bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Live remote digital microscopy in peripheral blood smear evaluation: Intraobserver concordance and experience
Authors: Haninger Diana M. , Nassiri Mehdi , Settembre Elizabeth D. , Zhang Shanxiang , Zhou Jiehao
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Peripheral blood smear (PBS) review is a routine laboratory test which requires pathologist's interpretation when abnormal indices, atypical cells, or critical findings are identified. Real‐time remote digital microscopy (DM) can potentially facilitate rapid review when an on‐site pathologist is not available. Herein, we assess intraobserver concordance of PBS evaluation with light microscopy (LM) and DM using VisionTek M6 robotic DM and TeamViewer imaging software.

Methods

Thirty‐seven de‐identified PBS slides were evaluated by five reviewers. Slides were loaded on a VisionTek M6 robotic microscope at an off‐site laboratory and evaluated remotely via TeamViewer software. Reviewers recorded interpretation, time required for interpretation (in minutes), imaging quality (score 0‐3), and confidence of interpretation (score 0‐3). Other relevant information associated with DM evaluation was also documented. Slides were subsequently evaluated using LM after washout interval. The intraobserver variation of results for impression, digital slide quality, minutes to interpretation, and confidence of interpretation was compared between DM and LM.

Results

The intraobserver concordance between LM and DM was 93%, with nine discordant interpretations among 135 evaluations under each review modality, respectively. Although reviewers spent more time under DM mode (5 min/slide) than LM mode (2.5 min/slide), the reviewers felt the DM provided sufficient image quality and the confidence levels of reviewers on slide interpretation were comparable between DM (2.6/3) and LM (2.8/3).

Conclusion

There was a high level of intraobserver concordance and comparable interpretation confidence between DM and LM. DM can be a useful methodology for off‐site pathologist's review of PBS.
Investors as Stewards of the Commons?
Authors: Serafeim George
Published: August 2018

The author makes the case that business generally, not just government, should assume responsibility for social and environmental problems. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formally recognize the role of the private sector in addressing some of the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges. What started as a corporate social responsibility movement now a focuses on integrating positive social impact into the core mission of the organization.

Encouragingly, studies document that improving firm performance on business‐relevant ESG issues has a positive association with future financial performance. Investors can enable better societal outcomes by exercising ‘voice’ and voting rights in corporate governance.

He acknowledges that competitive businesses face a “commons” or “free‐rider” problem where a defector avoids the full cost of his actions. Overcoming this problem requires legally sanctioned collaboration between business enterprises and large institutional shareholders, particularly pension funds. He also acknowledges that the corporate level free‐rider problem has a counterpart that at the investor level. Investor engagement with companies involves resources, money and time. It is no simple matter to justify increased costs in the context of asset managers that compete on the basis of low management fees, such as index funds.

Collaboration between companies can mitigate some of these free riding problems. Large institutional investors with long time horizons and significant common ownership across different companies may have the best opportunities for collaboration. But, smaller activist funds and retail investors also have an important role in pushing large institutional investors to engage. While it is unlikely that investors will be able to solve all of the pressing societal problems, progress can be made.
Building a Bridge between Marketing and Finance
Authors: Barker Ryan , Milano Greg
Published: August 2018

Corporate finance executives are often frustrated by spending proposals from their marketing colleagues but cannot seem to be able to quantify the putative benefits. Similarly, the marketing staff is frustrated by the finance team's inability to convert soft marketing metrics, such as “awareness” and “customer satisfaction” into financial forecasts. The challenge is that neither marketers nor finance executives have been able to articulate a single analytical framework which both explains how and why brands come to flourish or flounder and how brand growth contributes to the business's short and long term bottom line.

Lacking an effective way to do this now, most managers default to using the hard data they do have, namely how marketing investment is likely to impact sales this quarter and next. This reinforces the widespread focus on quarterly EPS and reduces the perceived value of the marketing department to their ability to hit three month sales targets. This degraded view of marketing's contribution and the inability to link “soft” marketing metrics to longer term financial returns impedes building long‐term brand value. This article focuses on how advances in behavioral science and financial analytics offer an effective way to bridge this gap between marketing and finance.

Building that bridge requires better measures of brand health and financial performance to allocate capital and marketing resources. Undoubtedly, brand building is both an art and a science. But, the finance people can develop an evidence‐based framework explaining how some of the “softer” investments such as brand building, contribute to the value of the firm.
CXCL6‐EGFR‐induced Kupffer cells secrete TGF‐β1 promoting hepatic stellate cell activation via the SMAD2/BRD4/C‐MYC/EZH2 pathway in liver fibrosis
Authors: Cai Xiaobo , Li Zhenghong , Zhang Qidi , Qu Yin , Xu Mingyi , Wan Xinjian , Lu Lungen
Published: August 2018

Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in response to the inflammatory response that accompanies tissue injury, which at an advanced stage can lead to cirrhosis and even liver failure. This study investigated the role of the CXC chemokine CXCL6 (GCP‐2) in liver fibrosis. The expression of CXCL6 was found to be elevated in the serum and liver tissue of high stage liver fibrosis patients. Furthermore, treatment with CXCL6 (100 ng/mL) stimulated the phosphorylation of EGFR and the expression of TGF‐β in cultured Kupffer cells (KCs). Although treatment with CXCL6 directly did not activate the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line, HSC‐T6, HSCs cultured with media taken from KCs treated with CXCL6 or TGF‐β showed increased expression of α‐SMA, a marker of HSC activation. CXCL6 was shown to function via the SMAD2/BRD4/C‐MYC/EZH2 pathway by enhancing the SMAD3‐BRD4 interaction and promoting direct binding of BRD4 to the C‐MYC promoter and CMY‐C to the EZH2 promoter, thereby inducing profibrogenic gene expression in HSCs, leading to activation and transdifferentiation into fibrogenic myofibroblasts. These findings were confirmed in a mouse model of CCl4‐induced chronic liver injury and fibrosis in which the levels of CXCL6 and TGF‐β in serum and the expression of α‐SMA, SMAD3, BRD4, C‐MYC, and EZH2 in liver tissue were increased. Taken together, our results reveal that CXCL6 plays an important role in liver fibrosis through stimulating the release of TGF‐β by KCs and thereby activating HSCs.
Appeals by the Prosecution
Authors: King Nancy J. , Heise Michael
Published: August 2018

Scholarly and public debates about criminal appeals have largely taken place in an empirical vacuum. This study builds on our prior empirical work exploring defense‐initiated criminal appeals and focuses on criminal appeals by state and federal prosecutors. Exploiting data drawn from a recently released national sample of appeals by state prosecutors decided in 2010, as well as data from all appeals by federal prosecutors to the U.S. Courts of Appeals terminated in the years 2011 through 2016, we provide a detailed snapshot of noncapital, direct appeals by prosecutors, including extensive information on crime type, claims raised, type of defense representation, oral argument, and opinion type, as well judicial selection, merits review, and relief. Findings include a rate of success for state prosecutor appeals about four times greater than that for defense appeals (roughly 40 percent of appeals filed compared to 10 percent). The likelihood of success for state prosecutor‐appellants appeared unrelated to the type of crime, claim, or defense counsel, whether review was mandatory or discretionary, or whether the appellate bench was selected by election rather than appointment. State high courts, unlike intermediate courts, did not decide these appeals under conditions of drastic asymmetry. Of discretionary criminal appeals reviewed on the merits by state high courts, 41 percent were prosecutor appeals. In federal courts, prosecutors voluntarily dismissed more than half the appeals they filed, but were significantly less likely to withdraw appeals from judgments of acquittal and new trial orders after the verdict than to withdraw appeals challenging other orders. Among appeals decided on the merits, federal prosecutors were significantly more likely to lose when facing a federal defender as an adversary compared to a CJA panel attorney.
A Tool for Connection: Using the Person‐of‐the‐Therapist Training (POTT) Model in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Supervision
Authors: Zeytinoglu‐Saydam Senem , Niño Alba
Published: August 2018

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) was developed based on the premise that couples get stuck in negative cycles fueled by their underlying primary emotions and unmet attachment needs (Johnson [2004],Creating connection: The practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy).EFTtherapists need to stay in touch with and regulate their own emotions when the tension rises in the sessions, while still staying open and vulnerable to their clients. Person‐of‐the‐Therapist Training model (Aponte & Kissil [2016],The person of the therapist training model: Mastering the use of self) aims to increase therapists' understanding, awareness, and acceptance of their own personal issues to create a more empathic connection with their clients. In this manuscript, the authors create a roadmap forEFTsupervisors to use thePOTTmodel in supervision as a tool to enhance their supervisees' connection to their clients and effectiveness of their interventions.
Human Rights and Religion: A Sociological Perspective
Authors: Breskaya Olga , Giordan Giuseppe , Richardson James T.
Published: August 2018

This essay aims to review mainstream literature and research perspectives on the sociology of human rights with the further focus on relationship between human rights and religion. We consider the challenges of late engagement of sociology with human rights and current narratives of the relationship of human rights and religion that encompass normativity as the central category of historically oriented sociology. We discuss the contribution of two empirical research mainstreams on human rights and religion and focus on a new field of study—sociology of religious freedom. A detailed new agenda for sociological research on human rights and religion is explored in the final part of our assessment.
Signatures of the Martian regolith components entrained in some impact‐melt glasses in shergottites
Authors: Rao M. N. , Nyquist L. E. , Ross D. K. , Sutton S. R. , Hoppe P. , Shih C. Y. , Wentworth S. J. , Garrison D. H.
Published: August 2018

