bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel DNAH11 variant segregating in a sibship with heterotaxy and implications for genetic counseling
Authors: Namavarian Amirpouyan , Eid Anas , Goh Elaine Suk‐Ying , Thakur Varsha
Published: July 2020

Background

Isomerism or heterotaxy syndrome is the loss of normal asymmetry of the internal thoraco‐abdominal organs in the left‐right axis and is associated with cardiovascular malformations. Mutations within DNAH11 can be associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia and heterotaxy syndromes.

Methods

We report a family of healthy, nonconsanguinous parents with subsequent pregnancies demonstrating a novel likely pathogenic variant in DNAH11 segregating in a sibship with varied presentations.

Result

The first affected pregnancy presented with right atrial isomerism. Further DNA testing identified three variants in DNAH11 related to primary ciliary dyskinesia: a maternally inherited heterozygous variant of unknown significance (VUS) c.2772G>A (p.Met924Ile), a maternally inherited novel likely pathogenic variant c.11662C>T (p.Arg3888Cys) as well as a paternally inherited pathogenic c.1648delA variant (p.Arg550GlyfsX16). The second pregnancy inherited the same variants including the pathogenic and likely pathogenic DNAH11 variants and presented with left isomerism and extracardiac abnormalities.

Conclusion

We present a novel likely pathogenic variant (c.11662C>T) in DNAH11 that has manifested in heterotaxy with variability in phenotypes for subsequent pregnancies of common parents. This report demonstrates that sibship illustrates potential variability in phenotypes associated with the same pathogenic variants within a family and highlights the difficulty in genetic counseling due to the variation in clinical presentation.
Improved Fish Counting Method Accurately Quantifies High-Density Fish Movement in Dual-Frequency Identification Sonar Data Files from a Coastal Wetland Environment
Authors: Eggleston Michael R. , Milne Scott W. , Ramsay Maxwell , Kowalski Kurt P.
Published: July 2020

There are many ways to quantify fish movement through shallow-water habitats, but most noninvasive methods (e.g., visual counts) are not effective in turbid coastal wetland waters of the Great Lakes. Dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) technology (Sound Metrics) offers a noninvasive, hydroacoustic-based approach to characterize fish movement in wetlands and other habitats by collecting highly detailed fish movement data regardless of light and water quality conditions. High-resolution data can be analyzed to estimate fish movement in areas where visual observations are difficult. However, enumerating a complex mix of fish sizes by manually counting fish visible in echogram files requires training and is very time consuming. Therefore, four counting techniques were tested to estimate fish abundance from DIDSON echograms that were collected at a hydrologically reconnected coastal wetland in the Great Lakes. Briefly, the four counting methods were (1) manually viewing the entire length of the echogram (full-hour manual count), (2) manually viewing subsections of the echogram before generating fish estimates by per-minute average (subsample manual count), (3) using Echoview automated software to generate automated estimates, and (4) using DIDSON viewer software to generate automated estimates. Over 800 echogram-hours were recorded over a 9-month period at an open-flow water control structure connecting a coastal wetland to a tributary to Lake Erie. Commercial fish tracking software (Echoview) and custom software scripts from Milne Technologies were used to semi-automate fish count estimates for a small subset of data. Semi-automated software counts were compared to manual counts of identical data files to assess differences in accuracy, cost, processing time, and counter effort. Semi-automated fish count estimates using Echoview and custom pre- and postprocessing software scripts did not differ from baseline manual counts, suggesting that the semi-automated count process could be a reliable tool to increase efficiency when processing large DIDSON data sets.
Nurses' stressors and their quality of life: A study on nurses caring for older patients
Authors: Anshasi Huda A. , Fawaz Mirna , Alhalalmeh Sura , Ahmad Wafa Qasem , Tassi Ahmad
Published: July 2020

Aim

To determine the sources of occupational stress and the level of quality of life among nurses caring for older people in Lebanon and examine the underlying factors to predict nurses' quality of life.

Design

A descriptive correlational design.

Methods

Data were collected from 119 nurses using Nursing Stress Scale and WHO‐Quality of Life Brief.

Results

Nurses reported the highest frequency of stressful events related to their workload (mean = 16.42, SD 1.03), followed by “death and dying” (mean = 14.61, SD 1.02). Nurses reported the highest level of quality of life domains was physical health (mean = 15.74, SD = 2.63), while the lowest level was environmental domain (mean = 11.15, SD = 1.86). After controlling for demographic and work‐related variables, occupational stress explained a large variance in the physical (R2 change = .43), psychological (R2 change = .44) and social relationship (R2 change = .35) domains of quality of life.
A rare case of a supernumerary tooth (mesiodens) in an Iron Age (2470 ± 35 bp) skeleton from Koziegłowy (Poland)
Authors: Tomczyk Jacek , Szostek Krzysztof , Lisowska‐Gaczorek Aleksandra , Regulski Piotr
Published: July 2020

