiasis cases was analysed with the highest prevalence observed among males and individuals aged 5–19 years. We describe ongoing endemicity in the Eastern Cape Province, and indicate important differences in the testing between population groups.

Conclusion

While there was no overall change in the prevalence of schistosomiasis during the analysis period, an average of 36 people per 100 000 was infected annually. As such, this represents an opportunity to control the disease and improve quality of life of affected people. Laboratory-based surveillance is a useful method for reporting occurrence and evaluating future intervention programs where resources to implement active surveillance are limited.
Real-time PCR assay for detection and differentiation of Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii from culture and clinical specimens
Authors: Chaturvedi Sudha , Victor Tanya R. , Marathe Anuradha , Sidamonidze Ketevan , Crucillo Kelly L. , Chaturvedi Vishnu
Published: September 2021

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) is a pulmonary and systemic fungal disease with increasing incidence and expanding endemic areas. The differentiation of etiologic agents Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii remains problematic in the clinical laboratories as conventional PCR and satellite typing schemes are not facile. Therefore, we developed Cy5- and FAM-labeled TaqMan-probes for duplex real-time PCR assay for rapid differentiation of C. immitis and C. posadasii from culture and clinical specimens. The RRA2 gene encoding proline-rich antigen 2, specific for Coccidioides genus, was the source for the first set of primers and probe. Coccidioides immitis contig 2.2 (GenBank: AAEC02000002.1) was used to design the second set of primers and probe. The second primers/probe did not amplify the corresponding C. posadasii DNA, because of an 86-bp deletion in the contig. The assay was highly sensitive with limit of detection of 0.1 pg gDNA/PCR reaction, which was equivalent to approximately ten genome copies of C. immitis or C. posadasii. The assay was highly specific with no cross-reactivity to the wide range of fungal and bacterial pathogens. Retrospective analysis of fungal isolates and primary specimens submitted from 1995 to 2020 confirmed 168 isolates and four primary specimens as C. posadasii and 30 isolates as C. immitis from human coccidioidomycosis cases, while all eight primary samples from two animals (rhesus monkey and rhinoceros) were confirmed as C. posadasii. A preliminary analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and pleural fluid samples showed positive correlation between serology tests and real-time PCR for two of the 15 samples. The Coccidioides spp. duplex real-time PCR will allow rapid differentiation of C. immitis and C. posadasii from clinical specimens and further augment the treatment and surveillance of coccidioidomycosis.
Evaluating livestock farmers knowledge, beliefs, and management of arboviral diseases in Kenya: A multivariate fractional probit approach
Authors: Nyangau Paul Nyamweya , Nzuma Jonathan Makau , Irungu Patrick , Kassie Menale
Published: September 2021

Globally, arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) infections continue to pose substantial threats to public health and economic development, especially in developing countries. In Kenya, although arboviral diseases (ADs) are largely endemic, little is known about the factors influencing livestock farmers’ knowledge, beliefs, and management (KBM) of the three major ADs: Rift Valley fever (RVF), dengue fever and chikungunya fever. This study evaluates the drivers of livestock farmers’ KBM of ADs from a sample of 629 respondents selected using a three-stage sampling procedure in Kenya’s three hotspot counties of Baringo, Kwale, and Kilifi. A multivariate fractional probit model was used to assess the factors influencing the intensity of KBM. Only a quarter of the farmers had any knowledge of ADs while over four-fifths of them could not manage any of the three diseases. Access to information (experience and awareness), income, education, religion, and distance to a health facility considerably influenced the intensity of farmers’ KBM of ADs in Kenya. Thus, initiatives geared towards improving access to information through massive awareness campaigns are necessary to mitigate behavioral barriers in ADs management among rural communities in Kenya.
Clinical and molecular characterization of patients fulfilling Chompret criteria for Li-Fraumeni syndrome in Southern Brazil
Authors: Matzenbacher Bittar Camila , de Araújo Rocha Yasminne Marinho , Vieira Igor Araujo , Rosset Clévia , Andreis Tiago Finger , Sartor Ivaine Tais Sauthier , Artigalás Osvaldo , Netto Cristina B. O. , Alemar Barbara , Macedo Gabriel S. , Ashton-Prolla Patricia
Published: September 2021

