bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors and impact of psychotherapy side effects in young adults
Authors: Lorenz Tierney K.
Published: October 2020

What should we tell our younger clients—who may or may not have chosen to come to therapy—about possible risks of engaging in psychotherapy? To explore this question, we examined psychotherapy side effects in 366 young adults with a history of psychotherapy or counselling. Psychotherapy side effects were common, with 41% of participants reporting at least one. Perceived lack of control over the decision of when and how to engage in therapy was the strongest predictor of experiencing therapy side effects. Of the different kinds of side effects, feeling that therapy had gone on too long and experiencing worsening of existing symptoms were the most strongly predictive of poor therapy outcomes such as dissatisfaction with care and lower perceived improvements. Finally, there was a significant association between reporting side effects of psychiatric medications and side effects of psychotherapy, suggesting common factors that contribute to side effect experience across treatment modalities. These findings highlight the need to monitor possible side effects during psychotherapy and counselling, and to have an open dialogue with our youngest clients and their families about the likelihood for negative outcomes when they are compelled to engage in therapy.
Part 2: Gain insight into name, image, and likeness opportunities for your student‐athletes
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: October 2020

For the overwhelming majority of college student‐athletes, name, image, and likeness opportunities won't come in the form of big, national advertising campaigns as some might expect.
Exploiting homophily to characterize communities in online social networks
Authors: De Salve Andrea , Guidi Barbara , Michienzi Andrea
Published: October 2020

Online social networks (OSNs) have become one of the most popular platforms where people communicate by sharing contents and personal information. The interactions performed by the users allow to identify the homophily between users and reveal the presence of several communities that could depend on several factors: such as the type of relationships (eg, colleagues and school mates) or to users' preferences (eg, users' interests or hobbies). A very important issue in this scenario is the necessary to characterize such communities by using known real properties or attributes about their members. In this article, we propose an approach that identifies the communities of users by exploiting several community detection algorithms. Afterward, for each user, we exploit decision trees to find a model that describes and distinguishes community affiliations based on known attributes of the members. The evaluation of our approach is derived from a real dataset which consists of the profile information, relationships, and interactions of 95 716 Facebook users. The experimental results show that the proposed approach is able to correctly recognize which attributes of the members properly characterize their corresponding community while ensuring a high level of accuracy (about 85%).
CD319 (SLAMF7) an alternative marker for detecting plasma cells in the presence of daratumumab or elotuzumab
Authors: Soh Kah Teong , Tario Joseph D. , Hahn Theresa , Hillengass Jens , McCarthy Philip L. , Wallace Paul K.
Published: October 2020

Background

Daratumumab is an anti‐CD38 immunotherapeutic drug that has increasingly been used to treat patients with heavily pre‐treated and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In so doing, the detection of CD38 antigen on plasma cells by flow cytometry is impeded. We hypothesized that alternative markers can be used in place or in addition to CD38 when detecting plasma cells post‐treated with daratumumab.

Methods

A total of 16 alternative markers were tested using 22 bone marrow aspirates from patients with plasma cell neoplasm. The ability of selected markers to discern plasma cells from other hematopoietic cells were evaluated. The stability of tested markers when stored at 4 or 25°C after T = 0, 24, 48, and 72 h was also established. Finally, selected markers were incorporated into a panel used for monitoring multiple myeloma measurable residual disease to test their utility to identify plasma cells in the presence of daratumumab and/or elotuzumab (anti‐CD319) drugs.

Results

Out of the 16 tested markers, CD319, CD54, CD229, CD317, and p63 were expressed by >90% of the plasma cells. Only CD319, CD54, and CD229 achieved 100% detection sensitivity. Further analysis showed that CD319 was better than CD229 and CD54 at resolving plasma cells from background hematopoietic cells, with CD54 being the worst (resolution metric, mean ± SD: CD319 [2.04 ± 0.86]; CD229 [1.47 ± 0.45]; and CD54 [1.22 ± 0.60]). CD229 was expressed by >90% of T lymphocytes, whereas CD319 was expressed preferentially by the CD8+ T cells and less frequently in CD4+ T cells. Additionally, CD229 was found on >60% of B and NK cells, as well as minor subsets of monocytes and granulocytes. CD319 was expressed on most NK cells and a minor subset of B cells, granulocytes, and monocytes. Even though CD229 and CD319 were expressed by different leukocyte subsets, their expression levels were highest on plasma cells. The expression of CD138 on plasma cells was significantly lower after storage at 4°C, while the expression levels of CD38, CD229, and CD319 remained stable at 4 or 25°C. Using limiting dilution experiments, the treatment of cells with daratumumab severely impeded the detection of CD38 antigen on plasma cells, whereas elotuzumab treatment did not block detection of CD319 on plasma cells.

