The multiple signal classification (MUSIC) method for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation is widely applied in practical scenarios. However, the MUSIC method with planar array requires two-dimensional (2D) on-grid spectrum searches, which would lead to the grid mismatch and high computational complexity. Therefore, a high precision fast DOA estimation method for planar array is proposed. In the proposed method, a two-stage grid search approach over the 2D spectrum is firstly applied to obtain a quick coarse estimation of DOA. Then the estimation of higher precision is achieved via a quadratic surface fitting method. Simulation results verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.

A document by Sara Zaidi. Click on the document to view its contents.

The CRISPR-Cas system of Prokaryotes is an adaptive immune defense mechanism to protect themselves from invading genetic elements (e.g. phages and plasmids). Studies that describe the genetic organization of these prokaryotic systems have mainly reported on the Enterobacteriaceae family (now reorganized within the order Enterobacteriales). For some genera, data on CRISPR-Cas systems remain poor, as in the case of Serratia (now part of the Yersiniaceae family) where data are limited to a few genomes of the species marcescens. This study describes the detection, in silico, of CRISPR loci in 146 Serratia complete genomes and 336 high-quality assemblies available for the species ficaria, fonticola, grimesii, inhibens, liquefaciens, marcescens, nematodiphila, odorifera, oryzae, plymuthica, proteomaculans, quinivorans, rubidaea, symbiotic, and ureilytica. Apart from subtypes I-E and I-F1, which had previously been identified in marcescens, we report that of I-C and the variants I-ES1, I-ES2 and I-F1S1. Analysis of the genomic contexts for CRISPR loci revealed mdtN-phnP as the region mostly shared (grimesii, inhibens, marcescens, nematodiphila, plymuthica, rubidaea, and Serratia sp.). Three new contexts detected in genomes of rubidaea and fonticola (puu genes-mnmA) and rubidaea (osmE-soxG and ampC-yebZ) were also found. Plasmid and/or phage origin of spacers was also established.

Purpose: Leaders in academic health sciences centres (AHCs) must navigate multiple roles as an inherent component of their positions. Changing accountabilities, varying expectations, differing leadership competencies required of multiple leadership roles can be exacerbated by health system disruption, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need improved models that support leaders in navigating, so they can better handle the complexity of multiple leadership roles.Method: This integrative conceptual review sought to examine leadership and followership constructs and how they intersect with current leadership practices in AHCs. The goal was to develop a refined model of health care leadership development. The authors used iterative cycles of divergent and convergent thinking to explore and synthesize various literature and existing leadership frameworks. The authors used simulated personas and stories to test the model and, finally, the approach sought feedback from knowledge users (including health care leaders, medical educators, and leadership developers) to offer refinements. Results: After five rounds of discussion and reformulation, the authors arrived at a refined model: the LEADS+ Developmental Model. The model describes four nested stages, organizing progressive capabilities, as an individual toggles between followership and leadership. During the consultation stage, feedback from 29 out of 65 recruited knowledge users (44.6% response rate) was acquired. More than a quarter of respondents served as a senior leader in a health care network or national society (27.5%, n=8).  Consulted knowledge users were invited to indicate their endorsement for the refined model using a 10-point scale (10=highest level of endorsement). There was a high level of endorsement: 7.93 (SD 1.7) out of 10. Conclusion: The LEADS+ Developmental Model may help foster development of academic health centre leaders. In addition to clarifying the synergistic dynamic between leadership and followership, this model describes the paradigms adopted by leaders within health systems throughout their development journey.

Background and Purpose: Dysregulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is linked to major depressive disorder (MDD), with more than 300 million people diagnosed and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accumulating evidence for Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) interaction was shown in various limbic system regions at molecular-,cellular- and behavioral-specific levels. The purpose of the current work was to evaluate the proliferating role of GALR2 and Y1R agonists interaction upon intranasal infusion in the ventral hippocampus. Experimental approach: We studied their hippocampal proliferating actions using the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the expression of of the brain-derived neurothrophic factor (BDNF). Moreover, we studied the formation of Y1R-GALR2 heteroreceptor complexes and analyzed morphological changes on hippocampal neuronal cells. Finally, the functional outcome of the NPY and GAL interaction on the ventral hippocampus was evaluated in the forced swimming test. Key Results: We demonstrated that the intranasal infusion of GALR2 and the Y1R agonists promotes cell proliferation in the DG of the ventral hippocampus and the induction of the neurotrophic factor BDNF. These effects were mediated by the increased formation of Y1R-GALR2 heteroreceptor complexes, which may mediate the neurites outgrowth observed on neuronal hippocampal cells. Importantly, BDNF action was found necessary for the antidepressant-like effects after GALR2 and the Y1R agonists intranasal administration. Conclusions & Implications: Our data may suggest the translational development of new heterobivalent agonist pharmacophores acting on Y1R–GALR2 heterocomplexes in the ventral hippocampus for the novel therapy of mayor depression disorder or depressive-affecting diseases.

