bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Description of COVID‐19 cases along with the measures taken on prevention and control in Zhejiang, China
Authors: Wang Guan , Chen Wenhu , Jin Xian , Chen Yi‐Peng
Published: April 2020

Under the outbreak of COVID‐19, it was urgent to analyze the cases from clinical features and epidemiological factors, as well as understand the effectiveness of measures taken on disease prevent and control. A retrospective study was applied for descriptive analysis of clinical features and epidemiological factors of confirmed cases in four cities of Zhejiang. The Onset‐admission interval was calculated and plotted as well. The provincial measures regarding the response of COVID‐19 were summed up and sorted out. The distribution and sex and age were under normality distribution, and the age of 20 to 80 were all in risk of developing the disease. Clinical features of fever and cough were found mostly happen on patients. More than half of the patients had image changed on chest from reported data. The factor of closely contacted with confirmed cases was the most cause to the disease. The median onset‐admission interval was 6 days in Zhejiang province. As of the efficient health system, COVID‐19 had been successfully prevented and controlled in Zhejiang. Males and females were all vulnerable to COVID‐19. Preventing contact with confirmed cases could largely avoid the disease to happen. The government should take emergent and effective measures to prevent and treatment of the pandemic disease.
Worst Life Events and Media Exposure to Terrorism in a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample
Authors: Thompson Rebecca R. , Holman E. Alison , Silver Roxane Cohen
Published: April 2020

Indirectly experienced negative life events are not considered Criterion A traumatic events per DSM‐5 posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic criteria, yet individuals indirectly exposed to trauma via the media may report these events as peak traumatic experiences. We studied which events people considered to be the “worst” in their lifetimes to gain a better understanding of the types of events individuals consider to be distressing. This longitudinal study included a nationally representative sample of U.S. residents living outside New York (N = 1,606) who were exposed to the September 11th, 2001 (9/11) terror attacks exclusively via the media. Bereavement was the most frequently cited “worst” life event (42.0%); violent events were cited by 11.4% of the sample. However, 22.0% of respondents reported 9/11 as their worst life event even though they did not directly experience the attacks. More lifetime exposure to violent events and bereavement, odds ratios (ORs) = 0.79 and 0.72, respectively, and a college education, OR = 0.61, were associated with decreased odds of naming 9/11 as one's worst life event. Watching 4 or more hours of 9/11‐related television coverage in the week after the attacks, OR = 1.67, and identifying as African American, OR = 2.01, were associated with increased odds of naming 9/11 as one's worst life event 1 year after the attacks. Events experienced indirectly through the media may be considered the worst of people's lives, with important implications for assessing stressful life event history and understanding indirect exposure to negative life events.
Can Point Shear Wave Elastography Be Used as an Early Indicator of Involvement?
Authors: Sağlam Dilek , Demirbaş Fatma , Bilgici Meltem Ceyhan , Yücel Serap , Çaltepe Gönül , Eren Esra
Published: April 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cystic fibrosis (CF) on pancreas and liver elasticity in young children using point shear wave elastography and to determine the relationship with clinical findings.

Methods

Twenty‐two patients with genetically proven CF, who were admitted to our pediatric gastroenterology clinic, and 22 healthy control participants were enrolled in the study. The shear wave velocity (SWV) of the liver and pancreas were measured with point shear wave elastography.

Results

The 22 patients with CF included 45.5% girls with a mean age ± SD of 35 ± 35.8 months (range, 5–123 months). The 22 healthy control participants included 41.2% girls with a mean age of 58.9 ± 44.4 months (range, 2–159 months). The mean SWV of the pancreas in the patients with CF (1.06 ± 0.26 m/s) was significantly higher than that of the healthy control participants (0.85 ± 0.23 m/s; P = .01). The mean SWV of the liver in the patients with CF (1.46 ± 0.24 m/s) was significantly higher than that of the healthy control participants (1.12 ± 0.21 m/s; P = .001). The SWV of the pancreas and liver did not show any significant differences depending on ursodeoxycholic acid use, malnutrition status, and the presence of the F508 deletion mutation.

Conclusions

This study showed an increased SWV of the pancreas in children with CF, contrary to the literature. We also found an increased liver SWV even in the absence of CF‐related liver disease. Ultrasound elastography may be a useful method of evaluating early changes in the pancreas and liver before the obvious clinical, laboratory, and B‐mode ultrasound signs of CF‐related involvement.
Retracted: Protective effect of hsa‐miR‐570‐3p targeting CD274 on triple negative breast cancer by blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Li‐Li , Huang Wei‐Wei , Huang Jing , Huang Rong‐Fang , Li Na‐Ni , Hong Yi , Chen Mu‐Lan , Wu Fan , Liu Jian
Published: April 2020

