bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neighborhood walkability and risk of gestational diabetes
Authors: Kew Simone , Ye Chang , Mehmood Sadia , Hanley Anthony J , Sermer Mathew , Zinman Bernard , Retnakaran Ravi
Published: February 2020

Objective

Higher neighborhood walkability has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by promoting greater physical activity (thereby reducing weight and lowering insulin resistance). However, it is not known if walkability may similarly reduce maternal risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which arises in the setting of the severe physiologic insulin resistance of pregnancy. Indeed, the insulin resistance of pregnancy is primarily driven by placental hormones and not maternal weight gain. Thus, we sought to evaluate the impact of neighborhood walkability on maternal risk of GDM and the pathophysiologic determinants thereof (insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function).

Methods

In this study, 1318 women reported their pregravid physical activity (Baecke questionnaire) while undergoing an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at mean 29.3 weeks’ gestation. The OGTT identified 290 women with GDM and enabled assessment of insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function. Based on their residential Walk Score, the women were stratified into the following four established categories of neighborhood walkability: car dependent (n=328), somewhat walkable (n=315), very walkable (n=406), and walker’s paradise (n=269).

Results

There was a progressive increase in pregravid total physical activity (p=0.002), non-sport leisure-time activity (p=0.009) and sport activity (p=0.01) across the walkability groups (from car dependent to somewhat walkable to very walkable to walker’s paradise), coupled with a concomitant decline in pre-pregnancy body mass index (p=0.007). However, in pregnancy, the groups did not differ in gestational weight gain (p=0.80). Moreover, the walkability groups also did not differ in mean adjusted insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, or glycemia on the antepartum OGTT. On logistic regression analysis, Walk Score did not predict GDM (OR=1.001, 95% CI 0.995 to 1.007).

Conclusion

Neighborhood walkability is not a significant determinant of maternal risk of GDM. Thus, in contrast to T2DM, the effect of neighborhood design on incidence of GDM will be comparatively modest.
Cohort profile: The prospective study on Chinese elderly with multimorbidity in primary care in Hong Kong
Authors: Zhang Dexing , Sit Regina Wing Shan , Wong Carmen , Zou Dan , Mercer Stewart W , Johnston Marjorie C , Wong Samuel Yeung Shan
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This is an ongoing prospective cohort aiming to examine the biopsychosocial health profiles and predictors of health outcomes of older patients with multimorbidity in primary care in Hong Kong.

Participants

From April 2016 to October 2017, 1077 patients aged 60+ years with at least two chronic diseases were recruited in four public primary care clinics in the New Territories East Region of Hong Kong.

Findings to date

After weighting, the patients had 4.1 (1.8) chronic conditions and 2.5 (1.9) medications on average; 37% forgot taking medication sometimes; 71% rated their health as fair or poor; 17% were frail; 73% reported one (21%) or two or more (52%) body pain areas; 62% were overweight/obese; 23% reported chewing difficulty, 18% reported incontinence; 36% had current stage 1/2 hypertension; 38% had handgrip strength below the cut-off; 10% screened positive in sarcopenia; 17% had mild or severer cognitive impairment; 17% had mild to severe depression; 16% had mild to severe anxiety; 50% had subthreshold to severe insomnia; 28% indicated being lonely; 12% needed help in at least one out of the five daily functions and the EuroQoL-5-Dimensions-5-Level index score was 0.81 (0.20) and its Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was 67.6 (14.6). In the past 12 months, 17% were hospitalised, 92% attended general outpatient clinics, 70% attended specialist outpatient clinics and 10% used elderly daycare centre services, the median out-of-pocket health cost was HK$1000 (US$150). Female and male patients showed significant differences in many biopsychosocial health aspects.

Future plans

With assessments and clinical data, the cohort can be used for understanding longitudinal trajectories of biopsychosocial health profiles of Chinese older patients with multimorbidity in primary care. We are also initially planning cohort studies on factors associated with various health outcomes, as well as quality of life and healthcare use.

Cohort registration number

ChiCTR-OIC-16008477
Urban environment and mental health: the NAMED project, protocol for a mixed-method study
Authors: Lauwers Laura , Trabelsi Sonia , Pelgrims Ingrid , Bastiaens Hilde , De Clercq Eva , Guilbert Ariane , Guyot Madeleine , Leone Michael , Nawrot Tim , Van Nieuwenhuyse An , Remmen Roy , Saenen Nelly , Thomas Isabelle , Keune Hans
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Mental health issues appear as a growing problem in modern societies and tend to be more frequent in big cities. Where increased evidence exists for positive links between nature and mental health, associations between urban environment characteristics and mental health are still not well understood. These associations are highly complex and require an interdisciplinary and integrated research approach to cover the broad range of mitigating factors. This article presents the study protocol of a project called Nature Impact on Mental Health Distribution that aims to generate a comprehensive understanding of associations between mental health and the urban residential environment.

