bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decitabine bioproduction using a biocatalyst with improved stability by adding nanocomposites
Authors: Méndez Mariana B. , Trelles Jorge A. , Rivero Cintia W.
Published: September 2020

A novel IDA-LaNDT derivative was able to reach the highest productivity in the biosynthesis of a well-known antitumoral agent called decitabine. However, the combination of two simple and inexpensive techniques such as ionic absorption and gel entrapment with the incorporation of a bionanocomposite such as bentonite significantly improved the stability of this biocatalyst. These modifications allowed the enhancement of storage stability (for at least 18 months), reusability (400 h of successive batches without significant loss of its initial activity), and thermal and solvent stability with respect to the non-entrapped derivative. Moreover, reaction conditions were optimized by increasing the solubility of 5-aza by dilution with dimethylsulfoxide. Therefore, a scale-up of the bioprocess was assayed using the developed biocatalyst, obtaining 221 mg/L·h of DAC. Finally, green parameters were calculated using the nanostabilized biocatalyst, whose results indicated that it was able to biosynthesize DAC by a smooth, cheap, and environmentally friendly methodology.
Decentralized computation offloading for multi-user mobile edge computing: a deep reinforcement learning approach
Authors: Chen Zhao , Wang Xiaodong
Published: September 2020

Mobile edge computing (MEC) emerges recently as a promising solution to relieve resource-limited mobile devices from computation-intensive tasks, which enables devices to offload workloads to nearby MEC servers and improve the quality of computation experience. In this paper, an MEC enabled multi-user multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system with stochastic wireless channels and task arrivals is considered. In order to minimize long-term average computation cost in terms of power consumption and buffering delay at each user, a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based dynamic computation offloading strategy is investigated to build a scalable system with limited feedback. Specifically, a continuous action space-based DRL approach named deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) is adopted to learn decentralized computation offloading policies at all users respectively, where local execution and task offloading powers will be adaptively allocated according to each user’s local observation. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed DDPG-based strategy can help each user learn an efficient dynamic offloading policy and also verify the superiority of its continuous power allocation capability to policies learned by conventional discrete action space-based reinforcement learning approaches like deep Q-network (DQN) as well as some other greedy strategies with reduced computation cost. Besides, power-delay tradeoff for computation offloading is also analyzed for both the DDPG-based and DQN-based strategies.
Fourier expansion and integral representation generalized Apostol-type Frobenius–Euler polynomials
Authors: Urieles Alejandro , Ramírez William , Ortega María José , Bedoya Daniel
Published: September 2020

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the Fourier series representation of the generalized Apostol-type Frobenius–Euler polynomials, and using the above-mentioned series we find its integral representation. At the same time applying the Fourier series representation of the Apostol Frobenius–Genocchi and Apostol Genocchi polynomials, we obtain its integral representation. Furthermore, using the Hurwitz–Lerch zeta function we introduce the formula in rational arguments of the generalized Apostol-type Frobenius–Euler polynomials in terms of the Hurwitz zeta function. Finally, we show the representation of rational arguments of the Apostol Frobenius Euler polynomials and the Apostol Frobenius–Genocchi polynomials.
Influence of severity of infection on the effect of appropriate antimicrobial therapy for Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremic pneumonia
Authors: Kang Fang-Yu , How Chorng-Kuang , Wang Yung-Chih , Cheng Aristine , Yang Ya-Sung , Kuo Shu-Chen , Liu Chang-Pan , Liu Yuag-Meng , Chen Te-Li , Lee Yi-Tzu
Published: September 2020

Background

The impact of appropriate antimicrobial therapy for A. baumannii bacteremic pneumonia has not been well established due to the inclusion of the three phenotypically indistinguishable Acinetobacter species and confounding factors including underlying diseases and severity of infection. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of appropriate antimicrobial therapy on 14-day mortality in A. baumannii bacteremic pneumonia patients after adjusting for risk factors.

Methods

This study was conducted at five medical centers in Taiwan between July 2012 and June 2016. A. baumannii species identification was performed using reference molecular methods. Risk factors for 14-day mortality were analyzed via logistic regression. The interaction between the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and appropriate antimicrobial therapy was assessed using the logistic model.

Results

A total of 336 patients with monomicrobial A. baumannii bacteremic pneumonia were included in this study. The overall 14-day mortality rate was 47.3%. The crude mortality of appropriate antimicrobial therapy was 35.9% (57 of 151 patients). Appropriate antimicrobial therapy was associated with a lower mortality after multivariate adjustment (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34–0.97; p = 0.04), and the effect was influenced by APACHE II score (OR for interaction term, 0.0098; 95% CI, 0.0005–0.1885; p = 0.002). Further analysis demonstrated that appropriate antimicrobial therapy significantly reduced 14-day mortality among the patients with an APACHE II score > 35 (OR 0.0098; 95% CI 0.0005–0.1885).