To find out the role of hsa‐miR‐570‐3p targeting CD274 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Hsa‐miR‐570‐3p and CD274 expressions in 175 TNBC patients were detected by qRT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. The human TNBC cell lines (MDA‐MB‐468 and MDA‐MB‐231) were used to verify the targeting relationship between hsa‐miR‐570‐3p and CD274 via dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. Then, MDA‐MB‐468 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells were divided into Blank, miR‐NC, miR‐570‐3p mimics, NC siRNA, CD274 siRNA, and miR‐570‐3p inhibitors + CD274 siRNA groups. Next, the biological activities of cells were detected by MTT, Cell‐Light EdU, Annexin‐V‐FITC/PI, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. Western blotting was conducted to detect protein expressions.MiR‐570‐3p expression was lower in tumor tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues, which was more obvious in CD274‐positive TNBC patients, which targeted CD274 in TNBC cell lines. MiR‐570‐3p inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration, but induced cell apoptosis accompanying the upregulation of apoptotic proteins and downregulation of anti‐apoptotic protein. CD274 siRNA had the similar results of miR‐570‐3p mimics, which could be reversed by miR‐570‐3p inhibitors. Besides, both miR‐570‐3p mimics and CD274 siRNA blocked PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in TNBC cell lines. Hsa‐miR‐570‐3p was downregulated and CD274 was upregulated in TNBC patients. Besides, hsa‐miR‐570‐3p targeted CD274 to inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and induce cell apoptosis, which may be related to the suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Market structure, common ownership, and coordinated manager compensation
Authors: Neus Werner , Stadler Manfred , Unsorg Maximiliane
Published: April 2020

We study oligopolistic competition in product markets where the firms' quantity decisions are delegated to managers. Some firms are commonly owned by shareholders such as index funds, whereas the other firms are owned by independent shareholders. Under such an asymmetric ownership structure, the common owners have an incentive to coordinate when designing the manager compensation schemes. This implicit collusion induces a less aggressive output behavior by the coordinated firms and a more aggressive behavior by the noncoordinated firms. The profits of the noncoordinated firms are increasing in the number of coordinated firms. The profits of the coordinated firms exceed the profits without coordination if at least 80% of the firms are commonly owned.
Using of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the rheological behavior of magnesium oxide‐water nanofluid in a different volume fraction of nanoparticles, temperatures, and shear rates
Authors: Li Yicheng , Kalbasi Rasool , Karimipour Arash , Sharifpur Mohsen , Meyer Josua
Published: April 2020

Laboratory studies are usually time‐consuming and costly; hence, soft computing methodology can be an attractive alternative for predicting results. In this study, the viscosity of MgO‐water nanofluid in a different volume fraction of nanoparticles, temperatures, and shear rates has been predicted by artificial neural networks (ANNs) and surface methods. In the ANN method, an algorithm is proposed to select the best neuron number for the hidden layer. In the fitting method, a surface is proposed for each volume fraction of nanoparticles, and finally, the results of the ANN and surface fitting method have been compared. It can be observed that increasing the volume fraction from 0.07% to 1.25% at temperatures of 25°C, 30°C, 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C resulted in about two‐fold increase in viscosity. Also, the best network has 24 neurons in the hidden layer. It can be seen that for a network with 24 neurons in the hidden layer has the best overall correlation, and this coefficient is 0.999035. The mean absolute value of errors in the ANN and fitting method are 0.0118 and 0.0206, respectively.
Morphological and metric criteria for identifying postcranial skeletal remains of modern and archaeological Caprinae and Antilopinae in the northeast Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas
Authors: Wang Yiru , Peters Joris , Barker Graeme
Published: April 2020

Osseous remains of medium‐sized Caprinae and Antilopinae are often found in late Quaternary archaeological sites in the northeast Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas, but their accurate taxonomic identification poses considerable problems to zooarchaeologists. Building on previous osteomorphological studies and a statistically significant number of modern comparatives, this study presents diagnostic morphological features and metric data of selected skeletal elements, enabling taxonomic classification of six medium‐sized wild bovid genera widely distributed across the region, that is, Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Argali (Ovis ammon), Serow (Capricornis sp.), Goral (Naemorhedus sp.) and two genera of Antilopinae (Gazella, Procapra), as well as domestic sheep (O. aries) and goats (Capra hircus). A blind test showed that using these anatomical criteria on modern specimens allowed separating unequivocally all taxa in the case of the distal humerus, but a lesser degree of confidence in the case of the distal metapodials. Applying these criteria to archaeological specimens from the prehistoric northeast Tibetan Plateau, we conclude that distal humeri can be confidently assigned taxonomically by applying a stepwise approach, whereas in distal metacarpals and metatarsals, the probabilistic approach is proving more promising for classifying specimens correctly.
Association of fludarabin, cytarabine, and fractioned gemtuzumab followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for first‐line refractory acute myeloid leukemia in children: A single‐center experience
Authors: Penel‐Page Mathilde , Plesa Adriana , Girard Sandrine , Marceau‐Renaut Alice , Renard Cécile , Bertrand Yves
Published: April 2020

Context

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare disease in children, with only 50% to 60% event‐free survival. Among patients with AML, 10% do not respond to first‐line chemotherapy. There is no recommendation concerning second‐line treatments. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD33, linked to calicheamicin. We report the efficacy and tolerance of a salvage regimen of fludarabin, cytarabine, and GO (FLA‐GO) in patients refractory to first‐line treatment.

Methods

Eight patients (median age 14.5 years), who had more than 2% minimal residual disease (MRD) by flow cytometry (MRD flow), received gemtuzumab 3 mg/m² on days 1, 4, 7, associated with cytarabine 2000 mg/m² and fludarabin 30 mg/m² on days 1 to 5.

