bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individuating games
Authors: Ridge Michael
Published: March 2020

Games, which philosophers commonly invoke as models for diverse phenomena, are plausibly understood in terms of rules and goals, but this gives rise to two puzzles. The first concerns the identity of a single game over time. Intuitively one and the same game can undergo a change in rules, as when the rules of chess were modified so that a pawn could be moved two squares forward on its first move. Yet if games are individuated in terms of their constitutive rules and goals, this is incoherent—new rules mean a new game. The second concerns the individuation of games at a point in time. Intuitively, there can be different versions of a single game, where the versions differ in the details of their rules. I offer a solution to this problem that draws on an analogy with individuating languages. The resulting theory should illuminate the metaphysics of games more generally.
Metabolomics analyses in non-diabetic middle-aged individuals reveal metabolites impacting early glucose disturbances and insulin sensitivity
Authors: Bos Maxime M. , Noordam Raymond , Bennett Kate , Beekman Marian , Mook-Kanamori Dennis O. , Willems van Dijk Ko , Slagboom P. Eline , Lundstedt Torbjörn , Surowiec Izabella , van Heemst Diana
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Several plasma metabolites have been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives

We aimed to identify plasma metabolites associated with different indices of early disturbances in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a subsample of the Leiden Longevity Study comprising individuals without a history of diabetes mellitus (n = 233) with a mean age of 63.3 ± 6.7 years of which 48.1% were men. We tested for associations of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, Matsuda Index, Insulinogenic Index and glycated hemoglobin with metabolites (Swedish Metabolomics Platform) using linear regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and BMI. Results were validated internally using an independent metabolomics platform (Biocrates platform) and replicated externally in the independent Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study (Metabolon platform) (n = 545, mean age of 55.8 ± 6.0 years of which 48.6% were men). Moreover, in the NEO study, we replicated our analyses in individuals with diabetes mellitus (cases: n = 36; controls = 561).

Results

Out of the 34 metabolites, a total of 12 plasma metabolites were associated with different indices of disturbances in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in individuals without diabetes mellitus. These findings were validated using a different metabolomics platform as well as in an independent cohort of non-diabetics. Moreover, tyrosine, alanine, valine, tryptophan and alpha-ketoglutaric acid levels were higher in individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

We found several plasma metabolites that are associated with early disturbances in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity of which five were also higher in individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Knowledge management and entrepreneurship
Authors: Audretsch David B. , Belitski Maksim , Caiazza Rosa , Lehmann Erik E.
Published: March 2020

While research on knowledge management in entrepreneurial organizations has been the subject of much scholarly attention, it has mostly been considered independently rather than in institutional, geographical or industrial contexts. The purpose of this special issue is to integrate the role of context with knowledge management research, and to discuss the subsequent implications for entrepreneurship. This paper draws on the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship, open innovation theory and the institutional perspective to knowledge management in entrepreneurial organizations, It does so in order to measure returns to investment in knowledge and knowledge spillovers across various industries and levels of economic activity (individual, firm, industry, university, region). Future research suggestions from the papers included in the special journal issue are also discussed and explained.
Zirconium Nitride for Plasmonic Cloaking of Visible Nanowire Photodetectors
Authors: Hansen Katherine , Dutta Amartya , Cardona Melissa , Yang Chen
Published: March 2020

Light scattered by a photodetector disturbs the probing field, resulting in noise. Cloaking is an effective method to reduce this noise. Here we investigate theoretically an emerging plasmonic material, zirconium nitride (ZrN), as a plasmonic cloak for silicon (Si) nanowire-based photodetectors and compare it with a traditional plasmonic material, gold (Au). Using Mie formalism, we have obtained the scattering cancelation across the visible spectrum. We found that ZrN cloaks produce a significant decrease in the scattering from bare Si nanowires, which is 40% greater than that obtained with Au cloaks in the wavelength region of 400–500 nm. The scattering cancelations become comparable at 550 nm, with Au providing a better scattering cancelation compared to ZrN over the wavelength region of 600–700 nm. To include the absorption and provide a measure of overall performance on noise reduction, a figure of merit (FOM), defined as the ratio of the absorption efficiency and the scattering efficiency of the cloaked nanowire to that of the bare Si nanowire, was calculated. We show that the optimized ZrN cloak provides up to 3 times enhancement of the FOM over a bare Si NW and a 60% improvement over an optimized Au-cloaked NW, in the wavelength region of 400–500 nm. An optimized Au-cloaked NW shows up to 17.69 times improvement in the wavelength region of 600–700 nm over a bare Si NW and up to a 2.7 times improvement over an optimized ZrN-cloaked NW. We also predicted the optimal dimensions for the cloaked NWs with respect to the largest FOM at various wavelengths between 400 and 650 nm.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety Among First-Year University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Islam Saiful , Akter Rejina , Sikder Tajuddin , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: March 2020

