bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population Pharmacokinetics of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Patients With HER2‐Positive Breast Cancer and Other Solid Tumors
Authors: Yin Ophelia , Xiong Yuan , Endo Seiko , Yoshihara Kazutaka , Garimella Tushar , AbuTarif Malaz , Wada Russ , LaCreta Frank
Published: October 2020

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS‐8201) is a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–targeting antibody–drug conjugate with a novel enzyme‐cleavable linker, a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload, and a drug‐to‐antibody ratio of ≈ 8. We have characterized the population pharmacokinetics (PK) of trastuzumab deruxtecan and released drug (topoisomerase I inhibitor) in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer or other solid tumor malignancies. This analysis includes pooled data from five clinical studies with 639 patients. Trastuzumab deruxtecan doses ranged from 0.8 to 8.0 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Serum concentrations of trastuzumab deruxtecan and released drug were analyzed using a sequential two‐step approach, with the nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling methods. Covariate assessment was based upon stepwise forward‐addition and backward‐elimination process, followed by both univariate and multivariate analysis quantifying their impact on steady‐state exposure of trastuzumab deruxtecan and released drug. A two‐compartment model with linear elimination best described PK profiles of intact trastuzumab deruxtecan, while a one‐compartment model with time‐varying release‐rate constant and linear elimination described released‐drug PK profiles. Statistically significant covariates (country, tumor size, sex, formulation, age, body weight, albumin, total bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase) resulted in < 20% change in steady‐state area under the concentration‐time curve of trastuzumab deruxtecan and released drug, except for increased body weight (95th percentile, 86 kg) and decreased albumin (5th percentile, 31 g/L). Analysis of patients stratified by country, race, renal function, and hepatic function found no clinically meaningful differences in steady‐state exposure of intact trastuzumab deruxtecan or released drug. Overall, results suggest that no dose adjustment based on tested covariates or in specific patient populations is warranted.
Concordance ofHPV, conventional smear, colposcopy, and conization results in cervical dysplasia
Authors: Aydogan Kirmizi Demet , Baser Emre , Demir Caltekin Melike , Onat Taylan , Sahin Sevinc , Yalvac Ethem Serdar
Published: October 2020

Background

Cervical cancer screening algorithms are increasingly focused on Human Papillomavirus (HPV)‐based screening while the accuracy of using abnormal cytological findings to detect dysplastic lesions still remains important. This retrospective study correlated the results of conventional cervical cytology, colposcopy guided biopsy, and cold knife conization (CKC) procedures performed in a tertiary center.

Materials and Methods

Data from 9399 patients who underwent screening with conventional cervical cytology between 2010 and 2019 was obtained from the hospital registry. Abnormal cervical cytology and high‐risk HPV DNA genotypes were recorded and their colposcopic and CKC pathology was determined.

Results

Two hundred and ninety two patients underwent colposcopy for abnormal cervical cytology and/or high‐risk HPV positivity. One hundred and twenty three patients were positive for High‐risk HPV. Abnormal cervical cytology was detected in 216 patients. The most common cytological anomaly was atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) found in 9399 patients (1.39%). It was determined that conventional cytology had a sensitivity of 70.8% and a specificity of 62.2% for the detection of low‐grade lesions, while it had a sensitivity of 72.4% and a specificity of 86.0% for the detection of high‐grade lesions. CKC was applied to 68 patients who were diagnosed with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) as a result of the colposcopy. As a result of CKC, a high‐grade lesion was detected in 73.5% of these patients.

Conclusion

Conventional cervical cytology and colposcopy exhibited higher accuracy as the severity of lesions increased. Detection of HPV may prevent unnecessary surgical procedures, especially with ASCUS.
Predictors of treatment response durability in psychotherapy for binge‐eating disorder: Examining the roles of self‐discrepancy, self‐directed style, and emotion dysregulation
Authors: Hazzard Vivienne M. , Peterson Carol B. , Crosby Ross D. , Schaefer Lauren M. , Smith Kathryn E. , Engel Scott G. , Crow Scott J. , Wonderlich Stephen A.
Published: October 2020

Objective

To examine changes in hypothesized maintenance mechanisms during treatment as predictors of treatment response durability in binge‐eating disorder (BED) treatment, using data from a randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of Integrative Cognitive‐Affective Therapy for BED with cognitive‐behavioral therapy delivered using guided self‐help.

Method

Adults with BED (N = 112) received 17 weeks of treatment. Regression models were conducted to examine the extent to which changes in hypothesized maintenance mechanisms from baseline to end of treatment predicted treatment outcomes at 6‐month follow‐up, adjusting for demographics, study site, and baseline level of treatment outcome.

