bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Network Constellation of Personality and Substance Use: Evolution from Early to Late Adolescence
Authors: Afzali Mohammad H. , Stewart Sherry Heather , Séguin Jean R. , Conrod Patricia
Published: March 2020

There is a well–established link between substance use and four personality traits of anxiety–sensitivity, hopelessness, impulsivity, and sensation–seeking. However, construct–level models of personality may conceal indicator–level personality–outcome associations. The current study aims to investigate evolution of the network constellation of personality and cannabis/alcohol use from early to late adolescence. Data comes from the longitudinal Co–Venture cohort (N = 3800). Personality indicators, measured by Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) items, and the frequency of cannabis/alcohol use were assessed at four consecutive years (13–17 years old). Network constellations of the SURPS items and cannabis/alcohol use were estimated using Bayesian Gaussian graphical models at four time points. Results highlighted the age–specific associations between personality indicators and substance use. The positive role of the sensation–seeking trait (e.g. attitude towards transgression) was constant, whereas the positive role of hopelessness indicators (e.g. not being enthusiastic about future) and the negative role of anxiety–sensitivity indicators (e.g. fear of having unusual body sensations) were more prominent at early adolescence. The current study provides a novel perspective on the network structure of personality and substance use in adolescence and suggests substance–specific and age–adjusted targets in intervention efforts. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology
Registration of GP‐VT NC 01 peanut germplasm
Authors: Balota M. , Isleib T. G.
Published: March 2020

GP‐VT NC 01 (Reg. no. GP‐238, PI 691613) is a virginia‐type peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL. subsp.hypogaeavar.hypogaea) with good agronomic characteristics and improved drought tolerance. GP‐VT NC 01 was tested under the experimental designation N05006. Replicated yield tests started in the F6generation in North Carolina in 2005. From 2008 through 2010, GP‐VT NC 01 was tested in replicated trials in the Peanut Variety and Quality Evaluation, multistate project S1038, in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In 2013 and 2014, GP‐VT NC 01 was tested in the field at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Experiment Station in Suffolk, VA, under rain exclusion shelters with controlled water regimes ranging from optimum soil moisture to severe drought. In these tests, GP‐VT NC 01 was compared with the current cultivars grown in Virginia and the Carolinas—‘Bailey’, ‘Sugg’, ‘Sullivan’, and ‘Wynne’—and a drought‐tolerant species derived germplasm line (GP‐NC WS17). Under “normal” weather, in rainfed production, GP‐VT NC 01 had similar yield to Bailey and Sugg and significantly better yield than Sullivan or Wynne. Extra‐large kernels content was least, although not significantly smaller than Sullivan and Wynne. No significant differences in sound mature kernels were noted among the cultivars tested. However, during dry and hot years, and under drought‐controlled conditions, the yield of GP‐VT NC 01 was significantly higher than that of the other cultivars tested. Thus, the release of GP‐VT NC 01 provides producers with a profitable option that will perform well under drought stress.
Developing a Robust Assay to Monitor and Quantify Key Players of Metabolic Pathways during Adipogenesis by Targeted Proteomics
Authors: Hentschel Andreas , Ahrends Robert
Published: March 2020

Targeted data acquisition using nano liquid chromatrography (nano‐LC) coupled mass spectrometry is an emerging approach when there is a need to quantify proteins with high accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Nevertheless, creating assays meeting all those criteria still remains a laborious task, especially when investigating low abundant proteins and small concentration changes. In this work a targeted data acquisition workflow is developed reducing time and effort to target and investigate key players of metabolic pathways during the process of adipocyte differentiation. This leads to accurate and sensitive quantification of proteins involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, the production of energy and reduction equivalents. Additionally low abundant signaling molecules part of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and insulin signaling pathway with ≈400 for the insulin receptor substrate and 1100 copies per cell for PPARγ are determined.
Assessment and treatment of resistant hypertension
Authors: Plumb Richard , Girvin Briegeen
Published: March 2020

Hypertension can be poorly controlled for a number of reasons, including factors such as lack of adherence and suboptimal treatment, as well as true drug resistance. This article gives advice on the management of resistant hypertension, and provides tips for GPs and other prescribers on steps that can be taken before referring patients to secondary care.
Upadacitinib for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: March 2020

Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) is a new janus kinase inhibitor licensed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. This article discusses its indications, clinical trial efficacy and adverse effects.
Deformation and compressive strength of corrugated cartons under different indentation shapes: Experimental and simulation study
Authors: Gong Guifen , Liu Yushan , Fan Bo , Sun Deqiang
Published: March 2020

