bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Information-Technology-Enabled Interaction Instrument in Contemporary Chinese Context
Authors: Li Miao , Yu Xin , Li Chunhao
Published: December 2020

Practitioners and researchers have shown great interest in information-technology (IT)-enabled interactions across partnering firms and developed instruments for measuring it. However, those instruments might have been under criticism as they were developed before the widespread adoption of the new IT applications like video conferences, DingTalk and WeChat Moments among Chinese managers for the last five years. The purpose of this study is to validate the instrument of IT-enabled formal and informal interactions for the contemporary Chinese context. First, the study reviews the literature on IT-enabled interfirm interactions and designs an open questionnaire through in-depth interviews. Answers from 85 pairs of suppliers and manufacturers are coded and the preliminary item pool is generated through the qualitative analysis. Next, a small-scale pretest with 120 manufacturing firms is conducted to purify and modify the item pool. Finally, a large-scale analysis with 336 manufacturing firms is conducted to check the reliability and validity of the measurements. The finalized scale yields six items measuring IT-enabled formal interaction and five items measuring IT-enabled informal interaction, among which six are newly derived in this study. The validated instrument reveals satisfactory reliability and validity and can serve as the basic instruments for future research on IT-enabled interactions.
The Usefulness of Microencapsulated Sodium Butyrate Add-On Therapy in Maintaining Remission in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Vernero Marta , De Blasio Federico , Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe , Bugianesi Elisabetta , Pellicano Rinaldo , Saracco Giorgio Maria , Astegiano Marco , Caviglia Gian Paolo
Published: December 2020

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that plays a key role in maintaining gut homeostasis as well as the integrity of the intestinal barrier. In the present study, we investigated the effect of oral microencapsulated sodium butyrate (BLM) administration in maintaining remission and improving residual symptoms and inflammatory markers in a population of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Forty-two patients with UC in clinical remission were enrolled in the study. Three patients were lost to follow up; 39 patients (18 treated with BLM add-on therapy and 21 with standard mesalamine only) that reached 12 months of follow up were included in the final analysis. Therapeutic success (defined as Mayo partial score ≤ 2 and faecal calprotectin (FC) < 250 µg/g at 12 months of follow up) was achieved in 25 patients (64.1%); 15/18 (83.3%) in BLM group and 10/21 (47.6%) in control group (p = 0.022). Consistently, 13/18 patients (72.2%) receiving BLM improved residual symptoms compared to 5/21 patients (23.8%) in control group (p = 0.003). FC values significantly diminished from the baseline to the end of follow up in patients that received BLM, while FC values remained almost stable in the control group. In conclusion, oral BLM supplementation appears to be a valid add-on therapy in order to maintain remission in patients with UC. Further randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are needed to validate our results on a larger population or cohort of patients.
Nonsynostotic Plagiocephaly: Prevention Strategies in Child Health Care
Authors: Lennartsson Freda
Published: December 2020

The dissertation, comprising a clinical intervention and three supporting studies, aimed to assess if it is possible to prevent nonsynostotic plagiocephaly while promoting safe infant sleeping practices. Five individuals were trained to assess cranial asymmetry and then reliability-tested; the interpreted results indicate substantial strength of rater-agreement. Intervention participants were allocated to group. Only intervention group nurses participated in the continuing education on plagiocephaly developed for nurses. A survey compared information intervention and control group parents received from nurses; intervention group parents were significantly more aware of recommendations than the controls. Nurse education was evaluated by asking intervention and control group nurses and parents two open-ended questions; the intervention group reported new re-positioning strategies. The effect of the intervention on cranial shape was evaluated by assessing asymmetry at 2, 4, and 12 months (176 intervention group; 92 controls). It was nine times more common that cranial asymmetry at two months reversed by four months when parents were aware of written recommendations from their nurse (OR = 9.09 [0.02; 0.48], p = 0.004) when adjusted for group. An infant’s risk of asymmetry persisting until 12 months was significantly reduced in the intervention group (RR = 0.35 [0.13; 0.94], p = 0.03). Preventing brachycephaly was difficult. Conclusions: the assessors were considered reliable; educating nurses promoted the integration of new recommendations in practice; the intervention was associated with early reversal of nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.
Lateral Acromioplasty has a Positive Impact on Rotator Cuff Repair in Patients with a Critical Shoulder Angle Greater than 35 Degrees
Authors: Franceschetti Edoardo , Giovannetti de Sanctis Edoardo , Palumbo Alessio , Ranieri Riccardo , Casti Paola , Mencattini Arianna , Maffulli Nicola , Franceschi Francesco
Published: December 2020

