bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Updated Analysis of KEYNOTE-024: Pembrolizumab Versus Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer With PD-L1 Tumor Proportion Score of 50% or Greater
Authors: Reck Martin , Rodríguez–Abreu Delvys , Robinson Andrew G. , Hui Rina , Csőszi Tibor , Fülöp Andrea , Gottfried Maya , Peled Nir , Tafreshi Ali , Cuffe Sinead , O´Brien Mary , Rao Suman , Hotta Katsuyuki , Vandormael Kristel , Riccio Antonio , Yang Jing , Pietanza M. Catherine , Brahmer Julie R.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

In the randomized, open-label, phase III KEYNOTE-024 study, pembrolizumab significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a programmed death ligand 1 tumor proportion score of 50% or greater and without EGFR/ALK aberrations. We report an updated OS and tolerability analysis, including analyses adjusting for potential bias introduced by crossover from chemotherapy to pembrolizumab.

Patients and Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks (for up to 2 years) or investigator’s choice of platinum-based chemotherapy (four to six cycles). Patients assigned to chemotherapy could cross over to pembrolizumab upon meeting eligibility criteria. The primary end point was progression-free survival; OS was an important key secondary end point. Crossover adjustment analysis was done using the following three methods: simplified two-stage method, rank-preserving structural failure time, and inverse probability of censoring weighting.

Results

Three hundred five patients were randomly assigned (pembrolizumab, n = 154; chemotherapy, n = 151). At data cutoff (July 10, 2017; median follow-up, 25.2 months), 73 patients in the pembrolizumab arm and 96 in the chemotherapy arm had died. Median OS was 30.0 months (95% CI, 18.3 months to not reached) with pembrolizumab and 14.2 months (95% CI, 9.8 to 19.0 months) with chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.86). Eighty-two patients assigned to chemotherapy crossed over on study to receive pembrolizumab. When adjusted for crossover using the two-stage method, the hazard ratio for OS for pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.69); results using rank-preserving structural failure time and inverse probability of censoring weighting were similar. Treatment-related grade 3 to 5 adverse events were less frequent with pembrolizumab compared with chemotherapy (31.2% v 53.3%, respectively).

Conclusion

With prolonged follow-up, first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy continues to demonstrate an OS benefit over chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, advanced NSCLC without EGFR/ALK aberrations, despite crossover from the control arm to pembrolizumab as subsequent therapy.
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Characteristics of Barium Titanate Based Composite Laminates under Cyclic Concentrated Loads
Authors: Narita Fumio , Zhu Xiaolong , Shindo Yasuhide
Published: January 2019

We investigate the dynamic electromechanical behavior in barium titanate (BT) based composite cantilevers under cyclic concentrated loads in a combined numerical and experimental approach. The laminated composite cantilever consists of the BT and copper (Cu) layers, and the BT layer has sensing and driving electrodes. The output voltage of the cantilevers due to cyclic bending were calculated by three dimensional finite element method. The output voltage was then measured, and numerical simulations were compared with test results to verify the finite element model. The influences of sensing electrode geometry and load resistance on the dynamic electromechanical fields were examined in detail.
Frontal Suspension Procedure using Frontalis Muscle for Management of Ptosis
Authors: Soedjana Hardisiswo
Published: January 2019

Background : Ptosis has a reputation as a cosmetic problem, but it is more often as a functional deficit that can have real impact on patients’ lives. Ptosis results from the dysfunction of one or both of the upper eyelid retractors and often blocks peripheral vision. Ptosis can be congenital or caused by aging. Frontal suspension is one of few techniques for correction of ptosis especially for severe ptosis.

Patient and Method : We reported one case of severe ptosis. The patient had bilateral congenital ptosis at both of upper eyelids. The upperlid excursion was 4 mm and marginal reflex distance (MRD) was 2 mm. A frontal suspension procedure using frontalis muscle was done for correction.

Result : After frontal suspension procedure, MRDare 5 mm for both eyes. There wee no difficulty for closing the eyes. The cosmetic appearance was good. Patient was satisfied with the result.
Conclusion : Frontal suspension procedure using frontalis muscle gives a good function and cosmetic result for severe ptosis.
Giant Abscess On Serve Leprosy Reaction With Prolong Used Of Steroid
Authors: Narmada Steven , Hasibuan Lisa Y
Published: January 2019

