bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge and perceptions of theCOVID‐19 pandemic among patients with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Li Yingkai , Emmett C. Douglas , Cobbaert Marjan , Sanders Donald B. , Juel Vern C. , Hobson‐Webb Lisa D. , Massey Janice M. , Gable Karissa L. , Raja Shruti M. , Gonzalez Natalia L. , Guptill Jeffrey T.
Published: December 2020

Background

Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) may be particularly vulnerable during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic due to risk of worsening disease during infection, potential adverse impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) treatments on neuromuscular transmission, and a limited ability to fight off infection related to immunosuppressive treatments. Our goal is to understand how patients are experiencing the COVID‐19 pandemic, including where they receive relevant information, how it has affected medical care, and what measures they use to protect themselves.

Methods

This is a prospective online survey study at large academic practice. All patients with a neuromuscular junction disorder diagnosis code in the Duke Health System were invited to participate.

Results

One thousand eight hundred and forty eight patients were approached to participate and 75 completed the survey between 16 April 2020 and 28 May 2020. The most frequently used information sources were non‐presidential federal government (75%), state government (57%), local healthcare provider (37%), and television news (36%). Non‐presidential federal government (80%), local healthcare providers (55%), state government (33%), and patient support organizations (29%) were considered the most trusted information sources. Thirty‐three (44%) of survey responders had attended a telemedicine visit. Patients were taking recommended precautions during the pandemic and remained very concerned (69%) about COVID‐19. Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 scores were moderate‐severe in 20% of responders.

Conclusions

Healthcare providers, the government, and patient organizations play a critical role in communicating with the MG patient community. Use of targeted messaging strategies by these groups to convey accurate information may increase effectiveness and lead to more informed patients with reduced anxiety.
Familial Obesity Risk and Current Excess Weight Influence Brain Structure in Adolescents
Authors: Thapaliya Gita , Chen Liuyi , Jansen Elena , Smith Kimberly R. , Sadler Jennifer R. , Benson Leora , Papantoni Afroditi , Carnell Susan
Published: December 2020

Objective

Obesity risk transmits from parents to children. Underlying neural mechanisms were investigated in this study by evaluating influences of familial obesity risk defined by maternal obesity and influences of current overweight on three indices of brain structure in adolescents.

Methods

In total, 22 lean adolescents with lean mothers (lean low‐risk), 25 lean adolescents with mothers with obesity/overweight (lean high‐risk), and 36 adolescents with obesity/overweight underwent structural MRI scans for estimation of regional gray and white matter volume and cortical thickness.

Results

The lean high‐risk compared with the lean low‐risk group demonstrated lower gray and white matter volume and cortical thickness in the postcentral gyrus (somatosensory cortex), lower gray and white matter volume in the opercular cortex (taste cortex), lower gray matter volume and cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex, and lower cortical thickness in the precuneus. Comparisons of the lean and obesity/overweight groups revealed further structural alterations in the postcentral gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus.

Conclusions

Familial obesity risk and current obesity/overweight were associated with overlapping and distinct patterns of brain structure alterations. Longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate whether structural changes associated with familial obesity risk predict future weight trajectories.
Self‐medication practice with antimalarials & the determinants of malaria treatment‐seeking behavior among postpartum mothers in a rural community in Nigeria
Authors: Iribhogbe Osede Ignis , Odoya Ebube Manfred
Published: December 2020

Background

The majority of the population has inappropriate malaria treatment‐seeking behavior and little is known about self‐medication practice with antimalarials among postpartum mothers.

Aim & objectives of study

The study, therefore, aims to determine the prevalence of self‐treatment practice with antimalarials and identify factors that determine inappropriate treatment‐seeking practice in this susceptible group.

Research methods

The study is a cross‐sectional study that was conducted using a purposive sampling technique. In the study, 150 respondents were administered questionnaires by one‐on‐one interviews, and results were presented as frequencies and proportions. A chi‐square test was done to determine the association between independent categorical variables and the dependent variable.

Results

In the study, 91 (60.7%) of the women claimed they did malaria screening tests in the laboratory/clinic before treatment, while only half of them sought professional care for treatment after the screening test. Additionally, most of the participants claimed they practice self‐medication with antimalarials for themselves (64, 42.7%), and their newborn children (34, 22.7%). The experience of adverse effects (χ2 = 4.790, df = 1, p = .029) drug prescription by doctors (χ2 = 10.26, df = 1, p = .001) and the experience of malaria in the rainy season (χ2 = 4.86, df = 2, p = .027) was significantly related to receiving malaria treatment in the clinic/hospital.

Conclusion

The study has shown that the practice of self‐medication and inappropriate malaria treatment behavior is common in postpartum women in rural settings hence public health intervention that will develop standardized self‐treatment guidelines for uncomplicated malaria will be useful in promoting appropriate self‐treatment practice in this population.

