bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of an algorithm to detect methotrexate wrong frequency error using computerized health care data
Authors: Herrinton Lisa J. , Woodworth Tiffany S. , Eworuke Efe , Amsden Laura B. , Liu Liyan , Wyeth Jo , Petrone Andrew , Menzin Talia J. , Williams James , Goldfien Robert , Nguyen Michael
Published: August 2019

Purpose

We validated an algorithm to detect frequency errors in computerized healthcare data and estimated the incidence of these errors in an integrated healthcare system.

Methods

We applied Sentinel System analytic tools on the electronic health records of Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, January 1, 2010, through May 30, 2015,to identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with new use of methotrexate (365‐day baseline period). We identified potential methotrexate frequency errors using ICD‐9 code 995.20 (adverse drug event), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 96409 for injection of leucovorin and prescription refill patterns. We performed chart review to confirm the frequency errors, assessed performance for detecting frequency errors, and estimated the incidence of chart‐confirmed errors.

Results

The study included 24,529 methotrexate dispensings among 3,668 RA patients. Among these, 722 (3%) had one dispensing and 23,807 (97.1%) had ≥2 dispensings during 1‐year follow‐up period. We flagged 653 (2.7%) with a potential medication error (46 with one dispensing and 607 with ≥2 dispensings). We sampled 94 for chart review, and confirmed three methotrexate errors. All three confirmed frequency errors involved a first methotrexate dispensing followed by injected rescue therapy, leucovorin, (positive predictive value, 60%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15‐95%). No potential errors were found among patients with ≥2 dispensings. We estimated the frequency error incidence among one methotrexate dispensing to be 0.4% (95%CI, 0.1% to 1.2%).

Conclusion

Rescue therapy is a specific indicator of methotrexate overdose among first methotrexate dispensings. This method is generalizable to other medications with serious adverse events treated with antidotes.
A review of the research and advances in electromagnetic joining of fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composites
Authors: Choudhury Mridusmita Roy , Debnath Kishore
Published: August 2019

The demand for polymer composites in structural and nonstructural applications has expanded rapidly due to their lightweight, high strength, and stiffness characteristics. Joining of polymer composite is not an easy task as inadequate joint strength leads to failure of a structure due to stress concentration. The following are the three basic methods available for joining of thermoplastic composites: adhesive joining, mechanical fastening, and fusion bonding. Electromagnetic joining is a class of fusion bonding where electromagnetic force is used for generation of heat. Electromagnetic joining has gained new interest among the research fraternity with the development of thermoplastic composites. This type of joining or welding technique offers many advantages over other joining techniques. This joining technique can be used for assembly as well as repairing of thermoplastic polymer‐based composites parts. The main aim of this article is to review the different electromagnetic joining methods for thermoplastic composites and present the recent developments in this area. The electromagnetic joining methods such as induction welding, microwave welding, and resistance welding have been comprehensively discussed in the context of their applicability for joining of thermoplastic polymer‐based composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1965–1985, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Importance of Initial Complete Parenteral Iron Repletion on Hemoglobin Level Normalization and Health Care Resource Utilization: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: LaVallee Chris , Cronin Patrick , Bansal Isha , Kwong Winghan Jacqueline , Boccia Ralph
Published: August 2019

Study Objective

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia, and parenteral iron therapy is necessary in select patients. The objective of this analysis was to assess the impact of initial complete parenteral iron repletion on serum hemoglobin (Hgb) level normalization and on health care resource utilization in real‐world practice.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Data Source

Decision Resources Group Real‐World Data Repository (United States databases).

Patients

A total of 2966 patients who had a baseline Hgb level below normal (< 12 g/dl for females and < 13.5 g/dl for males) and were treated with parenteral iron between March 2015 and February 2017.

Measurements and Main Results

The effect of receiving the required parenteral iron dose to replete the deficit, calculated by a modified Ganzoni formula, within 3 weeks of the first parenteral iron therapy claim (index date) on the likelihood of Hgb level normalization, was estimated by using logistic regression. All analyses were adjusted for sex, age, comorbidities, and use of prescription oral iron therapy. The adjusted mean numbers of all‐cause inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, and emergency department (ED) visits within 6 months and 1 year after the index date were compared between patients with and without normalized Hgb levels by using negative binomial regression. Of the 2966 included patients, 33.9% received the required iron dose within 3 weeks of the index date, and 19.6%, 48.2%, and 53.9% had a normalized Hgb level within 8 weeks of the index date, within 1 year of the index date, and until the end of data availability, respectively. Patients who received the required iron dose within 3 weeks of the index date were significantly more likely to have a normalized Hgb level within 8 weeks of the index date and at any time during the study period than those who did not: adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) 2.67 (2.20, 3.24) and 2.33 (1.96, 2.77), respectively. Hgb level normalization within 1 year of the index date was associated with fewer inpatient admissions and outpatient visits and a similar number of ED visits compared with no Hgb level normalization 1 year after the index date.

