bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute inflammation down‐regulates alpha‐synuclein expression in enteric neurons
Authors: Prigent Alice , Gonzales Jacques , Durand Tony , Le Berre‐Scoul Catherine , Rolli‐Derkinderen Malvyne , Neunlist Michel , Derkinderen Pascal
Published: December 2018

The protein alpha‐synuclein whose expression is strongly implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) is not only expressed in the CNS but also in the enteric nervous system (ENS). The growing body of evidence suggesting that gastrointestinal inflammation is involved in the development of PD led us to investigate the effects of inflammation on alpha‐synuclein expression in primary culture of rat ENS and in mice with dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis. Using western blot and qPCR, we found that both lipopolysaccharide and a combination of tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin 1‐β decreased the expression levels of alpha‐synuclein in primary culture of rat ENS, an effect that was prevented in the presence of the p38 inhibitors SB203580 and BIRB 796. Lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor‐α/interleukin 1‐β had no effect on alpha‐synuclein expression in primary culture of rat CNS and in human erythroid leukemia cells. In mice, acute but not chronic dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis was associated with a decreased expression of colonic alpha‐synuclein. As a whole, our findings indicate that acute inflammatory insults down‐regulate alpha‐synuclein expression in the ENS via a p38 pathway. They provide new insights into the widely discussed concepts of alpha‐synuclein expression and aggregation in the ENS in PD and raise issues about the possible role of gastrointestinal inflammation in the development of PD.

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AMPA receptors modulate the reorganization of F‐actin in Bergmann glia cells through the activation of RhoA
Authors: Rosas‐Hernández Rebeca , Bastián Yadira , Juárez Tello Andrea , Ramírez‐Saíto Ángeles , Escobar García Diana María , Pozos‐Guillén Amaury , Mendez J. Alfredo
Published: December 2018

Alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid glutamate receptors have been shown to modulate the morphology of the lamelar processes of Bergmann glia cells in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. Here we suggest that reorganization of F‐actin may underlay the changes in the morphology of the lamelar processes. Using the fluorescent staining of F‐actin with Phalloidin and the quantification of RhoA activation through immunoprecipitation or pull‐down assays, we show that RhoA is activated after stimulation of alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid receptors and leads to the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton of Bergmann fibers. This reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is reflected in the form of an increase in the intensity of the F‐actin staining as well as in the loss of the number of Bergmann fibers stained with Phalloidin. Moreover, using a pharmacological approach, we show that activation of RhoA and the change in the intensity of the F‐actin staining depends on the activation of PI3‐K, focal adhesion kinase, and protein kinase C, whereas changes in the number of Bergmann fibers depend on external calcium in a RhoA independent manner. Our findings show that glutamate may induce a form of structural plasticity in Bergmann glia cells through the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. This may have implications in the way the synaptic transmission is processed in the cerebellum.

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Nursing’s professional dignity in palliative care: Exploration of an Italian context
Authors: Stievano Alessandro , Sabatino Laura , Affonso Dyanne , Olsen Douglas , Skinner Isabelle , Rocco Gennaro
Published: December 2018

Aims and objectives

To determine the relevance of nursing's professional dignity in palliative care.

Background

Dignity is a valued concept in the ethical discourse of health disciplines. Nursing's professional dignity, a concept related to professional identity, is not clearly defined nor have its characteristics been delineated for its clinical relevance in palliative care.

Design

A qualitative methodological approach.

Methods

Focus groups elicited dialogues of nursing's professional dignity among 69 nurses working in hospices and home‐care in Italy. Data were content‐analysed via an inductive process. The COREQ checklist for qualitative studies was used for reporting this research.

Results

A central theme related to (a) “Intrinsic dignity of persons” was embedded in the essence of palliative care. Several corollary themes underscored this central theme: (b) Professional (intra‐ and inter) relationships and teamwork; (c) Nursing professionalism; (d) Ethical dilemmas; and (e) Relationships with patients and their significant persons.

Conclusions

Nurses valued the essence of respect as persons and the essence of respect for their work as coherent with intrinsic dignity and work dignity in palliative care. Nurses perceived their psycho‐social relationships with patients and their families as rewarding incentives amidst disputatious interactions with peers and/or other healthcare professionals. They experienced ethical dilemmas, which they perceived as inherent in palliative care.

Relevance to clinical practice

Study findings corroborate the literature regarding the concept of nursing's professional dignity which is intrinsic in respect of the human person. The intrinsic dignity in palliative care manifests as nurses are working in juxtaposition of a demanding yet rewarding care ambience.
Parents’ experiences of videoconference as a tool for multidisciplinary information exchange for children with epilepsy and disability
Authors: Tschamper Merete Kristin , Jakobsen Rita
Published: December 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore the parents’ experiences with the multidisciplinary information exchange between different levels of the health‐ social and school services using videoconference.

Background

Children with epilepsy and disability are in need of long‐term multidisciplinary help and support. The information exchange between the child’s providers of support is challenging. Scant attention has been paid to the parents’ experiences of the information exchange.

