bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational modeling of the interactions between the maternal and fetal circulations in human pregnancy
Authors: Clark Alys R. , Lee Tet Chuan , James Joanna L.
Published: August 2020

In pregnancy, fetal growth is supported by its placenta. In turn, the placenta is nourished by maternal blood, delivered from the uterus, in which the vasculature is dramatically transformed to deliver this blood an ever increasing volume throughout gestation. A healthy pregnancy is thus dependent on the development of both the placental and maternal circulations, but also the interface where these physically separate circulations come in close proximity to exchange gases and nutrients between mum and baby. As the system continually evolves during pregnancy, our understanding of normal vascular anatomy, and how this impacts placental exchange function is limited. Understanding this is key to improve our ability to understand, predict, and detect pregnancy pathologies, but presents a number of challenges, due to the inaccessibility of the pregnant uterus to invasive measurements, and limitations in the resolution of imaging modalities safe for use in pregnancy. Computational approaches provide an opportunity to gain new insights into normal and abnormal pregnancy, by connecting observed anatomical changes from high‐resolution imaging to function, and providing metrics that can be observed by routine clinical ultrasound. Such advanced modeling brings with it challenges to scale detailed anatomical models to reflect organ level function. This suggests pathways for future research to provide models that provide both physiological insights into pregnancy health, but also are simple enough to guide clinical focus. We the review evolution of computational approaches to understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy in the uterus, placenta, and beyond focusing on both opportunities and challenges.

This article is categorized under:

Reproductive System Diseases >Computational Models
Risks of Indoor Overheating in Low-Cost Dwellings on the South African Lowveld
Authors: Matandirotya Newton R. , Cilliers Dirk P. , Burger Roelof P. , Pauw Christian , Piketh Stuart J.
Published: August 2020

The South African Lowveld is a region of land that lies between 150 and 2000 m above sea level. In summer the region is characterized by the maximum mean daily ambient temperature of 32 °C. The purpose of the study was to characterize indoor thermal environments in low-cost residential dwellings during summer seasons as climate is changing. Indoor and ambient air temperature measurements were performed at a 30-min temporal resolution using Thermochron iButtons in the settlement of Agincourt. 58 free running low-cost residential dwellings were sampled over the summer seasons of 2016 and 2017. Complementary ambient air temperature data were sourced from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Data were transformed into hourly means for further analysis. It was found that hourly maximum mean indoor temperatures ranged between 27 °C (daytime) and 23 °C (nighttime) for both living rooms and bedrooms in summer 2016 while in 2017, maximum mean indoor temperatures ranged between 29 °C (daytime) and 26 °C (nighttime) in living rooms and bedrooms. Pearson correlations showed a positive association between indoor and ambient temperatures ranging between r = 0.40 (daytime) and r = 0.90 (nighttime). The association is weak to moderate during daytime because occupants apply other ventilation practices that reduce the relationship between indoor and ambient temperatures. The close association between nighttime ambient and indoor temperature can also be attributed to the effect of urban heat island as nighttime ambient temperature remain elevated; thus, influencing indoor temperatures also remain high. These findings highlight the potential threat posed by a rise in temperatures for low-cost residential dwellings occupants due to climate change. Furthermore, the high level of sensitiveness of dwellings to ambient temperature changes also indicates housing envelopes that have poor thermal resistance to withstand the Lowveld region’s harsh extreme heat conditions, especially during summer. The study findings suggest that a potential risk of indoor overheating exists in low-cost dwellings on the South African Lowveld as the frequency and intensity of heat waves rise. There is therefore a need to develop immediate housing adaptation interventions that mitigate against the projected ambient temperature rise for example through thermal insulation retrofits on the existing housing stock and passive housing designs for new housing stock.
Prospective evaluation of multitarget treatment of pediatric patients with helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy
Authors: Salfelder Maria-Elena A. , Kessel Kerstin A. , Thiel Uwe , Burdach Stefan , Kampfer Severin , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

Radiotherapy (RT) is persistently gaining significance in the treatment of pediatric tumors. However, individual features of a growing body and multifocal stages complicate this approach. Tomotherapy offers advantages in the treatment of anatomically complex tumors with low risks of side effects. Here we report on toxicity incidence and outcome of tomotherapy with a focus on multitarget RT (mtRT).

Materials and methods

From 2008 to 2017, 38 children diagnosed with sarcoma were treated with tomotherapy. The median age was 15 years (6–19 years). Toxicity was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.03 and classified into symptoms during RT, acutely (0–6 months) and late (>6 months) after RT, and long-term sideeffects (>24 months).

