bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boosting immune system against cancer by resveratrol
Authors: Chen Libo , Musa Ahmed Eleojo
Published: June 2021

Modulation of the immune system is a critical part of anticancer therapies including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The aim of immunomodulation in cancer therapy is boosting immune system cells including CD8+ T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, as well as suppression of immunosuppressive responses by macrophages and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Usually, using single or dual modality can induce immune system responses against cancer. However, immunosuppressive responses attenuate antitumor immunity following cancer therapy. Using some agents to boost immune system's function against cancer can increase therapeutic efficiency of anticancer therapy. Resveratrol, as a natural agent, has shown ability to modulate the immune system to potentiate antitumor immunity. Resveratrol has been shown to induce the release of anticancer cytokines such as IFN‐γ and TNF‐α and also inhibits the release of TGF‐β. It also can stimulate the polarization of CD4+ T cells and macrophages toward anticancer cells and reduce infiltration and polarization of immunosuppressive cells. Furthermore, resveratrol can sensitize cancer cells to the released dead signals by anticancer immune cells. This review explains how resveratrol can boost the immune system against cancer via modulation of immune cell responses within tumor.
Input‐response space‐filling designs
Authors: Lu Lu , Anderson‐Cook Christine M.
Published: June 2021

Traditional space‐filling designs are a convenient way to explore throughout an input space of flexible dimension and have design points close to any region where future predictions might be of interest. In some applications, there may be a model connecting the input factors to the response(s), which provides an opportunity to consider the spacing not only in the input space but also in the response space. In this paper, we present an approach for leveraging current understanding of the relationship between inputs and responses to generate designs that allow the experimenter to flexibly balance the spacing in these two regions to find an appropriate design for the experimental goals. Applications where good spacing of the observed response values include calibration problems where the goal is to demonstrate the adequacy of the model across the range of the responses, sensitivity studies where the outputs from a submodel may be used as inputs for subsequent models, and inverse problems where the outputs of a process will be used in the inverse prediction for the unknown inputs. We use the multi‐objective optimization method of Pareto fronts to generate multiple non‐dominated designs with different emphases on the input and response space‐filling criteria from which the experimenter can choose. The methods are illustrated through several examples and a chemical engineering case study.
Machine learning prediction of the optimal carrier concentration and band gap of quaternary thermoelectric materials via element feature descriptors
Authors: Wan Zhongyu , Wang Quan‐De , Liu Dongchang , Liang Jinhu
Published: June 2021

While the thermoelectric (TE) materials have attracted significant attention in recent years, the design and discovery of new TE materials with optimal carrier concentration and band gap remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the development of machine learning (ML) methods to predict TE materials with introducing physically meaningful simple descriptors. Specifically, we use the number of electrons, Pauling electronegativity and relative atomic mass as the basic physical variables and compute 242 descriptors in 64 categories to characterize the molecular information of a TE material. Multiple stepwise regression is employed to reduce the dimensionality in the developed ML models, and 5 and 4 important features for the band gap and carrier concentration is selected, respectively. The important features are used as input of a total number of 19 ML methods to select the optimal ML models for the prediction of band gap and carrier concentration, respectively. It is shown that the least square support vector machines method is the best model for the prediction of the band gap, while the back propagating artificial neutral network model exhibits the best performance in predicting the carrier concentration values. This work provides novel theoretical guidance for the rapid prediction properties of TE materials. The simple descriptors we defined can accurately predict the band gap and carrier concentration of quaternary TE materials.
Fatal cytomegalovirus pneumonia in a critically ill patient with COVID‐19
Authors: Amiya Saori , Hirata Haruhiko , Shiroyama Takayuki , Adachi Yuichi , Niitsu Takayuki , Noda Yoshimi , Enomoto Takatoshi , Hara Reina , Fukushima Kiyoharu , Suga Yasuhiko , Miyake Kotaro , Koide Moe , Uchiyama Akinori , Takeda Yoshito , Kumanogoh Atsushi
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) can cause severe lymphopenia and respiratory failure requiring prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). COVID‐19 patients with severe lymphopenia or respiratory failure are at risk of developing secondary infections. Here, we present the needle autopsy findings of a critically ill patient with COVID‐19 who required reintubation and prolonged MV, and eventually died of secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia. This case highlights the potential risk of long‐term steroid use and the need for routine monitoring for CMV infection in critically ill patients with COVID‐19.
H∞ optimal control of unknown linear systems by adaptive dynamic programming with applications to time‐delay systems
Authors: Jiang Huai‐Yuan , Zhou Bin , Liu Guo‐Ping
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a new value iteration (VI) based method is proposed to solve the H∞ control problem of continuous‐time linear systems. The problem is transformed into solving a nonlinear differential equation, and the local stability of its solution is proved. Then a VI based iteration scheme for getting the approximation of the H∞ optimal controller is proposed. Compared with the existing results, the proposed scheme does not need any special initial matrix or extra condition to solve the problem and provides a relatively small disturbance attenuation bound. The related result is also applied to the quadratic guaranteed cost control of linear time‐delay systems. Simulation examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Design of saturating state feedback control laws for discrete‐time linear parameter varying systems through homogeneous polynomial parameter‐dependent functions
Authors: Figueiredo Larissa S. , Lacerda Márcio J. , Leite Valter J. S.
Published: June 2021