Design

A qualitative study with a phenomenological–hermeneutical research approach.

Method

Children with epilepsy and disability had undergone a multidisciplinary assessment in a hospital in the tertiary health service followed by information exchange with each child’s local support service using videoconference. Five parents were interviewed individually within a week after the videoconference. The COREQ checklist was used in the process of reporting on the empirical material.

Results

The increased local participation in the videoconference and the knowledge translation between the professionals made the parents save time, as they did not have to explain the written reports to each provider locally. The impact of technology created an emotional distance to the person on the screen and the information exchanged that some enjoyed while others disliked. The quality of the relationships to the professionals seemed to be crucial for the parents to feel safe talking about sensitive tasks.

Conclusion

The parents prefer videoconference as a tool for information exchange to traditional face‐to‐face meetings as it enables discussions between professionals that might prevent treatment misunderstandings. They experience the method as time‐saving and patient‐centred.

Relevance to clinical practice

Professionals should be aware of the possible side effects of the impact of technology that might affect the interaction and the information exchange in a negative way. The findings are likely to be transferable beyond the current context.
Problems with incident reporting: Reports lead rarely to recommendations
Authors: Liukka Mari , Hupli Markku , Turunen Hannele
Published: December 2018

Aim and objective

To analyse trends in incident reporting over the last 5 years and determine how many reports led to recommendations?

Background

Patient safety incident reporting systems have been used in health care for years. However, they have a significant weakness in that reports often do not lead to any visible action.

Design

The study is a retrospective register study. STROBE checklist was applied in the preparation of the paper.

Methods

Data were collected from a web‐based incident reporting database (HaiPro) for a social‐ and healthcare organisation in Finland, covering the period from 2011–2015.

Results

In total, 16,019 incident reports were analysed. In 2.7% (n = 426) of all reports, there was written recommendation to develop action that such incidents would not happen again. Those reports were classified into seven categories: education, introduction and information, introduction to work, patient care, guidelines, instruments and IT programmes, and the physical environment.

Conclusions

Managers get major amount incident reports. There should be (a) a definition what kind of events should be reported, (b) a definition for how serious events managers have to make a recommendation and (c) control that recommendations are implemented.

Relevance to clinical practice

There is a need for more action to promote patient safety based on incident reports.
Preventing surgical site infections: Facilitators and barriers to nurses’ adherence to clinical practice guidelines—A qualitative study
Authors: Lin Frances , Gillespie Brigid M. , Chaboyer Wendy , Li Yu , Whitelock Karen , Morley Nicola , Morrissey Shirley , O’Callaghan Frances , Marshall Andrea P.
Published: December 2018

Aims

To identify the facilitators of and barriers to nurses’ adherence to evidence‐based wound care clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) in an Australian tertiary hospital.

Background

Current research suggests that up to 50% of nurses are unaware of the evidence‐based recommendations to prevent SSIs and that adherence to evidence‐based CPGs is suboptimal. However, little is known regarding the facilitators and barriers to adherence to evidence‐based CPGs.

Design

A qualitative study incorporating ethnographic data collection techniques.

Methods

Data collection included semi‐structured individual interviews and focus groups (N = 20), and examination of existing hospital policy and procedure documents. Thematic analysis using inductive and deductive approaches was conducted. This manuscript adheres to the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines.

Findings

Data analysis revealed four themes: adhering to aseptic technique, knowledge and information seeking, documenting wound care and educating and involving patients in wound care. Facilitators and barriers within each theme were identified. Facilitators included participants’ active information‐seeking behaviour, a clear understanding of the importance of aseptic technique, and patient participation in wound care. Barriers included participants’ knowledge and skills deficits regarding application of aseptic technique principles in practice, the availability of the hospital's wound care procedure document, suboptimal wound care documentation and the timing of patient education.

Conclusions

There is a need to develop interventions to improve nurses’ adherence to recommended CPGs including following aseptic technique principles, hand hygiene, documentation and patient education. Hospital procedure documents that outline wound care need to reflect current recommended CPGs.

Relevance to clinical practice

Adhering to evidence‐based CPGs has been found to be effective in reducing and preventing SSIs. Our study provides an in‐depth understanding of the barriers and facilitators to nurses’ adherence to recommended CPGs. The findings may inform future practice improvements in wound care.
Napping, functional capacity and satisfaction with life in older adults: A population‐based study
Authors: Guarnieri Ribeiro Bueno Camila , Andrechuk Carla Renata Silva , Guimarães Lima Margareth , Ceretta Oliveira Henrique , Zancanella Edilson , Berti de Azevedo Barros Marilisa , Marchiori de Oliveira Tânia Aparecida , Ceolim Maria Filomena
Published: December 2018

Aim and objective

To analyse the association between napping, functional capacity and satisfaction with life in older adult residing in the community.