A document by Alex Sagalovich. Click on the document to view its contents.

Carex heterostachya (CH) and Carex breviculmis (CB) are easy to develop lawns in a short period and exhibit high ornamental value in northwest China. So, what type of plant functional traits has they formed for long-term survival and adaptation to this environment, which plant is more adaptable, as well as which leaf functional traits are critical to photosynthetic characteristics. The result of this study suggests that (1) CB is a slow investment-return plant with strong environmental adaptability and plasticity in long-term shaded environments. It is characterized by its weak photosynthetic capacity, smaller specific leaf area, low CO2 compensation point, high water utilization rate, high maximum carboxylation rate, as well as dark breathing rate. Moreover, it also has a thick cuticle, and epidermal cells make CB resistant to drought and barrenness. (2) CH is a quick investment-return plant, which is characterized by its higher photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, as well as larger specific leaf area. With the increase of the temperature and photosynthetically active radiation, CH maintains high photosynthetic capacity by decreasing the transpiration rate and increasing the utilization rate of light energy. Its conducting tissue is well developed. CH have lower light saturation points and light compensation points, and CH was more shade-tolerant than CB. (3) Carex have strong environmental adaptability, large variation in leaf structure traits, as well as strong plasticity. Leaf anatomical characters are stable, whereas there are differences in the interspecific variability and plasticity. (4) Specific leaf area (SLA) can serve as the main factor affecting the photosynthetic availability of Carex, the thickness of the stratum corneum(CUT), the thickness of the upper(UET) are secondary factors. These finding can provide a theoretical basis for the cultivation and application of Carex and the expansion of turfgrass germplasm resources.

As global warming progresses, plants may be forced to adapt to drastically changing environmental conditions. Arctic-alpine plants have been among the first to experience the effects of climate change, as regions at high latitudes and elevations are over-proportionally affected by rising temperatures. As a result, cold acclimation and freezing tolerance may become increasingly crucial for the survival of many plants as winter warming events and earlier snowmelt will cause increased exposure to occasional frost. Studying the evolution of cold adaptation allows us to make assumptions about the future responses of different species to climate change. The tribe Cochlearieae from the mustard family (Brassicaceae) offers an instructive system for studying cold adaptation in evolutionary terms, as the two sister genera Ionopsidium and Cochlearia are distributed among different ecological habitats throughout the European continent and the far north into circumarctic regions. By applying an electrolyte leakage assay to leaves, the freezing tolerance of different Ionopsidium and Cochlearia species was assessed by experimentally estimating lethal freezing temperature values (LT50 and LT100), thereby allowing for a comparison of different accessions in their responses to cold. We hypothesized that, owing to varying selection pressures, geographically distant species would differ in freezing tolerance. Despite Ionopsidium being adapted to hot and dry Mediterranean conditions and Cochlearia species preferring cold habitats, all accessions exhibited similar cold responses. Whether this phenomenon has resulted from an evolutionary adaptation of a common ancestor of the two taxa or has evolved from parallel evolution is yet to be investigated. The results presented in this study may, however, indicate that adaptations to different stressors, such as salinity and drought, may confer an additional tolerance to cold; this is because all these stressors induce osmotic challenges, as demonstrated via metabolomic analysis.

The domestic cat, Felis catus, is one of the most popular and widespread domestic animals. Because domestic cats can reach high population densities and retain at least some tendency to hunt, their overall impact on wildlife can be severe. Domestic cats have highly variable predation rates depending on the availability of prey in their environment, their owners' practices, and individual cat characteristics. Among these characteristics, cat personality has recently been hypothesized to be an important factor contributing to variations in the hunting activity of cats. In this study, we used surveys of 2,508 cat owners living in France to collect information about cat personalities using the Feline Five personality model and about the frequency with which the cats bring home prey. For both birds and rodents, cats with high levels of extraversion or low levels of neuroticism had significantly higher frequencies of prey return. Owners whose cats had low levels of agreeableness or high levels dominance reported a significantly lower frequency of bird return. Personality differences therefore seem to contribute to the high variability in predation rates between domestic cats. We also found that the owner-reported prey return frequencies were significantly higher for cats spending more time outdoors, for non-pedigree cats, and for owners living in rural or suburban areas as opposed to urban areas. By contrast, we did not detect an effect of cat sex or age on their reported prey return rates.