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by pathogenic germline variants in the TP53 gene, characterized by a predisposition to the development of a broad spectrum of tumors at an early age. The core tumors related to LFS are bone and soft tissue sarcomas, premenopausal breast cancer, brain tumors, adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC), and leukemias. The revised Chompret criteria has been widely used to establish clinical suspicion and support TP53 germline variant testing and LFS diagnosis. Information on TP53 germline pathogenic variant (PV) prevalence when using Chompret criteria in South America and especially in Brazil is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize patients that fulfilled these specific criteria in southern Brazil, a region known for its high population frequency of a founder TP53 variant c.1010G>A (p.Arg337His), as known as R337H. TP53 germline testing of 191 cancer-affected and independent probands with LFS phenotype identified a heterozygous pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in 26 (13.6%) probands, both in the DNA binding domain (group A) and in the oligomerization domain (group B) of the gene. Of the 26 carriers, 18 (69.23%) were R337H heterozygotes. Median age at diagnosis of the first tumor in groups A and B differed significantly in this cohort: 22 and 2 years, respectively (P = 0.009). The present study shows the clinical heterogeneity of LFS, highlights particularities of the R337H variant and underscores the need for larger collaborative studies to better define LFS prevalence, clinical spectrum and penetrance of different germline TP53 pathogenic variants.
Barbarigenesis and the collapse of complex societies: Rome and after
Authors: Jones Doug
Published: September 2021

“Barbarism” is perhaps best understood as a recurring syndrome among peripheral societies in response to the threats and opportunities presented by more developed neighbors. This article develops a mathematical model ofbarbarigenesis—the formation of “barbarian” societies adjacent to more complex societies—and its consequences, and applies the model to the case of Europe in the first millennium CE. A starting point is a game (developed by Hirshleifer) in which two players allocate their resources either to producing wealth or to fighting over wealth. The paradoxical result is that a richer and potentially more powerful player may lose out to a poorer player, because the opportunity cost of fighting is greater for the former. In a more elaborate spatial model with many players, the outcome is awealth-power mismatch: central regions have comparatively more wealth than power, peripheral regions have comparatively more power than wealth. In a model of historical dynamics, a wealth-power mismatch generates a long-lasting decline in social complexity, sweeping from more to less developed regions, until wealth and power come to be more closely aligned. This article reviews how well this model fits the historical record of late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages in Europe both quantitatively and qualitatively. The article also considers some of the history left out of the model, and why the model doesn’t apply to the modern world.
Intraspecific genetic variability and diurnal activity affect environmental DNA detection in Japanese eel
Authors: Takahashi Sayaka , Takada Shingo , Yamanaka Hiroki , Masuda Reiji , Kasai Akihide
Published: September 2021

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis with species-specific primer/probe sets is promising as a tool to quantify fish abundance and distribution. Nevertheless, several factors could reduce the accuracy of this method. Here, we aimed to analyze whether intraspecific variability and diel activity rhythm affect eDNA detection in Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica). For this purpose, we performed tank experiments focusing on two points. First, we assessed the effects of base pair sequences with probe region polymorphism on eDNA detection. Next, we evaluated the influences of diel rhythm, activity, and individual differences in eDNA release rate on eDNA concentration. We examined the base pair sequences of the probe regions of 20 individuals and found genetic mismatches in two of them. The eDNA concentration was estimated to be much lower in these variants than it was in the other individuals. We conducted a rearing experiment on four non-variant individuals to explore the influences of diel activity and inter-individual differences in eDNA detection. Nocturnal eel activity was reflected in the eDNA detection but the inter-individual differences remained large. The observed weak positive correlations between eDNA concentration and activity suggest that eDNA emission is highly dependent on basal metabolism. The present study suggests that consideration of polymorphic sites at the probe region and diel activity rhythms should improve the accuracy and precision of abundance estimation through eDNA. Such fine-tuning is applicable not only for eels but also for other fishes to be targeted by eDNA technology.
ESIDE: A computationally intelligent method to identify earthworm species (E. fetida) from digital images: Application in taxonomy
Authors: Andleeb Saiqa , Abbasi Wajid Arshad , Ghulam Mustafa Rozina , Islam Ghafoor ul , Naseer Anum , Shafique Irsa , Parween Asma , Shaheen Bushra , Shafiq Muhamad , Altaf Muhammad , Ali Abbas Syed
Published: September 2021