Results

The main histologies were Ewing sarcoma (n = 23 [61%]) and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 5 [13%]). RT was performed with a median total dose of 54 Gy (40.5–66.0 Gy) and a single dose of 2 Gy (1.80–2.27 Gy). Twenty patients (53%) received mtRT. Median follow-up was 29.7 months (95% confidence interval 15.3–48.2 months) with a 5-year survival of 55.2% (±9.5%). The 5‑year survival rate of patients with mtRT (n = 20) was 37.1 ± 13.2%, while patients who received single-target RT (n = 18) had a 5-year survival rate of 75 ± 10.8%. Severe toxicities (grade 3 and 4) emerged in 14 patients (70%) with mtRT and 7 patients (39%) with single-target RT. Two non-hematological grade 4 toxicities occurred during RT: one mucositis and one radiodermatitis. After mtRT 5 patients had grade 3 toxicities acute and after single-target RT 4 patients. One patient had acute non-hematological grade 4 toxicities (gastritis, pericarditis, and pericardial effusion) after mtRT. Severe late effects of RT occurred in 2 patients after mtRT and in none of the single-target RT patients. No severe long-term side effects appeared.

Conclusion

Our results showed acceptable levels of acute and late toxicities, considering the highly advanced diseases and multimodal treatment. Hence, tomotherapy is a feasible treatment method for young patients with anatomically complex tumors or multiple targets. Especially mtRT is a promising and innovative treatment approach for pediatric sarcomas, delivering unexpectedly high survival rates for patients with multifocal Ewing sarcomas in this study, whereby the limited number of patients should invariably be considered in the interpretation.
Artificial intelligence and moral rights
Authors: Miernicki Martin , Ng Irene
Published: August 2020

Whether copyrights should exist in content generated by an artificial intelligence is a frequently discussed issue in the legal literature. Most of the discussion focuses on economic rights, whereas the relationship of artificial intelligence and moral rights remains relatively obscure. However, as moral rights traditionally aim at protecting the author’s “personal sphere”, the question whether the law should recognize such protection in the content produced by machines is pressing; this is especially true considering that artificial intelligence is continuously further developed and increasingly hard to comprehend for human beings. This paper first provides the background on the protection of moral rights under existing international, U.S. and European copyright laws. On this basis, the paper then proceeds to highlight special issues in connection with moral rights and content produced by artificial intelligence, in particular whether an artificial intelligence itself, the creator or users of an artificial intelligence should be considered as owners of moral rights. Finally, the present research discusses possible future solutions, in particular alternative forms of attribution rights or the introduction of related rights.
CT colonography followed by elective surgery in patients with acute diverticulitis: a radiological-pathological correlation study
Authors: Flor Nicola , Pickhardt Perry J. , Maconi Giovanni , Panella Silvia , Falleni Monica , Merlo Valeria , Di Leo Giovanni
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To perform a radiologic-pathologic correlation analysis of sigmoid colon in patients undergoing pre-operative CT Colonography (CTC) after an episode of acute diverticulitis (AD).

Methods

Fifty-nine consecutive patients (31/28 M/F; 58 ± 13 years) underwent CTC 55 ± 18 days after AD, 8 ± 4 weeks before surgery. Thirty-seven patients (63%) underwent conventional abdominal CT at time of AD. An experienced blinded radiologist retrospectively analyzed all images: disease severity was graded according to the Ambrosetti classification on conventional CT and according to the diverticular disease severity score (DDSS) on CTC. A GI pathologist performed a dedicated analysis, evaluating the presence of acute and chronic inflammation, and fibrosis, using 0–3 point scale for each variable.

Results

Of 59 patients, 41 (69%) had at least one previous AD episode; twenty-six patients (44%) had a complicated AD. DDSS was mild-moderate in 34/59 (58%), and severe in 25/59 (42%). All patients had chronic inflammation, while 90% had low-to-severe fibrosis. Patients with moderate/severe fibrosis were older than those with no/mild fibrosis (61 ± 13 versus 54 ± 13). We found a significant correlation between DDSS and chronic inflammation (p = 0.004), as well as DDSS and fibrosis (p = 0.005). Furthermore, fibrosis was correlated with complicated acute diverticulitis (p = 0.0.27), and with age (p = 0.067). At multivariate analysis, complicated diverticulitis was the best predictor of fibrosis (odds ratio 4.4). Patient age and DDSS were other independent predictors.

Conclusion

DDSS-based assessment on preoperative CTC was a good predictor of chronic colonic inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, the presence of complicated diverticulitis on CT during the acute episode was most predictive of fibrosis.
Late complications of robot-assisted radical cystectomy with totally intracorporeal urinary diversion
Authors: Presicce F. , Leonardo C. , Tuderti G. , Brassetti A. , Mastroianni R. , Bove A. , Misuraca L. , Anceschi U. , Ferriero M. , Gallucci M. , Simone G.
Published: August 2020

Introduction and objectives

To evaluate late complications in a large cohort of patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with totally intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD).

Materials and methods

We prospectively enrolled patients who underwent RARC and ICUD between August 2012 and June 2019. We excluded patients with Ejection fraction < 36%, retinal vasculopathy, ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and those treated without curative intent. All complications and their onset date have been recorded, defined, and graded according to Clavien classification adapted for radical cystectomy.

