bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desulfurization through Photocatalytic Oxidation: A Critical Review
Authors: Zhou Xiaoyu , Wang Tianyi , Liu Hang , Gao Xiaochun , Wang Chengyin , Wang Guoxiu
Published: November 2020

Fuel oil, the most important strategic resource, has been widely used in industrial applications. However, the sulfur‐containing compounds in fuel oil also present humanity with huge environmental issues and health concerns due to the hazardous combustion waste. To address this problem, the low vulcanization of fuel production technology has been intensively explored. Compared with traditional hydrodesulfurization technology, the newly emerged photocatalytic desulfurization has the advantages of milder operating conditions, lower energy consumption, and higher efficiency, holding great prospect to achieve deep desulfurization. Though great efforts have been made, the desulfurization catalysts still suffer from inferior light absorption, fast recombination of photocarriers, and poor structure modification. This Review summarizes recent development of photocatalytic desulfurization, including the desulfurization principle, current desulfurization challenges, and corresponding solutions. Particularly, the roles of defect engineering, hybrid coupling, and structure modifications in the enhancement of photocatalytic performance are emphasized. In addition, the photocatalytic desulfurization mechanism is also introduced with the .OH and .O2− radicals as main active species. Finally, some perspectives on the photocatalytic desulfurization are provided, which can further optimize the desulfurization efficiency and guide future photocatalyst design.
Preliminary Evidence on Measurement Characteristics for the Foundational Assessment of Competencies for Teaching Performance Tasks
Authors: Phelps Geoffrey , Bridgeman Brent , Yan Fred , Steinberg Jonathan , Weren Barbara , Zhou Jiawen
Published: November 2020

In this report we provide preliminary evidence on the measurement characteristics for a new type of teaching performance assessment designed to be combined with complementary assessments of teacher content knowledge. The resulting test, which we refer to as the Foundational Assessment of Competencies for Teaching (FACT), is designed for use as part of initial teacher licensure. Twenty elementary FACT performance tasks (10 for mathematics [MATH] and 10 for reading language arts [RLA]) were developed and then administered to 59 teacher candidates. The results from the pilot indicate that the performance tasks function as designed with candidates completing the tasks on average in approximately 3.5 min. Human raters were able to score the tasks quickly and accurately. All score points were well represented for all the scored tasks. Total scores for all tasks combined and subscores for reading language arts RLA and MATH had respective alpha reliabilities of .86, .77, and .79, with the scores well distributed across the scale. A large majority of teacher candidates participating in the study strongly endorsed the FACT tasks as authentic, assessing valuable competencies, and suitable for use as part of teacher licensure. These preliminary results indicate that the FACT performance tasks show great promise for use in large‐scale, high‐stakes testing programs that seek to provide evidence of both the knowledge and skills needed for effective teaching.
Is the quality of reviews reflected in editors' and authors' satisfaction with peer review? A cross‐sectional study in 12 journals across four research fields
Authors: Pranić Shelly M. , Malički Mario , Marušić Stjepan Ljudevit , Mehmani Bahar , Marušić Ana
Published: November 2020

Perception of review quality by authors and editors may play a vital role in helping to keep the peer review process constructive. Comprehensive studies examining author and editor perceptions of reviews of manuscripts from different disciplines are rare. We assessed satisfaction of corresponding authors and opinions of editors with reviewer‐generated reports and reviewers' recommendations and checked whether there was association between authors' and editors' perceptions and recommendations in 12 Elsevier journals across four disciplines. We used a modified Review Quality Instrument (RQI) to measure review quality for 809 unique manuscripts from which we accessed 1,313 reviews and recommendations, 331 authors' perception of the review's helpfulness before editor's decision, and 541 editor's opinions regarding both review timeliness and impact on decision. Authors were most satisfied with reviews that recommended acceptance compared to revision or rejection. Reviews that recommended revisions had highest quality as reflected by the RQI. Authors highly rated their satisfaction with review constructiveness from natural sciences, and editors for the same subject also highly rated timeliness and reviews' influence on publication. Editors' opinion regarding the impact of review on their publication decision and RQI were associated. Our findings suggest that more constructive reviews may better guide the editorial decision‐making process.
Assessment of carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacteriaceae—plate formula and quality control procedure
Authors: Tran Thanh C. , Pham Binh T. , Pham Van H. , Ngo The A. , Hanberger Håkan , Larsson Mattias , Olson Linus
Published: November 2020

Aims

To assess a cost‐effective in‐house selective plate formula for actively screening carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

Methodology and results

The in‐house formula included CHROMagarTM Orientation, meropenem, and ingredients present in the Mac‐Conkey formula, such as bile salts and crystal violet (pH 6.9‐7.2). American Type Culture Collection strains and 200 clinical strains were used to validate the plate formula. The CRE plates had a sensitivity of 97.4% and a specificity of 98.8% with ATCC andor clinical strains used in the quality control procedure. A point prevalence survey among the 18 inpatients at Viet‐Tiep hospital ICU using fecal swabs plated at the in‐house agar plate showed a CRE prevalence of 44.4%.

