bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term annual climate trends around the Breton Plots area, Alberta: is there any evidence of local climate change?
Authors: Mapfumo Emmanuel , Chanasyk David S. , Puurveen Dick 
Published: February 2023

The objective of this research was to investigate the long-term trends in historical climate variables using the data collected near the classical Breton Plots (Alberta, Canada) and to determine if the data show any evidence of local climate change. The climate data used for the study were obtained from the Alberta Climate Information Service for the years 1901–2020. Various parametric statistical analyses were conducted to determine if monotonic trends occurred in the climate variables over time, and the analyses were conducted on the annual data as well as the 30 year climate normals. Large fluctuations in annual climate variables occurred, but a positive linear trend was observed in the average annual and growing season minimum air temperatures over time. Between 1901 and 2020 the annual minimum air temperature average increased at a rate of 0.3 °C for every 10 years. During the winter periods (December, January, and February, inclusive) from 1901 to 2020, the minimum air temperature average increased at an even higher rate of 0.5 °C every 10 years. Overall, the 30 year climate normals for minimum and maximum air temperatures increased for most seasons. The rates of increase were largest over the winter period, at 0.5 °C every 10 years for minimum air temperature and at 0.3 °C every 10 years for maximum air temperature. Strong linear increases occurred over time for growing degree days, number of frost-free days, total annual precipitation, growing season precipitation, and off-season precipitation.
Finding Deviated Behaviors of the Compressed DNN Models for Image Classifications
Authors: Tian Yongqiang , Zhang Wuqi , Wen Ming , Cheung Shing-Chi , Sun Chengnian , Ma Shiqing , Jiang Yu 
Published: February 2023

Model compression can significantly reduce the sizes of deep neural network (DNN) models and thus facilitate the dissemination of sophisticated, sizable DNN models, especially for deployment on mobile or embedded devices. However, the prediction results of compressed models may deviate from those of their original models. To help developers thoroughly understand the impact of model compression, it is essential to test these models to find thosedeviated behaviorsbefore dissemination. However, this is a non-trivial task, because the architectures and gradients of compressed models are usually not available.To this end, we proposeDflare, a novel, search-based, black-box testing technique to automatically find triggering inputs that result in deviated behaviors in image classification tasks.Dflareiteratively applies a series of mutation operations to a given seed image until a triggering input is found. For better efficacy and efficiency,Dflaremodels the search problem as Markov Chains and leverages the Metropolis-Hasting algorithm to guide the selection of mutation operators in each iteration. Further,Dflareutilizes a novel fitness function to prioritize the mutated inputs that either cause large differences between two models’ outputs or trigger previously unobserved models’ probability vectors. We evaluatedDflareon 21 compressed models for image classification tasks with three datasets. The results show thatDflarenot only constantly outperforms the baseline in terms of efficacy but also significantly improves the efficiency:Dflareis 17.84×–446.06× as fast as the baseline in terms of time; the number of queries required byDflareto find one triggering input is only 0.186–1.937% of those issued by the baseline. We also demonstrated that the triggering inputs found byDflarecan be used to repair up to 48.48% deviated behaviors in image classification tasks and further decrease the effectiveness ofDflareon the repaired models.
Intertumoral Differences Dictate the Outcome of TGF-β Blockade on the Efficacy of Viro-Immunotherapy
Authors: Groeneveldt Christianne , van Ginkel Jurriaan Q. , Kinderman Priscilla , Sluijter Marjolein , Griffioen Lisa , Labrie Camilla , van den Wollenberg Diana J.M. , Hoeben Rob C. , van der Burg Sjoerd H. , ten Dijke Peter , Hawinkels Lukas J.A.C. , van Hall Thorbald , van Montfoort Nadine 
Published: February 2023

