bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orofacial quantitative sensory testing: Current evidence and future perspectives
Authors: Van der Cruyssen Fréderic , Van Tieghem Loes , Croonenborghs Tomas‐Marijn , Baad‐Hansen Lene , Svensson Peter , Renton Tara , Jacobs Reinhilde , Politis Constantinus , De Laat Antoon
Published: June 2020

Background and objective

Orofacial quantitative sensory testing (QST) is an increasingly valuable psychophysical tool for evaluating neurosensory disorders of the orofacial region. Here, we aimed to evaluate the current evidence regarding this testing method and to discuss its future clinical potential.

Data treatment

We conducted a literature search in Medline, Embase and Scopus for English‐language articles published between 1990 and 2019. The utilized search terms included QST, quantitative, sensory testing and neurosensory, which were combined using the AND operator with the terms facial, orofacial, trigeminal, intraoral and oral.

Results

Our findings highlighted many methods for conducting QST—including method of levels, method of limits and mapping. Potential stimuli also vary, and can include mechanical or thermal stimulation, vibration or pinprick stimuli. Orofacial QST may be helpful in revealing disease pathways and can be used for patient stratification to validate the use of neurosensory profile‐specific treatment options. QST is reportedly reliable in longitudinal studies and is thus a candidate for measuring changes over time. One disadvantage of QST is the substantial time required; however, further methodological refinements and the combination of partial aspects of the full QST battery with other tests and imaging methods should result in improvement.

Conclusions

Overall, orofacial QST is a reliable testing method for diagnosing pathological neurosensory conditions and assessing normal neurosensory function. Despite the remaining challenges that hinder the use of QST for everyday clinical decisions and clinical trials, we expect that future improvements will allow its implementation in routine practice.
Digitization of the Nissen–Riesen chimpanzee radiological growth series
Authors: Thompson Nathan E. , Ahmed Lameesah , Celebi Taner B. , Coopee Zachary S. , Koll Nikki , Rubinstein Danielle , Saunders Megan A. , Anemone Robert L.
Published: June 2020

Longitudinal morphological growth data of apes are incredibly difficult to obtain. Long life histories, combined with practical and ethical issues of obtaining such long‐term data have resulted in few longitudinal data sets in chimpanzees of known chronological ages. One classic, long‐term growth study of chimpanzees was that of Drs Nissen and Riesen initiated at the Yale Laboratories of Primate Biology in 1939. Through that study, whole‐body radiological images were taken on a regular basis from a “normative” group of chimpanzees from birth to adulthood. Here we have digitized the known remaining radiographs from that growth study, many of which are deteriorating, and uploaded the data set to the free, online database MorphoSource. The database comprises 3,568 X‐ray images of 15 of the 16 chimpanzee subjects in the normative group and 1 individual from an experimental group. Herein, we briefly review the historical context of this study and specific details of the data set.
AAMKS—Integrated cloud‐based application for probabilistic fire risk assessment
Authors: Krasuski Adam , Hostikka Simo
Published: June 2020

Available models of fire risk assessment can still hardly be used for practical engineering problems. They are mostly loosely integrated, complex, computationally demanding applications, and require additional pre‐ or post‐hand‐calculations. However, the latest achievements in computer science enable establishing an easy‐to‐use web‐application with access to enormous computing power in a cloud requiring minimal management effort. In this article, we present a new tool for probabilistic fire risk assessment called Aamks. Our goal is to build an easy‐to‐use, science‐based, practical engineering tool to support building design in day‐to‐day work. To meet the overall goal, we aim at working out an integrated, web‐based application with computational efficiency and scalability allowed by cloud computing. Aamks performs a stochastic analysis of life safety in building fires using deterministic models for fire and evacuation and stochastic sampling of the uncertain input parameters.
Local discontinuous Galerkin method for a nonlocal viscous conservation laws
Authors: Li Can , Liu Shuming
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this article is to investigate high‐order numerical approximations of scalar conservation laws with nonlocal viscous term. The viscous term is given in the form of convolution in space variable. With the help of the characteristic of viscous term, we design a semidiscrete local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) method to solve the nonlocal model. We prove stability and convergence of semidiscrete LDG method in L2 norm. The theoretical analysis reveals that the present numerical scheme is stable with optimal convergence order for the linear case, and it is stable with sub‐optimal convergence order for nonlinear case. To demonstrate the validity and accuracy of our scheme, we test the Burgers equation with two typical nonlocal fractional viscous terms. The numerical results show the convergence order accuracy in space for both linear and nonlinear cases. Some numerical simulations are provided to show the robustness and effectiveness of the present numerical scheme.
Guanidyl and imidazolyl integration group‐modified PAMAM for gastric adenocarcinoma gene therapy
Authors: Wang Dongli , Wang Jing , Song Jie , Shen Qing , Wang Ruifeng , Lu Weiyue , Pan Jun , Xie Cao , Liu Min
Published: June 2020

Background

Gene therapy has become a potential strategy for cancer treatment. However, the development of efficient gene vectors restricts the application for cancer gene treatment. Functionalization of polymers with functional groups can significantly improve their transfection efficacy.

