bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Colon Cancer Prevention in Poland. A Long Way Off
Authors: Obiała Karolina , Obiała Justyna , Jeziorski Krzysztof , Owoc Jakub , Mańczak Małgorzata , Olszewski Robert
Published: September 2020

The aim of this study was to analyse knowledge on colon cancer prevention among patients of primary care and identify their sources of information. The questionnaire study was conducted among patients of 36 primary healthcare clinics in Poland between September 2018 and February 2019. Patients were interviewed separately by trained researchers. Over 39% of the primary health patients declared that their knowledge about colon cancer prevention is unsatisfactory. Information about colon cancer prevention varied according to sex, age and BMI. Men declared lower level of knowledge than women: 46% of men thought it was unsatisfactory compared with 36% of women (p = 0.003). Preventive recommendations were more often provided to patients over 60 years old (p < 0.01). Overweight and obese patients were more likely to receive recommendations on diet (p < 0.001) and physical activity (p < 0.001) than patients with normal weight. The most common source of information on colon cancer prevention was Internet (68%) and medical doctors (60%). There is a need for developing colon cancer prevention policy. Crucial aspect includes educational programs aimed at improving patient’s knowledge and involving medical staff. The policymakers should pay greater attention to cancer prevention policies and medical staff involved in prevention to quality of communication to make sure patients thoroughly understand information they are provided.
Spontaneous imbibition in igneous rocks: effect of KCl concentration, confining pressure, and imbibition direction
Authors: Zhou Changlin , Li Li , Zeng Rong , Chen Weihua , Liu Yuxuan
Published: September 2020

Understanding spontaneous imbibition helps to determine the fracturing fluid volume and optimize the flowback design. At present, many studies have mainly focused on shale, but few on igneous rocks. As such, in this study, imbibition experiments were conducted on igneous rocks. The effects of KCl concentration, confining pressure, and imbibition direction on the spontaneous imbibition were systematically investigated. This study then introduces a new imbibition capacity index. The results show that KCl concentration has certain inhibitory effects on igneous rock imbibition, which reduce the absorption of clay minerals to liquid. Different imbibition directions result in distinct imbibition volumes. The co-current imbibition process is similar to fluid leak-off, but this rule is not satisfied in countercurrent imbibition, the n of which is fitted as 0.1.0.3. Increasing the confining pressure will slightly decrease the imbibition capacity of igneous rock. Rock imbibition causes a decrease in the surface hardness and physical properties of igneous rock, and increasing the KCl concentration in the fluid will effectively hinder clay swelling.
Aeroelastic behaviour of a wing with over-the-wing mounted UHBR engine
Authors: Neuert N. , Dinkler D.
Published: September 2020

The aeroelastic behaviour of a wing with an over-the-wing pylon-mounted ultra-high bypass ratio engine and high-lift devices is studied with a reduced-order model. Wing, pylon and engine structures are reduced separately using the modal approach and described by their natural frequencies and modes. The characteristic aerodynamic loads are investigated with steady and unsteady flow simulations of a two-dimensional profile section. These results indicate possible heave instabilities at strongly negative angles of attack. Three-dimensional effects are taken into account using an adapted lifting line theory according to Prandtl. Due to high circulations resulting from the high-lift systems, the effective angles of attack are in the range of the potential instabilities. The substructures and aerodynamic loads are coupled in modal space. For the wing without three-dimensional effects, the bending instability occurs at the corresponding negative angles of attack. Even though there is potential for improvement, including the three-dimensional effects shifts the endagered area to possible operation points.
Assessment, treatment and the importance of early intervention of childhood hoarding
Authors: Højgaard Davíð R. M. A. , Skarphedinsson Gudmundur
Published: September 2020

Hoarding disorder (HD) is characterised by difficulties in discharging or parting with possessions irrespective of their actual value, urges to save and acquire new items and excessive clutter in living areas. There is an urgent need to advance the understanding of HD in child and adolescent populations. The aim of this paper is to cover the assessment, treatment strategies and tools currently available. In general, data on assessment of paediatric HD are scant. Only one psychometrically sound scale, the Child Savings Inventory, which is a parent-rated scale used to assess the severity of hoarding symptoms, was found. However, this scale is not sufficient to produce a diagnosis of HD. Regarding treatment, there was only a limited number of case studies suggesting the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy that includes exposure to discarding and not collecting new items, using contingency management for exposure and oppositional behaviour, cognitive training and instructing parents to assist with home-based exposures. In conclusion, there is an urgent need for properly validated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders assessment tools, and we encourage practitioners and researchers to develop and test a Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol for paediatric HD based on the aforementioned components.
Between demonstrative and definite: A grammar competition model of the evolution of French l-determiners
Authors: Simonenko Alexandra , Carlier Anne
Published: September 2020