A new method to enhance the compressive strength of corrugated cartons is proposed in this study. The work aims to carry out compression tests on the corrugated carton to analyze the deformation and compressive capacity of the carton under the indentation condition of different shapes. First, compression tests are carried out on nonindentation cartons, one‐line indentation cartons, unclosed rhombus indentation cartons, rhombus indentation cartons, and cross‐indentation cartons to record their maximum compressive force. Second, by comparing the deformation of different cartons, it is found that rhombus indentation and cross‐indentation have the greatest influence on the compressive strength of cartons. Rhombus indentation will enhance the compressive strength of the carton, while cross‐indentation will reduce it. Third, ANSYS Workbench is used to analyze the buckling of cartons, and the maximum compressive force of nonindentation cartons and rhombus indentation cartons is obtained. Finally, through the comparison of the finite element method and experiments, it is concluded that rhombus indentation can improve the compressive strength of cartons, which is of great significance to the industrial production of cartons.
Robustness of visible near‐infrared and mid‐infrared spectroscopic models to changes in the quantity and quality of crop residues in soil
Authors: Greenberg Isabel , Linsler Deborah , Vohland Michael , Ludwig Bernard
Published: March 2020

The robustness of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content prediction accuracy by visible near‐infrared spectroscopy (visNIRS) and mid‐infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) models after a change in the quantity or quality of crop residues requires investigation. Arable soils (0–20 cm) from 20 locations across Germany were collected, and 0, 2, 4, or 8 g C kg soil−1 of wheat straw (C/N ratio, 54) or clover (C/N ratio, 13) were added. Before and after a 56‐d incubation, dried and ground samples were measured for SOC and TN content and by visNIRS and MIRS. The complete dataset (n = 280) was subdivided into calibration and validation datasets to test the robustness of partial least squares regression models to changes in crop residue quantity and quality in soil. Noise‐reducing data pretreatments included region selection, moving averages, resampling every second data point, and the Savitzky‐Golay algorithm. The MIRS estimates for SOC (7.4–33 g kg−1) had lower root mean squared error of validation (RMSEV = 0.9–2.9 g kg−1) compared with visNIRS (RMSEV = 1.6–7.1 g kg−1). Total N estimates (0.7–2.8 g kg−1) were more comparable for MIRS (RMSEV = 0.1–0.3 g kg−1) and visNIRS (RMSEV = 0.1–1.0 g kg−1). Loadings of partial least squares regression components suggested the predictive mechanisms for SOC and TN were more similar for visNIRS than for MIRS. Differing crop residue quantity or quality in calibration versus validation resulted in biased SOC and TN estimates by visNIRS and MIRS models. However, calibration with a global residue model containing all soils and crop residue quantities and qualities lowered RMSEV for SOC and TN prediction with visNIRS and MIRS, demonstrating the usefulness of this approach.
Safety and pharmacokinetics of the orally available antiprionic compound PRI‐002: A single and multiple ascending dose phase I study
Authors: Kutzsche Janine , Jürgens Dagmar , Willuweit Antje , Adermann Knut , Fuchs Carola , Simons Stefanie , Windisch Manfred , Hümpel Michael , Rossberg Wolfgang , Wolzt Michael , Willbold Dieter
Published: March 2020

Introduction

PRI‐002 is an orally available anti–amyloid beta (Aβ) prionic compound developed for direct disassembly of toxic Aβ oligomers relevant to Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

Two placebo‐controlled clinical phase I trials with oral dosing of PRI‐002 were conducted in healthy young subjects: A single ascending dose trial (4, 12, 36, 108, or 320 mg PRI‐002 or placebo) in 40 participants followed by a multiple ascending dose study with daily 160 mg PRI‐002 for 14 days or 320 mg for 28 days in 24 participants. The main objectives were safety, tolerability, and evaluation of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters.

Results

PRI‐002 was safe and well tolerated after single and multiple oral administration up to the highest doses. PRI‐002 was absorbed rapidly and drug exposure increased proportional to dose. During repeated daily administration, the drug accumulated by a factor of about three. Steady‐state conditions were reached after 1 to 2 weeks.

Conclusions

The safety and PK results encourage further clinical development of PRI‐002.
Non‐immune fetal hydrops: etiology and outcome according to gestational age at diagnosis
Authors: Sileo F. G. , Kulkarni A. , Branescu I. , Homfray T. , Dempsey E. , Mansour S. , Thilaganathan B. , Bhide A. , Khalil A.
Published: March 2020

Objective

Fetal hydrops is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. The etiology and outcome of fetal hydrops may differ according to the gestational age at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cause, evolution and outcome of non‐immune fetal hydrops (NIFH), according to the gestational age at diagnosis.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of all singleton pregnancies complicated by NIFH, at the Fetal Medicine Unit at St George's University Hospital, London, UK, between 2000 and 2018. All fetuses had detailed anomaly and cardiac ultrasound scans, karyotyping and infection screening. Prenatal diagnostic and therapeutic intervention, gestational age at diagnosis and delivery, as well as pregnancy outcome, were recorded. Regression analysis was used to test for potential association between possible risk factors and perinatal mortality.

