bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pyrene-based aggregation-induced emission luminogens and their applications
Authors: Islam Md. Monarul , Hu Zhen , Wang Qingsong , Redshaw Carl , Feng Xing
Published: March 2019

Pyrene shows very weak or quenched fluorescence in the solid state, but it is possible to turn it to a bright solid emitter by using aggregation-induced emission (AIE) strategies.
Highly selective electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO using a redox-active couple on low-crystallinity mesoporous ZnGa2O4 catalyst
Authors: Zhao Meiming , Gu Yaliu , Chen Ping , Xin Zhenyu , Zhu Heng , Wang Bing , Zhu Kai , Yan Shicheng , Zou Zhigang
Published: March 2019

We propose a strategy that combines mesopores and redox-active couple, Zn2+/Zn+, to effectively capture CO2 and selectively generate CO product.
A carbon aerogel with super mechanical and sensing performances for wearable piezoresistive sensors
Authors: Zhuo Hao , Hu Yijie , Chen Zehong , Peng Xinwen , Liu Linxiang , Luo Qingsong , Yi Jiwang , Liu Chuanfu , Zhong Linxin
Published: March 2019

A compressible carbon aerogel with not only super mechanical performances but also ultrahigh linear sensitivity is fabricated from MXene nanosheets and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs).
Boosting the oxygen evolution reaction activity of a perovskite through introducing multi-element synergy and building an ordered structure
Authors: Sun Hainan , Xu Xiaomin , Hu Zhiwei , Tjeng Liu Hao , Zhao Jie , Zhang Qin , Lin Hong-Ji , Chen Chien-Te , Chan Ting-Shan , Zhou Wei , Shao Zongping
Published: March 2019

The outstanding OER performance of a perovskite can be achieved by the strategy of introducing multi-element synergy and building an ordered structure.
Cu:NiO as a hole-selective back contact to improve the photoelectrochemical performance of CuBi2O4 thin film photocathodes
Authors: Song Angang , Plate Paul , Chemseddine Abdelkrim , Wang Fuxian , Abdi Fatwa F. , Wollgarten Markus , van de Krol Roel , Berglund Sean P.
Published: March 2019

Cu doped NiO (Cu:NiO) back contact layers are inserted between FTO substrates and CuBi2O4 thin films to improve the performance of CuBi2O4 photocathodes.
Thermoelectric (Bi,Sb)2Te3–Ge0.5Mn0.5Te composites with excellent mechanical properties
Authors: Duan Sichen , Man Na , Xu Jingtao , Wu Qingsong , Liu Guo-qiang , Tan Xiaojian , Shao Hezhu , Guo Kai , Yang Xinxin , Jiang Jun
Published: March 2019

(Bi,Sb)2Te3 composites with structure modifications by Ge0.5Mn0.5Te additions can simultaneously improve thermoelectric performance and mechanical properties.
The BNT-38: Applying Rasch Analysis to Adapt the Boston Naming Test for Use With English and French Monolinguals and Bilinguals
Authors: Medvedev Oleg N. , Sheppard Christine , Monetta Laura , Taler Vanessa
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Currently, there is no reliable instrument to measure naming abilities in bilingual speakers of English and French. The Boston Naming Test (BNT;
Kaplan, Goodglass, & Weintraub, 1983
)is a widely used scale for clinical assessments of language function, but it is not suitable to assess bilinguals. Rasch analysis provides a unique and powerful method to establish measurement invariance across language groups that improves reliability of measurement.

Method

Rasch analysis was applied to a sample (
n
= 215) of English or French monolingual and bilingual speakers completing the BNT in either language. Participants included English–French bilinguals (
n
= 83), English monolinguals (
n
= 72), and French monolinguals (
n
= 60).

Results

The best overall Rasch model fit was obtained after the removal of 22 misfitting items, resulting in a 38-item BNT solution (BNT-38), with a modification of 7 items that showed differential item functioning by language factor. To increase the clinical utility of the BNT-38 in French speakers and bilinguals, we generated ordinal-to-interval conversion tables for monolinguals and bilinguals in English and French.

Conclusions

Use of the BNT-38 and the associated conversion tables will allow valid comparisons of naming abilities across bilingual and monolingual English and French speakers of different age groups. Applying these tools increases accuracy in measurement of naming ability and higher diagnostic precision in French and English monolinguals and bilinguals.
Composite right/left‐handed wideband metamaterial antenna loaded with SRRs and CSRRs to improve gain and efficiency
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Kumari Runa
Published: March 2019