Conclusion

The results of these analyses underscore the importance of initial complete parenteral iron repletion for rapidly improving clinical outcomes. Prompt achievement of a normalized Hgb level may also provide an opportunity to reduce health care resource utilization in patients with iron deficiency anemia receiving parenteral iron therapy.
The psychosexual impact of testing positive for high‐risk cervical human papillomavirus (HPV): A systematic review
Authors: Bennett Kirsty F. , Waller Jo , Ryan Mairead , Bailey Julia V. , Marlow Laura A.V.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Many countries are implementing human papillomavirus (HPV)‐based cervical screening due to the higher sensitivity of the test compared with cytology. As HPV is sexually transmitted, there may be psychosexual consequences of testing positive for the virus. We aimed to review the literature exploring the psychosexual impact of testing positive for high‐risk cervical HPV.

Methods

MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched with no date limits. We also searched the grey literature, reference lists of included articles and carried out forward citation searching. Eligible studies reported at least one psychosexual outcome among HPV‐positive women. Qualitative and quantitative papers were included. We extracted data using a standardised form and carried out a quality assessment for each article. We conducted a narrative synthesis for quantitative studies and a thematic synthesis for qualitative studies.

Results

Twenty‐five articles were included. Quantitative study designs were diverse making it difficult to determine the impact that an HPV positive result would have in the context of routine screening. The qualitative literature suggested that psychosexual concerns cover a broad range of aspects relating to women's current and past relationships, both interpersonal and sexual.

Conclusions

The psychosexual impact of testing positive for high‐risk cervical HPV is unclear. This review highlights the need for further research in the context of HPV‐based cervical screening. As primary HPV testing is introduced more widely, it is important to understand women's responses to testing HPV positive in the cancer screening context to minimise any adverse psychosexual impact.
Mixture probabilistic model for precipitation ensemble forecasting
Authors: Wu Yajing , Yang Xuebing , Zhang Wensheng , Kuang Qiuming
Published: August 2019

Statistical post‐processing approaches are widely employed to construct improved probabilistic meteorological forecasts from numerical weather prediction. However, generating calibrated and sharp probabilistic forecasts is challenging. In this article, a post‐processing approach, Mixture Probabilistic Model (MPM), is proposed to calibrate probabilistic ensemble forecasts subject to sharpness. In particular, the proposed MPM is applied to precipitation forecasting. First, the Censored and Shifted Gamma (CSG0) distribution is considered as the probability density function (PDF) for precipitation. Then, the predictive PDF of MPM is mixed by the individual PDFs which are fitted from raw ensemble members. Finally, to estimate optimal weight parameters for the mixture of individual PDFs, the Dirichlet distribution is utilized and the skills of the mixture model and individuals are both taken into consideration. The proposed MPM was tested using Innsbruck ensemble precipitation data and 6 h accumulated precipitation ensemble forecast data in east China from August to November 2017. Compared with raw forecasts and three state‐of‐the‐art post‐processing approaches, MPM showed improved performance for all verification scores. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of results in both cases indicate the potential and effectiveness of MPM for precipitation ensemble forecasting.
In vitro spermatogenesis in two‐dimensionally spread mouse testis tissues
Authors: Komeya Mitsuru , Yamanaka Hiroyuki , Sanjo Hiroyuki , Yao Masahiro , Nakamura Hiroko , Kimura Hiroshi , Fujii Teruo , Sato Takuya , Ogawa Takehiko
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Mouse in vitro spermatogenesis is possible with classical organ culture methods, by placing the testis tissue at the interphase between culture medium and air. In this condition, however, a tissue piece tends to round up to be compact, whose central region suffers from shortage of nutrients and oxygen. In this study, the authors improved the culture condition by spreading each tissue thin and flat, by which they were able to get better access to the oxygen and nutrients.

Methods

Immature mouse testis tissues placed on agarose gel block were forced to spread flat by covering with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ceiling chip (PC chip). They were then cultured for weeks and evaluated by the transgene expression of Acr‐Gfp, which reflects the progression of spermatogenesis.

Results

Testis tissues covered with PC chip initiated and maintained spermatogenesis in its wider region than those without PC chip covering. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the PC method yielded more numerous meiotic germ cells than those without PC. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed the authentic histological figure of spermatogenesis from spermatogonia up to round or elongating spermatids.