The absence of T cells in the tumor microenvironment of solid tumors is a major barrier to cancer immunotherapy efficacy. Oncolytic viruses, including reovirus type 3 Dearing (Reo), can recruit CD8+ T cells to the tumor and thereby enhance the efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies that depend on high T-cell density, such as CD3-bispecific antibody (bsAb) therapy. TGF-β signaling might represent another barrier to effective Reo&CD3-bsAb therapy due to its immunoinhibitory characteristics. Here, we investigated the effect of TGF-β blockade on the antitumor efficacy of Reo&CD3-bsAb therapy in the preclinical pancreatic KPC3 and colon MC38 tumor models, where TGF-β signaling is active. TGF-β blockade impaired tumor growth in both KPC3 and MC38 tumors. Furthermore, TGF-β blockade did not affect reovirus replication in both models and significantly enhanced the Reo-induced T-cell influx in MC38 colon tumors. Reo administration decreased TGF-β signaling in MC38 tumors but instead increased TGF-β activity in KPC3 tumors, resulting in the accumulation of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA+) fibroblasts. In KPC3 tumors, TGF-β blockade antagonized the antitumor effect of Reo&CD3-bsAb therapy, even though T-cell influx and activity were not impaired. Moreover, genetic loss of TGF-β signaling in CD8+ T cells had no effect on therapeutic responses. In contrast, TGF-β blockade significantly improved therapeutic efficacy of Reo&CD3-bsAb in mice bearing MC38 colon tumors, resulting in a 100% complete response. Further understanding of the factors that determine this intertumor dichotomy is required before TGF-β inhibition can be exploited as part of viroimmunotherapeutic combination strategies to improve their clinical benefit.Significance:Blockade of the pleiotropic molecule TGF-β can both improve and impair the efficacy of viro-immunotherapy, depending on the tumor model. While TGF-β blockade antagonized Reo&CD3-bsAb combination therapy in the KPC3 model for pancreatic cancer, it resulted in 100% complete responses in the MC38 colon model. Understanding factors underlying this contrast is required to guide therapeutic application.
Validity of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical, Mental, and Social Health Measures After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Implications for Patient Care
Authors: Hahn Elizabeth A. , Walsh Mary N. , Allen Larry A. , Lee Christopher S. , Denfeld Quin E. , Teuteberg Jeffrey J. , Beiser David G. , McIlvennan Colleen K. , Lindenfeld JoAnn , Klein Liviu , Adler Eric D. , Stehlik Josef , Ruo Bernice , Bedjeti Katy , Cummings Peter D. , Vela Alyssa M. , Grady Kathleen L. 
Published: February 2023

Background:
A better understanding is needed of the burdens and benefits of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on patients’ physical, mental, and social well-being. The purpose of this report was to evaluate the validity of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures for LVAD patients and to estimate clinically important score differences likely to have implications for patient treatment or care.

Methods:
Adults from 12 sites across all US geographic regions completed PROMIS measures ≥3 months post-LVAD implantation. Other patient-reported outcomes (eg, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 item), clinician ratings, performance tests, and clinical adverse events were used as validity indicators. Criterion and construct validity and clinically important differences were estimated with Pearson correlations, ANOVA methods, and Cohen d effect sizes.

Results:

Participants’ (n=648) mean age was 58 years, and the majority were men (78%), non-Hispanic White people (68%), with dilated cardiomyopathy (55%), long-term implantation strategy (57%), and New York Heart Association classes I and II (54%). Most correlations between validity indicators and PROMIS measures were medium to large (≥0.3;
p
<0.01). Most validity analyses demonstrated medium-to-large effect sizes (≥0.5) and clinically important differences in mean PROMIS scores (up to 14.8 points). Ranges of minimally important differences for 4 PROMIS measures were as follows: fatigue (3–5 points), physical function (2–3), ability to participate in social roles and activities (3), and satisfaction with social roles and activities (3–5).

