bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving estimates of richness, habitat associations, and assemblage characteristics of freshwater gastropods
Authors: Narr Charlotte F. , Krist Amy C.
Published: November 2019

Freshwater gastropods are imperilled globally and are among North America's most vulnerable major animal groups. Habitat loss, invasive species, and inadequate information about species distributions and assemblages all impair efforts to conserve freshwater gastropods. Conservation efforts are also impaired by difficulty obtaining and using distributional data for snails and other inconspicuous organisms, which are required to assess habitat associations.

A gastropod‐specific sampling protocol was developed and used to survey 110 sites from 24 sub‐basins in two major river basins of the Intermountain West, USA. Habitat associations of individual taxa and groups of taxa that co‐occurred together more frequently than expected by chance were also examined.

Using the gastropod‐specific sampling protocol, snails were found at most sites, even in regions where general macroinvertebrate sampling did not detect snails. Thus, these results show that general macroinvertebrate surveys do not accurately reflect the diversity of freshwater gastropods. Although snails of the same family are typically expected to live in the same habitats, this study found that in most cases, within a gastropod family, taxa exhibited unique habitat associations because they co‐occurred more frequently with taxa from different gastropod families. Five genera or sub‐genera were associated with specific mesohabitat or substrate types while two groups of co‐occurring taxa were associated with specific land classes or landform types.

For diverse, inconspicuous taxa such as freshwater gastropods, qualitative, class‐specific sampling methods, and analyses of habitat associations based on co‐occurring taxa, rather than relatedness, should facilitate conservation efforts.
Evaluation of a geotechnical compaction model to estimate sediment deformation
Authors: Fritz Bradley G. , McFarland Douglas P. , Phillips Nathan R.J.
Published: November 2019

A geoarchaeological and pedoarchaeological approach to compaction disturbance is necessary for successful archaeological interpretation of potentially compacted deposits. When surface ruts from vehicle activity occur above archaeological deposits, there is a potential for impact to the archaeological record to occur. While impacts to the soil surface are relatively straightforward to describe, sub‐surface disturbances are more difficult to quantify. Compaction disturbances to buried archaeological deposits can impact the superposition of artefacts, buried soil horizons, and stratigraphy across space, and make interpretation difficult or impossible. Deposits can be damaged by both movement through surface disturbances, and by translocation from compaction events. It is important to consider and take both impact types into account. Here, we present a geotechnical compaction model that can be used to assist with sub‐surface characterization under vehicle ruts formed during off‐road travel. The model is based on a Boussinesq analysis of stress increase below a surface load. The change in bulk density resulting from compaction is assumed to be proportional to the stress increase. The model results were compared against pilot‐scale tests conducted with homogeneous sediment and field‐scale in situ tests. The results indicate that the model generally agreed with measurements to within 20%, although only a single soil type was evaluated in these studies, with a narrow range of initial bulk densities and rut depths. While application of the model across a broader matrix of soil types, bulk densities and rut depths would increase confidence in the model, it appears that the model may be suitable for use in archaeological field investigations. Potential uses include both compliance and research‐based field applications.
The challenge of converting biomass polysaccharides into levulinic acid through heterogeneous catalytic processes
Authors: Covinich Laura G. , Clauser Nicolás M. , Felissia Fernando E. , Vallejos María E. , Area María C.
Published: November 2019

The differences between a biorefinery and an oil refinery are determined by the higher oxygen content of the biorefinery's biomass, its high degree of functionalization, its low thermal stability, its polar components, which are mostly acidic, its highly heterogeneous structure, and its quality variation as result of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Levulinic acid (LA) is one of the main high value‐added chemicals that can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass as raw material. The main challenges for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to levulinic acid are related to the improvement of the technologies to obtain a pure and cost‐competitive product, the design and use of efficient heterogeneous catalysts, and the improvements in the selectivity and useful life of the catalyst. This is an up‐to‐date review of the state of knowledge about the heterogeneous catalytic conversion of biomass into LA, addressing the technical hurdles that impede the attainment of high yields. This work outlines the chemistry of LA synthesis and discusses in detail the influence of the lignocellulosic raw material, reaction time, temperature, solvent according to the chemical pathway, and efficiency of the chosen Lewis and Brønsted solid acid catalysts. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A near‐infrared fluorescent probe based on boric acid hydrolysis for hydrogen peroxide detection and imaging in HeLa cells
Authors: Wang Tao , Yang Xiaojun , Men Jinxia , Zhou Jinpei , Zhang Huibin
Published: November 2019

Using the characteristics of hydrogen peroxide that are able to cleave phenyl‐boric acid selectively and efficiently, we here report a dicyanoisophorone‐boric acid (DCP‐BA)‐based near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe for detection of hydrogen peroxide. This probe shows a rapid, highly selective, and sensitive detection process for hydrogen peroxide with a significant NIR fluorescent turn‐on response that has been successfully applied to detect exogenous hydrogen peroxide in HeLa cells.
Optimization of a Fluid Catalytic Cracking Kinetic Model by Improved Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Sun Shiyuan , Yan Hongfei , Meng Fandong
Published: November 2019