Results

During‐treatment reductions in negative self‐directed style and emotion dysregulation predicted reductions in the primary treatment outcome (i.e., binge‐eating episode frequency) at follow‐up. During‐treatment reductions in emotion dysregulation also predicted improvements at follow‐up across all three secondary treatment outcomes examined (i.e., global eating disorder [ED] psychopathology, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms), as did during‐treatment reductions in actual‐ideal self‐discrepancy and actual‐ought self‐discrepancy. Increases in positive self‐directed style (e.g., self‐affirmation) and reductions in negative self‐directed style (e.g., self‐blame) during treatment each predicted improvements in anxiety symptoms at follow‐up. When predictors were examined simultaneously, the most salient predictors of treatment response durability identified were negative self‐directed style for binge‐eating episode frequency, actual‐ought self‐discrepancy and emotion dysregulation for depressive symptoms, and emotion dysregulation for anxiety symptoms. No predictors emerged as most salient for global ED psychopathology.

Discussion

Results indicate that negative self‐directed style and emotion dysregulation are particularly important treatment targets in relation to behavioral treatment outcomes in BED.
Predicting greater sage‐grouse habitat selection at the southern periphery of their range
Authors: Picardi Simona , Messmer Terry , Crabb Ben , Kohl Michel , Dahlgren David , Frey Nicki , Larsen Randy , Baxter Rick
Published: October 2020

Mapping suitable habitat is an important process in wildlife conservation planning. Species distribution reflects habitat selection processes occurring across multiple spatio‐temporal scales. Because habitat selection may be driven by different factors at different scales, conservation planners require information at the scale of the intervention to plan effective management actions. Previous research has described habitat selection processes shaping the distribution of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse) at the range‐wide scale. Finer‐scale information for applications within jurisdictional units inside the species range is lacking, yet necessary, because state wildlife agencies are the management authority for sage‐grouse in the United States. We quantified seasonal second‐order habitat selection for sage‐grouse across the state of Utah to produce spatio‐temporal predictions of their distribution at the southern periphery of the species range. We used location data obtained from sage‐grouse marked with very‐high‐frequency radio‐transmitters and lek location data collected between 1998 and 2013 to quantify species habitat selection in relation to a suite of topographic, edaphic, climatic, and anthropogenic variables using random forest algorithms. Sage‐grouse selected for greater sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover, higher elevations, and gentler slopes and avoided lower precipitations and higher temperatures. The strength of responses to habitat variables varied across seasons. Anthropogenic variables previously reported as affecting their range‐wide distribution (i.e., roads, powerlines, communication towers, and agricultural development) were not ranked as top predictors at our focal scale. Other than strong selection for sagebrush cover, the responses we observed differed from what has been reported at the range‐wide scale. These differences likely reflect the unique climatic, geographic, and topographic context found in the southern peripheral area of the species distribution compared to range‐wide environmental gradients. Our results highlight the importance of considering appropriateness of scale when planning conservation actions for wide‐ranging species.
Prediction of worsening heart failure events and all‐cause mortality using an individualized risk stratification strategy
Authors: Zile Michael R. , Koehler Jodi , Sarkar Shantanu , Butler Javed
Published: October 2020

Aims

This study aimed to examine the clinical utility of a multisensor, remote, ambulatory diagnostic risk score, TriageHF™, in a real‐world, unselected, large patient sample to predict heart failure events (HFEs) and all‐cause mortality.

Methods and results

TriageHF risk score was calculated in patients in the Optum® database who had Medtronic implantable cardiac defibrillator device from 2007 to 2016. Patients were categorized into three risk groups based on probability for having an HFE within 6 months (low risk <5.4%, medium risk ≥5.4 < 20%, and high risk ≥20%). Data were analysed using three strategies: (i) scheduled monthly data download; (ii) alert‐triggered data download; and (iii) daily data download. Study population consisted of 22 901 patients followed for 1.8 ± 1.3 years. Using monthly downloads, HFE risk over 30 days incrementally increased across risk categories (odds ratio: 2.8, 95% confidence interval: 2.5–3.2 for HFE, P < 0.001, low vs. medium risk, and odds ratio: 9.2, 95% confidence interval: 8.1–10.3, P < 0.001, medium vs. high risk). Findings were similar using the other two analytic strategies. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, sensitivity for predicting HFE over 30 days using high‐risk score was 47% (alert triggered) and 51% (daily download) vs. 0.5 per patient year unexplained detection rate. TriageHF risk score also predicted all‐cause mortality risk over 4 years. All‐cause mortality risk was 14% in low risk, 20% in medium risk, and 38% in high risk.