Background: A Critical Shoulder Angle (CSA), evaluated on plain radiographs, greater than 35° is considered predictive of rotator cuff tears. The present prospective comparative study aimed, firstly, to develop a formula to calculate the amount of acromion that should be resected performing a lateral acromioplasty and, secondly, verify whether lateral acromioplasty to reduce the CSA associated with arthroscopic cuff repair decreased the rate of recurrence of the tears, and impacted favorably on clinical postoperative outcomes. Methods: Patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) for rotator cuff tears with a CSA greater than 35° were included in this study and divided into two groups, based on whether the CSA had been reduced by arthroscopic resection of the lateral portion of the acromion. A new mathematical formula was developed in order to quantify the amount of bone to be resected while performing the lateral acromioplasty. Patients with traumatic tears, previous surgery, osteoarthritis or plain radiographs, not classified as A1 according to Suter-Henninger, were excluded. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were assessed at a minimum of 2 years of follow-up considering the tear size. Results: 289 patients were included in this study. Thirty-seven were lost to follow-up. Group A (Lateral acromioplasty) patients included: 38 small tears, 30 medium tears, 28 large tears and 22 massive tears; Group B (control group) was composed of 40 small tears, 30 medium tears, 30 large tears and 23 massive tears. The Constants Score value and retear Rate were, respectively, significant higher (p = 0.007 and p = 0.004) and lower (p = 0.029 and p = 0.028) in Group A, both in the Small-and Medium-size subgroups. No complications were outlined. The mediolateral width of the acromion was reduced, according to the preoperatively calculated measure. Conclusion: Arthroscopic lateral acromioplasty decreased the CSA within the favorable range (30°–35°) in all patients treated, resecting the amount of bone predicted by the mathematical formula. Lateral acromioplasty is a safe and reproducible technique which may prevent recurrence of rotator cuff tears in patients with small and medium lesions. Level of evidence: II.
Endurance Runners with Intramyocellular Lipid Accumulation and High Insulin Sensitivity Have Enhanced Expression of Genes Related to Lipid Metabolism in Muscle
Authors: Kakehi Saori , Tamura Yoshifumi , Takeno Kageumi , Ikeda Shin-ichi , Ogura Yuji , Saga Norio , Miyatsuka Takeshi , Naito Hisashi , Kawamori Ryuzo , Watada Hirotaka
Published: December 2020

Context: Endurance-trained athletes have high oxidative capacities, enhanced insulin sensitivities, and high intracellular lipid accumulation in muscle. These characteristics are likely due to altered gene expression levels in muscle. Design and setting: We compared intramyocellular lipid (IMCL), insulin sensitivity, and gene expression levels of the muscle in eight nonobese healthy men (control group) and seven male endurance athletes (athlete group). Their IMCL levels were measured by proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and their insulin sensitivity was evaluated by glucose infusion rate (GIR) during a euglycemic–hyperinsulinemic clamp. Gene expression levels in the vastus lateralis were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and microarray analysis. Results: IMCL levels in the tibialis anterior muscle were approximately 2.5 times higher in the athlete group compared to the control group, while the IMCL levels in the soleus muscle and GIR were comparable. In the microarray hierarchical clustering analysis, gene expression patterns were not clearly divided into control and athlete groups. In a gene set enrichment analysis with Gene Ontology gene sets, “RESPONSE TO LIPID” was significantly upregulated in the athlete group compared with the control group. Indeed, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that, compared to the control group, the athlete group had 2–3 times higher expressions of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC1A), adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs), and fatty acid transporters including fatty acid transporter-1, plasma membrane-associated fatty acid binding protein, and lipoprotein lipase. Conclusions: Endurance runners with higher IMCL levels have higher expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism such as PGC1A, AdipoRs, and fatty acid transporters in muscle.
Peptide YY (PYY) Is Associated with Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Haj-Yehia Elias , Mertens Robert Werner , Kahles Florian , Rückbeil Marcia Viviane , Rau Matthias , Moellmann Julia , Biener Moritz , Almalla Mohammad , Schroeder Jörg , Giannitsis Evangelos , Katus Hugo Albert , Marx Nikolaus , Lehrke Michael
Published: December 2020

Aims: Recent studies have found circulating concentrations of the gastrointestinal hormone GLP-1 to be an excellent predictor of cardiovascular risk in patients with myocardial infarction. This illustrates a yet not appreciated crosstalk between the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, which requires further investigation. The gut-derived hormone Peptide YY (PYY) is secreted from the same intestinal L-cells as GLP-1. Relevance of PYY in the context of cardiovascular disease has not been explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate PYY serum concentrations in patients with acute myocardial infarction and to evaluate their association with cardiovascular events. Material and Methods: PYY levels were assessed in 834 patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (553 Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) and 281 ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)) at the time of hospital admission. The composite outcomes of first occurrence of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke (3-P-MACE), and all-cause mortality were assessed with a median follow-up of 338 days. Results: PYY levels were significantly associated with age and cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and kidney function in addition to biomarkers of heart failure (NT-pro BNP) and inflammation (hs-CRP). Further, PYY was significantly associated with 3-P-MACE (HR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1–2.97; p = 0.0495) and all-cause mortality (HR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.61–4.47; p = 0.0001) by univariable Cox regression analyses, which was however lost after adjusting for multiple confounders. Conclusions: PYY levels are associated with parameters of cardiovascular risk as well as cardiovascular events and mortality in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction. However, this significant association is lost after adjustment for further confounders.
Shear Wave Dispersion Predicts Liver Fibrosis and Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Ohara Himika , Yoshihisa Akiomi , Ishibashi Shinji , Matsuda Mitsuko , Yamadera Yukio , Sugawara Yukiko , Ichijo Yasuhiro , Hotsuki Yu , Watanabe Koichiro , Anzai Fumiya , Sato Yu , Kimishima Yusuke , Yokokawa Tetsuro , Misaka Tomofumi , Sato Takamasa , Oikawa Masayoshi , Kobayashi Atsushi , Takeishi Yasuchika
Published: December 2020

