bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Statistical Learning of Frequent Distractor Locations in Visual Search Involves Regional Signal Suppression in Early Visual Cortex
Authors: Zhang Bei , Weidner Ralph , Allenmark Fredrik , Bertleff Sabine , Fink Gereon R , Shi Zhuanghua , Müller Hermann J 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Observers can learn locations where salient distractors appear frequently to reduce potential interference—an effect attributed to better suppression of distractors at frequent locations. But how distractor suppression is implemented in the visual cortex and within the frontoparietal attention networks remains unclear. We used fMRI and a regional distractor-location learning paradigm with two types of distractors defined in either the same (orientation) or a different (color) dimension to the target to investigate this issue. fMRI results showed that BOLD signals in early visual cortex were significantly reduced for distractors (as well as targets) occurring at the frequent versus rare locations, mirroring behavioral patterns. This reduction was more robust with same-dimension distractors. Crucially, behavioral interference was correlated with distractor-evoked visual activity only for same- (but not different-) dimension distractors. Moreover, with different- (but not same-) dimension distractors, a color-processing area within the fusiform gyrus was activated more when a distractor was present in the rare region versus being absent and more with a distractor in the rare versus frequent locations. These results support statistical learning of frequent distractor locations involving regional suppression in early visual cortex and point to differential neural mechanisms of distractor handling with different- versus same-dimension distractors.
A Financial and Global Demand Analysis to Inform Decisions for Funding and Clinical Development of Group BStreptococcusVaccines for Pregnant Women
Authors: Malvolti Stefano , Pecenka Clint , Mantel Carsten F , Malhame Melissa , Lambach Philipp 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundDespite group B Streptococcus (GBS) being a leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, no vaccine is currently available. To inform vaccine developers, countries, and funders, we analyzed the key factors likely to influence the demand for a GBS vaccine and the long-term financial sustainability for a vaccine developer.MethodsUsing population-based forecasting, we estimated the demand for a GBS vaccine; using a discounted cash flow model we estimated the financial viability for a vaccine developer.ResultsDemand for this vaccine can be significant if countries adopt policy recommendations for use, in particular, the largest ones, most of which have a burden that justifies use of the vaccine, and if financing for the vaccine is made available either by countries or by funding mechanisms such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.ConclusionsThis analysis suggests the potential for financial and commercial viability for a vaccine developer pursuing the commercialization of a GBS vaccine. Risks exists in relation to the clinical trial design and costs, the level of competition, countries’ ability to pay, the administration schedule, and the availability of policies that encourage use of the vaccine. To reduce those risks and ensure equitable access to a GBS vaccine, the role of donors or financers can prove very important, as can a coordinated operational research agenda that aims at clarifying those areas of uncertainty.
Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Adenovirus Type-5–Vectored Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine With a Homologous Prime-Boost Regimen in Healthy Participants Aged ≥6 Years: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2b Trial
Authors: Zhu Fengcai , Jin Pengfei , Zhu Tao , Wang Wenjuan , Ye Huayue , Pan Hongxing , Hou Lihua , Li Jingxin , Wang Xue , Wu Shipo , Wang Ying , Gou Jinbo , Huang Haitao , Wu Hongbin , Wang Xuewen , Chen Wei 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant adenovirus type-5 (Ad5)–vectored coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine with homologous prime-boost regimens in healthy participants aged ≥6 years.

Methods
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, participants received vaccine or placebo 56 days apart. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) and pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies were detected. Adverse events were monitored for 28 days following each vaccination.

Results
A total of 430 participants were enrolled in the study, with 30 participants aged 18–55 years (MID cohort), 250 aged ≥56 years (OLD cohort), and 150 aged 6–17 years (MIN cohort). Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine induced significant RBD-specific ELISA antibodies that decreased with increasing age, with geometric mean titers (GMTs) of 1037.5 in the MIN cohort, 647.2 in the MID cohort, and 338.0 in the OLD cohort receiving 5 × 1010 viral particles on day 28 following boost vaccination. Pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies showed a similar pattern, with GMTs of 168.0 in the MIN cohort, 76.8 in the MID cohort, and 79.7 in the OLD cohort. A single dose in children and adolescents induced higher antibody responses than that elicited by 2 doses in adults, with GMTs of 1091.6 and 96.6 for ELISA antibody and neutralizing antibody, respectively. Homologous prime-boost vaccination was safe and tolerable.

Conclusions
Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine with a single dose was safe and induced robust immune responses in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. A prime-boost regimen needs further exploration for Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine.
Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine with a single dose was safe and tolerated, and induced robust immune responses in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. The boosting effect on immune responses of the homologous prime-boost regime given 56 days apart was limited.

