Top marine predators track Lagrangian coherent structures

Meso- and submesoscales (fronts, eddies, filaments) in surface ocean flow have a crucial influence on marine ecosystems. Their dynamics partly control the foraging behaviour and the displacement of marine top predators (tuna, birds, turtles, and cetaceans). In this work we focus on the role of submesoscale structures in the Mozambique Channel on the distribution of a marine predator, the Great Frigatebird. Using a newly developed dynamical concept, namely the Finite-Size Lyapunov Exponent (FSLE), we have identified Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs) present in the surface flow in the Channel over a 2-month observation period (August and September 2003). By comparing seabirds' satellite positions with LCSs locations, we demonstrate that frigatebirds track precisely these structures in the Mozambique Channel, providing the first evidence that a top predator is able to track these FSLE ridges to locate food patches. After comparing bird positions during long and short trips, and different parts of these trips, we propose several hypotheses to understand how frigatebirds can follow these LCSs. The birds might use visual and/or olfactory cues and/or atmospheric current changes over the structures to move along these biological corridors. The birds being often associated to tuna schools around foraging areas, a thorough comprehension of their foraging behaviour and movement during the breeding season is crucial not only to seabirds' ecology but also to an appropriate ecosystemic approach of fisheries in the Channel

Seasonal and regional characterization of horizontal stirring in the global ocean

Recent work on Lagrangian descriptors has shown that Lyapunov Exponents can be applied to observed or simulated data to characterize the horizontal stirring and transport properties of the oceanic flow. However, a more detailed analysis of regional dependence and seasonal variability was still lacking. In this paper, we analyze the near-surface velocity field obtained from the Ocean general circulation model For the Earth Simulator (OFES) using Finite-Size Lyapunov Exponents (FSLE). We have characterized regional and seasonal variability. Our results show that horizontal stirring, as measured by FSLEs, is seasonally-varying, with maximum values in Summer time. FSLEs also strongly vary depending on the region: we have first characterized the stirring properties of Northern and Southern Hemispheres, then the main oceanic basins and currents. We have finally studied the relation between averages of FSLE and some Eulerian descriptors such as Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) and vorticity (w) over the different regions.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure

Psychological Responses and Coping Strategies among Medical Students during Lockdown for The COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

ntroduction:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was promulgated as a pandemic by the World Health Organi-zation (WHO). In Malaysia, the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been implemented since March coherent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation. This social distancing measure induced fears and caused significant disruptions to our everyday activities, including medical students. Objective(s): We aim to examine the psychological responses of medical students of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) during the MCO and their coping strategies. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 245 medical students in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. A self-administered online-based questionnaire comprised of sociodemo-graphics, mental status, and coping strategy was used. The mental status and coping skills were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Brief COPE questionnaire respectively. IBM SPSS version 22 was used for the data analysis. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 29.8%, 27.3%. and 34.7% respectively. The most commonly used coping strategy was religion (M= 5.62, SD = 2.10) while the least practiced strategy was substance abuse (M = 2.16, SD = .77). In general, the medical students favored approach coping strategies (M = 29.19, SD = 9.27). Pre-clinical students were inclined to use avoidant coping strategies. When comparing coping strategies among both genders, male students coped more significantly with humor, while females students coped more significantly with religion. Medical students who practised approach coping strategies were less likely to develop depression. Conclusion(s): Understanding of coping strategy of the university students helps the authority to strategize psychological interventions during the present pandemic and future disaster

