bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of Women's Skills Development to Household Poverty Reduction: The Case of Msinga Rural Areas
Authors: Sharaunga Stanley
Published: July 2019

Skills development is considered an essential strategy to empower rural women to escape poverty. This study identifies the critical skills necessary for rural women to reduce household poverty based on a sample of 300 rural households in Msinga Municipality of KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. This study relates the household’s consumption expenditure per adult equivalent (i.e., from both own production and purchases) to poverty lines of $2.00 and $1.25 per day, which were used to classify households according to their poverty status. The ordered logit model was used to investigate the farm and off‐farm skills, among other factors, that are critical for poverty reduction among sampled women’s households. It was found that business management, crop and mushroom production skills, and other capital endowments, including social capital and access to infrastructure skills, were critical for poverty alleviation but were incapable of taking such households out of poverty. Likewise, having an older primary female head of household earning more income from social grants and having more husband’s income lead to poverty alleviation but do not move households out of poverty. It was concluded that an enabling economic environment is required for most skills‐training programs to be effective in taking households out of poverty.
Nuclear Uptake of Gold Nanoparticles Deduced Using Dual‐Angle X‐Ray Fluorescence Mapping
Authors: McCulloch Aaron , Bennie Lindsey , Coulter Jonathan A. , McCarthy Helen O. , Dromey Brendan , Grimes David R. , Quinn Paul , Villagomez‐Bernabe Balder , Currell Frederick
Published: July 2019

Studies into the cell nucleus' incorporation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are often limited by ambiguities arising from conventional imaging techniques. Indeed, it is suggested that to date there is no unambiguous imaging evidence for such uptake in whole cells, particularly at the single nanoparticle level. This shortcoming in understanding exists despite the nucleus being the most important subcellular compartment in eukaryotes and gold being the most commonly used metal nanoparticle in medical applications. Here, dual‐angle X‐ray flouresence is used to show individually resolved nanoparticles within the cell nucleus, finding them to be well separated and 79% of the intranuclear population to be monodispersed. These findings have important implications for nanomedicine, illustrated here through a specific exemplar of the predicted enhancement of radiation effects arising from the observed AuNPs, finding intranuclear dose enhancements spanning nearly five orders of magnitude.
Redox potential changes during ATP‐dependent corrinoid reduction determined by redox titrations with europium(II)–DTPA
Authors: Dürichen Hendrike , Diekert Gabriele , Studenik Sandra
Published: July 2019

Corrinoids are essential cofactors of enzymes involved in the C1 metabolism of anaerobes. The active, super‐reduced [CoI] state of the corrinoid cofactor is highly sensitive to autoxidation. In O‐demethylases, the oxidation to inactive [CoII] is reversed by an ATP‐dependent electron transfer catalyzed by the activating enzyme (AE). The redox potential changes of the corrinoid cofactor, which occur during this reaction, were studied by potentiometric titration coupled to UV/visible spectroscopy. By applying europium(II)–diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) as a reductant, we were able to determine the midpoint potential of the [CoII]/[CoI] couple of the protein‐bound corrinoid cofactor in the absence and presence of AE and/or ATP. The data revealed that the transfer of electrons from a physiological donor to the corrinoid as the electron‐accepting site is achieved by increasing the potential of the corrinoid cofactor from −530 ± 15 mV to −250 ± 10 mV (ESHE, pH 7.5). The first 50 to 100 mV of the shift of the redox potential seem to be caused by the interaction of nucleotide‐bound AE with the corrinoid protein or its cofactor. The remaining 150–200 mV had to be overcome by the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis. The experiments revealed that Eu(II)–DTPA, which was already known as a powerful reducing agent, is a suitable electron donor for titration experiments of low‐potential redox centers. Furthermore, the results of this study will contribute to the understanding of thermodynamically unfavorable electron transfer processes driven by the power of ATP hydrolysis.
The antimicrobial peptide database provides a platform for decoding the design principles of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Wang Guangshun
Published: July 2019

This article is written for the 2020 tool issue of Protein Science. It briefly introduces the widely used antimicrobial peptide database, initially online in 2003. After a description of the main features of each database version and some recent additions, the focus is on the peptide design parameters for each of the four unified classes of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The amino acid signature in AMPs varies substantially, leading to a variety of structures for functional and mechanistic diversity. Also, Nature is a master of combinatorial chemistry by deploying different amino acids onto the same structural scaffold to tune peptide functions. In addition, the single‐domain AMPs may be posttranslationally modified, self‐assembled, or combined with other AMPs for function. Elucidation of the design principles of natural AMPs will facilitate future development of novel molecules for various applications.
A pilot study of prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) dynamics in men undergoing treatment for advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Paller Channing J. , Piana Danilo , Eshleman James R. , Riel Stacy , Denmeade Samuel R. , Isaacsson Velho Pedro , Rowe Steven P. , Pomper Martin G. , Antonarakis Emmanuel S. , Luo Jun , Eisenberger Mario A.
Published: July 2019

Background

Prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a rational target for noninvasive detection of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) and for therapy of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with PSMA‐targeted agents. Here we conducted serial measurements of PSMA expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to evaluate patterns of longitudinal PSMA dynamics over the course of multiple sequential therapies.

