bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large Electric‐Field‐Induced Strain Close to the Surface in Barium Titanate Studied by Atomic‐Scale In Situ Electron Microscopy
Authors: Sato Yukio , Miyauchi Ryuki , Aoki Mai , Fujinaka Syota , Teranishi Ryo , Kaneko Kenji
Published: October 2019

Measuring the lattice parameters of crystalline materials under an electric field at the nanoscale improves the understanding of how electronics operate. Herein, atomic‐scale in situ electron microscopy is used to measure the lattice parameters near the surface of barium titanate under an electric field, which is varied to understand how it changes the lattice parameters. Applying an electric field along the a axis does not cause domain switching. Instead, as the electric field increases, so as well does the c‐axis lattice parameter (c), whereas the a‐axis lattice parameter (a) remains nearly constant. The c value increases as much as 4.5 − 7.0 pm at ±13.8 kV cm−1, which is beyond the measurement precision. The increases are localized near the surface and the c value recovers slowly, which suggests that the observed phenomena are related to surface effects and slow processes. These results cannot be explained by electrostrain, even when considering additional effects such as mechanical constraint, inclination of electric field, and surface and size effects. Instead, the results are explained using a combination of Joule heating, vacancy introduction, and surface effects.
Electronic Properties of the Graphdiyne/CH3NH3PbI3 Interface: A First‐Principles Study
Authors: Guo Yao , Xue Yuanbin , Li Chengbo , Li Xianchang
Published: October 2019

Graphdiyne (GDY), when used as the surface modifier, significantly inﬂuences the optoelectronic properties of the perovskite solar cells. To explore such impact for novel high‐performance solar cells, herein, the interfacial interactions and electronic properties of the GDY/CH3NH3PbI3 heterostructures are investigated using density‐functional first‐principles calculations with empirical dispersion corrections. Three interfacial configurations formed by van der Waals interactions are created in nondestructive contact. The calculated charge density differences indicate that the built‐in electric field inside GDY/CH3NH3PbI3 could accelerate the transfer and separation of photoinduced electrons and holes. The enhanced absorption intensity in the visible region of the heterostructures demonstrates the enhancement mechanism of photocatalytic performance. As an effective encapsulation layer, GDY can improve the hole‐transport efficiency and, thus, the device performance.
Sufficient dimension folding in regression via distance covariance for matrix‐valued predictors
Authors: Sheng Wenhui , Yuan Qingcong
Published: October 2019

In modern data, when predictors are matrix/array‐valued, building a reasonable model is much more difficult due to the complicate structure. However, dimension folding that reduces the predictor dimensions while keeps its structure is critical in helping to build a useful model. In this paper, we develop a new sufficient dimension folding method using distance covariance for regression in such a case. The method works efficiently without strict assumptions on the predictors. It is model‐free and nonparametric, but neither smoothing techniques nor selection of tuning parameters is needed. Moreover, it works for both univariate and multivariate response cases. In addition, we propose a new method of local search to estimate the structural dimensions. Simulations and real data analysis support the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Is the Best Interest of the Child Best for Children? Educational Attainment and Child Custody Assignment
Authors: Chen Yang , Logan Trevon D.
Published: October 2019

Between the 1970s and 1990s, state custody laws moved from maternal preference to the “best interests of the child” doctrine, which gives fathers and mothers equal treatment in child custody assignment. We exploit exogenous variation across states in the timing of this custody law change to estimate the long‐term implications of exposure to a gender‐neutral custody law regime. We find that childhood exposure to gender neutral custody laws has a negative effect on educational attainment. A child exposed to gender neutral custody law is less likely to graduate from high school by 1.5 to 2.0 percentage points.
PINK1 overexpression protects against cerebral ischemia through Parkin regulation
Authors: Wen Youliang , Gu Yueming , Tang Xiaodong , Hu Ziwei
Published: October 2019

Mitochondrial dynamics and function are important for cell survival regulation under stress. In this study, we report that cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury significantly reduced mitochondrial function through reduced PTEN‐induced kinase 1 (PINK1) expression, ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) levels, and increased oxidative stress compared to sham rats. PINK1 overexpression mice significantly improved mitochondrial function by increased mitochondrial complex I, II, and III activities and ATP levels with concomitant decline in reactive oxygen species levels. PINK1 overexpression mice after I/R injury significantly reduced apoptosis through downregulation of cytochrome c, p53 expressions compared to cerebral I/R injury rats. Furthermore, we showed from parkin siRNA studies that PINK1 regulated phosphorylation parkin is critical to the protection against cerebral I/R injury. Altogether, we show that PINK1 mediated parkin regulation is key to the protection against cerebral I/R injury through regulation of mitochondrial function and apoptosis.
Low-energy effective field theory below the electroweak scale: matching at one loop
Authors: Dekens Wouter , Stoffer Peter
Published: October 2019

