bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sleep, brain development, and autism spectrum disorders: Insights from animal models
Authors: Wintler Taylor , Schoch Hannah , Frank Marcos G. , Peixoto Lucia
Published: March 2020

Sleep is an evolutionarily conserved and powerful drive, although its complete functions are still unknown. One possible function of sleep is that it promotes brain development. The amount of sleep is greatest during ages when the brain is rapidly developing, and sleep has been shown to influence critical period plasticity. This supports a role for sleep in brain development and suggests that abnormal sleep in early life may lead to abnormal development. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in the United States. It is estimated that insomnia affects 44%–86% of the ASD population, predicting the severity of ASD core symptoms and associated behavioral problems. Sleep problems impact the quality of life of both ASD individuals and their caregivers, thus it is important to understand why they are so prevalent. In this review, we explore the role of sleep in early life as a causal factor in ASD. First, we review fundamental steps in mammalian sleep ontogeny and regulation and how sleep influences brain development. Next, we summarize current knowledge gained from studying sleep in animal models of ASD. Ultimately, our goal is to highlight the importance of understanding the role of sleep in brain development and the use of animal models to provide mechanistic insight into the origin of sleep problems in ASD.
High refresh rate and low power consumption AMOLED panel using top‐gate n‐oxide and p‐LTPS TFTs
Authors: Yonebayashi Ryo , Tanaka Kohei , Okada Kuniaki , Yamamoto Kaoru , Yamamoto Keiichi , Uchida Seiichi , Aoki Tomohisa , Takeda Yujiro , Furukawa Hiroaki , Ito Kazuatsu , Katoh Hiromi , Nakamura Wataru
Published: March 2020

A pixel circuit and a gate driver on array for light‐emitting display are presented. By simultaneously utilizing top‐gate n‐type oxide and p‐type low‐temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin‐film transistors (TFTs), the circuits provide high refresh rate and low power consumption. An active‐matrix LED (AMOLED) panel with proposed circuits is fabricated, and driving at various refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120 Hz could be achieved.
Combat‐Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Major Depression in U.S. Veterans: The Role of Deployment Cycle Adversity and Social Support
Authors: Goetter Elizabeth M. , Hoeppner Susanne S. , Khan Amanda J. , Charney Meredith E. , Wieman Sarah , Venners Margaret R. , Avallone Kimberly M. , Rauch Sheila A. M. , Simon Naomi M.
Published: March 2020

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly co‐occur in combat veterans, and this comorbidity has been associated with higher levels of distress and more social and economic costs compared to one disorder alone. In a secondary analysis of a multisite randomized controlled trial of a sample of veterans with combat‐related PTSD, we examined the associations among pre‐, peri‐, and postdeployment adversity, social support, and clinician‐diagnosed comorbid MDD. Participants completed the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory–II as well as structured clinical interviews for diagnostic status. Among 223 U.S. veterans of the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (86.9% male) with primary combat‐related PTSD, 69.5% had current comorbid MDD. After adjustment for sex, a linear regression model indicated that more concerns about family disruptions during deployment,f2= 0.065; more harassment during deployment,f2= 0.020; and lower ratings of postdeployment social support,f2= 0.154, were associated with more severe self‐reported depression symptoms. Interventions that enhance social support as well as societal efforts to foster successful postdeployment reintegration are critical for reducing the mental health burden associated with this highly prevalent comorbidity in veterans with combat‐related PTSD.
Examining Insomnia During Intensive Treatment for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Does it Improve and Does it Predict Treatment Outcomes?
Authors: Zalta Alyson K. , Pinkerton Linzy M. , Valdespino‐Hayden Zerbrina , Smith Dale L. , Burgess Helen J. , Held Philip , Boley Randy A. , Karnik Niranjan S. , Pollack Mark H.
Published: March 2020

Previous research has demonstrated that sleep disturbances show little improvement with evidence‐based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, sleep improvements are associated with PTSD treatment outcomes. The goal of the current study was to evaluate changes in self‐reported insomnia symptoms and the association between insomnia symptoms and treatment outcome during a 3‐week intensive treatment program (ITP) for veterans with PTSD that integrated cognitive processing therapy (CPT), mindfulness, yoga, and other ancillary services. As part of standard clinical procedures, veterans (N = 165) completed self‐report assessments of insomnia symptoms at pre‐ and posttreatment as well as self‐report assessments of PTSD and depression symptoms approximately every other day during treatment. Most veterans reported at least moderate difficulties with insomnia at both pretreatment (83.0%–95.1%) and posttreatment (69.1–71.3%). Statistically significant reductions in self‐reported insomnia severity occurred from pretreatment to posttreatment; however, the effect size was small, d = 0.33. Longitudinal mixed‐effects models showed a significant interactive effect of Changes in Insomnia × Time in predicting PTSD and depression symptoms, indicating that patients with more improvements in insomnia had more positive treatment outcomes. These findings suggest that many veterans continued to struggle with sleep disruption after a 3‐week ITP, and successful efforts to improve sleep could lead to better PTSD treatment outcomes. Further research is needed to establish how adjunctive sleep interventions can be used to maximize both sleep and PTSD outcomes.
Return of the “age of dinoflagellates” in Monterey Bay: Drivers of dinoflagellate dominance examined using automated imaging flow cytometry and long‐term time series analysis
Authors: Fischer Alexis D. , Hayashi Kendra , McGaraghan Anna , Kudela Raphael M.
Published: March 2020