University students, especially those in their first year, not only face challenges related to their personal life but also to their academic performance. Such unfavorable conditions predispose them to psychological illnesses such as depression and anxiety. The present study surveyed first-year undergraduate students to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their potential underlying reasons. A cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted with 400 first-year university students aged between 18 and 23 years residing at Jahangirnagar University (in Bangladesh). After providing informed consent, the participants completed a survey examining socio-demographic variables and behavioral variables, along with the PHQ-9 scale, and the GAD-7 scale. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the significant associations between the variables under examination. The prevalence rates of moderate to extremely severe levels of depression and anxiety were 69.5% and 61%, respectively, with no significant gender differences. The main risk factors for depression were unsatisfactory sleep quality and lack of physical exercise. The main risk factor for anxiety was excessive internet use. The prevalence of depression and anxiety levels among first-year university students was high in the present study and appears to confirm the notion that first-year university students are a vulnerable group for mental illnesses. The findings suggest the need for intervention programs, alongside adequate and appropriate supportive services for Bangladeshi university students.
Time trend analysis of thyroid cancer surgery in China: single institutional database analysis of 15,000 patients
Authors: Sui Chengqiu , Liang Nan , Du Rui , He Qiao , Zhang Daqi , Li Fang , Fu Yantao , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Sun Hui
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The institutional database of the Thyroid Surgery Division in China–Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University was queried to audit time trend patterns in thyroid cancer (TC) management between 2008 and 2017.

Methods

Retrospective longitudinal analysis. Clinicopathological features and treatment strategies were analyzed. Frequencies and multivariate tests were used to detect correlations.

Results

Clinical data were obtained from 15,000 TC patients (i.e., 71.3% of 21,044 operations). Papillary was the most common histological subtype (n = 14,916, 99%), and 76% were microcarcinomas. Stage I (95%) and low-risk patients (58%) were prevalent throughout the 10-year period. The trend for total thyroidectomy increased from 29.1% (2008–2012) to 67.9% (2013–2015), and then dropped to 48.6% (2016–2017). A total of 8827 (52%) patients received central lymph node dissection (CLND). The tendency for CLND increased from 15.7 to 86.4% during the 10-year period. While the trend of lateral lymph node dissection decreased from 71.3 to 13.3%. Radioactive iodine therapy was offered to 10% of patients (2008–2012), except for a low value (5.4%) in 2009, and then increased from 12.3% (2012) to 41.3% (2015), while decreased to 32.4% (2017).

Conclusion

The surgical management of TC patients has undergone continuous changes over the past 10 years. The evolution from aggressive treatment to a more conservative approach has been constant. Our results suggest that the current surgical management approach for TC is adequate and in support of the published guidelines. Our findings warrant further investigation to determine the clinical implications of decision making for TC.
A case of the lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy’s ulcer in the cecum
Authors: Kinoshita Keisuke , Matsunari Osamu , Sonoda Akira , Fukuda Kensuke , Okamoto Kazuhisa , Ogawa Ryo , Mizukami Kazuhiro , Okimoto Tadayoshi , Kodama Masaaki , Murakami Kazunari
Published: March 2020

Gastrointestinal Dieulafoy’s ulcer is a rare disease of unknown etiology. Dieulafoy’s ulcer often presents in the stomach and is thought to cause about 5% of all gastrointestinal bleeds in adults, but can be found in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Dieulafoy’s ulcer corresponds to an arterial malformation in the submucosal space and can cause life-threatening hemorrhage. We report a case of the lower gastrointestinal bleeding from a cecal Dieulafoy’s ulcer that was successfully treated with endoscopic clips. An 82-year-old woman had been diagnosed with hypertension and cerebral infarction. She had been using aspirin to prevent recurrent infarction. She was admitted to our hospital with hematochezia. Urgent colonoscopy revealed a small, reddish vascular malformation in the cecum. The lesion was suggestive of Dieulafoy’s ulcer and was treated with endoscopic clips. The patient has since been discharged from our hospital without experiencing any further bleeding. Endoscopy is a useful method for diagnosing and treating Dieulafoy’s ulcer.
Uncertainty reduction of interval inversion estimation results using a factor analysis approach
Authors: Abordán Armand , Szabó Norbert Péter
Published: March 2020

This paper aims to investigate the impact of the overdetermination (data-to-unknowns) ratio on the global inversion of wireline logging data. In the course of the so-called interval inversion method, geophysical data measured in a borehole over a longer depth range is jointly inverted and the depth variation of the investigated petrophysical parameters are expanded into series using Legendre polynomials as basis functions resulting in a highly overdetermined inverse problem. A metaheuristic Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach is applied as a first phase of inversion for decreasing the starting model dependence of the interval inversion procedure. In the subsequent linear inversion steps, by using the measurement error of logging tools and the covariance matrix of the estimated petrophysical parameters, we can quantify the accuracy of the model parameters. The dataset used in this study consists of nuclear, resistivity and sonic logs which are inverted to compute porosity, shale volume and water saturation along the investigated interval. For increasing the data-to-unknowns ratio of the inverse problem, shale volume is estimated separately by a PSO-based factor analysis and fixed as known parameter for the interval inversion process. Since the shale volume has been described as high degree Legendre polynomial, a significant increase of the overdetermination ratio considerably decreases the uncertainty of the remaining model parameters allowing for a more reliable calculation of hydrocarbon content.
Solution of the 3D density-driven groundwater flow problem with uncertain porosity and permeability
Authors: Litvinenko Alexander , Logashenko Dmitry , Tempone Raul , Wittum Gabriel , Keyes David
Published: March 2020

