bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐dimensional predictions of psychotic symptoms via machine learning
Authors: Taylor Jeremy A. , Larsen Kit M. , Garrido Marta I.
Published: September 2020

The diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia comprise a diverse range of heterogeneous symptoms. As a result, individuals each present a distinct set of symptoms despite having the same overall diagnosis. Whilst previous machine learning studies have primarily focused on dichotomous patient‐control classification, we predict the severity of each individual symptom on a continuum. We applied machine learning regression within a multi‐modal fusion framework to fMRI and behavioural data acquired during an auditory oddball task in 80 schizophrenia patients. Brain activity was highly predictive of some, but not all symptoms, namely hallucinations, avolition, anhedonia and attention. Critically, each of these symptoms was associated with specific functional alterations across different brain regions. We also found that modelling symptoms as an ensemble of subscales was more accurate, specific and informative than models which predict compound scores directly. In principle, this approach is transferrable to any psychiatric condition or multi‐dimensional diagnosis.
Central encoding of the strength of intranasal chemosensory trigeminal stimuli in a human experimental pain setting
Authors: Lötsch Jörn , Oertel Bruno G. , Felden Lisa , Nöth Ulrike , Deichmann Ralf , Hummel Thomas , Walter Carmen
Published: September 2020

An important measure in pain research is the intensity of nociceptive stimuli and their cortical representation. However, there is evidence of different cerebral representations of nociceptive stimuli, including the fact that cortical areas recruited during processing of intranasal nociceptive chemical stimuli included those outside the traditional trigeminal areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the major cerebral representations of stimulus intensity associated with intranasal chemical trigeminal stimulation. Trigeminal stimulation was achieved with carbon dioxide presented to the nasal mucosa. Using a single‐blinded, randomized crossover design, 24 subjects received nociceptive stimuli with two different stimulation paradigms, depending on the just noticeable differences in the stimulus strengths applied. Stimulus‐related brain activations were recorded using functional magnetic resonance imaging with event‐related design. Brain activations increased significantly with increasing stimulus intensity, with the largest cluster at the right Rolandic operculum and a global maximum in a smaller cluster at the left lower frontal orbital lobe. Region of interest analyses additionally supported an activation pattern correlated with the stimulus intensity at the piriform cortex as an area of special interest with the trigeminal input. The results support the piriform cortex, in addition to the secondary somatosensory cortex, as a major area of interest for stimulus strength‐related brain activation in pain models using trigeminal stimuli. This makes both areas a primary objective to be observed in human experimental pain settings where trigeminal input is used to study effects of analgesics.
Endangering China's environmental health security goals through negative environmental investor behaviours
Authors: Zhou Lulin , Antwi Maxwell O. , Antwi Henry A. , Boafo‐Arthur Ama , Mustafa Tehzeeb
Published: September 2020

China sees the need to maximise its environmental health security as a major priority in its sustainable development agenda. This is at the heart of China's “ecological civilisation” and “beautiful China” dream. One of the objectives of this dream is to sensitize investors to invest in health and environmental stocks to support environmental health goals. However, both the Shanghai and the Shenzhen stock markets continue to witness contemporaneous movement (herding behaviour) by investors from environmental stock to perceived safer stocks and this is stifling the growth of the environmental health sector due to capital deprivation. Our paper evaluates the significance and potential effect of this herding trend among environmental stocks using a collection of sophisticated econometric models namely, the state‐space model, enhanced state‐space model, the cross‐sectional SD (CSSD) and the cross‐sectional absolute deviation (CSAD). The models are used to evaluate firm‐level data collected from the 80 environmental stocks indexed by the KGRM MSCI China IMI Environment 10/40 Index. Three of the models confirm the presence of endemic negative (herding) investor behaviour among environmental stocks in China and this threatens the sustainability of environmental stock capital to promote China's environmental health goals. We have proposed measures to ameliorate the risks posed by such negative contemporaneous investor behaviours.
The nexus between CEO incentives and analysts' earnings forecasts
Authors: Mamatzakis Emmanuel , Bagntasarian Anna
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we examine the nexus between analysts' forecasts and CEO incentives over different forecasting horizons. We assemble a unique analyst‐level sample for US firms covering the period between 1992 and 2015 from three different databases that provide information for CEO incentives and analysts' characteristics. Panel regression results reveal significant effect of CEO incentives and analysts' characteristics on the forecast accuracy of the latter. The reported results suggest that CEO incentives driven by high compensation, restricted stock holdings and stock ownership can correct analysts' optimism, whereas CEO bonus and sensitivity to changes in firm's value exacerbate analysts' optimism. We further examine how CEO incentives affect the impact of earnings management on analysts' forecasts. Results show that CEO incentives can augment the effect of earnings management on analysts' forecasts with CEO bonus being the most deteriorating factor. Our findings also indicate that experienced analysts are more optimistic in their forecasts, while higher forecast frequency can correct this optimism. We further show whether regulations affect forecasts.
Financial frictions and wage inequality
Authors: Pi Jiancai , Fan Yanwei
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates how financial frictions affect skilled‐unskilled wage inequality. In both the cost constrained model and the quantity constrained model, we find that a decrease of financial frictions in the skilled (resp. unskilled) sector will increase (resp. decrease) wage inequality when there is a properly large elasticity of substitution between capital and skilled labor (resp. unskilled labor). In sum, the role of financial frictions is sector‐specific, which is largely neglected by the existing literature.
Causality and dynamic spillovers among cryptocurrencies and currency markets
Authors: Elsayed Ahmed H. , Gozgor Giray , Lau Chi Keung Marco
Published: September 2020