Method

A cross‐sectional population‐based study using data from a health survey conducted in a city of the state of São Paulo. Information on sociodemographic and clinical variables was collected through a questionnaire, as well as the occurrence or not of napping and satisfaction with life. Functional capacity was assessed using the Katz Index and Lawton–Brody Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the Rao–Scott chi‐square test and a hierarchical analysis using stepwise backward multiple Poisson regression. p‐Values <0.05 were considered significant. In this paper, we adhere to STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Results

There was predominance of the 60–69 years age group (51.3%) and of females (60.8%). The majority of the older adults (57.5%), of both sexes, reported napping. A higher prevalence of napping was found in the older subjects, the male sex, the subjects without children, those with health problems and those that were partially dependent in instrumental activities of daily living.

Conclusions

The study showed that naps are prevalent in older adults. The need to identify the issues that permeate napping is emphasised, in order to promote health in individuals of this age group, before classifying the practice as beneficial or harmful.

Relevance to clinical practice

It is essential that health professionals, in their practices, consider the complaints and reports of naps in the elderly, in an attempt to detect and reduce possible consequences in activities of daily living.
Strategies in the transfer of varying grades of vitrified‐warmed blastocysts in women aged over 35 years: A propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Park Dong S. , Kim Ji W. , Chang Eun M. , Lee Woo S. , Yoon Tae K. , Lyu Sang W.
Published: December 2018

Aim

For in vitro fertilization, the optimal number of blastocysts to transfer according to blastocyst grade has not been well established, especially with respect to vitrified‐warmed blastocyst transfer (VBT) in women aged over 35 years. This study aimed to compare the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes for three different VBT methods with variable numbers and qualities of blastocysts in women aged over 35 years.

Methods

All VBT cycles were categorized into three groups according to blastocyst grade: GG (two good‐quality blastocysts transferred), GP (one good‐quality blastocyst transferred with one of poor quality) and GS (one good‐quality blastocyst transferred). Blastocysts graded greater than or equal to 3BB were considered good quality. We conducted three 1:1 propensity score‐matched analyses (GG vs GS, GP vs GS and GG vs GP) to compare the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), multiple pregnancy rate (MPR), preterm birth rate and low birthweight rate.

Results

Compared to GS, GG had higher CPR and LBR; however, MPR was also higher with GG. There were no significant differences, except implantation rate and MPR between GP and GS. Although implantation rate and CPR with GG were higher than those with GP, there were no significant differences in LBR and MPR.

Conclusion

To reduce high MPR after double blastocyst transfer methods, single good‐quality blastocyst transfers are recommended in the VBT of women aged over 35 years. Transferring a good blastocyst with a poor one should be avoided because it confers no advantage.
Characterisation of the relationships between rhythmic masticatory muscle activities and limb movements in patients with sleep bruxism
Authors: Han Kangning , Wang Chuanying , Zhong Zhijun , Xu Miao , Zou Xueliang , Yu Bin , Wang Kelun , Yao Dongyuan
Published: December 2018

Background

Most rhythmic masticatory muscle activities (RMMAs) have been shown to be accompanied with limb movements (LMs) in sleep bruxism (SB) patients during sleep.

Objectives

To compare the relationships between RMMAs and LMs in SB patients and normal subjects.

Methods

Polysomnographic recordings were performed on eight SB patients and nine normal subjects and the frequencies and durations of RMMAs as well as LMs were determined. Linear regression and correlation analysis were performed to study the relationship between durations of RMMAs and LMs when RMMAs occurred with LMs.

Results

Most LMs in SB patients, but not in normal subjects, were accompanied with RMMAs. RMMAs in SB patients were more likely to be isolated, phasic or mixed, while RMMAs in normal subjects were more likely to be tonic. The frequencies of LMs, isolated RMMAs and RMMAs accompanied with LMs in SB patients were significantly higher than those in normal subjects. Furthermore, linear regression and correlation analysis showed that duration of RMMAs was significantly associated with that of LMs when RMMAs occurred with LMs. The duration of RMMAs, when accompanied with LMs, in SB patients was significantly longer than that in normal subjects.

Conclusions

Close relationships between LMs and RMMAs exist in SB patients and normal subjects, and SB episodes may be part of cortical arousal responses and the increased cortical activities associated with SB episodes may not just be localised to the central nervous system (CNS) that controls jaw movements but may also include other parts of CNS that controls LMs.
Validity of a visual scoring method using gummy jelly for evaluating chewing efficiency in a large‐scale epidemiological survey
Authors: Igarashi Kentaro , Watanabe Yutaka , Kugimiya Yoshihiro , Shirobe Maki , Edahiro Ayako , Kaneda Koh , Hasegawa Yoko , Ito Masayasu , Hirano Hirohiko , Sakurai Kaoru , Ono Takahiro , Inagaki Hiroki , Awata Shuichi , Kawai Yasuhiko
Published: December 2018

Background

Several methods exist for objectively evaluating chewing efficiency by using gummy jelly. However, the validity of the subjective visual evaluation of chewing efficiency has not been assessed.

