bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diverse and styled image captioning using singular value decomposition‐based mixture of recurrent experts
Authors: Heidari Marzi , Ghatee Mehdi , Nickabadi Ahmad , Pourhasan Nezhad Arash
Published: February 2022

With significant advances in vision and natural language processing, the generation of image captions becomes a need. Mathews, Xie, and He extended a new model to generate styled captions by separating semantics and style. In continuation of their work, here, a new captioning model is developed, including an image encoder to extract the features, a mixture of recurrent networks to embed the set of extracted features to a group of words, and a sentence generator that combines the obtained words as a stylized sentence. This Mixture of Recurrent Experts (MoRE) system uses a new training algorithm that derives singular value decomposition from weighting matrices of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) to increase the diversity of captions. Each decomposition step depends on a distinctive factor based on the number of RNNs in MoRE. The used sentence generator gives a stylized language corpus without paired images. Besides, the styled and diverse captions are extracted without training on a densely labeled or styled dataset. MoRE on the COCO dataset generated diverse and stylized image captions without the necessity of extra‐labeling and improved descriptions in terms of content accuracy.
Au Nanosheets‐Assisted Structural Phase Transitions, In Situ Monitoring of the Enhanced Crystallinity, and Their Effect on the Optical and Dielectric Properties of CuSe/Au/CuSe Thin Films
Authors: Qasrawi A. F. , Baniowdah Tahani S , Abu Samen Lara O.
Published: February 2022

Herein, stacked layers of copper selenide thin films comprising Au nanosheets in its structure are fabricated and characterized. The CuSe/Au/CuSe (CAC) thin films are prepared by the thermal evaporation technique under a vacuum pressure of 10−5 mbar. It is shown that Au nanosheets improve the stoichiometric growth of the CuSe thin films and induce the structural phase transitions from cubic to hexagonal. In addition, the in situ monitoring of the structural modifications in the CAC in the temperature range of 293–473 K proves the permanent enhanced crystallinity of the films. Optically, while the Au nanosheets increase the light absorbability and redshifts the energy band gap of CuSe, the in situ heating blueshifts the energy band gap. Moreover, insertion of Au nanosheets between layers of CuSe and heating them at 473 K significantly increase the dielectric constant and the optical conductivity by more than five times. Moreover, the drift mobility of charged carriers, the scattering time at femtosecond level, and the plasmon frequency are remarkably enhanced. Values of plasmon frequency exceed 6.0 GHz nominating the CAC films as signal receivers suitable for 5G technology.
An ensemble machine learning approach for enhanced path loss predictions for 4G LTE wireless networks
Authors: Ojo Stephen , Akkaya Murat , Sopuru Joshua Chibuike
Published: February 2022

Accurate path loss prediction models are indispensable in modern wireless communication systems. In recent times, several path loss prediction models have been proposed to improve network performance. However, most of these models have not addressed the fundamental issues. The problem of deploying a single path loss prediction model that fits well in all wireless propagation environments remains. To address this problem, we present machine learning‐based ensemble methods to path loss predictions. Specifically, ensemble methods have been introduced to improve signal prediction accuracy and performance. Additionally, the radial basis function (RBF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network models were deployed and improved by adding more network parameters to their respective input layers. Results revealed that the RBF model with an increase in the number of centroids reduces the mean square error (MSE). Also, the Gaussian kernel function gives lower MSE compared to the multiquadric and inverse multiquadric functions. The bagging and blending ensemble path loss prediction models were introduced for optimal performance. An RBF neural network of different clusters was incorporated into the bagging algorithm as base learners. The RBF, MLP, blending, and bagging were examined using standard metrics for the training, testing, and validation dataset for model validation. The developed bagging ensemble path loss prediction model gave the lowest errors (MSE = 0.0011 dB, SSE = 0.6069 dB, MAE = 0.0245 dB, &R = 0.7484 dB) for the datasets. The bagging ensemble method acts as a variance and error reduction mechanism because it predicted path loss closest to measured data and is suitable for near precise path loss predictions.
Electrochemical Performance and Mechanism of Surface‐Fluorinated Fe3O4 as Stable Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Mo Yuyan , Fan Yajun , Xiao Xin , Zuo Xiaoxi , Nan Junmin
Published: February 2022

Iron oxides are considered as potential anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries thanks to their high theoretical capacity, rich resources, and environmental friendliness. However, the rapid capacity decay and sluggish kinetics greatly limit their practical application. Herein, a simple surface fluorination strategy is developed to greatly improve the electrochemical properties of Fe3O4. The fluorinated layer can act as a protective film to stabilize the electrode/electrolyte interface, enhance the wettability of the electrode to shorten the Li+ diffusion pathway, and provide more active centers to facilitate charge storage. Consequently, the fabricated fluorinated Fe3O4 electrode demonstrates high specific capacity (1379 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 300 cycles) and impressive high‐rate performance (876, 802, and 456 mAh g−1 at 5, 10, and 20 A g−1, respectively, after 1000 cycles), which outperforms most of the Fe3O4‐based electrodes recorded so far. This material design strategy may open up a new way for the development of high‐performance anode materials for energy storage based on earth‐rich materials, and advance the understanding of the core role of electrode surfaces/interfaces in battery systems.
Bone marrow findings of idiopathic Multicentric Castleman disease: A histopathologic analysis and systematic literature review
Authors: Belyaeva Elizaveta , Rubenstein Ayelet , Pierson Sheila K. , Dalldorf Delaney , Frank Dale , Lim Megan S. , Fajgenbaum David C.
Published: February 2022

