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Introduction Methods Results Discussion and Conclusions In recent years gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use appears to have increased. This study aimed to determine: (i) population rates of GHB‐related death in Australia, 2001–2021; and (ii) whether there have been changes in the characteristics of GHB‐related death in Australia over the period 2001–2023.Retrospective study of all Australian cases in which GHB was a mechanism contributory to death retrieved from the National Coronial Information System (n = 217). Joinpoint regression models were used to analyse trends in overall rates.Death rates were stable between 2001 and 2015 (‘stable period’) (annual percent change [APC] = 3.7) but showed marked acceleration between 2016 and 2021 (‘accelerated period’) (APC = 44.4). Circumstances of death were: unintentional toxicity (81.6%), intentional toxicity (5.1%), self‐harm (6.0%), traumatic injury (7.4%). Compared to the stable period, later cases were slightly older (34.2 vs. 30.7 years, p < 0.05), less likely to be employed (odds ratio [OR] 0.4), but more likely to have substance use problems (OR 3.9), a history of injecting drug use (OR 3.5), mental health problems (OR 3.6), and to have present in their blood at toxicological screening opioids (OR 3.2) and hypnosedatives (OR 3.7). The median blood GHB concentration was 170 mg/L, (range 0–3210), which did not change significantly. There were no differences in major organ pathology, but the proportion with aspiration pneumonia declined (OR 0.4).GHB‐related death rates increased from 2016, accompanied by changes in case characteristics. In recent years GHB use appears to have extended to a population more likely to have substance use problems and use other respiratory depressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated the effect of a 381‐mm minimum length limit (MLL) on saugeye (female Walleye Sander vitreus × male Sauger S. canadensis) population and fishery characteristics implemented in Ohio reservoirs in 2011. Methods: Using a before‐after–control‐impact study design (n = 6 control populations and n = 11 impact populations that received the MLL), we compared total CPUE, age‐2+ CPUE, proportional stock density‐harvestable (381‐mm), and length at age 2 (to index growth) determined from standardized gill‐net surveys and saugeye angler effort, catch rate, harvest rate, length of saugeye at harvest, yield, and satisfaction obtained from standardized creel surveys. Result: We found evidence that the 381‐mm MLL led to an increase in age‐2+ CPUE but had no effect on other saugeye population metrics. In the regulation reservoirs, harvest rates declined following MLL implementation. Total length of harvested saugeye did not increase significantly in response to the MLL, and combined with decreased harvest rates, yield was suppressed in the regulation reservoirs relative to the control reservoirs. However, over 90% of anglers reported that they were satisfied with the MLL during creel surveys. Conclusion: Despite marginal influence on saugeye populations and failure to increase yield, anglers supported the MLL. Our results suggest that the effects of harvest regulations may be marginal, and managers should consider the nuances of angler satisfaction in regulation decisions. Impact statementFisheries management agencies commonly use minimum length limits to attempt to improve recreational fisheries; however, robust evaluations of regulation success are often lacking. In saugeye fisheries, minimum length limits minimally affected population size structure and angler yield but still received strong angler support. Fisheries managers should implement rigorous experimental designs in regulation evaluations and consider both biological and social effects of fishery regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Relapse is a clinical concern in dogs diagnosed with immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), thrombocytopenia (ITP), or polyarthritis (IMPA). The average time to relapse is unknown, and evidence that vaccination is associated with disease relapse is lacking. Hypothesis/Objectives: Compare the incidence of relapse in groups of dogs with IMHA, ITP, or IMPA over a 24‐month period after diagnosis and compare proportions of dogs that received vaccines in those dogs that did and did not relapse. Animals: One hundred sixty client‐owned dogs (73 with IMHA, 55 with ITP, 32 with IMPA). Methods: Medical records of dogs were reviewed with the goal of following cases for a minimum of 2 years. Incidence of relapse was calculated for each disease, and relapse rates in dogs that were or were not vaccinated after diagnosis were compared. Results: Relapse rates at 12 months differed significantly among disease groups (P =.02), with a higher rate for IMPA (35%) compared to IMHA (11%) or ITP (11%). Relapse rate at 24 months was 41% for IMPA, 18% for IMHA, and 23% for ITP. Ninety percent of IMPA relapses occurred in the first 12 months after diagnosis, compared with 56% for IMHA and 50% for ITP. Vaccine administration after diagnosis was not associated with relapse (P =.78). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Risk of disease relapse in IMPA is highest in the first year after diagnosis, with a higher relapse rate compared with IMHA and ITP. The role of vaccination in disease relapse remains unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, the Biden Administration issued mandates requiring COVID‐19 vaccinations for U.S. federal employees and contractors and for some healthcare and private sector workers. These mandates have been challenged in court; some have been halted or delayed. However, their costs and benefits have not been rigorously appraised. This study helps fill that gap. We estimate the direct costs and health‐related benefits that would have accrued if these vaccination requirements had been implemented as intended. Compared with the January 2022 vaccination rates, we find that the mandates could have led to 15 million additional vaccinated individuals, increasing the overall proportion of the fully vaccinated U.S. population from 64% to 68%. The associated net benefits depend on the subsequent evolution of the pandemic—information unavailable ex ante to analysts or policymakers. In scenarios involving the emergence of a novel, more transmissible variant, against which vaccination and previous infection offer moderate protection, the estimated net benefits are potentially large. They reach almost $20,000 per additional vaccinated individual, with more than 20,000 total deaths averted over the 6‐month period assessed. In scenarios involving a fading pandemic, existing vaccination‐acquired or infection‐acquired immunity provides sufficient protection, and the mandates' benefits are unlikely to exceed their costs. Thus, mandates may be most useful when the consequences of inaction are catastrophic. However, we do not compare the effects of mandates with alternative policies for increasing vaccination rates or for promoting other protective measures, which may receive stronger public support and be less likely to be overturned by litigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants living in low hepatitis C (HCV) prevalence countries bear a disproportionate HCV burden, but there are limited HCV population‐based studies focussed on this population. We estimated rates and trends of reported HCV diagnoses over a 20‐year period in Quebec, Canada, to investigate subgroups with the highest rates and changes over time. A population‐based cohort of all reported HCV diagnoses in Quebec (1998–2018) linked to health administrative and immigration databases. HCV rates, rate ratios (RR) and trends overall and stratified by immigrant status and country of birth were estimated using Poisson regression. Among 38,348 HCV diagnoses, 14% occurred in immigrants, a median of 7.5 years after arrival. The average annual HCV rate/100,000 decreased for immigrants and nonimmigrants, but the risk (RR) among immigrants increased over the study period [35.7 vs. 34.5 (RR = 1.03) and 18.4 vs. 12.7 (1.45) between 1998–2008 and 2009–2018]. Immigrants from middle‐income Europe & Central Asia [55.8 (RR = 4.39)], sub‐Saharan Africa [51.7 (RR = 4.06)] and South Asia [32.8 (RR = 2.58)] had the highest rates between 2009 and 2018. Annual HCV rates decreased more slowly among immigrants vs. nonimmigrants (−5.9% vs. −8.9%, p < 0.001), resulting in a 2.5‐fold (9%–21%) increase in the proportion of HCV diagnoses among immigrants (1998–2018). The slower decline in HCV rates among immigrants over the study period highlights the need for targeted screening for this population, particularly those from sub‐Saharan Africa, Asia and middle‐income Europe. These data can inform micro‐elimination efforts in Canada and other low‐HCV‐prevalence countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Northern Refuge of Lake Michigan was established under the auspices of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in 1985 as an additional step toward restoring a self‐sustaining Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush population to the lake. The overall goal of our study was to assess progress toward Lake Trout rehabilitation in the Northern Refuge through 2021. Methods: We conducted annual (1992–2021) gill‐net surveys in the fall to assess the adult population and beam trawl surveys in the spring to assess naturally reproduced age‐0 Lake Trout. Result: Spawner abundance averaged 45 fish • 305 m of gill net−1 • day−1 during 1992–1999, just 4 fish • 305 m of gill net−1 • day−1 during 2000–2014, and then 67 fish • 305 m of gill net−1 • day−1 during 2018–2021. Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus wounding rate decreased by nearly 90% between the 2000–2014 and 2015–2021 periods. The average annual mortality rate of adult Lake Trout decreased from 43% during the 1990s and 2000s to 22% during 2015–2021. All of these population dynamics were partly driven by changes in Lake Trout stocking rates, which declined by roughly 50% during 1994–1996 but then increased roughly twofold during 2006–2010 and remained at this higher level during 2010–2018. In 2021, early signs of natural recruitment of Lake Trout became evident. Beam trawling during June 2021 yielded a wild age‐0 Lake Trout, the first ever caught since the surveys began in 1992. In addition, 15 (4% of total catch) of the Lake Trout caught in the fall 2021 gill‐net survey were unclipped (wild) fish. Estimated ages of these wild fish indicated that natural recruitment had begun sometime around 2015. Conclusion: With Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus abundance in Lake Michigan at record low levels, Sea Lamprey wounding rate greatly reduced, and Lake Trout spawner abundance at relatively high levels, the outlook for Lake Trout rehabilitation in the Northern Refuge holds promise. Impact statementWe documented significant progress toward the goal of establishing a self‐sustaining Lake Trout population in the Northern Refuge of Lake Michigan during 2009–2021. Accomplishing this goal is a key step in stabilizing the ecosystem, but additional effort is still needed to reach the goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Overfishing and Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus predation led to extirpation of Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush from Lake Michigan in the 1950s. Large populations of hatchery‐reared fish were developed by the 1970s, but natural reproduction was limited until the early 2000s when it began to increase in the southern main basin. Hypothesizing that the relatively low mortality of spawning‐aged fish contributed to this reproductive success, we estimated the total annual mortality rate for this population. Methods: We used catch curves to estimate the total instantaneous mortality rate Z using coded wire tags, which provided definitive ages. We made separate estimates from fish collected in three on‐going surveys: a spring gill‐net survey, a fall gill‐net spawning survey, and a sport fishery survey. Result: Our estimates of Z ± SE were 0.297 ± 0.019, 0.239 ± 0.009, and 0.205 ± 0.007 for the spring, spawning, and sport fishery surveys, respectively. We suggest that the mean Z ± SE of all survey estimates of 0.247 ± 0.027 would be a reasonable estimate for this population, which equates to a total annual mortality of 22 ± 3%. This estimate is in the low range of rates reported for the species and is in the same range as other populations in the Great Lakes with well‐established natural reproduction. Conclusion: We concluded that these low total mortality rates contributed to the reproductive success in southern Lake Michigan through increasing spawning stock density and age structure and that previous estimates of another important population parameter, the instantaneous natural mortality rate M, were too high. Estimates of M ranged from 0.210 to 0.240 and were based on the Pauly equation, a growth‐ and temperature‐based estimator. We suggest maximum‐age‐based estimators of M are more appropriate for Lake Trout. Several alternative maximum‐age‐based estimators produced estimates for M of 0.132–0.058, all of which are more compatible with our estimate of Z. Impact statementFollowing a decades‐long stocking program, promising levels of naturally produced Lake Trout are emerging. We conclude that low total mortality rates contributed to the emerging natural reproduction in southern Lake Michigan through increasing spawning stock density and age structure, and that previous estimates of the background natural mortality rate were too high. This is an important finding for encouraging Lake Trout restoration elsewhere in the Great Lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen reconstructions of tree genera in North America since glaciation are available, but species distributions predicted for paleoclimate based on tree inventories may inform knowledge gaps. Here I examined the distributions of 25 species or species groups from 20 000 years ago (ka) to 5 ka to give potential paleoecological ranges of boreal and temperate tree species. I also assessed the effects of correlated climate variables on species distribution models for current and past climate, which were modeled with the non‐linear random forests classifier. Climate change alone was enough to create unique, species‐specific paths that did not run directly north. At 20 ka, black spruce (Picea mariana) occurred as far north as the ice sheet and most boreal species generally may have extended as far south as 32°N, or the northern southeastern United States. Temperate eastern species may have extended as far north as 39°N in low‐elevation locations and temperate eastern species displayed both continuous and clustered distributions across the southeastern United States. Rate of movement was 5.5 km per century between 20 and 14 ka, 13.3 km per century between 14 and 10 ka, and 3.25 km per century between 10 and 5 ka. Species retreated southward between 7 and 5 ka. Regarding correlation, models with all variables had greater accuracy than models with the two most important variables, which had greater accuracy than models with two variables of intermediate importance, demonstrating both reduced accuracy with omission of relevant variables and isolation of important variables that improve accuracy in models with correlated climate variables. Models from different climates identified the same two most important variables and ranked the remaining variables similarly, revealing robustness in the models over time. Distribution models agreed with pollen reconstructions regarding timing and rate of change, while generating detailed species‐specific information about movement trajectories and velocities, latitudinal extents, and distribution continuities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Programmed cell death‐1/ligand 1 inhibitors are a new treatment strategy for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Therefore, a comparative evaluation of their efficacy and toxicity compared with chemotherapy is necessary. Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases and performed a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials up to July 2021. We considered overall survival as the primary outcome, and progression‐free survival, objective response rate, and treatment‐related adverse events as secondary outcomes. Results: Overall, 3584 patients from five studies were evaluated. Compared with first‐line chemotherapy, programmed cell death‐1/ligand 1 inhibitors were significantly associated with worse progression‐free survival (p < 0.001) and adverse objective response rates (p < 0.001). However, the treatments were not significantly different in terms of overall survival (p = 0.33). Compared with second‐line chemotherapy, programmed cell death‐1/ligand 1 inhibitors significantly improved overall survival (p < 0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference in progression‐free survival (p = 0.89) or objective response rate (p = 0.34). Compared with chemotherapy, programmed cell death‐1/ligand 1 inhibitors were well tolerated (first‐line chemotherapy: p < 0.001; second‐line chemotherapy: p < 0.001). Conclusions: The efficacy of programmed cell death‐1/ligand 1 inhibitors in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma is not superior to that of first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy but is better than second‐line chemotherapy; however, programmed cell death‐1/ligand 1 inhibitors are safer than first‐ and second‐line chemotherapy and have a broader prospect for use in combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 vaccines have so far been the most powerful weapon