bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of eastern vs. central Pacific El Niño on Northern Hemisphere photosynthetic seasonality
Authors: Dannenberg Matthew P , Johnston Miriam R 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects many climatic controls on vegetation activity, driving interannual variation in timing (phenology) and magnitude of terrestrial carbon uptake. However, the climatic effects of ENSO can differ for sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies primarily centered in the eastern vs. central Pacific (EP and CP, respectively). Here, we examine the extent to which EP and CP SST anomalies affect Northern Hemisphere photosynthetic seasonality and whether their effects differ. Using two decades of satellite near-infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRv) and FLUXNET2015 gross primary production, we estimated annual 0.05° start and end of growing season timing corresponding to the onset and offset of photosynthetic activity, as well as peak NIRv magnitude as a proxy for peak growing season productivity. We find that correlations between Northern Hemisphere photosynthetic timing/magnitude and ENSO differ for EP- and CP-centered SST anomalies, though in many regions the effects and differences between them are quite small. Warmer SSTs generally led to an earlier start of the photosynthetic season, especially in North America and parts of Eurasia. However, the magnitude (and even direction) of the relationships between start of season and SST differed for CP- and EP-dominated events. Correlations of both peak NIRv magnitude and end of season timing with ENSO tended to be smaller in magnitude and more regionally idiosyncratic, though with strong evidence of different effects of CP and EP SSTs. In southern North America, CP SSTs (but not EP SSTs) were positively associated with peak NIRv, while in boreal regions of North America and Eurasia, CP SSTs were negatively associated with peak NIRv (despite small positive associations with EP SSTs). Differences between the effects of EP and CP SST anomalies suggest that short-term vegetation forecasts based on aggregate ENSO indices could be improved by separately considering the EP and CP components.
The Existence of Designs via Iterative Absorption: Hypergraph 𝐹-designs for Arbitrary 𝐹
Authors: Glock Stefan , Kühn Daniela , Lo Allan , Osthus Deryk 
Published: April 2023

We solve the existence problem for

F
F

-designs for arbitrary

r
r

-uniform hypergraphs

F
F

. This implies that given any

r
r

-uniform hypergraph

F
F

, the trivially necessary divisibility conditions are sufficient to guarantee a decomposition of any sufficiently large complete

r
r

-uniform hypergraph into edge-disjoint copies of

F
F

, which answers a question asked e.g. by Keevash. The graph case

r
=
2

r=2

was proved by Wilson in 1975 and forms one of the cornerstones of design theory. The case when

F
F

is complete corresponds to the existence of block designs, a problem going back to the 19th century, which was recently settled by Keevash. In particular, our argument provides a new proof of the existence of block designs, based on iterative absorption (which employs purely probabilistic and combinatorial methods).