Background: It has been recently reported that liver stiffness assessed by transient elastography reflects right atrial pressure (RAP) and is associated with worse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the relationship between shear wave dispersion (SWD, a novel indicator of liver viscosity) determined by abdominal ultrasonography and RAP, and the prognostic impact of SWD on HF patients have not been fully examined. We aimed to clarify the associations of SWD with parameters of liver function test (LFT) and right heart catheterization (RHC), as well as with cardiac events such as cardiac death and worsening HF, in patients with HF. Methods: We performed abdominal ultrasonography, LFT and RHC in HF patients (n = 195), and followed up for cardiac events. We examined associations between SWD and parameters of LFT and RHC. Results: There were significant correlations between SWD and circulating levels of direct bilirubin (R = 0.222, p = 0.002), alkaline phosphatase (R = 0.219, p = 0.002), cholinesterase (R = −0.184, p = 0.011), and 7S domain of collagen type IV (R = 0.177, p = 0.014), but not with RAP (R = 0.054, p = 0.567) or cardiac index (R = −0.015, p = 0.872). In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, cardiac event rate was significantly higher in the high SWD group (SWD ≥ 10.0 (m/s)/kHz, n = 103) than in the low SWD group (SWD < 10.0 (m/s)/kHz, n = 92; log-rank, p = 0.010). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, high SWD was associated with high cardiac event rates (hazard ratio, 2.841; 95% confidence interval, 1.234–6.541, p = 0.014). In addition, there were no interactions between SWD and all subgroups, according to the subgroup analysis. Conclusions: SWD assessed by abdominal ultrasonography reflects liver fibrosis rather than liver congestion, and is associated with adverse prognosis in HF patients.
Incidence and Management of Hypertriglyceridemia-Associated Acute Pancreatitis: A Prospective Case Series in a Single Australian Tertiary Centre
Authors: Tan Hong Lin Evelyn , McDonald Georgina , Payne Alexander , Yu William , Ismadi Zahrul , Tran Huy , Gani Jon , Wynne Katie
Published: December 2020

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis (HTGAP) has been linked with increased severity and morbidity. In this study, triglyceride levels were measured in all patients admitted with acute pancreatitis (AP) to establish the incidence of HTGAP in an Australian center. Methods: A prospective cohort with AP was collated over an 18-month period in a single tertiary referral hospital. HTGAP was defined as AP with triglycerides ≥ 11.2 mmol/L (1000 mg/dL). Incidence, clinical co-morbidities, severity and management strategies were recorded. Results: Of the 292 episodes of AP, 248 (85%) had triglycerides measured and were included. HTGAP was diagnosed in 10 of 248 (4%) AP cases. Type 2 diabetes, obesity, alcohol misuse and gallstones were common cofactors. The HTGAP group demonstrated severe hypertriglyceridemia compared to the non-HTGAP group (median 51 mmol/L vs. 1.3 mmol/L). Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were significantly increased (odds ratio (OR) 16; 95% CI 4–62) in the HTGAP group (5/10 vs. 14/238 admissions, p < 0.001) and constituted 26% (5/19) of total ICU admissions for AP. Four patients received intravenous insulin with fasting and had a rapid reduction in triglyceride levels by 65–77% within 24 h; one patient had mild hypoglycemia secondary to therapy. Conclusion: HTGAP occurred in 4% of AP cases and was associated with higher risk of ICU admission. Intravenous insulin and fasting appear safe and efficacious for acutely lowering triglyceride levels in HTGAP.
Serum Metabolomic Profiling of Patients with Non-Infectious Uveitis
Authors: Shimizu Hiroyuki , Usui Yoshihiko , Asakage Masaki , Nezu Naoya , Wakita Ryo , Tsubota Kinya , Sugimoto Masahiro , Goto Hiroshi
Published: December 2020

