bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Multidimensional Approach to Assessing Anthropometric and Aerobic Fitness Profiles of Elite Brazilian Endurance Athletes and Military Personnel
Authors: Xavier Raphael , Sánchez Carlos , Paulucio Dailson , da Silva Izadora Moreira , Velasque Rodolfo , Nogueira Fernando S , Ferrini Luiz S G , Dornelas Ribeiro Marcos , Serrato Mauricio , Alvarenga Renato , Pompeu Fernando A M S , Santos Caleb G M
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Military personnel must remain physically active to meet operational requirements. Military physical training not only provides the performance capabilities required for performing occupational tasks but also fosters the development of sport. Thus, Armed Forces across the world have historically invested in developing elite- and Olympic-level athletes. This study aimed to assess the anthropometric and physiological differences among groups of Brazilian military athletes (MA), non-military athletes (A), and military non-athletes (M).

Materials and Methods

Seventy-five individuals participated in the study: 17 MA (23.7 ± 4.8 years), 27 A (24.7 ± 5.3 years), and 31 M (26.9 ± 3.3 years). MA and A individuals specialized in endurance sports, and had a mean weekly training volume of (100.0 ± 34.8 and 106.3 ± 40.5 Km; F = 0.894, p = 0.6), respectively. Anthropometric measures and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2máx) were assessed in all participants. Ergospirometry and anthropometry variables were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for independent measures. Comparisons of weekly training volume (km) and training experience (years) were performed only between the A and MA using the Student’s t-test for independent samples. For a multidimensional approach, Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was performed for all variables using the online tool MetaboAnalyst.

Results

We found no differences in anthropometric and physiological profiles between A and MA, but significant differences between M and MA/A in body mass index (kg/m2) (BMI), body fat percentage, fat mass (kg), waist circumference (cm) (WC), somatotype, and V̇O2máx (mL min−1 kg−1).

Conclusion

In conclusion, military endurance athletes have similar anthropometric and physiological profiles to non-military athletes and superior levels to non-athlete military. These findings indicate that the Brazilian Armed Forces scouting system has been successful in identifying endurance athletic talent in line with their historic role of developing sport in Brazil.
The Prevalence of Faculty Physician Burnout in Military Graduate Medical Education Training Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study of Academic Physicians in the United States Department of Defense
Authors: Summers Shane M , Nagy Christopher J , April Michael D , Kuiper Brandon W , Rodriguez Rechell G , Jones Woodson S
Published: April 2019

Introduction

In military populations, physician burnout has potential to adversely affect medical readiness to deploy in support of joint operations. Burnout among Graduate Medical Education (GME) faculty may further threaten the welfare of the medical force given the central role these officers have in training and developing junior physicians. The primary aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of burnout among faculty physicians in United States (US) Army, Navy, and Air Force GME programs.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of faculty physicians at US military GME training programs between January 2018 and July 2018. Through direct coordination with Designated Institutional Officials, we administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS) via online web link to faculty physicians listed in Accreditation Data System at each sponsoring institution. In addition to the MBI-HSS, we collected demographic data and queried physicians about common occupational stressors in order to assist institutional leaders with identifying at-risk physicians and developing future interventions to address burnout.

Results

Sixteen of 21 institutions that currently sponsor military GME programs agreed to distribute the MBI-HSS survey to core faculty. We received completed assessments from 622 of the 1,769 (35.1%) reported physician core faculty at these institutions. Of the 622 physician respondents, 162 demonstrated high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization for an estimated 26% prevalence of burnout. We identified only one independent risk factor for burnout: increasing numbers of deployments (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.07–1.77). Physicians in our cohort who reported a desire to stay beyond their initial active duty service obligation were less likely to be classified with burnout (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.77). The most common drivers of occupational distress were cumbersome bureaucratic tasks, insufficient administrative support, and overemphasis on productivity metrics.

Conclusions

We estimate that 26% of physician faculty in military GME programs are experiencing burnout. No specialty, branch of service, or specific demographic was immune to burnout in our sample. Institutional leaders in the MHS should take action to address physician burnout and consider using our prevalence estimate to assess effectiveness of future interventions.
Medical Encounters During the United States Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course
Authors: Knapik Joseph J , Farina Emily K , Ramirez Christian B , Pasiakos Stefan M , McClung James P , Lieberman Harris R
Published: April 2019

Introduction

The Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) is an extremely physically and mentally demanding 19- to 20-day course designed to determine whether Soldiers are qualified to enter the Special Forces Qualification Course. As a first step to understand medical problems during SFAS, this study examined injuries, illnesses, and activities associated with injuries during the course.

Materials and Methods

Medical events during the SFAS course were compiled from Sick Call Trackers (a log of medical encounters maintained by medical personnel in the field) and Chronology of Medical Care (Standard Form 600). Descriptive statistics were calculated for each injury and illness and injuries were compiled by the activities performed when the injuries occurred.