Results

We included 273 fetuses with NIFH. The etiology of the condition varied significantly in the three trimesters. Excluding 30 women who declined invasive testing, the cause of NIFH was defined as unknown in 62 of the remaining 243 cases (25.5%). Chromosomal aneuploidy was the most common cause of NIFH in the first trimester. It continued to be a significant etiologic factor in the second trimester, along with congenital infection. In the third trimester, the most common etiology was cardiovascular abnormality. Among the 152 (55.7%) women continuing the pregnancy, 48 (31.6%) underwent fetal intervention, including the insertion of pleuroamniotic shunts, fetal blood transfusion and thoracentesis. Fetal intervention was associated significantly with lower perinatal mortality (odds ratio (OR), 0.30 (95% CI, 0.14–0.61); P < 0.001); this association remained significant after excluding cases with a diagnosis of anemia or infection (OR, 0.29 (95% CI, 0.13–0.66); P = 0.003). In 104 fetuses not undergoing active fetal intervention, the gestational age at diagnosis was the only parameter that was significantly associated with the risk of perinatal mortality (OR, 0.92 (95% CI, 0.85–0.99); P = 0.035), while the affected body cavity and polyhydramnios were not (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

An earlier gestational age at diagnosis of NIFH was associated with an increased risk of aneuploidy and worse pregnancy outcome, including a higher risk of perinatal loss. Fetal therapy was associated significantly with lower perinatal mortality. © 2020 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Emerging methods in therapeutics using multifunctional nanoparticles
Authors: Habibi Nahal , Quevedo Daniel F. , Gregory Jason V. , Lahann Joerg
Published: March 2020

Clinical translation of nanoparticle‐based drug delivery systems is hindered by an array of challenges including poor circulation time and limited targeting. Novel approaches including designing multifunctional particles, cell‐mediated delivery systems, and fabrications of protein‐based nanoparticles have gained attention to provide new perspectives to current drug delivery obstacles in the interdisciplinary field of nanomedicine. Collectively, these nanoparticle devices are currently being investigated for applications spanning from drug delivery and cancer therapy to medical imaging and immunotherapy. Here, we review the current state of the field, highlight opportunities, identify challenges, and present the future directions of the next generation of multifunctional nanoparticle drug delivery platforms.

This article is categorized under:

Biology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus‐Based Structures

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Longitudinal short-distance constraints for the hadronic light-by-light contribution to (g − 2)μ with large-Nc Regge models
Authors: Colangelo Gilberto , Hagelstein Franziska , Hoferichter Martin , Laub Laetitia , Stoffer Peter
Published: March 2020

Abstract

While the low-energy part of the hadronic light-by-light (HLbL) tensor can be constrained from data using dispersion relations, for a full evaluation of its contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (g − 2)μ also mixed- and high-energy regions need to be estimated. Both can be addressed within the operator product expansion (OPE), either for configurations where all photon virtualities become large or one of them remains finite. Imposing such short-distance constraints (SDCs) on the HLbL tensor is thus a major aspect of a model-independent approach towards HLbL scattering. Here, we focus on longitudinal SDCs, which concern the amplitudes containing the pseudoscalar-pole contributions from π0, η, η′. Since these conditions cannot be fulfilled by a finite number of pseudoscalar poles, we consider a tower of excited pseudoscalars, constraining their masses and transition form factors from Regge theory, the OPE, and phenomenology. Implementing a matching of the resulting expressions for the HLbL tensor onto the perturbative QCD quark loop, we are able to further constrain our calculation and significantly reduce its model dependence. We find that especially for the π0 the corresponding increase of the HLbL contribution is much smaller than previous prescriptions in the literature would imply. Overall, we estimate that longitudinal SDCs increase the HLbL contribution by $$ \varDelta {a}_{\mu}^{\mathrm{LSDC}}=13(6) $$
Δ

a
μ
LSDC

=
13

6

× 10-11. This number does not include the contribution from the charm quark, for which we find $$ {a}_{\mu}^{c- quark} $$

a
μ

c
−
quark

= 3(1) × 10−11.
BPS invariants for Seifert manifolds
Authors: Chung Hee-Joong
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We calculate the homological blocks for Seifert manifolds from the exact ex- pression for the G = SU(N ) Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants of Seifert manifolds obtained by Lawrence, Rozansky, and Mariño. For the G = SU(2) case, it is possible to ex- press them in terms of the false theta functions and their derivatives. For G = SU(N ), we calculate them as a series expansion and also discuss some properties of the contributions from the abelian flat connections to the Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants for general N . We also provide an expected form of the S-matrix for general cases and the structure of the Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants in terms of the homological blocks.
Intergenerational transmission of risk attitudes in Burkina Faso
Authors: Sepahvand Mohammad H. , Shahbazian Roujman
Published: March 2020

