bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryptocurrencies value‐at‐risk and expected shortfall: Do regime‐switching volatility models improve forecasting?
Authors: Maciel Leandro
Published: August 2020

This paper evaluates the presence of regime changes in the log‐returns volatility dynamics of cryptocurrencies using Markov‐Switching GARCH (MS‐GARCH) models. The empirical study compares the prediction performance of MS‐GARCH against traditional single‐regime GARCH methods for one‐, five‐ and ten‐steps‐ahead volatility forecasting of six leading digital coins such as Bitcoin, Dashcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero and Ripple. Using a Bayesian approach, different MS‐GARCH structures are estimated considering specifications up to three regimes, three scedastic functions and six error distributions, resulting in a total of 54 models for each cryptocurrency. Forecasts are compared according to an economic criterion, that is, through the estimation of Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) risk measures. The results support the evidence of regime changes in the volatility process of selected cryptocurrencies and show that MS‐GARCH models do provide more accurate VaR and ES forecasts than their single‐regime counterparts.
Bank efficiency in Vietnam: Do scale expansion strategies and non‐performing loans matter?
Authors: Le Chau , Šević Aleksandar , G. Tzeremes Panayiotis , Ngo Trong
Published: August 2020

In Vietnam, following the process of financial liberalization, the rapid banking expansion has resulted in structural frangibility and bad debt proliferation with negative implication for bank performance. This is the first comprehensive study that evaluates the performance of the Vietnamese banking system at the start of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 up to 2016. We show that the Vietnamese banking system experienced a downward trend in technical efficiency over the liberalization period. However, there persists an efficiency gap among banks with different ownership structure, suggesting that privatization matters for performance improvement. One of the major contributions is the analysis of the impact of non‐performing loans on bank performance. We argue that this category of loans and bank size have nonlinear effects on the estimated efficiency levels. Medium‐sized banks are more efficient than big and small banks. This finding implies that the ongoing restructuring scheme pushing banks' scale expansion via capital build‐up should be carefully taken into consideration.
The impacts of oil price shocks and United States economic uncertainty on global stock markets
Authors: Kwon Dohyoung
Published: August 2020

This article examines interdependence between oil price shocks and United States economic uncertainty and their effects on global stock markets within a structural VAR model over the last 40 years. I find that aggregate demand shocks cause a transitory rise in global real stock returns, whereas precautionary oil demand and United States economic uncertainty shocks decline the returns. Especially, oil demand shocks significantly increase United States economic uncertainty, indicating that their direct impacts on global stock markets are amplified by its endogenous response. Variance decomposition analysis shows that oil price shocks and United States economic uncertainty explain 17% and 6% of long‐run variations in global real stock returns, respectively. These figures have more than tripled when the model is estimated on post 2000 data, suggesting that oil market fundamentals and United States macro uncertainty are an important determinant of global stock market movements.
Analysis of business process management capability and information technology in small and medium enterprises in the garment industry (multiple case studies in East Java, Indonesia)
Authors: ER Mahendrawathi , Nurmadewi Dita
Published: August 2020

This research explores the interrelationships between internal and external factors, business process management (BPM) capability of garment‐based SMEs, and the IT that matches this capability. Multiple case studies are conducted in three SMEs in East Java, Indonesia. The data is collected using in‐depth interviews with the owners and employees of SMEs. A grounded theory approach is used to analyze the findings. Analysis of the three cases found two main factors that affect the BPM in the garment SMEs. The first is the owner's business aptitude and expertise, and the second is the connection between external factors, business context and business strategy. Business strategy is closely related to the way SMEs define their business process, organize their employees, and develop culture. The BPM capabilities needed by SMEs in Indonesia include business process documentation and business process improvement. The business process and business process capability determine the IT needs of garment SMEs. IT is used to support sales, marketing, and payment processes in the three case companies. SMEs are very careful about their IT investment decisions due to resource constraints. SMEs will choose IT systems requiring minimal investment which are less risky to implement, such as social media and the e‐marketplace.
Anti‐MDA‐5 antibody‐positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: A case series
Authors: Saito Tomohiro , Mizobuchi Masahide , Miwa Yusuke , Sugiyama Motonori , Mima Yuuki , Iida Ayana , Kanazawa Nobuhiro , Morikawa Tomoki , Hayashi Junichi , Fukuda Kei , Shikida Yasuto , Suzuki Taihei , Honda Hirokazu
Published: August 2020

We present six cases of antimelanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 antibody (anti‐MDA5‐Ab)‐positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP‐ILD), which is known to have a poor prognosis. The outcomes of these cases are described after treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Clinical and therapeutic data for patients with CADM with RP‐ILD were collected retrospectively from medical records. All six patients received early intensive care including high‐dose corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and a calcineurin inhibitor, but lung disease and hypoxia became more severe. TPE was performed over a median of 9.5 sessions (range 3‐14) per patient, and the median duration from admission to TPE was 23 days. Three patients received combined direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B‐immobilized fiber column (PMX‐DHP) therapy on successive days to manage acute respiratory failure. Four patients survived and two died due to respiratory failure. In the survival cases, ferritin decreased, and ferritin and KL‐6 were lower at diagnosis. The patients who died had a higher alveolar‐arterial oxygen difference and more severe lung lesions at the time of initiation of TPE. These findings indicate that a combination of conventional therapy and TPE may be useful for improvement of the prognosis of CADM with RP‐ILD at the early stage of onset.
Fitting continuum wavefunctions with complex Gaussians: Computation of ionization cross sections
Authors: Ammar Abdallah , Leclerc Arnaud , Ancarani Lorenzo Ugo
Published: August 2020