Results

Of the 800 Soldiers who volunteered for the study, 38% (n = 307/800) and 12% (n = 97/800) experienced one or more injuries and/or illnesses, respectively. The most common injuries were blisters and abrasions/lacerations with incidences of 20% (n = 158/800) and 13% (104/800), respectively. The most common illnesses were respiratory infections, other infections, contact dermatitis, and allergies with incidences of 7% (n = 57/800), 2% (n = 14/800), 2% (n = 14/800), and 2% (n = 13/800), respectively. Among all injuries recorded (n = 573), the most common were blisters (46%), abrasions/lacerations (24%), pain (not otherwise specified) (19%), tendonitis (3%), and sprains (3%). Among all illnesses recorded (n = 133), the most common were respiratory infections (56%), allergies (11%), contact dermatitis (11%), and other infections (11%). Most injuries were experienced during land navigation (44%), team events (20%), and foot marching (11%), running (6%), and the obstacle course (5%), but when the estimated time involved for each event was considered, activities with the highest injury rates were the obstacle course (65 injuries/hr), running (27 injuries/hr), the Combat Readiness Assessment (activity involving combat-related tasks) (20 injuries/hr), and foot marching (16 injuries/hr).

Conclusion

The major limitations of this investigation were: 1) the low specificity with regard to many of the diagnoses/complaints; and 2) the fact that the medical problems reported here are only those seen by medical care providers and are likely an underestimate of the total morbidity in the SFAS course. Soldiers often self-treat and some may be reluctant to see medical personnel because of how it might affect their rating in the course. Nonetheless, this investigation alerts medical personnel to the injuries and illnesses to expect, and public health workers and leadership with activities to target for injury prevention measures during SFAS.
Comparative Analysis of Subventricular Zone Glioblastoma Contact and Ventricular Entry During Resection in Predicting Dissemination, Hydrocephalus, and Survival
Authors: Mistry Akshitkumar M , Kelly Patrick D , Gallant Jean-Nicolas , Mummareddy Nishit , Mobley Bret C , Thompson Reid C , Chambless Lola B
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Ventricular entry during glioblastoma resection and tumor contact with the subventricular zone (SVZ) have both been shown to associate with development of hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, distant parenchymal recurrence, and decreased survival. However, prior studies did not analyze these variables together in a single-patient population; therefore, it is unknown which is an independent predictor of these outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comparative outcome analysis of surgical ventricular entry and SVZ contact by glioblastoma in a retrospective cohort of 232 patients.

METHODS

Outcomes studied included hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, distant tumor recurrences, and progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival. The Cox proportional regression analyses were adjusted for age at diagnosis, preoperative Karnofsky performance status score, extent of resection, temozolomide and radiation treatments, and tumor molecular status (specifically, IDH1/2 mutation and MGMT promoter methylation).

RESULTS

Surgical ventricular entry, SVZ-contacting glioblastoma, hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, and distant recurrences were observed in 85 (36.6%), 114 (49.1%), 19 (8.2%), 78 (33.6%), and 59 (25.4%) patients, respectively. Multivariate, adjusted analysis revealed SVZ tumor contact—but not ventricular entry—associated with hydrocephalus (hazard ratio, HR, 4.20 [1.13-15.7], P = .03), leptomeningeal dissemination (HR 1.93 [1.14-3.28], P = .01), PFS (HR 2.10 [1.53-2.88], P < .001), and OS (HR 1.90 [1.35-2.67], P < .001). Distant recurrences were not associated with either. No interaction between the 2 variables was statistically noted.

CONCLUSION

SVZ contact by glioblastoma was independently associated with the development of hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, and decreased survival. SVZ tumor contact was associated with ventricular entry during surgical resections, which did not independently correlate with these outcomes.
Machine Learning Algorithm Identifies Patients at High Risk for Early Complications After Intracranial Tumor Surgery: Registry-Based Cohort Study
Authors: van Niftrik Christiaan H B , van der Wouden Frank , Staartjes Victor E , Fierstra Jorn , Stienen Martin N , Akeret Kevin , Sebök Martina , Fedele Tommaso , Sarnthein Johannes , Bozinov Oliver , Krayenbühl Niklaus , Regli Luca , Serra Carlo
Published: April 2019

INTRODUCTION

Reliable preoperative identification of patients at high risk for early postoperative complications occurring within 24 h (EPC) of intracranial tumor surgery can improve patient safety and postoperative management. Statistical analysis using machine learning algorithms may generate models that predict EPC better than conventional statistical methods.

OBJECTIVE

To train such a model and to assess its predictive ability.

METHODS

This cohort study included patients from an ongoing prospective patient registry at a single tertiary care center with an intracranial tumor that underwent elective neurosurgery between June 2015 and May 2017. EPC were categorized based on the Clavien-Dindo classification score. Conventional statistical methods and different machine learning algorithms were used to predict EPC using preoperatively available patient, clinical, and surgery-related variables. The performance of each model was derived from examining classification performance metrics on an out-of-sample test dataset.

