bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The HK5 and HK6 cytokinin receptors mediate diverse developmental pathways in rice
Authors: Burr Christian A. , Sun Jinjing , Yamburenko Maria V. , Willoughby Andrew , Hodgens Charles , Boeshore Samantha Louise , Elmore Agustus , Atkinson Jonathan , Nimchuk Zachary L. , Bishopp Anthony , Schaller G. Eric , Kieber Joseph J.
Published: October 2020

The phytohormone cytokinin regulates diverse aspects of plant growth and development. Our understanding of the metabolism and perception of cytokinin has made great strides in recent years, mostly from studies of the model dicot Arabidopsis. Here, we employed a CRISPR/Cas9-based approach to disrupt a subset of cytokinin histidine kinase (HK) receptors in rice (Oryza sativa) in order to explore the role of cytokinin in a monocot species. In hk5 and hk6 single mutants, the root growth, leaf width, inflorescence architecture and/or floral development were affected. The double hk5 hk6 mutant showed more substantial defects, including severely reduced root and shoot growth, a smaller shoot apical meristem, and an enlarged root cap. Flowering was delayed in the hk5 hk6 mutant and the panicle was significantly reduced in size and infertile due to multiple defects in floral development. The hk5 hk6 mutant also exhibited a severely reduced cytokinin response, consistent with the developmental phenotypes arising from a defect in cytokinin signaling. These results indicate that HK5 and HK6 act as cytokinin receptors, with overlapping functions to regulate diverse aspects of rice growth and development.
Understanding the characteristics of nonspecific binding of drug-like compounds to canonical stem–loop RNAs and their implications for functional cellular assays
Authors: Kelly Megan L. , Chu Chia-Chieh , Shi Honglue , Ganser Laura R. , Bogerd Hal P. , Huynh Kelly , Hou Yuze , Cullen Bryan R. , Al-Hashimi Hashim M.
Published: October 2020

Identifying small molecules that selectively bind an RNA target while discriminating against all other cellular RNAs is an important challenge in RNA-targeted drug discovery. Much effort has been directed toward identifying drug-like small molecules that minimize electrostatic and stacking interactions that lead to nonspecific binding of aminoglycosides and intercalators to many stem–loop RNAs. Many such compounds have been reported to bind RNAs and inhibit their cellular activities. However, target engagement and cellular selectivity assays are not routinely performed, and it is often unclear whether functional activity directly results from specific binding to the target RNA. Here, we examined the propensities of three drug-like compounds, previously shown to bind and inhibit the cellular activities of distinct stem–loop RNAs, to bind and inhibit the cellular activities of two unrelated HIV-1 stem–loop RNAs: the transactivation response element (TAR) and the rev response element stem IIB (RREIIB). All compounds bound TAR and RREIIB in vitro, and two inhibited TAR-dependent transactivation and RRE-dependent viral export in cell-based assays while also exhibiting off-target interactions consistent with nonspecific activity. A survey of X-ray and NMR structures of RNA-small molecule complexes revealed that aminoglycosides and drug-like molecules form hydrogen bonds with functional groups commonly accessible in canonical stem–loop RNA motifs, in contrast to ligands that specifically bind riboswitches. Our results demonstrate that drug-like molecules can nonspecifically bind stem–loop RNAs most likely through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions and reinforce the importance of assaying for off-target interactions and RNA selectivity in vitro and in cells when assessing novel RNA-binders.
Investigating Lotka-Volterra model using computer simulation
Authors: Kunis F. , Dimitrov M.
Published: October 2020

In this project we study the Lotka-Volterra model, also known as the model describing the population dynamics in the Predator-prey system. This model describes the interaction of the two species and also the development of their populations over time. We simulate this model using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm. This is the most widely used method for numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Based on the obtained program, we simulated two populations and traced their behavior over time. We optimized the parameters and managed to obtain results that are very close to real data for such populations.
The nature of the open birth interval distribution
Authors: Ross John , Bietsch Kristin
Published: October 2020

Background: The open birth interval -- the time since the woman’s latest birth -- is closely correlated to the usual fertility measures, but it adds important information from the age of the woman’s youngest child, with its implications for her freedom from domestic roles.  Studies of the open interval by age and parity can elucidate the transitions in reproductive behavior that women experience over time.

Methods:  249 surveys of married women in 75 countries in the DHS series provide information on the open  interval by age and parity, and by the  fertility measures of the total fertility rate (TFR), the general fertility rate (GFR), and children ever born (CEB), with time trends.  Stata 15 and the “R” software were used, and a two-parameter equation was employed to model the distribution.

Results:  The distribution of women by the open interval follows a downward curve from birth to 20 years; it varies across countries and over time only by its starting level and the steepness of the curve. Declines in the shortest intervals soon after birth reflect recent fertility declines. Variations are large by both age and parity, but in quite different patterns. Past modeling analyses demonstrate the effects of female and spouse mortality, declining fecundability, contraceptive use, and reduced sexual exposure. Both period and cohort effects can impact the curve. The open interval distribution is modelled in an equation with two parameters and calculated for the latest surveys in the 75 countries.