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a polyclonal lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by constitutional symptoms, generalized lymphadenopathy, cytopenias, and multi‐organ dysfunction due to excessive cytokines, notably Interleukin‐6. Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease is often sub‐classified into iMCD‐TAFRO, which is associated with thrombocytopenia (T), anasarca (A), fever/elevated C‐reactive protein (F), renal dysfunction (R), and organomegaly (O), and iMCD not otherwise specified (iMCD‐NOS), which is typically associated with thrombocytosis and hypergammaglobulinemia. The diagnosis of iMCD is challenging as consensus clinico‐pathological diagnostic criteria were only recently established and include several non‐specific lymph node histopathological features. Identification of further clinico‐pathological features commonly found in iMCD could contribute to more accurate and timely diagnoses. We set out to characterize bone marrow (BM) histopathological features in iMCD, assess differences between iMCD‐TAFRO and iMCD‐NOS, and determine if these findings are specific to iMCD. Examination of BM specimens from 24 iMCD patients revealed a high proportion with hypercellularity, megakaryocytic atypia, reticulin fibrosis, and plasmacytosis across patients with both iMCD‐NOS and iMCD‐TAFRO with significantly more megakaryocytic hyperplasia (p = 0.001) in the iMCD‐TAFRO cases. These findings were also consistent with BM findings from 185 published cases of iMCD‐NOS and iMCD‐TAFRO. However, these findings are relatively nonspecific as they can be seen in various other infectious, malignant, and autoimmune diseases.
Identification of moyamoya disease based on cerebral oxygen saturation signals using machine learning methods
Authors: Gao Tianxin , Zou Chuyue , Li Jinyu , Han Cong , Zhang Houdi , Li Yue , Tang Xiaoying , Fan Yingwei
Published: February 2022

Moyamoya is a cerebrovascular disease with a high mortality rate. Early detection and mechanistic studies are necessary. Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to study the signals of the cerebral tissue oxygen saturation index (TOI) and the changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations (HbO and Hb) in 64 patients with moyamoya disease and 64 healthy volunteers. The wavelet transforms (WT) of TOI, HbO and Hb signals, as well as the wavelet phase coherence (WPCO) of these signals from the left and right frontal lobes of the same subject, were calculated. Features were extracted from the spontaneous oscillations of TOI, HbO and Hb in five physiological activity‐related frequency segments. Machine learning models based on support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) have been built to classify the two groups. For 20‐min signals, the 10‐fold cross‐validation accuracies of SVM, RF and XGBoost were 87%, 85% and 85%, respectively. For 5‐min signals, the accuracies of the three methods were 88%, 88% and 84%, respectively. The method proposed in this article has potential for detecting and screening moyamoya with high proficiency. Evaluating the cerebral oxygenation with NIRS shows great potential in screening moyamoya diseases.
Role of automated red blood cell exchange in the treatment of aluminum phosphide poisoning: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Özkale Murat , Özkale Yasemin , Kozanoglu İlknur
Published: February 2022

Aluminum phosphide (AIP) is a fumigant commonly used in agricultural areas. AIP is frequently misused for suicidal purposes because it is easily accessible. AIP poisoning causes severe metabolic acidosis, resistant hypotension, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiorgan failure with cardiogenic shock. Despite supportive management and intensive care, most patients die following AIP ingestion because there is no specific antidote. In this case report we present a 15‐year‐old female who presented with vomiting, coma and epigastric pain. She developed resistant metabolic acidosis and hypotension due to AIP poisoning. Although supportive treatment did not result in clinical improvement, she was successfully treated with automated red blood cell exchange. Automated red blood cell exchange is a procedure which is used to exchange the patient erythrocyte mass with donor red blood cell. Although automated red blood cell exchange is a preferred treatment method in the complications of sickle cell anemia, some blood diseases and infectious diseases such as malaria and babesiosis, there is little information about its use in poisoning. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first child with AIP poisoning who was treated with automated red blood cell exchange.
The joint effect of internal and external governance on earnings management and firm performance
Authors: Duong Hong Kim , Kang Helen , Salter Stephen B.
Published: February 2022

