bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental disaster and women self‐sustainability—A survey study on microfinance female clientele in Pakistan
Authors: Hameed Waseem Ul , Haseeb Muhammad , Iqbal Jawad , Mihardjo Leonardus W. W. , Jermsittiparsert Kittisak
Published: December 2020

The prime objective of this study is to investigate the role of microfinance institutions towards women's self‐sustainability in Pakistan because women are the most vulnerable community in Pakistan and in the world, too. Due to various issues like gender discrimination, women's self‐sustainability is quite low, and this accounts for the negligible contribution of women in Pakistan's economy (up to 20 to 25%). In addressing this issue, the current study adopted a quantitative research approach and cross‐sectional research design. By using a survey questionnaire, data were collected from female clients of microfinance institutions during May 1, 2018 to August 30, 2018. SmartPLS 3 was utilized to analyse the data. The results of the inquiry revealed that microfinance institutions have an essential role to play in promoting women's self‐reliance. With the help of micro‐enterprises for women, services offered by microfinance institution such as micro‐credit, micro‐savings, micro‐insurance, micro‐training and social capital have a major role in developing women's self‐sustainability. However, an environmental disaster is one of the crucial factors, which limits the positive contribution of microfinance institutions towards women's self‐sustainability. Our thorough research and knowledge on the subject indicates that the current study is the pioneer study that has investigated microfinance institutions as major facilitators of women's self‐reliance but which has been limited by many factors such as environmental disasters. Hence, the current study appears salient for microfinance institutions, the government of Pakistan and other practitioners that desire to boost women's self‐sustainability.
A Statistical Approach Regarding the Diagnosis of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia From DXA: Are We Underdiagnosing Osteoporosis?
Authors: Sebro Ronnie , Ashok S Sharon
Published: November 2020

Osteoporosis and osteopenia are diagnosed most commonly by evaluating the lowest T‐score of BMD measurements, typically taken at three sites: the L1‐L4 lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of using all three BMD measurements and multivariate statistical theory to evaluate how the diagnoses of osteoporosis and osteopenia change in simulation studies and in real data. First, it was found that the T‐scores from these three BMD measurements rarely give concordant diagnoses using the same World Health Organization (WHO) and International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) guidelines, so that the diagnosis strongly depends on the BMD sites measured. Next, strong correlations were found between the BMD measurements at different sites within the same person, which resulted in increased congruence/concordance between the diagnoses obtained from the BMD T‐scores. Multivariate statistical theory was used to show that the joint distribution of the BMD T‐scores at different sites follows a multivariate t distribution and found that the marginal distribution of any BMD T‐score follows a univariate t distribution. Confidence ellipsoids were derived that are equivalent to the univariate WHO/ISCD thresholds for osteoporosis (T‐score ≤−2.5) and osteopenia (−2.5 < T‐score <−1). The study found that more patients are diagnosed with osteoporosis using the multivariate version of the WHO/ISCD guidelines rather than the current WHO/ISCD guidelines in both real data and simulation studies. Diagnoses of osteoporosis using the statistics derived method were also associated with higher FRAX (fracture risk assessment tool) probabilities of major osteoporotic (p = 0.001) and hip fractures (p = 2.2 × 10−6). In conclusion, this study shows that considering all three BMD T‐scores is potentially more informative than using the single lowest BMD T‐score. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Preferential Maternal Transmission of STX16-GNAS Mutations Responsible for Autosomal Dominant Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib (PHP1B): Another Example of Transmission Ratio Distortion
Authors: Kiuchi Zentaro , Reyes Monica , Jüppner Harald
Published: November 2020

Preferential transmission of a genetic mutation to the next generation, referred to as transmission ratio distortion (TRD), is well established for several dominant disorders, but underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Recently, TRD was reported for patients affected by pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia or pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism. To determine whether TRD is observed also for autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (AD-PHP1B), we analyzed kindreds with the frequent 3-kb STX16 deletion or other STX16/GNAS mutations. If inherited from a female, these genetic defects lead to loss-of-methylation at exon A/B alone or at all three differentially methylated regions (DMR), resulting in parathyroid hormone (PTH)-resistant hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia and possibly resistance to other hormones. In total, we investigated 212 children born to 80 females who are unaffected carriers of a STX16/GNAS mutation (n = 47) or affected by PHP1B (n = 33). Of these offspring, 134 (63.2%) had inherited the genetic defect (p = .00012). TRD was indistinguishable for mothers with a STX16/GNAS mutation on their paternal (unaffected carriers) or maternal allele (affected). The mechanisms favoring transmission of the mutant allele remain undefined but are likely to include abnormalities in oocyte maturation. Search for mutations in available descendants of males revealed marginally significant evidence for TRD (p = .038), but these analyses are less reliable because many more offspring of males than females with a STX16/GNAS mutation were lost to follow-up (31 of 98 versus 6 of 218). This difference in follow-up is probably related to the fact that inheritance of a mutation from a male does not have clinical implications, whereas inheritance from an affected or unaffected female results in PHP1B. Lastly, affected PHP1B females had fewer descendants than unaffected carriers, but it remains unclear whether abnormal oocyte development or impaired actions of reproductive hormones are responsible. Our findings highlight previously not recognized aspects of AD-PHP1B that are likely to have implications for genetic testing and counseling. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Analysis of laboratory parameters for optimal autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection from lymphoma and myeloma patients
Authors: Kong Jung Hee , Hu Youmi , Kong Sun‐Young , Lee Se‐Na , Eom Hyeon‐Seok , Lee Hyewon , Lee Eunyoung , Shim Hyoeun
Published: November 2020