Conclusions

TriageHF risk score provides a multisensor remote, ambulatory diagnostic method that predicts both HFEs and all‐cause mortality.
Thermal performance of a thermal management system with a thin plate and a slender tube for prismatic batteries
Authors: Tang Zhiguo , Li Jie , Liu Zhiqing , Cheng Jianping
Published: October 2020

The temperature of high‐power lithium‐ion batteries has a great influence on their performance, safety, and stability; thus the battery thermal management system (BTMS) is a key component of electric vehicles. In this paper, a novel liquid‐cooling BTMS with a thin plate and a slender tube is proposed for prismatic batteries, four different cooling structures of the tube are designed to achieve a high temperature uniformity, and a three‐dimensional numerical model is established. The effects of different cooling structures, battery discharge rates, coolant inlet velocities and inner diameters of the slender tube on the thermal performance are investigated. The results indicate that design S3, for which the length of the effective heat transfer tube distributed by each battery increases gradually along the flow direction of the coolant, exhibits the best thermal management performance among the four designed cooling structures, especially in terms of the temperature uniformity. When the inner diameter of the slender tube is 2 mm and the inlet velocity is not less than 0.5 m/s, the maximum temperature difference between the batteries is reduced to 4.23°C at a 2C discharge rate. This study can provide guidance for the structural design of BTMSs for prismatic batteries.
TiO2 nanotubes for dye‐sensitized solar cells—A review
Authors: Hou Xuelan , Aitola Kerttu , Lund Peter D.
Published: October 2020

TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) are a potential candidate for the photoelectrode in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this review, emphasis is given to the fabrication methods of the TNT photoelectrode, including the anodic oxidation method, the hydro/solvothermal method, and the template method. Modification of TNTs to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and the long‐term stability of DSSCs is also covered. The active area of the DSSC strongly correlates with the PCE. Therefore, evaluating and comparing cell efficiencies with the same active area would be important. Reducing the material and manufacturing costs of TNT‐based DSSCs will be an important future target.
Risk factors for cervical stromal involvement in endometrioid‐type endometrial cancer
Authors: Toprak Serhat , Sahin Eda Adeviye , Sahin Hanifi , Tohma Yusuf Aytac , Yilmaz Ercan , Meydanli Mehmet Mutlu
Published: October 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of cervical stromal involvement in women with endometrioid‐type endometrial cancer (EEC).

Methods

A total of 795 patients with EEC who underwent comprehensive surgical staging including pelvic and para‐aortic lymph node dissection between January 2007 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Data including age, menopausal status, serum CA‐125 levels, tumor size, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), depth of myometrial invasion, positive peritoneal cytology, cervical stromal involvement, histologic grade, recurrence, and follow‐up duration were recorded.

Results

Median follow up was 49 months. Cervical stromal invasion was found in 88 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that presence of LVSI (hazard ratio [HR] 2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–4.25, P = 0.045), a primary tumor diameter of at least 3 cm (HR 3, 95% CI 1.31–7.25, P = 0.010), and at least 50% deep myometrial invasion (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.37–5.41, P = 0.004) were independent risk factors for cervical stromal involvement in patients with EEC.

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that presence of LVSI, a primary tumor diameter of at least 3 cm, and LVSI of at least 50% seem to be independent predictors of cervical involvement in women with EEC.
Prognosis of bulky pTIIB cervical cancer treated by radical hysterectomy comparing adenocarcinoma with squamous cell carcinoma using propensity score matching
Authors: Okadome Masao , Nagayama Rina , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Sonoda Kenzo , Shimamoto Kumi , Saito Toshiaki
Published: October 2020

Objective

To investigate whether radical hysterectomy (RAH) can effectively treat true Stage IIB (pTIIB) cervical adenocarcinoma (AC) because FIGO (clinical) Stage IIB cervical cancer is rarely treated with RAH and radiotherapy has unfavorable effects on AC.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data for 82 patients with Stage pTIIB cervical cancer who underwent RAH at our institution between January 1997 and December 2017. The end points were disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) among squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 60) and AC (n = 22) patients. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with and without propensity score matching was conducted to identify the impact of RAH.

Results

Para‐aortic lymph node metastasis and tumor diameter were significant factors for recurrence, and adjuvant chemotherapy prevented recurrence on multivariate analysis. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference in DFS and OS between the groups. Five‐year DFS and OS of the SCC group were 0.505 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.268–0.702) and 0.619 (95% CI 0.351–0.803), respectively, and those of the AC group were 0.444 (95% CI 0.232–0.638) and 0.602 (95% CI 0.351–0.782), respectively.

Conclusion

Bulky Stage pTIIB cervical cancer is hard to cure, but RAH plus adjuvant therapy might be an option for radio‐resistant pTIIB cervical AC.
Renal cell carcinoma with central nervous system demyelination caused by nivolumab
Authors: Oka Toshiki , Yamamoto Yoshiyuki , Okuda Yohei , Asakura Toshihisa , Hatano Koji , Nakai Yasutomo , Nakayama Masashi , Kakimoto Ken‐ichi , Sugai Fuminobu , Nishimura Kazuo
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Central nervous system demyelination caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors is a very rare condition.

Case presentation

A 65‐year‐old man who received nivolumab for renal cell carcinoma developed abnormal behavior, such as disagreeable speech and sudden anger. Brain‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple lesions with partial contrast effects in the cerebral white matter. We tentatively diagnosed demyelination caused by nivolumab, and performed steroid pulse therapy twice. After that, his symptoms improved. For the next 2 years, his symptoms did not recur, nor did his cancer progress.