Abstract

We compute the one-loop matching between the Standard Model Effective Field Theory and the low-energy effective field theory below the electroweak scale, where the heavy gauge bosons, the Higgs particle, and the top quark are integrated out. The complete set of matching equations is derived including effects up to dimension six in the power counting of both theories. We present the results for general flavor structures and include both the C P -even and C P -odd sectors. The matching equations express the masses, gauge couplings, as well as the coefficients of dipole, three-gluon, and four-fermion operators in the low-energy theory in terms of the parameters of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory. Using momentum insertion, we also obtain the matching for the C P -violating theta angles. Our results provide an ingredient for a model-independent analysis of constraints on physics beyond the Standard Model. They can be used for fixed- order calculations at one-loop accuracy and represent a first step towards a systematic next-to-leading-log analysis.
Harmonic analysis and mean field theory
Authors: Karateev Denis , Kravchuk Petr , Simmons-Duffin David
Published: October 2019

Abstract

We review some aspects of harmonic analysis for the Euclidean conformal group, including conformally-invariant pairings, the Plancherel measure, and the shadow transform. We introduce two efficient methods for computing these quantities: one based on weight-shifting operators, and another based on Fourier space. As an application, we give a general formula for OPE coefficients in Mean Field Theory (MFT) for arbitrary spinning operators. We apply this formula to several examples, including MFT for fermions and “seed” operators in 4d, and MFT for currents and stress-tensors in 3d.
Energy calibration of the NEXT-White detector with 1% resolution near Qββ of 136Xe
Authors:   The NEXT collaboration, Renner J. , Díaz López G. , Ferrario P. , Hernando Morata J. A. , Kekic M. , Martínez-Lema G. , Monrabal F. , Gómez-Cadenas J. J. , Adams C. , Álvarez V. , Arazi L. , Arnquist I. J. , Azevedo C. D. R , Bailey K. , Ballester F. , Benlloch-Rodríguez J. M. , Borges F. I. G. M. , Byrnes N. , Cárcel S. , Carrión J. V. , Cebrián S. , Church E. , Conde C. A. N. , Contreras T. , Díaz J. , Diesburg M. , Escada J. , Esteve R. , Felkai R. , Fernandes A. F. M. , Fernandes L. M. P. , Ferreira A. L. , Freitas E. D. C. , Generowicz J. , Ghosh S. , Goldschmidt A. , González-Díaz D. , Guenette R. , Gutiérrez R. M. , Haefner J. , Hafidi K. , Hauptman J. , Henriques C. A. O. , Herrero P. , Herrero V. , Ifergan Y. , Johnston S. , Jones B. J. P. , Labarga L. , Laing A. , Lebrun P. , López-March N. , Losada M. , Mano R. D. P. , Martín-Albo J. , Martínez A. , McDonald A. D. , Monteiro C. M. B. , Mora F.J. , Muñoz Vidal J. , Novella P. , Nygren D. R. , Palmeiro B. , Para A. , Pérez J. , Psihas F. , Querol M. , Repond J. , Riordan S. , Ripoll L. , Rodríguez García Y. , Rodríguez J. , Rogers L. , Romeo B. , Romo-Luque C. , Santos F. P. , dos Santos J. M. F. , Simón A. , Sofka C. , Sorel M. , Stiegler T. , Toledo J. F. , Torrent J. , Usón A. , Veloso J. F. C. A. , Webb R. , Weiss-Babai R. , White J. T. , Woodruff K. , Yahlali N.
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Excellent energy resolution is one of the primary advantages of electroluminescent high-pressure xenon TPCs. These detectors are promising tools in searching for rare physics events, such as neutrinoless double-beta decay (ββ0ν), which require precise energy measurements. Using the NEXT-White detector, developed by the NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) collaboration, we show for the first time that an energy resolution of 1% FWHM can be achieved at 2.6 MeV, establishing the present technology as the one with the best energy resolution of all xenon detectors for ββ0ν searches.
Histone deacetylase inhibitor CG200745 ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hypertension via inhibition of angiotensin II production
Authors: Yoon Ga-Eun , Jung Jin Ki , Lee Yun-Han , Jang Byeong-Churl , In Kim Jee
Published: October 2019

Obesity is growing rapidly worldwide due to consumption of westernized diet and lack of exercise. Obesity is one of the major risk factors of hypertension. The novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor CG200745 was originally developed to treat various cancers. Previous studies showed that CG200745 attenuated hypertension through inhibition of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in deoxycorticosterone acetate-induced hypertensive rat. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of CG200745 in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hypertension. Nine-week old C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or HFD for 17 weeks. Each group of mice was treated with vehicle or CG200745 by intraperitoneal injection for 9 days. HFD group showed higher body weight, blood pressure (BP), HDAC activities, angiotensinogen and renin expressions in kidney, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) expression in the lung, serum angiotensin II (Ang II) concentration, and myosin light chain20 (MLC20) phosphorylation in mesenteric artery compared with ND group. CG200745 lowered BP, HDAC activity, renin and angiotensinogen in the kidney, ACE in the lung, serum Ang II level, and phosphorylation of MLC20 in HFD group. In conclusion, CG200745 ameliorated HFD-induced hypertension through inhibition of HDAC/Ang II/vascular contraction axis. Our results offer CG200745 as a novel therapeutic option for HFD-induced hypertension.
Early-life blockade of NMDA receptors induces epigenetic abnormalities in the adult medial prefrontal cortex: possible involvement in memory impairment in trace fear conditioning
Authors: Latusz Joachim , Maćkowiak Marzena
Published: October 2019

Rationale

Several findings indicate that early-life dysfunction of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors might cause schizophrenia-like abnormalities in adulthood that might be induced by impairments in epigenetic regulation.

