bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leaf morphology, photosynthesis and pigments change with age and light regime in savin juniper
Authors: Zhang J.‐L. , Li X.‐G. , Xu X.‐H. , Chen H.‐P. , Li Y.‐L. , Guy R. D.
Published: March 2021

Savin juniper is an excellent species for desertification control in arid and semi‐arid areas, where it typically establishes under the protection of nurse plants. Ultimately, established plants emerge into full light as they grow, and this transition is accompanied by an increase in the preponderance of scale‐like versus needle‐like leaf forms.

To test how age and variable light environments affect shade tolerance in savin juniper, we established a pot study under field conditions, with two age cohorts (1‐ and 4‐year‐old rooted scions) and three light regimes (10%, 50% and 100% light transmittance). We measured growth, leaf parameters, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and foliar pigments on a monthly basis (seven growing months per year, from 2015 to 2017).

Overall, there was little interaction among all variables, and both cohort and light regime had significant effects. Leaf form and spacing varied continuously, tending towards shorter, more closely spaced and more appressed scale leaves with higher dry leaf mass per area in older plants or under higher light. There were no clear age‐related patterns in carotenoids but both cohort and light had significant effects on gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence variables.

We conclude that savin juniper shows an intermediate tolerance to shade that changes with growth in that younger plants were less tolerant of full sun than older plants, consistent with its reliance on nurse plants for ultimate establishment in the open.
The Rise of the Global Rhetorical Presidency
Authors: Prasch Allison M.
Published: March 2021

I introduce the concept of the global rhetorical presidency to account for a fundamental shift in U.S. presidential rhetoric and foreign policy, one that emerged at the dawn of the twentieth century. As the nation redirected impulses of westward expansion, manifest destiny, and settler colonialism to the rest of the world, U.S. presidents traveled beyond the nation's own borders to speak on the international stage. Through these acts of going global, chief executives sought to extend the United States' military, political, and psychological influence in various geopolitical regions and nation‐states, expand presidential power in foreign affairs, and elevate the United States’ image and position at home and abroad. The global rhetorical presidency also illuminates how U.S. presidents deploy the constellation and coalescence of five specific elements—body, place, image, audience, and circulation—to create and contribute to conditions of globalization, address audiences foreign and domestic, and rally international public opinion.
On the possibility of wholesale moral error
Authors: Akhlaghi Farbod
Published: March 2021

The moral error theory, it seems, could be true. The mere possibility of its truth might also seem inconsequential. But it is not. For, I argue, there is a sense in which the moral error theory is possible that generates an argument against both non‐cognitivism and moral naturalism. I argue that it is an epistemic possibility that morality is subject to some form of wholesale error of the kind that would make the moral error theory true. Denying this possibility has three unwelcome consequences such that allowing for and explaining it is an adequacy condition on meta‐ethical theories. Non‐cognitivism and moral naturalism, I argue, cannot capture the epistemic possibility of wholesale moral error and so are false. My argument additionally provides independent reason to accept Derek Parfit's claim that if moral non‐naturalism is false then nothing matters. I conclude that whether wholesale moral error is epistemically possible may be, in Richard Rorty's words, ‘one of those issues which puts everything up for grabs at once’ and that even if so, and even if non‐cognitivists and moral naturalists remain unmoved by an argument based upon it, this only helps to highlight the significance of my argument.
Incorporating facilitative interactions into small‐scale eelgrass restoration—challenges and opportunities
Authors: Gagnon Karine , Christie Hartvig , Didderen Karin , Fagerli Camilla W. , Govers Laura L. , Gräfnings Max L. E. , Heusinkveld Jannes H. T. , Kaljurand Kaire , Lengkeek Wouter , Martin Georg , Meysick Lukas , Pajusalu Liina , Rinde Eli , van der Heide Tjisse , Boström Christoffer
Published: March 2021

Marine ecosystem engineers such as seagrasses and bivalves create important coastal habitats sustaining high biodiversity and ecosystem services. Restoring these habitats is difficult due to the importance of feedback mechanisms that can require large‐scale efforts to ensure success. Incorporating facilitative interactions could increase the feasibility and success of small‐scale restoration efforts, which would limit pressure on donor sites and reduce costs and time associated with restoration. Here, we tested two methods for providing facilitation in small‐scale eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration plots across northern Europe: (1) co‐restoration with blue mussels (Mytilus edulis, M. trossulus); and (2) the use of biodegradable establishment structures (BESEs). Eelgrass‐mussel co‐restoration showed promise in aquaria, where eelgrass growth was nearly twice as high in treatments with medium and high mussel densities than in treatments without mussels. However, this did not translate to higher shoot length or shoot densities in subsequent field experiments. Rather, hydrodynamic exposure limited both eelgrass and mussel survival, especially in the most exposed sites. The use of BESEs showed more potential in enabling small‐scale restoration success: they effectively enhanced eelgrass survival and reduced mussel loss, and showed potential for enabling mussel recruitment in one site. However, eelgrass planted in BESE plots along with mussels had a lower survival rate than eelgrass planted in BESE plots without mussels. Overall, we show that though co‐restoration did not work at small scales, facilitation by using artificial structures (BESEs) can increase early eelgrass survival and success of small‐scale eelgrass and bivalve restoration.
Social–ecological management results in sustained recovery of an imperiled salmon population
Authors: Cote D. , Van Leeuwen T. E. , Bath A. J. , Gonzales E. K. , Cote A.L.
Published: March 2021