An 86-year-old man who had undergone two mitral valve replacements developed heart failure due to prosthetic valve infection and left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPA). LVPA due to infective endocarditis is rare and caused by the abscess formation in the left ventricular myocardium. Multiple mitral valve replacements may predispose to LVPA forming.

Brucella, a zoonotic agent is a rare pathogen of the lung. This intracellular organism can involve pleura in sub-acute and chronic course of the disease, and it should be considered in endemic area of brucellosis. Here, we present an extremely rare case of brucella pleurisy that referred with chest pain.

Background: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP), a common obstetric complication that seriously threatens maternal and infant health. The current clinical treatment drugs include methyldopa, calcium channel blockers, etc. In order to provide evidence-based medicine for the treatment and medication of gestational hypertension, this study compared the efficacy and safety of different drugs in the treatment of gestational hypertension through network meta-analysis. Methods: Search and select relevant articles in the published and unpublished available data from Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, CINAHL,, etc. To assess the efficacy and safety of HDP treatment, 4 primary outcomes [SBP, DBP, perinatal fetal deaths, and NICU cases] and 9 secondary outcomes were selected. Results: 50 articles with 8212 participants were included. Low molecular weight heparin (LMH), Labetalol + LMH and Labetalol + Methyldopa can reduce DBP, and Ambrisentan + Methyldopa can prevent the occurrence of severe hypertension. Methyldopa and Atenolol were associated with lower rates of preterm birth, and Nifedipine, Methyldopa as well as Labetalol reduced the incidence of placental abruption. Ambrisentan + Nifedipine, Methyldopa, Labetalol + Nimodipine, Labetalol + LMH, Labetalol and LMH significantly reduced the incidence of postpartum complications. Magnesium sulfate (SM) and SM+ LMH can prolong the mean gestational age, LMH and Kethyldopa can reduce perinatal fetal death. Conclusions: LMH, labetalol, Methyldopa, labetalol in combination with LMH, and labetalol in combination with Methyldopa have better efficacy and safety.

Nowadays, the clinical application of antitumor drugs tends towards precision and individualization. Numerous efforts have been put in exploiting technologies to precisely discern the features of tumors and discover the possible response of every cancer patient to antitumor drugs at multiple dimensions from genes, proteins, tissues to whole organism, including Genomic data, histological information, functional drug profiling and drug metabolism of cancer patients can be obtained through polymerase chain reaction, sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry staining, patient-derived tumor xenograft models, patient-derived organoid models and therapeutic drug monitoring. The application of various detection technologies in clinical practice has enabled ‘individualized treatment’ to be realized, but the ideal accuracy effect has not yet been achieved. More novel technologies or technology combinations are needed to predict the correlation between detection information and therapeutic effect, and to put forward more accurate and effective therapeutic strategies for every patient. Here, we briefly summarize the conventional and state-of-the-art technologies contributing to the clinical individualized medication and their application in clinical practice, attempting to seek therapy options that may ultimately improve clinical outcomes.

This review paper explores the concepts Human Centered AI. It basically considers the various theoretical principles, theories, and paradigms. It further explores the various works in the field of Human Centered AI and the opportunities after a structured literature survey was done on a number of online journal databases. Using the PRISMA model, we screened available literature and further categorized them into various classifications. This paper agrees to the notion that there is an intrinsic need to balance human involvement with increasing computer automation. This is relevant in achieving fair, just and reliable systems especially in the era of chatbots and other AI systems. The related works also throws more light on various applications that revolve around the concept of Human Centered AI. Among the host of research suggestions for future work, we recommend a further extension of the 2-dimensional human-computer autonomy by Shneiderman and other recommendations in the fields considered. We further recommend more commitment and attention to balance human control over contemporary intelligent systems.

Mixotrophs are ubiquitous and integral to microbial food webs, but their impacts on the dynamics and functioning of broader ecosystems are largely unresolved. Here, we show that mixotrophy produces a unique, dynamic type of food web module that exhibits unusual ecological dynamics, with surprising consequences for carbon flux under warming. We find that mixotrophs generate alternative stable carbon states across temperatures---including an autotrophy-dominant carbon sink state, a heterotrophy-dominant carbon source state, and cycling between these two. Moreover, warming always shifts this mixotrophic system from a carbon sink state to a carbon source state, but increasing nutrients erases early warning signals of this transition and expands hysteresis. This suggests that mixotrophs can generate critical carbon tipping points under warming that will be more abrupt and less reversible when combined with increased nutrient levels, having widespread implications for ecosystem functioning in the face of rapid global change.