Background

Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection is important for successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the laboratory parameters associated with the optimal timing of autologous PBSC collection from lymphoma and multiple myeloma patients.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data from 1105 PBSC apheresis procedures performed on 379 adult patients at the National Cancer Center between June 2005 and December 2019. Laboratory parameters, including cutoff values for the number of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and circulating CD34+ cells, were analyzed to determine their association with CD34+ cell yield.

Results

The pre‐apheresis HPC and CD34+ cell count were statistically significant variables associated with harvested CD34+ cell in lymphoma and MM patients. The optimal cutoff values were 18 × 106/L for pre‐HPC count (66.8% sensitivity, 66.4% specificity) and 11/μL for pre‐CD34+ cell count (85.8% sensitivity, 87.2% specificity), to achieve CD34+ cell yields ≥ 1.0 × 106/kg for each apheresis procedure. Moreover, the optimal cutoff values were 23 × 106/L for pre‐HPC count (71.0% sensitivity, 69.0% specificity) and 18/μL for pre‐CD34+ cell count (87.5% sensitivity, 86.3% specificity) to achieve CD34+ cell yields ≥ 2.0 × 106/kg for each apheresis procedure.

Conclusion

HPC count is a potential surrogate marker for monitoring the starting time for PBSC collection. Applying cutoff values for the number of HPC and CD34+ cells may be clinically useful for optimizing the timing of PBSC collection.
miR‐30b‐5p up‐regulation related to the dismal prognosis for patients with renal cell cancer
Authors: Zhang Chunduo , Pan Xiang , Peng Xiqi , Liu Kaihao , Wang Jingyao , Zhao Liwen , Chen Xuan , Huang Guocheng , Li Hang , Ye Jing , Lai Yongqing
Published: November 2020

The diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is often made late since there is no early symptom, which thus results in dismal patient prognosis. As a result, new biomarkers are urgently needed and efforts should be made to identify their functions in predicting RCC prognosis. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that are about 20‐22 nucleotides in length, and they have been demonstrated to function as prognostic markers in numerous tumors. This study aimed to assess the role of miR‐30b‐5p in predicting the prognosis of RCC postoperatively. In this study, RNA was extracted from 284 formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded kidney cancer tissue samples. After cDNA synthesis, real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) was adopted for detecting the relative miR‐30b‐5p level. Then, the Kaplan‐Meier method, Cox regression analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were applied in analyzing the miR‐30b‐5p effect on the prognosis for patients. Our findings indicated that, following adjustment for age, gender, tumor stage, and tumor size, patients with low miR‐30b‐5p expression had remarkably longer overall survival. Thus, the miR‐30b‐5p level might be related to RCC prognosis.
Novel silver(I)N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes bearing 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyl group: Synthesis, characterization, and enzyme inhibition properties
Authors: Behçet Ayten , Aktaş Aydın , Gök Yetkin , Kaya Rüya , Taslimi Parham , Gülçin İlhami
Published: November 2020

Herein, novel silver‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes bearing 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyl group were synthesized. Novel Ag(I)NHC complexes were synthesized from the 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyl‐substituted benzimidazolium salts and silver oxide via in situ deprotonation method. The successful formation of all Ag(I)NHC complexes was proved by using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis techniques. In addition, their inhibitory effects have been investigated of these substances on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), α‐glycosidase (α‐Gly), human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), and human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA II) enzymes. It has been seen that all compounds have a better ability to inhibit compared with existing tried inhibitors. Among these, the best inhibitor against AChE enzyme is 1g (Ki : 9.54 ± 0.98 μM and IC50 : 17.40), and against α‐Gly, 1c showed the highest effect (Ki 3.09 ± 0.36 μM and IC50 7.91). The best inhibitor against hCA I and hCA II enzymes are 1c and 1g compounds. For hCA I and hCA II, IC50 values were calculated as 17.85 and 9.06 μM and Ki values were measured as 5.45 ± 2.02 and 8.99 ± 2.02 μM, respectively.
Incentives conditioned on tenofovir levels to support PrEP adherence among young South African women: a randomized trial
Authors: Celum Connie L , Gill Katherine , Morton Jennifer F , Stein Gabrielle , Myers Laura , Thomas Katherine K , McConnell Margaret , van der Straten Ariane , Baeten Jared M , Duyver Menna , Mendel Eve , Naidoo Keshani , Dallimore Jacqui , Wiesner Lubbe , Bekker Linda‐Gail
Published: November 2020

Introduction

HIV incidence remains high among African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), who would benefit from pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Strategies to increase PrEP adherence and persistence need to be evaluated in African AGY, including incentives conditional on high adherence.