Although supernumerary teeth are well documented clinically, they are uncommon in contemporary and historical populations. The most common form of supernumerary tooth is the mesiodens. Despite radiological studies of historical dental materials, cases of mesiodens are rarely found. This paper presents the first case of a mesiodens in archeological material from Poland, belonging to an adult male from Koziegłowy (Poland). The remains were dated to about 2470 ± 35 bp, one of the oldest set of remains in Europe. The presence of a mesiodens was confirmed with computed tomography. The fully impacted mesiodens is located in the alveolar bone palatally and above the central incisors. Its longitudinal axis is almost parallel to the horizontal plane. A mesiodens may be associated with certain congenital disorders. However, our case appears to be idiopathic. The mesiodens had not caused any complications involving the central or lateral incisors, such as root resorption, eruption disorders, cyst, rotation or inclination of the incisors, except for a small midline diastema. The described case contributes to our knowledge of orthodontic anomalies in historical populations.
Weight‐Related Differences in Salience, Default Mode, and Executive Function Network Connectivity in Adolescents
Authors: Borowitz Michelle A. , Yokum Sonja , Duval Elizabeth R. , Gearhardt Ashley N.
Published: July 2020

Objective

The current study examined whether adolescents with weight status ranging from lean to obesity showed weight‐related differences in the default mode network (DMN), the executive function network (EFN), and the salience network (SN).

Methods

One hundred sixty‐four adolescents participated in a resting‐state functional connectivity scan. A general linear model was used to examine differences in scan patterns among adolescents with lean weight, overweight, and obesity.

Results

Adolescents with obesity compared with those with lean weight showed stronger within‐SN connectivity among the medial orbitofrontal cortex, olfactory tubercle, and pallidum; however, they showed lower connectivity between the amygdala and SN regions (nucleus accumbens, thalamus, putamen). Those with obesity also showed lower connectivity between SN (amygdala, caudate) and DMN (parahippocampus, hippocampus, precuneus) regions. Adolescents with obesity compared with those with lean weight showed lower connectivity between SN (medial orbitofrontal cortex) and EFN (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) regions.

Conclusions

Obesity appears to be related to stronger connectivity within and between regions implicated in determining the salience of stimuli, which may have implications for reward processing. Lower connectivity between SN and EFN regions may suggest that executive‐control efforts are going “off‐line” when salience and reward‐processing regions are engaged in adolescents who have obesity.
How does governance factors influence the trade impact of migration and capital flows in the EU?
Authors: Adedoyin Festus F. , Bello Abdulwahab A. , Abubakar Isah F. , Agabo Terhemen J.
Published: July 2020

Migration has been a topical issue in the European Union. The Successful exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the movement of refugees from the Middle East have drawn a lot of attention to the topic. This study investigates the relationships between trade, governance performance, and migration across 23 European countries from 1998 to 2017. Findings from our sys‐GMM regression reveal that migration is negatively related to trade while the relationship between Governance and trade is majorly negative. While real GDP and FDI spur the level of trade openness. It is therefore recommended that; the authorities in the EU review and improve regulatory institutions in the region to enable the growth of the export sector in the region. Also, migrants must be integrated into the EU economy to enable them to contribute high skilled labor services and innovative ideas which will lead to growth in economic activities, especially in the export sector.
Biocultural approaches to sustainability: A systematic review of the scientific literature
Authors: Hanspach Jan , Jamila Haider Lisbeth , Oteros‐Rozas Elisa , Stahl Olafsson Anton , Gulsrud Natalie M. , Raymond Christopher M. , Torralba Mario , Martín‐López Berta , Bieling Claudia , García‐Martín María , Albert Christian , Beery Thomas H. , Fagerholm Nora , Díaz‐Reviriego Isabel , Drews‐Shambroom Annika , Plieninger Tobias
Published: July 2020

Current sustainability challenges demand approaches that acknowledge a plurality of human–nature interactions and worldviews, for which biocultural approaches are considered appropriate and timely.

This systematic review analyses the application of biocultural approaches to sustainability in scientific journal articles published between 1990 and 2018 through a mixed methods approach combining qualitative content analysis and quantitative multivariate methods.

The study identifies seven distinct biocultural lenses, that is, different ways of understanding and applying biocultural approaches, which to different degrees consider the key aspects of sustainability science—inter‐ and transdisciplinarity, social justice and normativity.

The review suggests that biocultural approaches in sustainability science need to move from describing how nature and culture are co‐produced to co‐producing knowledge for sustainability solutions, and in so doing, better account for questions of power, gender and transformations, which has been largely neglected thus far.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Can FDG‐PET replace biopsy for the evaluation of residual tumor in pediatric mature B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma?
Authors: Rahman Hany Abdel , El Semary Samah Fathy , Ahmed Gehad , Kenaai Naglaa El , Omar Walid , Zaky Iman , Nagy Nouran
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of 18F‐labeled fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography (18FDG‐PET) scan for the detection of viable residual mass in pediatric mature B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This study also aims to detect the negative predictive value, positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity of 18FDG‐PET.

Patients and methods

A retrospective, cross‐sectional nonrandomized study was carried out. We included all patients with newly diagnosed mature B‐cell NHL treated at the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt during the period between July 2007 and the end of May 2018. Patients were included in the study if they (a) had a residual tumor mass, (b) underwent an 18FDG‐PET scan, and (c) had a pathologic documentation of this residual tumor. Patients were followed up till June 2019.

