bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a dried blood spot test for thiamine deficiency among infants by HPLC–fluorimetry
Authors: Mathew Elizabeth Mary , Sakore Pradnya , Lewis Leslie , Manokaran Kalaivani , Rao Pragna , Moorkoth Sudheer
Published: July 2019

Thiamine deficiency, if detected early in infancy, can be treated with thiamine supplementation and can prevent seizures, other disabilities and death. The dried blood spot (DBS) sampling technique is an attractive sample collection technique for infants. The present study reports the development and validation of a highly sensitive and precise method for quantification of thiamine diphosphate from DBS. The method utilizes full‐spot analysis of a volumetrically deposited 40 μl DBS. The analyte was extracted from the DBS using 50% methanol and then derivatized using potassium ferricyanide to thiochrome. Separation was achieved with the help of an Inertsil ODS C18 column (5.0 μm, 250 × 4.6 mm) using 150 mm phosphate buffer pH 7–acetonitrile (90:10, % v/v) as the mobile phase. The use of a fluorimetric detector gave a good response to the thiochrome derivative offering good sensitivity for the method. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 367 and 435 nm, respectively. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantification were 5 and 10 ng/ml, respectively. Linearity was demonstrated from 10 to 1000 ng/ml, and precision (CV) was <12.08%, at all tested quality control levels. The method accuracy was 89.34–118.89% with recoveries >80%. Bland–Altman analysis of DBS sampling vs. whole blood demonstrated a mean bias of only 1.16 ng/ml, with a majority of the 60 investigated patient samples lying within 7.2% of the corresponding concentration measured in blood, thereby meeting the clinical desirable biological specification criterion and showing that the two methods are comparable.
Effect of IDH3a on glucose uptake in lung adenocarcinoma: A pilot study based on [18F]FDG
Authors: Du Bulin , Sun Tong , Li Xuena , Diao Yao , Li Yaming
Published: July 2019

Subunit of isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 (IDH3a) as upstream of the hypoxia‐inducible factor was reported highly expressed in malignant tumors, playing an important role in glucose metabolism reprogramming. As one of rate‐limiting enzyme in the Krebs cycle, whether high expression of IDH3a affects glucose uptake in tumors has not been elucidated. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between IDH3a expression and tumor glucose uptake. Sixty‐five patients who underwent 2‐[18F]‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose ([18F]‐FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging before surgery and pathologically diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma were included. All patients were divided into high (n = 31) and low (n = 34) groups according IDH3a expression by immunohistochemistry. Comparatively higher [18F]‐FDG uptake was found in high IDH3a expression group. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) level was demonstrated to correlate with IDH3a expression, but not for hexokinase 2 (HK2). Furthermore, A549 and H1299 cells experiment showed, the expression of p‐AKT and GLUT1 were significantly downregulated after IDH3a interference. The cellular uptake of [18F]‐FDG and lactate production were significantly reduced in treatment group. In summary, high expression of IDH3a in lung adenocarcinoma patients is associated with higher glucose uptake. IDH3a targets AKT‐GLUT1 pathway to affect glucose uptake and metabolites in lung adenocarcinoma.
What are the barriers to accessing psychological therapy in Qatar: A concept mapping study
Authors: Brown Ellie , Topping Annie , Cheston Richard
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Mental health problems are highly prevalent throughout the world; however, all too frequently individuals do not receive treatment. Psychological therapy is a potentially successful intervention, but barriers to access are likely to vary across countries and cultures and could be better understood. This paper aimed to identify perceived barriers to accessing psychological therapy for people living in Qatar in the Middle East.

Methods

A mixed methodology known as concept mapping was used to investigate the views of mental health clinicians and policymakers. Participants were invited to brainstorm the issue (qualitative data), then sort these barriers into groups (clusters), and rate them in terms of perceived importance (quantitative data).

Results

Fifteen clinicians and 11 policymakers took part in this study. A nine‐cluster concept map was produced with the following titles: Stigma, Impact of the family, Cultural implications, Stigma impacting on reality, Cross‐cultural Therapy, Workforce and training, Local (mis)understanding of therapy, Structural problems within the country and East meets West. There was substantial consensus between clinicians and policymakers.

Discussion

We concluded that there are numerous barriers to accessing psychological therapy in Qatar. All participants rated barriers relating to the individual as having a greater impact on individual’s access to therapy than organisation‐level barriers. Addressing these barriers is likely to require a multifaceted response involving health policy as well as political and sociological level changes. The views of service users and their families also need to be explored.
The role of identity in how whole‐blood donors reflect on and construct their future as a plasma donor
Authors: Thorpe Rachel , Masser Barbara M. , Jensen Kyle , Van Dyke Nina , Davison Tanya E.
Published: July 2019