Methods

The 3Ps for Prevention Study was a 12‐month prospective cohort of 200 women ages 16 to 25 initiating PrEP in South Africa from 2017 to 2018. Participants received retrospective feedback about drug levels at Months 1, 2 and 3; half was randomized to receive a 200 Rand shopping voucher ($13 US) at Months 2, 3 and 4, conditioned on high intracellular tenofovir diphosphate (TFV‐DP) levels in dried blood spots (≥500 fmol/punch at Month 1, ≥700 fmol/punch at Months 2 and 3). The primary analysis was intention‐to‐treat, comparing the proportion with high PrEP adherence (≥700 fmol/punch) at Month 3 by randomized group, based on 100% efficacy among men who have sex with men.

Results

Median age of the 200 women was 19 years (interquartile range [IQR] 17, 21); 86% had a primary sexual partner. At Month 3, the mean TFV‐DP level was 822 fmol/punch (SD 522) in the incentive group and 689 fmol/punch (SD 546) in the control group (p = 0.11). Forty‐five (56%) of 85 women in the incentive group and 35 (41%) of 85 women in the control group had TFV‐DP levels ≥700 fmol/punch (RR 1.35; 95% CI 0.98, 1.86; p = 0.067), which declined to 8% and 5% in the incentive and control groups at Month 12 (no significant difference by arm). 44% refilled PrEP without gaps, 14% had a gap of ≥3 weeks in coverage subsequently restarted PrEP and 54% accepted at the final dispensing visit at Month 9. No new HIV infections were observed after PrEP initiation.

Conclusions

Among South African AGYW initiating PrEP, drug levels indicated high PrEP adherence in almost half of women at Month 3, with a non‐statistically significant higher proportion with high adherence among those in the incentive group. Over half persisted with the 12‐month PrEP programme although high adherence declined after Month 3. Strategies to support PrEP adherence and persistence and longer‐acting PrEP formulations are needed.
The Interaction of Glymes with Surfactant Micelles
Authors: Petropolis Nicholas P. , Petropolis Harrison M. , MacNeil Nicole E. , Doucet Taylor M. , Marangoni D. Gerrard
Published: November 2020

The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) values and counterion dissociation (α values) have been determined for a number of mixed micellar systems consisting of two typical ionic surfactants and glycol ethers (glymes) as cosurfactants, namely diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Conductance experiments were used to determine the CMC and α values of the mixed micelles as a function of glyme concentration in the aqueous mixed solvent. Favorable interactions between sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles and glyme cosurfactants were deduced from the decreases in the CMC values and the large increase in the α values of these systems as a function of increasing glyme concentration in the mixed solvents. In contrast to the anionic surfactant/glyme systems, in general, there appeared to be little favorable interactions between the surfactant and glymes when micelles of the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide were formed in water/glyme solvent systems containing an increasing amount of the glymes. The interaction of glymes with the surfactant micelles was examined closely via 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts for both surfactant and glyme carbons; these chemical shifts changes were interpreted in terms of the distribution and the localization of the glymes in the aggregates. Finally, partition constants, determined from two‐dimensional diffusion‐oriented spectroscopy (2D‐DOSY) experiments, were used to calculate thermodynamic quantities of transfer of the glymes between the bulk phase and the self‐assembled aggregates. All these results are interpreted in terms of the key contributions that both the glyme ethoxylated groups and alkyl endgroups make to the hydrophobic interactions.
Levodopa‐Induced Dyskinesia Are Mediated by Cortical Gamma Oscillations in Experimental Parkinsonism
Authors: Güttler Christopher , Altschüler Jennifer , Tanev Kaloyan , Böckmann Saskia , Haumesser Jens Kersten , Nikulin Vadim V. , Kühn Andrea A. , van Riesen Christoph
Published: November 2020

Background

Levodopa is the most efficacious drug in the symptomatic therapy of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, long‐term treatment is often complicated by troublesome levodopa‐induced dyskinesia (LID). Recent evidence suggests that LID might be related to increased cortical gamma oscillations.

Objective

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that cortical high‐gamma network activity relates to LID in the 6‐hydroxydopamine model and to identify new biomarkers for adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy in PD.

Methods

We recorded and analyzed primary motor cortex (M1) electrocorticogram data and motor behavior in freely moving 6‐OHDA lesioned rats before and during a daily treatment with levodopa for 3 weeks. The results were correlated with the abnormal involuntary movement score (AIMS) and used for generalized linear modeling (GLM).

Results

Levodopa reverted motor impairment, suppressed beta activity, and, with repeated administration, led to a progressive enhancement of LID. Concurrently, we observed a highly significant stepwise amplitude increase in finely tuned gamma (FTG) activity and gamma centroid frequency. Whereas AIMS and FTG reached their maximum after the 4th injection and remained on a stable plateau thereafter, the centroid frequency of the FTG power continued to increase thereafter. Among the analyzed gamma activity parameters, the fraction of longest gamma bursts showed the strongest correlation with AIMS. Using a GLM, it was possible to accurately predict AIMS from cortical recordings.

