bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active commute to school: does distance from school or walkability of the home neighbourhood matter? A national cross-sectional study of children aged 10–11 years, Scotland, UK
Authors: Macdonald Laura , McCrorie Paul , Nicholls Natalie , Olsen Jonathan R
Published: December 2019

Objectives

To study the extent to which home-to-school distance and neighbourhood walkability were associated with self-reported active travel to school (ATS) (eg, walking, cycling), and to explore how distance moderates the effect of walkability on ATS, among 10–11 years old.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Data were collected between May 2015 and May 2016 in partnership with the Growing Up in Scotland Study, a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study.

Participants

713 children (male (n=330) and female (n=383) 10–11 years old) from Studying Physical Activity in Children’s Environments across Scotland.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Children who actively travelled to/from school categorised as active all (100% of ATS) and active 60%+ (at least 60% of ATS); home-to-school road/path network distance (<0.5 km, 0.5 to <1 km, 1 to <1.5 km, 1.5 to <2 km, 2 km+); home neighbourhood walkability (i.e., composite measure of road/path intersection density and dwelling density) (in quintiles).

Results

Distance and walkability were both associated with ATS. The likelihood of ATS for all or most journeys decreased with increasing distance. Compared with ‘most’ walkable areas (Q1), the odds of active all were significantly lower within least walkable areas (Q5 OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.99), and odds of active 60%+ were significantly less in Q2–Q5 (lowest odds Q5 OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.47). Regarding walkability and distance interactions, for all distance categories, higher walkability increased the probability of ATS (for most school journeys).

Conclusion

Walkability was positively associated with ATS within all distance categories, with the relationship between walkability and ATS more complex than the clear-cut association between distance and ATS. A more walkable environment had a larger effect on the probability of reaching the 60% threshold of school journeys using ATS than the probability of always travelling in an active manner. Investment is needed in existing less walkable neighbourhoods to provide infrastructure to support opportunities for children’s ATS.
Progression of the Radiologic Severity Index is associated with increased mortality and healthcare resource utilisation in acute leukaemia patients with pneumonia
Authors: Sheshadri Ajay , Godoy Myrna , Erasmus Jeremy J , Gruschkus Stephen , Hasan Arain , Evans Scott E , Barreda-Garcia Javier , Chemaly Roy F , Dickey Burton , Ost David
Published: December 2019

Background

Pneumonia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, but the development of new antimicrobials is lacking. Radiological assessment of pneumonia severity may serve as an effective intermediate endpoint to reduce barriers to successful completion of antimicrobial trials. We sought to determine whether the Radiologic Severity Index (RSI) correlated with mortality and healthcare resource utilisation in patients with acute leukaemia undergoing induction chemotherapy.

Methods

We measured RSI (range 0–72) on all chest radiographs performed within 33 days of induction chemotherapy in 165 haematological malignancy patients with pneumonia. Peak RSI was defined as the highest RSI score within 33 days of induction. We used extended Cox proportional hazards models to measure the association of time-varying RSI with all-cause mortality within the first 33 days after induction chemotherapy, and logistic regression or generalised models to measure the association of RSI with total daily cost and healthcare resource utilisation.

Results

After adjustment for clinical variables, each one-point increase in RSI was associated with a 7% increase in all-cause 33-day mortality (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.09, p<0.0001). Peak RSI values of 37.5 or higher were associated with 86% higher daily direct costs (p<0.0001), more days in intensive care unit (9.9 vs 4.8 days, p=0.001) and higher odds for mechanical ventilation (OR 12.1, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Greater radiological severity as measured by RSI was associated with increased mortality and morbidity in acute leukaemia patients with pneumonia. RSI is a promising intermediate marker of pneumonia severity and is well suited for use in antimicrobial trials.
Influence of HIV status on the management of acute asthma exacerbations
Authors: Adrish Muhammad , Roa Gomez Gabriella , Cancio Rodriguez Enny , Mantri Nikhitha
Published: December 2019

Background

An increased incidence of asthma has been suggested in patients with HIV. We aimed to compare the outcomes of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients following hospital admission for asthma exacerbation.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients hospitalised between January 2015 and December 2017 owing to asthma exacerbation with a known HIV status was conducted.

Results

During the study period, 1242 patients with asthma were admitted. Of these, 462 patients had a known HIV status (358 HIV-negative, 104 HIV-positive) and were included. No differences in baseline demographics, including age, sex, body mass index and underlying comorbid conditions, were identified between the groups except that HIV-negative patients had higher incidence of underlying congestive heart failure. HIV-positive group had a significantly higher serum creatinine levels (1.117 (1.390) vs 0.813 (0.509), p=0.001), higher serum eosinophil levels (492.91 (1789.09) vs 243.70 (338.66), p=0.013) but had lower serum neutrophils (5.74 (3.18) vs 7.194 (3.59), p=0.0002) and lower serum albumin levels (3.754 (0.480) vs 3.94 (0.443), p=0.003) than the HIV-negative group, respectively. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) use was more frequent (54.8% vs 25.4%, p≤0.001) and the length of in-hospital stay (LOS) was longer in HIV-positive vs HIV-negative patients (3.346 days vs 2.813 days, p=0.015); no differences in mechanical ventilation use or intensive care unit admission were noted between the groups. In a subgroup analysis comparing HIV-negative with HIV-positive patients stratified by CD4 count, NIPPV use was more frequent and the LOS was longer in HIV-positive patients with CD4 counts≥200 cellsx 10∧6/L. In a multivariable regression model, HIV-positive status was independently associated with NIPPV use (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.43 to 4.46) and a 0.55 day (95% CI 0.02 to 1.08) longer LOS in hospital.