When faced with the loss of a population, resource managers often feel compelled to choose restoration strategies perceived to have low risk, such as the management of the ecological components of the system or the application of regulatory measures. It can be counterintuitive to share decision‐making and resource management with those who want to harvest an imperiled population, yet this social–ecological strategy resulted in the recovery of a wild Atlantic salmon population in Newfoundland, Canada. Atlantic salmon supported widespread commercial, subsistence, and recreational fisheries but declines in abundance necessitated closures and other conservation strategies across many areas of Atlantic Canada in the 1990s. Recreational angling for Atlantic salmon was closed in Terra Nova National Park's Northwest River in 1995 when counts were below expectations based on available habitat. The population continued to decline, even though commercial and recreational fishing mortality had been eliminated, and by 2001, extirpation seemed imminent. Despite pressure to pursue conventional strategies such as catch and release fishing and stocking, public consultation and human dimensions research revealed that illegal fishing was likely contributing to declines and that distrust of resource managers created an environment conducive to poaching. Disrupting this dynamic could not be achieved with conventional strategies, so instead an adaptive management approach was implemented that incorporated local collaboration and improved transparency, and was responsive to positive changes in behavior. Adoption of social–ecological management led to a rapid and sustained recovery of the salmon population in Northwest River, out‐performing populations in adjacent rivers managed with conventional management strategies.
The Porter and the Jesuits: Macbeth and the Forgotten History of Equivocation☆
Authors: Vince Máté
Published: March 2021

This essay explores Shakespeare’s relationship to the intellectual history of equivocation in sixteenth and seventeenth‐century rhetoric and dialectic. It demonstrates that ‘equivocation’, far from denoting only a Jesuitical practice of deception, had a long and complex history intrinsically linked to theories of interpretation. Thus, the essay challenges the view that Macbeth’s apparent obsession with equivocation can be attributed exclusively to the Gunpowder Plot. The widely presumed influence of the conspirators’ trials on the play, based largely on verbal parallels with sermons, speeches and treatises, sidelines a fundamental sixteenth‐century discourse about epistemology. The essay offers a historicized understanding of equivocation to demonstrate that the concept had permeated early modern culture more deeply and earlier than usually acknowledged. It provides a comparative analysis of Shakespeare’s use of the word ‘equivocation’ in Hamlet, All’s Well That Ends Well, Othello and Macbeth. Reading Macbeth alongside pre‐Gunpowder Plot plays (The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure), and the rhetorical and dialectical tradition, reveals a culture that was deeply disconcerted by what was perceived as the inherent instability of meaning. The essay argues that the theological‐political controversy about equivocation was a debate about language and interpretation in which Shakespeare’s characters had participated before 1605.
On the Optimality of Randomization in Experimental Design: How to Randomize for Minimax Variance and Design-Based Inference
Authors: Kallus Nathan
Published: March 2021

I study the minimax-optimal design for a two-arm controlled experiment where conditional mean outcomes vary in a given set and the objective is effect-estimation precision. When this set is permutation symmetric, the optimal design is shown to be complete randomization. Notably, even when the set has structure (i.e., is not permutation symmetric), being minimax-optimal for precision still requires randomization beyond a single partition of units, that is, beyond randomizing the identity of treatment. A single partition is not optimal even when conditional means are linear. Since this only targets precision, it may nonetheless not ensure sufficient uniformity for design-based (i.e., randomization) inference. I therefore propose the inference-constrained mixed-strategy optimal design as the minimax-optimal for precision among designs subject to sufficient-uniformity constraints.
The significance filter, the winner's curse and the need to shrink
Authors: van Zwet Erik W. , Cator Eric A.
Published: March 2021

The “significance filter” refers to focusing exclusively on statistically significant results. Since frequentist properties such as unbiasedness and coverage are valid only before the data have been observed, there are no guarantees if we condition on significance. In fact, the significance filter leads to overestimation of the magnitude of the parameter, which has been called the “winner's curse.” It can also lead to undercoverage of the confidence interval. Moreover, these problems become more severe if the power is low. These issues clearly deserve our attention. They have been studied mostly through empirical observation and simulation, while there are relatively few mathematical results. Here we study them both from the frequentist and the Bayesian perspective. We prove that the relative bias of the magnitude is a decreasing function of the power and that the usual confidence interval undercovers when the power is less than 50%. We conclude that it is important to apply the appropriate amount of shrinkage to counter the winner's curse.
CsLOB1 regulates susceptibility to citrus canker through promoting cell proliferation in citrus
Authors: Zou Xiuping , Du Meixia , Liu Yunuo , Wu Liu , Xu Lanzhen , Long Qin , Peng Aihong , He Yongrui , Andrade Maxuel , Chen Shanchun
Published: March 2021