In the context of decreased demand for whole blood and increased demand for plasma‐derived products, donors in Australia are increasingly being asked to convert from whole‐blood to plasmapheresis donations. Plasmapheresis is a different type of donation to whole blood as the process takes longer and can be engaged in more frequently. What is unknown is whether whole‐blood donors view donating plasma as consistent with their donor identity and how they respond to the possibility of donating more frequently. To explore this, we undertook semistructured telephone interviews with 26 whole‐blood donors who had recently made their first plasma donation. Findings indicated that whereas donating plasma was viewed as a bigger ask than donating whole blood, the former was viewed as consistent with their identity as a donor because both behaviours were seen to benefit others and self and were located within the same institutional context. Donating plasma was an opportunity for donors to enhance their self‐concept as an altruistic giver. When contemplating their future donation behaviour, donors considered how their donor identity would fit alongside other salient roles. These findings have implications for how institutions can position their request of existing donors to give a different gift.
Impella support and acute kidney injury during high‐risk percutaneous coronary intervention: The Global cVAD Renal Protection Study
Authors: Flaherty Michael P. , Moses Jeffrey W. , Westenfeld Ralf , Palacios Igor , O'Neill William W. , Schreiber Theodore L. , Lim Michael J. , Kaki Amir , Ghiu Ioana , Mehran Roxanna
Published: July 2019

Background

Protection against acute kidney injury (AKI) has been reported with the use of Impella during high‐risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR‐PCI). We sought to evaluate this finding by determining the occurrence of AKI during Impella‐supported HR‐PCI in patients from the Global cVAD Study and compare this incidence with their calculated AKI risk at baseline.

Methods and Results

In this prospective, multicenter study, we enrolled 314 consecutive patients. We included 223 patients that underwent nonemergent HR‐PCI supported with Impella 2.5 or Impella CP and excluded those requiring hemodialysis prior to HR‐PCI (19) and those with insufficient data (72). The primary outcome was AKI postprocedurally at 48 hr versus the predicted risk of AKI according to Mehran risk score. Logistic regression analysis determined predictors of AKI. Overall, 4.9% (11) of Impella‐supported patients developed AKI (exclusively stage 1) at 48 hr versus a predicted rate of 21.9%, representing a 77.6% lower AKI rate (p < .0001). In this study, no Impella‐supported patients required renal replacement therapy. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (ml/min/1.73 m2) alone predicted AKI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.915; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.02–23.53, p = .046), and increasing contrast had insignificant effects on AKI during high‐risk PCI (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.87–1.51, p = .332). In patients not protected from AKI, the postprocedure incidence of AKI was not significantly greater and did not correlate with chronic kidney disease severity.

Conclusion

The incidence of AKI was lower during HR‐PCI than expected from current risk models. Although further exploration of this finding is warranted, these data support a new protective strategy against AKI during HR‐PCI.
Recurrent acute pancreatitis caused by duodenal duplication cyst in a young patient
Authors: Cicero Giuseppe , Catanzariti Francesca , Barbaro Ugo , Ascenti Velio , Mazziotti Silvio
Published: July 2019

Duodenal duplication cyst is a rare congenital anomaly that develops during the embryonic stage and could remain unknown until the adult age. Although often asymptomatic, duodenal duplication cysts can lead to various clinical scenarios with different degree of severity, from nonspecific abdominal pain up to cholestasis, intussusception or pancreatitis.
A case of bony lytic lesions in a patient with Gaucher disease
Authors: McGinnis Eric , Moshref Razavi Habib
Published: July 2019

Gaucher disease is a clinically heterogeneous disorder of glucocerebroside metabolism and may present incidentally late in life with unexplained thrombocytopenia, splenomegaly, or bony lesions. Clinicians should be aware that patients with Gaucher disease appear to have an increased risk for developing hematolymphoid malignancies, particularly monoclonal gammopathies and plasma cell myeloma.
Sotalol‐induced generalized and ocular myasthenia gravis
Authors: Sharifkazemi Mohammadbagher , Ziya Farzad
Published: July 2019

We present a patient with end‐stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who was suffering from ocular and generalized forms of myasthenia gravis as an uncommon neurological complication of sotalol. This case report warns clinicians to maintain caution over rare side effects of medication, which could be confused with the clinical symptoms of the underlying disease.
Electrochemical Studies of New Donor‐Acceptor Oligothiophenes
Authors: Feroci Marta , Civitarese Tommaso , Pandolfi Fabiana , Petrucci Rita , Rocco Daniele , Zane Daniela , Zollo Giuseppe , Mattiello Leonardo
Published: July 2019

Electrochemical studies on a series of new conjugated oligothiophene derivatives are reported. The molecular architectures (D−A and A−D−A) of these compounds present different donor cores (thiophene, bithiophene) with different numbers of 3‐octylthiophene units (that act as π‐bridge and solubilizing components). The acceptor end groups adopted were, in all the cases, ethyl cyanoacrylate units. The results from voltammetric experiments confirm the close relationship between the structure of these oligothiophenes and their electrochemical behavior. Furthermore, we carried out quantum mechanical calculations to be able to obtain the HOMO/LUMO characteristics of some of our compounds in order to confirm our hypotheses on their electrochemical behavior. Moreover, the roles of the oligothiophene backbone and the ethyl cyanoacrylate group in cyclic voltammetry were elucidated by carrying out two different electrolyses at anodic and cathodic peak potentials. In particular, we were successful in the anodic dimerization of a tetrathiophene (D−A) to an octithiophene (A−D−A) (in high yield) with a considerable shortening of the chemical synthesis.
VSN: Variable sorting for normalization
Authors: Rabatel Gilles , Marini Federico , Walczak Beata , Roger Jean‐Michel
Published: July 2019