The activities of various metabolic pathways can influence the pathogeneses of autoimmune diseases, and intrinsic metabolites can potentially be used to diagnose diseases. However, the metabolomic analysis of patients with uveitis has not yet been conducted. Here, we profiled the serum metabolomes of patients with three major forms of uveitis (Behҫet’s disease (BD), sarcoidosis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH)) to identify potential biomarkers. This study included 19 BD, 20 sarcoidosis, and 15 VKH patients alongside 16 healthy control subjects. The metabolite concentrations in their sera were quantified using liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The discriminative abilities of quantified metabolites were evaluated by four comparisons: control vs. three diseases, and each disease vs. the other two diseases (such as sarcoidosis vs. BD + VKH). Among 78 quantified metabolites, 24 kinds of metabolites showed significant differences in these comparisons. Four multiple logistic regression models were developed and validated. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) in the model to discriminate disease groups from control was 0.72. The AUC of the other models to discriminate sarcoidosis, BD, and VKH from the other two diseases were 0.84, 0.83, and 0.73, respectively. This study provides potential diagnostic abilities of sarcoidosis, BD, and VKH using routinely available serum samples that can be collected with minimal invasiveness.
Diabetic Corneal Neuropathy
Authors: Mansoor Hassan , Tan Hong Chang , Lin Molly Tzu-Yu , Mehta Jodhbir S. , Liu Yu-Chi
Published: December 2020

Diabetic keratopathy (DK) is a common, but underdiagnosed, ocular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that has a significant economic burden. It is characterised by progressive damage of corneal nerves, due to DM-induced chronic hyperglycaemia and its associated metabolic changes. With advances in corneal nerve imaging and quantitative analytic tools, studies have shown that the severity of diabetic corneal neuropathy correlates with the status of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The corneal nerve plexus is, therefore, considered as an important surrogate marker of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and helps in the evaluation of interventional efficacy in the management of DM. The clinical manifestations of DK depend on the disease severity and vary from decreased corneal sensitivity to sight-threatening corneal infections and neurotrophic ulcers. The severity of diabetic corneal neuropathy and resultant DK determines its management plan, and a step-wise approach is generally suggested. Future work would focus on the exploration of biomarkers for diabetic corneal neuropathy, the development of new treatment for corneal nerve protection, and the improvement in the clinical assessment, as well as current imaging technique and analysis, to help clinicians detect diabetic corneal neuropathy earlier and monitor the sub-clinical progression more reliably.
Relationship between Standard Uptake Values of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and Salivary Metabolites in Oral Cancer: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ishikawa Shigeo , Hiraka Toshitada , Kirii Kazukuni , Sugimoto Masahiro , Shimamoto Hiroaki , Sugano Ayako , Kitabatake Kenichiro , Toyoguchi Yuuki , Kanoto Masafumi , Nemoto Kenji , Soga Tomoyoshi , Tomita Masaru , Iino Mitsuyoshi
Published: December 2020

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is usually used for staging or evaluation of treatment response rather than for cancer screening. However, 18F-FDG PET/CT has also been used in Japan for cancer screening in people with no cancer symptoms, and accumulating evidence supports this application of 18F-FDG PET/CT. Previously, we have observed a correlation between the saliva and tumor metabolomic profiles in patients with oral cancer. Hence, if salivary metabolites demonstrate a significant correlation with PET parameters such as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), they may have the potential to be used as a screening tool before PET/CT to identify patients with high SUVmax. Hence, in this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between salivary metabolites and SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT using previously collected data. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed for staging 26 patients with oral cancer. The collected data were integrated and analyzed along with quantified salivary hydrophilic metabolites obtained from the same patients with oral cancer and controls (n = 44). In total, 11 metabolites showed significant correlations with SUVmax in the delayed phases. A multiple logistic regression model of the two metabolites showed the ability to discriminate between patients with oral cancer and controls, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.738 (p = 0.001). This study uniquely confirmed a relationship between salivary metabolites and SUVmax of PET/CT in patients with oral cancer; salivary metabolites were significantly correlated with SUVmax. These salivary metabolites can be used as a screening tool before PET/CT to identify patients with high SUVmax, i.e., to detect the presence of oral cancer.
Interfacial Stabilization of a Graphene-Wrapped Cu2S Anode for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries via Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Cai Jiyu , Chen Zonghai , Meng Xiangbo
Published: December 2020

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted increasing attention for storing renewable clean energy, owing to their cost-effectiveness. Nonetheless, SIBs still remain significant challenges in terms of the availability of suitable anode materials with high capacities and good rate capabilities. Our previous work has developed and verified that Cu2S wrapped by nitrogen-doped graphene (i.e., Cu2S@NG composite), as an anode in SIBs, could exhibit a superior performance with ultralong cyclability and excellent rate capability, mainly due to the multifunctional roles of NG. However, the Cu2S@NG anode still suffers from continuous parasitic reactions at low potentials, causing a rapid performance deterioration. In this study, we investigated the effects of a conformal Al2O3 coating via atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the interfacial stability of the Cu2S@NG anode. As a consequence, the ALD-coated Cu2S@NG electrode can deliver a high capacity of 374 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and achieve a capacity retention of ~100% at different rates. This work verified that surface modification via ALD is a viable route for improving SIBs’ performances.
Explicit Time-Domain Approach for Random Vibration Analysis of Jacket Platforms Subjected to Wave Loads
Authors: Lin Wei , Su Cheng , Tang Youhong
Published: December 2020

