bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distal arteriovenous fistula formation after percutaneous coronary intervention: An old complication of a new access site
Authors: Shah Syed Raza , Kiemeneij Ferdinand , Khuddus Matheen A.
Published: February 2020

Dorsal or distal transradial artery access has recently gained popularity due to several perceived benefits that include favorable ergonomics, the potential for rapid hemostasis and lower rates of vascular complications. Still, no vascular access site is free of complications and reports of hematoma and pseudoaneurysm formation related to distal radial artery access have been reported in the literature. We present a case of a 71‐year‐old male who developed an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the distal left radial artery following repeated access of the artery. This rare complication is likely avoidable with a comprehensive understanding of the surrounding anatomy and proper procedural technique, including the routine use of ultrasound for access.
Development of wall material for the microencapsulation of natural vanilla extract by spray drying
Authors: Ocampo‐Salinas Israel Oswaldo , Gómez‐Aldapa Carlos Alberto , Castro‐Rosas Javier , Vargas‐León Enaim Aída , Guzmán‐Ortiz Fabiola Araceli , Calcáneo‐Martínez Netzahualcoyol , Falfán‐Cortés Reyna Nallely
Published: February 2020

Background and objectives

The aim of this study was to develop a wall material using rice starch (Oryza sativa) to optimize the microencapsulation of vanilla extract by spray drying. Native starch rice was hydrolyzed, succinated, extruded, and characterized.

Findings

The peak viscosity of modified starches was reduced from 3,875 cP to <100 cP by effect of the modification step. Native starch was gelatinized by extrusion according to gelatinization enthalpy (∆H J/g). Natural vanilla extract was encapsulated, and the most optimal conditions for the drying process were air inlet temperature of 125°C, 14.0% of total solids, and 86.2% of encapsulation efficiency. The scanning electron microscopy evidenced the formation of microcapsules; however, the confocal laser scanning microscopy showed no interaction between the wall material and the vanilla extract. This could be related to the zeta potential values of the vanilla extract and the wall material.

Conclusions

Modified rice starch is a potential wall material for the encapsulation of different bioactive compounds in the food sector.

Significance and novelty

Chemical and physical modifications such as hydrolysis, succinylation, and extrusion in native rice starch offer adequate properties to achieve 86.2% encapsulation efficiency of natural vanilla extract using spray drying.
Breast cancer suspected to originate from familial hereditary tumors: A case report
Authors: Yamamoto Shinya , Chishima Takashi , Sugae Sadatoshi , Shibata Yukako , Yamada Akimitsu
Published: February 2020

If familial hereditary tumor is suspected, diagnosis and treatment should always be performed considering the presence of familial hereditary tumors irrespective of whether genetic testing is performed.
Heterogeneous Olefin Hydrogenation Enabled by a Highly‐Reduced Nickel(−II) Catalyst Precursor
Authors: Maier Thomas M. , Sandl Sebastian , Melzl Peter , Zweck Josef , Jacobi von Wangelin Axel , Wolf Robert
Published: February 2020

The hydrogenation of olefins, styrenes, enoates, imines, and sterically hindered tri‐substituted olefins was accomplished using the pre‐catalyst dilithiumbis(cycloocta‐1,5‐diene)nickelate(−II) (1). The mild conditions tolerate hydroxyl, halide, ester, and lactone functionalities. Mechanistic studies, including reaction progress analyses, poisoning experiments, and multinuclear NMR monitoring, indicate that a heterotopic (nickel nanoparticle) catalyst is in operation.
Synthesis of an Interrupted AST‐Type Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework
Authors: Sun Yayong , Zhuo Chao , Wang Fei , Zhang Jian
Published: February 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

Presented here is a new interrupted AST‐type zeolitic imidazolate framework, Zn5(OH)(dmbim)9(H2O)• 4(DMF) (1) with cub and interrupted ast cages, which exhibits permanent porosity, high hydrophobicity and strong solid‐state photoluminescent properties. More importantly, structural ordered DMF molecules are firmly confined in the ‐ast cage by strong host‐guest interactions.
Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Haonan , Yang Yuan , Xue Yuzhou , Luo Suxin
Published: February 2020

Background

Although radiofrequency ablation is widely used in the treatment of arrhythmias, its role in septal reduction therapy of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is unclear. This meta‐analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency septal ablation for HOCM.

Hypothesis

Radiofrequency septal ablation is effective and safe for relieving obstruction and improving exercise capacity in patients with HOCM.

Methods

A systematic review of eligible studies that reported outcomes of patients with HOCM who underwent radiofrequency septal ablation was performed using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, ProQuest, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science database. Pooled estimates were calculated using random‐effects meta‐analysis. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale. Publication bias and sensitivity analyses were also performed.

