bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current possibilities of the diagnosis of prestressing steel in structures
Authors: Anton O , Cikrle P , Heřmánková V
Published: June 2019

The field of diagnosis of structures has been experiencing a dynamic development in the last decades caused by the development and expansion of new NDT methods and instrumentation. At the same time, it is possible to observe changes in the focus of interest in this field, or more precisely, alternating waves of interest in specific types of diagnosis targeted at special types of structures. These waves of interest are always caused by a certain trend in the development of the society or building industry, and most often, by some major even in the field. In the last few years, particular attention has been paid to prestressed structures, especially to bridges, in connection with the recent accidents of bridges made from prestressed concrete in the Czech Republic and abroad. Considering the relatively large number of these bridges in the Czech Republic built in the second half of the 20th century, attention is paid to basic changes in the pre-construction condition surveys aimed at determining the condition and the remaining life of these structures. The paper focuses on the analysis of possibilities of assessing the condition of prestressing steel at the level of the present state of diagnosis of structures.
An experimental preparation of fibre concrete to software’s detection of fibres
Authors: Gregorová V , Ďubek M , Ďubek S , Štefunková Z
Published: June 2019

Fibre concrete requirements are only met if the fibres in its volume are evenly distributed. Their direction and orientation should be equal around each axis in a three-dimensional space. The requirement is that the fibres to be evaluated in the final hardened fibre concrete are cut from fibre concrete sections. Homogeneity can also be verified on fibre-concrete cross-sections. Fibre Position Evaluation is a mathematical task that is not presented here but is currently made up of the results of this experiment. In the first step, it was necessary to prepare samples to obtain the necessary cross-sections. In the next step, it was necessary to create conditions by creating a contrast between the fibres and the concrete to create software capable of detecting fibres. In this paper, the principle of detection of fibres based on the detection of cut section images is described. There are several methods used to highlight the concrete matrix over the fibres. Also presented are the results of adding and detecting fibres.
Innovation of University education by using available online LCA methods and their role in construction sector
Authors: Ondova M , Estokova A , Wolfova M
Published: June 2019

Currently, active education at universities is increasingly preferred. The introduction of innovative approaches to teaching is reflected in the increased number of practical lectures mainly. The use of new methods has also been applied to the subject of "LCA Building Materials", which is aimed at assessing the environmental impacts of building materials. Regarding the production of building materials and their use, the process of construction and operation of the building, as well as its disposal, the use of environmental assessment methods seems to be very desirable and perspective in regard to negative impacts on the environment and public health. This idea formed the basis for an active approach to teaching. During the lectures, theoretical knowledge is continuously supplemented by an illustrative example of calculating the environmental impacts of a selected family house. Through the available online LCA methods students evaluate their projects in parallel with the teacher, as if they were dealing with a real contract. Main goals of the project are to improve students’ skills, to broaden their knowledge, to look at the issues comprehensively (construction industry, environmental protection, climate change etc.), and to apply knowledge to practice.
Presence of magnesium-alumina spinel in forsterite ceramics and its influence during sintering and on resulting properties of fired body
Authors: Nguyen M , Sokolář R
Published: June 2019

The main objective of this paper is to describe the creation and behaviour of magnesium-alumina spinel (MA-spinel) phase from raw materials mixtures in forsterite refractory and its influence on resulting physical properties and mineralogical composition of fired body. Forsterite ceramics is mostly used for its high refractoriness as a refractory material in kilns and furnaces and also in electrotechnical engineering for its high coefficient of linear thermal expansion for ceramic-metal joints. Currently, forsterite is not produced in the Czech Republic. The primary objective is to synthesize forsterite ceramics via solid-state reaction utilizing various raw materials used in industry with stoichiometric ratio of forsterite. The resulting properties of fired body will be determined using X-ray diffraction analysis for mineralogical composition, thermal dilatometric analysis and vacuum water absorption method for physical properties of fired body and refractoriness of pyrometric cones will be conducted.
Bulk density decreasing of lightweight silicate based composite
Authors: Meszarosova L , Drochytka R
Published: June 2019

The newly developed silicate composite combines advantages of two types of bulk density decreasing methods. Direct bulk density decreasing method is based on introduction of pores in the structure of binder and indirect bulk density decreasing is achieved by means of using fine grained porous aggregate. This combination makes it possible to achieve maximal decrease of bulk density of the mix. Material of this type shows very low bulk density, approx. 300 kg⋅m−3 and appropriate application would be for non-structural, filling material or insulating material. Achieved results will serve as base for further modification of mix-design of aerated concrete utilizing secondary raw materials.
Polymer based grout with specially treated hazardous waste
Authors: Žlebek T , Hodul J , Drochytka R
Published: June 2019