We implement a full nonlinear optimization method to fit continuum states with complex Gaussians. The application to a set of regular scattering Coulomb functions allows us to validate the numerical feasibility, to explore the range of convergence of the approach, and to demonstrate the relative superiority of complex over real Gaussian expansions. We then consider the photoionization of atomic hydrogen, and ionization by electron impact in the first Born approximation, for which the closed form cross sections serve as a solid benchmark. Using the proposed complex Gaussian representation of the continuum combined with a real Gaussian expansion for the initial bound state, all necessary matrix elements within a partial wave approach become analytical. The successful numerical comparison illustrates that the proposed all‐Gaussian approach works efficiently for ionization processes of one‐center targets.
Simultaneous quantitation of four androgens and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients by LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Cao Zheng , Lu Yifan , Cong Yuting , Liu Ying , Li Youran , Wang Husheng , Zhang Qiaoli , Huang Wenxi , Liu Jingrui , Dong Ying , Tang Guodong , Luo Yiqi R. , Yin Chenghong , Zhai Yanhong
Published: August 2020

Background

Due to the low concentration of androgens in women and the limitation of immunoassays, it remains a challenge to accurately determine the levels of serum androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients for clinical laboratories. In this report, a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A4), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OHP) that are associated with PCOS.

Methods

The serum samples were processed by protein precipitation and solid phase extraction before analysis with the in‐house developed LC‐MS/MS. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a C18 column, using a linear gradient elution with two mobile phases: 0.02% formic acid in water (phase A) and 0.1% formic acid in methanol (phase B). The separated analytes were detected by positive or negative electrospray ionization mode under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).

Results

The assay for all the five analytes was linear, stable, with imprecision less than 9% and recoveries within ±10%. The lower limits of quantification were 0.05, 0.05, 5, 0.025, and 0.025 ng/mL for T, A4, DHEAS, DHT, and 17‐OHP, respectively. In the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses with the PCOS (n = 63) and healthy (n = 161) subjects, the AUC of the four‐androgen combined was greater than that of any single androgen tested in PCOS diagnosis.

Conclusions

The LC‐MS/MS method for the four androgens and 17‐OHP showed good performance for clinical implementation. More importantly, simultaneous quantitation of the four androgens provided better diagnostic power for PCOS.
Paddy‐soaked rice mill wastewater treatment by phycoremediation and feasibility study on use of algal biomass as biofertilizer
Authors: Umamaheswari Jagannathan , Shanthakumar Subramainam
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Sustainable wastewater management mostly implicates treatment cost, viability, and performance of an appropriate system, in addition to reuse and recycling, to meet the present social needs. In the current study, algal technology was coupled with paddy‐soaked rice mill wastewater (PSRMW) treatment to enhance the efficient treatment and economic feasibility of algal‐based eco‐friendly products. Initially, the selected microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, were cultured in raceway ponds using PSRMW as a growth medium. Then, the harvested live algal biomass was carried forward to subsequent study, after primary seedling experiments of Indian okra (Abelmoschus angulosus), which involves soil amendment treatment samples T1 (control soil – no amendment), T2 (soil + live algal biomass), and T3 (soil + chemical fertilizer).

RESULTS

The maximum ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3‐N) and phosphate (PO4‐P) removal of ~70% (average yield coefficient (YN): 5.78 mg biomass mg−1 of N) and ~65% (YP: 14.13) were obtained from the phycoremediation experiments. The biochemical composition such as lipid, protein, and carbohydrate contents of harvested biomass were recorded as ~35%, ~30%, and ~9%, respectively. From the biofertilizer experiments, the maximum absolute growth rate (AGR) of 0.40 day−1 was obtained in T2 plants with better growth characteristics of chlorophyll, fresh and dry shoot, root weights (which were ~30% more than that of T3), and control soil (T1) does not exhibit the plant growth as the soil was low in nutrients.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed the phycoremediation potential of C. pyrenoidosa in PSRMW treatment and the application of produced algal biomass as a soil amendment for the growth of A. angulosus. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
Faculty perspectives of an entrustable professional activity (EPA) framework in predoctoral dental education
Authors: Wolcott Michael D. , Mason Matthew R. , Broome Angela M. , Tittemore Ashley J. , De Rossi Scott S. , Quinonez Rocio B.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The entrustable professional activity (EPA) framework is an assessment approach used to define the educational outcomes of a program by outlining discrete work tasks learners are expected to perform independently upon graduation. This study outlines the development and evaluation of an EPA framework for predoctoral dental education at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry.