Conclusions

CD319 is a suitable alternative to CD38 for identifying plasma cells. Our results showed that a panel used for monitoring multiple myeloma measurable residual disease could be modified by using CD319 alone or in combination with CD38 to detect PCs in daratumumab or elotuzumab treated patients.
A retrospective chart review of subdermal neck coagulation using helium plasma technology
Authors: Doolabh Vaishali , Ruff Paul
Published: October 2020

Background

A helium‐based plasma technology has recently been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for cutting, coagulation, and ablation of soft tissue (Renuvion® System; Apyx™ Medical Corporation). As the safety of helium plasma for treating lax and sagging skin in the neck area has not been previously reported, the objectives of this study were to obtain safety results from helium plasma used for neck rejuvenation, to summarize subject and procedure variables, and to assess treatment outcomes for the development of future treatment protocols.

Methods

Two retrospective chart reviews were performed using data from patients who had undergone a helium plasma procedure in the neck area to assess safety (Study 1) and effect (Study 2). For Study 2, pre‐ and posttreatment images of treatment areas were assessed by blinded reviewers.

Results

In Study 1 (N = 15), two adverse events felt to be treatment‐related were noted. In Study 2 (N = 13), mean improvements included a 37.29% reduction in submental angle and reduction in the submental area.

Conclusions

Helium plasma technology appears to be a safe and well‐tolerated treatment. Consistent and reproducible tissue contraction in the submental and neck area was observed between the authors' sites.
Riparian response guilds shift in response to flow alteration in montane streams of the southern Rocky Mountains
Authors: Scott Julian A. , Merritt David M.
Published: October 2020

The southern Rocky Mountains serve as the headwaters of the West, providing water to agriculture, industry, recreation, and millions of people in 17 western states. Eighty percent of the water draining land managed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) is from snowmelt. The demand for this water continues to grow with increasing population throughout the arid West. The Forest Service is obliged to manage these watersheds for a diverse set of interests including extraction of forest products and other natural resources, providing recreational opportunities, and delivering fresh water. The Forest Service is simultaneously required to sustain the ecological condition of the managed lands for future generations. Satisfying these demands requires quantitative approaches to balance the ecological impacts against the benefits of water development. In this study, we (1) measured riparian vegetation at nine sites in the Medicine Bow‐Routt National Forests, (2) identified twelve trait‐based riparian vegetation‐flow response guilds (functionally similar groups of plants), (3) constructed reach‐scale hydraulic models for each site, (4) classified sites by hydro‐geomorphic characteristics, and (5) modeled observed guild distributions as a function of duration of stream inundation and site characteristics. To illustrate the application of these models in quantifying ecological impacts of water development and management decisions, flow scenarios were developed to simulate the effects of upstream diversions and reservoirs. Guild distribution models were then used to forecast alterations to vegetation patterns under the flow simulations. Even in these relatively moist montane riparian areas, stream inundation duration explained much of the variability in guild distributions. Controlling for groundwater contributions to the moisture regime improved the predictive ability of the models. Plot‐level guild diversity was found to be most correlated to the maximum height of species in the guild, shade tolerance, and seed mass. Plots were identified with relatively low species diversity and high guild diversity, suggesting niche partitioning and a target guild composition for restoring resilient riparian vegetation assemblages. We demonstrate the transferability of guild models across rivers to assist in the decision‐making process for evaluating water development and forecasting riparian vegetation response.
Development of a Swirl‐Induced Rotating Glow Discharge Reactor for CO2 Conversion: Fluid Dynamics and Discharge Dynamics Studies
Authors: Raja Bharathi , Sarathi Ramanujam , Vinu Ravikrishnan
Published: October 2020

Herein, CO2 conversion is conducted in a newly developed swirl flow–induced rotating glow discharge reactor. The swirl injector is designed to produce forward vortex by eight inclined guided vanes. A glow‐type rotating discharge is formed between two electrodes of constant height. The discharge and fluid dynamics studies reveal that the magnitude of tangential velocity and secondary vortex formation affects the rotational frequency of the discharge. It is also found that the anchoring point of the plasma column root is greatly influenced by the increased pressure gradient, especially in the turbulent regime. The conversion of CO2 as a function of flow rate is found to increase in the laminar regime and decrease in the turbulent regime. With increasing specific energy input from 0.25 to 3.4 kJ L−1, there is a rise in conversion from 1.2% to 4.6%, which indicates the high residence time and high energy deposition to lesser number of CO2 molecules. Higher energy efficiencies (54.9–63.7%) at turbulent flow rates show that this swirl design enhances the distribution of electron energy to incoming fresh molecules by formation of circulation zones and turbulence.
Improving the Cyclic Stability of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 at High Cutoff Voltage by Using Pyrene as a Novel Additive
Authors: Shang Huimin , Peng Gongchang , Liu Wenjing , Zhang Huan , Niu Wenchao , Liao Yingling , Qu Meizhen , Xie Zhengwei
Published: October 2020