Spectrometric and analytical techniques in general collect multivariate signals from chemical or biological materials by means of a specific measurement instrumentation, usually in order to characterize or classify them through the estimation of one of several compounds of interest. However, measurement conditions might induce various additive (baseline) or multiplicative effects on the collected signals, which may jeopardize the accuracy and generalizability of estimation models. A common way of dealing with such issues is signal normalization and in particular, when the baseline is constant, the standard normal variate (SNV) transform. Despite its efficiency, SNV has important drawbacks, in terms of physical interpretation and robustness of estimation models, because all the variables are equally considered, independently on what their actual relationship with the response(s) of interest is. In the present study, a novel algorithm is proposed, named variable sorting for normalization (VSN). This algorithm automatically produces, for a given set of multivariate signals, a weighting function favoring signal variables that are only impacted by additive and multiplicative effects, and not by the response(s) of interest. When introduced in SNV preprocessing, this weighting function significantly improves signal shape and model interpretation. Moreover, VSN can be successfully used not only for constant but also with more complex baselines, such as polynomial ones. Together with the description of the theory behind VSN, its application on various synthetic multivariate data, as well as on real SWIR spectral data, is presented and discussed.
Quantum cascade laser back‐reflection spectroscopy at grazing‐angle incidence using the fast Fourier transform as a data preprocessing algorithm
Authors: Pacheco‐Londoño Leonardo C. , Galán‐Freyle Nataly J. , Figueroa‐Navedo Amanda M, , Infante‐Castillo Ricardo , Ruiz‐Caballero José L. , Hernández‐Rivera Samuel P.
Published: July 2019

A simple optical layout for a grazing‐angle probe (GAP) mount for coupling to a midinfrared (MIR) quantum cascade laser (QCL) spectrometer is described. This assembly enables reflectance measurements at high incident angles. In the case of optically thin films and deposits on MIR reflective substrates, a double‐pass effect occurs, which is accompanied by the absorption of deposited samples in a reflection‐absorption infrared spectroscopy modality. The optical system allows MIR light to pass through the sample twice.

Applications to cleaning validation and detection of traces of explosives using the QCL‐GAP is reported. Principal component analysis and partial least squares multivariate chemometrics methods were employed to analyze MIR spectra to evaluate an analytical methodology for confirming the presence of residues of pharmaceutically active ingredients (irbesartan) and of traces of explosives (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine [RDX]) that have been deposited on metallic substrates. The performance of spectral preprocessing via fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis was evaluated for the ability to extract more powerful and accurate information from the obtained reflectance spectra. According to the figures of merit of this new technique, FFT with chemometric routines can obtain sensitivity and specificity values of 1.000. The limits of detection that were obtained for irbesartan and RDX were 26 and 8 ng/cm2, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system, when used together with proper chemometrics routines, constitutes a powerful tool for the development of methodologies that have lower detection limits for a range of applications that involve detecting traces of analytes that reside on substrates as contaminants.
Amplitude‐frequency images‐based ConvNet: Applications of fault detection and diagnosis in chemical processes
Authors: Zhang Haili , Wang Pu , Gao Xuejin , Qi Yongsheng , Gao Huihui
Published: July 2019

Fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) have been major concerns in abnormal event management of chemical processes for decades. Frequency‐wise variations in chemical processes are not considered in most traditional methods, which affects the monitoring performance. An amplitude‐frequency images‐based convolutional neural network (ConvNet) is proposed for FDD in chemical processes. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) is first performed on data slice collected within a period to extract both amplitude‐wise dynamics and frequency‐wise variations, with the results in images. Then, the amplitude‐frequency images are fed into ConvNet for FDD. ConvNet is applied as a binary classifier, in which each classifier corresponds to only one fault. Thus, an expandable framework is provided to incorporate a new fault. The performance of the proposed amplitude‐frequency images‐based ConvNet in FDD is demonstrated in a numerical case and the Tennessee Eastman process.
Support vector machine regression on selected wavelength regions for quantitative analysis of caffeine in tea leaves by near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Chanda Somdeb , Hazarika Ajanto Kumar , Choudhury Navnil , Islam Sk Anarul , Manna Rishabh , Sabhapondit Santanu , Tudu Bipan , Bandyopadhyay Rajib
Published: July 2019