Objective

To verify with an epidemiological study, the validity of a visual scoring method using gummy jelly by testing the relationship between masticatory performance (MP) using a fully automatic measuring system and visual score (VS) using a visual scoring method.

Methods

Community‐dwelling elderly individuals (n = 1234) ≥70 years old participated. One evaluator measured VS consecutively after participants chewed the gummy jelly (ie, actual‐VS). The chewed jelly was photographed. Two evaluators used the photograph to measure the gummy jelly (ie, photo‐VS). To test the validity of both methods, the correlation between actual‐VS and MP and between photo‐VS and MP were analysed. Inter‐rater reliability between the evaluators of photo‐VS was analysed.

Results

Significant correlations existed between actual‐VS and MP and between photo‐VS and MP (r = 0.86‐0.87; P < 0.001). The intra‐class correlation coefficient of the inter‐rater reliability for photo‐VS was very high (0.93; P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.877‐0.953); however, the distribution of photo‐VS deviated slightly from the actual‐VS. A large coefficient of variation in the MP for low VSs suggested the influence of incomplete comminution, which was not reflected by the VS, and the accidental swallowing of small pieces during chewing.

Conclusion

The VS deviated slightly from the MP calculated using a fully automated method; however, the VS can be utilised for epidemiological surveys with numerous participants.
Prediction of the varices needing treatment with non‐invasive tests in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease
Authors: Lee Han Ah , Kim Seung Up , Seo Yeon Seok , Lee Young‐Sun , Kang Seong Hee , Jung Young Kul , Kim Moon Young , Kim Ji Hoon , Kim Sang Gyune , Suk Ki Tae , Jung Soung Won , Jang Jae Young , An Hyonggin , Yim Hyung Joon , Um Soon Ho
Published: December 2018

Backgrounds & Aims

The Baveno VI guidelines proposed criteria including liver stiffness (LS) and platelet count to avoid screening endoscopy in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). This study was performed to validate the Baveno IV criteria and to compare its diagnostic accuracy with other non‐invasive models.

Methods

Patients with cACLD who underwent laboratory tests, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and abdominal ultrasound within 6 months of transient elastography were included.

Results

A total of 1218 patients with cACLD were included. VNT occurred in 249 patients (20.4%). With the Baveno VI criteria, the VNT miss rate was 1.9% with a 25.7% saved endoscopy rate. Using two criteria of LS <20 kPa and platelet count >110 × 109 cells/L or LS <25 kPa and platelet count >120 × 109 cells/L, the saved endoscopy rate was 39.1% while maintaining the VNT miss rate <5%. The optimal LS and platelet count‐based criteria for predicting VNT differed according to the underlying liver disease. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of LS‐spleen diameter to platelet score (LSPS) was 0.780 (95% confidence interval: 0.774‐0.820), which was significantly higher than other models. The optimal cut‐off value of the LSPS for predicting VNT was 1.47.

Conclusion

Liver stiffness and platelet count‐based criteria are useful for discriminating patients with very low risk of having VNT among patients with cACLD and are partly affected by the type of underlying liver disease. Conversely, the LSPS is a predictor of VNT in patients with cACLD regardless of the type of underlying liver disease.
Gender‐related issues in the pharmacology of new anti‐obesity drugs
Authors: Cataldi Mauro , Muscogiuri Giovanna , Savastano Silvia , Barrea Luigi , Guida Bruna , Taglialatela Maurizio , Colao Annamaria
Published: December 2018

Four new medicines—liraglutide, lorcaserin, bupropion/naltrexone, and phentermine/topiramate—have been recently added to the pharmacological arsenal for obesity treatment and could represent important tools to manage this epidemic disease. To achieve satisfactory anti‐obesity goals, the use of these new medicines should be optimized and tailored to specific patient subpopulations also by applying dose adjustments if needed. In the present review, we posit that gender could be among the factors influencing the activity of the new obesity drugs both because of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors. Although evidence from premarketing clinical studies suggested that no dose adjustment by gender is necessary for any of these new medicines, these studies were not specifically designed to identify gender‐related differences. This observation, together with the strong theoretical background supporting the hypothesis of a gender‐dimorphic response, strongly call upon an urgent need of new real‐life data on gender‐related difference in the pharmacology of these new obesity drugs.
Crosstalk between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiometabolic syndrome
Authors: Lim Soo , Taskinen Marja‐Riitta , Borén Jan
Published: December 2018