This article investigates the local stabilization problem for the class of discrete‐time linear parameter varying (LPV) systems subject to saturating actuators. The main contributions are new convex conditions for synthesizing rational parameter‐dependent state feedback gain controllers, ensuring the local stability of the closed‐loop system for a set of initial conditions. We propose two design conditions for the local stabilization of the considered class of systems, which may lead to complementary results. We use a homogeneous polynomial parameter‐dependent (HPPD) based structure on the matrices variables. Thanks to a level set defined from an HPPD based Lyapunov function, we get less conservative estimates of the region of attraction. We provide a generalization of previous formulations from the literature to compute the intersection of parameter‐dependent ellipsoidal sets through finite‐dimensional conditions. The parameter‐dependent controller gains may assume rational structures on the time‐varying parameters, yielding better estimates of the region of attraction, as well as a broad set of stabilizable systems. Two examples illustrate the numerical aspects of the proposed conditions and give the reader a perspective of the relations concerning the conservatism and the degree of the HPPD functions.
Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as Critical COVID-19 Adjuvant Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Dilogo Ismail Hadisoebroto , Aditianingsih Dita , Sugiarto Adhrie , Burhan Erlina , Damayanti Triya , Sitompul Pompini Agustina , Mariana Nina , Antarianto Radiana D. , Liem Isabella Kurnia , Kispa Tera , Mujadid Fajar , Novialdi Novialdi , Luviah Evah , Kurniawati Tri , Lubis Andri M.T. , Rahmatika Dina
Published: June 2021

One of the main causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is cytokine storm, although the exact cause is still unknown. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) influence proinflammatory T-helper 2 (Th2) cells to shift to an anti-inflammatory agent. To investigate efficacy of UC-MSC administration as adjuvant therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19, we conducted a double-blind, multicentered, randomized controlled trial at four COVID-19 referral hospitals in Jakarta, Indonesia. This study included 40 randomly allocated critically ill patients with COVID-19; 20 patients received an intravenous infusion of 1 × 106/kg body weight UC-MSCs in 100 ml saline (0.9%) solution (SS) and 20 patients received 100 ml 0.9% SS as the control group. All patients received standard therapy. The primary outcome was measured by survival rate and/or length of ventilator usage. The secondary outcome was measured by clinical and laboratory improvement, with serious adverse events. Our study showed the survival rate in the UC-MSCs group was 2.5 times higher than that in the control group (P = .047), which is 10 patients and 4 patients in the UC-MSCs and control groups, respectively. In patients with comorbidities, UC-MSC administration increased the survival rate by 4.5 times compared with controls. The length of stay in the intensive care unit and ventilator usage were not statistically significant, and no adverse events were reported. The application of infusion UC-MSCs significantly decreased interleukin 6 in the recovered patients (P = .023). Therefore, application of intravenous UC-MSCs as adjuvant treatment for critically ill patients with COVID-19 increases the survival rate by modulating the immune system toward an anti-inflammatory state.
A Smart Patch with On‐Demand Detachable Adhesion for Bioelectronics
Authors: Shi Xiaofang , Wu Peiyi
Published: June 2021

A smart ionic skin patch with on‐demand detachable adhesion has been developed as human–machine interface for physiological signal monitoring. In spite of the multifunctions demonstrated by existing ionic skin, it is still difficult to distinguish different signals simultaneously. Moreover, the secondary damages to the tissues are often overlooked when the adhesive materials are removing from the wound. Herein, a multifunctional biomimetic hydrogel with temperature, mechanical, electrical, and pH response is developed. This hydrogel is designed by in situ polymerizing of hydrophilic anion monomers in a natural cationic polysaccharide to construct multifunctional biomimetic ionic channel. Due to the reversible physical cross‐linked network and thermosensitivity, the mechanical properties, adhesion, and visual effect of the hydrogel can be tuned by changing hydrogen bonding density via phase transition, thus making it an excellent biosafe material for wearable device. The hydrogel is utilized as skin patch intended for monitoring physiological signals stimulated by physical and chemical changes involving pressure, temperature, pH value, and electrocardiograph. Especially, this ionic skin patch can recognize temperature change signals precisely either in broad or extremely narrow temperature range. This smart skin patch can even recognize the pressure and temperature signals in real time and differentiate the signals simultaneously.
Using Published Information to Predict Consumption by Northern Snakehead in Maryland
Authors: Love Joseph W. , Newhard Joshua J.
Published: June 2021

