bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexible fingerprint sensor driver IC and bendable evaluation
Authors: Chang Ming‐Chiu , Lin Wei‐Cheng
Published: September 2020

The paper presents a flexible polyimide fingerprint sensor driver IC driven by a 0.18‐μm CMOS technology and studies the sensor bendable performance. The finger valley and ridge are sensitive to environment noise; therefore, we propose low‐ripple cross non‐overlap charge pump that performs 7.2 V pumped output voltage with Δ30 mV ripple and 98.36% pump efficiency to increase the sensing level and propose mutual Vref SAR ADC circuit with 6.6 V input swing range, 30 MS/s, ENOB of 10 bits, SNDR 74.1 dB, and bit error with INL [0.61, −0.7] and DNL [0.9, −0.62] to enhance the resolution. Through low‐ripple charge pump and mutual Vref SAR ADC circuitry implementation, it makes the sensing of fingerprint valley and ridge capacitance signal still distinguishable when the film is bent harshly by the substrate radius 10 mm and, in the meanwhile, meet the FBI PIV biometric fingerprint image quality, which is upmost tough standard in biometric fingerprint of identification product.
Prediction of restriction in output current by reactant flow in redox flow battery for compensating load variations
Authors: Mannari Toko , Okuda Takafumi , Hikihara Takashi
Published: September 2020

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) connected to the power grid can absorb load variations which appear in several time scales. An RFB consists of a cell stack as the chemical reaction element and tanks as the storage element. Electrolytes are pumped and circulated between them. The cell stack can supply power as long as reactants are supplied to the stack. The slow velocity of the reactant flow to the cells restricts the output current, and the RFB can not supply the requested power under the current restriction. The reactant flow should be considered for confirming whether the RFB can supply the requested power at load variations. This paper proposes the method to predict the current restriction by the reactant flow through simulations. The method is based on a chemical reaction model. The model enables us to simulate the time evolution of the reactant concentration, which governs the electrical behavior and the reactant flow of the RFB. The current available from the reactant flow is introduced to estimate the current restriction by the slow velocity of the reactant flow. The proposed method predicts well the current restriction of the prototype RFB, which is integrated into a 300‐A class discharging circuit.
High‐dose post‐transplant cyclophosphamide impairs γδ T‐cell reconstitution after haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation using low‐dose antithymocyte globulin and peripheral blood stem cell graft
Authors: Stocker Nicolas , Gaugler Béatrice , Labopin Myriam , Farge Agathe , Ye Yishan , Ricard Laure , Brissot Eolia , Duléry Remy , Sestili Simona , Battipaglia Giorgia , Médiavilla Clémence , Paviglianiti Annalisa , Banet Anne , Van De Wyngaert Zoe , Ledraa Tounes , Mohty Mohamad , Malard Florent
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Haploidentical haematopoietic cell transplantation (Haplo‐HCT) using peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts and post‐transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is being increasingly used; however, data on immunological reconstitution (IR) are still scarce.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated T‐cell immunological reconstitution in 106 adult patients who underwent allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation for haematologic malignancies between 2013 and 2016.

Results

At D30, while conventional T cells reached similar median counts in Haplo‐HCT recipients (n = 19) and controls (n = 87), γδ and Vδ2+ T‐cell median counts were significantly lower in Haplo‐HCT recipients and it persists at least until D360 for Vδ2+ T cells. PTCy induces a significant reduction in early γδ and Vδ2+ T‐cell proliferation at D  7. At one year, the rate of increase in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) viral load was significantly higher in Haplo‐HCT recipients as compared to controls (61% versus 34%, P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, a higher γδ T‐cell count (> 4.63 μL−1) at D30 was the only independent parameter significantly associated with a reduced risk of increase in EBV viral load (RR 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15–0.76, P = 0.009).

Conclusion

Immunological reconstitution of γδ T cells is significantly delayed after Haplo‐HCT using PTCy and low‐dose ATG and is associated with an increased risk of increase in EBV viral load.
Paths to the first‐time diagnoses of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in Taiwan
Authors: Tu Chao‐Ying , Tseng Mei‐Chih Meg , Chang Yuan‐Ting
Published: September 2020

Objective

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of psychiatrists and the hospital settings in relation to the first‐time diagnoses of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and depict medical utilization and the detection rate before diagnosis of patients with AN and BN.

Method

We extracted data of individuals with AN or BN, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, from a national health insurance database. Individuals with AN (n = 1,893) or BN (n = 10,542) who were first‐time diagnosed by psychiatrists from 2002 to 2013 were included. Individuals with schizophrenia were selected as control groups that were matched with the incident AN and BN cases for sex, age stratum, and year of diagnosis.

