bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathophysiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Aging Women
Authors: Qiu Qingchao , Mateika Jason H.
Published: October 2021

The following review is designed to explore the pathophysiology of sleep apnea in aging women. The review initially introduces four endotypes (i.e., a more collapsible airway, upper airway muscle responsiveness, arousal threshold, and loop gain) that may have a role in the initiation of obstructive sleep apnea. Thereafter, sex differences in the prevalence of sleep apnea are considered along with differences in the prevalence that exist between younger and older women. Following this discussion, we consider how each endotype might contribute to the increase in prevalence of sleep apnea in aging women. Lastly, we address how modifications in one form of respiratory plasticity, long-term facilitation, that might serve to mitigate apneic events in younger women may be modified in aging women with obstructive sleep apnea. Overall, the published literature indicates that the prevalence of sleep apnea is increased in aging women. This increase is linked primarily to a more collapsible airway and possibly to reduced responsiveness of upper airway muscle activity. In contrast, modifications in loop gain or the arousal threshold do not appear to have a role in the increased prevalence of sleep apnea in aging women. Moreover, we suggest that mitigation of long-term facilitation could contribute to the increased prevalence of sleep apnea in aging women.
Text summarization based on multi-head self-attention mechanism and pointer network
Authors: Qiu Dong , Yang Bing
Published: October 2021

Existing text summarization methods mainly rely on the mapping between manually labeled standard summaries and the original text for feature extraction, often ignoring the internal structure and semantic feature information of the original document. Therefore, the text summary extracted by the existing model has the problems of grammatical structure errors and semantic deviation from the original text. This paper attempts to enhance the model’s attention to the inherent feature information of the source text so that the model can more accurately identify the grammatical structure and semantic information of the document. Therefore, this paper proposes a model based on the multi-head self-attention mechanism and the soft attention mechanism. By introducing an improved multi-head self-attention mechanism in the model coding stage, the training model enables the correct summary syntax and semantic information to obtain higher weight, thereby making the generated summary more coherent and accurate. At the same time, the pointer network model is adopted, and the coverage mechanism is improved to solve out-of-vocabulary and repetitive problems when generating abstracts. This article uses CNN/DailyMail dataset to verify the model proposed in this article and uses the ROUGE indicator to evaluate the model. The experimental results show that the model in this article improves the quality of the generated summary compared with other models.
Contrasted effects of climate change on low-altitude relict Pinus uncinata stands in the Northern French Alps
Authors: Corona Christophe , Stoffel Markus , Lopez Saez Jérôme
Published: October 2021

This paper reports on climate-induced growth changes in relict, low-altitude mountain pines (Pinus uncinata Mill. ex. Mirb.) from two refugia with cold microclimates located in the Northern French Alps. The P. uncinata stands analyzed grow at the lower bound of their ecological limit and are thus thought to be sensitive indicators of ongoing climate change. Using dendroecological approaches, we compare tree-ring growth at two closely spaced low-altitude stands in the Chartreuse massif (French Alps): La Plagne and Cirque de Bresson. La Plagne is a N-NW-exposed, ventilated slope with cold air circulating in the scree during summer, and the presence of sporadic permafrost as well as ground overcooling, whereas Cirque de Bresson is located on a small, S-exposed fan with sporadic avalanche activity. At both sites, growth responses of P. uncinata to changes in twentieth and twenty-first centuries temperature and precipitation conditions were investigated by means of moving correlation analyses. At Cirque de Bresson, a significant and rapid decline in tree-ring widths has been observed since the early 1990s. We attribute this decline to (i) increasing air temperatures at the beginning of the growing season (May–June) as well as to (ii) a decrease in soil water potential. At La Plagne, we do not detect any significant trend between the higher summer temperatures and tree growth, presumably as a result of the circulation of cold air in the scree slope, which is thought to maintain fresh and humid soil conditions and therefore favor tree growth. These forest stands provide prime examples on how dendroecology can contribute to the study of the dynamics and local variability of tree growth and climate change in relict forest populations with high ecological and conservation values.
Following lines in the landscape: Playing with a posthuman pedagogy in outdoor environmental education
Authors: Jukes Scott , Stewart Alistair , Morse Marcus
Published: October 2021

Situated within a series of river journeys, this inquiry considers the role of material landscape in shaping learning possibilities and explores practices of reading landscapes diffractively. We consider ways we might pay attention to the ever-changing flux of places while experimenting with posthuman pedagogical praxis. Methodologically, we embrace the post-qualitative provocation to do research differently by enacting a new empiricism that does not ground the inquiry in a paradigmatic structure. In doing so, we rethink conventional notions of method and data as we create a series of short videos from footage recorded during canoeing journeys with tertiary outdoor environmental education students. These videos, along with a student poem, form the empirical materials in this project. Video allows us to closely analyse more-than-human entanglements, contemplating the diverse ways we can participate with and read landscapes in these contexts. We aim to provoke diffractive thought and elicit affective dimensions of material encounters, rather than offer representational findings. This project intends to open possibilities for post-qualitative research, inspired by posthuman and new materialist orientations.
Do Hybrid Legal Systems Matter in Foreign Legal-Aid Programmes? Some Philosophical Aspects of Legal Aid in Uzbekistan as Provided by the Donor States
Authors: Ismatov Aziz
Published: October 2021