Conclusions

The PC chip method is simple and effective to improve the efficiency of in vitro spermatogenesis in the organ culture system.
The entrepreneurial process: Evidence from a nationally representative survey
Authors: Bennett Victor M. , Chatterji Aaron K.
Published: August 2019

Research Summary

Scholars have traditionally characterized the variation in firm performance as determined by conditions after entry, where the entry decision is a one‐shot binary choice determined by cost–benefit analysis. However, recent theoretical work has posited that the entry decision is an outcome of a learning process and that the information acquired during the pre‐entry period shapes subsequent performance dynamics. We provide the first systematic data on the pre‐entry period using a nationally representative survey. We document the activities that prospective entrants undertake, finding variation according to opportunity costs, prior experience, and confidence levels. Our results suggest the pre‐entry period is shaped by a series of choices by prospective entrants as they contemplate entry, further exploration, or ending the entrepreneurial process.

Managerial Summary

We created and implemented a nationally representative survey on the entrepreneurial activities of Americans. Several interesting findings emerged. First, approximately a third of Americans report having had a business idea in the past 5 years, motivated in the vast majority of cases by lifestyle concerns rather than the pursuit of significant business opportunities. Fewer than half of those who considered starting a business take even the lowest cost steps, like searching the Internet for potential competitors or speaking with a friend. Our findings reveal an entrepreneurial process which involves a significant pre‐entry period where prospective entrepreneurs seek to acquire information about the quality of their idea, perform administrative tasks to prepare for launch and encounter frictions that impede their progress.
1D Carbon‐Based Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Shi Changwei , Owusu Kwadwo Asare , Xu Xiaoming , Zhu Ting , Zhang Guobin , Yang Wei , Mai Liqiang
Published: August 2019

Electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices have attracted immense research interests as an effective technology for utilizing renewable energy. 1D carbon‐based nanostructures are recognized as highly promising materials for EES application, combining the advantages of functional 1D nanostructures and carbon nanomaterials. Here, the recent advances of 1D carbon‐based nanomaterials for electrochemical storage devices are considered. First, the different categories of 1D carbon‐based nanocomposites, namely, 1D carbon‐embedded, carbon‐coated, carbon‐encapsulated, and carbon‐supported nanostructures, and the different synthesis methods are described. Next, the practical applications and optimization effects in electrochemical energy storage devices including Li‐ion batteries, Na‐ion batteries, Li–S batteries, and supercapacitors are presented. After that, the advanced in situ detection techniques that can be used to investigate the fundamental mechanisms and predict optimization of 1D carbon‐based nanocomposites are discussed. Finally, an outlook for the development trend of 1D carbon‐based nanocomposites for EES is provided.
Enhanced In Vivo Delivery of Stem Cells using Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffolds
Authors: Koh Jaekyung , Griffin Donald R. , Archang Maani M. , Feng An‐Chieh , Horn Thomas , Margolis Michael , Zalazar David , Segura Tatiana , Scumpia Philip O. , Di Carlo Dino
Published: August 2019

Delivery to the proper tissue compartment is a major obstacle hampering the potential of cellular therapeutics for medical conditions. Delivery of cells within biomaterials may improve localization, but traditional and newer void‐forming hydrogels must be made in advance with cells being added into the scaffold during the manufacturing process. Injectable, in situ cross‐linking microporous scaffolds are recently developed that demonstrate a remarkable ability to provide a matrix for cellular proliferation and growth in vitro in three dimensions. The ability of these scaffolds to deliver cells in vivo is currently unknown. Herein, it is shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be co‐injected locally with microparticle scaffolds assembled in situ immediately following injection. MSC delivery within a microporous scaffold enhances MSC retention subcutaneously when compared to cell delivery alone or delivery within traditional in situ cross‐linked nanoporous hydrogels. After two weeks, endothelial cells forming blood vessels are recruited to the scaffold and cells retaining the MSC marker CD29 remain viable within the scaffold. These findings highlight the utility of this approach in achieving localized delivery of stem cells through an injectable porous matrix while limiting obstacles of introducing cells within the scaffold manufacturing process.
A crosswalk pedestrian recognition system by using deep learning and zebra‐crossing recognition techniques
Authors: Dow Chyi‐Ren , Ngo Huu‐Huy , Lee Liang‐Hsuan , Lai Po‐Yu , Wang Kuan‐Chieh , Bui Van‐Tung
Published: August 2019

Pedestrian detection is essential for improving pedestrian safety in an intelligent traffic system. The efficiency of the system is affected by real‐time processing and the error rate of detection. These concerns have not been completely addressed in previous studies. Therefore, this study proposes a real‐time pedestrian recognition system that ensures high accuracy by using a deep learning classifier and zebra‐crossing recognition techniques. The proposed system was designed to improve pedestrian safety and reduce accidents at intersections. Environmental feature vectors were first used to detect zebra crossings and to determine crossing areas. An adaptive mapping technique was then used to map the pedestrian waiting area based on the crossing area. A dual camera mechanism was used to maintain detection accuracy and improve system fault tolerance. Finally, the you‐only‐look‐once model was used to recognize pedestrians at intersections. A system prototype was implemented to verify the feasibility of the proposed system. The results revealed that the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional histogram of oriented gradients and Haarcascade schemes.
The role of J3 in the Orientation Analysis of the Adiabatic Shear Band of Ultrafine‐Grained Interstitial‐Free Steel
Authors: Liu Jiejian , Suo Tao
Published: August 2019