This paper utilizes two methods to uncover the causality dynamic between the three leading cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, and nine major foreign currency markets. Firstly, we implement the technique of Diebold–Yilmaz to compute the spillover index between cryptocurrencies and currency markets. We find a significant return spillover effect between Bitcoin and Litecoin in the first three quarters of 2017. Still, the return spillover is merely meaningful in the first three quarters of 2015 for Ripple. However, the total volatility spillover index in the system decreases in the fourth quarter of 2017. Secondly, we apply the Bayesian graphical structural vector, autoregressive estimations, and find that the current level of Bitcoin depends only on the previous level of the Chinese Yuan. The current level of Ripple strongly depends on the prior levels of Bitcoin, followed by Litecoin. The current level of Litecoin strongly depends on the previous level of Ripple, followed by the Chinese Yuan. These results indicate that there is a significant causal relationship among cryptocurrencies. However, except for the Chinese Yuan, major traditional currencies do not significantly affect cryptocurrencies.
Long noncoding RNA PWRN1 is lowly expressed in osteosarcoma and modulates cancer proliferation and migration by targeting hsa‐miR‐214‐5p
Authors: Shi Jiyuan , Fu Qiang , Yang Pei , Yi Zhi , Liu Shizhang , Wang Kunzheng
Published: September 2020

Background

We examined the expression pattern, clinical relevance, and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA PWRN1 in human osteosarcoma.

Methods

qPCR was used to measure PWRN1 expressions in cell lines and tumor samples osteosarcoma. The correlations between PWRN1 and cancer patients' clinicopathological properties and survival were examined. PWRN1 was ectopically overexpressed in MG‐63 and 143B cells to assess its function on cancer cell proliferation, cisplatin chemoresistance, and in vivo xenotransplant growth. The ceRNA candidate of PWRN1, miR‐214‐5p was examined in osteosarcoma cells. In addition, miR‐214‐5p and PWRN1 were double‐overexpressed in osteosarcoma cells to investigate the regulatory role of epigenetic axis PWRN1/miR‐214‐5p in osteosarcoma.

Results

We found that PWRN1 was downregulated in both osteosarcoma cells and human tumors. PWRN1 downregulation was correlated with advanced stage, metastasis, and low survival rate in cancer patients. PWRN1 overexpression in osteosarcoma cells significantly inhibited their proliferation, cisplatin chemoresistance, and in vivo growth. In addition, we demonstrated that PWRN1 directly bound miR‐214‐5p and suppressed its expression in osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, we showed that miR‐214‐5p overexpression reversed the anti‐cancer effects of PWRN1 on osteosarcoma cell proliferation and cisplatin chemoresistance.

Conclusion

Our data provide new insights into the epigenetic axis of PWRN1/miR‐214‐5p in regulating osteosarcoma progression and chemoresistance. PWRN1 may also be a biomarker to predicting cancer patients' poor prognosis and novel pharmaceutical targets for personalized medicine.
An In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of the Effect of Relacorilant on the Activity of Cytochrome P450 Drug Metabolizing Enzymes
Authors: Custodio Joseph M. , Donaldson Kirsteen M. , Hunt Hazel J.
Published: September 2020

Relacorilant is a selective modulator of the glucocorticoid receptor in development for the treatment of several serious diseases. The widely used cocktail method was employed to assess relacorilant's effect on various cytochrome P450 (CYP) drug metabolizing enzymes in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 as well as induction of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 were assessed in vitro (relacorilant concentrations up to 10 µM). A clinical study in healthy subjects (n = 27) evaluated the inhibition of CYP3A4, CYP2C8, and CYP2C9 in vivo by administering single doses of probe CYP substrates (midazolam, pioglitazone, and tolbutamide) alone and in combination with relacorilant (350 mg). Pharmacokinetic sampling was conducted, and safety was assessed throughout the study. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated using 90% confidence intervals of the geometric least squares mean ratios of test (probe substrate with relacorilant) vs reference (probe substrate alone) using boundaries of 80% to 125%. In vitro, relacorilant inhibited CYP3A4, CYP2C8, and CYP2C9 but did not meaningfully affect the activity of the other CYP enzymes evaluated. Consistent with the in vitro data, relacorilant was shown to be a strong CYP3A inhibitor in vivo (>8‐fold increase in midazolam area under the concentration versus time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration and area under the concentration versus time curve from time zero extrapolated to infinity). Coadministration of relacorilant with drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance is expected to increase the concentrations of these drugs. Importantly, clinical evaluation of relacorilant showed no inhibition of CYP2C8 or CYP2C9 in vivo. Accordingly, drugs that are substrates of only CYP2C8 and/or CYP2C9 can be coadministered with relacorilant without dose adjustment.
“Because we all have to grow up”: supporting adolescents in Uganda to develop core competencies to transition towards managing their HIV more independently
Authors: Lanyon Chloe , Seeley Janet , Namukwaya Stella , Musiime Victor , Paparini Sara , Nakyambadde Helen , Matama Christine , Turkova Anna , Bernays Sarah
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Sustaining optimal adherence is the major challenge facing adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV), particularly in low‐resource settings, where “second‐line” is often the last accessible treatment option. We explored the knowledge and skills adolescents need in order to maintain improved adherence behaviours, and the specific ways clinicians and caregivers may support young people to do so more independently.