Results

Six patients achieved complete remission (CR) (blast count morphology ≤5 × 10−2, CR‐MRD flow <1 × 10−3 for four patients). Five patients received a second course. We observed 11 episodes of febrile neutropenia, including 6 septicemias without complication. There was no fungal infection or toxic death. Two patients received granulocyte colony stimulating factor. One patient had partial platelet recovery; one, prolonged pancytopenia. All patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We observed five mild‐to‐severe sinusoidal obstruction syndromes during HSCT procedures, particularly in patients who did not receive defibrotide prophylaxis. At the date of last contact (median follow‐up: 58 months; range: 22‐78), six patients were in continuous CR with negative MRD. Two patients died of post‐HSCT relapse.

Conclusion

FLA‐GO is a good salvage regimen for pediatric refractory AML, with significant but acceptable toxicity. HSCT is mandatory to achieve sustained CR in these patients.
Clinical heterogeneity of pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: D'Souza Amber M. , Towbin Alexander J. , Gupta Anita , Alonso Maria , Nathan Jaimie D. , Bondoc Alex , Tiao Greg , Geller James I.
Published: April 2020

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often a chemoresistant neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Pediatric HCC may reflect unique biological and clinical heterogeneity.

Procedure

An IRB‐approved retrospective institutional review of patients with HCC treated between 2004 and 2015 was undertaken. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic data were collected from all patients.

Results

Thirty‐two patients with HCC, median age 11.5 years (range 1‐20) were identified. Seventeen patients had a genetic or anatomic predisposition. Histology was conventional HCC (25) and fibrolamellar HCC (7). Evans staging was 1 (12); 2 (1); 3 (10); 4 (9). Sixteen patients underwent resection at diagnosis and five patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Surgical procedures included liver transplantation (LT, 11), hemihepatectomy (9), and segmentectomy (1). Eighteen patients had medical therapy (13 neoadjuvant, 5 adjuvant). Most common initial medical therapy included sorafenib alone (7) and cisplatin/doxorubicin‐based therapy (8). Overall, 14 (43.8%) patients survived with a median follow‐up of 58.8 months (range 26.5‐157.6). Cause of death was most often linked to lack of primary tumor surgery (11). Of the survivors, Evans stage was 1 (11), 2 (1), and 3 (2, both treated with LT). Four of 18 patients (22%) who received medical therapy, 8 of 17 patients with a predisposition (47%), and 14 of 21 patients (66%) who underwent surgery remain alive.

Conclusions

Genetic and anatomic predisposing conditions were seen in over half of this cohort. Evans stage 1 or 2 disease was linked to improved survival. LT trended toward improved survival. Use of known chemotherapy agents may benefit a smaller group of pediatric HCC and warrants formal prospective study through cooperative group trials.
Herbal treatments for migraine: A systematic review of randomised‐controlled studies
Authors: Lopresti Adrian L. , Smith Stephen J. , Drummond Peter D.
Published: April 2020

Herbal treatments are often used as a treatment for migraine. Therefore, an evaluation of their safety and efficacy is important. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, and Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias, a systematic literature review of randomised, controlled human trials assessing the effects of herbal treatments delivered as a single ingredient for the acute or prophylactic treatment of migraine were conducted. Studies were identified through electronic database searches on Medline (Pubmed), Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL. Nineteen studies were identified examining the effects on migraine of feverfew, butterbur, curcumin, menthol/peppermint oil, coriander, citron, Damask rose, chamomile, and lavender. Overall, findings on the efficacy of feverfew were mixed and there was positive, albeit limited evidence for butterbur. There were positive, preliminary findings on curcumin, citron, and coriander as a prophylactic treatment for migraine, and the use of menthol and chamomile as an acute treatment. However, the risk of bias was high for many studies. The results of this systematic review suggest that several herbal medicines, via their multifactorial physiological influences, present as potential options to enhance the treatment of migraine. However, further high‐quality research is essential to examine their efficacy and safety as a treatment for migraine.
A Counter Propagating Lens‐Mirror System for Ultrahigh Throughput Single Droplet Detection
Authors: Cao Xiaobao , Du Ying , Küffner Andreas , Van Wyk Jordan , Arosio Paolo , Wang Jing , Fischer Peter , Stavrakis Stavros , deMello Andrew
Published: April 2020

Fluorescence‐based detection schemes provide for multiparameter analysis in a broad range of applications in the chemical and biological sciences. Toward the realization of fully portable analysis systems, microfluidic devices integrating diverse functional components have been implemented in a range of out‐of‐lab environments. That said, there still exits an unmet and recognized need for miniaturized, low‐cost, and sensitive optical detection systems, which provide not only for efficient molecular excitation, but also enhanced photon collection capabilities. To this end, an optofluidic platform that is adept at enhancing fluorescence light collection from microfluidic channels is presented. The central component of the detection module is a monolithic parabolic mirror located directly above the microfluidic channel, which acts to enhance the number of emitted photons reflected toward the detector. In addition, two‐photon polymerization is used to print a microscale‐lens below the microfluidic flow channel and directly opposite the mirror, to enhance the delivery of excitation radiation into the channel. Using such an approach, it is demonstrated that fluorescence signals can be enhanced by over two orders of magnitude, with component parallelization enabling the detection of pL‐volume droplets at rates up to 40 000 droplets per second.
Superior Stability and Emission Quantum Yield (23% ± 3%) of Single‐Layer 2D Tin Perovskite TEA2SnI4 via Thiocyanate Passivation
Authors: Lin Jin‐Tai , Hu Yu‐Kai , Hou Cheng‐Hung , Liao Chen‐Cheng , Chuang Wei‐Tsung , Chiu Ching‐Wen , Tsai Ming‐Kang , Shyue Jing‐Jong , Chou Pi‐Tai
Published: April 2020