Phytoplankton biomass in Monterey Bay, California is typically dominated by diatoms, but it shifted to dinoflagellates twice in the past 18 years (2004–2007, 2017–2018), which was associated with increased harmful algal blooms. Located within the central California Current System (CCS), Monterey Bay is strongly influenced by cycles of upwelling‐favorable winds and their relaxation or reversal. Both dinoflagellate‐dominated periods were linked to a negative North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) and increased river discharge, but each had a different relationship with upwelling. To examine the connection between large‐scale and local forcings underlying floristic shifts in the phytoplankton assemblage, an Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) was deployed within the Monterey Bay upwelling shadow for a full year. A machine learning classifier differentiating IFCB images of the phytoplankton assemblage was developed. Despite anomalously strong upwelling in 2018, dinoflagellates comprised 57% of the annual phytoplankton‐specific biomass. During upwelling, dinoflagellates appear to have accumulated at convergent fronts, while during relaxation these frontal populations were transported to the nearshore where they seeded local blooms. Frequent upwelling‐relaxation cycles and local wind anomalies generated an unusually retentive circulation pattern in the upwelling shadow, producing a warm and stratified bloom incubator. Thus, local features and forcings (upwelling shadow, winds, river discharge) modified the effects of regional‐ and basin‐scale oceanographic variability (regional upwelling, NPGO), altering local phytoplankton patterns. As North Pacific decadal variability and CCS upwelling intensity increase under climate warming, dinoflagellates may become more common in some CCS regions, due to the enhancement or mitigation of large‐scale trends by local forcings.
The Promising Future of Fluoropolymers
Authors: Améduri Bruno
Published: March 2020

This article aims at showing the usefulness of fluoropolymers (FPs), supplying an overview of their synthesis, applications, and recycling. FPs are currently prepared by conventional radical polymerization of fluoromonomers. These specialty polymers, produced in low tonnage compared to that of commodity ones, display outstanding properties, such as chemical, oxidative, and thermal resistances, low refractive index, dissipation factor, permittivity, and water absorptivity, and excellent weatherability and durability. More recent routes for their preparations are suggested, controlled or not, leading to random, alternated, block, graft, dendrimers, or multiarm copolymers, as well as their applications ranging from coatings to high performance (thermoplastic) elastomers, energy related‐materials (e.g., fuel cell membranes, components for lithium‐ion batteries, electroactive devices, and photovoltaics) to original and surfactants, optical devices, organic electronics, composites, and shape memory polymers.
Comparison of NGS panel and Sanger sequencing for genotyping CAG repeats in the AR gene
Authors: Rocca Maria Santa , Ferrarini Margherita , Msaki Aichi , Vinanzi Cinzia , Ghezzi Marco , De Rocco Ponce Maurizio , Foresta Carlo , Ferlin Alberto
Published: March 2020

Background

The androgen receptor (AR) is a nuclear receptor, encoded by the AR gene on the X chromosome. Within the first exon of the AR gene, two short tandem repeats (STR), CAG and GGC, are a source of polymorphism in the population. Therefore, high‐throughput methods for screening AR, such as next‐generation sequencing (NGS), are sought after; however, data generated by NGS are limited by the availability of bioinformatics tools. Here, we evaluated the accuracy of the bioinformatics tool HipSTR in detecting and quantify CAG repeats within the AR gene.

Method

The AR gene of 228 infertile men was sequenced using NGSgene panel. Data generated were analyzed with HipSTR to detect CAG repeats. The accuracy was compared with the results obtained with Sanger.

Results

We found that HipSTR was more accurate than Sanger in genotyping normal karyotype men (46,XY), however, it was more likely to misidentify homozygote genotypes in men with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY).

Conclusion

Our findings show that the bioinformatics tool HipSTR is 100% accurate in detecting and assessing AR CAG repeats in infertile men (46,XY) as well as in men with low‐level mosaicism.
Glucose‐dependent dielectric Cole‐Cole models of rat blood plasma from 500 MHz to 40 GHz for millimeter‐wave glucose detection
Authors: Hays Madeline , Wojcieszak Sydney , Nusrat Nikhat , Secondo Lynn E. , Topsakal Erdem
Published: March 2020