Our main result concerns decompositions of hypergraphs whose clique distribution fulfills certain regularity constraints. Our argument allows us to employ a ‘regularity boosting’ process which frequently enables us to satisfy these constraints even if the clique distribution of the original hypergraph does not satisfy them. This enables us to go significantly beyond the setting of quasirandom hypergraphs considered by Keevash. In particular, we obtain a resilience version and a decomposition result for hypergraphs of large minimum degree.
Recent advances in differential expression analysis for single-cell RNA-seq and spatially resolved transcriptomic studies
Authors: Guo Xiya , Ning Jin , Chen Yuanze , Liu Guoliang , Zhao Liyan , Fan Yue , Sun Shiquan 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Differential expression (DE) analysis is a necessary step in the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) data. Unlike traditional bulk RNA-seq, DE analysis for scRNA-seq or SRT data has unique characteristics that may contribute to the difficulty of detecting DE genes. However, the plethora of DE tools that work with various assumptions makes it difficult to choose an appropriate one. Furthermore, a comprehensive review on detecting DE genes for scRNA-seq data or SRT data from multi-condition, multi-sample experimental designs is lacking. To bridge such a gap, here, we first focus on the challenges of DE detection, then highlight potential opportunities that facilitate further progress in scRNA-seq or SRT analysis, and finally provide insights and guidance in selecting appropriate DE tools or developing new computational DE methods.
Implementation of Low-Barrier Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care: Lessons Learned From the Max Clinic in Seattle
Authors: Dombrowski Julia C , Ramchandani Meena S , Golden Matthew R 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Low-barrier care (LBC) for people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a differentiated service delivery strategy to engage people in HIV treatment who are not well-engaged in conventionally organized HIV medical care. The LBC approach is flexible, but experience suggests that the intervention has distinct core components. This review summarizes our experience implementing one model of LBC, the Max Clinic in Seattle; describes the core components of the intervention; and presents a framework for implementing low-barrier HIV care with the goal of providing a practical guide for clinical and public health leaders seeking to implement a new LBC program. A systematic approach to addressing key factors during LBC implementation can support practitioners to design an LBC approach that fits the local context while maintaining essential elements of the intervention.
Leveraging Unique Chromosomal Microarray Probes to Accurately Detect Copy Number at the Highly Homologous 15q15.3 Deafness-Infertility Syndrome Locus
Authors: Sack Laura M , Mertens Lauren , Murphy Elissa , Hutchinson Laura , Giersch Anne B S , Mason-Suares Heather 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background
Biallelic deletions at 15q15.3, including STRC and CATSPER2, cause autosomal recessive deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS), while biallelic deletions of STRC alone cause nonsyndromic hearing loss. These deletions are among the leading genetic causes of mild–moderate hearing loss, but their detection using chromosomal microarray (CMA) is impeded by a tandem duplication containing highly homologous pseudogenes. We sought to assess copy number variant (CNV) detection in this region by a commonly-employed CMA platform.

Methods
Twenty-two specimens with known 15q15.3 CNVs, determined by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), were analyzed by CMA. To investigate the impact of pseudogene homology on CMA performance, a probe-level analysis of homology was performed, and log2 ratios of unique and pseudogene-homologous probes compared.

Results
Assessment of 15q15.3 CNVs by CMA compared to ddPCR revealed 40.9% concordance, with frequent mis-assignment of zygosity by the CMA automated calling software. Probe-level analysis of pseudogene homology suggested that probes with high homology contributed to this discordance, with significant differences in log2 ratios between unique and pseudogene-homologous CMA probes. Two clusters containing several unique probes could reliably detect CNVs involving STRC and CATSPER2, despite the noise of surrounding probes, discriminating between homozygous vs heterozygous losses and complex rearrangements. CNV detection by these probe clusters showed 100% concordance with ddPCR.

Conclusions
Manual analysis of clusters containing unique CMA probes without significant pseudogene homology improves CNV detection and zygosity assignment in the highly homologous DIS region. Incorporation of this method into CMA analysis and reporting processes can improve DIS diagnosis and carrier detection.
Mobility and Security Aware Real-Time Task Scheduling in Fog-Cloud Computing for IoT Devices: A Fuzzy-Logic Approach
Authors: Ali Hala S , Sridevi R 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
This paper aims to improve the overall task processing time of mobile real-time Internet of Things (IoT) applications in fog-cloud computing, considering the various resource and security requirements along with the time constraints of the task. Fog computing extends the cloud resources to serve the IoT devices at the network edge. In such a scenario, deciding whether the tasks should be processed at the fog layer or submitted to the cloud is critical. Moreover, for real-time applications, the mobility of IoT devices and the limited bandwidth available at the edge devices endanger the low processing time of the task. Besides, the security demands of some IoT applications (i.e. healthcare) require processing the tasks by specific fog or cloud servers to assure confidentiality of information, which may also delay the task processing time. Therefore, we first address the mobility issue by proposing three different algorithms that work on allocating the mobile IoT device to the appropriate edge device (i.e. fog gateway), considering the distance and bandwidth load factors. Then, we offer a novel task scheduling algorithm that uses fuzzy logic to optimize the distribution of tasks between the fog and cloud layers, considering the task security requirements. The algorithm selects the proper processing unit to execute the task in the fog layer by exploiting the task demands (i.e. computation, storage, bandwidth, security) and deadline. Results demonstrate that considering the factors of distance and available bandwidth load while allocating the IoT device to the fog gateway improves the task processing time better than adopting one aspect. Results also show that our proposed scheduling algorithm outperforms other existing algorithms regarding makespan, turnaround time, success ratio and processing time metrics.
Vascular mechanisms of post-COVID-19 conditions: Rho-kinase is a novel target for therapy
Authors: Sykes Robert A , Neves Karla B , Alves-Lopes Rhéure , Caputo Ilaria , Fallon Kirsty , Jamieson Nigel B , Kamdar Anna , Legrini Assya , Leslie Holly , McIntosh Alasdair , McConnachie Alex , Morrow Andrew , McFarlane Richard W , Mangion Kenneth , McAbney John , Montezano Augusto C , Touyz Rhian M , Wood Colin , Berry Colin 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background
In post-coronavirus disease-19 (post-COVID-19) conditions (long COVID), systemic vascular dysfunction is implicated, but the mechanisms are uncertain, and the treatment is imprecise.