Tin‐based perovskite, which exhibits narrower bandgap and comparable photophysical properties to its lead analogs, is one of the most forward‐looking lead‐free semiconductor materials. However, the poor oxidative stability of tin perovskite hinders the development toward practical application. In this work, the effect of pseudohalide anions on the stability and emission properties of single‐layer 2D tin perovskite nanoplates with chemical formula TEA2SnI4 (TEA = 2‐thiophene‐ethylammonium) is reported. The results reveal that ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) is the most effective additive in enhancing the stability and photoluminescence quantum yield of 2D TEA2SnI4 (23 ± 3%). X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopic investigations on the thiocyanate passivated TEA2SnI4 nanoplate show less than a 1% increase of Sn4+ signal upon 30 min exposure to air under ambient conditions (298 K, humidity ≈70%). Furthermore, no noticeable decrease in emission intensity of the nanoplate is observed after 20 h in air. The SCN‐ passivation during the growth stage of TEA2SnI4 is proposed to play a crucial role in preventing the oxidation of Sn2+ and hence boosts both stability and photoluminescence yield of tin perovskite nanoplates.
Functionalized NIR‐II Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles for Single‐cell to Whole‐Organ Imaging of PSMA‐Positive Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wu Jiayingzi , Lee Hyeon Jeong , You Liyan , Luo Xuyi , Hasegawa Tsukasa , Huang Kai‐Chih , Lin Peng , Ratliff Timothy , Ashizawa Minoru , Mei Jianguo , Cheng Ji‐Xin
Published: April 2020

Development of molecular probes holds great promise for early diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer. Here, 2‐[3‐(1,3‐dicarboxypropyl) ureido] pentanedioic acid (DUPA)‐conjugated ligand and bis‐isoindigo‐based polymer (BTII) are synthesized to formulate semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (BTII‐DUPA SPN) as a prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐targeted probe for prostate cancer imaging in the NIR‐II window. Insights into the interaction of the imaging probes with the biological targets from single cell to whole organ are obtained by transient absorption (TA) microscopy and photoacoustic (PA) tomography. At single‐cell level, TA microscopy reveals the targeting efficiency, kinetics, and specificity of BTII‐DUPA SPN to PSMA‐positive prostate cancer. At organ level, PA tomographic imaging of BTII‐DUPA SPN in the NIR‐II window demonstrates superior imaging depth and contrast. By intravenous administration, BTII‐DUPA SPN demonstrates selective accumulation and retention in the PSMA‐positive tumor, allowing noninvasive PA detection of PSMA overexpressing prostate tumors in vivo. The distribution of nanoparticles inside the tumor tissue is further analyzed through TA microscopy. These results collectively demonstrate BTII‐DUPA SPN as a promising probe for prostate cancer diagnosis by PA tomography.
Development of new dominant selectable markers for the nonconventional yeasts Ogataea polymorpha and Candida famata
Authors: Bratiichuk Dmytro , Kurylenko Olena , Vasylyshyn Roksolana , Zuo MingXing , Kang Yingqian , Dmytruk Kostyantyn , Sibirny Andriy
Published: April 2020

Nonconventional yeast Candida famata and Ogataea polymorpha are interesting organisms for basic and applied studies. O. polymorpha is methylotrophic thermotolerant yeast capable of xylose alcoholic fermentation whereas C. famata is capable of riboflavin overproduction. Still, the new tools for molecular research of these species are needed. The aim of this study was to develop the new dominant selective markers for C. famata and O. polymorpha usable in metabolic engineering experiments. In this work, the BSD gene from Aspergillus terreus coding for blasticidin S deaminase, O. polymorpha AUR1 gene required for sphingolipid synthesis and IMH3 gene, which encodes IMP dehydrogenase, were tested as the new dominant selective marker genes. Our results showed that AUR1 and IMH3 genes could be used as dominant selective markers for O. polymorpha with frequencies of transformation of 40 and 20 transformants per microgram of DNA, respectively. The IMH3 gene was successfully used as the marker for construction of O. polymorpha strains with increased ethanol production from xylose due to overexpression of TAL1, TKL1 and AOX1 genes. The BSD gene from A. terreus, conferring resistance to blasticidin, was found to be efficient for selection of C. famata transformants.
A Novel Phenoxazine‐based Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of HOCl in Living Cells
Authors: Yang Jiajia , Yao Yusi , Shen Yang , Xu Yunze , Lv Guanglei , Li Chunxia
Published: April 2020