This paper is devoted to the random vibration analysis of jacket platforms under wave loads using the explicit time-domain approach. The Morison equation is first used to obtain the nonlinear random wave loads, which are discretized into random loading vectors at a series of time instants. The Newmark-β integration scheme is then employed to construct the explicit expressions for dynamic responses of jacket platforms in terms of the random vectors at different time instants. On this basis, Monte Carlo simulation can further be conducted at high efficiency, which not only provides the statistical moments of the random responses, but also gives the mean peak values of responses. Compared with the traditional power spectrum method, nonlinear wave loads can be readily taken into consideration in the present approach rather than using the equivalent linearized Morison equation. Compared with the traditional Monte Carlo simulation, the response statistics can be obtained through the direct use of the explicit expressions of dynamic responses rather than repeatedly solving the equation of motion. An engineering example is analyzed to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the present approach.
Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Following Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections: An Emerging Disease
Authors: Phoompoung Pakpoom , Chayakulkeeree Methee
Published: December 2020

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) following nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is being increasingly recognized, especially in countries where tuberculosis is not endemic, with an incidence rate of 3.9–16.7%. NTM lung disease has been identified as a predictor of mortality in CPA patients. The major risk factors for NTM-associated CPA include fibrocavitary NTM lung disease, the presence of pulmonary emphysema, and high-dose corticosteroid use. The onset of CPA is 1.5–7 years following the diagnosis of NTM lung disease. The diagnosis can be made using standard criteria; however, serological diagnosis using Aspergillus precipitin has demonstrated a higher sensitivity and specificity when compared with fungal culture from respiratory specimens. Treatment is challenging since rifampicin and oral triazoles should not be used concomitantly. The prognosis is poor, and the factors associated with worse prognosis are corticosteroid use and high C-reactive protein level.
When Does Earnings Management Matter? Evidence across the Corporate Life Cycle for Non-Financial Chinese Listed Companies
Authors: Hussain Ammar , Akbar Minhas , Kaleem Khan Muhammad , Akbar Ahsan , Panait Mirela , Catalin Voica Marian
Published: December 2020

Information availability, firm performance, idiosyncratic volatility and bankruptcy-risk vary across the Corporate Life Cycle (CLC) stages. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether CLC stages explain firm’s propensity to engage in both accrual base and real earning management practices in the context of China. Panel data of 3250 non-financial Chinese listed firms spanning from 2009 to 2018 is used to investigate the proposed relationship. CLC stages were captured through Dickinson’s model, while earnings management is measured by employing both techniques, i.e., accruals-base earnings management and real earnings management. The data were analyzed through Panel data fixed-effects and random-effects techniques. Results reveal that, when compared to shakeout phase, managers’ response to use both earnings management practices is significantly higher during introduction and decline phases, and lower during growth and mature stages of CLC. It suggests that introductory and later-staged firms distort their factual financial information from creditors to obtain loans without strict debt covenants. Our results are robust to alternate measures and specifications. The core contribution of this research is to add a fresh perspective to the CLC research by uncovering its imperative role in influencing the earning management behavior of corporate managers.
The Basin Stability of Bi-Stable Friction-Excited Oscillators
Authors: Stender Merten , Hoffmann Norbert , Papangelo Antonio
Published: December 2020

Stability considerations play a central role in structural dynamics to determine states that are robust against perturbations during the operation. Linear stability concepts, such as the complex eigenvalue analysis, constitute the core of analysis approaches in engineering reality. However, most stability concepts are limited to local perturbations, i.e., they can only measure a state’s stability against small perturbations. Recently, the concept of basin stability was proposed as a global stability concept for multi-stable systems. As multi-stability is a well-known property of a range of nonlinear dynamical systems, this work studies the basin stability of bi-stable mechanical oscillators that are affected and self-excited by dry friction. The results indicate how the basin stability complements the classical binary stability concepts for quantifying how stable a state is given a set of permissible perturbations.
A Differential Game with Random Time Horizon and Discontinuous Distribution
Authors: Zaremba Anastasiia , Gromova Ekaterina , Tur Anna
Published: December 2020

One class of differential games with random duration is considered. It is assumed that the duration of the game is a random variable with values from a given finite interval. The cumulative distribution function (CDF) of this random variable is assumed to be discontinuous with two jumps on the interval. It follows that the player’s payoff takes the form of the sum of integrals with different but adjoint time intervals. In addition, the first interval corresponds to the zero probability of the game to be finished, which results in terminal payoff on this interval. The method of construction optimal solution for the cooperative scenario of such games is proposed. The results are illustrated by the example of differential game of investment in the public stock of knowledge.
Prognostic Value and Immunohistochemical Analysis of Mismatch Repair Deficiency in Patients with Stage II and III Colorectal Carcinoma—A Single-Center Study
Authors: Denčić Tijana , Krstić Miljan , Petrović Aleksandar , Jovičić-Milentijević Maja , Radenković Goran , Jović Marko , Živković Nikola , Šalinger-Martinović Sonja , Branković Branko , Stojanović Simona
Published: December 2020