Methods and results
Patients convalescing after hospitalization for COVID-19 and risk factor matched controls underwent multisystem phenotyping using blood biomarkers, cardiorenal and pulmonary imaging, and gluteal subcutaneous biopsy (NCT04403607). Small resistance arteries were isolated and examined using wire myography, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and spatial transcriptomics. Endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside) and -dependent (acetylcholine) vasorelaxation and vasoconstriction to the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist, U46619, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the presence or absence of a RhoA/Rho-kinase inhibitor (fasudil), were investigated. Thirty-seven patients, including 27 (mean age 57 years, 48% women, 41% cardiovascular disease) 3 months post-COVID-19 and 10 controls (mean age 57 years, 20% women, 30% cardiovascular disease), were included. Compared with control responses, U46619-induced constriction was increased (P = 0.002) and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation was reduced in arteries from COVID-19 patients (P &lt; 0.001). This difference was abolished by fasudil. Histopathology revealed greater collagen abundance in COVID-19 arteries {Masson's trichrome (MT) 69.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 67.8–71.7]; picrosirius red 68.6% [95% CI: 64.4–72.8]} vs. controls [MT 64.9% (95% CI: 59.4–70.3) (P = 0.028); picrosirius red 60.1% (95% CI: 55.4–64.8), (P = 0.029)]. Greater phosphorylated myosin light chain antibody-positive staining in vascular smooth muscle cells was observed in COVID-19 arteries (40.1%; 95% CI: 30.9–49.3) vs. controls (10.0%; 95% CI: 4.4–15.6) (P &lt; 0.001). In proof-of-concept studies, gene pathways associated with extracellular matrix alteration, proteoglycan synthesis, and viral mRNA replication appeared to be upregulated.

Conclusion
Patients with post-COVID-19 conditions have enhanced vascular fibrosis and myosin light change phosphorylation. Rho-kinase activation represents a novel therapeutic target for clinical trials.
Effects and Mechanisms of CEO Quality in Public Education
Authors: Lavy Victor , Rachkovski Genia , Boiko Adi 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
‘CEOs’ of public schools in many countries have authority and responsibilities that can greatly affect the quality of schooling. This paper estimates the impact of CEOs on student outcomes in Israeli elementary schools. We estimate CEO quality in two ways—once using schools that do not switch CEOs and once using schools that do. We show that switches are exogenous and are not correlated with potential outcomes. CEO quality positively affects students’ test scores and behavioural outcomes, with pronounced effects for disadvantaged schools. Potential mechanisms show that high-quality CEOs lead to improvements in school priorities, working procedures and violence reduction.
Evolution, coronary artery bypass surgery and outcomes of right ventricular dysfunction in ischaemic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhou Zhuoming , Jian Bohao , Fu Guangguo , Liu Haoliang , Huang Yang , Feng Zicong , Huang Suiqing , Li Huayang , Liang Mengya , Wu Zhongkai 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Whether the presence or evolution of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) affects the prognosis and the therapeutic choice between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or medical therapy alone in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) remains unclear. We investigate the prognostic and therapeutic implications of RVD in patients with ICM.