Results

AN was more likely to be diagnosed by female psychiatrists. Patients with AN were more frequently diagnosed in medical centers while patients with BN were mostly diagnosed in primary care clinics. Nearly all patients with AN and BN had sought treatment for physical problems but less than half had sought help for mental health problems in the year preceding the diagnosis. Individuals with AN, BN, and schizophrenia were all under‐detected by nonpsychiatric medical professionals. Notably, BN was least likely to be recognized by both psychiatrists and other medical professionals.

Discussion

Our findings underscore the importance of educational programs that are designed to improve the detection and management of eating disorders by medical professionals in Taiwan. Advanced educational programs that target differential diagnosis and the tailored management of different eating disorders should be highlighted among psychiatrists.
Repeatable individual variation in migration timing in two anadromous salmonids and ecological consequences
Authors: Jensen Arne Johan , Finstad Bengt , Fiske Peder , Diserud Ola H. , Thorstad Eva B.
Published: September 2020

Consistent individual differences in behavior have been demonstrated for many animals, but there are few studies of consequences of such repeated behavior in the wild. We tested consistency in migration timing to and from the sea among anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta), using data from a study period of about 25 years, including more than 27,000 uniquely Carlin‐tagged individuals that migrated to sea for feeding in the spring and returned to the river in late summer for up to 13 successive years. Consistency was found between individuals across time in timing of the seaward migration. Individuals migrating early during their first migration tended to migrate early the following years, and late migrants tended to migrate late. The same pattern was found also at ascent to freshwater. Hence, this study demonstrated that individual fish in nature can differ in behavior related to migration timing and that these differences can be consistent during their lifetime. Early migrants increased their mass more than late migrants and had a higher specific growth rate. Early migrating Arctic char, but not brown trout, experienced a longer life after the first migration to sea than late migrants. In both species, maturity occurred earlier in individuals that migrated early. For brown trout, but not for Arctic char, fecundity was significantly correlated to the timing of smolt migration. Hence, the repeatable individual variation in migration timing seemed to have ecological and fitness consequences in terms of growth, longevity, timing of maturity, and lifetime fecundity.
Relative influence of wild prey and livestock abundance on carnivore‐caused livestock predation
Authors: Khanal Gopal , Mishra Charudutt , Ramesh Suryawanshi Kulbhushansingh
Published: September 2020

Conservation conflict over livestock depredation is one of the key drivers of large mammalian carnivore declines worldwide. Mitigating this conflict requires strategies informed by reliable knowledge of factors influencing livestock depredation. Wild prey and livestock abundance are critical factors influencing the extent of livestock depredation. We compared whether the extent of livestock predation by snow leopards Panthera uncia differed in relation to densities of wild prey, livestock, and snow leopards at two sites in Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal. We used camera trap‐based spatially explicit capture–recapture models to estimate snow leopard density; double‐observer surveys to estimate the density of their main prey species, the blue sheep Pseudois nayaur; and interview‐based household surveys to estimate livestock population and number of livestock killed by snow leopards. The proportion of livestock lost per household was seven times higher in Upper Dolpa, the site which had higher snow leopard density (2.51 snow leopards per 100 km2) and higher livestock density (17.21 livestock per km2) compared to Lower Dolpa (1.21 snow leopards per 100 km2; 4.5 livestock per km2). The wild prey density was similar across the two sites (1.81 and 1.57 animals per km2 in Upper and Lower Dolpa, respectively). Our results suggest that livestock depredation level may largely be determined by the abundances of the snow leopards and livestock and predation levels on livestock can vary even at similar levels of wild prey density. In large parts of the snow leopard range, livestock production is indispensable to local livelihoods and livestock population is expected to increase to meet the demand of cashmere. Hence, we recommend that any efforts to increase livestock populations or conservation initiatives aimed at recovering or increasing snow leopard population be accompanied by better herding practices (e.g., predator‐proof corrals) to protect livestock from snow leopard.
Feral populations of Brassica oleracea along Atlantic coasts in western Europe
Authors: Mittell Elizabeth A. , Cobbold Christina A. , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Kilbride Elizabeth A. , Moore Karen A. , Mable Barbara K.
Published: September 2020

There has been growing emphasis on the role that crop wild relatives might play in supporting highly selected agriculturally valuable species in the face of climate change. In species that were domesticated many thousands of years ago, distinguishing wild populations from escaped feral forms can be challenging, but reintroducing variation from either source could supplement current cultivated forms. For economically important cabbages (Brassicaceae: Brassica oleracea), “wild” populations occur throughout Europe but little is known about their genetic variation or potential as resources for breeding more resilient crop varieties. The main aim of this study was to characterize the population structure of geographically isolated wild cabbage populations along the coasts of the UK and Spain, including the Atlantic range edges. Double‐digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequencing was used to sample individual cabbage genomes, assess the similarity of plants from 20 populations, and explore environment–genotype associations across varying climatic conditions. Interestingly, there were no indications of isolation by distance; several geographically close populations were genetically more distinct from each other than to distant populations. Furthermore, several distant populations shared genetic ancestry, which could indicate that they were established by escapees of similar source cultivars. However, there were signals of local adaptation to different environments, including a possible relationship between genetic diversity and soil pH. Overall, these results highlight wild cabbages in the Atlantic region as an important genetic resource worthy of further research into their relationship with existing crop varieties.
Public values and goals for public participation
Authors: Bidwell David , Schweizer Pia‐Johanna
Published: September 2020