Conclusions

FTG activity is tightly linked to LID and should be studied as a biomarker for adaptive DBS. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Pseudodifferential operators involving linear canonical Hankel transformations on some ultradifferentiable function spaces
Authors: Kumar Tanuj , Prasad Akhilesh
Published: November 2020

In this work, continuity of linear canonical Hankel transformation on the ultradifferentiable function spaces are discussed. Furthermore, the pseudodifferential operator associated with linear canonical Hankel transformation is shown to be the continuous linear mapping from one ultradifferentiable function space to another. An application to a Dirichlet problem is discussed.
A 28 GHz GaAs front‐end IC with single positive supply voltage
Authors: Park Jeongsoo , Kim Jeong‐Geun
Published: November 2020

This paper presents 28 GHz GaAs front‐end IC for 5G beamforming systems with single positive supply voltage. A 28 GHz front‐end IC consists of a 3‐stage power amplifier, a 3‐stage low noise amplifier and two reflective type single pole double throw switches in 0.15 μm enhancement‐mode (E‐mode) GaAs pHEMT technology. The proposed 28 GHz front‐end IC is controlled only with single positive supply voltage. The measured front‐end IC Tx mode gain and Rx mode gain are 16.3 dB and 16.8 dB at 28 GHz, respectively. The achieved output P1dB and saturation power (PSAT) in Tx mode are 18 dBm and 21 dBm, respectively. The achieved input P1dB and noise figure in Rx mode are −8 dBm and 3 dB, respectively. The 28 GHz GaAs front‐end IC consumes DC current of 216 mA in Tx mode at 4 V supply voltage and 20 mA in Rx mode at 2.5 V supply voltage. The proposed 28 GHz front‐end IC chip size is 2.5 x 2.2 mm2.
Comparison of hyperpolarized 13C and non‐hyperpolarized deuterium MRI approaches for imaging cerebral glucose metabolism at 4.7 T
Authors: von Morze Cornelius , Engelbach John A. , Blazey Tyler , Quirk James D. , Reed Galen D. , Ippolito Joseph E. , Garbow Joel R.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to directly compare two isotopic metabolic imaging approaches, hyperpolarized (HP) 13C MRI and deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI), for imaging specific closely related segments of cerebral glucose metabolism at 4.7 T.

Methods

Comparative HP‐13C and DMI neuroimaging experiments were conducted consecutively in normal rats during the same scanning session. Localized conversions of [1‐13C]pyruvate and [6,6‐2H2]glucose to their respective downstream metabolic products were measured by spectroscopic imaging, using an identical 2D‐CSI sequence with parameters optimized for the respective experiments. To facilitate direct comparison, a pair of substantially equivalent 2.5‐cm double‐tuned X/1H RF surface coils was developed. For improved results, multidimensional low‐rank reconstruction was applied to denoise the raw DMI data.

Results

Localized conversion of HP [1‐13C]pyruvate to [1‐13C]lactate, and [6,6‐2H2]glucose to [3,3‐2H2]lactate and Glx‐d (glutamate and glutamine), was detected in rat brain by spectroscopic imaging at 4.7 T. The SNR and spatial resolution of HP‐13C MRI was superior to DMI but limited to a short time window, whereas the lengthy DMI acquisition yielded maps of not only lactate, but also Glx production, albeit with relatively poor spectral discrimination between metabolites at this field strength. Across the individual rats, there was an apparent inverse correlation between cerebral production of HP [1‐13C]lactate and Glx‐d, along with a trend toward increased [3,3‐2H2]lactate.

Conclusion

The HP‐13C MRI and DMI methods are both feasible at 4.7 T and have significant potential for metabolic imaging of specific segments of glucose metabolism.
Challenges in diagnosing coexisting ocular myasthenia gravis and thyroid eye disease
Authors: Claytor Benjamin , Li Yuebing
Published: November 2020

Ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) and thyroid eye disease are two autoimmune conditions that have several overlapping clinical features, and these coexist with a small but not insignificant frequency. Segregating these diagnoses is typically straightforward, but, when the two diseases co‐occur in the same individual, making a diagnosis of OMG can be very challenging. In this review we address what is known about the coexistence of OMG and thyroid eye disease and we highlight the clinical features that are suggestive of overlapping conditions. We also describe the major testing approaches used in the diagnosis of these two entities, with special emphasis on the potential shortcomings of individual tests in patients with overlapping disease. In patients with thyroid eye disease, securing a diagnosis of OMG may not be possible on the basis of a single positive test. A multimodal approach using clinical, serologic, imaging, and electrodiagnostic data, is typically required.
ASnX3—Better than Pb‐based Perovskite
Authors: Bai Dongliang , Wang Haoxu , Bai Yang , Najar Adel , Saleh Na'il , Wang Lianzhou , Liu Shengzhong Frank
Published: November 2020