Conclusion

Appropriate antimicrobial therapy decreases 14-day mortality of the most severely ill patients with A. baumannii bacteremic pneumonia.
Finite Element Analysis and Calculation Method of Residual Flexural Capacity of Post-fire RC Beams
Authors: Cai Bin , Li Bo , Fu Feng
Published: September 2020

Fire tests and subsequent bending tests of four reinforced concrete (RC) beams were performed. Based on these tests, the post-fire performance of RC beams was further studied using finite-element simulation through reasonable selection of suitable thermal and thermodynamic parameters of steel and concrete materials. A thermodynamic model of RC beams with three sides under fire was built using finite-element analysis (FEA) software ABAQUS. The FEA model was validated with the results of fire tests. Different factors were taken into account for further parametric studies in fire using the propsed FE model. The results show that the main factors affecting the fire resistance of the beams are the thickness of the concrete cover, reinforcement ratio of longitudinal steel, the fire exposure time and the fire exposure sides. Based on the strength reduction formula at high temperature of steel and concrete and four test results, an improved section method was proposed to develop a calculation formula to calculate the flexural capacity of RC beams after fire. The theoretical calculation method proposed in this paper shows good agreement with FEA results, which can be used to calculate the flexural capacity of RC beams after fire.
The global, regional, and national burden of kidney cancer and attributable risk factor analysis from 1990 to 2017
Authors: Bai Xianguang , Yi Ming , Dong Bing , Zheng Xinhua , Wu Kongming
Published: September 2020

Background

Kidney cancer’s incidence and mortality vary in different regions and countries. To compare and interpret kidney cancer’s burden and change trends in the globe and in different countries, we conducted this study to report the global kidney cancer burden and attributable risk factors.

Methods

Data about kidney cancer’s incidence, death, disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases 2017. Besides, social-demographic index (SDI) values were adopted to investigate the correlation between kidney cancer’s burden and social development degrees.

Results

In the globe, the incidence case of kidney cancer increased sharply from 207.31*103 in 1990 to 393.04*103 in 2017. High SDI countries had the highest kidney cancer’s burden with a decreased trend in incidence rate. On the contrary, the incidence rate was rapidly increased in low-middle SDI countries, although their burden of kidney cancer kept relatively low. At the same time, the deaths of kidney cancer increased from 68.14*103 to 138.53*103, and the kidney cancer-related DALYs increased from 1915.49*103 in 1990 to 3284.32*103 in 2017. Then, we searched the GBD database for kidney cancer-related risk factor. The high body-mass index and smoking were the main factors contributing to kidney cancer-related mortality.

Conclusions

Generally, from 1990 to 2017, the incidence rate in developed countries had gone down from the historic peak values while the incidence rate was still on the rise in developing counties. Given the aging trend in the globe, it is necessary to appeal to the public to decrease the exposure of kidney cancer-associated risk factors.
Composing high-level stream processing pipelines
Authors: Mahapatra Tanmaya
Published: September 2020

The growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices provide a massive pool of sensing data. However, turning data into actionable insights is not a trivial task, especially in the context of IoT, where application development itself is complex. The process entails working with heterogeneous devices via various communication protocols to co-ordinate and fetch datasets, followed by a series of data transformations. Graphical mashup tools, based on the principles of flow-based programming paradigm, operating at a higher-level of abstraction are in widespread use to support rapid prototyping of IoT applications. Nevertheless, the current state-of-the-art mashup tools suffer from several architectural limitations which prevent composing in-flow data analytics pipelines. In response to this, the paper contributes by (i) designing novel flow-based programming concepts based on the actor model to support data analytics pipelines in mashup tools, prototyping the ideas in a new mashup tool called aFlux and providing a detailed comparison with the existing state-of-the-art and (ii) enabling easy prototyping of streaming applications in mashup tools by abstracting the behavioural configurations of stream processing via graphical flows and validating the ease as well as the effectiveness of composing stream processing pipelines from an end-user perspective in a traffic simulation scenario.
Application of 3D tooth model for monitoring of implant space and inter-root distance without radiographs: a proof of concept study
Authors: Lee Kyungmin , Lee Gyu-Hyoung
Published: September 2020

Background

Radiographs are integral in evaluating implant space and inter-root distance. The purpose of this report is to introduce a method for evaluating the 3D root position with minimal radiation using a 3D tooth model composed of an intraoral-scanned crown and a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-scanned root.

Materials and methods

Intraoral scan and CBCT scan of the patient were obtained before treatment. In the CBCT image, tooth segmentation was performed by isolating individual teeth from the maxillary and mandibular alveolar bone using software program. The 3D tooth model was fabricated by combining segmented individual teeth with the intraoral scan.

Results

A post-treatment intraoral scan was integrated into the tooth model, and the resulting position of the root could be predicted without additional radiographs. It is possible to monitor the root position after a pretreatment CBCT scan using a 3D tooth model without additional radiographs.

Conclusion

The application of the 3D tooth model benefits the patient by reducing repeated radiation exposure while providing the clinician with a precise treatment evaluation to monitor tooth movement.
Laparoscopic repair of a Bochdalek hernia in an elderly patient: a case report with a review from 1999 to 2019 in Japan
Authors: Miyasaka Toshimitsu , Matsutani Takeshi , Nomura Tsutomu , Hagiwara Nobutoshi , Chihara Naoto , Takahashi Koichi , Mishima Keisuke , Taniai Nobuhiko , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: September 2020

Background

A Bochdalek hernia (BH) is a congenital defect of the diaphragm that generally presents in the newborn as life-threatening cardiorespiratory distress. In contrast, the diagnosis of a BH in adults is rare. Surgical repair for adult BH is recommended, but the optimal surgical method remains unclear.