Methods and analysis

Following a mixed-method approach, this project combines quantitative and qualitative research. In the quantitative part, we analyse among the Brussels urban population associations between the urban residential environment and mental health, taking respondents’ socioeconomic status and physical health into account. Mental health is determined by the mental health indicators in the national Health Interview Survey (HIS). The urban residential environment is described by subjective indicators for the participant’s dwelling and neighbourhood present in the HIS and objective indicators for buildings, network infrastructure and green environment developed for the purpose of this project. We assess the mediating role of physical activity, social life, noise and air pollution. In the qualitative part, we conduct walking interviews with Brussels residents to record their subjective well-being in association with their neighbourhood. In the validation part, results from these two approaches are triangulated and evaluated through interviews and focus groups with stakeholders of healthcare and urban planning sectors.

Ethics and dissemination

The Privacy Commission of Belgium and ethical committee from University Hospital of Antwerp respectively approved quantitative database merging and qualitative interviewing. We will share project results with a wide audience including the scientific community, policy authorities and civil society through scientific and non-expert communication.
Tackling frailty at primary care: evaluation of the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention through a randomised controlled trial: study protocol
Authors: Rivas-Ruiz Francisco , Machón Mónica , Mateo-Abad Maider , Contreras-Fernández Eugenio , Güell Carolina , Baro-Rodríguez Luis , Vrotsou Kalliopi , Quirós-López Raúl , Vergara Itziar
Published: February 2020

Introduction

This project focuses on how frailty is addressed in primary healthcare (PHC) and will evaluate the effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention (considering the appropriateness of the pharmaceutical prescription, the nutritional care provided and the exercise intervention) for persons with frailty, in terms of improving their functional capacity and reducing the incidence of adverse events related to frailty. The final evaluation will be made at 12 months’ follow-up.

Methods and analysis

Pragmatic multicentre cluster randomised controlled clinical trial, single blind with two arms: multifactorial intervention in PHC versus usual follow-up. The randomisation unit is the patient list and the analysis unit is the patient. In addition, a cost-effectiveness study and a qualitative study will be carried out, the latter based on semistructured interviews and focus groups. Two hundred persons (100 per study branch) all aged ≥70 years, presenting frailty, but functionally independent and resident in the community, will be recruited. A baseline evaluation will be carried out prior to the intervention, with follow-up at 6 and 12 months. The main study variables considered will be functional capacity and incidence of adverse events; the secondary variables considered will be the patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status, level of physical activity and drug consumption, together with data on comorbidity, cognitive and affective status and health-related quality of life. Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle using a 5% significance level.

Ethics and dissemination

The study will at all times be conducted in strict accordance with the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki and with the national legislation regulating patients’ autonomy. All patients recruited will be asked to provide written informed consent before taking part in the clinical trial. On completion of the study, the principal investigator expects to publish the results of this research in a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN17143761.
Improving reproductive function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with high-intensity interval training (IMPROV-IT): study protocol for a two-centre, three-armed randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kiel Ida Almenning , Lionett Sofie , Parr Evelyn Bridget , Jones Helen , Røset Maria Aurora Hernandez , Salvesen Øyvind , Vanky Eszter , Moholdt Trine
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. Women with PCOS have a 15-fold higher prevalence of infertility, compared with women without PCOS, independent of body mass index (BMI). A healthy lifestyle is recommended to improve overall health and fertility in PCOS but there is limited evidence on the isolated effects of exercise, especially for reproductive outcomes. Previous findings indicate superior metabolic health benefits after vigorous compared with moderate-intensity exercise. Our primary aim is to determine the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIT) on menstrual frequency, as a proxy of reproductive function, in women with PCOS.

Methods and analysis

The study is a two-centre, randomised, controlled trial with three parallel groups. Women (n=64) from Trondheim (Norway) and Melbourne (Australia) with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) to high-volume HIT, low-volume HIT or a control group with no exercise after stratifying for BMI < or ≥ 27 kg/m2and study centre. Measurements for study end points will be undertaken at baseline, after a 16 week exercise intervention and at 12 months following baseline assessments. The primary outcome measure is menstruation frequency, measured as the number of self-reported menstrual bleedings divided by the number of expected menstrual bleedings during a 12-month period. Secondary outcome measurements include markers of cardiovascular, metabolic and reproductive health, as well as quality of life and adherence to and enjoyment of exercise.

Ethics and dissemination

The Regional Committee Medical Research Ethics, Norway, and The Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee, Australia, have approved the trial protocol. This trial will provide new insight regarding the impact of exercise on fertility in PCOS. We expect this trial to contribute to new therapeutic exercise strategies as part of clinical care for women with PCOS.