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic condition characterized by fat accumulation combined with low‐grade inflammation in the liver. A large body of clinical and experimental data shows that increased flux of free fatty acids from increased visceral adipose tissue and de novo lipogenesis can lead to NAFLD and insulin resistance. Thus, individuals with obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidaemia are at the greatest risk of developing NAFLD. Conversely, NAFLD is a phenotype of cardiometabolic syndrome. Notably, researchers have discovered a close association between NAFLD and impaired glucose metabolism and focused on the role of NAFLD in the development of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, recent studies provide substantial evidence for an association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic disorders. Even if NAFLD can progress into severe liver disorders including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, the majority of subjects with NAFLD die from cardiovascular disease eventually. In this review, we propose a potential pathological link between NAFLD/NASH and cardiometabolic syndrome. The potential factors that can play a pivotal role in this link, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, alteration in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, genetic predisposition, and gut microbiota are discussed.
Efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone administered preoperatively and postoperatively on pain, swelling, and trismus following third molar surgery. A comparative study
Authors: Giri K.Y. , Joshi A. , Rastogi S. , Dandriyal R. , Indra B Prasad N. , Singh H.P. , Ahmed T. , Mall S. , Choudhary S.
Published: December 2018

Aim

To demonstrate the preventative therapeutic effect of pre‐operative and post‐operative intravenous 8 mg of dexamethasone on post‐operative pain, swelling and trismus after the surgical extraction of mandibular third molars.

Materials and methods

A randomised clinical trial was conducted on of 100 healthy participants (group I pre‐operative and group II post‐operative) with unilateral impacted lower third molars, average age 27.7 ± 9.7 years with no local or systemic problems were operated under local anaesthesia. Group I received 8 mg intravenous 1 hour pre‐operatively and group II received 8 mg intravenous dose of dexamethasone at the end of procedure. Post‐operative pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the degree of swelling was evaluated through facial reference point variation. The presence of trismus was analysed through measurement of the inter‐incisal distance (IID). These assessments were obtained before the operation and 48 hour and 7th post‐operative day.

Results

No significant differences were observed in facial swelling and trismus among pre‐operative and post‐operative IV 8 mg doses after the surgery (student t‐test; P > 0.05). The visual analogue scale scores for pain assessment showed no clinically or statistically significant differences in both groups (student t test; P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Pre‐operative administration of 8 mg intravenous dexamethasone is as effective as 8 mg IV post‐operative dexamethasone with no clinically or statistically significant differences in the final outcomes of the third molar surgery.
Analgesic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on modified 2010 criteria‐diagnosed fibromyalgia: Pilot study
Authors: Cheng Chih‐Ming , Wang Shuu‐Jiun , Su Tung‐Ping , Chen Mu‐Hong , Hsieh Jen‐Chuen , Ho Shung‐Tai , Bai Ya‐Mei , Kao Nien‐Tzu , Chang Wen‐Han , Li Cheng‐Ta
Published: December 2018

Aim

Fibromyalgia is often comorbid with depression, and less than half those patients achieve satisfactory improvement after adequate pharmacological intervention. The investigation of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for modified‐2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia and major depressive disorder (MDD) is still in its infancy.

Methods

In this double‐blind, randomized, sham‐control study, subjects diagnosed with ACR‐2010 fibromyalgia and DSM‐IV‐TR MDD were recruited and received either active or sham interventions for 2 weeks. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the 10‐cm visual analogue pain scale were evaluated at baseline, week 1, and week 2. Multivariable generalized estimating equations analysis was performed for the association between depression and pain scores at each checkpoint.

Results

Twenty subjects were recruited. There was a significant difference over the 2 weeks between the rTMS and sham stimulation groups (P = 0.029), but subgroup analyses were further performed due to significant interaction of group and HDRS on pain outcomes (P = 0.020). The active group had significant improvement in pain at week 2 compared with week 1 (P = 0.021), but the control group did not have any improvement in pain (P = 0.585). Of the mild–moderate depression patients, the pain score in the active group was significantly lower than in the sham group at week 1 (P = 0.001) and at week 2 (P < 0.001). For the severe depression group, there was significantly lower pain over the 2 weeks in the active group (P = 0.045) but the sham group had significantly relapsing pain at week 2 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Left prefrontal rTMS has an analgesic effect in modified‐ACR 2010‐defined fibromyalgia and MDD patients. Further investigation is required, however, in order to determine how to regulate the different rTMS treatment protocols according to individual baseline depression severity in patients with MDD and fibromyalgia.
Equity or Efficiency? Explaining Public Officials' Values
Authors: Fernández‐Gutiérrez Marcos , Van de Walle Steven
Published: December 2018

This article analyzes the positions of top public officials on an equity‐efficiency trade‐off and the determinants of those positions. It uses data from a survey across 14 European countries. The results show that differences in public officials' positions on equity‐efficiency are related to the context in which they work and to their personal background. Officials at the top of the hierarchy and those with a business or economics education are more oriented toward efficiency. Additionally, results show important differences associated with country administrative culture, including a stronger equity orientation in Scandinavian countries, and a stronger efficiency orientation in Southern European countries. The positions of public officials reflect those held by citizens in their country, confirming the contextualized nature of administrative values. This article contributes to understanding the determinants of public officials' dominant values.
The Political Power of Large‐Scale Farmers and Land Inequality: Some Evidence from Poland
Authors: Fałkowski Jan , Bukowska Grażyna , Wójcik Piotr
Published: December 2018