Highlights

Self‐medication practice with antimalarials among postpartum mothers both for themselves and their newborn child was 42.7% and 22.7% respectively

One of the reasons adduced for such practice is that malaria is expensive to treat (37, 24.7%)

Artemether/lumefantrine combination was the most commonly used drug for treatment (75.3%), and most of the participants preferred parenteral medication (68%) to oral drugs

The experience of adverse effects was significantly related to receiving treatment in the clinic/hospital

Of the 60.7% of women who claimed they did malaria screening test, only half of them sought professional care after the test.
Pharmacotherapy for durable left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Hollis Ian B. , Doligalski Christina T. , Jennings Douglas J.
Published: December 2020

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have revolutionized the care of patients with advanced heart failure, yet still require concomitant medications in order to achieve the best possible clinical outcomes. Since the outset of routine placement of durable, continuous‐flow LVADs, much of the medication management of these patients to date has been based on International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidance, most recently published in 2013. Since 2013, numerous multidisciplinary pharmacotherapy publications have increased the LVAD community's understanding of best practices with respect to medications. We identified the major domains of LVAD medication management and conducted a comprehensive search of US National Library of Medicine MEDLINE® database using keywords chosen to identify medication‐related publications of significance dated 2013 or later. Trials pertaining to the HeartMate II™ and the HeartMate™ 3 LVADs (Abbott, Chicago, IL) and the HeartWare™ HVAD™ System (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) were chosen for inclusion. Highest priority for inclusion was given to prospective, randomized, controlled studies. Absent these, controlled trials (retrospective or prospective observational) were given next‐highest consideration, followed by retrospective uncontrolled studies, and finally case series. Reference lists of qualified publications were reviewed to find any other publications of interest that were not discovered on initial search. Case reports were generally excluded, except where the insight gained was deemed to be uniquely pertinent. This document serves to provide a comprehensive review of the current understanding of optimal medication management in patients with durable, continuous‐flow LVADs.
Relationship between crystallization state and degradation behavior of poly(l‐lactide)/four‐armed poly(d,l‐lactide)‐block‐poly(d‐lactide) blends with different poly(d‐lactide) block lengths
Authors: Dai Suyang , Jiang Ni , Ning Zhenbo , Gan Zhihua
Published: December 2020

A series of four‐armed poly(d,l‐lactide)‐block‐poly(d‐lactide) (4‐DL‐D) copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization. By fixing the poly(d,l‐lactide) (PDLLA) block length (1 kg mol−1) and changing the poly(d‐lactide) (PDLA) block length (Mn,PDLA = 0, 0.5, 1.1, 1.3, 1.8 and 2.6 kg mol−1), the crystallization and alkaline degradation of the PLLA/4‐DL‐D blends were investigated. The four‐armed PDLLA core of the copolymer inhibited the crystallization of PLLA, while the outer PDLA block could affect the crystallization differently when its length changed. If Mn,PDLA was 0 or 0.5 kg mol−1, the crystallization of PLLA in the PLLA/4‐DL‐D blend was retarded markedly and the degradation rate of the blend films was much faster than that of neat PLLA film. Interestingly, when Mn,PDLA was 1.1 kg mol−1 or higher, stereocomplex (SC) crystallites with different morphologies were formed, and the degradation rate of the PLLA/4‐DL‐D blend decreased gradually with increasing Mn,PDLA. In the PLLA/4‐DL‐D1.1 blend, the SC crystallites acted as nucleators for PLLA homocrystallites, while in the PLLA/4‐DL‐D1.3 blend, small isolated SC crystallites were observed inside the PLLA homospherulites. When Mn,PDLA was 1.8 or 2.6 kg mol−1, a network structure of SC crystallites was formed and the degradation resistance of the films was markedly enhanced. A possible isothermal crystallization mechanism was proposed for the PLLA/4‐DL‐D blends, and the relationship between the crystallization state and degradation behavior was explored. This work revealed that the crystallization state, which was controlled by the PDLA block length, had a significant effect on the degradation behavior of PLLA/4‐DL‐D blend films. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Vanilla aerial and terrestrial roots host rich communities of orchid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Johnson Lynnaun J. A. N. , Gónzalez‐Chávez Ma. del Carmen A. , Carrillo‐González Rogelio , Porras‐Alfaro Andrea , Mueller Gregory M.
Published: December 2020

Social Impact Statement

Vanilla planifolia is the source of the spice vanilla. This study is part of an international initiative to study the biology, including mycorrhizal fungi and cultivation practices of vanilla to improve its production in Mexico. The study focused on documenting mycorrhizal fungal diversity in vanilla. It also provided preliminary data on differences in mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with cultivation practices. A richer mycorrhizal community was observed in vanilla growing in a wild natural farm compared with those from a highly managed farm. Our research provides insights for sustainable vanilla production that can benefit Mexican farming communities.