Previous research shows that transmission of attitudes in the family is gendered. However, there are limited findings about intergenerational transmission of risk attitudes and whether it is gendered. This study replicates the findings by Dohmen et al. (Rev Econ Stud 79(2):645–677) for Germany by using quantitative data from Burkina Faso in 2014 to analyze three different self-reported risk questions. Our results show a strong intergenerational transmission of attitudes from parents to children in which positive assortative mating strengthens the parents’ transmission of attitudes to her child. Mothers’ transmissions are stronger for their daughters than sons. For fathers, the pattern is inverted. Our findings also show the existence of heterogeneity in intergenerational transmission within a male- and female-dominated risk domain. This supports the gender-specific role model hypothesis. Furthermore, we find support for the transmission of attitudes from the local environment to the child, but the strength and significance of this transmission decrease when controlling for parents’ attitudes.
Prospective associations between burnout symptomatology and hair cortisol
Authors: Wendsche Johannes , Ihle Andreas , Wegge Jürgen , Penz Marlene Sophie , Kirschbaum Clemens , Kliegel Matthias
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Burnout is a stress-related, psychological syndrome due to high levels of job stressors. It has been found to be related to impairments of well-being, health, and job outcomes. Alterations of glucocorticoid secretion might be a mechanism explaining the linkage between burnout and reduced psychophysical functioning. Regarding hair cortisol as indicator this assumption, so far, has been only examined in cross-sectional studies. Therefore, we aimed to compare cross-sectional and prospective associations between different burnout symptoms and hair cortisol, additionally investigating potential nonlinear associations.

Methods

The prospective study sample comprises 194 employees (95% nurses) from German geriatric care. We assessed burnout symptoms at baseline (t1) and 6 months later (t2) and collected hair samples for cortisol analyses at t2.

Results

We found significant cross-sectional and prospective nonlinear (i.e., exponential) but not linear relationships between an aggregated measure of the burnout subscales emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy and hair cortisol, even after adjusting for BMI and depressive mood. None of the single subscales of burnout was related to hair cortisol after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions

Our findings further support the assumption that accumulated burnout symptoms and hypercorticolism are positively related.
Video consultation during follow up care: effect on quality of care and patient- and provider attitude in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Barsom Esther Z. , Jansen Marilou , Tanis Pieter J. , van de Ven Anthony W. H. , Blussé van Oud-Alblas Marjolein , Buskens Christianne J. , Bemelman Willem A. , Schijven Marlies P.
Published: March 2020

Background

Video consultation (VC) is gaining attention as a possible alternative to out-patient clinic visits. However, little is known in terms of attitude, satisfaction and quality of care using VC over a face-to-face (F2F) consultation. The aim of this observational survey study was to compare the attitude and satisfaction with VC amongst patients suffering from colorectal cancer and their treating surgeons at the outpatient surgical care clinic in a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

A patient-preference model was chosen following the concept of shared decision making. A total of fifty patients with colorectal cancer were asked to choose between VC- or a F2F-contact during their follow up at the outpatient surgical care clinic and were subsequently assigned to either the VC-group or the F2F-group. Attitude and satisfaction rates of both groups and their surgeons were measured using a questionnaire administered immediately after the consultation.

Results

Out of the 50 patients, 42% chose VC as their preferred follow-up modality. Patients demographics did not differ significantly. Patients who use video calling in their personal life choose VC significantly more often than patients lacking such experience (p = 0.010). These patients scored high on both the attitude- and satisfaction scale of the post-VC questionnaire. Patients who chose a F2F-contact seemed to question the ability of the surgeon to properly assess their healthcare condition by using a video connection more (p = 0.024). Surgeons were highly satisfied with the use of VC.

Conclusions

Based on patient preference, VC is equivalent to a F2F consultation in terms of patient satisfaction and perceived quality of care. Shared decision making is preferred with regard to which contact modality is used during follow up. For easy uptake in other environments it is to be recommended to facilitate VC using the electronic patient portal.
On detectability of labeled Petri nets and finite automata
Authors: Zhang Kuize , Giua Alessandro
Published: March 2020

Detectability is a basic property of dynamic systems: when it holds an observer can use the current and past values of the observed output signal produced by a system to reconstruct its current state. In this paper, we consider properties of this type in the framework of discrete-event systems modeled by labeled Petri nets and finite automata. We first study weak approximate detectability. This property implies that there exists an infinite observed output sequence of the system such that each prefix of the output sequence with length greater than a given value allows an observer to determine if the current state belongs to a given set. We prove that the problem of verifying this property is undecidable for labeled Petri nets, and PSPACE-complete for finite automata. We also consider one new concept called eventual strong detectability. The new property implies that for each possible infinite observed output sequence, there exists a value such that each prefix of the output sequence with length greater than that value allows reconstructing the current state. We prove that for labeled Petri nets, the problem of verifying eventual strong detectability is decidable and EXPSPACE-hard, where the decidability result holds under a mild promptness assumption. For finite automata, we give a polynomial-time verification algorithm for the property. In addition, we prove that strong detectability is strictly stronger than eventual strong detectability for labeled Petri nets and even for deterministic finite automata.
Macroinvertebrate community responses to land use: a trait-based approach for freshwater biomonitoring in Mongolia
Authors: Yadamsuren Oyunchuluun , Morse John C. , Hayford Barbara , Gelhaus Jon K. , Adler Peter H.
Published: March 2020