Case presentation

A 75-year-old woman presented with progressive dyspnea and back pain, and a diagnosis of BH was made based on chest X-ray and computed tomography. Laparoscopic evaluation revealed a defect in the left posterior attachment of the diaphragm, and a left-sided BH without hernia sac was diagnosed. Parts of the stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, and spleen had prolapsed into the left thoracic cavity, without ischemic change, and these herniated organs were reduced to the abdominal cavity. A direct closure of the hernia orifice was possible by the laparoscopic suture technique using a mesh reinforcement. The patient made an uneventful recovery, and no recurrence was found in the 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion

A recently published study reviewing detailed cases of repair of adult BH from 1999 to 2019 identified 96 cases, including the present case. The number of reports on laparoscopic and/or thoracoscopic surgery for BH in adults has recently increased, and the approach for repairing BH should be selected carefully on a case-by-case basis.
3D printed mask extenders as a supplement to isolation masks to relieve posterior auricular discomfort: an innovative 3D printing response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: O’Connor Zachary , Huellewig Daniel , Sithiyopasakul Peeti , Morris Jason A. , Gan Connie , Ballard David H.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Many commonly used mask designs are secured by elastic straps looping around the posterior auricular region. This constant pressure and friction against the skin may contribute to increased wearer pain, irritation, and discomfort. The purpose of this work is to report a modified 3D printed mask extender to alleviate discomfort and increase mask wearability by relieving posterior auricular pressure from isolation masks.

Methods

Our institutional review board designated this project as non-human research and exempt. As part of resourcing 3D printing laboratories along with individual 3D printers to provide resources to healthcare workers, mask extenders were printed to relieve posterior auricular pressure from individuals wearing isolation masks. The authors modifed an existing mask extender, increasing its length with accompanying peripheral rungs for isolation mask securement. 3D printing was performed with Ultimaker S5 (Ultimaker B.V.; Geldermalsen, Netherlands) and CR-10 (Creality3D; Shenzhen, China) 3D printers using polylactic acid filaments. The author’s modified extended mask extenders were printed and freely delivered to healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, technologists, and other personnel) at the authors’ institution.

Results

The final mask extender design was printed with the two 3D printers with a maximum 7 straps printed simultaneously on each 3D printer. Mean print times ranges from 105 min for the Ultimaker S5 printer and 150 min for the CR-10. Four hundred seventy-five mask extenders were delivered to healthcare workers at the authors’ institution, with the demand far exceeding the available supply.

Conclusion

We offer a modification of a 3D printed mask extender design that decreases discomfort and increases the wearability of isolation mask designs with ear loops thought to relieve posterior auricular skin pressure and ability to control strap tension. The design is simple, produced with inexpensive material (polylactic acid), and have been well-received by healthcare providers at our institution.
Cognitive and balance impairments in people with incidental white matter hyperintensities
Authors: Eldin Amr El Sayed Ali Mohamed Tag , Bahnasy Wafik Said , Dabees Naglaa Lotfy , Fayed Hazem Abd El-Rahman
Published: September 2020

Background

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) is the most frequent type of cerebral small vessel diseases and a common incidental finding in MRI films of the geriatric population. The objectives of this work were to study the existence of occult cognitive and balance impairments in subjects with accidentally discovered WMHs.

Methods

The study was conducted on 44 subjects with accidentally discovered WMHs and 24 non-WMHs subjects submitted to the advanced activity of daily living scale (AADLs), a neurocognitive battery assessing different cognitive domains, Berg balance test (BBT), computerized dynamic posturography (CDP), and brain MRI diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).

Results

WMHs subjects showed a significant decrease in AADLs as well as visual and vestibular ratios of CDP. Regarding the neurocognitive battery, there were significant decreases in MoCA as well as arithmetic test and block design of Wechsler adult intelligence scale-IV in WMHs compared to non-WMHs subjects’ groups (p value < 0.001). Concerning Wisconsin Card Sorting subtests, each preservative response, preservative errors, non-preservative errors and trials to complete the 1st category showed a highly significant increase in WMHs compared to non-WMHs subjects (p values < 0.001). DTT showed a substantial reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) of each corticospinal tract, thalamocortical connectivity, and arcuate fasciculi.

Conclusion

Subjects with WMHs have lower cognitive performance and subtle balance impairment which greatly impair their ADLs.
The distribution of woody species in relation to climate and fire in Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Authors: van Wagtendonk Jan W. , Moore Peggy E. , Yee Julie L. , Lutz James A.
Published: September 2020

Background

The effects of climate on plant species ranges are well appreciated, but the effects of other processes, such as fire, on plant species distribution are less well understood. We used a dataset of 561 plots 0.1 ha in size located throughout Yosemite National Park, in the Sierra Nevada of California, USA, to determine the joint effects of fire and climate on woody plant species. We analyzed the effect of climate (annual actual evapotranspiration [AET], climatic water deficit [Deficit]) and fire characteristics (occurrence [BURN] for all plots, fire return interval departure [FRID] for unburned plots, and severity of the most severe fire [dNBR]) on the distribution of woody plant species.