Methods

The draft EPA framework was created in collaboration with a group of faculty members and included 15 statements that were mapped to relevant Commission on Dental Accreditation standards. The draft EPA framework was distributed to faculty via an electronic survey, requesting participants to evaluate whether the EPAs were well‐defined; observable; measurable; expected of a general dentist; transferable to other practice settings; and required application of relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes. In addition, participants were asked to identify the percentage of graduates who could perform these tasks independently and whether learners must be able to perform the list of EPAs upon graduation.

Results

Sixty‐eight faculty members completed the survey (72% response rate); participants represented all divisions across the school and had extensive dental practice experiences. Overall, participants agreed the EPAs met the defined criteria and were considered important for graduates to be able to demonstrate. Feedback from faculty voiced support for the EPA framework and identified concerns regarding the implementation due to potential faculty calibration and time constraints.

Conclusion

Evidence from this study supports additional research to explore how the EPA framework can be further developed in predoctoral and postgraduate dental education programs.
Analysis of payments to GI physicians in the United States: Open payments data study
Authors: Gangireddy Venu Gopala Reddy , Amin Rajan , Yu Kevin , Kanneganti Praveen , Talla Swathi , Annapureddy Amarnath
Published: August 2020

Background and Aim

The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the nature of industry payments to gastroenterology and hepatology (GI) physicians.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of open payments (OP) data for the year 2017. Payments to individual physicians were aggregated using a unique physician profile identification number. General payments to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regions were also analyzed. The nature of financial transactions in general payments was reported overall and per physician payment. Research, ownership, and general payments were aggregated and analyzed by drug/device companies.

Results

During the study period, more GI physicians received contributions in the form of general payments compared to ownership or research payments. A small percentage of physicians received contributions greater than $100 000. The most frequent contributions were for food and beverages. Only 10 manufacturers made about 71% ($43 271 938) of general payments.

Conclusions

We found that only a small number of GI physicians received a significant portion of industry payments. A large portion of those payments came from drug or device companies. The impact of these payments on gastroenterologists needs to be examined further.
Uptake and impact of facility‐based HIV self‐testing on PrEP delivery: a pilot study among young women in Kisumu, Kenya
Authors: Wanga Valentine , Omollo Victor , Bukusi Elizabeth A , Odoyo Josephine B , Morton Jennifer F , Kidoguchi Lara , Johnson Rachel , Hughes James P , Celum Connie , Baeten Jared M
Published: August 2020

Introduction

HIV testing is a required part of delivery of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. However, repeat testing can be challenging in busy, under‐staffed clinical settings, which could negatively impact PrEP uptake and continuation. We prospectively evaluated optional facility‐based HIV self‐testing (HIVST) among young women using PrEP in an implementation programme.

Methods

Between February and November 2019, we collected data from young women receiving PrEP at two family planning facilities in Kisumu, Kenya. At each PrEP follow‐up visit, women were given the option to choose between provider‐initiated testing and HIVST. We assessed factors associated with HIVST uptake and compared satisfaction with HIV testing and clinic experience between acceptors and decliners of HIVST.

Results

A total of 172 women were offered HIVST at 202 PrEP follow‐up visits. The median age was 21 years, 27% had multiple partners and 15% reported previously using HIVST. HIVST was accepted at 34.7% (70/202) of visits. Age (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.09 per year, 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.01 to 1.18), never being married (aRR 1.81, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.95) and having more PrEP follow‐up visits (aRR 1.13 per visit, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.23) were associated with HIVST uptake. Compared to HIVST decliners, HIVST acceptors were more likely to be very happy with their overall testing experience (73% vs. 47% of visits, p = 0.003) and were more likely to say they would use HIVST in the future (96% vs. 76%, p < 0.001). Women who accepted HIVST had shorter visits than those choosing standard provider‐initiated HIV testing (median [IQR]: 33 [32, 38] vs. 54 [41.5, 81] minutes, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

In this pilot evaluation in Kenya, about one‐third of women using PrEP opted for HIVST over provider‐initiated testing, and those choosing HIVST spent less time in the clinic and were generally satisfied with their experience. HIVST in PrEP delivery is feasible and has the potential to simplify PrEP delivery and give clients testing autonomy. Additional studies are needed to explore optimal HIV retesting strategies in PrEP delivery, including the use of HIVST in PrEP at a larger scale and in different settings.
Label‐free liquid biopsy based on urine analysis using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy for noninvasive gastric and breast cancer detection
Authors: Lin Xueliang , Wu Qiong , Lin Jinyong , Liu Xiaokun , Jia Xianggang , Peng Min , Lin Duo , Qiu Sufang , Feng Shangyuan
Published: August 2020