Results

210 patients were included, 76% of whom were men, with a mean age of 62 years. Urinary diversions used were Padua Ileal Bladder (PIB) in 80% of cases, and ileal conduit (IC) in 20% of patients (generally older and with more comorbidity). The mean follow-up was 30 ± 22 months. The stenosis rate of uretero-ileal anastomosis was 14%, while a reduction in eGFR (≥ 20%) was observed in about half of the cases. UTIs occurred in 37% of the patients, especially in the first 12 months. Only 2% of patients had bowel occlusion, whereas incisional hernia, lymphocele, and systemic events (metabolic acidosis and major cardiovascular events) occurred respectively in 20%, 10%, and 1% of cases.

Conclusions

Our study evaluates first late complications in a cohort of patients who underwent RARC with ICUD. These data are encouraging and in line with findings from a historical series of open radical cystectomy (ORC). This study is a further step in supporting RARC as a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in tertiary referral centers.
The effect of preferred background music on task-focus in sustained attention
Authors: Kiss Luca , Linnell Karina J.
Published: August 2020

Although many people listen to music while performing tasks that require sustained attention, the literature is inconclusive about its effects. The present study examined performance on a sustained-attention task and explored the effect of background music on the prevalence of different attentional states, founded on the non-linear relationship between arousal and performance. Forty students completed a variation of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task—that has long been used to measure sustained attention—in silence and with their self-selected or preferred music in the background. We collected subjective reports of attentional state (specifically mind-wandering, task-focus and external distraction states) as well as reaction time (RT) measures of performance. Results indicated that background music increased the proportion of task-focus states by decreasing mind-wandering states but did not affect external distraction states. Task-focus states were linked to shorter RTs than mind-wandering or external distraction states; however, background music did not reduce RT or variability of RT significantly compared to silence. These findings show for the first time that preferred background music can enhance task-focused attentional states on a low-demanding sustained-attention task and are compatible with arousal mediating the relationship between background music and task-performance.
Management of pain in newborn circumcision: a systematic review
Authors: Rossi Serena , Buonocore Giuseppe , Bellieni Carlo Valerio
Published: August 2020

Male circumcision (MC) is one of the most common surgical procedures performed on neonates. In the last decades, there have been consistent advances in the understanding of pain mechanisms in newborns, and analgesia has become a fundamental part of neonatal care. MC is still often performed with inappropriate analgesic methods, and there is still great variability among the various centers about surgical and anesthethic techniques to do it. The purpose of this review is to summarize the findings in the literature about pain management and analgesia during newborn MC. We performed a systematic review of neonatal MC studies published in the last 20 years. The most effective technique appeared to be the combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of analgesia.

Conclusion: Combining local anesthesia with non-pharmacological analgesic strategies appears to be effective preventing procedural pain during MC. However, a standardized protocol for analgesia during MC is yet to be determined. Sensorial saturation appeared to help when used in conjunction with the local anesthesia techniques.

What is Known:• Male circumcision is a painful procedure and it is frequently performed with inappropriate analgesic methods.• A gold standard practice in analgesia during male circumcision is still lacking and there is a great variability in the modus operandi between centers.

What is New:• The combination of RB + EMLA + sucrose appears to be an analgesic strategy superior to other approaches.• We advocate for the integration of sensorial saturation during male circumcision in order to improve the efficacy of current analgesic practices.
Age-stratified clinical performance and survival of patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma homogeneously treated by radiotherapy with concomitant and maintenance temozolomide
Authors: Berger Kerstin , Turowski Bernd , Felsberg Jörg , Malzkorn Bastian , Reifenberger Guido , Steiger Hans-Jakob , Budach Wilfried , Haussmann Jan , Knipps Johannes , Rapp Marion , Hänggi Daniel , Sabel Michael , Mijderwijk Hendrik-Jan , Kamp Marcel A.
Published: August 2020

Objective

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastomas are the most malignant glial tumours. Median survival is only 14–16 months after diagnosis, with patients aged ≥ 65 years reportedly showing worse outcome. This study aimed to further evaluate the prognostic role of age in a homogenously treated patient cohort.

Methods

The study includes 132 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma patients treated between 2013 and 2017 with open resection followed by radiotherapy with concomitant and maintenance temozolomide. Patients were dichotomized into a non-elderly (< 65 years) and an elderly (≥ 65 years) group. Extent of resection and the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status were determined for each tumour. Clinical and radiological follow-up data were obtained at 6 weeks after the end of radiation therapy and thereafter in 3-month intervals. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses.

Results

The elderly group consisted of 58 patients (median age: 70.5 years) and the non-elderly group of 74 patients (median age: 55 years). Median pre- and postoperative operative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score and National Institutes of Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were not significantly different between the groups, but KPS and ECOG scores became significantly worse in the elderly group at 6 weeks after termination of radiation therapy. Neither PFS nor OS differed significantly between the age groups. Patients with MGMT promoter-methylated tumours survived longer.