Since the fall of socialism in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and some states of Southeast Asia, the international financial institutions and individual donor states have initiated wide-scale legal-aid programmes to assist these states in their transition from socialism to a market economy. Whereas the aid from financial institutions vis-à-vis recipient states is often agreed upon specific conditionalities, the donor states design their foreign legal aid according to individual preferences, although sometimes with references to universal goals. Currently, various donor states provide legal aid to Uzbekistan. Given the fact that Uzbekistan is the former Soviet Republic that still bears multiple traces of a socialist legal system and additionally integrates indigenous informal law, this research provides an analysis of how different donor states base their legal-aid activities on entirely different philosophies and levels of gravity, and how receptive the hybrid structure of Uzbekistan’s law is towards such aid.
Comparing formal and informal social protection: a case study exploring the usefulness of informal social protection in Pakistan
Authors: Mumtaz Zahid , Whiteford Peter
Published: October 2021

In most global south countries, various informal institutions provide welfare to a large segment of the neglected, poor and vulnerable populations through informal social protection. Despite being a major source of welfare in the global south, the usefulness of informal social protection at the household level remains an under-researched area. In this exploratory study, we have determined the usefulness of informal social protection provided through religious institutions, such as madrassas and compared it with formal social protection at the household level utilising the case study of a lower-income country such as Pakistan. A mixed methodology of data collection comprising a survey and semi-structured interviews in 14 different cities of Pakistan of the poor and eligible households for receiving formal social protection was conducted for the research. The results suggest the coverage of informal social protection provided by madrassas is greater than formal social protection. The poor and vulnerable population value and considers it more useful than formal social protection. We conclude that integrating informal and formal social protection would help improve the effectiveness of social policies in developing and less developed countries.
Transitions of bouncing and coalescence in binary droplet collisions
Authors: Huang Kuan-Ling , Pan Kuo-Long
Published: October 2021

In droplet impacts, transitions between coalescence and bouncing are determined by complex interplays of multiple mechanisms dominating at various length scales. Here we investigate the mechanisms and governing parameters comprehensively by experiments and scaling analyses, providing a unified framework for understanding and predicting the outcomes when using different fluids. Specifically, while bouncing had not been observed in head-on collisions of water drops under atmospheric conditions, it was found in our experiments to appear on increasing the droplet diameter sufficiently. Contrarily, while bouncing was always observed in head-on impacts of alkane drops, we found it to disappear on decreasing the diameter sufficiently. The variations are related to gas draining dynamics in the inter-droplet film and suggest an easier means for controlling bouncing as compared to alternating the ambient pressure usually sought. The scaling analysis further shows that for a given Weber number, enlarging droplet diameter or fluid viscosities, or lowering surface tension contributes to a larger characteristic minimum thickness of the gas film, thus enhancing bouncing. The key dimensionless group

$(O{h_{g,l}},\;O{h_l},\;{A^\ast })$

is identified, referred to as the two-phase Ohnesorge number, the Ohnesorge number of liquid and the Hamaker constant, respectively. Our thickness-based model indicates that as

${h^{\prime}_{m,c}} > 21.1{h_{cr}}$

, where

${h^{\prime}_{m,c}}$

is the maximum value of the characteristic minimum film thickness

$({h_{m,c}})$

and

${h_{cr}}$

is the critical thickness, bouncing occurs in both head-on and off-centre collisions. That is, when

$1.2O{h_{g,l}}/(1 - 2O{h_l}) > \sqrt[3]{{{A^\ast }}}$

, a fully developed bouncing regime occurs, thereby yielding a lower coalescence efficiency. The transitional Weber number is found universally to be 4.
Implicit Voice Delivery: Its Antecedents, Consequences, and Boundary Conditions
Authors: Ren Run , Ma Li , Chen (George) Zhen Xiong , Wang Hui , Ju Dong
Published: October 2021

Although many organizations encourage employees to voice, employees may be reluctant to voice directly because they are afraid that their supervisors will perceive it as challenging their face (i.e., the positive image or social value of an individual). Alternatively, employees could deliver improvements or express concerns to their supervisors using indirect and implicit approaches, which we refer to as ‘implicit voice delivery’. Applying face theory, we examine the antecedents and outcomes as well as two boundary conditions of implicit voice delivery in organizations with two studies. In Study 1, we define the construct and develop a measure of implicit voice delivery. In Study 2, we test our proposed model with supervisor-subordinate dyadic data from a time-lagged survey. Results demonstrate that concern for other people's face drives employees to express their voices implicitly and that this relationship is stronger when supervisors’ concern for their own face is high rather than low. In addition, implicit voice delivery is associated with supervisors’ favorable response in terms of voice endorsement. Furthermore, the effect on voice endorsement is stronger when the supervisor is more able to infer meaning from implicit messages. Theoretical contribution and managerial implications are discussed.
Dietary fat quality impacts metabolic impairments of type 2 diabetes risk differently in male and female CD-1® mice
Authors: Unger Allison L. , Jetton Thomas L. , Kraft Jana
Published: October 2021