Results

Thirty‐six patients were included, for whom 39 biopsies were performed. Mean age was 7.7 years. Median follow‐up period was 52.8, range 6.1 to 117 months.18FDG‐PET scan was positive (Deauville score 3, 4, or 5) in 24 of 39 patients (61.5%), while it was negative (Deauville score 1 or 2) in 15 patients (38.5%). Positive 18FDG‐PET scan and biopsy were performed in 15 of 39 samples (38.4%; true positive, TP), while they were both negative in 13 samples (33.3%; true negative). Nine patients (23%) had positive scan and a negative biopsy (false positive), while 2 patients had negative uptake and a positive biopsy (false negative, FN)). Sensitivity of the 18FDG‐PET scan was 88.2% and specificity was 59.1%. PPV was 62.5% and NPPV was 86.6%.

Conclusion

Changing therapy on the basis of a positive finding alone at the time of evaluation is not recommended. FN results exist, so biopsy confirmation is required to avoid the missing refractory disease. If negative, 18FDG‐PET can replace a biopsy if the latter is inaccessible or carries an unnecessary risk.
Optimizing health literacy to facilitate reproductive health decision‐making in adolescent and young adults with cancer
Authors: Nahata Leena , Anazodo Antoinette , Cherven Brooke , Logan Shanna , Meacham Lillian R. , Meade Cathy D. , Zarnegar‐Lumley Sara , Quinn Gwendolyn P.
Published: July 2020

Despite being considered “standard of care” by many organizations, fertility and reproductive health communications and counseling practices remain inconsistent for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) newly diagnosed with cancer and during survivorship. One factor known to affect how information is provided and received in the medical setting is health literacy. Providers should consider health literacy to optimize reproductive health communication with AYAs as they cope with their diagnosis, understand what it means for their future, process information about treatment options, learn about their potential harmful effects on fertility, make quick decisions about fertility preservation, and navigate a future family planning course. Thus, the objectives of this manuscript are to (a) summarize literature on reproductive health literacy; (b) describe health literacy frameworks; (c) examine ways to assess health literacy; and (d) identify ways to enhance clinician‐patient communication in the AYA oncofertility setting.
Paraprofessionals use of group school‐based instrumental mentoring: Examining process and preliminary outcomes
Authors: Strait Gerald G. , Turner Jenna , Stinson Diana , Harrison Samanthia , Bagheri Rojan , Perez Tanya , Smith Bradley H. , Gonzalez Jorge , Anderson Jacqueline R. , Simpson Jill , D. McQuillin Sam
Published: July 2020

Many schools use paraprofessionals to implement and monitor interventions. Though paraprofessionals are cost‐effective, many questions remain about the training and skills they need to implement a wide array of school‐based interventions. In this study, we compare paraprofessionals' (i.e., undergraduates) implementation of the Group‐Academic Mentoring Program for Education Development (Group‐AMPED) to school psychology graduate students' implementation of Group‐AMPED. Ten paraprofessionals and five school psychology graduate students provided approximately eight sessions of Group‐AMPED to 35 sixth‐grade students. Results indicated no significant differences between middle school students' engagement when groups were led by either school psychology graduate students or paraprofessionals. Similarly, self‐reports of fidelity and supervisor postsession implementation confidence indicated no difference between paraprofessionals and graduate students' implementation of Group‐AMPED. Follow‐up measures indicated that mentors and proteges perceived Group‐AMPED as feasible, acceptable, and understandable. Most importantly, middle school students participating in Group‐AMPED had significantly higher second‐semester grades in comparison to a small control group.
A 10‐Year Analysis of Internet Search Trends of the Oral Health−Seeking Behavior of Filipinos
Authors: Dalanon Junhel , Matsuka Yoshizo
Published: July 2020

This report describes the oral health−seeking behavior (OHSB) of Filipinos through exploratory analysis of their Internet search activities. Using Google Trends, the yearly variation of relative search volume (RSV) regarding OHSB was determined with the use of preselected search terms. The result of the two‐way analysis of variance showed a statistically significant interaction between the effects of years on the OHSB search terms used by Filipinos,F(4.526, 179.2) = 142.3,p < .0001. Dunnett's multiple comparisons test showed significant increases in RSV for dentures (DS) from 2015 to 2019 and dental braces (DB) from 2014 to 2019, but the results for tooth decay (TD) and dentist (DT) showed little changes. These findings indicate the Filipino people's higher overall interest in DB, which increased from 2014 to 2019. These data should be used to realign their OHSB.
Transnational ties: Resource or stressor on Peruvian migrants' well‐being?
Authors: Horn Vincent , Fokkema Tineke
Published: July 2020