Given current political concerns with inequality and the sustainable management of natural resources, the issue of the distribution of productive assets in rural areas has become an increasingly important focus of research. Referring to both ample historical evidence and qualitative research, rural sociologists have long postulated that the distribution of economic resources is strongly influenced by the distribution of political power. In this article we support this claim with quantitative analysis. Our focus is on the relationship between land inequality and the attainment of political power by large‐scale farmers in rural Poland. Our findings suggest a strong statistical association between the current level of land inequality and the fact that mayors operate relatively large land holdings themselves. Our results are qualitatively the same no matter whether we measure land inequality as the share of land used by the largest landholders or the land Gini index. They also hold in several robustness checks.
High prevalence of self‐reported tuberculosis and associated factors in a nation‐wide census among prison inmates in Peru
Authors: Salazar‐De La Cuba Ana L. , Ardiles‐Paredes Diana F. , Araujo‐Castillo Roger V. , Maguiña Jorge L.
Published: December 2018

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of self‐reported tuberculosis TB diagnosed at Peruvian correctional facilities (CFs), and their associated factors.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study based on secondary analysis of the National Census held in all Peruvian CFs in 2016. Outcome was defined as self‐reported TB diagnosed by a healthcare professional intra‐penitentiary. A descriptive bivariate analysis was carried out, followed by multivariate analysis using Poisson regression in order to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (PRa). Additionally, a mixed effects multilevel model adjusted by CFs as clusters was performed.

Results

Of 77 086 prison inmates in 66 CFs participated in the original census, of which 69 890 were included. Of these, 1754 self‐reported TB diagnosed intra‐penitentiary, yielding a prevalence of 2510/100 000 PDL. In the final model, self‐reported TB was associated with younger age, male gender, lower educational level, not having a stable partner, having prison readmissions and having relatives in prison. There was also strong association with HIV/AIDS (PRa 2.77; 1.84–4.18), STIs (PRa 2.13; 1.46–3.10), DM (PRa 1.99; 1.59–2.50) and recreational drugs use (PRa 1.41; 1.23–1.61). The mixed model showed significant variance for belonging to different CFs (2.13; 1.02–4.44) and CF overcrowding (3.25; 1.37–7.71).

Conclusions

Self‐reported TB prevalence found was higher than reported by other lower/lower‐middle income countries. Demographic factors, individual clinical features and overcrowding increases the likelihood of self‐reported TB.
The volatility effect of diaspora's location
Authors: Rougier Éric , Yol Nicolas
Published: December 2018

Remittances can transmit volatility from host to home countries for some common patterns of diaspora's geographical distribution. In a migration portfolio model, the overall risk of volatility of any set of diaspora location is decomposed into a contagion and a concentration risks: a diaspora located in more volatile destinations induces a higher contagion risk, while a diaspora located in few destination countries increases the concentration risk. A series of estimations on a large panel of developing countries over 1995–2015 provide evidence for these two risks. Estimation of a structural model confirms that the geography of diaspora has an indirect impact on the origin country's aggregate instability through remittances.
Insomnia is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the clinical setting
Authors: LeBlanc Erin S , Smith Ning X , Nichols Gregory A , Allison Michael J , Clarke Gregory N
Published: December 2018

Objective

To determine the possible association between insomnia and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the naturalistic clinical setting.

Research design and methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the risk of developing T2DM among patients with pre-diabetes with and without insomnia. Participants with pre-diabetes (identified by a physician or via two laboratory tests) between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2015 and without sleep apnea were followed until December 31, 2016. Patients were determined to have T2DM when two of the following occurred within a 2-year window: physician-entered outpatient T2DM diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-9 250.00; ICD-10 E11), dispensing of an antihyperglycemia agent, and hemoglobin A1c (A1c) >6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) >125 mg/dL. One hospital inpatient stay with an associated T2DM diagnosis was also sufficient for classification of T2DM.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 81 233 persons with pre-diabetes, 24 146 (29.7%) of whom had insomnia at some point during the 4.3-year average observation period. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, those with insomnia were 28% more likely to develop T2DM than those without insomnia (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.33). The estimate was essentially unchanged after adjusting for baseline A1c level (HR 1.32; 95% CI 1.25 to 1.40) or FPG (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.23 to 1.33).

Conclusions

Insomnia imparts an increased risk of T2DM comparable with that conferred by traditional risk factors (eg, overweight, non-white race, cardiovascular risk factors). This association could have clinical importance because it suggests a new potentially modifiable risk factor that could be targeted to prevent diabetes.﻿﻿
Persisting new nodules in incidence rounds of the NELSON CT lung cancer screening study
Authors: Walter Joan E , Heuvelmans Marjolein A , ten Haaf Kevin , Vliegenthart Rozemarijn , van der Aalst Carlijn M , Yousaf-Khan Uraujh , van Ooijen Peter M A , Nackaerts Kristiaan , Groen Harry J M , De Bock Geertruida H , de Koning Harry J , Oudkerk Matthijs
Published: December 2018

Background

The US guidelines recommend low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals. New solid nodules after baseline screening are common and have a high lung cancer probability. Currently, no evidence exists concerning the risk stratification of non-resolving new solid nodules at first LDCT screening after initial detection.