Relatively little is known regarding differences in root symbionts (i.e., mycorrhizae) between epiphytic and terrestrial orchids. We characterized the mycorrhizal fungal communities of aerial and terrestrial roots of the orchid, Vanilla planifolia, from four Mexican farms representing different management systems.

Amplicon sequencing identified 40 putative mycorrhizal fungi based on ITS sequence data, these included traditional orchid mycorrhizal fungi such as Ceratobasidium, and Thanatephorus in the order Cantharellales as well as Serendipitaceae in the order Sebacinales, and species of several genera traditionally considered as ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungal communities were similar in aerial and terrestrial roots, but differed in read abundances.

Plants growing in wild‐natural conditions hosted a richer, but not statistically different, community of mycorrhizal fungi in comparison with plants in the highly managed farm. Soil characteristics including texture, organic matter, N, P, and K do not explain differences between fungal communities at these farms.

This is one of the first reports of a diverse community of fungi traditionally considered to form ectomycorrhizas in association with aerial orchid roots. Further research is needed to understand the functional role of these putative mycorrhizal fungi in the ecology of V. planifolia, and if ectomycorrhizal fungi commonly occur in other hemiepiphytic and epiphytic orchids.
Classification of drug use patterns
Authors: Righolt Christiaan H. , Zhang Geng , Mahmud Salaheddin M.
Published: December 2020

Characterizing long‐term prescription data is challenging due to the time‐varying nature of drug use. Conventional approaches summarize time‐varying data into categorical variables based on simple measures, such as cumulative dose, while ignoring patterns of use. The loss of information can lead to misclassification and biased estimates of the exposure‐outcome association. We introduce a classification method to characterize longitudinal prescription data with an unsupervised machine learning algorithm. We used administrative databases covering virtually all 1.3 million residents of Manitoba and explicitly designed features to describe the average dose, proportion of days covered (PDC), dose change, and dose variability, and clustered the resulting feature space using K‐means clustering. We applied this method to metformin use in diabetes patients. We identified 27,786 metformin users and showed that the feature distributions of their metformin use are stable for varying the lengths of follow‐up and that these distributions have clear interpretations. We found six distinct metformin user groups: patients with intermittent use, decreasing dose, increasing dose, high dose, and two medium dose groups (one with stable dose and one with highly variable use). Patients in the varying and decreasing dose groups had a higher chance of progression of diabetes than other patients. The method presented in this paper allows for characterization of drug use into distinct and clinically relevant groups in a way that cannot be obtained from merely classifying use by quantiles of overall use.
Identification of an irreversible PPARγ antagonist with potent anticancer activity
Authors: Peng Youyi , Zhang Qiang , Zielinski Robert M. , Howells Richard D. , Welsh William J.
Published: December 2020

Melanoma is responsible for most skin cancer deaths, and its incidence continues to rise year after year. Different treatment options have been developed for melanoma depending on the stage of the disease. Despite recent advances in immuno‐ and targeted therapies, advanced melanoma remains incurable and thus an urgent need persists for safe and more effective melanoma therapeutics. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel compound MM902 (3‐(3‐(bromomethyl)‐5‐(4‐(tert‐butyl) phenyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl) phenol) exhibited potent efficacies in inhibiting the growth of different cancer cells, and suppressed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of malignant melanoma. Beginning with MM902 instead of specific targets, computational similarity‐ and docking‐based approaches were conducted to search for known anticancer drugs whose structural features match MM902 and whose pharmacological target would accommodate an irreversible inhibitor. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) was computationally identified as one of the pharmacological targets and confirmed by in vitro biochemical assays. MM902 was shown to bind to PPARγ in an irreversible mode of action and to function as a selective antagonist for PPARγ over PPARα and PPARδ. It is hoped that MM902 will serve as a valuable research probe to study the functions of PPARγ in tumorigenesis and other pathological processes.
Application of Machine Learning for Tumor Growth Inhibition – Overall Survival Modeling Platform
Authors: Chan Phyllis , Zhou Xiaofei , Wang Nina , Liu Qi , Bruno René , Jin Jin Y.
Published: December 2020

Machine learning (ML) was used to leverage tumor growth inhibition (TGI) metrics to characterize the relationship with overall survival (OS) as a novel approach and to compare with traditional TGI‐OS modeling methods. Historical dataset from a phase III non‐small cell lung cancer study (OAK, atezolizumab vs. docetaxel, N = 668) was used. ML methods support the validity of TGI metrics in predicting OS. With lasso, the best model with TGI metrics outperforms the best model without TGI metrics. Boosting was the best linear ML method for this dataset with reduced estimation bias and lowest Brier score, suggesting better prediction accuracy. Random forest did not outperform linear ML methods despite hyperparameter optimization. Kernel machine was marginally the best nonlinear ML method for this dataset and uncovered nonlinear and interaction effects. Nonlinear ML may improve prediction by capturing nonlinear effects and covariate interactions, but its predictive performance and value need further evaluation with larger datasets.
Robust trajectory‐tracking in finite‐time for robot manipulators using nonlinear proportional‐derivative control plus feed‐forward compensation
Authors: Cruz‐Zavala Emmanuel , Nuño Emmanuel , Moreno Jaime A.
Published: December 2020