Caffeine is an important component that determines the quality of tea, and its rapid estimation is very much needed for the industry. In this pursuit, a near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy‐based technique for the estimation of caffeine is developed and presented in this paper. On the basis of responses of the different bonds present in caffeine, four specific wavelength windows—(a) 1075 to 1239.5 nm (C―H stretch second overtone); (b) 1339.25 to 1440.75 nm (C―H stretch and C―H deformation); (c) 1640.25 to 1700 nm (C―H stretch first overtone, ═CH & amp; ―CH3 asymmetric); and (d) 900 to 1700 nm (whole range of the spectrometer)—were analyzed in details for model development and to obtain the effective wavelength (EW). Five different preprocessing techniques followed by two regression techniques—(a) the partial least‐squares (PLS) and (b) the support vector regression (SVR) were implemented on raw data for analysis. Comparing all the models, the wavelength band of 1075 to 1239.5 nm and 1339.25 to 1440.75 nm were found to produce satisfactory results. The best discrimination result was obtained using the combination of standard normal variate (SNV) preprocessing with SVR at the 1075 to 1239.5 nm wavelength region. The SVR regression with 105 samples in the training set and 15 samples in the testing set resulted in the performance parameters as RMSECV = 0.134, RMSEP = 0.069, rcv2 = 0.869, rp2 = 0.65, and RPD = 5.626 at 1075 to 1239.5 nm, whereas the PLS model produced the best RMSECV = 0.287, RMSEP = 0.077, rcv2 = 0.637, rp2 = 0.675, and RPD = 5.218 at 1339.25 to 1440.75‐nm wavelength band.
Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification of 1‐D models of pulmonary hemodynamics in mice under control and hypertensive conditions
Authors: Colebank Mitchel J. , Umar Qureshi M. , Olufsen Mette S.
Published: July 2019

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined as an elevated mean blood pressure in the main pulmonary artery (MPA) at rest, is associated with vascular remodeling of both large and small arteries. PH has several sub‐types that are all linked to high mortality rates. In this study, we use a one‐dimensional (1‐D) fluid dynamics model driven by in vivo measurements of MPA flow to understand how model parameters and network size influence MPA pressure predictions in the presence of PH. We compare model predictions with in vivo MPA pressure measurements from a control and a hypertensive mouse and analyze results in three networks of increasing complexity, extracted from micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) images. We introduce global scaling factors for boundary condition parameters and perform local and global sensitivity analysis to calculate parameter influence on model predictions of MPA pressure and correlation analysis to determine a subset of identifiable parameters. These are inferred using frequentist optimization and Bayesian inference via the Delayed Rejection Adaptive Metropolis (DRAM) algorithm. Frequentist and Bayesian uncertainty is computed for model parameters and MPA pressure predictions. Results show that MPA pressure predictions are most sensitive to distal vascular resistance and that parameter influence changes with increasing network complexity. Our outcomes suggest that PH leads to increased vascular stiffness and decreased peripheral compliance, congruent with clinical observations.
Internet of Things ‐ integrated IR‐UWB technology for healthcare applications
Authors: Chehri Abdellah , Mouftah Hussein T.
Published: July 2019

Recent technology developments have produced small and smart biomedical sensors, which can be worn or implanted in the human body. These biosensors create closed wireless networks named Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN). The WBAN will continuously observe the physiological state of patients for both diagnosis and prevention. Those include on‐body measurements such as the Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electroencephalogram (EEG), temperature, and blood pressure. Ultra‐Wide‐Band (UWB) is a technology that has received a lot of attention due to several unique features such as secure transmission, low noise, and low energy consumption. Given the fact that the patients' well‐being might be dependent on the accurate realization of such networks, a high level of design and implementation accuracy are maintained throughout the system. In this paper, we proposed an Impulse‐Radio Ultra‐Wideband system, which is composed of static biomedical nodes mounted on a patient's body to collect vital data and send it wirelessly to a central node or subsequent analysis by healthcare professionals. The performance of this network, such as the effect of node location, the number of transmitted symbols, multiuser interference, and intersymbol interference, is evaluated. We also study the physical layer and quality of service of this proposed architecture.
Solvent‐Enhanced Conformational Flexibility of Cyclic Tetrapeptides
Authors: Berger Nadja , Wollny Laura J. B. , Sokkar Pandian , Mittal Sumit , Mieres‐Perez Joel , Stoll Raphael , Sander Wolfram , Sanchez‐Garcia Elsa
Published: July 2019

The front cover artwork is provided by the groups of Prof. Wolfram Sander (Ruhr‐Universität Bochum) and Prof. Elsa Sanchez‐Garcia (University of Duisburg‐Essen). The image shows the structure of a cyclic tetrapeptide in solution. The dynamics of the peptide in explicit solvent was investigated using several computational and experimental techniques at different temperatures. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/cphc.201900345.
Revisiting the Electrochemical Lithiation Mechanism of Aluminum and the Role of Li‐rich Phases (Li1+xAl) on Capacity Fading
Authors: Qin Bingsheng , Diemant Thomas , Zhang Huang , Hoefling Alexander , Behm R. Jürgen , Tübke Jens , Varzi Alberto , Passerini Stefano
Published: July 2019

Invited for this month′s cover is the group of Stefano Passerini at Helmholtz Institute Ulm. Homepage: http://www.hiu‐batteries.de/battery‐research‐center‐in‐germany/research/electrochemistry/electrochemistry‐for‐batteries/. The image shows the puzzling electrochemical (de‐)lithiation process of aluminum anode and complex states of aluminum related phase in this course. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201900597.
Photochemical Hydroacylation of Michael Acceptors Utilizing an Aldehyde as Photoinitiator
Authors: Sideri Ioanna K. , Voutyritsa Errika , Kokotos Christoforos G.
Published: July 2019

