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While a growing body of work suggests that women representatives are less likely to be involved in corruption scandals, we know less about if changes in representation patterns also have implications for citizens' first-hand experiences with corruption in public service delivery. This study suggests that women elected representatives reduce street level bribery, in particular when the share of women increases in contexts where relatively few women are elected or when the absolute increase in women's representation is relatively large. Using newly collected data on the share of women in 128 regional level parliaments in 10 European countries and four rounds of the European Quality of Government Index (EQI) survey (2010–2021), our two-way fixed effects models show that on average, the proportion of women in regional parliaments is strongly associated with citizens' self-reported experiences of bribery across all countries and years. Furthermore, our difference-in-difference design shows that the level of bribery in public service provision dropped more sharply in regions that experienced a greater absolute or greater marginal increase in women's representation. Our results may be understood in light of women candidates placing priority on well-functioning and low corrupt public service provision and the important signals of inclusiveness, non-discrimination and decreased tolerance towards corruption that women's representation conveys to civil servants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Optimal fluid management in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is challenging due to risks associated with both circulatory failure and fluid overload. The performance of dynamic indices to predict fluid responsiveness (FR) in ARDS patients is uncertain. Methods: This post hoc analysis of the HEMOPRED study compared the performance of dynamic indices in mechanically ventilated patients with shock, with and without ARDS, to predict FR, defined as an increase in aortic velocity time integral (VTI) > 10% after passive leg raising (PLR). Results: Among 540 patients, 117 (22%) had ARDS and were ventilated with a median tidal volume of 7.6 mL/kg [6.9–8.4] and a median positive end-expiratory pressure of 7 cmH2O [5–9]. FR was observed in 45 ARDS patients (39% vs 44% in non-ARDS patients, p = 0.384). Reliability of dynamic indices to predict FR remained consistent in ARDS patients, though with different thresholds. Collapsibility index of the superior vena cava (ΔSVC) showed the best predictive performance in both ARDS (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.763 [0.659–0.868]) and non-ARDS (AUC = 0.750 [0.698–0.802]) patients. A right to left ventricle end-diastolic area ratio > 0.8 or paradoxical septal motion were strongly linked to the absence of FR (> 80% specificity). FR was not associated with intensive care unit (ICU) mortality (47% vs. 46%, p = 1). However, hypovolemia, defined as an aortic VTI increase > 32% during PLR (median increase in patients with a partial SVC collapse) was independently associated with ICU mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.355 [1.077—1.705], p = 0.011), as well as pulse pressure variation (OR = 1.014 [1.001—1.026], p = 0.034). Conclusion: Performance of dynamic indices to predict FR appears preserved in ARDS patients, albeit with distinct thresholds. Hypovolemia, indicated by a > 32% increase in aortic VTI during PLR, rather than FR, was associated with ICU mortality in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music accompanies all phases of our lives, and when we reach old age, music becomes a direct symbol of nostalgia. Autobiographical memories are essential to an individual's sense of identity, continuity, and meaning. But some pathologies, such as dementia, can interrupt the memory storage process. Music can help recall and evoke memories and can be used in alternative treatments for dementia. This work aims to propose an architecture for a music recommendation system capable of recommending music according to musical genre, with the aim of helping music therapists in therapies addressed to elderly people with dementia in initial states. Here we used data from the public music database Emotify, which is composed of 400 songs labeled by 1595 participants in 7975 sessions. Both channels of the songs were windowed using 10s windows with 5s overlap. The data from these windows were represented by 34 time and frequency features. Then, we assessed and compared the performance of classifiers based on support vector machines, decisions trees and Bayesian network. The most suitable architecture in this experimental study was the Random Forest with 250 trees, with an accuracy of 83.42% ± 1.72%, kappa statistic of 0.78 ± 0.02, AUC-ROC of 0.99 ± 0.00, sensitivity of 0.96 ± 0.02, and specificity of 0.94 ± 0.01. this exploratory study found promising results that indicates the possibility of building recommendation systems to support music therapy based on the automatic classification of songs according to the most appropriate musical genre for the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of intravenous (IV) sotalol loading following recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a 1-day loading protocol has reduced the obligatory 3-day hospital stay for sotalol initiation when given orally. Several studies have recently demonstrated the safety and feasibility of IV loading for patients with atrial arrhythmias. However, there is a paucity of data on the feasibility and safety of IV sotalol loading for patients with ventricular arrhythmias. This study aims to assess the safety, feasibility, and length of stay (LOS) outcomes of IV sotalol loading for the prevention of ventricular arrhythmias. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients undergoing IV sotalol loading and oral sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias, or IV sotalol loading for atrial arrhythmias between August 2021 and December 2023 at Northwestern University. Baseline characteristics, success of sotalol initiation/loading, changes in heart rate (HR) and QT/QTc, safety, and LOS were compared between patients undergoing sotalol loading/initiation for ventricular arrhythmias (IV vs. PO) and between patients undergoing IV sotalol loading for ventricular arrhythmias vs. for atrial arrhythmias. Results: A total of 28 patients underwent sotalol loading/initiation for ventricular arrhythmias (N = 15 IV and N = 13 PO) and 41 patients underwent IV sotalol loading for atrial arrhythmias. Baseline characteristics of congestive heart failure history and left ventricular ejection fraction were worse in the ventricular arrhythmias group. There was no significant difference in the successful completion of IV sotalol loading for ventricular arrhythmias compared to oral sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias or IV sotalol loading for atrial arrhythmias (86.7% vs. 92.3% vs. 90.2%, p = 0.88). There was a significant increase in ΔQTc following IV sotalol infusion for ventricular arrhythmias compared to following PO sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias (46.4 ± 29.2 ms vs. 8.9 ± 32.6 ms, p = 0.004) and following IV sotalol infusion for atrial arrhythmias (46.4 ± 29.2 ms vs. 24.0 ± 25.1 ms, p = 0.018). ΔHR following IV sotalol infusion for ventricular arrhythmias was similar to ΔHR following PO sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias and ΔHR following IV sotalol infusion for atrial arrhythmias (− 7.5 ± 8.7 bpm vs. − 8.5 ± 13.9 bpm vs. − 8.3 ± 13.2 bpm, p = 0.87). There were no significant differences in discontinuation for QTc prolongation (6.7% vs. 1.7% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.64) and bradycardia (13.3% vs. 7.7% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.88) between IV sotalol loading for ventricular arrhythmias, PO sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias, and IV sotalol loading for atrial arrhythmias. There were no instances of hypotension, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, or death. Length of stay was significantly shorter for IV sotalol loading compared to PO sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias (1.1 ± 0.36 days vs. 4.2 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: IV sotalol loading appears feasible and safe for use in ventricular arrhythmias and results in a decreased length of stay. Despite increased comorbidities and greater increase in QTc interval following IV sotalol infusion in the ventricular arrhythmias group, there were no significant differences in successful completion of loading or adverse outcomes when compared to PO sotalol initiation for ventricular arrhythmias and IV loading for atrial arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Right ventricle impairment (RVI) is common during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults and children, possibly mediated by the level of transpulmonary pressure (PL). We sought to investigate the impact of the level of PL on ARDS-associated right ventricle impairment (RVI). Methods: Adults and children (> 72 h of life) were included in this two centers prospective study if they were ventilated for a new-onset ARDS or pediatric ARDS, without spontaneous breathing and contra-indication to esophageal catheter. Serial measures of static lung, chest wall, and respiratory mechanics were coupled to critical care echocardiography (CCE) for 3 days. Mixed-effect logistic regression models tested the impact of lung stress (ΔPL) along with age, lung injury severity, and carbon dioxide partial pressure, on RVI using two definitions: acute cor pulmonale (ACP), and RV dysfunction (RVD). ACP was defined as a dilated RV with septal dyskinesia; RVD was defined as a composite criterion using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, S wave velocity, and fractional area change. Results: 46 patients were included (16 children, 30 adults) with 106 CCE (median of 2 CCE/patient). At day one, 19% of adults and 4/7 children > 1 year exhibited ACP, while 59% of adults and 44% of children exhibited RVD. In the entire population, ACP was present on 17/75 (23%) CCE. ACP was associated with an increased lung stress (mean ΔPL of 16.2 ± 6.6 cmH2O in ACP vs 11.3 ± 3.6 cmH2O, adjusted OR of 1.33, CI95% [1.11–1.59], p = 0.002) and being a child. RVD was present in 59/102 (58%) CCE and associated with lung stress. In children > 1 year, PEEP was significantly lower in case of ACP (9.3 [8.6; 10.0] cmH2O in ACP vs 15.0 [11.9; 16.3] cmH2O, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Lung stress was associated with RVI in adults and children with ARDS, children being particularly susceptible to RVI. Trial registration Clinical trials identifier: NCT0418467. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deployment of ultracold atom interferometers (AI) into space will capitalize on quantum advantages and the extended freefall of persistent microgravity to provide high-precision measurement capabilities for gravitational, Earth, and planetary sciences, and to enable searches for subtle forces signifying physics beyond General Relativity and the Standard Model. NASA's Cold Atom Lab (CAL) operates onboard the International Space Station as a multi-user facility for fundamental studies of ultracold atoms and to mature space-based quantum technologies. We report on pathfinding experiments utilizing ultracold 87Rb atoms in the CAL AI. A three-pulse Mach–Zehnder interferometer was studied to understand the influence of ISS vibrations. Additionally, Ramsey shear-wave interferometry was used to manifest interference patterns in a single run that were observable for over 150 ms free-expansion time. Finally, the CAL AI was used to remotely measure the Bragg laser photon recoil as a demonstration of the first quantum sensor using matter-wave interferometry in space. NASA's Cold Atom Lab has operated on the International Space Station since 2018 to study quantum gases and mature quantum technologies in Earth's orbit. Here, Williams et al., report on a series of pathfinding experiments exploring the first quantum sensor using atom interferometry in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling relies on the primary cilium, a cell surface organelle that serves as a signaling hub for the cell. Using proximity labeling and quantitative proteomics, we identify Numb as a ciliary protein that positively regulates Hh signaling. Numb localizes to the ciliary pocket and acts as an endocytic adaptor to incorporate Ptch1 into clathrin-coated vesicles, thereby promoting Ptch1 exit from the cilium, a key step in Hh signaling activation. Numb loss impedes Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-induced Ptch1 exit from the cilium, resulting in reduced Hh signaling. Numb loss in spinal neural progenitors reduces Shh-induced differentiation into cell fates reliant on high Hh activity. Genetic ablation of Numb in the developing cerebellum impairs the proliferation of granule cell precursors, a Hh-dependent process, resulting in reduced cerebellar size. This study highlights Numb as a regulator of ciliary Ptch1 levels during Hh signal activation and demonstrates the key role of ciliary pocket-mediated endocytosis in cell signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of atom interferometers depends on their ability to realize long pulse separation times and prevent loss of contrast by limiting the expansion of the atomic ensemble within the interferometer beam through matter-wave collimation. Here we investigate the impact of atomic interactions on collimation by applying a lensing protocol to a 39K Bose-Einstein condensate at different scattering lengths. Tailoring interactions, we measure energies corresponding to (340 ± 12) pK in one direction. Our results are supported by an accurate simulation, which allows us to extrapolate a 2D ballistic expansion energy of (438 ± 77) pK. Based on our findings we propose an advanced scenario, which enables 3D expansion energies below 16 pK by implementing an additional pulsed delta-kick. Our results pave the way to realize ensembles with more than 1 × 105 atoms and 3D energies in the two-digit pK range in typical dipole trap setups without the need for micro-gravity or long baseline environments. Precision measurements with atom interferometers benefit from reducing the expansion rate of the atomic ensemble within the interferometric beam through matter-wave collimation. Here we demonstrate a collimation method based on time-averaged optical potentials and tunable interactions, realizing expansion energies of a few hundred picokelvin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high mortality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been proposed in this setting, but optimal criteria to select target patients remain unknown. Our hypothesis is that evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function could be helpful. The aims of our study were to report the incidence and outcomes of patients eligible for ECMO according to EOLIA criteria, and to identify a subgroup of patients with RV injury, which could be a target for ECMO. Methods: Retrospective observational study involving 3 French intensive care units (ICUs) of teaching hospitals. Patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and March 2021, presenting ARDS and with available echocardiography, were included. Patients were classified in three groups according to whether or not they met the EOLIA criteria and the presence of RV injury (RVI) ("EOLIA −", "EOLIA + RVI −" and "EOLIA + RVI + "). RVI was defined by the association of RV to left ventricular end-diastolic area ratio > 0.8 and paradoxical septal motion. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to analyze outcome as well as a Cox model for 90 day mortality. Results: 915 patients were hospitalized for COVID-19, 418 of them with ARDS. A total of 283 patients with available echocardiography were included. Eighteen (6.3%) patients received ECMO. After exclusion of these patients, 107 (40.5%) were classified as EOLIA −, 126 (47.5%) as EOLIA + RVI −, and 32 (12%) as EOLIA + RVI +. Ninety-day mortality was 21% in the EOLIA-group, 44% in the EOLIA + RVI-group, and 66% in the EOLIA + RVI + group (p < 0.001). After adjustment, RVI was statistically associated with 90-day mortality (HR = 1.92 [1.10–3.37]). Conclusions: Among COVID-19-associated ARDS patients who met the EOLIA criteria, those with significant RV pressure overload had a particularly poor outcome. This subgroup may be a more specific target for ECMO. This represented 12% of our cohort compared to 60% of patients who met the EOLIA criteria only. How the identification of this high-risk subset of patients translates into patient-centered outcomes remains to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capability to reach ultracold atomic temperatures in compact instruments has recently been extended into space1,2. Ultracold temperatures amplify quantum effects, whereas free fall allows further cooling and longer interactions time with gravity—the final force without a quantum description. On Earth, these devices have produced macroscopic quantum phenomena such as Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs), superfluidity, and strongly interacting quantum gases3. Terrestrial quantum sensors interfering the superposition of two ultracold atomic isotopes have tested the universality of free fall (UFF), a core tenet of Einstein’s classical gravitational theory, at the 10−12 level4. In space, cooling the elements needed to explore the rich physics of strong interactions or perform quantum tests of the UFF has remained elusive. Here, using upgraded hardware of the multiuser Cold Atom Lab (CAL) instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS), we report, to our knowledge, the first simultaneous production of a dual-species BEC in space (formed from 87Rb and 41K), observation of interspecies interactions, as well as the production of 39K ultracold gases. Operating a single laser at a ‘magic wavelength’ at which Rabi rates of simultaneously applied Bragg pulses are equal, we have further achieved the first spaceborne demonstration of simultaneous atom interferometry with two atomic species (87Rb and 41K). These results are an important step towards quantum tests of UFF in space and will allow scientists to investigate aspects of few-body physics, quantum chemistry and fundamental physics in new regimes without the perturbing asymmetry of gravity.Using upgraded hardware of the multiuser Cold Atom Lab (CAL) aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) of two atomic isotopes are simultaneously created and used to demonstrate interspecies interactions and dual species atom interferometry in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing wildlife health in remote regions requires a multi-faceted approach, which commonly involves convenient samplings and the need of identifying and targeting relevant and informative indicators. We applied a novel wildlife health framework and critically assessed the value of different indicators for understanding the health status and trends of an endangered tundra caribou population. Samples and data from the Dolphin and Union