in the current pandemic, yet many people still show hesitancy towards them. This paper is one of the first studies that examine the factors affecting the COVID‐19 vaccine uptake decision from a spatial perspective in Turkey. The study setting allows us to specify the spatial effects that are influential in this decision without which the true nature of the association between vaccination rates and various socio‐economic factors can be determined. Our findings reveal the existence of global spatial interactions in vaccination rates. In addition, age, the level of conservatism, and low education levels show spillovers that amplify their total effects on vaccination rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To (i) assess the population mortality rates of cocaine‐related deaths in Australia, 2000 to 2021; (ii) determine the circumstances of death and case characteristics; and (iii) determine their toxicological profile. Design: Retrospective study of cocaine‐related deaths in Australia, 2000 to 2021, retrieved from the National Coronial Information System. Setting: Australia‐wide. Cases A total of 884 cases, mean age = 33.8 (SD, 10.0) years and 86.5% (n = 765) male. Measurements Information was collected on characteristics, manner of death and toxicology. Only cases in which the presence of blood cocaine and/or metabolites were included. Findings Population rates did not significantly increase during 2001–2011 (annual percentage change [APC] = 1.5; CI, −3.2, 6.5), but from 2012, there was a marked acceleration (APC = 20.0, 95% CI, 15.5, 25.3). Circumstances of death were unintentional drug toxicity (70.7%, n = 625), intentional self‐harm (17.8%, n = 157), traumatic accident (11.5%, n = 102). The proportion of cases constituted by unintentional toxicity declined across the study period (APC = −2.6; CI, −3.1, −2.1). There was a substantial decline in the proportion of cases with a history of injecting drug use (APC = −5.7; CI, −6.5, −4.9) and with a history of substance use problems (APC = −3.2; CI, −3.9, −2.5). Both cocaine (0.100 vs 0.050 mg/L, P < 0.001) and benzoylecgonine (0.590 vs 0.240 mg/L, P < 0.001) concentrations were higher amongst toxicity cases than in cases of death from traumatic injury. Cocaethylene was present in 26.4% (n = 233), levamisole in 18.6% (n = 164) and lignocaine in 11.5% (n = 102). Psychoactive drugs in addition to cocaine were present in 92.9% (n = 821), most commonly opioids (50.5%, n = 446), alcohol (47.1%, n = 416), hypnosedatives (43.2%, n = 382) and psychostimulants (30.3%, n = 268). There was a steady decline in the proportion of opioid positive cases (APC = −5.4; CI, −6.3, −4.5). Conclusions: There was a large increase in cocaine‐related deaths across Australia from 2000 to 2021. This was accompanied by changes in case profiles, with histories of injecting drug use and substance use problems, as well as recent opioid use, becoming less prominent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic and government research regarding the affordability of household drinking water and sewer utility (water utility) costs have resulted in the development of several methodologies that have been tested at various geographic levels. A New Jersey study on potential household affordability stresses from water utility costs at or below the Census tract‐level estimates that approximately one‐fifth of all New Jersey households could face affordability stresses, assuming that they directly pay all water utility costs. The methodology is adapted from the Affordability Ratio method of Teodoro. The results show the potential for use of county‐level household essential expenditure estimates in areas with high‐density populations. They also show the value of the methodology as a basis for policy discussions regarding the severity and geographic distribution of affordability stresses, as the analysis clearly indicates that significant affordability stresses exist in many suburban municipalities and rural town centers, not just historic urban cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses an embedded survey experiment to evaluate the effects of issue framing on willingness to pay water and sewer rate increases. Government‐owned utilities require public support for financial resources, and so managers must communicate the value of their services to their customers. Water and wastewater utilities provide several benefits; little systematic evidence exists on which resonate with the public. In this study, respondents in a U.S. national survey were randomly assigned to one of four framing treatments in a question about support for a hypothetical rate increase: reduced pollution, safer drinking water, better tasting drinking water, and low‐income affordability. Compared with the other treatments, the safer drinking water framing yielded 11.2% greater average willingness to pay a rate increase. Multivariate analysis shows that Republican partisans and women responded especially positively to safe drinking water framing. Results have important implications for utilities' outreach and public communications efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) frequently complicates allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (allo‐HCT) and solid organ transplantation (SOT). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed risk factors and outcomes of CDI occurring within 30 days of transplant. Results: Between March 2010 and June 2015, 466 allo‐HCT and 1454 SOT were performed. The CDI cumulative incidence (95% CI) was 10% (8–13) and 4% (3–5), following allo‐HCT and SOT, respectively (p <.01), occurring at a median (range) 7.5 days (1–30) and 11 (1–30), respectively (p =.18). In multivariate analysis, fluoroquinolones use within 14 days pre‐transplantation was a risk factor for CDI following allo‐HCT (HR 4.06 [95% CI 1.31–12.63], p =.02), and thoracic organ(s) transplantation was a risk factor for CDI following SOT (HR 3.03 [95% CI 1.31–6.98]) for lung and 3.90 (1.58–9.63) for heart and heart/kidney transplant, p =.02. Compared with no‐CDI patients, the length of stay (LOS) was prolonged in both allo‐HCT (35 days [19–141] vs. 29 [13–164], p <.01) and SOT with CDI (16.5 [4–101] vs. 7 [0–159], p <.01), though not directly attributed to CDI. In allo‐HCT, severe acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) occurred more frequently in patients with CDI (33.3% vs. 15.8% without CDI, p =.01) and most aGVHD (87.5%) followed CDI. Non‐relapse mortality or overall survival, not attributed to CDI, were also similar in both allo‐HCT and SOT. Conclusions: Early post‐transplant CDI is frequent, associated with fluoroquinolones use in allo‐HCT and the transplanted organ in SOT, and is associated with longer LOS in both the groups without difference in survival but with increased aGVHD in allo‐HCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the state between normal cognition and dementia. This study objective was to estimate an average 1-year rate of conversion from MCI to dementia and explore the associated factors of conversion in a hospital-based cohort. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of participants with MCI was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Thailand. Two hundred fifty participants, 50 years of age or older, were enrolled. Results: An average 1-year conversion rate from MCI to dementia was 18.4%. MCI patients who converted to dementia were likely older (P<.001), predominantly female (P = .028), vitaminDdeficient (P = .012), and associated with lowerMini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores during first assessments (P < .001, P < .001 respectively) and follow-up assessments (P < .045, P < .001 respectively). We conducted two models of multivariate analysis, using binary logistic regression. In the first model, adjusted for age, sex, education, vitamin D deficiency, and first assessment MMSE scores, we found that underlying vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio [OR] = 3.