Results

Of 43 species that were present on at least two plots, 38 species occurred on five or more plots. Of those 38 species, models for the distribution of 13 species (34%) were significantly improved by including the variable for fire occurrence (BURN). Models for the distribution of 10 species (26%) were significantly improved by including FRID, and two species (5%) were improved by including dNBR. Species for which distribution models were improved by inclusion of fire variables included some of the most areally extensive woody plants. Species and ecological zones were aligned along an AET-Deficit gradient from cool and moist to hot and dry conditions.

Conclusions

In fire-frequent ecosystems, such as those in most of western North America, species distribution models were improved by including variables related to fire. Models for changing species distributions would also be improved by considering potential changes to the fire regime.
How marketing mix (7Ps) affect the patients’ selection of a hospital: experience of a low-income country
Authors: Ravangard Ramin , Khodadad Amir , Bastani Peivand
Published: September 2020

Background

Applying marketing mix in the hospitals is necessary for their success. It is also important to optimize the price, developing services, increasing health literacy, and improving financial resources. Experts and patients may have different views about the factors that influence the decision for choosing a hospital. This study was conducted to identify the factors in the marketing mix which influence patients’ selection of hospitals in Shiraz, Iran.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving patients assigned to six hospitals; three selected private and three corporate public hospitals in Shiraz in southern Iran in 2018 composed the study sample. From the inpatients and outpatients referring to these hospitals, 300 patients were included using a stratified sampling method proportional to size. Their views on the status of the selected hospitals regarding the 7Ps model of the hospital marketing mix (product, people, price, place, promotion, process, and physical environment) were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Data were collected by administering a validated researcher-developed questionnaire (CVI = 2.65, α = 0.929).

Results

Among 44 components of marketing mix according to 7Ps model, “specialty of health service providers” had the best status (mean (SD) 4.15 ± 0.82) from the patients’ viewpoints. Among the 7Ps, “physical environment” and “people” had better status respectively. In contrast, the studied hospitals had the poorest status in “promotion.” Significant relationship was revealed between the private and corporate public hospitals in terms of price, promotion, and process (P < 0.05). Pearson’s correlation revealed a direct relationship between all the components of marketing mix in the hospitals (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The studied hospitals have an appropriate status in physical environment and people mix but poor status in promotion mix. It is therefore necessary for these hospitals to pay more attention to the “promotion mix” irrespective of the related costs. Moreover, as “process mix” had a high significant correlation with the other marketing mix, managers can improve their marketing services through correcting their current processes.
Sublimable materials facilitate the TEM sample preparation of oil-soluble nanomaterials
Authors: Deng Yu-Hao
Published: September 2020

Sample preparation is significantly important to the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) characterization of nanomaterials. However, many general organic solvents can dissolve the necessary organic polymer support layer in TEM grid, which causes it difficult to obtain high-quality samples of oil-soluble nanomaterials. In this study, a new sample preparation method for oil-soluble nanomaterials has been developed by using the sublimable material as a transition layer. Experiments also show that there is no damage to TEM grids and high-quality HRTEM images can be obtained via this method. This approach paves the way to applicable HRTEM sample preparation of oil-soluble nanomaterials.
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and association of HbA1c with severity of coronary artery disease in patients presenting as non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Dar Mohd Iqbal , Beig Jahangir Rashid , Jan Iqra , Shah Tariq Rashid , Ali Muzaffar , Rather Hilal A. , Tramboo Nisar A.
Published: September 2020

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) indicates the serious clinical manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and is closely associated with cardiovascular prognosis in patients with ACS. This study was aimed to study the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the relation of HbA1c with the severity of CAD in patients presenting as non-diabetic ACS. Diabetic status of the patients was assessed with fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c levels, and coronary artery disease burden was assessed by coronary angiography.

Results

Out of 208 patients, 85.1% were males, and 14.9% were females; 73.56% cases were hypertensive. 80.77% of cases had STEMI, 17.79% had NSTEMI, and 1.44% had unstable angina. Out of 168 STEMI patients, 64.3% were thrombolysed, 21.42% presented late, 2.38% had contraindications to thrombolysis, and 11.9% underwent primary PCI. FBS in diabetic range was found in 44.23% of cases, impaired FBS in 36.54%, and 19.23% of patients had FBS in non-diabetic range. According to HbA1c, 41.8% were diabetic, 39.4% were pre-diabetic, and 18.8% were non-diabetic. A significant positive correlation was found between HbA1c and Gensini score and between HbA1c and the number of vessels involved.

Conclusion

This study emphasises the importance of evaluating the presence of diabetes in patients presenting as non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome in developing countries. Acute coronary syndrome may be considered as one of the presentations of diabetes mellitus.
Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma clinically mimicking as malignancy—a case report
Authors: Gupta Ruchi , Anand Abhishek , Kumar Subhash , Sinha Neetu
Published: September 2020

Background

Fungal sphenoid sinusitis mimicking as malignant tumor and invading the pituitary fossa is an uncommon entity. This report aims to highlight radiological salient features to help differentiate fungal lesion from malignant tumor in sphenoidal sinus mass lesions.