Land-use practices in Mongolia can lead to environmental degradation and consequently affect the structure and function of biological communities. The main aim of this study was to determine land-use effects on freshwater macroinvertebrate communities based on their response to grazing and mining, using a trait-based approach (TBA). The functional structure of macroinvertebrate communities was examined using 86 categories of 16 traits. A total of 13 physical and chemical variables were significantly different among the levels of land-use intensity. Significant declines in functional diversity were observed with increased land-use intensity. The community weighted mean of 19 trait categories for 11 traits varied significantly among different levels of land-use intensity. Traits were significantly explained by environmental variables across a land-use intensity gradient. Water temperature, gravel, nitrate, silt, and cobble were the main predictor variables and explained 28% of the total variance of the trait variation. The functional structure of the macroinvertebrate community was strongly related to environmental conditions. The TBA is an important method in assessing disturbance responses in freshwater communities of steppe and taiga regions, such as in Mongolia and other countries in Central Asia and will be useful in finding best management practices for conserving aquatic ecosystems.
The role of individual ambidexterity for organizational performance: examining effects of ambidextrous knowledge seeking and offering
Authors: Schnellbächer Benedikt , Heidenreich Sven
Published: March 2020

Empirical research has confirmed positive effects of organizational ambidexterity for companies’ long-term performance. More recent research has shifted the focus from organizational level exploration and exploitation to the individual in order to understand psychological micro-foundations of individual ambidexterity. However, our current knowledge on how knowledge flows within individual ambidexterity are initiated and affect performance outcomes is limited. This study thus strives to shed light on the topic by introducing two mechanisms, namely ambidextrous knowledge seeking and ambidextrous knowledge offering, that capture how knowledge flows within individual ambidexterity are initiated. Based on survey-data from 415 employees, findings from structural equation modeling provide first empirical evidence that the focal constructs significantly affect knowledge accumulation on the department level as well as its performance. Finally, results from additional moderation analysis indicate, that ambidextrous knowledge offering leads to higher performance effects in environments characterized by the pursuit of radical innovations, while ambidextrous knowledge seeking is rather suited for environments with a focus on innovating incrementally.
Systemic therapy in advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Graziadei Ivo
Published: March 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex disease, since both choice of treatment and prognosis depend not only on tumor-specific but also on liver-related characteristics. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach in specialized clinics is required for the optimal management of HCC patients. Almost half of patients present with advanced-stage tumor with no curative therapeutic options. According to international guidelines, palliative systemic therapy is recommended in these patients. The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib was the first drug to show antitumor efficacy and was the only approved treatment for almost a decade, as several other agents failed to improve patient survival. In recent years, treatment practices have changed with lenvatinib as another first-line treatment choice and regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab as second-line therapeutic options. However, only patients with preserved liver function (Child-Pugh-Turcotte [CPT]-A) were enrolled in these studies and are consequently suitable for these drugs. After promising phase‑1 and phase-2 studies, subsequent phase‑3 trials evaluating the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) nivolumab and pembrolizumab have failed to demonstrate a significant improvement in patient survival. Ongoing trials are evaluating the combination of ICIs with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Recently, in a phase‑3 trial, the combination therapy atezolizumab and bevacizumab led to a significantly improved overall survival compared to sorafenib in the first-line setting. Further studies are needed to determine how best to select between the growing number of therapeutic options.
Sharing Experiences to Help a Robot Present Its Mind and Sociability
Authors: Fu Changzeng , Yoshikawa Yuichiro , Iio Takamasa , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: March 2020

Many social robots have emerged in public places to serve people. For these services, the robots are assumed to be able to present internal aspects (i.e., mind, sociability) to engage and interact with people over the long term. In this paper, we propose a novel dialogue structure called experience-based dialogue to help a robot present and maintain a good interaction over the long term. This dialogue structure contains a piece of knowledge and a story about how the robot gained this knowledge, which are used to compose the robot’s experience-related utterances for sharing experiences of interacting with previous users other than just the current user and help it present its internal aspects. We conducted an experiment to test the effects of our proposed dialogue structure and measure them with some published subjective scales. The results showed that experience-based dialogue can help a robot obtain better evaluations in terms of perceived intelligence, sociability, mind, anthropomorphism, animacy, likability, level of acceptance, and positive user reaction.
An Exploration into Future Business Process Management Capabilities in View of Digitalization
Authors: Kerpedzhiev Georgi Dimov , König Ulrich Matthias , Röglinger Maximilian , Rosemann Michael
Published: March 2020