Martian regolith components are found in some impact melts (IM) containing Martian atmospheric gases in the shergottites Elephant Moraine (EET) 79001, Tissint, Zagami, and Shergotty. Excess sulfur abundances provide strong indicators for the presence of an exogenous component. High sulfur abundances and the SO3‐SiO2 correlation in polished thin section (PTS) EET 79001,507 (here #507) are comparable to those in Martian soils. Correlations of SO3 with FeO in #507 from Lithology B and of CaO and Al2O3 in EET 79001,506 (here #506) from Lithology A suggest the possible occurrence of two varieties of sulfate‐bearing phases in impact‐melt precursors. Fe/S (atomic) ratios of 1.02–1.34 determined in several sulfide blebs in #507 differ from those determined in igneous sulfides (Fe/S = 0.92), and suggest that most sulfide blebs in #507 are not related to igneous sulfides. Fe/S (atomic) ratios in a Tissint glass range from ~0.5 (pyrite) to >1.1 suggesting a mixture of sulfur‐bearing phases. S K‐XANES spectra of the blebs in EET 79001 and Tissint glasses show that sulfur occurs as mixed amorphous sulfide and sulfite. The δ34S values and the 87Sr/86Sr (I) ratios determined in EET 79001 impact melts are consistent with the proposition that the sulfide blebs result from decomposition of secondary sulfates into sulfites during shock heating followed by reduction to sulfides by isentropic cooling. These results suggest the presence in some shergottites of extraneous regolith components containing oxidized S‐bearing species resembling sulfur species present in Martian soils.
The evolution and development of visual perspective taking
Authors: Phillips Ben
Published: August 2018

I outline three conceptions of seeing that a creature might possess: “the headlamp conception,” which involves an understanding of the causal connections between gazing at an object, certain mental states, and behavior; “the stage lights conception,” which involves an understanding of the selective nature of visual attention; and seeing‐as. I argue that infants and various nonhumans possess the headlamp conception. There is also evidence that chimpanzees and 3‐year‐old children have some grasp of seeing‐as. However, due to a dearth of studies, there is no evidence that infants or nonhumans possess the stage lights conception of seeing. I outline the kinds of experiments that are needed, and what we stand to learn about the evolution and development of perspective taking.
Functional mapping of the E. coli translational machinery using single‐molecule tracking
Authors: Mohapatra Sonisilpa , Weisshaar James C.
Published: August 2018

The organization of the chromosomal DNA and ribosomes in living Escherichia coli is compared under two growth conditions: ‘fast’ (50 min doubling time) and ‘slow’ (147 min doubling time). Superresolution fluorescence microscopy reveals strong DNA‐ribosome segregation in both cases. In both fast and slow growth, free ribosomal subunits evidently must circulate between the nucleoid (where they initiate co‐transcriptional translation) and ribosome‐rich regions (where most translation occurs). Single‐molecule diffusive behavior dissects the ribosome copies into translating 70S polysomes and free 30S subunits, providing separate spatial distributions for each. In slow growth, ~21,000 total 30S copies/cell comprise ~65% translating 70S ribosomes and ~35% free 30S subunits. The ratio of 70S ribosomes to free 30S subunits is ~2.5 outside the nucleoid and ~0.50 inside the nucleoid. This new level of quantitative detail may motivate development of comprehensive, three‐dimensional reaction‐diffusion models of ribosome, DNA, mRNA and RNAP spatial distributions and dynamics within the E. coli cytoplasm.
Ophrys annaeandOphrys chestermanii: an impossible love between two orchid sister species
Authors: Lussu Michele , Agostini Antonio De , Marignani Michela , Cogoni Annalena , Cortis Pierluigi
Published: August 2018

The biological species concept is founded in the presence of barriers that restrict gene flow, but species delimitation remain a vivid topic in orchids. In sexually deceptiveOphrys, the role of postmating barriers has traditionally been thought to be weak and, despite relevant morphological and ethological differences, only low levels of phylogenetic and genetic differentiation have been recorded. In contrast, not many studies have been focused on the relevance of different barriers in closely related species on islands. Using a morphological approach and experimental crosses to evaluate postmating barriers, we here analyse the distinctness of two sardinian endemic sister‐species,Ophrys annaeandO. chestermanii, both currently referred to theO. bornmuellerigroup. We found that the two endemics differ sustantially in 16 functional morphological traits. We further obtained asymmetric results from manual crosses suggesting that postmating barriers may reinforce the premating barriers. Our results suggest that in closely related species ofOphrys, gene flow is limited also by postmating barriers which contribute significantly to keeping the species reproductively isolated.
Naïve Realism, Seeing Stars, and Perceiving the Past
Authors: Moran Alex
Published: August 2018

It seems possible to see a star that no longer exists. Yet it also seems right to say that what no longer exists cannot be seen. We therefore face a puzzle, the traditional answer to which involves abandoning naïve realism in favour of a sense datum view. In this article, however, I offer a novel exploration of the puzzle within a naïve realist framework. As will emerge, the best option for naïve realists is to embrace an eternalist view of time, and claim that in the relevant case, one sees a still existent star‐stage located somewhere in the distant past.
Loneliness and inducing incremental theories of social interactions to produce adaptive change
Authors: Taniguchi Emiko
Published: August 2018