Conclusions

HIV-positive patients admitted with asthma exacerbation are more likely to require NIPPV and have longer LOS.
Diagnostic computed tomography in acute interscapular pain
Authors: Joshi Shruti S , Hamra Mardi , Newby David E
Published: December 2019

Clinical introduction

A man in his 60s with no medical history presented with sudden-onset, severe interscapular pain. He was in circulatory shock with a blood pressure of 65/30 mm Hg, heart rate of 115 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute and a room air oxygen saturation of 89%. Examination demonstrated weak peripheral pulses, an elevated jugular venous pressure, faint dual heart sounds, no cardiac murmurs and bilateral lung crepitations. An ECG was recorded which showed a broad QRS (figure 1A). There were no previous ECGs to compare this with. In view of his presentation with acute-onset interscapular pain, CT of the aorta was organised by the emergency department clinicians (figure 1B–D). After the CT result was obtained, the on-call cardiologist was contacted and a bedside echocardiogram performed. This demonstrated severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with akinesia of the apex and lateral walls. The patient was then transferred to the catheter laboratory for an emergency invasive coronary angiogram.

Figure 1

ECG and CT images at presentation (A) 12 lead ECG. (B) Contrast enhanced CT aorta - coronal view. (C) Contrast enhanced CT aorta - axial view. (D) CT aorta showing 4 chamber view of the heart.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Pulmonary embolism.

Aortic dissection.

Acute myocardial infarction.

Cardiac tamponade.
FOXO3a is Stabilized by USP18-Mediated de-ISGylation and Inhibits TGF-β1-Induced Fibronectin Expression
Authors: Wang Ban , Li Yanhui , Wang Heather , Zhao Jing , Zhao Yutong , Liu Zhonghui , Ma Haichun
Published: December 2019

FOXO3a belongs to a family of transcription factors characterized by a conserved forkhead box DNA-binding domain. It has been known to regulate various cellular processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Post-translational modifications of FOXO3a and their roles in the regulation of FOXO3a activity have been well-documented. FOXO3a can be phosphorylated, acetylated and ubiquitinated, however, the ISGylation of FOXO3a has not been reported. Protein overexpression, ISGylation and half-life were measured to determine the post-translational modification of FOXO3a. Human fibroblast cells were treated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 to determine the role of FOXO3a ISGylation in TGF-β1 signaling. FOXO3a's half-life is around 3.7 hours. Inhibition of the proteasome, not lysosome, extends its half-life. ISGylation, but not ubiquitination of FOXO3a, is increased in the presence of the proteasome inhibitor. Overexpression of ISG15 increases FOXO3a degradation, while overexpression of USP18 stabilizes FOXO3a through de-ISGylation. These results suggest that FOXO3a is degraded in the ISGylation and proteasome system, which can be reversed by USP18, an ISG15-specific deubiquitinase. This study reveals a new molecular mechanism by which ISGylation regulates FOXO3a degradation. Furthermore, we show that the overexpression of FOXO3a attenuated TGF-β1-induced fibronectin expression in human lung fibroblast cells without altering Smad2/3 expression and activation. FOXO3a can be ISGylated, which can regulate FOXO3a stability. USP18/FOXO3a pathway is a potential target for treating TGF-β1-mediated fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Synthesis of powder metallurgy Ti-3Fe-2Al alloy using high-frequency induction heating
Authors: Raynova Stella , Alsharedah Khaled , Yang Fei , Bolzoni Leandro
Published: December 2019

A powder metallurgy approach was applied for the synthesis of an [Formula: see text] Ti-2Al-3Fe alloy. Blends of the elemental Ti, Al and Fe powders were compacted and subsequently sintered. High-frequency induction heating (HFIH) instead of conventional high-vacuum furnace heating was used for the sintering, due to its high efficiency. The effect of temperature on the level of densification, residual porosity and mechanical properties was studied. Electron dispersive spectrum analysis was used to study the dissolution and homogenization of the alloying elements. The results showed that a short induction sintering (IS) cycle in the range of 10–15 min is sufficient to achieve significant powder consolidation, evident by the increase of the density and mechanical properties. The residual porosity diminishes with the increase of the sintering temperature. Full dissolution of the alloying powders is completed after sintering at temperatures above those of [Formula: see text]- to [Formula: see text]-phase transformation.
Indonesia’s Double Hedging Strategy toward the United States–China Competition: Shaping Regional Order in the Indo-Pacific?
Authors: MUBAH A. SAFRIL
Published: December 2019