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key microbicidal agent which is used for natural defense. However, it is also linked to varieties of human diseases owing to the overproduction of HOCl. Much effort has been made to exploit selective fluorescent sensors for the detection of HOCl, but most of them have some disadvantages such as short excitation wavelength, low selectivity, and slow response and so on. These restrict the biological application of the probes. In this work, BR‐O was designed and synthesized on the base of phenoxazine for the detection of HOCl. BR‐O exhibited a violent fluorescence enhancement in the presence of HOCl, showing excellent selectivity and high sensitivity. More importantly, the probe BR‐O was capable of detecting exogenous and endogenous HOCl in living cells.
Apoptotic and anti-proliferative effect of guanosine and guanosine derivatives in HuT-78 T lymphoma cells
Authors: Schneider Erich H. , Hofmeister Olga , Kälble Solveig , Seifert Roland
Published: April 2020

The effects of 100 μM of 3′,5′-cGMP, cAMP, cCMP, and cUMP as well as of the corresponding membrane-permeant acetoxymethyl esters on anti-CD3-antibody (OKT3)-induced IL-2 production of HuT-78 cutaneous T cell lymphoma (Sézary lymphoma) cells were analyzed. Only 3′,5′-cGMP significantly reduced IL-2 production. Flow cytometric analysis of apoptotic (propidium iodide/annexin V staining) and anti-proliferative (CFSE staining) effects revealed that 3′,5′-cGMP concentrations > 50 μM strongly inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HuT-78 cells (cultured in the presence of αCD3 antibody). Similar effects were observed for the positional isomer 2′,3′-cGMP and for 2′,-GMP, 3′-GMP, 5′-GMP, and guanosine. By contrast, guanosine and guanosine-derived nucleotides had no cytotoxic effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) xenograft cells. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of guanosine and guanosine-derived compounds on HuT-78 cells were completely eliminated by the nucleoside transport inhibitor NBMPR (S-(4-Nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine). By contrast, the ecto-phosphodiesterase inhibitor DPSPX (1,3-dipropyl-8-sulfophenylxanthine) and the CD73 ecto-5′-nucleotidase inhibitor AMP-CP (adenosine 5′-(α,β-methylene)diphosphate) were not protective. We hypothesize that HuT-78 cells metabolize guanosine-derived nucleotides to guanosine by yet unknown mechanisms. Guanosine then enters the cells by an NBMPR-sensitive nucleoside transporter and exerts cytotoxic effects. This transporter may be ENT1 because NBMPR counteracted guanosine cytotoxicity in HuT-78 cells with nanomolar efficacy (IC50 of 25–30 nM). Future studies should further clarify the mechanism of the observed effects and address the question, whether guanosine or guanosine-derived nucleotides may serve as adjuvants in the therapy of cancers that express appropriate nucleoside transporters and are sensitive to established nucleoside-derived cytostatic drugs.
Dopaminergic and noradrenergic manipulation of anticipatory reward and probability event-related potentials
Authors: Schutte Iris , Deschamps Peter K. H. , van Harten Peter N. , Kenemans J. Leon
Published: April 2020

Predicting what will happen in the future in terms of potential reward is essential in daily life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the neurotransmitter systems involved in the anticipation of reward value and probability. We hypothesized that dopaminergic and noradrenergic antagonism would affect anticipation of reward value and probability, respectively. Twenty-three healthy participants were included in a haloperidol (2 mg) × clonidine (0.150 mg) × placebo cross-over design and subjected to a Go/NoGo experimental task during which cues signaled the probability of subsequent target appearance. Reward value (amount of money that could be won for correct and fast responding to the target) as well as probability of target appearance was orthogonally manipulated across four task blocks. Cue-elicited EEG event-related potentials were recorded to assess anticipation of value and probability, respectively. The processing of reward value was affected by dopaminergic antagonism (haloperidol), as evidenced by reduction of the reward-related positivity and P300 to reward cues. This reduction was specifically significant for subjects with high baseline dopamine levels for the P300 and most pronounced for these subjects for the reward-related positivity. In contrast, the processing of reward probability was affected by noradrenergic antagonism (clonidine). In addition, both drugs reduced overall performance (omission rate, response speed variability). We conclude that at least anticipation of reward value and probability, respectively, is specifically affected by dopaminergic versus noradrenergic antagonism.
Health-related quality of life in the phase III GALLIUM study of obinutuzumab- or rituximab-based chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated advanced follicular lymphoma
Authors: Davies Andrew , Trask Peter , Demeter Judit , Florschütz Axel , Hänel Mathias , Kinoshita Tomohiro , Pettengell Ruth , Quach Hang , Robinson Stephen , Sadullah Shalal , Sancho Juan-Manuel , Udvardy Miklos , Witzens-Harig Mathias , Knapp Andrea , Liu Wenxin
Published: April 2020