The hydroacylation of Michael acceptors constitutes a useful tool for the formation of new C−C bonds. In this work, an environmentally friendly procedure was developed, utilizing 4cyanobenzaldehyde as the photoinitiator and household bulbs as the irradiation source. A great variety of substrates was well‐tolerated, leading to good yields, and mechanistic experiments were performed to elucidate the catalyst's possible mechanistic pathway. Moreover, the inherent selectivity challenge regarding α,α‐disubstituted aldehydes (decarbonylation problem) was studied and addressed.
Spectral efficiency evaluation of full‐duplex mode of communications based on SLNR approach
Authors: Teklu Merhawit Berhane , Meng Wei‐Xiao , Li Cheng , Chen Lei
Published: July 2019

Full‐duplex (FD) mode of communication with efficient transmission scheme is a promising approach for 5G wireless systems by improving the spectral efficiency. This can be attained by making use of various precoding approaches. We propose a new co‐channel interference (CCI)‐aware improvement to signal‐to‐leakage‐and‐noise ratio (SLNR) technique and a suppression filter at the receiver to whiten the interference for the downlink channel. As well, for the uplink (UL) communication, we propose a self‐interference (SI)‐aware enhancement to SLNR scheme and designing a precoder using self‐interference plus noise covariance matrix. The total spectral efficiency is obtained from the sum‐rates of both downlink and uplink communication systems. Simulation results verify that the spectral efficiency (SE) of FD using the proposed scheme performs well relative to the half‐duplex system for all Rician factor and for small powers at the base station (BS) and UL communication channel users. Moreover, as the number of users grows, which entails that as the number of receiving antennas greater than the number of antennas at the BS the SLNR scheme still works, nonetheless, zero‐forcing (ZF) and block‐diagonalization (BD) precoding schemes failed. This is due to the fact that designing a precoder based on SLNR scheme supports multiple numbers of antennas at the base station and users compared with ZF and BD by compromising the interference and noise. However, for the cases of ZF and BD approaches failed due to both schemes require the number of transmit antennas at the BS to be larger than the sum of the receiving antennas at all users.
Proposal of cross‐layer bandwidth assignment with buffer size indication for TCP flow control
Authors: Kudo Tomoko , Taketa Toshihiro , Hiranaka Yukio
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we propose, verify, and evaluate a method combining cross‐layer method and bandwidth allocation to overcome the difficulty of flow control in a network with large bandwidth delay product. When the bandwidth delay product is large, there are problems with the convergence time, efficiency and stability of bandwidth utilization, and fairness among traffics of different round‐trip time. As a result of examining the conventional methods, we propose a novel method that can be realized as a functional addition to the existing transmission control protocol (TCP) flow control with improvement in utilization efficiency, fairness, stability, and convergence time. The method is compared with TCP Reno, FAST TCP, CUBIC, Explicit Congestion Notification, and eXplicit Control Protocol by simulation, and is confirmed as having good characteristics.
Beyond inputs and outputs: Process‐oriented explanation of institutional change in climate adaptation governance
Authors: Patterson James , de Voogt Douwe L. , Sapiains Rodolfo
Published: July 2019

Climate adaptation is a growing imperative across all scales and sectors of governance. This often requires changes in institutions, which can be difficult to realize. Explicitly process‐oriented approaches explaining how and why institutional change occurs are lacking. Overcoming this gap is vital to move beyond either input‐oriented (e.g., capacity) or output‐oriented (e.g., assessment) approaches, to understand how changes actually occur for addressing complex and contested governance issues. This paper analyses causal conditions and mechanisms by which institutions develop in climate adaptation governance. It focuses on urban climate governance through an in‐depth case study of Santiago, Chile, over a 12‐year period (2005–2017), drawing on primary and secondary data, including 26 semistructured interviews with policy, academic, and civil society actors. It identifies and explains a variety of institutional developments across multiple levels (i.e., programmatic, legislative, and constitutional), through a theory‐centric process tracing methodology. This reveals a multiple‐response pattern, involving several causal mechanisms and coexisting institutional logics. Findings suggest that although adaptation may be inherently protracted, institutions can nevertheless develop in both related and novel directions. Overall, the paper argues for a new research agenda on process‐oriented theorizing and analysis in climate and environmental governance.
Biologicals targeting type 2 immunity: Lessons learned from asthma, chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Cosmi Lorenzo , Maggi Laura , Mazzoni Alessio , Liotta Francesco , Annunziato Francesco
Published: July 2019

During the last decades, progression of research has led to great achievements for treatment and therapy of several disabling disorders, particularly in the field of chronic inflammatory diseases. The increased knowledge of the molecular mechanisms operating in such diseases has represented the first step in this process, and the discovery of molecules able to interfere with the natural history of the diseases, has been the second. This review is focused on the effects of biologics on type 2 diseases such as asthma, chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis, both biologics just approved for clinical application and also those that are currently undergoing clinical trials. We will also discuss aspects and emphasize clinical trials and recently published studies, as well as research that is currently in the progress, which will be highly relevant for basic immunologists. Likewise, we will cover aspects that are pertinent for clinical immunologists and highlight translational studies that are evaluating novel biologicals in animal models.
Neuropsychological functions of verbal recall and psychomotor speed significantly affect pain tolerance
Authors: Jacobsen Henrik Børsting , Stubhaug Audun , Schirmer Henrik , Inge Landrø Nils , Wilsgaard Tom , Mathiesen Ellisiv Bøgeberg , Nielsen Christopher Sivert
Published: July 2019

Background

Effects from cognitive performance on pain tolerance have been documented, however, sample sizes are small and confounders often overlooked. We aimed to establish that performance on neuropsychological tests was associated with pain tolerance, controlling for salient confounders.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study nested within the Tromsø‐6 survey. Neuropsychological test performance and the cold pressor test were investigated in 4,623 participants. Due to significant interaction with age, participants were divided into three age groups (<60, ≥60 to <70 and ≥70 years). Cox proportional hazard models assessed the relationship between neuropsychological tests and cold pressure pain tolerance, using hand‐withdrawal as event. The fully adjusted models controlled for sex, education, BMI, smoking status, exercise, systolic blood pressure, sleep problems and mental distress.