Business process management (BPM) is a mature discipline that drives corporate success through effective and efficient business processes. BPM is commonly structured via capability frameworks, which describe and bundle capability areas relevant for implementing process orientation in organizations. Despite their comprehensive use, existing BPM capability frameworks are being challenged by socio-technical changes such as those brought about by digitalization. In line with the uptake of novel technologies, digitalization transforms existing and enables new processes due to its impact on individual behavior and needs, intra- and inter-company collaboration, and new forms of automation. This development led the authors to presume that digitalization calls for new capability areas and that existing frameworks need to be updated. Hence, this study explored which BPM capability areas will become relevant in view of digitalization through a Delphi study with international experts from industry and academia. The study resulted in an updated BPM capability framework, accompanied by insights into challenges and opportunities of BPM. The results show that, while there is a strong link between current and future capability areas, a number of entirely new and enhanced capabilities are required for BPM to drive corporate success in view of digitalization.
CO2 hydrogenation to methanol: the structure–activity relationships of different catalyst systems
Authors: Stangeland Kristian , Li Hailong , Yu Zhixin
Published: March 2020

CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is a promising environmental-friendly route for combatting CO2 emissions. Methanol can be used to produce a variety of chemicals and is also an alternative fuel. The CO2-to-methanol process is mostly studied over multi-component catalysts in which both metal and oxide phases are present. The difficulty in elucidating the influence of the different phases on the catalytic performance has led to intense debate about the nature of the active site. Consequently, the main stumbling blocks in developing rational design strategies are the complexity of the multi-component catalytic systems and challenges in elucidating the active sites. In this paper, we reviewed the most promising catalyst systems for the industrial CO2-to-methanol processes. Firstly, the copper-based catalysts are discussed. The focus is on the debate regarding the promotional effect of zinc, as well as other metal oxides typically employed to enhance the performance of copper-based catalysts. Other catalytic systems are then covered, which are mainly based on palladium and indium. Alloying and metal–metal oxide interaction also play a significant role in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol over these catalysts. The purpose of this work is to give insight into these complex catalytic systems that can be utilized for advanced catalyst synthesis for the industrial CO2-to-methanol process.
Correction to: Long-term vigabatrin treatment modifies pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice: focused on GABA brain concentration
Authors: Świąder Mariusz J. , Świąder Katarzyna , Zakrocka Izabela , Krzyżanowski Maciej , Wróbel Andrzej , Łuszczki Jarogniew J. , Czuczwar Stanisław J.
Published: March 2020

The article Long-term vigabatrin treatment modifies pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice: focused on GABA brain concentration.
Haploidentical stem cell transplant with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide and mini-dose methotrexate in children
Authors: Medina Diego , Estacio Mayra , Rosales Maria , Manzi Eliana
Published: March 2020

Background:

Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) is an option for patients without human leukocyte antigen-matched related or unrelated donor. Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is an effective method of graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis and permits the use of T-cell replete grafts in settings were ex vivo manipulation is not feasible.

Methods:

A retrospective study among patients younger than 18 years, with a history of hematologic malignancies who underwent haplo-SCT between 2012 and 2016. All patients received a preparative regimen of fludarabine, busulfan, and 400 cGy total body irradiation or melphalan. Post-transplant GvHD prophylaxis consisted either of PTCy (50 mg/kg on Days + 3 and + 4) and cyclosporine (CSA) plus mycophenolate (MMF) (15 mg/kg/dose, thrice daily, per os), or minidose methotrexate (MTX; 5 mg/m2 dose) on Days + 5, +7, +10, and + 15.

Results:

A +total of 52 children were included, whose median age was 9 years (interquartile range, 4.9–14; range, 1.2–17 years), and 63% were males. The most common complications were cytomegalovirus reactivation (57%) and hemorrhagic cystitis (36%). The acute GVHD prophylaxis was PTCy, CSA, and mini-dose MTX in 42 (81%) patients, and 10 (19%) patients received PTCy, CSA, and MMF. The cumulative incidence of acute GvHD II–IV, acute GvHD III–IV, and chronic GvHD were 42%, 8.5%, and 19%, respectively. Grades I–IV acute GvHD occurred in 100% of the patients who received prophylaxis with CSA and MMF, and 62% who received CSA and mini-dose MTX (p = .055). The transplant-related mortality at 100 days was 18%. The 5-year overall and event-free survival were 59% and 57%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Haplo-SCT with PT/Cy can be an available, safe, and feasible option for children with hematologic malignancies; meanwhile, the use of mini-dose of MTX was associated with lower rates of acute GVHD. However, our results require further support from prospective randomized studies to improve the efficacy of this prophylactic strategy.
The Bilateral Pedicled Epilated Scrotal Flap: A Powerful Adjunctive for Creation of More Neovaginal Depth in Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty
Authors: Nijhuis Tim H.J. , Özer Müjde , van der Sluis Wouter B. , Al-Tamini Muhammed , Salim Ali , Thomas Philip , Bellringer James , Bouman Mark-Bram
Published: March 2020

Background

Penile inversion vaginoplasty is a commonly performed genital gender-affirming procedure in transgender women. The creation of an adequate functional neovaginal depth in cases of too little usable penile skin is a challenge. The bilateral pedicled epilated scrotal flap (BPES-flap) can be used as an easy adjunctive technique and may serve as a tool in the surgical armamentarium of the gender surgeon.