Conclusion

The in‐house plate had high sensitivity and specificity, particularly for Escherichia coli and the KESC group (Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Serratia marscescens, and Citrobacter spp.), and it may be widely applied as an alternative to other ready‐to‐use commercial plates.

Significance and impact of the study

The formula developed in the present study may facilitate the early detection and isolation of CRE and decrease transmission, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries with a high rate of CRE colonization and limited access to ready‐to‐use commercial plates.
Levodopa Versus Dopamine Agonist after Subthalamic Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Picillo Marina , Phokaewvarangkul Onanong , Poon Yu‐Yan , McIntyre Cameron C. , Beylergil Sinem Balta , Munhoz Renato P. , Kalia Suneil K. , Hodaie Mojgan , Lozano Andres M. , Fasano Alfonso
Published: November 2020

Background

No clinical trials have been specifically designed to compare medical treatments after surgery in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective

Study's objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of levodopa versus dopamine agonist monotherapy after deep brain stimulation (DBS) in PD.

Methods

Thirty‐five surgical candidates were randomly assigned to receive postoperative monotherapy with either levodopa or dopamine agonist in a randomized, single‐blind study. All patients were reevaluated in short‐ (3 months), mid‐ (6 months), and long‐term (2.5 years) follow‐up after surgery. The primary outcome measure was the change in the Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) 3 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were the percentage of patients maintaining monotherapy, change in motor symptoms, and specific non‐motor symptoms (NMS). Analysis was performed primarily in the intention‐to‐treat population.

Results

Randomization did not significantly affect the primary outcome (difference in NMSS between treatment groups was 4.88 [95% confidence interval: −11.78–21.53, P = 0.566]). In short‐ and mid‐term follow‐up, monotherapy was safe and feasible in more than half of patients (60% in short‐ and 51.5% in mid‐term follow‐up), but it was more often possible for patients on levodopa. The ability to maintain dopamine agonist monotherapy was related to optimal contact location. In the long term, levodopa monotherapy was feasible only in a minority of patients (34.2%), whereas dopamine agonist monotherapy was not tolerated due to worsening of motor conditions or occurrence of impulse control disorders.

Conclusions

This trial provides evidence for simplifying pharmacological treatment after functional neurosurgery for PD. The reduction in dopamine receptor agonists should be attempted while monitoring for occurrence of NMSs, such as apathy and sleep disturbances. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A novel mutation in PLS3 causes extremely rare X‐linked osteogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Hu Jing , Li Lu‐jiao , Zheng Wen‐bin , Zhao Di‐chen , Wang Ou , Jiang Yan , Xing Xiao‐ping , Li Mei , Xia Weibo
Published: November 2020

Background

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous bone disease characterized by bone fragility and recurrent fractures. X‐linked inherited OI with mutation in PLS3 is so rare that its genotype–phenotype characteristics are not available.

Methods

We designed a novel targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) panel with the candidate genes of OI to detect pathogenic mutations and confirmed them by Sanger sequencing. The phenotypes of the patients were also investigated.

Results

The proband, a 12‐year‐old boy from a nonconsanguineous family, experienced multiple fractures of long bones and vertebrae and had low bone mineral density (BMD Z‐score of −3.2 to −2.0). His younger brother also had extremity fractures. A novel frameshift mutation (c.1106_1107insGAAA; p.Phe369Leufs*5) in exon 10 of PLS3 was identified in the two patients, which was inherited from their mother who had normal BMD. Blue sclerae were the only extraskeletal symptom in all affected individuals. Zoledronic acid was beneficial for increasing BMD and reshaping the compressed vertebral bodies of the proband.

Conclusion

We first identify a novel mutation in PLS3 that led to rare X‐linked OI and provide practical information for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
The optimal homotopy analysis method applied on nonlinear time‐fractional hyperbolic partial differential equations
Authors: Bahia Ghenaiet , Ouannas Adel , Batiha Iqbal M. , Odibat Zaid
Published: November 2020

In this article, the most recent version of an optimal homotopy analysis method (HAM), called linearization‐based approach of HAM or simply LHAM, has been applied to obtain a numerical solution of one of the principal nonlinear fractional‐order hyperbolic problems known as the time‐fractional hyperbolic partial differential equation. Such method is constructed based on employing Taylor series linearization method in order to design an optimal auxiliary linear operator with its corresponding optimal initial guessing. These two optimum contributors will accelerate the convergence of series solutions for the problem at hand. Several numerical comparisons have revealed the efficiency of the proposed method in obtaining a numerical solution of the problem rather than that solution presented by using the standard HAM. All theoretical findings in this work have been verified numerically using MATLAB software package.
Maize brace roots provide stalk anchorage
Authors: Reneau Jonathan W. , Khangura Rajdeep S. , Stager Adam , Erndwein Lindsay , Weldekidan Teclemariam , Cook Douglas D. , Dilkes Brian P. , Sparks Erin E.
Published: November 2020