Pyrene (PY) is first used as an additive to improve the cyclic stability of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 at high cutoff voltage. After 300 cycles at room temperature (≈25 °C) and 100 cycles at elevated temperature (≈55 °C), the capacity retention of Li/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cells is 93.1% and 92.68% in the electrolyte containing 0.0025 wt% PY. However, in the base electrolyte, the capacity retention of the cells is 84.7% and 88.12%. The improved capacity retention is due to a thin and even cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film containing the poly‐PY on surface of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, which reduces the oxidation reaction of electrolyte, the dissolution of transition metal, and the interface impedance in subsequent cycles. In addition, the cross‐talk effect between the positive and negative electrodes is effectively avoided. The film derived from PY also improves the rate performance of cell at room temperature.
Geochronology and geochemistry of the Tongjige granodiorites in the Jinshajiang suture zone, SW China: Constraints on petrogenesis and tectonic evolution of the Palaeo‐Tethys Ocean
Authors: Zhang Hong‐Rui , Yang Li‐Qiang , He Wen‐Yan , Gao Xue , Wang Hua‐Qing , Zhang Shao‐Ying
Published: October 2020

The Jinshajiang suture zone (JSZ) is one of the most significant tectonic zones in the eastern Tethys area. A large number of plutons are regarded as the result of tectono‐magmatic activities associated with the evolution of the Palaeo‐Tethys Ocean. The Tongjige pluton in the central part of JSZ can indicate the magmatism and its geodynamic evolution. The Tongjige pluton (225.6 Ma) consists mainly of granodiorite with abundant coeval mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) (226.1 Ma). The host granodiorite is calc‐alkaline and typical I‐type, with SiO2 contents ranging from 65.75 to 66.91 wt%. The MMEs have relatively high MgO (4.00–4.07 wt%) and Fe2O3T (9.27–9.40 wt%) abundances and low SiO2 (53.59–53.87 wt%). Both MMEs and host granodiorites are characterized by the enrichment of light rare earth elements and depletion of heavy rare earth elements. They are also negative in Eu and enriched in Th and U, which are consistent with the trace element characteristics of typical island‐arc magmatite. The zircon Hf(t) values (−3.48 to −0.31) are negative, with the model ages of 1.3–1.2 Ga. These petrographic and geochemical characteristics indicated that the Tongjige pluton was derived from the melting of an ancient lower crust and underwent the process of mafic‐felsic magmatic mixing in the post‐collision background. The Triassic granitoids in the JSZ show a temporal–spatial relationship with the subduction zone, which constrain the evolution of the Palaeo‐Tethys Ocean. The mixing mechanism of the Tongjige pluton is associated with the break‐off of a subducted slab, which triggered subsequent upwelling of asthenosphere beneath accreted arc fragments and induced underplate of lithospheric mantle‐derived magmas and mixed with the lower crust‐derived felsic magma. In general, the Late Triassic pluton recorded significant crustal growth and continental development, marking the final stage of subduction‐related magmatism in the JSZ region, after which the region entered into a stage of post‐collision evolution.
A note on the trade‐off between waiting times and quality in a constrained hospital market
Authors: Lisi Domenico , Pignataro Giacomo
Published: October 2020

While aging population and technological innovation are expected to increase healthcare demand in the future, increase in healthcare spending is not likely to be sustainable in times of fiscal constraint. This might lead to a tightening of hospital capacity and, potentially, to higher patient waiting times. This paper studies waiting times and quality in a healthcare market where semi‐altruistic hospitals operate at full capacity. We show that in this context a trade‐off between waiting times and quality emerges which, if hospitals dislike patients to wait, decreases the incentive for the quality of care. We also show that, when hospitals operate at full capacity, standard waiting time policies involving targets and penalties (e.g., “Targets and Terror” in England) can meet the target at the expense of a lower quality of care, with relevant implications for the empirical evaluation of waiting time policy.
Recruitment and retention strategies, policies, and their barriers: A narrative review in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Khalil Merette , Alameddine Mohamad
Published: October 2020

Background

Understanding factors affecting recruitment and retention of health workers in rural and remote communities is necessary for proper policy development and the equitable achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

Aim

Review and synthesize the literature on interventions used to retain health workforce in rural and remote areas by low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Method

We carried out a narrative review of literature (peer‐reviewed and gray) on the distribution and retention of health workers in rural and remote areas in the LMICs of the EMR. Out of the 130 retrieved articles, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were studied using WHO's Global Recommendations For Increasing Access To Health Workers In Remote And Rural Areas Through Improved Retention (education, regulation, financial, and personal/professional) as the analytical framework for extractions.

Results

There is a dearth of literature on retention in rural areas in the EMR and a complete absence of evaluation studies for implemented intervention. Various LMICs in the EMR have implemented interventions across one or more of the WHO four categories, especially educational and regulatory interventions. Limitations in the number and quality of published studies, fragmented data, over‐representation of certain cadres in research and policies, and poor governance were chief barriers to the design, implementation, and evaluation of health workforce retention policies in rural and remote areas. The main challenges for EMR countries are in policy implementation and evaluation. Strengthening data governance and health information systems would improve evidence‐based policies and enhance retention in rural and remote areas.