College students (n = 388) participated in a two‐part online study (a survey and an experiment) examining the role of implicit theories in the experience of loneliness. Survey results revealed that lonely people tend to endorse entity theories of social competence and friendship. Experimental results showed that inducing an incremental theory of social competence reduced communication apprehension and increased social engagement among individuals regardless of their levels of loneliness. Inducing an incremental theory of friendship increased social engagement but did not influence the level of communication apprehension or social avoidance. Overall, the results suggest that an incremental theory of social interactions can reduce thoughts that are not conducive to fostering social connections among people in general, including lonely ones.
Ultrasound‐assisted Synthesis of Ag‐ZnS/rGO and its Utilization in Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Kameli Samaneh , Mehrizad Ali
Published: August 2018

Recent improvements based on heterojunction nanocomposites have opened new possibilities in photocatalysis. In this research, an ultrasound‐assisted coprecipitation method was used to fabricate silver, zinc sulfide and reduced graphene oxide (Ag‐ZnS/rGO) nanocomposite, and characterization results indicated that 3% Ag‐ZnS spherical nanoparticles are successfully embedded in rGO matrix. The potential of the Ag‐ZnS/rGO, as a visible light active photocatalyst, was assessed through optimizing degradation of Tetracycline (TC) by response surface methodology. It was found that the photocatalytic degradation of TC increased with an increase in the amount of nanocomposite and irradiation time, whereas it decreased with increasing the initial TC concentration. Under the optimal conditions (10 mg L−1 of TC, 1.25 g L−1 of Ag‐ZnS/rGO, at pH = 7, and irradiation duration 110 min), more than 90% of the TC was degraded. The study of the mechanism of the photocatalytic process disclosed that the synergistic role of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) induced by Ag nanoparticles and p‐type semiconductor feature of rGO leads to ZnS semiconductor stimulation in the visible light region. Eventually, a pseudo‐first order kinetics model was developed based on the proposed mechanism. The obtained results highlight the role of Ag‐ZnS/rGO nanophotocatalyst toward degradation of some antibiotics under visible light.
Parental sensitivity and friendship development: The mediating role of cooperation
Authors: Blair Bethany L. , Perry Nicole B.
Published: August 2018

Interactions with mothers and fathers form a critical foundation for youths’ later peer relationships. This study focused on the associations of maternal and paternal sensitivity in third grade with friendship outcomes in sixth grade. Because interactions with parents provide the earliest opportunities for children to learn prosocial behaviors such as cooperation, and cooperation is theoretically conceptualized as a foundation of friendship, cooperation may play a role in the link between parenting and children’s later social relationships. Using the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development sample (N = 955; 51% female; 83% White), and a multimethod, multireporter longitudinal design, children’s cooperation was tested as a mediating mechanism that linked parental sensitivity to early adolescent friendship. Results indicated that most indirect paths from both mothers and fathers’ sensitivity to observed friendship interactions and perceived friendship quality, via cooperation, were significant. Findings provide a more concrete understanding of how parental sensitivity translates to better friendships.
Ecosystem change and zoonoses in the Anthropocene
Authors: McMahon Barry J. , Morand Serge , Gray Jeremy S.
Published: August 2018

Changes in land use, animal populations and climate, primarily due to increasing human populations, drive the emergence of zoonoses. Force of infection (FOI), which for these diseases is a measure of the ease with which a pathogen reaches the human population, can change with specific zoonoses and context. Here, we outline three ecosystem categories—domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic, where disease ecology alters the FOI of specific zoonoses. Human intervention is an overriding effect in the emergence of zoonoses; therefore, we need to understand the disease ecology and other influencing factors of pathogens and parasites that are likely to interact differently within ecological and cultural contexts. Planning for One Health and community ecology, such as an ecological impact assessment, is required to prepare and manage the emergence and impact of zoonoses in the Anthropocene.
Building the foundation for veterinary register‐based epidemiology: A systematic approach to data quality assessment and validation
Authors: Birkegård Anna Camilla , Fertner Mette Ely , Jensen Vibeke Frøkjær , Boklund Anette , Toft Nils , Halasa Tariq , Lopes Antunes Ana Carolina
Published: August 2018

Epidemiological studies often use data from registers. Data quality is of vital importance for the quality of the research. The aim of this study was to suggest a structured workflow to assess the quality of veterinary national registers. As an example of how to use the workflow, the quality of the following three registers was assessed: the Central Husbandry Register (CHR), the database for movement of pigs (DMP) and the national Danish register of drugs for veterinary use (VetStat). A systematic quantitative assessment was performed, with calculation the proportion of farms and observations with “poor quality” of data. “Poor” quality was defined for each measure (variable) either as a mismatch between and/or within registers, registrations of numbers outside the expected range, or unbalanced in‐ and outgoing movements. Interviews were conducted to make a complementary qualitative assessment. The proportion of farms and observations within each quality measure varied. This study highlights the importance of systematic quality assessment of register data and suggests a systematic approach for such assessments and validations without the use of primary data.
Reconstruction and Analysis of the Acoustic Transfer Matrix of a Reheat Flame From Large-Eddy Simulations
Authors: Bothien Mirko , Lauper Demian , Yang Yang , Scarpato Alessandro
Published: August 2018