Over the past half century, it has become commonplace for environmental managers and policy makers to engage the public in decision making, a set of diverse activities known collectively as public participation. Despite widespread support for public participation, there is no explicit consensus on the purpose of this practice. In this study, we developed and tested a first‐of‐its‐kind quantitative measure of public participation goals among a sample of the U.S. public. Survey data indicate a classification of four participation goals' orientations: functionalist‐deliberative, instrumental, emancipatory, and coercive. A subsequent survey with a separate sample of the public explored the antecedents and consequences of these goal orientations. Regression analyses reveal that four common dimensions of the Schwartz Value Survey (altruism, egoism, traditionalism, and openness to change) are significant predictors of these goal orientations. For example, altruistic values predict adherence to emancipatory participation goals, while egoism (i.e., self‐interest) is associated with a coercive goal orientation. In turn, preferences for public participation goals are predictors of respondents' levels of satisfaction with two common public participation techniques, public hearings and public advisory boards. Instrumental participation goals are associated with greater satisfaction with public hearings, but a functionalist‐deliberative goals' orientation predicts satisfaction with advisory boards. This study has implications for the effective design and implementation of public participation programs and indicates a need for greater study of public participation goals among practitioners and participants.
National trends in heart failure mortality in men and women, United Kingdom, 2000–2017
Authors: Taylor Clare J. , Ordóñez‐Mena José M. , Jones Nicholas R. , Roalfe Andrea K. , Lay‐Flurrie Sarah , Marshall Tom , Hobbs F.D. Richard
Published: September 2020

Aims

To understand gender differences in the prognosis of women and men with heart failure, we compared mortality, cause of death and survival trends over time.

Methods and results

We analysed UK primary care data for 26 725 women and 29 234 men over age 45 years with a new diagnosis of heart failure between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2017 using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, inpatient Hospital Episode Statistics and the Office for National Statistics death registry. Age‐specific overall survival and cause‐specific mortality rates were calculated by gender and year. During the study period 15 084 women and 15 822 men with heart failure died. Women were on average 5 years older at diagnosis (79.6 vs. 74.8 years). Median survival was lower in women compared to men (3.99 vs. 4.47 years), but women had a 14% age‐adjusted lower risk of all‐cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–0.88]. Heart failure was equally likely to be cause of death in women and men (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.96–1.12). There were modest improvements in survival for both genders, but these were greater in men. The reduction in mortality risk in women was greatest for those diagnosed in the community (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80–0.85).

Conclusions

Women are diagnosed with heart failure older than men but have a better age‐adjusted prognosis. Survival gains were less in women over the last two decades. Addressing gender differences in heart failure diagnostic and treatment pathways should be a clinical and research priority.
Applicability of the EN 1785 Method for Detection of Paprika Irradiated with E‐Beam
Authors: Roca María J. , Andreo‐Martínez Pedro , García‐Martínez Nuria , Almela Luis
Published: September 2020

Electron beam (β‐rays) bombardment of spice is a feasible method of microbial sanitation in food products. Paprika spice has a high bioburden and it must be treated in order to reduce it, as well as to guarantee the absence of pathogenic bacteria. However, apart from killing vegetative microorganisms, β‐rays also cause changes in chemical components. This being the case, detecting metabolites generated by ionizing radiation is a viable way to detect whether or not a food has been irradiated. Among these methods, the detection of 2‐alkylcyclobutanones (2‐ACBs) has been proposed by the European Committee for Standardization, using method EN 1785. Detailed research on the production of 2‐ACBs in irradiated paprika has not been published previously, but the present study detects 2‐dodecilcyclobutanone and 2‐tetradecylcyclobutanone in irradiated paprika. Evidence of a third metabolite, cis‐2‐tetradec‐5′‐enylcyclobutanone, derived from oleic acid, cannot be confirmed. However, the detection of 2‐ACBs can only be used as a qualitative marker of paprika irradiation because its concentration does not agree with that of its parent fatty acids, or with the doses of irradiation applied.