Aim

To describe the use, dissection, design subtypes, and surgical outcomes of the BPES-flap in vaginoplasty.

Methods

Perioperative considerations and different flap design subtypes were described to illustrate the possible uses of the BPES-flap in vaginoplasty. A retrospective chart study was performed on the use of this flap in 3 centers (blinded for review purposes).

Outcomes

The main outcome measures are description of surgical technique, flap design possibilities, and postoperative complications.

Results

A total of 42 transgender women were included (median age: 28 years (range 18–66), mean body mass index: 24.5 ± 3.5). The mean penile length and width preoperatively were 9 ± 3.1 and 2.9 ± 0.2 cm, respectively. With a mean follow up of 13 ± 10 months, total flap necrosis occurred in one case (2.4%). Partial flap necrosis occurred also in one. Neovaginal reconstruction was successful in all patients with a mean vaginal depth of 13.5 ± 1.3 cm and width of 3.3 ± 1.3 cm. Partial prolapse of the neovaginal top occurred in 3 patients (7%).

Clinical Implications

The BPES-flap is a useful addition to the arsenal of surgeons performing feminizing genital reconstructive surgery.

Strengths & Limitations

Strenghts comprise (1) the description of the surgical technique with clear images, (2) completeness of data, and (3) that data are from a multicenter study. A weakness is the retrospective nature with limited follow-up time.

Conclusion

The BPES-flap is a vascularized scrotal flap that can be raised on the bilateral inferior superficial perineal arteries. It may be used for neovaginal depth creation during vaginoplasty and may be quicker to perform than full-thickness skin grafting.
Towards a Refined Chronology of Prehistoric Pitfall Hunting in Sweden
Authors: Hennius Andreas
Published: March 2020

Among the most prominent prehistoric features in the boreal forests of northern Sweden are trapping pits or pitfalls used for hunting elk and/or reindeer. Even if often ascribed to the Viking Age and its trade in furs and other animal products, the chronology of these features has long been a matter of debate. In this article, a database of 370 dated radiocarbon samples from excavated pitfalls has been compiled and analysed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) modelling to create the most elaborate chronology of Swedish trapping pit systems so far. The analysis shows that the most intensive period of construction of trapping pits was in the centuries before the Viking period. This challenges previous interpretations of Viking Age resource exploitation but is in line with several other recently published studies concerned with resource exploitation, non-agrarian production, and trade connecting northern Scandinavia with inter-regional trade networks.
Statewide surveillance of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species in Washington state, October 2012–December 2017
Authors: Precit Mimi R. , Kauber Kelly , Glover William A. , Weissman Scott J. , Robinson Tashina , Tran Michael , D’Angeli Marisa
Published: March 2020

Background:

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are common causes of healthcare-associated infections and are often multidrug resistant with limited therapeutic options. Additionally, CRE can spread within and between healthcare facilities, amplifying potential harms.

Objective:

To better understand the burden, risk factors, and source of acquisition of carbapenemase genes in clinical Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp isolates from patients in Washington to guide prevention efforts.

Design:

Multicenter prospective surveillance study.

Methods:

Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp isolates meeting the Washington state CRE surveillance case definition were solicited from clinical laboratories and tested at Washington Public Health Laboratories using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 5 most common carbapenemase genes: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, and blaOXA-48. Case patients positive by PCR were investigated by the public health department.

Results:

From October 2012 through December 2017, 363 carbapenem-resistant E. coli and Klebsiella spp isolates were tested. Overall, 45 of 115 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (39%), 1 of 8 K. oxytoca (12.5%), and 28 of 239 carbapenem-resistant E. coli (11.7%) were carbapenemase positive. Of 74 carbapenemase-positive isolates, blaKPC was most common (47%), followed by blaNDM (30%), blaOXA-48 (22%), and blaIMP (1%). Although all cases had healthcare exposure, blaKPC acquisition was associated with US health care, whereas non-blaKPC acquisition was associated with international health care or travel.