In this article, we propose a novel nonlinear control scheme for the trajectory tracking in finite‐time of robot manipulators. Our control proposal is composed of two parts: a proportional‐derivative (PD) nonlinear feedback and a feed‐forward compensation term. The (discontinuous) nonlinear PD term is designed like a twisting sliding mode controller that ensures robust global uniform finite‐time stabilization of the tracking error, in spite of model uncertainties and nonvanishing perturbations. Moreover, in order to decrease the (possible) chattering phenomena, we also propose two alternatives: a variable‐gain version and a continuous version of the PD term. The feed‐forward term allows us to deal intelligently with Coriolis and gravity effects because the compensation for these terms is generated off‐line. In the continuous case, practical stability is guaranteed in the presence of model uncertainties and nonvanishing perturbations. The stability conclusions are established, in both cases, designing novel strict Lyapunov functions.
Comparative Study on Effects of Xanthan Gum at Different Concentrations on the Functional, Thermal, and Digestibility Characteristics of Corn and Sorghum Starch Extrudates
Authors: Shaikh Faiza , Ali Tahira Mohsin , Mustafa Ghulam , Hasnain Abid
Published: December 2020

The present study assesses the concentration dependent effect of xanthan gum, that is, 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% (w/w), at 50% feed moisture, on the in vitro digestibility of corn and sorghum starch extrudates. Sorghum starch, being extracted from an underutilized and drought‐resistant crop, provides a promising alternative to corn starch in the future. X‐ray and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results show that xanthan gum at 1% has optimum synergistic interaction with corn and sorghum extrudates. The percent crystallinity, FTIR ratio (1047 cm−1/1022 cm−1) and melting enthalpy are minimum at 1% for both corn (ECX1) and sorghum (ESX1) extrudates along with maximum resistant starch (RS) fraction. The highest RS (70.51%) with the least predicted glycemic index (61.16) is observed for ESX1. Xanthan gum incorporation increases the peak viscosity and decreases the hardness of extrudates. The corn and sorghum extrudates prepared in the present study can be used for the development of low‐calorie products due to the increase in RS content.
Behavior and design of screwed‐head fasteners in reinforced concrete under tensile loading
Authors: Di Nunzio Giuseppe , Muciaccia Giovanni
Published: December 2020

Screwed‐head fastener is the common fabricated hold‐down bolt for steel structures and machine foundations. Although different models are available for evaluating its structural behavior, there are still aspects that need to be investigated. In particular, conflicting approaches for the design can be found among the European design‐oriented documents. Within this context, a comprehensive experimental study on screwed‐head fasteners under tensile loading was recently carried out at Milan Polytechnic. In this paper, some results are presented and commented which include (a) the presence of cracks and (b) the presence of supplementary reinforcement. In the discussion, predictive models are recalled demonstrating the need for a specific design approach, which should consider the geometry and the resistance of the fastening system, including that of the concrete member. Some design recommendations end the paper as useful guidance for the structural designer.
Dynamic network and own effects on abnormal returns: evidence from China’s stock market
Authors: Egger Peter H. , Zhu Jiaqing
Published: December 2020

This paper addresses the question of how to model the process of abnormal returns on individual stocks. It postulates a framework, where abnormal returns are generated by a process which features two autoregressive components, one stock-specific and one related to network effects. This process deviates from customary ones in that the parameters are specific to each stock/firm, that the autoregressive process is explicitly modelled instead of using cumulative abnormal returns over a pre-specified window, and that network effects are present. Abandoning either one of those deviations is rejected by data on Chinese stocks in 2018 and 2019, an episode which is significant for an abnormal stock-market returns analysis, as it was characterized by numerous tariff-setting events related to the “trade war” between the USA and China.
Embolic Protection in Complex Femoropopliteal Interventions: Safety, Efficacy and Predictors of Filter Macroembolization
Authors: Czihal Michael , Findik Zeynep , Bernau Christoph , Seidensticker Max , Ricke Jens , Hoffmann Ulrich , Treitl Marcus , Treitl Karla-Maria
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a filter embolic protection device (FEPD) in endovascular interventions of the femoropopliteal arteries.