Mechanical failure, known as lodging, negatively impacts yield and grain quality in crops. Limiting crop loss from lodging requires an understanding of the plant traits that contribute to lodging‐resistance. In maize, specialized aerial brace roots are reported to reduce root lodging. However, their direct contribution to plant biomechanics has not been measured. In this manuscript, we use a non‐destructive field‐based mechanical test on plants before and after the removal of brace roots. This precisely determines the contribution of brace roots to establish a rigid base (i.e. stalk anchorage) that limits plant deflection in maize. These measurements demonstrate that the more brace root whorls that contact the soil, the greater their overall contribution to anchorage, but that the contributions of each whorl to anchorage were not equal. Previous studies demonstrated that the number of nodes that produce brace roots is correlated with flowering time in maize. To determine if flowering time selection alters the brace root contribution to anchorage, a subset of the Hallauer's Tusón tropical population was analyzed. Despite significant variation in flowering time and anchorage, selection neither altered the number of brace root whorls in the soil nor the overall contribution of brace roots to anchorage. These results demonstrate that brace roots provide a rigid base in maize and that the contribution of brace roots to anchorage was not linearly related to flowering time.
The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients' lives: The perception of the health professionals
Authors: Rafaelli de Carvalho Débora , Araújo de Castro Larissa , Morita Andrea Akemi , Loyola Walter Sepúlveda , Fujisawa Dirce Shizuko , Probst Vanessa Suziane
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The perception of health professionals about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been thoroughly investigated.

Objective

To analyze the perception of health professionals about the impact of COPD on the lives of affected individuals.

Materials and methods

Qualitative and cross‐sectional study with five health professionals: two nurses, two physiotherapists, and one medical doctor. They participated in a focus group (FG) session, with semistructured questions covering: definition of COPD, activities of daily living (ADL), and physical activity of daily living (PADL), as well as the importance of these outcomes in the lives of individuals with COPD.

Data analysis

The FG was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to the content analysis.

Results

The FG highlighted four main themes: physical‐functional and emotional impairment of individuals, the importance of patient‐health professional contact, repercussions of COPD on the patients' physical activity, and strategies for promoting physical activity. Based on the four themes exposed, the health professionals reported that there is a progression in the lives of individuals' with COPD, which is divided into three phases: adaptation, reluctance, and dependence.

Conclusion

There was a negative perception of the health professionals regarding the functionality and emotion of patients with COPD. Emotional aspects, family support, and architectural structure can positively or negatively influence patients' ADL and PADL. Finally, there was a perception of progression in the life of patients with COPD, since their initial adaptation, evolving to physical and emotional dependence.
Nanodiscs: A toolkit for membrane protein science
Authors: Sligar Stephen G. , Denisov Ilia G.
Published: November 2020

Membrane proteins are involved in numerous vital biological processes, including transport, signal transduction and the enzymes in a variety of metabolic pathways. Integral membrane proteins account for up to 30% of the human proteome and they make up more than half of all currently marketed therapeutic targets. Unfortunately, membrane proteins are inherently recalcitrant to study using the normal toolkit available to scientists, and one is most often left with the challenge of finding inhibitors, activators and specific antibodies using a denatured or detergent solubilized aggregate. The Nanodisc platform circumvents these challenges by providing a self‐assembled system that renders typically insoluble, yet biologically and pharmacologically significant, targets such as receptors, transporters, enzymes, and viral antigens soluble in aqueous media in a native‐like bilayer environment that maintain a target's functional activity. By providing a bilayer surface of defined composition and structure, Nanodiscs have found great utility in the study of cellular signaling complexes that assemble on a membrane surface. Nanodiscs provide a nanometer scale vehicle for the in vivo delivery of amphipathic drugs, therapeutic lipids, tethered nucleic acids, imaging agents and active protein complexes. This means for generating nanoscale lipid bilayers has spawned the successful use of numerous other polymer and peptide amphipathic systems. This review, in celebration of the Anfinsen Award, summarizes some recent results and provides an inroad into the current and historical literature.
Frontlines of COVID‐19: Lead, learn and cure
Authors: Kadri Shakeel , Davis Ana , Clancy Cornelius , Payne James David , Klejst Stephen
Published: November 2020

We are very pleased and privileged to share this article that was developed from the “Frontlines of COVID‐19: Lead, Learn and Cure” panel discussion held at the virtual AIChE 2020 Spring Meeting and GCPS. The intent of this panel was to have a team of diversified experts share their experience in managing COVID‐19 risks through the application of robust corporate leadership and culture, transformational incident investigation techniques, recent learnings from medicinal developments, as well as highlight the important role of the scientific community in the management of COVID‐19 risks.
Localization for precision navigation in agricultural fields—Beyond crop row following
Authors: Winterhalter Wera , Fleckenstein Freya , Dornhege Christian , Burgard Wolfram
Published: November 2020