Conclusion

Elderly patients in good pre- and postoperative clinical conditions may show similar outcome as younger patients when treated according to standard of care. However, elderly patients may suffer more frequently from clinical deterioration following chemoradiotherapy. In both age groups, MGMT promoter methylation was linked to longer PFS and OS.
Comparative micromorphology and anatomy of seeds and endocarps of selected Primulaceae and their systematic implications
Authors: Morozowska Maria , Freitas Maria de F. , de Luna Bruna N. , De Toni Karen L. G.
Published: August 2020

Seed and endocarp micromorphology and anatomy of 16 taxa from the genera Ardisia, Geissanthus, Stylogyne, Myrsine (Myrsinoideae), and Jacquinia (Theophrastoideae) were examined using stereo- and scanning electron microscopy and discussed in the light of the current phylogenetic framework. In all species, the ornamentation of the seed surface was reticulate, tuberculate, or tuberculate-colliculate with several differences concerning the cell outline and anticlinal cell wall boundaries. For seeds of almost all Myrsinoideae species, one-layered seed coat devoid of rhomboid or prismatic crystals was characteristic, while seeds of J. armillaris had a two-layered seed coat with prismatic crystals. The one-layered seed coat in Myrsinoideae may be considered a synapomorphy of this subfamily. The endosperm tissue in seeds of Myrsinoideae was differentiated into two types. Seeds of Ardisia and Geissanthus species were characterized by ‘pitted’ endosperm, while in seeds of Myrsine species both the ‘pitted’ endosperm and endosperm with evenly thickened cell walls were present. In seeds of Theophrastoideae, the endosperm was ‘pitted.’ Our results confirmed that the concave hilum area is characteristic of subglobose seeds of Myrsinoideae. The ruminate endosperm was present in all the examined Myrsine species, but it was absent in Ardisia crenata, Geissanthus ambiguus, and Stylogyne pauciflora seeds. Thus, the ruminate endosperm is not the feature clearly distinguishing the seeds of Myrsinoideae and Theophrastoideae. Endocarps of Myrsinoideae vary in terms of their morphology and anatomy. The variation within the primary and secondary sculpture of their inner surface and the presence of stomata in endocarps of particular species may have systematic implications.
Automatic ship collision avoidance using deep reinforcement learning with LSTM in continuous action spaces
Authors: Sawada Ryohei , Sato Keiji , Majima Takahiro
Published: August 2020

This paper presents an automatic collision avoidance algorithm for ships using a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in continuous action spaces. Obstacle zone by target (OZT) is used to compute an area where a collision will happen in the future based on dynamic information of ships. Agents of DRL detects the approach of multiple ships using a virtual sensor called the grid sensor. Agents learned collision avoidance maneuvering through Imazu problem, which is a scenario set of ship encounter situations. In this study, we propose a new approach for collision avoidance with a longer safe passing distance using DRL. We develop a novel method named inside OZT that expands OZT to improve the consistency of learning. We redesign the network using the long short-term memory (LSTM) cell and carried out training in continuous action spaces to train a model with longer safe distance than the previous study. The bow cross range in collision detection proposed in this paper is effective to COLREGs-compliant collision avoidance. The trained model has passed all scenarios of Imazu problem. The model is also validated by a test scenario which includes more ships than each scenario of Imazu problem.
Consistent treatment of incompletely converged iterative linear solvers in reverse-mode algorithmic differentiation
Authors: Akbarzadeh Siamak , Hückelheim Jan , Müller Jens-Dominik
Published: August 2020

Algorithmic differentiation (AD) is a widely-used approach to compute derivatives of numerical models. Many numerical models include an iterative process to solve non-linear systems of equations. To improve efficiency and numerical stability, AD is typically not applied to the linear solvers. Instead, the differentiated linear solver call is replaced with hand-produced derivative code that exploits the linearity of the original call. In practice, the iterative linear solvers are often stopped prematurely to recompute the linearisation of the non-linear outer loop. We show that in the reverse-mode of AD, the derivatives obtained with partial convergence become inconsistent with the original and the tangent-linear models, resulting in inaccurate adjoints. We present a correction term that restores consistency between adjoint and tangent-linear gradients if linear systems are only partially converged. We prove the consistency of this correction term and show in numerical experiments that the accuracy of adjoint gradients of an incompressible flow solver applied to an industrial test case is restored when the correction term is used.
Mapping and Drawing to Improve Students’ and Teachers’ Monitoring and Regulation of Students’ Learning from Text: Current Findings and Future Directions
Authors: van de Pol Janneke , van Loon Mariëtte , van Gog Tamara , Braumann Sophia , de Bruin Anique
Published: August 2020