caribou herd were obtained between 2015 and 2021, from community-based surveillance programs and from captured animals. We documented and categorized indicators into health determinants (infectious diseases and trace elements), processes (cortisol, pathology), and health outcomes (pregnancy and body condition). During a recent period of steep population decline, our results indicated a relatively good body condition and pregnancy rates, and decreasing levels of stress, along with a low adult cow survival. We detected multiple factors as potential contributors to the reduced survival, including Brucella suis biovar 4, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and lower hair trace minerals. These results remark the need of targeted studies to improve detection and investigations on caribou mortalities. We also identified differences in health indicators between captured and hunter sampled caribou, highlighting the importance of accounting for sampling biases. This integrative approach that drew on multiple data sources has provided unprecedented knowledge on the health in this herd and highlights the value of documenting individual animal health to understand causes of wildlife declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single ionization of H 2 molecules exposed to strong and short laser pulses is investigated by a semi-classical method. Three laser characteristics are considered: (i) The carrier-wave frequency corresponds to wavelengths covering and bridging the two ionization regimes: From tunnel ionization (TI) at 800 nm to multiphoton ionization (MPI) at 266 nm. (ii) Values of the peak intensity are chosen within a window to eliminate competing double ionization processes. (iii) Particular attention is paid to the polarization of the laser field, which can be linearly or circularly polarized. The results and their interpretation concern two observables, namely the end-of-pulse total ionization probability and vibrational distribution generated in the cation H 2 + . The most prominent findings are an increased ionization efficiency in linear polarization and a vibrational distribution of the cation that favors lower-lying levels than those that would be populated in a vertical (Franck–Condon) ionization, leading to non-Franck–Condon distributions, both in linear and circular polarizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generalized understanding of protein dynamics is an unsolved scientific problem, the solution of which is critical to the interpretation of the structure-function relationships that govern essential biological processes. Here, we approach this problem by constructing coarse-grained molecular potentials based on artificial neural networks and grounded in statistical mechanics. For training, we build a unique dataset of unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of approximately 9 ms for twelve different proteins with multiple secondary structure arrangements. The coarse-grained models are capable of accelerating the dynamics by more than three orders of magnitude while preserving the thermodynamics of the systems. Coarse-grained simulations identify relevant structural states in the ensemble with comparable energetics to the all-atom systems. Furthermore, we show that a single coarse-grained potential can integrate all twelve proteins and can capture experimental structural features of mutated proteins. These results indicate that machine learning coarse-grained potentials could provide a feasible approach to simulate and understand protein dynamics. Understanding protein dynamics is a complex scientific challenge. Here, authors construct coarse-grained molecular potentials using artificial neural networks, significantly accelerating protein dynamics simulations while preserving their thermodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Exploratory study to evaluate the association of different phenotypes of right ventricular (RV) involvement and mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Post-hoc analysis of longitudinal data from the multicenter ECHO-COVID observational study in ICU patients who underwent at least two echocardiography examinations. Echocardiography phenotypes were acute cor pulmonale (ACP, RV cavity dilatation with paradoxical septal motion), RV failure (RVF, RV cavity dilatation and systemic venous congestion), and RV dysfunction (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion ≤ 16 mm). Accelerated failure time model and multistate model were used for analysis. Results: Of 281 patients who underwent 948 echocardiography studies during ICU stay, 189 (67%) were found to have at least 1 type of RV involvements during one or several examinations: ACP (105/281, 37.4%), RVF (140/256, 54.7%) and/or RV dysfunction (74/255, 29%). Patients with all examinations displaying ACP had survival time shortened by 0.479 [0.284–0.803] times when compared to patients with all examinations depicting no ACP (P = 0.005). RVF showed a trend towards shortened survival time by a factor of 0.642 [0.405–1.018] (P = 0.059), whereas the impact of RV dysfunction on survival time was inconclusive (P = 0.451). Multistate analysis showed that patients might transit in and out of RV involvement, and those who exhibited ACP in their last critical care echocardiography (CCE) examination had the highest risk of mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 3.25 [2.38–4.45], P < 0.001). Conclusion: RV involvement is prevalent in patients ventilated for COVID-19 ARDS. Different phenotypes of RV involvement might lead to different ICU mortality, with ACP having the worst outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siderophores are soluble or membrane-embedded molecules that bind the oxidized form of iron, Fe(III), and play roles in iron acquisition by microorganisms. Fe(III)-bound siderophores bind to specific receptors that allow microbes to acquire iron. However, certain soil microbes release a compound (pulcherriminic acid, PA) that, upon binding to Fe(III), forms a precipitate (pulcherrimin) that apparently functions by reducing iron availability rather than contributing to iron acquisition. Here, we use Bacillus subtilis (PA producer) and Pseudomonas protegens as a competition model to show that PA is involved in a peculiar iron-managing system. The presence of the competitor induces PA production, leading to precipitation of Fe(III) as pulcherrimin, which prevents oxidative stress in B. subtilis by restricting the Fenton reaction and deleterious ROS formation. In addition, B. subtilis uses its known siderophore bacillibactin to retrieve Fe(III) from pulcherrimin. Our findings indicate that PA plays multiple roles by modulating iron availability and conferring protection against oxidative stress during inter-species competition. Microbes often produce molecules (termed siderophores) that bind iron and then are taken up using specific receptors for iron acquisition. Here, the authors show that a compound produced by Bacillus subtilis plays a more complex role, by modulating iron availability and conferring protection against oxidative stress during inter-species competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In severe climatic condition, concrete structures can undergo various damages including alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) which generally induces internal swelling and cracks in the reactive aggregates and surrounding cement paste. This study proposes an innovative repair technique which consists in casting a thin UHPC layer directly on the affected concrete substrate. For such repair, once UHPC is poured in the formwork, self-induced tensile stresses developed in UHPC by its restrained shrinkage on the concrete substrate. Later, the UHPC repair sustains further tensile stresses resulting from additional AAR internal expansion. The main objective of this research project was to evaluate the UHPC behavior under restrained shrinkage conditions and to assess the available strain margin to contain the AAR expansion in different UHPC repair configurations. A special device adapted to ring specimens was developed to first simulate the restrained shrinkage and second generate the AAR expansion. Experimental results showed that a repair in high performance concrete (HPC) cracks under restrained shrinkage and thus cannot confine internal expansion. For the UHPC repairs, no cracks developed under restrained shrinkage and very limited internal tensile stress was generated in the repair. The expansion applied thereafter on the UHPC repairs showed that the UHPC tensile strain available to confine AAR expansion without loss of watertighness is inversely proportional to the fiber content in the UHPC, i.e. 0.28%, 0.2% and 0.17% for fiber contents of 2%, 3% and 4% in volume respectively. Addition of 1.2% of rebar in the UHPC repair extends by 30% the tensile strain available to confine the AAR, while presence of cold joints in this reinforced repair reduced this performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultracold quantum gases are ideal sources for high-precision space-borne sensing as proposed for Earth observation, relativistic geodesy and tests of fundamental physical laws as well as for studying new phenomena in many-body physics during extended free fall. Here we report on experiments with the Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station, where we have achieved exquisite control over the quantum state of single 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensates paving the way for future high-precision measurements. In particular, we have applied fast transport protocols to