Trial registration number

Clinical trial govNCT02419482.
Pharmacist-led intervention to improve medication use in older inpatients using the Drug Burden Index: a study protocol for a before/after intervention with a retrospective control group and multiple case analysis
Authors: Dearing Marci Elizabeth , Bowles Susan , Isenor Jennifer , Kits Olga , Kouladjian O'Donnell Lisa , Neville Heather , Hilmer Sarah , Toombs Kent , Sirois Caroline , Hajizadeh Mohammad , Negus Aprill , Rockwood Kenneth , Reeve Emily
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use is common in older adults and is associated with adverse outcomes such as falls and hospitalisations.

Methods and analysis

This study is a pharmacist-led medication optimisation initiative using an electronic tool (the Drug Burden Index (DBI) Calculator) in four hospital sites in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The study aims to enrol 160 participants between the preintervention and intervention groups. The Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT 2013 checklist) was used to develop the protocol for this prospective interventional implementation study. A preintervention retrospective control cohort and a multiple case study analysis will also be used to assess the effect of intervention implementation. Statistical analysis will involve change in DBI scores and assessment of clinical outcomes, such as rehospitalisation and mortality using appropriate statistical tests including t-test, χ2, analysis of variance and unadjusted and adjusted regression methods.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been granted by the Nova Scotia Health Authority Research Ethics Board. The findings of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT03698487.
Sizing of ballistic arm protection for the VIRTUS body armour and load carriage system
Authors: Breeze Johno , Davis J I , Fryer R N , Lewis E A
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Severe haemorrhage from the arm that is unresponsive to direct pressure necessitates the application of a tourniquet. Detachable arm protection, referred to as brassards, are used by the UK Armed Forces to protect the upper arm from fragmentation threats. However, the coverage they originally provided was based on limited medical evidence. Medical consensus has determined that the dimensions of arm protection should in future be related to how far up the arm a tourniquet can be applied.

Method

CT scans of 120 male Armed Forces personnel were analysed to ascertain the vertical distances from acromion process to the point at which a tourniquet can applied, equating to the anterior axillary fold. These values were statistically compared with those derived from the 2007 UK Military anthropometric survey using a paired t-test. Additional distances were added to account for tourniquet width and slippage, with the total value compared with VIRTUS brassard length.

Results

No significant difference (p<0.01) was found in mean acromion to axilla length (114 mm) compared with that found in the anthropometric survey confirming sample validity. The deltoid insertion lay 24 mm below the axillary fold for the 50th percentile value from CT. Essential arm coverage for the 99th percentile male in this study was calculated as 201 mm.

Conclusions

Based on this research, a single new brassard for the VIRTUS body armour and load carriage system was recommended and manufactured based on the 99th percentile. This is over 30% shorter than the existing VIRTUS brassard, reducing the overall weight burden for the soldier and improving heat dispersion, integration and interoperability. The new brassard has been issued to Armed Forces personnel since October 2018. The reduced mass of ballistic protective material in conjunction with requiring only a single size of brassard has already saved the Ministry of Defence £20 000 in procurement costs.
Is there any association between dietary patterns, food security status and psychiatric disorders among Iranian earthquake victims?
Authors: Janmohammadi Parisa , Daneshzad Elnaz , Alipour Tanaz , Heshmati Javad , Eshaghi Hesam , Mirzaei Khadijeh
Published: February 2020

Background

Diet changes through disasters may affect psychological health as well as general health. The present study aimed to find food security status—that is defined by having enough food for an active, healthy life—dietary patterns and their relationship with probable psychiatric disorders in earthquake survivors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study conducted on 350 women who survived in East Azarbaijan earthquake (At 4:53 am on 11 August 2012). Food frequency questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and food security questionnaire of the US Department of Agriculture were used to assess dietary patterns, psychological and food security status, respectively. P values were considered significant at <0.05.

Results

Four major dietary patterns were defined based on factor analysis. These four dietary patterns explained of 37.09% variation of food intakes. Ten per cent of the population was food secure. There was no significant association between tertiles of major dietary patterns and risk of all psychological disorders (p values>0.05).

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant association between major dietary patterns and psychiatric disorders. Further well-designed studies need to find any significant association.
Surgical rehabilitation of terror-related open globe injuries in the Turkish Military: long-term results
Authors: Guven Soner
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting multiple surgeries, worse visual outcome, eye removal (ER) and vitrectomy requirement in terror-related open-globe injuries (OGI) in the Turkish Military. Secondary purpose is to specify surgery and injury characteristics of terror-related OGI.