This study highlights Indonesia’s strategy in response to the growing competition between the United States and China. In recent years, Indonesia under the administration of President Joko Widodo has played a strategic role in maintaining regional stability in the Indo-Pacific amid inflaming tensions between the two countries. On the basis of an “independent and active” foreign policy with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the center of a concentric circle, Indonesia has employed a hedging strategy to bolster regional stability and foster cooperation among countries in the region. While there may be room for a hedging strategy, it is important to understand how Indonesia has employed this strategy to shape the regional order. This paper argues that Indonesia has adopted a double hedging strategy of economic pragmatism on the one hand and limited bandwagoning on the other. The former includes a deepening of economic cooperation with China through collaboration between Indonesia’s vision of a Global Maritime Fulcrum and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The latter includes keeping the US involved in the Indo-Pacific by proposing its Indo-Pacific concept to regional players without challenging the existing proposals offered by major powers. This paper consists of four sections. The first section introduces the theoretical basis by focusing on Indonesia’s foreign policy ideas as it deals with competition between great powers. The second section discusses the synthesis of Indonesia’s vision of a Global Maritime Fulcrum and concept of the Indo-Pacific. The third section demonstrates how Indonesia has employed its double hedging strategy. The fourth section highlights the conclusions of this study by summarizing Indonesia’s response to competition between the US and China and providing recommendations for further research.
Are Antitakeover Amendments Good for Shareholders? Evidence from the Adoption of Antitakeover Provisions in the Post-SOX Era
Authors: Smith Erin E.
Published: December 2019

By combining a regression discontinuity (RD) design with a novel instrumental variable, I estimate the value of antitakeover provisions (ATPs) adopted between 2006 and 2010. In contrast to evidence from earlier periods, I estimate that, during this recent period, ATP adoption increased shareholder value by approximately 3%. An important challenge to estimating the value of ATPs is that standard RD estimates can be biased if interested parties manipulate vote outcomes. To address this, I exploit exogenous variation in the likelihood of passage that results from “over-votes”, the extra illegitimate votes arising from securities lending practices. Because ATP passage requires affirmative votes from a majority of outstanding shares, rather than of shares voted, over-votes increase the likelihood of passage.
HOW DO INVESTORS PERCEIVE LONG-TERM GROWTH TARGETS AND FORECAST HORIZONS IN STRATEGIC PLANS? EVIDENCE FROM ITALIAN FIRMS
Authors: DI MARTINO GIUSEPPE
Published: December 2019

We examine the information content of strategic-plans’ long-term growth targets (SPLTG) and of strategic-plans’ forecast horizons (SPFH). Using a sample of 224 strategic plan presentations by Italian listed companies during the period 2002–2018, we provide evidence that the SPLTG conveys credible and useful information to investors. We also assume that longer forecast horizons are more uncertain and we find that stock price reaction is negatively associated with long-term forecast horizons. Then, we investigate whether SPLTG presented in conjunction with long-term SPFH are perceived as less credible. The findings document that investors perceive long-term growth targets as credible regardless of the SPFH length. Our study contributes to the current debate on the use of strategic plans as comprehensive disclosure able to provide credible and useful information.
Recent Scalability Improvements for Semidefinite Programming with Applications in Machine Learning, Control, and Robotics
Authors: Majumdar Anirudha , Hall Georgina , Ahmadi Amir Ali
Published: December 2019

Historically, scalability has been a major challenge for the successful application of semidefinite programming in fields such as machine learning, control, and robotics. In this article, we survey recent approaches to this challenge, including those that exploit structure (e.g., sparsity and symmetry) in a problem, those that produce low-rank approximate solutions to semidefinite programs, those that use more scalable algorithms that rely on augmented Lagrangian techniques and the alternating-direction method of multipliers, and those that trade off scalability with conservatism (e.g., by approximating semidefinite programs with linear and second-order cone programs). For each class of approaches, we provide a high-level exposition, an entry point to the corresponding literature, and examples drawn from machine learning, control, or robotics. We also present a list of software packages that implement many of the techniques discussed in the review. Our hope is that this article will serve as a gateway to the rich and exciting literature on scalable semidefinite programming for both theorists and practitioners.
Social Relations Across the Life Span: Scientific Advances, Emerging Issues, and Future Challenges
Authors: Antonucci Toni C. , Ajrouch Kristine J. , Webster Noah J. , Zahodne Laura B.
Published: December 2019

Accumulating evidence demonstrates the importance of social relations at all stages of life (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age) and in diverse domains of life (including health and well-being). To illustrate the newest advancements in the scientific study of social relations over the life course, we address five emerging areas of importance: societal and demographic changes in family structure; effects of new technologies on social relations; the fundamental influence of context on social relations, illustrated with the sample case of health; the role of social relations in the unfortunate but pressing crisis of trauma among the increasing number of refugees worldwide; and, finally, effects of social relations on cognitive functioning in late life. Each of these areas highlights critical key concepts and methodological approaches, illustrating that the study of social relations is demanding but holds great promise for meeting the urgent needs of developmental science specifically and society generally.
Mechanisms Underlying the Neural Computation of Head Direction
Authors: Hulse Brad K. , Jayaraman Vivek
Published: December 2019