Methods

We conducted individual, in‐depth interviews with 20 ALHIV aged 10 to 18 years in Uganda in 2017 to 2018. All participants had recently commenced second‐line treatment as part of a clinical trial. We used thematic qualitative analysis to examine adherence experiences and challenges while on first‐line therapy, as well as specific supports necessary to optimise treatment‐taking longer‐term.

Results

Adherence difficulties are exacerbated by relatively rapid shifts from caregiver‐led approaches during childhood, to an expectation of autonomous treatment‐taking with onset of adolescence. For many participants this shift compounded their ongoing struggles managing physical side effects and poor treatment literacy. Switching to second‐line typically prompted reversion back to supervised adherence, with positive impacts on self‐reported adherence in the immediate term. However, this measure is unlikely to be sustainable for caregivers due to significant caregiver burden (as on first line), and provided little opportunity for clinicians to guide and develop young people’s capacity to successfully adopt responsibility for their own treatment‐taking.

Conclusions

As ALHIV in sub‐Saharan Africa are attributed increasing responsibility for treatment adherence and HIV management, they must be equipped with the core knowledge and skills required for successful, self‐directed care. Young people need to be relationally supported to develop necessary “adherence competencies” within the supportive framework of a gradual “transition” period. Clinic conversations during this period should be adolescent‐focussed and collaborative, and treatment‐taking strategies situated within the context of their lived environments and support networks, to facilitate sustained adherence. The disclosure of adherence difficulties must be encouraged so that issues can be identified and addressed prior to treatment failure.
State–Business Relations, Financial Access and Firm Performance: A Causal Mediation Analysis
Authors: Karahasan Burhan Can , Bilgel Fırat
Published: September 2020

This study investigates the triangular relationship among state–business relations, financial access and economic performance in the Middle East and North Africa. We hypothesize that financial intermediation is a significant mediating factor in the relationship between state–business relations and firm performance. Employing a causal mediation analysis, results show that inefficient ties with the state are a cause of poor firm performance. Inefficient state–business relations reduce firm performance by 2.3 to 4.4 per cent through access to finance and by 12 to 40 per cent via its direct effect. About 3 to 16 per cent of the total effect is mediated through financial access, while the remaining is the direct effect. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of clinical information on radiology reporting: A systematic review
Authors: Castillo Chelsea , Steffens Tom , Sim Lawrence , Caffery Liam
Published: September 2020

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of clinical information on the accuracy, timeliness, reporting confidence and clinical relevance of the radiology report.

Methods

A systematic review of studies that investigated a link between primary communication of clinical information to the radiologist and the resultant report was conducted. Relevant studies were identified by a comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and EMBASE). Studies were screened using pre‐defined criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi‐Experimental Studies. Synthesis of findings was narrative. Results were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results

There were 21 studies which met the inclusion criteria, of which 20 were included in our review following quality assessment. Sixteen studies investigated the effect of clinical information on reporting accuracy, three studies investigated the effect of clinical information on reporting confidence, three studies explored the impact of clinical information on clinical relevance, and two studies investigated the impact of clinical information on reporting timeliness. Some studies explored multiple outcomes. Studies concluded that clinical information improved interpretation accuracy, clinical relevance and reporting confidence; however, reporting time was not substantially affected by the addition of clinical information.

Conclusion

The findings of this review suggest clinical information has a positive impact on the radiology report. It is in the best interests of radiologists to communicate the importance of clinical information to reporting via the creation of criteria standards to guide the requesting practices of medical imaging referrers. Further work is recommended to establish these criteria standards.
Climatological patterns of subseasonal eddy flux transfer based on the co‐spectral analysis over the Indian region and the derivation of an index of eddy transfer for operational tracking
Authors: Kalshetti Mahesh , Chattopadhyay Rajib , Phani R. , Joseph Susmitha , Sahai A.K.
Published: September 2020