Health-related quality of life was a secondary endpoint in the phase III GALLIUM study in previously untreated patients with follicular lymphoma who were treated with rituximab- or obinutuzumab-chemotherapy. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive induction therapy with obinutuzumab- or rituximab-chemotherapy and maintenance in responders. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Lymphoma questionnaire, incorporating well-being and lymphoma-specific subscales. Assessments were performed at baseline, and during induction, maintenance, and follow-up (maximum 84 months). Clinically meaningful responses were defined by minimally important difference values. Of 1202 randomized patients (median follow-up 57.4 months), 557/601 (92.7%; obinutuzumab-chemotherapy) and 548/601 (91.2%; rituximab-chemotherapy) completed all Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Lymphoma scales at baseline. Mean baseline health-related quality of life scores were similar between both arms, with all patients having some functional impairment and lymphoma symptoms. Over the course of treatment, mean health-related quality of life remained similar in both arms. Equal proportions of patients in both arms achieved minimally important difference by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Lymphoma lymphoma-specific subscale and summary scales throughout induction, maintenance, and follow-up. On each summary scale, ~ 50% of patients in each arm achieved minimally important difference by maintenance month 2. In GALLIUM, similar improvements in health-related quality of life were seen with obinutuzumab- and rituximab-chemotherapy, suggesting that both treatments reduced lymphoma-related symptoms, and treatment-related side effects did not abrogate these improvements in well-being. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01332968.
Igneous differentiation by deformation
Authors: Petford N. , Koenders M. A. , Clemens J. D.
Published: April 2020

In a paper published in 1920, Bowen conceived of a situation where forces acting on a crystalline mesh could extract the liquid phase from the solid, and in doing so cause variations in chemistry distinct from the purely gravitational effects of fractional crystallisation. His paper was a call-to-arms to explore the role of deformation as a cause of variation in igneous rocks, but was never followed-up in a rigorous way. Inspired by this, we have developed a quantitative model showing how shear deformation of a crystallised dense magma (ϕ > 70%) with poro-elastic properties is analogous to a granular material. The critical link between the mechanics and associated compositional changes of the melt is the degree to which the crystallising magma undergoes dilation (volume increase) during shear. It is important to note that the effect can only take place after the initial loose solid material has undergone mechanical compaction such that the grains comprising the rigid skeleton are in permanent contact. Under these conditions, the key material parameters governing the dilatancy effect are the physical permeability, mush strength, the shear modulus and the contact mechanics and geometry of the granular assemblage. Calculations show that dilation reduces the interstitial fluid (melt) pressure causing, in Bowen’s words, “the separation of crystals and mother liquor” via a suction effect. At shear strain rates in excess of the tectonic background, deformation-induced melt flow can redistribute chemical components and heat between regions of crystallising magma with contrasting rheological properties, at velocities far in excess of diffusion or buoyancy forces, the latter of course the driving force behind fractional crystallisation and viscous compaction. Influx of hotter, less evolved melt drawn internally from the same magma body into regions where crystallisation is more advanced (auto-intrusion), may result in reverse zoning and/or resorption of crystals. Because dilatancy is primarily a mechanical effect independent of melt composition, evolved, chemically distinct melt fractions removed at this late stage may explain miarolitic alkaline rocks, intrusive granophyres in basaltic systems and late stage aplites and pegmatites in granites (discontinuous variations), as proposed by Bowen. Post-failure instabilities include hydraulic rupture of the mush along shear zones governed by the angles of dilation and internal friction. On the macro-scale, a combination of dilatancy and fracturing may provide a means to extract large volumes of chemically evolved melt from mush columns on short (< 1000 year) geological timescales.
“Diesel-Gate” in risk reporting—An analysis of risk communication in annual reports using the example of a disruptive event
Authors: Nagel Deborah , Koep Lisa , Guenther Edeltraud , Günther Thomas
Published: April 2020

Using the example of VW’s handling of “Diesel-Gate” in its corporate communications (suspected manipulation of vehicle emission test results discovered in 2015), we examine the effects of a disruptive event on corporate risk reporting. To this end, an evaluation in the form of a case study of external corporate communications in VW’s annual reports covering the years 2012–2017 was carried out. Changes can be seen in VW’s communication with shareholders following “Diesel-Gate”, especially with regard to what topics were covered and the emotionality of the language. Among the strategies used for restoring the company’s image, the company took pains to highlight corrective measures designed to avoid similar incidents in the future. The methodology presented in the paper can be applied to the analysis of similar events.
On the behavior of Mahler’s measure under iteration
Authors: Fili Paul A. , Pottmeyer Lukas , Zhang Mingming
Published: April 2020

For an algebraic number $$\alpha $$
α
we denote by $$M(\alpha )$$

M
(
α
)

the Mahler measure of $$\alpha $$
α
. As $$M(\alpha )$$

M
(
α
)

is again an algebraic number (indeed, an algebraic integer), $$M(\cdot )$$

M
(
·
)

is a self-map on $$\overline{{\mathbb {Q}}}$$

Q
¯

, and therefore defines a dynamical system. The orbit size of $$\alpha $$
α
, denoted $$\# {\mathcal {O}}_M(\alpha )$$

#

O
M

(
α
)

, is the cardinality of the forward orbit of $$\alpha $$
α
under M. We prove that for every degree at least 3 and every non-unit norm, there exist algebraic numbers of every orbit size. We then prove that for algebraic units of degree 4, the orbit size must be 1, 2, or infinity. We also show that there exist algebraic units of larger degree with arbitrarily large but finite orbit size.
Visual search in ADHD, ASD and ASD + ADHD: overlapping or dissociating disorders?
Authors: Seernani D. , Damania K. , Ioannou C. , Penkalla N. , Hill H. , Foulsham T. , Kingstone A. , Anderson N. , Boccignone G. , Bender S. , Smyrnis N. , Biscaldi M. , Ebner-Priemer U. , Klein Christoph
Published: April 2020