Practical Applications: Directive1999/3/EEC contains a list of foods and food ingredients that can be treated with ionizing radiation, where paprika is included as a spice. In this sense, 2‐ACBs can be formed from free or esterified fatty acids contained in paprika when it is treated with β‐rays. Those 2‐ACBs can be detected using the EN 1785:2003 method. Therefore, this study for the first‐time demonstrates that the EN 1785:2003 is feasible method to detect if paprika has been irradiated.
Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Methyl Parathion at Activated Carbon Nanopowder Modified Electrode
Authors: Stoytcheva Margarita , Zlatev Roumen , Velkova Zdravka , Gochev Velizar , Montero Gisela , Valdez Benjamín , Curiel Mario
Published: September 2020

An activated carbon nanopowder modified glassy carbon electrode (AC‐GCE) was constructed for the sensitive determination of methyl parathion by adsorptive differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The simple and rapid modification procedure included only drop‐coating the electrode surface with a laponite stabilized activated carbon nanopowder suspension and drying. The modifier high adsorption ability, combined with its large electroactive surface area allowed a 30‐fold signal increase to be achieved, compared to bare GCE. Under optimized experimental conditions (activated carbon to laponite ratio, pH and accumulation time), the AC‐GCE exhibited a linear response to methyl parathion in two concentration ranges: from 0.01 μmol L−1 to 1 μmol L−1 and from 1 μmol L−1 to 6 μmol L−1. The LOD of 2.5 nmol L−1 (S/N=3) achieved fitted with regulatory norms. It was demonstrated that the as‐prepared AC‐GCE is suitable for routine real samples analysis.
Electrochemistry of Os Bipyridyl and Phenanthroline Complexes, Comparison with Ru and Fe
Authors: van der Westhuizen Deidré , Conradie Jeanet , von Eschwege Karel G.
Published: September 2020

Osmium(II) polypyridyl complexes may be useful in H2O and CO2 photo‐catalytic reduction and dye‐sensitized solar cell research. Altering substituents on the polypyridyl ligands allows for spectral and electronic tuning of the osmium(II) polypyridyl complexes. The cyclic voltammograms and UV‐visible spectra of a series of electronically altered bipyridine and phenanthroline osmium(II) complexes are presented. OsII/III experimental oxidation potentials correlate linearly (R2=0.99) with density functional theory (DFT) implicit solvent model computed ionization potentials and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energies. The hereby obtained linear relationship provides a theoretical computational tool that may be used for the predetermination of redox potentials of related osmium(II) polypyridyl complexes. Comparison between similar correlations for elements in the same group, namely Fe, Ru and Os, revealed remarkably similar patterns. Of the three, OsII bipyridyl is most readily oxidized (0.452 V), followed by FeII (0.682 V) and then RuII (0.883 V). Spectra of the OsII complexes where λmax values range from 392 to 442 nm, were closely simulated by time‐dependant DFT computed electronic oscillators. Osmium(II) polypyridyl complex absorbances span almost the entire visible spectrum.
Manipulation of pore structure during manufacture of agarose microspheres for bioseparation
Authors: Zhao Lan , Huang Yongdong , Zhu Kai , Miao Zhuang , Zhao Jiazhang , Che Xiang Jing , Hao Dongxia , Zhang Rongyue , Ma Guanghui
Published: September 2020

Agarose microspheres with a controllable pore structure were manufactured by varying agarose types and crosslinking degrees. Various agarose could tailor the gel formation of microspheres matrix and thus affect the final pore structures. Small pores in microspheres could be fabricated by agarose with a higher molecular weight, which was demonstrated by the packed column with lower distribution coefficient (Kav) values measured by gel filtration chromatography. Further, higher Kav values also demonstrated that more and larger pores were formed with increasing the crosslinking degree of agarose microspheres. Either using agarose with a high molecular weight or increasing the crosslinking degree would finally lead to the enhancement of the flow rate during flow performance of packed column as necessary for improving separation efficiency. This provides a foundation for high‐resolution chromatography with a controllable separation range as beneficial for downstream process.
Secrecy analysis of multiple‐input multiple‐output underlay cognitive radio networks with energy harvesting
Authors: Thakur Anshu , Kumar Ashok , Gupta Nitin
Published: September 2020

The cognitive radio (CR) technique is an encouraging approach to deal with spectrum scarcity in wireless networks. However, this technique raises the issues of secrecy and privacy in the CR network. In this work, a multiple‐input multiple‐output underlay CR network is considered, which consists of a primary network, a secondary network, and an eavesdropper. All the primary, secondary as well aseavesdropper's nodes are assumed to have multiple antennas with radio frequency energy harvesters to enhance their spectral and energy efficiency properties. The eavesdropper node manipulates it's simultaneous wireless information and power transfer architecture in a pursuit to intercept the secure communication between the cognitive transmitter and the cognitive receiver. This technique and considered network are combined with the traditional selection combining (SC) and maximal ratio combining (MRC) scheme and the results are compared. The Monte Carlo simulation is done for the validation of results. The main aim is to drive the closed‐form analytical expression for exact and asymptotic secrecy outage probability. The present results show that the SC scheme at eavesdropper provides better secrecy in comparison to the MRC technique and also the number of antennas affects the secrecy of the system. Moreover, the impact of power splitter is considered and also the optimal value of power splitter is derived to maximize information decoding.
Studies on the odorant concentrations and their time dependencies during dry‐hopping of alcohol‐free beer
Authors: Brendel Sabrina , Hofmann Thomas , Granvogl Michael
Published: September 2020