Methods

Patients who underwent endovascular interventions of the femoropopliteal arteries between 2008 and 2016 and in whom the SpiderFXTMFEPD was applied were included in this retrospective study. Clinical and angiographic characteristics, filter macroembolization (FME), device-related complications, distal embolization, as well as the early clinical and hemodynamic outcome, were assessed. Potential risk factors for FME were evaluated by multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 244 cases were identified (203 patients, claudication 60.4%, critical limb ischaemia 39.6%, mean lesion length 13.2 ± 12.9 cm, complete occlusions in 72.7%). Balloon angioplasty ± stenting (BAP), directional atherectomy ± balloon angioplasty ± stenting (DA) and rotational thrombectomy ± balloon angioplasty ± stenting (RT) were performed in 141, 61 and 42 cases, respectively. FEPD placement and retrieval were successful in all but one case each. Permanent filter-related vessel damage was not observed. The rate of FME was 37.3% (BAP 36.2%, DA 32.8%, RT 47.7%). Risk factors for FME in the BAP- and DA-group were total occlusion, lesion length > 19 cm, visible thrombus and diabetes mellitus. The distal embolization rate despite filter protection was 4.1 % (BAP 4.9%, DA 1.6%, RT 4.8%) and was higher in cases with FME compared with those without FME (8.7% vs. 1.5%,p = 0.02).

Conclusion

The Spider FXTMdevice is safe and effective in capturing embolic debris during femoropopliteal interventions. A residual risk of peripheral embolization remains.

Level of Evidence

III, Cohort study
Is there a convincing case for climate veganism?
Authors: Kortetmäki Teea , Oksanen Markku
Published: December 2020

Climate change compels us to rethink the ethics of our dietary choices and has become an interesting issue for ethicists concerned about diets, including animal ethicists. The defenders of veganism have found that climate change provides a new reason to support their cause because many animal-based foods have high greenhouse gas emissions. The new style of argumentation, the ‘climatic argument(s) for veganism’, may benefit animals by persuading even those who are not concerned about animals themselves but worry about climate change. The arguments about the high emissions of animal-based food, and a resulting moral obligation to abstain from eating such products, are an addition to the prior forms of argument for principled veganism grounded on the moral standing of, and concern for, nonhuman animals. In this paper, we examine whether the climatic argument for veganism is convincing. We propose a formulation for the amended version of the argument and discuss its implications and differences compared to the moral obligations of principled veganism. We also reflect upon the implications of our findings on agricultural and food ethics more generally.
Regularisation of neural networks by enforcing Lipschitz continuity
Authors: Gouk Henry , Frank Eibe , Pfahringer Bernhard , Cree Michael J.
Published: December 2020

We investigate the effect of explicitly enforcing the Lipschitz continuity of neural networks with respect to their inputs. To this end, we provide a simple technique for computing an upper bound to the Lipschitz constant—for multiple p-norms—of a feed forward neural network composed of commonly used layer types. Our technique is then used to formulate training a neural network with a bounded Lipschitz constant as a constrained optimisation problem that can be solved using projected stochastic gradient methods. Our evaluation study shows that the performance of the resulting models exceeds that of models trained with other common regularisers. We also provide evidence that the hyperparameters are intuitive to tune, demonstrate how the choice of norm for computing the Lipschitz constant impacts the resulting model, and show that the performance gains provided by our method are particularly noticeable when only a small amount of training data is available.
Proximity-based proteomics reveals the thylakoid lumen proteome in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002
Authors: Dahlgren Kelsey K. , Gates Colin , Lee Thomas , Cameron Jeffrey C.
Published: December 2020

Cyanobacteria possess unique intracellular organization. Many proteomic studies have examined different features of cyanobacteria to learn about the intracellular structures and their respective functions. While these studies have made great progress in understanding cyanobacterial physiology, the conventional fractionation methods used to purify cellular structures have limitations; specifically, certain regions of cells cannot be purified with existing fractionation methods. Proximity-based proteomics techniques were developed to overcome the limitations of biochemical fractionation for proteomics. Proximity-based proteomics relies on spatiotemporal protein labeling followed by mass spectrometry of the labeled proteins to determine the proteome of the region of interest. We performed proximity-based proteomics in the cyanobacteriumSynechococcussp. PCC 7002 with the APEX2 enzyme, an engineered ascorbate peroxidase. We determined the proteome of the thylakoid lumen, a region of the cell that has remained challenging to study with existing methods, using a translational fusion between APEX2 and PsbU, a lumenal subunit of photosystem II. Our results demonstrate the power of APEX2 as a tool to study the cell biology of intracellular features and processes, including photosystem II assembly in cyanobacteria, with enhanced spatiotemporal resolution.
Socialisation Influences on Gender Ideologies of Immigrant and Native Youth in Germany, England, Sweden and the Netherlands
Authors: Sánchez Guerrero Laia , Schober Pia S.
Published: December 2020