Conclusions: The time since a woman’s birth is easily captured with a single question in successive surveys. Changes in the open interval distribution serve as sensitive indicators of recent fertility changes, and the dynamics of reproductive behavior across women’s life stages are captured in new ways, as gauged by age and parity trends in the distributions.
Gestation at completion of prenatal questionnaires in ALSPAC
Authors: Iles-Caven Yasmin , Northstone Kate , Golding Jean
Published: October 2020

Enrolling a cohort in pregnancy can be methodologically difficult in terms of structuring data collection. For example, some exposures of interest may be time-critical while other (often retrospective) data can be collected at any point during pregnancy.  The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prime example of a cohort where certain data were collected at specific time points and others at variable times depending on the gestation at contact.

 ALSPAC aimed to enrol as many pregnant women as possible in a geographically defined area with an expected date of delivery between April 1991 and December 1992. The ideal was to enrol women as early in pregnancy as possible, and to collect information, when possible, at two fixed gestational periods (18 and 32 weeks). A variety of methods were used to enrol participants.  

Approximately 80% of eligible women resident in the study area were enrolled. Gestation at enrolment ranged from 4-41 (median = 14) weeks of pregnancy. Given this variation in gestation we describe the various decisions that were made in regard to the timing of questionnaires to ensure that appropriate data were obtained from the pregnant women.  45% of women provided data during the first trimester, this is less than ideal but reflects the fact that many women do not acknowledge their pregnancy until the first trimester is safely completed. Data collection from women at specific gestations (18 and 32 weeks) was much more successful (80-85%).

Unfortunately, it was difficult to obtain environmental data during the first trimester. Given the time critical nature of exposures during this trimester, researchers must take the gestational age at which environmental data was collected into account. This is particularly important for data collected using the questionnaire named ‘Your Environment’ (using data known as the A files).
A Tale of Two Linear Programming Formulations for Crashing Project Networks
Authors: Huse Collin , Brusco Michael J.
Published: October 2020

Problems associated with time–cost trade-offs in project networks, which are commonly referred to as crashing problems, date back nearly 60 years. Many prominent management science textbooks provide a traditional linear programming (LP) formulation for a classic project crashing problem, in which the time–cost trade-off for each activity is continuous (and linear) over a range of possible completion times. We have found that, for students who are being introduced to time–cost trade-offs and the principles of project crashing, an alternative LP formulation facilitates a greater conceptual understanding. Moreover, the alternative formulation uses only half of the decision variables in the traditional formulation and has fewer constraints for many problems encountered in management science textbooks. Results from an MBA section of operations management suggest that students prefer the alternative formulation. Additionally, we have developed an Excel workbook that generates all possible paths for a network, allows students to manually evaluate crashing decisions, and generates the alternative LP formulation. We demonstrate the workbook using a small synthetic example and a larger, real-world network from the literature. We also show that the alternative formulation can be adapted easily to accommodate discrete project crashing problems for which the time–cost trade-offs for activities are not necessarily linear.
Information Transparency, Multihoming, and Platform Competition: A Natural Experiment in the Daily Deals Market
Authors: Li Hui , Zhu Feng
Published: October 2020

Platform competition is shaped by the likelihood of multihoming (i.e., complementors or consumers adopt more than one platform). To take advantage of multihoming, platform firms often attempt to motivate their rivals’ high-performing complementors to adopt their own platforms, or they attempt to prevent their current complementors or consumers from multihoming. In this paper, we study the effectiveness of such strategies in the context of the online daily deals market. We first develop a game-theoretical model that takes into account multihoming on both sides of the market and strategic behavior of all participants—consumers, platform firms, and merchants. We then derive hypotheses and empirically test them. The empirical analysis leverages a policy change of Groupon that reduced information transparency and weakened LivingSocial’s ability to identify popular Groupon deals and poach the corresponding merchants. Our results show that limiting information transparency reduced multihoming: after the policy change, LivingSocial copied fewer deals from Groupon and increased its efforts to source new deals. Consequently, industry-wide deal variety increased. We also observe a seesaw effect in that reduced merchant-side multihoming led to increased consumer-side multihoming, thereby strengthening LivingSocial’s market position on the consumer side. Overall, after accounting for changes in both lifetime value of the customer base and acquisition cost of merchants, Groupon’s policy change reduced LivingSocial’s profitability.