In 2017, 30.3 million Americans lived with diabetes. Currently, the standard method of glucose estimation for diabetes relies on electrochemical sensors which have limited lifespans and are only reliable continuously up to 400 mg/dL. This paper investigates an alternative sensing method using dielectric property variability as a function of glucose concentration. In this study, we characterize dielectric properties—relative permittivity and conductivity—of Sprague Dawley rat blood plasma as they relate to plasma glucose concentrations from 250 to 16 000 mg/dL, over an expanded frequency range of 500 MHz to 40 GHz with a 9.897 MHz resolution. Particle swarm optimization is then used to fit measured data to a single‐pole Cole‐Cole model for relative permittivity and conductivity. Quadratic relationships are developed to represent Cole‐Cole parameters as functions of glucose concentration. Accuracy of the Cole‐Cole model is determined by finding the difference between experimental data and Cole‐Cole approximations. Results suggest three main conclusions which may be applied to future sensing applications and testing: the single‐pole Cole‐Cole model is a reliable method to accurately describe and reconstitute dielectric properties according rat blood plasma glucose concentrations, conductivity is a more promising determinant of glucose concentration than relative permittivity, and higher frequency ranges result in larger conductivity contrast between glucose concentrations.
Principles and applications of multienergy CT: Report of AAPM Task Group 291
Authors: McCollough Cynthia H. , Boedeker Kirsten , Cody Dianna , Duan Xinhui , Flohr Thomas , Halliburton Sandra S. , Hsieh Jiang , Layman Rick R. , Pelc Norbert J.
Published: March 2020

In x‐ray computed tomography (CT), materials with different elemental compositions can have identical CT number values, depending on the mass density of each material and the energy of the detected x‐ray beam. Differentiating and classifying different tissue types and contrast agents can thus be extremely challenging. In multienergy CT, one or more additional attenuation measurements are obtained at a second, third or more energy. This allows the differentiation of at least two materials. Commercial dual‐energy CT systems (only two energy measurements) are now available either using sequential acquisitions of low‐ and high‐tube potential scans, fast tube‐potential switching, beam filtration combined with spiral scanning, dual‐source, or dual‐layer detector approaches. The use of energy‐resolving, photon‐counting detectors is now being evaluated on research systems. Irrespective of the technological approach to data acquisition, all commercial multienergy CT systems circa 2020 provide dual‐energy data. Material decomposition algorithms are then used to identify specific materials according to their effective atomic number and/or to quantitate mass density. These algorithms are applied to either projection or image data. Since 2006, a number of clinical applications have been developed for commercial release, including those that automatically (a) remove the calcium signal from bony anatomy and/or calcified plaque; (b) create iodine concentration maps from contrast‐enhanced CT data and/or quantify absolute iodine concentration; (c) create virtual non‐contrast‐enhanced images from contrast‐enhanced scans; (d) identify perfused blood volume in lung parenchyma or the myocardium; and (e) characterize materials according to their elemental compositions, which can allow in vivo differentiation between uric acid and non‐uric acid urinary stones or uric acid (gout) or non‐uric acid (calcium pyrophosphate) deposits in articulating joints and surrounding tissues. In this report, the underlying physical principles of multienergy CT are reviewed and each of the current technical approaches are described. In addition, current and evolving clinical applications are introduced. Finally, the impact of multienergy CT technology on patient radiation dose is summarized.
Patch coupling in isogeometric analysis of solids in boundary representation using a mortar approach
Authors: Chasapi Margarita , Dornisch Wolfgang , Klinkel Sven
Published: March 2020

This contribution is concerned with a coupling approach for nonconforming NURBS patches in the framework of an isogeometric formulation for solids in boundary representation. The boundary representation modeling technique in CAD is the starting point of this approach. We parameterize the solid according to the scaled boundary finite element method and employ NURBS basis functions for the approximation of the solution. Therefore, solid surfaces consist of several sections, which can be regarded as patches and discretized independently. The main objective of this study is to derive an approach for the connection of independent sections in order to allow for local refinement and thus an accurate and efficient discretization of the computational domain. Nonconforming sections are coupled with a mortar approach within a master‐slave framework. The coupling of adjacent sections ensures the equality of mutual deformations along the interface in a weak sense and is enforced by constraining the NURBS basis functions on the interface. We apply this approach to nonlinear problems in two dimensions and compare the results with conforming discretizations.
Funerary reuse of a Roman amphitheatre: Palaeodietary and osteological study of Early Middle Ages burials (8th and 9th centuries AD) discovered in the Arena of Verona (Northeastern Italy)
Authors: Laffranchi Zita , Mazzucchi Alessandra , Thompson Simon , Delgado‐Huertas Antonio , Granados‐Torres Arsenio , Milella Marco
Published: March 2020

The economic and political disruption following the collapse of the Roman Empire is an important moment for the cultural and biological history of Western Europe. One of the trends associated this socioeconomic change is the reuse of Roman public monuments for different purposes including funerary ones. The cultural meaning of this practice, occasionally described throughout Europe, is however still unclear. Here, we present a study of a group of burials (N= 10) recently discovered in the Roman amphitheatre (Arena) of Verona (Northeastern Italy) and dating to Early Middle Ages (8thand 9thcentury AD). Specifically, we address the following research questions: (1) What depositional events are responsible for the observed stratigraphic sequence? 2) Which demographic composition and health condition characterize this sample? (3) What kind of diet characterized these individuals? In order to address these questions, we performed an osteological and isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) study of the skeletal evidence for the assessment of palaeopathological and dietary patterns and a histological analysis for the refinement of age at death and the calculation of the minimum number of individuals (MNI). A14C study was also performed in order to better define the depositional sequence of these individuals. The results, besides being among the first palaeodietary data for Early Middle Ages in this region, highlight: (a) the funerary use of this location for at least one century; (b) an MNI of 10 individuals of both sexes and different age classes, featuring relatively high frequencies of unspecific stress markers (porotic hyperostosis and linear enamel hypoplasia) and trauma, and (c) a diet characterized by a consistent contribution of C4plants and a good access to animal proteins. These results suggest a long‐spanning practice and the absence of any selectivity in the choice of these individuals. Finally, isotopic data align with previous studies on Bronze and Iron Age samples confirming a long tradition of alimentary exploitation of C4plants in this area.
Comparing the efficiency of different scheme's under “Bharat NirmanYojana”: A Malmquist DEA analysis
Authors: Fatima Sana , Sharma Vishal
Published: March 2020