Conclusions

There is a need for a focused research agenda supported by regional collaboration to guide policymakers on factors, challenges, and best practices that need to be considered for improving the distribution and retention of the health workforce by cadre, gender, and region.
Stress‐induced premature senescence activated by the SENEX gene mediates apoptosis resistance of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma via promoting immunosuppressive cells and cytokines
Authors: Wang Jiyu , Tao Qianshan , Pan Ying , Wanyan Zhixiang , Zhu Fengfeng , Xu Xuanxuan , Wang Huiping , Yi Liuying , Zhou Mei , Zhai Zhimin
Published: October 2020

Background

The underlying cause of relapsed and refractory (r/r) diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is usually related to apoptosis resistance to antitumor drugs. The recent years have provided lots of evidence that tumor cells may undergo stress‐induced premature senescence (SIPS) in response to chemotherapy, but how SIPS affects lymphoma cells remains inconclusive.

Methods

Fifty‐two DLBCL patients, including 6 newly diagnosed (ND), 17 complete remissions (CR), and 29 (r/r), were enrolled in this study. We used a senescence‐associated‐β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐Gal) staining kit for senescence staining. Suppressive immune cells including regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC) were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Secreted cytokines were measured by ELISA Kit and SENEX gene expression was detected by a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. We used 40 nM doxorubicin to induce the SIPS model of DLBCL in vitro. Apoptosis and proliferation activity of senescent LY8 cells were respectively detected by FCM and CCK8. SENEX gene was silenced by RNA interference.

Results

The proportion of senescent lymphoma cells was significantly increased in r/r DLBCL patients, concomitant with increased Treg, MDSC, and various secreted cytokines with proinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. The SENEX gene was significantly elevated in the SIPS model. Senescent DLBCL cells had good antiapoptotic ability and proliferative activity accompanied by increased immunosuppressive cytokines. Interestingly, when we silenced the SENEX gene in the DLBCL cell line, the results were the opposite to the above.

Conclusion

SIPS activated by the SENEX gene mediates apoptosis resistance of r/r DLBCL via promoting immunosuppressive cells and cytokines.
Mood‐congruent biases in facial emotion perception and their gender dependence
Authors: Steephen John Eric , Kummetha Sneha , Obbineni Siva Charan , Bapi Raju Surampudi
Published: October 2020

Due to mood‐congruency effects, we expect the emotion perceived on a face to be biased towards one's own mood. But the findings in the scant literature on such mood effects in normal healthy populations have not consistently and adequately supported this expectation. Employing effective mood manipulation techniques that ensured that the intended mood was sustained throughout the perception task, we explored mood‐congruent intensity and recognition accuracy biases in emotion perception. Using realistic face stimuli with expressive cues of happiness and sadness, we demonstrated that happy, neutral and ambiguous expressions were perceived more positively in the positive than in the negative mood. The mood‐congruency effect decreased with the degree of perceived negativity in the expression. Also, males were more affected by the mood‐congruency effect in intensity perception than females. We suggest that the greater salience and better processing of negative stimuli and the superior cognitive ability of females in emotion perception are responsible for these observations. We found no evidence for mood‐congruency effect in the recognition accuracy of emotions and suggest with supporting evidence that past reports of this effect may be attributed to response bias driven by mood.
Band structure engineering through van der Waals heterostructing superlattices of two‐dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Zhao Xin‐Gang , Shi Zhiming , Wang Xinjiang , Zou Hongshuai , Fu Yuhao , Zhang Lijun
Published: October 2020

The indirect‐to‐direct band‐gap transition in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) from bulk to monolayer, accompanying with other unique properties of two‐dimensional materials, has endowed them great potential in optoelectronic devices. The easy transferability and feasible epitaxial growth pave a promising way to further tune the optical properties by constructing van der Waals heterostructures. Here, we performed a systematic high‐throughput first‐principles study of electronic structure and optical properties of the layer‐by‐layer stacking TMDCs heterostructing superlattices, with the configuration space of [(MX2)n(M′X′2)10−n] (M/M′ = Cr, Mo, W; X/X′ = S, Se, Te; n = 0‐10). Our calculations involving long‐range dispersive interaction show that the indirect‐to‐direct band‐gap transition or even semiconductor‐to‐metal transition can be realized by changing component compositions of superlattices. Further analysis indicates that the indirect‐to‐direct band‐gap transition can be ascribed to the in‐plane strain induced by lattice mismatch. The semiconductor‐to‐metal transition may be attributed to the band offset among different components that is modified by the in‐plane strain. The superlattices with direct band‐gap show quite weak band‐gap optical transition because of the spacial separation of the electronic states involved. In general, the layers stacking‐order of superlattices results in a small up to 0.2 eV band gap fluctuation because of the built‐in potential. Our results provide useful guidance for engineering band structure and optical properties in TMDCs heterostructing superlattices.