Citrus sinensis lateral organ boundary 1 (CsLOB1) was previously identified as a critical disease susceptibility gene for citrus bacterial canker, which is caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc). However, the molecular mechanisms of CsLOB1 in citrus response to Xcc are still elusive. Here, we constructed transgenic plants overexpressing and RNAi‐silencing of CsLOB1 using the canker‐disease susceptible ‘wanjincheng’ orange (C. sinensis Osbeck) as explants. CsLOB1‐overexpressing plants exhibited dwarf phenotypes with smaller and thicker leaf, increased branches and adventitious buds clustered on stems. These phenotypes were followed by a process of pustule‐ and canker‐like development that exhibited enhanced cell proliferation. Pectin depolymerization and expansin accumulation were enhanced by CsLOB1 overexpression, while cellulose and hemicellulose synthesis were increased by CsLOB1 silence. Whilst overexpression of CsLOB1 increased susceptibility, RNAi‐silencing of CsLOB1 enhanced resistance to canker disease without impairing pathogen entry. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CsLOB1 positively regulated cell wall degradation and modification processes, cytokinin metabolism, and cell division. Additionally, 565 CsLOB1‐targeted genes were identified in chromatin immunoprecipitation‐sequencing (ChIP‐seq) experiments. Motif discovery analysis revealed that the most highly overrepresented binding sites had a conserved 6‐bp ‘GCGGCG’ consensus DNA motif. RNA‐seq and ChIP‐seq data suggested that CsLOB1 directly activates the expression of four genes involved in cell wall remodeling, and three genes that participate in cytokinin and brassinosteroid hormone pathways. Our findings indicate that CsLOB1 promotes cell proliferation by mechanisms depending on cell wall remodeling and phytohormone signaling, which may be critical to citrus canker development and bacterial growth in citrus.
Comparison of imaging techniques to detect migrating foreign bodies. Relevance of preoperative and intraoperative ultrasonography for diagnosis and surgical removal
Authors: Blondel Margaux , Sonet Juliette , Cachon Thibaut , Ségard‐Weisse Emilie , Ferrand François‐Xavier , Carozzo Claude
Published: March 2021

Objective

To report the relative sensitivity of different diagnostic imaging (DI) techniques to detect migrating foreign bodies (FB) in subcutaneous and underlying soft tissue structures of dogs and evaluate the value of intraoperative ultrasonography (intraop‐US).

Study design

Retrospective study.

Sample population

Forty‐one dogs.

Methods

Medical records (2007‐2019) of dogs that underwent surgery for a chronic abscess or draining tract were included when preoperative US (preop‐US), computed tomography (preop‐CT), or preop‐MRI, and at least 6 months of follow‐up information were available. Collected data included the DI techniques used, DI findings, and surgical findings. The relative sensitivity of each preoperative DI (preop‐DI) technique was calculated. Dogs were divided into two groups, dogs that underwent only a preop‐DI examination (group A) and dogs that underwent an additional intraop‐US (group B). The success rates for FB surgical removal were compared between groups.

Results

The relative sensitivity of preop‐US and preop‐CT/MRI was 88% (95% CI, 70%–95.8%) and 57.1% (95% CI, 32.6%–78.6%), respectively. The success rate for FB removal was higher in group B (89.5%) than in group A (59.1%; P = .038). Clinical resolution occurred in 90.2% of dogs for a median duration of follow‐up of 4.2 years (6 months to 9.3 years).

Conclusion

Preoperative US seems more suitable than preop‐CT/MRI for detection of migrating FB in subcutaneous and underlying soft tissue structures. The use of intraop‐US increases the success rate for FB surgical removal.

Clinical significance

Intraoperative US should be used in combination with preop‐US to increase the likelihood of migrating FB surgical removal in dogs.
Configuration Design of Dual-Input Compound Power-Split Mechanism for In-Wheel Motor-Driven Electrical Vehicles Based on an Improved Lever Analogy Method
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Shao Yimin , Wang Liming , Yu Wennian , Yue Nian , Du Weitao
Published: March 2021

High power density in-wheel motor could be achieved by integrating a high-speed ratio (larger than 25) compound power-split mechanism (CPSM) with small motors. However, due to the exhaustive searching method adopted by the traditional lever analogy method, it is time-consuming to design high-speed ratio compound power-split mechanism configurations satisfying the high power density of in-wheel motor. In this paper, an improved lever analogy method is proposed to find the optimal configurations with a high-speed ratio to satisfy the high power density in-wheel motor. In this method, a judgment algorithm about the rank of structure matrix is proposed to identify three-node compound lever models of the CPSM. The improved lever analogy method can filter out useless configurations that significantly improve the calculation efficiency. The simulation results show that the calculation efficiency is improved by 215 times higher than that of the lever analogy method. Finally, 16 reasonable and 14 new configurations are obtained. This indicates that the improved lever analogy method can provide an effective way to design the high-speed ratio CPSM, which is widely used in-wheel motor-driven vehicles.
Enhancing Creative Redesign Through Multimodal Design Heuristics for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Blösch-Paidosh Alexandra , Shea Kristina
Published: March 2021