Conclusion

Demyelination caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors can be fatal and requires early diagnosis and treatment.
Coloring rings
Authors: Maffray Frédéric , Penev Irena , Vušković Kristina
Published: October 2020

A ring is a graph whose vertex set can be partitioned into nonempty sets, , such that for all , the set can be ordered as so that . A hyperhole is a ring such that for all , is complete to . In this paper, we prove that the chromatic number of a ring is equal to the maximum chromatic number of a hyperhole in . Using this result, we give a polynomial‐time coloring algorithm for rings. Rings formed one of the basic classes in a decomposition theorem for a class of graphs studied by Boncompagni et al [J. Graph Theory 91 (2019), 192–246.]. Using our coloring algorithm for rings, we show that graphs in this larger class can also be colored in polynomial time. Furthermore, we find the optimal ‐bounding function for this larger class of graphs, and we also verify Hadwiger's conjecture for it.
Cleft Palate Repair by Otolaryngologist‐Head and Neck Surgeons: Risk Factors for Postoperative Fistula
Authors: Leu Grace R. , Ebert Bridget E. , Roby Brianne B. , Scott Andrew R.
Published: October 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

To assess the incidence of palatal fistula after primary repair of the cleft palate among two cohorts of Otolaryngologist‐Head and Neck Surgeons and to identify patient and surgeon characteristics that may predict fistula development.

Study Design

Retrospective case series with chart review.

Methods

Children who underwent primary repair of cleft palate at one of two multidisciplinary cleft centers over a 10 year period were identified. Charts were reviewed for the presence of palatal fistula; chi square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to determine variables associated with fistula formation.

Results

From 2007 to 2017, 477 patients underwent primary repair of cleft palate by one of 6 Otolaryngologist‐Head and Neck Surgeons. Twenty‐four children had incomplete charts, allowing 453 patients to be included in the final analysis. The pooled mean incidence of palatal fistula was 6.6% (P = .525) and varied significantly by cleft type. Logistic regression analysis controlling for multiple variables, showed that Veau IV classification had the highest risk of fistula (OR = 10.582; P = .004). Repair by a specific surgeon was not a significant risk factor for fistula development (P > .07 for each surgeon).

Conclusions

Among six Otolaryngologist‐Head and Neck Surgeons with fellowship training in cleft palate repair postoperative fistula rates were consistent and compared favorably to standards in the Cleft and Craniofacial surgery literature established by other surgical specialties. Consistent with larger database studies involving multiple surgical specialties, Veau IV classification was the strongest predictor of palatal fistula development, even after adjusting for multiple variables, including differing levels of experience.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:1281–1285, 2021
Erosion at hillslope and micro‐basin scales in the Gilbués desertification region, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Simplício Antonio A. F. , Costa Carlos A. G. , Navarro‐Hevia Joaquín , de Araújo José Carlos
Published: October 2020

With an area of 6,200 km2, the Gilbués badlands region in the Brazilian drylands is the largest desertification site in the Country. It is located upstream the Boa Esperança Hydroelectric Power Plant and is contiguous to an important Brazilian agricultural area. However, primary quantitative data on erosive processes are scarce or nonexistent. We analyzedon‐sitedata (2018–2019) concerning small‐scale (hillslope and micro basin) processes: inter‐rill gross erosion, vegetation coverage factor, sediment yield, and sediment delivery ratio. We measured gross erosion in four hillslopes using metal pins; rainfall erosivity using an automatic meteorological station; soil erodibility; and siltation of five check‐dams that control micro basins (101–103 m2) by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Gross erosion (102 Mg ha−1yr−1; 7.5 mm yr−1) is up to 100‐fold the regional mean value and up to 45‐times the tolerable soil‐loss reference value (0.17 mm yr−1), showing that degradation still evolves. Sparse small vegetation directly exposes two thirds of the soil, with a high vegetation factor (0.90). The sediment delivery ratio of the micro basins is 0.88, compatible with low (12%) sediment‐deposition pattern at this scale. The Maner delivery‐ratio model mimicked field observation, which indicates that relief is the key element influencing sediment deposition there. The check‐dam effectiveness considerably decreased after the first decade of operation due to high siltation rates. Although the Gilbués badland occupies only 5% of the basin upstream of the power plant, it contributes 32% of the sediment load to reservoir and dam. This shows the relevance of the badland restoration for the regional sustainability of water and energy supply.
Medical history of nocturnal enuresis during school age is an independent risk factor for nocturia in adults: The Nagahama study
Authors: Negoro Hiromitsu , Fukunaga Arinobu , Setoh Kazuya , Kawaguchi Takahisa , Funada Satoshi , Yoshino Takayuki , Tabara Yasuharu , Yoshimura Koji , Kanematsu Akihiro , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Matsuda Fumihiko , Ogawa Osamu ,   Nagahama Study Group
Published: October 2020

Aim

To evaluate the relationship between nocturia and medical history of nocturnal enuresis: two conditions where diurnal urination rhythm is disturbed.