Metabolic impairments associated with type 2 diabetes, including insulin resistance and loss of glycaemic control, disproportionately impact the elderly. Lifestyle interventions, such as manipulation of dietary fat quality (i.e. fatty acid (FA) composition), have been shown to favourably modulate metabolic health. Yet, whether or not chronic consumption of beneficial FAs can protect against metabolic derangements and disease risk during ageing is not well defined. We sought to evaluate whether long-term dietary supplementation of fish-, dairy- or echium-derived FAs to the average FA profile in a U.S. American diet may offset metabolic impairments in males and females during ageing. One-month-old CD-1® mice were fed isoenergetic, high-fat (40 %) diets with the fat content composed of either 100 % control fat blend (CO) or 70 % CO with 30 % fish oil, dairy fat or echium oil for 13 months. Every 3 months, parameters of glucose homoeostasis were evaluated via glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Glucose tolerance improved in males consuming a diet supplemented with fish oil or echium oil as ageing progressed, but not in females. Yet, females were more metabolically protected than males regardless of age. Additionally, Spearman correlations were performed between indices of glucose homoeostasis and previously reported measurements of diet-derived FA content in tissues and colonic bacterial composition, which also revealed sex-specific associations. This study provides evidence that long-term dietary fat quality influences risk factors of metabolic diseases during ageing in a sex-dependent manner; thus, sex is a critical factor to be considered in future dietary strategies to mitigate type 2 diabetes risk.
Malaria, Race, and Inequality: Evidence from the Early 1900s U.S. South
Authors: Battaglia Emily , Kisat Faizaan
Published: October 2021

This study investigates the impact of malaria eradication programs on Black-white economic disparities in the early 1900s U.S. South. Malaria eradication was widespread and improved health across races. Yet, only white men experienced economic benefits. Using matched census records, we find that increased exposure to the program was associated with higher schooling attainment and income for whites but not for Blacks. Blacks exposed to malaria eradication were more likely to be farm laborers, and both Blacks and whites were more likely to migrate out of state. Our findings suggest that malaria eradication, a broadly applied intervention, widened racial gaps.
The prevalence of human papillomavirus in paediatric tonsils in Southwestern Ontario
Authors: Wojtera M , Barrett J W , Strychowsky J E , Dzioba A , Paradis J , Husein M , Salvadori M I , Nichols A C
Published: October 2021

Objective

To determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus in paediatric tonsils in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Materials and methods

Patients aged 0–18 years undergoing tonsillectomy were recruited. Two specimens (left and right tonsils) were collected from each participant. Tonsillar DNA was analysed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine the presence of human papillomavirus subtypes 6, 11, 16 or 18.

Results

A total of 102 patients, aged 1–18 years (mean age of 5.7 years), were recruited. Ninety-nine surveys were returned. There were 44 females (44.4 per cent) and 55 males (55.6 per cent). Forty patients (40.4 per cent) were firstborn children and 73 (73.7 per cent) were delivered vaginally. Six mothers (6.1 per cent) and one father (1.0 per cent) had prior known human papillomavirus infection, and one mother (1.0 per cent) had a history of cervical cancer. All tonsil specimens were negative for human papillomavirus subtypes 6, 11, 16 and 18.

Conclusion

No human papillomavirus subtypes 6, 11, 16 or 18 were found in paediatric tonsil specimens from Southwestern Ontario.
Free-ranging dogs as a potential threat to Iranian mammals
Authors: Nayeri Danial , Mohammadi Alireza , Qashqaei Ali T. , Vanak Abi Tamim , Gompper Matthew E.
Published: October 2021

Free-ranging domestic dogs Canis familiaris threaten wildlife species through predation, hybridization, competition for resources, and by contributing to the transmission of pathogens. The impacts of predation may be problematic, but in many regions the interactions of free-ranging dogs and wildlife are poorly studied. To determine the extent of the impacts of attacks by free-ranging dogs on Iranian mammals, we reviewed nearly 2 decades of social and traditional media reports and the scientific literature to gather data from across the country. We identified 160 free-ranging dog attacks (79 from academic articles, 14 from social media, and 67 from a variety of news websites) from 22 of the country's 31 provinces. Attacks by dogs were reported on 17 species, including nine Carnivora, six Artiodactyla, one Rodentia, and one Lagomorpha species. Most of the reported attacks on carnivores were on felids, including the Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus (n = 19), Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx (n = 18), caracal Caracal caracal (n = 10) and Pallas's cat Otocolobus manul (n = 8). Attacks on Artiodactyla were primarily reported for goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (n = 47). Most of these attacks occurred within or adjacent to protected areas (n = 116, 73%), suggesting that free-ranging dogs are one of the most important human-associated threats to wildlife species even in protected landscapes. The impact of free-ranging dogs may be hampering conservation, and therefore we suggest some practical policy guidance for managing the impacts of free-ranging dogs on threatened species.
Enumeration and instantaneous mobility analysis of a class of 3-UPU parallel manipulators with equilateral triangular platforms
Authors: Boztaş Sercan , Kiper Gökhan
Published: October 2021