Methods

A total of 372 eyes of 251 patients with OGI that occurred during terroristic attacks between January 1996 and January 2016 were included in the study. A retrospective investigation of the preoperative variables associated with further surgeries, visual outcome, vitrectomy requirement and evisceration/enucleation was achieved.

Results

A total of 1118 separate operative sessions with a median of 2 (1–14) surgeries were performed to 372 eyes. Preoperative factors predicting follow-up surgery included visual acuity (VA) <20/200, lens injury, vitreous haemorrhage (VH), presence of vitreous prolapse. Baseline VA <20/200, initial retinal detachment and ruptured globe injury were the independent factors of worse visual result. Ruptured globe injury (p:0.000) and initial vitreous prolapse (p:0.001) were significantly linked to ER surgery. Patients required vitrectomy significantly tend to have VH (p:0.000) and zone 3 injury (p:0.000) compared with non-vitrectomy group. Single surgery cases tend to have significantly better baseline (p:0.000) and final VA (p:0.007) and shorter follow-up period (p:0.000) compared with multiple surgery group.

Conclusions

Terror-related OGI necessitate remarkable surgical follow-up and multiple surgery sessions with a relatively higher evisceration/enucleation rate than other types of OGI. A comprehensive surgical approach with multiple surgery types is needed to treat terror-related OGI.
Early diagnosis of nerve agent exposure with a mobile test kit and implications for medical countermeasures: a trigger to react
Authors: Wille Timo , Djordjević Snezana , Worek Franz , Thiermann Horst , Vučinić Slavica
Published: February 2020

Recent uses of nerve agents underline the need of early diagnosis as trigger to react (initiating medical countermeasures, avoiding cross-contamination). As organophosphorus (OP) pesticide poisoning exerts the same pathomechanism, that is, inhibition of the pivotal enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a portable cholinesterase (ChE) test kit was applied in an emergency room for rapid diagnosis of OP poisoning. OP nerve agents or pesticides result in the inhibition of AChE. As AChE is also expressed on erythrocytes, patient samples are easily available. However, in most clinics only determination of plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is established which lacks a pathophysiological correlate, shows higher variability in the population and behaves different regarding inhibition by OP and reactivation by oximes. The ChE test kit helped to diagnose atypical cases of OP poisoning, for example, missing of typical muscarinic symptoms, and resulted in administration of pralidoxime, the oxime used in Serbia. The ChE test kit also allows an initial assessment whether an oxime therapy is successful. In one case report, AChE activity increased after oxime administration indicating therapeutic success whereas BChE activity did not. With only BChE at hand, this therapeutic effect would have been missed. As inhibition of AChE or BChE activity is determined, the CE-certified device is a global diagnostic tool for all ChE inhibitors including carbamates which might also be misused as chemical weapon. The ChE test kit is a helpful point-of-care device for the diagnosis of ChE inhibitor poisoning. Its small size and easy menu-driven use advocate procurement where nerve agent and OP pesticide exposure are possible.
Education and clinical decision support for healthcare professionals on emergency preparedness for extremely dangerous pathogens: report of a conference workshop
Authors: Walsh Kieran , Seyidov N , Wroczynski M , Payne G , Bhagavatheeswaran L
Published: February 2020

Clinical decision support and e-learning will be essential if we are to achieve the goal of preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases caused by extremely dangerous pathogens. However, these resources on their own will not be enough to achieve this outcome. To achieve this outcome, resources must be integrated into undergraduate and postgraduate educational curricula, accredited as part of continuous professional development programmes, built around the knowledge and skills gaps of learners and developed using an evidence-based methodology that will enable healthcare professionals to put their learning into action for the benefit of both patients and populations. This article describes and contextualises the personal views discussed at a workshop on education and clinical decision support for healthcare professionals reacting to an infectious disease outbreak from extremely dangerous pathogens.
Resting heart rate and incident venous thromboembolism: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Awotoye Josephine , Fashanu Oluwaseun E , Lutsey Pamela L , Zhao Di , O'Neal Wesley T , Michos Erin D
Published: February 2020

Objective

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Resting heart rate (RHR), which may be modifiable through lifestyle changes, has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk and with inflammatory markers that have been predictive of VTE incidence.

Methods

We examined whether RHR is also associated with VTE incidence independent of these risk factors. We studied 6479 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants free from clinical VTE at baseline who had baseline RHR ascertained by 12-lead ECG. VTE events were recorded from hospital records and death certificates using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes. We categorised RHR as <60, 60–69, 70–79 and ≥80 bpm. We used Cox hazard models to determine the association of incident VTE by RHR.