Organic‐inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have drawn tremendous attention as their power conversion efficiency (PCE) has soared to 25.2%. Yet the most efficient halide perovskite materials all contain the toxic element lead (Pb). The search for an alternative element is a crucial research direction. Among all candidates, tin (Sn) appears to be the most promising one for its nontoxicity and physical similarity to lead (Pb). Herein, we review and summarize recent advancements in this emerging research area of Sn‐based perovskites. First, we discuss the photophysical dynamics of the Sn‐based perovskites and the relatively high efficiency of corresponding PSCs and other applications. Then, the attention is focused on the fabrication process and methods to improve the performance of Sn‐based photovoltaic devices. Despite the fact that the stabilities of the materials and related devices are far from perfect, the Sn‐based perovskites are still the best candidates with vast potential among all the Pb‐free perovskites for PSC application.
Fourier method for higher dimensional inverse quasi‐linear parabolic problem
Authors: Baglan Irem , Kanca Fatma
Published: November 2020

In this work, higher‐dimensional inverse quasi‐linear parabolic problem was investigated. We demonstrated the solution by the Fourier approximation. The inverse problem was first examined by linearizing and then used implicit finite difference schema for the numerical solution.
A Cα finite difference method for the Caputo time‐fractional diffusion equation
Authors: Davis Wesley , Noren Richard , Shi Ke
Published: November 2020

We begin with a treatment of the Caputo time‐fractional diffusion equation, by using the Laplace transform, to obtain a Volterra integro‐differential equation. We derive and utilize a numerical scheme that is derived in parallel to the L1‐method for the time variable and a standard fourth‐order approximation in the spatial variable. The main method derived in this article has a rate of convergence of O(kα + h4) for u(x, t) ∈ Cα([0, T]; C6(Ω)), 0 < α < 1, which improves previous regularity assumptions that require C2[0, T] regularity in the time variable. We also present a novel alternative method for a first‐order approximation in time, under a regularity assumption of u(x, t) ∈ C1([0, T]; C6(Ω)), while exhibiting order of convergence slightly more than O(k) in time. This allows for a much wider class of functions to be analyzed which was previously not possible under the L1‐method. We present numerical examples demonstrating these results and discuss future improvements and implications by using these techniques.
Prevalence of depression in a cohort of 400 patients with pancreatic neoplasm attending day hospital for major surgery: Role on depression of psychosocial functioning and clinical factors
Authors: Del Piccolo Lidia , Marinelli Veronica , Mazzi Maria Angela , Danzi Olivia Purnima , Bonamini Deborah , Secchettin Erica , Tuveri Massimiliano , Bassi Claudio , Rimondini Michela , Salvia Roberto
Published: November 2020

Objective

(1) To determine the prevalence and type of depressive symptoms at day‐hospital clinical evaluation, before undergoing major surgery in patients diagnosed with pancreatic neoplasm. (2) To analyze the association between depression and sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables. (3) To understand how coping strategies, perceived social support, and self‐efficacy might affect depressive symptoms in this cohort of patients.

Methods

Secondary data analysis collected during the baseline phase of a randomized controlled trial performed at the Pancreas Institute of the University Hospital of Verona, Italy, between June 2017 and June 2018.

Results

18.5% of pancreatic patients had a PHQ‐9 score ≥10 (cut‐off). Depressed patients were basically more often female (p = 0.07), younger (p = 0.06), and married/with a partner (p = 0.02). Depression was associated to high trait anxiety (p < 0.01), the use of anxiolytics (p < 0.01), sleep‐inducing drugs (p < 0.01), and painkillers (p < 0.01). Among psychosocial variables, depressed patients showed lower perceived self‐efficacy (p < 0.01) and family and friends’ social support (p < 0.01) and used significantly more often dysfunctional coping strategies (p < 0.01), compared to nondepressed. A logistic multivariate model using psychosocial variables as explanatory and depression as dependent was calculated and post hoc analyses were conducted to describe the contribution of each psychosocial variable on depression.

Conclusions

Our study advocates the need for screening for distress and depression in cancer surgery units and recommends to strengthen patients' adaptive coping, social support, and sense of effectiveness in facing the challenges related to the medical condition and treatment process.
Association of supportive care needs and quality of patient‐centered cancer care with depression in women with breast and cervical cancer in Mexico
Authors: Doubova Svetlana V. , Pérez‐Cuevas Ricardo
Published: November 2020

Objective

To compare the prevalence of depression, supportive care needs (SC‐needs), and quality of patient‐centered cancer care (PCC‐quality) between women with breast cancer and women with cervical cancer and to assess the association of SC‐needs and PCC‐quality with depression.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey in a public oncology hospital in Mexico City with 247 breast cancer and 165 cervical cancer ambulatory patients aged ≥18 years with at least one hospitalization and ≤5 years since diagnosis. Participants completed the short‐form Supportive Care Needs Survey, the Patient‐Centered Quality of Cancer Care Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses to evaluate the association between SC‐needs, PCC‐quality, and probable presence of depression.

Results

Nearly all women reported SC‐needs—mainly health system and information needs, followed by physical and psychological needs. PCC‐quality was substandard in both groups. PCC‐quality was lowest when addressing biopsychosocial needs, followed by information for treatment decision‐making needs. Cervical cancer patients had probable depression more often (41.2%) than those with breast cancer (29.5%). Having unmet psychological and care needs was associated with increased odds of probable depression, while high‐quality timely care was associated with reduced odds of probable depression.