In this study, several joint axis orientations on equilateral platforms and the limbs of 3-UPU parallel manipulators (PMs) are examined. The generated joint layouts for the platforms were matched with each other to generate and enumerate manipulator architectures based on certain assumptions. The structures of thus obtained manipulators are examined and limb types were determined. These limb types were analyzed using screw theory. The instantaneous mobility of the manipulators and the motion characteristics of the moving platforms are tabulated. The finite mobility analysis of one of the manipulators is performed using a software package as an example. Among several different 3-UPU PM architectures, 118 novel 3-UPU PMs with non-parasitic 3-degrees-of-freedom are significantly important. The classified 3-UPU PMs with determined motion characteristics can be used by researchers as a design alternative for their specific design task.
Effective motion planning of manipulator based on SDPS-RRTConnect
Authors: Xu Junxiang , Wang Jiwu
Published: October 2021

In order to improve the speed of motion planning, this paper proposes an improved RRTConnect algorithm (SDPS-RRTConnect) based on sparse dead point saved strategy. Combining sparse expansion strategy and dead point saved strategy, the algorithm can reduce the number of collision detection, fast convergence, avoid falling into local minimum, and ensure the completeness of search space. The algorithm is simulated in different environments. The results show that in complex environments, the sparse dead point saved strategy plays a good effect. In simple environments, the greedy connection strategy works well. Compared with the standard RRT algorithm, the standard RRTConnect algorithm, and the SDPS-RRT algorithm, the SDPS-RRTConnect algorithm has the shortest planning time, and it is suitable for both simple and complex environments. The 500 experiments show that the algorithm has strong robustness. The actual robot experiments show that the path planned by SDPS-RRTConnect algorithm is effective.
Crystal structure of brigatinib Form A (Alunbrig®), C29H39ClN7O2P
Authors: Hodge Ryan L. , Kaduk James A. , Gindhart Amy M. , Blanton Thomas N.
Published: October 2021

The crystal structure of brigatinib Form A has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional theory techniques. Brigatinib Form A crystallizes in space group P-1 (#2) with a = 9.59616(20), b = 10.9351(3), c = 14.9913(6) Å, α = 76.1210(13), β = 79.9082(11), γ = 74.0802(6)°, V = 1458.497(15) Å3, and Z = 2. Structure solution was complicated by the lowest cost factor solution having an unreasonable conformation of the dimethylphosphoryl group. The second-best structure yielded a better refinement. The crystal structure is characterized by alternating layers of aliphatic and aromatic portions of the molecules along the b-axis. Strong N–H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the molecules into pairs, with a graph set R2,2(8). There is a strong intramolecular N–H⋯O hydrogen bond to the phosphoryl group, which determines the orientation of this group. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD® for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™ (PDF®).
BRIQUETAGE AND BRINE: LIVING AND WORKING AT THE CLASSIC MAYA SALT WORKS OF EK WAY NAL, BELIZE
Authors: McKillop Heather , Sills E. Cory
Published: October 2021

Systematic flotation survey and spatial analysis of artifacts at the submerged salt work of Ek Way Nal reveal evidence of a residence, salt kitchens, and additional activities. Ek Way Nal is one of 110 salt works associated with a Late to Terminal Classic (A.D. 600–900) salt industry known as the Paynes Creek Salt Works. Wooden posts that form the walls of 10 buildings are remarkably preserved in a peat bog below the sea floor providing an opportunity to examine surface artifacts in relation to buildings. Numerous salt kitchens have been located at the Paynes Creek Salt Works by evidence of abundant briquetage—pottery associated with boiling brine over fires to make salt. As one of the largest salt works with 10 buildings, there is an opportunity to examine variability in building use. Systematic flotation survey over the site and flagging and mapping individual artifacts and posts provide evidence that the Ek Way Nal salt makers had a residence near the salt kitchens, along with evidence of salting fish for subsistence or surplus household production. The results are compared with ethnographic evidence from Sacapulas and other salt works.
Working Hard or Hardly Working? Examining the Politics of In-Work Conditionality in the UK
Authors: Abbas Joan , Chrisp Joe
Published: October 2021

The intensification of behavioural requirements and punitive measures in unemployment benefits by UK governments has been popular and instrumental to the politics of welfare reform. Yet there is scant research into the politics of extending this approach to working households, known as ‘in-work conditionality’ (IWC), which was introduced in the UK under Universal Credit in 2012. Addressing this gap, we examine the preferences of political parties and voters towards IWC, using data from an online survey of 1,111 adults in 2017, party manifestos and parliamentary debates. While we find evidence of a partisan split between voters and politicians on the left (oppose IWC) and right (support IWC), intra-party divides and the relative infancy of IWC suggests the politics of IWC is not set in stone. This helps to explain the blame avoidance strategies of current and previous Conservative governments responsible for IWC.
Social Policy Without Growth: Moving Towards Sustainable Welfare States
Authors: Koch Max
Published: October 2021