Adolescence is a crucial life course phase for identity formation, and youths’ gender ideologies significantly predict gendered behaviours and longer-term transitions. With Western post-industrial societies becoming more culturally diverse, the present study provides novel cross-nationally comparative evidence on gender socialisation processes among native and immigrant youth in Sweden, Germany, England, and the Netherlands, which vary in gender and migration policies and cultures. In addition to parents’ gender ideologies, the study also considers classmates’ gender ideologies as factors shaping 14-year-old adolescents’ gender ideologies. The analysis draws on 5917 adolescent-parent dyads from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study which we link with country-level gender empowerment measures from the United Nations. Remarkably, with the exception of native female adolescents in England and Germany, parents tend to report slightly more egalitarian beliefs than adolescents across the four countries. OLS regressions show that parents’ and classmates’ gender ideologies correlate significantly with adolescents’ ideologies, with little variation across gender and immigrant groups in all four countries. From a policy and practical point of view, the great similarity in the intergenerational transmission of gender beliefs across diverse family backgrounds as well as cultural and policy contexts seem remarkable.
Men’s Discomfort and Anticipated Sexual Misclassification Due to Counter-Stereotypical Behaviors: the Interplay between Traditional Masculinity Norms and Perceived Men’s Femininization
Authors: Borinca Islam , Iacoviello Vincenzo , Valsecchi Giulia
Published: December 2020

The present research examines men’s self-conscious discomfort while imagining performing counter-stereotypical (traditionally feminine) behaviors as compared to stereotypical (traditionally masculine) behaviors, as a function of traditional masculinity endorsement and perceived social changes in men’s gender norms (men’s feminization) in two distinct cultural populations (U.S. Americans and Kosovan Albanians). Experiment 1 (n = 192, U.S.) confirmed prior findings by showing that men, as compared to women, experienced more self-conscious discomfort when imagining performing counter-stereotypical (vs. stereotypical) behaviors. Experiments 2 (n = 292, U.S.) and 3 (n = 191, Kosovo) focused solely on heterosexual men and experimentally manipulated perceived social changes in men’s gender norms. Results showed that the men’s feminization condition, as compared to a control or masculinity conditions, decreased self-conscious discomfort when imagining performing feminine behaviors among men who endorsed a lower versus higher level of traditional masculinity. Experiment 3 further indicated that this effect was driven by lowered expectations of being misclassified as gay. We discuss the relevance of these findings for both the gender and sexual prejudice literature.
A hybrid tactile sensor-based obstacle overcoming method for hexapod walking robots
Authors: Luneckas Mindaugas , Luneckas Tomas , Udris Dainius , Plonis Darius , Maskeliūnas Rytis , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: December 2020

Walking robots are considered as a promising solution for locomotion across irregular or rough terrain. While wheeled or tracked robots require flat surface like roads or driveways, walking robots can adapt to almost any terrain type. However, overcoming diverse terrain obstacles still remains a challenging task even for multi-legged robots with a high number of degrees of freedom. Here, we present a novel method for obstacle overcoming for walking robots based on the use of tactile sensors and generative recurrent neural network for positional error prediction. By using tactile sensors positioned on the front side of the legs, we demonstrate that a robot is able to successfully overcome obstacles close to robots height in the terrains of different complexity. The proposed method can be used by any type of a legged machine and can be considered as a step toward more advanced walking robot locomotion in unstructured terrain and uncertain environment.
Harmonic maps with torsion
Authors: Branding Volker
Published: December 2020

In this article we introduce a natural extension of the well-studied equation for harmonic maps between Riemannian manifolds by assuming that the target manifold is equipped with a connection that is metric but has non-vanishing torsion. Such connections have already been classified in the work of Cartan (1924). The maps under consideration do not arise as critical points of an energy functional leading to interesting mathematical challenges. We will perform a first mathematical analysis of these maps which we will call harmonic maps with torsion.
Development of surface reconstruction algorithms for optical interferometric measurement
Authors: Wu Dongxu , Fang Fengzhou
Published: December 2020

Optical interferometry is a powerful tool for measuring and characterizing areal surface topography in precision manufacturing. A variety of instruments based on optical interferometry have been developed to meet the measurement needs in various applications, but the existing techniques are simply not enough to meet the ever-increasing requirements in terms of accuracy, speed, robustness, and dynamic range, especially in on-line or on-machine conditions. This paper provides an in-depth perspective of surface topography reconstruction for optical interferometric measurements. Principles, configurations, and applications of typical optical interferometers with different capabilities and limitations are presented. Theoretical background and recent advances of fringe analysis algorithms, including coherence peak sensing and phase-shifting algorithm, are summarized. The new developments in measurement accuracy and repeatability, noise resistance, self-calibration ability, and computational efficiency are discussed. This paper also presents the new challenges that optical interferometry techniques are facing in surface topography measurement. To address these challenges, advanced techniques in image stitching, on-machine measurement, intelligent sampling, parallel computing, and deep learning are explored to improve the functional performance of optical interferometry in future manufacturing metrology.
Qu-2, a robust poplar suspension cell line for molecular biology
Authors: Liu Caixia , Li Kailong , Wang Meng , Fan Erqin , Yang Chuanping , Wang Junhui , Fu Pengyue , Ge Xiaolan , Sederoff Heike W. , Sederoff Ronald R. , Chiang Vincent L. , Wang Sui , Qu Guanzheng
Published: December 2020