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 9.44) and first assessment MMSE scores (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.93) were significantly associated with conversion to dementia. In the second model, adjusted for age, sex, education, vitamin D deficiency and first assessment MoCA scores, only first assessment MoCA scores (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.76) were significantly associated with conversion to dementia. Discussion: The 1-year conversion rate fromMCI to dementia was 18.4%. MMSE and MoCA were useful tools to assess baseline cognitive status in MCI patients and predict dementia progression. The association between vitamin D deficiency and risk of conversion from MCI to dementia requires further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost of providing water services is increasing, placing greater financial burdens on individual households and utilities. Five metrics were calculated at multiple volumes of water usage and were applied to 1791 utilities, estimating bills from 2020 rates data, to gauge financial burdens in four states. More than a fifth of the population in 77% of utilities was experiencing poverty, suggesting widespread poverty is a major contributor to utility financial capability challenges. The Income Dedicated to Water Service metric was developed to understand how many households share a similar financial burden, exploring both the depth and prevalence of affordability challenges. Depending on water use, a tenth to a third of households work more than a day each month to afford water bills. This approach and an interactive visualization tool bring greater transparency to understand the scale of affordability and financial capability challenges (https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/water-affordability/water-affordability-dashboard). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overfishing, bycatch, and habitat loss and alteration during the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century caused significant declines in Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus stock abundances along the Atlantic coast. To prevent further stock reductions, a coastwide harvest moratorium was implemented in 1998. With fishery‐dependent data unavailable to inform stock management, fishery‐independent surveys contribute vital information for monitoring population trends by providing data for evaluating the effectiveness of the moratorium and for informing recovery planning. In 2004, a standardized monitoring survey was developed to assess trends in the relative abundance of juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in the Hudson River, New York. The multimesh anchored gill‐net survey randomly sampled locations in soft, deep depositional areas of Haverstraw Bay from late February through early May. Predicted length‐at‐age relationships were used to infer annual age structure and to examine the relationships between age and annual catch rates. Generalized additive regression modeling was used to describe the relationships between the environmental variables and catch rates and to standardize the abundance index to account for variability in environmental conditions over time. Atlantic Sturgeon catch rates generally increased with increasing water temperature and salinity, and the standardized abundance index (accounting for environmental variability) was highly correlated with the nominal abundance index. In the 16 years of annual monitoring, there has been a significant increase in the relative abundance of juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon. The average catch rate in recent years (2012–2019) is more than twice that observed during the first 8 years (2004–2011) of the survey, as the effects of the moratorium are expected to be delayed due to the long maturation period of Atlantic Sturgeon. These trends suggest that juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in the Hudson River may be recovering in response to the moratorium and demonstrate the need for long‐term fisheries‐independent monitoring to document abundance trends in slow‐maturing, long‐lived species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of pests and diseases through trade is one of the main socioecological challenges worldwide. Targeted sampling at border security can efficiently provide information about biosecurity threats and also reduce pest entry risk. Prioritizing sampling effort requires knowing which pathways are most infested. However, border security inspection data are often right‐censored, as inspection agencies often only report that a consignment has failed inspection (i.e., there was at least one unit infested), not how many infested units were found. A method has been proposed to estimate the mean infestation rate of a pathway from such right‐censored data (Chen et al.). Using simulations and case study data from imported germplasm consignments inspected at the border, we show that the proposed method results in negatively biased estimates of the pathway infestation rate when the inspection data exhibit overdispersion (i.e., varying infestation rates among different consignments of the same pathway). The case study data also show that overdispersion is prevalent in real data sets. We demonstrate that the method proposed by Chen et al. recovers the median infestation rate of the pathway, rather than its mean. Therefore, it underpredicts the infestation rate when the data are overdispersed (in right‐skewed distributions, the mean is above the median). To allow better monitoring and optimizing sampling effort at the border, we recommend that border protection agencies report all the data (the number of infested units found together with the sample size of the inspection) instead of only that the consignment failed inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, there has been an increasing debate over the role of the Central Bank in targeting the policy objectives and the extent to which the targets can anchor the expectations. The present study seeks to identify the linkage between monetary policy and financial stability in India. The study, based on quarterly data from January 2001 to July 2018, finds that the financial sector allied variables (BSE SENSEX index, Exchange Rate and Index of Industrial Production) have shown significant response to shocks in the policy rate, that is, reverse repo rate, except for exchange rate variable that was taken as a proxy for external sector stability. Also in the short‐run, when a shock is imparted to the policy rate, the response of the exchange rate is insignificant. Other than that, the corporate sector along with real output growth and banking sector variables induces a significant change in policy rate when a shock is introduced. With variables responding in the ideal direction to shock in the policy rate, it is inferred that the movement is in line with what ideally should hold over time. This leads us to conclude that the monetary policy safeguards financial stability in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human challenge trials (HCTs) are a potential method to accelerate development of vaccines and therapeutics. However, HCTs for COVID‐19 pose ethical and practical challenges, in part due to the unclear and developing risks. In this article , we introduce an interactive model for exploring some risks of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐COV‐2) dosing study, a prerequisite for any COVID‐19 challenge trials. The risk estimates we use are based on a Bayesian evidence synthesis model which can incorporate new data on infection fatality risks (IFRs) to patients, and infer rates of hospitalization. The model estimates individual risk, which we then extrapolate to overall mortality and hospitalization risk in a dosing study. We provide a web tool to explore risk under different study designs. Based on the Bayesian model, IFR for someone between 20 and 30 years of age is 15.1 in 100,000, with a 95% uncertainty interval from 11.8 to 19.2, while risk of hospitalization is 130 per 100,000 (100–160). However, risk will be reduced in an HCT via screening for comorbidities, selecting lower‐risk population, and providing treatment. Accounting for this with stronger assumptions, we project the fatality risk to be as low as 2.5 per 100,000 (1.6–3.9) and the hospitalization risk to be 22.0 per 100,000 (14.0–33.7). We therefore find a 50‐person dosing trial has a 99.74% (99.8–99.9%) chance of no fatalities, and a 98.9% (98.3–99.3%) probability of no cases requiring hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overview: Stronger recovery will not unleash inflation ▀ Although we have upgraded our global GDP growth forecast for 2021 again, to 6.0% from 5.6%, we do not expect this to trigger a sustained rise in inflationary pressures. We still view the pandemic as being disinflationary and expect the low inflation/low yield environment of the past decade to persist.▀ The US looks set for an even bigger fiscal boost than we had expected a month ago, and its GDP growth is now seen at 7.0% this year. We expect the full $1.9trn of fiscal measures to be passed, rather than the $1.3trn package previously assumed. Strong US demand and a fall in global Covid cases bode well for the world economy.▀ However, a growing concern is that the ongoing substantial global fiscal support, combined with the release of pent‐up demand as restrictions are eased, may cause a sustained pick‐up in inflation. Although we expect some factors, many of which are a direct consequence of the pandemic, and rising oil prices to lead to higher headline inflation in the short term, we do not see a sustained overshoot of inflation targets.