For (facilitating) effective learning from texts, students and teachers need to accurately monitor students’ comprehension. Monitoring judgments are accurate when they correspond to students’ actual comprehension. Accurate monitoring enables accurate (self-)regulation of the learning process, i.e., making study decisions that are in line with monitoring judgments and/or students’ comprehension. Yet, (self-)monitoring accuracy is often poor as the information or cues used are not always diagnostic (i.e., predictive) for students’ actual comprehension. Having students engage in generative activities making diagnostic cues available improves monitoring and regulation accuracy. In this review, we focus on generative activities in which text is transformed into visual representations using mapping and drawing (i.e., making diagrams, concept maps, or drawings). This has been shown to improve monitoring and regulation accuracy and is suited for studying cue diagnosticity and cue utilization. First, we review and synthesize findings of studies regarding (1) students’ monitoring accuracy, regulation accuracy, learning, cue diagnosticity, and cue utilization; (2) teachers’ monitoring and regulation accuracy and cue utilization; and (3) how mapping and drawing affect using effort as a cue during monitoring and regulation, and how this affects monitoring and regulation accuracy. Then, we show how this research offers unique opportunities for future research on advancing measurements of cue diagnosticity and cue utilization and on how effort is used as a cue during monitoring and regulation. Improving measures of cue diagnosticity and cue utilization can provide us with more insight into how students and teachers monitor and regulate students’ learning, to help design effective interventions to foster these important skills.
A conversation with Sherri Rose, winner of the 2020 health policy statistics section mid-career award
Authors: Hatfield Laura A. , Rose Sherri
Published: August 2020

Sherri Rose, Ph.D. is an associate professor at Stanford University in the Center for Health Policy and Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research as well as Co-Director of the joint Harvard–Stanford Health Policy Data Science Lab. A renowned expert in machine learning methodology for causal inference and prediction, her applied work has focused on risk adjustment, algorithmic fairness, health program evaluation, and comparative effectiveness research. Dr. Rose’s leadership positions include current roles as Co-Editor of Biostatistics and Chair of the American Statistical Association’s Biometrics Section. She is also a Fellow of the American Statistical Association. Dr. Rose earned a BS in Statistics from The George Washington University and a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of California, Berkeley before completing an NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the faculty at Stanford University, she was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Health Care Policy. Below, an interview of Dr. Rose, conducted by her colleague, Dr. Laura Hatfield, on the occasion of her 2020 Mid-Career Award from the Health Policy Statistics Section (HPSS) of the American Statistical Association. This award recognizes leaders in health care policy and health services research who have made outstanding contributions through methodological or applied work and who show a promise of continued excellence at the frontier of statistical practice that advances the aims of HPSS.
Comparison of precision and conventional irrigation management of cotton and impact of soil texture
Authors: Vories E. , O’Shaughnessy S. , Sudduth K. , Evett S. , Andrade M. , Drummond S.
Published: August 2020

Soil textural variability diminishes the effectiveness of conventional irrigation management. Variable rate irrigation (VRI) can address soil variability; however, users need guidance to prepare prescriptions for optimal water application. A study was conducted at Portageville, MO, USA, in 2016 and 2017 with the objective to compare yield and irrigation water use efficiency among three water-management treatments for cotton: rainfed, irrigated based on the USDA-ARS Irrigation Scheduling Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system, and irrigated based on a water balance method. Sand content in the top 533 mm soil layer was estimated from apparent electrical conductivity (ECa). Yield values measured near an ECaobservation were averaged to create a data set containing sand content and associated yield. Although the trend was for the rainfed treatment to have the lowest yield in both years, the yield differences among all treatments were not significant when sand content was not considered. A strong effect of sand content on cotton yield was observed in both seasons, although the slopes differed among the water management treatments in 2016. The ISSCADA system tended to have a higher irrigation water use efficiency in both seasons, but the difference was not significant in 2016 when total irrigation applications were low. The study is continuing at Portageville and other locations and the ISSCADA system is constantly being improved to better meet the needs of agricultural producers.
Highly composite polynomials and the maximum order of the divisor function in $$\pmb {\mathbb {F}}_q[t]$$
Authors: Afshar Ardavan
Published: August 2020

We investigate the analogues, in $$\mathbb {F}_q[t]$$

F
q

[
t
]

, of highly composite numbers and the maximum order of the divisor function, as studied by Ramanujan. In particular, we determine a family of highly composite polynomials which is not too sparse, and we use it to compute the logarithm of the maximum of the divisor function at every degree up to an error of a constant, which is significantly smaller than in the case of the integers, even assuming the Riemann Hypothesis.
Predictors of imminent risk of fracture in Medicare-enrolled men and women
Authors: Yusuf Akeem A. , Hu Yan , Chandler David , Crittenden Daria B. , Barron Richard L.
Published: August 2020

Advancing age, female sex, recent prior fracture and falls, and specific comorbidities and medications contribute to imminent (within 1–2 years) risk of fracture in Medicare enrollees. Clinician awareness of these risk factors and their dynamic nature may lead to improved osteoporosis care for elderly patients.