The present research verified the possibility of using specially treated hazardous waste (solidification product) derived from a solidification agent (fly ash from fluidized bed combustion (FA)) and hazardous waste (end-product) as a filler in polymeric grout. Hazardous waste was pre-treated by solidification technology, while within the performed research, a total of two solidification paths were verified. One of them was a dry homogenisation (TOS1) and the other technology was wet granulation of the input materials (TOS2). The use of dry homogenization solidification technology, which is economically less demanding, seems to be more advantageous. Using such specially treated filler was verified by some selected tests and the results indicated grout with a relatively high compressive strength of about 50 MPa and a flexural strength of about 20 MPa. The developed polymeric grout also showed a very good adhesion to a cast basalt, which was tested by the pull-off test and subsequently observed in detail by optical microscope.
Possibilities of evaluation of the masonry wall affected by the explosion
Authors: Schmid P , Láník J , Žítt P , Halašta L , Čalkovský P , Bartošková M
Published: June 2019

At present, emphasis is placed on the safety and durability of building structures due to the effects of external loads. Among the various external influences of the load, we can also include loads caused by the blast wave. Structures subjected to extreme loads such as explosion are structurally disrupted in a manner different from that of static or dynamic external loads. In construction practice, we are sometimes faced with the question of how to evaluate the state of a structure after an explosion. The article is focused on the possibility of evaluating the masonry wall affected by the explosion in terms of the expression of residual bearing capacity based on the laboratory tests and inspection in-situ.
Biodegradation and its impact on durability of building construction
Authors: Terpakova E , Estokova A
Published: June 2019

The durability of building elements is influenced by a number of different factors. Among the most complicated, biocorrosion can be included without exaggeration. From practical experience, we know that biodegradation manifests itself in all kinds of materials and structural elements. Although both primary and secondary protection of a particular building structure is realized, if appropriate living conditions are created for the existence of a particular species of biodeteriogen, this kind of degradation will be initiated. The paper deals with the issue of biocorrosion, which was studied at selected parts of the technical extension in Campus of the Technical University in Košice. Undesirable bio-corrosive symptoms due to the presence of algae and fungi are often visually observed on the surfaces, but their effects also have a negative impact on the internal structure. In practical terms, a solution to identification of these symptom are required which needs to develop methods of monitoring the state of the surface over time and removing them. Diagnostic methods will be presented to check the technical state condition of construction parts as support in identification bio-corrosion symptoms.
Influence of concentration change of calcium ions over time on their diffusion through sandstone
Authors: Kobetičová K , Medveď I , Keppert M , Černý R
Published: June 2019

Diffusion is one of the most important salt transport mechanisms. The knowledge of the rate of transport of ions in the pore system of building materials is thus of primary importance for their service life prediction. In this paper, the transport of Ca2+ in sandstone Mšené was studied as a model system; two types of experiment were performed: a) without addition of Ca2+ ions for the achievement of original initial concentration and b) continuous addition of Ca2+ ions. The experiment was performed under laboratory conditions in a two-side plexiglass box at the ambient temperature of (20±2) °C for a period of 426 hours. Calcium concentrations were analyzed chelatometrically.
AC electrical properties of geopolymers with carbon black admixture
Authors: Petříková M , Fiala L
Published: June 2019

Geopolymers as competitors to the cement-based construction materials are intensively studied in the present. Their competitiveness mainly arises from their high strength, favourable development of hydration heat at early age, good chemical resistance and thermal stability. Further qualitative improvement of functional properties can be achieved by adding electrically conductive admixtures. In an appropriate amount (called percolation threshold), mechanical properties remain reasonable and electrical properties become sufficient to ensure evolution of heat by acting of an external power source (self-heating), to detect material damage (self-sensing) or to harvest thermoelectric energy (energy harvesting). In this paper three geopolymers with different dosages of carbon black (CB) admixture (0 wt. %, 4 wt. %, 10 wt. %) were studied by means of LCR bridge AC measurements. It was observed significant difference in electrical behavior of the studied geopolymers. 0 wt. % geopolymer exhibited highly capacitive character, 4 wt. % geopolymer was slightly shifted to resistive behavior and 10 wt. % geopolymer behaved like resistor even to high frequencies with reasonable resistance which indicates its possible self-heating ability.
Utilization of hydrophilic cellulose fibers for preparation of plaster with enhanced moisture control capability
Authors: Fort J , Kocí J , Vejmelkova E , Dolozelova M , Cerny R
Published: June 2019

The relative humidity is one of the most important parameters having a substantial impact on ambient climate comfort. The negative effects induced by undesired levels of relative humidity in building interiors are related not only to a deterioration of materials but also to a potential health risk for building occupants. In the recent paper, a traditional lime plaster is modified by biomass fly ash and hydrophilic cellulose fiber admixture to improve material durability and provide material with enhanced capability for the moderation of ambient relative humidity. Within the experimental analysis, the basic material properties, as well as mechanical strength of designed plaster, is determined. The moisture buffer potential of all designed plasters is evaluated according to the Nordtest test procedure. Obtained results show that the application of cellulose fibers has a synergic effect on both improvements of the potential of studied plaster for passive adjustment of interior relative humidity and mechanical strength.
The ageing effect of raw materials on the final properties of high alumina refractory grog
Authors: Zemánek D , Nevřivová L
Published: June 2019