Growth-dependent welfare states contribute to climate emergency. The ecological economics, degrowth, and sustainable welfare literatures demonstrate that to re-embed Western production and consumption patterns in environmental limits, an encompassing social-ecological transformation would need to be initiated very soon. This article focuses on the potential roles of the welfare state and social policy in this transformation, applying the concepts of ‘sustainable welfare’ and ‘safe-operating space’. Based on two Swedish studies, it also provides an empirical analysis of the popularity of selected eco-social policies designed to steer the economy and society towards this space: maximum and basic incomes, taxes on wealth and meat, as well as working time reductions. In analogy to the historical role of the state in reconstituting the welfare-work nexus in the post-WWII era and its present engagement in the context of the Covid-19 crisis, it is argued that a more interventionist state is required to grapple with climate emergency.
Incentives and Deterrents to the Supply of Long-term Care for the Elderly in England: Evidence and Experience in Two Local Authorities
Authors: Allan Stephen , Darton Robin
Published: October 2021

This article reports on a study assessing the incentives and deterrents to long-term care (LTC) supply in two local markets in England. The supply of LTC in many countries is facing the issues of rising demand, (lack of) workforce and the interaction of the public and private sectors. Findings from qualitative interviews of local council and provider stakeholders exploring barriers and enablers faced by LTC providers in two local authorities (LAs) are presented and discussed. The interviews provided insight in three main areas: staffing, demand and stakeholder relationships. Staffing, in particular, is crucial and we found that there are many difficulties for providers in maintaining their workforce. Consistent with previous research, we also found that public spending levels on LTC puts pressure on providers striving to maintain a good quality service, including improved remuneration of staff.
FUNCTIONAL CALCULI FOR SECTORIAL OPERATORS AND RELATED FUNCTION THEORY
Authors: Batty Charles , Gomilko Alexander , Tomilov Yuri
Published: October 2021

We construct two bounded functional calculi for sectorial operators on Banach spaces, which enhance the functional calculus for analytic Besov functions, by extending the class of functions, generalising and sharpening estimates and adapting the calculus to the angle of sectoriality. The calculi are based on appropriate reproducing formulas, they are compatible with standard functional calculi and they admit appropriate convergence lemmas and spectral mapping theorems. To achieve this, we develop the theory of associated function spaces in ways that are interesting and significant. As consequences of our calculi, we derive several well-known operator norm estimates and provide generalisations of some of them.
Simulated herbicide spray retention on floating aquatic plants as affected by carrier volume and adjuvant type
Authors: Sperry Benjamin P. , Mudge Christopher R. , Getsinger Kurt D.
Published: October 2021

Foliar delivery of herbicides is a common means for plant management in aquatic environments. Though this technique is decades old, little is known about vegetative spray retention relative to this application method. A more complete understanding of maximizing herbicide retention could lead to improved plant management while simultaneously decreasing pesticide load in aquatic environments. Therefore outdoor mesocosm experiments were conducted in 2020 to evaluate the effect of adjuvant type on foliar spray retention in waterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms]. Additionally, the effect of carrier volume on spray retention in waterhyacinth, waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.), and giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell) was documented. Spray deposition did not differ among the nine adjuvants tested; however, spray retention was reduced 6% to 11% when an adjuvant was excluded from the spray solution. The effect of carrier volume on spray retention in waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia was also investigated. Decreases in spray retention were most sensitive to increased carrier volume in waterhyacinth, followed by giant salvinia and waterlettuce. Among species, spray retention potential, as determined by intercept estimates, was greatest in waterlettuce and giant salvinia regardless of carrier volume. Asymptotes estimates for waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia were 33%, 46%, and 79% spray retention, respectively. In other words, spray retention was the lowest and remained relatively constant at these values for the high carrier volumes tested (935 and 1,870 L ha−1), which were likely due to the presence of pubescence on leaves and flatter leaf architecture represented by waterlettuce and giant salvinia compared to the glabrous vertical leaves of waterhyacinth. Future research will evaluate these concepts under field conditions.
A Case Study: Evaluation of PAFOG One‐D Model With Advection in Simulations of Fog/Stratus From C‐FOG Experiment
Authors: Chen Changshuo , Zhang Minghong , Perrie Will , Chang Rachel , Gultepe Ismail , Fernando Harindra J. S. , Chen Xianyao
Published: October 2021