When designing for additive manufacturing (AM), designers often need assistance in breaking out of their conventional manufacturing mind-set. Previously, the authors derived design heuristics for AM (DHAM) to assist designers in doing this during the early phases of the design process. This study proposes a set of 25 multimodal cards and objects to accompany each of the design heuristics for AM and studies their effect through a series of controlled, novice user studies conducted using both teams and individuals who redesign a city E-Bike. The resulting AM concepts are analyzed in terms of the quantity of design modifications relevant for AM, AM flexibility, novelty, and variety. It is found that the DHAM cards and objects increase the inclusion of AM concepts, AM modifications, and the unique capabilities of AM in the concepts generated by both individuals and teams. They also increase the creativity of the concepts generated by both individuals and teams, as measured through a series of defined metrics. Furthermore, the objects in combination with the cards are more effective at stimulating the generation of a wider variety of designs than the cards alone. Future work will focus on studying the use of the DHAM cards and objects in an industrial setting.
The Effects of Different Air Channels’ Layout Patterns on Heat Transfer and Ventilation Characteristics of Wet Cooling Tower Under Crosswind Conditions
Authors: Chen Xuehong , Sun Fengzhong , Chen Youliang , Yuan Wei
Published: March 2021

Through a thermal-state model experiment, the effects of air channels in five layout patterns on heat transfer and ventilation characteristics of the wet cooling tower were investigated under different crosswind velocities and circulating water flowrates in this paper. The dimensions and operating conditions of the model tower were obtained by scaling down those of the prototype according to similarity principles. Experimental results manifest that all patterns of air channels can not only enhance the heat transfer and ventilation performance but also decrease the variation amplitudes of performance parameters versus crosswind velocity. Under most crosswind velocities, the positive effects of air channels are more remarkable under 0.000065 m3/s than those under 0.0001 m3/s. Compared with the original tower performance, the effect of the P4 and P5 pattern is superior to that of the P2 and P1 pattern. Besides, the P3 pattern of air channels with a length of 0.27 times the tower bottom diameter and a number of 8 can provide an optimal tower performance, which is recommended in engineering applications.
Finafloxacin Is an Effective Treatment for Inhalational Tularemia and Plague in Mouse Models of Infection
Authors: Barnes Kay B. , Richards Mark I. , Laws Thomas R. , Núñez Alejandro , Thwaite Joanne E. , Bentley Christine , Harding Sarah V.
Published: March 2021

Infection with aerosolized
Francisella tularensis
or
Yersinia pestis
can lead to lethal disease in humans if treatment is not initiated promptly. Finafloxacin is a novel fluoroquinolone which has demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against a range of bacterial species
in vitro, in vivo
, and in humans, activity which is superior in acidic, infection-relevant conditions.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles To Predict the Presence of Carbapenemase Genes among Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates
Authors: Vallabhaneni Snigdha , Huang Jennifer Y. , Grass Julian E. , Bhatnagar Amelia , Sabour Sarah , Lutgring Joseph D. , Campbell Davina , Karlsson Maria , Kallen Alexander J. , Nazarian Elizabeth , Snavely Emily A. , Morris Shannon , Wang Chun , Lee Rachel , Koag Myong , Lewis Robert , Garcia Bobbiejean ,   EIP Work Group, Brown Allison C. , Walters Maroya Spalding
Published: March 2021

Detection of carbapenem-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(CRPA) with carbapenemase-producing (CP) genes is critical for preventing transmission. Our objective was to assess whether certain antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) profiles can efficiently identify CP-CRPA.
Bovine Immune Response to Vaccination and Infection with Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Hardjo
Authors: Wilson-Welder Jennifer H. , Alt David P. , Nally Jarlath E. , Olsen Steven C.
Published: March 2021

Leptospirosis is an underdiagnosed, underreported zoonotic disease of which domestic livestock can be carriers. As a reservoir host forLeptospira borgpeterseniiserovar Hardjo, cattle may present with reproductive issues, including abortion, birth of weak or infected calves, or failure to breed.
Successful management of three cases of interstitial pregnancies with local instillation of potassium chloride: avoiding a potential cornuostomy
Authors: Shetty Vineetha , Padavagodu Shivananda Roopa , Vasudeva Akhila , Shetty Jyothi
Published: March 2021

Here, we present three cases of women with interstitial pregnancy who were managed with local instillation of potassium chloride. These women were in their 20s–30s and presented in stable condition. Of them, two had a history of previous ectopic pregnancy. Interstitial pregnancy was diagnosed by transvaginal sonography which showed an empty uterine cavity with a gestational sac 1 cm away from the lateral edge of the uterine cavity, with <5 mm myometrium surrounding it in all planes. Two of the three cases failed to respond to methotrexate injection. Due to the presence of high-end ultrasound machine and technical expertise, local instillation of potassium chloride was offered as an alternative to surgical treatment, which is definitive, and all three patients had a successful outcome. One patient returned with pain in the abdomen, which required inpatient monitoring and was later diagnosed with urinary tract infection and was given appropriate antibiotics.
Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic: a geospatial and statistical analysis in Aden governorate, Yemen
Authors: Koum Besson Emilie S , Norris Andy , Bin Ghouth Abdulla S , Freemantle Terri , Alhaffar Mervat , Vazquez Yolanda , Reeve Chris , Curran Patrick J , Checchi Francesco
Published: March 2021