The pollution of groundwater, essential for supporting populations and agriculture, can have catastrophic consequences. Thus, accurate modeling of water pollution at the surface and in groundwater aquifers is vital. Here, we consider a density-driven groundwater flow problem with uncertain porosity and permeability. Addressing this problem is relevant for geothermal reservoir simulations, natural saline-disposal basins, modeling of contaminant plumes and subsurface flow predictions. This strongly nonlinear time-dependent problem describes the convection of a two-phase flow, whereby a liquid flows and propagates into groundwater reservoirs under the force of gravity to form so-called “fingers”. To achieve an accurate numerical solution, fine spatial resolution with an unstructured mesh and, therefore, high computational resources are required. Here we run a parallelized simulation toolbox ug4 with a geometric multigrid solver on a parallel cluster, and the parallelization is carried out in physical and stochastic spaces. Additionally, we demonstrate how the ug4 toolbox can be run in a black-box fashion for testing different scenarios in the density-driven flow. As a benchmark, we solve the Elder-like problem in a 3D domain. For approximations in the stochastic space, we use the generalized polynomial chaos expansion. We compute the mean, variance, and exceedance probabilities for the mass fraction. We use the solution obtained from the quasi-Monte Carlo method as a reference solution.
Impact of heavy metal contamination and seasonal variations on enzyme’s activity of Yamuna river soil in Delhi and NCR
Authors: Sharma Ranju , Singh Ngangbam Sarat , Singh Dileep K.
Published: March 2020

Yamuna river is one of the most important rivers of India and is highly polluted. The river water and the adjacent soil are contaminated with various pollutants including heavy metals. Soil enzymes play important role in various bio-geochemical cycles and help in maintaining nutrient availability of soil. They are very sensitive toward changing environment and therefore act as a key indicator of soil health. In the present study, effects of seasonal variations and heavy metals contamination in Yamuna river water were observed on physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of soil. Soil samples were collected from ten different locations, along the course of the Yamuna river in Delhi–NCR, in three different seasons, i.e., summer, rainy and winter. These sampling sites were divided into three segments, up, middle and lower streams. The concentrations of heavy metals were found to be higher than their safe limit at all the ten sampling points. The total organic carbon content and soil respiration was significantly higher in lower stream. Dehydrogenase enzyme activity was higher in winter season, while urease and arginine deaminase enzyme activity was higher in summer season. Dehydrogenase, arginine deaminase and nitrate reductase enzyme activities were higher in lower streams, while urease enzyme shows maximum activity in the up stream. Thus, we conclude that the continuous application of Yamuna water for irrigation may degrade the soil quality.
Geo-spatial analysis of irrigation water quality of Pudukkottai district
Authors: Ramachandran Muthulakshmi Yuvaraj
Published: March 2020

Groundwater becomes a vital source of irrigation for agriculture in the recess of rainfall. The acceptable groundwater quality becomes essential for agriculture not only to get the utmost crop yield but also to protect the land from degradation. The main intent of the study is to investigate the condition of groundwater quality for crop irrigation of Pudukkottai districts using an irrigation water quality index. To achieve the objective of the study, the entire Pudukkottai district groundwater samples have been collected from twenty-six wells in the year 2000 and 2015. The water quality parameters of total dissolved substance, sodium adsorption ratio, electrical conductivity, sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca+2), magnesium (Mg+2), bicarbonate (HCO3), chlorine (Cl−) and pH have been analyzed. The study concludes that irrigation water quality has been reduced throughout the year from 2000 to 2015, and a water quality index additionally shows the worst-case situation in terms of the status of irrigational groundwater quality of the Pudukkottai district which ends up in land degradation.
Governing energy consumption in China: a comprehensive assessment of the energy conservation target responsibility system
Authors: Lo Kevin
Published: March 2020

The governance of energy consumption in China is of environmental significance from the standpoints of preventing local air pollution and global climate change. At the heart of China’s energy governance system is the energy conservation target responsibility system (ECTRS). This article examines this important governance instrument from three key aspects. First, it explains the role of the ECTRS in China’s authoritarian yet decentralized governance system. Second, it traces the development of the ECTRS over the last decade, with a specific focus on the reforms introduced in the 13th 5-Year Plan (2016–2020), particularly the energy caps. Third, it analyzes the limitations of the ECTRS and provides a policy outlook in the context of growing domestic and international interests in energy conservation.
Epitranscriptomic 5-Methylcytosine Profile in PM2.5-Induced Mouse Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Han Xiao , Liu Hanchen , Zhang Zezhong , Yang Wenlan , Wu Chunyan , Liu Xueying , Zhang Fang , Sun Baofa , Zhao Yongliang , Jiang Guibin , Yang Yun-Gui , Ding Wenjun
Published: March 2020