High alumina ceramics is a part of the refractory ceramics in SiO2-Al2O3 binary system. The aim of this paper is to characterize the effect of ageing raw materials and its influence on final properties of fired refractory grog. Refractory grog is very important component in production of refractory materials, such as fireclay, mullite and andalusite bricks. Refractory grog is manufactured generally from clay, claystone and kaolin, nowadays is mainly burnt in rotary and shaft kilns. The primary objective of this article is to determine an influence of ageing effect, which has impact on mineralogical composition of raw material which obviously results in different mineralogical composition of fired grog. Raw material with different age was used for the mixtures and properties of fired samples were investigated, considering the influence of the raw materials mixtures. Specifically, the apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, apparent porosity, mineralogical composition and pore distribution were investigated.
Vacuum radiation and frequency-mixing in linear light-matter systems
Authors: Westerberg Niclas , Prain Angus , Faccio Daniele , Öhberg Patrik
Published: June 2019

Recent progress in photonics has led to a renewed interest in time-varying media that change on timescales comparable to the optical wave oscillation time. However, these studies typically overlook the role of material dispersion that will necessarily imply a delayed temporal response or, stated alternatively, a memory effect. We investigate the influence of the medium memory on a specific effect, i.e. the excitation of quantum vacuum radiation due to the temporal modulation. We construct a framework which reduces the problem to single-particle quantum mechanics, which we then use to study the quantum vacuum radiation. We find that the delayed temporal response changes the vacuum emission properties drastically: frequencies mix, something typically associated with nonlinear processes, despite the system being completely linear. Indeed, this effect is related to the parametric resonances of the light-matter system, and to the parametric driving of the system by frequencies present locally in the drive but not in its spectrum.
Impacts of Retail and Export Demand on United States Cattle Producers
Authors: McKendree Melissa G. S. , Tonsor Glynn T. , Schroeder Ted C. , Hendricks Nathan P.
Published: June 2019

Despite its importance in many decisions throughout agriculture, limited empirical work has quantified how changes in primary demand impact producers operating at different levels of vertically‐connected industries. A structural system of equations was estimated to quantify the impacts of U.S. retail and export beef demand on fed and feeder cattle demand and supply. Increases in retail and export demand positively impact both feeder and fed cattle producers. The estimated transmission elasticities suggest that shifts in retail and export demand, whether positive or negative, accrue proportionally more to feeder cattle producers than fed cattle producers. Using estimates from previous literature of the effect of generic advertising on beef demand, simulation results suggest feeder and fed cattle producers would benefit from increasing beef checkoff assessments from $1 to $2. Furthermore, an increase in export demand of more than 3.5% from observed values would cover aggregate costs of implementing source and age verification. While primary suppliers are often not directly involved in primary demand activities in vertically‐connected industries, this study highlights the key economic value for primary suppliers to support demand enhancing activities.
Predicting medication-associated altered mental status in hospitalized patients: Development and validation of a risk model
Authors: Muñoz Monica A , Jeon Nakyung , Staley Benjamin , Henriksen Carl , Xu Dandan , Weberpals Janick , Winterstein Almut G
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study presents a medication-associated altered mental status (AMS) risk model for real-time implementation in inpatient electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Methods

We utilized a retrospective cohort of patients admitted to 2 large hospitals between January 2012 and October 2013. The study population included admitted patients aged ≥18 years with exposure to an AMS risk–inducing medication within the first 5 hospitalization days. AMS events were identified by a measurable mental status change documented in the EHR in conjunction with the administration of an atypical antipsychotic or haloperidol. AMS risk factors and AMS risk–inducing medications were identified from the literature, drug information databases, and expert opinion. We used multivariate logistic regression with a full and backward eliminated set of risk factors to predict AMS. The final model was validated with 100 bootstrap samples.

Results

During 194,156 at-risk days for 66,875 admissions, 262 medication-associated AMS events occurred (an event rate of 0.13%). The strongest predictors included a history of AMS (odds ratio [OR], 9.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.64–16.17), alcohol withdrawal (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 2.18–5.13), history of delirium or psychosis (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 2.39–4.40), presence in the intensive care unit (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.89–3.39), and hypernatremia (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.61–3.56). With a C statistic of 0.85, among patients scoring in the 90th percentile, our model captured 159 AMS events (60.7%).