Methods

Guanidyl can form bidentate hydrogen with the phosphate groups and phosphate groups are present in DNA and cell membranes, thus increasing DNA condensation and cellular uptake. Imidazolyl has high buffering capacity in endosomal/lysosomal acidic environment, facilitating endosome/lysosome escape. We designed a structure‐integrated group of guanidyl and imidazolyl, 2‐aminoimidazole (AM), which was conjugated to PAMAM generation 2 (G2) for gene therapy of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Results

Molecular docking results illustrated that G2‐AM bound with DNA molecule effectively via multiple interactions. A quantitative luciferase assay showed that the transfection efficacy of G2‐AM/pGL3 was approximately 100‐fold greater than that of G2/pGL3, 90‐fold greater than that of imidazolyl‐modified G2 (G2‐M) /pGL3 and 100‐fold greater than that of G5/pGL3 without additional cytotoxicity. After introducing the pTRAIL gene into gastric adenocarcinoma cells, the apoptosis ratio of gastric adenocarcinoma cells treated with G2‐AM/pTRAIL was 36.95%, which is much larger than the corresponding ratio of G2/pTRAIL (7.45%), G2‐M/pTRAIL (11.33%) and G5/pTRAIL (23.2%). In a gastric adenocarcinoma xenograft model, the in vivo transfection efficacy of G2‐AM/pRFP was much greater than that of G2/pRFP and G2‐M/pRFP.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that AM could be modified with cationic polymers for potential application in gene delivery and gastric adenocarcinoma gene therapy.
Breakthrough concepts in immune-oncology: Cancer vaccines at the bedside
Authors: Roy Sohini , Sethi Tarsheen K , Taylor David , Kim Young J , Johnson Douglas B
Published: June 2020

Clinical approval of the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents for multiple cancer types has reinvigorated the long-standing work on cancer vaccines. In the pre-ICB era, clinical efforts focused on the Ag, the adjuvants, the formulation, and the mode of delivery. These translational efforts on therapeutic vaccines range from cell-based (e.g., dendritic cells vaccine Sipuleucel-T) to DNA/RNA-based platforms with various formulations (liposome), vectors (Listeria monocytogenes), or modes of delivery (intratumoral, gene gun, etc.). Despite promising preclinical results, cancer vaccine trials without ICB have historically shown little clinical activity. With the anticipation and expansion of combinatorial immunotherapeutic trials with ICB, the cancer vaccine field has entered the personalized medicine arena with recent advances in immunogenic neoantigen-based vaccines. In this article, we review the literature to organize the different cancer vaccines in the clinical space, and we will discuss their advantages, limits, and recent progress to overcome their challenges. Furthermore, we will also discuss recent preclinical advances and clinical strategies to combine vaccines with checkpoint blockade to improve therapeutic outcome and present a translational perspective on future directions.
Mapping Structural Connectivity Using Diffusion MRI: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Yeh Chun‐Hung , Jones Derek K. , Liang Xiaoyun , Descoteaux Maxime , Connelly Alan
Published: June 2020

Diffusion MRI‐based tractography is the most commonly‐used technique when inferring the structural brain connectome, i.e., the comprehensive map of the connections in the brain. The utility of graph theory—a powerful mathematical approach for modeling complex network systems—for analyzing tractography‐based connectomes brings important opportunities to interrogate connectome data, providing novel insights into the connectivity patterns and topological characteristics of brain structural networks. When applying this framework, however, there are challenges, particularly regarding methodological and biological plausibility. This article describes the challenges surrounding quantitative tractography and potential solutions. In addition, challenges related to the calculation of global network metrics based on graph theory are discussed.Evidence Level: 5Technical Efficacy: Stage 1
The observed synoptic scale precipitation relationship between Western Equatorial Africa and Eastern Equatorial Africa
Authors: Ayesiga Godwin , Holloway Christopher E. , Williams Charles JR. , Yang Gui‐Ying , Ferrett Samantha
Published: June 2020

An improvement to subseasonal (i.e., days to weeks) rainfall prediction across Equatorial Africa is an important area of current research. This is because most countries in this region are highly dependent on rain‐fed agriculture, and so millions of livelihoods are at risk in the event of an unexpected poor harvest. This study examines 16 years of daily precipitation anomalies to investigate the relationship in precipitation between Western Equatorial Africa (WEA) and Eastern Equatorial Africa (EEA). Using lead/lag correlation and spatio‐temporal correlation patterns over various sub‐regions, a synoptic‐scale relationship in precipitation is presented between WEA and EEA, in which precipitation over EEA lags precipitation over WEA by 1–2 days. In addition, central WEA and sub‐regions in South Sudan display a synoptic‐timescale precipitation contrast, suggesting a weak precipitation dipole. Consistent with the known heterogeneity characteristic of Equatorial Africa's precipitation, our findings suggest that the 1–2 days precipitation relationship is dependent upon the sub‐region under investigation. Furthermore, our results indicate a coherent synoptic‐timescale eastward/northeastward propagating signal with a speed of approximately 12 m/s. Composite and correlation analyses of precipitation anomalies and a novel equatorial wave dataset show an apparent connection between eastward/northeastward propagating wet anomalies and Kelvin wave lower‐tropospheric convergence. This suggests that Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves (CCKWs) play a role in modulating the 1–2 days convection and precipitation propagation between WEA and EEA. These results imply that monitoring the propagation characteristics of CCKWs may be important in synoptic‐timescale forecasting over Equatorial Africa.
Childhood Trauma Exposure Exacerbates the Impact of Concurrent Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence on Women's Posttraumatic Symptoms
Authors: Cintora Patricia , Laurent Heidemarie Kaiser
Published: June 2020