Objectives

In the present study, we investigated whether postnatal blockade of NMDA receptors (within the first 3 weeks of life) by the competitive antagonist CGP 37849 (CGP) might affect some epigenetic markers in the adult medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).

Methods

Histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 (H3S10ph), histone H3 acetylation at lysine 9 or 14 (H3K9ac or H3K14ac, respectively), or expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 2, HDAC5, myocyte enhancer factor (MEF) 2D and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) were analysed. Moreover, we also evaluated whether the deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate (SB; 1.2 mg/kg, ip) could prevent behavioural and neurochemical changes in the mPFC induced by CGP during memory retrieval in the trace fear conditioning paradigm.

Results

The results showed that CGP administration increased the number of H3S10ph nuclei but did not affect H3K9ac and H3K14ac or HDAC2 protein levels. However, CGP administration altered the HDAC5 mRNA and protein levels and increased the mRNA and protein levels of MEF2D. CGP also increased Arc mRNA, which was correlated with an increase in the amount of Arc DNA bound to MEF2D. SB given 2 h after training prevented impairment of the freezing response and disruption of epigenetic markers (H3S10ph, HDAC5, MEF2D) and Arc expression during memory retrieval induced by CGP administration.

Conclusions

The early-life blockade of NMDA receptors impairs some epigenetic regulatory processes in the mPFC that are involved in fear memory formation.
Phyllosphere of Submerged Plants in Bathing Lakes as a Reservoir of Fungi—Potential Human Pathogens
Authors: Biedunkiewicz Anna , Sucharzewska Ewa , Kulesza Kamila , Nowacka Karolina , Kubiak Dariusz
Published: October 2019

This study analysed whether the littoral zone in the immediate vicinity of bathing sites retains potentially pathogenic yeasts on the phyllosphere surface and to what extent the species composition of microfungi in the phyllosphere and in surface waters is similar. The research was carried out in selected lakes located within the administrative boundaries of the city of Olsztyn, the largest city in the Masurian Lake District (NE Poland). The experiment was conducted in three summer seasons near bathing sites in three lakes, which are the most popular as recreational sites (Lake Kortowskie, Lake Tyrsko, and Lake Skanda). Microfungi isolated from the phyllosphere of 13 plant species of the littoral zone from dropped leaves of coast plants with no disease symptoms were used as the study material. The isolated fungi were identified in accordance with the accepted diagnostic procedures applied in mycological laboratories. A total of 36 yeast species of 16 genera were identified. Fungi found earlier at the bathing sites of the lakes were identified in 60% of the cases. Nine species were categorised as class BSL-2 fungi. This study provides a valuable complement of data concerning the natural composition of the littoral microbiota.
Effect of lipid saturation on amyloid-beta peptide partitioning and aggregation in neuronal membranes: molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Ntarakas Nikolaos , Ermilova Inna , Lyubartsev Alexander P.
Published: October 2019

Aggregation of amyloid-$$\beta $$β (Aβ) peptides, cleaved from the amyloid precursor protein, is known as a precursor of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is also known that Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a substantial decrease of the amount of polyunsaturated lipids in the neuronal membranes of the frontal gray matter. To get insight into possible interconnection of these phenomena, we have carried out molecular dynamics simulations of two fragments of A$$\beta $$β peptide, A$$\beta $$β$$_{1-28}$$1-28 and A$$\beta $$β$$_{26-40}$$26-40, in four different lipid bilayers: two monocomponent ones (14:0-14:0 PC, 18:0-22:6 PC), and two bilayers containing mixtures of 18:0-18:0 PE, 22:6-22:6 PE, 16:0-16:0 PC and 18:1-18:1 PC lipids of composition mimicking neuronal membranes in a “healthy” and “AD” brain. The simulations showed that the presence of lipids with highly unsaturated 22:6cis fatty acids chains strongly affects the interaction of amyloid-$$\beta $$β peptides with lipid membranes. The polyunsaturated lipids cause stronger adsorption of A$$\beta $$β-peptides by the membrane and lead to weaker binding between peptides when the latter form aggregates. This difference in the behaviour observed in monocomponent bilayers is propagated in a similar fashion to the mixed membranes mimicking composition of neuronal membranes in “healthy” and “AD” brains, with “healthy” membrane having higher fraction of polyunsaturated lipids. Our simulations give strong indication that it can be physical–chemical background of the interconnection between amyloid fibrillization causing Alzheimer’s disease, and content of polyunsaturated lipids in the neuronal membranes.
Bile Duct Stones Predict a Requirement for Cholecystectomy in Older Patients
Authors: Matsui Yoichi , Hirooka Satoshi , Sakaguchi Tatsuma , Kotsuka Masaya , Yamaki So , Yamamoto Tomohisa , Kosaka Hisashi , Satoi Sohei , Sekimoto Mitsugu
Published: October 2019

Background

The requirement for elective cholecystectomy in older patients is unclear. To determine predictors for requiring elective cholecystectomy in older patients, a prospective cohort study was performed.