This study examines whether shareholders use internal governance mechanisms (i.e., manager compensation, shareholder rights protection at firm level) to substitute for weak external governance (i.e., investor protection mechanisms at country level) in restricting earnings management. We find that the impacts of internal governance on earnings management are stronger in countries with weak external governance. Examining the consequence of earnings management on firm performance, we find that internal governance restricts earnings management more efficiently than external governance. This study extends prior literature by quantifying the impacts of internal and external governance on earnings management and firm performance. Our findings suggest that investors should pay more attention to internal governance than to external governance in controlling for earnings management.
Generalization of Kim's estimates in terms of the trace of divergence‐free symmetric tensor
Authors: Eker Serhan
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we generalized E.C. Kim's estimates by taking into account the trace of the divergence‐free symmetric nonzero tensor. We have also shown that E.C. Kim's estimates still valid in the case of the trace of the divergence‐free symmetric tensor vanished identically. In the equality case, we characterized eta–Killing spinor with Killing pair over Sasakian spin manifolds.
Impact of higher‐order dispersion on crosstalk in hybrid OWC access systems for next‐generation communication networks
Authors: Singhal Ankur , Gupta Amit , Bakshi Surbhi , Singh Harbinder , Singhal Tarun
Published: February 2022

In today's pandemic environment where most of the work is managed from the premises of home, high bandwidth internet connectivity with superior signal quality is essential. Hybrid technologies based on optical wireless communication (OWC) are a better candidate for such requirements of next‐generation communication networks. Such systems, also suffer from transmission impairments like crosstalk and dispersion affect the quality of the transmitted signals. In this article, the impact of crosstalk in the presence of higher‐order dispersion (HOD) on a hybrid OWC access network is assessed. Coupled expressions have been employed for estimating crosstalk due to HOD in hybrid access systems. The mathematical model for XPM induced crosstalk has been introduced. Further, the impact of different system parameters on SRS and XPM induced crosstalk has been observed, so that the quality of communicated signals may be improved.
Kunststofftechnik: Germaniumbasierte Initiatoren
Authors: Haas Michael
Published: February 2022

Photoinitiatoren sollen wenig giftig und möglichst aktiv sein, schnell polymerisieren und gutes Photobleichen liefern. Wie sich die Moleküle für lichtinduzierte Polymerisationen verbessern lassen.
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals dysregulation of monounsaturated fatty acid metabolism upon SPINK1 attenuation in colorectal cancer
Authors: Nigam Shivansh , Ranjan Renuka , Sinha Neeraj , Ateeq Bushra
Published: February 2022

Metabolic reprogramming, a key hallmark of cancer, plays a pivotal role in fulfilling the accelerated biological demands of tumor cells. Such metabolic changes trigger the production of several proinflammatory factors, thereby inciting cancer development and its progression. Serine protease inhibitor Kazal Type 1 (SPINK1), well known for its oncogenic role and its upregulation via acute‐phase reactions, is highly expressed in multiple cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we show accumulation of lipid droplets in CRC cells stained with Oil Red O upon SPINK1 silencing. Furthermore, NMR spectroscopy analysis revealed an accretion of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and phosphatidylcholine in these CRC cells, while the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids remained unaltered. This alteration indicates the presence of MUFAs with the triglycerides in the lipid droplets as observed in SPINK1‐silenced CRC cells. Considering the role of MUFAs in the anti‐inflammatory response, our data hint that suppression of SPINK1 in CRC leads to activation of an anti‐inflammatory signaling milieu. Conclusively, our study uncovers a connection between lipid metabolism and SPINK1‐mediated CRC progression, hence paving the way for further exploration and better prognosis of SPINK1‐positive CRC patients.
Robustness and stability of volume‐based tractography in a multicenter setting
Authors: Forsting Johannes , Rehmann Robert , Rohm Marlena , Güttsches Anne‐Katrin , Froeling Martijn , Kan Hermien E. , Tegenthoff Martin , Vorgerd Matthias , Schlaffke Lara
Published: February 2022

Muscle diffusion tensor imaging (mDTI)‐based tractography is a promising tool with which to detect subclinical changes in muscle injuries and to evaluate pathophysiology in neuromuscular diseases. Classic region of interest (ROI)‐based tractography is very time‐consuming and requires an examiner with extensive experience. (Semi)automatic approaches such as volume‐based tractography (VBT) can diminish this problem but its robustness and stability are unknown. The aim of the current study was to assess the performance of VBT in a multicenter setting and to evaluate semiautomatic segmentation approaches in the analysis of VBT‐derived data in terms of the comparability of the outcome measures. Five traveling volunteers underwent 3‐T mDTI of seven calf muscles of both legs at six different MR sites. Tract properties and diffusion metrics were calculated using VBT. Within‐subject coefficients of variance (wsCVs) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess the multicenter reproducibility of tract properties such as tract density (TD), mean tract length, volume and tract propagation angle, and diffusion metrics such as fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity (λ1) and radial diffusivity in traveling subjects. Furthermore, 50 individual datasets from five different centers (10 datasets per center) were pooled to assess the feasibility of VBT with manual and semiautomatic segmentation. To assess the differences of tract properties and diffusion metrics between segmentation approaches an ANOVA was performed, and ICC and Bland–Altman plots were analyzed. wsCVs and ICCs showed good reproducibility of the tract properties TD and volume, as well as diffusion metrics. ANOVA showed no significant differences between manual and semiautomatic approaches. ICCs were excellent (≥ 0.992) and Bland–Altman analysis did not reveal any systemic bias between the methods. Tract properties and diffusion metrics derived from VBT showed good comparability among centers. Semiautomatic approaches revealed excellent agreement with gold standard of manual segmentation. These findings suggest that pooling data from different centers to construct a reference database for tractography results is feasible using semiautomatic segmentation approaches.
Identification of SARS‐CoV‐2 Papain‐like Protease (PLpro) Inhibitors Using Combined Computational Approach**
Authors: Sencanski Milan , Perovic Vladimir , Milicevic Jelena , Todorovic Tamara , Prodanovic Radivoje , Veljkovic Veljko , Paessler Slobodan , Glisic Sanja
Published: February 2022