Results

Participants had mean (SD) age of 62 (10) years and RHR of 63 (10) bpm. RHR was cross-sectionally correlated with multiple inflammatory and coagulation factors. There were 236 VTE cases after a median follow-up of 14 years. Compared with those with RHR<60 bpm, the HR (95% CI) for incident VTE for RHR≥80 bpm was 2.08 (1.31 to 3.30), after adjusting for demographics, physical activity, smoking, diabetes and use of atrioventricular (AV)-nodal blockers, aspirin and anticoagulants, and remained significant after further adjustment for inflammatory markers (2.05 (1.29 to 3.26)). Results were similar after excluding those taking AV-nodal blocker medications. There was no effect modification of these associations by sex or age.

Conclusion

Elevated RHR was positively associated with VTE incidence after a median of 14 years; this association was independent of several traditional VTE and inflammatory markers.
PhenX: Vector measures for tobacco regulatory research
Authors: Ribisl Kurt M , Chaloupka Frank J , Kirchner Thomas R , Henriksen Lisa , Nettles Destiney S , Geisler Rebecca C , Hendershot Tabitha P , Swan Gary E
Published: February 2020

The PhenX (Phenotypes and eXposures) Toolkit provides researchers with recommended standard consensus measures for use in epidemiological, biomedical, clinical and translational studies. To expand the depth and breadth of measures in the PhenX Toolkit, the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Food and Drug Administration have launched a project to identify ‘Core’ and ‘Specialty’ collections of measures recommended for human subjects studies in tobacco regulatory research (TRR). The current paper addresses the PhenX Toolkit TRR Vector specialty area and describes the 6-month process to identify high-priority, low-burden, scientifically supported consensus measures. Self-reported, interviewer-administered and observational measurements were considered, and input from the research community assisted in justifying the inclusion of 13 tobacco industry-relevant measures (mainly interviewer-administered or self-reported measures) in the PhenX Toolkit. Compared with measures of addiction or the use of tobacco products, assessments of many Vector factors are much newer and at an earlier stage of development. More work is needed to refine and validate measures of the spatial distribution of tobacco retailers, retail environment, price promotions and corporate social responsibility.
Costs of vaping: evidence from ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey
Authors: Cheng Kai-Wen , Shang Ce , Lee Hye Myung , Chaloupka Frank J , Fong Geoffrey T , Borland Ron , Heckman Bryan W , Hitchman Sara C , O'Connor Richard J , Levy David T , Cummings K. Michael
Published: February 2020

Study objectives

To compare the prices paid for nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and supplies among current NVP users to prices paid for cigarettes among current smokers.

Data

The 2016 International Tobacco Control Four Country Vaping and Smoking Survey (4CV1). Key measures included: (1) self-reported prices paid for reusable NVPs (eg, rechargeable devices with cartridges and tank system devices with e-liquids) in the 3-month period prior to the survey among current NVP users, (2) prices paid for disposable NVPs, cartridges and e-liquids purchased in the last 30 days among current NVP users and (3) self-reported prices paid for cigarettes among current smokers.

Results

Disposable NVP price was higher than the price of a comparable unit for combustible cigarettes in England (EN), USA and Canada (CA). Prefilled cartridge price was higher than the price of a comparable unit of cigarettes in USA and CA, but lower in EN and Australia. E-liquid price was consistently lower than the price of a comparable unit of cigarettes across four countries. For start-up costs, price of a rechargeable device is approximately 3–5 times higher than a pack of cigarettes in four countries.

Conclusion

NVP prices were generally higher than prices of combustible cigarettes, especially the high upfront NVP devices. The high upfront costs of purchasing a reusable NVP may discourage some smokers from switching to vaping. However, the average lower costs of cartridges and e-liquids relative to a package of cigarettes make switching to a NVP an attractive alternative to smoking in the long term so long as smokers switch completely to vaping.
Application of autologous cortical bone grafts for femoral non‐union fractures in two dogs
Authors: Muroi Norihiro , Kanno Nobuo , Suzuki Shuji , Harada Yasuji , Hara Yasushi
Published: February 2020

Two dogs with non‐union fractures and osteomyelitis in the femoral diaphysis were referred to the authors’ hospital. During surgery, the defects were reconstructed using autologous cortical bones harvested from the contralateral femoral diaphysis. Graft fixation was performed by a double‐plate technique in both cases. Autogenous cancellous bone was also grafted between the host bone and the graft in both cases. Antibiotics were administered for two to three weeks. In cases 1 and 2, no loosening of the implant or lameness was observed after 31 months and 10 months, respectively. Autologous cortical bone grafts are useful in reconstructing large‐sized bone defects of the femoral diaphysis associated with non‐union fracture and osteomyelitis.
Perinatal mortality in 23 beef herds in Orkney: incidence, risk factors and aetiology
Authors: Norquay Rhona , Orr Jayne , Norquay Bob , Ellis Kathryn Amanda , Mee John F , Reeves Aaron , Scholes Sandra , Geraghty Tim
Published: February 2020

Background

Perinatal mortality in beef calves impacts on profitability and animal welfare, but the incidence and causes in UK herds are not well known.