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) kinetic models are characterized by high dimension, nonlinearity, discontinuity, and non‐differentiability. Particle swarm optimization is easy to fall into local optima prematurely when it is applied to the optimization of kinetic models. To solve this problem, an improved two‐swarm cooperative particle swarm optimization (ITCPSO) is proposed. Considering the reaction mechanism of FCC, an 8‐lumps kinetic model was developed. According to the pilot data, nine PSO algorithms and ITCPSO are presented to estimate the parameters. The results demonstrate that better performance of global searching is gained by ITCPSO compared to other PSOs, thus, ITCPSO is expected to be implemented in the optimization of complex kinetic models.
Enantiospecific equilibrium adsorption and chemistry of d‐/l‐proline mixtures on chiral and achiral Cu surfaces
Authors: Dutta Soham , Gellman Andrew J.
Published: November 2019

A fundamental understanding of the enantiospecific interactions between chiral adsorbates and understanding of their interactions with chiral surfaces is key to unlocking the origins of enantiospecific surface chemistry. Herein, the adsorption and decomposition of the amino acid proline (Pro) have been studied on the achiral Cu(110) and Cu(111) surfaces and on the chiral Cu(643)R&S surfaces. Isotopically labelled 1‐13C‐l‐Pro has been used to probe the Pro decomposition mechanism and to allow mass spectrometric discrimination of d‐Pro and 1‐13C‐l‐Pro when adsorbed as mixtures. On the Cu(111) surface, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that Pro adsorbs as an anionic species in the monolayer. On the chiral Cu(643)R&S surface, adsorbed Pro enantiomers decompose with non‐enantiospecific kinetics. However, the decomposition kinetics were found to be different on the terraces versus the kinked steps. Exposure of the chiral Cu(643)R&S surfaces to a racemic gas phase mixture of d‐Pro and 1‐13C‐l‐Pro resulted in the adsorption of a racemic mixture; i.e., adsorption is not enantiospecific. However, exposure to non‐racemic mixtures of d‐Pro and 1‐13C‐l‐Pro resulted in amplification of enantiomeric excess on the surface, indicative of homochiral aggregation of adsorbed Pro. During co‐adsorption, this amplification is observed even at very low coverages, quite distinct from the behavior of other amino acids, which begin to exhibit homochiral aggregation only after reaching monolayer coverages. The equilibrium adsorption of d‐Pro and 1‐13C‐l‐Pro mixtures on achiral Cu(110) did not display any aggregation, consistent with prior scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) observations of dl‐Pro/Cu(110). This demonstrates convergence between findings from equilibrium adsorption methods and STM experiments and corroborates formation of a 2D random solid solution.
Self‐reported stress, coping ability, mental status, and periodontal diseases among police recruits
Authors: Ramlogan Shaun , Raman Vidya , Abraham Kimberly , Pierre Kereesa
Published: November 2019

Objective

This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate self‐reported stress level and coping ability as well as mental status (anxiety and depression) via the 12‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12) questionnaire and periodontal status among police academy recruits during their 8 months of training.

Methods

Eighty‐five consenting police recruits were examined at baseline during the first month of training and again during the last month of training. Full mouth plaque score (FMPS), full mouth bleeding score, basic periodontal examination, self‐reported stress level (scale of 1–10) and GHQ‐12 questionnaire (mental status) were recorded at both visits. Ability to cope (yes/no) with stress was recorded at the final visit. Periodontal diagnosis was derived based on clinical examination. t test and regression analyses (p < .05) were performed.

Results

High stress (odds ratio: 1.25) and inability to cope with stress (odds ratio: 1.31) were statistically significant (p < .05) predictors of high FMPS. Inability to cope with stress (odds ratio: 1.45) was also a statistically significant (p < .05) predictor for periodontitis compared to gingivitis. Mental status (anxiety and depression) may play a greater role in gingivitis (mean 1.75) as opposed to periodontitis (mean 1.00) as reflected by the higher mean GHQ‐12 (t test, p = .04).

Conclusions

In this study, both self‐reporting of stress level and ability to cope with stress were statistically significant predictors of higher plaque score (FMPS). Ability to cope with stress was also a statistically significant predictor of periodontitis compared to gingivitis. Recording of both self‐reported stress level and ability to cope may be valuable variables to note in the management of plaque and periodontal diseases.
The quality of early infant‐caregiver relational attachment and longitudinal changes in infant inflammation across 6 months
Authors: Nelson Benjamin W. , Bernstein Rosemary , Allen Nicholas B. , Laurent Heidemarie K.
Published: November 2019

The quality of early caregiver–infant relationships has powerful implications for health trajectories across the lifespan, including associations with adult inflammation. However, because relatively few studies have examined this association during infancy, it remains unclear when this impact occurs and whether it is associated with longitudinal changes in salivary concentrations of inflammation across infancy. In 45 infants, we investigated whether the quality of infant‐caregiver attachment (secure vs. insecure) was associated not only with levels of salivary C‐reactive protein (sCRP) cross‐sectionally, but also with changes in sCRP across 6 months. Interestingly, while there were no cross‐sectional associations between infant‐caregiver attachment and inflammation at 12 months of age, infant‐caregiver attachment security predicted lower levels of sCRP 6 months later. In addition, attachment security predicted decreasing levels of sCRP from 12 months to 18 months of age. Implications for understanding the influence of the quality of early relationships on biological mechanisms related to disease are discussed.
Etiologic and treatment conceptualizations of disordered eating symptoms among mainland Chinese therapists
Authors: Ma Ruofan , Capobianco Kevin P. , Buchanan NiCole T. , Hu Zhiyuan , Oakman Jonathan M.
Published: November 2019

Objective

Reports of disordered eating are increasing in mainland China; however, little is known regarding Chinese psychotherapists' conceptualizations of disordered eating symptomatology. This study explores Chinese psychotherapists' conceptualizations of binge eating (BE)/vomiting symptoms and treatment considerations.