Purpose

The burden of osteoporotic fracture disproportionately affects the elderly. Growing awareness that fracture risk can change substantially over time underscores the need to understand risk factors for imminent (within 1–2 years) fracture. This study assessed predictors of imminent risk of fracture in the US Medicare population.

Methods

Administrative claims data from a random sample of Medicare beneficiaries were analyzed for patients aged ≥ 67 years on January 1, 2011 (index date), with continuous coverage between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2011, excluding patients with non-melanoma cancer or Paget’s disease. Incident osteoporotic fractures were identified during 12 and 24 months post-index. Potential predictors were age, sex, race, history of fracture, history of falls, presence of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), mood/anxiety disorders, polyinflammatory conditions, difficulty walking, use of durable medical equipment, ambulance/life support, and pre-index use of osteoporosis medications, steroids, or central nervous system medications. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate predictors of fracture risk in the two follow-up intervals.

Results

Among 1,780,451 individuals included (mean age 77.7 years, 66% female), 8.3% had prior fracture and 6.1% had a history of falls. During the 12- and 24-month follow-up periods, 3.0% and 5.4% of patients had an incident osteoporotic fracture, respectively. Imminent risk of fracture increased with older age (double/triple), female sex (> 80%), recent prior fracture (> double) and falls, and specific comorbidities and medications.

Conclusions

Demographics and factors including fall/fracture history, comorbidities, and medications contribute to imminent risk of fracture in elderly patients.
Advances in management research: a bibliometric overview of the Review of Managerial Science
Authors: Mas-Tur Alicia , Kraus Sascha , Brandtner Mario , Ewert Ralf , Kürsten Wolfgang
Published: August 2020

The Review of Managerial Science (RMS) is a leading international journal that publishes major advances related to business administration and management. The journal was launched in April 2007 and publishes eight issues per year (from 2021 onwards). The scope of RMS encompasses, but is not limited to, the functional areas of operations (such as production, operations management, and marketing), management (such as human resources management, strategic management, and organizational theory), information systems and their interrelations with capital markets (such as accounting, auditing, finance, and taxation), as well as questions of business strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and corporate governance. This study offers a bibliometric overview of the publication and citation structure of RMS from its inception in 2007 until 2020 in terms of topics, authors, institutions, and countries, thereby offering a comprehensive overview of the history of the journal so far. All the data for the study are from the Web of Science Core Collection database. To complement this analysis, VOSviewer software provides graphical analysis. The analysis is based on several bibliometric techniques such as co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling.
Exploring Beyond the DNA Sequence: A Review of Epigenomic Studies of DNA and Histone Modifications in Dementia
Authors: MacBean Lachlan F. , Smith Adam R. , Lunnon Katie
Published: August 2020

Purpose of Review

Although genome-scale studies have identified many genetic variants associated with dementia, these do not account for all of disease incidence and so recently attention has turned to studying mechanisms of genome regulation. Epigenetic processes such as modifications to the DNA and histones alter transcriptional activity and have been hypothesized to be involved in the etiology of dementia. Here, we review the growing body of literature on dementia epigenomics, with a focus on novel discoveries, current limitations, and future directions for the field.

Recent Findings

It is through advances in genomic technology that large-scale quantification of epigenetic modifications is now possible in dementia. Most of the literature in the field has primarily focussed on exploring DNA modifications, namely DNA methylation, in postmortem brain samples from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. However, recent studies have now begun to explore other epigenetic marks, such as histone modifications, investigating these signatures in both the brain and blood, and in a range of other dementias.

There is still a demand for more epigenomic studies to be conducted in the dementia field, particularly those assessing chromatin dynamics and a broader range of histone modifications. The field faces limitations in sample accessibility with many studies lacking power. Furthermore, the frequent use of heterogeneous bulk tissue containing multiple cell types further hinders data interpretation. Looking to the future, multi-omic studies, integrating many different epigenetic marks, with matched genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data, will be vital, particularly when undertaken in isolated cell populations, or ideally at the level of the single cell. Ultimately these studies could identify novel dysfunctional pathways and biomarkers for disease, which could lead to new therapeutic avenues.
Agility: What It Is, How to Measure It, and How to Use It
Authors: Meyer Staheli , Newsome Donny , Fuller Timothy , Newsome Kendra , Ghezzi Patrick M.
Published: August 2020