Within the framework of classical plastic theory, the instability inclination angle of metal is 45 ° under axial compression loading. However, microscopic observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show the ultrafine‐grained (UFG) interstitial‐free (IF) steel inclination angle of adiabatic shear instability is less than 45 °. Herein, a constitutive model that accounts for the effect of the third stress invariant is proposed based on the Johnson–Cook model to investigate the effect of J3 on the adiabatic shear instability inclination angle of UFG IF steel. To give a clear and direct interpretation of this effect, the model is implemented in the commercial software ABAQUS/Explicit by user subroutine VUMAT. Then shear‐compression specimens with different groove angles are used to investigate the influence of J3 on the orientation of adiabatic shear band. Subsequently, dynamic tests of UFG IF steel shear‐compression specimen with different groove angles are conducted through Split‐Hopkinson Pressure Bar. The experimental results show that noncoaxial influence (the effect of J3 or Lode angle) deserves enough attention in the orientation analysis of adiabatic shear instability of UFG IF steel.
Survival and Habitat of Yellow‐Phase American Eels in North Carolina Tidal Creeks
Authors: Rudershausen Paul J. , M. Lee Laura , Lombardo Steven M. , Merrell Jeffery H. , Buckel Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2019

We estimated rates of survival as well as effects of habitat on catch rates of juvenile yellow‐phase American Eels Anguilla rostrata in southeastern U.S. tidal creeks. We trapped and marked eels with PIT tags at 24 fixed sites in eight North Carolina tidal creeks and then recaptured and resighted the tagged individuals to estimate apparent survival. Separate Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) models were fitted to mark–recapture data (eight creeks) versus mark–resight data (four creeks) to estimate apparent survival. Median annual apparent survival (Φ) was higher when the CJS model was fitted to mark–resight data (Φ = 0.15) than to mark–recapture data (Φ = 0.013). Negative binomially distributed models were fitted to catch rates of both tagged and untagged eels to test for habitat, development, and seasonal effects. The presence/absence of culverts and season were meaningful covariates of catch rates; greater catches were found at sites possessing culverts and during the spring. Other habitat and development factors at the site, creek, and watershed levels were not important covariates of catch rates. Partitioning the sources of loss of yellow‐phase American Eels from these systems into mortality versus emigration would be useful future research in the southeastern U.S. coastal region. Further study into how culverts affect yellow‐phase American Eel habitation and movement in southeastern U.S. estuaries is also warranted.
Students Become Comic Book Author‐Illustrators: Composing With Words and Images in a Fourth‐Grade Comics Writers’ Workshop
Authors: Reid Stephanie F. , Moses Lindsey
Published: August 2019

The authors detail how one fourth‐grade teacher implemented a comics writers’ workshop in the weeks that concluded the academic school year. Each phase of the comics writers’ workshop is described. Students interpreted and analyzed the words, images, and design features that compose published comics before constructing and publishing their own multimodal comics text. The authors show that multimodal literacies instruction recognizes the multiple ways in which students can represent and communicate their thinking, and they argue that multimodal literacies instruction should occur throughout the curriculum across the school year.
Mathematical modeling of gas transport in porous geological media with contrast of properties and irregular distribution of pores
Authors: Savatorova Viktoria , Talonov Aleksei
Published: August 2019

In this work, we perform multiscale modeling of gas transport through the geological media having irregular pore structure and contrast of properties on different spatial scales. We assume that the medium consists of inorganic matrix with organic inclusions imbedded into it. There exist a contrast of properties and spatial scales between the matrix and organic inclusions. The pore sizes vary from micro to nanometers, permeability and diffusivity can differ by several orders of magnitude. We consider filtration and molecular diffusion as mechanisms for free gas transport in both inorganic and organic materials, and surface diffusion as the main mechanism for sorbed gas transport through nanoporous organic inclusions. The irregularities of porous structure we characterize by their deviations from the periodic distribution. We implement multiscale homogenization together with an averaging with respect to random deviations of distribution of pores to derive the macroscopic equation for evaluating the free gas amount in‐place. It turns out that macroscale parameters characterizing gas transport depend on diffusivity, permeability, and porosity of the components of the system, the amount of inclusions and their spatial distribution. We determine the distribution of gas concentration through the production time and investigate its sensitivity to irregularities of pores distribution. We are also interested in the effect of bottom‐hole pressure and study how depletion can be affected by the interchange of gas between kerogen inclusions and inorganic material.
Systemic understanding of Lactococcus lactis response to acid stress using transcriptomics approaches
Authors: Zhu Zhengming , Yang Peishan , Wu Zhimeng , Zhang Juan , Du Guocheng
Published: August 2019