Populus spp. have long been used as model woody plant species for molecular biology research. However, tissues of poplar are often recalcitrant to experimental procedures for molecular studies. We generated a hormone autotrophic poplar suspension cell line from a hybrid of Populus alba × P. berolinensis ‘Yinzhong’, named Qu-2. Qu-2 cells are suitable as a model biological system for studying woody plants. Qu-2 cells have many advantages over suspension cell lines derived so far from any other woody plants. Qu-2 cells are very easy to cultivate and can grow on several common plant culture media without the addition of any plant hormone. They show exceptionally high growth rates, reaching an approximately 150-fold increase in biomass after one week of culturing. Another important unique characteristic of Qu-2 cells is that they can be cryopreserved and readily reactivated. Qu-2 cells are suitable for molecular manipulations such as protoplast production, transient transformation, and RNA-seq analysis. Therefore, Qu-2 cells have the great potential to be an excellent model cell line in tree molecular biological research, ranging from physiology to gene function. The Qu-2 cells will be made available to the plant community for research.
Bayesian Testing for Exogenous Partition Structures in Stochastic Block Models
Authors: Legramanti Sirio , Rigon Tommaso , Durante Daniele
Published: December 2020

Network data often exhibit block structures characterized by clusters of nodes with similar patterns of edge formation. When such relational data are complemented by additional information on exogenous node partitions, these sources of knowledge are typically included in the model to supervise the cluster assignment mechanism or to improve inference on edge probabilities. Although these solutions are routinely implemented, there is a lack of formal approaches to test if a given external node partition is in line with the endogenous clustering structure encoding stochastic equivalence patterns among the nodes in the network. To fill this gap, we develop a formal Bayesian testing procedure which relies on the calculation of the Bayes factor between a stochastic block model with known grouping structure defined by the exogenous node partition and an infinite relational model that allows the endogenous clustering configurations to be unknown, random and fully revealed by the block–connectivity patterns in the network. A simple Markov chain Monte Carlo method for computing the Bayes factor and quantifying uncertainty in the endogenous groups is proposed. This strategy is evaluated in simulations, and in applications studying brain networks of Alzheimer’s patients.
Determination of gas-saturated oil density at reservoir conditions and development of quality control index of PVT laboratory report
Authors: Al-Marhoun Muhammad Ali
Published: December 2020

The oil density at the bubble point is an important thermodynamic property required in reservoir simulation and production engineering. A higher-accuracy estimate of this property would improve the accuracy of reservoir and production engineering calculations. The bubble point oil density is obtained either from separator tests of reservoir fluids or from differential gas liberation tests. A new procedure utilizing separator and differential tests is proposed whereby the experimental data yield a unique value with high accuracy for the bubble point oil density. A consistent correction of other PVT properties, which are influenced by the bubble point oil density, is required to reflect the unique density value. A quantitative quality control index is defined to measure the quality of PVT laboratory reports. This is achieved by utilizing the unique property of the bubble point oil density, which is usually ignored.
Four New Phloroglucinol-Terpene Adducts from the Leaves of Myrciaria cauliflora
Authors: Chen Ming , Cao Jia-Qing , Wang Wen-Jing , Li Ni-Ping , Wu Yan , Wang Lei , Ye Wen-Cai
Published: December 2020

Myrcauones A–D (1–4), four new phloroglucinol–terpene adducts were isolated from the leaves of Myrciaria cauliflora. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by combination of spectroscopic analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compound 1 was a rearranged isobutylphloroglucinol–pinene adduct featuring an unusual 2,3,4,4a,10,11-hexahydro-1H-3,11a-methanodibenzo[b,f]oxepin backbone. Compound 4 showed moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including multiresistant strains.

Graphic Abstract
Recommendations for the measurement of residual stresses in welded joints by means of X-ray diffraction—results of the WG6-RR test
Authors: Nitschke-Pagel Th.
Published: December 2020

Residual stresses in welded joints are often of extended interest in order to evaluate unexpected failures or distortions. Since the possibilities to calculate residual stresses in welds are still strongly limited, the measurement techniques are still of great importance. Several measurement techniques with particular possibilities and limitations are available today where especially the different diffraction methods are used mostly. The material, weld type, and the size of the components are important for the quality of the results obtained with different methods as well as the environment where the measurements have to be carried out. The paper shall give an overview of the results of a round robin test on the application of XRD on butt welded joints which has been carried out in cooperation of different experienced laboratories. The results show the high reliability of XRD measurements in welds, if the measurements are performed under well-defined boundary conditions. The experiences can be used as a recommendation about useful measurement conditions the expectable quality of the results.
Cognitive reserve relates to executive functioning in the old–old
Authors: Oosterman Joukje M. , Jansen Michelle G. , Scherder Erik J. A. , Kessels Roy P. C.
Published: December 2020