In the current pandemic, finding an effective drug to prevent or treat the infection is the highest priority. A rapid and safe approach to counteract COVID‐19 is in silico drug repurposing. The SARS‐CoV‐2 PLpro promotes viral replication and modulates the host immune system, resulting in inhibition of the host antiviral innate immune response, and therefore is an attractive drug target. In this study, we used a combined in silico virtual screening for candidates for SARS‐CoV‐2 PLpro protease inhibitors. We used the Informational spectrum method applied for Small Molecules for searching the Drugbank database followed by molecular docking. After in silico screening of drug space, we identified 44 drugs as potential SARS‐CoV‐2 PLpro inhibitors that we propose for further experimental testing.
Studies of New 2,7‐Carbazole (CB) Based Donor‐Acceptor‐Donor (D‐A‐D) Monomers as Possible Electron Donors in Polymer Solar Cells by DFT and TD‐DFT Methods
Authors: Babu Numbury Surendra
Published: February 2022

The new donor‐acceptor‐donor (D‐A‐D) monomers have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) methods to evaluate the optoelectronic and electronic properties for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells. The TD‐DFT method is combined with a hybrid exchange‐correlation functional using the B3LYP method in conjunction with a polarizable continuum model (PCM) and a 6–311G basis set to predict the excitation energies and absorption spectra of all monomers. The predicted bandgap (Eg) of the monomers decreasing in the following order D1<D2<D3<D4<D5<D6<D7<D9<D8. Furthermore, open‐circuit voltage (VOC) estimates for monomers with [6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) acceptor. The VOC of the studied monomers ranges from 0.976 to 1.398 eV in the gas and from 1.109 to 1.470 eV in the solvent phase with PC71BM acceptor, which is sufficient for efficient electron injection into the acceptor‘s LUMO. The results show that theoretically, a maximum energy conversion efficiency of roughly 5 % for D8 and 5.8 5 % for D7.
A Chimeric DNA/RNA Antiparallel Quadruplex with Improved Stability
Authors: Boyle Elaina P. , Lomidze Levan , Musier‐Forsyth Karin , Kankia Besik
Published: February 2022

Nucleic acid quadruplexes are proposed to play a role in the regulation of gene expression, are often present in aptamers selected for specific binding functions and have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology. Therefore, understanding their structure and thermodynamic properties and designing highly stable quadruplexes is desirable for a variety of applications. Here, we evaluate DNA→RNA substitutions in the context of a monomolecular, antiparallel quadruplex, the thrombin‐binding aptamer (TBA, GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG) in the presence of either K+ or Sr2+. TBA predominantly folds into a chair‐type configuration containing two G‐tetrads, with G residues in both syn and anti conformation. All chimeras with DNA→RNA substitutions (G→g) at G residues requiring the syn conformation demonstrated strong destabilization. In contrast, G→g substitutions at Gs with anti conformation increased stability without affecting the monomolecular chair‐type topology. None of the DNA→RNA substitutions in loop positions affected the quadruplex topology; however, these substitutions varied widely in their stabilizing or destabilizing effects in an unpredictable manner. This analysis allowed us to design a chimeric DNA/RNA TBA construct that demonstrated substantially improved stability relative to the all‐DNA construct. These results have implications for a variety of quadruplex‐based applications including for the design of dynamic nanomachines.
Heterotaxy syndrome: Prenatal diagnosis, concomitant malformations and outcomes
Authors: Akalın Münip , Demirci Oya , Kumru Pınar , Yücel İlker Kemal
Published: February 2022

Objective

The aim of this study is to define cardiac and extracardiac malformations in fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome and to determine perinatal and childhood prognosis.

Methods

In this retrospective study, fetuses diagnosed with heterotaxy syndrome on antenatal ultrasonography in a tertiary center between January 2014 and January 2021 were analyzed. Fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome were grouped as right atrial isomerism (RAI) and left atrial isomerism (LAI).