Method

In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with mainland Chinese psychotherapists (N = 41) in Mandarin. Participants were given a hypothetical case and provided their conceptualization of the patient's BE/vomiting etiology and treatment recommendations. Etiological conceptualizations were coded using directed content analysis, and treatment recommendations were grouped by intervention strategy.

Results

Participants described psychosocial risk factors for BE/vomiting including intrapersonal characteristics and the childhood family environment, but rarely discussed genetic and neurobiological factors. Few participants reported that they would prioritize the BE/vomiting symptoms in treatment and their specific treatment recommendations varied widely.

Discussion

Most research on BE/vomiting behaviors in the literature is based on Western samples with little attention to mainland Chinese populations. Participants in this study provided conceptualizations of risk factors and treatment recommendations that could generally find evidence in the existing Western literature, even if some theories are no longer supported by updated Western research and the participants focused primarily on psychosocial risks as opposed to genetic/neurobiological factors. It will be important for future research to ascertain mainland Chinese therapists' understanding of these additional types of risk. These findings also suggest a disconnect between clinical findings on neurobiological risks and Chinese therapists' knowledge and/or perceived clinical utility of these risks. Implications for treatment and research dissemination to diverse global communities are discussed.
Next‐generation sequencing in salivary gland carcinoma: Targetable alterations lead to a therapeutic advantage—Multicenter experience
Authors: Moore Assaf , Bar Yael , Maurice‐Dror Corinne , Ospovat Inna , Sarfaty Michal , Korzets Yasmin , Goldvaser Hadar , Gordon Noa , Billan Salem , Gutfeld Orit , Popovtzer Aron
Published: November 2019

Background

Salivary gland cancers (SGCs) are rare. The approach to metastatic patients is histology‐dependent. There is little evidence on whether next‐generation sequencing (NGS) findings translate to tumor control in SGCs.

Methods

We analyzed all patients with histologically confirmed SGC who underwent NGS.

Results

Twenty‐seven patients were identified, 14 (51.8%) had targetable findings in NGS: 5 ERBB2 amplifications, 3 PIK3CA mutations, 2 RUNX1 mutations, 1 TRIM33‐RET fusion, 1 FGFR3‐TACC3 fusion, 1 microsatellite instability‐high, and 2 high mutational burden. Ten patients were treated accordingly. Median progression‐free survival for targeted treatment was 8.4 months. Of five patients who achieved durable responses of 8.4 to 31.3 months, two are ongoing. The overall median survival was not reached for patients receiving targeted treatment and was 40.4 months for patients treated conventionally (P = .18).

Conclusions

In the absence of a well‐established therapeutic approach, NGS may detect clinically significant genetic alterations and benefit patients with advanced SGC.
Evaluation of a point‐of‐care serum creatinine measurement device and the impact on diagnosis of acute kidney injury in pediatric cardiac patients: A retrospective, single center study
Authors: Kimura Satoshi , Iwasaki Tatsuo , Shimizu Kazuyoshi , Kanazawa Tomoyuki , Kawase Hirokazu , Shioji Naohiro , Kuroe Yasutoshi , Isoyama Satoshi , Morimatsu Hiroshi
Published: November 2019

Background and aims

Agreement between measurements of creatinine concentrations using point‐of‐care (POC) devices and measurements conducted in a standard central laboratory is unclear for pediatric patients. Our objectives were (a) to assess the agreement for pediatric patients and (b) to compare the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) according to the two methods.

Methods

This retrospective, single‐center study included patients under 18 years of age who underwent cardiac surgery and who were admitted into the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary teaching hospital (Okayama University Hospital, Japan) from 2013 to 2017. The primary objective was to assess the correlation and the agreement between measurements of creatinine concentrations by a Radiometer blood gas analyzer (Cregas) and those conducted in a central laboratory (Crelab). The secondary objective was to compare the incidence of postoperative AKI between the two methods based on Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria.

Results

We analyzed the results of 1404 paired creatinine measurements from 498 patients, whose median age was 14 months old (interquartile range [IQR] 3, 49). The Pearson correlation coefficient of Cregas vs Crelab was 0.968 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.965‐0.972, P < 0.001). The median bias between Cregas and Crelab was 0.02 (IQR ‐0.02, 0.05) mg/dL. While 199 patients (40.0%) were diagnosed as having postoperative AKI based on Crelab, 357 patients (71.7%) were diagnosed as having postoperative AKI based on Cregas (Kappa = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.33‐0.46). In a subgroup analysis of patients whose Cregas and Crelab were measured within 1 hour, similar percentage of patients were diagnosed as having postoperative AKI based on Cregas and Crelab (42.8% vs 46.0%; Kappa = 0.76, 95% CI, 0.68‐0.84).