This article investigates the spread of the le/la/les-forms in the diachrony of French on the basis of large-scale corpora. It focuses on the issue of their “mixed” distribution viz. the observation that during a long period of time the le/la/les-forms in French do not pattern as either (anaphoric) demonstratives from which they originate (Late Latin ille), nor as (uniqueness-based) definites, which they end up becoming in Modern French. We model the phenomenon as a competition between two grammars which ascribe different Logical Forms to the l-forms and test model predictions in contexts which differ with respect to whether they satisfy the relevant conditions for either demonstrative or definite semantics. We also suggest that this change was part of a larger change involving the spread of presupposition triggers within noun phrases. We show that our model correctly predicts the relative rates of determiner spread in various contexts.
Biomarkers and indoor air quality: A translational research review
Authors: Senerat Araliya M. , Manemann Sheila M. , Clements Nicholas S. , Brook Robert D. , Hassett Leslie C. , Roger Véronique L.
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Air pollution is linked to mortality and morbidity. Since humans spend nearly all their time indoors, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) is a compelling approach to mitigate air pollutant exposure. To assess interventions, relying on clinical outcomes may require prolonged follow-up, which hinders feasibility. Thus, identifying biomarkers that respond to changes in IAQ may be useful to assess the effectiveness of interventions.

Methods:

We conducted a narrative review by searching several databases to identify studies published over the last decade that measured the response of blood, urine, and/or salivary biomarkers to variations (natural and intervention-induced) of changes in indoor air pollutant exposure.

Results:

Numerous studies reported on associations between IAQ exposures and biomarkers with heterogeneity across study designs and methods. This review summarizes the responses of 113 biomarkers described in 30 articles. The biomarkers which most frequently responded to variations in indoor air pollutant exposures were high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP).

Conclusions:

This review will guide the selection of biomarkers for translational studies evaluating the impact of indoor air pollutants on human health.
Comparison of regression imputation methods of baseline covariates that predict survival outcomes
Authors: Solomon Nicole , Lokhnygina Yuliya , Halabi Susan
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Missing data are inevitable in medical research and appropriate handling of missing data is critical for statistical estimation and making inferences. Imputation is often employed in order to maximize the amount of data available for statistical analysis and is preferred over the typically biased output of complete case analysis. This article examines several types of regression imputation of missing covariates in the prediction of time-to-event outcomes subject to right censoring.

Methods:

We evaluated the performance of five regression methods in the imputation of missing covariates for the proportional hazards model via summary statistics, including proportional bias and proportional mean squared error. The primary objective was to determine which among the parametric generalized linear models (GLMs) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and nonparametric multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), provides the “best” imputation model for baseline missing covariates in predicting a survival outcome.

Results:

LASSO on an average observed the smallest bias, mean square error, mean square prediction error, and median absolute deviation (MAD) of the final analysis model’s parameters among all five methods considered. SVM performed the second best while GLM and MARS exhibited the lowest relative performances.

Conclusion:

LASSO and SVM outperform GLM, MARS, and RF in the context of regression imputation for prediction of a time-to-event outcome.
Collaborative engagement of Hispanic communities in the planning, conducting, and dissemination of assistive technology research
Authors: Orellano-Colón Elsa M. , Rivero-Méndez Marta , Boneu-Meléndez Claudia X. , Solís-Báez Solymar , León-Astor Arelí , Juliá-Pacheco Mariolga , Santiago-Cruz María del Mar , Jutai Jeffrey W.
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Community engagement (CE) is critical for research on the adoption and use of assistive technology (AT) in many populations living in resource-limited environments. Few studies have described the process that was used for engaging communities in AT research, particularly within low-income communities of older Hispanic with disabilities where limited access, culture, and mistrust must be navigated. We aimed to identify effective practices to enhance CE of low-income Hispanic communities in AT research.

Methods:

The community stakeholders included community-based organizations, the community healthcare clinic, the local AT project, and residents of the Caño Martín Peña Community in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The CE procedures and activities during the Planning the Study Phase comprised working group meetings with stakeholders to cocreate the funding proposal for the study and address the reviewers’ critiques. During the Conducting the Study Phase, we convened a Community Advisory Board to assist in the implementation of the study. During the Disseminating the Study Results Phase, we developed and implemented plans to disseminate the research results.

Results:

We identified seven distinct practices to enhance CE in AT research with Hispanic communities: (1) early and continuous input; (2) building trusting and warm relationships through personal connections; (3) establishing and maintaining presence in the community; (4) power sharing; (5) shared language; (6) ongoing mentorship and support to community members; and (7) adapting to the changing needs of the community.

Conclusion:

Greater attention to CE practices may improve the effectiveness and sustainability of AT research with low-income communities.
Using supervised machine learning classifiers to estimate likelihood of participating in clinical trials of a de-identified version of ResearchMatch
Authors: Vazquez Janette , Abdelrahman Samir , Byrne Loretta M. , Russell Michael , Harris Paul , Facelli Julio C.
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Lack of participation in clinical trials (CTs) is a major barrier for the evaluation of new pharmaceuticals and devices. Here we report the results of the analysis of a dataset from ResearchMatch, an online clinical registry, using supervised machine learning approaches and a deep learning approach to discover characteristics of individuals more likely to show an interest in participating in CTs.