A coplanar waveguide‐fed metamaterial antenna is presented. The proposed antenna is composed of two‐unit cell composite right/left‐handed transmission line (CRLH‐TL) loaded with split ring resonators (SRRs) and complementary SRRs (CSRRs). The wideband characteristic is obtained by merging the three closely spaced resonances of CRLH‐TL. The loading of SRRs and CSRRs not only improves the impedance matching but also enhances the overall gain and radiation efficiency. The measured results show a −10 dB fractional bandwidth of 67% (6.48–13 GHz) with the realised gains of 2.98, 3.43, 3.15, 2.75 and 2.61 dBi at the resonant frequencies 8.3, 9.2, 10.3, 11 and 12 GHz, respectively. The radiation efficiency is above 67% over the entire band of operation with a peak value of 81.72%. The measured results agree well with the simulated results. The proposed antenna is suitable for X‐band (8–12 GHz) applications.
Synthesis of the morphological description of cometary dust at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Authors: Güttler C. , Mannel T. , Rotundi A. , Merouane S. , Fulle M. , Bockelée-Morvan D. , Lasue J. , Levasseur-Regourd A. C. , Blum J. , Naletto G. , Sierks H. , Hilchenbach M. , Tubiana C. , Capaccioni F. , Paquette J. A. , Flandes A. , Moreno F. , Agarwal J. , Bodewits D. , Bertini I. , Tozzi G. P. , Hornung K. , Langevin Y. , Krüger H. , Longobardo A. , Della Corte V. , Tóth I. , Filacchione G. , Ivanovski S. L. , Mottola S. , Rinaldi G.
Published: March 2019

Before Rosetta, the space missionsGiottoand Stardust shaped our view on cometary dust, supported by plentiful data from Earth based observations and interplanetary dust particles collected in the Earth’s atmosphere. The Rosetta mission at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was equipped with a multitude of instruments designed to study cometary dust. While an abundant amount of data was presented in several individual papers, many focused on a dedicated measurement or topic. Different instruments, methods, and data sources provide different measurement parameters and potentially introduce different biases. This can be an advantage if the complementary aspect of such a complex data set can be exploited. However, it also poses a challenge in the comparison of results in the first place. The aim of this work therefore is to summarize dust results from Rosetta and before. We establish a simple classification as a common framework for intercomparison. This classification is based on the dust particle structure, porosity, and strength and also on its size. Depending on the instrumentation, these are not direct measurement parameters, but we chose them because they were the most reliable for deriving our model. The proposed classification has proved helpful in the Rosetta dust community, and we offer it here also for a broader context. In this manner, we hope to better identify synergies between different instruments and methods in the future.
The complexity of Orion: an ALMA view
Authors: Pagani L. , Bergin E. , Goldsmith P. F. , Melnick G. , Snell R. , Favre C.
Published: March 2019

The chemistry of complex organic molecules in interstellar dark clouds is still highly uncertain in part because of the lack of constraining observations. Orion is the closest massive star-forming region, and observations making use of ALMA allow us to separate the emission regions of various complex organic molecules (COMs) in both velocity and space. Orion also benefits from an exceptional situation, in that it is the site of a powerful explosive event that occurred ∼550 years ago. We show that the closely surrounding Kleinmann-Low region has clearly been influenced by this explosion; some molecular species have been pushed away from the densest parts while others have remained in close proximity. This dynamical segregation reveals the time dependence of the chemistry and, therefore allows us to better constrain the formation sequence of COMs and other species, including deuterated molecules.
Was benötigen LSBTI-Menschen angesichts ihrer Sexual- und Geschlechtsbiografien für eine bessere Gesundheitsversorgung?
Authors: Lampalzer Ute , Behrendt Pia , Dekker Arne , Briken Peer , Nieder Timo O.
Published: March 2019

Einleitung Studien deuten darauf hin, dass LSBTI-Menschen im Gesundheitssystem häufig mit Herausforderungen und Benachteiligungen konfrontiert sind, die eng mit ihren Sexual- und Geschlechtsbiografien verbunden sind. Für eine deutsche Großstadt liegt hierzu noch keine zielgruppenübergreifende Untersuchung vor.

Forschungsziele Ziel der Studie ist die Beantwortung der Frage, was behandelnde und beratende Fachkräfte über die Sexual- und Geschlechtsbiografien von LSBTI-Menschen wissen sollten und wie sie in ihrer jeweiligen Praxis mit LSBTI-Menschen umgehen sollten, um im Stadtstaat Hamburg eine bessere Gesundheitsversorgung gewährleisten zu können.

Methoden Es wurden fünf Expert_inneninterviews mit LSBTI-Menschen und drei Fokusgruppen durchgeführt und mithilfe der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass es von zentraler Bedeutung ist, dass Fachkräfte im Gesundheitswesen eigene Annahmen und Vorurteile gegenüber LSBTI-Menschen ehrlich hinterfragen. Außerdem sollten sie insbesondere mit Herausforderungen des Coming-outs vertraut sein, diverse Lebens- und Beziehungsmodelle mitdenken, unterschiedliche Phasen der sexuellen und geschlechtlichen Entwicklung sowie Einflüsse darauf kennen, sexuelles Verhalten und sexuelle Identität unterscheiden – und all dies bei der Behandlung bzw. Beratung bedarfsgerecht berücksichtigen.

Schlussfolgerung Für eine bessere Gesundheitsversorgung sollten Fachkräfte für die allgemeinen und individuellen Herausforderungen in den Sexual- und Geschlechtsbiografien von LSBTI-Menschen sensibilisiert sein und relevante Themen direkt ansprechen.
Selbstaggression als Mediator zwischen Depression und Aggressivität
Authors: Franke Irina , Shenar Riad , Nigel Stefanie , Otte Stefanie , Büsselmann Michael , Streb Judith , Dudeck Manuela
Published: March 2019

Ziel der Studie Überprüfung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Depression, Selbstaggression und nach außen gerichteter Aggression.