▀ First, fiscal policy is expected to be a bit tighter at a global level this year than in 2020 and, while households have built up large stocks of savings over the past year, the unwind is likely to be gradual and a large share of these unplanned savings may be permanently saved rather than spent.▀ Second, we do not see a strong argument why higher costs and inflation in the short term will lead to an inflationary spiral. Workers are in no position to push up wages in response to the near‐term rise in inflation. And while some sectors that have seen surges in demand during the pandemic may be able to pass on higher costs and even expand their margins, this will be offset by weaker price pressures among the sectoral losers from the pandemic.▀ Although a rise in bond yields from their record lows seems justified, we doubt central banks will come under pressure to raise policy rates any time soon to contain inflation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the United States engages in a trade war with its major trading partners, policymakers in developing countries face the 'traders' dilemma': should they join the trade war, stay out or do something different, including continuing to pursue regional trading arrangements? Using a global, general equilibrium model, we paper simulate an increase in U.S. tariffs to non‐MFN rates and retaliation in kind by its major trading partners—the European Union, China, Mexico, Canada and Japan. We consider four possible responses by developing countries to this trade war: (a) join the trade war; (b) do nothing; (c) form regional trading arrangements with all regions outside the United States; and (d) unilaterally liberalise tariffs on imports from the United States. We find that joining the trade war is the worst option for developing countries (twice as bad as doing nothing); and forming RTAs with non‐U.S. regions and liberalising tariffs on U.S. imports ("turning the other cheek") is the best. The reason is that a trade war between the United States and its major partners creates opportunities for developing countries to increase their exports to these markets. Liberalising tariffs increases developing countries' price competitiveness, enabling them to further capitalise on these opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is concerned with the semilinear wave equations with time‐dependent damping γ(t)=α/(1+t) (α>0), under the effect of nonlinear source f behaving like a polynomial, and subject to Neumann boundary conditions. Constructing appropriate auxiliary functions, we obtain an explicit uniform decay rate estimate for the solutions of the equation in terms of the exponent of f, when α is large enough. On the other hand, via a new hyperbolic version of Dirichlet quotients, we show that the upper estimate is optimal in some case, which implies the existence of slow solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of rate constants for consecutive irreversible reactions is a difficult and time‐consuming problem, especially when the research extends up to many subsequent products. Thus, the derivation of proper mathematical expressions would greatly facilitate the determination of these rate constants when only the rate constant of the first consecutive reaction is known. Many authors have dealt with this problem in the past but the issue is still of interest to the scientific community judging from recent publications. This paper aims at extending our knowledge of mathematical expressions for rate constant ratios of consecutive reactions to more than three reactions, as is the situation now, and offering a simple graphical estimation of the rate constant ratios exploiting the maxima of each intermediate product. Furthermore, the method extends to the derivation of a generic formula for the estimation of the rate constant ratios based on this graphical approach. This approach for the estimation of rate constant ratios based on mathematical expressions and graphical estimations was validated against experimental data found in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Rising nonresponse rates in social surveys make the issue of nonresponse bias contentious. There are conflicting messages about the importance of high response rates and the hazards of low rates. Some articles (e.g. Groves and Peytcheva, 2008) suggest that the response rate is in general not a good predictor of survey quality. Equally, it is well known that nonresponse may induce bias and increase data collection costs. We go back in the history of the literature of nonresponse and suggest a possible reason to the notion that even a rather small nonresponse rate makes the quality of a survey debatable. We also explore the relationship between nonresponse rate and bias, assuming non‐ignorable nonresponse and focusing on estimates of totals or means. We show that there is a 'safe area' enclosed by the response rate on the one hand and the correlation between the response propensity and the study variable on the other hand; in this area, (1) the response rate does not greatly affect the nonresponse bias, and (2) the nonresponse bias is small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper studies achieving the desired balance between the resource economic efficiency and user fairness in network traffic rate allocation management. Fairness is a basic requirement of different competing traffic users, while maximizing the economic efficiency of traffic rate resource is desired by the network system resource provider. Hence, how to balance these two respects to achieve the desired trade‐off is a key challenging issue in real applications. Particularly, we propose a weight mechanism to specify the rate allocation weight ratio among different competing traffic users and also a trade‐off factor mechanism to clarify the extent of fairness compromise. To optimize the system rate resource economic efficiency, we formulate an objective optimization problem with consideration of both user weight diversity and fairness trade‐off as well. We also derive the balance curve, which shows the rate resource economic efficiency improved in relation to the extent of traffic user fairness trade‐off. The demonstration models are also constructed to implemented to implement both the trade‐off acceptable and unacceptable cases in practical traffic rate resource allocation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For spherical and parabolic averages of the Fourier transform of fractal measures, we obtain new upper bounds on rates of decay by an 'intermediate dimension' trick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terminal alkyne coupling reactions promoted by rhodium(I) complexes of macrocyclic NHC‐based pincer ligands—which feature dodecamethylene, tetradecamethylene or hexadecamethylene wingtip linkers viz. [Rh(CNC‐n)(C2H4)][BArF4] (n=12, 14, 16; ArF=3,5‐(CF3)2C6H3)—have been investigated, using the bulky alkynes HC≡CtBu and HC≡CAr' (Ar'=3,5‐tBu2C6H3) as substrates. These stoichiometric reactions proceed with formation of rhodium(III) alkynyl alkenyl derivatives and produce rhodium(I) complexes of conjugated 1,3‐enynes by C−C bond reductive elimination through the annulus of the ancillary ligand. The intermediates are formed with orthogonal regioselectivity, with E‐alkenyl complexes derived from HC≡CtBu and gem‐alkenyl complexes derived from HC≡CAr', and the reductive elimination step is appreciably affected by the ring size of the macrocycle. For the homocoupling of HC≡CtBu, E‐tBuC≡CCH=CHtBu is produced via direct reductive elimination from the corresponding rhodium(III) alkynyl E‐alkenyl derivatives with increasing efficacy as the ring is expanded. In contrast, direct reductive elimination of Ar'C≡CC(=CH2)Ar' is encumbered relative to head‐to‐head coupling of HC≡CAr' and it is only with the largest macrocyclic ligand studied that the two processes are competitive. These results showcase how macrocyclic ligands can be used to interrogate the mechanism and tune the outcome of terminal alkyne coupling reactions, and are discussed with reference to catalytic reactions mediated by the acyclic homologue [Rh(CNC‐Me)(C2H4)][BArF4] and solvent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the impact of a multifaceted intervention on reducing the rate of cesarean section (CS) without negatively affecting the rate of perinatal mortality. Methods: A retrospective analysis of CS was performed before and after the implementation of a quality‐improvement (QI) intervention in a university‐affiliated teaching hospital in the Slovak Republic. All women who gave birth in 2015 (pre‐intervention) and 2018 (post‐intervention) were included. The different components of the intervention were introduced from September 2016. The main outcome was the overall rate of CS. A subanalysis by Robson groups was undertaken. Results: After the implementation of the QI intervention, there was a 33.5% reduction in the rate of CS compared to the pre‐intervention period where the rate reduced from 33.7% to 22.4% (P<0.001; relative risk 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61–0.72; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) 8.8, 95% CI 7.3–11.2). The main contributors were the reduction in elective CS for non‐obstetric reasons, a reduction in intrapartum CS for failure to progress, and an increase in the number of vaginal births after CS in the post‐intervention period. Conclusion: The implementation of the composite QI intervention led to a significant reduction in the rate of CS without affecting the rate of perinatal mortality. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a composite evidence‐based quality‐improvement intervention on reducing the rate of cesarean section without affecting the rate of perinatal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaleckians describe a normal rate of capacity utilization that is subject to hysteresis effects. This means that the normal rate varies directly with the actual rate of capacity utilization, ensuring that steady‐state equilibrium conditions in the Kaleckian model are fully adjusted (the actual and normal rates of capacity utilization are equalized) but without this last condition implying that the rate of capacity utilization is constant in the long run. The relationship between distribution and growth unique to the Kaleckian model is, thus, preserved. The hysteresis mechanism has been criticized from various quarters, however, these criticisms focusing on its alleged lack of behavioral foundations. This paper shows that consistent with the stylized facts, variation in the normal rate of capacity utilization in response to variation in the actual capacity utilization rate can be derived from the links between both variables and the volatility of the macroeconomic environment—volatility, in the presence of fundamental uncertainty, being an important reason why firms deliberately under‐utilize capacity (even in the long run) in the first place. The result is an empirically grounded behavioral foundation for hysteresis in the normal rate of capacity utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the normal utilization rate in the Sraffa framework. It further presents two arguments about the utilization controversy surrounding the neo‐Kaleckian theory of growth and distribution: First, it shows that the normal utilization rate is generally not independent of demand and the growth rate, and this result does not rely on the neo‐classical production function and other restrictive assumptions. Second, it argues that endogenizing the normal utilization rate is not a general solution for the utilization controversy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resection is the cornerstone of curative treatment for many nonmetastatic gastric cancers (GCs), but the population treatment patterns remains largely unknown. This large international population-based study aimed at investigating the treatment patterns and trends for nonmetastatic GC in Europe and the United States and at exploring factors associated with resection. Methods: Data of patients with microscopically confirmed primary invasive GC without distant metastasis from the national cancer registries of the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, and Estonia and the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-18 Program were retrieved. Age-standardized treatment rates were computed and trends were evaluated using linear regression. Associations of resection with patient and tumor characteristics were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted log-binomial regression. Analysis was performed in each country respectively without pooling. Results: Together 65 707 nonmetastatic GC patients diagnosed in 2003-2016 were analyzed. Age-standardized resection rates significantly decreased over years in all countries (by 4-24%). In 2013-2014, rates varied greatly from54 to 75%. Patients with increasing ages, cardia cancers, or cancers invading adjacent structure were significantly less frequently resected. Resection was further associated with sex, performance status, comorbidities, tumor histology, tumor size, hospital type, and hospital volume. Association patterns and strengths varied across countries. After multivariable adjustment, resection rates remained decreasing (prevalence ratio = 0.97-0.995 per year), with decreasing trends consistently seen in various subgroups. Conclusions: Nonmetastatic GCs were less frequently resected in Europe and the United States in the early 21st century. Resection rates varied greatly across countries and appeared not to be optimal. Various factors associated with resection were revealed. Our findings can help to identify differences and possibly modifiable places in clinical practice and provide important novel references for designing effective population-based GC management strategies. * In Europe and the United States, nonmetastatic gastric cancers were less frequently resected in the early 21st century. * Resection rates varied greatly across countries and appeared not optimal. * Various factors associated with resection were revealed. * Our findings identify differences and possibly modifiable places in clinical practice and provide important novel references for designing effective population-based management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: It has long been recognized that tropical bird species demonstrate a wide range of traits characteristic for slow life histories, as indicated by lower investment in reproduction, slower senescence or slower physiological pace of life. Nevertheless, evidence for latitudinal variation in avian developmental rates has, so far, been inconclusive and based on limited geographic or phylogenetic sampling. The aim of this study was to test for global associations of avian developmental rates with latitude and migratoriness. Location: Global. Taxon: Birds. Methods: We compiled data on developmental (incubation and fledging) periods of 3,500 passerine and non‐passerine bird species distributed worldwide, which represented nearly all extant avian orders and families. Associations of developmental periods with latitude and migratoriness were analysed with phylogenetically informed comparative models that controlled for major sources of variation in developmental rates (body mass, clutch size, and developmental mode across altricial‐precocial spectrum). Results: Our analyses provided support for a negative latitudinal gradient in the duration of fledging, but not incubation period. After controlling for latitude, we also found that migratory birds showed faster developmental rates than resident species. Finally, we found that developmental rates were nonlinearly associated with clutch size (fastest developmental rates at intermediate clutch size) and that duration of fledging period had higher evolutionary lability than incubation period. Main conclusions: Our global comparative analysis provided convincing and phylogenetically robust evidence for a long‐held hypothesis on latitudinal variation in avian developmental rates, although the pattern was apparent only at the post‐embryonic stage of development (fledging period). This challenges a common belief on longer incubation periods in tropics and indicates that incubation and fledging periods may differently respond to external environmental factors, which can possibly be driven by their different evolutionary lability. The results may contribute to our understanding of biogeographic variation in species diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Middle Danube Basin, Quaternary deposits are widely distributed in the Vojvodina region where they cover about 95% of the area. Major research during the last two decades has been focused on loess deposits in the Vojvodina region. During this period, loess in the Vojvodina region has become one of the most important Pleistocene European continental climatic and environmental records. Here we present the dating results of 15 samples taken from the Nosak loess‐palaeosol sequence in northeastern Serbia in order to establish a chronology over the last three glacial–interglacial cycles. We use the pIRIR290 signal of the 4–11 μm polymineral grains. The calculated ages are within the error limits partially consistent with the proposed multi‐millennial chronostratigraphy for Serbian loess. The average mass accumulation rate for the last three glacial–interglacial cycles is 265 g m−2 a−1, which is in agreement with the values of most sites in the Carpathian Basin. Our results indicate a highly variable deposition rate of loess, especially during the MIS 3 and MIS 6 stages, which is contrary to most studies conducted in Serbia where linear sedimentation rates were assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slip rate predicted from geodetic and geomorphological