Methods:

We trained six supervised machine learning classifiers (Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), K-Nearest Neighbor Classifier (KNC), Adaboost Classifier (ABC) and a Random Forest Classifier (RFC)), as well as a deep learning method, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), using a dataset of 841,377 instances and 20 features, including demographic data, geographic constraints, medical conditions and ResearchMatch visit history. Our outcome variable consisted of responses showing specific participant interest when presented with specific clinical trial opportunity invitations (‘yes’ or ‘no’). Furthermore, we created four subsets from this dataset based on top self-reported medical conditions and gender, which were separately analysed.

Results:

The deep learning model outperformed the machine learning classifiers, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8105.

Conclusions:

The results show sufficient evidence that there are meaningful correlations amongst predictor variables and outcome variable in the datasets analysed using the supervised machine learning classifiers. These approaches show promise in identifying individuals who may be more likely to participate when offered an opportunity for a clinical trial.
Communities of practice, impression management, and great power status: Military observers in the Russo-Japanese War
Authors: Banerjee Kiran , MacKay Joseph
Published: September 2020

Military attachés and wartime observers have received surprisingly little attention in international relations. Why do states exchange attachés, permitting uniformed foreigners to gather intelligence on their territory and during their wars? To explain, we adopt a broadly practice-theoretic approach, focusing on the individuals who developed the role by living it, showing how they both innovated a distinct military practice and established institutional legitimacy for attachés. We address an early historical case in which the practice proliferated: the Russo-Japanese War, throughout which observers represented multiple European states, on both sides of the conflict. Sometimes termed the first modern war, the conflict saw Japan's entry into the Eurocentric great power system. In this context, embedded attachés had a dual effect. On the one hand, a professional attaché community established itself: we show how local innovation by embedded officers, in the context of this structurally destabilising event, permitted the creation of a new institutional role that might otherwise have been impossible. On the other, the Japanese made use of the attachés as witnesses for Western governments, observing their performance of great power-hood, as they defeated Russia. The argument has implications for understanding both the military attaché system and communities of practice as such.
The probabilities of extinction in a branching random walk on a strip
Authors: Braunsteins Peter , Hautphenne Sophie
Published: September 2020

We consider a class of multitype Galton–Watson branching processes with a countably infinite type set
$\mathcal{X}_d$
whose mean progeny matrices have a block lower Hessenberg form. For these processes, we study the probabilities
$\textbf{\textit{q}}(A)$
of extinction in sets of types
$A\subseteq \mathcal{X}_d$
. We compare
$\textbf{\textit{q}}(A)$
with the global extinction probability
$\textbf{\textit{q}} = \textbf{\textit{q}}(\mathcal{X}_d)$
, that is, the probability that the population eventually becomes empty, and with the partial extinction probability
$\tilde{\textbf{\textit{q}}}$
, that is, the probability that all types eventually disappear from the population. After deriving partial and global extinction criteria, we develop conditions for
$\textbf{\textit{q}} < \textbf{\textit{q}}(A) < \tilde{\textbf{\textit{q}}}$
. We then present an iterative method to compute the vector
$\textbf{\textit{q}}(A)$
for any set A. Finally, we investigate the location of the vectors
$\textbf{\textit{q}}(A)$
in the set of fixed points of the progeny generating vector.
On some threshold-one attractive interacting particle systems on homogeneous trees
Authors: Mu Y. X. , Zhang Y.
Published: September 2020

We consider the threshold-one contact process, the threshold-one voter model and the threshold-one voter model with positive spontaneous death on homogeneous trees
$\mathbb{T}_d$
,
$d\ge 2$
. Mainly inspired by the corresponding arguments for the contact process, we prove that the complete convergence theorem holds for these three systems under strong survival. When the system survives weakly, complete convergence may also hold under certain transition and/or initial conditions.
Existence of Gibbs point processes with stable infinite range interaction
Authors: Dereudre David , Vasseur Thibaut
Published: September 2020

We provide a new proof of the existence of Gibbs point processes with infinite range interactions, based on the compactness of entropy levels. Our main existence theorem holds under two assumptions. The first one is the standard stability assumption, which means that the energy of any finite configuration is superlinear with respect to the number of points. The second assumption is the so-called intensity regularity, which controls the long range of the interaction via the intensity of the process. This assumption is new and introduced here since it is well adapted to the entropy approach. As a corollary of our main result we improve the existence results by Ruelle (1970) for pairwise interactions by relaxing the superstabilty assumption. Note that our setting is not reduced to pairwise interaction and can contain infinite-range multi-body counterparts.
Randomised rules for stopping problems
Authors: Hobson David , Zeng Matthew
Published: September 2020

