bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and LVI on Merkel Cell Carcinoma Prognosis and Treatment
Authors: Harounian Jonathan A. , Molin Nicole , Galloway Thomas J. , Ridge Drew , Bauman Jessica , Farma Jeffrey , Reddy Sanjay , Lango Miriam N.
Published: July 2020

Objective

Prognostic factors and optimal treatment approaches for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) remain uncertain. This study evaluated the influences of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on treatment planning and prognosis.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Stage 1 to 3 MCC patients treated 2005 to 2018. Predictors of nodal radiation were tested using logistic regression. Predictors of recurrence‐free, disease‐specific, and overall survival were tested in Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Of 122 patients, 99 were without clinically apparent nodal metastases. Of these, 76 (77%) underwent excision and SLN biopsy; 29% had metastasis in SLNs, including 20% of MCCs 1 cm or less. Primary tumor diameter, site, patient age, gender, and immunosuppressed status were not significantly associated with an involved SLN. Among patients who underwent SLN biopsy, 13 of 21 (62%) MCCs with LVI had cancer in SLNs compared with 14 of 44 (25.5%) without LVI (P = .003). Although local radiation was common, nodal radiation was infrequently employed in SLN negative (pathologic N0) patients (21.8% vs. 76.2% for patients with SLN metastases, P = .0001). Survival of patients with positive SLNs was unfavorable, regardless of completion lymphadenectomy and/or adjuvant radiation. After accounting for tumor (T) and node (N) classification, age, immunosuppression, and primary site, a positive SLN and LVI were independently associated with worse survival (LVI/recurrence‐free survival [RFS]: hazard ratio [HR] 2.3 (1.04–5, P = .04; LVI/disease‐specific survival [DSS]: HR 5.2 (1.8–15, P = .007); N1a vs. pN0/RFS HR 3.6 (1.42–9.3, P = .007); DSS HR5.0 (1.3–19, P = .17).

Conclusion

SLN biopsy assists in risk stratification and radiation treatment planning in MCC. LVI and disease in SLNs, independently associated with worse survival, constitute markers of high‐risk disease warranting consideration for investigational studies.

Level of Evidence

III Laryngoscope, 131:E828–E835, 2021
Population dynamics of a temperate coral along a depth gradient in the Dardanelles
Authors: Caroselli Erik , Özalp Hasan Baris , Lavia Maila , De Witt Francesca , Raimondi Francesco , Goffredo Stefano
Published: July 2020

Notwithstanding the importance of analyzing the variations of population dynamic traits along environmental gradients for assessing coral resilience to global climate change, temperate areas are more understudied than tropical regions. In the Mediterranean Sea, some studies are available for its western basin, while there is a lack of information for its eastern basin. This study starts to fill this gap, by determining the demographic characteristics of the solitary zooxanthellate scleractinian Balanophyllia europaea in the Dardanelles (Turkey) along a 1–21 m depth transect. The population dynamics of B. europaea from this site in the eastern Mediterranean Sea was compared with the populations in the NW Mediterranean Sea. In particular, the sites of Calafuria and Palinuro (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) were chosen for the comparison since their temperature and latitude, respectively, were similar to that of the Dardanelles population. The population density in the Dardanelles increased exponentially with depth, possibly due to lower current and wave action, and higher salinity at depth. Age structure in the Dardanelles was relatively overrepresented in younger age classes with increasing depth. Nevertheless, this difference in age structure was not strong enough to cause trends with depth for all derived demographic parameters. In comparison with Italian populations, age structure presented a higher frequency of young individuals and were more stable in the Dardanelles, likely due to the less intense wave action. Hosting different clades of symbiotic algae may also contribute to these differences, but molecular studies are necessary to verify this hypothesis.
Endogenous vertical structure and trade policy in an import‐competing market
Authors: Lee Ki‐Dong , Choi Kangsik , Lee DongJoon
Published: July 2020

We examine the endogenous determination of a vertical market in an import‐competing market with import tariff. We show that if firms commit to vertical organization before the government's commitment to trade policy, the home and foreign firms choose vertical separation and vertical integration, respectively, at equilibrium under Bertrand competition. Under Cournot competition, the subgame perfect Nash equilibrium entails both firms separating their retailers. Comparing profits between Bertrand competition to Cournot competition, we find that upstream manufacturer's profit can be higher under Bertrand competition with integration than under Cournot competition with separation when comparing foreign upstream manufacturer's profit.
Visual Impairment Is More Common in Parkinson’s Disease and Is a Risk Factor for Poor Health Outcomes
Authors: Hamedani Ali G. , Abraham Danielle S. , Maguire Maureen G. , Willis Allison W.
Published: July 2020

Background

Visual impairment is associated with hip fracture, depression, anxiety, and dementia in the general population, and many causes of visual impairment are preventable or treatable with early detection. However, the prevalence, outcomes, and healthcare utilization patterns associated with visual impairment have not been examined in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of all Medicare beneficiaries with complete data in 2014 and longitudinal analysis of beneficiaries with PD from 2010 to 2014. We used diagnosis and procedure codes to identify PD, visual impairment, eye exams, hip fracture, and neuropsychiatric disorders. We compared the prevalence of visual impairment using logistic regression and used Cox proportional hazards regression to examine visual impairment and incident hip fracture, depression, anxiety, dementia, and death. We also examined the frequency of eye exams in PD using repeated‐measures logistic regression.