This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Timing to the Statement: Understanding Fluctuations in Consumer Credit Use
Authors: Agarwal Sumit , Bubna Amit , Lipscomb Molly
Published: October 2020

We show that consumers spend 15% more per day in the first week following the receipt of a credit card statement than in the days just prior to the statement. This increase in spending includes both an increase in the likelihood that they use the credit card in the first weeks following their statement and an increase in transaction amount on days they use the credit card. In contrast to the effect on credit card spending, debit card spending is unaffected by credit card statement issuance, suggesting that consumers are not simply switching among modes of payment. Our estimates are based on exogenous variation from bank-assigned statement dates. We propose and test several alternative explanations to this spending puzzle: optimization of the free float, salience effect of the credit card statement, mental accounting, liquidity constraints, and automatic payments. We find that the consumers most apt to spend early in the credit card cycle tend to be those who do not revolve balances and are not close to their credit limit. Thus, this paper documents a puzzle with mixed support for several alternative explanations.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, finance.
Development of Learning Methods through Songs and Movements to Improve Children’s Cognitive and Psychomotor Aspects
Authors: Supartini Tri , Weismann Ivan Th. J. , Wijaya Hengki , Helaluddin Helaluddin
Published: October 2020

Cognitive and psychomotor are two aspects that play an important role in children’s development, especially at the pre-school age. This study aims to create and test products in the form of learning methods with song and movement to improve children's cognitive and psychomotor aspects. This research is a research and development using 4D theory from Thiagarajan, Semmel, and Semmel. There are four phases in this research, namely the define phase, product design, product development, and dissemination. Data analysis used in this study was a qualitative and quantitative approach using instruments in the form of questionnaires, product validation sheets, and learning observation sheets. The collected data is then analyzed using two analytical techniques: (1) qualitative data with content analysis techniques and (2) quantitative data analyzed statistically with the help of SPSS. The results showed that this learning method was proven to have a level of validity, practicality, and effectiveness above the standard to improve children’s cognitive and psychomotor aspects.
The Influence of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) Model Assisted by Realia Media to Improve Scientific Literacy and Critical Thinking Skill of Primary School Students
Authors: Aiman Ummu , Hasyda Suryadin , Uslan Uslan
Published: October 2020

This research aimed at analyzing the influence of ‘Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning’ model assisted by realia media, in which it was to improve the scientific literacy and critical thinking skill of primary school students, especially for the material of energy. This quasi-experiment research used single factor independent groups design. The research sample of this research were fourth grade students of SD Inpres Oeba 2 Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara Province, of which students were in the academic year of 2019/2020. The technique of sample collection was carried out purposive sampling for 2 classes. The IVA class was used as the experimental class (POGIL model assisted by the realia media), in which it consisted of 30 students and the IVB class was used as the control class (expository learning) that consisted of 28 students. The learning was carried out in four meetings. The data of scientific literacy and the results test of critical thinking were collected by means of objective test on the energy material. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze the data using significance level of 0.05. The results indicate that (1) There is a significant difference between the students’ scientific literacy who gain the POGIL learning assisted by the realia media and the students’ scientific literacy who get the expository learning; and (2) There is a significant difference between the critical thinking of students who get POGIL learning assisted by realia media and the students who get the expository learning. It can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the scientific literacy and the students’ critical thinking taught by the POGIL learning that assisted by realia media to the students who use expository learning. Since there is a significant difference, it means that the POGIL learning assisted by realia media has an influence on the students' scientific literacy and critical thinking.
A review of outcomes associated with femoral neck lengthening osteotomy in patients with coxa brevis
Authors: Ghaffari Arash , Kold Søren , Rahbek Ole
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Double and triple femoral neck lengthening osteotomies have been described to correct coxa brevis deformity. Only small studies reported the results. Our aim was to provide an overview of the outcomes of double and triple femoral neck lengthening.

Methods

After an extensive search of different online databases, we included studies reporting the results of double and triple femoral neck osteotomies. Clinical and radiological outcomes, and reported complications were extracted. The review process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results

After evaluating 456 articles, we included 11 articles reporting 149 osteotomies in 143 patients (31% male, 64% female, 5% unspecified). Mean age of the patients was 20 years (range 7 years to 52 years). Indications were developmental hip dysplasia (51%), Perthes disease (27%), infection (6%), post-trauma (4%), congenital disorders (2%), slipped capital femoral epiphysis (1%), idiopathic (3%) and unknown (6%). The mean limb length discrepancy reduced by 12 mm (0 mm to 40 mm). In total, 65% of 101 positive Trendelenburg sign hips experienced improvement of abductor muscle strength. An 18% (9% to 36%) increase could be found in functional hip scores. Mean increase in articulo-trochanteric distance was 24 mm (10 mm to 34 mm). Five patients older than 30 years at the time of osteotomy and two younger patients with prior hip incongruency had disappointing results and required arthroplasty. In all, 12 complications occurred in 128 osteotomies, in which complications were reported.

Conclusions

Double and triple femoral neck lengthening osteotomies in coxa brevis show good results with few complications in the literature, especially in young patients with non-arthritic hips.