In a classical, continuous-time, optimal stopping problem, the agent chooses the best time to stop a stochastic process in order to maximise the expected discounted return. The agent can choose when to stop, and if at any moment they decide to stop, stopping occurs immediately with probability one. However, in many settings this is an idealistic oversimplification. Following Strack and Viefers we consider a modification of the problem in which stopping occurs at a rate which depends on the relative values of stopping and continuing: there are several different solutions depending on how the value of continuing is calculated. Initially we consider the case where stopping opportunities are constrained to be event times of an independent Poisson process. Motivated by the limiting case as the rate of the Poisson process increases to infinity, we also propose a continuous-time formulation of the problem where stopping can occur at any instant.
MUCHNIK DEGREES AND CARDINAL CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: MONIN BENOIT , NIES ANDRÉ
Published: September 2020

A mass problem is a set of functions$\omega \to \omega $. For mass problems${\mathcal {C}}, {\mathcal {D}}$, one says that${\mathcal {C}}$is Muchnik reducible to${\mathcal {D}}$if each function in${\mathcal {C}}$is computed by a function in${\mathcal {D}}$. In this paper we study some highness properties of Turing oracles, which we view as mass problems. We compare them with respect to Muchnik reducibility and its uniform strengthening, Medvedev reducibility.

For$p \in [0,1]$let${\mathcal {D}}(p)$be the mass problem of infinite bit sequencesy(i.e.,$\{0,1\}$-valued functions) such that for each computable bit sequencex, the bit sequence$ x {\,\leftrightarrow\,} y$has asymptotic lower density at mostp(where$x {\,\leftrightarrow\,} y$has a$1$in positionniff$x(n) = y(n)$). We show that all members of this family of mass problems parameterized by a realpwith$0 < p <1/2 $have the same complexity in the sense of Muchnik reducibility. We prove this by showing Muchnik equivalence of the problems${\mathcal {D}}(p)$with the mass problem$\text {IOE}({2^{2}}^{n})$; here for an order functionh, the mass problem$\text {IOE}(h)$consists of the functionsfthat agree infinitely often with each computable function bounded byh. This result also yields a new version of the proof to of the affirmative answer to the “Gamma question” due to the first author:$\Gamma (A)< 1/2$implies$\Gamma (A)=0$for each Turing oracleA.

As a dual of the problem${\mathcal {D}}(p)$, define${\mathcal {B}}(p)$, for$0 \le p < 1/2$, to be the set of bit sequencesysuch that$\underline \rho (x {\,\leftrightarrow\,} y)> p$for each computable setx. We prove that the Medvedev (and hence Muchnik) complexity of the mass problems${\mathcal {B}}(p)$is the same for all$p \in (0, 1/2)$, by showing that they are Medvedev equivalent to the mass problem of functions bounded by${2^{2}}^{n}$that are almost everywhere different from each computable function.

Next, together with Joseph Miller, we obtain a proper hierarchy of the mass problems of type$\text {IOE}$: we show that for any order functiongthere exists a faster growing order function$h $such that$\text {IOE}(h)$is strictly above$\text {IOE}(g)$in the sense of Muchnik reducibility.

We study cardinal characteristics in the sense of set theory that are analogous to the highness properties above. For instance,${\mathfrak {d}} (p)$is the least size of a setGof bit sequences such that for each bit sequencexthere is a bit sequenceyinGso that$\underline \rho (x {\,\leftrightarrow\,} y)>p$. We prove within ZFC all the coincidences of cardinal characteristics that are the analogs of the results above.
Interpretación de posibles modalidades de procesamiento en restos carbonizados del géneroChenopodiumrecuperados del sitio de Soria 2, Catamarca, Argentina
Authors: Petrucci Natalia Silvana , López María Laura
Published: September 2020

En el Viejo Mundo algunos arqueobotánicos, a partir de fuentes etnográficas y etnobotánicas, desarrollaron modelos interpretativos sobre el procesamiento de cereales, pudiendo interpretar antiguas prácticas de preparación y consumo a partir de restos arqueobotánicos. En el caso del Noroeste argentino, los estudios etnobotánicos —junto a otros de corte etnohistórico o histórico— han permitido abordar el análisis de restos arqueobotánicos procurando identificar los trazos materiales de comportamientos vinculados a diversas preparaciones culinarias en las que participaron distintas plantas y partes de las mismas. El objetivo del trabajo es analizar las posibles técnicas de procesamiento de los restos del géneroChenopodiumrecuperados del sitio de Soria 2 (Valle de Yocavil), del período Formativo, a partir de un modelo etnobotánico y experimental. Se recuperaron 23 ejemplares del géneroChenopodium, los cuales pertenecen aChenopodiumsp.,Chenopodium quinoavar.quinoayC.cf.carnosulum. El 57% de los restos presentaron evidencias de procesamiento. Los restantes mostraron deterioros que, si bien permitieron identificarlos, no hicieron posible la identificación de marcas de procesamiento. La aplicación de este tipo de estudios a restos arqueobotánicos permite un acercamiento más detallado sobre las prácticas poscosecha llevadas a cabo por las sociedades en el pasado.
Streptococcus spp. from bulk-tank milk and milking machine teatcups on small ruminant farms, and factors potentially associated with their isolation
Authors: Chatzopoulos Dimitris C. , Lianou Daphne T. , Michael Charalambia K. , Gougoulis Dimitris A. , Mavrogianni Vasia S. , Vasileiou Natalia G. C. , Katsafadou Angeliki I. , Politis Antonis P. , Kordalis Nikos G. , Katsarou Eleni I. , Ioannidi Katerina S. , Petinaki Efthimia , Fthenakis George C.
Published: September 2020