Results

Among 26,209,997 Medicare beneficiaries in 2014, visual impairment was significantly more prevalent in PD (1.7%) than non‐PD (0.71%) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56–1.65). In a longitudinal cohort of 542,224 Medicare beneficiaries with PD, less than 60% had a yearly eye exam. Visual impairment associated with increased hazard of depression (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14–1.32), anxiety (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24–1.43), dementia (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.21–1.36), and death (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.44–1.55).

Conclusion

Visual impairment is more common in PD than the general population and is associated with negative PD‐related outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms for these relationships is important for guiding future interventions to improve health outcomes in PD. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Parental genetic knowledge and attitudes toward childhood genetic testing for inherited eye diseases
Authors: Zhang Yu , Huang Sijian , Xiao Huiming , Ding Xiaoyan
Published: July 2020

Background

This study aimed to explore the parental genetic knowledge and attitudes toward childhood genetic testing of the inherited eye diseases (IEDs) in China.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional survey. All parents were assessed via self‐administered questionnaires. Data were collected through the Internet at the pediatric eye clinics in a tertiary referral eye hospital.

Results

In total, 359 parents were included into this survey. The proportion of correctly answered the factual genetic knowledge questionnaire ranged from 35.7% to 81.3%, which is positively correlated to the educational levels and household per capita income. The attitudes toward childhood IEDs genetic testing appeared to be consistent. More factual genetic knowledge was predictive for a favorable attitude toward genetic testing. Han Chinese might be slightly more likely to have a favorable attitude. Interestingly, the higher educational levels and lower monthly incomes were predictive factors for a reserved attitude toward genetic testing. The families without history of IEDs were more inclined to remain a reserved attitude than those with family history of IEDs.

Conclusion

This study illustrated that more factual genetic knowledge was considered as an indicator for the favorable attitudes. Therefore, the effective strategies should be taken to provide the correct knowledge of genetics and genetic testing to parents, especially those who need to make an informed decision thereon to undertake childhood genetic testing.
Measuring sensitivity to eye gaze cues in naturalistic scenes: Presenting the eye gaze FoCuS database
Authors: Bill Gordon , Whyte Elisabeth , Griffin Jason W. , Scherf K. Suzanne
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The ability to process information about eye gaze and its use for nonverbal communication is foundational to human social interactions. We developed and validated a database of stimuli that are optimized to investigate the perception and referential understanding of shifts in eye gaze.

Methods

The 245 Gaze Perception stimuli are digital photographs that test the ability to estimate and interpret eye gaze trajectory. The 82 Gaze Following stimuli are digital videos that measure the ability to follow and interpret eye gaze shifts online. Both stimuli were designed for a 4‐alternative forced choice paradigm (4AFC) in which the participant identifies the gazed‐at object.

Results

Each stimulus was validated by independent raters and only included if the endorsement of the correct item was ≥75%. Finally, we provided timestamps for 19 40‐second video segments from adolescent‐oriented entertainment movies that are matched on several factors. These segments involve social interactions with eye gaze shifts and can be used to measure visual social attention.

Conclusions

This database will be an excellent resource for researchers interested in studying the developmental, behavioral, and/or neural mechanisms supporting the perception and interpretation of eye gaze cues.
Free‐breathing whole‐heart multi‐slice myocardial T1 mapping in 2 minutes
Authors: Guo Rui , Cai Xiaoying , Kucukseymen Selcuk , Rodriguez Jennifer , Paskavitz Amanda , Pierce Patrick , Goddu Beth , Nezafat Reza
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To develop and validate a saturation‐delay‐inversion recovery preparation, slice tracking and multi‐slice based sequence for measuring whole‐heart native T1.

Method

The proposed free‐breathing sequence performs T1 mapping of multiple left‐ventricular slices by slice‐interleaved acquisition to collect 10 electrocardiogram‐triggered single‐shot slice‐selective images for each slice. A saturation‐delay‐inversion recovery pulse is used for T1 preparation. Prospective slice tracking by the diaphragm navigator and retrospective registration are used to reduce through‐plane and in‐plane motion, respectively. The proposed sequence was validated in both phantom and human subjects (12 healthy subjects and 15 patients who were referred for a clinical cardiac MR exam) and compared with saturation recovery single‐shot acquisition (SASHA) and modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI).