Although it is well established that intimate partner violence (IPV) is detrimental to women's mental health, it remains unclear to what extent symptoms can be attributed to the proximal effects of IPV exposure itself as opposed to more stable scarring effects or co‐occurring risk factors. Heterogeneity in the magnitude of IPV effects further suggests that IPV‐exposed individuals are differentially susceptible to disorder, and an investigation of moderating factors that may make women more vulnerable is warranted. We used a prospective longitudinal study of low‐income mothers followed from 3 to 18 months postpartum to distinguish the concurrent mental health effects of IPV exposure from overall person‐level IPV‐mental health associations, as well as to test the moderating role of prior relational traumatic experiences in the form of childhood maltreatment. Multilevel modeling results demonstrated a unique concurrent association between increasing IPV and women's posttraumatic symptoms over time, even after controlling for an overall association between mean IPV and symptom levels. The effects of concurrent IPV were heightened in women who reported a history of childhood maltreatment. Model effects were medium to large,R2= .27–.35. The implications of these findings for the identification of and intervention with women at the highest risk for relational trauma‐related mental health difficulties are discussed.
Survival of Sharp‐Tailed Grouse Under Variable Livestock Grazing Management
Authors: Milligan Megan C. , Berkeley Lorelle I. , McNew Lance B.
Published: June 2020

Livestock grazing is a predominant land use worldwide and can influence wildlife populations by altering grassland composition, structure, and productivity. Conceptually, rest‐rotation livestock grazing could increase pasture‐level heterogeneity that would allow wildlife to balance the need for resources with the risk of predation. Prairie‐grouse (Tympanuchus spp.) are recognized as important indicator species for grassland ecosystems, so identifying management approaches suitable for prairie‐grouse could have implications for other species. We monitored radio‐collared female sharp‐tailed grouse (T. phasianellus) to evaluate the effects of 3 systems of livestock grazing management on the breeding season survival and habitat‐associated mortality risk of adult grouse in the northern mixed‐grass prairie in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, USA, during 2016–2018. Cumulative breeding season survival was 0.65 ± 0.04 (SE) and annual survival varied from 0.28 ± 0.04 to 0.50 ± 0.05. Grazing management did not have a meaningful influence on any aspect of the cumulative breeding season survival of adult female sharp‐tailed grouse, although the seasonal timing of peaks in mortality risk differed among systems. A 10% increase in cropland increased mortality risk of adult female sharp‐tailed grouse by a factor of 1.27. Overall, our results suggest that strategies that preserve economically viable ranching systems in unfragmented grasslands may have greater benefits for sharp‐tailed grouse survival than prescriptive livestock grazing systems. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Validation of Stage N3 of the Eighth Edition AJCC Staging System for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Pan Xin‐Bin , Qu Song , Li Ling , Chen Long , Liang Shi‐Xiong , Zhu Xiao‐Dong
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To validate stage nodal (N)3 of the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study extracted NPC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2016. Pathologically confirmed patients with complete data of level IV, N3a, and N3b lymph node metastasis were investigated. The included patients were divided into level IV, N3a, and N3b groups. Five‐year overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were compared among the three groups.

Results

A total of 693 patients were included: 285 (41.13%) patients in the level IV group, 124 (17.89%) patients in the N3a group, and 284 (40.98%) patients in the N3b group. The 5‐year OS (57.1%, 55.0%, and 55.2%) and CSS (64.4%, 63.5%, and 64.4%) were not different among the level IV, N3a, and N3b groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that N stage was not an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91–1.17; P = .65) or CSS (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.89–1.19; P = .70).

Conclusion

Stage N3 of the 8th edition AJCC staging system for NPC is reasonable.

Level of Evidence

III Laryngoscope, 131:535–540, 2021
A New Cylindrical Structure from ABCBD Pentablock Quadpolymer Melt Studied by Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Suzuki Jiro , Takano Atsushi , Matsushita Yushu
Published: June 2020

Morphology of AB0CB1D pentablock quadpolymers in melt is studied by Monte Carlo simulation, where B0 and B1 are the same polymer component. When the volume fractions of the two end‐blocks, φA, φD, and that of mid‐block, φC are all small, the B‐domain forms matrix phase, whereas the A‐, C‐, and D‐chains stay as cylindrical domains. A tetragonally packed cylindrical structure is observed in the composition range of 0.125 ≤ φC ≤ 0.188 at φA = φD = 0.125 and γ  = 1.0, wherein γ  is the volume fraction ratio of two B‐chains, that is, γ  = φB0/φB1, defined as a symmetric factor. Another complex but periodic cylindrical structure is found at φA = φD = 0.125 and φC = 0.188 with quite wider γ  range of 0.38 ≤ γ  ≤ 0.64. By connecting D‐domains, this structure can be classified as the 3.3.4.3.4 Archimedean tiling, which is composed of imaginary regular triangles and squares. It should be noted that γ  range of 3.3.4.3.4 phase is much wider for the present AB0CB1D pentablock quadpolymers than that for the AB0CB1 tetrablock terpolymers. In addition, the A‐domains have been found to display the periodic Cairo pentagonal tiling by drawing auxiliary connect lines.
Automated mitral valve vortex ring extraction from 4D‐flow MRI
Authors: Kräuter Corina , Reiter Ursula , Reiter Clemens , Nizhnikava Volha , Masana Marc , Schmidt Albrecht , Fuchsjäger Michael , Stollberger Rudolf , Reiter Gert
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To present and validate a method for automated extraction and analysis of the temporal evolution of the mitral valve (MV) vortex ring from MR 4D‐flow data.