The objectives of this work were (a) to determine the presence of streptococci in samples from small ruminant dairy farms (bulk-tank milk and, where possible, teatcup swabs), (b) to investigate the potential adverse effects of streptococci on milk quality and (c) to investigate the importance of some husbandry factors for the isolation of streptococci. Bulk-tank milk samples and teatcups swab samples were examined bacteriologically for the presence of streptococci. Somatic cell counting and milk composition measurements were also performed. The husbandry factors present in each farm were assessed for potential associations with the isolation of streptococci. Streptococci were isolated from milk samples from 31.4% of sheep and 17.4% of goat farms and from 4.8% of sheep and 5.9% of goat teatcups. Streptococci were isolated more frequently from the upper part than the lower part of teatcups: 5.0% vs. 1.9%. Most isolates (57.9%) were identified as Streptococcus uberis. Most isolates (68.4%) were slime-producing; slime-production was more frequent among isolates from teatcups (83.3%) than from bulk-tank milk (55.0%). Somatic cell counts and milk composition did not differ between farms in which streptococci were or were not isolated. Machine-milking was associated with the isolation of streptococci from bulk-tank milk samples. The initial stage of the milking period (first two months) was found to be associated with the isolation of streptococci from milking machine teatcups in sheep farms only.
The influence of adaptive stresses on the survival of spray-dried Lactococcus lactis cells
Authors: Cnossen Débora C. , Rodrigues Ramila Cristiane , Martins Evandro , Junior José de Castro Cezarino , Carvalho Antônio Fernandes de
Published: September 2020

The research described in this technical research communication examines the hypothesis that sublethal stress conditions can improve the survival of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis during drying and subsequent storage. After drying, the L. lactis that had adapted to acid or osmotic stresses did not differ statistically in terms of cell viability loss compared to the control samples tested (~0.38 log cycles). However, the cells that had adapted to oxidative conditions demonstrated a cell viability loss of only 0.01 log cycles. After 45 d of storage at temperatures of 4 and 25 °C, the final L. lactis sample populations were shown to be higher (112.5%) when they had been submitted to sublethal conditions of oxidative stress. When the cell samples were exposed to acid stress conditions, they exhibited a viability loss (0.82 log cycles) that was statistically different from the control sample (0.58 log cycles) after 45 d. Osmotic stress conditions did not demonstrate any influence over cell survival rates. Thus, submitting cells to oxidative stress conditions prior to storage has been shown to be a potential strategy for producing dehydrated cultures of L. lactis strains that are less sensitive to oxygen exposure.
A LOCALISED BOUNDARY OBJECT: SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY WESTERN MUSIC THEORY IN CHINA
Authors: Chow Sheryl
Published: September 2020

In 1685, the Portuguese Jesuit Thomas Pereira was ordered by the Qing Kangxi emperor to write books on Western music theory in Chinese. Presented in the books were seventeenth-century practical and speculative music theories, including the coincidence theory of consonance. Invoking the concept of ‘boundary object’, this article shows that the cultural exchange, which gave rise to new knowledge by means of selection, synthesis and reinterpretation, was characterised by a lack of consensus between the transmitter and the receivers over the functions of the imported theories. Although the coincidence theory of consonance could potentially effect the transition from a pure numerical to a physical understanding of pitch, as in the European scientific revolution, it failed to flourish in China not only because of different theoretical concerns between European and Chinese musical traditions, but also because of its limited dissemination caused by Chinese print culture.
Methodological approaches for vitrification of bovine oocytes
Authors: Dujíčková Linda , Makarevich Alexander V. , Olexiková Lucia , Kubovičová Elena , Strejček František
Published: September 2020

Numerous factors affect vitrification success and post-thaw development of oocytes after in vitro fertilization. Therefore, elaboration of an optimal methodology ensuring higher cryotolerance of oocytes and subsequent blastocyst yield is still of great interest. This paper describes and evaluates critical factors affecting the success of oocyte vitrification. In particular, an appropriate oocyte stage such as maturation status (germinal vesicle stage, metaphase II stage), presence/absence of cumulus cells before vitrification, and the effect of follicle size, as well as different culture systems and media for in vitro production of embryos, the types and concentrations of cryoprotectants, and cooling and warming rates at vitrification are considered. Special attention is paid to various cryocarriers used for low-volume vitrification, which ensures safe storage of oocytes/embryos in liquid nitrogen and their successful post-thaw recovery. At the end, we focussed on how age of oocyte donors (heifers, cows) influences post-thaw development. This review summarizes results of recently published studies describing different methodologies of cryopreservation and post-thaw oocyte development with the main focus on vitrification of bovine oocytes.
Evaluation of electrocardiographic markers of cardiac arrhythmic events and their correlation with cardiac iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major
Authors: Demircan Tulay , Onder Sivis Zuhal , Tatlı Güneş Burçak , Karadeniz Cem
Published: September 2020