Earthworms (Crassiclitellata) being ecosystem engineers significantly affect the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil by recycling organic material, increasing nutrient availability, and improving soil structure. The efficiency of earthworms in ecology varies along with species. Therefore, the role of taxonomy in earthworm study is significant. The taxonomy of earthworms cannot reliably be established through morphological characteristics because the small and simple body plan of the earthworm does not have anatomical complex and highly specialized structures. Recently, molecular techniques have been adopted to accurately classify the earthworm species but these techniques are time-consuming and costly. To combat this issue, in this study, we propose a machine learning-based earthworm species identification model that uses digital images of earthworms. We performed a stringent performance evaluation not only through 10-fold cross-validation and on an external validation dataset but also in real settings by involving an experienced taxonomist. In all the evaluation settings, our proposed model has given state-of-the-art performance and justified its use to aid earthworm taxonomy studies. We made this model openly accessible through a cloud-based webserver and python code available at https://sites.google.com/view/wajidarshad/software and https://github.com/wajidarshad/ESIDE.
Identification of key genes and immune infiltration modulated by CPAP in obstructive sleep apnea by integrated bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Fan Cheng , Huang Shiyuan , Xiang Chunhua , An Tianhui , Song Yi
Published: September 2021

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience partial or complete upper airway collapses during sleep resulting in nocturnal hypoxia-normoxia cycling, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the golden treatment for OSA. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of action, especially the transcriptome effect of CPAP on OSA patients, remain elusive. The goal of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells transcriptome profiles of OSA patients in order to identify the hub gene and immune response. GSE133601 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). We identified black module via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), the genes in which were correlated significantly with the clinical trait of CPAP treatment. Finally, eleven hub genes (TRAV10, SNORA36A, RPL10, OBP2B, IGLV1-40, H2BC8, ESAM, DNASE1L3, CD22, ANK3, ACP3) were traced and used to construct a random forest model to predict therapeutic efficacy of CPAP in OSA with a good performance with AUC of 0.92. We further studied the immune cells infiltration in OSA patients with CIBERSORT, and monocytes were found to be related with the remission of OSA and partially correlated with the hub genes identified. In conclusion, these key genes and immune infiltration may be of great importance in the remission of OSA and related research of these genes may provide a new therapeutic target for OSA in the future.
The impact of insecticides and plant extracts on the suppression of insect vector (Bemisia tabaci) of Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV)
Authors: Younas Muhammad , Zou Huasong , Laraib Tasmia , Rajpoot Nasir Ahmad , Khan Nasir Ahmad , Zaidi Anas Ahmad , Ayaz Kachelo Ghalib , Akhtar Muhammad Waqar , Hayat Shoukat , Al-Sadi Abdullah M. , Sayed Samy , Kesba Hosny , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Zuan Ali Tan Kee , Li Yunzhou , Arif Muhammad
Published: September 2021

Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) is an important constraint in successful production of mungbean (Vigna radiataL.) in many countries, including Pakistan. The MYMV spreads by insect vector whitefly (Bemisia tabaciGennadius). The use of resistant cultivars is the most effective management tactics for MYMV. Twenty mungbean varieties/lines were screened against insect vector of MYMV under field condition in the current study. Resistance levels for varieties/lines were assessed through visual scoring of typical disease symptoms. Furthermore, the impacts of two insecticides ‘Imidacloprid’ and ‘Thiamethoxam’ and two plant extracts, i.e., neem (Azadirachta indica), and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) were tested on the suppression of whitefly. Field screening indicated that none of the tested varieties/lines proved immune/highly resistant, while significant variations were recorded among varieties/lines for resistance level. All varieties/lines were systemically infected with MYMV. The varieties ‘AARI-2006’ and ‘Mung-14043’ were considered as resistant to MYMV based on visual symptoms and the lowest vector population. These varieties were followed by ‘NM-2006’ and ‘NL-31’, which proved as moderately resistant to MYMV. All remaining varieties/lines were grouped as moderately to highly susceptible to MYMV based on visual symptoms’ scoring. These results revealed that existing mungbean germplasm do not possess high resistance level MYMV. However, the lines showing higher resistance in the current study must be exploited in breeding programs for the development of resistant mungbean varieties/lines against MYMV. Imidacloprid proved as the most effective insecticide at all concentrations to manage whitefly population. Therefore, use of the varieties with higher resistance level and spraying Imidacloprid could lower the incidence of MYMV.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the EU’s approach to the sustainable use of pesticides
Authors: Helepciuc Florența-Elena , Todor Arpad
Published: September 2021