Background and objectives: Deficient mismatch repair (MMR) status is associated with good prognosis but poor therapeutic response to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer. However, there are some opposed arguments considering therapeutic outcomes in patients with evidenced MMR deficiency in colorectal cancer. The aim of the study was the investigation of prognostic value and immunohistochemical analysis of the MMR-deficiency tumors. Materials and Methods: The study enrolled 104 patients with resected stage II and III colorectal cancer samples from the period 2018–2019. Results: The tumors with deficient MMR status were significantly associated with age up to 50 years and right-sided localization (p < 0.001). During the follow-up period of 22.43 ± 6.66 months, 21 patients (20.2%) died, whereas 14 patients (13.5%) had relapses. The loss of mutL homologue 1/postmeiotic segregation increased 2 (MLH1/PMS2) expression, compared to proficient MMR tumors, was associated with shorter disease-free survival in patients with lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.05), perineural invasion (p < 0.01), stage III (p < 0.05) and high-grade tumor (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This retrospective pilot study of a single-center cohort of patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer highlights the clinical importance of using immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis as a guide for diagnostic algorithm in a country with limited resources, but with a high prevalence of colorectal carcinoma in the young patients. MMR-deficiency tumors compared with proficient MMR colorectal cancer was not shown to be a significant predictor of disease-free and overall survival.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Droplet Microfluidics
Authors: Brouzes Eric , Li Siran
Published: December 2020

Emulsions, which are collections of immiscible droplets, have elicited scientific and commercial interests for decades [...]
Soluble Expression of hFGF19 without Fusion Protein through Synonymous Codon Substitutions and DsbC Co-Expression in E. coli
Authors: Choi Hye-Ji , Cheong Dae-Eun , Yoo Su-Kyoung , Park Jaehong , Lee Dong-Hyun , Kim Geun-Joong
Published: December 2020

Human fibroblast growth factor 19 (hFGF19) is a difficult-to-express protein that is frequently fused with another protein for soluble expression. However, residual amino acids after cleavage with protease represent one of the major problems in therapeutic protein development. Here, we introduced synonymous codon substitutions in the N-terminal region encoding sequence of hFGF19 and co-expressed disulfide bond isomerase (ΔssDsbC) to functionally express hFGF19 without any fusion protein. Synonymous codon substitution significantly increased hFGF19 expression. Subsequent co-expression of ΔssDsbC with a selected variant of hFGF19 (scvhFGF19) further increased the proportion of soluble hFGF19 expression in Escherichia coli XL1-Blue. Both total and soluble scvhFGF19 expression increased remarkably in the alternative host, E. coli Origami 2 with mutated thioredoxin reductase and glutathione reductase. scvhFGF19 purification by anion exchange and heparin affinity chromatography resulted in a yield of 6.5 mg/L under normal induction conditions in flask culture. As such, a high cell density culture is expected to achieve an even higher yield. The biological activities of purified scvhFGF19 were assessed based on its ability to activate ERK1/2 signaling pathway in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. In conclusion, the strategy described here may represent an efficient alternative process for the production of hFGF19 and/or related proteins.
Burkholderia gladioli CGB10: A Novel Strain Biocontrolling the Sugarcane Smut Disease
Authors: Cui Guobing , Yin Kai , Lin Nuoqiao , Liang Meiling , Huang Chengwei , Chang Changqing , Xi Pinggen , Deng Yi
Published: December 2020

In this study, we isolated an endophytic Burkholderia gladioli strain, named CGB10, from sugarcane leaves. B. gladioli CGB10 displayed strong inhibitory activity against filamentous growth of fungal pathogens, one of which is Sporisorium scitamineum that causes sugarcane smut, a major disease affecting the quality and production of sugarcane in tropical and subtropical regions. CGB10 could effectively suppress sugarcane smut under field conditions, without itself causing any obvious damage or disease, thus underscoring a great potential as a biocontrol agent (BCA) for the management of sugarcane smut. A toxoflavin biosynthesis and transport gene cluster potentially responsible for such antifungal activity was identified in the CGB10 genome. Additionally, a quorum-sensing gene cluster was identified too and compared with two close Burkholderia species, thus supporting an overall connection to the regulation of toxoflavin synthesis therein. Overall, this work describes the in vitro and field Sporisorium scitamineum biocontrol by a new B. gladioli strain, and reports genes and molecular mechanisms potentially involved.
The Role of Simulators in Interdisciplinary Medical Work
Authors: Haavik Torgeir K. , Våpenstad Cecilie
Published: December 2020