Level of evidence

III
Three-dimensional phase optical transfer function in axially symmetric microscopic quantitative phase imaging
Authors: Huang Jianhui , Bao Yijun , Gaylord Thomas K.
Published: October 2020

Three-dimensional
quantitative phase imaging (3D QPI) is widely recognized as a
potentially high-impact microscopic modality. Central to determining
the resolution capability of 3D QPI is the phase optical transfer
function (POTF). The magnitude of the POTF over its spatial frequency
coverage (SFC) specifies the intensity of the response for each
allowed spatial frequency. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the
POTF for an axially symmetric optical configuration is presented.
First, a useful geometric interpretation of the SFC, which enables its
visualization, is presented. Second, a closed-form 1D integral
expression is derived for the POTF in the general nonparaxial case,
which enables rapid calculation of the POTF. Third, this formulation
is applied to disk, annular, multi-annuli, and Gaussian
illuminations as well as to an annular objective. Taken together,
these contributions enable the visualization and simplified
calculation of the 3D axially symmetric POTF and provide a basis for
optimizing QPI in a wide range of applications.
Micro-transfer-printed III-V-on-silicon C-band distributed feedback lasers
Authors: Haq Bahawal , Rahimi Vaskasi Javad , Zhang Jing , Gocalinska Agnieszka , Pelucchi Emanuele , Corbett Brian , Roelkens Gunther
Published: October 2020

We report on single-mode C-band distributed feedback lasers fabricated through micro-transfer-printing of semiconductor optical amplifier coupons fabricated on a InP source wafer onto a silicon-on-insulator photonic circuit. The coupons are micro-transfer printed on quarter-wave shifted gratings defined in SiN deposited on the silicon waveguide. Alignment-tolerant adiabatic tapers are used to efficiently couple light from the hybrid III-V/Si waveguide to the Si waveguide circuit. 80 mA threshold current and a maximum single-sided waveguide-coupled output power above 6.9 mW is obtained at 20 °C. Single mode operation around 1558 nm with > 33 dB side mode suppression ratio is demonstrated. Micro-transfer printing-based heterogeneous integration is promising for the wafer-level integration of advanced laser sources on complex silicon photonic integrated circuit platforms without changing the foundry process flow.
Numerical study on the angular light trapping of the energy yield of organic solar cells with an optical cavity
Authors: Lehr Jonathan , Mertens Adrian , Liu Quan , Martorell Jordi , Paetzold Ulrich W. , Lemmer Uli
Published: October 2020

A limiting factor in organic solar cells (OSCs) is the incomplete absorption in the thin absorber layer. One concept to enhance absorption is to apply an optical cavity design. In this study, the performance of an OSC with cavity is evaluated. By means of a comprehensive energy yield (EY) model, the improvement is demonstrated by applying realistic sky irradiance, covering a wide range of incidence angles. The relative enhancement in EY for different locations is found to be 11-14% compared to the reference device with an indium tin oxide front electrode. The study highlights the improved angular light absorption as well as the angular robustness of an OSC with cavity.
Polarization-independent single-photon switch based on a fiber-optical Sagnac interferometer for quantum communication networks
Authors: Alarcón A. , González P. , Cariñe J. , Lima G. , Xavier G. B.
Published: October 2020

An essential component of future quantum networks is an optical switch capable of dynamically routing single photons. Here we implement such a switch, based on a fiber-optical Sagnac interferometer design. The routing is implemented with a pair of fast electro-optical telecom phase modulators placed inside the Sagnac loop, such that each modulator acts on an orthogonal polarization component of the single photons, in order to yield polarization-independent capability that is crucial for several applications. We obtain an average extinction ratio of more than 19 dB between both outputs of the switch. Our experiment is built exclusively with commercial off-the-shelf components, thus allowing direct compatibility with current optical communication systems.
Low-complexity equalizer with a hybrid decision scheme for 50  Gb/s/λ PAM4-PON using a low-cost 10 G receiver
Authors: Tang Xizi , Chen You-Wei , Zhang Rui , Yao Shuang , Zhou Qi , Shen Shuyi , Guo Mengqi , Qiao Yaojun , Chang Gee-Kung
Published: October 2020

In this Letter, we experimentally demonstrate a

50

G
b

/

s

/

λ

four-level pulse amplitude modulation-based passive optical network system with a 10 G class receiver. A memory polynomial equalizer (MPE) combined with a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is applied to eliminate channel distortions in the system. To further improve the performance of the MPE-DFE, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a low-complexity hybrid decision scheme (HDS) is proposed, which consists of single-symbol decision (SSD) and multi-symbol decision (MSD). The SSD is exactly the conventional hard decision based on minimum Euclidean distance, whereas MSD is based on a simplified maximum likelihood detection principle with M-algorithm. In terms of complexity, MSD requires 19.1% more multiplications than SSD, but the symbol number of MSD only accounts for less than 20% of the total signal frame when the received optical power is greater than

−

27

d
B
m

. Experimental results show that the proposed MPE-DFE with HDS achieves a 0.7 dB and 1.3 dB sensitivity gain compared with conventional SSD, and up to 35.4 dB and 31.4 dB link power budget, regarding the forward error correction threshold of

10

−
2

and

10

−
3

, respectively.
Depth structure analysis by surface scanning in near-field microscopes
Authors: Sao Mayu , Takeda Satoru , Inami Wataru , Kawata Yoshimasa
Published: October 2020