Exposure of airborne particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) is epidemiologically associated with lung dysfunction and respiratory symptoms, including pulmonary fibrosis. However, whether epigenetic mechanisms are involved in PM2.5-induced pulmonary fibrosis is currently poorly understood. Herein, using a PM2.5-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model, we found that PM2.5  exposure leads to aberrant mRNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) gain and loss in fibrotic lung tissues. Moreover, we showed the m5C-mediated regulatory map of gene functions in pulmonary fibrosis after PM2.5 exposure. Several genes act as m5C gain-upregulated factors, probably critical for the development of PM2.5-induced fibrosis in mouse lungs. These genes, including Lcn2, Mmp9, Chi3l1, Adipoq, Atp5j2, Atp5l, Atpif1, Ndufb6, Fgr, Slc11a1, and Tyrobp, are highly related to oxidative stress response, inflammatory responses, and immune system processes. Our study illustrates the first epitranscriptomic RNA m5C profile in PM2.5-induced pulmonary fibrosis and will be valuable in identifying biomarkers for PM2.5 exposure-related lung pathogenesis with translational potential.
Sexual Dysfunction and Mood Stabilizers in Long-Term Stable Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Authors: García-Blanco Ana , García-Portilla María P. , Fuente-Tomás Lorena de la , Batalla María , Sánchez-Autet Mónica , Arranz Belén , Safont Gemma , Arqués Sergio , Livianos Lorenzo , Sierra Pilar
Published: March 2020

Background

In addition to factors intrinsic to bipolar disorder (BD), sexual functioning (SF) can be affected by extrinsic causes, such as psychotropic drugs. However, the effect of mood stabilizers on SF and quality of life (QoL) is an underexplored research area.

Aim

To analyze SF in BD outpatients in euthymia for at least 6 months treated only with mood stabilizers and the association between SF and QoL.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 114 BD outpatients treated with (i) lithium alone (L group); (ii) anticonvulsants alone (valproate or lamotrigine; A group); (iii) lithium plus anticonvulsants (L+A group); or (iv) lithium plus benzodiazepines (L+B group). The Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short Form (CSFQ-14) was used. Statistical analyses were performed to compare CSFQ-14 scores among the pharmacological groups. An adaptive lasso was used to identify potential confounding variables, and linear regression models were used to study the association of the CSFQ-14 with QoL.

Main Outcome Measures

Self-reports on phases of the sexual response cycle (ie, desire, arousal, and orgasm) and QoL were assessed.

Results

The A group had better total SF scores than the L group and the L+B group. Relative to the A group, the L and L+B groups had worse sexual desire; the L group had worse sexual arousal; and the L+A group and the L+B group had worse sexual orgasm. Regarding sociodemographic factors, being female and older age were associated with worse total SF and all subscale scores. Among all subscales scores, higher sexual arousal scores were associated with better QoL.

Clinical Implications

Potential modified extrinsic factors such as psychotropic medication that can affect SF can be addressed and adjusted to lessen side effects on SF.

Strengths & Limitations

Sample of patients with euthymic BD in treatment with mood stabilizers and no antipsychotics or antidepressants, substance use as an exclusion criterion, and use of a validated, gender-specific scale to evaluate SF. Major limitations were cross-sectional design, sample size, and lack of information about stability of relationship with partner.

Conclusions

Lithium in monotherapy or in combination with benzodiazepines is related to worse total SF and worse sexual desire than anticonvulsants in monotherapy. While the addition of benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants to lithium negatively affects sexual orgasm, sexual arousal (which plays a significant role in QoL) improves when benzodiazepines are added to lithium. Anticonvulsants in monotherapy have the least negative effects on SF in patients with BD.
Prosper Weil's Article: A Stimulating Warning
Authors: Dupuy Pierre-Marie
Published: March 2020

Prosper Weil's article in the American Journal of International Law first appeared in 1982 in French in the Revue Générale de Droit International Public. In France, it has probably generated less debate than in the United States. Indeed, the positions taken by this stimulating, agile, and well-written article generally accord with the doctrinal tradition that largely predominates in the land of Jean Bodin, René Descartes, and Auguste Comte, namely, legal positivism. According to this tradition, legal scholars must first focus on the technical analysis of legal norms as they are set out and, above all, practiced by the various actors in legal relations, which on the international level are states and the international judge or arbitrator. After setting out the contexts of Weil's article, I shall state two reservations to its content and then turn to its contemporary relevance.
What is Positivism Today?
Authors: García-Salmones Rovira Mónica
Published: March 2020

This essay focuses on the understanding of positivism in Prosper Weil's time, its trajectory since, and how that trajectory reflects changes that have occurred in global society in the intervening years. The world to which Weil spoke is neither in scientific nor in political and cultural terms the same as ours. Key positivist notions, such as neutrality or Weil's critique of the ideal of the unity of the international community and of the invocation of higher moral values, appear to chain sound normative principles while letting loose real power. At any rate, Weil's ideas have not survived globalization or the critical and historical turn taken in the discipline of international law. And yet “Towards Relative Normativity?” arguably owes its lasting significance to its grasp of the weight of the authority of law in international society.
Clinical Characterization of Traumatic Acute Interhemispheric Subdural Hematoma
Authors: Léveillé Etienne , Schur Solon , AlAzri Ahmed , Couturier Charles , Maleki Mohamed , Marcoux Judith
Published: March 2020

Object:

Interhemispheric subdural hematomas (IHSDHs) are thought to be rare. Surgical management of these lesions presents a challenge as they are in close proximity to the sagittal sinus and bridging veins. IHSDHs are poorly characterized clinically and their exact incidence is unknown. There are also no clear guidelines for the management of IHSDH.