Methods

The proposed algorithm uses the divergence‐free part of the velocity vector field for Q criterion‐based identification and tracking of MV vortex ring core and region within the left ventricle (LV). The 4D‐flow data of 20 subjects (10 healthy controls, 10 patients with ischemic heart disease) were used to validate the algorithm against visual analysis as well as to assess the method’s sensitivity to manual LV segmentation. Quantitative MV vortex ring parameters were analyzed with respect to both their differences between healthy subjects and patients and their correlation with transmitral peak velocities.

Results

The algorithm successfully extracted MV vortex rings throughout the entire cardiac cycle, which agreed substantially with visual analysis (Cohen’s kappa = 0.77). Furthermore, vortex cores and regions were robustly detected even if a static end‐diastolic LV segmentation mask was applied to all frames (Dice coefficients 0.82 ± 0.08 and 0.94 ± 0.02 for core and region, respectively). Early diastolic MV vortex ring vorticity, kinetic energy and circularity index differed significantly between healthy controls and patients. In contrast to vortex shape parameters, vorticity and kinetic energy correlated strongly with transmitral peak velocities.

Conclusion

An automated method for temporal MV vortex ring extraction demonstrating robustness with respect to LV segmentation strategies is introduced. Quantitative vortex parameter analysis indicates importance of the MV vortex ring for LV diastolic (dys)function.
On refinements of some integral inequalities using improved power‐mean integral inequalities
Authors: Kadakal Huriye
Published: June 2020

In this study, using power‐mean inequality and improved power‐mean integral inequality better approach than power‐mean inequality and an identity for differentiable functions, we get inequalities for functions whose derivatives in absolute value at certain power are convex. Numerically, it is shown that improved power‐mean integral inequality gives better approach than power‐mean inequality. Some applications to special means of real numbers and some error estimates for the midpoint formula are also given.
Dimerization of Aβ40 inside dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer and its effect on bilayer integrity: Atomistic simulation at three temperatures
Authors: Kargar Faezeh , Emadi Saeed , Fazli Hossein
Published: June 2020

Amyloid‐beta (Aβ) protein is related to Alzheimer disease (AD), and various experiments have shown that oligomers as small as dimers are cytotoxic. Recent studies have concluded that interactions of Aβ with neuronal cell membranes lead to disruption of membrane integrity and toxicity and they play a key role in the development of AD. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used to investigate Aβ in aqueous solution and membranes. We have previously studied monomeric Aβ40 embedded in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane using MD simulations. Here, we explore interactions of two Aβ40 peptides in DPPC bilayer and its consequences on dimer distribution in a lipid bilayer and on the secondary structure of the peptides. We explored that N‐terminals played an important role in dimeric Aβ peptide aggregations and Aβ‐bilayer interactions, while C‐terminals bound peptides to bilayer like anchors. We did not observe exiting of peptides in our simulations although we observed insertion of peptides into the core of bilayer in some of our simulations. So it seems that the presence of Aβ on membrane surface increases its aggregation rate, and as diffusion occurs in two dimensions, it can increase the probability of interpeptide interactions. We found that dimeric Aβ, like monomeric one, had the ability to cause structural destabilization of DPPC membrane, which in turn might ultimately lead to cell death in an in vivo system. This information could have important implications for understanding the affinity of Aβ oligomers (here dimer) for membranes and the mechanism of Aβ oligomer toxicity in AD.
External trap‐and‐release membrane inlet for photoionization mass spectrometry: Towards fast direct analysis of aromatic pollutants in aquatic systems
Authors: Gehm Christian , Streibel Thorsten , Ehlert Sven , Schulz‐Bull Detlef , Zimmermann Ralf
Published: June 2020

Rationale

Fast and sensitive detection of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) in water is of high importance because of their significant impact on human health and the environment. For this, resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) coupled to trap‐and‐release membrane‐introduction mass spectrometry (T&R‐MIMS) offers the possibility of sensitive on‐line water analysis with a time resolution of minutes.

Methods

REMPI is a versatile tool for sensitive gas‐phase analysis, in which AHs are selectively ionized in complex gas mixtures by the subsequent absorption of at least two photons. In T&R‐MIMS, selective extraction and enrichment of analytes from water can be achieved using semipermeable membranes. By the subsequent stimulated desorption of enriched compounds, mass spectrometric detection is enabled.