Abstract: Leprosy patients during the course of their illness may experience the leprosy reactions, the body's immune response against Mycobacterium leprae. Long-term use of steroids for treatment may decrease the body's immune system against Mycobacterium leprae. As severe leprosy reactions, giant abscess incidence is rare and has a high morbidity and motality. Therefore, it needs a comprehensive multidisciplinary management such multiple incision and drainage, proper pharmacologic treatment for leprosy reactions as underlying disease that involves the patient's systemic condition.
Patient and Method: We report one case of giant abscess in bucal, left upper and lower extremities in leprosy patients who had been taking steroids for 1.5 years due to neuritis (Paucibacillary leprosy reaction type) but the leprosy reactions became more severe and the patient's condition deteriorated. We performed multiple incision through subcutaneus and fascia to expose each compartmens of muscle and drainage to remove pus.
Result: There were 2,500 cc of pus in the left femoral region and 200 cc in the left antebrachial region. The culture was negative, showing that the giant abscess was not caused by bacterial infection, but a severe leprosy reactions. Systemic complications due to leprosy reactions, the longterm use of steroids and hypoalbuminemia prevent wound healing and patient’s recovery.
Summary: Long-term use of steroids in leprosy may weaken the immune system and cause a giant abscess. Therefore we need a comprehensive management of multiple surgical incision and drainage as well as medical treatment and proper nutritional support.
Perigenital Defect Reconstruction Post Giant Condyloma Acuminata Resection: Experience With The Double Keystone Flap
Authors: Suhartadi Bayu , Supit Laureen , Sukasah Chaula
Published: January 2019

Abstract: Due to its high recurrence, genital condyloma acuminata should be widely excised to include the full dermal thickness. Currettage is not advisable, as the rate of recurrence is high. The bigger the lession, the bigger donor area needed to close the defect. The reconstructive options do not merely depend on the defect area, but also on selecting a tissue donor of similar color, thickness, sensation and durability. The ease of donor transfer is equally important. Not many case of giant genital condyloma acuminata wide excision and reconstruction has been reported. For coverage of larger soft tissue defect, skin graft is the most common option; however durability is of concern and the perigenital area is a challenging area to graft. Two cases of perigenital reconstruction after giant genital condyloma excision is reported in this paper, using random perforator based flaps, the double keystone flap.
Patient and Method: Both cases of giant genital condyloma underwent wide excision by the urologist and referred to our division for reconstruction. Both patients are male, and the defects were reconstructed using the double keystone flap. One patient needed a split thickness skin graft to cover remaining defect on the penile shaft.
Result: In both cases, the double keystone flap successfully covered for the defects on the perigenital with tissue quality similar to its original characteristics. No complication ensued. All flaps were vital, no dehisence nor local infection occurred.
Summary: The double keystone flap is a reliable option for the reconstruction of large defects on the perigenital region.
The Application of Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) and Binahong Leaves in Treating Partial Thickness Burn : A Case Report
Authors: Prasetyo Arif Tri , Heridadi Eko
Published: January 2019

Background: Burn healing is dependent on good wound care management. Infection is one of the cause of wound healing failure. Infectious wound should be treated immediately. Binahong’s leaves is trusted as traditional herbal medicine which is considered capable to help wound healing process.
Patient and Method: A 35 years old women suffer from scald and got 3% surface partial thickness burn at her right hand. The patient was initialy treated by application of MEBO. After a week patient came and felt uncomforted with the gauze. So, binahong’s leaves was patched on her wound to help the wound healing process.
Result: After a week with binahong’s leaves therapy, the epithelialization is good and there was no infection. The result is satisfactory.
Conclusion: This study shows that binahong’s leaves can be used to help wound healing process.
Role of galectin 3 and IL-6 in immunological response of rosacea patients
Authors: Aripova M. , Zima A. , Vasileva O. , Khardikova S.
Published: January 2019

Aim. Determining the level of galectin-3, IL-6 in the blood serum of patients with rosacea and rosacea in combination with chronic opisthorchiasis. Subjects and methods. In the blood serum of 80 rosacea patients, 64 patients with rosacea, combined with chronic opisthorchiasis and 20 healthy donors were studied concentrations of galectin 3, IL-6 by ELISA. Results. The concentration of galectin 3, IL-6 was significantly elevated in patients with rosacea, rosacea, combined with chronic opisthorchiasis as compared with the healthy controls. The positive correlation between the severity of clinical manifestations of rosacea and the level of galectin 3 (r = 0,72), IL-6 (r = 0,64) in the two groups. Conclusion. The results indicate an imbalance content (galectin-3; IL-6) in serum of patients with rosacea, which can be seen as further evidence of the inferiority of the immune response in rosacea.
Localised dystopia in Croatian and Serbian cinema
Authors: Gilić Nikica
Published: January 2019

Genre production is often easily localised in various cultures, but localisations of science fiction seem particularly interesting, due to the technological sources of the genre imagery and typical narrative structures. Localisation to a less technologically-oriented society, such as post-yugoslav Croatia and Serbia, are a very good example, since in such films as The Show Must Go On (by Nevio Marasović) and Technotise – Edit & I (by Aleksa Gajić and Nebojša Andrić) allegorical science fiction deals directly with local problems and narrations, such as Croatia’s obsession with modernisation and Western-European identity (in Marasović’s film) and Serbia’s traumatic relation with Slobodan Milošević’s regime and national pride (in Gajić’s and Andrić’s animated feature film). The experimental concept of Unknown Energies, Unidentified Feelings (by Dalibor Barić and Tomislav Babić) provides another model of dealing with genre structures in a local context, since it directly develops the early-1970s model of connecting experimental cinema with the technological obsessions of the era (important for entire Yugoslavia through the GEFF festival) into a contemporary experimental animated dystopia.
Product Development Team Stability and New Product Advantage: The Role of Decision-Making Processes
Authors: Slotegraaf Rebecca J. , Atuahene-Gima Kwaku
Published: January 2019