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Self‐guided behavioral skills training: A public health approach to promoting nurturing care environments
Authors: Shea Kerry A. , Sellers Tyra P. , Smith Sandra G. , Bullock Andrea J.
Published: October 2020

The World Health Organization identified the promotion of “Nurturing Care Environments” as a global health priority. Responsive caregiving, 1 of 5 domains describing nurturing care, is critical for healthy child development. Relatively little research has evaluated population‐level interventions aimed to increase responsive caregiving during the first 1,000 days of an infant's life. In this pilot study, we evaluated an intervention designed for population‐level dissemination that targeted responsive caregiving. The self‐guided behavioral skills training aimed to teach mothers to imitate infant vocalizations. The intervention was delivered within an on‐line asynchronous training. All 3 mothers increased vocal imitative behavior following training without receiving coaching or behavior‐specific feedback from an implementer. The results offer a preliminary proof of concept with implications for population‐level intervention design and evaluation.
Assessment of software‐derived predictive algorithms for platelet yield and blood cell count after apheresis
Authors: Cienfuegos‐Pecina Eduardo , Ayala‐De la Cruz Sergio , Leal‐Nava Erika R. , Pérez‐Olvera Jorge A. , Llaca‐Díaz Jorge M. , Avilés‐Rodríguez Luz E. , Pérez‐Chávez Fernando , Díaz‐Chuc Erik A.
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Algorithms have been developed to predict the platelet yield after apheresis from the donor's data, as well as the effect on the blood cell count, to extract an acceptable platelet number without affecting the donor. However, the evaluation of these algorithms has not been widely reported. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the predictive algorithms of the Trima Accel v. 6 blood collection system.

Methods

Platelet concentrates (PCs) obtained by apheresis were analyzed. Platelet count and hematocrit were compared pre‐ and post‐apheresis. Calculated post‐apheresis platelet count (CPAPC), hematocrit (CPAH), and platelet yield (CPY), and their actual values were correlated. The bias of the algorithms was assessed with Bland‐Altman plots, and the prediction of the extraction of single or double platelet products was evaluated.

Results

Two hundred and seventy‐nine PCs were analyzed. Post‐apheresis platelet count (PAPC) and hematocrit were decreased. A moderate correlation was observed between CPY and the actual yield, with a negative bias, and a trend to increase alongside the magnitude of the measurements. CPAPC and CPAH were strongly correlated with their actual values without bias. Prediction of single or double platelet product extraction showed a significant agreement with the actual outcomes.

Conclusions

The predictive algorithm for the platelet yield showed bias, and a trend to underestimate the actual platelet yields when they are higher. The algorithms for the prediction of the PAPC and hematocrit did not show bias, proving their accuracy. Prediction of a single or double platelet product extraction has a strong agreement with the APY.
Sign effect in adolescents: Within‐subject comparison of delay discounting of hypothetical monetary gains and losses
Authors: Furrebøe Elise Frølich
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the research on the sign effect, steeper discounting of gains compared to losses, by offering results from an experiment using a “double‐delay” procedure on adolescents. Twenty‐four 14‐year‐old schoolchildren completed a computer‐based test consisting of choices of Smaller–Sooner (SS) and Larger–Later (LL) hypothetical monetary gains and losses. Within‐subject comparison and analysis of the aggregated data were conducted. Current results were also examined in light of prior research with adult participants, and variations in behavioral patterns were identified. Although the sign effect appears to be more profound in adolescents compared to adults, the effect of immediacy persists regardless of the sign of the outcome, and zero discounting of losses is often the case, suggesting that the sign effect is driven largely by qualitative differences.
Reaction kinetics of a series of alkenes with ClO and BrO radicals: A theoretical study
Authors: Gupta Parth , Rajakumar B.
Published: October 2020

Quantum chemical calculations were used to investigate the mechanism and kinetics of the reaction of XO (X = Cl, Br) radicals with linear C2to C4alkenes. Two reaction routes, namely, addition and H‐abstraction, were investigated as part of the XO‐radical initiated degradation of these alkenes. Energies and structural parameters were obtained at the CCSD(T)/CBS//M062x/cc‐pVTZ level of theory, and the canonical variational transition state theory with small‐curvature tunneling corrections was used to calculate rate constants at temperatures spanning 200‐3000 K. The addition of the electron‐deficient XO radical onto the olefinic moiety was the major degradation channel, owing to its low barrier heights. Moreover, the H‐abstraction route also played a key role in governing the fate of the alkene in the high‐temperature regime, when compared to the addition routes. The computed branching ratios for various reaction routes further ascertained the relative dominance of the addition and H‐abstraction routes over the studied temperature range. The computed kinetic and thermodynamic parameters can be beneficial towards designing a better chemical kinetic model, relevant for both atmospheric as well as combustion systems. In addition to this, the formed HOCl (or HOBr) can damage the ozone layer and cause ecological imbalance.
The Effect of Diathermy Power Settings on Oral Cavity Mucosal Contraction: A Rat Model
Authors: Warshavsky Anton , Shivatzki Shaked , Kampel Liyona , Leider‐Trejo Leonor , Shapira Udi , Muhanna Nidal , Ungar Omer J. , Fliss Dan M. , Kaplan Ilana , Horowitz Gilad
Published: October 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

The effects of different electrocautery power settings on mucosal contraction and margin status in the oral cavity have not been well established. The aim of this study was to examine how different levels of electrocautery energy outputs affect oral mucosal tissue margins.