The growing world population calls for more efficient and sustainable farming technologies. Automating agricultural tasks has great potential to improve farming technologies. A key requirement for full automation is the ability of agricultural vehicles to accurately navigate entire fields without damaging value crops. One important precondition for autonomous navigation is localization, that is, the ability of a vehicle to accurately estimate its pose relative to the crops. A majority of localization approaches detect crop rows to track the heading and lateral offset of the vehicle. This is sufficient to guide the vehicle along crop rows while driving inside the field. However, switching between rows requires a longitudinal pose estimate to determine when to turn at the end of the field. Additionally, at the end of the field sensor data contains less crop row structure and more noise from wild growing vegetation. This can lead to false‐positive crop row detections. In this paper, we present a localization approach that goes beyond state‐of‐the‐art crop row following algorithms by providing robust pose estimates not only inside the field but also at the end of the field. The underlying concept of our approach is to estimate the vehicle pose relative to a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)‐referenced map of crop rows. This allows us to fuse crop row detections with GNSS signals to obtain a pose estimate with the accuracy comparable to a row following approach in the heading and lateral offset, while at the same time maintaining at least GNSS accuracy along the row. Employing a GNSS‐referenced map of crop rows poses several challenges. To relate the detected crop rows to those in the map, we propose a data association strategy that finds correspondences between two sets of lines, that is, crop rows. Furthermore, we improve the GNSS‐based longitudinal pose estimate by detecting the end of the field from vegetation data. Additionally, we introduce a novel method to determine false‐positive crop row detections to increase the overall robustness in particular in challenging scenarios at the end of the field. Extensive real‐world experiments on three different types of crops demonstrate that our localization approach is well suited for fully autonomous navigation in entire fields.
Impact of cancer history on clinical outcome in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral repair
Authors: Tabata Noriaki , Weber Marcel , Sugiura Atsushi , Öztürk Can , Tsujita Kenichi , Nickenig Georg , Sinning Jan-Malte
Published: November 2020

Background

Little is known about the prevalence of a history of cancer and its impact on clinical outcome in mitral regurgitation (MR) patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR).

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of cancer, baseline inflammatory parameters, and clinical outcome in MR patients undergoing TMVR.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing a MitraClip procedure were enrolled, and the patients were stratified into two groups: cancer and non-cancer. Baseline complete blood counts (CBC) with differential hemograms were collected prior to the procedure to calculate the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). All-cause death within a one-year was examined.

Results

In total, 82 out of 446 patients (18.4%) had a history of cancer. Cancer patients had a significantly higher baseline PLR [181.4 (121.1–263.9) vs. 155.4 (109.4–210.4);P = 0.012] and NLR [5.4 (3.5–8.3) vs. 4.0 (2.9–6.1);P = 0.002] than non-cancer patients. A Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that cancer patients had a significantly worse prognosis than non-cancer (estimated 1-year mortality, 20.2 vs. 9.2%; log-rankP = 0.009), and multivariable analyses of three models showed that cancer history was an independent factor for 1-year mortality. Patients who died during follow-up had a significantly higher baseline PLR [214.2 (124.2–296.7) vs. 156.3 (110.2–212.1);P = 0.007] and NLR [6.4 (4.2–12.5) vs. 4.0 (2.9–6.2);P < 0.001] than survivors.

Conclusions

In MitraClip patients, a history of cancer was associated with higher inflammatory parameters and worse prognosis compared to non-cancer patients.

Graphical Abstract

Central Illustration. Clinical outcomes and baseline PLR and NLR values accord-ing to one-year mortality. (Left) Patients who died within the follow-up period had a significantly higher baseline PLR (214.2 [124.2–296.7] vs 156.3 [110.2–212.1];P= 0.007) and NLR (6.4 [4.2–12.5] vs 4.0 [2.9–6.2];P< 0.001) than patients who survived. PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (Right) A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that cancer patients had a significantly worse prognosis than non-cancer patients (estimated one-year mortality, 20.2 vs 9.2%; log-rankP= 0.009).
Do discontinuities in marginal reimbursement affect inpatient psychiatric care in Germany?
Authors: Pott Clara , Stargardt Tom , Schneider Udo , Frey Simon
Published: November 2020

This paper examines the behaviour of mental health care providers in response to marginal payment incentives induced by a discontinuous per diem reimbursement schedule with varying tariff rates over the length of stay. The analyses use administrative data on 12,627 cases treated in 82 psychiatric hospitals and wards in Germany. We investigate whether substantial reductions in marginal reimbursement per inpatient day led to strategic discharge behaviour once a certain length of stay threshold is exceeded. The data do not show gaps and bunches at the duration of treatment when marginal reimbursement decreases. Using logistic regression models, we find that providers did not react to discontinuities in marginal reimbursement by significantly reducing inpatient length of stay around the threshold. These findings are robust in terms of different model specifications and subsamples. The results indicate that if regulators aim to set incentives to decrease LOS, this might not be achieved by cuts in reimbursement over LOS.
Implementing and modifying Broyden class updates for large scale optimization
Authors: Buhmann Martin , Siegel Dirk
Published: November 2020