Case presentation

We intend to report a case of middle-aged female who presented with gradual progressive diminution of vision since 3 years complicated with acute attack of unilateral headache and numbness. Computed tomography (CT) showed hyperdense lesion involving the sphenoid sinus extending into pituitary fossa and bilateral cavernous sinuses with smooth bony remodeling. Lesion appeared hypointense on T2-weighted and hyperintense on T1-weighted images on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgical excision of the lesion was done and pathological examination showed fungal hyphae and aspergillus fumigatus species on culture after 2 weeks of incubation. Post-operative CT revealed empty sinuses with surrounding bone remodeling.

Conclusion

Combination of T1 hyperintensity, T2 hypointensity, and hyperdense sinus is a strong predictor of fungal mass lesion involving sphenoid sinus.
Flavonoids: isolation, characterization, and health benefits
Authors: Ekalu Abiche , Habila James Dama
Published: September 2020

Background

The unique and vast pharmacological activities of flavonoids have made them of research interest. This led to the use of various techniques to isolate and characterize them, intending to determine their potential health benefits.

Main text

The medicinal values of plant-based flavonoids that this literature review tends to summarize the pharmacological activities of these secondary metabolites from 22 selected plant families. The pharmacological shreds of evidence reported in the literature have proven that flavonoids have shown anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-ulcer, and anti-edematogenic activities. Out of these, 30% showed to have anti-oxidant activity, key in protecting the body against free radicals. Besides, 18% of the references showed anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. Further literature reports indicated that flavonoids from these families exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-edematogenic (9%), anti-viral and anti-ulcer (5%), anti-fungal, anti-nociceptive, and anti-histamine (2%).

Conclusion

The pharmacological activities of flavonoids from the various sources reviewed in this study show that the secondary metabolites could provide a scaffold for the development of potent anti-cancer drugs in the future.
Determinants of Self-reported Health Outcomes in Adrenal Insufficiency: A Multisite Survey Study
Authors: Li Dingfeng , Genere Natalia , Behnken Emma , Xhikola Majlinda , Abbondanza Tiffany , Vaidya Anand , Bancos Irina
Published: September 2020

Context

Current evidence on determinants of adverse health outcomes in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) is scarce, especially in regards to AI subtypes.

Objective

To determine predictors of adverse outcomes in different subtypes of AI.

Design and Setting

Cross-sectional survey study at 2 tertiary centers.

Participants

A total of 696 patients with AI: primary AI (PAI, 42%), secondary AI (SAI, 32%), and glucocorticoid-induced AI (GIAI, 26%).

Intervention

Patient-centered questionnaire.

Main Outcome Measures

Patients’ knowledge, self-management of AI, self-perceived health, and adverse outcomes.

Results

The incidence rate of adrenal crisis was 24/100 patient-years with 44% experiencing at least 1 adrenal crisis since diagnosis (59% in PAI vs 31% in SAI vs 37% in GIAI, P < .0001). All patients described high degrees of discomfort with self-management and receiving prompt treatment. Patients with PAI were most likely to develop adrenal crises (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-4.0) despite reporting better self-perceived health (adjusted OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1-5.3), understanding of their diagnosis (89% vs 74-81% in other subtypes, P = .002), higher comfort with self-management (62% vs 52-61% in other sub types, P = .005), and higher likelihood to receive prompt treatment for adrenal crises in the emergency department (42% vs 19-30% in other subtypes, P < .0001).

Conclusions

Patients with AI reported high degrees of discomfort with self-management and treatment delays when presenting with adrenal crises. Despite better self-perceived health and understanding of diagnosis, patients with PAI experienced the highest frequency of adrenal crises. A multidimensional educational effort is needed for patients and providers to improve the outcomes of all subtypes of AI.
Male serrate-legged treefrogs adjust competition strategies according to visual or chemical cues from females
Authors: Deng Ke , He Qiao-Ling , Zhou Ya , Zhu Bi-Cheng , Wang Tong-Liang , Wang Ji-Chao , Cui Jian-Guo
Published: September 2020

There is increasing evidence that many anurans use multimodal cues to detect, discriminate and/or locate conspecifics and thus modify their behaviors. To date, however, most studies have focused on the roles of multimodal cues in female choice or male-male interactions. In the present study, we conducted an experiment to investigate whether male serrate-legged small treefrogs (Kurixalus odontotarsus) used visual or chemical cues to detect females and thus altered their competition strategies in different calling contexts. Three acoustic stimuli (advertisement calls, aggressive calls and compound calls) were broadcast in a randomized order after a spontaneous period to focal males in one of four treatment groups: combined visual and chemical cues of a female, only chemical cues, only visual cues and a control (with no females). We recorded the vocal responses of the focal males during each 3-min period. Our results demonstrate that males reduce total number of calls in response to the presence of females, regardless of how they perceived the females. In response to advertisement calls and compound calls, males that perceived females through chemical cues produced relatively fewer advertisement calls but more aggressive calls. In addition, they produced relatively more aggressive calls during the playback of aggressive calls. Taken together, our study suggests that male K. odontotarsus adjust their competition strategies according to the visual or chemical cues of potential mates and highlights the important role of multisensory cues in male frogs’ perception of females.
The Elasticity of Science
Authors: Myers Kyle
Published: September 2020