Conclusion

The risk model was demonstrated to have good predictive ability, with all risk factors operationalized from discrete EHR fields. The real-time identification of higher-risk patients would allow pharmacists to prioritize surveillance, thus allowing early management of precipitating factors.
Migrants at the Center: Expulsion Regimes, Self-Representation, and Translocal Lives
Authors: Kandiyoti Dalia
Published: June 2019

Ana Raquel Minian’s Undocumented Lives: The Untold Story of Mexican Migration (2018) and Rebecca M. Schreiber’s The Undocumented Everyday: Migrant Lives and the Politics of Visibility (2018) ably demonstrate how the analysis of oral and visual self-representation of undocumented people is crucial to understanding the dynamics of and the resistances to their surveillance, exclusion, and expulsion. Through oral historical, archival, and field research, they examine how historical and current policies that have shaped, and, often, diminished or devastated the lives of migrants’ and those of their families across borders. Significantly, the authors do dual work in highlighting migrants’ own feelings, ideas, aesthetics, and actions regarding their condition as well as rigorously exploring practices and policies at federal and local levels and their transnational impact. In doing so, Minian and Schreiber also debunk certain myths about migrants’ silence and hiding as a permanent and universal position and the politics of recognition and visibility as a route to a more just world.
SMAD-dependent signaling mediates morphogenetic protein 6-induced stimulation of connective tissue growth factor in luteinized human granulosa cells†
Authors: Liu Shuang , Chang Hsun-Ming , Yi Yuyin , Yao Yuan-Qing , Leung Peter C K
Published: June 2019

Connective tissue growth factor (also known as CTGF or CCN2) is a secreted matricellular protein that belongs to the CCN family. With wide-ranging biological activities and tissue expression patterns, CTGF plays a critical role in regulating various cellular functions. In the female reproductive system, CTGF is highly expressed in granulosa cells in growing ovarian follicles and is involved in the regulation of follicular development, ovulation, and luteal function. In the mammalian ovary, bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) is an important intraovarian modulator of follicular development. In this study, we demonstrated that BMP6 treatment significantly increased the expression of CTGF in both primary and immortalized human granulosa cells. Using both pharmacological inhibitors and Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown approaches, we showed that ALK2 and ALK3 type I receptors are required for BMP6-induced cellular activities. Furthermore, this effect is most likely mediated by a Sma- and Mad-related protein (SMAD)-dependent pathway. Our studies provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms by which an intraovarian growth factor affects the production of another factor via a paracrine effect in human granulosa cells.
The phylogenomics of diversification on an island: applying anchored hybrid enrichment to New Zealand Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Buys Matt H , Winkworth Richard C , de Lange Peter J , Wilson Peter G , Mitchell Nora , Lemmon Alan R , Moriarty Lemmon Emily , Holland Sean , Cherry Jesse R , Klápště Jaroslav
Published: June 2019

Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae) is a morphologically highly variable species found in mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. For example, in New Zealand up to six morphologically distinct varieties of this species have been described, although only two (var. scoparium and var. incanum) are now formally recognized. In the present study we provide a first examination of genetic diversity in this culturally and commercially important species with the aim of gaining insights into its origins and evolution. We used anchored hybrid enrichment to acquire sequence data from 485 orthologous low-copy nuclear loci for 27 New Zealand and three Australian accessions of L. scoparium and representatives of several other Leptospermum spp. The final concatenated data matrix contained 421 687 nucleotide positions of which 55 102 were potentially informative. Despite the relative large data set, our analyses suggest that a combination of low and incompatible data signal limits the resolution of relationships among New Zealand populations of L. scoparium. Nevertheless, our analyses are consistent with genetic diversity being geographically structured, with three groups of L. scoparium recovered. We discuss the evolutionary and taxonomic implications of our findings.
Cross-transmission Is Not the Source of New Mycobacterium abscessus Infections in a Multicenter Cohort of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Doyle Ronan M , Rubio Marc , Dixon Garth , Hartley John , Klein Nigel , Coll Pere , Harris Kathryn A
Published: June 2019

Background

Mycobacterium abscessus is an extensively drug–resistant pathogen that causes pulmonary disease, particularly in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Identifying direct patient-to-patient transmission of M. abscessus is critically important in directing an infection control policy for the management of risk in CF patients. A variety of clinical labs have used molecular epidemiology to investigate transmission. However, there is still conflicting evidence as to how M. abscessus is acquired and whether cross-transmission occurs. Recently, labs have applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate this further and, in this study, we investigated whether WGS can reliably identify cross-transmission in M. abscessus.

Methods

We retrospectively sequenced the whole genomes of 145 M. abscessus isolates from 62 patients, seen at 4 hospitals in 2 countries over 16 years.

Results

We have shown that a comparison of a fixed number of core single nucleotide variants alone cannot be used to infer cross-transmission in M. abscessus but does provide enough information to replace multiple existing molecular assays. We detected 1 episode of possible direct patient-to-patient transmission in a sibling pair. We found that patients acquired unique M. abscessus strains even after spending considerable time on the same wards with other M. abscessus–positive patients.