RESULTS

EPC occurred in 174 (26%) of 668 patients included in the analysis. Gradient boosting machine learning algorithms provided the model best predicting the probability of an EPC. The model scored an accuracy of 0.70 (confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.79) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73 and a sensitivity and specificity of 0.80 (CI 0.58-0.91) and 0.67 (CI 0.53-0.77) on the test set. The conventional statistical model showed inferior predictive power (test set: accuracy: 0.59 (CI 0.47-0.71); AUC: 0.64; sensitivity: 0.76 (CI 0.64-0.85); specificity: 0.53 (CI 0.41-0.64)).

CONCLUSION

Using gradient boosting machine learning algorithms, it was possible to create a prediction model superior to conventional statistical methods. While conventional statistical methods favor patients’ characteristics, we found the pathology and surgery-related (histology, anatomical localization, surgical access) variables to be better predictors of EPC.
INFLUENCE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY ON RADON MEASUREMENT USING PASSIVE DETECTORS
Authors: Chen B , Zhao C , Fan D , Zhuo W
Published: April 2019

In order to investigate the influence of the static electricity on the measurement using passive radon detector, detectors were charged at the surface of chamber and its CR-39 elements respectively on purpose before the exposure in this study. The results of in-chamber experiments revealed that the static electricity would lead to critical influence on measurement especially when the CR-39 elements were negatively charged. The static charge would remain for several ten hours, which result in more significant influence on the short-term measurement.
MEASUREMENT OF THE POTENTIAL ALPHA ENERGY CONCENTRATION OF RADON PROGENY BY USING LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTING METHOD
Authors: Feng Bin , Tang Quan , Zhang Hui , Chen Bo , Qiu Shoukang , Zhuo Weihai
Published: April 2019

For more accurate measurement of the potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) of radon progeny by the liquid scintillation counting (LSC) method, its counting efficiency was studied in this work. A radon progeny standard source was used to provide different concentrations of radon progeny, and the progeny collected on the sampling filters were measured with a low background liquid scintillation counter. The result showed that the quenching effect could not be ignored, and the counting efficiency was estimated to be 86.12%. The co-comparison experiments showed that the PAECs of radon progeny measured by the LSC methods were in generally consistent with those of other three methods. It indicates that for more accurate measurements of PAEC of radon progeny by using the LSC method, the counting efficiency should be well determined.
RADIATION DOSE TO MALDIVIANS VIA THE CONSUMPTION OF TUNA FISH CAUGHT FROM THE COASTAL WATERS OF INDIAN OCEAN
Authors: Nadhiya Aishath , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Mahmud Sultan , Yarima Mudassir Hassan
Published: April 2019

Recognising the consumption of tuna fish as a major foodstuff in Maldivian diet, the presence of naturally occurring radionuclides in Yellowfin and Skipjack tuna are determined by using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to evaluate the health hazards to Maldivians. The samples were collected from different atolls of Maldives adjacent to the coastal waters of Indian Ocean. The activity concentrations (Bq kg−1) in Yellowfin tuna for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are in the ranges of 4.2 ± 1.8–10.5 ± 1.1, 1.3 ± 0.3–3.2 ± 0.7 and 589 ± 29–697 ± 34, respectively while in Skipjack tuna the respective ranges are 3.9 ± 0.5–13.2 ± 1.1, 1.3 ± 0.3–2.7 ± 0.6 and 511 ± 28–681 ± 35. The committed effective dose (mean 263 μSv y−1) received by an individual due to the dietary intake of Yellowfin tuna falling below the UNSCEAR referenced global internal dose limit of 290 μSv y−1; while for Skipjack tuna, the estimated dose (mean 365 μSv y−1) exceeds the world average limiting value. The carcinogenic risk was found to be well below the ICRP referenced acceptable limit of 2.5 × 10−3. The present study indicates that the radiation dose to Maldivian via the consumption of Yellowfin tuna poses an insignificant threat to the public health. However, prolonged consumption of Skipjack tuna fish from the studied areas may pose a cumulative risk to the public health.
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE FUSION OF PHITS SIMULATIONS AND THE DLNN ALGORITHM FOR A NEW QUANTITATIVE METHOD OF IN-SITU MULTIPLE-CHANNEL DEPTH DISTRIBUTION SPECTROMETRY
Authors: Sakama M , Fujimoto K , Inoue K , Fukushi M , Imajyo Y , Fukuhara T , Matsuura M , Yajima T , Endo M , Fujisawa M , Matsumoto-Kawaguchi E
Published: April 2019