Conclusion

There was an excellent correlation between Cregas and Crelab in pediatric patients. Although more patients were diagnosed as having postoperative AKI based on Cregas than based on Crelab, paired measurements with a short time gap showed good agreement on AKI diagnosis.
Studying the patterns and long‐run dynamics in cryptocurrency prices
Authors: Abraham Mathew
Published: November 2019

This study analyses the price movements of a select sample of cryptocurrencies and examines whether they are cointegrated and predictable using machine learning algorithm and Johansen Test. The study used daily historical trading data of 76 cryptocurrencies sourced from different cryptocurrency exchanges. A sub‐sample of six cryptocurrencies were chosen for the cointegration and machine learning analysis based on their market share, attractiveness to the investors and availability of data for the full sample period. The data records starting from April 29, 2013 to February 7, 2019 were considered for the study. An error correction model was estimated to investigate both the long‐run and short‐run dynamics between the cryptocurrency prices. The evidence from the error correction model estimates shows that there is a long‐run association between the prices of crypto currencies. The machine learning algorithm involving neural networks (multilayer perception) was used to comprehend the data patterns in the cryptocurrency price series, and the results show that the model fits well in identifying and predicting the data patterns. The study also examines the possible value drivers of cryptocurrencies by estimating a linear regression with a set of covariates, which include the cryptocurrency demand and supply interaction variables and financial variables such as the NZX/S&P 50 index and exchange rates. The linear model estimates confirm that cryptocurrency market fundamentals have an important impact on cryptocurrency prices; however, they do not support the prediction that financial fundamentals are the major value drivers of cryptocurrencies.
Therapist self‐disclosure in the treatment of eating disorders: A personal perspective
Authors: Patmore Jacqueline
Published: November 2019

Eating disorders are associated with high rates of comorbidity, extreme medical complications, and decreased quality of life, and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Treatment outcomes, however, remain concerningly dire and there is a lack of research examining the effectiveness of factors like therapeutic rapport that have yielded positive outcomes in other patient populations. This article focuses on the potential benefits of therapist self‐disclosure about past lived experiences of eating disorder with individuals struggling with the disease. It examines existing models of treatment in which disclosure‐fueled rapport is harnessed and draws from the personal experience of the author as an eating disorder survivor and practitioner. Research evidence and theoretical rationale from a psychodynamic perspective are used to support the argument for increasing the practice of therapist disclosure about lived eating disorder experience with this patient population.
Secrets, lies, and disguise: The case of andy warhol
Authors: Lieberman Janice S.
Published: November 2019

The life and works of the great American artist Andy Warhol (1928–1987) are examined in the context of Warhol's compulsive and often gratuitous lying. Elements of early trauma—contracting St. Vitus Dance at age of 7, his father's death at age of 13, and the abject poverty in which he grew up as the son of immigrants—are viewed as central antecedents of his deceptiveness. The relevance of these dynamics to the clinical situation is examined.
Investigations on the structural, vibrational, computational, and molecular docking studies on potential antidiabetic chemical agent Diosmetin
Authors: Angamuthu Harikrishnan , Ramachandrane Madivanane
Published: November 2019

In the present study, the harmonic vibrational frequencies of Diosmetin(5, 7 dihydroxy‐2(3‐hydroxy‐4 methoxyphenyl) chromen‐4‐one) have been investigated by both experimental (FTIR and FT‐Raman) and theoretical (HF and DFT/B3LYP) method. The calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies were compared with experimental data. A detailed interpretation of the vibrational spectra of the compound has been made on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution (PED). The 1H, 13C NMR chemical shifts and TD‐DFT calculations of the molecule were calculated and compared with the available experimental observations. A study on the molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEP) of the compound was performed, and the electrophilic and nucleophilic reactive sites were identified. Furthermore, the inhibition effect of compound against aldose reductase enzyme has been analyzed by molecular docking method, and the results were compared with the standard drug. The docking study indicates that the investigated compound shows better inhibitory activity toward aldose reductase enzyme than the standard drug, and hence this study may be supportive in the field of drug discovery to design more potential antidiabetic agents.
Learning‐driven cerebellar intrinsic functional connectivity changes in men
Authors: Edde Manon , Di Scala Georges , Dupuy Maud , Dilharreguy Bixente , Catheline Gwenaëlle , Chanraud Sandra
Published: November 2019

Learning involves distributed but coordinated activity among the widespread connected brain areas. Increase in areas connections' strength may be established offline, that is, aside from the task itself, in a resting‐state. The resulting functional connectivity may hence constitute a neural trace of the learning episode. The present study examined whether a conditional visuomotor learning task previously shown to activate the cerebellum would modify cerebellar intrinsic connectivity in groups of young and older male subjects. In the group of young subjects, resting‐state connectivity within several cerebellar networks (fronto‐cerebellar, temporo‐cerebellar, cerebello‐cerebellar) was modified following the task. In most cases, modulation resulted in increased anticorrelations between cerebellar and cortical areas and the amplitude of changes was correlated with learning efficacy. The group of older subjects drastically differed, with sparser modifications of resting‐state functional connectivity and no cerebellar networks involved. The findings of this exploratory study indicate that associative learning modifies the strength of intrinsic connectivity in young subjects but to a lesser degree in older subjects. They further suggest that functional connectivity within cerebellar networks may play an operative role in this kind of learning.
Long‐term Complications of Palate Surgery: A Multicenter Study of 217 Patients
Authors: Pang Kenny P. , Vicini Claudio , Montevecchi Filippo , Piccin Ottavio , Chandra Sudipta , Yang Hyung C. , Agrawal Vikas , Chung Joseph C. K. , Chan Yiong H. , Pang Scott B. , Pang Kathleen A. , Pang Edward B. , Rotenberg Brian
Published: November 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

To investigate long‐term complications of newer reconstructive palate surgery techniques.