Methods

A retrospective investigation of men with mCRPC undergoing evaluation at medical oncology clinics at our institution assessed the dynamics of PSMA expression in the context of different systemic treatments administered sequentially. Eligibility included patients who began systemic therapies with androgen receptor (AR)‐directed agents or taxane agents for whom peripheral blood samples were tested for CTC mRNA of AR splice variant‐7 (AR‐V7), prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), and PSMA (with >2 CTC + results) in a CLIA‐accredited laboratory.

Results

From August 2015 to November 2017, we identified 96 eligible men. Fifteen had greater than or equal to 2 sequential therapies and evaluable CTC samples, greater than or equal to 1 expressing PSMA (PSMA+). Among the 15 patients included in this analysis, a total of 54 PSMA status evaluations were performed in the context of 48 therapies during a median follow‐up of 18 months. At baseline, PSMA signal was detected (“positive”) in 11 of 15 (73.3%) patients, while for 4 of 15 (26.7%) patients PSMA signal was undetectable (“negative”). In all but two patients, the baseline collection corresponded with a change in treatment. On the second assessment, PSMA increases were detected in all 4/4 (100%) PSMA‐negative patients and 8 of 11 (72.7%) PSMA‐positive patients. PSMA significantly decreased in a patient treated with 177Lu‐PSMA‐617. Serum PSA declines were seen in 7 of 8 (88%) of the treatment periods where PSMA decreased.

Conclusions

PSMA expression in CTCs is a dynamic marker. PSMA transcript declines appear to be associated with concurrent decreases in serum PSA. Sequential CTC sampling could provide a noninvasive response assessment to systemic treatment for mCRPC.
The effect of adolescent inhalant abuse on energy balance and growth
Authors: Crossin Rose , Qama Ashleigh , Andrews Zane B. , Lawrence Andrew J. , Duncan Jhodie R.
Published: July 2019

The abuse of volatile solvents such as toluene is a significant public health concern, predominantly affecting adolescents. To date, inhalant abuse research has primarily focused on the central nervous system; however, inhalants also exert effects on other organ systems and processes, including metabolic function and energy balance. Adolescent inhalant abuse is characterized by a negative energy balance phenotype, with the peak period of abuse overlapping with the adolescent growth spurt. There are multiple components within the central and peripheral regulation of energy balance that may be affected by adolescent inhalant abuse, such as impaired metabolic signaling, decreased food intake, altered dietary preferences, disrupted glucose tolerance and insulin release, reduced adiposity and skeletal density, and adrenal hypertrophy. These effects may persist into abstinence and adulthood, and the long‐term consequences of inhalant‐induced metabolic dysfunction are currently unknown. The signs and symptoms resulting from chronic adolescent inhalant abuse may result in a propensity for the development of adult‐onset metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, however, further research investigating the long‐term effects of inhalant abuse upon energy balance and metabolism are needed. This review addresses several aspects of the short‐ and long‐term effects of inhalant abuse relating to energy and metabolic processes, including energy balance, intake and expenditure; dietary preferences and glycemic control; and the dysfunction of metabolic homeostasis through altered adipose tissue, bone, and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis function.
Taming the wild river rapids: How process safety can apply outside the process industries
Authors: Kerin Trish
Published: July 2019

On the 25th October 2016, the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld on Australia's Gold Coast suffered a pump failure, resulting in the tragic deaths of four riders. This incident was investigated by the police and later a coronial inquest to determine how a tragedy like this could occur. As a process safety professional, it was interesting to follow the coronial inquest findings and then think about how process safety management may have helped to prevent this incident. Assuming that a process safety event can be defined as a high consequence or potential consequence low likelihood loss of control event, this incident had all the hallmarks. Therefore, it is possible to apply the IChemE Safety Centre (ISC) framework for process safety to identify where the system failed and understand how it could be averted in future. This article will explore various elements of the incident and how process safety management techniques may have helped, including that the ride had been modified to be different from all other similar rides, that the staff did not know how to stop the ride in an emergency and that all means to stop the ride required manual detection and intervention, with no alarms or shut down systems installed.
Coulomb Blockade Spectroscopy of a MoS2 Nanotube
Authors: Reinhardt Simon , Pirker Luka , Bäuml Christian , Remškar Maja , Hüttel Andreas K.
Published: July 2019

Low‐temperature transport spectroscopy measurements on a quantum dot lithographically defined in a multiwall MoS2 nanotube are demonstrated. At T = 300 mK, clear Coulomb blockade is observed, with charging energies in the range of 1 meV. In single‐electron tunneling, discrete conductance resonances are visible at finite bias. Additionally, a magnetic field perpendicular to the nanotube axis reveals clear indications of quantum state transitions, with effective g factors consistent with published theoretical predictions.
Photosensitive Complementary Inverters Based on n‐Channel MoS2 and p‐Channel MoTe2 Transistors for Light‐to‐Frequency Conversion Circuits
Authors: Seo Seung Gi , Jin Sung Hun
Published: July 2019