During fermentation, acid stress caused by the accumulation of acidic metabolites seriously affects the metabolic activity and production capacity of microbial cells. To elucidate the acid stress-tolerance mechanisms of microbial cells, we performed genome mutagenesis combined with high-throughput technologies to screen acid stress-tolerant strains. Mutant strain Lactococcus lactis WH101 showed a 16,000-fold higher survival rate than that of the parent strain after 5 h of acid shock at pH 4.0 and maintained higher ATP, NH4+, and intracellular pH (pHi) levels during acid stress. Additionally, comparative transcriptomics analysis revealed enhanced regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and sugar transport to provide additional energy, amino acid metabolism and transport to maintain pHi homeostasis and ATP generation, and fatty acid metabolism to enhance cellular acid tolerance. Moreover, overexpression of identified components resulted in 12.6- and 12.9-fold higher survival rates after acid shock for 3 h at pH 4.0 in L. lactis (ArcB) and L. lactis (MalQ) compared to the control strain, respectively. These findings provide valuable insight into the acid stress-response mechanisms of L. lactis and promote the further development of robust industrial strains.
Next of kin’s quality of life before and after implementation of a knowledge-based palliative care intervention in nursing homes
Authors: Bökberg Christina , Behm Lina , Ahlström Gerd
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an educational palliative care intervention improved the quality of life for next of kin to older persons in nursing homes.

Methods

Altogether, 90 next of kin in the intervention group and 105 next of kin in the control group were included. Data were collected using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, answered before and 3 months after the intervention was completed. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed.

Results

This study found a statistically significant increase in the Physical health subscale in the intervention group but not in the control group. In contrast, the General health score decreased in the control group but not in the implementation group. Furthermore, we found an increase in the item able to perform activities of daily living in the intervention group and a decrease in the item energy and fatigue in the control group.

Conclusion

The results indicated small statistical changes regarding next of kins’ QoL in favour of the intervention. Lessons learned from the study for future research are to include next of kin as participants at meetings about next of kin and to include more meetings about the theme next of kin. Both approaches would bring a stronger focus on the family-centred care aspect of the intervention into the education component, which this study indicates the need for.

Trial registry

Trial registration NCT02708498. Date of registration 26 February 2016.
Entrepreneurship, culture, and the epigenetic revolution: a research note
Authors: Acs Zoltan , Lappi Emma
Published: August 2019

We show how the type of alcohol consumed is related to the type of entrepreneurship present for economies in Europe. We differentiate between beer-, wine-, and spirit-drinking countries and distinguish between productive, unproductive, and destructive entrepreneurship. The underlying links do not emerge from drinking per se but rather the drinking habits and taste for beverage types capture deep cultural features and cultural similarities amongst the countries. Societies that prefer to drink beer are closer to each other culturally than those which prefer drinking wine or spirits. Therefore, the taste for alcohol type is merely an instrument in explaining cultural and institutional differences across entrepreneurship. Broadly speaking, beer-drinking countries are characterized by higher shares of productive entrepreneurship, wine-drinking countries with unproductive entrepreneurship, and spirit-drinking countries with destructive entrepreneurship. We discuss mechanisms in which the results are found and highlight a new research agenda, emphasizing the potential role of epigenetics.
Slow Fashion – Balancing the Conscious Retail Model within the Fashion Marketplace
Authors: McNeill Lisa S. , Snowdon Jasmine
Published: August 2019

Consumers are ever more aware of the impacts of fashion textiles on the natural world, as well as the production ethics concerns directed toward traditional fast fashion products in terms of human resources. This has led to an emerging form of fashion retail centered on production principles that encourage increased lifecycles of products, reduced volume of purchasing by individuals, and ethical care in production and sales. The ethical movement termed slow fashion thus has a unique philosophy that is at odds with a number of traditional aims of retailing. Striving for higher profits through increased sales volume and rapid turnover of goods contradicts the conscious consumption philosophy of slow fashion proponents. This paper therefore explores the market strategies used by four New Zealand fashion retailers who identify as slow, and have a business approach that encourages consumers to prioritize longevity and consumption ethics over price and fashion newness. The research takes a case-based approach, and finds that the central issue for slow fashion retailers, irrespective of their individual philosophies within the slow fashion sphere, is that of finding a balance between the particular conscious retailing models they have self-prescribed, and that of traditional retailing. A necessity for profit making and market share underscores the difficulty of their position in the modern fashion marketplace, and this paper details their unique strategies in negotiating this ethical retail space.
Ectopic expression of L1CAM ectodomain alters differentiation and motility, but not proliferation, of human neural progenitor cells
Authors: Pusey Michelle A. , Pace Karma , Fascelli Michele , Linser Paul J. , Steindler Dennis A. , Galileo Deni S.
Published: August 2019