Conclusions

This novel analysis has demonstrated that the majority of patients in this study have not acquired M. abscessus through direct patient-to-patient transmission or a common reservoir. Tracking transmission using WGS will only realize its full potential with proper environmental screening, as well as patient sampling.
Measuring the pulse of trees; using the vascular system to predict tree mortality in the 21st century
Authors: Brodribb Timothy J , Cochard Herve , Dominguez Celia Rodriguez
Published: June 2019

Tree mortality during hot and dry conditions presents a stark reminder of the vulnerability of plant species to climatic extremes. The current global warming trend makes predicting the impacts of hot/dry events on species survival an urgent task; yet, the standard tools for this purpose lack a physiological basis. This review examines a diversity of recent evidence demonstrating how physiological attributes of plant vascular systems can explain not only why trees die during drought, but also their distributional limits according to rainfall. These important advances in the science of plant water transport physiology provide the basis for new hydraulic models that can provide credible predictions of not only how but when, where and which species will be impacted by changes in rainfall and temperature in the future. Applying a recently developed hydraulic model using realistic parameters, we show that even apparently safe mesic forest in central France is predicted to experience major forest mortality before the end of the century.
Immunometabolism and atherosclerosis: perspectives and clinical significance: a position paper from the Working Group on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology of the European Society of Cardiology
Authors: Ketelhuth Daniel F J , Lutgens Esther , Bäck Magnus , Binder Christoph J , Van den Bossche Jan , Daniel Carolin , Dumitriu Ingrid E , Hoefer Imo , Libby Peter , O’Neill Luke , Weber Christian , Evans Paul C
Published: June 2019

Inflammation is an important driver of atherosclerosis, and the favourable outcomes of the Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study (CANTOS) trial revealed the large potential of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with a pro-inflammatory constitution. However, the complex immune reactions driving inflammation in the vascular wall in response to an atherosclerotic microenvironment are still being unravelled. Novel insights into the cellular processes driving immunity and inflammation revealed that alterations in intracellular metabolic pathways are strong drivers of survival, growth, and function of immune cells. Therefore, this position paper presents a brief overview of the recent developments in the immunometabolism field, focusing on its role in atherosclerosis. We will also highlight the potential impact of immunometabolic markers and targets in clinical cardiovascular medicine.
A Technology-based Intervention to Increase Reading Comprehension of Morphosyntax Structures
Authors: Cannon Joanna E , Hubley Anita M , O’Loughlin Julia I , Phelan Lauren , Norman Nancy , Finley Alayna
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a technology-based intervention (LanguageLinks: Syntax Assessment and Intervention®; Laureate Learning Systems, Inc., 2013) to improve reading comprehension for d/Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) elementary students. The intervention was a self-paced, interactive program designed to scaffold learning of morphosyntax structures. Participants included 37 DHH students with moderate to profound hearing levels, 7–12 years of age, in Grades 2–6. Assessment data were collected pre- and post- an 8-week intervention using a randomized control trial methodology. Findings indicate the intervention did not appear to be effective in improving performance, and 17 out of 36 morphosyntax structures were found difficult to comprehend for participants in the treatment group. These difficult structures included aspects of pronominalization, the verbal system, and number in nouns. Results are compared to previous research, with recommendations for future areas of research related to increasing knowledge of morphosyntax for learners who are DHH.
Lightning-induced pacing system malfunction: a case report
Authors: Obszański Bogdan , Tułecki Łukasz , Kutarski Andrzej , Kleinrok Andrzej
Published: June 2019

Background

Atmospheric electrical discharge is an extremely powerful natural phenomenon which can have dangerous and lethal effects on the human body. However, there is no evidence to indicate whether and, if so, to what extent the electric current travelling through the body can affect proper pacemaker function.

Case summary

An 80-year-old patient admitted to emergency department after being struck by a lightning bolt while riding a bike. The patient had a DDD pacemaker implanted 4 years prior to the incident. The ECG on admission depicted pacemaker spikes and native sinus rhythm at 50–60 b.p.m. On the 3rd day after admission the patient developed recurrent pacing-induced tachycardia. Pacemaker interrogation showed high pacing thresholds (failure to pace in the atrial channel). When the patient’s condition stabilized she was transferred to the tertiary hospital for transcutaneous lead extraction. The extracted pacing system was sent to Biotronik for thorough evaluation.