Many animals use an internal sense of direction to guide their movements through the world. Neurons selective to head direction are thought to support this directional sense and have been found in a diverse range of species, from insects to primates, highlighting their evolutionary importance. Across species, most head-direction networks share four key properties: a unique representation of direction at all times, persistent activity in the absence of movement, integration of angular velocity to update the representation, and the use of directional cues to correct drift. The dynamics of theorized network structures called ring attractors elegantly account for these properties, but their relationship to brain circuits is unclear. Here, we review experiments in rodents and flies that offer insights into potential neural implementations of ring attractor networks. We suggest that a theory-guided search across model systems for biological mechanisms that enable such dynamics would uncover general principles underlying head-direction circuit function.
CA2: A Highly Connected Intrahippocampal Relay
Authors: Middleton Steven J. , McHugh Thomas J.
Published: December 2019

Although Lorente de No’ recognized the anatomical distinction of the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA) 2 region, it had, until recently, been assigned no unique function. Its location between the key players of the circuit, CA3 and CA1, which along with the entorhinal cortex and dentate gyrus compose the classic trisynaptic circuit, further distracted research interest. However, the connectivity of CA2 pyramidal cells, together with unique patterns of gene expression, hints at a much larger contribution to hippocampal information processing than has been ascribed. Here we review recent advances that have identified new roles for CA2 in hippocampal centric processing, together with specialized functions in social memory and, potentially, as a broadcaster of novelty. These new data, together with CA2's role in disease, justify a closer look at how this small region exerts its influence and how it might best be exploited to understand and treat disease-related circuit dysfunctions.
Cheyne–Stokes respiration and cardiovascular oscillations ending abruptly when deploying transfemoral aortic valve
Authors: Kahn David , Baele Philippe , Pasquet Agnès , Liistro Giuseppe
Published: December 2019

A 86-yr-old man was referred for transfemoral aortic valve implantation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a severe stenosis (mean gradient: 58 mmHg, aortic valve area: 0.4 cm2), and after multidisciplinary discussion, the risk of surgery was judged too high (logistic Euroscore: 51%), and the patient was proposed for a transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI). On arrival in the operating room, the patient, fully conscious, was noted to have Cheyne–Stokes breathing (CSB), which persisted after 40% oxygen administration. TAVI procedure was successful, and the CSB pattern was interrupted within 8 s. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to show an acute disappearance of CSB, occurring only seconds after TAVI and restoration of a normal hemodynamic situation. To explain such rapid changes in breathing pattern, we hypothesize a role played by the acute release of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary volume overload.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Acute disappearance of Cheyne–Stokes breathing after transfemoral aortic valve implantation suggests a reflex pathway originating from the fall in pulmonary vessels congestion.
What makes long-term resistance-trained individuals so strong? A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology, architecture, and joint mechanics
Authors: Maden-Wilkinson Thomas M. , Balshaw Thomas G. , Massey Garry J. , Folland Jonathan P.
Published: December 2019

Here we demonstrate that the larger muscle strength (+60%) of a long-term (4+ yr) resistance-trained group compared with untrained controls was due to their similarly larger muscle volume (+56%), primarily due to a larger physiological cross-sectional area and modest differences in fascicle length, as well as modest differences in maximum voluntary specific tension and patella tendon moment arm. In addition, the present study refutes the possibility of regional hypertrophy, despite large differences in muscle volume.
Intermittent Boluses of Local Anesthetic Through Quadratus Lumborum Catheters for Analgesia in a Living Donor Hepatectomy
Authors: Borden Shelly B. , Groose Molly K. , Simon Eric R. , Hess Aaron S. , Schroeder Kristopher M.
Published: December 2019

The demand for liver transplants in the United States far exceeds the supply of organs. As need has increased, so has use of living donors. Coagulopathy and various side effects often preclude the use of neuraxial regional techniques and opioids for postoperative analgesia in patients with large “J” incisions. Here, we present a 25-year-old male undergoing a living donor hepatectomy who received quadratus lumborum catheters placed percutaneously after closure of incision and prior to emergence to provide excellent analgesia and a viable opioid-sparing approach. Quadratus lumborum catheters are a safe option for a multimodal, opioid-sparing approach to analgesia.
Magnitude and Associated Factors of Unintended Pregnancy among Pregnant Women at Saesie Tsaeda Emba Woreda Eastern Zone of Tigray, North Ethiopia, 2018
Authors: Gebremariam Weldearegawi Gebrehiwot , Tekola Kidanemaryam Berhe , Fseha Teklehaymanot Berhane
Published: December 2019