By adopting the 2009 "pesticide package," the EU proposed a common approach to limiting the harmful effects of pesticides, promoting Integrated Pest Management, and the progressive replacement of the most dangerous pesticides with low-risk alternatives through a comprehensive but flexible framework for all EU Member States. Each EU Member State had to develop a National Action Plan that would propose measures to achieve the package’s goals. Nevertheless, the choice of actions and indicators remained to be established at the national level. A series of recent evaluations of how Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD), a central piece of the "pesticide package," was implemented showed limited success in achieving its goals. Aiming to explain these failures, we compare the National Action Plans eight EU Member States adopted after the SUD. We assess the degree to which the countries’ proposed measures and indicators would achieve the Directive’s three overarching objectives (reduce risks and impact; promote Integrated Pest Management; promote approaches and techniques to reduce reliance on pesticides). We develop the comparative analysis along three dimensions: the promotion of measures to achieve SUD’s three goals; the evolution of the pre-and post-Directive action plans of some of the old EU Member States; and the differences between old and the new EU Member States. The comparison along ten variables shows that the SUD had a minimal effect in homogenizing different states’ approaches to develop their National Action Plans to systematically treat problems, propose measures, and timetables for implementation and indicators. Given that the overall effect in generating a common EU approach to raise the sustainability of pesticide use and agriculture, in general, was still limited, as no common measures, indicators, or process to planning were identified, we discuss some suggestions to improve the situation.
The potential impact of triage protocols on racial disparities in clinical outcomes among COVID-positive patients in a large academic healthcare system
Authors: Roy Shireen , Showstark Mary , Tolchin Benjamin , Kashyap Nitu , Bonito Jennifer , Salazar Michelle C. , Herbst Jennifer L. , Nash Katherine A. , Nguemeni Tiako Max Jordan , Jubanyik Karen , Kim Nancy , Galusha Deron , Wang Karen H. , Oladele Carol
Published: September 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact in the United States, particularly for Black populations, and has heavily burdened the healthcare system. Hospitals have created protocols to allocate limited resources, but there is concern that these protocols will exacerbate disparities. The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score is a tool often used in triage protocols. In these protocols, patients with higher SOFA scores are denied resources based on the assumption that they have worse clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess whether using SOFA score as a triage tool among COVID-positive patients would exacerbate racial disparities in clinical outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed data from a retrospective cohort of hospitalized COVID-positive patients in the Yale-New Haven Health System. We examined associations between race/ethnicity and peak overall/24-hour SOFA score, in-hospital mortality, and ICU admission. Other predictors of interest were age, sex, primary language, and insurance status. We used one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests to assess differences in SOFA score across racial/ethnic groups and linear and logistic regression to assess differences in clinical outcomes by sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Our final sample included 2,554 patients. Black patients had higher SOFA scores compared to patients of other races. However, Black patients did not have significantly greater in-hospital mortality or ICU admission compared to patients of other races.

Conclusion

While Black patients in this sample of hospitalized COVID-positive patients had higher SOFA scores compared to patients of other races, this did not translate to higher in-hospital mortality or ICU admission. Results demonstrate that if SOFA score had been used to allocate care, Black COVID patients would have been denied care despite having similar clinical outcomes to white patients. Therefore, using SOFA score to allocate resources has the potential to exacerbate racial inequities by disproportionately denying care to Black patients and should not be used to determine access to care. Healthcare systems must develop and use COVID-19 triage protocols that prioritize equity.
Reduced mood variability is associated with enhanced performance during ultrarunnning
Authors: Burgum Paul , Smith Daniel T.
Published: September 2021