Results

Eight studies with 91 patients (mean follow‐up 11.6 months) were included. The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient at rest decreased significantly after radiofrequency septal ablation (pooled reduction: −58.8 mmHg; 95% confidence interval [CI] −64.3 to −53.5). A reduction was also found in the provoked LVOT gradient with a pooled reduction of −97.6 mmHg (95% CI: −124.4 to −87.1). An improvement of the New York Heart Association classification (mean: −1.4; 95% CI: −1.6 to −1.2) was found during follow‐up. The change in septal thickness was minimal and not statistically significant. Two procedure‐related deaths were documented, and complete heart block occurred in eight patients.

Conclusions

Radiofrequency septal ablation is effective and safe for relieving LVOT obstruction and improving exercise capacity in patients with HOCM.
Impact of environment color on individual responses in public spaces of shopping malls
Authors: Yi Fashu , Kang Jian
Published: February 2020

This study aims to explore the specific impact of a color's hue, saturation, and brightness value on people's evaluation, behavior, and emotions in the public space of existing shopping malls. Following a field investigation, color composition and distribution characteristics in the public spaces of shopping malls are summarized. In the real scenes, the hues of colors are mainly warm colors, with some supplemented by blue. The saturation of the majority colors, which are almost grayish colors, is lower than 33% and their brightness is very wide and evenly distributed. An experiment was then conducted in the laboratory, wherein photos taken and sounds recorded on‐site were shown to participants; the participants were then asked to answer questionnaires based on the pleasure‐arousal‐dominance emotion and approach‐avoidance behavior theories. The results showed that hue has a weak effect on individual responses, whereas saturation was found to have a significant effect. Moreover, the brightness difference between colors can cause a change in satisfaction, behavior intention, and emotion. Additionally, in the public spaces of shopping malls, the red color is more associated with embodied meaning, whereas the green color is more associated with referential meaning, in which different objects have significantly different influences.
The mosaic distribution pattern of two sister bush‐cricket species and the possible role of reproductive interference
Authors: Dorková Martina , Krištín Anton , Jarčuška Benjamín , Kaňuch Peter
Published: February 2020

Reproductive interference can shape regional distribution patterns in closely related species, if prezygotic isolation barriers are weak. The study of such interaction could be more challenging in nuptial gift‐giving species due to the direct nutritional effects on both sexes of both species during copulation. We mapped the distribution of two sister bush‐cricket species, Pholidoptera aptera and Pholidoptera transsylvanica, at the northern margin of their overlapping ranges in Europe, and with a behavioral experiment, we tested the possibility of heterospecific mating. We found a very rare coexistence of species locally (0.5%, n = 391 sites) with mostly mutually exclusive distribution patterns, resulting in a mosaic pattern of sympatry, whereas they occupied the same climate niche in forest‐dominated mountain landscape. Over 14 days of a mating experiment with seven mixed groups of conspecifics and heterospecifics (n = 56 individuals in total), the number of received spermatophores per female was 3–6 in P. aptera and 1–7 in P. transsylvanica. In total, we found 8.1% of heterospecific copulations (n = 99 transferred spermatophores with genetic identification of the donor species), while we also confirmed successful transfer of heterospecific sperms into a female's reproductive system. Because bush‐cricket females also obtain required nutrition from a heterospecific spermatophylax what should increase their fitness and fecundity, we suggest that their flexibility to mate with heterospecifics is beneficial and drives reproductive interference. This may substantially limit the reproductive success of the less frequent species (P. transsylvanica), coupled with eventual detrimental effects from hybridization, and result in the competitive exclusion of that species from their areas of coexistence.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use following heart failure hospitalization
Authors: Duran Jason M. , Gad Shady , Brann Alison , Greenberg Barry
Published: February 2020

Aims

Patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) are at increased risk for events post‐discharge. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) improve the clinical course of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. We assessed MRA use in high‐risk patients following an HF hospitalization to determine rate of MRA prescription, likelihood of drug continuation post‐discharge, reasons for discontinuation, and association between MRA maintenance and outcomes.

Methods and results

Patients admitted to our hospital system between 2011 and 2013 were identified retrospectively through automated search of electronic medical records for appropriate ICD 9 and 10 codes. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, New York Heart Association class III–IV symptoms, >1 year of follow‐up and no contraindication to MRA use were included. Of 271 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 105 (38.7%) were prescribed an MRA on discharge from index admission. Over a median follow‐up of 3.12 ± 0.09 years, 70 (66.7%) continued MRA therapy, while 35 (33.3%) discontinued MRA therapy. Hyperkalemia, which occurred in 43 of the 105 patients (40.1%), was the most frequent cause of MRA discontinuation. Patients who maintained MRA therapy had significantly less all‐cause, cardiovascular, and HF hospitalizations and significantly better survival compared with those who discontinued drug.