Adult human neural progenitor and stem cells have been implicated as a potential source of brain cancer causing cells, but specific events that might cause cells to progress towards a transformed phenotype remain unclear. The L1CAM (L1) cell adhesion/recognition molecule is expressed abnormally by human glioma cancer cells and is released as a large extracellular ectodomain fragment, which stimulates cell motility and proliferation. This study investigates the effects of ectopic overexpression of the L1 long ectodomain (L1LE; ˜180 kDa) on the motility, proliferation, and differentiation of human neural progenitor cells (HNPs). L1LE was ectopically expressed in HNPs using a lentiviral vector. Surprisingly, overexpression of L1LE resulted in reduced HNP motility in vitro, in stark contrast to the effects on glioma and other cancer cell types. L1LE overexpression resulted in a variable degree of maintenance of HNP proliferation in media without added growth factors but did not increase proliferation. In monolayer culture, HNPs expressed a variety of differentiation markers. L1LE overexpression resulted in loss of glutamine synthetase (GS) and β3‐tubulin expression in normal HNP media, and reduced vimentin and increased GS expression in the absence of added growth factors. When co‐cultured with chick embryonic brain cell aggregates, HNPs show increased differentiation potential. Some HNPs expressed p‐neurofilaments and oligodendrocytic O4, indicating differentiation beyond that in monolayer culture. Most HNP‐L1LE cells lost their vimentin and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) staining, and many cells were positive for astrocytic GS. However, these cells rarely were positive for neuronal markers β3‐tubulin or p‐neurofilaments, and few HNP oligodendrocyte progenitors were found. These results suggest that unlike for glioma cells, L1LE does not increase HNP cell motility, but rather decreases motility and influences the differentiation of normal brain progenitor cells. Therefore, the effect of L1LE on increasing motility and proliferation appears to be limited to already transformed cells.
AI vs AI: fraudsters turn defensive technology into an attack tool
Authors: Vaithianathasamy Swami
Published: August 2019

The first rule of managing online fraud and mitigating risk is to remember that fraudsters are entrepreneurs. While it's tempting to think of those committing digital fraud as hoody-wearing lone wolves spending hours in their bedroom working to weasel their way into someone's online account, in reality professional fraud operations look more like the JP Morgan trading floor.

Cyber criminals are not simple, hoodie-wearing lone wolves. Many are sophisticated fraud operations using the most advanced technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).

The energy and ingenuity with which fraud rings and cyber criminals have deployed AI-based solutions has matched that of the businesses and organisations that work to protect themselves from bad actors. Machines have been put to malicious use in ways ranging from click farms to complex model extraction schemes, explains Swami Vaithianathasamy of Signifyd.
Effective interfacial tension in flow-focusing of colloidal dispersions: 3-D numerical simulations and experiments
Authors: Gowda. V Krishne , Brouzet Christophe , Lefranc Thibault , Söderberg L. Daniel , Lundell Fredrik
Published: August 2019

An interface between two miscible fluids is transient, existing as a non-equilibrium state before complete molecular mixing is reached. However, during the existence of such an interface, which typically occurs at relatively short time scales, composition gradients at the boundary between the two liquids cause stresses effectively mimicking an interfacial tension. Here, we combine numerical modelling and experiments to study the influence of an effective interfacial tension between a colloidal fibre dispersion and its own solvent on the flow in a microfluidic system. In a flow-focusing channel, the dispersion is injected as core flow that is hydrodynamically focused by its solvent as sheath flows. This leads to the formation of a long fluid thread, which is characterized in three dimensions using optical coherence tomography and simulated using a volume of fluid method. The simulated flow and thread geometries very closely reproduce the experimental results in terms of thread topology and velocity flow fields. By varying the interfacial tension numerically, we show that it controls the thread development, which can be described by an effective capillary number. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the applied methodology provide the means to measure the ultra-low but dynamically highly significant effective interfacial tension.
Fermentation quality and aerobic stability of low moisture-crimped wheat grains manipulated by organic acid-based additives
Authors: Franco M. , Stefanski T. , Jalava T. , Kuoppala K. , Huuskonen A. , Rinne M.
Published: August 2019