Innovation scholars have long touted the value of cross-functional teams, and though firms have embraced a cross-functional design in their new product development (NPD) teams, these teams continue to face challenges. Stability in an NPD team may offer important advantages for decision making; however, its effectiveness as a structural coordination mechanism remains largely unexplored. Therefore, to offer insight into the value of NPD team stability, the authors develop a process-based model that examines the extent to which stability influences certain decision-making processes, which in turn influence new product advantage. They examine these relationships with a sample of cross-functional NPD project teams from 208 high-technology firms. The results reveal that the degree of stability in an NPD project team has a curvilinear relationship to team-level debate and decision-making comprehensiveness. In turn, whereas debate is positively related to decision comprehensiveness, decision comprehensiveness is positively related to new product advantage only at high levels. These curvilinear patterns shed light on anecdotal evidence that currently attributes success to both stable and unstable project teams.
An Empirical Test of Warranty Theories in the U.S. Computer Server and Automobile Markets
Authors: Chu Junhong , Chintagunta Pradeep K.
Published: January 2019

Four theories on the economic rationale for warranty provision have been proposed in the literature: (1) Warranties provide insurance to customers and work as a risk-sharing mechanism, (2) warranties are a sorting mechanism and work as a means for second-degree price discrimination among customers with different risk preferences, (3) warranties work as a signal of product quality to consumers under information asymmetry, and (4) warranties work as an incentive mechanism for firms to reveal and improve product quality. The authors examine the conditions under which each theory would apply and derive testable implications from the data. They then assess whether these theories have empirical support in the U.S. computer server and automobile markets in the context of manufacturer base warranties. The results indicate that in both markets, warranties primarily provide customers with insurance against product failure, and warranties of different durations work as a sorting mechanism across customers with different levels of risk aversion. Warranties are not used to signal product quality or to provide an incentive for manufacturers to reveal or improve product quality.
The Role of Cognition and Affect in the Formation of Customer Satisfaction: A Dynamic Perspective
Authors: Homburg Christian , Koschate Nicole , Hoyer Wayne D.
Published: January 2019

Despite the strong recognition that customer satisfaction should be viewed from a dynamic perspective, little is known about how the satisfaction judgment develops over time. Therefore, this study provides a dynamic analysis of the simultaneous influence of cognition and affect in the satisfaction formation process. The results of an experimental study based on a real consumption experience indicate that the impact of cognition on the satisfaction evaluation increases and the influence of affect decreases over time. Moreover, these effects are attenuated with inconsistent performance experiences. Finally, the study shows that the variance in customer satisfaction jointly explained by cognition and affect increases as experience accumulates.
From Fear to Loathing? How Emotion Influences the Evaluation and Early Use of Innovations
Authors: Wood Stacy L. , Moreau C. Page
Published: January 2019

Innovation adoption is rarely a short process for consumers; accordingly, recent research has explored adoption as a dynamic process that is characterized by changing patterns, or diffusion, of consumer use of the innovation. This research suggests that adoption is rarely a neutral process and that consumers can experience strong emotions in the initial use of innovations. However, given such emotions, two opposing arguments can be made as to whether the inclusion of emotional responses increases the predictive power of traditional models of diffusion. On the one hand, experienced emotion may simply be a function of gained benefits and, as such, may already be captured in extant models through cognitive assessments of net benefits. On the other hand, and as data from two empirical and longitudinal studies demonstrate, the learning process is potentially emotion generating (independent of net benefits), and this emotion colors product evaluations. The emotional influence is sizable and, importantly, not a straightforward case of “easier is better.” In this work, the authors present the E3 (expectation → emotion → evaluation) model, which describes how managers can better predict and influence the successful diffusion of complex technological products.
Advertising, Research and Development, and Systematic Risk of the Firm
Authors: McAlister Leigh , Srinivasan Raji , Kim MinChung
Published: January 2019

Marketing executives are being urged to speak in the language of finance to gain internal support for marketing initiatives. Responding to this call, the authors examine the impact of a firm's advertising and its research and development (R&D) on the systematic risk of its stock, a key metric for publicly listed firms. They hypothesize that a firm's advertising and R&D expenditures create intangible assets that insulate it from stock market changes, lowering its systematic risk. They test the hypotheses using a panel data on 644 publicly listed firms between 1979 and 2001, consisting of five-year moving windows. They scale the firm's advertising and R&D expenditures by its sales. After controlling for factors that accounting and finance researchers have shown to be associated with systematic risk, the authors find that advertising/sales and R&D/sales lower a firm's systematic risk. The article's findings extend prior research that has focused primarily on the effect of marketing initiatives on performance metrics without consideration of systematic risk. For practice, the ability of advertising and R&D to reduce systematic risk highlights the multifaceted implications of advertising and research programs. The article's findings may surprise senior management, some of whom are skeptical of the financial accountability of advertising programs.
Consumer File Sharing of Motion Pictures
Authors: Hennig-Thurau Thorsten , Henning Victor , Sattler Henrik
Published: January 2019