Conclusions:

We report that blaKPC, the most prevalent carbapenemase in the United States, accounts for nearly half of carbapenemase cases in Washington state and that most KPC-cases are likely acquired through in-state health care.
Navigating Formal and Informal Processes: Civic Organizations, Armed Nonstate Actors, and Nested Governance in Colombia
Authors: Larratt-Smith Charles
Published: March 2020

Despite the recent surge of scholarship on the role that civic organizations play in armed conflicts and postconflict settings, there is little consensus on how they interact with armed nonstate actors. This article examines how disparate armed nonstate actors can co-opt and manage preexisting civic organizations, and even create new ones, to embed themselves in civilian communities and perform governance functions while simultaneously advancing their ideological agendas. Employing a comparative historical analysis between two armed nonstate units in Colombia, one from a Marxist insurgent group and the other from a counterinsurgent paramilitary organization, the study demonstrates that regardless of their different ideological motivations, regional settings, and repertoires of violence, these actors could navigate formal processes related to legal economies, electoral contests, and bureaucratic-administrative institutions, and informal processes tied to illicit rackets and territorial and population control, more efficiently through their skilled management of local civic organizations.
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and associated socio-economic inequalities in the UK
Authors: Patel Linia , Alicandro Gianfranco , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: March 2020

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is an effective measure in the prevention and treatment of CVD. We evaluated recent trends in socio-economic differences in the DASH score in the UK population, using education, occupation and income as proxies of socio-economic position (SEP). We analysed data on 6416 subjects aged 18 years and older collected in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2016). The DASH score was calculated using sex-specific quintiles of DASH items. Multiple linear regression and quantile regression models were used to evaluate the trend in DASH score according to SEP. The mean DASH score was 24 (sd 5). The estimated mean difference between people with no qualification and those having the highest level of education was −3·61 (95 % CI −4·00, −3·22) points. The mean difference between subjects engaged in routine occupations and those engaged in high managerial and professional occupations was −3·41 (95 % CI −3·89, −2·93) points and for those in the first fifth and last fifth of the household income distribution was −2·71 (95 % CI −3·15, −2·28) points. DASH score improved over time, and no significant differences in the trend were observed across SEP. The widest socio-economic differences emerged for consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. Despite an overall increase in the DASH score, a persisting SEP gap was observed. This is an important limiting factor in reducing the high socio-economic inequality in CVD observed in the UK.
By now: Change of state, epistemic modality and evidential inference
Authors: ALTSHULER DANIEL , MICHAELIS LAURA A.
Published: March 2020

We examine the constellation of factors – lexical, aspectual, temporal and conversational – that give rise to evidential implications from assertions. We target intensional and inferential meanings associated with a certain class of present-tense state sentences: those containing a temporal adverb headed byby, e.g.The American traveling public is pretty mature by now. We ask why present-tense sentences containingbytemporal adverbs (BTAs) are improved by, and sometimes appear to require, an epistemic modal, e.g.They??(must)live in a mansion by now. Key to our analysis is the idea that BTA sentences require the onset of a resultant state described by the complement ofby nowto overlap some unspecified time that precedes the time described by the adverb. The indefiniteness of the unspecified time described by BTAs leads interpreters to pragmatically construe present-tense BTA reports as conjectures, guesses or suppositions. We show how our analysis can be extended to incorporate the contribution of epistemic modals. Adopting insights from von Fintel & Gillies (2010) and Mandelkern (2016), we hypothesize the manner in which the BTA change schema is instantiated in intensional contexts and discuss the relationship between intensional and evidential contexts. We see the merging of aspectual and epistemic features in BTA sentences, and in particular present-tense sentences, as the result of a semantic reconciliation procedure: the use of an epistemic modal in a BTA predication evokes an observation or act of reasoning, prior to speech time, which permits the speaker to make her assertion, and this inference trigger is identified with the ‘onset event’ in the BTA schema.
‘A Blot on English Justice’: India reformism and the rhetoric of virtual slavery
Authors: LEONARD ZAK
Published: March 2020

Beginning in the late 1830s, a coalition of non-conformists, abolitionists, free traders, and disenchanted East India Company proprietors began to vocally challenge the exploitative policies of the colonial state in British India. Led by lecturer George Thompson, these reformers pursued a rhetorical strategy of associating groups who were converted into ‘mere tools’ by the Company abroad and the aristocracy at home. These monopolistic entities degraded Indian peasant cultivators, the British working classes, and princely sovereigns alike through forms of ‘virtual slavery’ that persisted in the post-Emancipation empire. In staging these protests, reformers ran up against an adversarial Board of Control and Court of Directors who obstructed their efforts to mobilize public opinion. Probing their agitation reveals the existence of a particularly combative strain of liberal imperialist thought that defied the political status quo.
Voicing alternation and sigmatic causative prefixation in Tibetan
Authors: Jacques Guillaume
Published: March 2020

The present paper discusses the hypothesis according to which a devoicing sound shift*sb->sp-,*sd->st-,*sg->sk-took place in pre-Tibetan. I show that all examples supporting this putative sound shift have better explanations, and that this hypothesis creates more problems than it solves. In addition, I discuss data from modern Tibetic varieties, showing that no typological parallel for such a sound shift is attested.