METHODS
Patients with baseline echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) assessment were included from the Surgical Treatment of Ischaemic Heart Failure trial. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS
Of 1212 patients enrolled in the Surgical Treatment of Ischaemic Heart Failure trial, 1042 patients were included, with 143 (13.7%) mild RVD and 142 (13.6%) moderate-to-severe RVD. After a median follow-up of 9.8 years, compared with patients with normal RV function, patients with RVD had a higher risk of mortality [mild RVD: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.65; moderate-to-severe RVD: aHR, 1.75; 95% CI 1.40–2.19]. Among patients with moderate-to-severe RVD, CABG provided no additional survival benefits compared to medical therapy alone (aHR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.67–1.43). Among 746 patients with pre- and post-therapeutic RV assessment, a gradient risk for death increased from patients with consistent normal RV function, to patients with recovery from RVD, new-onset RVD and persistent RVD.

CONCLUSIONS
RVD was associated with a worse prognosis in patients with ICM, and CABG provided no additional survival benefits to patients with moderate-to-severe RVD. The evolution of RV function had important prognostic implications, which emphasized the importance of both pre- and post-therapeutic RV assessment.
Disruption and selection: the income gradient in mortality among natives and migrants in Sweden
Authors: Östergren Olof , Rehnberg Johan , Lundberg Olle , Miething Alexander 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background
The income gradient in mortality is generated through an interplay between socio-economic processes and health over the life course. International migration entails the displacement of an individual from one context to another and may disrupt these processes. Furthermore, migrants are a selected group that may adopt distinct strategies and face discrimination in the labour market. These factors may have implications for the income gradient in mortality. We investigate whether the income gradient in mortality differs by migrant status and by individual-level factors surrounding the migration event.

Methods
We use administrative register data comprising the total resident population in Sweden aged between 30 and 79 in 2015 (n = 5.7 million) and follow them for mortality during 2015–17. We estimate the income gradient in mortality by migrant status, region of origin, age at migration and country of education using locally estimated scatterplot smoothing and Poisson regression.

Results
The income gradient in mortality is less steep among migrants compared with natives. This pattern is driven by lower mortality among migrants at lower levels of income. The gradient is less steep among distant migrants than among close migrants, migrants that arrived as adults compared with children and migrants that received their education in Sweden as opposed to abroad.