The heat and momentum flux transfer by transient eddies from the extratropical to the tropical (E2T) region causes a significant variation of weather and climate in the tropical region. Such transports also cause a regional departure from zonally symmetric large scale circulation patterns caused by the Hadley type transports. During boreal summer monsoon season, the zonally symmetric Hadley type circulation is typically considered in theoretical as well as modelling studies. The current study introduces a method based on the calculation of the E‐vector components and co‐spectra analysis to diagnose the zonally asymmetric climatological patterns of E2T transport and its subseasonal variability. The spectral analysis identifies the climatological as well as low and high frequency patterns of the transient eddy heat and momentum flux transfer over the Indian region and compares the result with traditional Eliassen‐Palm (EP) Flux based stationary eddy patterns. The study identifies the zonal, seasonal, and vertical asymmetries in the transport of transient eddy heat and momentum flux. The study also clearly categorizes the seasonality and frequency dependence of northeast to the southwest tilt of transient eddies transporting momentum and heat flux. Based on the climatological patterns, the wavelet transform approach is used to study the subseasonal variability of the eddy transport indices. We define a set of indices, which identify the subseasonal temporal variation of the E2T transfer mechanism. These indices could be used to operationally track the E2T eddy flux transfer both in observation and in forecast models.
The effect of high‐pressure processing on reducing the glycaemic index of atemoya puree
Authors: Chou Chia‐Hsuan , Wang Chung‐Yi , Shyu Yuan‐Tay , Wu Sz‐Jie
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the effects of high‐pressure processing (HPP) on the glycaemic index (GI) of atemoya puree (AP) in rats. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed with unprocessed and high‐pressure processed atemoya puree (HPP‐AP), and the GIs for the unprocessed AP and HPP‐AP were calculated from changes in blood glucose concentrations within 2 h after meals. The physicochemical properties of AP were analysed to understand the mechanism affecting its GI.

RESULTS

The results showed that HPP (600 MPa for 15 min) could delay increase in postprandial blood glucose levels, decrease the peak value of postprandial blood glucose by 76.1%, and significantly decrease the GI of AP to 49.8 in the experimental group compared to 65.4 in the control group. HPP did not exert a significant effect on the glucose and pectin contents of AP, but it increased the viscosity of the puree and its dietary fibre content and delayed the time of peak glucose response. In the analysis of enzymes of the puree, we found that HPP significantly decreased the activities of sucrose invertase, pectin methylesterase and polygalacturonase, thereby decreasing the rate of glucose generation in the puree and stabilizing the pectin structure, which decreased the absorption of glucose by the small intestine, thus decreasing the GI value.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that HPP technology could effectively delay increase in postprandial blood glucose levels and decrease the GI value of AP, thus having a potential application in developing atemoya puree products with low GI. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Yuanfen and traveling neo‐tribes: Social interactions and group relations among Chinese road travelers
Authors: Wang Xueji , Xie Jia
Published: September 2020

Within the context of Chinese culture and the theoretical framework of neo‐tribes, this study explores the mobilities of road travelers on the Sichuan‐Tibet Highway in China and explains their social interactions and group relations by using mobile ethnography and multi‐sited ethnography. It finds that social interactions during road travels are “easily meet, easily part.” However, between travelers and within travel groups, kindness and affective interactions are ubiquitous. The Chinese cultural concept “yuanfen,” which means serendipity in relationships, explains the logic of interaction. A road traveling neo‐tribe is also formed. The findings of this study enhance understanding of alternative travelers' social interactions and tourism experiences.
The Flipped Ovary Sign in Ovarian Torsion
Authors: Sugi Mark D. , Patel Anika G. , Yi Johnny , Patel Maitray D.
Published: September 2020

The diagnosis of ovarian torsion is challenging and relies mostly on morphologic findings. Occasionally, women or children with acute pelvic pain who have undergone an initial ultrasound (US) evaluation with results interpreted as negative for ovarian torsion will return with recurrent or increasing pain, prompting an US reevaluation. The flipped ovary sign refers to a demonstrable change in the orientation of the ovary on follow‐up US examinations, recognized by changing positions of ovarian landmarks established by follicles, cysts, or masses. This sign is valuable for identifying ovarian torsion in these patients, even in the absence of classic morphologic or Doppler features of ovarian torsion.
Trends in otolaryngology consult volume at an academic institution from 2014 to 2018
Authors: Sher Erica , Nicholas Brian
Published: September 2020

Objective

To evaluate changes in emergency department and inpatient consult volumes of an otolaryngology service at an academic medical center from 2014 to 2018.

Methods

A retrospective review of all otolaryngology consults in the electronic medical record from March 2014 through December 2018 was completed. The total number of consults was recorded to determine changes in consult volume over time. Additional parameters were analyzed including volume of weekday, night and weekend, adult, pediatric, emergency department, and inpatient consults.

Results

From 1 March 2014 to 31 December 2018, a total of 8806 consults were seen by the otolaryngology service. In the first year, a total of 990 consults were seen. In the final year of the time period, a total of 2416 consults were seen. This represents a 144% increase in consults over the examined time period. Similar increasing trends were seen when consults were analyzed by weekday, night/weekend, pediatric, adult, emergency department, and inpatient consults.

