bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The forkhead box containing transcription factor FoxB is a potential component of dorsal-ventral body axis formation in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum
Authors: Heingård Miriam , Janssen Ralf 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn the spider, determination of the dorsal-ventral body (DV) axis depends on the interplay of the dorsal morphogen encoding genedecapentaplegic(Dpp) and its antagonist,short gastrulation(sog), a gene that is involved in the correct establishment of ventral tissues. Recent work demonstrated that the forkhead domain encoding geneFoxBis involved in dorsal-ventral axis formation in spider limbs. Here, Dpp likely acts as a dorsal morphogen, and FoxB is likely in control of ventral tissues as RNAi-mediated knockdown ofFoxBcauses dorsalization of the limbs. In this study, we present phenotypes ofFoxBknockdown that demonstrate a function in the establishment of the DV body axis. Knockdown of FoxB function leads to embryos with partially duplicated median germ bands (Duplicitas media) that are possibly the result of ectopic activation of Dpp signalling. Another class of phenotypes is characterized by unnaturally slim (dorsal-ventrally compressed) germ bands in which ventral tissue is either not formed, or is specified incorrectly, likely a result of Dpp over-activity. These results suggest that FoxB functions as an antagonist of Dpp signalling during body axis patterning, similarly as it is the case in limb development. FoxB thus represents a general player in the establishment of dorsal-ventral structures during spider ontogeny.
Increasing flexibility and productivity in Industry 4.0 production networks with autonomous mobile robots and smart intralogistics
Authors: Fragapane Giuseppe , Ivanov Dmitry , Peron Mirco , Sgarbossa Fabio , Strandhagen Jan Ola 
Published: February 2020

AbstractManufacturing flexibility improves a firm’s ability to react in timely manner to customer demands and to increase production system productivity without incurring excessive costs and expending an excessive amount of resources. The emerging technologies in the Industry 4.0 era, such as cloud operations or industrial Artificial Intelligence, allow for new flexible production systems. We develop and test an analytical model for a throughput analysis and use it to reveal the conditions under which the autonomous mobile robots (AMR)-based flexible production networks are more advantageous as compared to the traditional production lines. Using a circular loop among workstations and inter-operational buffers, our model allows congestion to be avoided by utilizing multiple crosses and analyzing both the flow and the load/unload phases. The sensitivity analysis shows that the cost of the AMRs and the number of shifts are the key factors in improving flexibility and productivity. The outcomes of this research promote a deeper understanding of the role of AMRs in Industry 4.0-based production networks and can be utilized by production planners to determine optimal configurations and the associated performance impact of the AMR-based production networks in as compared to the traditionally balanced lines. This study supports the decision-makers in how the AMR in production systems in process industry can improve manufacturing performance in terms of productivity, flexibility, and costs.
Increased Circulating Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8 Levels Are Associated with Thoracic Aortic Dissection and Higher Inflammatory Conditions
Authors: Yang Yunyun , Jiao Xiaolu , Li Linyi , Hu Chaowei , Zhang Xiaoping , Pan Lili , Yu Huahui , Li Juan , Chen Dong , Du Jie , Qin Yanwen 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is characterized by an inflammatory response. Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) is a hormone involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, the relationship between ANGPTL8 and TAD remains unknown.

Methods
This case-control study included 78 TAD patients and 72 controls. The aortic diameter was evaluated by computed tomography and used to assess TAD severity. Circulating ANGPTL8 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Associations of ANGPTL8 with TAD were determined by multivariate logistic regression.

Results
Serum ANGPTL8 levels were significantly higher in TAD patients compared with controls (562.50 ± 20.84 vs. 419.70 ± 22.65 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, circulating ANGPTL8 levels were an independent risk factor for TAD (odds ratio = 1.587/100 pg ANGPTL8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.121–2.247, P < 0.001) and positively associated with diameter (β = 1.081/100 pg ANGPTL8, 95% CI = 0.075–2.086, P = 0.035) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β = 0.845/100 pg ANGPTL8, 95% CI = 0.020–1.480, P = 0.009). The area under the curve (AUC) on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the combination of ANGPTL8, hs-CRP, and D-dimer was 0.927, and the specificity and sensitivity were 98.46% and 79.49%, respectively. ANGPTL8 was significantly increased in TAD tissue compared with controls. In vitro, ANGPTL8 was increased in angiotensin II (AngII)-treated macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), while ANGPTL8 siRNA-mediated knockdown decreased inflammatory factors in AngII-treated macrophages and decreased apoptosis in AngII-treated VSMCs.

Conclusion
ANGPTL8 is associated with TAD occurrence and development, which may involve pro-inflammatory effects on macrophages. ANGPTL8 combined with D-dimer and hs-CRP might be a useful clinical predictor of TAD.