A positive and expected by-product of a well-programmed instructional sequence is an escalation of learning, where skills are acquired more quickly as teaching goes on. Despite the importance of this effect in behavior analysis and education, techniques for detecting and analyzing it are rarely observed in practice settings. A behavioral approach to this phenomenon is rooted in the term agility, which has persisted in the precision-teaching community as a description of desirable acquisition patterns. Precision teachers have long carried forward a loose definition of agility as “celerating celerations.” Although this definition might succeed in generally orienting practitioners toward the goal of helping people acquire new skills more quickly, its lack of technical specificity has hindered efforts to fully integrate such analyses into practice. In this article, the authors define agility and distinguish it from other concepts common to education and behavior analysis. Further, a tutorial for quantifying and analyzing agility using frequency, celeration, and bounce multipliers is presented in detail. Finally, the practical implications afforded by analyses of agility are delineated.
Fair and Equitable Treatment and Investor’s Due Diligence Under International Investment Law
Authors: Levashova Yulia
Published: August 2020

The investor’s due diligence has become a significant factor in determining whether the legitimate expectations of an investor give rise to protection under the FET standard. This is especially relevant when an investor’s claim for the protection of its legitimate expectations is based on the stability of a regulatory framework. The investor’s due diligence in the context of the FET standard goes beyond the risk-based business due diligence performed by a foreign investor for its own benefit. It has implications for a state’s right to regulate in the public interest and a broader notion of business responsibilities. Investors are expected to conduct proper due diligence before investing in a host state by demonstrating their reasonable efforts to collect information about the rules and regulations that are pertinent to the proposed investment. In some cases, due diligence extends to an investor’s duty to assess the possible risks related to the broader economic situation and socio-political background of a host state. Focusing on the recent renewable energy awards, this article analyses and clarifies the role of due diligence in the context of the FET standard, as well as its potential application for asserting responsible business conduct in the broader framework of international investment law.
Tax evasion and competition in a differentiated duopoly
Authors: Fanti Luciano , Buccella Domenico
Published: August 2020

This paper investigates the relation between market competition and firms’ tax evasion in a duopoly with differentiated products under both Bertrand and Cournot conjectures. The previous literature has shown that competition can lead to higher or lower tax evasion. Our paper can help to conciliate these different results by showing that a negative or a positive relation depends on what causes competitive pressure (i.e. an increase of the marginal cost, a higher product substitutability or a change of the mode of competition) and the pre-existing level of competition.
Proof-of-concept study on improved efficacy of rHuEPO administered as a long-term infusion in rats
Authors: Szczesny Damian , Mołoniewicz Katarzyna , Markuszewski Michał J. , Wiczling Paweł
Published: August 2020

Background

Human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is often used in the treatment of diseases associated with a decreased production of red blood cells (RBC), such as chronic renal failure. rHuEPO is typically administered as an intravenous or subcutaneous (SC) injection every few days. The low minimum effective concentration (MEC) of rHuEPO, compared to the concentrations observed after standard doses, suggests that a low dose of the drug administered as a long-term infusion should be efficacious. This study aimed to compare the efficacy observed after a single subcutaneous administration of rHuEPO with that observed after a long-term infusion of rHuEPO via implanted osmotic pumps at a similar or lower dose.

Materials and methods

In this study three rats received rHuEPO as a single SC injection at a dose of 1350 IU/kg, nine via osmotic pumps at a rate of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 IU/kg and at a total dose of 333 IU/kg, 667 IU/kg, 1333 IU/kg. Three rats served as a control group. The erythropoietin concentrations, RBC count and hemoglobin were measured.

Results

An increase in RBC count and hemoglobin was observed after SC infusion of rHuEPO. The baseline corrected area under the effect curve for hemoglobin and RBC count was more than 10-times higher for the SC infusion than for a single SC administration with a comparable dose.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that administration of rHuEPO as a long-term infusion at a rate ensuring MEC allows to achieve a high efficacy of therapy using relatively small doses of the drug.
Nevsun: A Ray of Hope in a Darkening Landscape?
Authors: BAXI Upendra
Published: August 2020

This article explores some aspects of the Canadian Supreme Court’s decision on Nevsun Resources v Araya in the light of its exposition on the act of state doctrine and application of core human rights as an integral aspect of international customary law and common law. It examines the Nevsun decision in the context of recent statutory developments in France and the Netherlands, the promised law reform in the European Union, and the proposed business and human rights treaty. I argue that it is high time to abandon the doctrinal fossil that human rights obligations do not apply to corporate governance and operations. It is hoped that COVID-19 contexts, and a post-pandemic world, will expeditiously result in the willing adoption of a treaty on business and human rights.
The slippery slope of rights-restricting temporary measures: an experimental analysis
Authors: Motsenok Marina , Steiner Talya , Netzer Liat , Feldman Yuval , Sulitzeanu-Kenan Raanan
Published: August 2020