High-resolution imaging of the surfaces of samples can be performed
using near-field optical microscopes by scanning a small light spot;
however, structures located deep beneath cannot be observed because
the light spot spreads in three directions. In this study, we propose
an observation technique for near-field optical microscopes that can
obtain depth information within the resolution of the diffraction
limit of light by analyzing interference patterns formed with
divergent incident light and scattered light from a sample. We analyze
depth structures by evaluating correlation coefficients between
observed interference patterns and calculated reference patterns. Our
technique can observe both high-resolution surface images and the
diffraction-limited three-dimensional structure by scanning a
near-field light source on a single plane.
Spectroscopic and continuous-wave laser properties of Er:GdScO3 crystal at 2.7 µm
Authors: Hou Wentao , Zhao Hengyu , Qin Zhipeng , Liu Jian , Wang Donghai , Xue Yanyan , Wang Qingguo , Xie Guoqiang , Xu Xiaodong , Xu Jun
Published: October 2020

Er:GdScO3 crystal was grown by the edge-defined film-fed (EFG) method for the first time. The rocking curve showed that the as-grown crystal has a high crystalline quality. The peak absorption cross section at 980 nm is 0.38×10−20 cm2 with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 19.5 nm and the peak emission cross section at 2720 nm is 0.93×10−20 cm2 with FWHM of 149.0 nm. The fluorescence lifetimes of 4I11/2 and 4I13/2 were fitted to be 2.24 ms and 4.57 ms, respectively. At inversion ratio P≥0.5, the positive local peak of gain cross-section at 2.7 µm was obtained. Continuous-wave laser operation of Er:GdScO3 crystal was demonstrated. The maximum output power of 863 mW was obtained with a slope efficiency of 11.25%. The results indicated that Er:GdScO3 crystal is a potential laser material for 2.7 µm laser.
Third-harmonic generation microscopy of undeveloped photopolymerized structures
Authors: Kallioniemi Leevi , Annurakshita Shambhavee , Bautista Godofredo
Published: October 2020

Third-harmonic generation (THG) microscopy is demonstrated as a powerful technique to visualize undeveloped photopolymerized microstructures within a negative photoresist film. By comparing the THG microscopy images of developed and undeveloped single-photon polymerized structures in a SU-8 film, THG was found to provide sufficient contrast for distinguishing polymerized and unpolymerized regions. This also suggests that the technique can be used as a complementary technique to visualize the effect of photoresist development where microstructure shrinkage could occur. In addition, we applied the technique to visualize a three-photon polymerized microstructure that was fabricated in the same microscopy setup. This demonstrates the potential of the technique for in situ microscopy of photopolymerized microstructures in three dimensions.
Ecossistema de Inovação Social e os Níveis de Intensidade das Parcerias Intersetoriais do Empreendedor Social
Authors: Morais-da-Silva Rodrigo Luiz , Segatto Andréa Paula , Carvalho Ana Carolina Vilela de , Ribeiro Gutemberg
Published: October 2020

Objetivo: analisar os níveis de intensidade das parcerias intersetoriais e a forma como elas podem auxiliar na construção de um ecossistema de inovação social mais efetivo para o empreendedor social.Método: três casos de organizações sociais e de suas parcerias, no contexto brasileiro, foram investigados. Os dados foram coletados por meio de 25 entrevistas com os parceiros desses projetos, e em 78 documentos. A análise dos dados foi desenvolvida por meio da técnica de análise qualitativa de conteúdo.Originalidade/Relevância: este estudo contribui para o esclarecimento da lacuna de pesquisa, existente na área de ecossistema de inovação social, principalmente no que se refere à dinâmica de relacionamento entre os atores que o compõem. Além disso, este estudo fornece alguns insights no campo prático, uma vez que o desenvolvimento de ecossistemas de inovação social pode fomentar a ação do empreendedor social.Resultados: o estudo apontou que os principais atores envolvidos nas ações colaborativas, como empresas e empreendedores sociais, ONGs, empresas privadas, fundos de investimento de impacto e universidades constitui um dos elementos de maior importância para a efetividade do ecossistema de inovação social. Foi constatada, também, a existência de níveis de colaboração entre os casos investigados, sendo parcerias de primeiro a terceiro níveis, e parcerias de nível institucional (agentes intermediários).Contribuições teóricas/metodológicas: primeiramente, este estudo sugere um conceito para o ecossistema de inovação social, visto que a literatura ainda é incipiente no assunto. Além disso, ao abordar a dinâmica em níveis, pela qual os atores do ecossistema de inovação social interagem, por meio de parcerias intersetoriais.
An Analysis of the GIQuIC Nationwide Quality Registry Reveals Unnecessary Surveillance Endoscopies in Patients With Normal and Irregular Z-Lines
Authors: Wani Sachin , Williams J. Lucas , Falk Gary W. , Komanduri Srinadh , Muthusamy V. Raman , Shaheen Nicholas J.
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Population-based estimates of adherence to Barrett's esophagus (BE) guidelines are not available. Using a national registry, we assessed surveillance intervals for patients with normal and irregular Z-lines based on the presence or absence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) and among patients with suspected or confirmed BE.