This article reports from a project introducing a virtual reality simulator with patient-specific input for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) into a surgical environment at a university hospital in Norway during 2016–2019. The project includes acquisition of the simulator, training of personnel, and a mapping of the effects. We followed the process, adopting ethnographic methods including participation in the operating room, simulated patient-specific rehearsals, preparations of the rehearsals, meetings with the simulator company, scientific meetings and scientific work related to the clinical trials (the second author led the clinical trial), in addition to open-ended interviews with vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists. We used the concepts of boundary work and sensework as conceptual lenses through which we studied the introduction of the simulator and how it influenced the nature of work and the professional relationship between the vascular surgeons and the interventional radiologists. We found that the simulator facilitated professional integration, at the same time as it served as a material resource for professional identity development. This study is the first to our knowledge that investigates the role of simulators for professional identity and relationship among surgeons and radiologists. Further studies of simulators in similar and different social contexts may contribute to deeper and more generic understanding of the way simulators influence our working life.
O-Band Emitting InAs Quantum Dots Grown by MOCVD on a 300 mm Ge-Buffered Si (001) Substrate
Authors: Abouzaid Oumaima , Mehdi Hussein , Martin Mickael , Moeyaert Jérémy , Salem Bassem , David Sylvain , Souifi Abdelkader , Chauvin Nicolas , Hartmann Jean-Michel , Ilahi Bouraoui , Morris Denis , Ahaitouf Ali , Ahaitouf Abdelaziz , Baron Thierry
Published: December 2020

The epitaxy of III-V semiconductors on silicon substrates remains challenging because of lattice parameter and material polarity differences. In this work, we report on the Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) and characterization of InAs/GaAs Quantum Dots (QDs) epitaxially grown on quasi-nominal 300 mm Ge/Si(001) and GaAs(001) substrates. QD properties were studied by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A wafer level µPL mapping of the entire 300 mm Ge/Si substrate shows the homogeneity of the three-stacked InAs QDs emitting at 1.30 ± 0.04 µm at room temperature. The correlation between PL spectroscopy and numerical modeling revealed, in accordance with transmission electron microscopy images, that buried QDs had a truncated pyramidal shape with base sides and heights around 29 and 4 nm, respectively. InAs QDs on Ge/Si substrate had the same shape as QDs on GaAs substrates, with a slightly increased size and reduced luminescence intensity. Our results suggest that 1.3 μm emitting InAs QDs quantum dots can be successfully grown on CMOS compatible Ge/Si substrates.
Advancements in Characterizing Tenacibaculum Infections in Canada
Authors: Nowlan Joseph P. , Lumsden John S. , Russell Spencer
Published: December 2020

Tenacibaculum is a genus of gram negative, marine, filamentous bacteria, associated with the presence of disease (tenacibaculosis) at aquaculture sites worldwide; however, infections induced by this genus are poorly characterized. Documents regarding the genus Tenacibaculum and close relatives were compiled for a literature review, concentrating on ecology, identification, and impacts of potentially pathogenic species, with a focus on Atlantic salmon in Canada. Tenacibaculum species likely have a cosmopolitan distribution, but local distributions around aquaculture sites are unknown. Eight species of Tenacibaculum are currently believed to be related to numerous mortality events of fishes and few mortality events in bivalves. The clinical signs in fishes often include epidermal ulcers, atypical behaviors, and mortality. Clinical signs in bivalves often include gross ulcers and discoloration of tissues. The observed disease may differ based on the host, isolate, transmission route, and local environmental conditions. Species-specific identification techniques are limited; high sequence similarities using conventional genes (16S rDNA) indicate that new genes should be investigated. Annotating full genomes, next-generation sequencing, multilocus sequence analysis/typing (MLSA/MLST), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), and fatty acid methylesters (FAME) profiles could be further explored for identification purposes. However, each aforementioned technique has disadvantages. Since tenacibaculosis has been observed world-wide in fishes and other eukaryotes, and the disease has substantial economic impacts, continued research is needed.
Toward a Human-Centered Economy and Politics: The Theory of Justice as Fairness from Rawls to Sen
Authors: D’Amodio Alfonso
Published: December 2020

In this paper, I present the suggestion that a suitable theory of “justice as fairness” could offer a consistent path for solving many issues related to the actual crisis of the classical liberal model of economy and democracy, by substituting the abstract “equality” principle, with the concrete “equity” one in the notion of justice. After a short discussion of some main characters of the present worldwide crisis of the classical liberal model, I present two main theories of justice as fairness. John Rawls’ theory in political philosophy that emphasizes how really equitable judgements must overcome the equalitarianism of the Classical Liberalism, by considering the real possibilities of individuals and groups of accessing and enjoying commodities and utilities, as well as, the “basic liberties” defining the citizen equal dignity in the Modern State. Rawls propose, therefore, a notion of fairness compliant with the Kantian normativism, and a notion of fair distributive justice based on the ethical principle of the maximin, as a criterion for judging the righteousness of the State Institutions. The other theory of justice as fairness I discuss in this paper is an evolution of Rawls’ in the direction of the development of a “comparative distributive justice”, without any normativism. This theory is developed in the context of the newborn discipline of the “social choice theory”, formalizing social decision processes, with applications in economic, social, and political sciences. What characterizes Sen’s theory is its original synthesis between the Aristotelian notion of fairness, based on the “personal flourishing”, and Adam Smith’s ethical principle of the “extended sympathy”, by which making comparable different approaches to pursue the personal flourishing, i.e., for achieving “valued and valuable ways of being and of doing”, compliant with, and respectful of, different value systems.
Cosmogenesis, Complexity, and Neo-Natural Faith in the Context of Astrobiology
Authors: Smith Kelly C.
Published: December 2020