Clinical Trials Registration
NCT04566770.
Creative strategies for spatial policy making in Brazilian ‘new left regionalism’: fighting inequalities and COVID-19 in the north-east region
Authors: Siqueira Hipólita , Brandão Carlos 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe literature on the new regionalism has highlighted the leading role played by regions in the contemporary process of state rescaling and the governance of policy-making. We argue that a (re)politicisation of North-east Brazil and the emergence of a new left regionalism are underway. We examine the political and socioeconomic circumstances of this process through the creation of the Interstate Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the North-east. We conclude that while many challenges still lie ahead, this experience has demonstrated potential for the coherence of policies, and for constituting new political actors and arenas for the concertation of interests.
Recent Advances in Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Datar Rucha , Orenga Sylvain , Pogorelcnik Romain , Rochas Olivier , Simner Patricia J , van Belkum Alex 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundAntimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is classically performed using growth-based techniques that essentially require viable bacterial matter to become visible to the naked eye or a sophisticated densitometer.ContentTechnologies based on the measurement of bacterial density in suspension have evolved marginally in accuracy and rapidity over the 20th century, but assays expanded for new combinations of bacteria and antimicrobials have been automated, and made amenable to high-throughput turn-around. Over the past 25 years, elevated AST rapidity has been provided by nucleic acid-mediated amplification technologies, proteomic and other “omic” methodologies, and the use of next-generation sequencing. In rare cases, AST at the level of single-cell visualization was developed. This has not yet led to major changes in routine high-throughput clinical microbiological detection of antimicrobial resistance.SummaryWe here present a review of the new generation of methods and describe what is still urgently needed for their implementation in day-to-day management of the treatment of infectious diseases.
Loss-of-function mutations in cardiac ryanodine receptor channel cause various types of arrhythmias including long QT syndrome
Authors: Hirose Sayako , Murayama Takashi , Tetsuo Naoyuki , Hoshiai Minako , Kise Hiroaki , Yoshinaga Masao , Aoki Hisaaki , Fukuyama Megumi , Wuriyanghai Yimin , Wada Yuko , Kato Koichi , Makiyama Takeru , Kimura Takeshi , Sakurai Takashi , Horie Minoru , Kurebayashi Nagomi , Ohno Seiko 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Aims
Gain-of-function mutations in RYR2, encoding the cardiac ryanodine receptor channel (RyR2), cause catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Whereas, genotype–phenotype correlations of loss-of-function mutations remains unknown, due to a small number of analysed mutations. In this study, we aimed to investigate their genotype–phenotype correlations in patients with loss-of-function RYR2 mutations.

Methods and results
We performed targeted gene sequencing for 710 probands younger than 16-year-old with inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes (IPAS). RYR2 mutations were identified in 63 probands, and 3 probands displayed clinical features different from CPVT. A proband with p.E4146D developed ventricular fibrillation (VF) and QT prolongation whereas that with p.S4168P showed QT prolongation and bradycardia. Another proband with p.S4938F showed short-coupled variant of torsade de pointes (scTdP). To evaluate the functional alterations in these three mutant RyR2s and p.K4594Q previously reported in a long QT syndrome (LQTS), we measured Ca2+ signals in HEK293 cells and HL-1 cardiomyocytes as well as Ca2+-dependent [3H]ryanodine binding. All mutant RyR2s demonstrated a reduced Ca2+ release, an increased endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+, and a reduced [3H]ryanodine binding, indicating loss-of-functions. In HL-1 cells, the exogenous expression of S4168P and K4594Q reduced amplitude of Ca2+ transients without inducing Ca2+ waves, whereas that of E4146D and S4938F evoked frequent localized Ca2+ waves.

Conclusion
Loss-of-function RYR2 mutations may be implicated in various types of arrhythmias including LQTS, VF, and scTdP, depending on alteration of the channel activity. Search of RYR2 mutations in IPAS patients clinically different from CPVT will be a useful strategy to effectively discover loss-of-function RYR2 mutations.
Cardiometabolic multimorbidity and activity limitation: a cross-sectional study of adults using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging data
Authors: Fishbook Brayden N , Brinton Christopher D , Siever Jodi , Klassen Tara D , Sakakibara Brodie M 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM) is the diagnosis of 2 or more cardiometabolic conditions. Multimorbidity and individual cardiometabolic conditions have been associated with activity limitation, a common form of disability, but few studies have investigated the association between CM and activity limitation.

Objectives
To estimate the prevalence of activity limitation among Canadians with CM and to quantify the association between CM and activity limitation.

Methods
Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of activity limitation among Canadians aged 45–85 (n = 50,777; weighted n = 13,118,474). CM was defined as the diagnosis of 2 or more of diabetes/prediabetes, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and activity limitation was evaluated using the Older Americans Resources and Services scale. Descriptive statistics and logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between CM and activity limitation.