We have recently have developed an in-situ multiple-channel depth distribution spectrometer (DDS) that can easily acquire on-site measurements of the depth distribution of specific radioactivities of Cs-134 and Cs-137 underground. Despite considerable improvements in the hardware developed for this device, the quantitative method for determining of radioactivities with this DDS device cannot yet achieve satisfactory performance for practical use. For example, this method cannot discriminate each γ-ray spectra of Cs-134 and Cs-137 acquired by the 20 thallium-doped caesium iodine CsI(Tl) scintillation crystal detectors of the DDS device from corresponding depth levels of underground soil. Therefore, we have applied deep learning neural network (DLNN) as a novel radiation measurement technique to discriminate the spectra and to determine the specific radioactivities of Cs-134 and Cs-137. We have developed model soil layers on a virtual space in Monte-Carlo based PHITS simulations and transported γ-ray radiation generated from a particular single soil layer or multiple layers as radiation sources; next, we performed PHITS calculations of those specific radioactivity measurements for each soil layer using DDS device based on machine learning via the DLNN algorithm. In this study, we obtained informative results regarding the feasibility of the proposal innovative radiation measurement method for further practical use in on-site applications.
SPECIATION OF IODINE IN SOIL SOLUTION IN FOREST AND GRASSLAND SOILS IN ROKKASHO, JAPAN
Authors: Takeda A , Unno Y , Tsukada H , Takaku Y , Hisamatsu S
Published: April 2019

The behaviour of I in soil depends on its chemical form in soil solution. Stable I (127I) in the soil solution under actual soil conditions was investigated as a natural analogue of long-lived radioiodine (129I). Soil samples were collected at 5-cm depth intervals down to 20 cm from forests and grasslands in Rokkasho, where the Japanese first commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant is located, and the soil solution was extracted by centrifugation. Almost half of total I in the soil solution was iodide, and the other half was dissolved organic I (DOI), with iodate under the detection limit. The proportion of DOI in total I at 0–5 cm depth was larger than the proportions at 5–20 cm depth. The concentration of DOI was positively correlated with that of DOC in the soil solution, suggesting that the behaviour of DOI in the surface soil is affected by labile organic matter dynamics.
ENVIRONMENTAL TRITIUM AROUND A FUSION TEST FACILITY
Authors: Tanaka Masahiro , Akata Naofumi , Iwata Chie
Published: April 2019

Deuterium plasma operations using a large fusion test device have been carried out since 2017 at the National Institute for Fusion Science. A small amount of tritium was produced by the fusion reaction, d(d, p)t. Then, a part of the tritium was released into the environment. Thus, monitoring the level of tritium in the environment around the fusion test facility is important. This is done before starting the deuterium plasma experiment. The environmental tritium concentrations indicated that they are at background levels in Japan. After starting the deuterium plasma experiment, the environmental tritium around the fusion test facility was within the range of environmental variation. This suggests that there was no impact of tritium on the environment during the first deuterium plasma experimental campaign.
NEW DEVELOPMENT OF RADON PROGENY MEASUREMENT METHOD BASED ON ALPHA–BETA SPECTROMETRY
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Yunxiang , Guo Qiuju , Ma Xinhua , Wang Shanqiang
Published: April 2019

Accurate measurement of radon progeny concentration is important for the dose assessment of radon exposure and the study of radon progeny behaviours. For measuring 218Po, 214Pb and 214Bi concentration as well as EEC with high sensitivity, an alpha–beta spectrometry method was developed and applied in a step-advanced filter radon progeny monitor. The derivation details of this method is given in this paper and the uncertainty is discussed. The comparison experiments are carried out in radon chamber and in field. Results show that the alpha–beta spectrometry method can give 218Po, 214Pb and 214Bi concentration as well as EEC with high sensitivity either for 60 min or for 30 min cycle, which leads to low uncertainty. This method can be used as a reference method for radon chamber and is suitable for portable radon progeny monitor.
AN EXPERIMENTAL CHAMBER FOR TESTING ABATEMENT EFFECTS OF RADON EXPOSURE WITH DIFFERENT MEASURES
Authors: Zhuo W , Chen B , He L , Zhang W
Published: April 2019

For more effective testing the abatement effects of radon exposure with different counter measures, an air-conditioned laboratory room was reformed as an experimental chamber. Based on the well control and real time monitoring of concentrations of 222Rn, its attached and unattached progeny and their size distributions, the chamber could provide three modules corresponding to ventilation, source reduction and filtration for abating radon exposure. Preliminary results showed that the chamber was useful for testing the abatement effect of indoor radon exposure.
MEASUREMENT OF URANIUM IN URINE, HAIR AND NAILS IN SUBJECTS OF NISKA BANJA TOWN, A HIGH NATURAL BACKGROUND RADIATION AREA OF SERBIA
Authors: Žunic Z S , Benedik L , Kritsananuwat R , Veselinovic N , Tokonami S , Arae H , Stojanovska Z , Sahoo S K
Published: April 2019

Urine, hair and nail samples were collected from a population of both sex aged from 40 to 87 years in Niška Banja (227 km south of Belgrade, Serbia) with a high level of natural radioactivity (HLNRA). To assess and monitor the public exposure, urine samples for each subject (24 h period) were collected and concentration of uranium (U) was analysed using alpha-particle spectrometry. Human hair and nails considered as bio-indicators of the public exposure to radionuclides over a long period of months or even years and concentration of U was determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The mean concentrations of U in urine, hair and nail were 123 ng/L, 17 ng/g and 8 ng/g, respectively. There was a large variation and may be due to geological origin.
Functional Brain Networks Underlying Evidence Integration and Delusions in Schizophrenia
Authors: Lavigne Katie M , Menon Mahesh , Woodward Todd S
Published: April 2019