Results

A total of 62 fetuses, 32 (51.6%) with RAI and 30 (48.4%) with LAI, were included in the study. Extracardiac anomaly was detected in 25% of fetuses with RAI and 44% of fetuses with LAI (p = 0.13). Patients with univentricular repair had a higher childhood mortality than patients with biventricular repair (p = 0.031). The presence of conotruncal anomaly was an independent factor affecting mortality (HR = 5.09, CI 95% 1.09–23.71, p = 0.039).

Conclusion

Hydrops fetalis, univentricular physiology and conotruncal anomalies are associated with poor outcomes in heterotaxy syndrome. The severity of the cardiac malformation is the main determinant of the outcomes. The presence of extracardiac malformations is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Developing opportunities for people with diabetes to engage in Improvement Champion activity: a practical guide for diabetes teams
Authors: Stewart Rose , Allcock Bethan , Crowley Sara , Owen Chris , Cleverly Laura
Published: February 2022

By sharing their unique lived experience of using diabetes services, Experts by Experience can provide health care professionals and services with a valuable opportunity to enhance their practice and significantly improve service delivery. Despite an established evidence base in other areas of health care, and emerging evidence that engaging in Expert by Experience activity can beneficially impact people living with diabetes, this important area of practice is still very much neglected in routine diabetes care and the number of people who are able to access this opportunity is small. This paper, written by a team of people who have either acted as, or supported people to become, Experts by Experience, offers practical guidance to diabetes teams to assist them in supporting individuals to engage in this powerful activity while maintaining psychological health and healthy boundaries. Copyright © 2022 John Wiley & Sons.
Race and sex associations with tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in stable kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Tornatore Kathleen M. , Meaney Calvin J. , Attwood Kristopher , Brazeau Daniel A. , Wilding Gregory E. , Consiglio Joseph D. , Gundroo Aijaz , Chang Shirley S. , Gray Vanessa , Cooper Louise M. , Venuto Rocco C.
Published: February 2022

Study Objective

This study investigated race and sex differences in tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in stable kidney transplant recipients.

Design and Setting

A cross‐sectional, open‐label, single center, 12‐h pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic study was conducted. Tacrolimus pharmacokinetic parameters included area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC0–12), AUC0–4, 12‐h troughs (C12 h), maximum concentrations (Cmax), oral clearance (Cl), with dose‐normalized AUC0–12, troughs, and Cmax with standardized adverse effect scores. Statistical models were used to analyze end points with individual covariate‐adjustment including clinical factors, genotypic variants CYP3A5*3, CYP3A5*6, CYP3A5*7(CYP3A5*3*6*7) metabolic composite, and ATP binding cassette gene subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) polymorphisms.

Patients

65 stable, female and male, Black and White kidney transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid ≥6 months post‐transplant were evaluated.

Measurements and Main Results

Black recipients exhibited higher tacrolimus AUC0–12 (Race: p = 0.005), lower AUC* (Race: p < 0.001; Race × Sex: p = 0.068), and higher Cl (Race: p < 0.001; Sex: p = 0.066). Greater cumulative (Sex: p < 0.001; Race × Sex: p = 0.014), neurologic (Sex: p = 0.021; Race × Sex: p = 0.005), and aesthetic (Sex: p = 0.002) adverse effects were found in females, with highest scores in Black women. In 84.8% of Black and 68.8% of White patients, the target AUC0–12 was achieved (p = 0.027). In 31.3% of White and 9.1% of Black recipients, AUC0–12 was <100 ng‧h/ml despite tacrolimus troughs in the target range (p = 0.027). The novel CYP3A5*3*6*7 metabolic composite was the significant covariate accounting for 15%–19% of tacrolimus variability in dose (p = 0.002); AUC0–12 h* (p < 0.001), and Cl (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and adverse effects were different among stable kidney transplant recipient groups based upon race and sex with interpatient variability associated with the CYP3A5*3*6*7 metabolic composite. More cumulative, neurologic, and aesthetic adverse effects were noted among females. Tacrolimus regimens that consider race and sex may reduce adverse effects and enhance allograft outcomes by facilitating more patients to achieve the targeted AUC0–12 h.
A mechanism for the skew of ensemble forecasts
Authors: Penland Cécile , Sardeshmukh Prashant D.
Published: February 2022

It is often not appreciated that forecast ensembles are generally skewed. The skew can arise from the state dependence of the chaotic system dynamics responsible for the ensemble spread. Generation of skew by this mechanism can be demonstrated in even the simplest dynamical system with state‐dependent noise, and even when the initial and the asymptotic (i.e., the “climatological”) forecast distributions are both symmetric. Indeed, forecast distributions of systems with state‐dependent noise in the dynamical tendencies must in general be both skewed and heavy tailed, with implications for forecasting extreme anomaly risks. Ensemble forecast systems that misrepresent such state‐dependent noise have state‐dependent errors in their forecast probability distributions. Because such errors depend on both the initial condition and forecast lead time, they cannot be removed by simple a posteriori bias corrections of the forecast distributions. The ensemble standard deviation is often used as a simple metric of ensemble spread even when the forecast distribution is not Gaussian. In a similar spirit, the ensemble skew S may be used as a simple metric of the difference D between the ensemble‐mean and most likely forecast, as well as the risk ratio R of extreme positive and negative deviations from the ensemble‐mean forecast. This is motivated by the facts that (1) the probability distributions of many geophysical quantities are approximately stochastically generated skewed (SGS) distributions, for which simple analytical relationships exist between these quantities, and (2) Gaussian distributions are a sub‐class of SGS distributions. However, S may serve as a useful metric of R and D even when the distributions are not strictly SGS distributions.
Social insurance and entrepreneurship: The effect of unemployment benefits on new‐business formation
Authors: Xu Wenjian
Published: February 2022