Conclusion

In Mexico, women with cervical and breast cancer face unmet SC‐needs, probable depression, and substandard PCC‐quality, pointing to priority areas for improvements in cancer care.
Risk factors for recurrent pulmonary exacerbation in idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis
Authors: Hizal Mina , Eryilmaz Polat Sanem , Ramasli Gursoy Tugba , Ozsezen Beste , Ademhan Tural Dilber , Karakaya Jale , Emiralioglu Nagehan , Pekcan Sevgi , Tana Aslan Ayse , Yalcin Ebru , Dogru Deniz , Ozcelik Ugur , Kiper Nural
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the risk factors of recurrent pulmonary exacerbation and poor prognosis in children with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH).

Methods

In this multicenter study, 54 patients with a diagnosis of IPH were included. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed from three tertiary care hospitals between 1979 and 2019. Also, current information and the long‐term progress of patients was determined by contacting the families by telephone.

Results

A total of 54 children were included. The median age of onset of symptoms was 4.5 years (3 months to 15.8 years). The median time from onset to diagnosis was 0.9 years (0.25 months to 12 years). The mean number of recurrent episodes per child in the recurrence‐positive group was 3.55 (1–15). Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients presenting with hypoxia or requiring transfusion at the time of presentation had significantly more recurrence episodes (p = .002). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of hypoxia at the time of initial presentation was a significant independent predictor of recurrent episodes (p = .027). The median follow‐up was 3.3 years (0.75 months to 27 years). There was a significant relationship between the presence of hypoxia, transfusion history, antinuclear antibody positivity, and elevated transaminases at the time of initial evaluation and treatment response.

Conclusions

The present study provides substantial information regarding factors that may affect recurrent exacerbations and prognosis in children with IPH. Demonstrating hypoxia as an independent risk factor in recurrence episodes could guide physicians in the planning of treatment strategies.
The bromodomains of BET family proteins can recognize diacetylated histone H2A.Z
Authors: Patel Karishma , Solomon Paul D. , Walshe James L. , Low Jason K. K. , Mackay Joel P.
Published: November 2020

Chemical modifications of histone tails influence genome accessibility and the transcriptional state of eukaryotic cells. Lysine acetylation is one of the most common modifications and acetyllysine‐binding bromodomains (BDs) provide a means for acetyllysine marks to be translated into meaningful cellular responses. Here, we have investigated the mechanism underlying the reported association between the Bromodomain and Extra Terminal (BET) family of BD proteins and the essential histone variant H2A.Z. We use NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate a physical interaction between the N‐terminal tail of H2A.Z and the BDs of BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4, and show that the interaction is dependent on lysine acetylation in H2A.Z. The BDs preferentially engage a diacetylated H2A.Z‐K4acK7ac motif that is reminiscent of sequences found in other biologically important BET BD target proteins, including histones and transcription factors. A H2A.Z‐K7acK11ac motif can also bind BET BDs—with a preference for the second BD of each protein. Chemical shift perturbation mapping of the interactions, together with an X‐ray crystal structure of BRD2‐BD1 bound to H2A.Z‐K4acK7ac, shows that H2A.Z binds the canonical AcK binding pocket of the BDs. This mechanism mirrors the conserved binding mode that is unique to the BET BDs, in which two acetylation marks are read simultaneously by a single BD. Our findings provide structural corroboration of biochemical and cell biological data that link H2A.Z and BET‐family proteins, suggesting that the function of H2A.Z is enacted through interactions with these chromatin readers.
Adjusting win statistics for dependent censoring
Authors: Dong Gaohong , Huang Bo , Wang Duolao , Verbeeck Johan , Wang Jiuzhou , Hoaglin David C.
Published: November 2020

For composite outcomes whose components can be prioritized on clinical importance, the win ratio, the net benefit and the win odds apply that order in comparing patients pairwise to produce wins and subsequently win proportions. Because these three statistics are derived using the same win proportions and they test the same hypothesis of equal win probabilities in the two treatment groups, we refer to them as win statistics. These methods, particularly the win ratio and the net benefit, have received increasing attention in methodological research and in design and analysis of clinical trials. For time‐to‐event outcomes, however, censoring may introduce bias. Previous work has shown that inverse‐probability‐of‐censoring weighting (IPCW) can correct the win ratio for bias from independent censoring. The present article uses the IPCW approach to adjust win statistics for dependent censoring that can be predicted by baseline covariates and/or time‐dependent covariates (producing the CovIPCW‐adjusted win statistics). Theoretically and with examples and simulations, we show that the CovIPCW‐adjusted win statistics are unbiased estimators of treatment effect in the presence of dependent censoring.
One universal method of complex system reliability, maintainability, supportability, testability quotas design and trade‐off based on improved flower pollination algorithm
Authors: Zhu Xuezheng , Han Chaoshuai , Liu Ruiqi , Yan Guohui , Gu Jin
Published: November 2020