Photosensitive complementary inverters, composed of multilayered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2), are demonstrated for the applications that require low power consumption and excellent signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). The photosensitive characteristics of MoS2, along with the negligible photosensitivity of MoTe2, successfully render them applicable to the light‐to‐frequency conversion circuits that enable high SNR immunity. Under blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), the low noise margin and transition width for the voltage transfer characteristics in complementary inverters significantly improve from 1.29 to 1.49 V and 0.24 to 0.31 V, respectively, as compared with those of inverters in the dark. The experimental demonstration of photosensitive inverters and their electrical validations on proposed concepts, supported from SPICE (i.e., simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis) simulation, are systematically obtained, substantiating that this platform can be one of the core parts for future Internet of Things (IOT) applications, which simultaneously demand both ultralow power and robustness on security.
Prospect of natural products in glioma: A novel avenue in glioma management
Authors: Kundu Moumita , Das Subhayan , Dhara Dibakar , Mandal Mahitosh
Published: July 2019

Glioma is one of the most perplexing cancers because of its infiltrating nature, molecular signaling, and location in central nervous system. Blood–brain barrier acts as a natural barrier to the glioma making it difficult to access by conventional chemotherapy. Clinicians are using natural compounds or their derivatives for several diseases including different cancers. However, the feasibility of using natural compounds in glioma is not explored in details. Natural compounds can act over a wide variety of signaling pathways such as survival and metabolic pathways and induce cell death. Some of the natural agents have additional benefits of crossing biological barriers such as blood–brain barrier with ease having few or no impact on the surrounding healthy cells. All of these benefits make natural compounds a prospective candidate for the glioma management. This article evaluates the benefits of using natural compounds for glioma therapy and their possible mechanism of actions. We have discussed the natural compounds assessed currently for glioma therapy and proposed a few novel natural compounds with potential antiglioma effect based on their mechanism of action.
Experimental and numerical performance of corrugated fibreboard at different orientations under four‐point bending test
Authors: Jamsari Mohamad Aiman , Kueh Celia , Gray‐Stuart Eli M. , Dahm Karl , Bronlund John E.
Published: July 2019

This paper presents experimental work, finite element (FE) model, and analytical solution for predicting the four‐point bending on C‐flute corrugated fibreboard (CFB) when oriented at different angles. The angles of the CFB samples used in this research study were 0° (cross‐machine direction) and 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° (machine direction). The CFB was assumed as an orthotropic shell element in the FE model and was validated by comparing the bending stiffness, maximum bending force, and failure formation from the experimental test. It was found in the experiment that the 90° sample had the highest bending stiffness with the lowest maximum bending force while the 0° sample had the opposite. An interesting finding was that the 30° and 45° samples improve the bending stiffness than does 0° without significantly affecting the maximum bending force. Both the FE model and analytical solution predicted the bending stiffness trend of the board from 0° to 90° with good agreement compared with experimental results. The maximum bending force in the FE model showed reasonable agreement with the experimental findings. The failure regions on the samples showed similar patterns in both experiments and the FE model. The accurate response in the FE model justify that it is a good tool to predict the bending behaviour of CFB.
Spin Entangled State Transfer in Quantum Dot Arrays: Coherent Adiabatic and Speed‐Up Protocols
Authors: Ban Yue , Chen Xi , Kohler Sigmund , Platero Gloria
Published: July 2019

Long‐distance transfer of quantum states is an indispensable part of large‐scale quantum information processing. A novel scheme for the transfer of two‐electron entangled states from one edge of a quantum dot array to the other by coherent adiabatic passage is proposed. This protocol is mediated by pulsed tunneling barriers. In a second step, a speed up is sought for by shortcut to adiabaticity techniques. This significantly reduces the operation time and, thus, minimizes the impact of decoherence. For typical parameters of state‐of‐the‐art solid state devices, the accelerated protocol has an operation time in the nanosecond range and terminates before a major coherence loss sets in. The scheme represents a promising candidate for entanglement transfer in solid state quantum information processing.
How to pursue a sustainable happiness in prison communities: An Italian case study
Authors: Cosimato Silvia , Faggini Marisa , Del Prete Marzia
Published: July 2019

Happiness is common, but multifaceted concept, which attracted over the time the interest of many different scholars. In the last decades, happiness has been coupled with sustainability, boosting an interdisciplinary research and policy development, pointing to ascertain the drivers of individual, communities, and global well‐being or the so‐called sustainable happiness. This study aims at contributing to the debate on sustainable happiness, focusing on the importance that both individual and collective characteristics can have on the long‐lasting happiness of community. To this end, a qualitative analysis has been conducted; thus, an explorative case study has been presented and discussed. The achieved results offers some interesting theoretical and policy implications for the further improvement of individual and collective happiness in communities, such as prisons.
Measuring variability between clusters by subgroup: An extension of the median odds ratio
Authors: Yarnell Christopher , Pinto Ruxandra , Fowler Rob
Published: July 2019