The Northern Snakehead Channa argus, a species originating from Asia, was illegally introduced into ponds of Maryland in 2002. Later discovered in tidal freshwater of the Potomac River, the species has become successfully established in many Maryland rivers. The magnitude of impact on preferred prey of Northern Snakehead in North American ecosystems has not been widely studied, leaving unresolved whether there are deleterious effects owed to introduction. To add insight into potential impacts of Northern Snakeheads, we calibrated a published, temperature‐dependent maximum consumption model using field data and informed its results with diet and prey preference data to compare consumption levels among prey species. The total annual maximum consumption estimated from the model for a population of 600 Northern Snakeheads, which is an abundance approximated from published population sizes in streams of the Potomac basin, amounted to consumption of 2,189 kg of fish for the population per year. We found no evidence of strong prey preferences and partitioned this consumption to relative proportions of some fishes preyed on by Northern Snakehead as 661 kg/year of sunfishes Lepomis spp., 522 kg/year of Yellow Perch Perca flavescens, 332 kg/year of Goldfish Carassius auratus, 250 kg/year of White Perch Morone americana, and 174 kg/year of Banded Killifish Fundulus diaphanus. Some of these coastal fishes comprise important recreational and commercial fisheries. The maximum consumption estimates modeled here are greater than would be observed naturally, and whether predation affects persistence of the prey species in the ecosystem will depend upon the resiliency of the prey population and its current population size, which are unknown. We conclude that, as indicated by earlier risk assessments, the Northern Snakehead is an important predator in Maryland ecosystems because it is opportunistic and is capable of consuming significant biomasses of several recreationally and commercially important fish species.
Nonnative Pike Killifish Do Not Exert Predatory Pressure on Juvenile Common Snook
Authors: Smith Geoffrey H. , Murie Debra J.
Published: June 2021

The Pike Killifish Belonesox belizanus is an established nonnative fish species that was first documented in south Florida, USA, in 1957 and secondarily in Tampa Bay tidal tributaries in 1994. Decreased abundance and altered size structure in small‐bodied fish populations have been linked to Pike Killifish introductions in both of these regions. Increases in the range and abundance of Pike Killifish in Tampa Bay waters and overlap in habitat usage with juvenile Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis have led to concerns about potential predation on early juvenile (≤125 mm TL) Common Snook. We investigated predation of Pike Killifish on early juvenile Common Snook through experimental predation trials and stomach content analysis of Pike Killifish from field sampling. During predation trials, fasted, large adult (≥104 mm TL) Pike Killifish were presented with one of three prey taxa: Common Snook (N = 139), Pike Killifish conspecifics (N = 68), and Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki (N = 68); the fate of the prey was recorded after 48 h. Common Snook with both intact (N = 70) and clipped (N = 69) anal spines were used as prey to investigate whether this structure deterred predation by Pike Killifish. Predation trials indicated that Pike Killifish were capable of consuming early juvenile Common Snook up to 60 mm TL and that the anal spine did not deter predation by Pike Killifish. Stomach content analysis was performed on 422 wild‐caught Pike Killifish from Tampa Bay tidal tributaries where early juvenile Common Snook co‐occurred, but no Common Snook remains were found in their diets. Combined, these studies indicate that despite being able to consume relatively large early juvenile Common Snook, Pike Killifish do not exert predatory pressure on early juvenile Common Snook in the wild and therefore do not appear to be a factor contributing to population‐level effects or delayed recovery in Common Snook populations.
Thiomers of Chitosan and Cellulose: Effective Biosorbents for Detection, Removal and Recovery of Metal Ions from Aqueous Medium
Authors: Seidi Farzad , Reza Saeb Mohammad , Huang Yang , Akbari Ali , Xiao Huining
Published: June 2021

Removal of toxic metal ions using adsorbents is a well‐known strategy for water treatment. While chitosan and cellulose can adsorb weakly some types of metals, incorporating thiols as metal chelating agents can improve their sorption behaviors significantly. Presented in this review are the various chemical modification strategies applicable for thiolation of chitosan and cellulose in the forms of mercaptans, xanthates and dithiocarbamates. Moreover, much attention has been paid to the specific strategies for controlling the thiolation degree and characterization approaches for establishing the structure‐property relationship. Also, the kinetics and isotherm models that elucidate the adsorption processes and mechanisms induced by the thiomers have been explained. These thiomers have found great potentials in the applications associated with metal removal, metal recovery and metal detection.
Electrochemistry of Quinones with Respect to their Role in Biomedical Chemistry
Authors: Krayz Galia Temtsin , Bittner Shmuel , Dhiman Anand , Becker James Y.
Published: June 2021