Conclusions:
The findings provide convincing evidence for the relevance and validity of PROMIS physical, mental, and social health measures in patients from early-to-late post-LVAD implantation. Findings may inform shared decision-making when patients consider treatment options. Patients with an LVAD, their caregivers, and their clinicians should find it useful to interpret the meaning of their PROMIS scores in relation to the general population, that is, PROMIS may help to monitor a return to normalcy in everyday life.
Significant Improvement in Blood Pressure Levels Among Older Adults With Hypertension in Rural South Africa
Authors: Ferro Enrico G. , Abrahams-Gessel Shafika , Kapaon David , Houle Brian , Toit Jacques Du , Wagner Ryan G. , Gómez-Olivé F. Xavier , Wade Alisha N. , Kabudula Chodziwadziwa W. , Tollman Stephen , Gaziano Thomas A. 
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:
Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing an epidemiologic transition from infectious diseases to cardiovascular diseases. From 2014 to 2019, sociodemographic surveillance was performed in a large cohort in rural South Africa.

METHODS:
Disease prevalence and incidence were calculated using inverse probability weights. Poisson regression was used to identify disease predictors. The percentage of individuals with controlled (<140/90 mm Hg) versus uncontrolled hypertension was compared between 2014 and 2019.

RESULTS:

Compared with 2014 (n=5059), study participants in 2019 (n=4176) had similar rates of obesity (mean body mass index, 27.5±10.0 versus 27.0±6.5) but higher smoking (9.1% versus 11.5%) and diabetes (11.1% versus 13.9%). There was no significant increase in hypertension prevalence (58.4% versus 59.8%; age adjusted, 64.3% versus 63.3%), and there was a significant reduction in mean systolic blood pressure (138.0 versus 128.5 mm Hg;
P
<0.001). Among hypertensive individuals who reported medication use in 2014 and 2019 (n=796), the proportion with controlled hypertension on medication increased from 44.5% to 62.3%. Hypertension incidence was 6.2 per 100 person-years, and age was the only independent predictor. Among normotensive individuals in 2014 (n=2257), 15.2% developed hypertension by 2019, with the majority already controlled on medications by 2019.

CONCLUSIONS:
The hypertension prevalence and incidence are plateauing in this aging cohort. There was a statistically and clinically significant decline in mean blood pressure and a substantial increase in individuals with controlled hypertension on medication. The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors did not decrease over time, suggesting that the blood pressure decrease is likely due to increased medication access and adherence, promoted by local health systems.
Host‐Microbiota Communication in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Generates Unique IgA‐Coated Gut Microbes
Authors: Li Jing , Richards Elaine M. , Tummala Ramakumar , Pepine Carl J. , Raizada Mohan K. , Yang Tao 
Published: February 2023

Background
Hypertension is associated with gut dysbiosis, altered intestinal immunity, and gut pathology in animal models and humans. Although these findings have implicated impaired interactions between gut and gut microbiota in hypertension, little is known about the specific functional gut microbes that interact with intestinal mucosa.

Methods and Results

To identify these microbes, we sorted Immunoglobin A (IgA)‐coated (IgA
+
) and IgA‐noncoated (IgA
−
) bacteria using a combination of magnetic‐activated cell sorting and fluorescence‐activated cell sorting, and subsequently performed 16 S rRNA gene sequencing (IgA‐SEQ) to determine the microbial composition of IgA
+
and IgA
−
fractions in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats. We observed a significant decrease in IgA
+
bacteria in SHR compared with Wistar Kyoto and a distinct composition of IgA
+
and IgA
−
bacteria between Wistar Kyoto and SHR, showing more IgA‐bound Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria but less of Firmicutes in SHR at the phylum level. We further identified enriched IgA‐coated
Romboutsia
,
Turicibacter
,
Ileibacterium
, and
Dubosiella
in SHR that were negatively correlated with the various pathways including antigen presentation, immune response, cell junction organization, epithelium development, and defense response to virus.

Conclusions
We demonstrate new IgA‐coated bacteria that participate in host‐microbiota communication in hypertension, suggesting promising therapeutic interventions targeting these bacteria for hypertension management.
CCL17 Protects Against Viral Myocarditis by Suppressing the Recruitment of Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Feng Guoshuai , Zhu Cuige , Lin Chieh‐Yu , Bredemeyer Andrea , Förster Irmgard , Kreisel Daniel , Lavine Kory J. 
Published: February 2023

Background
Viral myocarditis is characterized by leukocyte infiltration of the heart and cardiomyocyte death. We recently identified C‐C chemokine ligand (CCL) 17 as a proinflammatory effector of C‐C chemokine receptor 2–positive macrophages and dendritic cells that are recruited to the heart and contribute to adverse left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction and pressure overload.