shuttle the atomic cloud over a millimeter distance with sub-micrometer accuracy and subsequently drastically reduced the total expansion energy to below 100 pK with matter-wave lensing techniques. Ultracold ensembles are promising sources for precision measurements when their quantum state can precisely be prepared. Here the authors achieve a quantum state engineering of Bose-Einstein condensates in space using NASA's Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station making a step forward towards space quantum sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical characterization of PM2.5 (major and trace elements) was carried out for a source apportionment study of PM2.5 at a traffic site in Constantine, Algeria, from March 2017 to March 2018. For this purpose, several tools were used of which PMF, CPF, PSCF, Spearman correlation matrix and HYSPLIT back trajectories. The mean annual concentration of PM2.5 at the sampling site was 54.07 ± 28.81 µg/m3. This value is much higher than the annual threshold recommended by the WHO of 10 μg/m3. Based on the PMF modelling, five sources were identified: sea salts (15.1%), industrial activities (18.9%), non-exhaust emissions (wear of brakes, tires and road surfaces) (24.2%), exhaust emissions (mixed diesel and gasoline engine exhaust) (15.8%) and mineral dust (25.9%) as the main sources of metallic aerosols at the sampling site in Constantine. Our results revealed that anthropogenic activities (traffic and industry) contributed 59% to all emissions, while natural sources (mineral dust and sea salt) accounted for 41%. Traffic-related sources are the major contributor to anthropogenic emissions (40%) with non-exhaust emissions being the dominant source. As anthropogenic emissions are the leading sources, their control is of utmost importance for improving air quality. The concentrations of PM2.5 tend to increase appreciably with temperature and wind speed for a relative humidity less than 60%. The contribution of vehicular emissions is affected by relative humidity and temperature while industrial emissions are affected mainly by wind intensity and direction. Relative humidity, temperature and wind speed are determining parameters of mineral dust. There are seasonal variations in the contributions of the PMF-derived sources. Summer undergoes significant contributions of three factors: sea salts, industrial emissions and mineral dust. Spring is affected mainly by industrial emissions and non-exhaust emissions. Winter experiences a drastic contribution of the exhaust emission factor. Autumn is the least affected season by mineral dust and sea salts. It is rather affected by industrial and traffic emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the resting state functional connectivity correlates of apathy assessed as a multidimensional construct, using behavioral metrics, in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). We recorded the behavior of 20 bvFTD patients and 16 healthy controls in a close-to-real-life situation including a free phase (FP—in which actions were self-initiated) and a guided phase (GP—in which initiation of actions was facilitated by external guidance). We investigated the activity time and walking episode features as quantifiers of apathy. We used the means ((FP + GP)/2) and the differences (FP-GP) calculated for these metrics as well as measures by questionnaires to extract apathy dimensions by factor analysis. We assessed two types of fMRI-based resting state connectivity measures (local activity and seed-based connectivity) and explored their relationship with extracted apathy dimensions. Apathy in bvFTD was associated with lower time spent in activity combined with walking episodes of higher frequency, lower acceleration and higher duration. Using these behavioral metrics and apathy measures by questionnaires, we disentangled two dimensions: the global reduction of goal-directed behaviors and the specific deficit of self-initiation. Global apathy was associated with lower resting state activity within prefrontal cortex and lower connectivity of salience network hubs while the decrease in self-initiation was related to increased connectivity of parietal default-mode network hubs. Through a novel dimensional approach, we dissociated the functional connectivity correlates of global apathy and self-initiation deficit. We discussed in particular the role of the modified connectivity of lateral parietal cortex in the volitional process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) influence plant health. However, the genotypic variations in host organisms affect their response to PGPR. To understand the genotypic effect, we screened four diverse B. distachyon genotypes at varying growth stages for their ability to be colonized by B. velezensis strain B26. We reasoned that B26 may have an impact on the phenological growth stages of B. distachyon genotypes. Phenotypic data suggested the role of B26 in increasing the number of awns and root weight in wild type genotypes and overexpressing transgenic lines. Thus, we characterized the expression patterns of flowering pathway genes in inoculated plants and found that strain B26 modulates the transcript abundance of flowering genes. An increased root volume of inoculated plants was estimated by CT-scanning which suggests the role of B26 in altering the root architecture. B26 also modulated plant hormone homeostasis. A differential response was observed in the transcript abundance of auxin and gibberellins biosynthesis genes in inoculated roots. Our results reveal that B. distachyon plant genotype is an essential determinant of whether a PGPR provides benefit or harm to the host and shed new insight into the involvement of B. velezensis in the expression of flowering genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While notable progress has been made in recent years both experimentally and theoretically in understanding the highly complex dynamics of polymer capture and transport through nanopores, there remains significant disagreement between experimental observation and theoretical prediction that needs to be resolved. Asymmetric salt concentrations, where the concentrations of ions on each side of the membrane are different, can be used to enhance capture rates and prolong translocation times of electrophoretically driven polymers translocating through a nanopore from the low salt concentration reservoir, which are both attractive features for single-molecule analysis. However, since asymmetric salt concentrations affect the electrophoretic pull inside and outside the pore differently, it also offers a useful control parameter to elucidate the otherwise inseparable physics of the capture and translocation process. In this work, we attempt to paint a complete picture of the dynamics of polymer capture and translocation in both symmetric and asymmetric salt concentration conditions by reporting the dependence of multiple translocation metrics on voltage, polymer length, and salt concentration gradient. Using asymmetric salt concentration conditions, we experimentally observe the predictions of tension propagation theory, and infer the significant impact of the electric field outside the pore in capturing polymers and in altering polymer conformations prior to translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kauaʻi, an island within the Hawaiʻi archipelago, is home of a unique flora that contains 250 single-island endemic plant species. Threats have led to a significant population decrease where 97% of these plant species are now listed as endangered, critically endangered, or extinct. Vertical cliff habitats on Kauaʻi work as refugia to protect plants from their stressors. However, this habitat makes conservation work particularly difficult, forcing scientists, and botanists to use risky and time-consuming methods such as abseiling to access remote plant populations. Here we present the Mamba, the first aerial system capable of sampling plants on cliffs. This system is operated by two pilots and consists of an actively controlled platform suspended by a long cable under a lifting drone. Eleven otherwise inaccessible samples from five critically endangered species were collected during the first field trials on Kauaʻi Island. The samples are currently surviving in nurseries, demonstrating that the Mamba can be used to complete the conservation life cycle for organisms located in difficult areas, from location to collection, then cultivation and outplanting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Arsenic (As) is one of the most widespread toxic elements, affecting human health through consumption of contaminated water or food. This work studied the effects of ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 on mobility, speciation, and toxicity of As in a soil polluted by the destruction of chemical ammunition. Methods: Effects of fertilization on mobility and speciation of As, abundance of active AsIII-oxidizing and AsV-reducing microorganisms, abundance of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, and aioA and arsB genes involved in As biotransformation were monitored during barley growth in polluted (P) and non-polluted (NP) soils in pots maintained in outdoor conditions, with either the usual dose of (NH4)2SO4, 10 × or 100 × this dose. As transfer to plants and phytotoxicity were evaluated through quantification and speciation of As in grains and lipid peroxidation in plant leaves. Results: As mobility was significantly reduced by the highest dose of (NH4)2SO4. Fertilization tended to increase the Omega-3 Index in barley with the P soil. Abundance of