Study Design

Retrospective case‐series analysis.

Methods

Retrospective six‐country clinical study of OSA patients who had nose and palate surgery.

Results

There were 217 patients, mean age = 43.9 ± 12.5 years, mean body mass index = 25.9 ± 4.7, mean preoperative apnea‐hypopnea index [AHI] = 30.5 ± 19.1, follow‐up 41.3 months. A total of 217 palatal procedures were performed, including 50 expansion sphincter pharyngoplasties (ESP), 34 functional expansion pharyngoplasties (FEP), 40 barbed reposition pharyngoplasties (BRP), 64 modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasties (mUPPP), 11 uvulopalatal flap procedures (UPF), nine suspension pharyngoplasties (SP), eight relocation pharyngoplasties (RP), and one z‐pharyngoplasty (ZPP). Complications included were constant and/or felt twice per week; dry throat (7.8%), throat lump feeling (11.5%), throat phlegm (10.1%), throat scar feeling (3.7%), and difficulty swallowing (0.5%). Of the 17 patients who had a dry throat complaint, two were constant (one SP, one RP), 15 were occasional (10 mUPPP, three SP, two BRP). Of the 25 patients with the throat lump feeling, four were constant (three RP, one ZPP), 21 were occasional (10 mUPPP, five SP, five UPF, one BRP). Of the 22 patients with the throat phlegm feeling, four were constant (two SP, two RP), 18 were occasional (10 mUPPP, four BRP, two FEP, two SP). Of the eight patients with throat scar feeling, eight were occasional (four SP, two mUPPP, one FEP, one RP), none were constant. One patient had difficulty swallowing (RP procedure). There was no velopharyngeal incompetence, taste disturbance, nor voice change. Highest symptom complaints were mUPPP, SP, and RP, whereas the lowest symptom complaint was ESP.

Conclusions

Newer palatal techniques have shown to have less long‐term complications compared to the older ablative techniques.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:2281–2284, 2020
A multicriteria approach based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and compromise programming in portfolio selection
Authors: Santamaría Rafael , Aguarón Juan , Moreno‐Jiménez José María
Published: November 2019

The traditional approach to the portfolio selection problem, the mean‐variance model, shows limitations because it assumes that any investment opportunity could be meaningfully measured in terms of means and variances of returns. The model should include other criteria, based on liquidity, the characteristics of return distributions, or environmental factors. To incorporate in the model these additional relevant aspects of the problem, alternative methodologies are needed. This paper deals with the problem by using a multicriteria approach based on compromise programming and various options to incorporate the prior information (the norm and the criteria weights). A simplified version of the model has been applied to the stocks included in the Madrid Stock Market IBEX35 index. This article is dedicated to the memory of our colleague and friend Professor Rafael Santamaría, one of the most brilliant Spanish Professors of Finance, who passed away on June 18, 2018, at the age of 57.
A method of solving a nonlinear boundary value problem with a parameter for a loaded differential equation
Authors: Dzhumabaev Dulat , Bakirova Elmira , Mynbayeva Sandugash
Published: November 2019

A nonlinear loaded differential equation with a parameter on a finite interval is studied. The interval is partitioned by the load points, at which the values of the solution to the equation are set as additional parameters. A nonlinear boundary value problem for the considered equation is reduced to a nonlinear multipoint boundary value problem for the system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with parameters. For fixed parameters, we obtain the Cauchy problems for ordinary differential equations on the subintervals. Substituting the values of the solutions to these problems into the boundary condition and continuity conditions at the partition points, we compose a system of nonlinear algebraic equations in parameters. A method of solving the boundary value problem with a parameter is proposed. The method is based on finding the solution to the system of nonlinear algebraic equations composed.
Magnetic resonance imaging of mean cell size in human breast tumors
Authors: Xu Junzhong , Jiang Xiaoyu , Li Hua , Arlinghaus Lori R. , McKinley Eliot T. , Devan Sean P. , Hardy Benjamin M. , Xie Jingping , Kang Hakmook , Chakravarthy A. Bapsi , Gore John C.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Cell size is a fundamental characteristic of all tissues, and changes in cell size in cancer reflect tumor status and response to treatments, such as apoptosis and cell‐cycle arrest. Unfortunately, cell size can currently be obtained only by pathological evaluation of tumor tissue samples obtained invasively. Previous imaging approaches are limited to preclinical MRI scanners or require relatively long acquisition times that are impractical for clinical imaging. There is a need to develop cell‐size imaging for clinical applications.

Methods

We propose a clinically feasible IMPULSED (imaging microstructural parameters using limited spectrally edited diffusion) approach that can characterize mean cell sizes in solid tumors. We report the use of a combination of pulse sequences, using different gradient waveforms implemented on clinical MRI scanners and analytical equations based on these waveforms to analyze diffusion‐weighted MRI signals and derive specific microstructural parameters such as cell size. We also describe comprehensive validations of this approach using computer simulations, cell experiments in vitro, and animal experiments in vivo and demonstrate applications in preoperative breast cancer patients.

Results

With fast acquisitions (~7 minutes), IMPULSED can provide high‐resolution (1.3 mm in‐plane) mapping of mean cell size of human tumors in vivo on clinical 3T MRI scanners. All validations suggest that IMPULSED provides accurate and reliable measurements of mean cell size.