Determinants of SARS-CoV-2 receptor gene expression in upper and lower airways

The recent outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has led to a worldwide pandemic. One week after initial symptoms develop, a subset of patients progresses to severe disease, with high mortality and limited treatment options. To design novel interventions aimed at preventing spread of the virus and reducing progression to severe disease, detailed knowledge of the cell types and regulating factors driving cellular entry is urgently needed. Here we assess the expression patterns in genes required for COVID-19 entry into cells and replication, and their regulation by genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors, throughout the respiratory tract using samples collected from the upper (nasal) and lower airways (bronchi). Matched samples from the upper and lower airways show a clear increased expression of these genes in the nose compared to the bronchi and parenchyma. Cellular deconvolution indicates a clear association of these genes with the proportion of secretory epithelial cells. Smoking status was found to increase the majority of COVID-19 related genes including ACE2 and TMPRSS2 but only in the lower airways, which was associated with a significant increase in the predicted proportion of goblet cells in bronchial samples of current smokers. Both acute and second hand smoke were found to increase ACE2 expression in the bronchus. Inhaled corticosteroids decrease ACE2 expression in the lower airways. No significant effect of genetics on ACE2 expression was observed, but a strong association of DNA- methylation with ACE2 and TMPRSS2- mRNA expression was identified in the bronchus.</p

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Determinants of expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry-related genes in upper and lower airways.

Funder: Dutch Research Council (NWO)Funder: Cancer Research UK Cambridge CentreFunder: ATS Foundation/Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. Research FellowshipFunder: The Netherlands Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing, and the EnvironmentFunder: Chan Zuckerberg InitiativeFunder: The Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare, and SportFunder: Longfonds Junior FellowshipFunder: Cambridge BioresourceFunder: The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and DevelopmentFunder: Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research CentreFunder: Parker B. Francis FellowshipFunder: China Scholarship Counci

The effects of spatially heterogeneous prey distributions on detection patterns in foraging seabirds

Many attempts to relate animal foraging patterns to landscape heterogeneity are focused on the analysis of foragers movements. Resource detection patterns in space and time are not commonly studied, yet they are tightly coupled to landscape properties and add relevant information on foraging behavior. By exploring simple foraging models in unpredictable environments we show that the distribution of intervals between detected prey (detection statistics)is mostly determined by the spatial structure of the prey field and essentially distinct from predator displacement statistics. Detections are expected to be Poissonian in uniform random environments for markedly different foraging movements (e.g. L\'evy and ballistic). This prediction is supported by data on the time intervals between diving events on short-range foraging seabirds such as the thick-billed murre ({\it Uria lomvia}). However, Poissonian detection statistics is not observed in long-range seabirds such as the wandering albatross ({\it Diomedea exulans}) due to the fractal nature of the prey field, covering a wide range of spatial scales. For this scenario, models of fractal prey fields induce non-Poissonian patterns of detection in good agreement with two albatross data sets. We find that the specific shape of the distribution of time intervals between prey detection is mainly driven by meso and submeso-scale landscape structures and depends little on the forager strategy or behavioral responses.Comment: Submitted first to PLoS-ONE on 26/9/2011. Final version published on 14/04/201

17th IEEE Real-Time Systems Symposium: Work in Progress Sessions

The Table of Contents for the workshop is contained in 1996-027-00main.pdfDear Colleagues: This year marks the beginning of a new tradition within the Real-Time Systems Symposium, that of holding special sessions for the presentation of new and on-going projects in real-time systems. The prime purpose of these Work In Progress (WIP) sessions is to provide researchers in Academia and Industry an opportunity to discuss their evolving ideas and gather feedback thereon from the real-time community at large. The idea of holding these sessions is timely, and I am pleased to report that this year RTSS'96 WIP received 22 submissions, of which 14 have been accepted for presentation during the symposium and for inclusion in RTSS'96 WIP proceedings. Many people worked hard to make the idea of holding the WIP sessions a reality. In particular, I would like to thank Sang Son for his hard work in accommodating the WIP sessions within the busy schedule of RTSS'96. Also, I would like to thank all members of the RTSS'96 Program Committee, Al Mok and Doug Locke in particular, for their encouragement and constructive feedback regarding the organization of these sessions. Finally, I would like to thank all those who submitted their work to RTSS'96 WIP and those from RTSS'96 program committee who helped review these submissions. I hope these sessions will prove beneficial, both to the WIP presenters and to RTSS'96 attendees. Azer Bestavros RTSS'96 WIP Chair December 1996.IEEE-CS TC-RT