The development of rural infrastructure is an important component in improving the standard of living in developing countries. In India, the government has taken up numerous measures to contribute toward the development of rural infrastructure, thereby initiating the Bharat Nirman Yojana (BNY). In this research study, the Malmquist model of input‐oriented DEA has been conducted to determine the efficiency of six schemes of the BNY for the time period of 2013–2015. The input variables selected were; designated investment and total amount released by the central government against the output variable of number of villages covered or achieved. The analysis of the data observed that only the telecommunication scheme has constant efficiency of 1.000 for all the years. On the other hand, the least efficiency from the Constant Return to Scale model was found for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) (0.014 for 2013; 0.026 for 2014 and 0.007 for 2015). Again, the Variable Return to Scale model indicated technical efficiency for the electrification scheme and telecommunication for all the years. Further, in terms of technical efficiency, all the schemes had decreasing change where Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) showed the highest change with 99.98% and the telecommunication scheme reflected the least change. Furthermore, the productivity index was found to be highest for Telecommunications (1.443) followed by AIBP (1.312), and the lowest productivity index was found for Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) (0.353). Thus, it was interpreted that among all the schemes, telecommunications scheme was the most efficient.
Structural, optical, and surface morphological studies of ethyl cellulose/graphene oxide nanocomposites
Authors: Khichar Kamal Kumar , Dangi Suraj Bhan , Dhayal Vimala , Kumar Upendra , Hashmi Sonia Zeba , Sadhu Veera , Choudhary Banwari Lal , Kumar Shalendra , Kaya Savaş , Kuznetsov Aleksey E. , Dalela Saurabh , Gupta Saral K. , Alvi Parvez Ahmad
Published: March 2020

Motivated by the outstanding properties and unique structure of graphene oxide (GO), the polymer nanocomposites of ethyl cellulose (EC) as a polymer matrix and the GO as a nano‐filler have been prepared with the different GO wt% concentrations using simple solution blending technique followed by the ultrasonication treatment and characterized by using various advanced techniques. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) was utilized to determine the preliminary phase determination and for the structural analysis. The optical band gaps were determined with the help of UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrophotometer and were verified by the PL spectra using Spectro‐Fluorescence. According to experimental results, the optical bandgap of the nanocomposite was found to reduce with increasing GO content. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to study the surface morphology and to identify the presence of GO in the nanocomposites. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study has been carried out to recognize the presence of functional groups and their vibrational mechanisms. Micro‐Raman imaging technique has been used to determine the Raman bands present in the nanocomposites. The optical band gap of the nanocomposites reflects the semiconducting nature, which might be used in optoelectronic devices and sensor applications.
Hydrological impacts of near‐surface soil warming on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Liu Li , Zhang Wenjiang , Lu Qifeng , Jiang Huiru , Tang Yi , Xiao Hongmin , Wang Genxu
Published: March 2020

Climate warming can cause intense changes in regional soil freeze/thaw dynamics and thus exerts strong effects on hydrological processes. Because permafrost conditions vary widely across the Tibetan Plateau (TP), a better understanding the potential influences of permafrost types is helpful to project future hydrological changes. Using multilayer soil temperatures from 45 meteorological stations, this study investigated regional near‐surface soil warming on the TP (1981–2015) and related hydrological implications in two typical alpine basins. In cold and warm seasons, near‐surface soil temperature gradient (0–5 cm) showed significant increasing trends with average rates of 0.31 ± 0.13 and 0.19 ± 0.08°C per decade (p < 0.05), respectively. This implied increasingly more heat transferred downward from the ground surface annually, which also appeared in the deeper layer (5–10 cm) but was relatively weaker. Our results also reflected that increasing warming tended to cause higher baseflow (0.66 m3 s−1 a−1, p < 0.10) and quicker groundwater recession (−0.05 per decade, p < 0.05) in the permafrost‐dominated (>60%) basin, but had much weaker hydrological effects in the low‐permafrost (<20%) basin. The contrasting responses suggested similar hydrological impacts related to the fraction of permafrost coverage as in the circum‐Arctic regions. Our study implies that the warming‐induced weakening of freezing process has complicated hydrological impacts in the Tibetan basins dependent on the fraction of permafrost coverage.
Feeding behavior of Frankliniella fusca on seedling cotton expressing Cry51Aa2.834_16 Bt toxin
Authors: D'Ambrosio Damon A , Kennedy George G , Huseth Anders S
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), is a pest of cotton. Currently, growers rely on neonicotinoid seed treatments to control F. fusca. However, the occurrence of neonicotinoid‐resistant F. fusca populations has created new challenges for their management. Development of thrips‐active Cry51Aa2.834_16 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin expressed in MON 88702 cotton will be an important new tactic for thrips management. Previous studies have shown that MON 88702 causes limited mortality of F. fusca adults and larvae but reduces infestations on seedling cotton by suppressing oviposition from colonizing adults. This suggests that the toxin affects host preference of adult F. fusca. Knowledge of the effect of this trait on F. fusca feeding behavior provides a more complete understanding of MON 88702 activity. Using electropenetrography, we compared the feeding behaviors of adult F. fusca females on MON 88702 cotton and a non‐Bt isoline cotton over 2 h. The number of probes, proportion of probes resulting in ingestion, total duration of ingestion, and duration of ingestion per event were measured.