Study Design

Animal model.

Methods

A model of 23 adult rats was used (two specimens per rat). After anesthetizing the animals, a 6‐mm biopsy punch marked the resection margin on the buccal mucosa (one per cheek). The specimens were excised by means of three energy levels, a cold knife, and monopolar diathermy that was set on either 20 W or 30 W cut modes. The specimens were evaluated for extent of contraction.

Results

A total of 45 samples were obtained and measured, including 15 specimens in the cold‐knife group, 15 specimens in the 20 W group, and 15 specimens in the 30 W group. The median diameters of the specimens after resection were 4.5 mm for the cold‐knife group (interquartile range [IQR] = 4.0–5.0), 3.5 mm for the 20 W group (IQR = 3.5–4.0), and 2.8 mm for the 30 W group (IQR = 2.5–3.0). Specimen contraction was 25.0%, 41.7%, and 53.3%, respectively. The difference in shrinkage between each pair was statistically significant: cold knife versus 20 W, P = .001; cold knife versus 30 W, P < .0001; and 20 W versus 30 W, P < .001.

Conclusions

Diathermy power settings result in a significant difference of mucosal tissue contraction, with higher outputs resulting in a narrower mucosal margin. It is imperative that the surgical team take into consideration the diathermy settings during initial resection planning. Laryngoscope, 131:E1514–E1518, 2021
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on decomposition and accumulation of soil organic carbon in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Li Jin Hua , Zhang Rui , Cheng Bing Heng , Ye Lu Feng , Li Wen Jin , Shi Xiao Ming
Published: October 2020

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions to grasslands increase aboveground plant biomass and modify plant community composition, thereby affecting plant‐derived organic carbon (C) input to soil and soil C cycling and storage. However, the effects of N and P additions on soil organic C (SOC) decomposition and sequestration are not fully understood and their underlying mechanisms are poorly known. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying SOC decomposition and SOC content decline in the topsoil of alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau after 9‐years of field N and P additions. Stoichiometric characteristics of soil and microorganisms and their effects on microbial decomposition, including priming effects (PEs), C substrates decomposition, and microbial C use efficiency (CUE), were investigated by adding 13C labeled substrate (glucose or vanillin). Results showed that N and P additions differentially affected the magnitude and direction of PEs and SOC decomposition, accelerated mineralization of glucose and vanillin by 33–45% and 11–45%, respectively, but decreased microbial CUE of glucose and vanillin by 9–15% and 11–48%, respectively. These effects were caused by differential increase in microbial activity and acceleration of microbial decomposition due to N and P additions, and induced lower soil ecological stoichiometric ratios and higher microbial C:N:P ratios. The above effects led to different magnitudes of decomposition and accumulation of SOC and plant‐derived C substrate and thus decline in SOC content depending on N and P additions. We found that long‐term N and P additions would weaken soil functioning as a C pool for alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau.
Drivers of water quality changes within the Laurentian Great Lakes region over the past 40 years
Authors: Mahdiyan Octavia , Filazzola Alessandro , Molot Lewis A. , Gray Derek , Sharma Sapna
Published: October 2020

Water quality of freshwater lakes within the Laurentian Great Lakes region is vulnerable to degradation owing to multiple environmental stressors including climate change, alterations in land use, and the introduction of invasive species. Our research questions were two‐fold: (1) What are the temporal patterns and trends in water quality? (2) Are climate, invasive species and lake morphology associated with changes in water quality? Our study incorporated timeseries data for at least 20 years from 36 lakes in Ontario and Wisconsin sampled between 1976 and 2016. We evaluated patterns in water quality (total phosphorus [TP], total nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon [DOC], and chlorophyll a [Chl a]) using segmented regression analysis which identified significant breakpoints in Chl a and TP in the 1900s to mid‐2000s after which Chl a and TP began to increase, whereas breakpoints in DOC exhibited increasing trends prior to the year 2000 with levels declining afterward. Next, we examined linear trends in water quality and climate (temperature and precipitation) using Sen slope analysis where, generally, over the past 40 years, lake TP and Chl a have significantly declined, whereas DOC has increased. Lastly, we conducted a redundancy analysis (RDA) to identify how climate, lake morphology, and the presence of invasive dreissenid mussels contributed to changes in water quality. The RDA revealed that precipitation, air temperature, and morphology explained 73.1% of the variation in water quality trends for the Great Lakes whereas precipitation, temperature, morphology, and occurrence of mussels explained 45.6% of the variation for smaller inland lakes.
Magnetically Responsive Polymeric Microparticles for the Triggered Delivery of a Complex Mixture of Human Placental Proteins
Authors: Lanier Olivia L. , Ficarrotta Joseph M. , Adjei Isaac , Wable Dayita , Lewis Camryn , Nacea Christopher , Sharma Blanka , Dobson Jon , McFetridge Peter
Published: October 2020