Results

In the adjusted models, participants aged ≥70 years showed a decreased hazard of hand withdrawal of 18% (HR 0.82, 95% CI (0.73, 0.92) per standard deviation on immediate verbal recall, and a decreased hazard of 23% (HR 0.77, 95% CI (0.65, 0.08) per standard deviation on psychomotor speed. Participants aged ≥60 to <70 years had a significant decreased hazard of 11% (HR 0.89, 95% CI (0.80, 0.98) per standard deviation on immediate word recall. In participants aged <60 years, there was a decreased hazard of 14% (HR 0.86 95% CI: 0.76, 0.98), per standard deviation on psychomotor speed.

Conclusion

Better performance on neuropsychological tests increased pain tolerance on the cold pressor test. These exposure effects were present in all age groups.

Significance

This paper describes substantial associations between cognitive functioning and cold pressor tolerance in 4,623 participants. Reduced psychomotor speed and poor verbal recall gave greater odds for hand‐withdrawal on the cold pressor task. The associations were stronger in older participants, indicating an interaction with age.
Complex disturbance‐driven reactivation of near‐surface sediments in the largest dunefield in North America during the last 200 years
Authors: Buckland Catherine E. , Thomas David S.G. , Bailey Richard M.
Published: July 2019

Understanding the historical activity of desert dune systems is important for identifying both the palaeoenvironmental drivers of change and the likelihood of future reactivation. Dating dune sediments in the Nebraska Sandhills has identified regional‐scale dune activity over centennial and millennial timescales during the Holocene, occurring at 9.6–6.5, 3.8 and 2.5 ka, and most recently spanning the Medieval Climatic Anomaly 1050–650 years BP. These periods have been interpreted as palaeoclimatic evidence of intense aridity lasting decadal and centennial timescales. A detailed record of dune activity in the historical period, since EuroAmerican arrival, is lacking however, yet important for interpreting the role of human agency amongst the factors influencing disturbance. Without a high‐resolution record of short‐term, historical, local sediment mobilization, it is not possible to distinguish the environmental factor(s) responsible for local reactivation. In this paper, the individual drivers of vegetation disturbance are reviewed and presented alongside a luminescence‐dated reconstruction of dune sediment deposition ages. This allows an integrated assessment of the relationship between drivers and environmental response over a recorded period. We focused our investigation on the aeolian reactivations of surface dune sediments and blowout features around the Niobrara Valley Preserve in the northern limits of the Nebraska Sandhills. Results show a near‐continuous (within uncertainties) timeline of local reactivation across the sites studied, with variation between the individual features indicating that both regional (i.e. climatic) and local (i.e. land use) forcings contribute to surface disturbance. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
T‐D2D: A trust model for service offloading in device‐to‐device communication
Authors: Movahedi Zeinab , Hosseini Zahra
Published: July 2019

With the advances in pervasive computing, Internet of things (IoT) has gained considerable attention from both research and industrial communities. While IoT devices are able to provide computational services to other devices via device‐to‐device (D2D) communications, they are not guaranteed to be honest and collaborative. In such a context, the trust model can help to detect malicious service providers. However, malicious nodes may perform trust‐distortion attacks to mislead the trust model. They may perform on‐off attacks to remain undetected or bad‐mouth about others to make it difficult to infer if a contradictory recommendation comes from the on‐off nature of the evaluated node or dishonesty of the recommender. To address these issues, we propose T‐D2D, a lightweight trust model capable to face simultaneous trust‐distortion attacks. T‐D2D evaluates a node's nature using both short‐term and long‐term evaluation intervals to detect different types of on‐off attacks. Moreover, it keeps track of marginal misbehaving over several successive intervals to recognize the nature of suspicious on‐off nodes with light misbehaving attitude. To face bad‐mouthing attackers, T‐D2D limits its dependence on recommendations to when the direct trust is not decisive. Moreover, it evaluates the honesty of a recommender based on the correctness of its recommendations over time. Simulation results prove that T‐D2D exhibits significantly better performance than other counterparts in terms of trust level, correctness of calculated trust, percentage of selected malicious providers, total wasted execution time, and energy consumption in presence of simultaneous trust‐distortion attacks.
An efficient hierarchical clustering protocol for multihop Internet of vehicles communication
Authors: Dutta Ashit Kumar , Elhoseny Mohamed , Dahiya Vandna , Shankar K.
Published: July 2019