AsIII-oxidizing microorganisms was higher and plant biomass was lower in P than in NP soil. Neither pollution level nor fertilization dose affected As speciation in soils or gene abundance. The sum of the concentrations of extracted AsIII and AsV species in grains was in the range 0–150 µg kg−1 with NP soil and 2000–3500 µg kg−1 with P soil. Conclusions: Results underline the importance of developing surveys of As dynamics in agricultural contexts with diverse types of crops, with a focus on As speciation mechanisms, linked to soil microbial activities and plant physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vanilla genus is a complex taxonomic group characterized by a vegetative reproduction mode combined with intra- and inter-specific hybridizations, and polyploidy events. These factors strongly impact the diversification of the genus and complicate the delimitation of taxa. Among the hundred Vanilla species, Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews and Vanilla × tahitensis J. W. Moore are the main cultivated aromatic species. We applied Genotyping-by-Sequencing to explore the genetic diversity of these two cultivated vanilla species, seven closely related species and nineteen interspecific hybrids. The inter- and intra-specific relationships of 133 vanilla accessions were examined based on 2004 filtered SNPs. Our results showed a strong genetic structuring between the nine species studied, with wild species showing much lower heterozygosity levels than cultivated ones. Moreover, using Bayesian clustering analyses, the kinship of several hybrids could be verified. We evidenced in particular that Vanilla sotoarenasii and Vanilla odorata C.Presl may be the parental species of V. x tahitensis. The analysis of 1129 SNPs for 84 V. planifolia accessions showed a clear genetic demarcation between the vegetatively propagated traditional vanilla cultivars compared to the accessions derived from sexual reproduction, and a higher genetic diversity and lower heterozygosity of the latter (Ho = 0.206) compared to the former (Ho = 0.362). Our data are consistent with a single-step domestication for V. planifolia in accordance with the recent history of its cultivation. It also opens avenues to breed new V. planifolia varieties adapted to biotic and abiotic constraints and to reduce mutational load induced by clonal propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalizing Courant's nodal domain theorem, the "Extended Courant property" is the statement that a linear combination of the first n eigenfunctions has at most n nodal domains. A related question is to estimate the number of connected components of the (super) level sets of a Neumann eigenfunction u. Indeed, in this case, the first eigenfunction is constant, and looking at the level sets of u amounts to looking at the nodal sets {u − a = 0}, where a is a real constant. In the first part of the paper, we prove that the Extended Courant property is false for the subequilateral triangle and for regular N-gons (N large), with the Neumann boundary condition. More precisely, we prove that there exists a Neumann eigenfunction uk of the N-gon, with labeling k, 4 ≤ k ≤ 6, such that the set {uk ≠ 1} has (N + 1) connected components. In the second part, we prove that there exists a metric g on T 2 (resp. on S 2 ), which can be chosen arbitrarily close to the flat metric (resp. round metric), and an eigenfunction u of the associated Laplace—Beltrami operator, such that the set {u ≠ 1} has infinitely many connected components. In particular, the Extended Courant property is false for these closed surfaces. These results are strongly motivated by a recent paper by Buhovsky, Logunov and Sodin. As for the positive direction, in Appendix B, we prove that the Extended Courant property is true for the isotropic quantum harmonic oscillator in ℝ2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of thermally shrinkable polymer surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates were prepared with bimetallic Au and Ag (oxidized or not) films and with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) located at different places in the layered structure to evaluate the synergistic effect of different known SERS amplification methods to enhance the Raman signal for low concentration dopamine detection. A bimetallic Au and Ag layered structure improved the Raman signal by 5 and 2 times compared to the single-layered Au and Ag films. Oxidizing the Ag layer prior to deposition of Au further improved the signal by a factor of 2, while adding AuNP on wrinkled films increased another 10 times the intensity of the Raman signal. It was found that the enhancement was another 10 times stronger when using AuNPs in combination with other means of enhancement such as with a silver underlayer or surface wrinkling. Wrinkling alone only gave a few-fold increase compared to a flat film, but the combination of wrinkling with AuNPs and a silver underlayer improved the SERS intensity by more than 3 orders of magnitude, showing the synergistic effect of these enhancement methods. The optimized sensors were then tested in dynamic SERS with low concentration dopamine solutions, where the signal showed characteristics of a digital SERS response. Raman spectra preprocessing and sorting software was developed to triage the SERS-active spectra from the null spectra, to count the detection events such as the ones observed in single molecule experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Severely ill patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop circulatory failure. We aimed to report patterns of left and right ventricular dysfunction in the first echocardiography following admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study that collected echocardiographic and clinical information from severely ill COVID-19 patients admitted to 14 ICUs in 8 countries. Patients admitted to ICU who received at least one echocardiography between 1st February 2020 and 30th June 2021 were included. Clinical and echocardiographic data were uploaded using a secured web-based electronic database (REDCap). Results: Six hundred and seventy-seven patients were included and the first echo was performed 2 [1, 4] days after ICU admission. The median age was 65 [56, 73] years, and 71% were male. Left ventricle (LV) and/or right ventricle (RV) systolic dysfunction were found in 234 (34.5%) patients. 149 (22%) patients had LV systolic dysfunction (with or without RV dysfunction) without LV dilatation and no elevation in filling pressure. 152 (22.5%) had RV systolic dysfunction. In 517 patients with information on both paradoxical septal motion and quantitative RV size, 90 (17.4%) had acute cor pulmonale (ACP). ACP was associated with mechanical ventilation (OR > 4), pulmonary embolism (OR > 5) and increased PaCO2. Exploratory analyses showed that patients with ACP and older age were more likely to die in hospital (including ICU). Conclusion: Almost one-third of this cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients exhibited abnormal LV and/or RV systolic function in their first echocardiography assessment. While LV systolic dysfunction appears similar to septic cardiomyopathy, RV systolic dysfunction was related to pressure overload due to positive pressure ventilation, hypercapnia and pulmonary embolism. ACP and age seemed to be associated with mortality in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cetirizine is a less sedative alternative to diphenhydramine for the prevention of infusion-related reactions (IRR) to paclitaxel. However, its use remains controversial. In this study, we assessed feasibility for a future definitive non-inferiority trial comparing cetirizine to diphenhydramine as premedication to prevent paclitaxel-related IRR. Methods: This was a single-center randomized prospective feasibility study. Participants were paclitaxel-naive cancer patients scheduled to start paclitaxel chemotherapy. They were randomly assigned to receive either intravenous diphenhydramine 50 mg + oral placebo (control) or intravenous placebo + oral cetirizine 10 mg (intervention) for their first two paclitaxel treatments. The percentage of eligible patients completing a first paclitaxel treatment and the recruitment rate were assessed (feasibility outcomes). Drowsiness was measured at baseline and at selected time points using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) (safety outcome). IRR events were also documented (efficacy outcome). Results: Among 37 eligible patients, 27 were recruited and randomized (control 13; intervention 14) and 25 completed the study. The recruitment rate was 4.8 participants/month, meeting the primary feasibility target. Drowsiness was the main adverse effect associated with the premedication. The increase in drowsiness compared to baseline (ΔSSS) was greater in the diphenhydramine group compared to the cetirizine group (median ΔSSS 2 (IQR 3.25) vs median ΔSSS 0 (IQR 1), p < 0.01) when measured one hour after the premedication administration. One participant had an IRR and no unexpected serious adverse event occurred. Conclusion: The trial methods were feasible in terms of recruitment, retention, and safety. Cetirizine was significantly less sedating than diphenhydramine. IRR were infrequent and a larger trial is warranted to confirm non-inferiority for IRR prevention. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04237090 (22.01.2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precision of matter-wave sensors benefits from interrogating large-particle-number atomic ensembles at high cycle rates. Quantum-degenerate gases with their low effective temperatures allow for constraining systematic errors towards highest accuracy, but their production by evaporative cooling is costly with regard to both atom number and cycle rate. In this work, we report on the creation of cold matter-waves using a crossed optical dipole trap and shaping them by means of an all-optical matter-wave lens. We demonstrate the trade off between lowering the residual kinetic energy and increasing the atom number by reducing the duration of evaporative cooling and estimate the corresponding performance gain in matter-wave sensors. Our method is implemented using time-averaged optical potentials and hence easily applicable in optical dipole trapping setups. Matter-wave sensors benefit from high flux cold atomic sources. Here, a time-averaged optical dipole trap is reported that generates Bose-Einstein condensates by fast evaporative cooling and further reduces the expansion by means of an all-optical matter-wave lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Defining the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients is an important clinical and prognostic challenge. The aim of this study is to determine HCM phenogroups with different risk of AF occurrence at 5 years. Methods and results: We applied retrospectively the Bayesian method, which can analyze a large number of variables, to differentiate phenogroups of patients with different risks of AF and prognoses across a French prospective on-going hospital-based registry of adult HCM patients (REMY). Clinical and imaging data were prospectively recorded, and patients were followed for 5 years. A total of 1431 HCM patients were recruited, including 1275 analyzed in the present study after exclusion criteria. The population included 412 women, 369 patients with obstructive HCM, and 252 implanted with an ICD. AF occurred in 167 (11.6%) patients during the 5 year follow-up. Three phenogroups were defined according to their common clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. Patients at the highest risk were oldest, more often female, with more frequent comorbidities, anteroposterior diameter of the left atrium was significantly greater, with diastolic dysfunction, outflow-tract obstruction, and mitral valve abnormality, and presented higher pulmonary artery pressure and/or right-ventricular dysfunction. These also had a higher risk of all-cause hospitalizations and death. Conclusion: Based on a clustering analysis, three phenogroups of HCM according to the risk of AF occurrence can be identified. It can indicate which patients should be more monitored and/or treated, particular to prevent the risk of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-molecule counting is the most accurate and precise method for determining the concentration of a biomarker in solution and is leading to the emergence of digital diagnostic platforms enabling precision medicine. In principle, solid-state nanopores—fully electronic sensors with single-molecule sensitivity—are well suited to the task. Here we present a digital immunoassay scheme capable of reliably quantifying the concentration of a target protein in complex biofluids that overcomes specificity, sensitivity, and consistency challenges associated with the use of solid-state nanopores for protein sensing. This is achieved by employing easily-identifiable DNA nanostructures as proxies for the presence ("1") or absence ("0") of the target protein captured via a magnetic bead-based sandwich immunoassay. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate quantification of the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone from human serum samples down to the high femtomolar range. Further optimization to the method will push sensitivity and dynamic range, allowing for development of precision diagnostic tools compatible with point-of-care format. The concentration of a biomarker in solution can be determined by counting single molecules. Here the authors report a digital immunoassay scheme with solid-state nanopore readout to quantify a target protein and use this to measure thyroid-stimulating hormone from human serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare center educators in Quebec (Canada). Regulated childcare services were closed due to the pandemic between March 16 and May 31, 2020, in areas considered "hot" (highly affected by the pandemic). During this time, some centers were transformed into "emergency childcare services" available to parents considered to be essential workers. Therefore, few children attended, and most educators worked remotely. In May 2020, 372 educators completed an online questionnaire regarding their emotional state, challenges, and learning opportunities. Results indicate that half of the respondents reported a decrease in their level of well-being at work and an increase in their stress level. Educators working remotely were more likely to report a lower level of stress than when working with children at daycare (36.1% vs 19.7%). Despite these findings, educators estimated that the parents who used their emergency childcare service presented either high (37.7%) or average (32.2%) levels of wellbeing. The factors that educators identified as facilitating their interactions with families included parental recognition of their work (11.68%) and direct contact with them (12.62%). While many tasks accomplished at home were done for the first time during this period (i.e., creating video capsules for children and parents, virtual meetings with children and colleagues), a large majority of respondents reported that these tasks made them feel useful. Working at their own pace (34.7%) was seen as the principal advantage of remote working. Finally, 28.84% mentioned that the reduced ratio (1:2 or 1:3) was a facilitating factor that they would like to maintain during the upcoming reopening phase. The discussion uses the Job Demands and Resources theoretical framework (Bakker and Demerouti in Wellbeing 3(2):1–28, 2014; Dicke et al. in J Occupat Health Psychol 23(2): 262–277, 2017) to explain the educators' work-related demands and emotional state in both remote and CPE working pandemic contexts. In conclusion, we argued that this pandemic reveals the complexity, but also the essential nature of the work of early childhood educators, in particular by identifying their needs for support and recognition essential to their professional commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse models of genetic mitochondrial disorders are generally used to understand specific molecular defects and their biochemical consequences, but rarely to map compensatory changes allowing survival. Here we took advantage of the extraordinary mitochondrial resilience of hepatic Lrpprc knockout mice to explore this question using native proteomics profiling and lipidomics. In these mice, low levels of the mtRNA binding protein LRPPRC induce a global mitochondrial translation defect and a severe reduction (>80%) in the assembly and activity of the electron transport chain (ETC) complex IV (CIV). Yet, animals show no signs of overt liver failure and capacity of the ETC is preserved. Beyond stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, results show that the abundance of mitoribosomes per unit of mitochondria is increased and proteostatic mechanisms are induced in presence of low LRPPRC levels to preserve a balance in the availability of mitochondrial- vs nuclear-encoded ETC subunits. At the level of individual organelles, a stabilization of residual CIV in supercomplexes (SCs) is observed, pointing to a role of these supramolecular arrangements in preserving ETC function. While the SC assembly factor COX7A2L could not contribute to the stabilization of CIV, important changes in membrane glycerophospholipid (GPL), most notably an increase in SC-stabilizing cardiolipins species (CLs), were observed along with an increased abundance of other supramolecular assemblies known to be stabilized by, and/or participate in CL metabolism. Together these data reveal a complex in vivo network of molecular adjustments involved in preserving mitochondrial integrity in energy consuming organs facing OXPHOS defects, which could be therapeutically exploited. Cuillerier et al. investigate compensatory mechanisms underlying survival of mice with a liver-specific knockout of the mitochondrial mRNA-binding protein Lrpprc. They propose various mechanisms operating along the OXPHOS assembly line, including mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial ribosome upregulation and preferential supercomplex assembly, that could compensate lack of LRPPRC and allow survival of these mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We investigate the possibility to exploit high-field MRI to acquire 3D images of Purkinje network which plays a crucial role in cardiac function. Since Purkinje fibers (PF) have a distinct cellular structure and are surrounded by connective tissue, we investigated conventional contrast mechanisms along with the magnetization transfer (MT) imaging technique to improve image contrast between ventricular structures of differing macromolecular content. Methods: Three fixed porcine ventricular samples were used with free-running PFs on the endocardium. T1, T2*, T2, and M0 were evaluated on 2D slices for each sample at 9.4 T. MT parameters were optimized using hard pulses with different amplitudes, offset frequencies and durations. The cardiac structure was assessed through 2D and 3D T1w images with isotropic resolutions of 150 µm. Histology, immunofluorescence, and qPCR were performed to analyze collagen contents of cardiac tissue and PF. Results: An MT