Methodik Mittels Mediatoranalyse wurde ein möglicher Mediatoreffekt der Selbstaggression auf den Zusammenhang von Depression und externalisierter Aggression an einer Stichprobe depressiver Patienten (n = 134) untersucht.

Ergebnisse Selbstaggression mediiert den Zusammenhang von Depression und externalisierter Aggression.

Schlussfolgerung Personen mit depressiver Erkrankung, die Aggression nach außen richten, richten diese auch auf sich selbst.
Mental Health Disorders Associated with Sinonasal and Skull Base Malignancies: A Large Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Ji Hyae , Zacharia Brad E. , Ba Djibril , Leslie Douglas , Liu Guodong , Goyal Neerav
Published: March 2019

Objective The main purpose of this article is to examine the prevalence, incidence, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics of mental health disorders (MHDs) among patients with skull base malignancies.

Design Retrospective cohort study.

Settings/Participants Six-thousand seven-hundred sixty sinonasal/skull base cancer patients in the MarketScan database between 2005 and 2014.

Main Outcome Measures Frequency of MHDs pre- and post-diagnosis in patients harboring sinonasal/skull base malignancies.

Results A significant increase in MHDs was noted from pre- to post-cancer diagnosis (22 vs 31%, p < 0.0001). Despite an increase in the prevalence rate, the demographic profile of patients with MHDs post-diagnosis remained similar to pre-diagnosis. Those patients harboring MHDs were, however, more likely to be women (62.7 vs 47.4%), and carry a history of smoking (40.9 vs 26.3%) than those without MHDs. These comparisons were statistically significant (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion The prevalence of MHDs increases following a diagnosis of a sinonasal/skull base malignancy. Patients with MHDs were more likely to be women and smokers.
From single drug targets to synergistic network pharmacology in ischemic stroke
Authors: Casas Ana I. , Hassan Ahmed A. , Larsen Simon J. , Gomez-Rangel Vanessa , Elbatreek Mahmoud , Kleikers Pamela W. M. , Guney Emre , Egea Javier , López Manuela G. , Baumbach Jan , Schmidt Harald H. H. W.
Published: March 2019

Significance

Current one drug–one target–one disease approaches in drug discovery have become increasingly inefficient. Network pharmacology defines disease mechanisms as networks best targeted by multiple, synergistic drugs. Using the high unmet medical need indication stroke, we here develop an integrative in silico approach based on a primary target, NADPH oxidase type 4, to identify a mechanistically related cotarget, NO synthase, for network pharmacology. Indeed, we validate both in vivo and in vitro, including humans, that both NOX4 and NOS inhibition is highly synergistic, leading to a significant reduction of infarct volume, direct neuroprotection, and blood–brain-barrier stabilization. This systems medicine approach provides a ground plan to decrease current failure in the field by being implemented in other complex indications.
Interconnection between the solidification and precipitation hardening processes of an AlSiCu alloy
Authors: Magno Igor A. , Souza Fabrício A. , Costa Marlo O. , Nascimento Jacson M. , Silva Adrina P. , Costa Thiago S. , Rocha Otávio L.
Published: March 2019

Horizontal directional solidification and precipitation hardening experiments were performed with the Al5.5Si3Cu alloy. Solidification thermal and microstructural parameters such as growth and cooling rates ( VL and TR, respectively) and the secondary dendrite arm spacing ( λ2) were determined experimentally. As-solidified samples were selected and submitted to the T6-heat treatment (T6-HT). The T6-HT was carried out considering two solution times: 8 and 5 h at 490 ± 2°C, followed by quenching in warm water (60 ± 2°C), aging for 5 h at 155 ± 2°C and air-cooling. Higher HV values were observed for the solution time of 5 h. As highlights of this work, the influence of the processing parameters ( VL, TR and λ2) on the distribution, morphology and size of the eutectic Si particles has been investigated.
Role of annealing twinning in microstructural evolution of high purity silver during friction stir welding
Authors: Nagira T. , Liu X. C. , Ushioda K. , Iwamoto Y. , Ano G. , Fujii H.
Published: March 2019

Friction stir welding (FSW) with a relatively large heat input was applied to high purity Ag with a low stacking fault energy, which leads to profuse twinning. The microstructural evolution was examined along the material flow path during rapid cooling FSW. The frequent formation of annealing twinning induced by the heating caused the microstructural refinement, following the transformation from twin boundaries to normal high angle boundaries. The bulging of the high angle boundary, which is one of the typical mechanisms of discontinuous dynamic recrystallisation did not occur. Irrespective of the initial grain size, the grain size obtained after the FSW was approximately 8 µm due to the dynamic balance between the grain boundary migration and the annealing twin formation.
Fair ways to share benefits from community forests? How commodification is associated with reduced preference for equality and poverty alleviation
Authors: Martin Adrian , Kebede Bereket , Gross-Camp Nicole , He Jun , Inturias Mirna , Rodríguez Iokiñe
Published: March 2019