Recent debates in the literature discuss commonalities between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at multiple levels of putative causal networks. This debate requires systematic comparisons between these disorders that have been studied in isolation in the past, employing potential markers of each disorder to be investigated in tandem. The present study, choose superior local processing, typical to ASD, and increased Intra-Subject Variability (ISV), typical to ADHD, for a head-to-head comparison of the two disorders, while also considering the comorbid cases. It directly examined groups of participants aged 10–13 years with ADHD, ASD with (ASD+) or without (ASD−) comorbid ADHD and a typically developing (TD) group (total N = 85). A visual search task consisting of an array of paired words was designed. The participants needed to find the specific pair of words, where the first word in the pair was the cue word. This visual search task was selected to compare these groups on overall search performance and trial-to-trial variability of search performance (i.e., ISV). Additionally, scanpath analysis was also carried out using Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) and the Multi-Match Model. Results show that only the ASD− group exhibited superior search performance; whereas, only the groups with ADHD symptoms showed increased ISV. These findings point towards a double dissociation between ASD and ADHD, and argue against an overlap between ASD and ADHD.
Patient evaluations of asthma counselling quality in primary health care — a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Mäkelä Katariina , Rajala Mira , Kivelä Kirsi , Kääriäinen Maria , Kaakinen Pirjo
Published: April 2020

Background

Healthcare staff have a key role in counselling patients. This study describes asthma patients’ evaluations of primary care counselling quality.

Methods

The research applied a cross-sectional study design, with data collected from adult asthma patients (n = 73). Data were analysed by descriptive statistics.

Results

Most of participating patients were women (73%) and over 60 years old (67%). The patients were generally satisfied with the counselling. Subjection to an asthma test (p = 0.009) and smoking (p = 0.019) were found to significantly positively affect patient perceptions of counselling quality. The patients also felt that support services should be covered more (74%). Patients with comprehensive education (p = 0.039) and smokers (p = 0.015) were more likely to be satisfied with the counselling than other patients. Counselling was client-oriented (53%) and most patients reported experiencing positive interactions (92%). Most patients agreed that counselling benefitted adherence to self-care (75%) and health promotion (67%). Moreover, almost all of the patients were satisfied with the staff members’ knowledge and skills (97%). Subjection to an asthma test (p = 0.043), age (p = 0.030), smoking (p = 0.014), and duration of illness (p = 0.002) influenced satisfaction with counselling resources.

Conclusion

The results indicate that counselling benefits asthma patients. Performing an asthma test, as well as considering smoking habits and educational level, can improve patient perceptions of counselling.
Going Down the Slippery Slope of Legitimacy Lies in Early-Stage Ventures: The Role of Moral Disengagement
Authors: Theoharakis Vasilis , Voliotis Seraphim , Pollack Jeffrey M.
Published: April 2020

It would seem, on the surface, logical that entrepreneurs would treat stakeholders with honesty and respect. However, this is not always the case—at times, entrepreneurs lie to stakeholders in order to take a step closer to achieving legitimacy. It is these legitimacy lies that are the focus of the current work. Overall, while we know that legitimacy lies are told, we know very little about the psychological processes at work that may make it more likely for someone to tell a legitimacy lie. Thus, we theorize about the pressure to pursue legitimacy, the situational and individual factors that affect this pursuit, as well as how this context can lead to moral disengagement and the telling of legitimacy lies. Our theorizing advances the existing literature and provides a dynamic framework by which future research can delve more deeply into the nuanced context that breeds the escalation of legitimacy lies.
The influence of financial practice in developing mathematical probability
Authors: Johnson Timothy
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of financial practice in the development of mathematics as applied in human judgement. The basis of the paper is in historical research from the 1990s that argues that the monetisation of western commerce, which abstracted value into quantified price, was synthesised with scholastic analysis resulting in a “mathematical mechanistic world picture” that led to the widespread use of mathematics in science from the seventeenth century. An aspect of this process was the quantification of chance that led to the development of mathematical probability, the branch of mathematics most relevant to judgement and the focus of this paper. Ideas from this historical research are related to the fundamental theorem of asset pricing (FTAP), the foundational theory of contemporary financial mathematics. The paper observes that vestiges of medieval scholastic attitudes to financial ethics can be discerned in the FTAP, offering a novel interpretation of the mathematical theorem. The paper then considers the Dutch book argument (DBA), the most popular justification for subjective probability. The paper’s main contribution is in describing the significance of financial practice in validating the DBA and the paper explains how the FTAP addresses some criticisms of how the DBA represents beliefs. The conclusions emphasise the distinction between pure and practical reasoning and that this should be mirrored in a distinction between the mathematics ofphysicaandpractica. This point is important as mathematics is becoming more widespread in modelling, and directing, social systems.
Nonlinear amplitude versus angle inversion for transversely isotropic media with vertical symmetry axis using new weak anisotropy approximation equations
Authors: Zhou Lin , Chen Zhuo-Chao , Li Jing-Ye , Chen Xiao-Hong , Liu Xing-Ye , Liao Jian-Ping
Published: April 2020