preparation module of 350 ms duration inserted into the sequence with a B1 = 10 µT and frequency offset = 3000 Hz showed the best contrast, approximately 0.4 between PFs and myocardium. Magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) appeared higher in the cardiac tissue (MTR = 44.7 ± 3.5%) than in the PFs (MTR = 25.2 ± 6.3%). Discussion: MT significantly improves contrast between PFs and ventricular myocardium and appears promising for imaging the 3D architecture of the Purkinje network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A limited number of studies have focused on the hydroclimate dynamics of tropical Caribbean islands. The present study aims to analyze the rainfall regime in Barbados. CHIRPS gridded dataset, at a resolution of 0.05°×0.05°, providing daily rainfall data from January 1981 until 2018 was used. The variables analyzed were the annual and seasonal maximum rainfall, the total annual and seasonal rainfall, and the number of rainy days per year and per season. Potential change points in rainfall time-series were detected with a Bayesian multiple change point detection procedure. Time series were then analyzed for detection of trends using the modified Mann-Kendall test. The true temporal slopes of the rainfall time series were obtained with the Theil-Sen's statistic. The links between rainfall and various global climate oscillation indices were also investigated. Results indicate that no change points or significant trends were observed in the annual rainfall time series. However, it was found that some climate indices have a strong correlation with precipitation on the island, especially for the total rainfall and the number of rainy days. A stationary and non-stationary frequency analysis is carried out on the rainfall annual variables using climate oscillation indices as covariates, and uncertainties on quantile estimates are identified. It is shown that non-stationary models lead to a better fit to rainfall data. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is used for the long-term prediction of hydro-climatic time series. Rainfall annual time series were extended with this method for a period of 20 years. Results indicate that, within that period, annual maximum rainfall will increase by about 12 mm (or 0.6 mm/year), total annual rainfall will increase by about 200 mm (or 10 mm/year) and the number of rainy days per year will see a slight decrease by about 3 days (or 0.15 day/year). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the stabilizing consensus problem each agent of a networked system has an input value and is repeatedly writing an output value; it is required that eventually all the output values stabilize to the same value which, moreover, must be one of the input values. We study this problem for a synchronous model with identical and anonymous agents that are connected by a time-varying topology and may join the system at any time (asynchronous start). Our main result is a generic MinMax algorithm that solves the stabilizing consensus problem in this model when, in each sufficiently long but bounded period of time, there is an agent, called a root, that can send messages, possibly indirectly, to all other agents. We stress that the bound on the time required for achieving this rootedness property is unknown to the agents. Such topologies are highly dynamic (in particular, roots may change arbitrarily over time) and may have very weak connectivity properties (an agent may be never a root). Our distributed MinMax algorithms thus require neither central control nor any global information and are also quite efficient in terms of message size and storage requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global demand for pesticide-free food products is increasing rapidly. Crops of all types are, however, under constant threat from various plant pathogens. To achieve adequate control with minimal pesticide use, close monitoring is imperative. Many plant pathogens spread through the air, so the atmosphere is composed of a wide variety of plant pathogenic and non-plant pathogenic organisms, in particular in agricultural environments. Aerobiology is the science that studies airborne microorganisms and their distribution, especially as agents of infection. Although this discipline has existed for decades, the development of new molecular technologies is contributing to an increase in the use of aerobiological data for several purposes, from day-to-day monitoring to improving our understanding of pathosystems. Although the importance of knowing the size and composition of plant pathogen populations present in the air is recognized, technical constraints hinder the development of agricultural aerobiology. Here we review the application of spore sampling systems in agriculture and discuss the main considerations underlying the implementation of airborne inoculum monitoring. The results of this literature review confirm that the use of aerobiological data to study the escape of inoculum from a source and its role in the development of diseases is well mastered, but point at a lack of knowledge to proceed with the deployment of these systems at the landscape scale. Thus, we conclude that airborne inoculum surveillance networks are still in their early stages and although more and more initiatives are emerging, research must be conducted primarily to integrate evolving technologies and improve the access, analysis, interpretation and sharing of data. These tools are needed to estimate short- and medium-term risks, identify the most appropriate control measures with the lowest environmental risk, develop indicators to document the effects of climate change, and monitor the evolution of new genotypes at multiple scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridization and polyploidization are powerful mechanisms of speciation. Hybrid speciation often coincides with whole-genome duplication (WGD) in eukaryotes. This suggests that WGD may allow hybrids to thrive by increasing fitness, restoring fertility and/or increasing access to adaptive mutations. Alternatively, it has been suggested that hybridization itself may trigger WGD. Testing these models requires quantifying the rate of WGD in hybrids without the confounding effect of natural selection. Here we show, by measuring the spontaneous rate of WGD of more than 1300 yeast crosses evolved under relaxed selection, that some genotypes or combinations of genotypes are more prone to WGD, including some hybrids between closely related species. We also find that higher WGD rate correlates with higher genomic instability and that WGD increases fertility and genetic variability. These results provide evidence that hybridization itself can promote WGD, which in turn facilitates the evolution of hybrids. The interaction between hybridisation and polyploidisation is thought to play an important role in eukaryote speciation. Here the authors sequence yeast crosses and show associations between hybridisation, genome instability, and genome duplication, suggesting these may have roles in the establishment of new hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenesis of eukaryotic box C/D small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins initiates co-transcriptionally and requires the action of the assembly machinery including the Hsp90/R2TP complex, the Rsa1p:Hit1p heterodimer and the Bcd1 protein. We present genetic interactions between the Rsa1p-encoding gene and genes involved in chromatin organization including RTT106 that codes for the H3-H4 histone chaperone Rtt106p controlling H3K56ac deposition. We show that Bcd1p binds Rtt106p and controls its transcription-dependent recruitment by reducing its association with RNA polymerase II, modulating H3K56ac levels at gene body. We reveal the 3D structures of the free and Rtt106p-bound forms of Bcd1p using nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray crystallography. The interaction is also studied by a combination of biophysical and proteomic techniques. Bcd1p interacts with a region that is distinct from the interaction interface between the histone chaperone and histone H3. Our results are evidence for a protein interaction interface for Rtt106p that controls its transcription-associated activity. Biogenesis of small nucleolar RNAs ribonucleoproteins (snoRNPs) requires dedicated assembly machinery. Here, the authors show that a subset of snoRNP assembly factors interacts, genetically or directly, with factors modulating chromatin architecture, suggesting a link between ribosome formation and chromatin functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does the source of one's news media have a systematic effect on one's perception of political corruption? While numerous studies have investigated the extent to which media affects trust in institutions, or the polarization of political values, this study shifts the focus on to how one's media source conceived here as social media versus traditional media affects the perception of corruption in 2 ways. First, we hypothesize that citizens who consume their news predominately from social media will have higher perceptions of political corruption than consumers of more traditional media sources. Second, we hypothesize that perceptions among social media consumers will be more polarized. Specifically, we argue that the gap in corruption perception between supporters of government and opposition political parties will be larger among social media consumers compared to traditional news consumers. We test our hypotheses using newly collected survey data from the European Quality of Government Index survey from 