Presently, Internet of vehicles (IoV) offers promising solutions to upgrade the traditional vehicular ad‐hoc networks (VANETs) to the next level. Since the resources are highly constrained on available resources, clustering is generally employed in VANETs. In this paper, we introduce an efficient hierarchical clustering protocol (EHCP) for multihop communication for effective resource utilization and thereby enhance the network lifetime. The proposed EHCP assumes that the vehicles are linked to the Internet using road‐side unit gateway. When the vehicles are linked to the Internet, every vehicle gathers information about its neighboring nodes and performs the clustering process to select appropriate cluster heads. The presented EHCP is simulated in NS‐2 and the VanetMobiSim integrated environment. The outcomes are analyzed in terms of different measures such as network lifetime, overhead, delay, and delivery ratio. The presented method achieved maximum packet delivery ratio of 0.94 under the high vehicle density of 180. The experimental values ensured the superior performance of the EHCP over the compared methods such as n‐hop and distributed multihop clustering using a neighborhood follow algorithm in a significant manner.
Refined measure of functional connectomes for improved identifiability and prediction
Authors: Cai Biao , Zhang Gemeng , Hu Wenxing , Zhang Aiying , Zille Pascal , Zhang Yipu , Stephen Julia M. , Wilson Tony W. , Calhoun Vince D. , Wang Yu‐Ping
Published: July 2019

Brain functional connectome analysis is commonly based on population‐wise inference. However, in this way precious information provided at the individual subject level may be overlooked. Recently, several studies have shown that individual differences contribute strongly to the functional connectivity patterns. In particular, functional connectomes have been proven to offer a fingerprint measure, which can reliably identify a given individual from a pool of participants. In this work, we propose to refine the standard measure of individual functional connectomes using dictionary learning. More specifically, we rely on the assumption that each functional connectivity is dominated by stable group and individual factors. By subtracting population‐wise contributions from connectivity patterns facilitated by dictionary representation, intersubject variability should be increased within the group. We validate our approach using several types of analyses. For example, we observe that refined connectivity profiles significantly increase subject‐specific identifiability across functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session combinations. Besides, refined connectomes can also improve the prediction power for cognitive behaviors. In accordance with results from the literature, we find that individual distinctiveness is closely linked with differences in neurocognitive activity within the brain. In summary, our results indicate that individual connectivity analysis benefits from the group‐wise inferences and refined connectomes are indeed desirable for brain mapping.
MicroRNA expression patterns in oral squamous cell carcinoma: hsa‐mir‐99b‐3p and hsa‐mir‐100‐5p as novel prognostic markers for oral cancer
Authors: Jakob Mark , Mattes Lena M. , Küffer Stefan , Unger Kristian , Hess Julia , Bertlich Mattis , Haubner Frank , Ihler Friedrich , Canis Martin , Weiss Bernhard G. , Kitz Julia
Published: July 2019

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNA) recently evolved as potential cancer biomarkers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of eight miRNAs connected to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Method

Expression levels of hsa‐mir‐21‐5p, hsa‐mir‐29b‐3p, hsa‐mir‐31‐5p, hsa‐mir‐99a‐5p, hsa‐mir‐99b‐3p, hsa‐mir‐100‐5p, hsa‐mir‐143‐3p and hsa‐mir‐155‐5p were analyzed in tumor tissue (n = 36) and healthy oral mucosal tissue (n = 17) and correlated with clinical variables. Results of the study cohort were validated in an OSCC cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Results

Increased hsa‐mir‐99b‐3p expression level showed a tendency toward advanced tumor stages, and high levels of hsa‐mir‐100‐5p expression were associated with extracapsular extension. While a high expression level of hsa‐mir‐99b‐3p was associated with better survival, a high expression level of hsa‐mir‐100‐5p was correlated with a poorer survival in the study cohort.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that hsa‐mir‐99b‐3p and hsa‐mir‐100‐5p may serve as novel prognostic biomarkers in OSCC.
Long‐term outcome of re‐irradiation for recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer: A multi‐institutional study of AIRO—Head and Neck working group
Authors: Orlandi Ester , Bonomo Pierluigi , Ferella Letizia , D'Angelo Elisa , Maddalo Marta , Alterio Daniela , Infante Gabriele , Bacigalupo Almalina , Argenone Angela , Iacovelli Nicola Alessandro , Desideri Isacco , Meduri Bruno , Triggiani Luca , Volpe Stefania , Belgioia Liliana , Dionisi Francesco , Romanello Domenico Attilio , Fallai Carlo , Miceli Rosalba
Published: July 2019

Background

To report the long‐term outcome of patients undergoing re‐irradiation (re‐RT) for a recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer (RSPHNCs) in seven Italian tertiary centers, while testing the Multi‐Institution Reirradation (MIRI) recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) recently published.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 159 patients. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) selected by a random forest model were included in a multivariable Cox analysis. To externally validate MIRI RPA, we estimated the Kaplan‐Meier group‐stratified OS curves for the whole population.

Results

Five‐year OS was 43.5% (median follow‐up: 49.9 months). Nasopharyngeal site, no organ dysfunction, and re‐RT volume <36 cm3 were independent factors for better OS. By applying the MIRI RPA to our cohort, a Harrell C‐Index of 0.526 was found indicating poor discriminative ability.