Objective Anaemia during pregnancy is higher in developing countries like India and associated with an increased risk to maternal health and outcomes. The present study estimates the prevalence and determinant risk factors of anaemia among pregnant women in India. Design Cross-sectional Setting Data from a nationally representative household survey of National Family Health Survey-5 conducted during 2019-21. Population A total of 27,317 currently pregnant women with anaemia status. Methods Estimating the prevalence differences and risk factors using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Main outcome measures Anaemia Results About 52.2% of pregnant women in India were anaemic and prevalence was higher among women with no education (59.2%), belonging to poorest wealth quintile (61.9%), and scheduled tribes (59.3%) compared to their counterparts. The socio-economic determinant factors for severe anaemia were no education (aOR 4.07, 95% CI 3.40-4.86), poorest wealth quintile (aOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.73-2.43), and no exposure to media (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.70-2.60) than their counterparts. Women who were vegetarian (aOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.64-1.93), had previous abortion (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.58-2.47) and stillbirth (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.66-2.64) are more likely to have severe anaemia than non-vegetarian, and those in first pregnancy. Among women with gestation of ≤20 weeks, underweight were more likely to have severe anaemia (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.44-1.79). Conclusion Different geographical, socio-economic and clinical factors influence high prevalence and severity of anaemia among pregnant Indian women. Social norms-based interventions and strengthening the community health facilitators may help to combat high burden of anaemia.

o Objective: To probe the relationship between socioeconomic variables and cesarean section (CS) by studying indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) previously unexamined in the United States (US). o Design: Retrospective review of government data. o Setting: New York City. o Population or Sample: Women (n=80,506) who gave birth to a live child during 2018. o Methods: Analysis of data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and from the US census. o Main Outcome Measures: Presence of CS. o Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed higher odds for CS for higher median household income [US$54,500-$108,499 (OR:1.14, 95% CI:1.02, 1.28, p=0.03) and US$108,500-$380,499 (OR:1.36, 95% CI:1.14, 1.63, p<0.001)], and percent receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program (OR:1.01, 95% CI 1.002, 1.01, p=0.003). Lower odds for CS occurred for per capita income [US$32,500-$54,499 (OR:0.91, 95% CI:0.86, 0.97, p=0.002), US$54,500-$108,499 (OR:0.79, 95% CI:0.71, 0.88, p<0.001), and US$108,500-$380,499 (OR:0.82, 95% CI:0.71, 0.94, p=0.01)]. No significant association occurred for public assistance. o Conclusions: We recommend from a public health perspective that using neighborhood SES information has the potential to improve health systems to better deliver care. Patient preferences may be related to SES. There may be conflicts between obstetric care that is maximally beneficial and patient’s desire for delivery mode. Clinicians should be aware of the potential implications of this dilemma.

Abstract Objectives To investigate the vaginal microbiome (VMB) of a large sample size of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing. Design A cross-sectional study Setting Ji Nan, China Sample A total of 1,446 subjects were recruited (PCOS, n=713, the controls, n=733). Methods Vaginal swabs were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Main outcome measures The microbiome diversity and composition of the PCOS group and control group were compared. In the PCOS prediction model, microbial interaction networks and functions prediction were investigated. Results The PCOS group had a higher alpha diversity in the VMB than controls (P<0.05), while higher intra-group variability was observed in PCOS (P<0.05). At the genus level, the proportion of Lactobacillus in the PCOS group decreased, while the proportion of Gardnerella and Ureaplasma increased (FDR<0.2). Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella buccalis, and Prevotella timonensis were identified as differential species and were strongly associated with blood parameters of PCOS. The VMB interaction network indicated that Prevotella and Lactobacillus may be key drivers in the PCOS group. Overall, 55 differentially predicted genes were found between PCOS and controls (FDR<0.25). Conclusions The PCOS group had a higher diversity in the vaginal microbiome and showed an enhanced level of heterogeneity. The proportion of Lactobacillus in PCOS group decreased, while the proportions of Gardnerella and Ureaplasma increased. These results warrant further research that can validate the correlation between PCOS and VMB.