This paper explores the role of types and the intensity of transnational ties for migrants' well‐being from a global perspective. Based on a literature review, two competing hypotheses are formulated—transnational resources versus transnational stress—according to which transnational ties have either a positive or a negative effect on migrants' well‐being. Drawing on data from a large‐scale survey of Peruvian migrants worldwide, this paper examines the strength and direction of the relationship between Peruvian migrants' transnational ties and poor well‐being, the latter measured as depression/loneliness as a principal concern. While the multivariate regression results do not support the transnational resources hypothesis, partial support is found for the transnational stress hypothesis: more intense transnational ties are positively associated with poor well‐being. Our study points the importance of considering transnational ties in research on migrants' well‐being and indicates the relevance of developing adequate measurements and longitudinal research designs to explore the causal relationships between migrants' well‐being and transnational ties.
Reduced Graphene Oxide–Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites: Structural Characterization and Photocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous Formaldehyde
Authors: Zhang Jie , Yang Huan , Xu Xiao , Liu Yujiao , Ren Haojun , Chen Pingping , Yang Kang
Published: July 2020

TiO2/rGO nanocomposites are prepared by the solvothermal process using titanium sulfate and graphene oxide (GO) as raw materials utilized for the photodegradation of gaseous formaldehyde. Characterization by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveal that GO is partially reduced to reduced GO (rGO) and TiOC bond is formed between TiO2 and rGO. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that the presence of anatase TiO2. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) exhibits that TiO2 nanoparticles with a diameter of ≈20 nm are uniformly loaded on the wrinkled rGO sheets. UV‐vis spectroscopy reveals that the absorption intensity of TiO2/rGO increases with increasing GO content. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy indicates that the ability of restraining electron–hole recombination initially increases with increasing GO content, followed by a gradual decrease. The TiO2/rGO nanocomposite (mTiO2:mGO = 40:1) demonstrates optimal photocatalytic performance with formaldehyde degradation rate of 96% in 2 h and stable activity, which can be ascribed to the larger reduction of GO (76.19%), higher TiOC bonds (17%), unfolded rGO sheets, and lower electron–hole recombination rate.
Improving the Current‐Spreading Effect for GaN‐Based Quasi‐Vertical PIN Diode by Using an Embedded PN Junction
Authors: Liu Yajin , Jia Xingyu , Zhang Yonghui , Zhang Zi-Hui
Published: July 2020

GaN‐based quasi‐vertical PIN diodes are grown on insulating sapphire substrates, and thus both the n‐electrode and the p‐electrode are made on the same side, which causes lateral current injection scheme. Therefore, one of the challenges for this design lies in the serious current crowding at the mesa edges, which leads to the local hole accumulation, and thus the Auger recombination significantly gives rise to the poor conductivity modulation in the drift region when the devices are forwardly biased. Herein, utilizing an embedded PN–GaN junction is proposed, such that the embedded PN–GaN junction is reversely biased when the PIN diode is in the on‐state condition. The built‐in electric field in the reversely biased PN–GaN junction depletes holes at the mesa edges, and correspondingly the Auger recombination can be decreased. The results also show that the proposed structures do not affect the breakdown voltage for PIN diodes.
Study of Early Stages in the Growth of Boron‐Doped Diamond on Carbon Fibers
Authors: Millán-Barba Josué , Gutiérrez Marina , Lloret Fernando , de Villoria Roberto Guzmán , Alcántara Rodrigo , Haenen Ken , Araujo Daniel
Published: July 2020

With the aim to improve the properties of aeronautical carbon fiber (CF)‐reinforced polymer materials, boron‐doped diamond (BDD) has been grown on commercial CFs by microwave plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The growth of a BDD layer on CF is expected to increase the mechanical, electrical, and thermal conductivities of the composite. The present contribution reports the different growth stages and their associated nanostructures of the BDD/CF resulting system using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The revealed carbon nanostructure shows four steps of growth with the following characteristics: 1) transitional interlayer, 2) graphite nanowall, 3) cauliflower‐like nanocrystalline diamond, and 4) microcrystalline diamond.
Multi‐resolution incremental 4D‐Var for WRF: Implementation and application at convective scale
Authors: Liu Zhiquan , Ban Junmei , Hong Jing‐Shan , Kuo Ying‐Hwa
Published: July 2020

The current four‐dimensional variational (4D‐Var) data assimilation (DA) algorithm, available in the community Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model's DA (WRFDA) system, can run only at the same resolution as that of the WRF model forecast, which makes it computationally prohibitive for operational applications at convective scale. The Multi‐Resolution Incremental 4D‐Var (MRI‐4DVar) has been developed in this study in order to speed up WRF 4D‐Var through a three‐stage procedure in each outer loop. One key aspect of WRF MRI‐4DVar is the introduction of the inverse control variable transform within WRFDA that allows the proper resolution change between different outer loops for the control variables projected in the vertical empirical orthogonal function (EOF) space. MRI‐4DVar's computational efficiency and forecast performance are demonstrated by applying it to an afternoon thunderstorm event over northern Taiwan with a 2 km model resolution setting. Comparing to the full‐resolution 4D‐Var experiment, two MRI‐4DVar configurations with a speed‐up of 4.5 and 7.5 times performed similarly well in terms of Fractions Skill Score (FSS) of 6‐hr accumulated rainfall forecasts and hourly variation of total rainfall amount, indicating MRI‐4DVar's potential for operational applications at convective scale.
TimelyRep: Timing deterministic replay for Android web applications
Authors: Liu Yanqiang , Yan Fangge , Xia Mingyuan , Qi Zhengwei , Liu Xue
Published: July 2020

With the constantly growing and changing requirements of app users, web techniques are used in mobile application development for better cross‐platform compatibility and online update. As the embedded web contents gain complexity, debugging web apps become a critical demand. Web replay tools can record program inputs and reproduce the same execution for debugging and performance tuning. However, traditional replay approaches are largely intended for apps with desktop interaction methods (keyboard, mouse) and require modification to the browser, which limits their applicability in mobile platforms.