Liquid biopsy is currently a nondestructive and convenient cancer screening method, which has attracted the attention of many researchers in the field of biomedicine. Moreover, the diagnostic applications of liquid biopsy based on surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), as a candidate method, potentially offers opportunities for cancer detection. In this work, we mainly evaluated the influence of Au nanoparticles with different sizes on urine SERS signals and analyzed the urine SERS spectra obtained by gastric cancer patients (n = 50), breast cancer patients (n = 43), and healthy volunteers (n = 48) through the principal component analysis combined linear discriminant analysis (PCA‐LDA). The detection sensitivity for identifying gastric cancer versus healthy, breast cancer versus healthy, and gastric cancer versus breast cancer was 90.0%, 96.0%, and 62.0%, respectively. And the corresponding diagnostic specificities for each combination were 93.8%, 93.8%, and 81.4%, respectively. These results show that urine SERS technology based on Au nanoparticles holds promising potential to be a rapid, noninvasive, and label‐free clinical tool for both gastric and breast cancer detection.
Water and heat stresses during grain formation affect the physicochemical properties of waxy maize starch
Authors: Wang Jue , Mao Yuxiang , Huang Tianqi , Lu Weiping , Lu Dalei
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Maize is frequently subjected to simultaneous water (drought or waterlogging) and heat (HS) stresses during grain formation in southern China. This work examined the effect of high temperature combined with drought (HD) or waterlogging (HW) during grain formation on the starch physicochemical properties of two waxy maize hybrids, namely Suyunnuo5 (SYN5) and Yunuo7 (YN7).

RESULTS

Heat stress enlarged the starch granule size, and water stresses aggravated this effect. Heat stress reduced the ratio of small molecular weight fractions for both hybrids, and HD aggravated this reduction only in SYN5. Relative crystallinity in SYN5 was increased by stresses but in YN7 it was unaffected by HD, reduced by HS, and increased by HW. Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry results showed that the 1045/1022 cm−1 ratio in SYN5 was not influenced by HW but was increased by other stresses, and that in YN7 it was increased by all stresses, with the highest value induced by HW. Peak viscosity was decreased, whereas gelatinization temperatures and retrogradation percentage were increased by all of these stresses. These effects were exacerbated by combined heat and water stresses. The maximum decomposition rate was severely increased by HW.

CONCLUSION

Drought or waterlogging at grain formation stage aggravated the detrimental effects of HS on the starch physicochemical properties of waxy maize. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides derived from tuna protein: virtual screening, inhibitory activity, and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Yu Zhipeng , Kan Ruotong , Wu Sijia , Guo Hui , Zhao Wenzhu , Ding Long , Zheng Fuping , Liu Jingbo
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

There has been growing interest in the use of xanthine oxidase (XO) as a therapeutic agent to prevent gout and hyperuricemia. In the present study, XO inhibitory peptides were identified from tuna protein by virtual screening, and molecular docking was used to elicit the interaction mechanism between XO and peptides.

RESULTS

A novel tetrapeptide, EEAK, exhibited high XO inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 173.00 ± 0.06 μM. Molecular docking analysis revealed that EEAK bound with the pivotal residues of XO's active sites (i.e., Glu802, Arg880, Glu1261) through two conventional hydrogen bond interactions, two attractive charge interactions, and one salt bridge. EEAK could also bind with the residues Phe649, Leu648, Lys771, Ser876, Phe914, and Thr1010 of XO.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that conventional hydrogen bond interactions and electrostatic interactions play an important role in XO inhibition. The novel XO inhibitory peptide EEAK from tuna protein could be used as potential candidate for controlling gout and hyperuricemia. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Clinically relevant finite element technique based protocol to evaluate growing rods for early onset scoliosis correction
Authors: Shekouhi Niloufar , Dick David , Baechle Maxwell William , Kaeley Dilpreet Kaur , Goel Vijay K. , Serhan Hassan , Rawlinson Jeremy , Shaw Derek
Published: August 2020

Objective

The emergence of distraction‐based growing rods has provided the means to reduce the progression of spinal deformity in early onset scoliosis (EOS). The current protocols for evaluating spinal implants (ie, ASTM‐F1717 and ISO‐12189) were developed for fusion/dynamic devices. These protocols do not feature long unsupported rod lengths subjected to distraction. Due to the unsuitability of the existing guidelines for the evaluation of growing rods, a new distraction‐based finite element protocol is presented herein for the first time.

Method

A vertebrectomy (VO) model from current protocols was modified to accommodate multi‐spinal segments (ie, MS model) in which springs with appropriate stiffness were simulated in between the plastic blocks. To assess the efficacy of the protocol, two different computational studies were conducted: (a) compression‐bending (MS‐CB) with no distraction, and (b) distraction followed by compression‐bending (MS‐D + CB). In each study, the model with no axial connector (rods‐only) was modified to include a) 80‐mm long tandem (LT) connectors, and b) side‐by‐side (SBS) connectors. Stiffness and yield loads were calculated as per ASTM‐F1717 guidelines and compared with the corresponding VO models with no distraction. In the MS‐D + CB models, distraction was applied at the top block, stretching the spring‐block construct in a simulation of scoliosis surgery prior to locking the construct at the connector‐rods' interface.

Results

MS‐CB models predicted higher stiffness and yield loads, compared to the VO models. The locking mechanism produced pre‐existing stresses on the rod‐connector interface, which caused a shift in the location of high‐stress regions to the distraction site. Distraction led to a decrease in the construct's stiffness and yield load.

