Bridge numbers for virtual and welded knots

Using Gauss diagrams, one can define the virtual bridge number vb (K) and the welded bridge number wb (K), invariants of virtual and welded knots satisfying wb (K) ≤ vb (K). If K is a classical knot, Chernov and Manturov showed that vb (K) = br (K), the bridge number as a classical knot, and we ask whether the same thing is true for welded knots. The welded bridge number is bounded below by the meridional rank of the knot group G …