Iron overload is associated with an increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Data regarding the relationship between electrocardiographic parameters of atrial depolarisation and ventricular repolarisation with cardiac T2* MRI are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to investigate these electrocardiographic parameters and their relationship with cardiac T2* value in patients with β-thalassemia major. In this prospective study, 52 patients with β-thalassemia major and 52 age- and gender-matched healthy patients were included. Electrocardiographic measurements of QT, T peak to end interval, and P wave intervals were performed by one cardiologist who was blind to patients’ data. All patients underwent MRI for cardiac T2* evaluation. Cardiac T2* scores less than 20 ms were considered as iron overload. P wave dispersion, QTc interval, and the dispersions of QT and QTc were significantly prolonged in β-thalassemia major patients compared to controls. Interestingly, we found prolonged P waves, QT and T peak to end dispersions, T peak to end intervals, and increased T peak to end/QT ratios in patients with T2* greater than 20 ms. No significant correlation was observed between electrocardiographic parameters and cardiac T2* values and plasma ferritin levels. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that atrial depolarisation and ventricular repolarisation parameters are affected in β-thalassemia major patients and that these parameters are not correlated with cardiac iron load.
Motor activity patterns can distinguish between interepisode bipolar disorder patients and healthy controls
Authors: Schneider Jakub , Bakštein Eduard , Kolenič Marian , Vostatek Pavel , Correll Christoph U. , Novák Daniel , Španiel Filip
Published: September 2020

Background

Bipolar disorder (BD) is linked to circadian rhythm disruptions resulting in aberrant motor activity patterns. We aimed to explore whether motor activity alone, as assessed by longitudinal actigraphy, can be used to classify accurately BD patients and healthy controls (HCs) into their respective groups.

Methods

Ninety-day actigraphy records from 25 interepisode BD patients (ie, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) < 15) and 25 sex- and age-matched HCs were used in order to identify latent actigraphic biomarkers capable of discriminating between BD patients and HCs. Mean values and time variations of a set of standard actigraphy features were analyzed and further validated using the random forest classifier.

Results

Using all actigraphy features, this method correctly assigned 88% (sensitivity = 85%, specificity = 91%) of BD patients and HCs to their respective group. The classification success may be confounded by differences in employment between BD patients and HCs. When motor activity features resistant to the employment status were used (the strongest feature being time variation of intradaily variability, Cohen’s d = 1.33), 79% of the subjects (sensitivity = 76%, specificity = 81%) were correctly classified.

Conclusion

A machine-learning actigraphy-based model was capable of distinguishing between interepisode BD patients and HCs solely on the basis of motor activity. The classification remained valid even when features influenced by employment status were omitted. The findings suggest that temporal variability of actigraphic parameters may provide discriminative power for differentiating between BD patients and HCs while being less affected by employment status.
A 6-month follow-up study on response and relapse rates following an acute trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with major depression
Authors: Arici Chiara , Benatti Beatrice , Cafaro Rita , Cremaschi Laura , Degoni Luca , Pozzoli Sara , Oldani Lucio , Molteni Laura , Giorgetti Federica , Priori Alberto , Viganò Caterina , Dell’Osso Bernardo
Published: September 2020

Background

Little is known about the post-acute effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with major depression. The present study focused on the 6-month follow-up of a sample of patients with major depression, after the completion of an acute 4 weeks rTMS trial, with the aim of evaluating response (in terms of sustained and late response) and relapse rates.

Methods

Following the completion of an acute trial of rTMS (T0-T4), 31 drug-resistant depressed patients (bipolar or unipolar) entered a naturalistic follow-up period of 6 months, with three timepoints (T5, T6, and T7) during which they were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale.

Results

Results showed that in the 6 months following an acute transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) trial, a higher rate of late responders was observed among previously acute TMS nonresponders (63.64%, 7 out of 11) compared to the rate of relapse among those who had acutely responded to TMS (10%, 2 out of 20). In addition, an overall high rate of maintained response (90%) was observed.

Conclusion

Present findings seem to support the possibility of obtaining a clinical response also after the end of an acute TMS trial in patients with major depression. The concomitant low rate of relapse observed at the end of follow-up along with a high rate of maintained response provides further support to the post-acute efficacy of TMS. Nonetheless, further controlled studies, with larger samples and longer follow-up observation, are needed to confirm the reported results.
THE EARLY RECEPTION OF MOZART'S OPERAS IN LONDON: BURNEY'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Authors: WOODFIELD IAN
Published: September 2020