Conclusions

This is one of the first studies examining trends in otolaryngology consult volumes at an academic medical center in the United States. Our data show that the volume of consults has increased by 144% in a 4‐year time period, predominantly due to an increase in emergency department consultations. This study demonstrates the increasing burden of emergency department consultations on an otolaryngology service at an academic medical center and highlights a potential role for increasing and improving provider availability.

Level of evidence

4.
Comprehensive auditory rehabilitation in adults receiving cochlear implants: A pilot study
Authors: Moberly Aaron C. , Vasil Kara , Baxter Jodi , Klamer Brett , Kline David , Ray Christin
Published: September 2020

Objective

In the United States, most adults who receive cochlear implants (CIs) do not undergo a comprehensive auditory rehabilitation (CAR) approach, which may result in suboptimal outcomes. The objectives of this pilot study were to demonstrate that a CAR approach incorporating auditory training (AT) by a speech‐language pathologist (SLP) is feasible in adults receiving CIs and to explore whether this approach results in improved outcomes.

Methods

Twenty‐four postlingually deaf adult CI candidates were serially assigned to one of three groups: (a) a “CAR group” that received standard of care implantation, programming by an audiologist, an additional preoperative counseling session, and eight one‐hour AT sessions; (b) a “passive control” standard‐of‐care group; and (c) an “active control” group that also received the extra preoperative counseling session. Participants were tested preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months after CI using measures of word and sentence recognition in quiet and in babble, as well as measures of quality of life (QOL).

Results

The CAR approach was feasible, but this pilot study was underpowered to determine efficacy. Differential time courses of speech recognition improvement were seen for sentence and word recognition. All QOL measurements showed improvement from pre‐CI to 1 month post‐CI activation. Results revealed issues to consider for a larger‐scale study of CAR revolving around participant selection, study measures, and sample size.

Conclusion

The CAR approach is feasible in new CI users. A larger trial is needed to investigate whether CAR leads to better outcomes or faster improvement in this clinical population.

Level of Evidence

2.
Correlation between heparanase gene polymorphism and susceptibility to endometrial cancer
Authors: Cao Hanyu , Yang Shuo , Yu Xiuzhang , Xi Mingrong
Published: September 2020

Background

Endometrial cancer is one of the three most common malignancies in the female genital tract. Previous studies have demonstrated the association between heparanase (HPSE, OMIM 604,724) single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and cancer risk in several cancers. However, its role in endometrial cancer remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects of HPSE SNPs on the susceptibility and clinicopathological parameters in patients with endometrial cancer.

Methods

HPSE SNPs of rs4693608 (G > A) and rs4364254 (C > T) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) assay in 270 endometrial cancer patients and 320 healthy controls.

Results

The investigation indicated that the HPSE SNP rs4693608 with GG showed a protective effect from EC in both codominant (adjusted OR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.21–0.81, p = .026) and recessive models (adjusted OR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.22–0.82, p = .0076). No significant differences were found in the incidences of EC patients with the rs4364254 polymorphisms compared to controls. Moreover, a significantly increased distribution of A/A (rs4693608) was observed in patients with grade ≥ 2 (p = .03) and in patients with positive cervical invasion (p = .042) while patients with T/C (rs4364254) had lower tumor grade.

Conclusion

Our study suggested that HPSE SNP of rs4693608 correlated strongly with susceptibility to EC, and HPSE SNPs might be a potential biomarker for prognosis of endometrial cancer.
Global classical solutions for chemotaxis‐fluid systems in two dimensions
Authors: Ahn Jaewook , Kang Kyungkeun , Yoon Changwook
Published: September 2020

We study a two‐dimensional chemotaxis‐fluid system in a bounded convex domain with smooth boundary under no‐flux boundary conditions for bacterial density and oxygen concentration and no‐slip boundary condition for fluid velocity. A global existence result of classical solutions is established for large initial data with possibly singular chemotactic sensitivity and super‐linear consumption rate.
Polymere: Mehr als Modellieren
Authors: Koltzenburg Sebastian , Weinelt Frank
Published: September 2020

Größere Rechenkapazitäten und neue Werkzeuge wie maschinelles Lernen ändern Forschung und Entwicklung in Industrie und universitären Forschungseinrichtungen. Ein Blick auf Automation, Lieferkettenoptimierung und Forschen in den Polymerwissenschaften.
Abstrakte Malerei mit Feinstaub
Authors: Neubauer Uta
Published: September 2020

Lange gingen Naturwissenschaftler und Künstler getrennte Wege, jetzt finden sie wieder zueinander. Gemeinsam machen sie auf gesellschaftliche Probleme aufmerksam und laden zum Umdenken ein.
Sensorik: Messen in aggressiver Umgebung
Authors: Schramm Martin
Published: September 2020