Times of emergency often serve as triggers for the creation of new policy. Such policies may involve restriction of human rights, and various mechanisms can be used to mitigate the severity of such restrictions. One such mechanism is the temporary measure. A series of three experiments examined the potential of temporary measures for increasing the likelihood of approval of rights-restricting policy and the role of time – both prospectively and retrospectively – in the willingness to restrict human rights. We find that behavioural examination confirms the concerns expressed in the literature regarding temporary legislation. Participants asked to approve a rights-restricting policy were more willing to approve a temporary measure when it was presented as a compromise, and they were more willing to extend a rights-restricting policy when it had previously been implemented. These findings indicate a possible slippery slope effect in temporary legislation: policymakers might be persuaded to approve measures they would not otherwise approve when those measures are temporary or when they have been previously approved by others.
Genetic Testing in Children with Epilepsy: Report of a Single-Center Experience
Authors: Lee So , Karp Natalya , Zapata-Aldana Eugenio , Sadikovic Bekim , Yang Ping , Balci Tugce B , Prasad Asuri N
Published: August 2020

Background:

Retrospective observational study to determine diagnostic yield and utility of genetic testing in children with epilepsy attending the Epilepsy Clinic at Children’s Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.

Methods:

Children (birth–18 years) with epilepsy, who were seen in a 10-year period (January 1, 2008–March 31, 2018), were selected using defined inclusion criteria and by combining clinic datasets and laboratory records.

Results:

In total, 105 children (52.38% male and 47.61% female) with a variety of seizures were included in the analysis. Developmental delay was documented in the majority (83; 79.04%). Overall, a genetic diagnosis was established in 24 (22.85%) children. The diagnostic yield was highest for whole-exome sequencing (WES), at 35.71%. The yield from microarray was 8.33%. Yields of single-gene testing (18.60%) and targeted multigene panel testing (19.23%) were very similar. Several likely pathogenic and pathogenic variants not previously reported were identified and categorized using ACMG criteria. All diagnosed patients underwent a review of anti-seizure medication management and received counseling on natural history of their disease, possible complications, recurrence risks, and possibilities of preimplantation or prenatal genetic diagnosis.

Conclusions:

Our study confirms the multiple benefits of detecting a genetic etiology in children with epilepsy. Similar yields in single versus multigene testing underscore the importance of accurate clinical phenotyping. Patients with epilepsy and their caregivers in Ontario would undoubtedly benefit from repatriation of multigene panels and WES to the province.
Defection and Prisoner of War Status: Protection under International Humanitarian Law for Those Who Join the Enemy?
Authors: MARTINEZ MANUEL GALVIS
Published: August 2020

This article explores the issue of whether individuals who join enemy forces during international armed conflicts are entitled to prisoner of war status upon capture. It presents the long-running debate on the topic through a study of divided scholarly opinions and judicial decisions. An original analysis of the competing theories is conducted on the basis of available state practice, treaty interpretation methodology, and novel critical arguments and proposals. The article seeks to challenge the value attributed to mainstream academic opinions and judicial precedents and open the debate in an area of international humanitarian law that is still under development.
Examining geodetic glacier mass balance in the eastern Pamir transition zone
Authors: Lv Mingyang , Quincey Duncan J. , Guo Huadong , King Owen , Liu Guang , Yan Shiyong , Lu Xiancai , Ruan Zhixing
Published: August 2020

Glaciers in the eastern Pamir have reportedly been gaining mass during recent decades, even though glaciers in most other regions in High Mountain Asia have been in recession. Questions still remain about whether the trend is strengthening or weakening, and how far the positive balances extend into the eastern Pamir. To address these gaps, we use three different digital elevation models to reconstruct glacier surface elevation changes over two periods (2000–09 and 2000–15/16). We characterize the eastern Pamir as a zone of transition from positive to negative mass balance with the boundary lying at the northern end of Kongur Tagh, and find that glaciers situated at higher elevations are those with the most positive balances. Most (67% of 55) glaciers displayed a net mass gain since the 21st century. This led to an increasing regional geodetic glacier mass balance from −0.06 ± 0.16 m w.e. a−1 in 2000–09 to 0.06 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 in 2000–15/16. Surge-type glaciers, which are prevalent in the eastern Pamir, showed fluctuations in mass balance on an individual scale during and after surges, but no statistical difference compared to non-surge-type glaciers when aggregated across the region.
Treatiseand theTractatus
Authors: CLINE DAVID
Published: August 2020

Cornelius Cardew named his monumental graphic scoreTreatiseafter Ludwig Wittgenstein’s early philosophical masterpieceTractatus logico-philosophicus, and this well-known fact has engendered speculation about whether there might be other connections between Cardew’s composition and Wittgenstein’s book. Previous commentaries have focused on possible allusions to theTractatusin the visual imagery employed by Cardew, and this article includes further suggestions of this type. However, it concentrates on more general affinities betweenTreatise, as Cardew conceived of it prior to his involvement with the free improvisation group AMM, and the philosophy adumbrated in theTractatus.Foremost among these is a striking concordance between Cardew’s initial enthusiasm for an isomorphic mode of interpretingTreatiseand Wittgenstein’s picture theory of the proposition. The article also excavates traces of the picture theory in the numerological basis ofVolo solo, a more conventionally notated by-product of theTreatiseproject.