Research Summary

This article studies the impacts of social insurance on the decisions of unemployed individuals to start businesses. Exploiting staggered changes in benefit generosity across U.S. states and over time, I find that higher unemployment insurance (UI) benefits both lower the probability that an unemployed person will become self‐employed, and also extend the length of time that passes before they make such a transition. The negative effects of UI benefits are concentrated on the formation of unincorporated businesses. Unincorporated businesses created by unemployed people in higher‐benefit state‐periods tend to be more successful, as measured by profit and survival rate, suggesting that higher benefits mainly screen out the entry of less productive firms. The negative effects are smaller during nonrecession periods and in states that offer a Self‐Employment Assistance program.

Managerial Summary

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, the share of new entrepreneurs who were initially unemployed reached the highest level (30%) recorded in 25 years. This article studies factors that impact the decision of unemployed people to start businesses. My empirical results show that higher unemployment insurance (UI) benefits deter unemployed people from forming unincorporated businesses, while those that do enter the marketplace perform better than others located in lower‐benefit state‐periods. These results suggest that higher UI benefits mainly screen out lower‐quality businesses due to the requirement that business profits have to be deducted from UI benefits. The disincentive effects are larger in states without Self‐Employment Assistance (SEA) program and during recessions, suggesting the need for widespread policies like the SEA program, especially during economic downturns.
Are family female directors catalysts of innovation in family small and medium enterprises?
Authors: Bauweraerts Jonathan , Rondi Emanuela , Rovelli Paola , De Massis Alfredo , Sciascia Salvatore
Published: February 2022

Research Summary

While family small and medium enterprises (SMEs) increasingly involve women in their boards, the role of female directors as catalysts of innovation is yet to be fully understood. Drawing on upper echelons theory, we examine directors' gender in conjunction with family affiliation to investigate the influence of family female directors on family SMEs' innovation. Moreover, by analyzing the contingent role of socioemotional wealth preferences, we open the black box of noneconomic aspects shaping the cognition and behavior of boards. Our analysis of a unique survey‐based sample of 287 Belgian family SMEs reveals that family female directors do exert a positive influence on R&D intensity. However, according to the mixed gamble logic, this influence is filtered by the positive and negative moderation of their socioemotional wealth preferences.

Managerial Summary

We examine the role that women who are members of the family owning a business play in the decision making of SMEs. Specifically, we investigate the influence that the involvement of family female directors in the board of family SMEs exerts on innovation decisions. To empirically address this line of inquiry, we conducted a survey on 287 Belgian family SMEs. Our analysis shows that the involvement of family female directors in the board fosters family SME's innovation investments. Yet, such an influence is weakened by the intention of the family to retain control over the business but is enhanced by the identification of family members with the firm and by the desire to renew family bonds through dynastic succession. Therefore, our study cautions family SMEs' owners and managers to pay attention to these important dimensions of diversity when appointing directors to their board.
A hierarchical meta‐analysis for settings involving multiple outcomes across multiple cohorts
Authors: Akkaya Hocagil Tugba , Ryan Louise M , Cook Richard J. , Jacobson Sandra W. , Richardson Gale A. , Day Nancy L. , Coles Claire D. , Carmichael Olson Heather , Jacobson Joseph L.
Published: February 2022

Evidence from animal models and epidemiological studies has linked prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) to a broad range of long‐term cognitive and behavioural deficits. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the nature and levels of PAE associated with increased risk of clinically significant cognitive deficits. To derive robust and efficient estimates of the effects of PAE on cognitive function, we have developed a hierarchical meta‐analysis approach to synthesize information regarding the effects of PAE on cognition, integrating data on multiple outcomes from six U.S. longitudinal cohort studies. A key assumption of standard methods of meta‐analysis, effect sizes are independent, is violated when multiple intercorrelated outcomes are synthesized across studies. Our approach involves estimating the dose–response coefficients for each outcome and then pooling these correlated dose–response coefficients to obtain an estimated “global” effect of exposure on cognition. In the first stage, we use individual participant data to derive estimates of the effects of PAE by fitting regression models that adjust for potential confounding variables using propensity scores. The correlation matrix characterizing the dependence between the outcome‐specific dose–response coefficients estimated within each cohort is then run, while accommodating incomplete information on some outcome. We also compare inferences based on the proposed approach to inferences based on a full multivariate analysis.
Study on torsional vibration suppression effect of double‐ended driving turbo‐generator shafting structure
Authors: Qin Jianbo , Li Xiaocong , Xu Junhua , Wei Mingshuo
Published: February 2022