Trial Registration
ChiCTR-COC-17010792 http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=18288
On A Hypothetical Mechanism of Interstellar Life Transfer Trough Nomadic Objects
Authors: Sadlok Grzegorz 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLethal radiation, low vacuum pressure and low temperatures – this is how space welcomes organisms. Crossing of immense interstellar distances inflates the exposure time of biological material to harmful space conditions. This paper discusses the intriguing possibility of a life-bearing exoplanet being ejected from its planetary system and carrying life across interstellar distances (nomadic = free floating = rogue planet). The proposed interstellar panspermia mechanism reduces the exposure time to space conditions and provides multiple chances for interactions between microbes-bearing rock debris and exoplanets within system the nomadic object encountered on its way. The testing strategy is outlined and discussed in the paper, including testable predictions the proposed hypothesis makes.
Scaling-up skilled intentionality to linguistic thought
Authors: Kiverstein Julian , Rietveld Erik 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCognition has traditionally been understood in terms of internal mental representations, and computational operations carried out on internal mental representations. Radical approaches propose to reconceive cognition in terms of agent-environment dynamics. An outstanding challenge for such a philosophical project is how to scale-up from perception and action to cases of what is typically called ‘higher-order’ cognition such as linguistic thought, the case we focus on in this paper. Perception and action are naturally described in terms of agent-environment dynamics, but can a person’s thoughts about absent, abstract or counterfactual states of affairs also be accounted for in such terms? We argue such a question will seem pressing so long as one fails to appreciate how richly resourceful the human ecological niche is in terms of the affordances it provides. The explanatory work that is supposedly done by mental representations in a philosophical analysis of cognition, can instead be done by looking outside of the head to the environment structured by sociomaterial practices, and the affordances it makes available. Once one recognizes how much of the human ecological niche has become structured by activities of talking and writing, this should take away at least some of the motivation for understanding linguistic thinking in terms of content-bearing internal representations. We’ll argue that people can think about absent, abstract or counterfactual because of their skills for engaging with what we will call “enlanguaged affordances”. We make use of the phenomenological analysis of speech in Merleau-Ponty to show how the multiple affordances an individual is ready to engage with in a particular situation will typically include enlanguaged affordances.
Pharmacokinetics of Oral Levonorgestrel in Women After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery and in BMI-Matched Controls
Authors: Ginstman Charlotte , Kopp Kallner Helena , Fagerberg-Silwer Johanna , Carlsson Björn , Ärlemalm Andreas , Böttiger Ylva , Brynhildsen Jan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundWomen are advised to primarily use non-oral contraceptive alternatives after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass since it is not known if the surgery affects the pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptives.MethodsThis is a multi-center, open label, phase 2 pharmacokinetic study performed at the University Hospital of Linköping and the Clinical Trials Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Fifteen women aged 18–40 years who had previously undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and reached a BMI < 30 were included. Fifteen BMI-matched women with no previous history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery served as a control group. After administration of a single dose of a combined oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol/0.15 mg levonorgestrel, serum levonorgestrel concentrations were determined during a 24-h period using ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The area under the plasma concentration time curve of levonorgestrel (AUC0–24h) was the main outcome measure.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the studied pharmacokinetic parameters, AUC0–24h, total AUC, peak serum concentration (Cmax), time to peak serum concentrations (Tmax), apparent oral clearances of levonorgestrel (CLoral), or terminal half-lives (t½) between the groups.ConclusionThis is to our knowledge the first study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of oral levonorgestrel in women with a BMI < 30 at least 1 year after RYGB compared with a BMI-matched group of women. We could not find any significant pharmacokinetic differences between the groups, suggesting that oral levonorgestrel may be used in non-obese women after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass once a stable body weight has been reached.Clinical Trial NumberEudraCT 2014–004677-17.
Research note: an analytical perspective on market decisions and asymmetric cost behavior
Authors: Riegler Christian , Weiskirchner-Merten Katrin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAsymmetric cost behavior has attracted the interest of many (empirical) researchers in the last years. Prior research determines several sources of this behavior such as resource adjustment costs, uncertainties and related beliefs, agency problems, and fixed costs. Empirical studies measure firms’ cost behavior using total firm costs and sales. In imperfect markets, firms react to changing market conditions by adapting output prices and quantities so that both total firm costs and sales are affected. However, changing output prices only directly affects sales and not costs. Based on an economic model, we identify market decisions (output quantity and pricing decisions) as an additional source of measured asymmetric cost behavior.
Diagnostic Value of Electroencephalography with Ten Electrodes in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Westover M. Brandon , Gururangan Kapil , Markert Matthew S. , Blond Benjamin N. , Lai Saien , Benard Shawna , Bickel Stephan , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Parvizi Josef 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
In critical care settings, electroencephalography (EEG) with reduced number of electrodes (reduced montage EEG, rm-EEG) might be a timely alternative to the conventional full montage EEG (fm-EEG). However, past studies have reported variable accuracies for detecting seizures using rm-EEG. We hypothesized that the past studies did not distinguish between differences in sensitivity from differences in classification of EEG patterns by different readers. The goal of the present study was to revisit the diagnostic value of rm-EEG when confounding issues are accounted for.