Quinones are ubiquitous in nature and form one of the largest class of antitumor agents approved for clinical use. They are known to be efficient in inhibiting cancer cells growth. Under physiological conditions they can undergo non‐enzymatic one‐electron reduction to give the moderately toxic species of semiquinone radical‐anion. Thus, electrochemical study of quinones might provide a basic knowledge on semi‐quinone radicals formation in both in vivo and in vitro under different media. Several processes are outlined briefly and discussed in the present article. Previously we investigated the electrochemical and spectral properties of ω‐N‐quinonyl amino acids. Such quinone‐bearing peptides are known to be cytotoxic and of potential clinical significance. We were able to prove that the ω‐amino quinonyl compounds are very effective in producing stable semiquinone radicals. Moreover, a direct relation was found between the first reduction potentials of the quinonyl moiety and their reactivity towards the ω‐amino acids. In order to increase our knowledge of such amino quinonyl compounds and enlarge the arsenal of such cytotoxic compounds, a series of N,N‐diquinonyl amines (1–6) bearing an internal proton (stems from the NH moiety) were synthesized. Their electron‐transfer capabilities were probed by cyclic voltammetry measurements, in dichloromethane. It was found that the acidic NH group linking the two quinonyl moieties undergoes an initial electrochemical reduction step and generates a nitride anion. This step is followed by further reductions to yield quasi‐stable semiquinone radicals and polyanions, Since these acidic diquinones (1–6) serve also as a source of internal proton donors even in non‐polar medium, they might cause protonation of basic radical‐anions and polyanion intermediates during the various electrochemical stages. The processes are demonstrated and discussed by analyzing different mechanistic schemes. The successful generation of relatively stable semiquinone radicals is a prerequisite for the manifestation of site directed antitumor activity by these bis‐quinonyl amino derivatives. Based on the values of their redox potentials some of them could be promising candidates for clinical development.
Fe‐Catalysed Coupling Reactions Between Alkynes and Alcohols
Authors: Khan Siddique , Baire Beeraiah
Published: June 2021

In this review, we discussed about the synthetic developments in the field of Fe‐catalysis for the formation of ‐ bonds through the coupling of alkynes and alcohols, for the period of 13 years (2008‐2020). These strategies fulfil important Green Chemistry principles, as they are highly atom economic (up to 100 %), no toxic by‐products (only water), employs highly abundant and low toxic alcohols (no need for any pre‐functionalization hence step economy) and cheaper Fe‐catalysts. Having these advantages, one can predict that in the coming years a large number of fascinating new iron‐catalyzed reactions will be developed for the organic synthesis. We hope that this review article will be highly useful for the synthetic community to design and develop new Fe‐catalyzed coupling reactions and keeps the content in the right prospect.
A Study on the Configuration of Low‐Voltage Distribution Networks for High Penetration of Photovoltaic Power Sources
Authors: Noriyuki Hiroki , Zoka Yoshifumi , Yorino Naoto , Sasaki Yutaka , Fukuba Shinya , Shoji Tomoaki
Published: June 2021

In recent years, massive introduction of photovoltaic power sources (PV) has compounded the problem of voltage fluctuation in distribution networks. The problem has been recognized from early on, and many research studies have been already reported. However, majority of the previous studies focused on high‐voltage distribution networks. Hence, in this study, the authors investigated appropriate configurations for low‐voltage distribution networks in Japan to address the problem as a planning problem. The on‐site practical measures were examined, and by means of the obtained knowledge, a network configuration problem was formulated for low‐voltage networks. In addition, an effective solution method is proposed, based on the priorities of measures applied to the network equipment. Numerical simulations were conducted for verifying the performance of the proposed method, wherein corroborative results were obtained. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Measurement of Force Applied by Infant Tongue to Three Types of Artificial Nipple: Investigation of Dynamic Actions in Relation to the Shape and Size of the Artificial Nipple
Authors: Nishi Eri , Okuda Ryosuke , Hiraoka Katsuyuki , Rikoh Katsuhisa
Published: June 2021

This study aims to elucidate whether the force applied by an infant's tongue differs or not depending on geometrical differences in the artificial nipples. We developed three sensorized artificial nipple devices using six small force sensors and we have measured the tongue force during sucking in 11 infants. As a result, we have showed that the order of sensor responses and sucking period are similar among different geometries of artificial nipples. However, we have also observed that the maximum force measured differed in different artificial nipples. Furthermore, we have also observed differences in the estimated velocity the tongue movement between individual infants. Overall, this study showed that it is feasible to measure the dynamic properties of artificial nipples toward the definition of clear recommendations for mothers that wish to select the appropriate artificial nipple for their babies on an individual basis. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Students with interrupted formal education: Empowerment, positionality, and equity in alternative schools
Authors: Flores Erica
Published: June 2021

This article reports on the educational experiences of select students with an inconsistent/interrupted formal education (SIFE) currently enrolled at an alternative high school. Interview data were collected during two consecutive academic years during 2018–2020 and analyzed by drawing on positioning theory and the culture of power to address the many inequities these students have faced at the alternative high school as well as at the traditional public high school. Critical race theory provides an important theoretical lens for exploring connections between the experiences of the students and the lack of equitable practices available to the immigrant student population. Thus, the findings were categorized into the themes of positioning, the power of the institution, culture and language, and resilience and empowerment. These findings have implications for educators who work with and advocate on behalf of English language learners, immigrant students, and more specifically SIFE.
Entry points and trajectories: Teachers learning and doing translanguaging pedagogy
Authors: David Samuel S. , Shepard‐Carey Leah , Swearingen Amanda J. , Hemsath Dustin J. , Heo Saem
Published: June 2021