Methods

The Nagahama study is a longitudinal population‐based health survey involving people aged 30–75 years in Nagahama city, Japan. Our analysis included 5,402 participants who completed enuresis and International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaires. Associations between nocturnal enuresis and nocturia were evaluated cross‐sectionally and longitudinally with three models: (1) univariate analysis; (2) adjusted for basic characteristics (e.g., age, sex, body mass index, activity, alcohol, and smoking); and (3) adjusted for basic and clinical variables (e.g., hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, renal insufficiency, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and mental health).

Results

In total, 1,613 participants (29.9%) had a medical history of enuresis. The mean night‐time frequency was 0.73 at baseline and 0.85 at the 5‐year follow‐up. The cross‐sectional analysis showed participants with a medical history of enuresis had night‐time frequency more often than those without this history (0.84 vs. 0.68, p < .0001). Significant differences were observed in Models 2 (p < .0001) and 3 (p < .0001). The longitudinal analysis showed nocturia progression was significantly related to a history of enuresis, with odds ratios of 1.32 (p < .0001) in Model 1, 1.21 (p < .01) in Model 2, and 1.22 (p < .01) in Model 3.

Conclusions

Medical history of enuresis during school age was significantly related to nocturia in adulthood in the cross‐sectional analysis, and to progression to nocturia in the longitudinal analysis. These two conditions may possess a common causative association.
A wavelet based numerical scheme for fractional orderSEIRepidemic of measles by using Genocchi polynomials
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Kumar Ranbir , Osman M. S. , Samet Bessem
Published: October 2020

Epidemiology is the glorious discipline underlying medical research, public health practice, and health care evaluation. Nowadays, research on disease models with anonymous parameters is a popular issue for researchers working in epidemiology. Due to popularity of this field, a new numerical method for the solution of the fractional SEIR epidemic of measles is introduced where fractional derivative is taken in Caputo sense. We have discussed about the framework of Genocchi wavelets for numerical simulations of above disease model. Furthermore, the operational matrix merged with the collocation method is used in order to convert fractional‐order problem into algebraic equations. The Adams‐Bashforth‐Moulton (ABM) numerical scheme is used to solve above disease model with various parameters. For we have compared the solutions with Adams‐Bashforth‐Moulton predictor corrector scheme for the accuracy and applicability of the Genocchi wavelets method (GWM). The behaviors of susceptible, exposed, infected, and recovered individuals are presented graphically at the value of various fractional order. The error and convergence analysis of the Genocchi wavelets has been discussed for the applicability of the present methods. Further, various numerical simulations have been carried out to justify our achieved finding.
The reducing rank method to solve third‐order Duffing equation with the homotopy perturbation
Authors: He Ji‐Huan , El‐Dib Yusry O.
Published: October 2020

In the current work, we apply a nonstandard scheme to solve the third‐order Duffing equation. This equation is produced from the strong damped Klein–Gordon equation under the traveling wave transformation. The solution and the stability conditions for the third‐order Duffing equation have been discussed for the first time. The present analysis is new and used the reducing rank method with the homotopy perturbation method. A nonoscillator solution with the oscillating solutions is derived individually and frequency formula is obtained. Besides, the stability analysis is discussed.
A Father's Perspective on Bridewealth in the Making of the Transnational Papua New Guinean Household
Authors: Sykes Karen M.
Published: October 2020

That people value ‘people’ over ‘things’ is argued often by anthropologists, but how people value specific forms and qualities of relations as they do in the example of bridewealth is less so. I explore the perspective of Papua New Guinean‐born fathers in Australia as they advocate innovations in bridewealth traditions and thereby enable daughters to marry for love, cultivate a companionate marriage, and create a Papua New Guinean household. Past generations gauged the worth of traditional bridewealth by the quantity and distribution of items given and the number of exogamous clan connections forged as an index of past and future relations between clans. The current generation judges the value of even alternate forms of bridewealth for making new possibilities for those who share in it. If bridewealth enables the transnational household to emerge as the unit of decision making that replaces the clan, then innovations in bridewealth support, rather than undermine, a new normativity of companionate marriage that empowers that much wider net of kin. Drawing on a theory of value as the importance of social action towards the goal of the new normativity of the transnational household, I show how choosing a spouse is cultivated by women's fathers who refuse bridewealth, as often as it is by their husbands who provide new forms of wealth at marriage.
Preparation of polyHIPE nanocomposites: Revealing the influence of experimental parameters with the help of experimental design approach
Authors: Mert Emine Hilal , Mert Hatice Hande
Published: October 2020

Controlling the morphology and physical properties of poly(high internal phase emulsion)s (polyHIPEs) is critical for the development of well‐defined porosity with improved mechanical properties for industrial applicability. Therefore, in this study, experimental design methodology was used to prepare polystyrene based polyHIPE nanocomposites. A surface modified nanoclay was used to reinforce the chalky and brittle polystyrene, and the effect of nanoclay loading was investigated studiously. Emulsion stability has not been compromised due to the presence of modifier groups on the nanoclay surface. A total of 36 samples were produced according to the experimental design matrix. The relationship between the emulsion preparation conditions and final polyHIPE properties including cavity size, interconnected pore size, compression modulus, specific surface area, average pore volume, skeletal density, and foam density were determined by using a statistical software for a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). In this way, in addition to deriving the empirical model equations for each property, the mutual and synergistic interactions of experimental parameters were also determined.
Can abacus course eradicate developmental dyscalculia
Authors: Lu Yujie , Ma Mei , Chen Guozhong , Zhou Xinlin
Published: October 2020

Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a specific mathematical learning disability, with a prevalence of around 3%–7% in the school‐aged population. It negatively affects individuals, and even the national, development. Previous DD‐intervention programs usually targeted on numerosity, number, simple arithmetic, or even general cognitive ability. The current study investigated the effect that a long‐term (2–3 years) abacus course had on the prevalence of DD. Twelve classes of students were tested, half of which received an abacus course. Results showed that although no children were diagnosed as DD in the abacus classes, its prevalence was 6.4% in the control classes. Students with an abacus course demonstrated better performance in arithmetic computation and spatial short‐term memory after controlling for age, gender, grade, and other basic cognitive abilities. The results suggest that the abacus course could be an effective tool for DD intervention in natural education settings.
Machine learning‐based prediction of enzyme substrate scope: Application to bacterial nitrilases
Authors: Mou Zhongyu , Eakes Jason , Cooper Connor J. , Foster Carmen M. , Standaert Robert F. , Podar Mircea , Doktycz Mitchel J. , Parks Jerry M.
Published: October 2020

Predicting the range of substrates accepted by an enzyme from its amino acid sequence is challenging. Although sequence‐ and structure‐based annotation approaches are often accurate for predicting broad categories of substrate specificity, they generally cannot predict which specific molecules will be accepted as substrates for a given enzyme, particularly within a class of closely related molecules. Combining targeted experimental activity data with structural modeling, ligand docking, and physicochemical properties of proteins and ligands with various machine learning models provides complementary information that can lead to accurate predictions of substrate scope for related enzymes. Here we describe such an approach that can predict the substrate scope of bacterial nitrilases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of nitrile compounds to the corresponding carboxylic acids and ammonia. Each of the four machine learning models (logistic regression, random forest, gradient‐boosted decision trees, and support vector machines) performed similarly (average ROC = 0.9, average accuracy = ~82%) for predicting substrate scope for this dataset, although random forest offers some advantages. This approach is intended to be highly modular with respect to physicochemical property calculations and software used for structural modeling and docking.
Assessing and communicating heterogeneity of treatment effects for patient subpopulations: Panel discussion on considerations in design and analysis
Authors: Rothmann Mark , Crown William , Louis Thomas A. , Permutt Thomas , Ruberg Stephen , Segal Jodi , Scott John
Published: October 2020

Clinical trials are primarily conducted to understand the average effects treatments have on patients. However, patients are heterogeneous in the severity of the condition and in ways that affect what treatment effect they can expect. It is therefore important to understand and characterize how treatment effects vary. The design and analysis of clinical studies play critical roles in evaluating and characterizing heterogeneous treatment effects. This panel discussed considerations in design and analysis under the recognition that there are heterogeneous treatment effects across subgroups of patients. Panel members discussed many questions including: What is a good estimate of the treatment effect in me, a 65‐year‐old, bald, Caucasian‐American, male patient? What magnitude of heterogeneity of treatment effects (HTE) is sufficiently large to merit attention? What role can prior evidence about HTE play in confirmatory trial design and analysis? Is there anything described in the 21st Century Cures Act that would benefit from greater attention to HTE? An example of a Bayesian approach addressing multiplicity when testing for treatment effects in subgroups will be provided. We can do more or better at understanding heterogeneous treatment effects and providing the best information on heterogeneous treatment effects.
On increasing the sensitivity of moving average control chart using auxiliary variable
Authors: Amir Muhammad Wasim , Raza Zeeshan , Abbas Zameer , Nazir Hafiz Zafar , Akhtar Noureen , Riaz Muhammad , Abid Muhammad
Published: October 2020

In the statistical process control, the most useful tool to monitor the manufacturing processes in the industries is the control chart. Quality practitioners always desire the charting structure that identifies sustainable changes in the monitoring processes. The sensitivity of the control chart is improved when additional correlated auxiliary information about the study variable is introduced. The regression estimate in the form of auxiliary and supporting variables presents an unbiased and efficient statistic of the mean of the process variable. In this study, auxiliary information‐based moving average (AB‐MA) control chart is designed for efficient monitoring of shifts in the process location parameter. The performance of the AB‐MA control chart is evaluated and compared with existing charts using average run length and other run length characteristics. The comparison reveals that the AB‐MA control chart outperforms the competitors in detecting the small and medium changes in the process location parameter. The application of the proposal is also provided to implement it in real situation.
Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of deprotonated dihydrobenzofuran neolignans
Authors: Dias Herbert J. , Crevelin Eduardo J. , Palaretti Vinicius , Vessecchi Ricardo , Crotti Antônio E.M.
Published: October 2020

Rationale

Although dihydrobenzofuran neolignans (DBNs) display a wide diversity of biological activities, the identification of their in vivo metabolites using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) remains a challenge to be overcome. Recently, ESI‐MS/MS data of protonated DBNs have been reported, but they were shown to be limited due to the scarcity of diagnostic ions.