Investigating clustered data requires consideration of the variation across clusters, including consideration of the component of the total individual variance that is at the cluster level. The median odds ratio and analogues are useful intuitive measures available to communicate variability in outcomes across clusters using the variance of random intercepts from a multilevel regression model. However, the median odds ratio cannot describe variability across clusters for different patient subgroups because the random intercepts do not vary by subgroup. To empower investigators interested in equity and other applications of this scenario, we describe an extension of the median odds ratio to multilevel regression models employing both random intercepts and random coefficients. By example, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of variation in care limitations (goals of care preferences) according to ethnicity in patients admitted to intensive care. Using mixed‐effects logistic regression clustered by hospital, we demonstrated that patients of non‐Caucasian ethnicity were less likely to have care limitations but experienced similar variability across hospitals. Limitations of the extended median odds ratio include the large sample sizes and computational power needed for models with random coefficients. This extension of the median odds ratio to multilevel regression models with random coefficients will provide insight into cluster‐level variability for researchers interested in equity and other phenomena where variability by patient subgroup is important.
Robust semiparametric gene‐environment interaction analysis using sparse boosting
Authors: Wu Mengyun , Ma Shuangge
Published: July 2019

For the pathogenesis of complex diseases, gene‐environment (G‐E) interactions have been shown to have important implications. G‐E interaction analysis can be challenging with the need to jointly analyze a large number of main effects and interactions and to respect the “main effects, interactions” hierarchical constraint. Extensive methodological developments on G‐E interaction analysis have been conducted in recent literature. Despite considerable successes, most of the existing studies are still limited as they cannot accommodate long‐tailed distributions/data contamination, make the restricted assumption of linear effects, and cannot effectively accommodate missingness in E variables. To directly tackle these problems, a semiparametric model is assumed to accommodate nonlinear effects, and the Huber loss function and Qn estimator are adopted to accommodate long‐tailed distributions/data contamination. A regression‐based multiple imputation approach is developed to accommodate missingness in E variables. For model estimation and selection of relevant variables, we adopt an effective sparse boosting approach. The proposed approach is practically well motivated, has intuitive formulations, and can be effectively realized. In extensive simulations, it significantly outperforms multiple direct competitors. The analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data on stomach adenocarcinoma and cutaneous melanoma shows that the proposed approach makes sensible discoveries with satisfactory prediction and stability.
Variable selection in competing risks models based on quantile regression
Authors: Li Erqian , Tian Maozai , Tang Man‐Lai
Published: July 2019

The proportional subdistribution hazard regression model has been widely used by clinical researchers for analyzing competing risks data. It is well known that quantile regression provides a more comprehensive alternative to model how covariates influence not only the location but also the entire conditional distribution. In this paper, we develop variable selection procedures based on penalized estimating equations for competing risks quantile regression. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators including consistency and oracle properties are established. Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted, confirming that the proposed methods are efficient. A bone marrow transplant data set is analyzed to demonstrate our methodologies.
Dynamic wind response of tall buildings using artificial neural network
Authors: Nikose T.J. , Sonparote R.S.
Published: July 2019

This paper presents an alternative approach for predicting the dynamic wind response of tall buildings using artificial neural network (ANN). The ANN model was developed, trained, and validated based on the data generated in the context of Indian Wind Code (IWC), IS 875 (Part 3):2015. According to the IWC, dynamic wind responses can be calculated for a specific configuration of buildings. The dynamic wind loads and their corresponding responses of structures other than the specified configurations in IWC have to be estimated by wind tunnel tests or computational techniques, which are expensive and time intensive. Alternatively, ANN is an efficient and economical computational analysis tool that can be implemented to estimate the dynamic wind response of a building. In this paper, ANN models were developed to predict base shear and base bending moment of a tall building in along‐ and across‐wind direction by giving the input as the configuration of the building, wind velocity, and terrain category. Multilayer perceptron ANN models with back‐propagation training algorithm was adopted. On comparison of results, it was found that the predicted values obtained from the ANN models and the calculated responses acquired using IWC standards are almost similar. Using the best fit model of ANN, an extensive parametric study was performed to predict the dynamic wind response of tall buildings for the configurations on which IWC is silent. Based on the results obtained from this study, design charts are developed for the prediction of dynamic wind response of tall buildings.
Improving nature of science instruction in elementary classes with modified science trade books and educative curriculum materials
Authors: Brunner Jeanne L. , Abd‐El‐Khalick Fouad
Published: July 2019