Illegal consumer file sharing of motion pictures is considered a major threat to the movie industry. Whereas industry advocates and some scholars postulate a cannibalistic effect on commercial forms of movie consumption, other researchers deny this effect, though sound evidence is lacking on both sides. Drawing on extant research and utility theory, the authors present hypotheses on the consequences and determinants of consumer file sharing and test them with data from a controlled longitudinal panel study of German consumers. The data contain information on the consumers' intentions toward and actual behavior in relation to the consumption of 25 new motion pictures, allowing the authors to study more than 10,000 individual file-sharing opportunities. The authors test the effect of file sharing on commercial movie consumption using a series of ReLogit regression analyses and apply partial least squares structural equation modeling to identify the determinants of consumer file sharing. They find evidence of substantial cannibalization of theater visits, DVD rentals, and DVD purchases responsible for annual revenue losses of $300 million in Germany. Five categories of file-sharing behavior drive file sharing and have a significant impact on how consumers obtain and watch illegal movie copies.
Exchanges in Marketing Systems: The Case of Subsistence Consumer–Merchants in Chennai, India
Authors: Viswanathan Madhu , Rosa José Antonio , Ruth Julie A.
Published: January 2019

A qualitative study of subsistence consumer–merchants (SCMs) in Chennai, India, reveals that they sustain relationships in three interdependent relationship domains: vendor, customer, and family. Relying on long interview data, the authors interpret the subsystems as closed-loop and self-sustaining relationships. Subsystems are managed by SCMs through buying and selling activities alongside the receiving and granting of credit, and these activities engender three facets of commitment: continuance, affective, and normative. Different facets of commitment underlie the relationships in the three subsystems. Through different role-based activities, SCMs enhance or diminish commitment levels to keep all three types of relationships viable while moving their scarce time, energy, and financial resources into the domain with the greatest need. Activities and the management of commitment are performed within 24-hour business cycles, with negligible resources, and in highly unstable environments, providing valuable theoretical insights and managerial implications that guide recommendations for firms wanting to serve subsistence markets successfully.
Neural like cells and acetyl-salicylic acid alter rat brain structure and function following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion
Authors: Shamsara Ali , Sheibani Vahid , Asadi-Shekaari Majid , Nematollahi-Mahani Seyed Noureddin
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Transient cerebral ischemia is a pandemic neurological disorder and the main aim of medical intervention is to reduce complications. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal cells (hUCMs) are capable of differentiating into neural-like cells (NLC) in vitro, therefore we investigated the neuroprotective potential of these cells in comparison to aspirin and in combination (NLC-Aspirin) on spatial memory and neural morphologic changes in male rats submitted to transient cerebral ischemia.

Methods

Ten days after the intervention, the improvement in learning and memory were assessed in the animals by Morris Water Maze. Thence, the animals were examined for the presence of PKH26 labeled cells in the ischemic area of the brain, the infarct volume and neural changes in the brain tissue.

Results

Significant spatial memory deficits in the ischemic animals were detected compared with the control animals. The learning and memory were significantly improved (p ≤ 0.05) in the aspirin and NLC groups compared with the ischemic animals. Co-treatment of aspirin and NLCs did not improve the outcome. Moreover, infarction volume and neural changes were significantly altered when aspirin or NLCs were administered.

Conclusions

Our data suggest the significant neuroprotective potential of aspirin and neural-like cells derived from hUCM cells in the treatment of brain ischemic stroke. Further studies are required to evaluate possible underlying mechanisms, and to evaluate the possible interactions between aspirin and stem cells in a joint treatment aimed at the recovery of cognitive impairments
Military Expenditures and Income Inequality among a Panel of OECD Countries in the Post-Cold War Era, 1990–2007
Authors: Graham Jeremy C. , Mueller Danielle
Published: January 2019

Does military spending exacerbate income inequality? After the Cold War, many developed countries sought to reduce military expenditures in the face of a new security environment without the clear and present threat of large-scale international conflict. The literature has presented mixed evidence on the economic effects of military spending. Moreover, during this era analysts in the OECD have become preoccupied with the economic indicator of income equality. Our study examines the relationship between military expenditures and income inequality. Complementing the established literature on the subject, we find that these two phenomena indeed possess a positive relationship and it is unlikely that this association is due to random chance. Our results are robust to the inclusion of control variables common in the literature. These findings lead us to contemplate the historical and theoretical account of the peace dividend narrative.
Variations in Verbal Encouragement Modify Isokinetic Performance
Authors: Rendos Nicole K. , Harriell Kysha , Qazi Shayaan , Regis Rebeca C. , Alipio Taislaine C. , Signorile Joseph F.
Published: January 2019