This qualitative study investigated seven teachers participating in a professional development (PD) series on translanguaging pedagogies. The purpose was to better understand how teachers adapted translanguaging strategies into their classroom practice and how they perceived challenges and benefits of these approaches. Analysis of PD videos, interviews, and artifacts revealed teachers enacted a range of strategies from spontaneous to meticulously planned translingual scaffolding. The researchers explore two strategies in detail—multilingual word walls and literature discussion groups—with implications for teacher learning of translanguaging pedagogies. Reported benefits included student engagement and collaboration, and expansion of teachers’ knowledge about students. Reported challenges included integrating translanguaging strategies into established routines, responding to a range of languages and language proficiencies, and negotiating administrative pressure to focus on other priorities. The study builds on these findings to develop notions of entry points and trajectories. Entry point strategies not only create opportunities for students to use their full linguistic repertoires during instruction, but help teachers think more deeply about students’ multilingualism and the relationships between academic English and students’ specific home and community languages. Trajectories describe how translanguaging practice develops from early attempts at enacting specific strategies to robust commitments to translanguaging praxis.
Ochratoxin A induces human kidney tubular epithelial cell apoptosis through regulating lipid raft/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Song Yanyan , Liu Wei , Zhao Yao , Zang Junting , Gao Hang
Published: June 2021

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a fungal toxin that causes serious threat to human health. OTA could lead to the injury of various tissues, especially kidney injury. However, the toxic effects of OTA on human kidney tubular epithelial cell (HK‐2) and the possible mechanism remains poorly understood. This study was to investigate the toxic effects of OTA on HK‐2 and elucidate the molecular mechanism. HK‐2 cells were treated OTA to evaluate the effect of OTA on cell viability and apoptosis. OTA inhibited the growth of HK‐2 in a concentration‐dependent manner. With the concentration increased, OTA significantly lead to the apoptosis of HK‐2. OTA could increase the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activities were decreased by OTA. Furthermore, OTA increased Caspase‐3 and Bax expression and decreased BCL2 expression. Compared to the control group, the expression of PTEN was increased and the expression of PI3K and AKT were decreased in OTA treated groups. In addition, we found OTA could disrupt the formation of lipid raft by attenuating sphingomyelin and cholesterol levels. In conclusion, our results indicated that OTA induces apoptosis in HK‐2 through regulating PTEN/AKT signaling pathway via disrupting lipid raft formation.
Genetic dissection of natural variation in oilseed traits of camelina by whole‐genome resequencing and QTL mapping
Authors: Li Huang , Hu Xiao , Lovell John T. , Grabowski Paul P. , Mamidi Sujan , Chen Cindy , Amirebrahimi Mojgan , Kahanda Indika , Mumey Brendan , Barry Kerrie , Kudrna David , Schmutz Jeremy , Lachowiec Jennifer , Lu Chaofu
Published: June 2021

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] is an oilseed crop in the Brassicaceae family that is currently being developed as a source of bioenergy and healthy fatty acids. To facilitate modern breeding efforts through marker‐assisted selection and biotechnology, we evaluated genetic variation among a worldwide collection of 222 camelina accessions. We performed whole‐genome resequencing to obtain single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and to analyze genomic diversity. We also conducted phenotypic field evaluations in two consecutive seasons for variations in key agronomic traits related to oilseed production such as seed size, oil content (OC), fatty acid composition, and flowering time. We determined the population structure of the camelina accessions using 161,301 SNPs. Further, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes controlling the above field‐evaluated traits by genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) complemented with linkage mapping using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. Characterization of the natural variation at the genome and phenotypic levels provides valuable resources to camelina genetic studies and crop improvement. The QTL and candidate genes should assist in breeding of advanced camelina varieties that can be integrated into the cropping systems for the production of high yield of oils of desired fatty acid composition.
Help students share their stories with microcredentials, digital badges
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: June 2021

Improved storytelling and recognition — these are two of the main reasons the Registrar's Office team at the University of Colorado Boulder decided to create a microcredential and badge program for students.
Accelerate equitable change by meeting adult learners’ needs
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: June 2021

Even before the COVID‐19 pandemic hit the world, 44 million adults in the United States were at risk of being left behind by the future of work. “Even before the pandemic, a lot of these adults were struggling, and they certainly weren't equipped to ride out this massive disruption — none of us were,” said Melissa Leavitt, Director of Research at the Strada Institute of the Future of Work.
Prognosis of variceal and non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in already hospitalised patients: Results from a French prospective cohort
Authors: EL Hajj Weam , Quentin Vincent , Boudoux D'Hautefeuille Gaelle , Vandamme Helene , Berger Chantal , Moussaoui Mohammed Redha , Berete Aliou , Louvel Dominique , Bertolino Jean Guy , Cuillerier Emmanuel , Thiebault Quentin , Arondel Yves , Grimbert Sylvie , Le Guillou Brigitte , Borel Isabelle , Lahmek Pierre , Nahon Stéphane ,   ANGH for the SANGHRIA Study Group
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Patients who develop upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) while in hospital appear to have a poor prognosis. Our study aims at analysing the difference in outcome between in‐patients (IPs) and out‐patients presenting with variceal and non‐variceal UGIB.