This study investigated the effect of including explicit nature of science (NOS) content in read‐alouds of elementary science trade books on the teaching and learning of NOS. We focused on three aspects of NOS: the creative, the empirical, and the inferential NOS. The trade books were read aloud by teachers in three hierarchical levels: Level I served as a control and consisted of a trade book that remained unmodified, Level II consisted of a trade book that had been modified to include explicit references to NOS, and Level III consisted of a modified trade book accompanied by educative curriculum materials that were aimed at improving the teachers' views of NOS as well as supporting teaching about NOS. We used the Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire‐form CE (VNOS‐CE) preintervention and postintervention to determine changes in teachers' views of NOS and interviews preintervention and postintervention to determine changes in students' views. Audio recordings of read‐alouds were used to determine changes in teaching practice, including the frequency and the quality (i.e., naïve or informed) of the NOS references in the discussions. Interviews were used to determine teachers' perceptions of the modified trade books and educative curriculum materials. We found that both teachers and students developed more informed views of the targeted NOS aspects after the intervention and that teachers addressed NOS more often, and in a more informed manner, when they had trade books that explicitly supported NOS instruction and educative curriculum materials that supported their learning about NOS. Furthermore, they perceived the intervention materials favorably. Teachers' views and practices were able to change in tandem because of the intervention materials that supported explicit NOS instruction. We highlight the need for more widespread development of similar educative curriculum materials.
Trends in food prepared outside the home in some Asian countries
Authors: Dawe David , Briones Roehlano , Hassan Nazmul , Hermanto  , Huang Jikun , Ganesh Kumar A. , Nguyen Le Hoa , Saliem Handewi P. , Shaheen Nazma , Truong Thi Thu Trang , Wichitaksorn Nuttanan , Bloem Sunniva
Published: July 2019

Urbanization and increasing income per capita in Asian countries are leading to an increasing opportunity cost of time and increasing consumer demand for easier food preparation. One manifestation of this shift in demand is an increase in eating food prepared outside the home. The objectives of this paper are (a) to gather and analyze data on trends in expenditures on food prepared away from home and (b) to understand how these trends might be affecting estimates of rice consumption. The data from national household surveys of seven countries (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam and China) were analyzed. The results suggest a positive income elasticity of demand in urban areas and for most countries in East and Southeast Asia, although trends are different in South Asia. Eating out appears to be more common in China and Southeast Asia than in South Asia, even after controlling for income. Constructing estimates of rice eaten outside the home is difficult, and better data collection is essential as it becomes more common to eat food prepared outside the home.
Trends in food and rice eaten away from home in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Le Hoa , Truong Thi Thu Trang , Nguyen Thi Thuy
Published: July 2019

This study analyzes Vietnam's food and rice consumption, especially rice consumption outside home using Vietnam households living standard surveys data 2002–2014. Our study estimates consumption of rice and rice products, not rice alone as in previous studies. The study also assesses how income affects households' rice consumption at home and away from home. Our results show as household income increases, food and rice shares in household total expenditure decrease. Food and rice expenditures outside home increase with household's wealth. Rice consumption away from home of urban residents is higher than in rural areas. There is an increasing trend of purchasing rice and downward trend of rice self‐sufficiency in poorer groups in rural areas. Regression results indicate that income has an effect on rice consumption. It confirms the declining trend of rice consumption at home and the rising trend of rice consumption outside home for richer group in Vietnam recently.
How to get away with nonsense: Mechanisms and consequences of escape from nonsense‐mediated RNA decay
Authors: Dyle Michael C. , Kolakada Divya , Cortazar Michael A. , Jagannathan Sujatha
Published: July 2019

Nonsense‐mediated RNA decay (NMD) is an evolutionarily conserved RNA quality control process that serves both as a mechanism to eliminate aberrant transcripts carrying premature stop codons, and to regulate expression of some normal transcripts. For a quality control process, NMD exhibits surprising variability in its efficiency across transcripts, cells, tissues, and individuals in both physiological and pathological contexts. Whether an aberrant RNA is spared or degraded, and by what mechanism, could determine the phenotypic outcome of a disease‐causing mutation. Hence, understanding the variability in NMD is not only important for clinical interpretation of genetic variants but also may provide clues to identify novel therapeutic approaches to counter genetic disorders caused by nonsense mutations. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of NMD variability and the mechanisms that allow certain transcripts to escape NMD despite the presence of NMD‐inducing features.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability
Development of a small X‐ray source using an ultraviolet laser and pyroelectric crystal
Authors: Minami Kazuyuki , Ishida Toshiyuki , Asada Yasuki , Shirakawa Seiji , Kobayashi Masanao , Suzuki Shoichi , Konishi Tomimasa , Mimura Hidenori
Published: July 2019

We investigate a miniaturized X‐ray source using an ultraviolet (UV) laser and a pyroelectric crystal and discuss potential applications in medicine. The UV laser is the fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 266 nm, repetition rate of 10 Hz, and pulse energy of 40 mJ. The pyroelectric crystal is a LiNbO3 cylinder of diameter 10 mm and length 6 mm. The prototype X‐ray source we fabricated is an aluminum parallelepiped of dimensions 3 × 3 × 5 cm. The X‐ray count rate of the X‐ray source is maximized at approximately 1,400 cps for UV laser irradiation of approximately 5 min. After 30 min of irradiation by the UV laser, the temperature of the pyroelectric crystal rose from 295 K to 312 K. The principles of X‐ray generation ensure that X‐ray sources using UV lasers and pyroelectric crystals offer ample opportunity for miniaturization.