Rendos, NK, Harriell, K, Qazi, S, Regis, RC, Alipio, TC, and Signorile, JF. Variations in verbal encouragement modify isokinetic performance. J Strength Cond Res 33(3): 708–716, 2019—Verbal instruction and encouragement are common in exercise testing; however, the verbiage used during exercise testing is rarely controlled despite the likelihood it may affect the participant's performance. Although variations in verbal cuing based on rate and intensity have been examined during isometric contractions, they have not been examined during isokinetic testing, which is a standardized assessment of muscle performance in athletic, rehabilitation, and research settings. This study examined the effects of 4 variations in verbal encouragement during isokinetic knee flexion and extension exercises. Twenty-three healthy participants (aged 19–34 years) completed 4 isokinetic testing sessions on a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. Each session consisted of 5, 10, and 15 repetitions at 1.05 rad·s−1 (60°·s−1), 3.14 rad·s−1 (180°·s−1), and 5.24 rad·s−1 (300°·s−1), respectively, separated by 5-minute passive recoveries. The variations in verbal encouragement randomized during each testing session used the following statements: (a) “as fast as you can” (FAST); (b) “as hard as you can” (HARD); (c) “as hard and as fast as you can” (BOTH); and (d) no verbal encouragement (NO CUE). Repeated-measures analyses of variance with a Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed that the FAST and BOTH verbal cues produced greater work, peak torque, and power at all 3 speeds of isokinetic testing. These findings indicate the verbal cues “as fast as you can” and “as hard and as fast as you can” should be used to maximize performance during isokinetic testing.
Effects of Different Fatigue Levels on Physiological Responses and Pacing in Judo Matches
Authors: Franchini Emerson , Takito Monica Yuri , Alves Elaine Domingues , Shiroma Seihati Ary , Julio Ursula Ferreira , Humberstone Clare
Published: January 2019

Franchini, E, Takito, MY, Alves, ED, Shiroma, SA, Julio, UF, and Humberstone, C. Effects of different fatigue levels on physiological responses and pacing in judo matches. J Strength Cond Res 33(3): 783–792, 2019—The objective of this study was to compare athletes' pacing during judo match simulation between different fatigue states. Twelve judo athletes (30.2 ± 3.2 years old, 85.6 ± 10.8 kg, 181.0 ± 5.7 cm, 19 ± 7 years of judo experience) completed three 4-minute matches against the same opponents, at 15-minute intervals in 3 different conditions: after warm-up (Control; C); after a regular training session (totaling 90 minutes); after a high-intensity interval exercise (2 blocks of 10 sets of 20-second all-out uchi-komi, with 10-second interval between sets and 5-minute interval between blocks). All matches were mediated according to the official rules, filmed, and analyzed concerning: rating of perceived recovery (RPR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (before and after match), blood lactate concentrations [La] before, peak after match and delta (peak minus the prematch values), and time-motion measures (frequencies and durations of actions). Time-motion measures included athlete displacement without contact, gripping, attack, feint, groundwork combat, pauses, and high- to low-intensity effort ratio. The experimental conditions resulted in different physiological and perceived responses prematch (HR, [La], RPR) and postmatch simulations (HR and [La]peak), with no change in RPE and few changes in technical variables. There was a decrease in grip dispute time, and increase in time of displacement without contact. These technical changes were enough to preserve the pace during the matches, which seemed to be controlled by the athletes to maintain their number of attacks, feints, and RPE.
Perfectionism in Adolescents: Self-Critical Perfectionism as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms Across the School Year
Authors: Levine Shelby L. , Green-Demers Isabelle , Werner Kaitlyn M. , Milyavskaya Marina
Published: January 2019

Introduction: The present study examined the influence of personal standards and self-critical perfectionism on depressive and anxiety symptoms over the academic year.

Methods: High-school students (N = 174) were surveyed in the late Fall and early Spring, assessing perfectionism in the Fall and mental health across the year in both the Fall and Spring. Path modelling was used to examine whether self-critical and personal standards perfectionism were related to changes in mental health across the school year.

Results: Controlling for mental health at the start of the year, self-critical perfectionism predicted an increase in depressive symptoms over time, whereas personal standards perfectionism was unrelated to changes in mental health.

Discussion: Results support that self-critical perfectionism is detrimental to mental health in adolescents, suggesting that future interventions should focus on reducing self-critical cognitive biases in youth.
The Meta-Science of Adult Statistical Word Segmentation: Part 1
Authors: Hartshorne Joshua K. , Skorb Lauren , Dietz Sven L. , Garcia Caitlin R. , Iozzo Gina L. , Lamirato Katie E. , Ledoux James R. , Mu Jesse , Murdock Kara N. , Ravid Jon , Savery Alyssa A. , Spizzirro James E. , Trimm Kelsey A. , van Horne Kendall D. , Vidal Juliani
Published: January 2019