Integrating evidence that contradicts a belief is a fundamental aspect of belief revision and is closely linked to delusions in schizophrenia. In a previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study on healthy individuals, we identified functional brain networks underlying evidence integration as visual attention network (VsAN; dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula, occipital regions), default-mode network (DMN), and cognitive evaluation network (CEN; orbitofrontal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, parietal cortex). In the current clinical fMRI study, we compared network-based activity during evidence integration between healthy controls (n = 41), nondelusional (n = 37), and delusional (n = 33) patients with schizophrenia, and related this activity to cognitive processing involved in evidence integration measured outside the scanner. Task-induced coordinated activation was measured using group-constrained principal component analysis for fMRI. Increased VsAN activation, reduced DMN deactivation, and reduced CEN activation were observed for schizophrenia, with this pattern being most pronounced for the delusional group. Importantly, poor evidence integration comprehensively measured outside the scanner was significantly associated with increased VsAN activation and reduced DMN deactivation when processing confirmatory evidence, and with reduced CEN activation when processing disconfirmatory evidence. This is the first comprehensive study of the functional brain networks associated with evidence integration in schizophrenia and highlights how an imbalance of functional brain networks responding to confirmatory and disconfirmatory evidence may underlie delusions in schizophrenia.
Morbidity and Mortality in the Children and Young Adult Offspring of Parents With Schizophrenia or Affective Disorders—A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study in 2 Million Individuals
Authors: Ranning Anne , Benros Michael E , Thorup Anne A E , Davidsen Kirstine Agnete , Hjorthøj Carsten , Nordentoft Merete , Laursen Thomas Munk , Sørensen Holger
Published: April 2019

Background

The offspring of parents with severe mental illness (SMI) are at higher risk of mortality and of developing certain somatic diseases. However, across the full spectrum of somatic illness, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding morbidity.

Methods

We conducted a register-based nationwide cohort study of all 2 000 694 individuals born in Denmark between 1982 and 2012. Maximum age of offspring at follow-up was 30 years. Information on parents’ psychiatric diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and unipolar depression was retrieved from the Psychiatric Central Register. We estimated incidence rate ratio (IRR), cumulative incidence percentage and mortality rate ratio of first hospital contact for a broad spectrum of somatic illnesses according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Analyses were adjusted for important confounders.

Results

Offspring of individuals with SMI had higher risk of somatic hospital contacts IRR: 1.17 (95% CI: 1.16–1.18) with maternal depression being associated with the highest IRR (1.22, 95% CI: 1.20–1.24). Offspring of parents with SMI had higher risk within most broad diagnostic categories with highest IRRs for unclassified somatic diagnoses, infections and endocrine diseases ranging from 1.27 (95% CI: 1.25–1.28) to 1.26 (95% CI: 1.23–1.29) (all P < .0001). Morbidity was particularly increased in children aged 0–7 years. The mortality rate ratio associated with parental SMI was 1.31 (95% CI: 1.21–1.41) with excess mortality mainly due to unnatural causes.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that offspring of parents with SMI experienced increased mortality and somatic morbidity warranting heightened vigilance and support for this population.
The Curious Case of Aleksandar Milivojević: The Donja Toponica Hospital and Mental Health in Socialist Yugoslavia
Authors: Simic Ivan
Published: April 2019

This article uncovers the appalling situation in Yugoslav mental hospitals in the early period of Yugoslav socialism, demonstrating that Yugoslav psychiatry suffered from rife structural problems and malpractices. By examining the case of the Toponica hospital, the article shows that patients were regularly abused and beaten while living in very harsh conditions. Patients were overmedicated, therapies administered by illiterate staff, medical histories poorly recorded and hospitals overcrowded and understaffed, while often no attempts were made for the patients’ healing and rehabilitation. On the other hand, Yugoslav psychiatrists closely followed the trends in global psychiatry, testing new therapies, while the movement for mental hygiene gained significant traction. Nevertheless, high hopes for improving the patients’ well-being were far from practice. Once the scandal at the Toponica hospital erupted in 1955, it caused changes in the management and brought in more resources, but the structural problems of Yugoslav psychiatry remained.
Scaling of statically derived osteocyte lacunae in extant birds: implications for palaeophysiological reconstruction
Authors: Grunmeier Orvil , D'Emic Michael D.
Published: April 2019