Results

We present an external T&R inlet for hollow‐fiber membranes coupled to REMPI time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, which enables direct and sensitive detection of semi‐volatile AHs in water. In laboratory experiments, spiked water samples were analyzed. For the investigated compounds, limits of detection (LODs) in the range 1–47 ng/L were determined. The LODs are approximately one order of magnitude lower than in a previously reported continuous membrane‐introduction approach using a planar membrane. Further improvement of LOD may be realized by extending the trapping time and by increasing the release temperature. Furthermore, the system was applied to investigate different fuels suspended in water and real water samples. The obtained data are in good agreement with findings of a former study.

Conclusions

In the framework of the present study, we demonstrate the high potential of the combination of REMPI and T&R‐MIMS in the form of a newly developed external hollow‐fiber membrane inlet. With the developed system, semi‐volatile AHs can be directly detected down to ng/L levels on a minute time scale. The approach thus may pave the way to future ship application in marine sciences, natural resources exploration or pollutant and hazard detection.
Proposal of New Activation Function in Deep Image Prior
Authors: Segawa Ryo , Hayashi Hitoshi , Fujii Shohei
Published: June 2020

We propose a new activation function and verify its performance in a deep image prior network. The new activation function is RSwish, which is Swish with a random slope for x < 0 assuming that the input value of the activation function is x. In addition, we manipulate the probability of the random number and observe the effect. As a result, we found that RSwish can perform better than Swish by manipulating probabilities according to the degree of color change in the image. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Guerickes Versuch mit den Großen Magdeburger Halbkugeln und den Pferden
Authors: Knapp Wolfram
Published: June 2020

Die Magdeburger Halbkugeln wurden vom deutschen Naturwissenschaftler und Bürgermeister von Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke, zum Nachweis des Vakuums und der Kraft des Luftdrucks erfunden. Das Experiment mit den Großen Magdeburger Halbkugeln und den Pferden ist eines der bekanntesten und spektakulärsten Vakuumexperimente der Welt. Im Jahr 1657 war die erste Vorführung in Magdeburg, also 3 Jahre nach dem Reichstag 1654 in Regensburg. Im Beitrag wird erneut der historische Beweis dafür geliefert, basierend auf dem Briefwechsel zwischen Guericke und Schott, der diesen in seinem Buch „Technica Curiosa“ 1664 veröffentlicht hat. Das bedeutet aber auch, dass die erste Vorführung des berühmten Vakuumexperiments mit den 16 Pferden in Regensburg erst im Jahr 2004 stattgefunden hat, präsentiert von der Otto‐von‐Guericke‐Gesellschaft Magdeburg. Der Beitrag beinhaltet einige theoretische Grundlagen und praktische Erfahrungen zum Vakuumexperiment aus über 160 Vorführungen.
Dimensional Reduction of a Selenido Stannate Salt in Ionic Liquids to form 2D‐K2Sn2Se5, a Direct Heavy Analogue of an Oxo Silicate
Authors: Peters Bertram , Santner Silke , Dehnen Stefanie
Published: June 2020

The structural motifs of SiO2 or silicates, on one hand, and their heavier homologues of group 14 (T) and group 16 (E) elements, on the other hand, commonly differ, as the strict adherence to corner‐sharing is not necessary in the latter owing to larger interatomic distances. On the contrary: larger coordination numbers as well as edge‐sharing of the coordination polyhedra are preferred in [TxEy] subunits with T = Si, Ge, Sn and E = S, Se, Te. Hence, we were surprised to find a new modification of the selenido stannate K2Sn2Se5, which is comprised of exclusively corner‐sharing [SnSe4] tetrahedra in a layer‐type anionic substructure 2D‐{[Sn2Se5]2–}. While the structure of the title compound 2D‐K2Sn2Se5 (1) differs significantly from the known parent compound, 3D‐K2Se2Se5, it shows similarities with layered silicates of the apophyllite family. To the best of our knowledge, 1 represents the first known selenido stannate with an oxo silicate‐like 2D structure. It formed besides known selenido stannes upon heating 3D‐K2Sn2Se5 in in imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (C2C2Im)[BF4] or (C2C2Im)[BF4] in the presence of DMMP and Cd2+ or Zn2+.
Interactional Imogen: language, practice and the body
Authors: Collins Harry
Published: June 2020

Here I try to improve on the available answers to certain long-debated questions and set out some consequences for the answers. Are there limits to the extent to which we can understand the conceptual worlds of other human communities and of non-human creatures? How does this question relate to our ability to engage in other cultures’ practices and languages? What is meant by ‘the body’ and what is meant by ‘the brain’ and how do different meanings bear on the questions? The central answer developed here is that it is possible, given the right circumstances, for a competent human from any human group to understand the culture of any other human group without engaging in their practices though there are barriers when it comes to communication across species. This answer has important social and political consequences and consequences for the debate about artificial intelligence.
Comparisons with wheat reveal root anatomical and histochemical constraints of rice under water-deficit stress
Authors: Ouyang Wenjing , Yin Xinyou , Yang Jianchang , Struik Paul C.
Published: June 2020

Aims

To face the challenge of decreasing freshwater availability for agriculture, it is important to explore avenues for developing rice genotypes that can be grown like dryland cereals. Roots play a key role in plant adaptation to dry environments.