Discussion

Injuries due to a lightning strike are considered a rare occurrence but being struck by lightning with a pacemaker or an ICD is even less common. In the present case, the cause of cardiac arrhythmia was most probably electrical burn at the endocardial-electrode interface and a sudden elevation of the pacing threshold leading to transient pacing failure in both PM channels. To the best of our knowledge, in this case presentation we first described permanent lightning-induced pacemaker dysfunction.
Biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stent vs. contemporary durable polymer drug-eluting stents in patients with diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Bavishi Chirag , Chugh Yashasvi , Kimura Takeshi , Natsuaki Masahiro , Kaiser Christoph , Gordon Paul , Aronow Herbert D , Abbott Jinnette Dawn
Published: June 2019

Aims 

The biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) offer controlled drug elution and complete degradation of the polymer over time, eventually lowering the risk for chronic inflammation and neoatherosclerosis, which can be particularly helpful in patients with diabetes. While BP-DES and durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES) have demonstrated comparable efficacy in all-comers population, their efficacy and safety in patients with diabetes remains uncertain.

Methods and results 

Electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BP-DES with contemporary DP-DES in patients with diabetes. Study investigators were contacted to obtain additional data. The primary outcome was efficacy in terms of target-vessel revascularization (TVR) and target-lesion revascularization (TLR). We also evaluated the following safety outcomes separately: all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and definite or probable stent thrombosis. Eleven RCTs including 5190 diabetic patients were included. At the longest available follow-up (mean 2.7 years), there was no significant difference in TLR [relative risk (RR): 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–1.24; P = 0.80] or TVR (RR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.81–1.34; P = 0.76). Safety outcomes of all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and MI were similar between the two groups. Stent thrombosis rates were also similar between BP-DES and DP-DES groups (1.66% vs. 1.83%; RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.54–1.31; P = 0.45). The heterogeneity was low and fixed-effect model yielded similar results. Meta-regression analysis showed no relationship between insulin requiring diabetes and difference in TLR or stent thrombosis between BP-DES and DP-DES.

Conclusion 

Overall, BP-DESs have similar safety and efficacy profiles compared to contemporary DP-DES in patients with diabetes.
Development and acceptability of a peer-paired, cross-cultural and cross-generational storytelling HPV intervention for Korean American college women
Authors: Kim Minjin , Lee Haeok , Kiang Peter , Allison Jeroan
Published: June 2019

Although Korean American women have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer, currently there are limited culturally relevant intervention strategies for improving primary prevention of cervical cancer by promoting HPV vaccination in this population. This study reports the development of a cross-cultural, cross-generational storytelling HPV intervention using a peer-paired method, in which two storytellers interactively share their stories, as a particular innovation that might resonate with Korean American young women. The acceptability of the intervention was assessed by self-reported satisfaction and endorsement with the intervention in a pilot randomized control trial (RCT). We compared participants’ responses to the intervention by their generation and cultural identity. One hundred and four Korean college women between the ages of 18–26 were recruited from the Northeastern US Participants randomized to the intervention group received a storytelling video (n = 54); the comparison group received written information (n = 50). The acceptability of the intervention was measured immediately post-intervention. The intervention group had significantly greater satisfaction than the comparison group (P < 0.05). Participants reported greater endorsement for videos that reflected their cultural and generational experiences. Future study is needed to examine the impact of such interventions on objective follow-up on HPV vaccination in a large-scale RCT.
Disease-Associated Costs in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: El-Matary Wael , Kuenzig M Ellen , Singh Harminder , Okoli George , Moghareh Mohammad , Kumar Harsh , Lê Mê-Linh , Benchimol Eric I
Published: June 2019

Background

As a chronic noncurable disorder often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) confers a significant financial lifetime burden. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the disease-associated costs (both direct and indirect) associated with IBD in children and young adults.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the literature and included any study reporting direct health services–related costs or the indirect economic burden of IBD in persons aged ≤19 years (PROSPERO protocol number CRD2016036128). A technical panel of experts in pediatric gastroenterology and research methodology formulated the review questions, reviewed the search strategies and review methods, and provided input throughout the review process.

Results

Nine studies met criteria for inclusion, 6 of which examined direct costs, 1 of which examined both direct and indirect costs, 1 of which assessed indirect costs, and 1 of which assessed out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Inflammatory bowel disease–associated costs were significantly higher compared with costs in non-IBD populations, with wide variations in cost estimates, which prevented us from conducting a meta-analysis. Costs in Crohn’s disease were higher than in ulcerative colitis. Overall, direct costs shifted from inpatient hospitalization as a major source of direct costs to medications, mainly driven by anti–tumor necrosis factor agents, as the leading cause of direct costs. Predictors of high costs included uncontrolled disease, corticosteroid treatment in the previous year, and comorbidity burden.