Early in 1789 Charles Burney declined a chance to purchase the score of an unnamed Mozart opera, offered to him by Franz Anton Weber, the composer's uncle-in-law, in an unsolicited letter from Hamburg. For several years Weber had been active in supplying new Viennese repertory to northern cities such as Uppsala, Hanover and Hamburg, but in a career change, he decided to launch an itinerant opera troupe. Among the family members employed in this company was Franz Anton's daughter Jeanette, who, he claimed, had been a pupil of Mozart and Aloysia Lange. In the light of Burney's missed opportunity, my article revisits the well-researched story of Mozart reception at the King's Theatre in the late 1780s.
Haiti and the Black Intellectual Tradition, 1829–1934
Authors: Cameron Christopher
Published: September 2020

In September 1829, David Walker published the first edition of hisAppeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World, a pamphlet that became a stirring call to arms for both slaves and free blacks alike. Walker's audience was blacks in the United States and his aim was to foster black unity and education, combat racial stereotypes, and make the case for the abolition of slavery. Like most abolitionists, black and white, Walker hoped that the end of slavery could come about through peaceful means. Unlike most other abolitionists, however, Walker openly called for slaves to violently resist their bondage, stating, “it is no more harm for you to kill a man, who is trying to kill you, than it is for you to take a drink of water when thirsty.” While advocates of pacifism and nonviolence often based their positions on their Christian faith, it was Walker's Christianity which lent support to his calls for revolutionary violence. “Does the Lord condescend to hear their cries and see their tears in consequence of oppression?” he asked. “Will he let the oppressors rest comfortably and happy always? Will he not cause the very children of the oppressors to rise up against them, and oftimes to put them to death?” Walker firmly believed that God would have his vengeance on blacks’ oppressors and that the vehicles for that vengeance might very well be the slaves themselves.
Resilient managed competition during pandemics: lessons from the Italian experience
Authors: Bel Germà , Esteve Marc
Published: September 2020

One of the main governance decisions that policymakers need to make is whether to implement public services via centralized or decentralized forms. As Costa et al. discuss in their article, when public services are implemented via competing systems, service providers contend to provide good services with the ultimate objective of gaining market quota. This is known as managed competition (MC), as the authorities will have to manage the panoply of public and private organizations offering the service. The alternative is to manage the service more centrally, in what it is identified as vertical integration. As the authors describe, several governments around the globe have abandoned their vertical integrated models in favour of decentralized models. This is the case, as the authors recall, for most health services in Europe. While there is an emerging body of evidence suggesting that decentralized MC outperforms vertically integrated models both in terms of efficiency and in terms of service quality, little is known on how these systems react under different circumstances. This means, for example, how these systems can cope with a sudden increase in their service demands.
Exploring Phenotypic and Genetic Overlap Between Cannabis Use and Schizotypy
Authors: Vaissiere James , Thorp Jackson G. , Ong Jue-Sheng , Ortega-Alonso Alfredo , Derks Eske M.
Published: September 2020

There is a well-established relationship between cannabis use and psychosis, although the exact nature of this relationship is not fully understood. Recent studies have observed significant genetic overlap between a diagnosis of schizophrenia and lifetime cannabis use. Expanding on this work, the current study aimed to examine whether genetic overlap also occurs for subclinical psychosis (schizotypy) and cannabis use, as well as examining the phenotypic association between the traits. Phenotypic correlations were calculated for a variety of schizotypy and cannabis phenotypes in the UK Biobank (UKB), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability estimates and genetic correlations were calculated for these UKB phenotypes as well as for several other variables taken from recent genomewide association studies. Positive phenotypic correlations were observed between 11 out of 12 pairs of the cannabis use and schizotypy phenotypes (correlation range .05–.18), indicating a robust association between increased symptoms of schizotypy and cannabis use. SNP-based heritability estimates for two schizotypy phenotypes remained significant after multiple testing correction:social anhedonia(h2SNP= .08,SE= .02,N= 4025) andever seen an unreal vision(h2SNP= .35,SE= .10,N= 150,717). Finally, one significant genetic correlation was observed between schizotypy and cannabis use, a negative correlation betweensocial anhedoniaandnumber of times used cannabis(rg= −.30,p= .012). The current study suggests the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis is also seen in subclinical symptoms of psychosis, but further research with larger samples is needed to determine the biological mechanisms underlying this association.
Audio Stories as Incidental Language Teachers
Authors: Ritterfeld Ute , Lüke Timo
Published: September 2020

Abstract. Audio stories offer a unique blend of narrative entertainment with language learning opportunities as a user’s enjoyment is dependent on their processing of the linguistic content. A total of 138 third- and fourth-graders from low socioeconomic status and migrant families recruited from a metropolitan area in Germany participated in a randomized pre–post follow-up intervention study with a control group. Children listened to a tailored crime story of approximately 90 min over a period of 3 days within the classroom setting. Entertainment value for the age group was established in a pilot study. Outcome variables included semantic and grammatical skills in German and were administered before (pretest), shortly after intervention (posttest), and 2 weeks later (follow-up). We used nonverbal intelligence, reading, comprehension skills, age and sex as control variables. Results indicate a strong positive effect of media reception on language skills. The effectiveness of the intervention is discussed with reference to different linguistic domains, entertainment value, and compensatory effects in populations at risk of language learning deficits.
Evidence for a Prolonged Continental Breakup Resulting From Slow Extension Rates at the Eastern North American Volcanic Rifted Margin
Authors: Bécel Anne , Davis Joshua K. , Shuck Brandon D. , Van Avendonk Harm J. A. , Gibson James C.
Published: September 2020