Discussion

The proposed protocol enables the simulation of clinical parameters that are not feasible in the F1717 models and predicted stress patterns in the hardware consistent with observed clinical failures.
Benchmarking the Performance of Electropolymerized Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) Electrodes for Neural Interfacing
Authors: Nikiforidis Georgios , Wustoni Shofarul , Routier Cyril , Hama Adel , Koklu Anil , Saleh Abdulelah , Steiner Nadia , Druet Victor , Fiumelli Hubert , Inal Sahika
Published: August 2020

The development of electronics adept at interfacing with the nervous system is an ever‐growing effort, leading to discoveries in fundamental neuroscience applied in clinical setting. Highly capacitive and electrochemically stable electronic materials are paramount for these advances. A systematic study is presented where copolymers based on 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and its hydroxyl‐terminated counterpart (EDOTOH) are electropolymerized in an aqueous solution in the presence of various counter anions and additives. Amongst the conducting materials developed, the copolymer p(EDOT‐ran‐EDOTOH) doped with perchlorate in the presence of ethylene glycol shows high specific capacitance (105 F g−1), and capacitance retention (85%) over 1000 galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles. A microelectrode array‐based on this material is fabricated and primary cortical neurons are cultured therein for several days. The microelectrodes electrically stimulate targeted neuronal networks and record their activity with high signal‐to‐noise ratio. The stability of charge injection capacity of the material is validated via long‐term pulsing experiments. While providing insights on the effect of additives and dopants on the electrochemical performance and operational stability of electropolymerized conducting polymers, this study highlights the importance of high capacitance accompanied with stability to achieve high performance electrodes for biological interfacing.
Multicenter Validation of Metabolic Abnormalities Related to PSP According to the MDS‐PSP Criteria
Authors: Martí‐Andrés Gloria , van Bommel Liza , Meles Sanne K. , Riverol Mario , Valentí Rafael , Kogan Rosalie V. , Renken Remco J. , Gurvits Vita , van Laar Teus , Pagani Marco , Prieto Elena , Luquin M. Rosario , Leenders Klaus L. , Arbizu Javier
Published: August 2020

It remains unclear whether the supportive imaging features described in the diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are suitable for the full clinical spectrum. The aim of the current study was to define and cross‐validate the pattern of glucose metabolism in the brain associated with a diagnosis of different PSP variants. A retrospective multicenter cohort study performed on 73 PSP patients who were referred for a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography PET scan: PSP–Richardson's syndrome, n = 47; PSP–parkinsonian variant, n = 18; and progressive gait freezing, n = 8. In addition, we included 55 healthy controls and 58 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Scans were normalized by global mean activity. We analyzed the regional differences in metabolism between the groups. Moreover, we applied a multivariate analysis to obtain a PSP‐related pattern that was cross‐validated in independent populations at the individual level. Group analysis showed relative hypometabolism in the midbrain, basal ganglia, thalamus, and frontoinsular cortices and hypermetabolism in the cerebellum and sensorimotor cortices in PSP patients compared with healthy controls and PD patients, the latter with more severe involvement in the basal ganglia and occipital cortices. The PSP‐related pattern obtained confirmed the regions described above. At the individual level, the PSP‐related pattern showed optimal diagnostic accuracy to distinguish between PSP and healthy controls (sensitivity, 80.4%; specificity, 96.9%) and between PSP and PD (sensitivity, 80.4%; specificity, 90.7%). Moreover, PSP–Richardson's syndrome and PSP–parkinsonian variant patients showed significantly more PSP‐related pattern expression than PD patients and healthy controls. The glucose metabolism assessed by fluorodeoxyglucose PET is a useful and reproducible supportive diagnostic tool for PSP–Richardson's syndrome and PSP–parkinsonian variant. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A 27‐33 GHz compact medium power amplifier with pole‐tuning technique in 130 nm CMOS technology
Authors: Quan Xing , Luo Jiang
Published: August 2020

This article proposes a 27‐33 GHz compact medium power amplifier with pole‐tuning technique in 130 nm CMOS technology. The resonant frequencies of three stages are arranged appropriately by pole‐tuning technique to achieve wide bandwidth. π‐type network is employed for input matching and L‐type network is used for output matching. The measured results show the proposed amplifier has a peak gain of 12.5 dB at 30.2 GHz and a bandwidth of 6 GHz. The amplifier delivers an input 1‐dB gain compression point (IP1dB) of −4 dBm and a saturated output power (PSAT) of 11.7 dBm at 30 GHz. It consumes 42.72 mW with a core area of 412 × 215 μm2 and the input and output return losses are better than −10 dB.
Minimizing protection switching time in transport networks with shared mesh protection
Authors: Cho Choong‐hee , Ryoo Jeong‐dong
Published: August 2020