Background

The burden of COVID-19 in low-income and conflict-affected countries remains unclear, largely reflecting low testing rates. In parts of Yemen, reports indicated a peak in hospital admissions and burials during May–June 2020. To estimate excess mortality during the epidemic period, we quantified activity across all identifiable cemeteries within Aden governorate (population approximately 1 million) by analysing very high-resolution satellite imagery and compared estimates to Civil Registry office records.

Methods

After identifying active cemeteries through remote and ground information, we applied geospatial analysis techniques to manually identify new grave plots and measure changes in burial surface area over a period from July 2016 to September 2020. After imputing missing grave counts using surface area data, we used alternative approaches, including simple interpolation and a generalised additive mixed growth model, to predict both actual and counterfactual (no epidemic) burial rates by cemetery and across the governorate during the most likely period of COVID-19 excess mortality (from 1 April 2020) and thereby compute excess burials. We also analysed death notifications to the Civil Registry office over the same period.

Results

We collected 78 observations from 11 cemeteries. In all but one, a peak in daily burial rates was evident from April to July 2020. Interpolation and mixed model methods estimated ≈1500 excess burials up to 6 July, and 2120 up to 19 September, corresponding to a peak weekly increase of 230% from the counterfactual. Satellite imagery estimates were generally lower than Civil Registry data, which indicated a peak 1823 deaths in May alone. However, both sources suggested the epidemic had waned by September 2020.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first instance of satellite imagery being used for population mortality estimation. Findings suggest a substantial, under-ascertained impact of COVID-19 in this urban Yemeni governorate and are broadly in line with previous mathematical modelling predictions, though our method cannot distinguish direct from indirect virus deaths. Satellite imagery burial analysis appears a promising novel approach for monitoring epidemics and other crisis impacts, particularly where ground data are difficult to collect.
Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review
Authors: Rajabzadeh Vian , Burn Erin , Sajun Sana Z. , Suzuki Mimi , Bird Victoria Jane , Priebe Stefan
Published: March 2021

Background

Mental health disorders are viewed as a global concern requiring globally led approaches to address them. Since the publication of the 2007Lancetseries on global mental health (GMH), the term has become widespread. Over the last two decades, GMH has become increasingly affiliated with policy reform, academic courses, funding bodies and research. However, it is not always obvious how those working in the field of GMH are using the term, resulting in a lack of clarity. Therefore, work is needed to synthesise the current understanding(s) of GMH to help characterise its meaning.

Aim

To synthesise the literature and identify the different ways GMH is understood.

Method

A conceptual review, using a systematic search and a content analysis, was conducted to develop a conceptual framework of the different conceptual understandings of GMH.

Results

We developed a conceptual framework of four understandings of GMH. These understandings of GMH are as follows: an area of research generating findings to establish a GMH evidence-base; implementation of research into practice; improving the mental health environment; learning from and supporting low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).

Conclusion

Our review proposes a simple framework, clarifying the key characteristics of the GMH landscape. The findings highlight the diversity of usage of the term in the literature, as well as present the wide scope that comprises the field of GMH. Referring to this framework may help those engaged with GMH to be more specific with which aspect of the field they are concerned with.
Higher Heparin Dosages Reduce Thromboembolic Complications in Patients with Covid-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Carallo Claudio , Pugliese Fabiola , Vettorato Elisa , Tripolino Cesare , Delle Donne Livia , Guarrera Giovanni , Spagnolli Walter , Cozzio Susanna
Published: March 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new viral disease complicating with acute thrombophylic conditions, probably also via an inflammatory burden. Anticoagulants are efficacious, but their optimal preventive doses are unknown. The present study was aimed to compare different enoxaparin doses/kg of body weight in the prevention of clot complications in COVID-19 pneumonia. Retrospective data from a cohort of adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, never underwent to oropharyngeal intubation before admission, were collected in an Internal Medicine environments equipped for non-invasive ventilation. Unfavorable outcomes were considered as: deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, cardiovascular death. Fourteen clinical thromboembolic events among 42 hospitalized patients were observed. Patients were divided into two group on the basis of median heparin dose (0.5 mg—or 50 IU—for kg). The decision about heparin dosing was patient by patient. Higher enoxaparin therapy (mean 0.62±0.16 mg/kg) showed a better thromboprophylactic action (HR=0.2, p=0.04) with respect to lower doses (mean 0.42±0.06 mg/kg), independently from the clinical presentation of the disease. Therefore, COVID-19 pneumonia might request higher enoxaparin doses to reduce thromboembolic events in hospitalized patients, even if outside intensive care units.
Pre-existing effector T-cell levels and augmented myeloid cell composition denote response to CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib and pembrolizumab in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Egelston Colt , Guo Weihua , Yost Susan , Lee Jin Sun , Rose David , Avalos Christian , Ye Jian , Frankel Paul , Schmolze Daniel , Waisman James , Lee Peter , Yuan Yuan
Published: March 2021

Background

Single-agent pembrolizumab treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has demonstrated modest clinical responses. Little is known about potential biomarkers or mechanisms of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with HR+ MBC. The present study presents novel immune correlates of clinical responses to combined treatment with CDK4/6i and ICI.