Methods
We retrospectively collected 212 adult EEGs recorded at Massachusetts General Hospital and reviewed by two epileptologists with access to clinical, trending, and video information. In Phase I of the study, we re-configured the first 4 h of the EEGs in lateral circumferential montage with ten electrodes and asked new readers to interpret the EEGs without access to any other ancillary information. We compared their rating to the reading of hospital clinicians with access to ancillary information. In Phase II, we measured the accuracy of the same raters reading representative samples of the discordant EEGs in full and reduced configurations presented randomly by comparing their performance to majority consensus as the gold standard.

Results
Of the 95 EEGs without seizures in the selected fm-EEG, readers of rm-EEG identified 92 cases (97%) as having no seizure activity. Of 117 EEGs with “seizures” identified in the selected fm-EEG, none of the cases was labeled as normal on rm-EEG. Readers of rm-EEG reported pathological activity in 100% of cases, but labeled them as seizures (N = 77), rhythmic or periodic patterns (N = 24), epileptiform spikes (N = 7), or burst suppression (N = 6). When the same raters read representative epochs of the discordant EEG cases (N = 43) in both fm-EEG and rm-EEG configurations, we found high concordance (95%) and intra-rater agreement (93%) between fm-EEG and rm-EEG diagnoses.

Conclusions
Reduced EEG with ten electrodes in circumferential configuration preserves key features of the traditional EEG system. Discrepancies between rm-EEG and fm-EEG as reported in some of the past studies can be in part due to methodological factors such as choice of gold standard diagnosis, asymmetric access to ancillary clinical information, and inter-rater variability rather than detection failure of rm-EEG as a result of electrode reduction per se.
Preschoolers’ Understanding of a Teachable Agent-Based Game in Early Mathematics as Reflected in their Gaze Behaviors – an Experimental Study
Authors: Gulz Agneta , Londos Ludvig , Haake Magnus 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis study investigated how preschool children processed and understood critical information in Magical Garden, a teachable agent-based play-&-learn game targeting early math. We analyzed 36 children’s (ages 4–6 years) real-time behavior during game-use to explore whether children: (i) processed the information meant to support number sense development; (ii) showed an understanding of the teachable agent as an entity with agency. An important methodological goal was to go beyond observable behavior and shed some light on how cognitive processing and understanding in children of such young age can be studied. First, the children played Magical Garden for three weeks to get acquainted with the game. Second, in an experimental part of the study, the children’s gaze behaviors were measured during 5 rounds of interaction with an experimental version of one of the sub-games. The analyses suggest that two of the gaze behaviors were positively correlated with the game performance measure, as hypothesized. Another result was that children looked at the teachable agent significantly more often when the teachable agent had been in charge of gameplay than when it had not. This can be interpreted as an indication that the children had an understanding of their teachable agent as an entity that, like themselves and unlike other dynamic visual elements in the game, made decisions based on own ‘knowledge’. In a broader context, the findings are important in showing the potential gains of combining log data with eye-tracking data for developing and refining AI algorithms for adaptive individual feedback and scaffolding.
Fracture toughness of L-PBF fabricated aluminium–silicon: a quantitative study on the role of crack growth direction with respect to layering
Authors: Hitzler L. , Sert E. , Schuch E. , Öchsner A. , Merkel M. , Heine B. , Werner E. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLaser powder bed fusion has become one of the major techniques within metal additive manufacturing, especially when delicate structures and high geometric accuracy are concerned. Lately, the awareness of the material-specific macroscopic anisotropy has risen and led to widespread investigations on the static mechanical strength. However, little is known about the fracture behavior of the layer-wise fabricated metal components and their affinity of crack propagation between consecutive layers, which is particularly important for aluminium–silicon alloys containing embrittled zones in double-irradiated areas. A recent study indicated that there is a significant drop in fracture toughness in case the crack growth direction is parallel to the layering. To investigate this matter further and to shed light on the fracture toughness behavior in the range of a 0°–45° angle offset between the crack growth direction relative to the layering, notched samples with varying polar angles were subjected to mode I fracture toughness testing. Our results indicate that the fracture toughness is an almost-stable characteristic up to a mismatch of about 20° between the crack propagation path and the layering, at which point the fracture toughness decreases by up to 10%.
Analgesic effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane block versus wound site infiltration after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at Debre Tabor General Hospital, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study, 2019
Authors: Alemnew Efrem Fenta , Lemma Diriba Teshome 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:
Inadequate postoperative pain relief after Cesarean delivery has a negative impact on ambulation, breastfeeding, and maternal bonding. Transversus Abdominis Plane block and Wound Infiltration with local anesthetics are alternatives in reducing severity of pain, total analgesic consumption and opioid side effects. But their relative analgesic effectiveness is not well established.