This research is concerned with the trend towards commodification of forestry, in the context of community forest governance for sustainable development in the tropics. In these contexts, commodification takes different forms, including sales of certified timbers and sales of carbon credits. In addition to the general aim to enhance income, these market-based forestry interventions typically aim to align with sustainable development agendas, including (a) safeguarding ecological integrity and (b) promoting poverty alleviation. Our concern here is that the process of forest commodification might lead to a shift in local norms of benefit-sharing, in ways that can hinder these key components of sustainable development goals. We report the results of a survey (N = 519) conducted across sites in Bolivia, China and Tanzania that shows that switching from non-monetary to monetary benefits is associated with changes in preferences for distributional fairness in ways that may be detrimental to the poor. In particular, we show that forest commodification is associated with a lower likelihood of selecting pro-poor or egalitarian approaches to benefit sharing and higher likelihood of selecting to distribute benefits in a way that rewards individual contributions or compensates losses.
Kunneth formula for graded rings associated to 𝐾-theories of Rost motives
Authors: Yagita Nobuaki
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we study the graded ring

g

r
∗

(
X
)

gr^*(X)

defined by

K
K

-theory of a twist flag variety

X
X

. In particular, the Kunneth map
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="g r Superscript asterisk Baseline left-parenthesis upper R prime right-parenthesis circled-times g r Superscript asterisk Baseline left-parenthesis upper R prime right-parenthesis right-arrow g r Superscript asterisk Baseline left-parenthesis upper R right-parenthesis">

g

r
∗

(

R
′

)
⊗
g

r
∗

(

R
′

)
→
g

r
∗

(
R
)

gr^*(R’)\otimes gr^*(R’)\to gr^*(R)

is studied explicitly for an original Rost motive

R
′

R’

and a generalized Rost motive

R
R

. Using this, we give examples

T
o
r
(
X

)
2

≠
0

Tor(X)^2\not =0

for the ideal

T
o
r
(
X
)

Tor(X)

of torsion elements in the Chow ring

C

H
∗

(
X
)

CH^*(X)

.
On the weighted log canonical thresholds of plurisubharmonic functions
Authors: Hong Nguyen
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we study the singularities of the plurisubharmonic functions defined on a neighborhood of the origin. We will prove an inequality for the weighted log canonical thresholds of plurisubharmonic functions.
IRSp53 coordinates AMPK and 14-3-3 signaling to regulate filopodia dynamics and directed cell migration
Authors: Kast David J. , Dominguez Roberto
Published: March 2019

Filopodia are actin-filled membrane protrusions that play essential roles in cell motility and cell–cell communication and act as precursors of dendritic spines. IRSp53 is an essential regulator of filopodia formation, which couples Rho-GTPase signaling to actin cytoskeleton and membrane remodeling. IRSp53 has three major domains: an N-terminal inverse-BAR (I-BAR) domain, a Cdc42- and SH3-binding CRIB-PR domain, and an SH3 domain that binds downstream cytoskeletal effectors. Phosphorylation sites in the region between the CRIB-PR and SH3 domains mediate the binding of 14-3-3. Yet the mechanism by which 14-­3-3 regulates filopodia formation and dynamics and its role in cell migration are poorly understood. Here, we show that phosphorylation-dependent inhibition of IRSp53 by 14-3-3 counters activation by Cdc42 and cytoskeletal effectors, resulting in down-regulation of filopodia dynamics and cancer cell migration. In serum-starved cells, increased IRSp53 phosphorylation triggers 14-3-3 binding, which inhibits filopodia formation and dynamics, irrespective of whether IRSp53 is activated by Cdc42 or downstream effectors (Eps8, Ena/VASP). Pharmacological activation or inhibition of AMPK, respectively, increases or decreases the phosphorylation of two of three sites in IRSp53 implicated in 14-3-3 binding. Mutating these phosphorylation sites reverses 14-3-3-dependent inhibition of filopodia dynamics and cancer cell chemotaxis.
Association of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Coverage With Pneumococcal Meningitis: An Analysis of French Administrative Areas, 2001–2016
Authors: Alari Anna , Cheysson Félix , Le Fouler Lénaig , Lanotte Philippe ,   Observatoires Régionaux du Pneumocoque network, Varon Emmanuelle , Opatowski Lulla , Guillemot Didier , Watier Laurence
Published: March 2019

Geographic variations of invasive pneumococcal disease incidence and serotype distributions were observed after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction at regional levels and among French administrative areas. The variations could be related to regional vaccine coverage (VC) variations that might have direct consequences for vaccination-policy impact on invasive pneumococcal disease, particularly pneumococcal meningitis (PM) incidence. We assessed vaccine impact from 2001 to 2016 in France by estimating the contribution of regional VC differences to variations of annual local PM incidence. Using a mixed-effect Poisson model, we showed that, despite some variations of VC among administrative areas, vaccine impact on vaccine-serotype PM was homogeneously confirmed among administrative areas. Compared with the prevaccine era, the cumulative VC impact on vaccine serotypes led, in 2016, to PM reductions ranging among regions from 87% (25th percentile) to 91% (75th percentile) for 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes and from 58% to 63% for the 6 additional 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes. Nonvaccine-serotype PM increases from the prevaccine era ranged among areas from 98% to 127%. By taking into account the cumulative impact of growing VC and VC differences, our analyses confirmed high vaccine impact on vaccine-serotype PM case rates and suggest that VC variations cannot explain PM administrative area differences.
Pharmacogenomic potential in advanced cancer patients
Authors: Nichols Dan , Arnold Susanne , Weiss Heidi L , Wu Jianrong , Durbin Eric B , Miller Rachel , Kolesar Jill
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The prevalence of pharmacogenetically actionable medications in advanced cancer patients whose therapy may be optimized with genotype data was determined.