We report the first set of results in a multi-year project to assess the robustness – and the factors promoting robustness – of the adult statistical word segmentation literature. This includes eight total experiments replicating six different experiments. The purpose of these replications is to assess the reproducibility of reported experiments, examine the replicability of their results, and provide more accurate effect size estimates. Reproducibility was mixed, with several papers either lacking crucial details or containing errors in the description of method, making it difficult to ascertain what was done. Replicability was also mixed: although in every instance we confirmed above-chance statistical word segmentation, many theoretically important moderations of that learning failed to replicate. Moreover, learning success was generally much lower than in the original studies. In the General Discussion, we consider whether these differences are due to differences in subject populations, low power in the original studies, or some combination of these and other factors. We also consider whether these findings are likely to generalize to the broader statistical word segmentation literature.
The effect of adipocyte–macrophage crosstalk in obesity-related breast cancer
Authors: Engin Ayse Basak , Engin Atilla , Gonul Ipek Isik
Published: January 2019

Adipose tissue is the primary source of many pro-inflammatory cytokines in obesity. Macrophage numbers and pro-inflammatory gene expression are positively associated with adipocyte size. Free fatty acid and tumor necrosis factor-α involve in a vicious cycle between adipocytes and macrophages aggravating inflammatory changes. Thereby, M1 macrophages form a characteristic ‘crown-like structure (CLS)’ around necrotic adipocytes in obese adipose tissue. In obese women, CLSs of breast adipose tissue are responsible for both increase in local aromatase activity and aggressive behavior of breast cancer cells. Interlinked molecular mechanisms between adipocyte–macrophage–breast cancer cells in obesity involve seven consecutive processes: Excessive release of adipocyte- and macrophage-derived inflammatory cytokines, TSC1–TSC2 complex–mTOR crosstalk, insulin resistance, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and excessive oxidative stress generation, uncoupled respiration and hypoxia, SIRT1 controversy, the increased levels of aromatase activity and estrogen production. Considering elevated risks of estrogen receptor (E2R)-positive postmenopausal breast cancer growth in obesity, adipocyte–macrophage crosstalk is important in the aforementioned issues. Increased mTORC1 signaling in obesity ensures the strong activation of oncogenic signaling in E2Rα-positive breast cancer cells. Since insulin and insulin-like growth factors have been identified as tumor promoters, hyperinsulinemia is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in breast cancer despite peripheral insulin resistance. The unpredictable effects of adipocyte-derived leptin–estrogen–macrophage axis, and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)–adipose-resident macrophage axis in obese postmenopausal patients with breast cancer are unresolved mechanistic gaps in the molecular links between the tumor growth and adipocytokines.
Combination of low-dose testosterone and vildagliptin confers cardioprotection in castrated obese rats
Authors: Arinno Apiwan , Apaijai Nattayaporn , Kaewthep Puntarik , Pratchayasakul Wasana , Jaiwongkam Thidarat , Kerdphoo Sasiwan , Chattipakorn Siriporn C , Chattipakorn Nipon
Published: January 2019

Although a physiological dose of testosterone replacement therapy (p-TRT) has been shown to improve left ventricular (LV) function, some studies reported that it increased the risk of myocardial infarction in testosterone-deprived men. We previously reported that vildagliptin might be used as an alternative to p-TRT. In this study, we hypothesized that a combined low-dose TRT with vildagliptin exerts greater efficacy than single regimen in improving cardiometabolic function in obese, insulin-resistant rats with testosterone deprivation. Male rats were fed on a normal diet or high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Then, they were divided into two subgroups, sham operation and orchiectomy (normal diet rats with orchiectomy (NDO), high-fat diet rats with orchiectomy (HFO)) and fed their diets for another 12 weeks. At week 25, orchiectomized rats were subdivided into four groups: vehicle, p-TRT, vildagliptin and combined drugs. At week 29, cardiometabolic and biochemical parameters were determined. HFO rats had obese insulin resistance with a worse LV dysfunction, compared with sham. Vildagliptin and combined drugs effectively reduced insulin resistance. All treatments reduced blood pressure, cardiac autonomic imbalance, LV dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and increased mitochondrial fusion in NDO and HFO rats. However, p-TRT and combined drugs, but not vildagliptin, reduced mitochondrial fission in NDO and HFO rats. We concluded that combined low-dose TRT with vildagliptin mitigated LV function at a similar level to the p-TRT alone and vildagliptin via improving mitochondrial fusion, reducing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in testosterone-deprived rats. Our findings suggest that low-dose TRT combined with vildagliptin may be an alternative for p-TRT in conditions of obese insulin resistance with testosterone deprivation.
ANALISIS DIMENSI EKONOMI KESIAPAN DAERAH DALAM PROGRAM PEMBANGUNAN PABRIK RUMPUT LAUT
Authors: Suryawati Siti Hajar , Ma’ruf Widodo Farid
Published: January 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan status kesiapan pada dimensi ekonomi dan memberikan rekomendasi kebijakan industrialisasi rumput laut. Analisis kesiapan dilakukan dengan metode RAPFISH yang telah dimodifikasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai indeks tingkat kesiapan pada dimensi ekonomi pembangunan pabrik rumput laut di Kabupaten Jeneponto sebesar “40,00”, Kabupaten Bone sebesar 44,33”; dan untuk Kabupaten Buton Tengah sebesar “41,65”. Nilai tersebut terletak antara 25,01 - 50,00 berarti “Kurang Siap”. Nilai indeks esiapan untuk Kabupaten Buton sebesar “71,64” yang menunjukkan kondisi “Cukup Siap” karena berada pada kisaran 50,01 – 75,00. Nilai indeks dan status kesiapan saat ini menunjukkan kondisi ekonomi wilayah  erairan di Kabupaten Butin yang cukup siap dalam pembangunan pabrik rumput laut. Adapun Kabupaten Jeneponto, Bone dan Buton Tengahkurang mendukung pengembangan pabrik rumput laut, sehingga perlukan intervensi kebijakan melalui pemberian bantuan modal usaha, pelatihan teknis diversifikasi produk, dan peningkatan kapasitaskelembagaan pemasaran untuk meningkatkan status kesiapan pembangunan dimensi ekonomi.Title: Analysis of Economic Dimension Toward Local GovernmentReadiness for Developing Seaweed IndustryThis research aims to measure the readiness status on economic imension as well as to provide policy recommendation concerning seaweed industry. The readiness level had been analyzed using modified RAPFISH technique. The result suggests that the readiness level of  seaweed industry inJeneponto Regency was on a score of “40,00”, Bone Regency of “44,33”, and Central Buton of “41,65”. Those value ranged between 25,02 to 50,00 indicating “Less Ready”. While readiness level of Buton Regency was on score “71,64” that indicates “Adequate” since it is on range between 50,01 to 75,00. This current index value and status indicate the readiness of economic condition in Buton territorial water to develop seaweed factory. Meanwhile, Jeneponto, Bone and Central Buton have not been ready to support the development of seaweed industry.  herefore, the policy is necessary through capital, product diversification training, and enhancing capacity the marketing institution to increase the readiness level of economic development.
Der Umbruch in den modernen Gesellschaften
Authors: Stala Józef , Vodičar Janez
Published: January 2019