Results
The estimated prevalence of activity limitation among participants living with CM was 27.4% compared with 7.5% with no cardiometabolic conditions. Activity limitation increased in prevalence and severity with the number of cardiometabolic conditions. People with CM had increased odds of activity limitation compared with those without any cardiometabolic conditions (adjusted relative risk ratio = 3.99, 95% confidence interval [3.35–4.75]), and the odds increased with each additional condition. Stroke survivors had greater odds of activity limitation than those without a history of stroke and the same number of cardiometabolic conditions.

Conclusion
Activity limitation is common among Canadians living with CM. Odds of activity limitation increase with each additional cardiometabolic condition, especially for stroke survivors.
Sexual risk behaviour reduction interventions in primary care in Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development countries. A systematic review
Authors: Onaisi Racha , Joseph Jean-Philippe , Castera Philippe , Pontgratz Camille 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Sexually transmitted infections are a major public health issue, both in France and worldwide. Primary healthcare professionals play a key role in sexual health and prevention, but few take on this subject. Prevention strategies are diverse, thus risk reduction strategies focussing on behavioural changes are still needed.

Purpose
We conducted a systematic review to analyse risk reduction interventions focussing on behavioural change in OECD countries in primary healthcare settings to help develop a prevention tool easy to apply in primary care.

Methods
We searched for English- or French-language controlled trials in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, PsycArticle, PBSC, SocINDEX, Google Scholar, and CAIRN, supplemented with the bibliographies of previous systematic reviews. Thirty controlled, randomized, or nonrandomized trials were included in the systematic review. We did not conduct any meta-analysis due to the diversity of populations, outcomes and study designs.

Results
There are efficient interventions in primary healthcare settings for reducing sexual risk behaviours and/or incident STI. Their efficiency seems to grow with the length and intensity of the intervention. Most interventions target only young, high-risk patients, and their long-term impact is uncertain. Most included studies had an overall risk of bias estimated as high or with some concerns.

Conclusions
Some tools could be used in primary care, with possible efficiency though results are difficult to generalize, and value should be assessed in daily practice. Future research should also focus on older population given the epidemiological evolutions, but also lower-risk population to target all patients seen in primary care settings.
Lithological tomography with the correlated pseudo-marginal method
Authors: Friedli L , Linde N , Ginsbourger D , Doucet A 
Published: September 2021

SUMMARYWe consider lithological tomography in which the posterior distribution of (hydro)geological parameters of interest is inferred from geophysical data by treating the intermediate geophysical properties as latent variables. In such a latent variable model, one needs to estimate the intractable likelihood of the (hydro)geological parameters given the geophysical data. The pseudo-marginal (PM) method is an adaptation of the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm in which an unbiased approximation of this likelihood is obtained by Monte Carlo averaging over samples from, in this setting, the noisy petrophysical relationship linking (hydro)geological and geophysical properties. To make the method practical in data-rich geophysical settings with low noise levels, we demonstrate that the Monte Carlo sampling must rely on importance sampling distributions that well approximate the posterior distribution of petrophysical scatter around the sampled (hydro)geological parameter field. To achieve a suitable acceptance rate, we rely both on (1) the correlated PM (CPM) method, which correlates the samples used in the proposed and current states of the Markov chain and (2) a model proposal scheme that preserves the prior distribution. As a synthetic test example, we infer porosity fields using crosshole ground-penetrating radar (GPR) first-arrival traveltimes. We use a (50 × 50)-dimensional pixel-based parametrization of the multi-Gaussian porosity field with known statistical parameters, resulting in a parameter space of high dimension. We demonstrate that the CPM method with our proposed importance sampling and prior-preserving proposal scheme outperforms current state-of-the-art methods in both linear and non-linear settings by greatly enhancing the posterior exploration.
Using deep generative neural networks to account for model errors in Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion
Authors: Levy Shiran , Hunziker Jürg , Laloy Eric , Irving James , Linde Niklas 
Published: September 2021