Methods and Results

Mouse encephalomyocarditis virus was used to investigate the function of CCL17 in a viral myocarditis model.
Ccl17

Gfp

reporter and knockout mice were used to identify the cell types that express CCL17 and delineate the functional importance of CCL17 in encephalomyocarditis virus clearance and myocardial inflammation. Cardiac CCL17 was expressed in C‐C chemokine receptor 2–positive macrophages and dendritic cells following encephalomyocarditis virus infection. Colony‐stimulating factor 2 (granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor) signaling was identified as a key regulator of CCL17 expression.
Ccl17
deletion resulted in impaired encephalomyocarditis virus clearance, increased cardiomyocyte death, and higher mortality during infection early stage, and aggravated hypertrophy and fibrotic responses in infection long‐term stage. An increased abundance of regulatory T cells was detected in the myocardium of injured
Ccl17‐
deficient mice. Depletion of regulatory T cells in
Ccl17‐
deficient mice abrogated the detrimental role of CCL17 deletion by restoring interferon signaling.

Conclusions
Collectively, these findings identify CCL17 as an important mediator of the host immune response during cardiac viral infection early stage and suggest that CCL17 targeted therapies should be avoided in acute viral myocarditis.
The Impact of Dropsonde Data on the Performance of the NCEP Global Forecast System during the 2020 Atmospheric Rivers Observing Campaign. Part II: Dynamic Variables and Humidity
Authors: Lord Stephen J. , Wu Xingren , Tallapragada Vijay , Ralph F. M. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The impact of assimilating dropsonde data from the 2020 Atmospheric River (AR) Reconnaissance (ARR) field campaign on operational numerical weather forecasts was assessed. Two experiments were executed for the period from 24 January to 18 March 2020 using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecast System version 15 (GFSv15) with a four-dimensional hybrid ensemble–variational (4DEnVar) data assimilation system. The control run (CTRL) used all of the routinely assimilated data and included data from 628 ARR dropsondes, whereas the denial run (DENY) excluded the dropsonde data. Results from 17 intensive observing periods (IOPs) indicate a mixed impact for mean sea level pressure and geopotential height over the Pacific–North American (PNA) region in CTRL compared to DENY. The overall local impact over the U.S. West Coast and Gulf of Alaska for the 17 IOPs is neutral (−0.45%) for integrated vapor transport (IVT), but positive for wind and moisture profiles (0.5%–1.0%), with a spectrum of statistically significant positive and negative impacts for various IOPs. The positive dropsonde data impact on precipitation forecasts over U.S. West Coast domains appears driven, in part, by improved low-level moisture and wind fields at short-forecast lead times. Indeed, data gaps, especially for accurate and unbiased moisture profiles and wind fields, can be at least partially mitigated to improve U.S. West Coast precipitation forecasts.
Concordance in COVID-19 serology, bone mineralization, and inflammatory analytes between venous and self-collected capillary blood samples exposed to various pre-analytical conditions
Authors: Hosseini Banafshe , Dasari Harika , Smyrnova Anna , Bourassa Claude , Leng Jing , Renaud Christian , Ducharme Francine M 
Published: February 2023