Methods

Patients enrolled in our institutional molecular tumor board observational cohort were included in this study. Collected data included demographics, type(s) of cancer, and outpatient medications. Medications were classified as “pharmacogenetically actionable” if there are Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) therapeutic recommendations for that medication based on the presence of germline variations. The prevalence of pharmacogenetically actionable medications in the study population was determined, and the frequency of opportunities for pharmacogenetic prescribing and adverse event (AE) mitigation were estimated.

Results

In a cohort of 193 patients with advanced cancer, 65% of patients were taking a pharmacogenetically actionable medication. Approximately 10% of the outpatient medications taken by the study population had a pharmacogenetic association. The most common pharmacogenetically actionable medications being used were ondansetron (47%), capecitabine (10%), and sertraline (7%). Using published genetic variation frequencies and AE risk, we conservatively estimated that 7.1% of cancer patients would be eligible for genetic-based medication adjustment, and 101 AEs would be prevented in 10,000 patients genotyped.

Conclusion

Medications with pharmacogenetic associations are used commonly in the advanced cancer patient population. This widespread exposure supports the implementation of prospective genotyping in the treatment of these high-risk patients.
Differential proteostatic regulation of insoluble and abundant proteins
Authors: Ramakrishnan Reshmi , Houben Bert , Rousseau Frederic , Schymkowitz Joost
Published: March 2019

Motivation

Despite intense effort, it has been difficult to explain chaperone dependencies of proteins from sequence or structural properties.

Results

We constructed a database collecting all publicly available data of experimental chaperone interaction and dependency data for the Escherichia coli proteome, and enriched it with an extensive set of protein-specific as well as cell-context-dependent proteostatic parameters. Employing this new resource, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of the key determinants of chaperone interaction. Our study confirms that GroEL client proteins are biased toward insoluble proteins of low abundance, but for client proteins of the Trigger Factor/DnaK axis, we instead find that cellular parameters such as high protein abundance, translational efficiency and mRNA turnover are key determinants. We experimentally confirmed the finding that chaperone dependence is a function of translation rate and not protein-intrinsic parameters by tuning chaperone dependence of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in E.coli by synonymous mutations only. The juxtaposition of both protein-intrinsic and cell-contextual chaperone triage mechanisms explains how the E.coli proteome achieves combining reliable production of abundant and conserved proteins, while also enabling the evolution of diverging metabolic functions.

Availability and implementation

The database will be made available via http://phdb.switchlab.org.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Differences in kinematic plasticity between freshwater turtle species underlie differences in swimming performance in response to varying flow conditions
Authors: Mayerl Christopher J , Hicks Kirsten E , Blob Richard W
Published: March 2019

The distribution and performance of aquatic vertebrates can be linked strongly to their ability to perform in variable conditions of flowing water. Performance in these variable conditions can be affected by both morphology and behaviour, and animals that experience more variable environments often show greater behavioural plasticity that improves performance in those environments. One common metric of performance is swimming stability, which can constitute a majority of the daily energy budget of swimming animals. We compared the body oscillations arising from recoil forces of the limbs of two species of freshwater turtles as they swam in different flow conditions: the lentic specialist Emydura subglobosa and the habitat generalist Chrysemys picta. We found that E. subglobosa experienced more limited oscillations in still water than C. picta, but that C. picta had a greater kinematic response to increased flow speed that might contribute to their improved performance in flowing water. These results provide insight into how secondarily aquatic tetrapods respond to the functional demands of variation in flow, helping to build understanding of the relationship between energetics, kinematics and performance of such lineages in different environments.
Reimagining and radicalizing community development practice in south-east Queensland through popular education action research
Authors: Lathouras Athena , Westoby Peter , Shevellar Lynda
Published: March 2019

This article analyses the ways community development in Australia has succumbed to neoliberal forces resulting in conservative or reformist practice. Ledwith (Community Development in Action: Putting Freire into Practice, 2015, Policy Press, UK.) argues that popular education theory is a useful vehicle through which community development can recover its emancipatory intentions and take on a more critical role in strategising and acting for structural changes. This article reports on a participatory action research project undertaken in Australia in 2017, to explore what the Popular Education tradition could bring to the field of community development within south-east Queensland. The research aim was to theory-test the possibilities of popular education for influencing contemporary community development in an era of hegemonic service-delivery and welfare work within Australia. Practitioners were exposed to a series of popular education workshops, grounding a clear experiential model for taking theory into action that can advance social justice agendas and further their work. Findings from the project reveal that it is possible to stimulate thinking about radical practice with popular education theory. Moreover, exploration of the theory needs forums and communities of practice for collective critical reflection. Such processes provide both theoretical knowledge and collegial support for practitioners to experiment with actions in line with the radical tradition, and thus develop a radical praxis to resist the worst elements of neoliberalism.
The Cost-effectiveness of Biological Therapy Cycles in the Management of Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Bolin Kristian , Hertervig Erik , Louis Edouard
Published: March 2019

Objectives

To examine the cost-effectiveness of continued treatment for patients with moderate-severe Crohn’s disease in clinical remission, with a combination of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha [anti-TNFα] [infliximab] and immunomodulator therapy compared with two different withdrawal strategies: [1] withdrawal of the anti-TNFα therapy; and [2] withdrawal of the immunomodulator therapy, respectively.