Conclusions

The pediatric literature examining IBD-attributable costs is limited, with widely variable cost estimates. There is a significant knowledge gap in the research surrounding indirect costs and OOP expenses.
No fear of bankruptcy: the innate self-subsidizing forces in recreational fishing
Authors: Kleiven Alf Ring , Moland Even , Sumaila U Rashid
Published: June 2019

Recreational fishing, by both local residents and tourists, is a popular activity globally. The behaviour and motivation of recreational fishers is different from those of commercial fishers. Unlike the latter, the former are not dependent on making profits to continue fishing. Rather, the value of recreational fishing to those who engage in it is a combination of catches and experience values. The latter value implies that recreational fishers might continue fishing when they should not, analogous to the effect of subsidy in the commercial fishing sector. Hence, the term “self-subsidizing”: a fishery as one in which fishers subsidize themselves through an economic investment in gear and time from their non-fishery-based earnings. The consequence of which is that recreational fishers can continue fishing long after the commercial fishing industry has stopped fishing because their operations have become economically unviable. There is reason to argue that in many areas, recreational fishing effort, due to the self-subsidizing mechanism, is sustained at a high rate while stocks decrease. In this contribution, we describe the innate self-subsidizing forces in recreational fishing and discuss their implications.
Model-free time series analysis detected the contributions of middle-age spawner biomass and the environment on Pacific bluefin tuna recruitment
Authors: Nakayama Shin-Ichiro , Fukuda Hiromu , Nakatsuka Shuya
Published: June 2019

The relationship between the biomass of Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF) spawners and the amount of recruitment (stock–recruitment relationship, SRR) is unclear. It is likely that environmental effects have masked the SRR of PBF. As the basis of constructing an effective SRR for PBF, we examined the effect of spawning biomass at different ages and the spatiotemporal patterns of environmental effects on the amount of recruitment, using a recently developed model-free nonlinear time series analysis method (empirical dynamic modelling, EDM). EDM revealed where, when, and how the environment affected the amount of recruitment. EDM also found a significant contribution of ages 8–9 spawners on recruitment dynamics and that the amount of recruitment plateaus with increase in ages 8–9 spawners. Based on knowledge obtained from EDM, we formulated several example SRRs that incorporated environmental effects (sea surface temperature). The newly developed SRR with information from EDM outperformed the SRR without this information. Finally, we interpreted the results based on preceding observational and experimental studies and discussed the potential of applying the combination of EDM and mathematical modelling towards the sustainable use of other stocks.
Vacuum-assisted closure versus closed irrigation for deep sternal wound infection treatment in infants: a propensity score-matched study
Authors: Ivanzov Sergey , Soynov Ilya , Kulyabin Yuriy , Zubritskiy Alexey , Voitov Alexey , Omelchenko Alexander , Arkhipov Alexey , Bogachev-Prokophiev Alexander
Published: June 2019

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare vacuum-assisted closure therapy (VAC) and closed irrigation drainage therapy (CID) for deep sternal wound infection treatment in infants.

METHODS

From January 2008 to March 2018, 69 patients (1.73%) had deep sternal wound infection. They were divided into 2 groups: patients treated with VAC therapy (VAC group, 29 patients) and those treated with CID therapy (CID group, 40 patients). After performing a propensity score analysis (1:1) for the entire sample, 16 patients receiving VAC therapy were matched with 16 patients receiving CID therapy.

RESULTS

No significant difference was noted between both groups regarding age [d = 0.045; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99–1.07], gender (d = 0.001; 95% CI 0.22–4.45), weight (d = 0.011; 95% CI 0.73–1.35), body surface area (d = −0.023; 95% CI 0.01–5733.08), cardiopulmonary bypass (d = 0; 95% CI 0.16–5.90) and open chest duration (d = −0.112; 95% CI 0.31–5.16). Five patients died in the CID group (31.25%) during hospital stay, and there were no deaths in the VAC group (P = 0.024). Recurrence of mediastinitis occurred in 1 patient (6.25%) from the VAC group and in 6 patients (37.5%) from the CID group (P = 0.037). The multivariable regression analysis revealed that the CID method was the only risk factor for remediastinitis (odds ratio 17.3; 95% CI 1.04–286.75; P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of VAC therapy in infants with deep sternal wound infection was associated with a substantial decrease in the mortality rate and duration of therapy compared with CID technique. The CID technique was an independent risk factor for recurrence of mediastinitis.
Retirement and decline in episodic memory: analysis from a prospective study of adults in England
Authors: Romero Starke Karla , Seidler Andreas , Hegewald Janice , Klimova Anna , Palmer Katie
Published: June 2019

Background

Work has been associated with cognitive health. We examined whether retirement from work is associated with a decrease in episodic memory and whether this effect differs when considering workers’ occupational class.

Methods

In this prospective study using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), we examined 1629 persons aged 50–75 years who were in paid work at baseline. A two-slope random effects linear regression centred at retirement was used to study the effect of retirement on episodic memory. The potential effect modification by occupational class was examined.

Results

While memory trajectories show slightly decreasing memory scores before and afterretirement, the decreasing rates for both periods were similar [episodic memory β2b−β2a= −0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.08, 0.02]. When stratifying by occupational class, there was also no substantial difference in episodic memory trajectories before and after retirement. However, the lower occupational class showed a clear decline in episodic memory with time (pre-retirement β2a = −0.11, 95% CI −0.19, −0.03; post-retirement β2b = −0.13, 95% CI −0.19, −0.07) which was not evident for the higher occupational classes.