RESULTS

On MON 88702 seedlings, F. fusca probed and ingested fewer times than those on non‐Bt cotton. Probes on MON 88702 were less likely to lead to ingestion than on non‐Bt cotton. The total duration of ingestion and duration of ingestion per event did not differ between treatments.

CONCLUSION

The results show that MON 88702 has an antifeedant effect on F. fusca, which provides insight into behavioral responses driving MON 88702 aversion and anti‐oviposition documented in previous studies. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The relationship between features enabling SDHI fungicide binding to the Sc‐Sdh complex and its inhibitory activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Gao Yangyang , He Lifei , Zhu Jiamei , Cheng Jiagao , Li Beixing , Liu Feng , Mu Wei
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

A new generation of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) with high efficiency and broad‐spectrum antifungal activity has been frequently used in crop production. Sclerotinia stem rot is a major disease of various plants and crops caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Although benzovindiflupyr and isopyrazam reportedly have high activity against S. sclerotiorum, little is known about the bioactivity of different SDHIs classes against S. sclerotiorum or the mechanism of their differential antifungal activity.

RESULTS

The in vitro tests revealed that the pyrazole‐4‐carboxamides of SDHIs (benzovindiflupyr, isopyrazam, fluxapyroxad, pydiflumetofen) had the highest activity against S. sclerotiorum followed by pyridine carboxamides (boscalid), pyridinyl‐ethyl benzamides (fluopyram) and thiazole carboxamides (thifluzamide), and of these thifluzamide showed poor antifungal activity with EC50 values greater than 6.01 mg L−1. The pyrazole‐4‐carboxamides of SDHIs showed satisfactory protective and curative activity against Sclerotinia stem rot. After treatment with the pyrazole‐4‐carboxamides of SDHIs, mitochondrial function in S. sclerotiorum decreased significantly. The enzyme activity assays revealed a lower affinity between thifluzamide and the Sc‐Sdh complex than was observed for the other six fungicides, with IC50 values ranging from 0.0036 to 1.2088 μmol L−1. Additionally, the docking positions of fungicides were similar, yet binding energies were different in the docking study with the Sdh complex. The correspondingly weaker hydrogen bonds may be responsible for the poor activity of thifluzamide against S. sclerotiorum.

CONCLUSION

Understanding different binding features of various SDHIs classes with the Sc‐Sdh complex might be beneficial for the design and development of highly effective broad‐spectrum fungicides to ensure high yield and quality in crops by reducing fungicide use. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Assessing the correlation of microscopy‐based and volumetry‐based measurements for resin swelling in a range of potential greener solvents for SPPS
Authors: Magtaan Jordan Kevin , Devocelle Marc , Kelleher Fintan
Published: March 2020

The degree of resin swelling in a particular solvent system is one of the critical parameters for solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and for solid‐phase synthesis in general. Methods used for measuring the degree of resin swelling include microscopy‐based and volumetry‐based methods. This study describes and compares the use of both methods for a number of commercially available resins commonly used in SPPS, with a range of solvents, which have been identified in the literature as ‘greener’ than DCM, DMF and NMP. The results were analysed by statistical methods, and a significant correlation between the two distinct methods has been demonstrated for the first time. The results will likely be used, in conjunction with other literature methods, to help in choosing both the resin and solvent system for greener SPPS, as well as for continuous flow SPPS, which is of growing importance.
Dynamic self‐triggered output‐feedback control for nonlinear stochastic systems with time delays
Authors: Yang Hua , Wang Zidong ,  Shen Yuxuan , Alsaadi Fuad E.
Published: March 2020

In this paper, the dynamic self‐triggered output‐feedback control problem is investigated for a class of nonlinear stochastic systems with time delays. To reduce the network resource consumption, the dynamic event‐triggered mechanism is implemented in the sensor‐to‐controller channel. Criteria are first established for the closed‐loop system to be stochastically input‐to‐state stable under the event‐triggered mechanism. Furthermore, sufficient conditions are given under which the closed‐loop system with dynamic event‐triggered mechanism is almost surely stable, and the output‐feedback controller as well as the dynamic event‐triggered mechanism are co‐designed. Moreover, a dynamic self‐triggered mechanism is proposed such that the nonlinear stochastic system with the designed output‐feedback controller is stochastically input‐to‐state stable and the Zeno phenomenon is excluded. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of proposed dynamic self‐triggered output‐feedback control scheme.
Machine learning and human capital complementarities: Experimental evidence on bias mitigation
Authors: Choudhury Prithwiraj , Starr Evan , Agarwal Rajshree
Published: March 2020

Research Summary

The use of machine learning (ML) for productivity in the knowledge economy requires considerations of important biases that may arise from ML predictions. We define a new source of bias related to incompleteness in real time inputs, which may result from strategic behavior by agents. We theorize that domain expertise of users can complement ML by mitigating this bias. Our observational and experimental analyses in the patent examination context support this conjecture. In the face of “input incompleteness,” we find ML is biased toward finding prior art textually similar to focal claims and domain expertise is needed to find the most relevant prior art. We also document the importance of vintage‐specific skills, and discuss the implications for artificial intelligence and strategic management of human capital.

