bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Continuous updating of individual headache forecasting models using Bayesian methods
Authors: Houle Timothy T. , Deng Hao , Tegeler Charles H. , Turner Dana P. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo illustrate the benefits of deploying individual headache forecasting models using continuous updating with Bayesian methods.BackgroundThe ability to reliably forecast headache attacks within an individual over time would enhance the study of attacks and allow preemptive treatment. However, deploying a suitable forecasting model in a clinical setting will likely involve several unique challenges related to heterogeneity in the predictor weights, limited or sparse data, and the need for a quick “warm‐up.” The use of Bayesian methods offers solutions to each of these specific challenges.MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of a cohort study of individuals with episodic migraine attacks. Individuals completed daily diaries that allowed the estimation of several forecasting models, each using different types of ancillary information incorporated into formal prior probability distributions. An in silico analysis was conducted that mimicked the deployment of these models in a clinical‐like setting where the parameters of the models were continuously updated and evaluated each day using root mean square error (RMSE).ResultsIndividuals (N = 95) were followed for 50 days and contributed 3359 days of nonmissing diary data. During the observation period, there were 1293/3359 (38.5%) days with a headache attack. Self‐reported baseline headache frequency was associated with the corresponding predicted probability of future attacks,r = 0.15–0.39. At Day 25, the correlation between baseline information and predicted attack likelihood wasr = 0.29 (95% CI: 0.09–0.47). Additionally, the use of prior probability distributions for model parameters improved the model fit, especially early in the deployment of the models (e.g., Day 5 RMSE 0.45 vs. 0.43). Models using informative prior probability distributions outperformed the models estimated without this information during the first 42 days of observation, although performance became more similar as more data were collected.ConclusionsThis analysis demonstrates the value of Bayesian methods in using additional available information to improve forecasting model performance, especially early in the deployment of a forecasting model. To obtain the full value of such models or to apply any model in clinical settings, a model with adequate discrimination and calibration will be needed.
High productive machining of C/SiC preceramics
Authors: Grinchuk Pavel S. , Abuhimd Hatem M. , Kiyashko Mikhail V. , Akulich Andrei V. , Stepkin Mikhail O. , Solovei Dmitry V. , Kuznetsova Tatyana A. , Kren Alexander P. , Alshahrani Mohammad S. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHigh productive machining of C/SiC preceramics is investigated in relation to the fabrication of complex‐shaped reaction‐bonded silicon carbide ceramics. Machinability is analyzed at different manufacturing steps of ceramics preparation. Machining after the carbonization step is shown to be the most efficient. Great value of material removal rate of 360 mm3/s is achieved by high productive CNC‐milling of carbonized preceramics at a feed rate of 50 mm/s without any defects upon the processed surfaces, edges, and corners. Diamond tool wears approximately .01% (weight loss per mass of material removed) in the process of green CNC‐milling is two orders lower compared with the milling of sintered ceramics (2.8%). Specifics of surface processing are investigated depending on carbon content in preceramics. The increase of bonding carbon from 8 to 16 vol.% decelerates loose abrasive grinding three times, improves the accuracy of surface leveling, and leads to a change of fracture mechanism. The obtained results can be helpful for the advantageous manufacture of complex‐shaped silicon carbide ceramics.
Viscosity of silica and doped silica melts: evidence for a crossover temperature
Authors: Mauro John C. , Kurkjian Charles R. , Gupta Prabhat K. , Kob Walter 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSilica is known as the archetypal strong liquid, exhibiting an Arrhenius viscosity curve with a high glass transition temperature and constant activation energy. However, given the ideally isostatic nature of the silica network, the presence of even a small concentration of defects can lead to a significant decrease in both the glass transition temperature and activation energy for viscous flow. To understand the impact of trace level dopants on the viscosity of silica, we measure the viscosity‐temperature curves for seven silica glass samples having different impurities, including four natural and three synthetic samples. Depending on the type of dopant, the glass transition temperature can vary by nearly 300 K. A common crossover is found for all viscosity curves around ~2200–2500 K, which we attribute to a change of the transport mechanism in the melt from being dominated by intrinsic defects at high temperature to dopant‐induced defects at low temperatures.