Methods

A combined analysis of two independent phase I clinical trials treating patients with HR+ MBC was performed. Patients treated with the combination of the CDK4/6i palbociclib+the ICI pembrolizumab+the aromatase inhibitor (AI) letrozole (palbo+pembro+AI) were compared with patients treated with pembrolizumab+AI (pembro+AI). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected at pretreatment, 3 weeks (cycle 2 day 1) and 9 weeks (cycle 4 day 1) were characterized by high-parameter flow cytometry to assess baseline immune subset composition and longitudinal changes in response to therapy.

Results

In the peripheral blood, higher pretreatment frequencies of effector memory CD45RA+CD8+T cells and effector memory CD4+T cells were observed in responders to palbo+pembro+AI. In contrast, this was not observed in pembro+AI-treated patients. We further characterized T-cell subsets of effector-like killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily G member 1 (KLRG1+) ICOS+CD4+T cells and KLRG1+CD45RA+CD8+T cells as baseline biomarkers of response. In comparison, pretreatment levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, tumor mutation burden, tumor programmed death-ligand 1 expression, and overall immune composition did not associate with clinical responses. Over the course of treatment, significant shifts in myeloid cell composition and phenotype were observed in palbo+pembro+AI-treated patients, but not in those treated with pembro+AI. We identified increased fractions of type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) within circulating dendritic cells and decreased classical monocytes (cMO) within circulating monocytes only in patients treated with palbociclib. We also demonstrated that in palbociclib-treated patients, cDC1 and cMO displayed increased CD83 and human leukocyte antigen-DR isotype (HLA-DR) expression, respectively, suggesting increased maturation and antigen presentation capacity.

Conclusions

Pre-existing circulating effector CD8+and CD4+T cells and dynamic modulation of circulating myeloid cell composition denote response to combined pembrolizumab and palbociclib therapy for patients with HR+ MBC.

Trial registration number

NCT02778685and NCI02648477.
Onyx injection by direct puncture for presurgical embolization of a C2 hypervascular metastasis from a thyroid cancer
Authors: Clarençon Frédéric , Moreau Pierre-Emmanuel , Cortese Jonathan , Eloy Gauthier , Deschamps Frédéric , Shotar Eimad , Premat Kevin , Cormier Evelyne , Bonaccorsi Raphaël
Published: March 2021

Surgery for spinal hypervascular lesions, such as hemangioma or metastases from thyroid or renal cancer, may be challenging because of the risk of massive blood loss.1 To overcome this limitation, presurgical embolization has gained acceptance to reduce this risk.2 However, some configurations, such as the origin of a radiculomedullary artery close to the vessels feeding the lesion or when the lesion is supplied by vessels feeding an eloquent territory, may limit the possibility of presurgical embolization, especially with microparticles.3 Direct percutaneous puncture of the spinal lesion and subsequent embolization with liquid embolic agent may be a valuable option in such challenging cases.4

We present a case of presurgical embolization of a C2 metastasis from a thyroid cancer using Onyx-18 injected by direct puncture (video 1). In this technical video, we stress the technical aspects of the direct puncture technique and the safety rules to avoid neurological complications.

Video 1
Local anesthesia as a distinct comparator versus conscious sedation and general anesthesia in endovascular stroke treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Butt Waleed , Dhillon Permesh Singh , Podlasek Anna , Malik Luqman , Nair Sujit , Hewson David , England Timothy J , Lenthall Robert , McConachie Norman
Published: March 2021

Background

The optimal anesthetic modality for endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is undetermined. Comparisons of general anesthesia (GA) with composite non-GA cohorts of conscious sedation (CS) and local anesthesia (LA) without sedation have provided conflicting results. There has been emerging interest in assessing whether LA alone may be associated with improved outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate clinical and procedural outcomes comparing LA with CS and GA.

Methods

We reviewed the literature for studies reporting outcome variables in LA versus CS and LA versus GA comparisons. The primary outcome was 90 day good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of ≤2). Secondary outcomes included mortality, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, excellent functional outcome (mRS score ≤1), successful reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) >2b), procedural time metrics, and procedural complications. Random effects meta-analysis was performed on unadjusted and adjusted data.