Osteocytes are mature versions of osteoblasts, bone-forming cells that develop in two ways: via ‘static’ osteogenesis, differentiating and ossifying tissue
in situ
to form a scaffold upon which other bone can form, or ‘dynamic’ osteogenesis, migrating to infill or lay down bone around neurovasculature. A previous study regressed the volume of osteocyte lacunae derived from dynamic osteogenesis (DO) of a broad sample of extant bird species against body mass, the growth rate constant (
k
), mass-specific metabolic rate, genome size, and erythrocyte size. There were significant relationships with body mass, growth rate, metabolic rate, and genome size, with the latter being the strongest. Using the same avian histological dataset, we measured over 3800 osteocyte lacunar axes derived from static osteogenesis (SO) in order to look for differences in the strength of form–function relationships inferred for DO-derived lacunae at the cellular and tissue levels. The relationship between osteocyte lacunar volume and body mass was stronger when measuring SO lacunae, whereas relationships between osteocyte lacunar volume versus growth rate and basal metabolic rate disappeared. The relationship between osteocyte lacuna volume and genome size remained significant and moderately strong when measuring SO lacunae, whereas osteocyte lacuna volume was still unrelated to erythrocyte size. Our results indicate that growth and metabolic rate signals are contained in avian DO but not SO osteocyte lacunae, suggesting that the former should be used in estimating these parameters in extinct animals.
The roots of blue carbon: responses of mangrove stilt roots to variation in soil bulk density
Authors: Ola Anne , Gauthier Arnault R. G. , Xiong Yanmei , Lovelock Catherine E.
Published: April 2019

Mangroves harbour large soil organic carbon (C) pools. These C stocks are attributed to the production and slow decomposition of the below-ground biomass. Novel in-growth containers were used to assess the effect of soil bulk density (BD: 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 g cm
−3
) on morphological, anatomical and chemical traits of the below-ground fraction of aerial roots of the mangrove
Rhizophora stylosa
. Dense soils increased total root biomass and primary root diameter, while the primary root length decreased. Furthermore, high soil BD reduced aerenchyma lacunae and led to the formation of structural features such as fibrous strands. These morphological and anatomical changes were not reflected in tissue chemistry, with lignin levels averaging 17.0 ± 0.6%, although roots grown in high BD had higher nitrogen levels. This likely affects decomposition rates. Thus, variation in soil BD has major implications for C sequestration in
Rhizophora-
dominated mangroves.
Dudley Brian Spalding. 9 January 1923—27 November 2016
Authors: Launder Brian E. , Patankar Suhas V. , Pollard Andrew
Published: April 2019

Over a remarkably productive professional life Brian Spalding largely shaped the development of numerical procedures for computing complex turbulent flows. He created a major software company, CHAM, through which the fruits of his group's research could be made available to industry and other research groups across the globe. Thus, he became the outstanding founding figure in the subject now called computational fluid dynamics (CFD). His contributions were by no means limited to strategies for converting systems of non-linear partial differential equations to forms suitable for computer solution; he also brought notable innovations to the physical modelling of combustion, turbulence and two-phase flows.

Besides research, he engaged deeply with the research community in heat and mass transfer, becoming a founding editor of two international journals in these areas, and a principal driver behind the creation of the International Centre for Heat and Mass Transfer in Belgrade. He also served as the inaugural scientific chairman of the European Research Community on Flow, Turbulence and Combustion. He led a protracted and ultimately successful campaign to enable Veniamin Levich to leave the Soviet Union to settle in Israel. Outside of his technical work, his principal passions were poetry and the Russian language, which were intertwined in several published volumes.
Fly with the flock: immersive solutions for animal movement visualization and analytics
Authors: Klein Karsten , Sommer Björn , Nim Hieu T. , Flack Andrea , Safi Kamran , Nagy Máté , Feyer Stefan P. , Zhang Ying , Rehberg Kim , Gluschkow Alexej , Quetting Michael , Fiedler Wolfgang , Wikelski Martin , Schreiber Falk
Published: April 2019

Understanding the movement of animals is important for a wide range of scientific interests including migration, disease spread, collective movement behaviour and analysing motion in relation to dynamic changes of the environment such as wind and thermal lifts. Particularly, the three-dimensional (3D) spatial–temporal nature of bird movement data, which is widely available with high temporal and spatial resolution at large volumes, presents a natural option to explore the potential of immersive analytics (IA). We investigate the requirements and benefits of a wide range of immersive environments for explorative visualization and analytics of 3D movement data, in particular regarding design considerations for such 3D immersive environments, and present prototypes for IA solutions. Tailored to biologists studying bird movement data, the immersive solutions enable geo-locational time-series data to be investigated interactively, thus enabling experts to visually explore interesting angles of a flock and its behaviour in the context of the environment. The 3D virtual world presents the audience with engaging and interactive content, allowing users to ‘fly with the flock’, with the potential to ascertain an intuitive overview of often complex datasets, and to provide the opportunity thereby to formulate and at least qualitatively assess hypotheses. This work also contributes to ongoing research efforts to promote better understanding of bird migration and the associated environmental factors at the global scale, thereby providing a visual vehicle for driving public awareness of environmental issues and bird migration patterns.
Mathematical modelling of the vitamin C clock reaction
Authors: Kerr R. , Thomson W. M. , Smith D. J.
Published: April 2019