In this paper, we develop TimelyRep, which provides deterministic record‐and‐replay as a software library, running on commodity Android. TimelyRep can be used for app development with unmodified Android devices and for production to collect faulty execution from users. Also, we propose an efficient replay timing control mechanism and achieve higher timing precision as facing higher event rate on touchscreen devices. TimelyRep also supports cross‐device replay and can replay logged event traces on different devices, which is useful for developers to reproduce user inputs on their own devices. We evaluate TimelyRep with real‐world web applications. The results show that TimelyRep is useful for recreating program bugs and maintaining low delays for touch‐intensive web games.
Iron(II) Complexes of Chiral Tridentate Nitrogen Donors and their Application in Catalytic Hydrosilylation Reactions
Authors: Groß Cedric , Omlor Andreas , Grimm Tobias , Oelkers Benjamin , Sun Yu , Schünemann Volker , Thiel Werner R.
Published: July 2020

Enantiomerically pure, C2‐symmetric 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl) pyridine ligands were obtained by treatment of diethyl‐2,6‐pyridinedicarbonate with (1R,4R)‐(+)‐camphor in the presence of NaH followed by ring closure with hydrazine. After twofold N‐alkylation at the pyrazole rings, the addition of iron(II) chloride led to the according pentacoordinate dichloridoiron(II) complexes. All intermediates of the ligand synthesis, the ligands bearing NCH3 and NCH2C6H5 groups and the derived iron(II) complexes were structurally characterized by means of X‐ray structure analysis. In‐situ reaction with iron(II) carboxylates resulted in the formation of iron(II) carboxylate complexes, which turned out to be highly active in the hydrosilylation of acetophenone. However, even at room temperature, the enantiomeric excess of the product 1‐phenylethanol is poor. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy gave an insight into the species formed during catalysis.
Resummed inclusive cross-section in Randall-Sundrum model at NNLO+NNLL
Authors: Das Goutam , Kumar M. C. , Samanta Kajal
Published: July 2020

Abstract

The complete next-to-next-to leading order (NNLO) QCD correction has been studied to the di-lepton invariant mass distribution within the Randall-Sundrum (RS) framework. In addition, the soft-virtual (SV) cross-section at next-to-next-to-next-to leading order (N3LO) as well as threshold resummation to next-to-next-to leading logarithms (NNLL) level have been presented. The analytical coefficient for SV production has been obtained up to three loops very recently along with the process-dependent coefficients needed to perform resummation up to NNLL. These coefficients are universal for any universal spin-2 model where spin-2 particle couples to the Standard Model (SM) particles with equal strength. We use these coefficients in predicting N3LO SV results as well as matched NNLO+NNLL results for invariant mass distribution for Drell-Yan (DY) production in RS model. We performed a detailed phenomenological analysis and present our results in terms of mass dependent K-factors for the 13 TeV centre-of-mass energy at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for the search of such RS Kaluza-Klein (KK) resonances. The NNLO cross-section adds about 21% correction to the next-to-leading order (NLO) results. We found that the SV correction at the N3LO order decreases the cross-section by 0.7% near the first KK resonance (M1 = 1500 GeV) whereas the resummed result shows an increment over NNLO by 7% of LO. We performed a detailed analysis including scale variation and parton distribution function (PDF) variations. These new results provide an opportunity to stringently constrain the parameters of the model in particular in the search of heavy spin-2 resonances at the LHC.
Excited states of one-dimensional defect CFTs from the quantum spectral curve
Authors: Grabner David , Gromov Nikolay , Julius Julius
Published: July 2020

Abstract

We study the anomalous dimension of the cusped Maldacena-Wilson line in planar $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Yang-Mills theory with scalar insertions using the Quantum Spectral Curve (QSC) method. In the straight line limit we interpret the excited states of the QSC as insertions of scalar operators coupled to the line. Such insertions were recently intensively studied in the context of the one-dimensional defect CFT. We compute a five-loop perturbative result analytically at weak coupling and the first four orders in the $$ 1/\sqrt{\uplambda} $$
1
/

λ

expansion at strong coupling, confirming all previous analytic results. In addition, we find the non- perturbative spectrum numerically and show that it interpolates smoothly between the weak and strong coupling predictions.
Microstructural Alterations Analogous to Accelerated Aging of the Cerebral Cortex in Carotid Occlusive Disease
Authors: Seiler Alexander , Brandhofe Annemarie , Gracien René-Maxime , Pfeilschifter Waltraud , Hattingen Elke , Deichmann Ralf , Nöth Ulrike , Wagner Marlies
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To investigate cortical thickness and cortical quantitative T2 values as imaging markers of microstructural tissue damage in patients with unilateral high-grade internal carotid artery occlusive disease (ICAOD).