We believe the X‐ray source developed in this work is suitable for medical applications, although further study is needed to address points such as increasing the X‐ray count rate and adjusting the temperature of the pyroelectric crystal.
Dynamics of a hybrid vibro‐impact nonlinear energy sink
Authors: Farid M. , Gendelman O. V. , Babitsky V. I.
Published: July 2019

Nonlinear energy sink (NES) is widely studied as a solution for energy harvesting and vibration mitigation problems under periodic, impulsive and stochastic excitations. Current work treats the dynamics of hybrid vibro‐impact NES (HVI‐NES) attached to a linear primary structure as a passive energy absorber (PES). Due to being a hybridization between the traditional tuned mass damper (TMD) and vibro‐impact NES (VI‐NES), the HVI‐NES exhibits improved energy absorption performance under impulsive excitation in terms of broader energy range. The system parameters are tuned a priori, so for small energies, the HVI‐NES acts like the TMD, and for high energies, it acts as a VI‐NES. Hence, relatively large energy range is covered. This feature, along with the absence of any nonlinear spring and simplicity of the design, makes this system attractive for possible energy harvesting applications. The NES exhibits rich dynamics, consisting of sustained linear oscillations, sustained impacts of various frequencies, and alternating transition between both regimes. The slow flow dynamics of the nonlinear regimes is described analytically using an approximated relation between the HVI‐NES energy and frequency, and with the help of the concept of slow invariant manifold (SIM). The analytical results are supported by numerical verifications.

Numerical optimization is applied for increasing values of impulsive excitation energy, and proves improved energy harvesting performances for a broad energy range.
The classical double copy in three spacetime dimensions
Authors: González Mariana Carrillo , Melcher Brandon , Ratliff Kenneth , Watson Scott , White Chris D.
Published: July 2019

Abstract

The double copy relates scattering amplitudes in gauge and gravity theories, and has also been extended to classical solutions. In this paper, we study solutions in three spacetime dimensions, where the double copy may be expected to be problematic due to the absence of propagating degrees of freedom for the graviton, and the lack of a Newtonian limit. In particular, we examine the double copy of a gauge theory point charge. This is a vacuum solution in gauge theory, but leads to a non-vacuum solution in gravity, which we show is consistent with previously derived constraints. Furthermore, we successfully interpret the non-trivial stress-energy tensor on the gravity side as arising from a dilaton profile, and the Newtonian description of a point charge emerges as expected in the appropriate limit. Thus, our results provide a non-trivial cross-check of the classical Kerr-Schild double copy.
Revisiting the vector leptoquark explanation of the B-physics anomalies
Authors: Cornella Claudia , Fuentes-Martín Javier , Isidori Gino
Published: July 2019

Abstract

We present a thorough investigation of the vector leptoquark hypothesis for a combined explanation of the B-physics anomalies. We analyze this hypothesis from a twofold perspective, taking into account recent results from B-physics observables and high-p

T
searches. First, using a simplified model, we determine the general conditions for a successful low-energy fit in presence of right-handed leptoquark couplings (neglected in previous analyses). Second, we show how these conditions, in particular a sizable 2-3 family mixing, can be achieved in a motivated ultraviolet completion. Our analysis reinforces the phenomenological success of the vector leptoquark hypothesis in addressing the anomalies, and its compatibility with motivated extensions of the Standard Model based on the idea of flavor non-universal gauge interactions. The implications of right-handed leptoquark couplings for a series of key low-energy observables, namely B

s
→ ττ and τ → μ lepton flavor violating processes, both in τ and in B decays, are discussed in detail. The role of the ultraviolet completion in precisely estimating other low-energy observables, most notably ΔF = 2 amplitudes, is also addressed.
Interactive verification of architectural design patterns in FACTum
Authors: Marmsoler Diego , Gidey Habtom Kashay
Published: July 2019

Architectural design patterns (ADPs) are architectural solutions to common architectural design problems. They are an important concept in software architectures used for the design and analysis of architectures. An ADP usually constrains the design of an architecture and, in turn, guarantees some desired properties for architectures implementing it. Sometimes, however, the constraints imposed by an ADP do not lead to the claimed guarantee. Thus, applying such patterns for the design of architectures might result in architectures which do not fulfill their intended requirements. To address this problem, we propose an approach for the verification of ADPs, based on interactive theorem proving. To this end, we introduce a model for dynamic architectures and a language for the specification of ADPs over this model. Moreover, we propose a framework for the interactive verification of such specifications based on Isabelle/HOL. In addition we describe an algorithm to map a specifi cation to a corresponding Isabelle/HOL theory over our framework. To evaluate the approach, we implement it in Eclipse/EMF and use it for the verification of four ADPs: variants of the Singleton, the Publisher-Subscriber, the Blackboard pattern, and a pattern for Blockchain architectures. With our approach we complement traditional approaches for the verification of architectures, which are usually based on automatic verification techniques such as model checking.
Developing a Sustainable Renal Transplant Program in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: Outcome, Challenges, and Solutions
Authors: Guy‐Frank Chelsea J. , Persaud Kishore , Butsenko Dmitry , Jindal Rahul M. , Guy Stephen R.
Published: July 2019