Methods

We examined anatomical and histochemical root traits that affect water acquisition in rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). These traits and root growth were measured at two developmental stages for three rice and two wheat cultivars that were grown in pots under three water regimes.

Results

Wheat roots had larger xylem sizes than rice roots, which potentially led to a higher axial conductance, especially under water-deficit conditions. Suberization, lignification and thickening of the endodermis in rice roots increased with increasing water deficit, resulting in stronger radial barriers for water flow in rice than in wheat, especially near the root apex. In addition, water deficit strongly impeded root growth and lateral root proliferation in rice, but only slightly in wheat, and cultivars within a species differed little in these responses. The stress sensitivity of rice attributes was slightly more prominent at vegetative than at flowering stages.

Conclusions

Rice root characteristics, which are essential for growth under inundated conditions, are not conducive to growth under water deficit. Although rice roots show considerable plasticity under different watering regimes, improving root xylem size and reducing the radial barriers would be required if rice is to grow like dryland cereals.
Ethikkompetenz als Querschnittsaufgabe
Authors: Prinzing Marlis , Schlütz Daniela , Kaufmann Katja , Kreissl Julian , Rakebrand Thomas
Published: June 2020

Die digitale Mediengesellschaft ist ein zentrales Themenfeld der Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft (KMW). Die Auseinandersetzung mit entsprechenden Forschungsansätzen birgt bestehende, aber auch neue forschungsethische Herausforderungen. Sich ihrer gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung bewusste Forschung stellt daher gezielt Fragen nach Verantwortlichkeit und Verhältnismäßigkeit. Forschungsethik ist ein Querschnittsthema und muss systematisch trainiert werden, also als Teil der Forschungskompetenz zum obligatorischen Thema für Aus- und Weiterbildung werden. Dieser Aufsatz befasst sich mit Forschungsethik aus methodischer, rechtlicher und ausbildungsbezogener Sicht. Er will zur Beschäftigung mit vergleichbaren Fragestellungen und zu einem Erfahrungsaustausch in der wissenschaftlichen Gemeinschaft beitragen. Als Problemaufriss werden exemplarisch Spannungsfelder beschrieben, die sich im Rahmen von Forschungsprozessen ergeben können, etwa im Umgang mit Daten oder mit Bildmaterial. Zwei Fallstudien vertiefen forschungsethische Aspekte beim Umgang mit vulnerablen Personen in qualitativen Interviews sowie im Hinblick auf die informierte Einwilligung und ihre Wirkung auf die Teilnahmebereitschaft an Online-Befragungen. Konkrete Vorschläge zur systematischen Integration des Themas in die Ausbildung sollen verdeutlichen, wie Ethikkompetenz didaktisch vermittelt werden kann. Forschungsethik sollte darüber hinaus als deliberativer Prozess in der KMW verankert werden. Am Ende steht die Anregung, eine Anlaufstelle für forschungsethische Fragen zu schaffen, die als Selbstregulierungseinrichtung für den Wissenschaftsbetrieb dienen kann. Sie könnte z. B. eine Diskussionsplattform für einen forschungsethischen Diskurs in der KMW bieten, vorliegende Handreichungen, Informationsmaterial und Lehrkonzepte sammeln und bereitstellen sowie Fallbeispiele für ethisch-methodische Herausforderungen, die sich im Rahmen der Entwicklung neuer (digitaler) Methoden ergeben können. Ziele wäre es, dafür zu sensibilisieren, wo in einem Forschungsvorhaben ethische „Fallstricke“ zu beachten sind, sowie Anregungen für konkretes Handeln zu geben.
Innovative Benthic Lander for Macroalgae Monitoring in Shallow-Water Environments
Authors: Santana João Pedro , Mathias Nuno , Hoveling Richelle , Alves Hugo , Morais Tiago
Published: June 2020

The colonization of underwater environments by exotic seaweeds is causing major ecological problems around the world. This project, referred to AMALIA, aims to transform this current ocean threat into an opportunity by adding value to the macroalgae present off the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. To do so and to observe the presence of seaweeds in situ, an ocean modular submersible platform was developed. This platform was designed to be capable of detecting and surveying surges of invasive seaweeds while withstanding sea conditions. Conceptual designs followed by a screening process were performed, taking into consideration criteria such as operational range and modularity. An open-frame lander was considered and further developed using buckling criteria. In parallel, a state-of-the-art monitoring system was created using spectral imaging, allowing for the future creation of a macroalgae identification system. In addition, sensorial systems for characterizing growth conditions were introduced. Laboratory trials were executed to assess the capability of the system, and sea trials are currently being performed. Numerical simulations and laboratory trials indicate that the structure is fully capable of being deployed for shallow-water environments with a state-of-the-art invasive seaweed monitoring system while maintaining a high degree of modularity.
Lomitapide–a Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Inhibitor for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Stefanutti Claudia
Published: June 2020

Purpose of Review

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare, genetic condition characterized by high levels of Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); overt, early-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); and premature cardiovascular events and mortality. Lomitapide is a first-in-class microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor for the treatment of HoFH. This review provides an update on data emerging from real-world studies of lomitapide following on from its pivotal phase 3 clinical trial in HoFH.