Background. Each year there were about 80 million women who experienced unintended pregnancy in the globe. In Ethiopia, around one third of women have experiences of unintended pregnancy. However, the magnitude of unintended pregnancy was not determined in the study area. Hence the aim of the study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of unintended pregnancy among pregnant women. Methods. Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed among 345 participants. Participants were selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected though face to face interview by structured questioner. It was entered, clean and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis was done to see the frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Adjusted odds ratio was computed at 95% confidence level to determine the effect of independent variable on the outcome variable. Variable at p value < 0.05 was declared as statistically significant variable. Model goodness of fit was checked using Hosmer lemeshow test. Result. The overall magnitude of unintended pregnancy was 24.9%. Employed women were 60% less likely having unintended pregnancy (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.015, 0.785).Single women were 1.4 times more likely reported unintended pregnancy (AOR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.005, 3.675). Unintended pregnancy among ever visited by health extension workers was 1.7 times higher than not visited (AOR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.09, 5. 128). Unintended pregnancy among who had information about family planning were about 70% less likely reported unintended pregnancy than their counterparties (AOR 0.3, 95% CI: 0 .067, 0.845). Marital status, occupational status, visited by health extension workers, having information about family planning, discussing with their partners about contraceptive were found the major factors of unintended pregnancy. Thus the district health office, Tigray regional health office and other stakeholder should work to improve family planning accessibility, awareness, and utilization to overcome the problem.
A Morphological Filtering Method Based on Particle Swarm Optimization for Railway Vehicle Bearing Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Huang Yan , Lin Jianhui , Liu Zechao , Huang Chenguang
Published: December 2019

With the rapid development of high‐speed railway, the fault diagnosis of railway vehicles has become more and more important for ensuring the operating safety. The MF is a nonlinear signal processing method which can extract the modulated faulty information via reshaping the analyzed signal. However, the choices of operators and structure elements (SE) are numerous and complicated to determine the best MF solution for different bearing faulty signals. In this paper, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) was introduced to optimize the effect of MF among several classical MF operators and different SE parameters. The proposed method applied PSO to select the best MF result with respect to the fitness function adopting kurtosis. A set of bearing signals with additional interference of wheel‐track excitement are analyzed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results demonstrated that the proposed method is capable of obtaining the optimized solution and accurately extracting the fault information. Furthermore, the shaft rotation frequency and wheel‐track interference were reduced by the proposed method.
Force and Deformation Characteristics during the Reconstruction and Expansion of Shallow Single-Tube Tunnels into Large-Span Multiarch Tunnels
Authors: Jia Yanling , Xia Yongxu , Chen Xindong , Zhou Yongdi , Han Xingbo , Zhou Shaowen
Published: December 2019

At present, there are an ever-increasing number of tunnel expansion projects in China. Studying the mechanical properties of the expanded tunnels is of great significance for guiding their safe construction. Through model testing and numerical simulation, the mechanical properties of a double-arch tunnel constructed through the expansion of the middle pilot heading from an existing single-tube tunnel were studied. The variation characteristics of the surface subsidence, surrounding rock stress, and stress and strain of the middle partition wall and lining during the tunnel reconstruction and expansion were investigated. The mechanism for transferring stress and strain between the left and right tunnel tubes was studied by a numerical simulation method. The results showed that the surface subsidence caused by the excavation of the left (i.e., the subsequent) tunnel tube was larger, and the maximum surface subsidence occurred at the right (i.e., the first) tunnel tube. The surrounding rock on the middle wall was the sensitive part of the tunnel excavation, the stress of the surrounding rock at the left spandrel of the right tunnel tube fluctuated and exhibited the most complex variation, and the stress of the surrounding rock at the right spandrel of the left tunnel tube exhibited the largest variation. The excavation of the left tunnel tube had a great influence on the forces of the middle partition wall and the lining structure of the right tunnel tube, the middle partition wall was subjected to eccentric compression towards the left tunnel tube, and the stress at the left spandrel under the initial support of the right tunnel tube exhibited complex variations. The excavation of the left and right tunnel tubes had a great influence on the stability of the surrounding rock, as well as on the force-induced deformation of the middle partition wall and the support structure, within the width of the single tunnel tube span behind the tunnel working face. Due to the different construction sequences, the stress and strain at the symmetric measurement points of the middle partition wall, as well as the left and right tunnel support structures, were very different.
Pilot Ex Vivo and In Vitro Evaluation of a Novel Foley Catheter with Antimicrobial Periurethral Irrigation for Prevention of Extraluminal Biofilm Colonization Leading to Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)
Authors: Vargas-Cruz Nylev , Rosenblatt Joel , Reitzel Ruth A , Chaftari Anne-Marie , Hachem Ray , Raad Issam
Published: December 2019