Methods

In the Dutch-Belgian Randomized Lung Cancer Screening (NELSON) trial, 7295 participants underwent the second and 6922 participants the third screening round. We included participants with solid nodules that were registered as new or <15 mm³ (study detection limit) at previous screens and received additional screening after initial detection, thereby excluding high-risk nodules according to the NELSON management protocol (nodules ≥500 mm3).

Results

Overall, 680 participants with 1020 low-risk and intermediate-risk new solid nodules were included. A total of 562 (55%) new solid nodules were resolving, leaving 356 (52%) participants with a non-resolving new solid nodule, of whom 25 (7%) were diagnosed with lung cancer. At first screening after initial detection, volume doubling time (VDT), volume, and VDT combined with a predefined ≥200 mm3 volume cut-off had high discrimination for lung cancer (VDT, area under the curve (AUC): 0.913; volume, AUC: 0.875; VDT and ≥200 mm3 combination, AUC: 0.939). Classifying a new solid nodule with either ≤590 days VDT or ≥200 mm3 volume positive provided 100% sensitivity, 84% specificity and 27% positive predictive value for lung cancer.

Conclusions

More than half of new low-risk and intermediate-risk solid nodules in LDCT lung cancer screening resolve. At follow-up, growth assessment potentially combined with a volume limit can be used for risk stratification.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN63545820; pre-results.
Bidirectional Variable-Order de Bruijn Graphs
Authors: Belazzougui Djamal , Gagie Travis , Mäkinen Veli , Previtali Marco , Puglisi Simon J.
Published: December 2018

Compressed suffix trees and bidirectional FM-indexes can store a set of strings and support queries that let us explore the set of substrings they contain, adding and deleting characters on both the left and right, but they can use much more space than a de Bruijn graph for the strings. Bowe et al.’s BWT-based de Bruijn graph representation (Proc. Workshop on Algorithms for Bioinformatics, pp. 225–235, 2012) can be made bidirectional as well, at the cost of increasing its space usage by a small constant, but it fixes the length of the substrings. Boucher et al. (Proc. Data Compression Conference, pp. 383–392, 2015) generalized Bowe et al.’s representation to support queries about variable-length substrings, but at the cost of bidirectionality. In this paper we show how to make Boucher et al.’s variable-order implementation of de Bruijn graphs bidirectional.
An Attention-Based Spiking Neural Network for Unsupervised Spike-Sorting
Authors: Bernert Marie , Yvert Blaise
Published: December 2018

Bio-inspired computing using artificial spiking neural networks promises performances outperforming currently available computational approaches. Yet, the number of applications of such networks remains limited due to the absence of generic training procedures for complex pattern recognition, which require the design of dedicated architectures for each situation. We developed a spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) spiking neural network (SSN) to address spike-sorting, a central pattern recognition problem in neuroscience. This network is designed to process an extracellular neural signal in an online and unsupervised fashion. The signal stream is continuously fed to the network and processed through several layers to output spike trains matching the truth after a short learning period requiring only few data. The network features an attention mechanism to handle the scarcity of action potential occurrences in the signal, and a threshold adaptation mechanism to handle patterns with different sizes. This method outperforms two existing spike-sorting algorithms at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and can be adapted to process several channels simultaneously in the case of tetrode recordings. Such attention-based STDP network applied to spike-sorting opens perspectives to embed neuromorphic processing of neural data in future brain implants.
Infrared effects and the soft photon theorem in massive QED
Authors: Govindarajan T. R. , Kalyanapuram Nikhil
Published: December 2018

Stueckelberg QED with massive photon is known to be renormalizable. But the limit of the mass going to zero is interesting because it brings the resolution to infrared questions through the role of Stueckelberg field at null infinity in addition to providing new asymptotic symmetries. Such symmetries facilitate the soft photon theorems also.
Hierarchical structures of coated TiO2 nanoribbons with photodegradation and sedimentation properties
Authors: Ariyanti Dessy , Dong Junzhe , Gao Wei
Published: December 2018

TiO2 hierarchical structure composed of H2Ti3O7 nanoribbons and TiO2 anatase nanoparticles was synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal process, including the recrystallization of TiO2 precursor into nanoribbons and the subsequent deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on nanoribbon surface. The coated nanoribbons exhibited a good photocatalytic activity to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB) with a kinetics constant of 0.0269/min, 10 times higher than that of the as-produced nanoribbon (0.0026/min). They also possess good sedimentation properties compared to the pristine TiO2 anatase particles. The excellent photocatalytic performance together with sedimentation property makes these hybrid nanostructures effective and recyclable photocatalysts for wastewater treatment in industrial applications.
Mechanical response of the Cr3C2–NiCr coating-substrate system during nanoindentation process
Authors: Zhang Yongang , Zou Yong , Huang Saifang , Gao Wei
Published: December 2018