This article examines the processes of transformation of European societies in XXI century, taking into consideration especially factors of post-modernity, globalisation and strong social changes. Post-modernity affects all societies, but particularly those new societies in transition. Authors take the broad concept of ‘post-modernity’ as being important for all societies that have experienced transformation in their political, social, cultural, economic, educational and religious spheres following a political shift from socialist to democratic government. The processes of social transformation affect people living in them strongly, in particular in their identity and relationships.
Aksjologiczne oblicze trzeciego wieku
Authors: Drożdż Michał
Published: January 2019

Aksjologiczne oblicze trzeciego wieku. Celem artykułu jest pokazanie niektórych aksjologicznych aspektów starości. Myślenie aksjologiczne, czyli myślenie według wartości, przenosi nas w obszary ludzkiej odpowiedzialności za wartość życia oraz odpowiedzialności za bogactwo doświadczeń życiowych, które stanowią o życiowej mądrości ludzi starszych. Drugim polem odpowiedzialności jest troska o ludzi starszych jako świadków przeszłości, która jest nauczycielką mądrości dla przyszłości. Trzecim polem odpowiedzialności jest troska o wierność tradycji. Ludzie w podeszłym wieku są niezastąpieni w podtrzymywaniu więzi między tradycją a przyszłością. Autor artykułu pokazuje także potrzebę troski o ludzi starszych w ich wielorakich potrzebach życiowych i zagrożeniach cywilizacyjnych. Jakość życia ludzi starszych oraz ich miejsce i rola w rodzinie i społeczeństwie są nie tylko wyznacznikiem jakości życia społecznego i poziomu społecznego dobrobytu, ale przede wszystkim są wymownym znakiem jakości społecznego szacunku dla wartości i godności ludzi starszych. Autor artykułu podkreśla też ważną rolę edukacji i zdobywania wiedzy, którą oferują ludziom starszym uniwersytety trzeciego wieku.
Interpersonálne vzťahy medzi členmi rodiny
Authors: Zahatňanská Mária
Published: January 2019

Interpersonálne vzťahy medzi členmi rodiny. Príspevok poukazuje na význam interpersonálnych vzťahov medzi členmi v rodine, ktoré ovplyvňujú nielen prístup žiaka k učeniu, jeho osobnosť, ale aj zodpovednosť, organizovanie si dňa a pod. Záleží, čo rodina pokladá za najdôležitejšie a ako to sprostredkuje ostatným členom rodiny. Vzájomné vzťahy medzi rodičmi, rodičmi a deťmi ovplyvňujú nielen psychiku dieťaťa, ale aj jeho postoje, hodnoty, ktoré prejavuje svojím správaním a konaním. Súčasťou príspevku sú aj výsledky výskumu, v ktorom sme merali sociálnu atmosféru v rodine. Sústredili sme sa na meranie a popis interpersonálnych vzťahov medzi členmi rodiny, na smery osobného rastu, ktoré sú v rodine zdôrazňované a na základnú organizačnú štruktúru rodiny.
A facile route to diatoms decorated with gold nanoparticles and their optical properties
Authors: Petzold Alexandra , Zollfrank Cordt
Published: January 2019