Fog simulation is a challenge due to the complex microphysical, radiative, and turbulent processes. C‐FOG (Coastal Fog) was a comprehensive experiment which aimed to improve our understanding and forecasting skill of fog in coastal areas of Atlantic Canada. An intermittent fog event, containing two fog periods occurring over the Grand Banks of Newfoundland beginning at 00:00 UTC on September 13, 2018, is investigated in this study. Our approach is to apply the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, in conjunction with a 1‐D model for the atmospheric boundary layer, PAFOG (Parameterized Fog model). Model results are evaluated against observations collected onboard the research vessel Hugh R. Sharp. We introduced an advection term to PAFOG to investigate the ability of the model to simulate the two‐level fog/stratus system and we developed a set of sensitivity experiments. Results suggest that PAFOG with the advection terms calculated from ERA5 shows a good ability to simulate intermittent fog caused by fog lifting as stratus, and by comparison, outperform results with advection terms derived from WRF simulations. Regarding the latter, in an experiment with high vertical resolution, WRF gives a delayed fog event, whereas with low vertical resolution, WRF gives descending stratus. Our results provide a possible methodology to study the detailed structure of fog/stratus using PAFOG, a sounding profile as initial conditions, and advection profiles derived from ERA5, with low computing cost.
Does interpregnancy BMI change affect the risk of complications in the second pregnancy? Analysis of pooled data from Aberdeen, Finland and Malta
Authors: McClurg Dylan Peter , Gissler Mika , Gatt Miriam , Wallace Jacqueline , Bhattacharya Sohinee
Published: October 2021

Objective

Weight management interventions during pregnancy have had limited success in reducing the risk of pregnancy complications. Focus has now shifted to pre-pregnancy counselling to optimise body weight before subsequent conception. We aimed to assess the effect of interpregnancy body mass index (BMI) change on the risk of perinatal complications in the second pregnancy.

Methods

A cohort study was performed using pooled maternity data from Aberdeen, Finland and Malta. Women with a BMI change of ±2 kg/m2 between their first and second pregnancies were compared with those who were BMI stable (remained within ±2 kg/m2). Outcomes assessed included pre-eclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm birth, birth weight, and stillbirth in the second pregnancy. We also assessed the effect of unit change in BMI for PE and IUGR. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

An increase of ≥2 kg/m2 between the first two pregnancies increased the risk of PE (1.66 (1.49–1.86)) and high birthweight (>4000 g) (1.06 (1.03–1.10)). A reduction of ≥2 kg/m2 increased the chance of IUGR (1.15 (1.01–1.31)) and preterm birth (1.14 (1.01–1.30)), while reducing the risk of instrumental delivery (0.75 (0.68–0.85)) and high birthweight (0.93 (0.87–0.98)). Reducing BMI did not significantly decrease PE risk in women with obesity or those with previous PE. A history of PE or IUGR in the first pregnancy was the strongest predictor of recurrence independent of interpregnancy BMI change (5.75 (5.30–6.24) and (7.44 (6.71–8.25), respectively).

Conclusion

Changes in interpregnancy BMI have a modest impact on the risk of high birthweight, PE and IUGR in contrasting directions. However, a prior history of PE and IUGR is the dominant predictor of recurrence at second pregnancy.
Multichannel esophageal signals to monitor respiratory rate in preterm infants
Authors: Bürgin Corine , Simmen Patrizia , Gupta Nishant , Suter Lilian , Kreuzer Samuel , Haeberlin Andreas , Schulzke Sven M. , Trachsel Daniel , Niederhauser Thomas , Jost Kerstin
Published: October 2021

Background

Apnea of prematurity cannot be reliably measured with current monitoring techniques. Instead, indirect parameters such as oxygen desaturation or bradycardia are captured. We propose a Kalman filter-based detection of respiration activity and hence apnea using multichannel esophageal signals in neonatal intensive care unit patients.

Methods

We performed a single-center observational study with moderately preterm infants. Commercially available nasogastric feeding tubes containing multiple electrodes were used to capture signals with customized software. Multichannel esophageal raw signals were manually annotated, processed using extended Kalman filter, and compared with standard monitoring data including chest impedance to measure respiration activity.

Results

Out of a total of 405.4 h captured signals in 13 infants, 100 episodes of drop in oxygen saturation or heart rate were examined. Median (interquartile range) difference in respiratory rate was 0.04 (−2.45 to 1.48)/min between esophageal measurements annotated manually and with Kalman filter and −3.51 (−7.05 to −1.33)/min when compared to standard monitoring, suggesting an underestimation of respiratory rate when using the latter.

Conclusions

Kalman filter-based estimation of respiratory activity using multichannel esophageal signals is safe and feasible and results in respiratory rate closer to visual annotation than that derived from chest impedance of standard monitoring.
Molecular basis of a bacterial-amphibian symbiosis revealed by comparative genomics, modeling, and functional testing
Authors: Brunetti Andrés E , Bunk Boyke , Lyra Mariana L , Fuzo Carlos A , Marani Mariela M , Spröer Cathrin , Haddad Célio F B , Lopes Norberto P , Overmann Jörg
Published: October 2021