Methods

All patients with gallstone disease who presented to our department from 2006 to 2018 were included if they met the following criteria: (1) age 75 years or older, (2) presentation for elective cholecystectomy, and (3) preoperative diagnosis of cholecystolithiasis. Two therapeutic options, elective surgery and a wait‐and‐see approach, were offered at their initial visit. Enrolled patients were assigned to one arm of the study according to their choice of the therapeutic options. The primary endpoint was the incidence of gallstone‐related complications. The endpoint was compared between patients who underwent cholecystectomy (CH group) and those who chose a wait‐and‐see approach (No‐CH group).

Results

During the study period, there were 344 patients in the CH group and 161 in the No‐CH group. Among patients with a history of bile duct stones, the incidence of gallstone‐related complications in the No‐CH group was significantly higher (45% within 3 years, including two gallstone‐related deaths) than that in the CH group (RR 2.66, 95% confidence interval 1.50–4.77, p = 0.0009). Among patients with no history of bile duct stones, the incidence of gallstone‐related complications in the No‐CH group reached only 10% over the 12 years.

Conclusion

Cholecystectomy is recommended for older patients with both histories of cholecystolithiasis and bile duct stones, whereas a wait‐and‐see approach is preferable for patients with no bile duct stone history. A history of bile duct stones is a good predictor for cholecystectomy in older patients.
Predicting Spatio-temporal Time Series Using Dimension Reduced Local States
Authors: Isensee Jonas , Datseris George , Parlitz Ulrich
Published: October 2019

We present a method for both cross-estimation and iterated time series prediction of spatio-temporal dynamics based on local modelling and dimension reduction techniques. Assuming homogeneity of the underlying dynamics, we construct delay coordinates of local states and then further reduce their dimensionality through Principle Component Analysis. The prediction uses nearest neighbour methods in the space of dimension reduced states to either cross-estimate or iteratively predict the future of a given frame. The effectiveness of this approach is shown for (noisy) data from a (cubic) Barkley model, the Bueno-Orovio–Cherry–Fenton model, and the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky model.
Flexural vibrations of geometrically nonlinear composite beams with interlayer slip
Authors: Adam Christoph , Furtmüller Thomas
Published: October 2019

This paper addresses moderately large vibrations of immovably supported three-layer composite beams. The layers of these structural members are elastically bonded, and as such, subjected to interlayer slip when excited. To capture the moderately large response, in the structural model a nonlinear axial strain-displacement relation is implemented. The Euler–Bernoulli kinematic assumptions are applied layerwise, and a linear interlaminar slip law is utilized. Accuracy and efficiency of the resulting nonlinear beam theory is validated by selective comparative plane stress finite element calculations. The outcomes of application examples demonstrate the grave effect of interlayer slip on the geometrically nonlinear dynamic response characteristic of layered beams.
In-memory database acceleration on FPGAs: a survey
Authors: Fang Jian , Mulder Yvo T. B. , Hidders Jan , Lee Jinho , Hofstee H. Peter
Published: October 2019

While FPGAs have seen prior use in database systems, in recent years interest in using FPGA to accelerate databases has declined in both industry and academia for the following three reasons. First, specifically for in-memory databases, FPGAs integrated with conventional I/O provide insufficient bandwidth, limiting performance. Second, GPUs, which can also provide high throughput, and are easier to program, have emerged as a strong accelerator alternative. Third, programming FPGAs required developers to have full-stack skills, from high-level algorithm design to low-level circuit implementations. The good news is that these challenges are being addressed. New interface technologies connect FPGAs into the system at main-memory bandwidth and the latest FPGAs provide local memory competitive in capacity and bandwidth with GPUs. Ease of programming is improving through support of shared coherent virtual memory between the host and the accelerator, support for higher-level languages, and domain-specific tools to generate FPGA designs automatically. Therefore, this paper surveys using FPGAs to accelerate in-memory database systems targeting designs that can operate at the speed of main memory.
Static generation of UML sequence diagrams
Authors: Alvin Chris , Peterson Brian , Mukhopadhyay Supratik
Published: October 2019

UML sequence diagrams are visual representations of object interactions in a system and can provide valuable information for program comprehension, debugging, maintenance, and software archeology. Sequence diagrams generated from legacy code are independent of existing documentation that may have eroded. We present a framework for static generation of UML sequence diagrams from object-oriented source code. The framework provides a query refinement system to guide the user to interesting interactions in the source code. Our technique involves constructing a hypergraph representation of the source code, traversing the hypergraph with respect to a user-defined query, and generating the corresponding set of sequence diagrams. We implemented our framework as a tool, StaticGen (supporting software: StaticGen), analyzing a corpus of 30 Android applications. We provide experimental results demonstrating the efficacy of our technique (originally appeared in the Proceedings of Fundamental Approaches to Software Engineering—20th International Conference, FASE 2017, Held as Part of the European Joint Conferences on Theory and Practice of Software, ETAPS 2017, Uppsala, Sweden, April 22–29, 2017).
Giant cell glioblastoma is a distinctive subtype of glioma characterized by vulnerability to DNA damage
Authors: Ogawa Kaoru , Kurose Akira , Kamataki Akihisa , Asano Kenichiro , Katayama Kosuke , Kurotaki Hidekachi
Published: October 2019