In order to reduce the torsional vibration of the turbo‐generator shaft and improve the stability of the power system, this paper proposed a more stable shafting structure model of Double ended Driving Turbo‐Generator (DDTG) by improving the shafting structure of conventional turbo‐generator set. For DDTG, the mechanical power is supplied symmetrically and synchronously from both ends of the generator. Compared with the conventional Single ended Driving Turbo‐Generator (SDTG), simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed shafting structure model, and indicate that DDTG can effectively reduce the torsional vibration of turbo‐generator shafts under the same electrical disturbance. Besides, in order to further suppress the torsional vibration of turbo‐generator shafts and improve the system performance, based on the nonlinear control method with objective holographic feedback, a Coordinated Control law of Excitation and Steam‐Valve (CCESV) is proposed. Under the action of CCESV, the simulation results show that the restraint effect of the DDTG on shafting torsional vibration is more obvious, and the dynamic and static performance of the system can be effectively improved. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Corilagin induces apoptosis and inhibits HMBG1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in a rat model of gastric carcinogenesis induced by methylnitronitrosoguanidine
Authors: Zhang Li , Jia Bingxin , Velu Periyannan , Wu Hong
Published: February 2022

Gastric cancer, invasive cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, found in developing countries. Chemotherapy to patients with advanced gastric cancer, exhibits greater drug resistance to standard chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, important to establish anti‐cancer drugs that are successful for cancer therapy. Corilagin is a natural ellagitannin (ET) with profound pharmacological properties has been used for the study to assess its anticancer effects against N‐methyl‐N'‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) stimulated gastric cancer rats. Biochemical studies showed Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants increased in corilagin treated animals compared with controls. Histopathologic evaluation revealed corilagin treated rats showed cell morphology similar that control showing its ameliorating effects. In corillagen treament mRNA protein expression levels of HIF‐1α, AKT, PI3K, CT4, CD147 and HMGB1 were drastically lowered transcription factors triggering gastric cancer. In Western blot analysis showed released higher apoptotic marker of caspase‐3, ‐9, Bax while Bcl‐2 levels were significantly reduced confirming that corilagin triggers apoptosis in gastric cancer.
Analyzing the roles of some species of arthropods in the transmission of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
Authors: Hemida Maged Gomaa , Al‐Sabi Mohammad , Alhammadi Mohammed , Almathen Faisal , Alnaeem Abdelmohsen
Published: February 2022

Background

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) is still listed on the WHO Research and Development Blueprint of emerging pathogens. Dromedary camels remain the only known animal reservoir of the virus. The animal‐to‐animal as well as the animal‐to‐human transmission in the MERS‐CoV cycles were reported. However, many aspects of these transmission chains are not well studied. One of these directions is the potential roles of various species of arthropods in the transmission of the virus.

Objectives

The main goal of the current work was to study the roles of several species of arthropods in the transmission of MERS‐CoV.

Methodology

To achieve this goal, we identified some MERS‐CoV naturally infected dromedary camel populations. We conducted a longitudinal study among these animals for more than 2 months. This was done by repeated testing of nasal swabs biweekly from some selected animals in this population for the presence of MERS‐CoV‐RNAs by real‐time PCR. During the duration of this study, we collected several species of arthropods (Culicoides, Stomoxys, Musca domestica and some Culex species) that shared the habitat and were circulating in this farm during this longitudinal study.

Results

Our results showing, despite the detection of the viral RNAs in some animals throughout this study, none of the examined species of arthropods tested positive for the viral RNA.

Conclusions

These results are suggesting that at least the tested species of arthropods may not play roles in the transmission of MERS‐CoV. However, more large‐scale studies are required to explore any potential roles of arthropods in the transmission cycle of MERS‐CoV.
Measuring Memory for Treatment Using Patient Conceptualizations of Clinical Vignettes: A Pilot Psychometric Study in the Context of Cognitive Therapy for Depression
Authors: Zieve Garret G. , Armstrong Courtney C. , Richardson Ian M. , Garcia Sydney B. , Harvey Allison G.
Published: February 2022

Background

Patient memory for psychological treatment contents is a promising transdiagnostic mechanism of change, but there is little consensus concerning its measurement. We conducted a pilot psychometric investigation of the Conceptualization Task, a novel measure of patient memory for treatment.

Methods

Data were from a trial comparing cognitive therapy-as-usual to cognitive therapy plus the Memory Support Intervention (MSI) for adults with depression (N = 171). For the Conceptualization Task, patients read clinical vignettes and provided written responses to assess three facets of conceptualization: identifying contributing factors to psychopathology, making intervention recommendations, and providing a rationale for recommendations. Higher scores were given to responses reflecting accurate memory for the theoretical model and change strategies used in treatment.