Methods

We conducted a multicentre prospective study by collecting data about variceal and non‐variceal UGIB cases through 46 hospitals in France between November 2017 and October 2018. We then compared baseline demographic features, endoscopic findings and outcome between patients who developed variceal and non‐variceal UGIB on admission (OPs) and those at least 24 h after hospitalisation (IPs). Our primary end‐point was mortality and re‐bleeding rates at 6 weeks of bleeding onset.

Results

A total of 2498 UGIB cases were identified, of whom 634 (25.4%) occurred in IPs. IPs were older than OPs (72.5 vs. 67.2 years old, p < 0.001) and had a higher rate of comorbidities (38.9% vs. 26.6%, p < 0.0001). Their bleeding was more severe with a Rockall score of >5 present in 40.9% (vs. 30.3% in OPs, p < 0.0001). The 6‐week mortality rate was significantly higher in IPs when compared to OPs (21.7% vs. 8%, p < 0.0001). Prothrombin time <50% and rebleeding were the only independent predictors of mortality (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). Six‐week rebleeding occurred more frequently among IPs (18.6% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.015) and predictors included female sex, active bleeding upon endoscopy and a Blatchford score >11 (p = 0.017, 0.011 and 0.008, respectively).

Conclusion

IPs who develop variceal and non‐variceal UGIB are more likely to be elderly with more comorbidities. They have a higher rate of mortality and rebleeding. Independent predictors of mortality were underlying coagulopathy and bleeding recurrence. An optimal bleeding management and efficient rebleeding prevention may improve outcome in these patients.
Family doctors to connect global concerns due to climate change with local actions: State‐of‐the art and some proposals
Authors: Lauriola Paolo , Serafini Alice , Santamaria Mariagrazia , Guicciardi Stefano , Kurotschka Peter K. , Leonardi Giovanni S. , Zeka Ariana , Segredo Evelyn , Bassi Maria C. , Gokdemir Ozden , de Tommasi Francesco , Vinci Emanuele , Romizi Roberto , McGushin Alice , Barros Enrique , Abelsohn Alan , Pegoraro Samantha
Published: June 2021

Climate change (CC) is the most challenging environmental health (EH) concern. Air pollution is closely linked to CC. However, many CC‐health‐related conditions (i.e., allergic diseases, asthma, hypertension, fluid and electrolyte disorders, child and adult obesity, type 2 diabetes, vector‐borne diseases) are not usually counted, either because they do not cause death or require hospital admission/emergency triage. They are the vast majority of health care seeking generally treated by family doctors (FDs) and family pediatricians (FPs). FDs/FPs are often not aware of CC‐health‐impacts. Their potential role in tackling such a global challenge through their local influence on individual and collective attitudes and policies is not considered. Proper FD training could fill these gaps, raise awareness of their role, and implement EH FDs/FPs‐based surveillance networks to collect, analyze, interpret, and report EH data to inform EH‐related Policy. FDs and FPs, organized in sentinel physicians' networks, could play a key role in advising policymakers at the local and regional level in designing interventions adapted to climate‐related issues. Such experiences are rare worldwide and not well known. We will describe and discuss them in detail to share successful local examples.
KKL correlation for simulation of nanofluid flow over a stretching sheet considering magnetic dipole and chemical reaction
Authors: Punith Gowda R. J. , Naveen Kumar R. , Jyothi A. M. , Prasannakumara B. C. , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: June 2021

The enhancement of heat transfer is an important factor in heat exchangers, nuclear reactors, electric coolers and solar collectors. The enhance in rate of heat and mass transfer can be achieved by choosing suitable nanofluid or ferromagnetic fluid as an active liquid. In this connection, we have investigated the ferromagnetic nanofluid flow past a flat elastic sheet with porous medium and chemical reaction. Further, nanofluid is considered and simulated through the Koo and Kleinstreuer‐Li (KKL) nanofluid model. The described governing equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations (ODE's) by means of apt similarity transformations and then they are numerically tackled using Runge Kutta Fehlberg‐45 (RKF‐45) scheme along with shooting method. The graphical results of the velocity, concentration and thermal profiles along with skin friction, Sherwood and Nusselt numbers are found to get an obvious insight of the existing boundary flow problem. The results reveal that, increasing values of ferromagnetic interaction parameter decays the velocity gradient but converse trend is depicted in thermal gradient due to the frictional heating between fluid layers. The increasing values of porosity parameter slowdowns the rate of heat transfer and velocity gradient.
Wearing the devil down: Rate of tooth wear varies between wild and captive Tasmanian devils
Authors: Pollock Tahlia I. , Parrott Marissa L. , Evans Alistair R. , Hocking David P.
Published: June 2021