METHODS:

We analyzed data from the GI Quality Improvement Consortium Registry. Endoscopy data, including procedure indication, demographics, endoscopy and histology findings, and recommendations for further endoscopy, were assessed from January 2013 through December 2019. Patients with an indication of BE screening or surveillance or an endoscopic finding of BE were included. Biopsy and surveillance practices were assessed based on the length of columnar epithelium (0 cm, <1 cm, 1–3 cm, and >3 cm) and diagnosis based on histology findings.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,907,801 endoscopies were assessed; 135,704 endoscopies (7.1%) performed in 114,894 patients met the inclusion criteria (men 61.4%, Whites 91%, and mean age of 61.7 years [SD 12.5]). Among patients with normal Z-lines, surveillance endoscopy was recommended for 81% of patients with IM and 20% of individuals without IM. Among patients with irregular Z-lines, surveillance endoscopy was recommended for 81% with IM and 24% without IM. Approximately 30% of patients with confirmed nondysplastic BE (lengths 1–3 and >3 cm) had recommended surveillance intervals of <3 years.

DISCUSSION:

An analysis of data from a nationwide quality registry demonstrated that patients without BE are receiving recommendations for surveillance endoscopies and many patients with nondysplastic BE are reexamined too soon.
An Increasing Incidence of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders Over 23 Years: A Prospective Population-Based Study in Sweden
Authors: Andreasson Anna , Talley Nicholas J. , Walker Marjorie M. , Jones Michael P. , Platts Loretta G. , Wallner Bengt , Kjellström Lars , Hellström Per M. , Forsberg Anna , Agréus Lars
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:

We hypothesized that the prevalence of functional dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the community may be increasing.

METHODS:

Randomly selected adults were surveyed on 4 occasions: 1988 (n = 1,151, 21–79 years, response rate [rr] = 90%), 1989 (n = 1,097, 22–80 years, rr = 87%), 1995 (n = 1,139, 20–85 years, rr = 76%), and 2011 (n = 1,175, 20–93 years, rr = 63%).

RESULTS:

In functional dyspepsia, the odds of postprandial distress syndrome tripled over 23 years' follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 3.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.60–4.84, mixed-effect regression analysis), whereas a small decrease in epigastric pain syndrome was observed (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.42–1.00). The odds of reporting gastroesophageal reflux disease doubled (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.50–2.73).

DISCUSSION:

The underlying mechanisms behind the increase in postprandial distress syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease remain to be determined.
Performative and economic analysis on local duck farming in Central Java - Indonesia
Authors: Ismoyowati I. , Pratama B. C. , Innayah M. N.
Published: October 2020

Central Java is the region that produces the second largest duck egg production in Indonesia or reaches 13.55% of the total national duck egg production. Therefore, duck farming in Central Java requires an economic evaluation to identify the success of the business. The economic analysis in the duck farm industry will update the latest statistics on production costs, outputs and profitability. This study aims to assess the analysis of laying duck business, which includes: marginal production costs, total net income and input-output ratio of duck egg production in various regions in Central Java, Indonesia. The study was conducted using a survey method using multi-stage sampling involving 120 duck farmers from the regency of Tegal, Brebes, and Pemalang. Each district was taken 40 farms as respondents by purposive random sampling with criteria for the number of breeders who had a minimum duck population of 100 ducks and a production period of 8-12 months. The analytical tools used include descriptive statistics and farm budgetary analysis. This study showed that duck breeders incur large costs to obtain production inputs, especially from feed aspects. Although three regencies reported profit based on the estimated input-output ratios, it is only a marginal profit that amounted to1: 1.382, 1:1.658, and 1:1.433 in Tegal, Brebes, and Pemalang, respectively. The conclusion of the study is the performance of duck farms in Central Java are still profitable even in the smallholder duck farm industry, with the highest profits obtained by farmers in Brebes Regency.
In-group, out-group effects in distributional preferences: the case of gender
Authors: Jaber-Lopez Tarek , Baier Alexandra , Davis Brent J.
Published: October 2020

We examine gender differences when eliciting distributional preferences as conducted by the Equality Equivalence Test, which has the ability to classify subjects into preferences types. Preferences are elicited when individuals interact with an individual of the same gender and with an individual of the opposite gender. We find elicited preferences are robust across both in-group (same gender) and out-group (opposite gender) interactions. When analyzing the intensity of benevolence (or malevolence) we find that overall women exhibit more malevolence than men, but there is no gender difference for benevolence. Furthermore, women exhibit a higher level of in-group favoritism than men.
From transistor level to cyber physical/hybrid systems: Formal verification using automatic compositional abstraction
Authors: Tarraf Ahmad , Hedrich Lars
Published: October 2020

In this paper we present a methodology to automatically generate an accurate behavioral model from an analog circuit description. The current machine learning method is limited to circuits with up to 80 transistors, limiting our approach to small and mid size circuit blocks due to a state explosion problem. However, if complex building blocks such as IOT systems should be modeled, the current approach needs to recoup with feasible simulation and modeling time. To come up with a solution for this problem, we extend the current method by a compositional approach. The approach is illustrated upon an example from the area of autonomous driving. Our method decomposes this large example into smaller building blocks and models each of them automatically. All models are combined into a compositional hybrid automaton of the whole complex system.