Methods

Data from 11 herds were analysed to establish the risk factors for and incidence of perinatal mortality (full‐term calves born dead or died within 48 hours). To establish cause of death, 23 herds in total submitted dead calves for postmortem examination (nine herds submitted all calves, 14 herds submitted calves on an ad hoc basis) and the results were reviewed by a panel.

Results

The incidence of perinatal mortality for all 1059 calvings was 5.1 per cent (range 1.6–12.4 per cent across herds; median 4 per cent). The incidence of stillbirth and neonatal mortality was 3.9 per cent (range 0–10.1 per cent) and 1.2 per cent (range 0–2.6 per cent), respectively. Sex of the calf, plurality and level of calving assistance were associated with significantly greater risk of perinatal loss. Parturition‐related deaths (n=20), intrauterine infections (n=13), congenital malformations (n=6) and postpartum infections (n=6) were among the diagnosis recorded from 54 calves investigated. Parturition‐related deaths and congenital malformations were recorded more commonly from herds submitting all losses than from those submitting on an ad hoc basis.

Conclusion

Variation in perinatal incidence across herds exists and many fail to reach the 2 per cent target. Some significant risk factors and common causes of death identified have the potential to decrease perinatal mortality rates through improved herd management.
Effects of dietary mulberry leaf powder on growth performance, blood metabolites, meat quality, and antioxidant enzyme-related gene expression of fattening Hu lambs
Authors: Ouyang Jialiang , Hou Qirui , Wang Mengzhi , Zhao Weiguo , Feng Dan , Pi Yu , Sun Xuezhao
Published: February 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the mulberry [Morus alba var. multicaulis (Perrott.) Loud.] leaf powder (MLP) supplementation in dietary concentrates on growth performance, blood metabolites, meat quality, and antioxidant enzyme (AOE) gene expression in fattening Hu lambs. Forty approximately 3-mo-old Hu lambs (16.5 ± 0.6 kg) were randomly allocated to five groups and fed with concentrates containing 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, or 60% MLP (control, T15, T30, T45, and T60, respectively). The results showed that 15%–30% MLP supplementation maintained growth and carcass performance, and the weight of total stomach, especially of rumen in T15 and T30, were higher than those of the control. Dietary MLP supplementation decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, but increased the high-density lipoprotein levels. Moreover, MLP supplementation improved the longissimus lumborum muscle color (redness), tenderness, and water-holding capacity. It was further observed that 15% MLP supplementation enhanced all AOE mRNA levels apart from that of EPHX1. In summary, dietary MLP supplementation could partially improve the blood metabolites, meat quality, and AOE mRNA levels in the liver of fattening Hu lamb, and the level of 15% supplementation was the most promising.
From Heisenberg–Euler Lagrangian to the discovery of Chromomagnetic Gluon Condensation
Authors: Savvidy George
Published: February 2020

I reexamine the phenomena of the chromomagnetic gluon condensation in Yang–Mills theory. The extension of the Heisenberg–Euler Lagrangian to the Yang–Mills theory allows to calculate the effective action, the energy-momentum tensor and demonstrate that the energy density curve crosses the zero energy level of the perturbative vacuum state at nonzero angle and continuously enters to the negative energy density region. At the crossing point and further down the effective coupling constant is small and demonstrate that the true vacuum state of the Yang–Mills theory is below the perturbative vacuum state and is described by the nonzero chromomagnetic gluon condensate. The renormalisation group analyses allows to express the energy momentum tensor, its trace and the vacuum magnetic permeabilities in QED and QCD in terms of effective coupling constant and Callan–Symanzik beta function. In the vacuum the energy-momentum tensor is proportional to the space-time metric, and it induces a negative contribution to the effective cosmological constant.
Karmarkar scalar condition
Authors: Ospino J. , Núñez L. A.
Published: February 2020

In this work we present the Karmarkar condition in terms of the structure scalars obtained from the orthogonal decomposition of the Riemann tensor. This new expression becomes an algebraic relation among the physical variables, and not a differential equation between the metric coefficients. By using the Karmarkar scalar condition we implement a method to obtain all possible embedding class I static spherical solutions, provided the energy density profile is given. We also analyse the dynamic adiabatic case and show the incompatibility of the Karmarkar condition with several commonly assumed simplifications to the study of gravitational collapse. Finally, we consider the dissipative dynamic Karmarkar collapse and find a new solution family.
A Training Data-Driven Canonical Correlation Analysis Algorithm for Designing Spatial Filters to Enhance Performance of SSVEP-Based BCIs
Authors: Wei Qingguo , Zhu Shan , Wang Yijun , Gao Xiaorong , Guo Hai , Wu Xuan
Published: February 2020

Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is an effective spatial filtering algorithm widely used in steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). In existing CCA methods, training data are used for constructing templates of stimulus targets and the spatial filters are created between the template signals and a single-trial testing signal. The fact that spatial filters rely on testing data, however, results in low classification performance of CCA compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms such as task-related component analysis (TRCA). In this study, we proposed a novel CCA method in which spatial filters are estimated using training data only. This is achieved by using observed EEG training data and their SSVEP components as the two inputs of CCA and the objective function is optimized by averaging multiple training trials. In this case, we proved in theory that the two spatial filters estimated by the CCA are equivalent, and that the CCA and TRCA are also equivalent under certain hypotheses. A benchmark SSVEP data set from 35 subjects was used to compare the performance of the two algorithms according to different lengths of data, numbers of channels and numbers of training trials. In addition, the CCA was also compared with power spectral density analysis (PSDA). The experimental results suggest that the CCA is equivalent to TRCA if the signal-to-noise ratio of training data is high enough; otherwise, the CCA outperforms TRCA in terms of classification accuracy. The CCA is much faster than PSDA in detecting time of targets. The robustness of the training data-driven CCA to noise gives it greater potential in practical applications.
Shared hyperplanes and normal families of holomorphic curves
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Pang Xuecheng
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we continue to discuss the normality of holomorphic curves concerning hyperplanes shared by their derived curves and remove the restriction of the first coefficients of hyperplanes in the case [Formula: see text] and get the following result: Let [Formula: see text] be a family of holomorphic maps of a domain [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be hyperplanes in [Formula: see text] located in general position, where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. Assume the following conditions hold for every [Formula: see text]:

(i) [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. (ii) If [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a constant.

Then [Formula: see text] is normal on [Formula: see text].
Vibration Signal Processing and Weak Information Extraction Method for High-Speed Shaft Fault of Wind Turbine in Wind Shear
Authors: Xu Xiaoli , Liu Xiuli
Published: February 2020

Due to the influence of random wind shear in the atmospheric phenomenon, the random vibration of the main shaft of the wind turbine generator is generated. This vibration signal will be mixed with the misalignment signal of the high-speed shaft, which will cause interference to the fault diagnosis. Based on the analysis of the phenomenon of wind shear and the fault, the independent component analysis was carried out on the high-speed shaft mixed vibration signals on the basis of using rapid fixed point algorithm based on kurtosis, and the weak fault information is extracted successfully. At the same time, this method was compared with the weak information extraction method based on wavelet denoising, which proved the superiority of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the method has good field applicability and has a good application prospect in the field of weak information extraction for rotating machinery of wind power generation.
Prediction and Analysis of Reinforcement Corrosion in Simulated Concrete Pore Solution Based on Neural Network
Authors: Jiang Fengjiao , Gong Jinxin , Zhu Jichao , Wang Huan , Song Weibo
Published: February 2020

The corrosion of reinforcement has always been a problem to be solved in the field of architecture. In this paper, the corrosion characteristics of chromium alloy steel under different pH conditions are studied. The impedance characteristics and equivalent circuit are predicted by neural network model. First of all, in simulated pore solution with different pH values, the characteristics of Nyquist impedance spectroscopy of the whole chromium alloy under passivation stage and the damaged passivation film of reinforcing bars under initial corrosion stage have been found. Then, according to the difference of impedance characteristics under different pH values, different equivalent circuits have been established and [Formula: see text] values of different equivalent circuits under different chloride ion concentration have been calculated. By fitting the electrochemical parameters of the equivalent circuit with [Formula: see text] values, the equivalent circuit model which can be predicted by neural network has good consistency with the equivalent circuit which can be predicted by [Formula: see text] values.
Alphanumeric Pattern Recognition by Memristive Crossbar Circuit using Perceptron Learning Rule
Authors: Khalid Muhammad
Published: February 2020

This paper presents an alphanumeric pattern recognition approach based on memristive crossbar circuit using perceptron learning rule. The proposed approach incorporates a memristive crossbar-based learning and training circuit (TC) module (i.e., synaptic network) and an operational amplifier (op-amp)-based neuron. Alphanumeric patterns, such as alphabets (A–Z) and numerics (0–9), are applied on the TC module and it adjusts the synaptic weights using the perceptron learning rule. The TC module includes 16 inputs, which are interconnected to nine output neurons through memristors. The input and output patterns are represented through [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] matrix pixels, respectively. This proposed circuit has implemented all alphanumeric patterns, such as alphabets (A–Z) and numerics (0–9), successfully. However, only the pattern “A” is illustrated in detail for better understanding. SPICE simulation results supported by analytical calculations of pattern “A” are reported. The average power consumption for the proposed approach using memristor is 77.77% lower than the conventional MOSFET-based approach, apart from significant saving of silicon overhead in contrast to its counterpart approach.
Low-Complexity MIMO MMSE Receiver with Performance Enhancement via Coordinate Interleaving
Authors: Özyurt Serdar , Öztürk Mustafa , Çavuş Enver
Published: February 2020