Chemical clock reactions are characterized by a relatively long induction period followed by a rapid ‘switchover’ during which the concentration of a
clock chemical
rises rapidly. In addition to their interest in chemistry education, these reactions are relevant to industrial and biochemical applications. A substrate-depletive, non-autocatalytic clock reaction involving household chemicals (vitamin C, iodine, hydrogen peroxide and starch) is modelled mathematically via a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Following dimensional analysis, the model is analysed in the phase plane and via matched asymptotic expansions. Asymptotic approximations are found to agree closely with numerical solutions in the appropriate time regions. Asymptotic analysis also yields an approximate formula for the dependence of switchover time on initial concentrations and the rate of the slow reaction. This formula is tested via ‘kitchen sink chemistry’ experiments, and is found to enable a good fit to experimental series varying in initial concentrations of both iodine and vitamin C. The vitamin C clock reaction provides an accessible model system for mathematical chemistry.
Accelerated Cortical Thinning within Structural Brain Networks is Associated with Irritability in Youth
Authors: Jirsaraie Robert J. , Kaczkurkin Antonia N. , Rush Sage , Piiwia Kayla , Adebimpe Azeez , Bassett Danielle S. , Bourque Josiane , Calkins Monica E. , Cieslak Matthew , Ciric Rastko , Cook Philip A. , Davila Diego , Elliott Mark A. , Leibenluft Ellen , Murtha Kristin , Roalf David R. , Rosen Adon F.G. , Ruparel Kosha , Shinohara Russell T. , Sotiras Aristeidis , Wolf Daniel H. , Davatzikos Christos , Satterthwaite Theodore D.
Published: April 2019

Background

Irritability is an important dimension of psychopathology that spans multiple clinical diagnostic categories, yet its relationship to patterns of brain development remains sparsely explored. Here, we examined how trans-diagnostic symptoms of irritability relate to the development of structural brain networks.

Methods

All participants (n=144, 87 females) completed structural brain imaging with 3 Tesla MRI at two timepoints (mean age at follow-up: 20.9 years, mean inter-scan interval: 5.1 years). Irritability at follow-up was assessed using the Affective Reactivity Index, and cortical thickness was quantified using Advanced Normalization Tools software. Structural covariance networks were delineated using non-negative matrix factorization, a multivariate analysis technique. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with irritability at follow-up were evaluated using generalized additive models with penalized splines. The False Discovery Rate (q<0.05) was used to correct for multiple comparisons.

Results

Cross-sectional analysis of follow-up data revealed that 11 of the 24 covariance networks were associated with irritability, with higher levels of irritability being associated with thinner cortex. Longitudinal analyses further revealed that accelerated cortical thinning within 9 networks was related to irritability at follow-up. Effects were particularly prominent in brain regions implicated in emotion regulation, including the orbitofrontal, lateral temporal, and medial temporal cortex.

Conclusions

Collectively, these findings suggest that irritability is associated with widespread cortical thickness reductions and accelerated cortical thinning, particularly within frontal and temporal cortex. Aberrant structural maturation of regions important for emotional regulation may in part underlie symptoms of irritability.
Differential expression of glutamate transporters and monoaminergic genes in major depression and suicide
Authors: Powers Brian , Kleinman Joel E. , Hyde Thomas M. , Ajilore Olusola , Leow Alex , Sodhi Monsheel S.
Published: April 2019

Accumulating evidence indicates that the glutamate and monoamine systems contribute to the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide. We have tested the expression of genes encoding glutamate transporters and monoaminergic proteins in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of MDD subjects who died by suicide (MDD-S, n=51), MDD non-suicide subjects (MDD-NS, n=28), and non-psychiatric controls (CTRL, n=32). We analyzed glutamate transporters (EAAT1, EAAT2, VGLUT1, and VGLUT2) and monoaminergic genes (SERT, NET, DAT, PMAT, VMAT, TPH1 and TPH2). Females but not males with MDD showed higher expression of all glutamate transporters relative to CTRLs (P<0.05). MDD-S groups of both sexes had higher VGLUT2 expression (P<0.05). MDD-S females who were antidepressant positive (+) had lower EAAT1 expression (P=0.004), perhaps indicating poor treatment response. Analyses of monoaminergic genes revealed lower VMAT1 expression (P=0.002) in MDD males, and conversely higher VMAT2 in MDD females (P=0.004). MDD females also had higher VMAT2, TPH2 and NET expression (p<0.05), and in contrast, MDD males had lower VMAT1 and PMAT expression. Therefore, we report sex differences in the expression of glutamate transporters and some monoaminergic genes in the DLPFC in MDD. Most of these findings are novel, but lower EAAT1 expression in MDD-S replicates previous studies. Lower EAAT1 expression coupled with higher VGLUT2 expression in MDD-S may lead to increased synaptic glutamate, neuronal loss and glial loss in the DLPFC in MDD and suicide reported previously. These deficits may contribute to lower DLPFC activity, poor problem solving and impaired executive function exhibited in severe depression and suicide.
Tubulin Lattice in Cilia is in a Stressed Form Regulated by Microtubule Inner Proteins
Authors: Ichikawa Muneyoshi , Khalifa Ahmad Abdelzaher , Basu Kaustuv , Dai Daniel , Faghfor Maghrebi Mohammad Amin , Vargas Javier , Bui Khanh-Huy
Published: April 2019