measurements is quite uniform on ~800–1,000 km length of the Altyn Tagh and the Kunlun faults. GPS velocity field documents that tectonic loading on the two active faults changes greatly along their strikes. To explore the mechanical relationship between far‐field tectonic loading and fault slip‐rate accumulation, we built a 3D viscoelastic finite‐element model with fault motion governed by frictional strength of contact interfaces. Based on numerical experiments, it is found that the observed uniform slip rate could reflect lateral variation of frictional strength along fault strike. Variation of predicted frictional coefficient ranges from ~0.13 to ~0.02, verifying that the two active faults must be weak for their mechanical strength. In addition, the good fitness between the relatively weak segment of faults and the location of strong earthquakes suggests that seismic activity along the two faults could be related to their frictional strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Marginal Value Theorem (MVT) is an integral supplement to Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) as it seeks to explain an animal's decision of when to leave a patch when food is still available. MVT predicts that a forager capable of depleting a patch, in a habitat where food is patchily distributed, will leave the patch when the intake rate within it decreases to the average intake rate for the habitat. MVT relies on the critical assumption that the feeding rate in the patch will decrease over time. We tested this assumption using feeding data from a population of wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) from Gunung Palung National Park. We hypothesized that the feeding rate within orangutan food patches would decrease over time. Data included feeding bouts from continuous focal follows between 2014 and 2016. We recorded the average feeding rate over each tertile of the bout, as well as the first, midpoint, and last feeding rates collected. We did not find evidence of a decrease between first and last feeding rates (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 63), between a mid‐point and last rate (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 63), between the tertiles (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 63), nor a decrease in feeding rate overall (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 146). These findings, thus, do not support the MVT assumption of decreased patch feeding rates over time in this large generalist frugivore. Research Highlights: Wild Bornean orangutan feeding rates do not decrease during a feeding bout.The critical assumption of Marginal Value Theorem, that feeding rates decrease as patch residence, and thus patch depletion, increases, is not upheld in this population of wild Bornean orangutans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of palmar and axillary primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH) in children up to 16 years using thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is supported by scarce evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize the results of our standardized bilateral, one‐stage, single‐port sympathicotomy (BOSS) in children up to 16 years of age. Methods: Consecutive children (n = 14) up to 16 years of age undergoing BOSS between October 2011 and June 2015 in our institution were included in this retrospective study. Results: Recurrence of primary hyperhidrosis was noted in seven patients (50.0%), of whom five patients (35.7%) underwent reoperation. Reoperations were associated with placement of additional thoracoscopic ports (n = 1; 12.5%), intraoperative placement of pleural drains (n = 2; 25%), and prolonged air leak (n = 1; 12.5%). Despite the high recurrence and reoperation rates, overall patient satisfaction was high with a median satisfaction score of 7.5 (interquartile range of 1.75; range: 4‐9). Conclusion: Although the overall patient satisfaction score in our cohort was good, BOSS for the treatment of intolerable palmar and axillary PFH in children up to 16 years of age is associated with a high recurrence and reoperation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new coronavirus (COVID‐19) infection reported in China in December 2019 has become a pandemic in a few weeks, affecting the entire world. In this respect, it is crucial to determine the case‐increase, case‐fatality, and case‐recovery rates to control COVID‐19. In this study, the case‐increase, case‐fatality, and case‐recovery rates of COVID‐19 in 36 European countries were analyzed with the meta‐analysis method using data released by the health organizations and WHO. The data were obtained from the website of health organizations of 36 European countries and the website of WHO until 11 May 2020. The analyses were carried out on 1 744 704 COVID‐19‐diagnosed cases in 36 European countries. The case‐increase, case‐fatality and case‐recovery rates of COVID‐19 were calculated using 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), single‐arm meta‐analysis, cross‐temporal meta‐analysis, and meta‐regression random‐effects model. The standardized case‐increase rate of COVID‐19 is 5% (95% CI [0.040, 0.063]) and the average case‐increase rate in European countries has started to decline by around 3% (95% CI [0.047, 0.083]) weekly. The countries with the highest rate of case increase are Belgium, Sweden, Russia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Although the case‐fatality rate of COVID‐19 patients was 4.5% as of May 11 (95% CI [0.037‐0.055]), this rate is 6.3% (95% CI [0.047, 0.083]) in standardized time (6th week). The case‐recovery rates of patients are 46% (95% CI [0.376‐0.547]). This study presents important results regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic in Europe. Although the rate of increase in new COVID‐19 cases has dropped, there is not much decline in the case‐fatality rates and no increase in case‐recovery rates. The case‐fatality rate of COVID‐19 in Europe was estimated to be in the range of 4% to 4.5% and a minimum of 4 weeks (as of 11 May) is expected to have the figure below 1% in a country with an average case‐increase rate. Monitoring case fatalities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden, and treatment successes in Germany and Austria play a role of utmost importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During isometric activation of airway smooth muscle (ASM), cross‐bridge cycling and ATP hydrolysis rates decline across time even though isometric force is sustained. Thus, tension cost (i.e., ATP hydrolysis rate per unit of force during activation) decreases with time. The "latch‐state" hypothesis attributes the dynamic change in cross‐bridge cycling and ATP hydrolysis rates to changes in phosphorylation of the regulatory myosin light chain (rMLC20). However, we previously showed that in ASM, the extent of rMLC20 phosphorylation remains unchanged during sustained isometric force. As an alternative, we hypothesized that cytoskeletal remodeling within ASM cells results in increased internal loading of contractile proteins that slows cross‐bridge cycling and ATP hydrolysis rates. To test this hypothesis, we simultaneously measured isometric force and ATP hydrolysis rate in permeabilized porcine ASM strips activated by Ca2+ (pCa 4.0). The extent of rMLC20 phosphorylation remained unchanged during isometric activation, even though ATP hydrolysis rate (tension cost) declined with time. The effect of cytoskeletal remodeling was assessed by inhibiting actin polymerization using Cytochalasin D (Cyto‐D). In Cyto‐D treated ASM, isometric force was reduced while ATP hydrolysis rate increased compared to untreated ASM strips. These results indicate that external transmission of force, cross‐bridge cycling and ATP hydrolysis rates are affected by internal loading of contractile proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Marine flavobacteria are specialists for polysaccharide degradation. They dominate in habitats enriched with polysaccharides, but are also prevalent in pelagic environments where polysaccharides are less available. These niches are likely occupied by distinct lineages, but evolutionary processes underlying their niche differentiation remain elusive. Here, genomic analyses and physiological assays indicate that the sister flavobacteria lineages Leeuwenhoekiella and Nonlabens likely explore polysaccharide‐rich macroalgae and polysaccharide‐poor pelagic niches respectively. Phylogenomic analyses inferred that the niche separation likely occurred anciently and coincided with increased sequence evolutionary rate in Nonlabens compared with Leeuwenhoekiella. Further analyses ruled out the known mechanisms likely driving evolutionary rate acceleration, including reduced selection efficiency, decreased generation time and increased mutation rate. In particular, the mutation rates