Galvanikprozesse oder nasschemische Anlagen, die Leiterplatten ätzen oder Wafer für Solarzellen herstellen, erfordern Säuren und Laugen. Sensoren, die hier Leitfähigkeit und Durchfluss feststellen, müssen besonders widerstandsfähig sein.
Nanokomposite selbstgemacht
Authors: Bartram Björn , Saadat Reza , Wilke Timm
Published: September 2020

Nanoadditive machen Polymerprodukte kratz‐ und bruchfest oder keimhemmend. Solche Komposite lassen sich auch in der Schule herstellen und untersuchen – Materialien dafür gibt es im Bau‐ oder im Supermarkt.
Der vergessene Polymerpionier
Authors: Offermanns Heribert , Retzlaff Frank
Published: September 2020

Noch bevor die theoretische Grundlage der makromolekularen Chemie gelegt wurde, läuteten Praktiker – Erfinder und Industriechemiker – das Kunststoffzeitalter ein. Zu diesen gehörte Hippolyt Köhler, der dafür sorgte, dass die weltweit erste Kunststofffabrik in Deutschland entstand.
Forschungszulagen vom Staat
Authors: Ehrensberger Christian
Published: September 2020

Vom Start‐up bis zum Konzern: Chemie‐ und Pharmaunternehmen können nun direkt auf Gelder zugreifen, die bisher nur Auftragsforscher etwa einer Universität erhielten.
Ein unbekanntes Nervengift
Authors: Blum Marc‐Michael
Published: September 2020

Im Jahr 2018 führte der Anschlag mit einem Nowitschok‐Kampfstoff auf den früheren Agenten Sergej Skripal zu diplomatischen Verwerfungen. Nun haben die Vertragsstaaten des Chemiewaffenübereinkommens zum ersten Mal, seit es in Kraft ist, den Chemikalienanhang erweitert: um die Nervengifte aus der Nowitschok‐Gruppe.
Molekülarchiv: Substanzen aus akademischen Labors gesammelt
Authors: Jung Nicole , Deckers Anke , Bräse Stefan
Published: September 2020

Sammlungen chemischer Substanzen sind eine wertvolle Ressource für neue Wirkstoffe. Das Projekt Molekülarchiv erstellt mit den Beiträgen vieler Wissenschaftler Substanzbibliotheken, damit diese Substanzen für Tests auf biologische Eigenschaften zur Verfügung stehen. Aktuell hilft die Sammlung bei der Suche nach Medikamenten gegen Covid‐19.
Gender Gap überall
Authors: Zbikowski Frauke
Published: September 2020

Wissenschaftsorganisationen, darunter die Iupac, haben die Situation von Naturwissenschaftlerinnen untersucht und Diskriminierung weltweit gefunden.
Ohne Abschluss
Authors: Zbikowski Frauke
Published: September 2020

Die Zahl der Abbrecher in den Chemie‐ Bachelorstudiengängen hat zugenommen.
Design and optimization of a novel fast distributed Kalman consensus filtering algorithm
Authors: Fan Sha , Yan Huaicheng , Huang Lingyun , Yang Chunxi
Published: September 2020

A new type of fast distributed Kalman consensus filtering algorithm based on local information feedback is presented to tackle filtering problems in wireless sensor networks. First, this fast filtering issues are transformed into a stochastic stability problem of the dynamic estimation errors, which can be solved by Lyapunov's second method and matrix theory. Then, two sufficient conditions about the proportional‐like feedback (double gains regulation) method and incremental Proportional‐Integral‐Derivative (PID) feedback method for the asymptotical stability of the systems are presented, respectively. Moreover, to achieve a faster convergence rate, a novel optimal method is given by combing a genetic algorithm and incremental PID. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to give a comparison of the convergence speed between the three filtering algorithms in the same condition, and verify the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed theoretical results in this article.
Pediatric and young adult renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Ray Satyajit , Jones Robert , Pritchard‐Jones Kathy , Dzhuma Kristina , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink Marry , Tytgat Godelieve , van der Beek Justine , Oades Grenville , Murphy Dermot
Published: September 2020

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rare in children but is the most common renal tumor in adults. Pediatric RCC has different clinical characteristics, histopathology, and treatment compared with adult disease. Databases were reviewed from inception to February 2020, identifying 32 publications pertaining to 350 patients under 27 years. Surgery is the cornerstone for cure in localized RCC. Lymph node dissection remains controversial. Conventional radiotherapy has no curative role in RCC; similarly, conventional chemotherapy has not proven to be effective in large cohorts. Pediatric metastatic RCC has a poor outlook. There are no published prospective studies demonstrating which adjuvant therapy could improve outcome. Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is recommended in this group despite limited evidence. This review provides an overview for pediatric RCC, including the evolving role of precision medicine.
Medication‐related problems and adverse drug reactions in Ethiopia: A systematic review
Authors: Kefale Belayneh , Degu Amsalu , Tegegne Gobezie T.
Published: September 2020