Both the market for alcohol‐free beer and the number of craft beer breweries increased in the past years. Thus, dry‐hopping as a possibility to compensate/mask aroma deficiencies of alcohol‐free beers is gaining more and more interest. To better understand the transfer of odorants from hops into alcohol‐free beer during dry‐hopping, their concentrations were monitored over a period of 7 days in a laboratory‐scale experiment simulating the dry‐hopping process. Thereby, a main transfer occurred during the first 2‐3 days. However, the relevance of the transferred odorants to the overall aroma can only be evaluated by taking their sensory properties into consideration. Therefore, orthonasal odour thresholds and sensorial dose‐response relationships were investigated in an alcohol‐free beer matrix. Sensory tests showed a nearly linear increase in the odour intensities of different esters, whereas further typical hop odorants, such as linalool, geraniol, and myrcene, showed a multistage increase. Overall, the present study clearly corroborated that dry‐hopping of alcohol‐free beers can be optimised regarding the hop dosage and the contact time, depending on the desired flavour of the final product.
Fabrication and sustained‐release property of vinyl silica hollow spheres as a delivery system for aroma compounds
Authors: Hu Jing , Tao Li , Deng Weijun , Liu Liqin
Published: September 2020

The application of the aroma compounds in cosmetics, food, medicine, textile, tobacco and so forth brings the charming senses of the smell and taste. However, their main ingredients tend to deterioration due to the fast release and oxidation during the storage and usage. The silica porous materials provide the effective protection for these volatile aroma compounds. In this paper, vinyl silica hollow spheres were successfully prepared via one‐step method with tunable size. Vinyl silica hollow spheres with two sizes of 390 and 650 nm were loaded with aroma compounds. Both of the silica hollow spheres showed the selective loading capacities for aroma compounds. Interestingly, silica hollow spheres with bigger size exhibited the higher encapsulation efficiency of 94.20% and the slower sustained release of 118.3 mg/g after 16 hours of phenylethanol. This is ascribed to bigger interior cavity volume per mass unit analysed by mathematic model. The kinetics of phenylethanol release was also studied. Our work is expected to trigger a new consideration of capsule design for sustained release with high loading efficiency.
Reference Electrode Positioning in PEM Fuel Cell at a Parabolic Anode Tip
Authors: Kulikovsky A.
Published: September 2020

Two‐dimensional (2D) distribution of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell cathode overpotential η in the vicinity of parabolic anode tip is described by nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann equation. The 2d shape of η is calculated numerically for the anode tip curvature varying by two orders of magnitude. It is shown that the reference electrode for measuring cathode overpotential can be located at a distance on the order of two characteristic lengths from the anode tip. For typical PEM fuel cell parameters, this distance is about 5.5 cm. A compact design for the reference electrode positioning is suggested.
Blinding and bias in a hypnotic clinical trial
Authors: McCall William V. , Benca Ruth M. , Rumble Meredith E. , Krystal Andrew D.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Information is lacking regarding how commonly unblinding of treatment assignment occurs in hypnotic randomized clinic trials (RCTs). We now report the “best guesses” of clinical trial participants, versus study coordinators, versus study physicians in the study Reducing Suicidal Ideation Through Insomnia Treatment (REST‐IT).

Methods

REST‐IT, a, 8‐week double‐blind RCT, compared zolpidem extended‐release (ER) versus placebo at bedtime in 103 adults with major depressive disorder with insomnia and suicidal ideation, and who received open label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. At the conclusion of study participation, 89 of the participants in this study, the study coordinators, and the study physicians each independently recorded their “best guess” of the treatment assigned.

Results

Patients guessed correctly 58.4% of the time, coordinators 53.9% of the time, and physicians 49.4% of the time, and none were different from chance alone. Agreement between patient/coordinator, patient/doctor, and coordinator/doctor dyads were 75%–78% with no significant differences in agreement between the dyads.

Conclusions

“Best guesses” of all parties were not different from chance, suggesting that the blind was maintained and that assessment bias was minimized in this RCT of zolpidem ER versus placebo. Our results may not apply to other hypnotics or other RCT designs.
Design and performance evaluation of mobile personal big data management system based on ICN
Authors: Chen Lijun , Sciullo Luca , Trotta Angelo
Published: September 2020

The above article from Internet Technology Letters, published online as an Accepted Article on 15 September 2020 on Wiley Online Library (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/itl2.237) has been withdrawn by agreement between Lijun Chen, the Editor‐in‐Chief Alfredo Grieco and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The withdrawal has been agreed because the article has been submitted and approved for publication by Lijun Chen, without consent from the named co‐authors Luca Sciullo and Angelo Trotta.
The influence of correlations between noncritical features and reinforcement on stimulus generalization
Authors: Song Christina J. , Vladescu Jason C. , Reeve Kenneth F. , Miguel Caio F. , Breeman Samantha L.
Published: September 2020