We consider Broyden class updates for large scale optimization problems in n dimensions, restricting attention to the case when the initial second derivative approximation is the identity matrix. Under this assumption we present an implementation of the Broyden class based on a coordinate transformation on each iteration. It requires only $$2nk + O(k^{2}) + O(n)$$

2
n
k
+
O

(

k
2

)

+
O

(
n
)

multiplications on the kth iteration and stores $$nK+ O(K^2) + O(n)$$

n
K
+
O

(

K
2

)

+
O

(
n
)

numbers, where K is the total number of iterations. We investigate a modification of this algorithm by a scaling approach and show a substantial improvement in performance over the BFGS method. We also study several adaptations of the new implementation to the limited memory situation, presenting algorithms that work with a fixed amount of storage independent of the number of iterations. We show that one such algorithm retains the property of quadratic termination. The practical performance of the new methods is compared with the performance of Nocedal’s (Math Comput 35:773--782, 1980) method, which is considered the benchmark in limited memory algorithms. The tests show that the new algorithms can be significantly more efficient than Nocedal’s method. Finally, we show how a scaling technique can significantly improve both Nocedal’s method and the new generalized conjugate gradient algorithm.
A new constraint programming model and solving for the cyclic hoist scheduling problem
Authors: Wallace Mark , Yorke-Smith Neil
Published: November 2020

The cyclic hoist scheduling problem (CHSP) is a well-studied optimisation problem due to its importance in industry. Despite the wide range of solving techniques applied to the CHSP and its variants, the models have remained complicated and inflexible, or have failed to scale up with larger problem instances. This article re-examines modelling of the CHSP and proposes a new simple, flexible constraint programming formulation. We compare current state-of-the-art solving technologies on this formulation, and show that modelling in a high-level constraint language, MiniZinc, leads to both a simple, generic model and to computational results that outperform the state of the art. We further demonstrate that combining integer programming and lazy clause generation, using the multiple cores of modern processors, has potential to improve over either solving approach alone.
Chemical and structural properties of reduced graphene oxide—dependence on the reducing agent
Authors: Lesiak B. , Trykowski G. , Tóth J. , Biniak S. , Kövér L. , Rangam N. , Stobinski L. , Malolepszy A.
Published: November 2020

Graphene oxide (GO) prepared from graphite powder using a modified Hummers method and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) obtained from GO using different reductants, i.e., sodium borohydride, hydrazine, formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide and L-ascorbic acid, were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman, infrared and electron spectroscopic methods. The GO and rGOs’ stacking nanostructure (flake) size (height x diameter), interlayer distance, average number of layers, distance between defects, elementary composition, content of oxygen groups, C sp3 and vacancy defects were determined. Different reductants applied to GO led to modification of carbon to oxygen ratio, carbon lattice (vacancy) and C sp3 defects with various in-depth distribution of C sp3 due to oxygen group reduction proceeding as competing processes at different rates between interstitial layers and in planes. The reduction using sodium borohydride and hydrazine in contrary to other reductants results in a larger content of vacancy defects than in GO. The thinnest flakes rGO obtained using sodium borohydride reductant exhibits the largest content of vacancy, C sp3 defects and hydroxyl group accompanied by the smallest content of epoxy, carboxyl and carbonyl groups due to a mechanism of carbonyl and carboxyl group reduction to hydroxyl groups. This rGO similar diameter to GO seems to result from a predominant reduction rate between the interstitial layers. The thicker flakes of a smaller diameter than in GO are obtained in rGOs prepared using remaining reductants and result from a higher rate of reduction of in plane defects.
Fermions Meet Two Bosons—the Heteronuclear Efimov Effect Revisited
Authors: Tran Binh , Rautenberg Michael , Gerken Manuel , Lippi Eleonora , Zhu Bing , Ulmanis Juris , Drescher Moritz , Salmhofer Manfred , Enss Tilman , Weidemüller Matthias
Published: November 2020

In this article, we revisit the heteronuclear Efimov effect in a Bose-Fermi mixture with large mass difference in the Born-Oppenheimer picture. As a specific example, we consider the combination of bosonic 133Cs and fermionic 6Li. In a system consisting of two heavy bosons and one light fermion, the fermion-mediated potential between the two heavy bosons gives rise to an infinite series of three-body bound states. The intraspecies scattering length determines the three-body parameter and the scaling factor between consecutive Efimov states. In a second scenario, we replace the single fermion by an entire Fermi Sea at zero temperature. The emerging interaction potential for the two bosons exhibits long-range oscillations leading to a weakening of the binding and a breakup of the infinite series of Efimov states. In this scenario, the binding energies follow a modified Efimov scaling law incorporating the Fermi momentum. The scaling factor between deeply bound states is governed by the intraspecies interaction, analogous to the Efimov states in vacuum.
Backlash Against Globalisation and the Shadow of Phobos
Authors: Rewizorski Marek
Published: November 2020