Medication‐related problems (MRPs) are an important healthcare problem. This study aimed at reviewing the published literature in Ethiopia to estimate the prevalence of MRPs and to summarize associated factors. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google databases from inception to April 2020. Articles that addressed MRPs were eligible for inclusion. Article screening, data extraction, and study quality analysis were performed independently by two reviewers. Studies targeting specific disease condition were considered as specific, while the remaining were nonspecific. The prevalence of MRPs was then computed in medians and interquartile ranges (IQR), while associated factors were summarized in a table. Of the thirty‐two studies included in this review, the majority of them (n = 24) targeted MRPs, while the remaining studies (n = 8) investigated adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Studies varied in the study design, study population, and definition of MRPs and ADRs used. The overall median prevalence was 70.8% (IQR = 61.0‐80.2) with a range of 16.0% to 88.7%. The median prevalence of MRPs in specific and nonspecific patients was 71.2% (IQR = 60.7‐71.2) and 69.3% (IQR = 60.7‐82.0), respectively. In addition, a median of 36.6% (IQR = 10.0‐85.7) of patients experienced ADRs. Indication‐related and effectiveness‐related MRPs were commonly reported in both specific and nonspecific patients, while noncompliance MRPs were more prevalent among specific patients than nonspecific patients. Increasing age, presence of co‐morbidity, and an increasing number of drugs were the commonly identified contributing factors of MRPs. The review showed that more than two‐thirds of the study participants developed MRPs. Hence, an integrated approach should be designed to improve the optimal use of pharmacotherapy to reduce the burden of MRPs. Further, future research should be undertaken to prepare cost‐effective and efficient prevention mechanisms to reduce or halt the development of MRPs.
Cancer immunotherapy trial design with long‐term survivors
Authors: Ding Xue , Wu Jianrong
Published: September 2020

Cancer immunotherapy often reflects the improvement in both short‐term risk reduction and long‐term survival. In this scenario, a mixture cure model can be used for the trial design. However, the hazard functions based on the mixture cure model between two groups will ultimately crossover. Thus, the conventional assumption of proportional hazards may be violated and study design using standard log‐rank test (LRT) could lose power if the main interest is to detect the improvement of long‐term survival. In this paper, we propose a change sign weighted LRT for the trial design. We derived a sample size formula for the weighted LRT, which can be used for designing cancer immunotherapy trials to detect both short‐term risk reduction and long‐term survival. Simulation studies are conducted to compare the efficiency between the standard LRT and the change sign weighted LRT.
Changes of thermal properties and microstructure of nano‐ZnO/polylactic acid composite films during Zn migration
Authors: Lu Wangwei , Jiang Kai , Chu Zhuangzhuang , Yuan Minglong , Tang Zhenya , Qin Yu‐Yue
Published: September 2020

In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) films with different nano‐ZnO concentration (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 15%wt) were obtained by casting method. Overall migration values and specific migration values were studied in different food simulants (10% [v/v] ethanol and isooctane). The results demonstrated that overall migration of the composite films and specific migration of Zn2+ was higher in 10% (v/v) ethanol solution than in isooctane solution. The release of Zn2+ was affected by the percentage of nano‐ZnO in the composite films and food simulants. The migration of Zn in this study was mainly caused by polymer softening and degradation leading to the dissolution of Zn. Scanning electron microscope analysis indicated that with the migration of Zn2+, the structure of the composite films changed greatly. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis indicated that the thermal stability was decreased and the glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature were reduced.
Man's impact on the transformation of channel patterns (the Skawa River, southern Poland)
Authors: Witkowski Karol
Published: September 2020

The research objective was to answer the question, how and why have the patterns of the channels of the lower course of the Skawa River changed over the past 200 years? This problem is important in the context of contemporary waterway construction plans in Poland. Overall, this study shows the effects of natural restoration in the event of the destruction of bank protections. The Skawa River is a mountain tributary of the Vistula River (southern Poland). In the first step, the channels were classified in the period from the 19th to the 21st centuries. In the second step, it was checked how channelization, water damming, gravel mining, embankment construction, changes in the forest area and channel incision, determined the change of the channel patterns. There were four periods in the functioning of the Skawa riverbed. In the first period (before 1901), the reaches of a natural riverbed were sinuous, braiding, or anabranching. In the second period (1901–1943), the riverbed was completely channelized. In the third period (1943–2003), the riverbed had artificial, braiding, and sinuous reaches. In the fourth period (after 2003), the riverbed had high energy anabranching and sinuous reaches. This study shows that man led to the transformation of the Skawa River channel due to the building of the network of navigable canals and rivers. This study shows how various factors can determine changes in the channel pattern, and that the destruction of bank protections enables natural restoration and forming the braided or anabranching channel pattern.
What Research Has Revealed About Readers’ Struggles With Comprehension in the Digital Age: Moving Beyond the Phonics Versus Whole Language Debate
Authors: Alexander Patricia A.
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this article is to look anew at the concepts of reading, reading development, and reading research as they exist beyond the boundaries of the “science of reading” controversy. The context for this reconceptualization is reading in the digital age and the challenges that today’s readers confront daily. Those challenges include information saturation, the proliferation of misleading and malicious online content, the struggle to use valid evidence to support claims, and the tendency to treat complex issues in an overly simplistic fashion. How these concerns pertain to the ongoing “science of reading” debate is also considered. The author concludes with an overview of three recommendations for addressing the challenges faced by readers in this digital age. If they are to be realized, these recommendations require the consolidated effort of reading researchers, reading educators, school leaders, parents, policymakers, and students themselves.
Building Content Knowledge to Boost Comprehension in the Primary Grades
Authors: Cabell Sonia Q. , Hwang HyeJin
Published: September 2020