For modern complex system, quality has become a serious and difficult problem that restricts the generation of combat effectiveness. Withal, based on domestic and foreign research and analysis, this paper puts forward a trade‐off method for complex system reliability, maintainability, supportability, testability (RMST) design, which is suitable for product design stage. First, aiming at the uncertain problem of complex system constrained optimization, the good‐point set population initialization, Deb feasibility comparison method and ε constraint method are integrated into the flower pollination algorithm, to construct the algorithm for RMST quotas design and trade‐off. Second, taking the typical series‐parallel repairable system as an example, one general model for complex system RMST quotas design and trade‐off based on effectiveness is constructed. Finally, take an unmanned nuclear radiation detection system as a typical case, to verify its feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages.
Tracking control of single‐link flexible‐joint manipulator with unmodeled dynamics and dead zone
Authors: Yan Ze , Lai Xuzhi , Meng Qingxin , Zhang Pan , Wu Min
Published: November 2020

This article presents a tracking control approach for a flexible‐joint manipulator (FJM) with single link. This approach can achieve the tracking control objective and reject the influences caused by unmodeled dynamics and dead zone. The main contributions are: (1) a robust tracking control approach for the FJM with single link based on equivalent‐input‐disturbance (EID) method is proposed; (2) the unmodeled dynamics and dead zone are considered simultaneously in the tracking control of the FJM with single link; (3) in the control process, velocity measurements are not required in our approach. The robust stability of the EID‐based approach is proved, and the validity for the FJM with single link is illustrated by simulation results.
Outliers in spectrum of sparse Wigner matrices
Authors: Tikhomirov Konstantin , Youssef Pierre
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study the effect of sparsity on the appearance of outliers in the semi‐circular law. Let be a sequence of random symmetric matrices such that each Wn is n × n with i.i.d. entries above and on the main diagonal equidistributed with the product , where is a real centered uniformly bounded random variable of unit variance and bn is an independent Bernoulli random variable with a probability of success pn. Assuming that , we show that for the random sequence
given by , the ratio converges to one in probability. A noncentered counterpart of the theorem allows to obtain asymptotic expressions for eigenvalues of the Erdős–Renyi graphs, which were unknown in the regime . In particular, denoting by An the adjacency matrix of the Erdős–Renyi graph and by its kth largest (by the absolute value) eigenvalue, under the assumptions and we have (1) (No non‐trivial outliers): if
then for any fixed k ≥ 2, converges to 1 in probability; and (2) (Outliers): if then there is ε > 0 such that for any , we have . On a conceptual level, our result reveals similarities in appearance of outliers in spectrum of sparse matrices and the so‐called BBP phase transition phenomenon in deformed Wigner matrices.
Rheological Analysis of Polysaccharide Hydrogels
Authors: Alemdar Mahinur , Ceylan Tuncaboylu Deniz
Published: November 2020

This research highlights the viscoelastic responses of high amylose (Amy) starch—epichlorohydrin (ECH) hydrogels. Besides establishing the correlation between the amounts of reaction components and properties of the networks, the influence of the Amy ratio and incorporation of hyaluronic acid (HA) are also evaluated. The resulting materials are examined by their swelling, viscoelastic, and also morphological properties. While elastic and viscous moduli are an increasing function of starch and ECH feed amounts, the mol ratio of NaOH is found to be a key parameter in the crosslinking reactions. During the continuous step–strain test, the network with low Amy ratio loses ≈92 ± 4% of its initial mechanical strength, high amylose gels with and without HA are completely returned to the original states after sol–gel transitions. Time dependent relaxation moduli are observed for high Amy gels and the dynamics are slightly suppressed by the incorporation of HA with smaller and more stable pore structures.
Biosensors based on DNA logic gates
Authors: Yin Fangfei , Wang Fei , Fan Chunhai , Zuo Xiaolei , Li Qian
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Biosensor is a device that responds to a particular target in a selective way by incorporation of biological recognition as sensing unit. For practical biomedical applications, a digital output (a qualitative YES/NO answer) is highly demanded for certain end‐user or point‐of‐care applications. Boolean logic, which can be applied to any type of information expressed as 0 (NO) and 1 (YES), is widely employed to achieve such qualitative analysis. Over the past decade, owing to DNA's advantages of stability, accessibility, and manipulability, significant research efforts have been focused on the design and application of DNA logic gates (DLG)‐based biosensors capable of implementing logic‐gated biomedical functions. This review summarizes the existed representative examples and the advanced developments of DLG biosensors, and discusses the limitations and the future directions on the development of novel nanosensors based on DNA logic operations for realizing highly efficient diagnosis.
Climatepreneurship: Adaptation Strategy for Climate Change Impacts on Rural Women Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria
Authors: Akinbami C. A. O.
Published: November 2020