Bone loss through traumatic injury is a significant clinical issue. Researchers have created many scaffold types to mimic an extracellular matrix to provide structural support for the formation of new bone, however functional regeneration of larger scaffolds has not been fully achieved. Newer scaffolds aim to deliver bioactive molecules to improve tissue regeneration. To achieve a more comprehensive regenerative response, a magnetically triggerable polymeric microparticle platform is developed for the on‐demand release of a complex mixture of isolated human placental proteins. This system is composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles, encapsulating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and placental proteins. When subjected to an alternating magnetic field (AMF), the MNPs heat and melt the PCL, enhancing the diffusion of proteins from microparticles. When the field is off, the PCL re‐solidifies. This potentially allows for cyclic drug delivery. Here the design, synthesis, and proof‐of‐concept experiments for this system are reported. In addition, it is shown that the proteins retain function after being magnetically released. The ability to trigger the release of complex protein mixtures on‐demand may provide a significant advantage with wounds where stagnation of healing processes can occur (e.g., large segmented bone defects).
Electrospinning of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanofiber containing growth hormone and its release investigations
Authors: Hosseini Hossein , Shahraky M. Khodabandeh , Amani Amir , Landi Farzaneh S.
Published: October 2020

A wound is defined as an interruption in the integrity of skin and mucus tissue. There are challenges in the treatment of some lesions, such as diabetic ulcers, burn injuries and pressure ulcers. Wound dressing is one of the new methods used to treat these types of ulcers. Nanofibers are very suitable structures for wound healing due to their prevention of pathogen penetration into the wound environment and providing sufficient gaseous exchange, absorption of wound secretions and controlled release of the drug to the site of damage. These nanofibers can carry therapeutic proteins such as the human growth hormone (hGH). Resulting system provides sustained delivery of hGH, thereby achieving sustained therapeutic concentrations of these agents in the blood. Because of the biocompatibility, biodegradability, nonimmunological and nontoxic nature of polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan and hyaluronic acid, they were used to prepare nanofibers via the electrospinning method. In order to evaluate stability of the nanofibers, they were cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde and examined with respect to morphology and size before and after cross‐linking using SEM. Nanofiber characteristics such as hydrophilicity, cytotoxicity, and the manner of release were tested by carrying out water contact angle, MTT and ELISA test. Diameters of the nanofibers were 261 ± 17 and 288 ± 20 nm before and after cross‐linking, respectively, and the results of investigating hydrophilicity at 2 and 5 seconds demonstrated angles of 57.8 and 34.7° respectively, thus indicating that the nanofibers are hydrophilic. The MTT test showed that nanofibers do not have any toxicity towards skin fibroblasts. It was also shown that nanofibers provide a sustained release mechanism after an initial burst release, so that after 2 days, 64% of the growth hormone is released from the nanofibers.
The lean startup method: Early‐stage teams and hypothesis‐based probing of business ideas
Authors: Leatherbee Michael , Katila Riitta
Published: October 2020

Research Summary

We examine a learning‐by‐doing methodology for iteration of early‐stage business ideas known as the “lean startup.” The purpose of this article is to lay out and test the key assumptions of the method, examining one particularly relevant boundary condition: the composition of the startup team. Using unique and detailed longitudinal data on 152 NSF‐supported lean‐startup (I‐Corps) teams, we find that the key components of the method—hypothesis formulation, probing, and business idea convergence—link up as expected. We also find that team composition is an important boundary condition: business‐educated (MBA) members resist the use of the method, but appreciate its value ex post. Formal training in learning‐by‐thinking methods thus appears to limit the spread of learning‐by‐doing methods. In this way, business theory constrains business practice.

Managerial Summary

Lean startup methodology has rapidly become one of the most common and trusted innovation and entrepreneurship methods by corporations, startup accelerators, and policymakers. Unfortunately, it has largely been portrayed as a one‐size‐fits‐all solution—its key assumptions subject to little rigorous empirical testing, and the possibility of critical boundary conditions ignored. Our empirical testing supports the key assumptions of the method, but points to business education of team members as a critical boundary condition. Specifically, MBAs resist the use of the method despite being in a strong position to leverage it. Results from a post hoc analysis we conducted also suggest that more engagement with the method relates to higher performance of the firm in the 18‐month period following the lean startup intervention.
A pilot design for observational studies: Using abundant data thoughtfully
Authors: Aikens Rachael C. , Greaves Dylan , Baiocchi Michael
Published: October 2020