This article addresses challenges to the established international order. Its critique becomes particularly discernible at the domestic level, where political and economic frameworks are contested by electorates and anti-establishment movements in Western countries, engulfed by anti-globalisation sentiments and disillusioned with the asymmetric formula of globalisation. Populism implies that the ‘social revolt’ facing the West today, regardless of whether it takes place in France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, the UK or the USA, is not a legitimate response to deep-seated problems but rather is the problem itself. The main aims of this article are to investigate what has caused this surge of support for populism in the West; what the role of the default system of economic governance is in inspiring populist resentment; and, finally, what the identity crisis, stemming from ‘hyperglobalisation’, and wrecking the social order in Western societies has to do with fear, (un)fairness and the redistributive effects of economic globalisation.
Art in Corporate Governance: a Deweyan Perspective on Board Experience
Authors: Nordberg Donald
Published: November 2020

Corporate governance sits at the intersection of many disciplines, among them law, business, management, finance, and accounting. The point of departure for large portions of this literature concerns the ugliness of greed, ambition, misdemeanors, and malfeasance of corporations, their directors, and those actors who hold shares in them. This essay takes a rather different starting point. Drawing upon insights from a distant field, it uses the discussion of aesthetics in Dewey’s treatise on art to ask what motivates directors to act in ways that constitute the attention and engagement that we associate with the effectiveness of boards. Using Dewey’s thinking about aesthetic experience, this paper examines the experience of organization boards, both in the literature and in the personal experience of the author. These observations point to need to reflect on motivation when considering both the practice of corporate governance and the policy frameworks in which it operates.
The threat of thinking in threats: reframing global health during and after COVID-19
Authors: Sondermann Elena , Ulbert Cornelia
Published: November 2020

Narratives and metaphors shape how actors perceive the world around them and how policymakers frame the range of policy choices they think of as feasible. The metaphor of war and the narrative of how to tackle the unprecedented threat of COVID-19 are effective mechanisms to convey urgency. However, they also bear serious implications: Thinking in terms of health threats works with a logic of exceptionalism, which supports images of “us” vs. an “enemy” thereby shortening complex lines of causality and responsibility and privileging national answers. It fails to provide for a normative framework for drafting long-term systemic approaches. In this contribution, we critically engage with existing narratives of global health security and show how the logic of exceptionalism is limiting the current responses to the pandemic. We conceptualize an alternative narrative that is based on the logic of solidarity and argue that within this alternative framing a more sustainable and ultimately more just way of coping with infectious diseases will be possible.
Identifying Anticipated Events of Future Clinical Trials by Leveraging Data from the Placebo Arms of Completed Trials
Authors: Tan Xiang-Lin , Kern David M. , Cepeda M. Soledad
Published: November 2020

Background

An important component of a systematic strategy for safety surveillance is prospective identification of anticipated serious adverse events (SAEs). Developing a structured approach to identify anticipated events and estimating their incidence can help align the safety strategy and the safety surveillance efforts.

Methods

We developed a novel approach to identify anticipated events for a hypothetical randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in subjects with bipolar disorder using the adverse events reported in the placebo arm of trials from the ClinicalTrials.gov database. We searched the ClinicalTrials.gov database for all trials on bipolar depression with similar inclusion/exclusion criteria and study duration as our hypothetical study. The frequencies of anticipated events in placebo arms were abstracted from each trial and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the Clopper–Pearson method. Meta-analysis with a random effects model was performed to obtain a summary estimate and 95% CI for the events identified in more than one trial.

Results

A total of 129 clinical trials were initially identified, and 18 were ultimately selected as they met all the selection criteria. There were 69 unique anticipated SAEs identified, and 13 out of 69 were reported in at least 2 clinical trials. The top 5 anticipated SAEs for our study were: (1) hospitalization, psychiatric symptom (3.57%); (2) suicidal behavior, overdose (3.57%), (3) cholecystitis (2.86%); (4) fall (2.86%); (5) road traffic accident, injury (2.86%).

Conclusion

We successfully identified the anticipated events from registered trials that included a population similar to our trial. This method for identifying anticipated events could be applied to other disease areas.
Environmental Recourse at the Multilateral Development Banks
Authors: Park Susan
Published: November 2020

Global governance now provides people with recourse for harm through International Grievance Mechanisms, such as the Independent Accountability Mechanisms of the Multilateral Development Banks. Yet little is known about how such mechanisms work. This Element examines how IGMs provide recourse for infringements of three procedural environmental rights: access to information, access to participation, and access to justice in environmental matters, as well as environmental protections drawn from the United Nations Guiding Principles and the World Bank's protection standards. A content analysis of 394 original IAM claims details how people invoke these rights. The sections then unpack how the IAMs provide community engagement through 'problem solving', and 'compliance investigations' that identify whether the harm resulted from the MDBs. Using a database of all known submissions to the IAMs (1,052 claims from 1994 to mid-2019), this Element demonstrate how the IAMs enable people to air their grievances, without necessarily solving their problems.
‘The issue of the Mediterranean and the colonies has now moved to the forefront of cultural life’: curating museums and curating the nation in Fascist Italy's colonies
Authors: Falcucci Beatrice
Published: November 2020