Conclusions

Our results show no observable difference in trajectories of change in episodic memory before and after retirement. However, the steeper memory decline in workers belonging to the lower occupational class may limit their prospect of prolonging their working lives. Hence enrichment programmes for the prevention of memory decline for these workers should be considered.
Islamist Terrorism, Out-Group Trust, and Motivation to Control Prejudice
Authors: Steen-Johnsen Kari , Winsvold Marte Slagsvold
Published: June 2019

Using Norwegian survey experiments (N = 1,541), we examined the relationship between Islamist terrorist threats and trust in out-groups, focusing on how this relationship was conditioned by the “motivation to control prejudice” (MCP) and emotions of anxiety. After exposure to a news story describing an Islamist threat scenario, the treatment group reported higher levels of trust in out-groups than the control group. High levels of MCP were linked to higher levels of trust; anxiety played an ambiguous role. Although anxiety had a strong negative effect on trust in out-groups, the positive effect of MCP increased with rising anxiety levels, thus making the people who were most scared also more trusting. Activation of social norms may, thus, bolster distrust.
Strong Ill-Posedness of the 3D Incompressible Euler Equation in Borderline Spaces
Authors: Bourgain Jean , Li Dong
Published: June 2019

For the $d$-dimensional incompressible Euler equation, the usual energy method gives local well-posedness for initial velocity in Sobolev space $H^s(\mathbb{R}^d)$, $s>s_c:=d/2+1$. The borderline case $s=s_c$ was a folklore conjecture. In the previous paper [2], we introduced a new strategy (large lagrangian deformation and high frequency perturbation) and proved strong ill-posedness in the critical space $H^1(\mathbb{R}^2)$. The main issues in 3D are vorticity stretching, lack of $L^p$ conservation, and control of lifespan. Nevertheless in this work we overcome these difficulties and show strong ill-posedness in 3D. Our results include general borderline Sobolev and Besov spaces.
Hemolytic Dynamics of Weekly Primaquine Antirelapse Therapy Among Cambodians With Acute Plasmodium vivax Malaria With or Without Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Authors: Taylor Walter R J , Kheng Sim , Muth Sinoun , Tor Pety , Kim Saorin , Bjorge Steven , Topps Narann , Kosal Khem , Sothea Khon , Souy Phum , Char Chuor Meng , Vanna Chan , Ly Po , Khieu Virak , Christophel Eva , Kerleguer Alexandra , Pantaleo Antonella , Mukaka Mavuto , Menard Didier , Baird J Kevin
Published: June 2019

Background

Hemoglobin (Hb) data are limited in Southeast Asian glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient (G6PD−) patients treated weekly with the World Health Organization–recommended primaquine regimen (ie, 0.75 mg/kg/week for 8 weeks [PQ 0.75]).

Methods

We treated Cambodians who had acute Plasmodium vivax infection with PQ0.75 and a 3-day course of dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine and determined the Hb level, reticulocyte count, G6PD genotype, and Hb type.

Results

Seventy-five patients (male sex, 63) aged 5–63 years (median, 24 years) were enrolled. Eighteen were G6PD deficient (including 17 with G6PD Viangchan) and 57 were not G6PD deficient; 26 had HbE (of whom 25 were heterozygous), and 6 had α-/β-thalassemia. Mean Hb concentrations at baseline (ie, day 0) were similar between G6PD deficient and G6PD normal patients (12.9 g/dL [range, 9‒16.3 g/dL] and 13.26 g/dL [range, 9.6‒16 g/dL], respectively; P = .46). G6PD deficiency (P = <.001), higher Hb concentration at baseline (P = <.001), higher parasitemia level at baseline (P = .02), and thalassemia (P = .027) influenced the initial decrease in Hb level, calculated as the nadir level minus the baseline level (range, −5.8–0 g/dL; mean, −1.88 g/dL). By day 14, the mean difference from the day 7 level (calculated as the day 14 level minus the day 7 level) was 0.03 g/dL (range, −0.25‒0.32 g/dL). Reticulocyte counts decreased from days 1 to 3, peaking on day 7 (in the G6PD normal group) and day 14 (in the G6PD deficient group); reticulocytemia at baseline (P = .001), G6PD deficiency (P = <.001), and female sex (P = .034) correlated with higher counts. One symptomatic, G6PD-deficient, anemic male patient was transfused on day 4.

Conclusions

The first PQ0.75 exposure was associated with the greatest decrease in Hb level and 1 blood transfusion, followed by clinically insignificant decreases in Hb levels. PQ0.75 requires monitoring during the week after treatment. Safer antirelapse regimens are needed in Southeast Asia.

Clinical Trials Registration

ACTRN12613000003774.