It is fair to say that religion, and in particular the ways in which some Christian and Islamic thinkers have again begun to encroach on the domain of science (e.g., global warming, the teaching of evolution), has caused a great deal of consternation within the scientific and philosophical communities. An understandable reaction to these developments is to reject out of hand even the slightest taint of religion in these fields—a position that has now attained the status of orthodoxy, at least in the western world. This is curious on its face, given the fact that religion has clearly provided a sense of meaning and purpose for most of our fellow humans as long as there have been humans pondering such things. Moreover, it is probably not necessary, provided one is very careful what sort of faith one endorses. Thus, the basic question I wish to address here, albeit in a very preliminary fashion, is whether it may be possible to delineate a form of faith that can inspire and guide humanity without the metaphysical baggage that causes conflict with epistemically conservative disciplines like science. To that end, I examine one recent thread within cosmology that views the universe as creative in the sense that it is biased towards the production of ever-increasing complexity at its edges. If that is true, it gives those so inclined permission, as it were, to view the creation of complexity (including human culture and its products) as a moral good (perhaps even an imperative) without the assumption of supernatural entities with mysterious motives and goals. After arguing that there is indeed logical space for such a faith that does not impinge on the essential commitments of either science or philosophy (properly conceived) I will examine its potential use in framing some of the emerging debates concerning space exploration. The prospect of humanity venturing beyond our homeworld in the near future offers an excellent case study of this “neo-naturalism” in action for two basic reasons. First, it seems likely that such a massive and complex undertaking needs a motivational source beyond mere discovery and expansion. Second, a neo-natural faith may influence how we go about this, and not always in ways those steeped in more traditional approaches to religion would predict.
Gait Analysis with Wearables Can Accurately Classify Fallers from Non-Fallers: A Step toward Better Management of Neurological Disorders
Authors: Rehman Rana Zia Ur , Zhou Yuhan , Del Din Silvia , Alcock Lisa , Hansen Clint , Guan Yu , Hortobágyi Tibor , Maetzler Walter , Rochester Lynn , Lamoth Claudine J. C.
Published: December 2020

Falls are the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and poor quality of life in older adults with or without neurological conditions. Applying machine learning (ML) models to gait analysis outcomes offers the opportunity to identify individuals at risk of future falls. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different data pre-processing methods on the performance of ML models to classify neurological patients who have fallen from those who have not for future fall risk assessment. Gait was assessed using wearables in clinic while walking 20 m at a self-selected comfortable pace in 349 (159 fallers, 190 non-fallers) neurological patients. Six different ML models were trained on data pre-processed with three techniques such as standardisation, principal component analysis (PCA) and path signature method. Fallers walked more slowly, with shorter strides and longer stride duration compared to non-fallers. Overall, model accuracy ranged between 48% and 98% with 43–99% sensitivity and 48–98% specificity. A random forest (RF) classifier trained on data pre-processed with the path signature method gave optimal classification accuracy of 98% with 99% sensitivity and 98% specificity. Data pre-processing directly influences the accuracy of ML models for the accurate classification of fallers. Using gait analysis with trained ML models can act as a tool for the proactive assessment of fall risk and support clinical decision-making.
Indoor Positioning System Using Dynamic Model Estimation
Authors: Assayag Yuri , Oliveira Horácio , Souto Eduardo , Barreto Raimundo , Pazzi Richard
Published: December 2020

Indoor Positioning Systems (IPSs) are used to locate mobile devices in indoor environments. Model-based IPSs have the advantage of not having an exhausting training and signal characterization of the environment, as required by the fingerprint technique. However, most model-based IPSs are done using fixed model parameters, treating the whole scenario as having a uniform signal propagation. This might work for most small scale experiments, but not for larger scenarios. In this paper, we propose PoDME (Positioning using Dynamic Model Estimation), a model-based IPS that uses dynamic parameters that are estimated based on the location the signal was sent. More specifically, we use the set of anchor nodes that received the signal sent by the mobile node and their signal strengths, to estimate the best local values for the log-distance model parameters. Also, since our solution depends highly on the selected anchor nodes to use on the position computation, we propose a novel method for choosing the three best anchor nodes. Our method is based on several data analysis executed on a large-scale, Bluetooth-based, real-world experiment and it chooses not only the nearest anchor but also the ones that benefit our least-square-based position computation. Our solution achieves a position estimation error of 3 m, which is 17% better than a fixed-parameters model from the literature.