Objective:
To compare analgesic effectiveness of Transversus Abdominis Plane block (TAP) versus Wound site Infiltration (WI) after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Methods:
Hospital based prospective cohort study was conducted at Debre Tabor General Hospital in Sixty-two parturites scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Chi square or fisher exact test was used for discrete variables and Manny Whitney test was used for comparing numerical variables of skewed data or student's t-test was used for comparing numerical variables normally distributed data of two groups. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Result:
Our study showed that when TAP block compared with WI after cesarean delivery reduces postoperative tramadol and diclofenac consumption, increase time to first analgesic request time, and reduces pain severity score at 6th, 12th, and 24th hours were found to be statistically significant between the groups (p < 0.05). The incidence of nausea and/or vomiting between groups were similar (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:
TAP block might be better to WI for post-operative pain management in mothers who have had cesarean delivery and it provided longer lasting and more efficient analgesia.

Highlights:
Living longer in high longevity risk
Authors: Wingenbach Rachel , Kim Jong-Min , Jung Hojin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThere is considerable uncertainty regarding changes in future mortality rates. This article investigates the impact of such longevity risk on discounted government annuity benefits for retirees. It is critical to forecast more accurate future mortality rates to improve our estimation of an expected annuity payout. Thus, we utilize the Lee–Carter model, which is well-known as a parsimonious dynamic mortality model. We find strong evidence that female retirees are likely to receive more public lifetime annuity than males in the USA, which is associated with systematic mortality rate differences between genders. A cross-country comparison presents that the current public annuity system would not fully cover retiree's longevity risk. Every additional year of life expectancy leaves future retirees exposed to high risk, arising from high volatility of lifetime annuities. Also, because the growth in life expectancy is higher than the growth of expected public pension, there will be a financial risk to retirees.
Nontechnical Competency Framework for Health Professionals in All-Hazard Emergency Environment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hu Xuejun , He Changnan , Chen Huoliang , Liu Shu , Li Wenqiang , Lu Zhou , Zhang Jieqiong , Yu Min 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTObjectives:To summarize characteristics and commonalities of non-technical competency frameworks for health professionals in emergency and disaster.Methods:An electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, Scopus, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar to identify original English-language articles related to development, evaluation or application of the nontechnical competency frameworks. Reviewers assessed identified articles for exclusion/inclusion criteria and abstracted data on study design, framework characteristics, and reliability/validity evidence.Results:Of the 9627 abstracts screened, 65 frameworks were identiﬁed from 94 studies that were eligible for result extraction. Sixty (63.8%) studies concentrated on clinical settings. Common scenarios of the studies were acute critical events in hospitals (44;46.8%) and nonspecified disasters (39;41.5%). Most of the participants (76; 80.9%) were clinical practitioners, and participants in 36 (38.3%) studies were multispecialty. Thirty-three (50.8%) and 42 (64.6%) frameworks had not reported evidence on reliability and validity, respectively. Fourteen of the most commonly involved domains were identified from the frameworks.Conclusions:Nontechnical competency frameworks applied to multidisciplinary emergency health professionals are heterogeneous in construct and application. A fundamental framework with standardized terminology for the articulation of competency should be developed and validated so as to be accepted and adapted universally by health professionals in all-hazard emergency environment.
Role of turmeric extract in minimising mucositis in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell cancer: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Arun P , Sagayaraj A , Azeem Mohiyuddin S M , Santosh D 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the role of turmeric extract in reducing mucositis in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.MethodsSixty-one patients who underwent radiotherapy were included in the study and randomised into groups A and B. Patients in group A received 500 mg of turmeric extract (BCM-95) thrice daily, while patients in group B received placebo until radiotherapy completion. All patients were assessed for oral mucositis on a weekly basis during treatment and two months post-treatment using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and World Health Organization criteria.ResultsBoth groups had a similar grade of mucositis in first two weeks of treatment. The severity of mucositis was progressive in the control group, with four patients developing grade 3 mucositis by week four. In group A, however, the majority of patients (73.3 per cent) had grade 1 mucositis after four weeks of treatment. The difference was statistically significant from the third week onwards (p< 0.001).ConclusionTurmeric extract reduces the incidence and severity of radiation-induced mucositis, which can benefit patients undergoing radiation for head and neck cancer.