One strategy to program for generalization is to vary noncritical features in teaching exemplars, thereby avoiding noncritical features from being highly correlated with reinforcement and thus gaining faulty stimulus control. In the current translational evaluation, 2 groups of adults of typical development were taught to respond to arbitrary stimuli with experimenter‐defined critical and noncritical features in a matching‐to‐sample task. The teaching arrangement used for 1 group programmed for low correlation between noncritical features and reinforcement; the teaching arrangement used for the other group programmed for high correlation between noncritical features and reinforcement. Participants in the former group displayed (a) faster acquisition of matching, (b) less variability in correct responding, and (c) a decreased likelihood of faulty stimulus control developing during training. The results contribute towards advancing the study of stimulus control and developing an explicit technology of generalization to better serve consumers of the application of our science.
3‐photon microscopy of myelin in mouse digital skin excited at the 1700‐nm window
Authors: He Chen , Deng Xiangquan , Pan Yi , Tong Shen , Kang Jiayu , Li Jia , Qiu Ping , Wang Ke
Published: September 2020

Myelin is a key component of the peripheral nervous system, whose structure anomaly in the digital skin is implicated in neuropathy. Here we demonstrate an in vivo labeling and imaging technique, capable of visualizing myelin sheaths deep in the mouse digital skin. Through material characterization, we verify that 3‐photon fluorescence (3PF) can be generated from a commonly used dye‐ FluoroMyelin Red for labeling myelin, excited at the 1700‐nm window. Topical injection of FluoroMyelin Red in the mouse digit leads to bright labeling of myelin sheaths. Harnessing the deep‐penetration capability of 3‐photon microscopy excited at the 1700‐nm window, we demonstrate that 3PF imaging of FluoroMyelin Red‐labeled myelin sheaths in the mouse digit in vivo can be achieved to a depth 340 μm below the skin surface, revealing both branching bundle of and individual myelin sheaths.
Monocyte subsets to differentiate chronic myelomonocytic leukemia from reactive monocytosis
Authors: Hwang Sang Mee , Ahn Haejin , Jeon Seungah , Park Jun , Chang Yunye , Kim Hyungsuk
Published: September 2020

Background

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is characterized by persistent monocytosis and dysplastic features of blood cells. No specific genetic abnormalities are present in CMML, and reactive monocytosis should be excluded. An increase in classical monocytes (MO1) has been suggested as a screening tool for CMML.

Methods

We evaluated monocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with CMML (n = 16), patients with reactive monocytosis (n = 19), and normal controls (n = 15) with flow cytometry using antibodies against CD14, CD16, CD56, CD24, CD45, and CD2. The cutoff of MO1 ≥94% was validated, and the optimal cutoff was analyzed with receiver operating curve analysis.

Results

The sensitivity of monocyte subset testing for screening for CMML was 0.938 (0.717‐0.997), and the specificity was 0.882 (0.734 ‐ 0.953) using the cutoff of MO1 ≥94%. Serial samples from patients who responded to hypomethylating therapy showed an MO1 < 94%. However, few patients with reactive monocytosis, including patients with nonhematologic malignancies and acute myeloid leukemia, showed an increase in the MO1 ≥ 94%. Monocyte subset results were correlated with the response to hypomethylating therapy in follow‐up samples.

Conclusion

Monocyte subset analysis is useful in screening for and monitoring CMML. Harmonization of the protocols for monocyte subset analysis is required.
Early pathways to research at the NIH
Authors: Aitken Sarah F. , Walma David A. Cruz , Glover Omar D. , Kear Bernice D. , Lee Alisa E. , Michel Zachary D. , Vo Tammy D.
Published: September 2020

This article, written by current student trainees within various intramural programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes how the NIH experience weaves world‐class interdisciplinary research into the education of future oral healthcare professionals. This article highlights 4 programs and provides perspectives from current NIH student trainees on the significance of their programs to their career growth in an effort to increase program awareness for faculty and students, thus escalating participation of predental and dental students in programs at the NIH. Although the number of individuals pursuing careers in oral health research has been alarmingly few, dentistry is in a unique position to drastically expand its collaborative scientific workforce. Research must be integrated into the training of increased numbers of future dental professionals. This article describes how NIH programs address specific needs of the dental profession, including reducing disparities, advancing evidence‐based personalized medicine, and solving multidisciplinary health challenges.
Exploring empathy in genetic counseling students and new genetic counselors
Authors: Richards Jonica L. , Petty Elizabeth M. , Zelenski Amy
Published: September 2020