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Minimum mean-square error (MMSE) receivers are widely adopted in the latest communication standards and reducing the complexity of these receivers while preserving the error performance is highly desirable. In this work, we study the error performance and implementation complexity of MIMO MMSE receivers when combined with a coordinate interleaved signal space diversity (SSD) technique. Contrary to the well-known trade-off between the error performance and implementation complexity, the proposed system leads to a considerably simplified MIMO MMSE receiver with significant performance gains when compared to the original MIMO MMSE receiver. Unlike the standard MIMO MMSE receiver, the proposed coordinate interleaved technique induces a block diagonal transmit correlation matrix providing both performance enhancement and complexity reduction. The results show that the error performance can be improved more than 10[Formula: see text]dB with up to 71% computational complexity reduction. The complexity comparison between the original and proposed approaches is also verified by means of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation.
Estimation of Tumor Characteristics in a Skin Tissue by a Meshless Collocation Solver
Authors: Fu Zhuo-Jia , Chu Wen-Hui , Yang Min , Li Po-Wei , Fan Chia-Ming
Published: February 2020

This paper aims to noninvasively estimate the sizes and locations of tumors via the surface temperature in the skin tissue. The famous 2D Pennes bioheat transfer equation is used to describe the heat transfer behavior in the skin tissue, which is solved by the recently-developed meshless generalized finite difference method (GFDM) in the proposed solver. The hybrid optimization algorithm based on genetic algorithm (GA) and Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LM) is introduced to estimate the sizes and locations of tumors. The efficiency of the proposed GA–LM–GFDM solver is verified under several benchmark examples. Numerical investigation shows that the tumor characteristics can still be accurately estimated with the contaminated temperature data measured on the skin surface.
Simulation of Fluid–Structure Interaction Problems with Thin Elastic Plate via the Coupling of Finite Element and Lattice Boltzmann Methods
Authors: Jiang Fei , Liao Kangping , Matsumura Kazuki , Ohgi Junji , Chen Xian
Published: February 2020

A numerical framework is proposed to couple the finite element (FE) and lattice Boltzmann methods (LBM) for simulating fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems. The LBM is used as an efficient method for solving the weakly-compressible fluid flows. The corotational FE method for beam elements is used to solve the thin plate deformation. The two methods are coupled via a direct-forcing immersed boundary (IB) method with a sub-iteration scheme. A virtual structure method has been developed to improve the computational accuracy. Validations of the proposed coupling method have been carried out by testing a vortex-induced vibration problem. The numerical results are in good agreement with [Li and Favier (2017), “A non-staggered coupling of finite element and lattice Boltzmann methods via an immersed boundary scheme for fluid-structure interaction,” Comput. Fluids 143, 90–102]. The proposed method does not require heavy linear algebra calculation, which is suitable for parallel computation.
Predicting Stability of a Prototype Unbonded Fiber-Reinforced Elastomeric Isolator by Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Ngo Thuyet Van , Dutta Anjan , Deb Sajal Kanti
Published: February 2020

Unbonded fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolator (U-FREI) is an improved device for seismic mitigation of low-rise buildings. The horizontal force — displacement behavior of U-FREI is nonlinear due to rollover deformation and the horizontal stiffness is a function of both vertical load and horizontal displacement. In this paper, stability of a prototype U-FREI is studied based on the dynamic response utilizing finite element (FE) analysis. Furthermore, the horizontal response of the isolator is also evaluated under the design vertical load and increasing horizontal displacement up to [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] is the total thickness of rubber layers) to observe the rollout instability.
Emerging Standards and Analytical Science for Nanoenabled Medical Products
Authors: Nelson Bryant C. , Minelli Caterina , Doak Shareen H. , Roesslein Matthias
Published: February 2020

Development and application of nanotechnology-enabled medical products, including drugs, devices, and in vitro diagnostics, are rapidly expanding in the global marketplace. In this review, the focus is on providing the reader with an introduction to the landscape of commercially available nanotechnology-enabled medical products as well as an overview of the international documentary standards and reference materials that support and facilitate efficient regulatory evaluation and reliable manufacturing of this diverse group of medical products. We describe the materials, test methods, and standards development needs for emerging medical products. Scientific and measurement challenges involved in the development and application of innovative nanoenabled medical products motivate discussion throughout this review.