Well‐established theoretical models and a body of empirical research elucidate the critical role of content knowledge in comprehending texts. However, the potential of supporting knowledge in service of enhancing linguistic and reading comprehension has been a relatively neglected topic in the science of reading. The authors explicate why knowledge building in English language arts instruction (i.e., content‐rich instruction) can support language and content knowledge, leading to better linguistic and reading comprehension, based on theoretical arguments and empirical studies. In particular, the authors review the evidence on this claim, paying special attention to experimental trials conducted in K–2 settings. The authors also share preliminary findings from a novel intervention study testing one instantiation of a widely used content‐rich English language arts curriculum. Whereas this growing literature base demonstrates evidence of promise, further rigorous trials are needed to examine the efficacy of this integrative approach to teaching reading for understanding.
Large‐scale assessment of intra‐ and inter‐annual breeding success using a remote camera network
Authors: Youngflesh Casey , Jones Fiona M. , Lynch Heather J. , Arthur Joan , Ročkaiová Zuzana , Torsey Holly R. , Hart Tom
Published: September 2020

Changes in the physical environment along the Antarctic Peninsula have been among the most rapid anywhere on the planet. In concert with environmental change, the potential for direct human disturbance resulting from tourism, scientific programs, and commercial fisheries continues to rise in the region. While seabirds, such as the gentoo penguinPygoscelis papua, are commonly used to assess the impact of these disturbances on natural systems, research efforts are often hampered by limited spatial coverage and lack of temporal resolution. Using a large‐scale remote time‐lapse camera network and a modeling framework adapted from capture‐recapture studies, we assess drivers of intra‐ and inter‐annual dynamics in gentoo penguin breeding success across nearly the entire species’ range in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. We quantify the precise timing of egg/chick mortality within each season and examine the role of precipitation events, tourism visitation, and fishing activity for Antarctic krillEuphausia superba(a principal prey resource in the Antarctic) in these processes. We find that nest failure rates are higher in the egg than the chick stage and that neither krill fishing nor tourism visitation had a strong effect on gentoo penguin breeding success. While precipitation events had, on average, little effect on nest mortality, results suggest that extreme weather events can precipitate sharp increases in nest failure. This study highlights the importance of continuous ecosystem monitoring, facilitated here by remote time‐lapse cameras, in understanding ecological responses to environmental stressors, particularly with regard to the timing of events such as extreme weather.
Physical layer rateless codes for the SATCOM on‐the‐move system with blockage
Authors: Dai Jingke , Zhao Peng , Zhang Fenggan , Chen Xiao
Published: September 2020

Physical layer rateless codes are employed to mitigate the link‐blockage in satellite communication on‐the‐move (SOTM) systems. Both nonsystematic raptor (NR) codes and systematic raptor (SR) codes are investigated, where the blockage‐channel is modelled as an additive white Gaussian noise‐contaminated binary erasure channel (AWGN‐BEC). The asymptotic performance of NR codes is obtained by extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) method, and it is proved theoretically that NR codes have capacity‐approaching performance on this channel. A modified EXIT method is proposed to analyze the asymptotic performance of SR codes since the channel outputs not only continuous message but also discrete message. Due to the poor performance of existing SR codes on blockage‐channels, the degree distributions are optimized and the resulting codes show much better performance. Moreover, the raptor codes are compared with hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) schemes in satellite communication systems.
Honesty and economy on a highway: Entanglements of gift, money, and affection in the narratives of Ukrainian sex workers
Authors: Rachok Dafna
Published: September 2020

Sex work provides a particularly good example to consider the relationships of money, authenticity, and intimacy. Many scholars who research intimacy point to the fact that seeing sex work as an exchange of money (or goods) for sex is a simplistic and reductive approach. Building on the existing research that complicates the idea of sex work as an emotionally detached sex‐for‐money transaction, this article looks at the coexistence of references to gift exchange, informal economy, and service economy in the narratives of street sex workers from the cities of Kropyvnyts'kyi and Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine. Focusing on sex workers' attempts at discursive legitimization of sex work and on the narratives of their relationships with clients, I argue that the market rhetoric and the gift economy are not incommensurable for my participants. I show that though sex workers' local “workplace ethic” is permeated with references to competition and productivity, they still don't see sex work as qualitatively different from other forms of intimacy and don't treat their clients as mere customers because of multiple emotional and affectionate attachments that exist between them. I conclude by considering the coexistence of various economic narratives in relation to the economic self.