Recent Findings

Recent registry data have confirmed that HoFH is characterized by delayed diagnosis, with many patients not receiving effective therapy until they are approaching the age when major adverse cardiovascular events may occur. Data from case series of varying sizes, and from a 163-patient registry of HoFH patients receiving lomitapide, have demonstrated that lomitapide doses are lower and adverse events less severe than in the phase 3 study. Lomitapide enables many patients to reach European Atherosclerosis Society LDL-C targets. Some patients are able to reduce frequency of lipoprotein apheresis or, in some cases, stop the procedure altogether—unless there is significant elevation of lipoprotein (a). Modelling analyses based on historical and clinical trial data indicate that lomitapide has the potential to improve cardiovascular outcomes and survival in HoFH.

Real-world clinical experience with lomitapide has shown the drug to be effective with manageable, less marked adverse events than in formal clinical studies. Event modelling data suggest a survival benefit with lomitapide in HoFH.
Distillery Stillage: Characteristics, Treatment, and Valorization
Authors: Mikucka Wioleta , Zielińska Magdalena
Published: June 2020

Distilleries are among the most polluting industries because ethanol fermentation results in the discharge of large quantities of high-strength liquid effluents with high concentrations of organic matter and nitrogen compounds, low pH, high temperature, dark brown color, and high salinity. The most common method of managing this wastewater (distillery stillage) is to use it for soil conditioning, but this requires thickening the wastewater and may cause soil pollution due to its high nitrogen content. Therefore, treatment of distillery stillage is preferable. This review discusses individual biological and physico-chemical treatment methods and combined technologies. In addition, special attention is paid to valorization of distillery stillage, which is a valuable source of polysaccharides and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), as well as natural antioxidants, including polyphenols and other bioactive compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. New directions in improvement of valorization technologies are highlighted, including the search for new eutectic solvents for extracting these compounds. Such technologies are essential for sustainable development, which requires the use of management and valorization strategies for recovery of valuable compounds with minimal disposal of waste streams.
A cutting edge 6U CubeSat ADCS design for Earth observation with sub-meter spatial resolution at 230–380 km altitude
Authors: Kuiper Hans , Dolkens Dennis
Published: June 2020

A 6U CubeSat for Earth observation in 230–350 km orbits with sub-meter resolution is presented. The proposed Stable and Highly Accurate Pointing Earth-Imager (SHAPE) system’s attitude determination and control system (ADCS) is composed of a single momentum bias wheel with magnetic bearings at rotational speeds of 6000–7000 rpm and refined magnetorquers. Reaction wheels as instability source are absent. The ADCS stabilizes the spacecraft attitude by counteracting the torques from external disturbances in the thermosphere down to < 1° pointing accuracy and < 0.1° instability. The momentum wheel was sized to an angular momentum of 1 Nms based on the worst-case atmospheric density of the next solar cycle. The 0.5 Am2magnetorquer dipole moment provides with low power consumption, mass and cost, high reliability and sufficient torque. The ADCS initialisation study revealed three stable start-up modes, while the all-spun state is achieved using a set of thrusters. De-tumbling analysis show that the magnetorquers reduce the tumbling rates with magnitudes of up to 35°/s to mean motion values in less than an orbit using a static gain B-dot controller. A 3U camera design capable of sub-meter spatial resolution at 230 km altitude is presented which complies with the SHAPE spacecraft system design. The instrument has a single deployable primary mirror enabled by a deployment hinge design with hysteresis < 0.5 μ. This payload combined with air-breathing electric propulsion technology at 230 km nominal altitude boosts the SHAPE system Earth observation potential down to sub-meter spatial resolution and enables tuning of the mission lifetime by orbit keeping.
Smartphone-Based Therapeutic Exercises for Men Affected by Premature Ejaculation: A Pilot Study
Authors: Optale Gabriele , Burigat Stefano , Chittaro Luca , Riva Giuseppe
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Smartphone-delivered healthcare interventions allow patients to access services on demand when needed, improving motivation and compliance. However, the use of mobile health apps has been scarcely explored in sexual medicine.

Aim

To evaluate the effects of integrating psychological treatment for premature ejaculation (PE) with a mobile coaching app that offers therapeutic exercises on the patient’s smartphone.

Methods

This study comprised 35 heterosexual men with primary psychogenic PE (mean age 34 years, standard deviation = 9.15). All patients entered a cycle of 15 sessions of psychodynamic psychotherapy integrating behavioral therapy, each lasting about 45 minutes. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, each of which performed daily homework exercises (physiotherapy exercises for reinforcing the pelvic floor muscles and cognitive exercises for distancing from sexual failure.) The first group (15 patients) received verbal and printed instructions only (treatment as usual—TAU), whereas the second group (17 patients) experienced the exercises with guidance from the mobile app (app). In both groups, the exercises started after the seventh session. Patients were advised to perform the exercises 3 times a day for 3 months.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome measures were the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool and the Premature Ejaculation Profile.

Results

Analysis of the data revealed significant pre-post improvements in Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool and Premature Ejaculation Profile scores for the app group compared with those of the TAU group (P < .01). The frequency of patients with no-PE condition for the app group after treatment was significantly higher than the frequency of patients with no-PE condition for the TAU group (P < .001).