The Fascist model of exhibiting power and placing it in museum settings had its origins in the Liberal exhibitions of the late nineteenth century, and in the first exhibitions devoted to the Risorgimento. However, the regime's museum initiatives were numerous, innovative and varied, and many of them have not yet been adequately investigated; those launched in Italy's colonies, in particular, remain largely unexplored. This article highlights the surprisingly extensive network of museums and temporary exhibitions that Fascism initiated in Italian possessions abroad, involving prominent figures from the regime and contemporary culture, and shows how science, culture and nation-building (in both the colonies and the mother country, and between them) were interwoven in the Fascist museological project for the colonies.
Prediction of depression symptoms in individual subjects with face and eye movement tracking
Authors: Stolicyn Aleks , Steele J. Douglas , Seriès Peggy
Published: November 2020

Background

Depression is a challenge to diagnose reliably and the current gold standard for trials of DSM-5 has been in agreement between two or more medical specialists. Research studies aiming to objectively predict depression have typically used brain scanning. Less expensive methods from cognitive neuroscience may allow quicker and more reliable diagnoses, and contribute to reducing the costs of managing the condition. In the current study we aimed to develop a novel inexpensive system for detecting elevated symptoms of depression based on tracking face and eye movements during the performance of cognitive tasks.

Methods

In total, 75 participants performed two novel cognitive tasks with verbal affective distraction elements while their face and eye movements were recorded using inexpensive cameras. Data from 48 participants (mean age 25.5 years, standard deviation of 6.1 years, 25 with elevated symptoms of depression) passed quality control and were included in a case-control classification analysis with machine learning.

Results

Classification accuracy using cross-validation (within-study replication) reached 79% (sensitivity 76%, specificity 82%), when face and eye movement measures were combined. Symptomatic participants were characterised by less intense mouth and eyelid movements during different stages of the two tasks, and by differences in frequencies and durations of fixations on affectively salient distraction words.

Conclusions

Elevated symptoms of depression can be detected with face and eye movement tracking during the cognitive performance, with a close to clinically-relevant accuracy (~80%). Future studies should validate these results in larger samples and in clinical populations.
SUBGEOMETRICALLY ERGODIC AUTOREGRESSIONS
Authors: Meitz Mika , Saikkonen Pentti
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we discuss how the notion of subgeometric ergodicity in Markov chain theory can be exploited to study stationarity and ergodicity of nonlinear time series models. Subgeometric ergodicity means that the transition probability measures converge to the stationary measure at a rate slower than geometric. Specifically, we consider suitably defined higher-order nonlinear autoregressions that behave similarly to a unit root process for large values of the observed series but we place almost no restrictions on their dynamics for moderate values of the observed series. Results on the subgeometric ergodicity of nonlinear autoregressions have previously appeared only in the first-order case. We provide an extension to the higher-order case and show that the autoregressions we consider are, under appropriate conditions, subgeometrically ergodic. As useful implications, we also obtain stationarity and
$\beta $
-mixing with subgeometrically decaying mixing coefficients.
Spontaneous regression of Markel cell carcinoma in anterior mediastinum without cutaneous involvement
Authors: Nguyen My-Lien , Melton M. Kole , Ahmad Salahuddin , Henson Christina
Published: November 2020

Background:

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy typically involving the skin. The majority of MCC involves the head/neck region and the extremities. Despite the aggressive nature of the disease, there have been several case studies that report spontaneous regression. We report a unique case of spontaneous regression of an MCC in a peculiar region in the anterior mediastinum with no cutaneous involvement.

Methods:

A 50-year-old man who presented with a mobile low anterior neck mass, proven by biopsy, to be MCC. Subsequent PET/CT confirmed an FDG (Flurodeoxyglucose)-avid upper mediastinal mass. The mass gradually regressed over the course of 1 month subsequent to biopsy and was no longer palpable on exam or visible on subsequent CT scans. The patient was treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy with a total dose of 6,160 cGy in 28 fractions to the site of previously visible primary disease. At-risk nodal basins were also treated. On subsequent follow-up, the patient continued to have no clinical or radiographic signs of disease.

Discussion:

Spontaneous regression of an MCC is rare but has been reported mostly in the head/neck region following biopsy. It is unknown why spontaneous regression occurs. There is a possibility that biopsy may stimulate T-lymphocytes resulting in spontaneous regression.