Lean premix technology is widely spread in gas turbine combustion systems, allowing modern power plants to fulfill very stringent emission targets. These systems are, however, also prone to thermoacoustic instabilities, which can limit the engine operating window. The thermoacoustic analysis of a combustor is thus a key element in its development process. An important ingredient of this analysis is the characterization of the flame response to acoustic fluctuations, which is straightforward for lean-premixed flames that are propagation stabilized, since it can be measured atmospherically. Ansaldo Energia's GT26 and GT36 reheat combustion systems feature a unique technology where fuel is injected into a hot gas stream from a first combustor, which is propagation stabilized, and auto-ignites in a sequential combustion chamber. The present study deals with the flame response of mainly auto-ignition stabilized flames to acoustic and temperature fluctuations for which a computational fluid dynamics system identification (SI) approach is chosen. The current paper builds on recent works, which detail and validate a methodology to analyze the dynamic response of an auto-ignition flame to extract the flame transfer function (FTF) using unsteady large-Eddy simulations (LES). In these studies, the flame is assumed to behave as a single-input single-output (SISO) or a multi-input single-output (MISO) system. The analysis conducted in GT2015-42622 qualitatively highlights the important role of temperature and equivalence ratio fluctuations, but these effects are not separated from velocity fluctuations. Hence, this topic is addressed in GT2016-57699, where the flame is treated as a multiparameter system and compressible LES are conducted to extract the frequency-dependent FTF to describe the effects of axial velocity, temperature, equivalence ratio, and pressure fluctuations on the flame response. For lean-premixed flames, a common approach followed in the literature assumes that the acoustic pressure is constant across the flame and that the flame dynamics are governed by the response to velocity perturbations only, i.e., the FTF. However, this is not necessarily the case for reheat flames that are mainly auto-ignition stabilized. Therefore, in this paper, we present the full 2 × 2 transfer matrix of a predominantly auto-ignition stabilized flame, and hence, describe the flame as a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system. In addition to this, it is highlighted that in the presence of temperature fluctuations, the 2 × 2 matrix can be extended to a 3 × 3 matrix relating the primitive acoustic variables as well as the temperature fluctuations across the flame. It is shown that only taking the FTF is insufficient to fully describe the dynamic behavior of reheat flames.
Atmospheric spatial atomic layer deposition of ZnOS buffer layers for flexible Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells
Authors: Illiberi Andrea , Frijters Corne , Ruth Marta , Bremaud David , Poodt Paul , Roozeboom Fred , Bolt Pieter Jan
Published: August 2018

Zinc oxysulfide (ZnOS) is synthesized at atmospheric pressure in a laboratory-scale spatial atomic layer deposition setup by sequentially exposing the substrate to diethyl zinc and an H2O/H2S mixture, separated by a nitrogen gas curtain. The co-injection of H2O and H2S vapors in the same deposition zone enables an accurate control of the S/(O + S) ratio, the morphology, and the optoelectronic properties of the films. Next, the ZnOS deposition process is transferred to an industrial roll-to-roll spatial-ALD setup. ZnOS is applied as a buffer layer in flexible Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells, instead of the commonly used CdS, achieving a best efficiency of typically 13% in small area cells (0.57 cm2) and 9.2% in flexible mini-modules (270 cm2). These results show the viability of atmospheric spatial-ALD as a new technique for roll-to-roll manufacturing of flexible photovoltaics modules based on a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber.
Identification of Toll-like receptor signaling inhibitors based on selective activation of hierarchically acting signaling proteins
Authors: Ippagunta Sirish K. , Pollock Julie A. , Sharma Naina , Lin Wenwei , Chen Taosheng , Tawaratsumida Kazuki , High Anthony A. , Min Jaeki , Chen Yizhe , Guy R. Kiplin , Redecke Vanessa , Katzenellenbogen John A. , Häcker Hans
Published: August 2018

A phenotypic screening platform identifies specific inhibitors of individual TLR pathways.
Secukinumab in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis: efficacy and safety results through 3 years from the year 1 extension of the randomised phase III FUTURE 1 trial
Authors: Mease Philip J , Kavanaugh Arthur , Reimold Andreas , Tahir Hasan , Rech Jürgen , Hall Stephen , Geusens Piet , Pellet Pascale , Delicha Evie Maria , Mpofu Shephard , Pricop Luminita
Published: August 2018

Objective

To assess the long-term (3 year) efficacy and safety of secukinumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the extension phase of the FUTURE 1 study (NCT01892436).

Methods

Following the 2-year core trial, eligible patients receiving subcutaneous secukinumab 150 or 75 mg entered a 3-year extension phase. Results are presented for key efficacy and safety endpoints at week 156.