Results

Phantom T1 measured by the proposed sequence had excellent agreement (R2 = 0.99) with the ground‐truth T1 and was insensitive to heart rate. In both healthy subjects and patients, the proposed sequence yielded nine left‐ventricular T1 maps per volume in less than 2 minutes (healthy volunteers: 1.8 ± 0.4 minutes; patients: 1.9 ± 0.2 minutes). The average T1 of whole left ventricle for all healthy subjects and patients were 1560 ± 61 and 1535 ± 49 ms by SASHA, 1208 ± 42 and 1233 ± 56 ms by MOLLI5(3)3, and 1397 ± 34 and 1433 ± 56 ms by the proposed sequence, respectively. The corresponding coefficient of variation of T1 were 6.2 ± 1.4% and 5.8 ± 1.6%, 5.3 ± 1.1% and 5.1 ± 0.8%, and 4.9 ± 0.8% and 4.5 ± 0.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

The proposed sequence enables quantification of whole heart T1 with good accuracy and precision in less than 2 minutes during free breathing.
Magnitude of latent heat in thermally loaded clays
Authors: Samat Sergio , Brochard Laurent , Stefanou Ioannis
Published: July 2020

Temperature changes are known to induce specific couplings in clay, in particular, an anomalously high thermal pressurization in undrained conditions or a thermal compaction in drained conditions, both of which are potential threats for the mechanical stability and sealing capacity of the geomaterials. Thermodynamical analysis of those peculiar thermomechanical couplings points to a potentially important latent energy, which in turn could limit the temperature change upon heating or cooling. The direct measurement of latent energy developed during a laboratory geomechanical test is challenging. Instead, proper identification of thermal hardening in conventional experiments with temperature changes provides an alternative route to estimate latent energy. In this work, existing laboratory thermomechanical tests of clays are analyzed with a rigorous thermodynamic framework to quantify the magnitude of latent energy in thermomechanically loaded clays. A thermodynamically consistent constitutive model for fully saturated clays that combines two key features, (a) the temperature dependence of the blocked energy and (b) the framework of bounding plasticity, is proposed. The performance of the model is validated by reproducing results obtained in laboratory tests for Boom and Opalinus clays. The thermomechanical loads considered to validate the model performance were then used to estimate the percentage of work that remains latent in the clayey material during plastic yielding. We find that the magnitude of latent energy is quite significant, typically a few tens of percent of the total dissipated energy, and increases significantly with temperature. Accordingly, it is expected to play an important role in the thermomechanical response of clays.
Counting the Weighs: Growth Velocity Tables for Preterm Infants
Authors: Keller Jacqueline A.
Published: July 2020

Consistent methods are needed to calculate and report postnatal growth of the preterm infant. Growth charts are valuable resources to visually monitor growth trends over time. This article includes growth velocity tables, with numerical data, intended to complement existing resources and provide clinicians with a quantitative method to assess and report weekly changes in growth. Tables were constructed using the 50th percentile dataset for the Fenton 2013 Growth Charts to estimate fetal growth rates. This dataset is based on preterm infant birth measures rather than postnatal growth; therefore, the intended use of these resources is to promote a consistent method for reporting how a preterm infant is growing. Consistent methods to calculate and report current growth can contribute more reliable data for research and further insight to postnatal growth associated with the best possible health outcomes for future preterm infants.
Beyond the professionalized nongovernmental organization: Life‐history narratives of grassroots philanthropic leaders in Africa
Authors: Appe Susan
Published: July 2020

This research examines everyday people as grassroots philanthropic leaders in development aid in Africa. The article balances two objectives. First is to provide a counter narrative to the broad frames that traditionally drive research on nonprofit organizations and development aid, which have tended to center more on the professionalized nongovernmental organization and traditional North–South aid models. Second, I situate grassroots philanthropic leaders within the broader landscape of people engaging in development aid. I use life‐history narratives of leaders to illuminate the diminishing barriers to being a philanthropist, capture motivating and relational dimensions in grassroots philanthropic leadership, as well as provide evidence of African philanthropy and further engagement of diaspora through small voluntary organizations. The findings espouse the everyday, relational practices of grassroots philanthropic leaders in development aid but do not entirely divorce these leaders and their initiatives from the overarching goals of development.
A local hybrid kernel meshless method for numerical solutions of two‐dimensional fractional cable equation in neuronal dynamics
Authors: Oruç Ömer
Published: July 2020

This study deals with obtaining numerical solutions of two‐dimensional (2D) fractional cable equation in neuronal dynamics by using a recently introduced meshless method. In solution process at first stage, time derivatives that are appeared in the considered problem are discretized by using finite difference method. Then a meshless method based on hybridization of Gaussian and cubic kernels is developed in local fashion. The problem is solved both on regular and irregular domians. L∞ and RMS error norms are calculated and compared with other numerical methods in literature as well as exact solutions. Also, obtained condition numbers are monitored. Numerical simulations show that local hybrid kernel meshless method is a thriving method for solving 2D fractional cable equation on regular and irregular domians.
Exponential collocation methods based on continuous finite element approximations for efficiently solving the cubic Schrödinger equation
Authors: Wang Bin , Wu Xinyuan
Published: July 2020