Methods

A decision-tree model was constructed mimicking three treatment arms: [1] continued combination therapy with infliximab and immunomodulator; [2] withdrawal of infliximab; or [3] withdrawal of the immunomodulator. Relapses in each arm are managed with treatment intensification and re-institution of the de-escalated drug according to a prespecified algorithm. State-dependent relapse risks, remission probabilities, and quality of life weights were collected from previous published studies.

Results

Combination therapy was less costly and more efficient than the withdrawal of the immunomodulator, and more costly and more efficient than withdrawal of infliximab. Whether or not combination therapy is cost-effective, compared with the alternatives, depends primarily on current pharmaceutical prices and the willingness-to-pay per additional quality-adjusted life-year [QALY].

Conclusions

Combination therapy using a combination of anti-TNFα [infliximab] and an immunomodulator is cost-effective in the treatment of Crohn’s disease compared with treatment cycles in which the immunomodulator is withdrawn. Combination treatment is cost-effective compared with treatment cycles in which infliximab is withdrawn, at prices of infliximab below€192/100 mg, given a willingness-to-pay threshold at€49 020 [Sweden] per additional QALY.
Addressing alcohol in routine healthcare in Sweden—population-based surveys in 2010 and 2017
Authors: Karlsson Nadine E. , O’Donnell Amy J , Abidi Latifa , Skagerström Janna M E , Nilsen Per M
Published: March 2019

Background

The aim of the study was to compare how alcohol was addressed in routine healthcare practice in Sweden in 2010 and 2017, following the 2011 implementation of national drinking guidelines.

Methods

Population-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2010 and in 2017. Subjects were 3200 respondents in 2010 (response rate 54%) and 3000 respondents in 2017 (response rate 51%) in Sweden. Both the 2010 and 2017 surveys collected data on: socio-demographics; alcohol consumption; healthcare visits in the past 12 months and characteristics of alcohol conversations in healthcare (duration, contents, experience and effects).

Results

It was significantly more likely that respondents had a conversation about alcohol in healthcare in 2017 than in 2010 (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.27–1.75; P<0.001). Conversations about alcohol in the healthcare were mostly short (<4 min), both in 2010 and 2017. The alcohol conversations in 2017 included less information about alcohol’s influence on health (P = 0.002) compared with 2010. The experience of the conversation about alcohol was perceived as less dramatic in 2017 than in 2010 (P = 0.038).

Conclusions

The results suggest that conversations about alcohol were more embedded in routine healthcare practice in Sweden in 2017 than in 2010. This development has occurred since the 2011 publication of the national guidelines. Alcohol conversations targeted also specific groups of drinkers as recommended by the guidelines. However, our study design does not allow for conclusions about the relationship between the guidelines and the changes in healthcare practice.
Evaluation of commercially available DNA extraction kits for the analysis of the broiler chicken cecal microbiota
Authors: Pankoke Helga , Maus Irena , Loh Gunnar , Hüser Andrea , Seifert Jana , Tilker Alexandra , Hark Sarah , Sczyrba Alexander , Pelzer Stefan , Kleinbölting Jessica
Published: March 2019

16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing is a state of the art technology to analyze bacterial communities via microbiome profiling. Choosing an appropriate DNA extraction protocol is crucial for characterizing the microbial community and can be challenging, especially when preliminary knowledge about the sample matrix is scarce. The aim of the present study was to evaluate seven commercial DNA extraction kits suitable for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the bacterial community of the chicken cecum, taking into account different criteria such as high technical reproducibility, high bacterial diversity and easy handling. The DNA extraction kits differed strongly with respect to extractable DNA quantity, DNA quality, technical reproducibility and bacterial diversity determined after 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic and biostatistical data processing. While some of the DNA extraction protocols under-represented specific bacterial community members, the removal of PCR inhibitors supported technical reproducibility and subsequently enhanced the recovered bacterial diversity from the chicken cecum community. In conclusion, the removal of PCR inhibitors from the sample matrix seemed to be one of the main drivers for a consistent representation of the bacterial community even of low abundant taxa in chicken cecum samples.
Association between diet and rumen microbiota in wild roe deer
Authors: Wilson Robert , Østbye Kjartan , Angell Inga Leena , Rudi Knut
Published: March 2019

The association between diet and the rumen microbiota for wild animals remains largely unexplored. Here, we explored this association using a combination of 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the prokaryote microbiota and 18S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the dietary components for wild roe deer. These analyses revealed a wide diversity of dietary components, with over-representation of Bacteroidetes for the diet-correlating bacteria. Ruminococcus, on the other hand, dominated the stable diet-independent part of the microbiota. Taken together, the combination of 16S and 18S rRNA gene analyses provide novel insight into rumen microbiota ecology.
Involvement of the external mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase Nde1 in glycerol metabolism by wild-type and engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains
Authors: Aßkamp Maximilian R , Klein Mathias , Nevoigt Elke
Published: March 2019