Results

In total, 460 patients entered the extension study; 308 patients originally randomised to secukinumab were assessed for efficacy. Sustained improvements in all efficacy endpoints were achieved with secukinumab through week 156. Overall, 76.8%/54.9% (secukinumab 150 mg) and 65.2%/39.0% (secukinumab 75 mg) of patients achieved an American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20/50 response (multiple imputation data); ACR20 responses were sustained irrespective of previous anti-tumour necrosis factor exposure. Improvements in quality of life and physical function were also sustained through week 156. Radiographic results (observed data; van der Heijde modified total Sharp score (mTSS)) showed that 78.1% (secukinumab 150 mg) and 74.8% (secukinumab 75 mg) of patients had no radiographic progression (≤0.5 increase in mTSS) through week 156. Exposure-adjusted incidence rates for selected adverse events per 100 patient-years (secukinumab 150/75 mg) were serious infections (1.7/1.6),Candidainfections (1.4/0.7), Crohn’s disease (0/0.3), ulcerative colitis (0/0.3) and major adverse cardiac events (0.3/0.8).

Conclusion

Subcutaneous secukinumab provided sustained improvements in the signs and symptoms, quality of life and physical function of patients with active PsA with low rate of radiographic disease progression through 3 years. Secukinumab was well tolerated with no new safety signals.
Realization of tunable TE/TM wave splitter with one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystal
Authors: Shen K. F. , Guo B.
Published: August 2018

A tunable transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) wave splitter using one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystal which consists of plasma arranged periodically in a host dielectric medium is proposed. We performed a detailed study to explore the phenomena of reflection and transmission that occurs on obliquely incident electromagnetic wave propagating in the proposed plasma dielectric photonic crystal. We exactly calculated the transmittance based on the transfer matrix method. We find that if the parameters are selected appropriately, in the TE-stop or TM-stop frequency region, the other polarized component TM or TE wave is totally transmitted. The results also show that the dielectric constant, plasma thickness, incident angle and the applied magnetic field have significantly changed the properties of the TE/TM wave splitter. Moreover, the external magnetic field can be used as a kind of tunable method once the splitter is fabricated. Parameter dependence of the effects for the TE/TM wave splitter is calculated and discussed.
SOCIAL INFLUENCE STRENGTHENS CROWD WISDOM UNDER VOTING
Authors: GANSER CHRISTIAN , KEUSCHNIGG MARC
Published: August 2018

The advantages of groups over individuals in complex decision-making have long interested scientists across disciplinary divisions. Averaging over a collection of individual judgments proves a reliable strategy for aggregating information, particularly in diverse groups in which statistically independent beliefs fall on both sides of the truth and contradictory biases are cancelled out. Social influence, some have said, narrows variation in individual opinions and undermines this wisdom-of-crowds effect in continuous estimation tasks. Researchers, however, neglected to study social-influence effects on voting in discrete choice tasks. Using agent-based simulation, we show that under voting — the most widespread social decision rule — social influence contributes to information aggregation and thus strengthens collective judgment. Adding to our knowledge about complex systems comprised of adaptive agents, this finding has important ramifications for the design of collective decision-making in both public administration and private firms.
Some Constacyclic Codes over ℤ4[u]/〈u2〉,, New Gray Maps, and New Quaternary Codes
Authors: Cengellenmis Yasemin , Dertli Abdullah , Aydın Nuh
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we study λ-constacyclic codes over the ring R = ℤ4 + uℤ4, where u2 = 0, for λ =1 + 3u and 3 + u. We introduce two new Gray maps from R to [Formula: see text] and show that the Gray images of λ-constacyclic codes over R are quasi-cyclic over ℤ4. Moreover, we present many examples of λ-constacyclic codes over R whose ℤ4-images have better parameters than the currently best-known linear codes over ℤ4.
Agreement of clinical examination for low back pain with facet joint origin
Authors: Vongsirinavarat Mantana , Wahyuddin Wahyuddin , Adisaiphaopan Ratchaneewan
Published: August 2018

Background: Low back pain (LBP) with facet joint origin is a common diagnosis of patients referred to physical therapy clinic. An expert consensus of diagnostic criteria has been proposed. However, the reliability of the assessment has not been proved.

Objective: To test the degrees of agreement between two physical therapists for nine physical examination items and the diagnosis of facet joint origin.

Methods: The examination according to diagnostic criteria was performed independently by two physical therapists in 45 patients with chronic LBP. The percent agreements and Kappa coefficients of each examination item and diagnostic conclusion were calculated.

Results: The percent agreements of nine examined items ranged from 73.3–91.1%. The Kappa coefficients, widely ranged from 0.250–0.690 ([Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]), showed statistically significant agreements for all examination items. The low level of agreements was partly due to improper distributions of test results. The agreement of conclusion was 86.7% and Kappa coefficient was 0.492 ([Formula: see text]) which reflected good agreement of facet diagnosis.