Conclusions
Our results are consistent with the notion that income inequalities in mortality are generated through life-course processes that may be disrupted by migration. Data restrictions prevent us from disentangling life-course disruption from selection into migration, discrimination and labour market strategies.
Different species of Bradyrhizobium from symbiovars genistearum and retamae nodulate the endemic Retama dasycarpa in the High Atlas Mountains
Authors: Lamrabet Mouad , Chaddad Zohra , Bouhnik Omar , Alami Soufiane , Kaddouri Kaoutar , Bennis Meryeme , Lamin Hanane , Mnasri Bacem , Bourgerie Sylvain , Morabito Domenico , Abdelmoumen Hanaa , Bedmar Eulogio J , Missbah El Idrissi Mustapha 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Retama dasycarpa is an endemic Retama species native to the cold semi-arid bioclimates of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. In this work, we analyzed the diversity of the microsymbionts nodulating this plant and their different phenotypic and symbiotic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the tested isolates clustered in the Bradyrhizobium genus. Multilocus sequence analyses of four housekeeping genes (recA, gyrB, glnII and atpD) for 12 selected strains grouped them into four clusters close to B. lupini USDA 3051T, B. frederickii CNPSo 3446T, B. valentinum LmjM3T and B. retamae Ro19T. The individual phylogenies of these core genes and the symbiotic genes nodC, nodA and nifH were congruent. These isolates showed a broad host range, being able to nodulate different legume hosts, such as R. sphaerocarpa, R. monosperma, Lupinus luteus, Cytisus grandiflorus andChamaecytisus albidus, but not Phaseolus vulgaris or Glycine max. They all had a similar metabolic capacity, using the majority of the carbohydrates and amino acids tested as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. Furthermore, out of the 12 selected strains, some displayed plant growth-promoting features, with six of them solubilizing phosphate and three of them producing siderophores. The present work provides, for the first time, a detailed description about the microsymbionts associated with the endemic legume R. dasycarpa.
Polarity of c-di-GMP synthesis and degradation
Authors: Kreiling Vanessa , Thormann Kai M 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe bacterial cell pole has long been recognized as a defined compartment for enzymatic activities that are important or even vital for the cell. Polarity of diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases, enzymes that synthesize and degrade the second messenger c-di-GMP, has now been demonstrated for several bacterial systems. Here we review these polar regulatory systems and show how the asymmetry of c-di-GMP production and turnover in concert with different modes of activation and deactivation creates heterogeneity in cellular c-di-GMP levels. We highlight how this heterogeneity generates a diverse set of phenotypic identities or states and how this may benefit the cell population, and we discuss reasons why the polarity of c-di-GMP signaling is probably widespread among bacteria.
Causes and consequences of linkage disequilibrium among transposable elements within eukaryotic genomes
Authors: Roze Denis 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Sex and recombination can affect the dynamics of transposable elements (TEs) in various ways: while sex is expected to help TEs to spread within populations, the deleterious effect of ectopic recombination among transposons represents a possible source of purifying selection limiting their number. Furthermore, recombination may also increase the efficiency of selection against TEs by reducing selective interference among loci. In order to better understand the effects of recombination and reproductive systems on TE dynamics, this article provides analytical expressions for the linkage disequilibrium among TEs in a classical model in which TE number is stabilized by synergistic purifying selection. The results show that positive linkage disequilibrium is predicted in infinite populations despite negative epistasis, due to the effect of the transposition process. Positive linkage disequilibrium may substantially inflate the variance in the number of elements per genome in the case of partially selfing or partially clonal populations. Finite population size tends to generate negative linkage disequilibrium (Hill–Robertson effect), the relative importance of this effect increasing with the degree of linkage among loci. The model is then extended in order to explore how TEs may affect selection for recombination. While positive linkage disequilibrium generated by transposition generally disfavors recombination, the Hill–Robertson effect may represent a non-negligible source of indirect selection for recombination when TEs are abundant. However, the direct fitness cost imposed by ectopic recombination among elements generally drives the population towards low-recombination regimes, at which TEs cannot be maintained at a stable equilibrium.
Predictors of Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Older Adults With Apnea and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Richards Kathy C , Lozano Alicia J , Morris Jennifer , Moelter Stephen T , Ji Wenyan , Vallabhaneni Vani , Wang Yanyan , Chi Luqi , Davis Eric M , Cheng Cindy , Aguilar Vanessa , Khan Sneha , Sankhavaram Mira , Hanlon Alexandra L , Wolk David A , Gooneratne Nalaka 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background
Almost 60% of adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may delay cognitive decline, but CPAP adherence is often suboptimal. In this study, we report predictors of CPAP adherence in older adults with aMCI who have increased odds of progressing to dementia, particularly due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods
The data are from Memories 2, “Changing the Trajectory of Mild Cognitive Impairment with CPAP Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” Participants had moderate to severe OSA, were CPAP naïve, and received a telehealth CPAP adherence intervention. Linear and logistic regression models examined predictors.

Results
The 174 participants (mean age 67.08 years, 80 female, 38 Black persons) had a mean apnea–hypopnea index of 34.78, and 73.6% were adherent, defined as an average of ≥4 hours of CPAP use per night. Only 18 (47.4%) Black persons were CPAP adherent. In linear models, White race, moderate OSA, and participation in the tailored CPAP adherence intervention were significantly associated with higher CPAP use at 3 months. In logistic models, White persons had 9.94 times the odds of adhering to CPAP compared to Black persons. Age, sex, ethnicity, education, body mass index, nighttime sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and cognitive status were not significant predictors.

Conclusions
Older patients with aMCI have high CPAP adherence, suggesting that age and cognitive impairment should not be a barrier to prescribing CPAP. Research is needed to improve adherence in Black patients, perhaps through culturally tailored interventions.