SUMMARY
Most geophysical inverse problems are non-linear and rely upon numerical forward solvers involving discretization and simplified representations of the underlying physics. As a result, forward modelling errors are inevitable. In practice, such model errors tend to be either completely ignored, which leads to biased and over-confident inversion results, or only partly taken into account using restrictive Gaussian assumptions. Here, we rely on deep generative neural networks to learn problem-specific low-dimensional probabilistic representations of the discrepancy between high-fidelity and low-fidelity forward solvers. These representations are then used to probabilistically invert for the model error jointly with the target geophysical property field, using the computationally cheap, low-fidelity forward solver. To this end, we combine a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inversion algorithm with a trained convolutional neural network of the spatial generative adversarial network (SGAN) type, whereby at each MCMC step, the simulated low-fidelity forward response is corrected using a proposed model-error realization. Considering the crosshole ground-penetrating radar traveltime tomography inverse problem, we train SGAN networks on traveltime discrepancy images between: (1) curved-ray (high fidelity) and straight-ray (low fidelity) forward solvers; and (2) finite-difference-time-domain (high fidelity) and straight-ray (low fidelity) forward solvers. We demonstrate that the SGAN is able to learn the spatial statistics of the model error and that suitable representations of both the subsurface model and model error can be recovered by MCMC. In comparison with inversion results obtained when model errors are either ignored or approximated by a Gaussian distribution, we find that our method has lower posterior parameter bias and better explains the observed traveltime data. Our method is most advantageous when high-fidelity forward solvers involve heavy computational costs and the Gaussian assumption of model errors is inappropriate. Unstable MCMC convergence due to non-linearities introduced by our method remain a challenge to be addressed in future work.
Non-Gaussian Waves in Šeba’s Billiard
Authors: Kurlberg Pär , Ueberschär Henrik 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The Šeba billiard, a rectangular torus with a point scatterer, is a popular model to study the transition between integrability and chaos in quantum systems. Whereas such billiards are classically essentially integrable, they may display features such as quantum ergodicity [11], which are usually associated with quantum systems whose classical dynamics is chaotic. Šeba proposed that the eigenfunctions of toral point scatterers should also satisfy Berry’s random wave conjecture, which implies that the value distribution of the eigenfunctions ought to be Gaussian. However, Keating, Marklof, and Winn formulated a conjecture that suggested that Šeba billiards with irrational aspect ratio violate the random wave conjecture, and we show that this is indeed the case. More precisely, for tori having diophantine aspect ratio, we construct a subsequence of the set of new eigenfunctions having even/even symmetry, of essentially full density, and show that its 4th moment is not consistent with a Gaussian value distribution. In fact, given any set $\Lambda $ interlacing with the set of unperturbed eigenvalues, we show non-Gaussian value distribution of the Green’s functions $G_{\lambda }$, for $\lambda $ in an essentially full density subsequence of $\Lambda $.
Deformed Double Current Algebras via Deligne Categories
Authors: Kalinov Daniil 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we give an alternative construction of a certain class of deformed double current algebras. These algebras are deformations of $ U(\textrm {End}(\Bbbk ^r)[x,y]) $ and they were initially defined and studied by N. Guay in his papers. Here, we construct them as algebras of endomorphisms in Deligne category. We do this by taking an ultraproduct of spherical subalgebras of the extended Cherednik algebras of finite rank.
A method for well log data generation based on a spatio-temporal neural network
Authors: Wang Jun , Cao Junxing , You Jiachun , Cheng Ming , Zhou Peng 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Well logging helps geologists find hidden oil, natural gas and other resources. However, well log data are systematically insufficient because they can only be obtained by drilling, which involves costly and time-consuming field trials. Additionally, missing or distorted well log data are common in old oilfields owing to shutdowns, poor borehole conditions, damaged instruments and so on. As a workaround, pseudo-data can be generated from actual field data. In this study, we propose a spatio-temporal neural network (STNN) algorithm, which is built by leveraging the combined strengths of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a long short-term memory network (LSTM). The STNN exploits the ability of the CNN to effectively extract features related to pseudo-well log data and the ability of the LSTM to extract the key features from well log data along the depth direction. The STNN method allows full consideration of the well log data trend with depth, the correlation across different log series and the actual depth accumulation effect. The method proved successful in predicting acoustic sonic log data from gamma-ray, density, compensated neutron, formation resistivity and borehole diameter logs. Results show that the proposed method achieves higher prediction accuracy because it takes into account the spatio-temporal information of well logs.
Temporal Analysis of Effective Population Size and Mating System in a Social Wasp
Authors: Dyson Carl J , Piscano Olivia L , Durham Rebecca M , Thompson Veronica J , Johnson Catherine H , Goodisman Michael A D 
Published: September 2021

AbstractHighly social species are successful because they cooperate in obligately integrated societies. We examined temporal genetic variation in the eusocial wasp Vespula maculifrons to gain a greater understanding of evolution in highly social taxa. First, we wished to test if effective population sizes of eusocial species were relatively low due to the reproductive division of labor that characterizes eusocial taxa. We thus estimated the effective population size of V. maculifrons by examining temporal changes in population allele frequencies. We sampled the genetic composition of a V. maculifrons population at 3 separate timepoints spanning a 13-year period. We found that effective population size ranged in the hundreds of individuals, which is similar to estimates in other, non-eusocial taxa. Second, we estimated levels of polyandry in V. maculifrons in different years to determine if queen mating system varied over time. We found no significant change in the number or skew of males mated to queens. In addition, mating skew was not significant within V. maculifrons colonies. Therefore, our data suggest that queen mate number may be subject to stabilizing selection in this taxon. Overall, our study provides novel insight into the selective processes operating in eusocial species by analyzing temporal genetic changes within populations.