2017, which contains nearly 78,000 respondents in 21 countries in the European Union. Estimating our model with both parametric and non-parametric approaches, we find robust empirical support for two of our 3 hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant systemic corticosteroids in reducing kidney scarring. A previous study suggested that use of adjuvant systemic corticosteroids reduces kidney scarring in children radiologically confirmed to have extensive pyelonephritis. Efficacy of corticosteroids for children with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) has not been studied. Methods: Children aged 2 months to 6 years with their first febrile UTI were randomized to corticosteroids or placebo for 3 days (both arms received antimicrobial therapy); kidney scarring was assessed using 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid kidney scan 5–24 months after the initial UTI. Results: We randomized 546 children of which 385 had a UTI and 254 had outcome kidney scans (instead of the 320 planned). Rates of kidney scarring were 9.8% (12/123) and 16.8% (22/131) in the corticosteroid and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.16), corresponding to an absolute risk reduction of 5.9% (95% confidence interval: − 2.2, 14.1). Conclusion: While children randomized to adjuvant corticosteroids tended to develop fewer kidney scars than children who were randomized to receive placebo, a statistically significant difference was not achieved. However, the study was limited by not reaching its intended sample size. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01391793, Registered 7/12/2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on gender differences in voter reactions to a corruption scandal in one's preferred party. We analyze, in a framework of 'exit, voice and loyalty', whether women differ from men in terms of turnout (exit), and given that they vote, whether they prefer a clean alternative party (voice) or whether they continue to vote for their preferred party (loyalty) involved in a corruption scandal. We employ sequential logit models using data from the European Quality of Government Index (EQI) survey from 2017, which contains roughly 77,000 respondents from 21 EU countries and 185 regions. We find that women generally are less tolerant of corruption, but that the effect is highly conditional. In areas where social service spending is more widespread, we find that female respondents are more likely to vote for an alternative party. Yet the odds of exit increase among women when social service spending is lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has been widely praised for its extreme sensitivity but has not so far been put to use in routine analytical applications, with the accessible scale of measurements a limiting factor. We report here on a frugal implementation of SERS dedicated to the quantitative detection of Zn2+ in water, Zn being an element that can serve as an indicator of contamination by heavy metals in aquatic bodies. The method consists in randomly aggregating simple silver colloids in the analyte solution in the presence of a complexometric indicator of Zn2+, recording the SERS spectrum with a portable Raman spectrometer and analysing the data using multivariate calibration models. The frugality of the sensing procedure enables us to acquire a dataset much larger than conventionally done in the field of SERS, which in turn allows for an in-depth statistical analysis of the analytical performances that matter to end-users. In pure water, the proposed sensor is sensitive and accurate in the 160–2230 nM range, with a trueness of 96% and a precision of 4%. Although its limit of detection is one order of magnitude higher than those of golden standard techniques for quantifying metals, its sensitivity range matches Zn levels that are relevant to the health of aquatic bodies. Moreover, its frugality positions it as an interesting alternative to monitor water quality. Critically, the combination of the simple procedure for sample preparation, abundant SERS material and affordable portable instrument paves the way for a realistic deployment to the water site, with each Zn reading three to five times cheaper than through conventional techniques. It could therefore complement current monitoring methods in a bid to solve the pressing needs for large scale water quality data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle East can experience extended wintertime spells of exceptionally hot weather, which can result in prolonged droughts and have major impacts on the already scarce water resources of the region. Recent observational studies point at increasing trends in mean and extreme temperatures in the Middle East, while climate projections seem to indicate that, in a warming weather scenario, the frequency, intensity and duration of warm spells will increase. The nonstationary warm spell frequency analysis approach proposed herein allows considering both climate variability through global climatic oscillations and climate change signals. In this study, statistical distributions with parameters conditional on covariates representing time, to account for temporal trend, and climate indices are used to predict the frequency, duration and intensity of wintertime warm spells in the Middle East. Such models could find a large applicability in various fields of climate research, and in particular in the seasonal prediction of warm spell severity. Based on previous studies linking atmospheric circulation patterns in the Atlantic to extreme temperatures in the Middle East, we use as covariates two classic modes of 'fast' and 'slow' climatic variability in the Atlantic Ocean (i.e., the Northern Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation respectively). Results indicate that the use of covariates improves the goodness-of-fit of models for all warm spell characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Of Review: To provide an updated synopsis of the research and clinical practice findings on pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adolescents and to describe the newly developed "Stopping GDM," an early intervention, culturally tailored risk reduction program for AIAN girls and their mothers.Recent Findings: Five research articles met our inclusion criteria. Three retrospective quantitative studies published in the past 10 years corroborated a 1.5 to 2 times higher prevalence for GDM for all age groups in the AIAN population as compared to other ethnic groups, and that the percentage of GDM cases attributable to overweight and obesity was highest for AIs (52.8%). Moreover, First Nations women across all age groups had more adverse pregnancy risk factors than non-First Nations women. Out of the five selected articles, two were qualitative research articles: one examined AIAN women's experiences of having GDM or type 2 diabetes (T2D) during pregnancy and the other appraised the understanding of GDM and reproductive health of at-risk AIAN girls. There is a paucity of research published on this topic. AIAN females are at high risk for developing GDM. Early, culturally responsive interventions and cohort follow-up studies are needed among adolescents and young adults, using technology that appeals to this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We tested whether FLAIR vascular hyperintensities (FVH)-DWI mismatch could identify candidates for thrombectomy most likely to benefit from revascularization.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 100 patients with proximal MCA occlusion from 18 stroke centers randomized in the IV-thrombolysis plus mechanical thrombectomy arm of the THRACE trial (2010-2015). We tested the associations between successful revascularization on digital subtraction angiography (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b/3) and 3-month favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2), stratified on FVH-DWI mismatch status, with secondary analyses adjusted on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and DWI lesion volume.Results: FVH-DWI mismatch was present in 79% of patients, with a similar prevalence at 1.5 T (80%) and 3 T (78%). Successful revascularization (74%) was more frequent in patients with FVH-DWI mismatch (63/79, 80%) than in patients without (11/21, 52%), p = 0.01. The OR of favorable outcome for revascularization were 15.05 (95% CI 3.12-72.61, p < 0.001) in patients with FVH-DWI mismatch and 0.83 (95% CI 0.15-4.64, p = 0.84) in patients without FVH-DWI mismatch (p = 0.011 for interaction). Similar results were observed after adjustment for NIHSS (OR = 12.73 [95% CI 2.69-60.41, p = 0.001] and 0.96 [95% CI 0.15-6.30, p = 0.96]) or for DWI volume (OR = 12.37 [95% CI 2.76-55.44, p = 0.001] and 0.91 [95% CI 0.16-5.33, p = 0.92]) in patients with and without FVH-DWI mismatch, respectively.Conclusions: The FVH-DWI mismatch identifies patients likeliest to benefit from revascularization, irrespective of initial DWI lesion volume and clinical stroke severity, and could serve as a useful surrogate marker for penumbral evaluation.Key Points: • The FVH-DWI mismatch, defined by FLAIR vascular hyperintensities (FVH) located beyond the boundaries of the DWI lesion, is associated with large penumbra. • Among stroke patients with proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion referred for thrombectomy, those with FVH-DWI mismatch are most likely to benefit from revascularization. • FVH-DWI mismatch provides an alternative to PWI-DWI mismatch in order to select patients who are candidates for thrombectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]