Glycerol is an attractive substrate for microbial fermentations due to its higher degree of reduction compared to glucose. The replacement of the native FAD-dependent glycerol catabolic pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by an artificial NADH-delivering dihydroxyacetone (DHA) pathway is supposed to facilitate the capturing of electrons in fermentation products. This requires that the electrons from the cytosolic NADH are not exclusively transferred to oxygen. However, the external NADH dehydrogenases (Nde1/2) and the L-glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle (composed of Gpd1/2 and Gut2), both coupled to the respiratory chain, are known to contribute to cytosolic NAD+ regeneration during growth on non-fermentable carbon sources. In order to evaluate the role of these mechanisms during growth on glycerol, we deleted GPD1/2, GUT2 as well as NDE1/2, separately and in combinations in both the glycerol-utilizing wild-type strain CBS 6412–13A and the corresponding engineered strain CBS DHA in which glycerol is catabolized by the DHA pathway. Particularly, the nde1Δ mutants showed a significant reduction in growth rate and the nde1∆ nde2∆ double deletion mutants did not grow at all in synthetic glycerol medium. The current work also demonstrates a positive impact of deleting NDE1 on the production of the fermentation product 1,2-propanediol in an accordingly engineered S. cerevisiae strain.
Coupled time discretization of dynamic damage models at small strains
Authors: Roubíček Tomáš
Published: March 2019

The dynamic damage model in viscoelastic materials in Kelvin–Voigt rheology is discretized by a scheme that is coupled, suppresses spurious numerical attenuation during vibrations and has a variational structure with a convex potential for small time steps. In addition, this discretization is numerically stable and convergent for the time step going to zero. When combined with a finite-element spatial discretization, it leads to an implementable scheme and to that iterative solvers (e.g., the Newton–Raphson) used for the nonlinear algebraic systems at each time level have guaranteed global convergence. Models that are computationally used in some engineering simulations in a nonreliable way are thus stabilized and theoretically justified in this viscoelastic rheology. In particular, this model and algorithm can be used in a reliable way for a dynamic fracture in the usual phase-field approximation.
Hausdorff Dimension in Inhomogeneous Diophantine Approximation
Authors: Bugeaud Yann , Kim Dong Han , Lim Seonhee , Rams Michał
Published: March 2019

Let $\alpha $ be an irrational real number. We show that the set of $\varepsilon $-badly approximable numbers $$\begin{equation*} \textrm{Bad}^\varepsilon (\alpha):= \Big\{x\in [0,1]\,: \, \liminf_{|q| \to \infty} |q| \cdot \| q\alpha -x \| \geq \varepsilon \Big\} \end{equation*}$$has full Hausdorff dimension for some positive $\varepsilon $ if and only if $\alpha $ is singular on average. The condition is equivalent to the average $\frac{1}{k} \sum _{i=1, \cdots , k} \log a_i$ of the logarithms of the partial quotients $a_i$ of $\alpha $ going to infinity with $k$. We also consider one-sided approximation, obtain a stronger result when $a_i$ tends to infinity, and establish a partial result in higher dimensions.
Human Capital Formation During the First Industrial Revolution: Evidence from the use of Steam Engines
Authors: de Pleijt Alexandra , Nuvolari Alessandro , Weisdorf Jacob
Published: March 2019

We examine the effect of technical change on human capital formation during England's Industrial Revolution. Using the number of steam engines installed by 1800 as a synthetic indicator of technological change and occupational statistics to measure working skills (using HISCLASS), we establish a positive correlation between the use of steam engines and the share of skilled workers at the county level. We use exogenous variation in carboniferous rock strata (containing coal to fuel the engines) to show that the effect was causal. While technological change stimulated the formation of working skills, it had an overall negative effect on the formation of primary education, captured by literacy and school enrolment rates. It also led to higher gender inequality in literacy.
Do BL Lac objects and FR I radio galaxies inhabit the same galaxy environment?
Authors: Sandrinelli A , Falomo R , Treves A
Published: March 2019

We investigate the environments of galaxies around BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects and Fanaroff–Riley class I (FR I) radio galaxies, the alleged parent populations of misaligned sources. We compare the environment of a sample of 50 BL Lac objects at 0.1 < z < 0.33 with that of a sample of 90 FR I galaxies at 0.1 < z < 0.15. The galaxy environment is studied by using Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 14 images in the i band. We find that the galaxy excess density within 0.5 Mpc around FR I radio galaxies is a factor of ∼2 larger than that around BL Lacs. This implies a reconsideration of the parent population of BL Lac objects.
Mechanical Thrombectomy of Acutely Occluded Flow Diverters
Authors: Samaniego Edgar A , Dandapat Sudeepta , Roa Jorge A , Zanaty Mario , Nakagawa Daichi , Hasan David M
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Embolization of intracranial aneurysms with the pipeline embolization device (PED; Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) is a widely used technique. Despite adequate dual antiplatelet therapy and intraprocedural anticoagulation, in-stent thrombosis has been described. There is limited evidence for best management of this complication.

OBJECTIVE

To describe in detail the technique used to perform thrombectomy of a recently placed PED with in-stent thrombosis. The aim of the procedure is to leave the PED in place and only perform thrombectomy of the luminal clot.

METHODS

We describe two cases of successful thrombectomy with a stentriever of acutely occluded PEDs. A total of 2 patients underwent PED embolization of 2 previously clipped aneurysms. Despite optimal deployment of the PEDs and excellent angiographic results, both patients developed symptoms of right hemispheric stroke within 1 h of the procedure. A thrombectomy was performed in each patient with the stentriever within the newly deployed PED. Thrombectomy was successful and there was no evidence of PED displacement of vascular injury.