Results

Eight non-randomized studies of 7797 patients (2797 LA, 2218 CS, and 2782 GA) were identified. In the LA versus GA comparison, no statistically significant differences were found in unadjusted analyses for 90 day good functional outcome or mortality (OR=1.22, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.76, p=0.3 and OR=0.83, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.07, p=0.15, respectively) or in the LA versus CS comparison (OR=1.14, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.71, p=0.53 and OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.24, p=0.47, respectively). There was a tendency towards achieving excellent functional outcome (mRS ≤1) in the LA group versus the GA group (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.08, p=0.05, I2=70%). Analysis of adjusted data demonstrated a tendency towards higher odds of death at 90 days in the GA versus the LA group (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.54, p=0.05, I2=0%).

Conclusion

LA without sedation was not significantly superior to CS or GA in improving outcomes when performing EVT for AIS. However, the quality of the included studies impaired interpretation, and inclusion of an LA arm in future well designed multicenter, randomized controlled trials is warranted.
A synthesis review on atmospheric wet deposition of particulate elements: scavenging ratios, solubility, and flux measurements
Authors: Cheng Irene , Al Mamun Abdulla , Zhang Leiming
Published: March 2021

Atmospheric dry and wet deposition of particulate matter controls its lifetime in air and contributes to the environmental burden of toxic pollutants and thus has important implications on human and ecosystem health. This synthesis review focuses on atmospheric wet deposition of particulate elements and analyzed their scavenging ratios (i.e., ratio of concentration in precipitation to that in ambient air), solubility, and wet deposition flux measurements based on published studies in the literature, aiming to gather updated knowledge that can be used for modeling their wet deposition. Our analysis finds that scavenging ratios of a specific element have a narrow range. Overall, elemental scavenging ratios for snow are approximately three times higher than those for rain. Elements that are bound to coarse (PM2.5–10) particles have larger scavenging ratios than those bound to fine (PM2.5) particles, except for Fe and Si. Solubility of elements in rainwater ranges from 8% (Fe) to 94% (Ca). Solubility is moderately correlated with scavenging ratio, possibly explaining the lower scavenging ratios of Fe and Si compared with other elements with similar fine fractions. Data collected from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia show that the wet fluxes of Al and Fe are orders of magnitude greater than those of routinely monitored anthropogenic elements (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, Cr). Wet deposition fluxes of particulate elements in the Middle East exceed those in other regions, likely due to regional transport of dust and soil resuspension. Fluxes from all regions are a factor of two to three times greater in industrialized and urban locations than in rural and remote locations because of industrial, vehicular, and soil and mineral dust emissions. Dry deposition fluxes are usually greater than wet deposition fluxes, although to varying degrees according to co-located measurements. Based on the relationships between scavenging ratio and the elemental PM2.5 fraction under rain and snow conditions, we derived regression equations for estimating scavenging ratios of particulate elements for which measurements are limited. Such knowledge and data improve the quantification of atmospheric deposition fluxes for an expanded list of metals and metalloids and the understanding of pathways contributing to ecological risk.
Quasi-free scattering in inverse kinematics as a tool to unveil the structure of nuclei
Authors: Panin V. , Aumann T. , Bertulani C. A.
Published: March 2021

Quasi-free scattering of electrons and protons has been extensively utilized in the past to study the single-particle structure of nuclei, clustering in light nuclei, and short-range correlated nucleon–nucleon pairs in nuclei. Recently, this approach has been applied in inverse kinematics using hydrogen targets. The characteristic features of this reaction and the experimental challenges and advantages of inverse-kinematics experiments are summarized. The applicability to radioactive beams opens a large research potential to study a variety of properties of neutron-to-proton asymmetric nuclei. Applications of quasi-free scattering in inverse kinematics and its potential are reviewed based on recent and ongoing research programs at different accelerator facilities worldwide.
Integrability and cosmological solutions in Einstein-æther-Weyl theory
Authors: Paliathanasis Andronikos , Leon Genly
Published: March 2021

We consider a Lorentz violating scalar field cosmological model given by the modified Einstein-æther theory defined in Weyl integrable geometry. The existence of exact and analytic solutions is investigated for the case of a spatially flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker background space. We show that the theory admits cosmological solutions of special interests. In addition, we prove that the cosmological field equations admit the Lewis invariant as a second conservation law, which indicates the integrability of the field equations.
Accretions of Tsallis, Rényi and Sharma–Mittal dark energies onto higher-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole and Morris–Thorne wormhole
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Tanwi , Debnath Ujjal
Published: March 2021

In this work, we study the dark energy accretion phenomena onto [Formula: see text]-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole and [Formula: see text]-dimensional Morris–Thorne wormhole. We obtain the [Formula: see text]-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole mass and [Formula: see text]-dimensional Morris–Thorne wormhole mass and their rate of change of masses due to accretion. For the dark energy component, we consider Tsallis, modified Rényi and “modified” Sharma–Mittal holographic dark energy (HDE) and new agegraphic dark energy (NADE). We also find the black hole mass and the wormhole mass in terms of redshift when cold dark matter and the specified forms of dark energies accrete onto them. In most cases, the black hole mass increases, and wormhole mass decreases for HDE and NADE accretions. The only exception is the Sharma–Mittal NADE, where the black hole mass decreases and wormhole mass increases during the evolution of the Universe. However, the slope of increasing/decreasing mass significantly depends on the dimension in almost all cases.
Preliminary simulation analysis of the temperature fluctuation effect on Taiji-1 Laser interferometer
Authors: Deng Xiaoqin , Yang Ran , Niu Yu ,   On behalf of The Taiji Scientific Collaboration
Published: March 2021