Methods

A total of 22 patients with ≥70% stenosis (mean age 64.8 years) and 20 older healthy control subjects (mean age 70.8 years) underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution quantitative (q)T2 mapping. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) controlling for age and white matter lesion volume were employed to investigate the effect of ICAOD on imaging parameters of cortical microstructural integrity in multivariate analyses.

Results

There was a significant main effect (p < 0.05) of the group (patients/controls) on both cortical thickness and cortical qT2 values with cortical thinning and increased cortical qT2 in patients compared to controls, irrespective of the hemisphere. The presence of upstream carotid stenosis had a significant main effect on cortical qT2 values (p = 0.01) leading to increased qT2 in the poststenotic hemisphere, which was not found for cortical thickness. The GLMM showed that in general cortical thickness was decreased and cortical qT2 values were increased with increasing age (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Unilateral high-grade carotid occlusive disease is associated with widespread cortical thinning and prolongation of cortical qT2, presumably reflecting hypoperfusion-related microstructural cortical damage similar to accelerated aging of the cerebral cortex. Cortical thinning and increase of cortical qT2 seem to reflect different aspects and different pathophysiological states of cortical degeneration. Quantitative T2 mapping might be a sensitive imaging biomarker for early cortical microstructural damage.
Zero Mach Number Limit of the Compressible Primitive Equations: Well-Prepared Initial Data
Authors: Liu Xin , Titi Edriss S.
Published: July 2020

This work concerns the zero Mach number limit of the compressible primitive equations. The primitive equations with the incompressibility condition are identified as the limiting equations. The convergence with well-prepared initial data (i.e., initial data without acoustic oscillations) is rigorously justified, and the convergence rate is shown to be of order$$ \mathcal {O}(\varepsilon ) $$O(ε), as$$ \varepsilon \rightarrow 0^+ $$ε→0+, where$$ \varepsilon $$εrepresents the Mach number. As a byproduct, we construct a class of global solutions to the compressible primitive equations, which are close to the incompressible flows.
Towards Establishing Criteria for the Ethical Analysis of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Farisco Michele , Evers Kathinka , Salles Arleen
Published: July 2020

Ethical reflection on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a priority. In this article, we propose a methodological model for a comprehensive ethical analysis of some uses of AI, notably as a replacement of human actors in specific activities. We emphasize the need for conceptual clarification of relevant key terms (e.g., intelligence) in order to undertake such reflection. Against that background, we distinguish two levels of ethical analysis, one practical and one theoretical. Focusing on the state of AI at present, we suggest that regardless of the presence of intelligence, the lack of morally relevant features calls for caution when considering the role of AI in some specific human activities.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of a 7-panel mutation testing in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology: the SWEETMAC study
Authors: Bardet Stéphane , Goardon Nicolas , Lequesne Justine , Vaur Dominique , Ciappuccini Renaud , Leconte Alexandra , Monpeyssen Hervé , Saguet-Rysanek Virginie , Clarisse Bénédicte , Lasne-Cardon Audrey , Ménégaux Fabrice , Leenhardt Laurence , Buffet Camille
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The aim of this prospective study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01880203) was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of a 7-panel mutation testing in the aspirates of thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology (IC).

Methods

Eligible patients had a thyroid nodule ≥15 mm with IC (Bethesda III–V) for which surgery had been recommended. Detection of BRAF and RAS mutations was performed using pyrosequencing and RET/PTC and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangements using Real-Time quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

Among 131 nodules with IC, 21 (16%) were malignant including 20 differentiated cancers and one thyroid lymphoma. Molecular abnormalities were identified in 15 nodules with IC corresponding to 10 malignant and 5 benign tumours. BRAF mutation was detected in 4 nodules all corresponding to classic PTC, and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangement in 2 HCC. In contrast, RAS mutation was identified in eight nodules, of which four were malignant, and one RET/PTC3 rearrangement in a follicular adenoma. This data resulted in an accuracy of 88%, sensitivity of 48%, specificity of 95%, positive-predictive value of 67%, and negative-predictive value of 91%. After a 56 month’s follow-up, the proportion of excellent response was similar in patients with molecular alterations (67%) and those without (60%).

Conclusions

By increasing the overall risk of cancer from 16 to 67% in mutated nodules and by diminishing it to 9% in wild-type, this study confirms the relevance of the 7-panel mutation testing in the diagnostic of nodules with IC. Genetic testing, however, did not predict outcome in the cancer patient subgroup.
Consensus recommendations of three-dimensional visualization for diagnosis and management of liver diseases
Authors: Fang Chihua , An Jihyun , Bruno Antonio , Cai Xiujun , Fan Jia , Fujimoto Jiro , Golfieri Rita , Hao Xishan , Jiang Hongchi , Jiao Long R. , Kulkarni Anand V. , Lang Hauke , Lesmana Cosmas Rinaldi A. , Li Qiang , Liu Lianxin , Liu Yingbin , Lau Wanyee , Lu Qiping , Man Kwan , Maruyama Hitoshi , Mosconi Cristina , Örmeci Necati , Pavlides Michael , Rezende Guilherme , Sohn Joo Hyun , Treeprasertsuk Sombat , Vilgrain Valérie , Wen Hao , Wen Sai , Quan Xianyao , Ximenes Rafael , Yang Yinmo , Zhang Bixiang , Zhang Weiqi , Zhang Peng , Zhang Shaoxiang , Qi Xiaolong
Published: July 2020