Methods

The gas‐phase fragmentation pathways of a series of biologically active synthetic benzofuran neolignans (BNs) and DBNs were elucidated by means of negative ESI accurate‐mass tandem and sequential mass spectrometry, and thermochemical data estimated using computational chemistry and the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) model.

Results

Deprotonated DBNs produced more diagnostic product ions than the corresponding protonated molecules. Moreover, a series of odd‐electron product ions (radical anions) were detected, which has not been reported for protonated DBNs. Direct C2H3O2• elimination from the precursor ion (deprotonated molecule) only occurred for the BNs and can help to distinguish these compounds from the DBNs. The mechanism through which the [M − H − CH3OH]− ion is formed is strongly dependent on specific structural features.

Conclusions

The negative ion mode provides much more information than the positive ion mode (at least one diagnostic product ion was detected for all the analyzed compounds) and does not require the use of additives to produce the precursor ions (deprotonated molecules).
Techno‐economic analysis of inflight connectivity using an integrated satellite‐5G network
Authors: Chiha Asma , Van der Wee Marlies , Goratti Leonardo , Colle Didier
Published: October 2020

The demand for mobile broadband services is increasing exponentially alongside with user expectations regarding the reachability of these services and their prices. This paper presents an integrated satellite and fifth generation (5G) network for providing inflight connectivity and evaluates the economic viability of offering broadband connectivity to passengers on commercial airplanes by the development of a techno‐economic framework, which considers both capital and operational expenditures to compute the total cost of ownership (TCO) and an average cost per user and per Megabyte. Results show high operational costs mainly due to satellite bandwidth usage. Therefore, caching popular content on the network onboard is beneficial to reduce the traffic carried over the satellite link, thus lowering the operational costs as well. Furthermore, the framework is used to compare the identified business models for Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity offerings and their pricing strategies, alongside a benchmark against the current inflight connectivity pricing. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is elaborated in order to mitigate the uncertainty of inputs (e.g., rate of caching) used to feed the TCO model. Following concrete recommendations are the main result of this research: (1) Providing inflight broadband services with a 2–5 Mbps throughput per user is feasible if satellite communications is integrated into the 5G network. (2) Caching popular data reduces the operational costs and hence the average cost per user (from 25% to 32% depending on the caching rate adopted). (3) This framework allows to provide recommendations on the best suited business models and related pricing schemes.
Combination of Convolutional Neural Network Architecture and its Learning Method for Rotation‐Invariant Handwritten Digit Recognition
Authors: Urazoe Kazuya , Kuroki Nobutaka , Hirose Tetsuya , Numa Masahiro
Published: October 2020

This letter presents several combinations of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and its learning method for rotation‐invariant digit recognition. Rotation data augmentation is widely used for improving rotation invariance. Data augmentation commonly assigns the same label to all augmented images of the same source. However, this learning method causes some collisions between original and rotated digits. Thus, this letter presents three types of rotation‐invariance learning methods and applies them to five popular CNN architectures. Experimental results indicate that multi‐task learning on ResNet‐50 is the best combination. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Novel antibody against low‐n oligomers of tau protein promotes clearance of tau in cells via lysosomes
Authors: Chandupatla Ram Reddy , Flatley Andrew , Feederle Regina , Mandelkow Eva‐Maria , Kaniyappan Senthilvelrajan
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Tau, a natively unfolded soluble protein, forms abnormal oligomers and insoluble filaments in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD). Tau‐induced toxicity is mainly due to oligomers rather than monomers or fibrils.

Methods

We have developed monoclonal antibodies against purified low‐n tau oligomers of the tau repeat domain as a tool to neutralize tau aggregation and toxicity. In vitro aggregation inhibition was tested by thioflavin S, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Using a split‐luciferase complementation assay and fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS), the inhibition of aggregation was analyzed in an N2a cell model of tauopathy.

Results

Antibodies inhibited tau aggregation in vitro up to ~90% by blocking tau at an oligomeric state. Some antibodies were able to block tau dimerization/oligomerization in cells, as measured by a split‐luciferase complementation assay. Antibodies applied extracellularly were internalized and led to sequestration of tau into lysosomes for degradation.