Ultrarunning requires extraordinary endurance but the psychological factors involved in successful ultrarunning are not well understood. One widely held view is that fluctuations in mood play a pivotal role in performance during endurance events. However, this view is primarily based on comparisons of mood before and after marathons and shorter running events. Indeed, to date no study has explicitly examined mood changes during a competive ultramarathon. To address this issue, we measured mood fluctuations in athletes competing in the Hardmoors 60, a 100 km, single day continuous trail-ultramarathon, and examined how variation in mood related to performance, as measured by completion time. The key finding was that the variability of athletes Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) score was significantly and positively correlated with completion time, consistent with the idea that mood is an important factor in determining race performance. Athletes also experienced a significant increase in tension immediately prior to race onset. This effect was more pronounced in less experienced athletes and significantly attenuated by measurement stage 1 at 35.4 km, which suggests the effect was driven by the release of pre-competition anxiety. Depression, anger and TMD were significantly lower at the pre-race measurement compared to the baseline measurement taken the week before. Consistent with previous studies, there were also significant increases in fatigue, anger and TMD during the race. The data are interpreted in terms of the Psychobiological model of endurance and may have broader implications for the understanding of endurance performance in other domains.
Exchanging registered users’ submitting reviews towards trajectory privacy preservation for review services in Location-Based Social Networks
Authors: Wang Yunfeng , Li Mingzhen , Xin Yang , Yang Guangcan , Tang Qifeng , Zhu Hongliang , Yang Yixian , Chen Yuling
Published: September 2021

In Location-Based Social Networks (LBSNs), registered users submit their reviews for visited point-of-interests (POIs) to the system providers (SPs). The SPs anonymously publish submitted reviews to build reputations for POIs. Unfortunately, the user profile and trajectory contained in reviews can be easily obtained by adversaries who SPs has compromised with. Even worse, existing techniques, such as cryptography and generalization, etc., are infeasible due to the necessity of public publication of reviews and the facticity of reviews. Inspired by pseudonym techniques, we propose an approach to exchanging reviews before users submit reviews to SPs. In our approach, we introduce two attacks, namely review-based location correlation attack (RLCA) and semantic-based long-term statistical attack (SLSA). RLCA can be exploited to link the real user by reconstructing the trajectory, and SLSA can be launched to establish a connection between locations and users through the difference of semantic frequency. To resist RLCA, we design a method named User Selection to Resist RLCA (USR-RLCA) to exchange reviews. We propose a metric to measure the correlation between a user and a trajectory. Based on the metric, USR-RLCA can select reviews resisting RLCA to exchange by suppressing the number of locations on each reconstructed trajectory below the correlation. However, USR-RLCA fails to resist SLSA because of ignoring the essential semantics. Hence, we design an enhanced USR-RLCA named User Selection to Resist SLSA (USR-SLSA). We first propose a metric to measure the indistinguishability of locations concerning the difference of semantic frequency in a long term. Then, USR-SLSA can select reviews resisting SLSA to exchange by allowing two reviews whose indistinguishability is below the probability difference after the exchange to be exchanged. Evaluation results verify the effectiveness of our approach in terms of privacy and utility.
Evaluating the relative contributions of copying and reconstruction processes in cultural transmission episodes
Authors: Strachan James W. A. , Curioni Arianna , Constable Merryn D. , Knoblich Günther , Charbonneau Mathieu
Published: September 2021

The ability to transmit information between individuals through social learning is a foundational component of cultural evolution. However, how this transmission occurs is still debated. On the one hand, the copying account draws parallels with biological mechanisms for genetic inheritance, arguing that learners copy what they observe and novel variations occur through random copying errors. On the other hand, the reconstruction account claims that, rather than directly copying behaviour, learners reconstruct the information that they believe to be most relevant on the basis of pragmatic inference, environmental and contextual cues. Distinguishing these two accounts empirically is difficult based on data from typical transmission chain studies because the predictions they generate frequently overlap. In this study we present a methodological approach that generates different predictions of these accounts by manipulating the task context between model and learner in a transmission episode. We then report an empirical proof-of-concept that applies this approach. The results show that, when a model introduces context-dependent embedded signals to their actions that are not intended to be transmitted, it is possible to empirically distinguish between competing predictions made by these two accounts. Our approach can therefore serve to understand the underlying cognitive mechanisms at play in cultural transmission and can make important contributions to the debate between preservative and reconstructive schools of thought.
Protocol for a longitudinal study investigating the role of anxiety on academic outcomes in children on the autism spectrum
Authors: Adams Dawn , Malone Stephanie , Simpson Kate , Tucker Madonna , Rapee Ron M. , Rodgers Jacqui , Keen Deb
Published: September 2021