In this paper we derive and analyze new exponential collocation methods to efficiently solve the cubic Schrödinger Cauchy problem on a d‐dimensional torus. The novel methods are formulated based on continuous time finite element approximations in a generalized function space. Energy preservation is a key feature of the cubic Schrödinger equation. It is proved that the novel methods can be of arbitrarily high order which exactly or approximately preserve the continuous energy of the original continuous system. The existence and uniqueness, regularity, and convergence of the new methods are studied in detail. Two practical exponential collocation methods are constructed, and three illustrative numerical experiments are included. The numerical results show the remarkable accuracy and efficiency of the new methods in comparison with existing numerical methods in the literature.
A possible case of dystocia due to foetal macrosomia at Shuanghuaishu site (3500–2900 BCE), Henan, China
Authors: Zhou Yawei , Zhang Ai , Garvie‐Lok Sandra , Gu Wanfa , Xin Yingjun
Published: July 2020

Childbirth was a significant factor in ancient female mortality, but relatively few cases of death in childbirth have been reported in the bioarchaeological literature due to challenges of recovery and interpretation. Here, we report a possible case of dystocia from the late Neolithic (3500–2900 BCE) settlement of Shuanghuaishu site (Gongyi City, Henan Province, China). An adult female skeleton was discovered in an inhumation burial with the remains of a foetus in the pelvis. The top of the foetal skull has exited the pelvic outlet, but most of the head remains in the pelvic cavity. The face is oriented away from the mother's spine, indicating that the foetus was in persistent occipitoposterior position. In modern deliveries, this atypical positioning is associated with complications including prolonged labour and excessive maternal bleeding. Long bone measurements indicate that the foetus was large compared with full‐term modern infants. This may indicate foetal macrosomia, which is also associated with prolonged and difficult labour. These indicators suggest that this was a case of dystocia, with the large size and positioning of the foetus leading to obstructed labour and the death of both mother and infant. The presence of some cranial remains outside the pelvic outlet could represent either partial delivery of the head or partial post mortem delivery (coffin birth). This paper provides an example of the interpretive challenges facing researchers investigating reproductive mortality in ancient China and in other past societies.
Language Matters: Patients’ Preferred Terms for Discussing Obesity and Disordered Eating with Health Care Providers After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Ivezaj Valentina , Lydecker Janet A. , Grilo Carlos M.
Published: July 2020

Objective

Patients who seek or undergo bariatric surgery are likely to experience pervasive societal biases regarding weight and eating behaviors in the health care system. This cross‐sectional study examined patient preferences for desired weight‐ and eating‐related terms for health care providers among individuals with loss‐of‐control eating after bariatric surgery.

Methods

A total of 114 of 140 adults who underwent bariatric surgery approximately 1.5 years prior and were in the follow‐up stage of a controlled treatment trial testing behavioral treatments completed language preference measures.

Results

Of the 11 terms used to describe weight, only 2 were viewed neutrally, weight and BMI. All other terms, including obesity, were rated negatively, and many were rated extremely negatively. Fatness was the least desirable term. Of the 18 terms used to describe loss‐of‐control eating, one (“ate until uncomfortably full”) was rated positively, and several were rated neutrally. On average, none of the weight or loss‐of‐control eating terms was rated as “desirable” or “very desirable.” Analyses revealed few gender and racial differences in language preferences.

Conclusions

Many weight‐related and loss‐of‐control eating terms are viewed as undesirable. Health care providers should begin with neutrally rated terms and ask patients about their language preferences when speaking with individuals before/after bariatric surgery to improve patient‐centered care and reduce perceived weight bias.
Stable impulsive zone model predictive control for type 1 diabetic patients based on a long‐term model
Authors: González Alejandro H. , Rivadeneira Pablo S. , Ferramosca Antonio , Magdelaine Nicolas , Moog Claude H.
Published: July 2020

In this work, the problem of regulating blood glucose (glycemia) in type I diabetic patients is studied by means of an impulsive zone model predictive control (iZMPC), which bases its predictions on a novel long‐term glucose‐insulin model. Taking advantage of the impulsive version of the model—which features real‐life properties of diabetes patients that some other popular models do not—the given control guarantees the stability under moderate‐to‐severe plant‐model mismatch and disturbances. Long‐term scenarios—including meals and physiological parameter variations—are simulated and the results are satisfactory as every hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes are suitably controlled.
Reporting and variability of constructing medication treatment episodes in pharmacoepidemiology studies: A methodologic systematic review using the case study of DPP‐4 inhibitors and cardiovascular outcomes
Authors: Weisman Alanna , King Lauren K. , Mamdani Muhammad
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In pharmacoepidemiologic studies, estimating medication adherence, persistence, and exposure patterns is critical. Constructing medication treatment episodes from prescription claims data involves assumptions related to grace period, carry‐over, and lag effect, but there are no guidelines for these assumptions. We evaluated reporting and variability of these parameters in pharmacoepidemiology studies, using a case study of antihyperglycemic medications and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Methods

We conducted a systemic review using MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies published prior to January 2, 2020 comparing the risk of MACE between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors and active comparators. We extracted study characteristics and results, including grace period, carry‐over, and lag effect. Risk of bias was assessed by the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale, and assessments for prevalent user, immortal time, time lag, and time window biases.