Compared to the original state space, the building blocks operate on smaller and reduced state spaces and hence drastically reduce the complexity. Using a back-transformation on the compositional automaton, all values from the original state space can be reconstructed. Moreover, we perform a formal verification on the generated compositional automaton. Results from a meaningful example are presented and discussed.
The Mystery of Reciprocal Demand for Regional Trade Partnership: Indian Experience in RCEP Regional Value Chains
Authors: Chakraborty Debashis , Chaisse Julien
Published: October 2020

The decision of a country to join regional trade agreements (RTAs) is guided by its expected welfare gains, though potentials of both trade creation and trade diversion cannot be ruled out through such arrangements. The slow progress of the World Trade Organization negotiations has created a demand for mega-regional trade agreements in the last decade, but the recent US and Indian pullout from Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), respectively, raised a question on their attraction. One of the major underlying objectives of RTAs is to deepen intra-bloc participation in regional value chains (RVCs) and International Production Networks (IPNs), through adoption of reformed rules of origin (ROO) provisions and mutual recognition agreements (MRA) for standard harmonization. This article, through an analysis of the RVC–IPN participation of the RCEP countries, attempts to understand to what extent the Indian pullout from RCEP can be linked to its unfulfilled expectations. The observations indicate that, relatively modest participation in the RVCs, declining domestic value added content of exports and the associated adverse trade balance scenario have critically shaped the Indian standpoint. The evolving Indian orientation towards trade remedy mechanism can be viewed in this backdrop. The analysis concludes that in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period, the Indian decision to consolidate domestic manufacturing sector needs to acknowledge the reality rather than being guided by the rhetoric.
Hyperbolic dispersion metasurfaces for molecular biosensing
Authors: Palermo Giovanna , Sreekanth Kandammathe Valiyaveedu , Maccaferri Nicolò , Lio Giuseppe Emanuele , Nicoletta Giuseppe , De Angelis Francesco , Hinczewski Michael , Strangi Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Sensor technology has become increasingly crucial in medical research and clinical diagnostics to directly detect small numbers of low-molecular-weight biomolecules relevant for lethal diseases. In recent years, various technologies have been developed, a number of them becoming core label-free technologies for detection of cancer biomarkers and viruses. However, to radically improve early disease diagnostics, tracking of disease progression and evaluation of treatments, today’s biosensing techniques still require a radical innovation to deliver high sensitivity, specificity, diffusion-limited transport, and accuracy for both nucleic acids and proteins. In this review, we discuss both scientific and technological aspects of hyperbolic dispersion metasurfaces for molecular biosensing. Optical metasurfaces have offered the tantalizing opportunity to engineer wavefronts while its intrinsic nanoscale patterns promote tremendous molecular interactions and selective binding. Hyperbolic dispersion metasurfaces support high-kmodes that proved to be extremely sensitive to minute concentrations of ultralow-molecular-weight proteins and nucleic acids.
Effective Connectivity Reveals an Interconnected Inferotemporal Network for Three-Dimensional Structure Processing
Authors: Premereur Elsie , Janssen Peter
Published: October 2020

Disparity-defined 3D shape is processed in both the ventral and the dorsal visual stream. The network of cortical areas that is activated during the processing of disparity-defined 3D shape includes, in addition to parietal and premotor areas, three clearly distinct regions in inferotemporal cortex (ITC). To investigate the connectivity of the latter regions, we combined electrical stimulation with fMRI in male macaque monkeys. Electrical stimulation of each of the 3D-structure nodes in ITC mainly elicited increased fMRI activations in the other 3D-structure nodes and more variably in other parts of ventral visual cortex. Importantly, no increased activation was found in parietal areas, nor in PFC, whereas microstimulation in posterior parietal cortex did activate the ITC. Our results indicate that 3D-structure nodes in ITC form a strongly interconnected network, receiving input from parietal areas implicated in 3D-structure processing.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPrevious studies combining electrical microstimulation with functional imaging showed an interconnected set of regions in the ventral stream processing faces or bodies, but is has been unclear whether the same is true for other visual categories. Here the authors show that there is a connected system of stereo-selective regions in inferotemporal cortex, receiving input from parietal areas in the dorsal stream.
Feasibility studies for production of 89Sr in the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR)
Authors: Saha Debasish , Vithya J. , Kumar G. V. S. Ashok , Swaminathan K. , Kumar R. , Subramani C. R. Venkata , Rao P. R. Vasudeva
Published: October 2020

89Sr, a pure beta emitter with half life of 50.53 d is used as its chloride solution for palliative care of bone metastases. This paper describes the feasibility studies that have been conducted at FBTR, IGCAR for production of this radionuclide using the 89Y(n, p)89Sr reaction. Yttria pellets were irradiated in a special subassembly at the core centre for a total of 73 d in two steps of 35 d and 38 d with a time gap of 38 d. The irradiated yttria target was dissolved in nitric acid and the bulk Y was separated by solvent extraction using the TBP-HNO3 complex. The 89Sr fraction was purified using the cation exchange resin DOWEX 50W×8 (100-200 mesh size) from the other radioactive impurities seen. The eluted 89Sr fraction was assayed using a GM counting system. The 89Sr activity produced in 1 g of yttria pellet was found to be 19 mCi.
Structure and spectroscopy of uranyl salicylaldiminate complexes
Authors: Tamasi A. L. , Barnes C. L. , Walensky J. R.
Published: October 2020