Giant cell glioblastoma (GC-GBM) consists of large cells with pleomorphic nuclei. As a contrast to GC-GBM, we defined monotonous small GBM (MS-GBM) as GBM that consists of small cells with monotonous small nuclei, and compared the DNA damage as well as other pathological features. GC-GBM showed minimal invasion (< 2 mm) and focal sarcomatous areas. TERTp was wild type in GC-GBM but mutant in MS-GBM. OLIG2 expression was significantly higher in MS-GBM (P < 0.01) (77% in MS-GBM and 7% in GC-GBM). GC-GBM showed significantly higher DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) compared with MS-GBM (P < 0.01) (76% in GC-GBM and 15% in MS-GBM). Nearly, all large cells in GC-GBM underwent DSBs. Thus, significant DSBs in GC-GBM might be induced by an innate lesser stemness characteristic and be followed by mitotic slippage, resulting in polyploidization and the large pleomorphic nuclei. We conclude that GC-GBM is a distinctive subtype of glioma characterized by its vulnerability to DNA damage and that wild-type TERTp and lower OLIG2 function might induce this feature. Notably, even large pleomorphic nuclei with severe DSBs demonstrated Ki67 positivity, which alerts pathologists to the interpretation of Ki67 positivity, because cells with large nuclei undergoing severe DSBs cannot be recognized as proliferating cells that contribute to tumor aggressiveness.
Candidate genes underlying the quantitative trait loci for root-knot nematode resistance in a Cucumis hystrix introgression line of cucumber based on population sequencing
Authors: Cheng Chunyan , Wang Xing , Liu Xuejiao , Yang Shuqiong , Yu Xiaqing , Qian Chuntao , Li Ji , Lou Qunfeng , Chen Jinfeng
Published: October 2019

The southern root-knot nematode (RKN),Meloidogyne incognita(Kofoid & White) Chitwood, is one of most destructive species of plant parasitic nematodes, causing significant economic losses to numerous crops including cucumber (Cucumis sativusL. 2n = 14). No commercial cultivar is currently available with resistance to RKN, severely hindering the genetic improvement of RKN resistance in cucumber. An introgression line, IL10-1, derived from the interspecific hybridization between the wild speciesCucumis hystrixChakr. (2n = 24, HH) and cucumber, was identified with resistance to RKN. In this study, an ultrahigh-density genetic linkage bin-map, composed of high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), was constructed based on low-coverage sequences of the F2:6recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between inbred line IL10-1 and cultivar ‘Beijingjietou’ CC3 (hereinafter referred to as CC3). Three QTLs were identified accounting for 13.36% (qRKN1-1), 9.07% and 9.58% (qRKN5-1 and qRKN5-2) of the resistance variation, respectively. Finally, four genes with nonsynonymous SNPs from chromosome 5 were speculated to be the candidate RKN-resistant related genes, with annotation involved in disease resistance. Though several gaps still exist on the bin-map, our results could potentially be used in breeding programs and establish an understanding of the associated mechanisms underlying RKN resistance in cucumber.
Characteristics of ultrasonographic images of ductal carcinoma in situ with abnormalities of the ducts
Authors: Ban Kanako , Tsunoda Hiroko , Watanabe Takanori , Kaoku Setsuko , Yamaguchi Takuhiro , Ueno Ei , Hirokaga Koichi , Tanaka Kumiko
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Although the number of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases has increased with the spread of breast cancer screening in Japan, there are very few reports that summarize ultrasound image features of DCIS. The Japan Association of Breast and Thyroid Sonology (JABTS) investigated the incidence of DCIS with masses and non-mass abnormalities and the characteristics of US images in a retrospective, multicenter, observational study (JABTS BC-02 study). The purpose of this report is to clarify the proportion of DCIS with abnormalities of the ducts with each ultrasound finding and the characteristics of US images.

Methods

The JABTS BC-02 study population was comprised of patients who were examined by ultrasonography, underwent surgery, and were histopathologically diagnosed with DCIS at each study site between January 2008 and December 2012. The US images of DCIS and pathology and clinical information were retrospectively collected from 16 institutions in Japan. The US images were evaluated by 22 experts on the Central Image Interpretation Committee of JABTS.

Results

Abnormalities of the ducts were noted in 78 (10.5%) of 705 US images of DCIS. Of the 78 cases, the distribution of abnormalities of the ducts was focal or segmental. The second characteristic was the presence of internal echoes in dilated ducts. All cases were accompanied by intraductal solid echoes, and 40 cases (51.3%) were accompanied by echogenic foci. In addition, intraductal solid echoes were continuous or multiple in 72 cases (92.4%), and the shape of the solid echoes was broad-based and/or irregular in 62 cases (79.5%).