Results

A total of 14/1850 studies identified were included. Grace period was not reported in 5 (35.7%) studies and ranged from 0 days to 180 days when reported. Carry‐over was not reported in 10 studies (71.4%). Lag effect was not reported in nine (71.4%) studies and ranged from 0 days to 180 days when reported. No studies conducted sensitivity analyses examining the effects of these assumptions on study findings. Predominant biases were inadequate follow‐up time, comparability of cohorts, prevalent use, and lag time bias.

Conclusions

Use of grace period, carry‐over, and lag effect were poorly reported and highly variable. Future pharmacoepidemiology studies should improve reporting, justify ranges for these parameters, and conduct sensitivity analyses to evaluate effects of these assumptions.
Oxygen saturation to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio in preterm infants on routine parenteral nutrition with conventional or fish oil containing lipid emulsions
Authors: Correani Alessio , Dell'Orto Valentina , Nobile Stefano , Antognoli Luca , Marchionni Paolo , Giretti Ilaria , Monachesi Chiara , Rondina Clementina , Palazzi Maria Laura , Biagetti Chiara , D'Ascenzo Rita , Pompilio Adriana , Simonato Manuela , Cogo Paola , Burattini Ilaria , Carnielli Virgilio P.
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The benefits of intravenous (IV) fish oil (FO), as a source of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, on lung growth in preterm infants, remain controversial.

Aim

To evaluate if IV FO improves lung growth in small preterm infants on routine parenteral nutrition (PN).

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data of preterm infants with a birth weight <1250 g who received routine PN from birth. We compared patients who received FO containing IV lipid emulsions with infants who received conventional emulsions (CNTR). The oxygen saturation (SpO2) to a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio (SFR) at 36 weeks (W) of gestation was chosen as the primary outcome variable to assess lung growth.

Results

Four hundred and seventy‐seven infants were studied: 240 received IV FO and 237 CNTR. While exposure to antenatal glucocorticoids was higher in IV FO group than in CNTR (95 vs 90%, P = .04), there were no differences in birth data, enteral and parenteral nutrition intakes, ventilator supports and drug therapies. The incidence of the most common complications of prematurity at 36 W was not different (bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 27 vs 21% in IV FO vs CNTR infants, P = .1). Weight gain from birth to 36 W was marginally, but significantly, higher (+0.5 g/kg/d, P = .03) in IV FO group vs CNTR. SFR increased from 32 W to 36 W in all study patients (P < .001). IV FO infants had significantly lower SpO2 from 33 W to 35 W (P < .001) and lower (worse) SFR at 36 W (432 ± 57 vs 444 ± 51, P = .026) compared to CNTR.

Conclusion

Contrary to our hypothesis, the use of FO containing IV lipid emulsions for the routine PN of the preterm infant did not improve lung growth compared to the infants who received conventional IV lipid emulsions.
l‐Citrulline treatment alters the structure of the pulmonary circulation in hypoxic newborn pigs
Authors: McClellan Eric B. , Wang Zhengming , Albertine Kurt H. , Kaplowitz Mark R. , Zhang Yongmei , Fike Candice D.
Published: July 2020

Background

Dysregulated nitric oxide (NO) signaling contributes to chronic hypoxia (CH)‐induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). NO signaling is improved and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is reduced in CH piglets treated with the l‐arginine‐NO precursor,
l‐citrulline. We hypothesized that
l‐citrulline might cause structural changes in the pulmonary circulation that would contribute to the reduction in PVR and that the
l‐citrulline‐induced structural changes would be accompanied by alterations in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling.

Methods

We evaluated small pulmonary arterial (PA) wall thickness, lung capillary density, and protein abundances of VEGF, VEGFR2, and phospho (p)‐VEGFR2 in PA and peripheral lung samples of piglets raised in the lab in CH (10%‐12% O2) from the day of life (DOL) 2 until DOL 11 to 12 or raised in room air (normoxia) by the vendor and studied on arrival to the lab on DOL 11 to 12. Some CH piglets were treated with oral
l‐citrulline (1‐1.5 g/kg/d) starting on the third day of hypoxia.

Results

PA wall thickness was 32% less and lung capillary formation was nearly doubled in l‐citrulline treated than untreated CH piglets. Both of these
l‐citrulline‐induced structural changes in the pulmonary circulation were accompanied by altered amounts of VEGF protein but not by altered amounts of either VEGFR2 or p‐VEGFR2 proteins.