Methods:

This is a retrospective review of all admitted patients with a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury over a 4-year period at a Level I trauma centre. Clinical characteristics of all patients with subdural hematoma (SDH) and IHSDH were collected.

Results:

Of 2165 admissions, 1182 patients had acute traumatic SDHs, 420 patients had IHSDHs (1.9% of admissions and 35.5% of SDH), 35 (8.3% of IHSDH) were ≥8 mm in width. IHSDH was isolated in 16 (3.8%) of the cases. Average age was 61.7 ± 21.5 years for all IHSDHs and 77.1 ± 10.4 for large IHSDH (p < 0.001). For large IHSDH, a transient loss of consciousness (LOC) occurred in 51.5% of individuals, post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) in 47.8% of cases, and motor weakness in 37.9% of patients. Five of the large IHSDH patients presented with motor deficits directly related to the IHSDH, and weakness resolved in four of these five individuals. None were treated surgically. Progression of IHSDH width occurred in one patient.

Conclusion:

IHSDHs are often referred to as rare entities. Our results show they are common. Conservative management is appropriate to manage most IHSDHs, as most resolve spontaneously, and their symptoms resolve as well.
Prime Cuts and the Method of Recombination
Authors: Ruben David-Hillel
Published: March 2020

Whether some condition is equivalent to a conjunction of some (sub-) conditions has been a major issue in analytic philosophy. Examples include: knowledge, acting freely, causation, and justice. Philosophers have striven to offer analyses of these, and other concepts, by showing them equivalent to such a conjunction. Timothy Williamson offers a number of arguments for the idea that knowledge is ‘prime’, hence not equivalent to or composed by some such conjunction. I focus on one of his arguments: the requirement that such conjuncts must be freely recombinable. Although there has been a great deal of discussion of Williamson's arguments, the flaw I describe has gone unnoticed. Williamson's argument is expressed in terms of conditions, and cases of the condition. Does the condition include specific information, or is the specific information only part of the case? His argument equivocates between more and less general specifications of the conditions. Once this distinction is clarified, his argument can be seen to be vitiated by this conflation. Neither option yields a sound argument for Williamson's desired conclusion.
Implementation outcomes and strategies for depression interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Authors: Wagenaar Bradley H. , Hammett Wilson H. , Jackson Courtney , Atkins Dana L. , Belus Jennifer M. , Kemp Christopher G.
Published: March 2020

Background

We systematically reviewed implementation research targeting depression interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to assess gaps in methodological coverage.

Methods

PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EMBASE were searched for evaluations of depression interventions in LMICs reporting at least one implementation outcome published through March 2019.

Results

A total of 8714 studies were screened, 759 were assessed for eligibility, and 79 studies met inclusion criteria. Common implementation outcomes reported were acceptability (n = 50; 63.3%), feasibility (n = 28; 35.4%), and fidelity (n = 18; 22.8%). Only four studies (5.1%) reported adoption or penetration, and three (3.8%) reported sustainability. The Sub-Saharan Africa region (n = 29; 36.7%) had the most studies. The majority of studies (n = 59; 74.7%) reported outcomes for a depression intervention implemented in pilot researcher-controlled settings. Studies commonly focused on Hybrid Type-1 effectiveness-implementation designs (n = 53; 67.1), followed by Hybrid Type-3 (n = 16; 20.3%). Only 21 studies (26.6%) tested an implementation strategy, with the most common being revising professional roles (n = 10; 47.6%). The most common intervention modality was individual psychotherapy (n = 30; 38.0%). Common study designs were mixed methods (n = 27; 34.2%), quasi-experimental uncontrolled pre-post (n = 17; 21.5%), and individual randomized trials (n = 16; 20.3).

Conclusions

Existing research has focused on early-stage implementation outcomes. Most studies have utilized Hybrid Type-1 designs, with the primary aim to test intervention effectiveness delivered in researcher-controlled settings. Future research should focus on testing and optimizing implementation strategies to promote scale-up of evidence-based depression interventions in routine care. These studies should use high-quality pragmatic designs and focus on later-stage implementation outcomes such as cost, penetration, and sustainability.
A data-driven approach to the semantics of iconicity in American Sign Language and English
Authors: THOMPSON BILL , PERLMAN MARCUS , LUPYAN GARY , SEVCIKOVA SEHYR ZED , EMMOREY KAREN
Published: March 2020

abstract

A growing body of research shows that both signed and spoken languages display regular patterns of iconicity in their vocabularies. We compared iconicity in the lexicons of American Sign Language (ASL) and English by combining previously collected ratings of ASL signs (Caselli, Sevcikova Sehyr, Cohen-Goldberg, & Emmorey, 2017) and English words (Winter, Perlman, Perry, & Lupyan, 2017) with the use of data-driven semantic vectors derived from English. Our analyses show that models of spoken language lexical semantics drawn from large text corpora can be useful for predicting the iconicity of signs as well as words. Compared to English, ASL has a greater number of regions of semantic space with concentrations of highly iconic vocabulary. There was an overall negative relationship between semantic density and the iconicity of both English words and ASL signs. This negative relationship disappeared for highly iconic signs, suggesting that iconic forms may be more easily discriminable in ASL than in English. Our findings contribute to an increasingly detailed picture of how iconicity is distributed across different languages.
An arithmetical question related to perfect numbers
Authors: Lescot Paul
Published: March 2020