This paper identifies the degree to which scientists are willing to change the direction of their work in exchange for resources. Data from the National Institutes of Health are used to estimate how scientists respond to targeted funding opportunities. Inducing a scientist to change their direction by a small amount—to work on marginally different topics—requires a substantial amount of funding in expectation. The switching costs of science are large. The productivity of grants is also estimated, and it appears the additional costs of targeted research may be more than offset by more productive scientists pursuing these grants. (JEL H51, I10, I23, O31, O33)
Rules for Recovery: Impact of Indexed Disaster Funds on Shock Coping in Mexico
Authors: del Valle Alejandro , de Janvry Alain , Sadoulet Elisabeth
Published: September 2020

Government provision of disaster transfers is typically hampered by liquidity constraints and by weak rules and administrative capacity to disburse reconstruction resources. We show that by easing these hurdles, Mexico’s indexed disaster fund (Fonden) considerably accelerates economic recovery after a disaster. To estimate Fonden impact on recovery, as measured by night lights, we exploit the heavy rainfall index that determines program eligibility. We find that for one year after a disaster, eligible municipalities are 6 percent brighter than those ineligible, with gains likely concentrated among less resilient municipalities. We additionally document how Fonden rules shield resources from political abuse. (JEL G22, H12, H84, O13, O18, Q54, R38)
Comparative patterns of modified nucleotides in individual tRNA species from a mesophilic and two thermophilic archaea
Authors: Wolff Philippe , Villette Claire , Zumsteg Julie , Heintz Dimitri , Antoine Laura , Chane-Woon-Ming Béatrice , Droogmans Louis , Grosjean Henri , Westhof Eric
Published: September 2020

To improve and complete our knowledge of archaeal tRNA modification patterns, we have identified and compared the modification pattern (type and location) in tRNAs of three very different archaeal species,Methanococcus maripaludis(a mesophilic methanogen),Pyrococcus furiosus(a hyperthermophile thermococcale), andSulfolobus acidocaldarius(an acidophilic thermophilic sulfolobale). Most abundant isoacceptor tRNAs (79 in total) for each of the 20 amino acids were isolated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by in-gel RNase digestions. The resulting oligonucleotide fragments were separated by nanoLC and their nucleotide content analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Analysis of total modified nucleosides obtained from complete digestion of bulk tRNAs was also performed. Distinct base- and/or ribose-methylations, cytidine acetylations, and thiolated pyrimidines were identified, some at new positions in tRNAs. Novel, some tentatively identified, modifications were also found. The least diversified modification landscape is observed in the mesophilicMethanococcus maripaludisand the most complex one inSulfolobus acidocaldarius. Notable observations are the frequent occurrence of ac4C nucleotides in thermophilic archaeal tRNAs, the presence of m7G at positions 1 and 10 inPyrococcus furiosustRNAs, and the use of wyosine derivatives at position 37 of tRNAs, especially those decoding U1- and C1-starting codons. These results complete those already obtained by others with sets of archaeal tRNAs fromMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiandHaloferax volcanii.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants working in ambulance care: A systematic review
Authors: van Vliet Risco , Ebben Remco , Diets Nicolette , Pelgrim Thomas , Loef Jorik , Vloet Lilian
Published: September 2020

Background: This review aims to describe the activities of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in ambulance care, and the effect of these activities on patient outcomes, process of care, provider outcomes, and costs.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE (EBSCO), EMBASE (OVID), Web of Science, the Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Review), CINAHL Plus, and the reference lists of the included articles were systematically searched in November 2019. All types of peer-reviewed designs on the three topics were included. Pairs of independent reviewers performed the selection process, the quality assessment, and the data extraction.

Results: Four studies of moderate to poor quality were included. Activities in medical, communication and collaboration skills were found. The effects of these activities were found in process of care and resource use outcomes, focusing on non-conveyance rates, referral and consultation, on-scene time, or follow-up contact

Conclusions: This review shows that there is limited evidence on activities of NPs and PAs in ambulance care. Results show that NPs and PAs in ambulance care perform activities that can be categorized into the Canadian Medical Education Directives for Specialists (CanMED) roles of Medical Expert, Communicator, and Collaborator. The effects of NPs and PAs are minimally reported in relation to process of care and resource use, focusing on non-conveyance rates, referral and consultation, on-scene time, or follow-up contact. No evidence on patient outcomes of the substitution of NPs and PAs in ambulance care exists.