Conclusion

DCIS cases with duct abnormalities on ultrasound were investigated in this study. The important characteristics were as follows: (1) the distribution of ductal dilatation was focal or segmental, (2) solid parts were present in the dilated ducts, (3) the distribution of internal echoes was continuous or multiple, (4) the shape of solid echoes was broad-based and/or irregular, and (5) internal echoes were sometimes accompanied by echogenic foci. Accurate evaluation of these findings may be useful for diagnosing DCIS. Although the duct abnormalities are included in “ASSOCIATED FEATURES” in ACR BI-RADS ATLAS (USA), we emphasize that this concept is very important for understanding US characteristics of DCIS.
Heavy metal content in the green fodder of field pea/oat mixtures destined for cattle feed
Authors: Płaza Anna , Gąsiorowska Barbara , Rzążewska Emilia
Published: October 2019

The objective of the study was to establish the effect of component share in mixtures and harvest date on concentrations of selected heavy metals in the green fodder of field pea, oat, and their mixtures. The research hypothesis assumed that the cultivation of peas and oats in pure sowing, and in mixtures will also allow to choose combinations from which the forage will have the lowest content of heavy metals. Field research was conducted at the Zawady Experimental Farm (52° 03′ 39″ N, 22° 33′ 80″ E) which belongs to Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities. Two factors were tested in the study: I—component share in the mixture: field pea—pure stand 100%, oat—pure stand 100%, field pea 75% + oat 25%, field pea 50% + oat 50%, field pea 25% + oat 75%; II—harvest date: field pea flowering stage, field pea flat pod stage. Plant material was sampled to determine the following elements: Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni. The results of the study demonstrated that field pea grown in pure stand had the highest copper and zinc contents, and the lowest chromium and nickel contents. Field pea mixed with oat significantly reduced heavy metal content in green fodder. Cadmium and lead contents in the green fodder of field pea/oat mixtures were too low to be determined by means of the spectrometer Perkin Elmer Optima 8300. Regular checks of heavy metal contents are recommended in spite of their low amounts in the green fodder of field pea/oat mixtures.
Meanings Attributed to Letters in Functional Contexts by Primary School Students
Authors: Ayala-Altamirano Cristina , Molina Marta
Published: October 2019

This article describes part of the findings of a teaching experiment whose objective is to investigate the algebraic abilities of elementary students when they solve situations that involve a functional relationship. In particular, we focus on describing the use and meanings attributed to letters by third-year primary school students when faced with verbal problems related to the generalisation of a functional relationship. Drawing from the functional approach to early algebra and set in Spain, the study expands on earlier research conducted on primary school students’ use of letters in algebraic contexts. Their initial reactions to the use of letters to represent indeterminate quantities and how those reactions changed in the course of three sessions are described. Analyses of the students’ written answers together with their participation in group discussions yield qualitative data on how students associate the idea of variability with indeterminate quantities and use letters, numbers or both to represent that notion.
Intelligent accountability in schools: A study of how school leaders work with the implementation of assessment for learning
Authors: Tolo Astrid , Lillejord Sølvi , Flórez Petour María Teresa , Hopfenbeck Therese N.
Published: October 2019

In response to accountability systems dominated by external inspections and achievement data, calls are being made forintelligentaccountability or a new accountability paradigm that focuses onmeaningfullearning, enabled by professionally skilled and committed educators within the system. In such systems, the actors are encouraged to strive for continuous development in learning organisations based on teamwork, distributed leadership, and professional learning communities. School leaders are positioned between district level administrators and teachers in such processes and have the responsibility to secure professional development. Using the implementation of the national program ‘Assessment for Learning’ in Norway as a case, the article shows that leaders approach professional development differently. Analyses of interviews with leaders from 7 schools reveal three distinct approaches related to how school leaders perceive knowledge. Some school leaders assume that teachers have the necessary knowledge and skills and trust them to manage the implementation process without leader support. Other school leaders distrust teachers’ knowledge and skills and assume that the proper knowledge exists outside the school. These leaders seek external support when they meet teacher resistance. In a third approach, school leaders assume that knowledge develops through collaboration and thereby engage with teachers in continuous judgment about the implementation procedure. In the discussion, questions of trust and distrust are analysed in relation to how professional knowledge is developed and how professional discretion can support the development of intelligent accountability in schools.
Provably Scale-Covariant Continuous Hierarchical Networks Based on Scale-Normalized Differential Expressions Coupled in Cascade
Authors: Lindeberg Tony
Published: October 2019

This article presents a theory for constructing hierarchical networks in such a way that the networks are guaranteed to be provably scale covariant. We first present a general sufficiency argument for obtaining scale covariance, which holds for a wide class of networks defined from linear and nonlinear differential expressions expressed in terms of scale-normalized scale-space derivatives. Then, we present a more detailed development of one example of such a network constructed from a combination of mathematically derived models of receptive fields and biologically inspired computations. Based on a functional model of complex cells in terms of an oriented quasi quadrature combination of first- and second-order directional Gaussian derivatives, we couple such primitive computations in cascade over combinatorial expansions over image orientations. Scale-space properties of the computational primitives are analysed, and we give explicit proofs of how the resulting representation allows for scale and rotation covariance. A prototype application to texture analysis is developed, and it is demonstrated that a simplified mean-reduced representation of the resulting QuasiQuadNet leads to promising experimental results on three texture datasets.
Wanting to Be Happy but Not Knowing How: Poor Attentional Control and Emotion-Regulation Abilities Mediate the Association Between Valuing Happiness and Depression
Authors: Mahmoodi Kahriz Bahram , Bower Joanne L. , Glover Francesca M. G. Q. , Vogt Julia
Published: October 2019