Conclusion: There were adequate agreements for clinical examination of LBP with facet joint origin. The low level of agreement suggested the clinicians to have operational definition and rigorous training sessions although the examinations seemed to be routinely performed.
ACHIEVING INNOVATION IN A LEAN ENVIRONMENT: HOW INNOVATIVE SMALL FIRMS OVERCOME RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
Authors: DEAKINS DAVID , BENSEMANN JO
Published: August 2018

This paper examines how innovative small firms achieve innovation within lean environments. Writers taking a resource-based view (RBV) approach to innovation by small firms in lean environments have argued that they are resource-constrained through shortages of skilled labour, finance and social networks. This paper builds on the RBV approach by adopting a dynamic capabilities (DCs) lens to investigate how innovative small firms adopt and acquire DCs to achieve innovation in a lean environment in a small country with an open economy that is distant from major markets. We argue that entrepreneurs will engage in pragmatic solutions to overcome resource constraints. We provide qualitative evidence from a programme of 30 interviews and find that innovative small firms achieve innovation through ingenuity and patience. Our entrepreneurs use methods such as bricolage and bootstrapping and make cooperative arrangements with early adopters to maximise use of their limited resources.
Synthesis, structural investigation, dielectric and magnetic properties of Zn2+-doped cobalt ferrite by the sol–gel technique
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Sajjad , Alam Md. Badiul , Shahjahan Mohammad , Begum Most. Hosney Ara , Hossain Md. Moazzem , Islam Suravi , Khatun Nazia , Hossain Mukul , Alam Mohammad Saiful , Al-Mamun Md.
Published: August 2018

Zinc substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with elemental composition Co[Formula: see text]ZnxFe2O4([Formula: see text], 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) were prepared by the sol-gel auto-combustion technique using Co, Fe, Zn nitrate as a precursor where nitrates to citrate was 1:3. The as prepared powder of cobalt zinc ferrite was sintered at 900∘C for 3[Formula: see text]h. Structural, morphological, dielectric and magnetic properties were studied by x-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high precision impedance analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The peaks obtained from the XRD confirmed samples having crystallite ([Formula: see text]32–36[Formula: see text]nm) single phase inverse spinel structure without any traceable impurity. Lattice parameters were calculated from XRD and it increases with Zn content. SEM revealed irregularly shaped grains ([Formula: see text]–0.7[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m) morphology with heterogeneous distribution. The dielectric constant ([Formula: see text]) and dielectric loss ([Formula: see text]), have been measured as a function of frequency at room temperature. The dependence of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with frequency showed the normal dielectric behavior in accordance with the Maxwell-Wagner type of interfacial polarization and electron hopping change between Co[Formula: see text] and Co[Formula: see text] as well as between Fe[Formula: see text] and Fe[Formula: see text] ions at octahedral sites.
Increases in bioactive lipids accompany early metabolic changes associated with β-cell expansion in response to short-term high-fat diet
Authors: Seferovic Maxim D. , Beamish Christine A. , Mosser Rockann E. , Townsend Shannon E. , Pappan Kirk , Poitout Vincent , Aagaard Kjersti M. , Gannon Maureen
Published: August 2018

Pancreatic β-cell expansion is a highly regulated metabolic adaptation to increased somatic demands, including obesity and pregnancy; adult β cells otherwise rarely proliferate. We previously showed that high-fat diet (HFD) feeding induces mouse β-cell proliferation in less than 1 wk in the absence of insulin resistance. Here we metabolically profiled tissues from a short-term HFD β-cell expansion mouse model to identify pathways and metabolite changes associated with β-cell proliferation. Mice fed HFD vs. chow diet (CD) showed a 14.3% increase in body weight after 7 days; β-cell proliferation increased 1.75-fold without insulin resistance. Plasma from 1-wk HFD-fed mice induced β-cell proliferation ex vivo. The plasma, as well as liver, skeletal muscle, and bone, were assessed by LC and GC mass-spectrometry for global metabolite changes. Of the 1,283 metabolites detected, 159 showed significant changes [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.1]. The majority of changes were in liver and muscle. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed key metabolic changes in steroid synthesis and lipid metabolism, including free fatty acids and other bioactive lipids. Other important enrichments included changes in the citric acid cycle and 1-carbon metabolism pathways implicated in DNA methylation. Although the minority of changes were observed in bone and plasma (<20), increased p-cresol sulfate was increased >4 fold in plasma (the largest increase in all tissues), and pantothenate (vitamin B5) decreased >2-fold. The results suggest that HFD-mediated β-cell expansion is associated with complex, global metabolite changes. The finding could be a significant insight into Type 2 diabetes pathogenesis and potential novel drug targets.
Successful Localization of the Source of Hemorrhage in Patient with Post-Whipple Surgery by 99mTc-Labelled Red Blood Cell Scintigraphy
Authors: Fathala Ahmed , Alduraibi Alaa , Abouzied Moheieldin M.
Published: August 2018