Space-borne gravitational wave detection imposes a demanding requirement on the sensitivity of the laser interferometer. Among all disturbances that affect the measurement accuracy of the laser interferometer, temperature fluctuations contribute significantly. In this paper, the structure model and the interference path design of Taiji-1 laser interferometer have been used to conduct a preliminary simulation analysis of the temperature fluctuation noise through the finite element method. The temperature, the displacement and the optical path difference fluctuations have been obtained and theoretically analyzed. The preliminary simulation results are consistent with the theoretical analysis, which shows that the thermal–structural–optical simulation scheme adopted in this paper is reasonable. With the preliminary simulation results and the actual temperature control of Taiji-1 laser interferometer, we estimate that in Taiji-1 laser interferometer system, the temperature fluctuation is below the order of mK, the node displacement is within [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]pm, and the interference arm length difference fluctuation amplitude of the laser interferometer is also within [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]pm.
Symbolic powers in weighted oriented graphs
Authors: Mandal Mousumi , Kumar Pradhan Dipak
Published: March 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a weighted oriented graph with the underlying graph [Formula: see text] when vertices with non-trivial weights are sinks and [Formula: see text] be the edge ideals corresponding to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] respectively. We give an explicit description of the symbolic powers of [Formula: see text] using the concept of strong vertex covers. We show that the ordinary and symbolic powers of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] behave in a similar way. We provide a description for symbolic powers and Waldschmidt constant of [Formula: see text] for certain classes of weighted oriented graphs. When [Formula: see text] is a weighted oriented odd cycle, we compute [Formula: see text] and prove [Formula: see text] and show that equality holds when there is only one vertex with non-trivial weight.
Supervised Word Sense Disambiguation on Polysemy with Neural Network Models: A Case Study of BUN in Taiwan Hakka
Authors: Lai Huei-Ling , Hsu Hsiao-Ling , Liu Jyi-Shane , Lin Chia-Hung , Chen Yanhong
Published: March 2021

While word sense disambiguation (WSD) has been extensively studied in natural language processing, such a task in low-resource languages still receives little attention. Findings based on a few dominant languages may lead to narrow applications. A language-specific WSD system is in need to implement in low-resource languages, for instance, in Taiwan Hakka. This study examines the performance of DNN and Bi-LSTM in WSD tasks on polysemous BUNin Taiwan Hakka. Both models are trained and tested on a small amount of hand-crafted labeled data. Two experiments are designed with four kinds of input features and two window spans to explore what information is needed for the models to achieve their best performance. The results show that to achieve the best performance, DNN and Bi-LSTM models prefer different kinds of input features and window spans.
The provenance of Middle Jurassic to Cretaceous sediments in the Irish and Celtic Sea Basins: tectonic and environmental controls on sediment sourcing
Authors: McCarthy Odhrán , Fairey Brenton , Meere Patrick , Chew David , Kerrison Aidan , Wray David , Hofmann Mandy , Gärtner Andreas , Sonntag Benita-Lisette , Linnemann Ulf , Kuiper Klaudia F.
Published: March 2021

The Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary infill of the Irish and Celtic Sea Basins is intimately associated with the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea, and the opening of the Atlantic margin. Previous basin studies have constrained tectonism, basin uplift and sediment composition, but sediment provenance and routing have not received detailed consideration. Current hypotheses for basin infill suggest localized sediment sourcing throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous, despite a dynamic tectonic and palaeoenvironmental history spanning more than 100 million years. We present detrital zircon, white mica and apatite geochronology alongside heavy mineral data from five basins. Findings reveal that basin infill derived predominantly from distal sources with lesser periods of local sourcing. We deduce that tectonically induced marine transgression and regression events had a first-order control on distal
v.
proximal sedimentary sourcing. Additionally, tectonism which uplifted the Fastnet Basin region during the Middle–Late Jurassic recycled basin sediments into the connected Celtic and Irish Sea Basins. Detrital geochronology and heavy mineral evidence support three distinct provenance switches throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous in these basins. Overall an integrated multi-proxy provenance approach provides novel insights to tectonic and environmental controls on basin infill as demonstrated in the Irish and Celtic Sea Basins.

Supplementary material
: Tables S1–S6 are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5343657
Generalized Light Portals
Authors: Ogaki Shinji
Published: March 2021

Light portals are useful for accelerating the convergence of Monte Carlo path tracing when rendering interiors. However, they are generally limited to flat polygonal shapes. In this paper, we introduce a new concept that allows existing polygon meshes with arbitrary shaders in a scene to be used as generalized light portals. We also present an efficient sampling method that takes into account the pixel values of the environment map and ray guiding two-dimensional textures that are typically opacity or transparency maps. This novel sampling strategy can be combined with other sampling techniques by using multiple importance sampling.