Mammalian carnivores rely on their sharp teeth to effectively kill and consume prey. However, over time this causes wear and breakage that alters tooth shape, reducing their effectiveness. Extreme tooth wear and damage is especially prevalent in species that scavenge carcasses, like the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), which are well known for their voracious appetites and ability to consume almost all of a carcass, including bone. In this study, we comprehensively describe tooth wear in captive and wild devils to look for differences in the patterns and rate of wear between these environments. To do this we surveyed tooth condition in skulls from 182 wild and 114 captive devils for which age was estimated using canine over‐eruption. We found the types of tooth wear documented were the same in captive and wild devils, but captive animals have less severe wear than wild devils of the same estimated age. There was no difference in the proportion of captive or wild individuals with broken canine or molar teeth; however, breakage occurred at a younger age in wild devils. Although not considered anomalous or harmful, this indicates a difference in the way teeth are being used and/or the foods consumed between captive and wild devils. We hypothesize how these results relate to differences in diet or behavior that may stem from their various feeding environments, for example, higher quality food (fresh, whole, and yet to be scavenged carcasses) provided to captive devils likely causes less wear. Further, we support management options that closely replicate wild diet items and behaviors suitable for a long‐term insurance population.
Introduction: New Paradigms of Media Regulation in a Transatlantic Perspective
Authors: Matei Sorin Adam , Rebillard Franck , Rochelandet Fabrice
Published: June 2021

To claim that communication technology and practices have undergone a tremendous shift over the past 30 years is a self-evident understatement. However, the same cannot be said about our regulatory framework—the product of political and economic ideas several centuries old. Thus, the worlds of communication practice and communication policy-making often are at odds. While it would be easy to claim new material forces demand new laws, the reality is our traditional media customs and laws are rooted in values, needs, and long-term projects that cannot be changed without impacting our entire way of life. Many facets of everyday life rely on this existing framework: individual autonomy, creativity, rule-based interactions, and fairness. A core challenge for technologists, legislators, and policymakers is to integrate new ways of communicating within the existing framework of values and practices in such a way that current values are preserved while specific regulatory practices are updated to match today’s technological, economic, and cultural norms.
The Stakes and Threats of the Convergence Between Media and Telecommunication Industries
Authors: Benhamou Françoise
Published: June 2021

Convergence between media (TV and press industry) and telecoms is growing in the USA and in Europe (especially France). Streaming video services and the use of smartphones to watch TV require efficient connections and explain this growth pattern, despite early failure to establish causality. New business models based on contents and personal data emerge. Companies want to expand their subscriber bases, which questions the economic power on gatekeeping content and Internet access. Regulators should adapt their tools and objectives to new challenges as afforded by convergence.
Sharpening the Accuracy of Credit Scoring Models with Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Guidolin Massimo , Pedio Manuela
Published: June 2021

The big data revolution and recent advancements in computing power have increased the interest in credit scoring techniques based on artificial intelligence. This has found easy leverage in the fact that the accuracy of credit scoring models has a crucial impact on the profitability of lending institutions. In this chapter, we survey the most popular supervised credit scoring classification methods (and their combinations through ensemble methods) in an attempt to identify a superior classification technique in the light of the applied literature. There are at least three key insights that emerge from surveying the literature. First, as far as individual classifiers are concerned, linear classification methods often display a performance that is at least as good as that of machine learning methods. Second, ensemble methods tend to outperform individual classifiers. However, a dominant ensemble method cannot be easily identified in the empirical literature. Third, despite the possibility that machine learning techniques could fail to outperform linear classification methods when standard accuracy measures are considered, in the end they lead to significant cost savings compared to the financial implications of using different scoring models.
Massive Data Analytics for Macroeconomic Nowcasting
Authors: Cheng Peng , Ferrara Laurent , Froidevaux Alice , Huynh Thanh-Long
Published: June 2021

Nowcasting macroeconomic aggregates have proved extremely useful for policy-makers or financial investors, in order to get real-time, reliable information to monitor a given economy or sector. Recently, we have witnessed the arrival of new large databases of alternative data, stemming from the Internet, social media, satellites, fixed sensors, or texts. By correctly accounting for those data, especially by using appropriate statistical and econometric approaches, the empirical literature has shown evidence of some gain in nowcasting ability. In this chapter, we propose to review recent advances of the literature on the topic, and we put forward innovative alternative indicators to monitor the Chinese and US economies.
Enlightened Leadership: Coping with Chaos in Increasingly Turbulent Times
Authors: Mitroff Ian I. , Kilmann Ralph H.
Published: June 2021