PROSPERO registration: CRD42017067505 (07/07/2017)
Social Media and Political Contributions: The Impact of New Technology on Political Competition
Authors: Petrova Maria , Sen Ananya , Yildirim Pinar
Published: September 2020

Political campaigns are among the most sophisticated marketing exercises in the United States. As part of their marketing communication strategy, an increasing number of politicians adopt social media to inform their constituencies. This study documents the returns from adopting a new technology, namely Twitter, for politicians running for Congress by focusing on the change in campaign contributions received. We compare weekly donations received just before and just after a politician opens a Twitter account in regions with high and low levels of Twitter penetration, controlling for politician-month fixed effects. Specifically, over the course of a political campaign, we estimate that the differential effect of opening a Twitter account in regions with high versus low levels of Twitter penetration amounts to an increase of 0.7%–2% in donations for all politicians and 1%–3.1% for new politicians who were never elected to Congress before. In contrast, the effect of joining Twitter for experienced politicians remains negligibly small. We find some evidence consistent with the explanation that the effect is driven by new information about the candidates; for example, the effect is primarily driven by new donors rather than past donors, by candidates without Facebook accounts, and by tweeting more informatively. Overall, our findings imply that social media can intensify political competition by lowering the costs of disseminating information for new entrants to their constituents and thus may reduce the barriers to enter politics.

This paper was accepted by Eric Anderson, marketing.
Designing Sustainable Products Under Coproduction Technology
Authors: Lin Yen-Ting , Sun Haoying , Wang Shouqiang
Published: September 2020

Problem definition: A manufacturer takes raw material with an exogenous quality distribution to make a traditional product and a coproduct using material of quality above and below a well-established standard, respectively. The market consists of traditional consumers, who are only willing to pay for a product’s consumption value, and some environmentally conscious (i.e., green) consumers, who additionally value the product’s material conservation. In this context, we study the firm’s optimal design of its coproduct, that is, its quality and price decisions. Academic/practical relevance: Motivated by emerging conservation-oriented business practices exemplified by companies such as Taylor Guitars, our study informs resource-dependent firms whether and how to design their product line to leverage a coproduct’s environmental value. Our findings also yield important policy implications regarding the conservation of natural resources. Methodology: We formulate and solve the firm’s challenge as a constrained optimization problem, supplemented with extensive sensitivity analyses and robustness tests. Results: When the material cost is intermediate and consumers are not sufficiently green, the firm should position the coproduct without exploiting its environmental value. Otherwise, the firm should position the coproduct by extracting its environmental value from green consumers, in which case the firm may strategically abandon some traditional consumers by leaving their demand unfulfilled. Managerial implications: Quotas and taxation on material supply in general act as policy substitutes. A greener market may inadvertently result in higher resource consumption and waste. Quotas can mitigate such adverse effects.
Periodic Timetabling with Integrated Routing: Toward Applicable Approaches
Authors: Schiewe Philine , Schöbel Anita
Published: September 2020

Periodic timetabling is an important, yet computationally challenging, problem in public transportation planning. The usual objective when designing a timetable is to minimize passenger travel time. However, in most approaches, it is ignored that the routes of the passengers depend on the timetable, so handling their routing separately leads to timetables that are suboptimal for the passengers. This has recently been recognized, but integrating the passenger routing in the optimization is computationally even harder than solving the classic periodic timetabling problem. In our paper, we develop an exact preprocessing method for reducing the problem size and a heuristic reduction approach in which only a subset of the passengers is considered. It provides upper and lower bounds on the objective value, such that it can be adjusted with respect to quality and computation time. Together, we receive an approach that is applicable for real-world problems. We experimentally evaluate the performance of the approach on a benchmark example and on three close-to-real-world instances. Furthermore, we prove that the ratio between the classic problem without routing and the problem with integrated routing is bounded under weak and realistic assumptions.
Schützens Italienische Madrigale: Textwahl und stilistische Beziehungen
Authors: Carapezza Paolo Emilio
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Theologische Konzeptionen in mehrchöriger Musik
Authors: Brodde Otto
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Rhythmus, Sprache, musikalische Raumvorstellung. Zur Mehrchörigkeit Giovanni Gabrielis
Authors: Kunze Stefan
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Mehrchörigkeit und individuelle Werkkonzepzionen bei Heinrich Schütz
Authors: Breig Werner
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Mehrchörigkeit und thematischer Satz bei Johann Sebastian Bach
Authors: Krummacher Friedhelm
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Sprachvertonung bei Heinrich Schütz als analytisches Problem
Authors: Steinbeck Wolfram
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Bibliographie des Schütz-Schrifttums 1926-1950
Authors: Brunner Renate
Published: September 2020

--
Sprachauslegung und Instrumentalität in der Musik von Schütz. Mit einem Exkurs zur „Figurenlehre“
Authors: Kunze Stefan
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Musik als Zeugnis der Auslegungsgeschichte. Heinrich Schützens Motette Die mit Tränen säen aus der Geistlichen Chormusik
Authors: Siegele Ulrich
Published: September 2020

Die musikalische Form der Motette „Die mit Tränen säen“ aus der „Geistlichen Chormusik“ von Schütz unterscheidet sich von der Form der textuellen Vorlage -  den Versen 5 und 6 des Psalms 126 – die durch Parallelität der Elemente gekennzeichnet ist. Es wird versucht, diese Unterschiede in ihrer Symbolik zu deuten und sie im Hinblick auf die Geschichte der Interpretation dieses Psalms zu verstehen. (Übersetzung, Quelle englische Vorlage: RILM)
Mahlers Hymnus
Authors: Nowak Adolf
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Zu Mahlers Komposition der Schluss-Szene von Goethes Faust
Authors: Stephan Rudolf
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Schütz' Osterkonzert Christ ist erstanden SWV 470, seine Kasseler Ersatz-Symphonia und Hammerschmidts Dialogi von 1645
Authors: Breig Werner
Published: September 2020