Although empathy is widely recognized as an important trait for healthcare professionals, little research has examined empathy attributes in genetic counselors. Decreases in empathy levels have been recognized in other healthcare professionals over the span of their professional education program. This research sought to characterize empathy levels in first‐ and second‐year genetic counseling students and recent (2017) graduates, and to determine whether there are differences in empathy levels displayed by genetic counseling students at different points in their training. Additionally, this research examined whether experiences prior to graduate school, including specific aspects of advocacy experience, correlated with differences in self‐reported empathy levels among genetic counseling students and new genetic counselors. An online survey was administered to first‐ and second‐year genetic counseling students and practicing genetic counselors to determine whether there were differences in empathy levels between these groups, and to analyze for associations between pre‐graduate school advocacy work and levels of empathy as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). We identified significant differences in self‐reported empathy levels in several of the subscales of the IRI between first‐year students and second‐year students, and between first‐year students and recent graduates. Furthermore, we identified significantly lower scores on the personal distress subscale of the IRI in participants who engaged in advocacy work for longer than 12 months when compared to participants who engaged in advocacy work for between 6 and 12 months. Other advocacy and educational characteristics were also examined for correlations with IRI scores, and no significant associations were identified between these additional factors and self‐reported empathy scores. Practice implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Clinical adoption of robotics in endoscopy: Challenges and solutions
Authors: Kaan Hung Leng , Ho Khek Yu
Published: September 2020

The endoscope was traditionally used as a diagnostic instrument. In past decades, it has increasingly been adapted for therapeutic intents. Subsequently, the master–slave robotic concept was introduced into the field of endoscopy to potentially reduce the difficulty and complication rates of endoscopic therapeutic procedures. As interest in robotic endoscopy intensified, progressively more robotic endoscopic platforms were developed, tested, and introduced. Nevertheless, the future of robotic endoscopy hinges on the ability to meet specific clinical needs of procedurists. Three aspects are vital in ensuring continued success and clinical adoption of the robotic endoscope—demonstration of clinical safety and cost‐efficacy of the device, widespread availability of directed training opportunities to enhance technical skills and clinical decision‐making capabilities of the procedurist, and continued identification of new clinical applications beyond the current uses of the device. This review provides a brief discussion of the historical development of robotic endoscopy, current robotic endoscopic platforms, use of robotic endoscopy in conventional therapeutic endoscopic procedures, and the future of robotic endoscopy.
Microstructural Integrity of Peripheral Nerves in Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease: An MRI Evaluation Study
Authors: Cheah Peng Loon , Krisnan Thiagu , Wong Jeannie Hsiu Ding , Rozalli Faizatul Izza , Fadzli Farhana , Rahmat Kartini , Shahrizaila Nortina , Tan Li Kuo , Nawawi Ouzreiah , Ramli Norlisah
Published: September 2020

Background

Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease is diagnosed through clinical findings and genetic testing. While there are neurophysiological tools and clinical functional scales in CMT, objective disease biomarkers that can facilitate in monitoring disease progression are limited.

Purpose

To investigate the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in determining the microstructural integrity of sciatic and peroneal nerves and its correlation with the MRI grading of muscle atrophy severity and clinical function in CMT as determined by the CMT neuropathy score (CMTNS).

Study Type

Prospective case–control.

Subjects

Nine CMT patients and nine age‐matched controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

3 T T1‐weighted in‐/out‐of phase spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR) and DTI sequences.

Assessment

Fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD) values for sciatic and peroneal nerves were obtained from DTI. Muscle atrophy was graded according to the Goutallier classification using in‐/out‐of phase SPGRs. DTI parameters and muscle atrophy grades were compared between CMT and controls, and the relationship between DTI parameters, muscle atrophy grades, and CMTNS were assessed.

Statistical Tests

The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to compare DTI parameters between CMT and controls. The relationship between DTI parameters, muscle atrophy grades, and CMTNS were analyzed using the Spearman correlation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses of DTI parameters that can differentiate CMT from healthy controls were done.

Results

There was a significant reduction in FA and increase in RD of both nerves (P < 0.05) in CMT, with significant correlations between FA (negative; P < 0.05) and RD (positive; P < 0.05) with muscle atrophy grade. In the sciatic nerve, there was significant correlation between FA and CMTNS (r = –0.795; P < 0.05). FA and RD could discriminate CMT from controls with high sensitivity (77.8–100%) and specificity (88.9–100%).

Data Conclusion

There were significant differences of DTI parameters between CMT and controls, with significant correlations between DTI parameters, muscle atrophy grade, and CMTNS.