The synthesis of uranyl complexes coordinated to tridentate, monoanionic salicylaldiminate (Schiff base) ligands was achieved by the reaction of UO2Cl2(THF)3, 1, with one equivalent of the corresponding sodium salicylaldiminate salts affording [(C9H6N)N=C(H)C6H2
t Bu2O]UO2Cl(THF), 2, [(NC5H4)N=C(H)C6H2
t Bu2O]UO2Cl(THF), 3, and [(C6H4SCH3)N=C(H)C6H2

t
Bu2O]UO2Cl(THF), 4. These are uncommon examples of uranyl complexes with a monoanionic ancillary ligand to stabilize the coordination sphere and one chloride ligand. Compounds 2-4 have been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as IR and UVVis spectroscopy and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography.
Career Satisfaction Based on Trust and Proactive Personality
Authors: Sunardi Iwan , Putri Vini Wiratno
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the trust of co-workers and proactive personalities on career satisfaction by exchanging leader-members as mediation on employees of bus assembly companies in the city of Semarang. Career satisfaction is the phase in which employees’ long-term career needs are aligned with what they get while working. Employees will always look for opportunities and trust in the organization and people who will help them in achieving career satisfaction. The sampling method uses a purposive sampling technique in the category of staff and foreman employees who have worked for more than five years with a sample of 160 employees. The analytical data in this study uses descriptive statistical test methods, instinctual tests include validity and reliability, and hypothesis testing. The tool used to test in this study uses SmartPLS 3.0. The results of this study, colleague trust cannot directly influence career satisfaction. However, it can be mediated by the exchange of leader members and produce significant influence. For further researchers, they can re-examine the relationship of coworkers’ trust with career satisfaction. And can expand the object of research or respondents under study.
Religiosity as a Moderation of the Effect of Intellectual and Spiritual Quotient on Employee Performance
Authors: Noegroho Andro Dewantara , Wulansari Nury Ariani
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study is to examine and Determine the moderating effect of religiosity from the effect between intellectual intelligence and spiritual intelligence on the performance of employees of state-owned bank branches conventional Tegal. This study took a sample of 115 employees using a multi-stage type of probability sampling technique, the which is a combination of proportional sampling and random sampling techniques. Data collection method is done by distributing questionnaires. The method of data analysis uses descriptive statistical tests and SmartPLS 3.0 software. The results of this study intellectual intelligence that has a positive effect on employee performance. Likewise, with spiritual intelligence has a positive effect on employee performance. In the moderation test, religiosity is not Able to moderate the relationship of intellectual intelligence on employee performance religiosity meaning that weakens the relationship, hypothesis 3 is rejected. Then, religiosity is Able to Strengthen the relationship of spiritual intelligence on employee performance hypothesis 4 is accepted meaning. Suggestions from this study, employees of conventional state-owned bank branch offices in Tegal city are expected to be Able to empower Reviews their intelligence in order to be Able to improve the level of performance in accordance with the company’s standards and for the management of conventional state -owned bank branch offices in Tegal city always provide motivation and establish communication with employees so that employees continue to maintain intellectual intelligence and spiritual intelligence in the work environment.
Impacts the Brand of Experience and Brand Image on Brand Loyalty: Mediators Brand of Trust
Authors: Marliawati Annisa , Cahyaningdyah Dwi
Published: October 2020

This study is to examine the effect of brand experience and brand image on brand loyalty through brand trust. The population of this study is Ijjah_Collection customer via Shopee in Indonesia. The sample of this study consisted of 116 respondents using non-probability method. The method of collecting the data used questionnaire roomates then Analyzed using path analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program. The results of this study Showed: (1) brand experience has a positive and significant effect on brand loyalty, (2) brand image has a positive effect, but is not significant on brand loyalty, (3) brand experience has a positive effect and signficant on brand loyalty through brand trust, (4) brand image has a positive and significant effect on brand loyalty through brand trust, (5) brand trust has a positive and significant effect on brand loyalty.
Building Customer Loyalty through Strategy Experiential Marketing, Service Quality, and Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Wahyono Wahyono , Nurjanah Ulfa
Published: October 2020

The study aims to determine the influence of Experiential Marketing, quality of service, and customer satisfaction towards customer loyalty by developing a research model and 6 hypotheses filed in this study. The number of samples was 160 respondents, namely the customer of PT POS Indonesia (Persero) Semarang with incidental sampling through questionnaires. Data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) of Software AMOS 21.0 based on data analysis results, it can be concluded that the model received good/fit and subsequent research results showed there were 3 hypotheses received and 3 hypotheses were rejected.