RESULTS

Stentriever thrombectomy of intraluminal clot can be performed effectively when the entire stentriever device is deployed within the PED. We did not experience any PED displacement, vessel damage, spasm, or device malfunction using this technique.

CONCLUSION

We report the use of a stentriever to perform thrombectomy for in-stent thrombosis after PED placement as an additional treatment option of acute occlusion. This technique has not been previously described.
Microsurgical Management of Midbrain Cavernous Malformations: Predictors of Outcome and Lesion Classification in 72 Patients
Authors: Tsuji Yoshihito , Kar Souvik , Bertalanffy Helmut
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Due to the complex segmental organization of the brainstem, it is preferable to study midbrain cavernous malformations (MCMs) separately from pontine and medullary lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical results after microsurgical removal of MCMs, assess predictors for outcome and introduce a topographical classification of MCMs.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent MCM resection. Clinical parameters before and after surgery, morphological CM features, surgical approaches and outcomes were analyzed. MCMs were classified according to their exact location within the midbrain and their axial and sagittal extension.

RESULTS

The authors reviewed 72 patients (35 male). Lesions varied in size between 4 and 55 mm. The vast majority of patients benefited from surgery. The mean modified Rankin Scale (mRS) decreased significantly from 1.6 at admission to 1.3 at discharge and to 0.7 at follow-up (6-247 mo postoperatively). Five patients (6.9%) suffered from delayed hypertrophic olivary degeneration as visualized on magnetic resonance imaging. One male suffered from early postoperative re-bleeding that required surgical hematoma evacuation. There were no severe long tract impairment or other disabling complications, no delayed re-bleedings, and no surgical mortality.

CONCLUSION

We present a new topographic classification of MCMs that may be useful for predicting the occurrence of postoperative eye movement disorders. Other predictors of persistent oculomotor disturbances are time interval between onset of symptoms and surgery, and patient's age over 40 yr. Early surgery is recommendable in patients with oculomotor disturbances. MCM size over 18 mm, patient age over 40 yr, and poor mRS at admission are important predictors for the long-term outcome.
Transcavernous Approach to the Upper Basilar and Retroclival Area—Cadaveric Surgical Simulation Video: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Tayebi Meybodi Ali , Borba Moreira Leandro , Zhao Xiaochun , Lawton Michael T , Preul Mark C
Published: March 2019

The transcavernous approach (TcA) is an extension of the pterional approach that widens access to the central and lateral skull base regions. Through working between the nerves and vascular structures within the cavernous sinus, the TcA enables enhanced exposure of areas and structures including but not limited to the retrosellar area, Meckel's cave, and the basilar trunk. When the basilar apex and retrosellar regions are targeted, the TcA offers a valuable solution to the problem of the restricted space between the neurovascular structures of the central skull base through opening and widening the 2 major triangles of the cavernous sinus roof: the clinoidal and oculomotor triangles. Mastery of this approach requires careful review of the anatomy and much time spent in the cadaver lab. Although many quantitative studies and illustrative papers exist on the technical nuances of the TcA to the basilar apex region, the TcA is still difficult to understand, learn, and undertake. This cadaveric surgical simulation attempts to facilitate this objective. Of note, we have demonstrated and discussed the specific variant of the TcA that aims to reach the basilar apex area, and this video does not include the full TcA that also involves complete exposure of the lateral aspect of the cavernous sinus and the Meckel's cave.
Quantitative Analysis of Near-Infrared Indocyanine Green Videoangiography for Predicting Functional Outcomes After Spinal Intramedullary Ependymoma Resection
Authors: Arima Hironori , Naito Kentaro , Yamagata Toru , Kawahara Shinichi , Ohata Kenji , Takami Toshihiro
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

One of the most critical steps in surgery for spinal intramedullary ependymomas is the resection of small feeding arteries from the anterior spinal artery with anatomical preservation of the normal circulation of the ventral spinal cord.

OBJECTIVE

To quantitatively analyze the microcirculation of the ventral spinal cord by near-infrared indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA) after the spinal intramedullary ependymoma resection.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 12 patients (7 male and 5 female; average age 55.2 years, range 36-79 years). Patients’ neurological conditions were assessed based on the modified McCormick functional schema of grade 1 (neurologically normal) to 5 (severe deficit). Postoperative functional assessment was conducted at least 3 months after surgery. Quantitative analysis of vascular flow dynamics was carried out following spinal intramedullary ependymoma resection. Fluorescence intensities were measured and the indocyanine green (ICG) intensity-time curves were analyzed and compared with the functional outcomes after surgery.

RESULTS

Microscopically total or subtotal resection of the intramedullary ependymoma was achieved in all cases. Average peak time on ICG-VA was significantly shorter in the postoperative functional grade 1 to 2 group than in the postoperative functional grade 3 to 5 group, but there was no significant difference in average peak intensity between the 2 groups. Postoperative functional grade and the peak time of ICG, but not peak intensity, appeared correlated.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that quantitative analysis of ICG-VA may predict functional outcomes after spinal intramedullary ependymoma resection.