Conclusion

The proposed IMPULSED method can assess cell‐size variations in tumors of breast cancer patients, which may have the potential to assess early response to neoadjuvant therapy.
Effect of mouse strain and diet on feasibility of MRI‐based cell tracking in the liver
Authors: Mallett Christiane L. , Hix Jeremy M. L. , Kiupel Matti , Shapiro Erik M.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

MRI‐based cell tracking identifies the location of magnetically labeled cells with hypointense voxels. Here we demonstrate a strain‐dependent effect of liver MRI background on the feasibility of MRI‐based cell tracking of transplanted cells in the mouse liver.

Methods

FVB mice (GFP‐LUC and NOG) and C57BL/6 mice (GFP+ and wild‐type) were fed 3 different diets with varying iron content. In vivo ‐weighted images and maps of the liver were acquired at different ages. Magnetically labeled cancer cells were injected intrasplenically for hepatic migration; then, mice were imaged by in vivo MRI and bioluminescence imaging. Livers were also imaged ex vivo by magnetic particle imaging.

Results

increased with age in FVBNOG and FVBGFP‐LUC mice that were fed diets sufficient in iron. FVBNOG mice developed a mottled appearance in their livers with age that did not occur in FVBGFP‐LUC mice. was unchanging with age in C57BL/6GFP mice, and the liver remained bright and homogenous. Labeled cells were not detectable by MRI in some livers despite successful engraftment as shown by bioluminescence imaging and magnetic particle imaging.

Conclusion

Strain, diet, and age are important considerations for MRI‐based cell tracking in the liver. If a model with excessive liver iron must be used, alternative imaging methods such as magnetic particle imaging can be considered.
Magnetization transfer in magnetic resonance fingerprinting
Authors: Hilbert Tom , Xia Ding , Block Kai Tobias , Yu Zidan , Lattanzi Riccardo , Sodickson Daniel K. , Kober Tobias , Cloos Martijn A.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To study the effects of magnetization transfer (MT, in which a semi‐solid spin pool interacts with the free pool), in the context of magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF).

Methods

Simulations and phantom experiments were performed to study the impact of MT on the MRF signal and its potential influence on T1 and T2 estimation. Subsequently, an MRF sequence implementing off‐resonance MT pulses and a dictionary with an MT dimension, generated by incorporating a two‐pool model, were used to estimate the fractional pool size in addition to the , T1, and T2 values. The proposed method was evaluated in the human brain.

Results

Simulations and phantom experiments showed that an MRF signal obtained from a cross‐linked bovine serum sample is influenced by MT. Using a dictionary based on an MT model, a better match between simulations and acquired MR signals can be obtained (NRMSE 1.3% vs. 4.7%). Adding off‐resonance MT pulses can improve the differentiation of MT from T1 and T2. In vivo results showed that MT affects the MRF signals from white matter (fractional pool‐size ~16%) and gray matter (fractional pool‐size ~10%). Furthermore, longer T1 (~1060 ms vs. ~860 ms) and T2 values (~47 ms vs. ~35 ms) can be observed in white matter if MT is accounted for.

Conclusion

Our experiments demonstrated a potential influence of MT on the quantification of T1 and T2 with MRF. A model that encompasses MT effects can improve the accuracy of estimated relaxation parameters and allows quantification of the fractional pool size.
Blurring the Dichotomy of Good and Evil: The Idiosyncratic Helping Strategies Associated with Unmitigated–Agentic and Unmitigated–Communal Personalities
Authors: Tortoriello Gregory K. , Hart William
Published: November 2019

We theorized that unmitigated–agentic personality constructs (UAPs)—prioritizing ‘getting ahead’ over ‘getting along’—and unmitigated–communal personality constructs (UCPs)—prioritizing getting along over getting ahead—are associated with distinct affect–regulatory helping strategies. In Study 1 ( N = 179), UAPs, on average, related to greater negative–affect versus positive–affect induction helping tactics. In two experiments, UAPs, on average, related to a greater likelihood of selecting anger–inducing versus love–inducing or sadness–inducing songs to help a target overcome a breakup (Study 2; N = 313) and greater selection of anger–inducing and hubris–inducing messages versus authentic–pride–inducing and love–inducing messages to help a teammate struggling in a game (Study 3; N = 246). UCPs manifested the opposite patterns. Generally, these associations corresponded with helping–strategy utility beliefs and were robust to moderators of helping target (self or other; Study 2) or altruistic versus selfish motives (Study 3). Study 4 ( N = 205) provided some evidence of ecological validity in contexts of recalled everyday helping. Associations between personality constructs and relative helping strategies were about moderate in size ( rs ∼ .20) across these four studies. Findings suggest that UAPs are associated with helping strategies believed to promote ‘contemptuous’ self–enhancement relative to ‘innocuous’ self–enhancement and self–transcendence, and vice versa for UCPs. © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology
MYC2 regulates ARR16, a component of cytokinin signaling pathways, in Arabidopsis seedling development
Authors: Srivastava Archana Kumari , Dutta Siddhartha , Chattopadhyay Sudip
Published: November 2019