Conclusion

Results suggest that a mobile coaching app performs better than TAU in improving both the behavioral skills of ejaculatory delay and sexual self-confidence within a psychological treatment for PE. Future studies should collect follow-up data and explore the potential of mobile coaching apps in combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions.
Deep kernel learning approach to engine emissions modeling
Authors: Yu Changmin , Seslija Marko , Brownbridge George , Mosbach Sebastian , Kraft Markus , Parsi Mohammad , Davis Mark , Page Vivian , Bhave Amit
Published: June 2020

We apply deep kernel learning (DKL), which can be viewed as a combination of a Gaussian process (GP) and a deep neural network (DNN), to compression ignition engine emissions and compare its performance to a selection of other surrogate models on the same dataset. Surrogate models are a class of computationally cheaper alternatives to physics-based models. High-dimensional model representation (HDMR) is also briefly discussed and acts as a benchmark model for comparison. We apply the considered methods to a dataset, which was obtained from a compression ignition engine and includes as outputs soot and NO
x
emissions as functions of 14 engine operating condition variables. We combine a quasi-random global search with a conventional grid-optimization method in order to identify suitable values for several DKL hyperparameters, which include network architecture, kernel, and learning parameters. The performance of DKL, HDMR, plain GPs, and plain DNNs is compared in terms of the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the predictions as well as computational expense of training and evaluation. It is shown that DKL performs best in terms of RMSE in the predictions whilst maintaining the computational cost at a reasonable level, and DKL predictions are in good agreement with the experimental emissions data.
How school counsellors cope with suicide attempts among adolescents — A qualitative study in Israel
Authors: Levkovich Inbar , Vigdor Ina
Published: June 2020

The aim of the study was to examine how school counsellors cope with suicide attempts among students in their schools. A qualitative phenomenological methodology was used. Participants included 24 Israeli high school counsellors aged 32–62. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. The findings indicate that counsellors find students’ suicide attempts difficult, disconcerting, painful and confusing to manage, and note the complex nature of their dealings with the adolescents, their families and the school administrators. Despite feeling insecure about their ability to provide help, the counsellors felt they were at the forefront of the treatment effort in the school environment. To cope with the responsibility and challenges, the counsellors relied mainly on informal sources of support. Implications for practice are discussed.
Cardiffians’ perceptions of English in the UK
Authors: Evans Betsy E. , Dunbar Matthew , Chartier Nicole
Published: June 2020

This Perceptual Dialectology (PD) study asked residents of Cardiff, Wales, about their perceptions of English in the United Kingdom (UK). In addition, because face to face exposure to dialect variation has rarely been included as a variable in PD studies, participants were asked about their travel experience to ascertain whether this might influence their responses to a PD map task. Participants’ responses to the map task were analyzed using ArcGIS to create composite maps. Results show that these Cardiffians perceive “dialect or regional” speech boundaries to be located around major cities in England and Wales but also southwest Wales. Composite maps and polygon counts suggest that the more traveled respondents have a more nuanced perception of dialect regions than those who claim to travel less, suggesting that travel experience may influence PD participants’ responses to map tasks.
THE KETONEN ORDER
Authors: GOLDBERG GABRIEL
Published: June 2020

We study a partial order on countably complete ultrafilters introduced by Ketonen [2] as a generalization of the Mitchell order. The following are our main results: the order is wellfounded; its linearity is equivalent to the Ultrapower Axiom, a principle introduced in the author’s dissertation [1]; finally, assuming the Ultrapower Axiom, the Ketonen order coincides with Lipschitz reducibility in the sense of generalized descriptive set theory.
Buen Suceso: A New Multicomponent Valdivia Site in Santa Elena, Ecuador
Authors: Rowe Sarah M. , Duke Guy S.
Published: June 2020

New radiocarbon dates and excavations show that Buen Suceso (OSE-M-2M-4) in Santa Elena, Ecuador, was occupied between 3700 and 1425 BC. These dates demonstrate that Buen Suceso is a rare multicomponent Valdivia site and one of the longer-occupied Valdivia sites investigated to date.
Extensions of an identity of Euler
Authors: Brown Geoffrey , Balakrishnan Narayanaswamy
Published: June 2020

In this paper we state the original identity proved by Euler, and we provide an alternative proof of this result. We then extend the approach to derive a further identity for the sum of reciprocals of squares, along with two other related identities. We conclude by obtaining yet another extension of the identity, and this is accomplished by means of a probability density function, or pdf.
The role of affective orientations in promoting perceived polarization
Authors: Armaly Miles T. , Enders Adam M.
Published: June 2020

Recent work on political divisions in the mass public has identified several manifestations of polarization linked to different types of attitudes, orientations, and behaviors. Of these, affective polarization and perceived polarization have attracted increasing attention, though we still know fairly little of the links between these variants of polarization. In this paper, we examine the association between affective and perceived polarization, with an aim toward disentangling any potential causal relationship between the two processes. Using two sets of nationally representative panel data from 1992 to 1996 and 2008 to 2009, we find evidence that affective polarization causes perceived polarization, and that perceived polarization is not related to future affective polarization. Stratifying the models by level of political information, we find that the strength and statistical significance of the relationships between past and future values of affective and perceived polarization are conditional on political sophistication: more sophisticated individuals exhibit stronger relationships.