Shared mesh protection (SMP) protects service traffic on a working path and requires coordinated use of the shared resources on a protection path when the traffic is routed through the protection path. If there are many intermediate nodes on the protection path, the delay caused by the coordination at each node increases the protection switching time, resulting in losing more traffic. Considering the capacity of a link and the bandwidth required by the protection paths using that link, it appears that coordination is necessary. However, looking closely at the relationships with other links and their protection paths, there exist resources that may require no coordination at all. This observation leads to the fact that protection switching time can decrease when bypassing some intermediate nodes for coordination. This fact introduces an optimization problem, in which the objective is to exclude these resources as much as possible from the set of resources for which coordination is required. A sub‐problem is finding these excludable candidate resources. For both the main problem and the sub‐problem, which are NP‐hard, we propose a greedy algorithm and a branch‐and‐bound algorithm, respectively. The simulations show that the results using the proposed algorithms are near‐optimal. Furthermore, in an actual topology configured with the SMP environment, the protection switching time is improved by excluding resources for which coordination is not required, compared to the existing Optical Transport Network (OTN) SMP mechanism.
Examining the effect of inclusive climate on public health official's creative performance: Mediating role of innovation climate
Authors: Rashid Areeba , Nawaz Shahid , Zaman Umer
Published: August 2020

The value of creative differentiation reduces the risk of operational inefficiencies and service breakdowns. The core purpose of the research is to identify antecedents, which are impacting and enhancing creative performance of public healthcare officials in Pakistan. The exigent urgency to ensure creative performance of healthcare officials is complicated due to the government's neglected attention and reduced spending toward public healthcare. The study offers empirical evidence of 331 public healthcare officials to unveil the positive mediation effect of innovation climate on the relationship between inclusive climate and health official's creative performance in Pakistan. Moreover, theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Investigating the effect of foam properties on the attenuation of coaxial cables with foamed polyethylene dielectric
Authors: Moradian Milad , Azdast Taher , Doniavi Ali
Published: August 2020

Polymeric foams are one of the new candidates for the insulation of signal cables due to their effect on decreasing the signal loss. Accordingly, the effect of using foamed polyethylene in the dielectric section of coaxial cables on their transmission properties is investigated in this study. The samples were coaxial cables with identical properties in all sections except the dielectric part which had different foam structures. The expansion ratio and structural properties including cell size and cell density of the foams were measured. In the next step, the attenuation along the cable was determined both experimentally and theoretically. Due to the results, attenuation showed up to 38.46% reduction by foaming the dielectric compared to the solid dielectric sample. The experimental results showed good accordance with theoretical data. However, in higher frequencies, difference between these two approaches rose. A comparison of experimental and theoretical data also revealed that the expansion ratio of the foam is not the only effective parameter on the attenuation of cable. There are two other major factors: cell density and open‐cell content. High cell density foams show a lower attenuation, while in foams with high open‐cell content, a major increase was observed in the attenuation.
Improved interfacial properties of electrodeposited Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin‐film solar cells by a facile post‐heat treatment process
Authors: Hwang Sun Kyung , Park Jae‐Hyun , Cheon Ki Beom , Seo Se Won , Song Jeong Eun , Park Ik Jae , Ji Su Geun , Park Min‐Ah , Kim Jin Young
Published: August 2020

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) thin‐film solar cells offer various advantages including excellent optical and electrical properties, nontoxic and earth‐abundant raw materials, and a simple fabrication process. However, these devices suffer from a high deficit of the open‐circuit voltage (VOC), mainly caused by interface recombination, which increases with increasing surface roughness. In this study, to achieve a high VOC and enhance the overall device performance, an additional heat treatment process was introduced during the fabrication of co‐electrodeposited rough CZTSSe solar cells, and its effect on the photovoltaic properties was systematically investigated using various characterization techniques including diode analysis, transient photovoltage decay measurement, evaluation of the temperature dependency of the open‐circuit voltage, current–voltage and drive‐level capacitance profile analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. At the optimized post‐heat treatment (PHT) temperature of 200°C, a significant increase in the conversion efficiency (as high as 32%, from 7.11% to 9.40%) was observed owing to the change in the interfacial materials properties (i.e., higher conductivity and reduced interfacial nonradiative recombination), which in turn is a consequence of the diffusion of the Cd ions and the expansion of the Cu‐poor/Zn‐rich phase. The PHT‐applied CZTSSe device exhibited a high conversion efficiency close to the record‐high one reported for electrodeposited CZTSSe thin‐film solar cells. These findings confirm the potential of PHT to overcome the serious VOC deficit of CZTSSe device; moreover, this approach could possibly be extended to other device fabrication processes to achieve higher device performance and adopted to commercialization.
Registration of three soft red winter wheat germplasm lines with exceptional milling and cookie baking performance
Authors: Meier Nicholas A. , Malla Subas , Oakes Joseph C. , Murphy J. Paul , Baik Byung‐Kee , Chao Shiaoman , Griffey Carl A.
Published: August 2020