MYC2 is a basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor that acts as a repressor of blue light‐mediated photomorphogenic growth; however, it promotes lateral root formation. MYC2 also regulates different phytohormone‐signaling pathways in crucial manner. Arabidopsis response regulator 16 (ARR16) is a negative regulator of cytokinin signaling pathways. Here, we show that MYC2 directly binds to the E‐box of ARR16 minimal promoter and negatively regulates its expression in a cytokinin‐dependent manner. While ARR16 and MYC2 influence jasmonic acid and cytokinin signaling, the expression of ARR16 is regulated by cry1, GBF1, and HYH, the components of light signaling pathways. The transgenic studies show that the expression of ARR16 is regulated by MYC2 at various stages of development. The mutational studies reveal that ARR16 positively regulates the hypocotyl growth in blue light, and phenotypic analysis of atmyc2 arr16 double mutant further reveals that arr16 can suppress the short hypocotyl phenotype of atmyc2. Altogether, this work highlights MYC2‐mediated transcriptional repression of ARR16 in Arabidopsis seedling development.
Comparisons of outlier tests for potency bioassays
Authors: Sondag Perceval , Zeng Lingmin , Yu Binbing , Yang Harry , Novick Steven
Published: November 2019

Potency bioassays are used to measure biological activity. Consequently, potency is considered a critical quality attribute in manufacturing. Relative potency is measured by comparing the concentration‐response curves of a manufactured test batch with that of a reference standard. If the curve shapes are deemed similar, the test batch is said to exhibit constant relative potency with the reference standard, a critical requirement for calibrating the potency of the final drug product. Outliers in bioassay potency data may result in the false acceptance/rejection of a bad/good sample and, if accepted, may yield a biased relative potency estimate. To avoid these issues, the USP<1032> recommends the screening of bioassay data for outliers prior to performing a relative potency analysis. In a recently published work, the effects of one or more outliers, outlier size, and outlier type on similarity testing and estimation of relative potency were thoroughly examined, confirming the USP<1032> outlier guidance. As a follow‐up, several outlier detection methods, including those proposed by the USP<1010>, are evaluated and compared in this work through computer simulation. Two novel outlier detection methods are also proposed. The effects of outlier removal on similarity testing and estimation of relative potency were evaluated, resulting in recommendations for best practice.
Theoretical modeling of the chemical synthesis and detonation performance of polynitrocubane derivatives
Authors: Liu Min‐Hsien , Lin Chun‐Chih
Published: November 2019

Theoretical work was performed based on experimental methods described in the literature to simulate and explore feasible routes for the synthesis of energetic octanitrocubane (ONC) and polynitrocubane derivatives. In respective gaseous and liquidous environments, using cubane as the raw material, ONC was successfully synthesized through carboxylation, amination, oxidation and nitration stages, and the related reaction energy barriers were simultaneously acquired. In particular, the polyparametric calibrated gaseous molecular formation enthalpy and the group additivity approach‐estimated molecular density were incorporated using the Kamlet‐Jacobs equation to evaluate the detonation performance of polynitrocubane derivatives. Some high‐energy‐density derivatives were found to have superior characteristics as compared with traditional hexagon (RDX) and octagon (HMX) explosives.
Clinical outcomes of MII oocytes with refractile bodies in patients undergoing ICSI and single frozen embryo transfer
Authors: Takahashi Hiromi , Otsuki Junko , Yamamoto Michio , Saito Hiroe , Hirata Rei , Habara Toshihiro , Hayashi Nobuyoshi
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze whether the presence of refractile bodies (RFs) negatively affects fertilization, embryo development, and/or implantation rates following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods

This retrospective embryo cohort study involved a total of 272 patients undergoing ICSI treatment of blastocyst cryopreservation.

Results

In the study, no significant differences were found regarding 2PN formation rates between RF(+) (76.5%) and RF(−) oocytes (77.2%). However, the blastocyst formation rate on Day 5 in RF(+) oocytes was 45.8%, which was significantly lower than that of 52.2% in RF(−) oocytes (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59‐0.93, P = .011). Implantation rates were also significantly lower in RF(+) oocytes (24.2%) as compared to RF(−) oocytes (42.2%) (aOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26‐0.78, P = .005). Furthermore, the implantation rate of RF(+) oocytes (28.6%), when high‐quality blastocysts were transferred, was significantly lower than that of RF(−) oocytes (46.1%) (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.25‐0.96, P = .043).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that oocytes with the presence of RFs have a lower potential for blastocyst development. Even when they develop into high‐quality blastocysts, the chances of implantation are reduced.
Towards the implementation of advanced random access schemes for satellite IoT
Authors: Krondorf Marco , Goblirsch Martin , de Gaudenzi Riccardo , Cocco Giuseppe , Toptsidis Nikolaos , Acar Guray
Published: November 2019

Machine‐to‐machine (M2M) communications being pivotal for internet of things (IoT) networks are characterized by low‐cost, low complexity, and often energy constrained terminals with low traffic duty cycle. Satellite networks provide an attractive low‐cost solution for such application, in particular when the terminals (both fixed and mobile) are distributed over a wide geographical area not well served by terrestrial infrastructure. An ALOHA random access (RA) scheme is a natural candidate for M2M communications since it is well matched to sporadic traffic, and it requires little terminals coordination. However, the classical ALOHA scheme suffers from a low throughput when operated in a load region requiring low probability of packet loss. To overcome this intrinsic ALOHA limitation, in the last decade, a lot of effort has been devoted to the investigation of evolutions of the ALOHA scheme reducing the probability of destructive packet collisions thus making it more attractive for satellite IoT. In such context, the Contention Resolution Diversity ALOHA (CRDSA) scheme and the Asynchronous Contention Resolution Diversity ALOHA (ACRDA) have emerged as promising solutions thanks to their high spectral efficiency achievable with low packet loss probability. The results reported in literature are however assuming ideal demodulator performance. This paper investigates the design and optimization of RA burst demodulator algorithms for single‐frequency and multifrequency CRDSA and ACRDA. It evaluates the performance of such algorithms in a number of system scenarios of practical interest and studies the impact of relevant system parameters on several performance metrics.
Active Innovative Media as Co‐Evolutionary Landscapes
Authors: Knyazeva Helena
Published: November 2019