Government transparency and firm‐level operational efficiency
Authors: Hope Ole‐Kristian , Jiang Shushu , Vyas Dushyantkumar 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe examine the informational role of governments in the private sector in emerging economies. Using a large sample of private firms, we show that governments’ ability and willingness to collect and disseminate economic information (government transparency) is positively associated with firm‐level operational efficiency and access to external financing. Several cross‐sectional analyses corroborate our main findings. We find that the effect of government transparency is stronger for firms operating in weaker alternative information environments. We also find a reduced effect of government transparency in countries with better‐developed capital markets that facilitate capital allocation and production efficiency. Additional analyses using the World Bank‐supported Open Government Data initiative as a staggered shock to government transparency provide further support to our primary results. Overall, our paper sheds light on the important role played by governments in emerging markets in aggregating and disseminating economic information.
Bowel ischemia as onset of COVID‐19 in otherwise asymptomatic patients with persistently negative swab
Authors: Zamboni Paolo , Bortolotti Daria , Occhionorelli Savino , Traina Luca , Neri Luca Maria , Rizzo Roberta , Gafà Roberta , Passaro Angelina 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundAsymptomatic patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) can develop hypercoagulable conditions and acute vascular events. The objective of this study is to determine whether SARS‐CoV‐2 was present in resected specimens from patients with acute bowel ischemia, but asymptomatic for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and with persistently real‐time polymerase chain reaction negative pharyngeal swab.MethodsThree consecutive patients presented severe abdominal symptoms due to extensive ischemia and necrosis of the bowel, with co‐existent thrombosis of abdominal blood vessels. None had the usual manifestations of COVID‐19, and repeated pharyngeal swabs tested negative. They underwent emergency surgery with intestinal resection. Immunohistochemical testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 on resected tissue was performed.ResultsAll tested samples were strongly positive for SARS‐CoV‐2.ConclusionsThis is the first case report in which patients with severe intestinal symptoms presented a marked SARS‐CoV‐2 positivity in the resected tissues, without any usual clinical manifestations of COVID‐19. These results suggest that the patients might be infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 presenting acute abdominal distress but without respiratory or constitutional symptoms.
Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and predictors of urine retention in such patients
Authors: Nabeeh Hossam , Ibrahim Ali , Taha Diaa‐Eldin , Talaat Mona , Abdelbaky Tarek M 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectivesWe assess the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Moreover, we delineate risk factors for urine retention in such patients.MethodsAll COVID‐19 infected males were expeditiously evaluated. All enrolled patients were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, and pelvi‐abdominal ultrasonography for prostate volume and postvoiding residual urine (PVR) estimation.ResultsFifty patients, who were diagnosed with BPH, were enrolled. The mean age (±SD) was 62.64 ± 7.69. In the pre‐ and post‐COVID‐19 group, the mean (±SD) IPSS was 13.42 ± 4.32 and 26.62 ± 5.77, respectively (P < .001), while PVR was 90.40 ± 32.75 and 185.42 ± 73.42, respectively (P < .001), and maximum flow rate was 14.40 ± 2.75 and 10.74 ± 3.43, respectively (P < .004). After infection with COVID‐19, 13 (26%) patients were managed by urethral catheter fixation owing to urine retention. On bivariate analysis, age, diabetes, large prostate on digital rectal examination, alpha‐blocker monotherapy, microscopic hematuria, positive urine culture, and pre‐COVID‐19 IPSS were significantly correlated with urine retention (P < .001, P = .01, P < .001, P = .06, P < .001, P = .04, and P < .001, respectively). On multivariate analysis, age, pre‐COVID‐19 IPSS, and positive urine culture were the independent predictors of urine retention (P = .05, P < .001, and P = .01, respectively).ConclusionLUTS in BPH patients were significantly affected by COVID‐19. COVID‐19 increases IPSS leading to a change in the treatment modality of BPH. On multivariate analysis, age, pre‐COVID‐19 IPSS, and positive urine culture were the independent predictors of urine retention post COVID‐19 infection.