CAUTI remains a serious healthcare issue for incontinent patients whose urine drainage is managed by catheters. A novel double-balloon Foley catheter was developed which was capable of irrigating the extraluminal catheter surfaces within the periurethral space between the urethral-bladder junction and meatus. The catheter has a retention cuff that is inflated to secure the catheter in the bladder and a novel irrigation cuff proximal to the urethral-bladder junction capable of providing periurethral irrigation from the urethral-bladder junction to the meatus. Uniform periurethral irrigation was demonstrated in an ex vivo porcine model by adding a dye to the antimicrobial urethral irrigation solution. An in vitro biofilm colonization model was adapted to study the ability of periurethral irrigation with a newly developed antimicrobial combination consisting of polygalacturonic acid + caprylic acid (PG + CAP) to prevent axial colonization of the extraluminal urethral indwelling catheter shaft by common uropathogens. The extraluminal surface of control catheters that were not irrigated formed biofilms along the entire axial urethral tract after 24 hours. Significant (p<0.001) inhibition of colonization was seen against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (EC), and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KB). For other common uropathogens including Candida albicans (CA), Proteus mirabilis (PR), and Enterococcus faecalis (EF), a first irrigation treatment completely inhibited colonization of half of the indwelling catheter closest to the bladder and a second treatment largely disinfected the remaining intraurethral portion of the catheter towards the meatus. The novel Foley catheter and PG + CAP antimicrobial irrigant prevented biofilm colonization in an in vitro CAUTI model and merits further testing in an in vivo CAUTI prevention model.
An Unusual Presentation of Endometrial Cancer with Bilateral Adrenal Metastases at the Time of Presentation and an Updated Descriptive Literature Review
Authors: Ryan Maisie , Laios Alexandros , Pathak Darshana , Weston Michael , Hutson Richard
Published: December 2019

In endometrial cancer (EC), adrenal metastases are rare indicating advanced disease. We report an unusual presentation of EC with solitary adrenal metastases at the time of diagnosis and provide with an updated literature review. A 68-year-old woman was referred with postmenopausal bleeding of several weeks’ duration. Imaging revealed a heterogenous uterine mass and bilateral malignant adnexal masses. Hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsies, and radiological guided biopsies of the adrenal masses confirmed poorly differentiated EC. A PET-CT reported both adrenal metastases being hypermetabolic and suspicious for malignancy. The patient received six neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. A repeated CT scan confirmed size reduction for both primary tumour and metastases. The adrenal metastases were no longer PET-avid on repeat PET-CT scan. The patient received a course of hormonal treatment and as per adrenal MDT, she underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by bilateral retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy two months later. The patient remains asymptomatic on maintenance hydrocortisone 18 months post diagnosis. This is the first report of solitary synchronous adrenal metastases in a patient with EC. Central MDT review is key in providing individualised treatment recommendations of such rare entity.
Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Moderate-Severe Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zheng Yujiao , Yang Fan , Han Lin , Gou Xiaowen , Lian Fengmei , Liu Wenke , Zhao Linhua , Pang Bing , Zhao Xiyan , Tong Xiaolin
Published: December 2019

Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) is a debilitating complication of diabetes. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effectiveness of a Chinese herbal medicine regimen—the modified Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD)—in the treatment of moderate-severe pDPN. The primary objective was to estimate the improvement in neuropathic pain severity. The secondary objective was to assess the response of common symptoms to the treatment. The change in patients’ blood glucose level during the whole treatment was also evaluated. By searching through our medical records of all the diabetic patients from January 2006 to January 2012, we identified and enrolled 30 moderate and severe pDPN patients in the study, for whom the treatment of neuropathic pain by regular pharmacotherapies had failed. The modified HGWD treatment was administered orally twice a day for 6 months. The numerical rating scale (NRS) level at month 6 was 2.57±2.30, significantly improved compared with the baseline level of 6.03±1.83 (P<0.05). The amelioration of 3 common symptoms, namely, limb pain, limb numbness, and insomnia, was evident, and the major response of common symptoms at month 6 including limb pain, insomnia, and limb coldness was significantly increased compared with the results at month 3 (P<0.05). Moreover, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) level decreased from 10.77±1.29 mmol/L at baseline to 9.66±0.60 mmol/L at month 6 (P<0.05). No serious adverse events occurred throughout the treatment period. The modified HGWD was effective in the treatment of moderate and severe pDPN and can thus be offered as a new alternative treatment option for pDPN patients who failed to respond to regular pharmaceutical therapies.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of rGO/PbTiO3 Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Activity
Authors: Wang Chunyan , Shan Lianwei , Song Dongyuan , Xiao Yanwei , Suriyaprakash Jagadeesh
Published: December 2019

In this letter, we investigated the photocatalytic activity of the newly formed rGO/PbTiO3 composites, which are synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal route. By adjusting the amount of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 1.20 wt%) with the PbTiO3, we constructed various photocatalysts for this investigation. The crystal structure and morphology of the various composites were studied by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Photoelectron spectroscopic study revealed that the band structure of the newly formed composites and efficient charge separation can be obtained by the interfaces of various rGO content. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of the synthesized composites was explored by H2 evolution and rhodamine blue (RhB) degradation. The obtained results indicated that the addition of the appropriate amount of rGO could improve the activity of pure PbTiO3, significantly.
Screening and Identification of Molecular Targets Involved in Preventing Gastric Precancerous Lesions in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis by Qilianshupi Decoction
Authors: Zhang Yameng , Li Chao , Sun Shanmei , Cao Zhiqun , Chen Jian , Xiang Hongjie , Song Lucheng
Published: December 2019