The molecular bases for the symbiosis of the amphibian skin microbiome with its host are poorly understood. Here, we used the odor-producer Pseudomonas sp. MPFS and the treefrog Boana prasina as a model to explore bacterial genome determinants and the resulting mechanisms facilitating symbiosis. Pseudomonas sp. MPFS and its closest relatives, within a new clade of the P. fluoresens Group, have large genomes and were isolated from fishes and plants, suggesting environmental plasticity. We annotated 16 biosynthetic gene clusters from the complete genome sequence of this strain, including those encoding the synthesis of compounds with known antifungal activity and of odorous methoxypyrazines that likely mediate sexual interactions in Boana prasina. Comparative genomics of Pseudomonas also revealed that Pseudomonas sp. MPFS and its closest relatives have acquired specific resistance mechanisms against host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), specifically two extra copies of a multidrug efflux pump and the same two-component regulatory systems known to trigger adaptive resistance to AMPs in P. aeruginosa. Subsequent molecular modeling indicated that these regulatory systems interact with an AMP identified in Boana prasina through the highly acidic surfaces of the proteins comprising their sensory domains. In agreement with a symbiotic relationship and a highly selective antibacterial function, this AMP did not inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas sp. MPFS but inhibited the growth of another Pseudomonas species and Escherichia coli in laboratory tests. This study provides deeper insights into the molecular interaction of the bacteria-amphibian symbiosis and highlights the role of specific adaptive resistance toward AMPs of the hosts.
Gadd45g initiates embryonic stem cell differentiation and inhibits breast cell carcinogenesis
Authors: Zhang Xinbao , Li Yuting , Ji Junxiang , Wang Xin , Zhang Meng , Li Xiangfen , Zhang Yan , Zhu Zhenhua , Ye Shou-Dong , Wang Xiaoxiao
Published: October 2021

Many self-renewal-promoting factors of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have been implicated in carcinogenesis, while little known about the genes that direct ESCs exit from pluripotency and regulate tumor development. Here, we show that the transcripts of Gadd45 family genes, including Gadd45a, Gadd45b, and Gadd45g, are gradually increased upon mouse ESC differentiation. Upregulation of Gadd45 members decreases cell proliferation and induces endodermal and trophectodermal lineages. In contrast, knockdown of Gadd45 genes can delay mouse ESC differentiation. Mechanistic studies reveal that Gadd45g activates MAPK signaling by increasing expression levels of the positive modulators of this pathway, such as Csf1r, Igf2, and Fgfr3. Therefore, inhibition of MAPK signaling with a MEK specific inhibitor is capable of eliminating the differentiation phenotype caused by Gadd45g upregulation. Meanwhile, GADD45G functions as a suppressor in human breast cancers. Enforced expression of GADD45G significantly inhibits tumor formation and breast cancer metastasis in mice through limitation of the propagation and invasion of breast cancer cells. These results not only expand our understanding of the regulatory network of ESCs, but also help people better treatment of cancers by manipulating the prodifferentiation candidates.
Cascade screening for beta-thalassaemia in Pakistan: relatives’ experiences of a decision support intervention in routine practice
Authors: Ahmed Shenaz , Jafri Hussain , Faran Muhammed , Ahmed Wajeeha Naseer , Rashid Yasmin , Ehsan Yasmin , Ahmed Mushtaq
Published: October 2021

Low uptake of cascade screening for βeta-thalassaemia major (β-TM) in the ‘Punjab Thalassaemia Prevention Project’ (PTPP) in Pakistan led to the development of a ‘decision support intervention for relatives’ (DeSIRe). This paper presents the experiences of relatives of children with β-TM of the DeSIRe following its use by PTPP field officers (FOs) in routine clinical practice. Fifty-four semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted (April to June 2021) with relatives in seven cities in the Punjab province (Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahab, Kasur, Gujranwala, Multan and Faisalabad). Thematic analysis shows that participants were satisfied with the content of the DeSIRe and its delivery by the FOs in a family meeting. They understood that the main purpose of the DeSIRe was to improve their knowledge of β-TM and its inheritance, and to enable them to make decisions about thalassaemia carrier testing, particularly before marriage. Participants also raised concerns about the stigma of testing positive; however, they believed the DeSIRe was an appropriate intervention, which supported relatives to make informed decisions. Our findings show that the DeSIRe is appropriate for use by healthcare professionals in routine practice in a low-middle income country, and has the potential to facilitate shared decision making about cascade screening for thalassaemia. Further research is needed to prove the efficacy of the DeSIRe.
PbrRALF2-elicited reactive oxygen species signaling is mediated by the PbrCrRLK1L13-PbrMPK18 module in pear pollen tubes
Authors: Kou Xiaobing , Sun Jiangmei , Wang Peng , Wang Danqi , Cao Peng , Lin Jing , Chang Youhong , Zhang Shaoling , Wu Juyou
Published: October 2021