The release of soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) germplasm lines VA11DH‐P46xTrib‐28 (Reg. no. GP‐1048, PI 691656), VA11DH‐P46xTrib‐99 (Reg. no. GP‐1049, PI 691657), and VA11DH‐P46xTrib‐103 (Reg. no. GP‐1050, PI 691658) is intended to provide breeders with genetic material having exceptional milling and baking quality performance. The quantitative nature of milling and baking performance makes improvement and early generation selection difficult. Marker assisted and genomic selection breeding schemes can be improved by introducing breeding material with superior end‐use quality and use of known predictive DNA markers. These three lines have acceptable agronomic performance with grain yields (4605–5733 kg ha−1) similar to or higher than those of Pioneer ‘26R46’ (4568 kg ha−1). The lines have exceptional milling and baking performance with mean flour yields (733–736 g kg−1), softness equivalence (550–573 g kg−1), flour protein (89–94 g kg−1), solvent retention capacity for lactic acid (1162–1189 g kg−1) and sodium carbonate (672–697 g kg−1), and cookie diameters (19.1–19.5 cm) that are better than or similar to (p < .05) those of Pioneer 26R46 (721 g kg−1, 531 g kg−1, 93 g kg−1, 1221 g kg−1, 703 g kg−1, and 18.9 cm).
Deadly Proteomes: A Practical Guide to Proteotranscriptomics of Animal Venoms
Authors: Walker Andrew A. , Robinson Samuel D. , Hamilton Brett F. , Undheim Eivind A. B. , King Glenn F.
Published: August 2020

Animal venoms are renowned for their toxicity, biochemical complexity, and as a source of compounds with potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Polypeptides underlie much of the pharmacology of animal venoms, and elucidating these arsenals of polypeptide toxins—known as the venom proteome or venome—is an important step in venom research. Proteomics is used for the identification of venom toxins, determination of their primary structure including post‐translational modifications, as well as investigations into the physiology underlying their production and delivery. Advances in proteomics and adjacent technologies has led to a recent upsurge in publications reporting venom proteomes. Improved mass spectrometers, better proteomic workflows, and the integration of next‐generation sequencing of venom‐gland transcriptomes and venomous animal genomes allow quicker and more accurate profiling of venom proteomes with greatly reduced starting material. Technologies such as imaging mass spectrometry are revealing additional insights into the mechanism, location, and kinetics of venom toxin production. However, these numerous new developments may be overwhelming for researchers designing venom proteome studies. Here, the field of venom proteomics is reviewed and some practical solutions for simplifying mass spectrometry workflows to study animal venoms are offered.
Metal–organic framework‐based mixed‐matrixmembranes for gas separation: An overview
Authors: Winarta Joseph , Meshram Amogh , Zhu Feifei , Li Renjie , Jafar Hasan , Parmar Kunj , Liu Jichang , Mu Bin
Published: August 2020

Mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) have been studied widely in the field of gas separation due to their potential to overcome performance barriers found in traditional polymeric membranes. Most polymeric membranes exhibit a trade‐off between permeation and selectivity, which has limited their development in many challenging separation applications. One solution to this issue utilizes the introduction of fillers into the polymer matrix to produce MMMs. Out of the many different fillers, metal–organic frameworks stand out as a promising candidate due to their highly tunable structure, molecular sieving effect, and superior compatibility with the polymer matrix. This review will provide an in‐depth look into the basic mechanisms of MMMs for gas separation and different approaches to model the permeation of gases through the membrane. In addition, challenges facing the field and recent research trends for MMMs will be discussed as well as their many applications for different gas separations. Finally, some insight on the future direction for MMMs will be covered, focusing on many intriguing opportunities and challenges that must be further explored to advance this technology.
Improved Efficiency of Ultraviolet B Light‐Emitting Diodes with Optimized p‐Side
Authors: Kolbe Tim , Knauer Arne , Rass Jens , Cho Hyun Kyong , Mogilatenko Anna , Hagedorn Sylvia , Lobo Ploch Neysha , Einfeldt Sven , Weyers Markus
Published: August 2020

The effects of design and thicknesses of different optically transparent p‐current spreading layers [short‐period superlattice, superlattice (SL), and bulk p‐] as well as the type and thickness of the p‐GaN cap layer on the electrical and optical characteristics of 310 nm ultraviolet light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are investigated. Scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements display self‐organized composition variations in the nonpseudomorphically grown SLs, reducing the effect of increased hole injection efficiency of a SL. In addition, the effect leads to an increased operation voltage. In contrast, the bulk p‐AlGaN layer has a uniform composition and the corresponding LEDs show only a slightly lower output power along with a lower operating voltage. If the thickness of the p‐AlGaN bulk layer in the LED is reduced from 150 nm to 50 nm, the output power increases and the operating voltage decreases. Finally, LEDs with a nonuniform ‐GaN cap layer from a 3D island‐like growth mode feature the highest output power and operating voltage. In contrast, the output power and operating voltage of LEDs with a smooth and closed cap depend on the thickness of ‐GaN. The highest output power and lowest operating voltage are achieved for LEDs with the thinnest ‐GaN cap.
Culture substrate-associated YAP inactivation underlies chondrogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Yamashita Akihiro , Yoshitomi Hiroyuki , Kihara Shunsuke , Toguchida Junya , Tsumaki Noriyuki
Published: August 2020