Against the philosophical project of “biologizing” race
Authors: Peressini Anthony F. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper critiques philosophical efforts to biologize race asracial projects(Omi and Winant,Racial Formation in the United States). The paper argues that the deeply social phenomenon of race defies the analytic schema employed by biologizing philosophers. The very (social) act of theorizing race is already in an involuted relationship with its target concept: analyzing race must be seen as aracial project, in that it simultaneously helps to manage how race is represented in society and helps organize society’s resources along particular racial lines. Such biologizing projects are rife with moral and political dimensions and have a depoliticizing effect that has the potential to camouflage, defuse, or explain away the social‐structural reproduction of white power/privilege. The paper begins by considering two recent philosophic‐scientific biologizations of race, showing how they conform to the analytic schema, reviewing received critical points, and offering several novel ones.
Plant genome engineering from lab to field—a Keystone Symposia report
Authors: Cable Jennifer , Ronald Pamela C. , Voytas Daniel , Zhang Feng , Levy Avraham A. , Takatsuka Ayumu , Arimura Shin‐ichi , Jacobsen Steven E. , Toki Seiichi , Toda Erika , Gao Caixia , Zhu Jian‐Kang , Boch Jens , Van Eck Joyce , Mahfouz Magdy , Andersson Mariette , Fridman Eyal , Weiss Trevor , Wang Kan , Qi Yiping , Jores Tobias , Adams Tom , Bagchi Rammyani 
Published: August 2021

AbstractFacing the challenges of the world's food sources posed by a growing global population and a warming climate will require improvements in plant breeding and technology. Enhancing crop resiliency and yield via genome engineering will undoubtedly be a key part of the solution. The advent of new tools, such as CRIPSR/Cas, has ushered in significant advances in plant genome engineering. However, several serious challenges remain in achieving this goal. Among them are efficient transformation and plant regeneration for most crop species, low frequency of some editing applications, and high attrition rates. On March 8 and 9, 2021, experts in plant genome engineering and breeding from academia and industry met virtually for the Keystone eSymposium “Plant Genome Engineering: From Lab to Field” to discuss advances in genome editing tools, plant transformation, plant breeding, and crop trait development, all vital for transferring the benefits of novel technologies to the field.
Phosphate availability regulates flavonoid accumulation associated with photosynthetic carbon partitioning in Cyclocarya paliurus
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhang Mengjia , Zhao Tingting , Deng Bo 
Published: August 2021

AbstractCyclocarya paliurus has traditionally been used as medicine and functional food. This study aims at investigating the flavonoid accumulation in C. paliurus dependent on phosphate (Pi) availability and its potential association with internal carbon partitioning. One‐year‐old seedlings of C. paliurus were planted in four different Pi levels. Low Pi resulted in low phosphorus content within plants, while the nitrogen content increased. Further analysis revealed that the surplus carbon pool was greater and was allocated to N‐metabolism and carbohydrate synthesis under low Pi conditions, as shown by the higher levels of free amino acids, starch, and soluble sugars. Low Pi availability also induced higher enzymatic activities of shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH) and flavonoid 3‐hydoxylase (FHT), and higher flavonoid accumulation in leaves. Our results indicated that the surplus carbon induced by low‐Pi levels can increase flavonoid synthesis in seedlings of C. paliurus. In addition, growth and biomass accumulation were increased by the elevated Pi levels. As a result, the highest flavonoid yield per plant was obtained under relative low Pi conditions. This study can provide the basis for developing new agricultural practices to maintain high yield while still keeping the quality of medicinal plants and crops.