Conclusions

Alterations in the structure of the pulmonary circulation in CH piglets by l‐citrulline are unlikely to be mediated by overall VEGF signaling. Nonetheless,
l‐citrulline‐ induced structural changes should reduce PVR and thereby contribute to the amelioration of CH‐induced PH.
Experimental Study on Spray Characteristics of ADN/Water Based Gel Propellant with Impinging Jet Injectors
Authors: Wang Feng‐Shan , Chen Jun , Zhang Tao , Guan Hao‐Sen , Li Hong‐Meng
Published: July 2020

ADN/water‐based gel propellant is a new high‐energy, green, non‐toxic propellant, so it has good application prospects in the future aerospace industry. In order to study the spray characteristics of ADN/water‐based gel propellant, two‐strand impinging nozzles were used to carry out experiments. The spray images were observed by high‐speed photography, and the effects of different injection pressure, nozzle diameter, and impact angle on spray configuration, spray cone angle and breakup length of liquid film were studied. The results show that the breakup length of liquid film decreased with the increase in injection pressure and impact angle, and increased with the increase in nozzle diameter. The spray cone angle increased with the increase in injection pressure, nozzle diameter, and impact angle. And the effects of spray pressure and nozzle diameter on spray process were obvious. The distribution of propellant spray in space was clarified under these conditions and it would provide reference data for the structural design of the combustion chamber of the engine.
Structural Distortions and Energy Band Structure of Ag‐Doped As2S3 and Ag2S3
Authors: Kaur Veerpal , Tripathi Surya Kant , Prakash Satya
Published: July 2020

The density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for exchange correlation potential as incorporated within SIESTA code is used to investigate the structural distortions and energy bands of AgxAs2 – xS3 (x = 0–2). The lattice parameters and cell volume change asymmetrically with an increase in Ag concentration due to asymmetric changes in electrostatic and strain field interactions. The optimized lattice geometry of As2S3, Ag1As1S3, and Ag2S3 is monoclinic, whereas for other configurations, it becomes triclinic. Unlike Ag2S3, the layering is not found in the structure of Ag2S3. The mobility gap decreases and then increases with an increase in Ag concentration. The minimum value of mobility gap is 0.04 eV for the configuration Ag1As1S3. The partial density of states (PDOS) of d orbital electrons significantly enhances with an increase in Ag concentration, and the structural changes in PDOS of s, p, and d orbital electrons suggest the weak and strong p–d hybridizations in valence and conduction bands, respectively. The reduction in the mobility gap suggests that Ag‐doped As2S3 is more conducting than As2S3 as observed experimentally.
The Emergence of an Itinerant Ferromagnetic State in Co‐Doped YNi5: A Critical Behavior Study of the Phase Transition
Authors: Karmakar Suraj K. , Giri Saurav , Majumdar Subham
Published: July 2020

YNi5is an enhanced Pauli paramagnetic material, and this work is devoted to the effect of Co doping at the Ni site of YNi5. It is found that at 10% Co doping, the sample turns ferromagnetic, with a weak itinerant character. The critical behaviours of the 10% Co‐doped sample (i.e., YNi4.5CO0.5) in its polycrystalline form are examined through bulk magnetization measurements. The second‐order phase transition from the paramagnetic to the ferromagnetic state is confirmed by the positive slope of the Arrott plots. To obtain the most reliable values of the critical exponents, an extensive analysis of the magnetization data is performed, which includes a modified Arrott plot, Kouvel–Fisher plot, and critical isotherm analysis. The best values of the exponent obtained areβ = 0.179 (±0.002),γ = 1.429 (±0.002), andTC = 9.1 K. These values are close to a 2D Ising model along with the long‐range exchange decaying asJ(r) ≈ r−(3.6). It is found that this extended exchange is a typical characteristic of many itinerant ferromagnets, whereas the 2D nature is likely to be connected with the layered crystal structure.
Annulation Cascade of Aryl Alkynes Induced by Alumina‐Mediated CF Bond Activation
Authors: Feofanov Mikhail , Akhmetov Vladimir , Amsharov Konstantin
Published: July 2020

Alumina‐mediated CF activation (AmCFA) is an established method to generate incipient phenyl cation (IPC) through polarization of C(aryl)F bonds. Herein, it is reported that AmCFA can be used to induce intramolecular arylation of aryl alkynes containing one, two, and three triple bonds. During the reaction, a single formally eliminated hydrogen fluoride (HF) leads to the formation of two, three, and four CC bonds, respectively. Thus, the transformation gives rapid access to π‐extension and serves as an interesting example of solid‐state rational domino annulation enabling the bottom‐up construction of nanographenes.
Optimal decision‐making in oncology development programs based on probability of success for phase III utilizing phase II/III data on response and overall survival
Authors: Götte Heiko , Xiong Junyuan , Kirchner Marietta , Demirtas Hakan , Kieser Meinhard
Published: July 2020

In clinical development, there is a trade‐off between investment and level of confidence in the potential of the drug before going into phase III. Reduced investment requires the use of short‐term endpoints. On new compounds, only limited information about the relationship between treatment effects of short‐ and long‐term endpoints is usually available. Therefore, decision‐making solely based on short‐term endpoints does not seem desirable. Our goal is to plan an efficient development program, which uses short‐ and long‐term endpoints data for decision‐making. We found that with limited prior information and restrictions on maximum sample size, decision‐making after phase II cannot be substantially improved. We follow the concept of a “phase 2+” design where after a go‐to‐phase‐III‐decision, further follow‐up data from phase II are employed to make interim decisions on phase III. The program will be stopped early when additional phase II and/or available phase III data lead to a low probability of success (PoS). We utilize information from a multi‐categorical short‐term endpoint (response status) and a long‐term endpoint (overall survival (OS)) to determine the PoS in phase III with OS as the primary endpoint. Optimal combinations of decision boundaries and time points are demonstrated in a simulation study. Our results show that the proposed second look using additional follow‐up data from phase II/III improves PoS estimates compared to the first look, especially when prior data about the control arm is available. The proposed planning strategy allows a customized compromise between the quality of decision‐making and program duration.
An assessment of GNSS radio occultation data produced by Spire
Authors: E. Bowler Neill
Published: July 2020