Managerial Summary

Unleashing the productivity benefits of machine learning (ML) technologies in the future of work requires managers to pay careful attention to mitigating potential biases from its use. One such bias occurs when there is input incompleteness to the ML tool, potentially because agents strategically provide information that may benefit them. We demonstrate that in such circumstances, ML tools can make worse predictions than the prior technology vintages. To ensure productivity benefits of ML in light of potentially strategic inputs, our research suggests that managers need to consider two attributes of human capital—domain expertise and vintage‐specific skills. Domain expertise complements ML by correcting for the (strategic) incompleteness of the input to the ML tool, while vintage‐specific skills ensure the ability to properly operate the technology.
Resource re‐allocation capabilities in internal capital markets: The value of overcoming inertia
Authors: Lovallo Dan , Brown Alexander L. , Teece David J. , Bardolet David
Published: March 2020

Research summary

We examine the correlations between financial resource allocation flow between business segments and two measures of overall firm financial performance using a sample of Compustat firms. Our analysis finds a consistent inverted U‐shape (or alternatively, V‐shape) relationship between those measures and firm profitability. Interestingly, nearly all the data lie on the upward sloping part of the curve. Taken together, these results support the notion that flows of financial capital are most often positively correlated with financial performance.

Managerial summary

A key question for any organization is how reallocating capital across business units is related to overall firm performance. We examine the correlations of firm profitability with a measure of change in year‐to‐year allocations across business units in a data set of several thousand firms spanning 18 years. Except in cases of the most extreme reallocations, our measure of firm reallocation is positively correlated with firm performance. Because we cannot prove causality, we cautiously conclude that our findings are consistent with a story that, in most cases, firms would benefit from greater internal reallocation of capital. The managerial question then becomes “what dynamic capabilities are necessary to increase the flow of resources across business segments?” Policies aimed at increasing allocation flow are likely to be beneficial.
How do pre‐entrants to the industry incubation stage choose between alliances and acquisitions for technical capabilities and specialized complementary assets?
Authors: Moeen Mahka , Mitchell Will
Published: March 2020

Research summary

Focusing on the incubation stage of a potential new industry, this article addresses a gap at the intersection of the external sourcing and market entry literatures by examining pre‐entry external sourcing of new resources. Besides drawing on their legacy resources, pre‐entrants during industry incubation commonly use alliances and acquisitions to obtain technical capabilities and complementary assets, thereby creating a portfolio of sourcing modes that collectively shapes the firms' paths to potential market entry. We identify a key pattern at the intersection of type of sourcing mode and type of resource: pre‐entrants to the incubation stage are more likely to use alliances to source technical capabilities, while using acquisitions to source specialized complementary assets. Our empirical context is the agricultural biotechnology industry.

Managerial summary

Firms typically seek new resources when they begin exploring potential industries, before any products have reached the market, yet the needed investments face substantial uncertainties. This article highlights a pattern in how firms use alliances and acquisitions for technical capabilities and complementary resources during the incubation stage of the agricultural biotechnology industry. We focus on two key features of the external sourcing activity, differing based on the type of resource: developing new core technologies, which often starts early, tends to leverage external alliance partners; by contrast, establishing complementary assets tends to start later through acquisitions. The logic underlying these patterns can help managers make effective decisions about their external sourcing strategies during the incubation stage of a new industry.
Rethinking theories of change in the light of enactive cognitive science: Contributions to community‐scale local sustainability initiatives
Authors: Mitchell Andrew S.
Published: March 2020

Social innovation projects commonly refer to operationalized theories of change to inform strategy and to deliver intended outcomes. Community‐based sustainability campaigns, as one example, emphasize the elicitation of pro‐environmental activities and decision‐making among members of a host community, drawing on mainstream psychological theories of behaviour, motivation and cognitive (mental) processes. Locating an argument within the neurobiological base of structure determinism, this paper explores how theories of change for sustainability campaigns might be reimagined through the lens of enactive theory. Following a brief introduction to the enactive model of embodied cognition, implications associated with trying to operationalize the model to inform how theories of change are mapped out and used in sustainability initiatives are discussed. The paper concludes by drawing on insights from approaches to psychotherapy, which also endeavoured to apply this model of mind, and considers these within the strategic context of sustainability initiatives and public engagement.
Mobile Documentation: Making the Learning Process Visible to Families
Authors: Buchholz Beth A. , Riley Summer
Published: March 2020