Personality and functional impairment. Evidence from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans‐Helmut 
Published: August 2021

BackgroundTo date, only a few studies have investigated the association between personality and functional impairment. Therefore, our purpose was to add to this knowledge.MethodsData from wave 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were used (70 028 individuals in the analytical sample). Personality was measured using the 10‐item Big Five Inventory (BFI‐10). Functional impairment was quantified using activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) indices. Multiple linear regressions were conducted.ResultsRegressions showed that an increased likelihood of limitations in ADL was associated with higher extraversion, higher agreeableness, lower conscientiousness, higher neuroticism, and higher openness to experience. Similarly, an increased likelihood of limitations in IADL was associated with higher agreeableness, lower conscientiousness, higher neuroticism, and higher openness to experience (only with one IADL index).ConclusionsThis knowledge of associations between personality and functional limitations may help in determining individuals at risk for increased functional impairment (e.g., individuals with low conscientiousness or high neuroticism). Future research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Isotonic Distributional Regression
Authors: Henzi Alexander , Ziegel Johanna F. , Gneiting Tilmann 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIsotonic distributional regression (IDR) is a powerful non-parametric technique for the estimation of conditional distributions under order restrictions. In a nutshell, IDR learns conditional distributions that are calibrated, and simultaneously optimal relative to comprehensive classes of relevant loss functions, subject to isotonicity constraints in terms of a partial order on the covariate space. Non-parametric isotonic quantile regression and non-parametric isotonic binary regression emerge as special cases. For prediction, we propose an interpolation method that generalizes extant specifications under the pool adjacent violators algorithm. We recommend the use of IDR as a generic benchmark technique in probabilistic forecast problems, as it does not involve any parameter tuning nor implementation choices, except for the selection of a partial order on the covariate space. The method can be combined with subsample aggregation, with the benefits of smoother regression functions and gains in computational efficiency. In a simulation study, we compare methods for distributional regression in terms of the continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) and L2 estimation error, which are closely linked. In a case study on raw and post-processed quantitative precipitation forecasts from a leading numerical weather prediction system, IDR is competitive with state of the art techniques.
The unanticipated effect of COVID‐19 on house apportionment
Authors: Cervas Jonathan , Grofman Bernard 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIt is well understood thateven small differences in population can have a disproportionate impact on representation in the U.S. House of Representatives after a decennial census because of the peculiarities of rounding rules that require integer allocations. While the COVID‐19 pandemic can be held responsible for accelerating the trend toward the increased use of mail‐in balloting, and it affected the ability of the census to collect in‐person information, here we call attention to an unanticipated effect of the pandemic on the electoral process that, as far as we are aware, has never previously been identified. By rerunning the apportionment numbers for all states under the assumption that deaths from COVID‐19 prior to the start of the Census had not occurred, we show that New York's congressional delegation would not have lost a seat. New York was the only state whose House seat allocation was affected by disproportionate COVID‐19 deaths.
Resource‐rational Models of Human Goal Pursuit
Authors: Prystawski Ben , Mohnert Florian , Tošić Mateo , Lieder Falk 
Published: August 2021

AbstractGoal‐directed behavior is a deeply important part of human psychology. People constantly set goals for themselves and pursue them in many domains of life. In this paper, we develop computational models that characterize how humans pursue goals in a complex dynamic environment and test how well they describe human behavior in an experiment. Our models are motivated by the principle of resource rationality and draw upon psychological insights about people's limited attention and planning capacities. We find that human goal pursuit is qualitatively different and substantially less efficient than optimal goal pursuit in our simulated environment. Models of goal pursuit based on the principle of resource rationality capture human behavior better than both a model of optimal goal pursuit and heuristics that are not resource‐rational. We conclude that the way humans pursue goals is shaped by the need to achieve goals effectively as well as cognitive costs and constraints on planning and attention. Our findings are an important step toward understanding humans' goal pursuit as cognitive limitations play a crucial role in shaping people's goal‐directed behavior.