Results

The Conceptualization Task showed excellent inter-rater reliability and sensitivity to change during treatment, but only fair test–retest reliability and insufficient internal consistency. Findings supported discriminant validity with measures of education, IQ, and general memory functioning, but not convergent validity with existing measures of patient memory for treatment. Criterion validity analyses showed that some aspects of the Conceptualization Task were associated with therapist use of memory support strategies from the MSI and treatment outcome. However, findings were mixed, effect sizes were small, and some results did not remain statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons.

Conclusions

Further refinement and testing is needed before the Conceptualization Task may be used to assess the patient memory for treatment contents.
Data envelopment analysis efficiency in the public sector using provider and customer opinion: An application to the Spanish health system
Authors: Tapia Jesús A. , Salvador Bonifacio
Published: February 2022

Measuring the relative efficiency of a finite fixed set of service-producing units (hospitals, state services, libraries, banks,...) is an important purpose of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). We illustrate an innovative way to measure this efficiency using stochastic indexes of the quality from these services. The indexes obtained from the opinion-satisfaction of the customers are estimators, from the statistical view point, of the quality of the service received (outputs); while, the quality of the offered service is estimated with opinion-satisfaction indexes of service providers (inputs). The estimation of these indicators is only possible by asking a customer and provider sample, in each service, through surveys. The technical efficiency score, obtained using the classic DEA models and estimated quality indicators, is an estimator of the unknown population efficiency that would be obtained if in each one of the services, interviews from all their customers and all their providers were available. With the object of achieving the best precision in the estimate, we propose results to determine the sample size of customers and providers needed so that with their answers can achieve a fixed accuracy in the estimation of the population efficiency of these service-producing units through the use of a novel one bootstrap confidence interval. Using this bootstrap methodology and quality opinion indexes obtained from two surveys, one of doctors and another of patients, we analyze the efficiency in the health care system of Spain.
Anxiety and Worries of Individuals with Down Syndrome During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study in the UK
Authors: Sideropoulos V. , Kye H. , Dukes D. , Samson A. C. , Palikara O. , Van Herwegen J.
Published: February 2022

The present study explored the effects of the pandemic on individuals with Down Syndrome (DS; n = 67) compared to other groups with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND; n = 48) and their Typically Developing Siblings (TDS; n = 56). In total, 115 caregivers reported on their own anxiety and worries and of their children. Anxiety levels for individuals with DS appeared to be lower compared to other SEND populations and to TDS. In terms of worries, individuals with DS worried more about social-related worries but worried less about family-related aspects compared to the other groups. In sum, individuals with DS might show less anxiety but still worried more about specific aspects related to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.
A Posthumous Contribution by Larry Wos: Excerpts from an Unpublished Column
Authors: Tourret Sophie , Weidenbach Christoph
Published: February 2022

Shortly before Larry Wos passed away, he sent a manuscript for discussion to Sophie Tourret, the editor of the AAR newsletter. We present excerpts from this final manuscript, put it in its historic context and explain its relevance for today’s research in automated reasoning.
Two heads are better than one: current landscape of integrating QSP and machine learning
Authors: Zhang Tongli , Androulakis Ioannis P. , Bonate Peter , Cheng Limei , Helikar Tomáš , Parikh Jaimit , Rackauckas Christopher , Subramanian Kalyanasundaram , Cho Carolyn R. ,   on behalf of the Working Group, Androulakis Ioannis P. , Bonate Peter , Borisov Ivan , Broderick Gordon , Cheng Limei , Damian Valeriu , Dariolli Rafael , Demin Oleg , Ellinwood Nicholas , Fey Dirk , Gulati Abhishek , Helikar Tomas , Jordie Eric , Musante Cynthia , Parikh Jaimit , Rackauckas Christopher , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Sobie Eric , Subramanian Kalyanasundaram , Cho Carolyn R.
Published: February 2022

Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) modeling is applied to address essential questions in drug development, such as the mechanism of action of a therapeutic agent and the progression of disease. Meanwhile, machine learning (ML) approaches also contribute to answering these questions via the analysis of multi-layer ‘omics’ data such as gene expression, proteomics, metabolomics, and high-throughput imaging. Furthermore, ML approaches can also be applied to aspects of QSP modeling. Both approaches are powerful tools and there is considerable interest in integrating QSP modeling and ML. So far, a few successful implementations have been carried out from which we have learned about how each approach can overcome unique limitations of the other. The QSP + ML working group of the International Society of Pharmacometrics QSP Special Interest Group was convened in September, 2019 to identify and begin realizing new opportunities in QSP and ML integration. The working group, which comprises 21 members representing 18 academic and industry organizations, has identified four categories of current research activity which will be described herein together with case studies of applications to drug development decision making. The working group also concluded that the integration of QSP and ML is still in its early stages of moving from evaluating available technical tools to building case studies. This paper reports on this fast-moving field and serves as a foundation for future codification of best practices.