For n ≥ 1 an integer, we shall denote by σ(n) the sum of the (positive) divisors of n.
Constructing tetrahedra with given face areas
Authors: Fox Michael
Published: March 2020

We tackle an unusual problem that, as far as I know, is not in the standard literature. To state it concisely I use what I call ‘valid sets’. We know that in any three or more positive quantities, only the largest can be half or more of the total value; and is then obviously greater than the sum of all the others. But if the largest is less than half the total of the set, it must be less than the sum of the others; and this is true for every element in this set. I call such a set ‘valid’. For example, the sides of a triangle are valid, as are the face areas of a tetrahedron. Our problem relates to the converse for a tetrahedron: given any four valid quantities, is there always a tetrahedron with those face areas? In this article I answer this by showing that, for any valid set, we can always construct the net of a corresponding tetrahedron. In fact, for any given valid set there is always an infinity of non-congruent tetrahedra with the given face areas. Although in general there are no formulae that give the exact edge lengths of these solids, I show that there are always several distinct infinite subsets that are constructible and whose edge lengths can be determined exactly.
Controllability of stochastic nonlinear oscillating delay systems driven by the Rosenblatt distribution
Authors: Sathiyaraj T. , Wang JinRong , O'Regan D.
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we study the controllability of second-order nonlinear stochastic delay systems driven by the Rosenblatt distributions in finite dimensional spaces. A set of sufficient conditions are established for controllability of nonlinear stochastic delay systems using fixed point theory, delayed sine and cosine matrices and delayed Grammian matrices. Furthermore, controllability results for second-order stochastic delay systems driven by Rosenblatt distributions via the representation of solution by delayed sine and cosine functions are presented. Finally, our theoretical results are illustrated through numerical simulation.
Dietary substitution of SFA with MUFA within high-fat diets attenuates hyperinsulinaemia and pancreatic islet dysfunction
Authors: Ralston Jessica C. , Nguyen-Tu Marie-Sophie , Lyons Claire L. , Cooke Aoife A. , Murphy Aoife M. , Falvey Aidan , Finucane Orla M. , McGillicuddy Fiona C. , Rutter Guy A. , Roche Helen M.
Published: March 2020

Preliminary evidence has suggested that high-fat diets (HFD) enriched with SFA, but not MUFA, promote hyperinsulinaemia and pancreatic hypertrophy with insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to determine whether the substitution of dietary MUFA within a HFD could attenuate the progression of pancreatic islet dysfunction seen with prolonged SFA-HFD. For 32 weeks, C57BL/6J mice were fed either: (1) low-fat diet, (2) SFA-HFD or (3) SFA-HFD for 16 weeks, then switched to MUFA-HFD for 16 weeks (SFA-to-MUFA-HFD). Fasting insulin was assessed throughout the study; islets were isolated following the intervention. Substituting SFA with MUFA-HFD prevented the progression of hyperinsulinaemia observed in SFA-HFD mice (P< 0·001). Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets was reduced by SFA-HFD, yet not fully affected by SFA-to-MUFA-HFD. Markers ofβ-cell identity (Ins2,Nkx6.1,Ngn3,Rfx6,Pdx1andPax6) were reduced, and islet inflammation was increased (IL-1β, 3·0-fold,P= 0·007; CD68, 2·9-fold,P= 0·001;Il-6, 1·1-fold,P= 0·437) in SFA-HFD – effects not seen with SFA-to-MUFA-HFD. Switching to MUFA-HFD can partly attenuate the progression of SFA-HFD-induced hyperinsulinaemia, pancreatic inflammation and impairments inβ-cell function. While further work is required from a mechanistic perspective, dietary fat may mediate its effect in an IL-1β–AMP-activated protein kinaseα1-dependent fashion. Future work should assess the potential translation of the modulation of metabolic inflammation in man.
Generation of relative commutator subgroups in Chevalley groups. II
Authors: Vavilov Nikolai , Zhang Zuhong
Published: March 2020