Over recent years there has been increasing interest from commercial companies to produce observations of the atmosphere using GNSS‐RO (Global Navigation Satellite System – Radio Occultation) techniques. One such company, Spire, has achieved this by launching a large number of cubesats that operate in a constellation to observe the atmosphere. Over a period of 18 months, these data have been assessed in comparison to current GNSS‐RO data. The differences between the observations and a short‐range forecast (the innovations) indicate that the data are closely comparable to currently operational GNSS‐RO data below 30 km. Above this height, the data are noisier than current satellites. Below 30 km the data often have a smaller standard deviation than other observations, which can be achieved by using increased vertical smoothing. Although the vertical correlation length‐scales for Spire data are larger than for the current data, they do not seem excessively large. Given the good performance of the innovation statistics for the Spire data, impact trials were run in the Met Office's NWP system. Tests were run assimilating data from the current observational network, and with no GNSS‐RO data, adding data from Spire in various proportions, and replacing the data from the Metop‐C satellite with data from Spire. It was found that there is a substantial forecast benefit from assimilating Spire data. In accordance with previous work, the forecast impact of increasing the data volume is roughly proportional to the logarithm of the total amount of GNSS‐RO data assimilated. Theoretical arguments suggest a different relationship with the number of observations, but these do not fit the results well.
Belief rule‐based dependence assessment method under interval uncertainty
Authors: Zhang An , Gao Fei , Yang Mi , Bi Wenhao
Published: July 2020

Human reliability analysis (HRA) is of great significance for probabilistic risk assessment, and the technique for human error rate prediction (THERP) has been widely applied to assess the dependence among HRA. However, uncertainties in analyst's judgment and experts' knowledge, especially interval uncertainty in analyst's judgment, have been ignored by existing methods. To this end, the belief rule‐based system is employed to model uncertainties in experts' knowledge in this paper, and the interval belief distribution is used to model interval uncertainty in analyst's judgment. Then, a new belief rule‐based dependence assessment method is proposed, and two case studies are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method could not only model uncertainty using belief rules and interval belief distributions, but also provide a novel and effective way for human reliability analysis.
Informality costs: Informal entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging economies
Authors: Bu Juan , Cuervo‐Cazurra Alvaro
Published: July 2020

Research Summary

We analyze the impact of informal entrepreneurship on innovation in emerging markets. Building on agency and imprinting theories, we introduce the concept of informality costs, that is, the higher agency costs from adverse selection and moral hazard problems caused by a firm's informal creation. These informality costs become imprinted and affect internal agency relationships among employees and managers and external agency relationships with suppliers and distributors, constraining the firms' incentives and ability to innovate even after formalization. As a result, informally created firms engage more in imitative and less in innovative new product development. We further propose that changes in ownership and the innovation environment alter the persistence of informality costs. Specifically, foreign firm and business group ownership reduces the persistence of informality costs and results in more innovativeness, while state ownership heightens informality costs and leads to less innovativeness. Moreover, improvements in national innovation systems decrease informality costs, strengthening the innovativeness of informally created firms.

Managerial Summary

We study how the informal creation of new ventures in emerging economies affects their innovation after they become formal firms. We propose that informally created new ventures suffer from informality costs established as a result of being informal at the beginning of their lives that reduce their incentives and ability to innovate. As a result, these firms tend to introduce new products that are imitative rather than innovative. We also propose that changes in the firm's ownership and in the national innovation system alter the persistence of informality costs and their impact on innovation. First, informally created new ventures acquired by foreign firms or private business groups have reduced informality costs and innovate more, while those acquired by the state have enhanced informality costs and imitate more. Second, national innovation system improvements reduce informality costs and support innovativeness.
Capacity‐constrained entrepreneurs and their product portfolio size: The response to a platform design change on a Chinese sharing economy platform
Authors: Tae C. Jennifer , Luo Xueming , Lin Zhijie
Published: July 2020

Research summary

How do entrepreneurs on a sharing economy platform (SEP) with a limit to aggregate output (capacity constraints) respond to a platform design change emphasizing buyer feedback? Not all supply‐side complementors can diversify or scale their offerings. Focusing on those who can change the former, but not the latter, we examine how entrepreneurs change their product portfolio size after the platform design changed to emphasize buyer feedback. We found that their product portfolio size decreased following the change, and more so for those with more positive feedback. While the sales increased for entrepreneurs after the change, buyer feedback deteriorated. Our results show how SEPs in emerging economies can foster entrepreneurship and elucidate the importance of nonscale‐free resources of supply‐side entrepreneurs to better understand platform dynamics.