Level of Evidence 2

Technical Efficacy Stage 2

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2021;53:437–444.
Z‐shaped gate TFET with horizontal pocket for improvement of electrostatic behavior
Authors: Sahoo Sasmita , Dash Sidhartha , Routray Soumya Ranjan , Mishra Guru Prasad
Published: September 2020

In this paper, a new Z‐shaped gate TFET structure is proposed with an n+ horizontal pocket insertion beneath the source. The Z‐TFET structure provides higher ON current by 2‐decades as compared to conventional TFET due to the vertical tunneling and presence of HfO2 gate oxide. Similarly, the ambipolar current reduces by 2‐decades without affecting subthreshold swing (SS) and OFF current significantly. The ON current is further improved by positioning a horizontal pocket layer in the source. The impact of horizontal pocket (HP) concentration and thickness on the analog performance is investigated further using a TCAD device simulator. The simulated results reveal the superiority of the proposed ZHP‐TFET device in terms of ON current (higher by seven times) and average SS (reduces by 13%) as compared to Z‐TFET keeping ambipolar current constant. The ambipolar current can be further reduced by optimizing the length of the back gate. Thus, the proposed device is capable of providing higher ION/IOFF (~1012), ION/IAMB (~109) ratio, and transconductance with improved average SS of 45 mV/decade.
Strategies in vineyard establishment to face global warming in viticulture: a mini review
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Gamboa Gastón , Zheng Wei , Martínez de Toda Fernando
Published: September 2020

Different technological solutions are developing in the wine industry to mitigate the negative effects of the current global warming to mainly achieve wines with a lower alcohol content. These proposed solutions mostly act at the oenological level and are focused on intervening in the raw material to be transformed; that is, on reducing the concentration of sugar in the must using filtration techniques or also on wine dealcoholizing by physical processes. These techniques are intended to offer solutions and respond to new consumer expectations, but they may be considered too artificial to be widely accepted. In this way, viticultural strategies may offer a natural solution to obtain grapes with low sugar content, maximizing their quality by delaying ripening. This mini review surveys the viticultural strategies that can be applied in the establishment of a vineyard – that is, when it comes to planting of a new vineyard – such as vineyard altitude, latitude, orientation, and slope, as well as rootstock, variety, clone, training system, and row orientation and slope, with the aim to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on grape and wine quality and to delay grape maturation. Finally, we propose a ponderation of the strategies discussed to contextualize its importance to face global warming in viticulture. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Recent progress in separation prediction of counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Guo Yuru , Tong Shengqiang , Zhang Keqing , Yan Jizhong
Published: September 2020

As a liquid‐liquid partition chromatography, counter‐current chromatography has advantages in large sample loading capacity without irreversible adsorption, which has been widely applied in separation and purification fields. The main factors, including partition coefficient, two‐phase solvent systems, apparatus, and operating parameters greatly affect the separation process of counter‐current chromatography. To promote the applications of counter‐current chromatography, it is essential to develop theoretical research to master the principles of counter‐current chromatographic separations so as to achieve predictions before laborious trials. In this article, recent progress about separation prediction methods are reviewed from a point of the steady and unsteady state of the mass transfer process of counter‐current chromatography and its mass transfer characteristics, and then it is divided into three aspects: prediction of partition coefficient, modeling the thermodynamic process of counter‐current chromatography, and modeling the dynamic process of counter‐current chromatography.
Assessing the role of women in tourism related sectors in the Caribbean
Authors: Pastore Francesco , Webster Allan , Hope Kevin
Published: September 2020

This study contributes to the rapidly growing literature on women in tourism. It focuses on a group of 13 Caribbean countries. The study analyses the impact of women in apical positions within firms (top manager or owner) on firm performance—productivity, profitability and female employment. For this both a decomposition model and the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment estimator are used. The analysis finds that opportunities for women in these positions in the Caribbean are constrained to less productive and profitable firms, as elsewhere. However, those firms with females at the top employ more women, particularly in management roles.
Pupillary Response to Affective Voices: Physiological Responsivity and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Rubin Mikael , Telch Michael J.
Published: September 2020

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is related to dysfunctional emotional processing, thus motivating the search for physiological indices that can elucidate this process. Toward this aim, we compared pupillary response patterns in response to angry and fearful auditory stimuli among 99 adults, some with PTSD (n = 14), some trauma‐exposed without PTSD (TE; n = 53), and some with no history of trauma exposure (CON; n = 32). We hypothesized that individuals with PTSD would show more pupillary response to angry and fearful auditory stimuli compared to those in the TE and CON groups. Among participants who had experienced a traumatic event, we explored the association between PTSD symptoms and pupillary response; contrary to our prediction, individuals with PTSD displayed the least pupillary response to fearful auditory stimuli compared those in the TE, B = −0.022, p = .077, and CON, B = −0.042, p = .002, groups, but they did not differ on angry auditory stimuli, B = 0.019, p = .118 and B = 0.006, p = .634, respectively. It is important to note that within‐group analyses revealed that participants with PTSD differed significantly in their response to angry versus fearful stimuli, B = −0.032, p = .015. We also found a positive association between PTSD symptoms and pupillary response to angry stimuli. Our findings suggest that differential pupil response to anger and fear stimuli may be a promising way to understand emotional processing in PTSD.