We want to summarize and thereby tie together all of the previous discussions on Mental Health, Attachment Theory, Inquiring Systems, Culture, the Jungian Framework, Conflict Management, Surfacing Assumptions, and Defense Mechanisms. Used appropriately, they are indispensable in helping people deal with Reality.
Wicked Messes: The Ultimate Challenge to Reality
Authors: Mitroff Ian I. , Kilmann Ralph H.
Published: June 2021

The first two chapters have presented major challenges to what we commonly take as Reality and what we need to know and do if we are to stand any hope whatsoever in managing it. This chapter shows that it’s even more complex than we have dared imagine in our wildest dreams.
Inquiry Systems as Coping Mechanisms
Authors: Mitroff Ian I. , Kilmann Ralph H.
Published: June 2021

First and foremost, Inquiry Systems or ISs are major models for the production and authentication of credible knowledge in which, along with Ethics, we put our basic trust to guide our lives. However, at the same time, ISs also serve as fundamental coping mechanisms to alleviate the intense anxiety that accompanies the immense uncertainty associated with less than perfect knowledge, especially in today’s problematic and highly uncertain world.
From Collaboration to Solitude and Back: Remote Pair Programming During COVID-19
Authors: Smite Darja , Mikalsen Marius , Moe Nils Brede , Stray Viktoria , Klotins Eriks
Published: June 2021

Along with the increasing popularity of agile software development, software work has become much more social than ever. Contemporary software teams rely on a variety of collaborative practices, such as pair programming, the topic of our study. Many agilists advocated the importance of collocation, face-to-face interaction, and physical artefacts incorporated in the shared workspace, which the COVID-19 pandemic made unavailable; most software companies around the world were forced to send their engineers to work from home. As software projects and teams overnight turned into distributed collaborations, we question what happened to the pair programming practice in the work-from-home mode. This paper reports on a longitudinal study of remote pair programming in two companies. We conducted 38 interviews with 30 engineers from Norway, Sweden, and the USA, and used the results of a survey in one of the case companies. Our study is unique as we collected the data longitudinally in April/May 2020, Sep/Oct 2020, and Jan/Feb 2021. We found that pair programming has decreased and some interviewees report not pairing at all for almost a full year. The experiences of those who paired vary from actively co-editing the code by using special tools to more passively co-reading and discussing the code and solutions by sharing the screen. Finally, we found that the interest in and the use of PP over time, since the first months of the forced work from home to early 2021, has admittedly increased, also as a social practice.
Using a Low Code Development Environment to Teach the Agile Methodology
Authors: Lebens Mary , Finnegan Roger
Published: June 2021

The Agile development methodology is soaring in popularity in the business world. Companies are turning to Agile to develop products quickly and to achieve digital transformation of their organization. Because of this push, companies need employees who understand Agile. Therefore, higher education is obligated to provide an understanding of Agile to students as they enter the workplace. Providing Agile experience to students who are new to programming is difficult because they are so worried about the coding aspects of the assignment, they cannot take time to think about the methodology they are using. The coding crowds out the time needed to get an understanding of how Agile actually works. One remedy for this is to use a low or no-code development platform. With this type of platform students spend less time learning to create apps, freeing them to experience the rituals and roles of Agile. This study examines using the Agile methodology along with the Microsoft Power Apps platform to provide an Agile experience to students. Two course sections were surveyed to learn if students perceived that they acquired a better understanding of Agile and to learn their perceptions of a no-code platform experience. The students completed surveys to ascertain their comfort with the Agile methodology and whether the no-code environment increased their comfort level. The results showed students perceived the no-code platform increased their comfort with using the Agile methodology. The implication is that no-code platforms can be used broadly to help students to gain experience with Agile.
How to Write Ethical User Stories? Impacts of the ECCOLA Method
Authors: Halme Erika , Vakkuri Ville , Kultanen Joni , Jantunen Marianna , Kemell Kai-Kristian , Rousi Rebekah , Abrahamsson Pekka
Published: June 2021

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are increasing in significance within software services. Unfortunately, these systems are not flawless. Their faults, failures and other systemic issues have emphasized the urgency for consideration of ethical standards and practices in AI engineering. Despite the growing number of studies in AI ethics, comparatively little attention has been placed on how ethical issues can be mitigated in software engineering (SE) practice. Currently understanding is lacking regarding the provision of useful tools that can help companies transform high-level ethical guidelines for AI ethics into the actual workflow of developers. In this paper, we explore the idea of using user stories to transform abstract ethical requirements into tangible outcomes in Agile software development. We tested this idea by studying master’s level student projects (15 teams) developing web applications for a real industrial client over the course of five iterations. These projects resulted in 250+ user stories that were analyzed for the purposes of this paper. The teams were divided into two groups: half of the teams worked using the ECCOLA method for AI ethics in SE, while the other half, a control group, was used to compare the effectiveness of ECCOLA. Both teams were tasked with writing user stories to formulate customer needs into system requirements. Based on the data, we discuss the effectiveness of ECCOLA, and Primary Empirical Contributions (PECs) from formulating ethical user stories in Agile development.