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a common and possibly precancerous digestive tract disease. Development of drugs with effect of preventing precancerous lesions draws the eyes of global researchers. Qilianshupi decoction (QLSP) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that is commonly used to treat CAG, but few studies have explored the mechanism of QLSP on treating CAG. This study investigated the molecular targets of the component herbs of QLSP in preventing precancerous lesions based on network pharmacology. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the 6 herbs regulated multiple CAG-related genes, among which the most important were cancer-related pathway (apoptosis, p53, and VEGF) and epithelial cell signaling in Helicobacter pylori infection. Further animal experiments showed that the expression of survivin and p53 in precancerous lesions of CAG rats was significantly increased which was suppressed by QLSP. Moreover, telomerase activity was inhibited in precancerous lesions of CAG rats, and telomere length of gastric mucosa was increased, which was reversed by QLSP. Our results suggest that the components of QLSP prevents gastric precancerous lesions through decreasing the expression of survivin and p53 and regulating telomerase activity and telomere length in CAG.
Numerical Analysis on the Ground Vibration Isolation of Duxseal
Authors: Gao M. , Tian S. P. , He R. , Wang Y. , Chen Q. S.
Published: December 2019

A new kind of vibration screening material, Duxseal, with a high damping ratio is proposed to be used as an active vibration barrier in the free field. To investigate the influence of width, thickness, and embedded depth of using Duxseal on vibration reduction, numerical studies are performed using a three‐dimensional (3D) semianalytical boundary element method (BEM) combined with a thin‐layer method (TLM). The isolation effectiveness of Duxseal in ground vibration is also compared with the traditional wave impeding block (WIB). The numerical results show that Duxseal performed exceedingly well in screening ground vibrations in the free field. The effectiveness of the vibration isolation increases with the increase in the width, thickness, and embedded depth of the Duxseal material, within a certain range, under harmonic vertical excitation. In addition, Duxseal is much more effective for isolating ground vibration than the traditional WIB. The performance of Duxseal in isolating ground vibration is relatively stable along the distance away from the vibration source, while the amplitude attenuation ratio bounces upward when the distance away from the vibration source increases for the WIB isolation system.
Role of miR-221/222 in Tumor Development and the Underlying Mechanism
Authors: Song Qian , An Quanlin , Niu Bing , Lu Xiaoling , Zhang Ning , Cao Xin
Published: December 2019

MicroRNA-221/222 (miRNA-221/222, miR-221/222) is a noncoding microRNA which is widely distributed in eukaryotic organisms and deeply involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expressions. According to recent studies, abnormal expressions of miR-221/222 are closely related to the occurrence and development of various kinds of malignant tumors. The role of miR-221/222 in tumor development and their potential molecular mechanism in various cancers, including liver cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial carcinoma, are summarized and reviewed in this paper. Moreover, the potential translational biomarker role of abnormal miR-221/222 level in tumor or blood circulation for tumor diagnosis is also discussed.
Pro- and Antioxidant Effects of Vitamin C in Cancer in correspondence to Its Dietary and Pharmacological Concentrations
Authors: Pawlowska Elzbieta , Szczepanska Joanna , Blasiak Janusz
Published: December 2019

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that may scavenge reactive oxygen species preventing DNA damage and other effects important in cancer transformation. Dietary vitamin C from natural sources is taken with other compounds affecting its bioavailability and biological effects. High pharmacological doses of vitamin C may induce prooxidant effects, detrimental for cancer cells. An oxidized form of vitamin C, dehydroascorbate, is transported through glucose transporters, and cancer cells switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis in energy production so an excess of vitamin C may limit glucose transport and ATP production resulting in energetic crisis and cell death. Vitamin C may change the metabolomic and epigenetic profiles of cancer cells, and activation of ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins and downregulation of pluripotency factors by the vitamin may eradicate cancer stem cells. Metastasis, the main reason of cancer-related deaths, requires breakage of anatomical barriers containing collagen, whose synthesis is promoted by vitamin C. Vitamin C induces degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor, HIF-1, essential for the survival of tumor cells in hypoxic conditions. Dietary vitamin C may stimulate the immune system through activation of NK and T cells and monocytes. Pharmacological doses of vitamin C may inhibit cancer transformation in several pathways, but further studies are needed to address both mechanistic and clinical aspects of this effect.
Application of Data Denoising and Classification Algorithm Based on RPCA and Multigroup Random Walk Random Forest in Engineering
Authors: Wang Renchao , Wang Yanlei , Ma Yuming
Published: December 2019