Das Quellenmaterial zu Schütz' Osterkonzert wird heute in der Landesbibliothek Kassel (D-Kl Ms mus. 52b) aufbewahrt. Es enthält eine in den 1640er Jahren von Georg Hartmann geschriebene bezeichnete Bassstimme sowie eine abweichende Version der 'Eingangs-Sinfonia'. Es wird die These formuliert, dass diese Sinfonia aus Andreas Hammerschmidts Dialogi (1645) entstammt und die Gründe für diese Revision des Originals diskutiert. (Übersetzung, Quelle englische Vorlage: RILM)
Musik und Rhetorik im Barock
Authors: Forchert Arno
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -
Nachtrag zu Jahrgang 7/8 (1985/86)
Authors: Steude Wolfram
Published: September 2020

Bezugnehmend auf: Wolfram Steude: Zum gegenwärtigen Stand der Schütz-Ikonographie, in: SJb 7/8 (1985/86), S. 50-61.
Die Weimarer Noteninventare von 1662 und ihre Bedeutung als Schütz-Quellen
Authors: Möller Eberhard
Published: September 2020

Die Musikinventare von Weimar (1662) wurden 1921 von Adolf Aber in einer - leider wenig zuverlässigen Version - erstmals veröffentlicht. Die überarbeitete Fassung wird präsentiert und das gesamte Repertoire, soweit möglich, identifiziert. Zusätzlich werden die enthaltenen Schützwerke beurteilt. (Übersetzung, Quelle englische Vorlage: RILM)
North and South European influences on Buxtehude's chamber music : despite influences, a unique repertory
Authors: Linfield Eva
Published: September 2020

Die Studie untersucht (1) den englischen Einfluß auf die Kammersonaten Buxtehudes, der sich speziell in der Klangstruktur mit Melodieinstrumenten in Sopran- und Alt-/Baß-Lage und in der Besetzung mit Viola da gamba auswirkt, (2) das italienische Vorbild von Sonaten und Opernsinfonien als formgebendes und expressives Element in den Sonaten Buxtehudes, und sie versucht, (3) das individuelle Gepräge des Repertoires zu beleuchten. Der Begriff des „Stylus phantasticus“ dient als Ausgangspunkt für die Diskussion der revidierten Sonate in B (BuxWV 255). Buxtehudes Transformation von Einflüssen zu einem höchst persönlichen Kompositionskonzept läßt sich anhand der Revisionen exemplarisch darstellen. (Vorlage)
Aspects of durus/mollis shift and the two-system framework of Monteverdi's music
Authors: Chafe Eric
Published: September 2020

Das 17. Jahrhundert unterschied zwischen ‚mutatio modi‘ (Wechsel des „Systems“: Cantus durus/mollis) und ‚mutatio toni‘ (Wechsel des Modus, mit oder ohne Systemwechsel). Hierin zeigt sich eine grundsätzlich andere Auffassung von Tonalität als nach dem Aufkommen des Tonartenkreises („Musicalischer Circul“, Heinichen 1711). Um Monteverdis Textvertonungen zu verstehen und zu interpretieren, benötigen wir dementsprechend ein theoretisches Gerüst, das die beiden im 17. Jahrhundert geläufigen Arten des Tonalitätswechsels berücksichtig.
Heinrich Schütz's 'Die bußfertige Magdalena' (1636)
Authors: Aikin Judith P.
Published: September 2020

Im Schütz-Jahrbuch 1980 hat Jörg Jochen Berns auf eine verschollene 'theatralische Musik' von Heinrich Schütz hingewiesen, die zum Neujahrsfest 1644/45 in Wolfenbüttel aufgeführt wurde. Damals waren vom Text nur zwei Lieder des Wolfenbütteler Hofpoeten Justus Georg Schottelius aufzufinden. Im vorliegenden Aufsatz wird das Libretto nachgewiesen, zu dem diese beiden Lieder nur Zusätze waren: Es handelt sich um den höchstwahrscheinlich von August Buchner stammenden Text 'Die Bußfertige Magdalena', der mit einer (nicht erhaltenen) Musik von Heinrich Schütz 1636 im Dresdner Schloss zum Namenstage der Gemahlin des Kurfürsten szenisch aufgeführt wurde. Der Aufsatz diskutiert die Bedeutung dieses Librettos im Zusammenhang von Schütz' theatralischen Kompositionen. Der Originaldruck ist im Anhang vollständig in Faksimile wiedergegeben. (Autor, Quelle: Bibliographie des Musikschrifttums online)
Schütz, Monteverdi und die "Vollkommenheit der Musik" : 'Es steh Gott auf' aus den 'Symphoniae sacrae II' (1647)
Authors: Drebes Gerald
Published: September 2020

- zu erstellen -