Cilia, the hair-like protrusions that beat at high frequencies to propel a cell or move fluid around the cell, are composed of radially bundled doublet microtubules. The doublet microtubule is composed of a 13-protofilament A-tubule, a partial 10-protofilament B-tubule and microtubule inner proteins (MIPs) inside the tubulin lattice. In this study, we present the near-atomic resolution map of theTetrahymenadoublet microtubules. The map demonstrates that the network of microtubule inner proteins is weaving into the tubulin lattice, forming an inner sheath of proteins. In addition, we also obtain the tubulin lattice structure with missing MIPs by Sarkosyl treatment. In this structure, the tubulin lattice showed significant longitudinal compaction and lateral angle changes between protofilaments. These results are evidence that the binding of MIPs directly affects and stabilizes the tubulin lattice. It is also suggested that the doublet microtubule is an intrinsically stressed filament and this stress could be exploited in the regulation of ciliary waveforms.
Achronopresence: how temporal visuotactile and visuomotor mismatches modulate embodiment
Authors: Roel Lesur Marte , Weijs Marieke Lieve , Simon Colin , Kannape Oliver Alan , Lenggenhager Bigna
Published: April 2019

The loss of body ownership, the feeling that your body and its limbs no longer belong to you, presents a severe clinical condition that has proven difficult to study directly. We here propose a novel paradigm using mixed reality to interfere with natural embodiment using temporally conflicting sensory signals from the own hand. In Experiment 1 we investigated how such a mismatch affects phenomenological and physiological aspects of embodiment, and identified its most important dimensions using a principle component analysis. The results suggest that such a mismatch induces a strong reduction in embodiment accompanied by an increase in feelings of disownership and deafference, which was, however, not reflected in physiological changes. In Experiment 2 we refined the paradigm to measure perceptual thresholds for temporal mismatches and compared how different multimodal, mismatching information alters the sense of embodiment. The results showed that while visual delay decreased embodiment both while actively moving and during passive touch, the effect was stronger for the former. Our results extend previous findings as they demonstrate that a sense of disembodiment can be induced through controlled multimodal mismatches about one’s own body and more so during active movement as compared to passive touch. Based on the ecologically more valid protocol we propose here, we argue that such a sense of disembodiment may fundamentally differ from disownership sensations as discussed in the rubber hand illusion literature, and emphasize its clinical relevance. This might importantly advance the current debate on the relative contribution of different modalities to our sense of body and its plasticity.
γBOriS: Identification of Origins of Replication in Gammaproteobacteria using Motif-based Machine Learning
Authors: Sperlea Theodor , Muth Lea , Martin Roman , Weigel Christoph , Waldminghaus Torsten , Heider Dominik
Published: April 2019

The biology of bacterial cells is, in general, based on the information encoded on circular chromosomes. Regulation of chromosome replication is an essential process which mostly takes place at the origin of replication (oriC). Identification of high numbers oforiCis a prerequisite to enable systematic studies that could lead to insights oforiCfunctioning as well as novel drug targets for antibiotic development. Current methods for identyfingoriCsequences rely on chromosome-wide nucleotide disparities and are therefore limited to fully sequenced genomes, leaving a superabundance of genomic fragments unstudied. Here, we presentγBOriS (GammaproteobacterialoriCSearcher), which accurately identifiesoriCsequences on gammaproteobacterial chromosomal fragments by employing motif-based DNA classification. UsingγBOriS, we created BOriS DB, which currently contains 25,827oriCsequences from 1,217 species, thus making it the largest available database fororiCsequences to date.
Protein structure prediction using sparse NOE and RDC restraints with Rosetta in CASP13
Authors: Kuenze Georg , Meiler Jens
Published: April 2019

Computational methods that produce accurate protein structure models from limited experimental data, e.g. from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, hold great potential for biomedical research. The NMR-assisted modeling challenge in CASP13 provided a blind test to explore the capabilities and limitations of current modeling techniques in leveraging NMR data which had high sparsity, ambiguity and error rate for protein structure prediction. We describe our approach to predict the structure of these proteins leveraging the Rosetta software suite. Protein structure models were predictedde novousing a two-stage protocol. First, low-resolution models were generated with the Rosettade novomethod guided by non-ambiguous nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) contacts and residual dipolar coupling (RDC) restraints. Second, iterative model hybridization and fragment insertion with the Rosetta comparative modeling method was used to refine and regularize models guided by all ambiguous and non-ambiguous NOE contacts and RDCs. Nine out of 16 of the Rosettade novomodels had the correct fold (GDT-TS score >45) and in three cases high-resolution models were achieved (RMSD <3.5 Å). We also show that a meta-approach applying iterative Rosetta+NMR refinement on server-predicted models which employed non-NMR-contacts and structural templates leads to substantial improvement in model quality. Integrating these data-assisted refinement strategies with innovative non-data-assisted approaches which became possible in CASP13 such as high precision contact prediction will in the near future enable structure determination for large proteins that are outside of the realm of conventional NMR.