Adequate and proper adaptation strategies to climate change depend largely on activities in the rural sector, which drives national economy through exploitation of natural resources. Consequently, actions in rural areas are essential to successful climate change adaptation. Rural communities are highly dependent upon natural resources that are affected by climate change, thus affecting their food security, livelihoods, health, and physical infrastructure. Women and their livelihood practices are thereby affected negatively, leading to increased poverty level and low income, because they find it difficult to respond adequately to climate change effects. This study examines the past and existing interventions on climate change adaptation strategies in two rural communities in Oyo State, introduces climatepreneurship strategy, and assesses its effectiveness. This is an explorative study, employing qualitative approach to gather information through in-depth interview (IDIs) from 50 farmers, before and after the interventions. Data collected were analyzed using Atlas ti. This is a powerful workbench for qualitative data analysis using coding and annotating activities to generate different thematic issues for discussions and interpretations with networks. Study revealed that communities had previously experienced some interventions. Such had no impact on livelihood practices because steps to successful intervention were not followed. Socio-cultural practices hinder women development. The newly introduced climatepreneurship strategy improved livelihood practices. Study outcomes will expectedly be integrated into policy framework for sustainable rural women entrepreneurship development and also replicated in other rural areas in Nigeria.
Novel mechanism for primordial perturbations in minimal extensions of the Standard Model
Authors: Karam Alexandros , Markkanen Tommi , Marzola Luca , Nurmi Sami , Raidal Martti , Rajantie Arttu
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We demonstrate that light spectator fields in their equilibrium can source sizeable CMB anisotropies through modulated reheating even in the absence of direct couplings to the inflaton. The effect arises when the phase space of the inflaton decay is modulated by the spectator which generates masses for the decay products. We call the mechanism indirect modulation and using the stochastic eigenvalue expansion show that it can source perturbations even four orders of magnitude larger than the observed amplitude. Importantly, the indirect mechanism is present in the Standard Model extended with right- handed neutrinos. For a minimally coupled Higgs boson this leads to a novel lower bound on the quartic coupling and constrains the neutrino Yukawas below unity.
Gravitational shock waves and scattering amplitudes
Authors: Cristofoli Andrea
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We study gravitational shock waves using scattering amplitude techniques. After first reviewing the derivation in General Relativity as an ultrarelativistic boost of a Schwarzschild solution, we provide an alternative derivation by exploiting a novel relation between scattering amplitudes and solutions to Einstein field equations. We prove that gravitational shock waves arise from the classical part of a three point function with two massless scalars and a graviton. The region where radiation is localized has a distributional profile and it is now recovered in a natural way, thus bypassing the introduction of singular coordinate transformations as used in General Relativity. The computation is easily generalized to arbitrary dimensions and we show how the exactness of the classical solution follows from the absence of classical contributions at higher loops. A classical double copy between gravitational and electromagnetic shock waves is also provided and for a spinning source, using the exponential form of three point amplitudes, we infer a remarkable relation between gravitational shock waves and spinning ones, also known as gyratons. Using this property, we infer a family of exact solutions describing gravitational shock waves with spin. We then compute the phase shift of a particle in a background of shock waves finding agreement with an earlier computation by Amati, Ciafaloni and Veneziano for particles in the high energy limit. Applied to a gyraton, it provides a result for the scattering angle to all orders in spin.
On unsteady flows of pore pressure-activated granular materials
Authors: Abbatiello Anna , Bulíček Miroslav , Los Tomáš , Málek Josef , Souček Ondřej
Published: November 2020

We investigate mathematical properties of the system of nonlinear partial differential equations that describe, under certain simplifying assumptions, evolutionary processes in water-saturated granular materials. The unconsolidated solid matrix behaves as an ideal plastic material before the activation takes place and then it starts to flow as a Newtonian or a generalized Newtonian fluid. The plastic yield stress is non-constant and depends on the difference between the given lithostatic pressure and the pressure of the fluid in a pore space. We study unsteady three-dimensional flows in an impermeable container, subject to stick-slip boundary conditions. Under realistic assumptions on the data, we establish long-time and large-data existence theory.
Viscoelastic properties of thermo-hydro-mechanically treated beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) determined using dynamic mechanical analysis
Authors: Kutnar Andreja , O’Dell Jane , Hunt Christopher , Frihart Charles , Kamke Frederick , Schwarzkopf Matthew
Published: November 2020

Thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processing can improve the intrinsic properties of wood, produce new materials, and give desired form and function to new applications. THM treatments change the mechanical properties of wood and may change its viscoelastic properties as well. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the viscoelastic properties of THM-treated wood at several humidity and load levels. To explore these changes, this study applied a THM treatment to beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) wood with steam (620 kPa) and heat (170 °C), followed by densification and increased temperature (200 °C) in a hot-press, which was then cooled while under pressure. Two initial specimen thicknesses before THM treatment were used to study the difference between density ratios. Specimens were tested in a humidity-controlled dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) to apply creep stress with different loading levels (20% and 30% of expected modulus of rupture) and relative humidity levels (30%, 50%, and 65% RH). The creep compliance/recovery response was monitored, and dynamic moduli were measured before and after the application of creep stress. The loss modulus measured was highest for specimens tested at 65% RH and lowest in specimens tested at 30% RH, which is a direct result of the viscous response of the material. Increased damping of the specimens was also observed at higher RH, which is typical for wood products due to added moisture in the cell wall acting as a plasticizer to cell wall polymers. Like previous studies, THM treatment lowered the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of densified wood specimens, which affected their mechanical performance. THM treatment yields higher strength and lower EMC, suggesting that this product could be suitable for structural applications where their service life is in an indoor environment. THM treatment also resulted in decreased creep compliance and recovery compliance as compared to control specimens.