In VTI media, the conventional inversion methods based on the existing approximation formulas are difficult to accurately estimate the anisotropic parameters of reservoirs, even more so for unconventional reservoirs with strong seismic anisotropy. Theoretically, the above problems can be solved by utilizing the exact reflection coefficients equations. However, their complicated expression increases the difficulty in calculating the Jacobian matrix when applying them to the Bayesian deterministic inversion. Therefore, the new reduced approximation equations starting from the exact equations are derived here by linearizing the slowness expressions. The relatively simple form and satisfactory calculation accuracy make the reduced equations easy to apply for inversion while ensuring the accuracy of the inversion results. In addition, the blockiness constraint, which follows the differentiable Laplace distribution, is added to the prior model to improve contrasts between layers. Then, the concept of GLI and an iterative reweighted least-squares algorithm is combined to solve the objective function. Lastly, we obtain the iterative solution expression of the elastic parameters and anisotropy parameters and achieve nonlinear AVA inversion based on the reduced equations. The test results of synthetic data and field data show that the proposed method can accurately obtain the VTI parameters from prestack AVA seismic data.
Evaluation of Ranikot Sandstone Formation, Punjab Platform Basin Pakistan
Authors: Shah Syed Bilawal Ali , Ahmed Adeeb
Published: April 2020

The Ranikot sandstone Formation was investigated using TOC and Rock-Eval pyrolysis measurements. Ranikot Formation encountered in Bijnot well, Fort Abbas has been evaluated, which lies in Bahawalpur, middle Indus basin, particularly in Punjab platform. Analysis has been performed on sandstones, twenty well cutting samples of Ranikot Formation has been evaluated. Formation is predominantly sandstone with interbeds of shale. The analysed samples contains TOC ranging from 0.76-3.1 wt.%, The S2 values of Rock-Eval shows poor potential with values ranging from 0.46-1.05 mg HC/g rock. The samples have low hydrogen index values ranging from 21-113 mg HC/g TOC. Kerogen is predominantly Type III land derived organic matter. The analysed samples have Tmax ranging from 413-509 °C. The upper part of formation from 490-560m depth generally exhibits good to very good TOC content and is in the transition between immature and mature zone (Tmax 430-431 °C). The genetic potential in the entire rock unit is poor < 2.0 mg HC/g rock. On the basis of analysis performed the studied samples have shown that the formation has poor potential.
Peat Properties, Dominant Vegetation Type and Microbial Community Structure in a Tropical Peatland
Authors: Girkin N. T. , Lopes dos Santos R. A. , Vane C. H. , Ostle N. , Turner B. L. , Sjögersten S.
Published: April 2020

Tropical peatlands are an important carbon store and source of greenhouse gases, but the microbial component, particularly community structure, remains poorly understood. While microbial communities vary between tropical peatland land uses, and with biogeochemical gradients, it is unclear if their structure varies at smaller spatial scales as has been established for a variety of peat properties. We assessed the abundances of PLFAs and GDGTs, two membrane spanning lipid biomarkers in bacteria and fungi, and bacteria and archaea, respectively, to characterise peat microbial communities under two dominant and contrasting plant species, Campnosperma panamensis (a broadleaved evergreen tree), and Raphia taedigera (a canopy palm), in a Panamanian tropical peatland. The plant communities supported similar microbial communities dominated by Gram negative bacteria (38.9–39.8%), with smaller but significant fungal and archaeal communities. The abundance of specific microbial groups, as well as the ratio of caldarchaeol:crenarchaeol, isoGDGT: brGDGTs and fungi:bacteria were linearly related to gravimetric moisture content, redox potential, pH and organic matter content indicating their role in regulating microbial community structure. These results suggest that tropical peatlands can exhibit significant variability in microbial community abundance even at small spatial scales, driven by both peat botanical origin and localised differences in specific peat properties.
Assessment of geotechnical and physico-chemical properties of age-long greywater-contaminated soils in basement complex areas, southwest Nigeria
Authors: Ganiyu S. A. , Are K. S. , Olurin O. T.
Published: April 2020

Bathroom-rich greywater coming directly in contact with virgin soil for years contaminates soil and alters its properties. The degree of alteration of soil properties may also depend on geological settings from which the soil was formed. The present study was designed to investigate the physico-chemical and geotechnical properties of greywater-contaminated soil (GCS) in different soils of basement complex formation. Soil samples were collected from greywater discharge zones and control soil (CS) in two locations (Mapo in Ibadan, Oyo State and Isolu in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria) at the depths of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m from the surface, and the soil properties were analysed following standard procedures in the laboratory. The experiment consists of two modes: CS with no presence of greywater and GCS. The results of this study showed that alteration of most analysed properties depends greatly on sampling depth. There is increased in soil pH, cation exchange capacity, dry density (DD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and shear strength (SS) in GCS at Mapo over their control values, while porosity, Atterberg limits (ALs), plasticity index and moisture content (MC) were reduced relative to the CS at all sampling depths. However, only bearing ratio improved at each sampling depth in GCS at Isolu, while alterations in other analysed properties did not follow clear trend. Correlation coefficient showed positive correlation between % clay and AL, porosity and ALs; MC and ALs at 1% level, while negative correlation exists between DD and ALs, % sand and ALs as well asKsatand ALs at the two locations. Two-way ANOVA showed that there is a significant difference at 5% level (p < 0.05) based on sampling depths for most analysed properties except SS, organic matter and soil resistivity. Further investigation is needed to study the trend of alteration of soil properties with depth on GCS at other soil types and geological formations.