Recent studies suggest that valuing happiness is associated with negative psychological health outcomes, including increased depression, in US samples. We aimed to replicate these associations in two studies at a UK university (Nstudy one = 151, and Nstudy two = 299). Importantly, we also investigated the role of emotional attentional control and habitual emotion regulation in the relationship between valuing happiness and depression. In both studies, we found that valuing happiness was related to increased depression, confirming the link between valuing happiness and depression in a Western country outside of the USA. Moreover, our findings indicated that the relationship between valuing happiness and depression was strongest in British, rather than non-British participants or participants of dual nationality. Further, our findings revealed that valuing happiness and depression were indirectly associated via the ability to control attention in emotional situations, perceived ability to savor positive experiences, and the extent to which positive emotions feel intrusive. Specifically, increased valuing happiness was associated with lower emotion attention control and lower savoring of positive experiences, which in turn was related to depressive symptoms. These results show that the impaired ability to respond adaptively to emotional situations and to enjoy positive events may underlie the paradoxical relationship between valuing happiness and low well-being.
Handling underlying discrete variables with bivariate mixed hidden Markov models in NONMEM
Authors: Brekkan A. , Jönsson S. , Karlsson M. O. , Plan E. L.
Published: October 2019

Non-linear mixed effects models typically deal with stochasticity in observed processes but models accounting for only observed processes may not be the most appropriate for all data. Hidden Markov models (HMMs) characterize the relationship between observed and hidden variables where the hidden variables can represent an underlying and unmeasurable disease status for example. Adding stochasticity to HMMs results in mixed HMMs (MHMMs) which potentially allow for the characterization of variability in unobservable processes. Further, HMMs can be extended to include more than one observation source and are then multivariate HMMs. In this work MHMMs were developed and applied in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease example. The two hidden states included in the model were remission and exacerbation and two observation sources were considered, patient reported outcomes (PROs) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1). Estimation properties in the software NONMEM of model parameters were investigated with and without random and covariate effect parameters. The influence of including random and covariate effects of varying magnitudes on the parameters in the model was quantified and a power analysis was performed to compare the power of a single bivariate MHMM with two separate univariate MHMMs. A bivariate MHMM was developed for simulating and analysing hypothetical COPD data consisting of PRO and FEV1 measurements collected every week for 60 weeks. Parameter precision was high for all parameters with the exception of the variance of the transition rate dictating the transition from remission to exacerbation (relative root mean squared error [RRMSE] > 150%). Parameter precision was better with higher magnitudes of the transition probability parameters. A drug effect was included on the transition rate probability and the precision of the drug effect parameter improved with increasing magnitude of the parameter. The power to detect the drug effect was improved by utilizing a bivariate MHMM model over the univariate MHMM models where the number of subject required for 80% power was 25 with the bivariate MHMM model versus 63 in the univariate MHMM FEV1 model and > 100 in the univariate MHMM PRO model. The results advocates for the use of bivariate MHMM models when implementation is possible.
Investigation into nonlinear phenomena for various railway vehicles in transition curves at velocities close to critical one
Authors: Zboinski Krzysztof , Golofit-Stawinska Milena
Published: October 2019

In this paper recent simulation results aimed at studying nonlinear phenomena that accompany motion of railway vehicle in transition curve at velocities around the vehicle critical velocity are presented by the authors. Such results concern six different objects representing railway vehicles. These are: three 2-axle railway bogies, two 2-axle railway cars, and 4-axle railway car. The paper attention is devoted to presenting as many different nonlinear behaviours of the studied objects as possible. This is done first of all to give an idea to the readers of great number of the nonlinear behaviour types that can appear for railway vehicles in transition curves at velocities lower and bigger than vehicle critical velocity. The differences arising from specificity of particular objects are highlighted while systematic variation of the system parameters in order to study influence of such variation on differences in the behaviour is less represented. The paper ends with the comprehensive comments by the authors to the results obtained.
Wave emission from heterogeneities with changing boundary curvature and orientation by a circularly polarized electric field in cardiac tissues
Authors: Feng Xia , Gao Xiang
Published: October 2019

In hearts, complex spatial–temporal patterns of action potential waves may cause life-threatening arrhythmia. Unlike the conventional defibrillation which uses high-voltage electric shocks associated with severe side effects, the new method of wave emission from heterogeneities (WEHs) merits close investigation. In our previous studies of the WEH to terminate arrhythmia in idealized conditions, we found that a circularly polarized electric field (CPEF) not only needs a lower voltage, but also has higher efficiency than a uniform electric field (UEF). But the effect of a CPEF on a real cardiac heterogeneity with irregular boundary shape remains unknown. Here, we consider elliptical heterogeneities whose boundary curvatures and orientations change in a similar way as irregular heterogeneities and study the effect of the changing boundary curvature and orientation on the WEH. We find that, unlike the UEF, the CPEF is not affected by the change of boundary curvature and orientation. Besides, the CPEF needs a lower voltage to induce wave emission from an elliptical heterogeneity than the UEF. Hence, it has advantages for the application of the WEH in clinical treatments.
TFP change and its components for Swedish manufacturing firms during the 2008–2009 financial crisis
Authors: Mattsson Pontus , Månsson Jonas , Greene William H.
Published: October 2019