Introduction

The initiation of a kidney transplant program, in a low‐ and middle‐income country, while striving to maintain excellent outcomes and adhere to high ethical, legal standards, is a formidable task. Herein, we review the outcomes and challenges of a living donor kidney transplant program from its inception to sustainability, in Guyana, South America.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of a living donor kidney transplant program instituted in Guyana in 2008. Data included recipient and donor demographics, cause of renal failure, donor–recipient matching and relationship, perioperative complications, timing and cause of death, graft failure, surgical technique, and laterality of organ procured. Patient and donor data were compared by phases and additionally compared to United States Renal Data Base System. Survival outcomes were compared by phases and by Kaplan–Meier curves.

Results

To date, 45 kidney transplants have been completed. Phase I (2007–2008) was the initiation of the program, which was comprised of upgrading hospital and operating rooms, obtaining antirejection medications, educating local providers, fostering a relationship with the government, and screening patients and living donors. We also began vascular access and peritoneal dialysis in the country, as well as introduced the companion public health service initiative: the SEVAK program. Phase II (2008–2014) involved completion of 25 living donor kidney transplants, of which there have been 11 confirmed deaths and 10 lost to follow‐up. In Phase III (2015–present), 20 transplants have been completed to date, of whom only 1 died and none were lost to follow‐up. In the third phase, we also introduced corneal transplantation to Guyana and have performed over 100 transplants.

Conclusion

Kidney transplantation can be safely and ethically performed in a low‐ and middle‐income country. We applied lessons learnt from the first two phases to improve follow‐up by appointing a local coordinator who goes to patient's homes in remote villages. Currently, there is a stable local team that is performing transplants and following the patients. We believe that our model of public–private partnership can sustain kidney, as well as corneal, transplantation and could be replicated in other countries.
Pricing in Consumer Digital Markets: A Dynamic Framework
Authors: Reisman Richard , Payne Adrian , Frow Pennie
Published: July 2019

Supplier firms are increasingly seeking new ways to personalize their offers and differentiate their products, especially in contested digital markets. One approach that shows promise involves encouraging customers to participate in pricing decisions using schemes such as “pay-what-you-want” where the customer has an input into determining the price. These approaches can benefit both the customer in terms of paying a reasonable price and reducing risk, and the supplier in terms of increasing sales and generating deep customer insights that can assist in relationship development. However, extant research shows limitations associated with these pricing approaches and, despite some qualified successes, there has not been widespread adoption in businesses. This study extends consideration of existing participative pricing schemes and proposes a new conceptual framework, termed FairPay. This framework overcomes many of the limitations of previous approaches, while addressing important challenges, especially those faced by many digital product suppliers. The framework offers an attractive pricing solution for both customers and suppliers, ensuring an equitable exchange that is based on value-in-use. We discuss the application of this framework in the context of digital products, where the approach has special promise.
Virto-Cuccolini: Sphericity of metal powders cause blocking of the sieve-mesh
Authors: Bilal Asad
Published: July 2019

For decades, sieve manufacturers have battled against irregular powder shape, yet they overlook the difficulties posed by extremely spherical powders being produced in the Metallurgy Industry.
Rates of lobar atrophy in asymptomatic MAPT mutation carriers
Authors: Chen Qin , Boeve Bradley F. , Senjem Matthew , Tosakulwong Nirubol , Lesnick Timothy G. , Brushaber Danielle , Dheel Christina , Fields Julie , Forsberg Leah , Gavrilova Ralitza , Gearhart Debra , Graff‐Radford Jonathan , Graff‐Radford Neill R. , Jack Clifford R. , Jones David T. , Knopman David S. , Kremers Walter K. , Lapid Maria , Rademakers Rosa , Syrjanen Jeremy , Boxer Adam L. , Rosen Howie , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Kantarci Kejal ,   LEFFTDS Consortium
Published: July 2019

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the rates of lobar atrophy in the asymptomatic microtubule‐associated protein tau (MAPT) mutation carriers.

Methods

MAPT mutation carriers (n = 14; 10 asymptomatic, 4 converters from asymptomatic to symptomatic) and noncarriers (n = 13) underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and were followed annually with a median of 9.2 years. Longitudinal changes in lobar atrophy were analyzed using the tensor‐based morphometry with symmetric normalization algorithm.

Results

The rate of temporal lobe atrophy in asymptomatic MAPT mutation carriers was faster than that in noncarriers. Although the greatest rate of atrophy was observed in the temporal lobe in converters, they also had increased atrophy rates in the frontal and parietal lobes compared to noncarriers.