Background

Children on the autism spectrum are consistently reported to underachieve compared to ability. In typically developing children, anxiety is a strong predictor of poor school performance. Despite the high prevalence of anxiety disorders among children on the spectrum, the impact of their anxiety on academic achievement is under-researched. The main aim of this project is to determine the moderating role anxiety may have in the development of academic learning behaviours (academic enablers) in children on the spectrum. This project addresses a gap in knowledge about the possible associations between anxiety and academic achievement in children on the spectrum. Understanding these associations opens up the possibility of new intervention pathways to enhance academic outcomes through anxiety reduction/prevention.

Methods

This longitudinal study will aim to recruit 64 children on the spectrum aged 4–5 years and their parents. Information will be gathered from children, parents and teachers. Children will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions in order to experimentally manipulate anxiety levels in the sample: experimental (to receive an anxiety reduction/prevention program, N = 32) or control (no intervention/treatment as usual, N = 32). The primary outcome measures are child academic skills and enabling behaviours assessed using the Academic Competence Evaluation Scales and the WIAT-II. Anxiety will be assessed through parent and teacher report. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-experimental manipulation of anxiety, and within the first year of formal schooling. It is hypothesised that anxiety will moderate the relationship between autism characteristics and academic enablers.

Dissemination

Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations. Lay summaries will be provided to all participants and available on the research centre website.
Assessment of malaria infection among pregnant women and children below five years of age attending rural health facilities of Kenya: A cross-sectional survey in two counties of Kenya
Authors: Okoyo Collins , Githinji Edward , Muia Ruth W. , Masaku Janet , Mwai Judy , Nyandieka Lilian , Munga Stephen , Njenga Sammy M. , Kanyi Henry M.
Published: September 2021

Background

In Kenya, health service delivery and access to health care remains a challenge for vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women and children below five years. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the positivity rate of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in pregnant women and children below five years of age seeking healthcare services at the rural health facilities of Kwale and Siaya counties as well as their access and uptake of malaria control integrated services, like antenatal care (ANC), offered in those facilities.

Methods

Cluster random sampling method was used to select pregnant women and children below five years receiving maternal and child health services using two cross-sectional surveys conducted in eleven rural health facilities in two malaria endemic counties in western and coastal regions of Kenya. Each consenting participant provided single blood sample for determining malaria parasitaemia using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.

Results

Using PCR technique, the overall malaria positivity rate was 27.9% (95%CI: 20.9–37.2), and was 34.1% (95%CI: 27.1–42.9) and 22.0% (95%CI: 13.3–36.3) in children below five years and pregnant women respectively. Additionally, using microscopy, the overall positivity rate was 39.0% (95%CI: 29.5–51.6), and was 50.4% (95%CI: 39.4–64.5) and 30.6% (95%CI: 22.4–41.7) in children below five years and pregnant women respectively. Siaya County in western Kenya showed higher malaria positivity rates for both children (36.4% and 54.9%) and pregnant women (27.8% and 38.5%) using both PCR and microscopy diagnosis techniques respectively, compared to Kwale County that showed positivity rates of 27.2% and 37.9% for children and 5.2% and 8.6% for pregnant women similarly using both PCR and microscopy techniques respectively. Pregnant women presenting themselves for their first ANC visit were up to five times at risk of malaria infection, (adjusted odds ratio = 5.40, 95%CI: 0.96–30.50, p = 0.046).

Conclusion

Despite evidence of ANC attendance and administration of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) dosage during these visits, malaria positivity rate was still high among pregnant women and children below five years in these two rural counties. These findings are important to the Kenyan National Malaria Control Programme and will help contribute to improvement of policies on integration of malaria control approaches in rural health facilities.