Data classification algorithms are often used in the engineering field, but the data measured in the actual engineering often contains different types and degrees of noise, such as vibration noise caused by water flow when measuring the natural frequencies of aqueducts or other hydraulic structures, which will affect the accuracy of classification. In reality, these noises often appear disorganized and stochastic and some existing algorithms exhibit poor performance in the face of these non‐Gaussian noise. Therefore, the classification algorithms with excellent performance are needed. To address this issue, a hybrid algorithm of robust principal component analysis (RPCA) combined multigroup random walk random forest (MRWRF) is proposed in this paper. On the one hand RPCA can effectively remove part of non‐Gaussian noise, and on the other hand MRWRF can select a better number of decision trees (DTs), which can effectively improve random forest (RF) robustness and classification performance, and the combination of RPCA and MRWRF can effectively classify data with non‐Gaussian distribution noise. Compared with other existing algorithms, this hybrid algorithm has strong robustness and preferable classification performance and can thus provide a new approach for data classification problems in engineering.
Multiagent Light Field Reconstruction and Maneuvering Target Recognition via GAN
Authors: Luo Peien , Cai Lei , Zhou Guangfu , Chen Zhenxue
Published: December 2019

The lack of sample data and the limited visual range of a single agent during light field reconstruction affect the recognition of maneuvering targets. In view of the above problems, this paper introduces generative adversarial nets (GAN) into the field of light field reconstruction and proposes a multiagent light field reconstruction and target recognition method based on GAN. The algorithm of this paper utilizes the characteristics of GAN to generate data and enhance data, which greatly improves the accuracy of light field reconstruction. The consistency mean of all observations is obtained by multiagent data fusion, which ensures the reliability of sample data and the continuity of maneuvering target recognition. The experimental results show that the accuracy of light field reconstruction reaches 94.552%. The accuracy of maneuvering target recognition is 84.267%, and the more the agents are used, the shorter the recognition time.
Enunciações da tortura
Authors: Sarti Cynthia
Published: December 2019

O objetivo deste texto é discutir a tortura a partir do que revelam suas formas de enunciação. Em um diálogo com reflexões sobre a tortura na sociedade moderna em contextos históricos diversos, analisa testemunhos literários escritos por quem viveu essa experiência de dor e sofrimento durante o período da ditadura civil-militar brasileira (1964-85). Interroga esses testemunhos como reminiscências, tecidas ao longo do tempo por elos distintos entre passado e presente, segundo as perguntas individuais e coletivas do presente, buscando a singularidade do vivido nas circunstâncias sociais e políticas que o envolvem, diante do caráter extremo da tortura.
Identidade e representação no bolsonarismo
Authors: Cesarino Letícia
Published: December 2019

Este artigo aborda a profunda reorganização do campo político-identitário no Brasil, que vinha sendo avançada gradualmente através de redes sociais, mas que ganhou força e projeção repentinas com a vitória de Jair Bolsonaro nas eleições presidenciais de 2018. Partindo de uma perspectiva cibernética inspirada em Gregory Bateson, explora alguns dos dilemas emergentes que a digitalização da política tem colocado para a dupla problemática da identidade e representação na antropologia, a partir de três ângulos: representação populista e formação do “corpo digital do rei”; bivalência reconhecimento-redistribuição; e formação fractal de identidades por meio de mídias digitais.
Política, religião e gênero nas Ilhas Maldivas
Authors: Gontijo Fabiano De Souza
Published: December 2019

Nas Ilhas Maldivas, há um nítido contraste entre, por um lado, o turismo organizado geralmente por agências internacionais de viagem voltado para ilhas ocupadas por hotéis luxuosos ou resorts, até pouco tempo a única forma de turismo permitida no país, e por outro, o turismo independente, recentemente permitido para a visitação de ilhas habitadas basicamente por pescadores. Uma legislação específica regulamenta as atividades nas ilhas-resorts, de cunho liberal, diferente daquela mais conservadora e baseada em preceitos islâmicos que regulamenta as relações sociais no restante do país. Essa dualidade – um país, duas legislações – pode ajudar a compreender a configuração histórica particular das relações de poder, assim como as interpretações das formas da experiência da religiosidade e as expressões de gênero, que estão na base da legitimação de ideologias conflituosas de elaboração da identidade nacional maldívia.
Um corpo feito de olhares (Amazônia)
Authors: Taylor Anne Christine , Castro Eduardo Viveiros de
Published: December 2019

A seguinte história foi relatada por Peter Gow, um etnólogo especialista nos Piro da Amazônia peruana. Em uma missão em Santa Clara, uma professora preocupada em inculcar nos Piro noções de higiene se esforçava em convencer uma mulher a utilizar água fervida para preparar o alimento de seu filho. A mulher exclamou: “Se bebemos água fervida, pegamos diarreia”. A professora repreendeu a mãe: “Todos sabem que é o consumo de água não fervida que provoca diarreia infantil, e não o inverso”. Impassível, a mulher piro retorquiu: “Talvez isso seja verdade para as pessoas de Lima, mas, para as pessoas daqui, água fervida dá diarreia. Nossos corpos são diferentes dos seus”. Diferentes em que e por quê?