The relative ease of digitally documenting and sharing classroom life creates new challenges for teachers faced with critical decisions about what digital representations to share with families/caregivers and for what purposes. The authors explored one kindergarten teacher’s yearlong approach to using Seesaw, a digital portfolio app, to make the process of early literacy learning in the classroom more visible to families/caregivers. Ultimately, this teacher's approach to digital documentation aimed to move the conversation between school and home from what is being learned to how learning happens, offering rich invitations for families/caregivers to engage in the literacy learning process alongside their children.
|V
cb
| and γ from B-mixing — Addendum to “Bs mixing observables and |Vtd/Vts| from sum rules”
Authors: King Daniel , Kirk Matthew , Lenz Alexander , Rauh Thomas
Published: March 2020

In this addendum to “Bs mixing observables and |Vtd/Vts| from sum rules” [1] we study the impact of the recent improvements in the theoretical precision of B meson mixing onto CKM unitarity fits.
Bianchi type-V spinning particle on $$ \mathcal{S} $$2
Authors: Galajinsky Anton
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Integrable spinning extension of a free particle on $$ \mathcal{S} $$
S
2 is constructed in which spin degrees of freedom are represented by a 3-vector obeying the Bianchi type-V algebra. Generalizations involving a scalar potential giving rise to two quadratic constants of the motion, or external field of the Dirac monopole, or the motion on the group manifold of SU(2) are built. A link to the model of a relativistic spinning particle propagating on the near horizon 7d Myers-Perry black hole background is considered. Implications of the construction in this work for the D(2, 1; α) superconformal mechanics are discussed.
Generalizations of reflected entropy and the holographic dual
Authors: Chu Jinwei , Qi Runze , Zhou Yang
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We introduce a new class of quantum and classical correlation measures by generalizing the reflected entropy to multipartite states. We define the new measures for quantum systems in one spatial dimension. For quantum systems having gravity duals, we show that the holographic duals of these new measures are various types of minimal surfaces consist of different entanglement wedge cross sections. One special generalized reflected entropy is ∆R, with the holographic dual proportional to the so called multipartite entanglement wedge cross section ∆W defined before. We then perform a large c computation of ∆R and find evidence to support ∆R = 2∆W . This shows another candidate ∆R as the dual of 2∆W and also supports our holographic conjecture of the new class of generalized reflected entropies.
Toward the pole
Authors: Alekseev S. , Gorsky A. , Litvinov M.
Published: March 2020

Abstract

We study the analytic structure of semiclassical conformal blocks, namely of the 1-point conformal block on the torus and of the 4-point conformal block on the sphere, as functions of the intermediate dimension. We interpret their discontinuities, which can be revealed with the use of a particular resummation procedure, holographically in terms of configurations of geodesics in AdS3. In other words, we study the behavior of the Ω-deformed $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SYM theory in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit near those singular points, where naively the W-boson with non-vanishing angular momentum becomes massless. Upon a proper resummation of instanton contributions, these singularities disappear, which is similar to the Seiberg-Witten solution in the undeformed case where there is no massless W-boson. It is shown that the order parameter undergoes a non-analytic behavior near positions of the poles. The jump of the order parameter is interpreted holographically in terms of geodesic networks.
Posturale Regulation und Stabilität unter akustischem Input bei Normalhörenden
Authors: Seiwerth I. , Jonen J. , Rahne T. , Lauenroth A. , Hullar T. E. , Plontke S. K. , Schwesig R.
Published: March 2020

Hintergrund

Die Haltungsregulierung basiert auf komplexen Interaktionenmechanismen posturaler Subsysteme. Dabei scheint auch das Hören einen Einfluss auf die posturale Kontrolle auszuüben.

Fragestellung

Ziel der Arbeit war es, den Einfluss auditorischen Inputs auf die posturale Stabilität zu erfassen und unter Berücksichtigung subjektiver Aspekte Erkenntnisse über Interaktionsmechanismen zwischen auditorischem Input und posturalen Subsystemen zu erhalten.

Material und Methoden

Bei 30 gesunden, normalhörenden Probanden wurde mittels Interactive Balance System (IBS; Fa. neurodata GmbH, Wien, Österreich) in 8 Testpositionen die posturale Regulation und Stabilität jeweils in den Konditionen mit Geräusch (frontale Präsentation) und verblockt ohne Geräusch erfasst. Bei diesem elektrophysiologischen Messverfahren wird sowohl die posturale Kontrolle auf Produktebene (z. B. Stabilität, Gewichtsverteilung) wie auch mittels Fast-Fourier-Analyse des Kraft-Zeit-Verhältnisses die Arbeitsweise der posturalen Subsysteme auf Prozessebene (frequenzorientiert) erfasst.

Ergebnisse

Es zeigte sich auf Prozessebene in der Kondition mit Geräusch eine relevante (ηp2 ≥ 0,10) Reduktion der posturalen Regulation in den Frequenzbändern F1 (0,03–0,1 Hz, visuelles und nigrostriatales System; ηp2 = 0,122;) sowie F2–4 (0,1–0,5 Hz, peripher-vestibuläres System; ηp2 = 0,125). Auf Produktebene ergab sich im Parameter WDI (Gewichtsverteilungsindex) eine relevante Zunahme mit Geräusch (ηp2 = 0,159). Bei der posturalen Stabilität (Parameter: Stabilitätsindikator, ST) zeigte sich keine Änderung zwischen den beiden auditorischen Konditionen. Bezüglich der subjektiven Einschätzung des Einflusses auditorischer Inputs auf die Stabilität bestanden deutliche interindividuelle Schwankungen.