were determined using an unbiased experimental method, which measures the present‐day populations and may not reflect ancestral populations. These data collectively lead to a new hypothesis that an ancestral and transient mutation rate increase resulted in evolutionary rate increase in Nonlabens. This hypothesis was supported by inferring that gains and losses of genes involved in SOS response, a mechanism known to drive transiently increased mutation rate, coincided with evolutionary rate acceleration. Our analyses highlight the evolutionary mechanisms underlying niche differentiation of flavobacteria lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is an emerging paradigm to enhance terahertz (THz) communications with low hardware costs and reduced power consumptions. In this work, we study an IRS‐aided THz multi‐input‐single‐output secure communication system, where a base station (BS) transmits confidential signals to a single‐antenna user with the presence of a single‐antenna eavesdropper. We seek to maximize the secrecy rate by designing the discrete phase‐shifts at the IRS and the precoder at the BS, which is an intractable nonconvex optimization problem. To solve it, we propose to iteratively design the above two matrix variables. Specifically, with a given phase‐shift matrix, we can obtain the optimal precoder by the Rayleigh‐Ritz theorem. And with a given precoder matrix, we propose a cross‐entropy‐based algorithm to obtain the optimal phase‐shift matrix. Numerical results demonstrate that our proposed solution is able to improve the secrecy rate than that of the case without IRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MPRT (Motion Picture Response Time) has been put forward to characterize the key performance of gaming display, however, it is more about objective effect. This paper introduces a visual effect evaluation method of high frame rate gaming display. It shows that the luminance of foreground and background in a moving picture both can affect the sensitivity of our visual sense. Furthermore, it provides a new way to lower the motion blur in displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 65‐inch 8K 120Hz ADS LCD TV based on novel technologies including New Oxide BCE, i‐ADS , DCT‐PS and SSD (Smart Sync Driving) , has achieved a high transmittance of 4.0% and a high charging rate of 92%. At the same time, BOE have developed the world's first 110‐inch 8K ADS‐LCD TV with 120Hz‐driven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have researched low refresh rate driving methods and algorithms to reduce display power consumption. In this paper, we propose not only how to drive display at low refresh rate but how to minimize drive IC power consumption during blank time. Moreover, we also suggest how to decrease system power consumption by handshake between SET and display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper devotes to the global robust passivity problem for a novel Markovian switching Lotka–Volterra (LV) model with time‐varying delay. The Markovian switching with uncertain mode transition rates is first drawn into modeling the predator–prey system and the uncertainty of model parameters is also fully discussed, which can reflect the realistic practical significance. The robust passivity for the uncertain LV model with disturbance input and feedback control is studied by the passivity theories and inequality techniques. Some sufficient criteria are derived by the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, and the corresponding controllers are designed to ensure the passivity of the proposed closed‐loop uncertain LV model. Finally, a three‐specie two‐mode LV model is provided to illustrate effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned about the optimal convergence rates of non‐isentropic subsonic flows at far fields in three‐dimensional infinitely long axisymmetric nozzles. By using the stream function formulation for the compressible Euler equations, the subsonic Euler flows are equivalent to a quasilinear elliptic equation of the stream function. The key points to prove the convergence rates of subsonic flows at far fields are the choice of compared functions and the maximum principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the combined quasi‐neutral and inviscid limits of the two‐fluid compressible Navier–Stokes–Poisson system in the unbounded domain R2×T with the ill‐prepared initial data. We prove that the weak solutions of the compressible Navier–Stokes–Poisson system converge to the strong solution of the incompressible Euler equation as long as the latter exists. Moreover, the convergence rates are also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publication bias threatens meta‐analysis validity. It is often assessed via the funnel plot; an asymmetric plot implies small‐study effects, and publication bias is one cause of the asymmetry. Egger's regression test is a widely used tool to quantitatively assess such asymmetry. It examines the association between the observed effect sizes and their sample SEs; a strong association indicates small‐study effects. However, its false positive rates may be inflated if such an association intrinsically exists even if no small‐study effects appear, particularly in meta‐analyses of odds ratios (ORs). Various alternatives are available to address this problem. They usually replace Egger's regression predictor or response with different measures; consequently, they are powerful only in specific cases. We propose a Bayesian approach to assessing small‐study effects in meta‐analyses of ORs. It controls false positive rates by using latent "true" SEs, rather than sample SEs, in the Egger‐type regression to avoid the intrinsic association between ORs and their SEs. Although "true" SEs are unknown in practice, they can be modeled under the Bayesian framework. We use simulated and real data to compare various methods. When ORs are away from 1, the proposed method may have high powers with controlled false positive rates, while Egger's test has seriously inflated false positive rates; nevertheless, in other situations, some other methods may be superior. In general, the proposed method may serve as an alternative to rule out potential confounding effects caused by the intrinsic association between ORs and their SEs in the assessment of small‐study effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence, time course, and repeatability of response rate increases following the onset of extinction, the extinction burst, were studied in three experiments. Nine pigeons were exposed to at least 5 cycles of 5‐session blocks of conditioning followed by 8‐session blocks of extinction. In different experiments, conditioning sessions either were a fixed‐ratio (FR) or variable‐ratio (VR) schedule, and transitions from the last conditioning session in each cycle to the first extinction session were conducted between or within sessions. A single response rate increase occurred when overall response rates were considered. Restricting analyses to the first minute of extinction sessions sometimes revealed increases in response rates, although this finding was inconsistent. The frequency and magnitude of these increases differed across exposures to extinction both across and within pigeons. Additionally, how responding during extinction was measured (i.e., the level of analysis) influenced whether increases above baseline levels were observed. These results suggest that the extinction burst may be influenced by the manner of transition to extinction and the way in which early extinction responding is measured. Under the best conditions, the extinction burst does not appear to be a ubiquitous effect of extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE) refers to one of the greatest increases in biodiversity during the Phanerozoic. Recent studies have shown that this taxonomic increase can be attributed to elevated origination rates around the Dapingian–Darriwilian boundary in the Middle Ordovician, while extinction rates stayed relatively constant throughout the Ordovician. Even though this global pattern of origination and extinction appears similar across diverse groups and geographical areas, earlier studies suggested that hard substrate taxa may have diversified prior to the GOBE, during the Early Ordovician. Here, we quantify Ordovician diversification dynamics of hard substrate taxa while simultaneously accounting for temporally varying sampling probabilities. Diversification rates of hard substrate taxa, both as a whole and when analysed as separate groups, appear to be very similar to those of free‐living benthic taxa. The observation that the diversification dynamics of many different taxonomic and ecological groups show the same temporal pattern, suggests a common cause of Ordovician diversification dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]