This paper presents a facile route for the decoration of biogenic silica from diatoms with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with dimensions from 10 to 40 nm. The AuNP decoration on the diatoms is performed through initial attachment of colloidal AuNPs (2 nm) followed by enhancement of the size of the AuNPs by mild reduction of tetrachloroauric (III) acid from solution. The samples were characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and light spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis) range. The size of the isolated AuNPs on unmodified acid-cleaned diatoms was 10 nm according to TEM micrograph analysis. The measured UV/Vis spectrum showed an absorption peak at 525 nm, which corresponds well to the optical properties of AuNPs of the same size. The extent of decoration with AuNPs of the diatoms was significantly improved after functionalisation with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane of the biogenic silica. The absorption peak in the visible range was redshifted to 590 nm due to enlargement of the AuNPs up to 40 nm and clustering of the AuNPs. The AuNP decoration on the hierarchical and complex structured biogenic silica of diatoms might be interesting for biodiagnostic and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic applications.
Economic Growth and Unemployment Rate for the Economy of Botswana: An Empirical Study
Authors: Sinha Narain , Tseladikae Katlego
Published: January 2019

Relationship between economic growth and unemployment rate known as the Okun’s law plays an important role in policy analysis as it allows to what extent the growth rate targets affect unemployment in an economy. The validity of Okun`s law in Botswana is examined in the present study utilising annual data during the period 1991 to 2014. The gap version and first difference version of Okun`s law has been examined employing methodology of the ordinary least squares, vector error correction model and the Granger causality test. The results do not support the negative relationship between the aforementioned macroeconomic variables thus suggesting that Okun`s law does not hold for Botswana. Large share of mining sector in the gross domestic product is the main reason for this observation. Our study therefore, recommends that the government should intensify its diversification efforts in labour intensive sectors of the economy such as the agricultural and tourism sector.
Library Prep for CUT&RUN with NEBNext® Ultra™ II DNA Library Prep Kit for Illumina® (E7645) v1
Authors: Liu Nan
Published: January 2019

Choose your protocol: For Henikoff lab protocol, please see their Nature Protocol paper. Why? The difference between NEB stem loop adaptors and illumina adaptors are their lengths. When ligated to both ends of DNA, they add 64bp and 124bp respectively. This makes huge difference when you do beads based cleaning up. What is this protocol? This protocol is based on library preparation manual of “NEBNext® Ultra™ II DNA Library Prep Kit for Illumina”, NEB E7645, and is specifically modified to make libraries from small DNA fragments (25-70bp). We have successfully applied this protocol to make libraries for CUT&RUN experiments and showed that it greatly increased the preservation of small fragments (Liu, Cell 2018. Fig. S2B [pdf])
DATA RESISTANCE: A SOCIAL MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONAL AUTOETHNOGRAPHY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE*
Authors: Vera Lourdes A. , Dillon Lindsey , Wylie Sara , Ohayon Jennifer Liss , Lemelin Aaron , Brown Phil , Sellers Christopher , Walker Dawn ,   the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative
Published: January 2019

The dismantlement of evidence-based environmental governance by the Trump administration requires new forms of activism that uphold science and environmental regulatory agencies while critiquing the politics of knowledge production. The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI) emerged after the November 2016 U.S. presidential elections, becoming an organization of over 175 volunteer researchers, technologists, archivists, and activists innovating more just forms of government accountability and environmental regulation. Our successes include: (1) leading a public movement to archive vulnerable federal data evidencing climate change and environmental injustice; (2) conducting multisited interviews of current and former federal agency personnel regarding the transition into the Trump administration; (3) tracking changes to federal websites. In this article, we conduct a “social movement organizational autoethnography” on the field of movements intersecting within EDGI and on our theory, tactics, and practices. We offer ideas for expanding and iterating on methods of public, collaborative scholarship and advocacy.
Residual life prediction method for remanufacturing sucker rods based on magnetic memory testing and a support vector machine model
Authors: Yatian Gao , Jiancheng Leng , Siqi Li
Published: January 2019

It is crucial for remanufacturability to be able to determine the residual life of remanufacturing cores. In the light of weaknesses in the available methods for fatigue damage evaluation and residual life prediction for remanufacturing sucker rods, a novel prediction approach using
an optimised support vector machine (SVM) model based on metal magnetic memory (MMM) testing is proposed here. Firstly, tension-tension fatigue experiments on pre-cut groove sucker rod specimens are conducted to investigate the variations in the magnetic memory signals after different numbers
of cycles and seven characteristic parameters are extracted to characterise the degree of fatigue damage. Then, a residual life prediction model for remanufacturing sucker rods based on a SVM model is established, where the SVM model parameters, including the radial basis function (RBF) kernel
parameter and the penalty factor, are optimised in turn by a genetic algorithm (GA), partical swarm optimisation (PSO) and grid search optimisation (GSO). The results show that the proposed PSO-based approach significantly improves the prediction accuracy, compared with a basic SVM approach,
and also yields more stable and accurate results when compared with the GA and the GSO method, providing a new and feasible approach for predicting remaining life.