Conclusion

Our data reinforce the survival benefit of Re‐RT for selected patients with RSPHNC. MIRI RPA was not validated in our population.
Resource allocation for chronic diseases based on a patient willingness survey
Authors: Bai Ge , Zhou Yinan , Luo Li , Wang Zhaoxin
Published: July 2019

In China, patients with chronic diseases have complete freedom to choose the medical institutions at which they are treated, which has resulted in wasted medical resources and increased medical expenses. The purpose of this study is to determine the effective mechanisms to incentivise patients with chronic diseases to obtain referrals from community health centres to tertiary hospitals and estimate the funds that could be saved using various mechanisms. Questionnaire research, expert consultations, and data simulation were applied. We surveyed 1824 outpatients at nine tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, and the results showed that the proportion of patients willing to obtain referrals was 48.4%. By increasing the registration fee, reducing the payment ratio of medical insurance, publicising, and rating the quality of community health centres, up to 51.3%, 50.6%, and 65.41% patients with chronic diseases indicated that they would obtain referrals, respectively. According to the 2015 Shanghai outpatient database, the funding that could be saved through these three mechanisms would be 361.67, 356.73, and 461.14 million yuan, respectively. We conclude that referral of patients with chronic diseases could reduce medical expenses and save medical insurance funds. Nevertheless, no single measure can effectively change patient habits. Comprehensive measures need to be applied to guide patient referral actively.
Complicated bulbar urethral stricture successfully treated using augmented anastomotic urethroplasty: A case report
Authors: Tabei Tadashi , Horiguchi Akio , Kobayashi Kazuki
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Management of a complicated urethral stricture is a urological challenge. We present a case of a complicated urethral stricture successfully treated using augmented anastomotic urethroplasty.

Case presentation

A 48‐year‐old man visited our department for the treatment of urethral stricture, for which repeated transurethral procedures had failed. The operative view revealed that the urethral lumen was, in fact, completely obliterated over a 30‐mm segment. We proceeded with augmented anastomotic urethroplasty. After the excision of the obliterated lesion, the ventral half of the bulbar urethral ends was anastomosed and their dorsal half was subsequently augmented via buccal mucosa spread and then fixed to the corpus cavernosa. There has been no indication of recurrence, 4 months after the procedure.

Conclusion

Augmented anastomotic urethroplasty is a useful technique for repairing a complicated bulbar stricture. Urologists should understand appropriate indications for each treatment method so as to not make cases more complicated to treat.
Negative influence of biofilm on CoCrMo corrosion
Authors: Chuang Philip J. , Swaminathan Viswanathan , Pavlovsky Leonid , Marquez‐Catral Ligaya , Jones David L. , Song Lin
Published: July 2019

Minimal studies exist investigating biofilm‐induced corrosion of orthopaedic implants. This study investigates potential contributions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on corrosion resistance of CoCrMo under static and fretting conditions. Biofilms were cultured on CoCrMo coupons for either 4 weeks (static culture) or 6 days (fretting culture; pin‐on‐disk with a Ti6Al4V hemispherical tip pin). Morphology of biofilms and corrosion of coupon surfaces were analyzed via SEM. Open circuit potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were collected for corrosion performance evaluation. Results showed no visible corrosion on coupon surfaces in static culture, which suggests these biofilms alone do not induce severe corrosion under the conditions of this study. However, electrochemical data showed biofilm presence lowered coupon electrochemical impedance in static and fretting cultures, suggesting resistive and capacitive characteristics of the metal oxide‐biofilm‐media interface were altered. Under fretting, the P. aeruginosa group exhibited a distinct damage morphology and Co:Cr:Mo ratio within the wear scar when compared with S. aureus and the bacteria‐free control. These differences suggest the presence of P. aeruginosa biofilms may negatively impact corrosion resistance at the fretting interface. Taken together these results demonstrate biofilms can contribute to implant corrosion by influencing the electrochemical impedance of implant metal surfaces.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Skeletal Outcomes After Bisphosphonate Discontinuation at Final Height
Authors: Robinson Marie-Eve , Trejo Pamela , Palomo Telma , Glorieux Francis H , Rauch Frank
Published: July 2019

Intravenous cyclical bisphosphonates are widely used to treat children with moderate to severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Bisphosphonates are often discontinued when growth is completed, but subsequent skeletal changes have not been studied in detail. We assessed 31 patients (22 females) with OI who had started intravenous bisphosphonates (either pamidronate or zoledronic acid) before 13 years of age, were treated for at least 2 years (range 4.7–15.7 years), and discontinued treatment after completion of growth, when their age ranged from 13.4 to 20.0 years (mean 16.4 years). At 4 years after treatment discontinuation, lumbar spine areal bone mineral density (BMD) had increased by 4% (p < 0.05). Peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the radius showed a decrease in trabecular volumetric BMD at the distal metaphysis of 19% but an increase in cortical volumetric BMD of 4% (p < 0.05 for both). None of the patients sustained a new vertebral compression fracture during follow-up. The proportion of patients with new long-bone fractures was higher in the 2 years before treatment discontinuation than in the last 2 years of follow-up (42% and 16%, respectively; p < 0.05). © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.