Observational studies often benefit from an abundance of observational units. This can lead to studies that—while challenged by issues of internal validity—have inferences derived from sample sizes substantially larger than randomized controlled trials. But is the information provided by an observational unit best used in the analysis phase? We propose the use of a “pilot design,” in which observations are expended in the design phase of the study, and the posttreatment information from these observations is used to improve study design. In modern observational studies, which are data rich but control poor, pilot designs can be used to gain information about the structure of posttreatment variation. This information can then be used to improve instrumental variable designs, propensity score matching, doubly robust estimation, and other observational study designs. We illustrate one version of a pilot design, which aims to reduce within‐set heterogeneity and improve performance in sensitivity analyses. This version of a pilot design expends observational units during the design phase to fit a prognostic model, avoiding concerns of overfitting. In addition, it enables the construction of “assignment‐control plots,” which visualize the relationship between propensity and prognostic scores. We first show some examples of these plots, then we demonstrate in a simulation setting how this alternative use of the observations can lead to gains in terms of both treatment effect estimation and sensitivity analyses of unobserved confounding.
Kernel density‐based likelihood ratio tests for linear regression models
Authors: Yan Feifei , Xu Qing‐Song , Tang Man‐Lai , Chen Ziqi
Published: October 2020

In this article, we develop a so‐called profile likelihood ratio test (PLRT) based on the estimated error density for the multiple linear regression model. Unlike the existing likelihood ratio test (LRT), our proposed PLRT does not require any specification on the error distribution. The asymptotic properties are developed and the Wilks phenomenon is studied. Simulation studies are conducted to examine the performance of the PLRT. It is observed that our proposed PLRT generally outperforms the existing LRT, empirical likelihood ratio test and the weighted profile likelihood ratio test in sense that (i) its type I error rates are closer to the prespecified nominal level; (ii) it generally has higher powers; (iii) it performs satisfactorily when moments of the error do not exist (eg, Cauchy distribution); and (iv) it has higher probability of correctly selecting the correct model in the multiple testing problem. A mammalian eye gene expression dataset and a concrete compressive strength dataset are analyzed to illustrate our methodologies.
Systems Thinking Approach to Implementing Kanban: A case study
Authors: Senapathi Mali , Drury‐Grogan Meghann L.
Published: October 2020

Against the backdrop of the growing adoption of Kanban in a variety of software development domains, this paper reports on how a Systems Thinking approach was used to implement Kanban within a business unit of a government organization. Based on an in‐depth case study in the development organization, we describe how Kanban practices such as visualization, manage flow, classes of service, and board design were implemented. Stages in the double diamond design thinking process of exploring an issue more widely (divergent thinking) and then taking focused action (convergent thinking) were incorporated to adapt Kanban practices such as board design. Positive experiences included improved visibility, improved collaboration, and improvements in lead time. Challenges included lack of team buy‐in, setting work‐in‐progress limits, and short‐term Kanban coach. We present the key lessons learned and offer practical recommendations on how teams can better produce knowledge work in today's fast‐paced dynamic business environment.
Tice: A real‐time language compilable using C++ compilers
Authors: Prastowo Tadeus , Palopoli Luigi , Abeni Luca
Published: October 2020

Model‐based development (MBD) holds the promise to capture potential timing problems in embedded software during the early phases of the development, securing the production of bug‐free embedded software. For most MBD approaches, the source code is just an intermediate artifact that can be generated automatically from the models. This assumption clashes with an undeniable fact: a large share of the commercial embedded software exploits existing libraries or is developed using C/C++ natively. A way to reconcile the ambitions of MBD with the use of a programming language is by offering new language constructs and an innovative compilation tool‐chain that prevents model error and timing problems “by construction.” However, the persistent popularity of C/C++ among embedded programmers and the limited availability of tools have severely limited the uptake of alternative programming languages for embedded software. Therefore, we propose an original route. Our language proposal, named Tice, has been shaped as a C++ active library. Tice retains full compatibility with existing C++ code, which can be integrated easily into new Tice‐based projects. The enforcement of Tice syntax and semantics can be made by a standard C++ compiler, forgoing the need for new tools. In this article, we describe Tice's syntax, semantics, and model of computation and communication. We demonstrate Tice's practical applicability on an industrial scale use‐case and give ample evidence for Tice's efficient compilation using off‐the‐shelf C++ compilers. Finally, we show Tice's code generation process.
Regulatory institutional distance and the United States multinational corporations' research and development investment decisions
Authors: Nagaraj Priya , Chao Mike
Published: October 2020

Research and development (R&D) investment of multinational corporations (MNCs), as a part of MNCs' foreign direct investment (FDI) decision, has been studied for both the importance of the location for the MNC's strategy, and for the host country's benefits from the spillover effects of investment in R&D. The R&D investment decision is often influenced by the macroeconomic environment and the institutional framework of the host country. In this article, we argue that it is not just the level of regulatory institutions in the host country but also the regulatory institutional distance between the home and host countries that influences the R&D investment decision. We use the R&D expenditure data of U.S. majority owned firms' affiliates in various countries to analyze two things. First, we study the effect of regulatory institutional distance on the decision to invest in R&D in the host country. Second, we analyze if the regulatory institutional distance influences the intensity of R&D expenditure. We find significant empirical support for our hypotheses that underscores the importance of regulations for attracting R&D investments from MNCs.