In the present paper, which is a direct sequel of our paper [14] joint with Roozbeh Hazrat, we prove an unrelativized version of the standard commutator formula in the setting of Chevalley groups. Namely, let Φ be a reduced irreducible root system of rank ≥ 2, let R be a commutative ring and let I,J be two ideals of R. We consider subgroups of the Chevalley group G(Φ, R) of type Φ over R. The unrelativized elementary subgroup E(Φ, I) of level I is generated (as a group) by the elementary unipotents xα(ξ), α ∈ Φ, ξ ∈ I, of level I. Obviously, in general, E(Φ, I) has no chance to be normal in E(Φ, R); its normal closure in the absolute elementary subgroup E(Φ, R) is denoted by E(Φ, R, I). The main results of [14] implied that the commutator [E(Φ, I), E(Φ, J)] is in fact normal in E(Φ, R). In the present paper we prove an unexpected result, that in fact [E(Φ, I), E(Φ, J)] = [E(Φ, R, I), E(Φ, R, J)]. It follows that the standard commutator formula also holds in the unrelativized form, namely [E(Φ, I), C(Φ, R, J)] = [E(Φ, I), E(Φ, J)], where C(Φ, R, I) is the full congruence subgroup of level I. In particular, E(Φ, I) is normal in C(Φ, R, I).
Genome-wide association study for buffalo mammary gland morphology
Authors: Li Jun , Liu Jiajia , Liu Shenhe , Campanile Giuseppe , Salzano Angela , Gasparrini Bianca , Plastow Graham , Zhang Chunyan , Wang Zhiquan , Liang Aixin , Yang Liguo
Published: March 2020

This research communication describes a genome-wide association study for Italian buffalo mammary gland morphology. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (AX-85117983, AX-8509475 and AX-85117518) were identified to be significantly associated with buffalo anterior teat length, posterior teat length and distance between anterior and posterior teat, respectively. Two significant signals for buffalo mammary gland morphology were observed in two genomic regions on the chromosome 10, and chromosome 20. One of the regions located on the chromosome 10 has the most likely candidate genes ACTC1 and GJD2, both of which have putative roles in the regulation of mammary gland development. This study provides new insights into the genetic variants of buffalo mammary gland morphology and may be beneficial for understanding of the genetic regulation of mammary growth.
The use of modified Silastic nasal splints as frontal sinus stents: a technical note
Authors: Shahidi S , Jama G M , Ahmed S K
Published: March 2020

Background

Endoscopic frontal sinus surgery is frequently complicated by post-operative stenosis and obstruction of the frontal sinus outflow tract, resulting in recurrent disease. Frontal sinus stents may help prevent re-occlusion of the frontal neo-ostia.

Objective

This paper presents a simple and cost-effective approach to frontal sinus stenting using modified Silastic nasal splints.

Results and conclusion

The current technique provides an effective, reliable and inexpensive method for achieving post-operative frontal sinus outflow tract patency.
‘That's proper cool’
Authors: Stratton James M.
Published: March 2020

Intensifying adverbs are devices which scale a quality up, down, or somewhere between the two (Bolinger 1972: 17). To intensify the adjectivecool, speakers of British English have a variety of functionally equivalent intensifiers at their disposal. They can usevery,really,so,dead,bloody,rightandwell, among many others. A seemingly recent arrival to the British intensifier system isproper, as inthat was proper cool. Believed to have entered English from the Latinpropriusvia Norman French (OED,proper),propernow has a variety of denotations in Present Day English. As an adjective, it can denote suitability (e.g.,wear the proper equipment), etiquette (e.g.,it wouldn't be proper to do that) and worthiness/authenticity (e.g.,it's proper street food). As an adverb,propercan function as an adverb of manner (e.g.,we like to do things proper in our house), and a marker of degree (e.g.,he is proper tall); the degree function applying exclusively to British English. Some examples ofproperintensifying adjectives from the present dataset are reported in (1).
Intelligent model-based optimization of cutting parameters for high quality turning of hardened AISI D2
Authors: Pourmostaghimi Vahid , Zadshakoyan Mohammad , Badamchizadeh Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2020

This paper proposes an intelligent model-based optimization methodology for optimizing the production cost and material removal rate subjected to surface quality constraint in turning operation of hardened AISI D2. Unlike traditional approaches, this paper deals with finding optimum cutting parameters considering the real condition of the cutting tool. Tool flank wear is predicted by the model obtained using genetic programming. On the basis of the predicted flank wear value, the surface roughness of work piece is estimated by neural networks. Applying the particle swarm optimization algorithm, the optimum machining parameters are determined. The simulation and experimental results show that machining with proposed intelligent optimization methodology has higher efficiency than conventional techniques with constant optimized cutting parameters.
Excess length of hospital stay, mortality and cost attributable to Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection and recurrence: a nationwide analysis in Japan
Authors: Kimura T. , Stanhope S. , Sugitani T.
Published: March 2020