Three-dimensional (3D) visualization involves feature extraction and 3D reconstruction of CT images using a computer processing technology. It is a tool for displaying, describing, and interpreting 3D anatomy and morphological features of organs, thus providing intuitive, stereoscopic, and accurate methods for clinical decision-making. It has played an increasingly significant role in the diagnosis and management of liver diseases. Over the last decade, it has been proven safe and effective to use 3D simulation software for pre-hepatectomy assessment, virtual hepatectomy, and measurement of liver volumes in blood flow areas of the portal vein; meanwhile, the use of 3D models in combination with hydrodynamic analysis has become a novel non-invasive method for diagnosis and detection of portal hypertension. We herein describe the progress of research on 3D visualization, its workflow, current situation, challenges, opportunities, and its capacity to improve clinical decision-making, emphasizing its utility for patients with liver diseases. Current advances in modern imaging technologies have promised a further increase in diagnostic efficacy of liver diseases. For example, complex internal anatomy of the liver and detailed morphological features of liver lesions can be reflected from CT-based 3D models. A meta-analysis reported that the application of 3D visualization technology in the diagnosis and management of primary hepatocellular carcinoma has significant or extremely significant differences over the control group in terms of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, recovery of postoperative liver function, operation time, hospitalization time, and tumor recurrence on short-term follow-up. However, the acquisition of high-quality CT images and the use of these images for 3D visualization processing lack a unified standard, quality control system, and homogeneity, which might hinder the evaluation of application efficacy in different clinical centers, causing enormous inconvenience to clinical practice and scientific research. Therefore, rigorous operating guidelines and quality control systems need to be established for 3D visualization of liver to develop it to become a mature technology. Herein, we provide recommendations for the research on diagnosis and management of 3D visualization in liver diseases to meet this urgent need in this research field.
Strategy to Detect Genetically Modified Bacteria Carrying Tetracycline Resistance Gene in Fermentation Products
Authors: Fraiture Marie-Alice , Deckers Marie , Papazova Nina , Roosens Nancy H. C.
Published: July 2020

Unexpected contaminations of unauthorized genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) harbouring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in food and feed enzymes, additives and flavourings commercialized on the European market have recently alerted the competent authorities regarding the food and feed safety. At the control level, we have therefore proposed a PCR-based strategy as first line screening targeting GMM carrying AMR genes in order to help enforcement laboratories. The potential presence of frequently used AMR genes is first investigated, using real-time PCR. In case of a suspicious matrix, the full-length of the detected AMR genes is then determined, using conventional PCR followed by Sanger sequencing, allowing to support the competent authorities in their evaluation related to potential health risks. In this study, PCR methods targeting an additional key AMR gene, being the tet-L gene (GenBank: D00946.1) conferring a resistance to tetracycline, were developed and successfully assessed in terms of specificity, sensitivity and applicability. In integrating these PCR methods, the proposed PCR-based strategy, initially targeting two key AMR genes conferring a resistance to chloramphenicol (GenBank: NC_002013.1) and kanamycin (GenBank: M19465.1), is consequently strengthened, allowing the coverage of a larger spectrum of potential GMM contaminations in microbial fermentation products.
Optimization of non-ionic surfactants for removing emulsified oil from gas condensate oil–water emulsion in N oilfield
Authors: Lv Peng , Liu Yigang , Zhang Yunbao , Sun Limei , Meng Xianxing , Meng Xianghai , Zou Jian
Published: July 2020

The aim of the present study was to obtain effective and economical chemical agents for treatment of oily water fromNoilfield. Component characterization of crude oil fromNoilfield was carried out with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Optimization of non-ionic surfactants combined with dissolved air flotation (DAF) for oil removal was investigated. The results show that the crude oil consisted of nine major components which counted for 96.4% of the total composition, and the first four compounds made up 50% of the total composition. For the first four compounds, the density difference between water and each individual compound is smaller than the difference between water and normal alkanes with the same number of carbon atoms, while the solubility of these four compounds in water is greater than that of normal alkanes with the same number of carbon atoms. The characteristic of both density and solubility of the crude oil increased the oil water separation difficulty in DAF progress. The oil content in oily water fromNoilfield without any treatment was 5285.95 mg/L. The oil content after treatment of DAF without any chemicals was 895.53 mg/L. Non-ionic surfactantsNIS1,NIS2andNIS3all were effective for removing emulsified oil in oily water in DAF progress. 1200 mg/LNIS1combined with DAF was the optimized formulation by the view of efficiency and economy. The formulation could be successfully used as a commercial product inNoilfield.
Highly purified chondroitin sulfate: a literature review on clinical efficacy and pharmacoeconomic aspects in osteoarthritis treatment
Authors: Reginster Jean-Yves , Veronese Nicola
Published: July 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease and a major cause of negative relevant outcomes, associated with an ever-increasing societal burden. Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate (CS) was repeatedly reported to reduce pain and improve function in patients with OA. This article aims to review the evidence for the role of highly purified (hp) CS (Condrosulf®, IBSA) in the treatment of OA. We collected and reported evidence concerning (1) efficacy of hpCS 800 mg/day in the treatment of OA affecting the knee, hand and hip; (2) efficacy and safety of hpCS 1200 mg/day also in the oral gel formulation; (3) the safety profile of hpCS; (4) the difference of hpCS and pharmaceutical-grade formulations versus food supplements; (5) pharmacoeconomic added value of hpCS. The data support that hpCS is an effective and safe treatment of OA, with its effect already evident at 30 days; in addition, its beneficial action is prolonged, being maintained for at least 3 months after the drug is discontinued. Full safety reports’ analyses confirm that CS is safe to use and has almost no side effects, in particular, it showed better gastrointestinal tolerance if compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Moreover, the therapeutic strategy has proved to be cost-effective: treatment with CS reduced the use of NSAIDs and their side effects.
Are Accounting Standards Memes? The Survival of Accounting Evolution in an Age of Regulation
Authors: Rutherford Brian A
Published: July 2020