Preservation of moist grain anaerobically by so-called crimping has many advantages. Generally, preservation has been successfully performed when grain is harvested at 30–40% moisture content (MC). However, there is a trend towards using drier than the optimal MC of the raw material. This leads to an increasing need to control aerobic spoilage of the material and also to experimental challenges in assessing the quality and stability of low-MC crimped grain. The objective of the current work was to evaluate fermentation quality, microbial composition and aerobic stability (AS) of drier than the optimal crimped grain ensiled with different additives and to use these materials to compare three different AS evaluation methods. Crimped wheat grain with 28% MC was ensiled using eight additive treatments based mainly on formic and propionic acids including a control without any additive. The low MC resulted in no lactic acid fermentation, but significant ethanol formation occurred in the control. The treatments used resulted in clear differences in microbial quality and AS of the feeds, and use of formic and propionic acid-based additives provided a clear benefit in improving the AS of crimped wheat grain. The correlation between increasing temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) production under aerobic conditions was very close, indicating that CO2produced by aerobic bacteria can be used as a method of evaluating AS. Visual inspection of mould growth resulted in somewhat different ranking of the treatments.
Gain and loss of subcutaneous and abdominal fat depot mass from late pregnancy to 100 days in milk in German Holsteins
Authors: Ruda Lena , Raschka Claudia , Huber Korinna , Tienken Reka , Meyer Ulrich , Dänicke Sven , Rehage Jürgen
Published: August 2019

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that in times of negative energy balance around parturition in dairy cattle, lipids stored in adipocytes are mobilised in a more intensive manner out of the abdominal depots than out of the subcutaneous adipose tissues. Furthermore, the impact of niacin supplementation and energy density of the ration on adipose tissue mass gain and loss was assessed. Absolute masses of subcutaneous (SCAT), retroperitoneal (RPAT), omental (OMAT), mesenterial (MAT) and abdominal adipose tissue as a whole (AAT) were estimated by ultrasonography at −42, 3, 21 and 100 DIM. Absolute and relative daily gain during dry period (−42 to 3 DIM) and loss in fresh cow period (3 to 21 DIM) and early lactation period (22 to 100 DIM) were calculated. Feeding regime neither by niacin nor by energy density exerted any effect on adipose tissue masses. The AAT was always bigger than SCAT, but RPAT, OMAT and MAT did not differ amongst each other. All depot masses showed similar patterns with an increase during dry period and a decrease after calving. In fresh cow period AAT absolutely and relatively lost more mass than SCAT. This confirms that AAT is more intensively mobilised than SCAT during that time span. Further absolute daily gain during dry period was strongly negatively correlated with absolute daily loss during fresh cow period. This underlines the impact of individual body condition on adipose mobilisation in periparturient dairy cows. According to these results, it has to be taken into account that the largest amount of fat mobilised in the fresh cow period origins from AAT. This might impact the pattern of adipose derived metabolites and metabolic effectors interacting in physiological and deregulated adaptation to negative energy balance.
On the bivariate Erdős–Kac theorem and correlations of the Möbius function
Authors: MANGEREL ALEXANDER P.
Published: August 2019

Given a positive integer n let ω (n) denote the number of distinct prime factors of n, and let a be fixed positive integer. Extending work of Kubilius, we develop a bivariate probabilistic model to study the joint distribution of the deterministic vectors (ω(n), ω(n + a)), with n ≤ x as x → ∞, where n and n + a belong to a subset of ℕ with suitable properties. We thus establish a quantitative version of a bivariate analogue of the Erdős–Kac theorem on proper subsets of ℕ.

We give three applications of this result. First, if y = x0(1) is not too small then we prove (in a quantitative way) that the y-truncated Möbius function μy has small binary autocorrelations. This gives a new proof of a result due to Daboussi and Sarkőzy. Second, if μ(n; u) :=e(uω(n)), where u ∈ ℝ then we show that μ(.; u) also has small binary autocorrelations whenever u = o(1) and $u\sqrt {\mathop {\log }\nolimits_2 x} \to \infty$, as x → ∞. These can be viewed as partial results in the direction of a conjecture of Chowla on binary correlations of the Möbius function.

Our final application is related to a problem of Erdős and Mirsky on the number of consecutive integers less than x with the same number of divisors. If $y = x^{{1 \over \beta }}$, where β = β(x) satisfies certain mild growth conditions, we prove a lower bound for the number of consecutive integers n ≤ x that have the same number of y-smooth divisors. Our bound matches the order of magnitude of the one conjectured for the original Erdős-Mirsky problem.
Evaluation of Signal-in-Space Continuity and Availability for BeiDou Satellite Considering Failures
Authors: Fan Lihong , Tu Rui , Zheng Zengji , Zhang Rui , Lu Xiaochun , Liu Jinhai , Huang Xiaodong , Hong Ju
Published: August 2019