Discussion

Novel low‐n tau oligomer specific monoclonal antibody inhibits Tau oligomerization in cells and promotes toxic tau clearance.
Water‐dispersible nanocolloids and higher temperatures promote the release of carbon from riparian soil
Authors: Rod Kenton A. , Smith A. Peyton , Leng Weinan , Colby Sean , Kukkadapu Ravi K. , Bowden Mark , Qafoku Odeta , Um Wooyong , Hochella Michael F. , Bailey Vanessa L. , Renslow Ryan S.
Published: October 2020

Increasing temperatures in alpine regions accompanied by glacial retreat is occurring rapidly due to climate change. This may affect riparian soils by increasing weathering rates, resulting in greater organic carbon (OC) release to rivers via movement of iron‐containing colloids and nanominerals. Increased concentrations of iron‐ or silcate‐nanominerals would result in higher surface area for OC adsorption. To test the influence of temperature on OC leaching, we examined mineral weathering and nanocolloid facilitated release of OC through a series of controlled laboratory batch and column experiments using sediment from the banks of the Nisqually River, Mount Rainier in Washington State (USA). Additional experiments were conducted using the same sediments, but with an illite amendment added to test the influence of additional surface area and nanominerals that many sediments along the Nisqually River contain. These higher‐ and lower‐surface‐area sediments (i.e., sediments with and without the illite amendment) were incubated for 90 d at 4 or 20 °C, followed by batch and column OC leaching tests. Results show that OC leaching rates for 20 °C were two to three times greater than for 4 °C. Further, our results suggest that nanocolloids are responsible for moving this increased OC load from these sediments. When hydrologically connected, OC is released from bank sediments to rivers faster than presently anticipated in fluvial environments experiencing climate change‐induced glacial retreat. Further, a one‐dimensional, finite‐element computational model developed for this study estimates that a 1 °C increase in temperature over a 90‐d summer runoff period increases the OC release rate from sediments by 79%.
Investing in Fundamental Research: For Whom? A Philosopher’s Perspective
Authors: Massimi Michela
Published: October 2020

In this short piece arising from panel discussion at the 2019 FCC Week Conference in Brussels, I briefly review some of the challenges facing large-scale investments in science and the philosophical question that looms large: why care about investing in fundamental research?
Investing in Fundamental Research: Evaluation of the Benefits that the UK Has Derived from CERN
Authors: Amison Philip , Brown Neil
Published: October 2020

Investing in fundamental research enables us to push the frontiers of knowledge. However, since we don’t have access to unlimited resources we have to make choices about which areas to invest in. It is often easier to place a value on the costs of an investment than the benefits. Often, the benefits of funding a piece of research cannot be known in advance of making the investment, plus it may take many years for those benefits to be realised. Even in cases where we are looking back—trying to place a value on a past or ongoing investment in research—it is not always straightforward to identify, attribute and quantify the benefits and it is typically harder still to place a monetary value upon them.
Systematizing the effective theory of self-interacting dark matter
Authors: Agrawal Prateek , Parikh Aditya , Reece Matthew
Published: October 2020

Abstract

If dark matter has strong self-interactions, future astrophysical and cosmological observations, together with a clearer understanding of baryonic feedback effects, might be used to extract the velocity dependence of the dark matter scattering rate. To interpret such data, we should understand what predictions for this quantity are made by various models of the underlying particle nature of dark matter. In this paper, we systematically compute this function for fermionic dark matter with light bosonic mediators of vector, scalar, axial vector, and pseudoscalar type. We do this by matching to the nonrelativistic effective theory of self-interacting dark matter and then computing the spin-averaged viscosity cross section nonperturbatively by solving the Schrödinger equation, thus accounting for any possible Sommerfeld enhancement of the low-velocity cross section. In the pseudoscalar case, this requires a coupled-channel analysis of different angular momentum modes. We find, contrary to some earlier analyses, that nonrelativistic effects only provide a significant enhancement for the cases of light scalar and vector mediators. Scattering from light pseudoscalar and axial vector mediators is well described by tree-level quantum field theory.
LS-Net: fast single-shot line-segment detector
Authors: Nguyen Van Nhan , Jenssen Robert , Roverso Davide
Published: October 2020

In unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, power lines are considered as one of the most threatening hazards and one of the most difficult obstacles to avoid. In recent years, many vision-based techniques have been proposed to detect power lines to facilitate self-driving UAVs and automatic obstacle avoidance. However, most of the proposed methods are typically based on a common three-step approach: (i) edge detection, (ii) the Hough transform, and (iii) spurious line elimination based on power line constrains. These approaches not only are slow and inaccurate but also require a huge amount of effort in post-processing to distinguish between power lines and spurious lines. In this paper, we introduce LS-Net, a fast single-shot line-segment detector, and apply it to power line detection. The LS-Net is by design fully convolutional, and it consists of three modules: (i) a fully convolutional feature extractor, (ii) a classifier, and (iii) a line segment regressor. Due to the unavailability of large datasets with annotations of power lines, we render synthetic images of power lines using the physically based rendering approach and propose a series of effective data augmentation techniques to generate more training data. With a customized version of the VGG-16 network as the backbone, the proposed approach outperforms existing state-of-the-art approaches. In addition, the LS-Net can detect power lines in near real time. This suggests that our proposed approach has a promising role in automatic obstacle avoidance and as a valuable component of self-driving UAVs, especially for automatic autonomous power line inspection.