When continental rifting is accompanied by localized magmatism under extensional stress, the breakup duration can be short and the continent/ocean transition sharp, as mantle melts are thought to be efficient at heating and weakening the lithosphere. This mode of rifting has been invoked for the Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) based on the existing geophysical data. Here, we present results from multichannel seismic profiles from the ENAM Community Seismic Experiment offshore North Carolina, U.S. Our survey area encompasses both the East Coast Magnetic Anomaly (ECMA) and the Blake Spur Magnetic Anomaly (BSMA), which lies ~200‐km farther seaward. Our prestack depth‐migrated seismic images reveal major changes in the structure of the igneous crust across the BSMA. Between the ECMA and BSMA, we image a proto‐oceanic domain of rough, faulted, and thin igneous crust. The roughness of this oceanic crust is similar to modern ultraslow spreading environments which involve the continued presence of a pre‐existing lithospheric lid. Seaward of the BSMA the basement is smooth, and the crust is relatively thick, which is typical for Jurassic oceanic crust. Across the BSMA, we image a step up in basement and crustal root, which we interpret to represent complete lithospheric breakup and a transition to steady‐state seafloor spreading in agreement with coincident refraction results. Our results would also indicate low extension rates in the final stages of rifting that may have influenced the thermal structure of the lithosphere and could explain the delay for continental breakup. All of these observations show that although continental rifting between eastern North America and northwest Africa was assisted by magmatic activity, it did not lead to rapid localization of extensional strain as previously thought.
Creep Burst Coincident With Faulting in Marble Observed in 4‐D Synchrotron X‐Ray Imaging Triaxial Compression Experiments
Authors: Renard François , Kandula Neelima , McBeck Jessica , Cordonnier Benoît
Published: September 2020

Faults in carbonate rocks show both seismic and aseismic deformation processes, leading to a wide range of slip velocities. We deformed two centimeter‐scale cores of Carrara marble at 25°C and imaged the nucleation and growth of faults using dynamic synchrotron X‐ray microtomography. The first sample experienced a constant confinement of 30 MPa and no pore fluid. The second sample experienced confinement in the range 35–23 MPa and water as a pore fluid at 10 MPa pore pressure. We increased the axial stress by steps until creep deformation occurred and imaged deformation in 4‐D. The samples deformed with a quasi‐constant or increasing strain rate when the differential stress was constant, a process called creep. However, for both samples, we also observed transient events that include the acceleration of creep, that is, creep bursts, phenomena similar to slow slip events that occur in continental active faults. During these transient creep events, strain rates increase and correlate in time with strain localization and the slow development of system‐spanning fault networks. In both samples, the acceleration of opening and shearing of microfractures accommodated creep bursts. High‐resolution time‐lapse X‐ray microtomography imaging and digital image correlation during triaxial deformation quantify creep in laboratory faults at subgrain spatial resolution. This work demonstrates that transient creep events, that is, creep bursts or slow slip events, correlate with the nucleation and slow growth of faults and not only with slip on preexisting faults.
Measurements of Tropospheric Bromine Monoxide Over Four Halogen Activation Seasons in the Canadian High Arctic
Authors: Bognar K. , Zhao X. , Strong K. , Chang R. Y.‐W. , Frieß U. , Hayes P. L. , McClure‐Begley A. , Morris S. , Tremblay S. , Vicente‐Luis A.
Published: September 2020

Bromine explosions and corresponding ozone depletion events are common in the Arctic spring. The snowpack on sea ice and sea salt aerosols (SSA) are both thought to release bromine, but the relative contribution of each source is not yet known. Furthermore, the role of atmospheric conditions is not fully understood. Long‐term measurements of bromine monoxide (BrO) provide useful insight into the underlying processes of bromine activation. Here we present a 4‐year data set (2016–2019) of springtime BrO partial columns retrieved from Multi‐AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX‐DOAS) measurements in Eureka, Canada (80.1°N, 86.4°W, 610 m asl). Due to the elevation of the measurement site, the instrument often measures BrO in the free troposphere, except during strong wind episodes and storms that generate a deep boundary layer. Enhanced vertical mixing due to strong winds leads to increasing BrO values and reduced ozone depletion. We find that BrO enhancements show two modes differentiated by local wind direction and air mass history. Longer time spent by the airmass in first‐year sea ice areas corresponds to increased BrO for one of these modes only. Furthermore, we argue that snow on multiyear ice might also contribute to bromine release. High aerosol optical depth is required to maintain lofted BrO, and we show that the presence of coarse‐mode aerosols (>0.5 μm, likely SSA) is a necessary and sufficient condition for observing BrO at our elevated measurement site in Eureka. This work highlights the importance of considering variable local conditions when characterizing bromine activation.