Epiphytes have long been reported to have larger geographic ranges than terrestrial species, despite evidence of their outstanding diversity and endemism. This apparent contradiction calls for further investigation of epiphytes’ poorly understood range size patterns. Here, we address the question of whether epiphytes have larger geographic ranges than terrestrial species in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, a global centre of epiphyte diversity. In contrasting the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of 12,679 epiphytes and non-epiphytes at varying taxonomic scales, we found that epiphytes have among the smallest geographic ranges of flowering plants and likely a high vulnerability to species extinction. We found no evidence that epiphytism leads to differences in geographic ranges between close relatives. However, epiphytes and non-epiphytes in epiphyte-rich lineages share many diversification mechanisms and ecological adaptations (‘epiphyte-like traits’), which probably explains why both sets of species have small range sizes and high vulnerability to extinction.

A document by Xia Luo. Click on the document to view its contents.

Abstract Objective: To analyse the impacts of fresh embryo transfer and frozen‒thawed embryo transfer cycles with different endometrial preparation protocols on clinical outcomes and placental pathology. Design: Retrospective case‒control study. Setting: Peking University Third Hospital. Population: A total of 3920 Single live birth cases after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer cycles. Method: Cases were divided into the fresh embryo transfer, natural cycle (NC)-frozen-thawed embryo transfer and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)-FET groups, and clinical outcomes and placental pathology characteristics were compared. Main Outcome Measures: preterm birth, preeclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage, placenta implantation, placenta previa, placental accreta, cervical insufficiency, neonatal weight and placental pathology. Result:The risks of preeclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage and preterm birth were significantly higher in the HRT-FET group than the fresh embryo transfer and NC-FET groups (13.42% vs 5.49% vs 5.91%, 21.7% vs 12.1% vs 11.0%, 10.5% vs 7.7% vs 7.6%, p < 0.05). Birth weight was lower in the fresh embryo transfer group than the NC-FET and HRT-FET groups (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of placental structural abnormalities and pathological characteristics among the groups. Conclusion: HRT-FET cycles were associated with increased maternal and foetal complications compared to fresh embryo transfer and NC-HRT cycles. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of placental structural abnormalities or pathological changes among the transfer methods. Keywords: Fresh embryo transfer; Frozen-thawed embryo transfer; Endometrial preparation protocol; Clinical outcome; Placenta Tweetable abstract: Different Embryo Transfer techniques influence the clinical outcomes but not placental pathology .

Objective: We aimed to assess the association between intrapartum neuraxial labour analgesia (NLA) and shock index values during the peripartum period. Design: A multicentre prospective cohort study. Setting: Two reference centres in Colombia. Population: Obstetric patients in labour with term gestations were divided according to whether they underwent NLA between 2017 and July 2018. Methods: We collected maternal blood pressure and heart rate within the first and second stages of labour and every 30 minutes up to two hours postpartum. We assessed the association between intrapartum NLA and shock index values in a multivariable longitudinal mixed-effect model, adjusting for covariates. Main outcome measures: Shock index changes over time during labour and postpartum periods. Results: We included 522 patients, 228 (43.7%) with NLA and 294 (56.3%) without NLA. Except in the first stage of labour [0.68 (IQR, 0.63-0.74) vs 0.73 (IQR, 0.64-0.82); p=0.07], the shock index values were significantly higher in patients with NLA during the second stage of labour and postpartum (all p values <0.001). In the longitudinal mixed-effect model analysis, shock index values were higher in the NLA group. After adjusting the multilevel model by age, nulliparity, and cervical dilation, the mean shock index without NLA across the measurements was 0.69, while in NLA was 0.76 (mean difference of 0.067). Conclusions: In patients receiving NLA, the shock index values during labour differ from those during the postpartum period. Thus, under these conditions, the shock index should be interpreted differently. Keywords: Shock Index; Neuraxial Labour Analgesia; Postpartum Haemorrhage.

The motion of targets is well known to result in their defocussing and displacement in SAR imagery, but detection of motion and re-focussing of targets under generic conditions remains of ongoing interest. One class of methods involves forming images of sub-apertures in which motion defocussing will be reduced. In this paper, we use dynamic tomographic image formation methods utilising an optical flow constraint to form a video of SAR sub-aperture images. These retain fine resolution of the full aperture, focussing along-track motion.

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder (HV-LPD) is a rare cutaneous form of Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) that presents with vesicular lesions induced by sun-exposure. We describe a patient with CAEBV and HV-LPD whose course following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was complicated by fatal ruptured cerebral artery aneurysm.