Conclusion:

This is the first case to our knowledge of spontaneous regression of an MCC in the anterior mediastinum with no cutaneous involvement. Most MCC are seen clinically due to skin changes with a majority of cases occurring in the head/neck region.
Planar suspended line technique based UWB-MIMO antenna having dual-band notching characteristics
Authors: Vyas Kirti , Yadav Rajendra Prasad
Published: November 2020

This communication reports significant isolation improvement utilizing planar suspended line (PSL) technique in ultra wideband (UWB) antenna for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) application. The antenna exhibits dual-band notched characteristic in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) band covering 5.45–5.85 GHz range; and in 7.15–7.95 GHz range for X-band downlink operations in satellite communication. Band-notching characteristics have been obtained by employing a single Elliptical Split Ring Resonator (ESSR) placed adjacent to each microstrip feed line of the radiating element and duo of “Y”-shaped strips employed within the circular ring of individual radiating elements. Two elements antenna occupy a compact space of 20 × 36 × 1.6 mm3 exhibiting huge measured impedance bandwidth (S11/S22 < −10 dB) covering 3.1–11.5 GHz and significant isolation of >21 dB in the almost entire band of operation. The electrical performance of antennas has been analyzed in terms of various MIMO parameters. Measured results demonstrate good accord with simulated results proving the competency of proposed antenna in high-density package systems and massive MIMO applications.
Author Correction: Mild maternal sleep-disordered breathing during pregnancy and offspring growth and adiposity in the first 3 years of life
Authors: Brener Avivit , Lebenthal Yael , Levy Sigal , Dunietz Galit Levi , Sever Orna , Tauman Riva
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: Development and validation of a sample entropy-based method to identify complex patient-ventilator interactions during mechanical ventilation
Authors: Sarlabous Leonardo , Aquino‑Esperanza José , Magrans Rudys , de Haro Candelaria , López‑Aguilar Josefina , Subirà Carles , Batlle Montserrat , Rué Montserrat , Gomà Gemma , Ochagavia Ana , Fernández Rafael , Blanch Lluís
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Author Correction: Chemical signal is in the blend: bases of plant-pollinator encounter in a highly specialized interaction
Authors: Proffit Magali , Lapeyre Benoit , Buatois Bruno , Deng Xiaoxia , Arnal Pierre , Gouzerh Flora , Carrasco David , Hossaert-McKey Martine
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
CaMuS: simultaneous fitting and de novo imputation of cancer mutational signature
Authors: Cartolano Maria , Abedpour Nima , Achter Viktor , Yang Tsun-Po , Ackermann Sandra , Fischer Matthias , Peifer Martin
Published: November 2020

The identification of the mutational processes operating in tumour cells has implications for cancer diagnosis and therapy. These processes leave mutational patterns on the cancer genomes, which are referred to as mutational signatures. Recently, 81 mutational signatures have been inferred using computational algorithms on sequencing data of 23,879 samples. However, these published signatures may not always offer a comprehensive view on the biological processes underlying tumour types that are not included or underrepresented in the reference studies. To circumvent this problem, we designed CaMuS (Cancer Mutational Signatures) to construct de novo signatures while simultaneously fitting publicly available mutational signatures. Furthermore, we propose to estimate signature similarity by comparing probability distributions using the Hellinger distance. We applied CaMuS to infer signatures of mutational processes in poorly studied cancer types. We used whole genome sequencing data of 56 neuroblastoma, thus providing evidence for the versatility of CaMuS. Using simulated data, we compared the performance of CaMuS to sigfit, a recently developed algorithm with comparable inference functionalities. CaMuS and sigfit reconstructed the simulated datasets with similar accuracy; however two main features may argue for CaMuS over sigfit: (i) superior computational performance and (ii) a reliable parameter selection method to avoid spurious signatures.
Platelet PD-L1 suppresses anti-cancer immune cell activity in PD-L1 negative tumors
Authors: Zaslavsky Alexander B. , Adams M. P. , Cao X. , Maj T. , Choi J. E. , Stangl-Kremser J. , Patel S. , Putelo A. , Lee S. K. , Nallandhighal S. , Kasputis A. , Alva A. , Lew M. , Qin A. , Mehra R. , Morgan T. M. , Salami S. S. , Reichert Z. , Udager A. , Zou W. , Palapattu Ganesh S.
Published: November 2020

Strategies that interfere with the binding of the receptor programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) to programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) have shown marked efficacy against many advanced cancers, including those that are negative for PD-L1. Precisely why patients with PD-L1 negative tumors respond to PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibition remains unclear. Here, we show that platelet-derived PD-L1 regulates the growth of PD-L1 negative tumors and that interference with platelet binding to PD-L1 negative cancer cells promotes T cell-induced cancer cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the successful outcomes of PD-L1 based therapies in patients with PD-L1 negative tumors may be explained, in part, by the presence of intra-tumoral platelets. Altogether, our findings demonstrate the impact of non-cancer/non-immune cell sources of PD-L1 in the tumor microenvironment in the promotion of cancer cell immune evasion. Our study also provides a compelling rationale for future testing of PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor therapies in combination with antiplatelet agents, in patients with PD-L1 negative tumors.
A black-box approach to the construction of metal-radical multispin systems and analysis of their magnetic properties
Authors: Kadilenko E. M. , Gritsan N. P. , Tretyakov E. V. , Fokin S. V. , Romanenko G. V. , Bogomyakov A. S. , Gorbunov D. E. , Schollmeyer D. , Baumgarten M. , Ovcharenko V. I.
Published: November 2020

The metal cation-induced transformation of nitronyl-nitroxide diradicals led to formation of the binuclear Mn(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes with six paramagnetic centres, their magnetic properties were analysed using high-level calculations.