Signal-in-space (SIS) continuity and availability are important indicators of performance assessment for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs). The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) Open Service Performance Standard (BDS-OS-PS-1.0) has been released, and the corresponding public performance indicators have been provided, but the actual SIS performance is uncertain to users. SIS continuity and availability are primarily related to unscheduled outages (failures). Therefore, based on the existing failure classification system and actual operation modes, four types of failure modes are first analysed: long-term failure related to satellite service period, maintenance failure related to satellite manoeuvring, short-term failure associated with random repairable anomalies and equivalent failure corresponding to a combination of the above three types of failures. Second, based on the failure classification and selected precise and broadcast ephemerides from 2015–2016, the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) of each failure type are obtained using appropriate detection methods. Finally, using a corresponding assessment model, the SIS continuity and availability of BeiDou are calculated for individual and equivalent failure cases, and these are compared with the provided index in the BDS Open Service Performance Standard.
Potential Enhancement for Wrong-way Driver Detection using Precise Attribute Information
Authors: Wang Jinyue , Metzner Martin , Schwieger Volker
Published: August 2019

Map-matching is widely used in automotive navigation systems to locate vehicle positions on a given digital road map. Various map-matching algorithms have been developed focusing on different application needs. Within the Ghosthunter project, a weighting-function-based map-matching algorithm has been developed for detecting wrong-way driving in order to improve road safety, particularly in Autobahn entrance and exit areas. This paper aims at exploring the potential use of lane-level attributes and height data in improving the success rate of the previously presented algorithm. This algorithm performs well in entrance and exit areas to the Autobahn, with a high success rate of 99.5% in identifying the road on which the vehicle is actually travelling. In the enhanced algorithm presented in this paper the weight coefficients used for computing the total weighting score of candidate roads are adjusted with the aid of one or both kinds of these precise data. The results confirmed that the usage of these precise data can effectively help to detect and correct mismatches at junctions and overpasses.
Impact of the Community Eligibility Provision on meal counts and participation in Pennsylvania and Maryland National School Lunch Programs
Authors: Pokorney Paige E , Chandran Avinash , Long Michael W
Published: August 2019

Objective:

To determine whether school-level participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which provides free school lunch to all students, is associated with school meal participation rates. Participation in school meals is important for decreasing food insecurity and improving child health and well-being.

Design:

Quasi-experimental evaluation using negative binomial regression to predict meal count rates per student-year overall and by reimbursement level adjusted for proportion eligible for free and reduced-price lunch (FR eligibility) and operating days.

Setting:

Schools (grades kindergarten to 12th) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in Maryland and Pennsylvania, USA, from the 2013–2015 (n 1762) and 2016–2017 (n 2379) school years.

Participants:

Administrative, school-level data on school lunch counts and student enrolment.

Results:

CEP was associated with a non-significant 6 % higher total NSLP meal count adjusting for FR eligibility, enrolment and operating days (rate ratio = 1·06, 95 % CI 0·98, 1·14). After controlling for participation rates in the year prior to CEP implementation, the programme was associated with a significant 8 % increase in meal counts (rate ratio = 1·08, 95 % CI 1·03, 1·12). In both analyses, CEP was associated with lower FR meal participation and substantial increases in paid meal participation.

Conclusions:

School-level implementation of CEP is associated with increases in total school meal participation. Current funding structures may prevent broader adoption of the programme by schools with fewer students eligible for FR meals.
“I Didn't Say That”: Margaret Mead on Nature, Nurture, and Gender in the Nuclear Age
Authors: Coffman Elesha
Published: August 2019

The anthropologist Margaret Mead is widely known for stating that human nature is “almost unbelievably malleable,” meaning that individual identity—including gender—is shaped more by culture than by biology. Many feminists, notably Betty Friedan, seized on this idea as a tool for dismantling sexist biases but were dismayed when Mead's later work seemed to relegate women to a biologically determined, maternal role. Mead, however, argued strenuously in print and correspondence that she never intended to set nature against nurture, for she believed that identity grew from the interplay of the two. The historical context for Mead's thinking changed, as the menace of eugenic politics in the 1930s yielded to the existential threat of nuclear annihilation after 1945, but Mead never fundamentally changed her mind about the production of gender.
No auxinic herbicide–resistance cost in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)
Authors: Goggin Danica E. , Beckie Hugh J. , Sayer Chad , Powles Stephen B.
Published: August 2019

Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) is a problematic and economically damaging dicotyledonous weed infesting crops in many regions of the world. Resistance to the auxinic herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba is widespread in Western Australian R. raphanistrum populations, with the resistance mechanism appearing to involve alterations in the physiological response to synthetic auxins and in plant defense. This study aimed to determine whether these alterations cause inhibition in plant growth or reproduction that could potentially be exploited to manage 2,4-D–resistant populations in cropping areas. Therefore, the morphology and seed production of resistant and susceptible populations were compared in an outdoor pot study, with plants grown in the presence and absence of competition by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The susceptible and resistant R. raphanistrum populations were equally suppressed by wheat competition, with plant growth and seed production being decreased by approximately 50%. Although resistant populations produced less vegetative biomass than susceptible populations, there was no negative association between resistance and seed production. Therefore, it is unlikely that any nonherbicidal management practices will be more efficacious on 2,4-D–resistant than 2,4-D–susceptible R. raphanistrum populations.