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Scintigraphy (GIBS) of T99mc-labelled red blood cells is a relatively simple examination to perform, with high diagnostic accuracy and a relatively lower radiation dose. A positive scan can either suggest surgery without further investigation or can indicate angiography, a more targeted procedure. Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy is most often performed for tumors of the head of the pancreas. Pancreatoduodenectomy has 30%–40% morbidity and mortality, and while post-pancreatoduodenectomy hemorrhage is seen in less than 10% of patients, it accounts for 11%–38% mortality. The role of imaging in patients to detect relative hemodynamic stability is essential. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) shows the cause, site, and nature of bleeding, while digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic role. We present a patient who presented with active gastrointestinal bleeding (GI) bleeding after undergoing a Whipple procedure, to highlight the role of GIBS in the successful localization of a bleeding site and the guidance of digital DSA in the embolization and control of the active bleeding.
Prosthetic Joint Infection from Carbapenemase-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Successfully Treated with Ceftazidime-Avibactam
Authors: Schimmenti A. , Brunetti E. , Seminari E. , Mariani B. , Cambieri P. , Orsolini P.
Published: August 2018

Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae, has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and a serious public health concern. Gram-negative bacteria carrying extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes now represent a significant proportion of all bacteria isolated from different countries worldwide. Furthermore, the increasing number of isolates carrying carbapenemases in recent years includes multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pandrug-resistant (PDR) bacteria. Here, we describe what, to our knowledge, is the first case of a patient with a prosthetic joint infection from carbapenemase-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) successfully treated with ceftazidime-avibactam in Italy.
Event-TriggeredH∞Filtering for Multiagent Systems with Markovian Switching Topologies
Authors: Li Jiahao , Zhang Tingting , Gao Jinfeng , Wu Ping
Published: August 2018

This paper is concerned with the problem of event-triggeredH∞filtering for multiagent systems with Markovian switching topologies and network-induced delay. An event-triggered mechanism is given to ease the information transmission. Consider that the network topology is directed in this paper, which represents the communication links among agents. Due to the existence of network-induced delay, the time-delay approach is adopted, which can effectively deal with filtering error system. By constructing a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and employing linear matrix inequality technique, sufficient conditions are established to ensure the filtering error system to achieve asymptotically stable withH∞performance index. A simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Microstudy of the Anisotropy of Sandy Material
Authors: Zhang Kunyong , Zang Zhenjun , Okine Leslie , Chavez Torres Jose Luis
Published: August 2018

Through numerical simulation based on the particle flow method, DEM numerical test samples were generated with the results of laboratory tests on standard sand. The method consists of the use of gravity deposition and radius expansion modeling of irregular sand particles, where samples of the biaxial test are assembled by generated long particle units. Different steps of deposition or initial stresses were applied during the sample generation process in order to simulate different sample states. The loads from the horizontal and vertical directions are, respectively, applied to samples, and then the stress‐strain curve and macroscopic mechanical parameters are acquired. The numerical experiment results show that the gravitational deposits have significant impact on the major axis orientation arrangement of particles and on the average coordination number, as well as the initial stress has a significant effect on it. There is a remarkable effect on the stress‐strain curve and on the acquired mechanical parameters as a result of the application of load to samples from the horizontal and vertical directions. The sand samples show an obvious property of inherent anisotropy and stress‐induced anisotropy.
Sugarcane Landraces of Ethiopia: Germplasm Collection and Analysis of Regional Diversity and Distribution
Authors: Tena Gashaw Esayas , Mekbib Firew , Ayana Amsalu
Published: August 2018

Sugarcane has been cultivated by smallholder farmers since16thcentury in Ethiopia and preceded the commercial production. However, as far as this study is concerned, no exploration and collection have been conducted to know the landraces and study the regional diversity of the crop. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to collect native sugarcane landraces in Ethiopia and to assess phenotypic diversity and analyze regional distribution among landraces collected from different geographical regions. More than 300 sugarcane genotypes were collected. The landraces were analyzed for 21 quantitative stalk and juice quality characters and 16 qualitative characters. Phenotypic diversity among landraces was high, as expressed by the large range of variation for mean quantitative traits and the high (0.80) Shannon–Weaver diversity index. Our results provided experimental evidence on occurrence of geographical variation and significant within-region variation where it was high in the regions of Amhara, Benshangul-Gumz, and SNNPR. Wide variability of agronomically important characters in sugarcane such as millable stalk count at harvest, single cane weight, and plant height was observed among regions. These characters also demonstrated high correlation with cane and sugar yield and the altitude of the collection sites. Therefore breeders can utilize accessions of regions showing variability for these characters in selection programs and to design breeding strategies to produce varieties with best commercial merits. The present study contributes to updating sugarcane descriptors adopted from USDA-ARS as well as Bioversity passport data for the future collection and evaluation. The paper discussed insinuation of the results with regard to plant breeding, germplasm collection, and conservation as well as the plausible sources for the wide range of variation observed. This is the first study to report landrace sugarcane genetic resources in Ethiopia and information on geographical pattern of variation in Ethiopian local sugarcane germplasm.