The coating deformation behavior and stress evolution of the plasma sprayed Cr3C2–NiCr coating during nanoindentation process were analyzed by finite element modeling based on its real elastic-plastic properties. The effects of indentation depth and the coating thickness on the mechanical response of the coating were studied. The results show that once the indentation depth exceeded 13% of the coating thickness, the coating material near the indenter was extruded and piled up on the top surface. Meanwhile, high equivalent stress was developed along the coating-substrate interface rather than inside the coating. Even when the indentation depth was smaller than 13% of the coating thickness, the substrate still influences the mechanical behavior of the coating, inducing different reaction force to the indenter.
Investigation of porosity in rotating laser-MIG hybrid welding A6N01 aluminum alloy
Authors: Yin Yanjie , Chen Hui , Yang Xiaoyi , He Shuang
Published: December 2018

In this study, rotating laser was employed to reduce the porosity defect in laser-MIG hybrid welding A6N01 aluminum alloy. The influence of laser rotating frequency and rotating radius on the weld were researched respectively. The images of the molten pool were acquired by the high-speed camera, and X-ray images of the weld were calculated by binarization. The result shows that rotating laser-MIG hybrid welding has a dramatic effect on suppressing the generation of porosity, which indicates the possibility to obtain the A6N01 aluminum alloy weld with few pores. With proper parameters about rotation frequency (50 Hz) and rotation radius (2 mm), the porosity decreased obviously from 8.41% to 5.68%, and there was hardly distinct change in the weld penetration. The keyhole stability of rotating laser-MIG hybrid welding was improved, compared with the conventional laser-MIG hybrid welding. On account of laser beam stirring the metal molten pool, it was beneficial for the pores to escape from the molten pool. The rotating laser-MIG hybrid welding shows a good prospect.
Dynamic Ensemble Selection and Data Preprocessing for Multi-Class Imbalance Learning
Authors: Cruz Rafael M. O. , Souza Mariana A. , Sabourin Robert , Cavalcanti George D. C.
Published: December 2018

Class imbalance refers to classification problems in which many more instances are available for certain classes than for others. Such imbalanced datasets require special attention because traditional classifiers generally favor the majority class which has a large number of instances. Ensemble of classifiers has been reported to yield promising results. However, the majority of ensemble methods applied to imbalance learning are static ones. Moreover, they only deal with binary imbalanced problems. Hence, this paper presents an empirical analysis of Dynamic Selection techniques and data preprocessing methods for dealing with multi-class imbalanced problems. We considered five variations of preprocessing methods and 14 Dynamic Selection schemes. Our experiments conducted on 26 multi-class imbalanced problems show that the dynamic ensemble improves the AUC and the [Formula: see text]-mean as compared to the static ensemble. Moreover, data preprocessing plays an important role in such cases.
Facial Emotion Recognition Using an Ensemble of Multi-Level Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Nguyen Hai-Duong , Yeom Soonja , Lee Guee-Sang , Yang Hyung-Jeong , Na In-Seop , Kim Soo-Hyung
Published: December 2018

Emotion recognition plays an indispensable role in human–machine interaction system. The process includes finding interesting facial regions in images and classifying them into one of seven classes: angry, disgust, fear, happy, neutral, sad, and surprise. Although many breakthroughs have been made in image classification, especially in facial expression recognition, this research area is still challenging in terms of wild sampling environment. In this paper, we used multi-level features in a convolutional neural network for facial expression recognition. Based on our observations, we introduced various network connections to improve the classification task. By combining the proposed network connections, our method achieved competitive results compared to state-of-the-art methods on the FER2013 dataset.
A Text Classification Algorithm Based on Improved Multidimensional–Multiresolution Topological Pattern Recognition
Authors: Li Zhichao , Huang Jilin
Published: December 2018

Traditional pattern recognition is based on “optimal partition” and the goal is to find an optimal classification interface based on the distribution of each category in high-dimensional space, thus has its inherent shortcomings and deficiencies. While topology pattern recognition can effectively compensate for the shortcomings of traditional pattern recognition, topological pattern recognition is based on “cognition” and the goal is to find the appropriate cover according to the “complex set cover” in high-dimensional space to achieve cognitive effect. Topological pattern recognition can effectively consummate the characteristics of high error rate, low recognition rate and repetitive training in the existing recognition system with low training sample number. At present, topology pattern recognition has been applied in many areas of social life. However, one problem that can’t be ignored is that topological pattern recognition requires a long training time and low fault tolerance rate. Therefore, this paper proposes an improved multidimensional–multiresolution topological pattern recognition, and applies it to text classification and recognition. The results show that the improved multidimensional–multiresolution topological pattern recognition method can effectively reduce the training time of text classification and improve the classification efficiency.