A driving force of economic development is growth in total factor productivity (TFP). Manufactured goods are, to a large extent, exports, and represent an important part of the economy for many developed countries. Additionally, a slowdown in labour productivity has been observed in many OECD countries since the financial crisis of 2008–2009. This study investigates TFP change and its components for the Swedish manufacturing industry, compared with the private service sector, during the years 1997–2013, centering on the financial crisis. Stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) is used to disentangle persistent and transient efficiency from firm heterogeneity and random noise, respectively. In addition, technical change (TC), returns to scale (RTS) and a scale change (SC) component are also identified. Along with the empirical analysis, an elaborative discussion regarding TC in SFA is provided. The persistent part for manufacturing (service) is 0.796 (0.754) and the transient part is 0.787 (0.762), indicating improvement potentials. Furthermore, TFP change is substantially lower between the years 2007–2013, compared to 1997–2007. This occurs due to a lower technological progress. Policy should, therefore, target interventions that enhance technology. However, care needs to be taken so that policies do not sustain low-productive firms that otherwise would exit the market.
The determinants of democracy: a sensitivity analysis
Authors: Rød Espen Geelmuyden , Knutsen Carl Henrik , Hegre Håvard
Published: October 2019

Numerous studies—operating with diverse model specifications, samples and empirical measures—suggest different economic, social, cultural, demographic, institutional and international determinants of democracy. We distinguish between democratization and democratic survival and test the sensitivities of 67 proposed determinants by varying the control variable set, democracy measure, and sample time period. Furthermore, we go beyond existing sensitivity analyses and unpack the aggregate results by analyzing how theoretically motivated control variables affect sensitivity for two prominent determinants in the democracy literature: income and Islam. Overall, our results reveal a far larger number of robust determinants of democratization than of democratic survival. For democratic survival, the only robust factors are income and a law-abiding bureaucracy. In addition, our results highlight uncertainty surrounding the relationship between income and democratization, but show that broader development processes enhance the chances of democratization. Moreover, chances of democratization are lower in countries with large Muslim populations, but that relationship is sensitive to controlling for natural resources, education and neighborhood characteristics. Other results of the sensitivity analysis show that political protests, a democratic neighborhood, and the global proportion of democracies positively influence democratization, while natural resources, majoritarian systems, and long-tenured leaders make countries less likely to democratize.
Development of a tool to assess oral health-related quality of life in patients hospitalised in critical care
Authors: Moreno Sancho Federico , Tsakos Georgios , Brealey David , Boniface David , Needleman Ian
Published: October 2019

Aims and objectives

Oral health deteriorates following hospitalisation in critical care units (CCU) but there are no validated measures to assess effects on oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL). The objectives of this study were (i) to develop a tool (CCU-OHQoL) to assess OHQoL amongst patients admitted to CCU, (ii) to collect data to analyse the validity, reliability and acceptability of the CCU-OHQoL tool and (iii) to investigate patient-reported outcome measures of OHQoL in patients hospitalised in a CCU.

Methods

The project included three phases: (1) the development of an initial questionnaire informed by a literature review and expert panel, (2) testing of the tool in CCU (n = 18) followed by semi-structured interviews to assess acceptability, face and content validity and (3) final tool modification and testing of CCU-OHQoL questionnaire to assess validity and reliability.

Results

The CCU-OHQoL showed good face and content validity and was quick to administer. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.72 suggesting good internal consistency. For construct validity, the CCU-OHQoL was strongly and significantly correlated (correlation coefficients 0.71, 0.62 and 0.77, p < 0.01) with global OHQoL items. In the validation study, 37.8% of the participants reported a deterioration in self-reported oral health after CCU admission. Finally, 26.9% and 31% of the participants reported considerable negative impacts of oral health in their life overall and quality of life, respectively.

Conclusions

The new CCU-OHQoL tool may be of use in the assessment of oral health-related quality of life in CCU patients. Deterioration of OHQoL seems to be common in CCU patients.
Delayed Time-to-Degree and Post-college Earnings
Authors: Witteveen Dirk , Attewell Paul
Published: October 2019

Increasingly, undergraduates take more than 4 years to complete a baccalaureate, a situation widely perceived as a waste of time and money, for students, their families, and taxpayers. We first identify several phenomena that result in a longer time to degree and document the frequency of such delays. Then, using nationally representative data from the Baccalaureate & Beyond 1993–2003 surveys, we estimate the relationship between delayed time-to-degree and later employment and postcollege earnings, using negative binomial hurdle models. We find that delayed time-to-degree is not related to employment chances but is associated with lower post-college earnings: averaging 8–15%, depending on the length of delay. This average disadvantage is in line with signaling theory. The unique contribution of this study is its thorough analysis of different types of delay, as caused by stopping out and employment. Contrary to the popular assumption that delay is a waste of college resources or a student’s time, we find that delayed graduation in combination with working full-time during college has no negative relationship to post-college earnings. We discuss the time-investment trade-offs and the implications for the applicability of human capital theory to college graduation delays.