Background The COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in demand for remote blood sampling in clinical trials. This study aims to ascertain the concordance between venous versus capillary samples, processed immediately or exposed to various pre-analytical conditions. Methods Participants (≥12 years old) provided a venous blood sample (processed immediately) and capillary samples allocated to one of the following conditions: processed immediately or exposed to 12-, 24-, or 36-h delays at room temperature or 36-h delays with a freeze-thaw cycle. The analytes of interest included SARS-CoV-2 IgG, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), alkaline phosphate (ALP), calcium (Ca), phosphate (Ph), and c-reactive protein (CRP). Paired samples were considered interchangeable if they met three criteria: minimal within-subject mean difference, 95% of values within desirable total errors, and inter-class correlation (ICC) > 0.90. Results 90 participants (44.1% male) were enrolled. When comparing rapidly processed venous with capillary samples, 25(OH)D, ALP, and CRP met all three criteria; SARS-CoV-2 IgG met two criteria (mean difference and ICC); and Ca and Ph met one criterion (mean difference). When considering all three criteria, concentrations of 25(OH)D, CRP, and ALP remained unchanged after delays of up to 36 h; SARS-CoV-2 IgG met two criteria (mean difference and ICC); Ca and Ph met one criterion (mean difference). Conclusion These findings suggest that remote blood collection devices can be used to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, 25(OH)D, CRP, and ALP. Further analysis is required to evaluate the interchangeability between venous and capillary testing in Ca and Ph levels, which are more sensitive to pre-analytical conditions.
Estimation for a Misspecified Cusp-Type Signal Driven by a Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Mishra M. N. , Prakasa Rao B. L. S. 
Published: February 2023

We study the problem of misspecification when the model proposed by the statistician (theoretical model) has a cusp-type singularity in the drift but the real model has a smooth drift function and the driving force is a fractional Brownian motion. AMS subject classification: Primary 60G22; Secondary 62M09
Dementia in custody: A historical and forensic approach
Authors: Vyshka Gentian , Seferi Arsen , Mana Tedi , Qatipi Ledia 
Published: February 2023

The constant ageing of the population extends to the population behind bars. We consider and summarise medical, ethical, legal and societal concerns raised when older adults with dementia are charged and put into custody. Dementia in custody is a relatively new concept in forensic science. When you take into account the adversarial nature of the judicial system and the hardship posed by correctional facilities, an older adult with severe cognitive problems will increases the complexity of the situation. The possibility of an octogenarian in cognitive decline being detained in police custody is less remote than it seemed half a century ago.
The Social Base of Bolsonarism: An Analysis of Authoritarianism in Politics
Authors: Chaguri Mariana Miggiolaro , do Amaral Oswaldo E. 
Published: February 2023

The cohesion and resilience of the social base supporting Jair Bolsonaro is backed by an authoritarian perception of politics and society. Support for the president runs through all sectors of Brazilian society and reflects a variety of demands. A multidisciplinary research strategy that articulates statistical analysis of data from an innovative national survey with a sociological approach to the construction of an authoritarian vision of politics and society in Brazil suggests that the authoritarian right is a political and electoral force that will persist and that it has several characteristics that distinguish it from conservative movements in the Global North. A coesão e resistência da base social que apoia a Bolsonaro são baseadas numa visão autoritária da política e da sociedade porque o apoio ao presidente se extende por todas as classes na sociedade brasileira e traz à tona uma diversidade de exigências. Uma estratégia multidisciplinária de pesquisa que articula uma análise estatística de dados colhidos de um levantamento nacional innovador com base numa aproximação sociológica voltada para a construção de uma ótica autoritária da política e da sociedade no Brasil constata que a direita autoritária persistirá como força política e eleitoral e que tem várias características as quais lhe distingue dos outros movimentos conservadores localizados nos países do norte global.
Investor Attention and Global Stock Market Volatility: Evidence from COVID-19
Authors: Padungsaksawasdi Chaiyuth , Treepongkaruna Sirimon 
Published: February 2023

This paper utilizes intraday five-minute stock market indices to investigate the causal relation between global stock market volatility and investor attention measured by the Google search volume index during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the bi-power variation method proposed by Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard (2004), we separate the realized volatility into two components: Continuous and Jump. Based on 5,583 stock indices-day observations, we find that investor attention is positively related to the realized volatility and its continuous component, but to a lesser extent to jumps. A growth in confirmed cases is positive to all measures of market volatility. Moreover, when the number of confirmed cases increases, more attentive investors reduce market volatility. Our findings are robust regarding various estimation approaches and are less likely to suffer from omitted variable biases and endogeneity concerns. Understanding the findings revealed in this paper is crucial to regulators and policymakers as warnings of additional risks facing retail investors around the globe over the extremely volatile periods. JEL Codes: G14; G15; G40; G41