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of infectious diarrhoea in hospitalised patients, representing a substantial economic burden driven mainly by increased length of hospital stay (LoS). Currently in Japan, limited evidence on CDI-associated excess LoS is available. We conducted a retrospective, matched-cohort study using a large, Japanese, hospital-based administrative database. CDI was defined as CDI treatment plus either CDI diagnosis or positive enzyme immunoassay result. Propensity score matching at the time of CDI or recurrent CDI (rCDI) onset was applied to adjust baseline confounding and immortal time bias. The analysis included 5 994 054 hospitalisation records during 2008–2017, of which 11 823 were identified as CDI and 1359 as rCDI. The median excess LoS attributable to CDI and rCDI was 3 days and 6.5 days, respectively. The excess mortality attributable to CDI was 6.9%; there was no excess mortality attributable to rCDI (−1.9%). The median difference in costs attributable to CDI and rCDI during the residual stay was JPY 130 296 (USD 1185) and JPY 81 054 (USD 737) per hospitalisation, respectively. By adjusting the biases, the burden of CDI in Japan was evaluated. The findings could support decision making and resource allocation for CDI management in Japanese hospitals.
Toddler dysregulated fear predicts continued risk for social anxiety symptoms in early adolescence
Authors: Buss Kristin A. , Cho Sunghye , Morales Santiago , McDoniel Meghan , Webb Ann Frank , Schwartz Adam , Cole Pamela M. , Dorn Lorah D. , Gest Scott , Teti Doug M.
Published: March 2020

Identifying early risk factors for the development of social anxiety symptoms has important translational implications. Accurately identifying which children are at the highest risk is of critical importance, especially if we can identify risk early in development. We examined continued risk for social anxiety symptoms at the transition to adolescence in a community sample of children (n = 112) that had been observed for high fearfulness at age 2 and tracked for social anxiety symptoms from preschool through age 6. In our previous studies, we found that a pattern of dysregulated fear (DF), characterized by high fear in low threat contexts, predicted social anxiety symptoms at ages 3, 4, 5, and 6 years across two samples. In the current study, we re-evaluated these children at 11–13 years of age by using parent and child reports of social anxiety symptoms, parental monitoring, and peer relationship quality. The scores for DF uniquely predicted adolescents’ social anxiety symptoms beyond the prediction that was made by more proximal measures of behavioral (e.g., kindergarten social withdrawal) and concurrent environmental risk factors (e.g., parental monitoring, peer relationships). Implications for early detection, prevention, and intervention are discussed.
Interaction between oocytes, cortical germ cells and granulosa cells of the mouse and bat, following the dissociation–re-aggregation of adult ovaries
Authors: Porras-Gómez Tania Janeth , Moreno-Mendoza Norma
Published: March 2020

It is widely accepted that the oocyte plays a very active role in promoting the growth of the follicle by directing the differentiation of granulosa cells and secreting paracrine growth factors. In turn, granulosa cells regulate the development of the oocytes, establishing close bidirectional communication between germ and somatic cells. The presence of cortical cells with morphological characteristics, similar to primordial germ cells that express specific germline markers, stem cells and cell proliferation, known as adult cortical germ cells (ACGC) have been reported in phyllostomid bats. Using magnetic cell separation techniques, dissociation–cellular re-aggregation and organ culture, the behaviour of oocytes and ACGC was analyzed by interacting in vitro with mouse ovarian cells. Bat ACGC was mixed with disaggregated ovaries from a transgenic mouse that expressed green fluorescent protein. The in vitro reconstruction of the re-aggregates was evaluated. We examined the viability, integration, cellular interaction and ovarian morphogenesis by detecting the expression of Vasa, pH3, Cx43 and Laminin. Our results showed that the interaction between ovarian cells is carried out in the adult ovary of two species, without them losing their capacity to form follicular structures, even after having been enzymatically dissociated.
Why should geological criteria used on Earth not be valid also for Mars? Evidence of possible microbialites and algae in extinct Martian lakes
Authors: Rizzo Vincenzo
Published: March 2020

During the Noachian period, 4.1-3.7 Gys ago, the Martian environment was moderately similar to the one on present Earth. Liquid water was widespread in a neutral environment, volcanic activity and heat flow more vigorous, and atmospheric pressure and temperature were higher than today. These conditions may have favoured the spread of life on the surface of Mars. The recognition that different planets and moons share rocky material cast in space by meteoroid impact entails that life creation is not necessary for each single planetary body, but could travel through the Solar system on board of rock fragments. Studies conducted on the past forms of Martian life have already highlighted possible positive matches with microbialite-like structures, referable to the geo-environmental conditions in the Noachian and Hesperian. However, by necessity, these studies are on predominantly micro and meso-scopic scale structures and doubts arise as to their attribution to the biogenic world. We suggest that in the identification of Martian life, we are currently in a position similar to the one of Kalkowsky who in 1908, based solely on morphological and sedimentological arguments, hypothesized the (now accepted) view of the biotic origin of stromatolites. Our analysis of thousands of images from Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity has provided a selection of images of ring-shaped, domal and coniform macrostructures that resemble terrestrial microbialites such as the ring-shaped stromatolites of Lake Thetis, and stacked cones reminiscent of the group of terrestrialConophyton. Notably, the latter were detected by Curiosity in the mudstone known as ‘Sheepbed’, the same outcrop where past organic molecules have been detected and where the occurrence of microbial-induced sedimentary structures (MISS) and of many more microbialitic micro, meso and macrostructures has already been hypothesized. Some of the structures discussed in this work are so complex that alternative biological hypotheses can be formulated as possible algae. Alternate, non-abiotic explanations are examined but we find difficult to explain some of such structures in the context of normal sedimentary processes, both syngenetic or epigenetic.