Discussion

Accelerated decline in temporal lobe volume occurs in asymptomatic MAPT mutation carriers followed by the frontal and parietal lobe in those who have become symptomatic. The findings have implications for monitoring the progression of neurodegeneration during clinical trials in asymptomatic MAPT mutation carriers.
Addressing community health needs through community engagement research advisory boards
Authors: Patten Christi A. , Albertie Monica L. , Chamie Chara A. , Brockman Tabetha A. , Gorfine Mary , Nicholas Rosa , Bock Martha J. , Okamoto Janet M. , Penheiter Sumedha G. , Balls-Berry Joyce E.
Published: July 2019

Over 80% of CTSA programs have a community advisory board (CAB). Little is known about how research discussed with CABs aligns with community priorities (bidirectionality). This program evaluation assessed researcher presentations from 2014 to 2018 to the CABs linked to our CTSA at all three sites (Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida) for relevance to local community needs identified in 2013 and/or 2016. From content analysis, of 65 presentations total, 41 (63%) addressed ≥1 local health needs (47% Minnesota, 60% Florida, and 80% Arizona). Cross-cutting topics were cancer/cancer prevention (physical activity/obesity/nutrition) and mental health. Results could help to prioritize health outcomes of community-engaged research efforts.
Provenancing Rune Carvers on Bornholm through 3D-Scanning and Multivariate Statistics of the Carving Technique
Authors: Kitzler Åhfeldt Laila
Published: July 2019

In 2017, eight runestones on Bornholm were scanned in 3D and the microtopography of the grooves was analysed by multivariate statistical methods. One of the stones was previously not known to runological research. The aim of this paper is to compare the carving technique of the Bornholm runestones with runestones from Swedish regions to shed light on old issues concerning Bornholm's links with other regions in and around the Baltic Sea. The rune carvers are important agents in this, as the runestones are often related to issues including landholding, Christianization, possible Swedish influences, and the inclusion of Bornholm into the Danish realm. In addition, rune carvers as native writers were intimately connected to the introduction of literacy. The results of this study indicate that the rune carvers did not cooperate much with carvers from the islands of Öland and Gotland, whereas Södermanland, among the Swedish mainland provinces, was their first choice.
GENERIC UNLABELED GLOBAL RIGIDITY
Authors: GORTLER STEVEN J. , THERAN LOUIS , THURSTON DYLAN P.
Published: July 2019

Let
$\mathbf{p}$
be a configuration of
$n$
points in
$\mathbb{R}^{d}$
for some
$n$
and some
$d\geqslant 2$
. Each pair of points has a Euclidean distance in the configuration. Given some graph
$G$
on
$n$
vertices, we measure the point-pair distances corresponding to the edges of
$G$
. In this paper, we study the question of when a generic
$\mathbf{p}$
in
$d$
dimensions will be uniquely determined (up to an unknowable Euclidean transformation) from a given set of point-pair distances together with knowledge of
$d$
and
$n$
. In this setting the distances are given simply as a set of real numbers; they are not labeled with the combinatorial data that describes which point pair gave rise to which distance, nor is data about
$G$
given. We show, perhaps surprisingly, that in terms of generic uniqueness, labels have no effect. A generic configuration is determined by an unlabeled set of point-pair distances (together with
$d$
and
$n$
) if and only if it is determined by the labeled distances.
Prior antibiotic use and acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms in hospitalized children: A systematic review
Authors: Murray Meghan T. , Beauchemin Melissa P. , Neu Natalie , Larson Elaine L.
Published: July 2019

Objective:

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) cause ~5%–10% of infections in hospitalized children, leading to an increased risk of death, prolonged hospitalization, and additional costs. Antibiotic exposure is considered a driving factor of MDRO acquisition; however, consensus regarding the impact of antibiotic factors, especially in children, is lacking. We conducted a systematic review to examine the relationship between antibiotic use and subsequent healthcare-associated infection or colonization with an MDRO in children.

Design:

Systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline.

Methods:

We searched PubMed and Embase for all English, peer-reviewed original research studies published before September 2018. Included studies evaluated hospitalized children, antibiotic use as an exposure, and bacterial MDRO as an outcome.

Results:

Of the 535 studies initially identified, 29 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, a positive association was identified in most studies evaluating a specific antibiotic exposure (17 of 21, 81%), duration of antibiotics (9 of 12, 75%), and number of antibiotics received (2 of 3, 67%). Those studies that evaluated any antibiotic exposure had mixed results (5 of 10, 50%). Study sites, populations, and definitions of antibiotic use and MDROs varied widely.

Conclusions:

Published studies evaluating this relationship are limited and are of mixed quality. Limitations include observation bias in recall of antibiotic exposure, variations in case definitions, and lack of evaluation of antibiotic dosing and appropriateness. Additional studies exploring the impact of antibiotic use and MDRO acquisition may be needed to develop effective antibiotic stewardship programs for hospitalized children.