Cognitive reserve (CR) is known to reduce or even protect against the negative effects of aging on cognitive functioning. Nonetheless, little is known about how CR influences the relationship between different cognitive abilities and age in the old–old. The goal of the present study was, therefore, to test the hypothesis whether, in the old–old, CR still modifies the relationship between age and cognitive functioning. Eighty-three adults (aged 71–94) without mild cognitive impairment or dementia residing in residential care facilities completed a detailed neuropsychological test battery. CR was estimated using a combination of educational attainment and an estimation of verbal intelligence. Moderation analyses revealed a significant effect for fluency and a trend for flexibility, showing that the negative relationship between age and cognitive performance is reduced as the level of CR increases. These results demonstrate that CR still influences the relationship between age and executive functions in adults of advanced age.
Electrochemical efficacies of coal derived nanocarbons
Authors: Thomas Riya , Manoj B.
Published: December 2020

Carbon based nanomaterials are acknowledged for their admirable optical, electrical, mechanical characteristics and broad class of applications. Choice of precursor and simple synthesis techniques have decisive roles in viable production and commercialization of carbon produce. The intense demand to develop high purity carbon nanomaterials through inexpensive techniques has promoted usage of fossil derivatives as feasible source of carbon. Coal serves as a naturally available, abundant and cheap feedstock for carbon materials. From the crystalline clusters of aromatic hydrocarbons in a cross-linked network, carbon nanostructures can easily be extracted through green synthesis routes. It promotes a potent alternative for the cost effective and scaled up production of nanocarbon. The well-developed pores distribution, presence of numerous active sites and appropriate migration channels for ions enhance the electrochemical parameters necessary for the fabrication of supercapacitors, batteries and electrochemical sensors. The metallic impurities contained in coal contribute towards faradic redox reactions required for an efficient electrode modification. In this review, the potential uses of coal based carbon nanomaterials in energy storage and environmental sectors are discussed in detail.
A randomized controlled trial evaluating inhalation and intravenous anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Nadri Sedigheh , Karimi Arash , Mohammadi Farzad , Mahmoudvand Hormoz
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:

Propofol and isoflurane have been used as anesthetic drug. Objective: For the purpose of this research, we compared total intravenous (IV) anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and inhalational anesthesia of isoflurane on hhemodynamic parameters.

Method:

This study is a randomized clinical trial, carried out on patients aged 20–40 years; they were randomly divided into two groups. The anesthetics drug administered in both groups were similar. This study comprises of 92 patients undergoing LC. The patients were divided into two groups, forty-six (46) patients received inhaled anesthesia with isoflurane (Group I), and the other forty-six (46) in propofol group (Group P). Hemodynamic variables and depth of anesthesia at various distances were measured and recorded.

Result:

In this study, the difference in depth of anesthesia between the two groups over a period of time was statistically significant. Changes in hemodynamic parameters such as HR, SBP and DBP between the two groups was statistically significant over time. Bispectral index in the group receiving isoflurane was statistically lower than those in propofol-based anesthetic treated group (p = 0.051).

Conclusion:

Propofol and isoflurane are appropriate agent used as a relaxant after general anesthesia for LC. Thus, propofol unlike isoflurane provide less hemodynamic changes, and presented a greater hemodynamic stability.

This clinical trial was carried out in Iran at the center of clinical trial registered with a special registration code: IRCT2015092716516N2.

Highlights
Is it Time for Wilderness Medicine Fellowships to Join the National Resident Matching Program Specialties Matching Service?
Authors: Spano Susanne J.
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The national resident matching program specialties matching service (SMS) fills fellowship positions for 66 subspecialties. Wilderness medicine (WM) fellowships currently do not participate in SMS; instead, WM uses an offer date to fill positions. To be successful, at least 75% of the available positions within a subspecialty must be within the SMS match.

Methods

All 13 civilian WM fellowship directors recruiting for academic year (AY) 2019 to 2020 and WM fellowship alumni were surveyed regarding future participation in the SMS. Estimation of the performance of SMS for WM was calculated using data published by the national resident matching program.

Results

Fellowship directors from all 13 civilian WM fellowships and 60 fellowship alumni participated in the survey. SMS was supported by 62% (n=8) of fellowship directors and 55% (n=33) of fellows. Willingness to pay SMS fees was 54% (n=7) among fellowship directors and 60% (n=36) among fellows. Of matched applicants, 85% (n=51) obtained their top choice program. SMS, if implemented, was perceived to have no impact on matching a top choice program by 53% (n=31); however, 34% (n=20) believed SMS would improve the chance of an applicant matching higher. The match success of SMS for specialties with fewer than 30 programs is 74%. Of the 20 WM fellowship positions in AY 2019 to 2020, 16 were matched, for a success rate of 80%.

Conclusions

There is insufficient support (<75%) at this time to institute an SMS match for WM. The offer date performed similarly to SMS for filling fellowship positions in AY 2019 to 2020.