Some conceptual and methodological foundations of effective construction of active media for innovative development are developed in the article. The ideas of global evolutionism (or universal evolutionism), ecology understood in an extended sense, emergentism, time management, and the constructing the desirable futures are used as methodologically key ones. Evolutionism is understood in a broader sense than in the Darwin era, when it included the idea of multiplying the primary diversity of elements of living media and natural selection of the most viable forms of life based on this diversity. The modern evolutionism is founded mostly on the theory of complexity and non‐linear dynamics and includes the ideas cyclical evolution that is uneven in its pace, the appearance of emergent properties of systems at different hierarchical levels that come into existence in the course of evolution, the mutual activity of a system and its environment (active adaptation and enactive behaviour), the possibility and expediency of the influence of subjects of social action, and management on the course of evolutionary processes in complex active media (the choice of favourable evolutionary paths near points of instability, construction of trends, and future management).
Flammrichten normal‐ und hochfester Baustähle
Authors: Feldmann Markus , Schäfer Dirk
Published: November 2019

Bedingt durch ein großes Parameterfeld und instationäre Temperatur‐ und Dehnungsverteilungen erscheint der Prozess des Flammrichtens relativ komplex. So basiert das Flammrichten bis heute insbesondere hinsichtlich der erzielbaren Verformungen eher auf – wenn auch plausiblen – Erfahrungswerten als auf ingenieurtechnischen Ansätzen. Hinsichtlich der Materialbeeinflussung existieren hingegen technische Regeln, die Festigkeits‐ und Zähigkeitseinbußen ausschließen sollen. Bei Einsatz hochfester Sorten verändern sich jedoch die Verhältnisse im Vergleich zu normalfesten Stählen, denn mit zunehmender Streckgrenze werden die erzielbaren Verformungen kleiner. Zum Ausgleich dieses Effekts werden oft höhere Temperaturen und Haltezeiten gewählt, was jedoch das Risiko einer Materialbeeinflussung erhöht. Für das Flammrichten hoch‐ und höchstfester Stähle sind also solche Konstellationen zu erforschen, die zu einem nach wie vor einfachen und sicheren Ergebnis führen. Dies zeigt der vorliegende Beitrag in zwei Teilen, indem er die werkstofftechnischen Mechanismen für das Flammrichten auch bei hohen Streckgrenzen klärt. Ausgehend davon werden Anwendungskorridore abgeleitet und Vorschläge für die Verbesserung bestehender Regeln gemacht.

Im ersten Teil dieses Beitrags in der Stahlbau [1] wurden das Prinzip des Flammrichtens normal‐ und hochfester Stähle nebst den Zusammenhängen zwischen Thermodynamik, Metallurgie und Mechanik vorgestellt sowie die experimentelle und numerische Ermittlung des Wärmeeintrags und der Temperaturfelder gezeigt.

Der nun vorliegende zweite Teil widmet sich den Verformungen und Zwangsmomenten aus dem Flammrichtprozess, der Beeinflussung des Materials durch die Temperaturzyklen und einem Beispiel zur Vorhersage der Flammrichtergebnisse.
Betrachtungen zur Interaktion von Biegung und Querdruck bei Sandwichelementen
Authors: Nelke Harald , Lange Jörg
Published: November 2019

Die Interaktion von Biegung und Querdruck wird bei Sandwichelementen im Versuch bestimmt. Dafür sieht die aktuelle Normung, DIN EN 14509 [1], einen 3‐Punkt‐Biegeversuch vor, bei dem die Spannweite indirekt von der Paneeldicke abhängt. Die Spannweite ist ein entscheidender Einflussfaktor, da sie das Verhältnis zwischen Biegung und Querdruck bestimmt. Aus diesem Grund wurde untersucht, wie groß die Spannweite sein müsste, damit reale Systeme vollständig abgebildet werden. Die dafür durchgeführte Parameterstudie kam zu dem Ergebnis, dass die Spannweite im Ersatzträgerversuch zwischen 1 m und 12 m liegen müsste, um realistische Ergebnisse zu erhalten. DIN EN 14509 [1] führt dagegen zu Spannweiten, die zumeist zwischen 4 m und 6 m liegen. Zur Einordnung dieser Diskrepanz wurden Versuchsergebnisse der Autoren herangezogen [2–5]. Die Über‐ bzw. Unterschätzung der Spannweite führt demnach beim Gebrauchstauglichkeitsnachweis zu Abweichungen von bis zu ± 20 % (Wand) bzw. ± 30 % (Dach). Abschließend wird eine Handlungsempfehlung gegeben, wie mit diesen Abweichungen in der praktischen Bemessung umgegangen werden sollte.