Rapid alkalinization factors (RALFs) are cysteine-rich peptides that play important roles in a variety of biological processes, such as cell elongation and immune signaling. Recent studies in Arabidopsis have shown that RALFs regulate pollen tube growth via plasma membrane receptor-like kinases (RLKs). However, the downstream signal transduction mechanisms of RLKs in pollen tubes are unknown. Here, we identified PbrRALF2, a pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) pollen RALF peptide that inhibits pollen tube growth. We found that PbrRALF2 interacts with a malectin-like domain-containing RLK, PbrCrRLK1L13. The relative affinity between PbrRALF2 and PbrCrRLK1L13 was at the submicromolar level, which is consistent with the values of ligand–receptor kinase pairs and the physiological concentration for PbrRALF2-mediated inhibition of pollen tube growth. After binding to its extracellular domain, PbrRALF2 activated the phosphorylation of PbrCrRLK1L13 in a dose-dependent manner. We further showed that the MAP kinase PbrMPK18 is a downstream target of PbrCrRLK1L13 that mediates PbrRALF2-elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The excessive accumulation of ROS inhibits pollen tube growth. We show that MPK acts as a mediator for CrRLK1L to stimulate ROS production, which might represent a general mechanism by which RALF and CrRLK1L function in signaling pathways.
Effective gene expression prediction from sequence by integrating long-range interactions
Authors: Avsec Žiga , Agarwal Vikram , Visentin Daniel , Ledsam Joseph R. , Grabska-Barwinska Agnieszka , Taylor Kyle R. , Assael Yannis , Jumper John , Kohli Pushmeet , Kelley David R.
Published: October 2021

How noncoding DNA determines gene expression in different cell types is a major unsolved problem, and critical downstream applications in human genetics depend on improved solutions. Here, we report substantially improved gene expression prediction accuracy from DNA sequences through the use of a deep learning architecture, called Enformer, that is able to integrate information from long-range interactions (up to 100 kb away) in the genome. This improvement yielded more accurate variant effect predictions on gene expression for both natural genetic variants and saturation mutagenesis measured by massively parallel reporter assays. Furthermore, Enformer learned to predict enhancer–promoter interactions directly from the DNA sequence competitively with methods that take direct experimental data as input. We expect that these advances will enable more effective fine-mapping of human disease associations and provide a framework to interpret cis-regulatory evolution.
The Avian Diet Database as a source of quantitative information on bird diets
Authors: Hurlbert Allen H. , Olsen Aaron M. , Sawyer Melissa M. , Winner Patrick M.
Published: October 2021

This data paper describes a compilation of 73,075 quantitative diet data records for 759 primarily North American bird species, providing standardized information not just on the diet itself, but on the context for that diet information including the year, season, location, and habitat type of each study. The methods used for collecting and cleaning these data are described, and we present tools for summarizing and visualizing diet information by bird species or prey.
Dramatic increase in lever-pressing activity in rats after training on the progressive ratio schedule of cocaine self-administration
Authors: Tsibulsky Vladimir L. , Norman Andrew B.
Published: October 2021

Transition from the highest rate of lever-pressing activity during the unloading (extinction) phase of a cocaine self-administration session to an extremely low activity rate during the remission phase is in many cases gradual. This makes it difficult to assess the duration of the unloading phase after a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) or breakpoint after a progressive-ratio (PR) self-administration session. In addition, 3–5 days of training under the PR schedule results in a dramatic and persistent increase in the rate of presses during PR sessions and in the unloading phase following FR1 self-administration sessions. The goals of this study were to find the definition of the last press demarcating the border between the unloading and remission phases of the session and to determine if this border was also affected by PR training. Rats were trained to self-administer cocaine under the FR1 schedule and then under the PR schedule of drug delivery. Distributions of inter-press intervals (IPIs) during the unloading phase in sessions before and after PR training were compared. It was found that the distribution of cocaine-induced IPIs during the unloading phase was lognormal, bimodal, and independent of previously injected cocaine unit doses. The first mode represented intervals within the short bouts of stereotypic presses and the second mode represented intervals between bouts. The two modes were approximately 0.7 s and 21 s during unloading prior to and 0.6 s and 1.5 s after PR self-administration training. The total number of presses per unloading phase increased eightfold. When the FR1 schedule was restored, the intervals between bouts remained very short for at least 7–10 days and only then started a gradual increase towards baseline levels. The last unloading press was defined as the press followed by the IPI longer than the defined criterion. PR training resulted in a substantial and long-lasting increase in lever-pressing activity during unloading. The duration of the unloading phase did not depend on the rate of lever-pressing activity.
Darcy–Forchheimer couple stress hybrid nanofluids flow with variable fluid properties
Authors: Saeed Anwar , Kumam Poom , Gul Taza , Alghamdi Wajdi , Kumam Wiyada , Khan Amir
Published: October 2021

The current study provides a detailed analysis of steady two-dimensional incompressible and electrically conducting magnetohydrodynamic flow of a couple stress hybrid nanofluid under the influence of Darcy–Forchheimer, viscous dissipation, joule heating, heat generation, chemical reaction, and variable viscosity. The system of partial differential equations of the current model (equation of motion, energy, and concentration) is converted into a system of ordinary differential equations by adopting the suitable similarity practice. Analytically, homotopy analysis method (HAM) is employed to solve the obtained set of equations. The impact of permeability, couple-stress and magnetic parameters on axial velocity, mean critical reflux condition and mean velocity on the channel walls are discussed in details. Computational effects show that the axial mean velocity at the boundary has an inverse relation with couple stress parameter while the permeability parameter has a direct relation with the magnetic parameter and vice versa. The enhancement in the temperature distribution evaluates the pH values and electric conductivity. Therefore, the $$SWCNTs\,\,{\text{and}}\,\,MWCNTs$$

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