Managerial summary

Do sellers change the number of products on offer when the app owner rewards sellers with high user ratings? While research has examined how sellers adjust the number of products to get high ratings, little attention has been paid to sellers with capacity constraints. This is problematic, as sellers on sharing economy apps often have a limit on the total quantity of products they can produce. Using data from a Chinese home cooked meal selling app, we show that sellers decreased the number of products they sell when the app owner began to reward high user ratings. The decrease was more pronounced for sellers with higher ratings. As a result, sales revenue increased, but user ratings decreased. Implications for practitioners and policymakers are discussed within.
Trifunctional Single‐Atomic Ru Sites Enable Efficient Overall Water Splitting and Oxygen Reduction in Acidic Media
Authors: Peng Xianyun , Zhao Shunzheng , Mi Yuying , Han Lili , Liu Xijun , Qi Defeng , Sun Jiaqiang , Liu Yifan , Bao Haihong , Zhuo Longchao , Xin Huolin L. , Luo Jun , Sun Xiaoming
Published: July 2020

Development of cost‐effective, active trifunctional catalysts for acidic oxygen reduction (ORR) as well as hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively) is highly desirable, albeit challenging. Herein, single‐atomic Ru sites anchored onto Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets are first reported to serve as trifunctional electrocatalysts for simultaneously catalyzing acidic HER, OER, and ORR. A half‐wave potential of 0.80 V for ORR and small overpotentials of 290 and 70 mV for OER and HER, respectively, at 10 mA cm−2 are achieved. Hence, a low cell voltage of 1.56 V is required for the acidic overall water splitting. The maximum power density of an H2–O2 fuel cell using the as‐prepared catalyst can reach as high as 941 mW cm−2. Theoretical calculations reveal that isolated Ru–O2 sites can effectively optimize the adsorption of reactants/intermediates and lower the energy barriers for the potential‐determining steps, thereby accelerating the HER, ORR, and OER kinetics.
Understanding the complexity of health
Authors: Rouse William B.
Published: July 2020

The complexity of health cannot be adequately explained with a representation that only captures one level of abstraction of the ecosystem. Multiple levels of abstraction are needed to comprehend the full range of forces that affect the health of a population. These levels are outlined and run the gamut from cells to society, ranging from aberrations of immune system signalling to society's values and norms. Computational modelling of this multilevel system can enable both understanding and managing the complexity of health. This is illustrated in contexts that include Washington, DC, and New York City.
Classroom Interaction in CLIL Programs: Offering Opportunities or Fostering Inequalities?
Authors: Llinares Ana , Evnitskaya Natalia
Published: July 2020

This study investigated potential inequalities in a bilingual education program where secondary school students are streamed into two strands with different degrees of exposure to the target language based on their proficiency: high exposure (HE) and low exposure (LE). Drawing on classroom registers (Christie, 2005), appraisal theory (Martin & White, 2005), and sociocultural perspectives on classroom interaction (Gibbons, 2006; Lemke, 1989; Mortimer & Scott, 2003), researchers analysed interactional practices by teachers teaching the same content in both groups. Results show no major differences in distribution of classroom registers and teachers’ general pedagogical purposes across groups. Analysis of students’ language use across registers corroborates previous studies showing that translanguaging in content and language integrated learning is more common when the focus is on classroom management issues (e.g., Moore & Nikula, 2016). The most striking results relate to differences in use of pedagogical purposes and evaluative language. These differences entail more interactional engagement in higher order thinking skills by HE students and use of a wider variety of language resources in the second language (L2) to express these meanings, compared to LE students. This indicates that the division into strands in bilingual programs may lead to different perceptions of students’ academic capacities beyond L2 proficiency and reinforcement of social differences and inequality in bilingual programs.
Consider advantages of block scheduling, including during pandemic
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: July 2020

At Cornell College in Iowa, students take one class at a time for three‐and‐a‐half‐week sessions. The college has been using the block schedule since 1978, but it has attracted increased attention from other institutions because of the flexibility it provides during the pandemic.
Offer digital diplomas to meet evolving needs of graduates
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: July 2020

Receiving a paper diploma is a centuries‐old tradition. But what if that tradition no longer serves much of a purpose beyond contributing to the pomp and circumstance of graduation?
A study on UV‐protection property of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐montmorillonite composite nanofibers
Authors: Elhami Mozhgan , Habibi Sima
Published: July 2020

The aim of this research is to investigate the possibility of barrier effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanofiber, against the UV radiation in different electrospinning situations. For this purpose, nanofibers with different weight ratio of PVA and nanoclay (MMT) were electrospun under different circumstances, and the amount of protect that is created by the nanofiber web against UV radiation by examining the rate of degradation of methylene blue dye that was protected by the same web was estimated. The UV‐vis spectrometry was used for the analysis of methylene blue color. In order to investigate the morphology and miscibility of PVA‐MMT composite nanofiber, X‐ray diffraction, scanning election microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer have been used. Thermal gravimetric analysis is used to investigate and explore how nanofibers behave against heat.