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a promising cell source for the creation of cartilage to treat articular cartilage damage. The molecular mechanisms that translate culture conditions to the chondrogenic differentiation of hiPSCs remain to be analyzed. To analyze the effects of culture substrates, we chondrogenically differentiated hiPSCs on Matrigel or laminin 511-E8 while holding the composition of the chondrogenic medium constant. Cartilage was formed from hiPSCs on Matrigel, but not on laminin 511-E8. On Matrigel, the hiPSCs were round and yes-associated protein (YAP) was inactive. In contrast, on laminin 511-E8, the hiPSCs were flat and YAP was active. Treating the laminin 511-E8 hiPSCs in a bioreactor caused cell aggregates, in which the cells were round and YAP was inactive. Subsequent culture of the aggregates in chondrogenic medium resulted in cartilage formation. Transient knockdown of YAP in hiPSCs around the start of chondrogenic differentiation successfully formed cartilage on laminin 511-E8, suggesting that the activation of YAP is responsible for the failure of cartilage formation from hiPSCs on laminin 511-E8. Consistently, the addition of YAP inhibitors to laminin 511-E8 hiPSCs caused partial cartilage formation. This study contributes to identifying the molecules that mediate the effects of culture substrates on the chondrogenic differentiation of hiPSCs as well as to developing clinically applicable chondrogenic differentiation methods.
Examining artifacts generated by setting Facebook Messenger as a default SMS application on Android: Implication for personal data privacy
Authors: Ntonja Morris , Ashawa Moses
Published: August 2020

The use of mobile devices and social media applications in organized crime is increasingly increasing. Facebook Messenger is the most popular social media applications used globally. Unprecedented time is spent by many interacting globally with known and unknown individuals using Facebook. During their interaction, personal information is uploaded. Thus, crafting a myriad of privacy trepidation to users. While there are researches performed on the forensic artifacts' extraction from Facebook, no research is conducted on setting Facebook Messenger applications as a default messaging application on Android. Two Android mobile devices were used for data generation and Facebook Messenger account was created. Disc imaging and data partition were examined and accessed to identify changes in the orca database of the application package using DB browser. The data were then generated using unique words which were used for conducting key searches. The research discovered that mqtt_log_event0.txt of the Com.Facebook.orca/Cache directory stores chat when messenger is set as a default messaging app. The research finding shows that chats are recorded under messages tab together with SMS of data/data/com.facebook.orca/databases/smstakeover_db and data/data/com.facebook.orca/databases/threads_db. This indicates that only smstakeover_db stores SMS messaging information when using messenger application. It is observed that once the user deletes a sent SMS message, the phone number and the deleted time stamp remained in the data/data/com.facebook.orca/databases/smstakeover_db database in the address_table are recoverable. The results suggest that anonymization of data is essential if Facebook chats are to be shared for further research into social media content.
Langzeitergebnis nach akutem dialysepflichtigem Nierenversagen auf einer internistischen Intensivstation
Authors: Mizera L. , Dürr M. M. , Rath D. , Artunc F. , Gawaz M. , Riessen R.
Published: August 2020

Hintergrund

Das akute dialysepflichtige Nierenversagen („dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury“ [AKI‑D]) ist eine häufige und schwerwiegende Komplikation bei intensivmedizinisch behandelten Patienten.

Fragestellung

Im Rahmen dieser Studie sollte untersucht werden, welchen Einfluss ein AKI‑D auf die Sterblichkeit von Intensivpatienten besitzt, bei welchem Anteil der überlebenden Patienten auch bei Entlassung noch ein Nierenersatzverfahren benötigt wird und wie sich dies auf die Langzeitmortalität und die längerfristige Notwendigkeit einer Dialysetherapie auswirkt.

Material und Methoden

Auswertung von 118 Patientenfällen mit AKI‑D zwischen November 2016 und Dezember 2017 auf einer internistischen Intensivstation am Universitätsklinikum Tübingen. Die Dialysefreiheit zum Entlasszeitpunkt und die 1‑Jahres-Mortalität wurden als primäre Endpunkte definiert. Den sekundären Endpunkt stellte die Dialysepflichtigkeit nach 18 Monaten dar.

Ergebnisse

Die Krankenausmortalität der Patienten mit AKI‑D betrug 45,8 % (54/118). Von den 64 überlebenden Patienten mit AKI‑D waren 41 (64,1 %) zum Zeitpunkt der Entlassung nicht mehr auf ein Nierenersatzverfahren angewiesen. Im Vergleich dazu war die 1‑Jahres-Mortalität bei den 23 (35,9 %) Patienten, bei denen zur Krankenhausentlassung noch eine Dialysepflicht bestand, signifikant höher (24,4 % vs. 60,9 %, p = 0,004). Eine Dialysepflichtigkeit 18 Monate nach Krankenhausentlassung bestand bei 7 Patienten (10,9 %). Zu diesem Zeitpunkt waren überwiegend noch Patienten von einer Dialyse abhängig, bei denen bereits zum Entlasszeitpunkt ein Nierenersatzverfahren notwendig war (71,4 % vs. 7,1 %, p = 0,001).

Schlussfolgerungen

Schwere AKI-Episoden, bei denen ein Nierenersatzverfahren auf einer Intensivstation notwendig wird, sind auch 1 Jahr bzw. 18 Monate nach Entlassung mit einer erhöhten Mortalität bzw. einer anhaltenden Dialysepflichtigkeit assoziiert.