Schlussfolgerung

In dieser Studie wurde eine Umverteilung der Aktivität posturaler Subsysteme unter auditorischem Input nachgewiesen, während sich kein Unterschied hinsichtlich des Stabilitätsindikators (ST) zeigte. Daraus ergeben sich neue Erkenntnisse über Mechanismen audiovestibulärer Interaktion.
The Great Five—an artificial bacterial consortium with antagonistic activity towards Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp.: formulation, shelf life, and the ability to prevent soft rot of potato in storage
Authors: Maciag Tomasz , Krzyzanowska Dorota M. , Jafra Sylwia , Siwinska Joanna , Czajkowski Robert
Published: March 2020

“The Great Five” (GF) is an artificial bacterial consortium developed to protect potato tubers from soft rot caused by Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya spp. To investigate the commercialization potential of the GF, we developed liquid and powder formulations of the consortium and of each of the comprising strains (Serratia plymuthica strain A294, Enterobacter amnigenus strain A167, Rahnella aquatilis strain H145, Serratia rubidaea strain H440, and S. rubidaea strain H469). To form powders, the cells were lyophilized using a newly developed lyoprotectant: Reagent PS. The shelf life of the formulations stored at 8 and 22 °C was monitored for a period of 12 months. The longest shelf life was obtained for formulations stored at 8 °C; however, the viability of all formulations was negatively affected at 22 °C. For the consortium, a 2.5 log10 cfu (colony forming units) drop in cell number was recorded for the liquid formulation after 6 months, while in case of powders, the drop remained below 1 log10 cfu following 12 months. The ability of the powder formulations to preserve biocontrol activity of the consortium was tested on potato tubers treated with the formulations and a mixture of the soft rot pathogens. The inoculated tubers were stored for 6 months at 8 °C to mimic commercial storage conditions. Soft rot severity and incidence on potato tubers treated with formulations were significantly reduced (62–75% and 48–61%, respectively) in comparison to positive control with pathogens alone. The potential use of the newly developed formulations of “The Great Five” for the biocontrol of soft rot is discussed.

Key Points

• An innovative reagent to protect bacterial cells during lyophilization was developed.

• Powder formulations of “The Great Five” prolonged its shelf life.

• The powder-formulated “The Great Five” was active against soft rot bacteria on potato tubers.
Iron cycling in Arctic methane seeps
Authors: Hong Wei-Li , Latour Pauline , Sauer Simone , Sen Arunima , Gilhooly William P. , Lepland Aivo , Fouskas Fotios
Published: March 2020

Anoxic marine sediments contribute a significant amount of dissolved iron (Fe2+) to the ocean which is crucial for the global carbon cycle. Here, we investigate iron cycling in four Arctic cold seeps where sediments are anoxic and sulfidic due to the high rates of methane-fueled sulfate reduction. We estimated Fe2+ diffusive fluxes towards the oxic sediment layer to be in the range of 0.8 to 138.7 μmole/m2/day and Fe2+ fluxes across the sediment-water interface to be in the range of 0.3 to 102.2 μmole/m2/day. Such variable fluxes cannot be explained by Fe2+ production from organic matter–coupled dissimilatory reduction alone. We propose that the reduction of dissolved and complexed Fe3+ as well as the rapid formation of iron sulfide minerals are the most important reactions regulating the fluxes of Fe2+ in these cold seeps. By comparing seafloor visual observations with subsurface pore fluid composition, we demonstrate how the joint cycling of iron and sulfur determines the distribution of chemosynthesis-based biota.
Decentralized surgery of abdominal wall defects in Germany
Authors: Schmedding Andrea , Wittekind Boris , Salzmann-Manrique Emilia , Schloesser Rolf , Rolle Udo
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Neonatal surgery for abdominal wall defects is not performed in a centralized manner in Germany. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment for abdominal wall defects in Germany is equally effective compared to international results despite the decentralized care.

Methods

All newborn patients who were clients of the major statutory health insurance company in Germany between 2009 and 2013 and who had a diagnosis of gastroschisis or omphalocele were included. Mortality during the first year of life was analysed.

Results

The 316 patients with gastroschisis were classified as simple (82%) or complex (18%) cases. The main associated anomalies in the 197 patients with omphalocele were trisomy 18/21 (8%), cardiac anomalies (32%) and anomalies of the urinary tract (10%). Overall mortality was 4% for gastroschisis and 16% for omphalocele. Significant factors for non-survival were birth weight below 1500 g for both groups, complex gastroschisis, volvulus and anomalies of the blood supply to the intestine in gastroschisis, and female gender, trisomy 18/21 and lung hypoplasia in omphalocele.

Conclusions

Despite the fact that paediatric surgical care is organized in a decentralized manner in Germany, the mortality rates for gastroschisis and omphalocele are equal to those reported in international data.