Continuous long‐term recording and triggering of brain neurovascular activity and behaviour in freely moving rodents
Authors: Yousef Yengej Dmitri N. , Ferando Isabella , Kechechyan Gayane , Nwaobi Sinifunanya E. , Raman Shrayes , Charles Andrew , Faas Guido C. 
Published: August 2021

A minimally invasive, microchip‐based approach enables continuous long‐term recording of brain neurovascular activity, heart rate, and head movement in freely behaving rodents. This approach can also be used for transcranial optical triggering of cortical activity in mice expressing channelrhodopsin. The system uses optical intrinsic signal recording to measure cerebral blood volume, which under baseline conditions is correlated with spontaneous neuronal activity. The arterial pulse and breathing can be quantified as a component of the optical intrinsic signal. Multi‐directional head movement is measured simultaneously with a movement sensor. A separate movement tracking element through a camera enables precise mapping of overall movement within an enclosure. Data is processed by a dedicated single board computer, and streamed from multiple enclosures to a central server, enabling simultaneous remote monitoring and triggering in many subjects. One application of this system described here is the characterization of changes in of cerebral blood volume, heart rate and behaviour that occur with the sleep‐wake cycle over weeks. Another application is optical triggering and recording of cortical spreading depression (CSD), the slowly propagated wave of neurovascular activity that occurs in the setting of brain injury and migraine aura. The neurovascular features of CSD are remarkably different in the awake vs. anaesthetized state in the same mouse. With its capacity to continuously and synchronously record multiple types of physiological and behavioural data over extended time periods in combination with intermittent triggering of brain activity, this inexpensive method has the potential for widespread practical application in rodent research.
imageKey points
Recording and triggering of brain activity in mice and rats has typically required breaching the skull, and experiments are often performed under anaesthesia
A minimally invasive microchip system enables continuous recording and triggering of neurovascular activity, and analysis of heart rate and behaviour in freely behaving rodents over weeks
This system can be used to characterize physiological and behavioural changes associated with the sleep‐wake cycle over extended time periods
This approach can also be used with mice expressing channelrhodopsin to trigger and record cortical spreading depression (CSD) in freely behaving subjects. The neurovascular responses to CSD are remarkably different under anaesthesia compared with the awake state.
The method is inexpensive and straightforward to employ at a relatively large scale. It enables translational investigation of a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions in rodent models of neurological and systemic diseases.
Absence of renal remission portends poor long-term kidney outcome in lupus nephritis
Authors: Pirson Valérie , Enfrein Antoine , Houssiau Frédéric A , Tamirou Farah 
Published: August 2021

BackgroundThe very long-term consequences of absence of remission in lupus nephritis (LN) remain understudied.MethodsIn this retrospective analysis, we studied a selected cohort of 128 patients with biopsy-proven class III, IV or V incident LN followed for a median period of 134 months (minimum 25). Remission was defined as a urine protein to creatinine (uP:C) ratio <0.5 g/g and a serum creatinine value <120% of baseline. Renal relapse was defined as the reappearance of a uP:C >1 g/g, leading to a repeat kidney biopsy and treatment change. Poor long-term renal outcome was defined as the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).ResultsTwenty per cent of patients never achieved renal remission. Their baseline characteristics did not differ from those who did. Absence of renal remission was associated with a threefold higher risk of CKD (48% vs 16%) and a 10-fold higher risk of end-stage renal disease (20% vs 2%). Patients achieving early remission had significantly higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at last follow-up compared with late remitters. Accordingly, patients with CKD at last follow-up had statistically longer time to remission. Among patients who achieved remission, 32% relapsed, with a negative impact on renal outcome, that is, lower eGFR values and higher proportion of CKD (33% vs 8%).ConclusionEarly remission should be achieved to better preserve long-term renal function.