This paper employs memetics to argue against the view that standardisation overwhelms the evolution of accounting. I suggest that, in an unregulated setting, accounting procedures constitute classic memes and survive according to their fitness for their environment, which is predominantly a matter of their suitability for investment decision-making. In a standardising regime, the standardising canon embodies a special kind of meme encoding ideas as actions to be imitated to realise those ideas. Evolutionary pressures and the canon develop in tandem, although not necessarily synchronously.

If we accept the central tenet of memetics, which is also the assumption underlying the argument challenged here, that memes emerging before regulation were responsive to evolutionary pressures, we can analyse the responsiveness of the standardising canon by examining its relationship to a counterfactual continuation of the pre-regulated regime. The degree of synchronicity is an empirical, but elusive, question and we should follow Dennett’s recommendation that we settle for the philosophical realisations we can glean from memetics.

I argue that three factors are of importance in addressing the question. Accounting memes function within a dense ecology, limiting radical and destabilising change. There has been a high degree of continuity, permeability and commonality in the intellection driving development: the same thinking has influenced policy design wherever it has taken place. Finally, the principal determinant of successful adaptation did not change on the transition to standardisation and the canon and its vehicles have survived. Consequently, we can conclude that standardisation has not disrupted the development of accounting.
Conditional Adversarial Networks for Multimodal Photo-Realistic Point Cloud Rendering
Authors: Peters Torben , Brenner Claus
Published: July 2020

We investigate whether conditional generative adversarial networks (C-GANs) are suitable for point cloud rendering. For this purpose, we created a dataset containing approximately 150,000 renderings of point cloud–image pairs. The dataset was recorded using our mobile mapping system, with capture dates that spread across 1 year. Our model learns how to predict realistically looking images from just point cloud data. We show that we can use this approach to colourize point clouds without the usage of any camera images. Additionally, we show that by parameterizing the recording date, we are even able to predict realistically looking views for different seasons, from identical input point clouds.
“I Need to Start Listening to What my Body Is Telling Me.”: Does Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Help People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Authors: O’Dowd Bridie , Griffith Gemma M.
Published: July 2020

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was lightly adapted for participants diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The aim of the study was to explore participants’ experiences of the MBCT course, with a particular focus on how they applied MBCT to living with and coping with the symptoms of CFS. Nine participants with CFS who completed the MBCT course were interviewed using semi-structured interview methods. Inductive thematic analysis, a methodology designed to generate themes from the “bottom up,” was used. Four superordinate themes were generated from the data: (1) awareness of unhelpful behavioral patterns associated with CFS, (2) benefits of group solidarity, (3) use of mindfulness tools to facilitate shifts in behavioral patterns, and (4) a sense of change and agency. Participants became aware of three specific transformative changes that contributed to a more skillful way of living with CFS: development of acceptance, improved self-care and self-compassion, and reduction in heightened stress response. MBCT appears to enable people with CFS to actively work with their symptoms, and make transformative changes in their behavioral patterns, resulting in benefits to well-being.
Usefulness of PET‐CT scan in recurrent thyroid cancer
Authors: Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Fama' Fausto , Pignata Salvatore Antonio , Pino Antonella , Pontin Alessandro , Caruso Ettore , Fu Yantao , Li Shijie , Mazzeo Carmelo , Sun Hui , Baldari Sergio
Published: July 2020

The aim of this paper is to discuss the risk of recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and emphasize the importance of risk‐group stratification, early recurrence identification and application of new imaging modalities, what is the PET‐CT. Moreover, follow‐up of patients with thyroid carcinoma should be carried out by specialized teams throughout life. Therefore, interdisciplinary case discussions in tumor conferences may improve the use of multimodal therapy especially in patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas. After baseline follow‐up, if there is a suspicion of thyroid carcinoma, early PET‐CT should be used for early detection and appropriate planning. Fortunately, due to the good localization possibility, the PET‐CT enables a focused surgical procedure with avoidance of an unnecessary tumor search and thereby a reduction of the risk of injury of neighboring structures which is a concern with reoperative neck surgery.