Conclusions

A minority of HF with reduced ejection fraction patients who were eligible for an MRA received them following HF hospitalization and nearly a third of them discontinued drug. Patients who discontinued an MRA were more likely to be hospitalized or die during follow‐up. These findings indicate a need for better strategies to increase MRA prescription and maintain therapy following a hospitalization for HF.
Viscero‐visceral hyperalgesia in dysmenorrhoea plus previous urinary calculosis: Role of myofascial trigger points and their injection treatment in the referred area
Authors: Costantini Raffaele , Affaitati Giannapia , Fiordaliso Michele , Giamberardino Maria Adele
Published: February 2020

Background

Women with dysmenorrhoea plus symptomatic urinary calculosis experience enhanced pain and referred muscle hyperalgesia from both conditions than women with one condition only (viscero‐visceral hyperalgesia). The study aimed at verifying if enhanced dysmenorrhoea persists after urinary stone elimination in comorbid women and if local anaesthetic inactivation of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) in the lumbar area (of urinary pain referral) also relieves dysmenorrhoea.

Methods

Thirty‐one women with dysmenorrhoea plus previous urinary calculosis (Dys+PrCal) and lumbar TrPs, and 33 women with dysmenorrhoea without calculosis (Dys) underwent a 1‐year assessment of menstrual pain and muscle hyperalgesia in the uterus‐referred area (electrical pain threshold measurement in rectus abdominis, compared with thresholds of 33 healthy controls). At the end of the year, 16 comorbid patients underwent inactivation of TrPs through anaesthetic injections, whereas the remaining 12 received no TrP treatment. Both groups were monitored for another year at the end of which thresholds were re‐measured.

Results

In year1, Dys+PrCal presented significantly more painful menstrual cycles and lower abdominal thresholds than Dys, thresholds of both groups being significantly lower than normal (p < .001). Anaesthetic treatment versus no treatment of the lumbar TrP significantly reduced the number of painful cycles during year2 and significantly increased the abdominal thresholds (p < .0001).

Conclusion

Viscero‐visceral hyperalgesia between uterus and urinary tract may persist after stone elimination due to nociceptive inputs from TrPs in the referred urinary area, since TrPs treatment effectively reverses the enhanced menstrual symptoms. The procedure could represent an integral part of the management protocol in these conditions.

Significance

A past pain process from an internal organ can continue enhancing pain expression from a painful disease in another neuromerically connected organ (viscero‐visceral hyperalgesia) if secondary myofascial trigger points (TrPs) developed in the referred area at the time of the previous visceral disease. Inactivation of these TrPs reverts the enhancement. Assessment and treatment of TrPs in referred areas from past visceral pain conditions should be systematically carried out to better control pain from current diseases in other viscera.
Efficient classification of chronic kidney disease by using multi‐kernel support vector machine and fruit fly optimization algorithm
Authors: Jerlin Rubini L. , Perumal Eswaran
Published: February 2020

In recent days, the gigantic generation of medical data from smart healthcare applications requires the development of big data classification methodologies. Medical data classification can be utilized for visualizing the hidden patterns and finding the presence of disease from the medical data. In this article, we present an efficient multi‐kernel support vector machine (MKSVM) and fruit fly optimization algorithm (FFOA) for disease classification. Initially, FFOA is employed to choose the finest features from the available set of features. The selected features from the medical dataset are processed and provided to the MKSVM for medical data classification purposes. The proposed chronic kidney disease (CKD) classification method has been simulated in MATLAB. Next, testing of the dataset takes place using the own benchmark CKD dataset from UCI machine learning repositories such as Kidney chronic, Cleveland, Hungarian, and Switzerland. The performance of the proposed CKD classification method is elected by accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive rate, and false negative rate. The investigational outcome specifies that the proposed CKD classification method achieves maximum classification precision value of 98.5% for chronic kidney dataset, 90.42904% for Cleveland, 89.11565% for Hungarian, and 86.17886% for Switzerland dataset than existing hybrid kernel SVM, fuzzy min‐max GSO neural network, and SVM methods.
A laminin‐211‐derived bioactive peptide promotes the osseointegration of a sandblasted, large‐grit, acid‐etched titanium implant
Authors: Choi Jung‐Yoo , Kim Sungjin , Jo Seung Bin , Kang Hyun Ki , Jung Sung Youn , Kim Sang Wha , Min Byung‐Moo , Yeo In‐Sung Luke
Published: February 2020

Early implant loading is very important for reducing the duration of missing teeth in human patients. The laminin‐derived peptide, DLTIDDSYWYRI motif (Ln2‐P3), accelerates bone healing. Therefore, to investigate the hypothesis that Ln2‐P3 increases the bone response to sandblasted, large‐grit, acid‐etched (SLA) titanium implants, the effect of the Ln2‐P3 peptide on the osseointegration of SLA titanium implants was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Human osteoblast‐like cells were cultured on untreated, scrambled peptide (SP)‐treated, and Ln2‐P3‐treated SLA titanium discs, and the cellular responses of these cells were evaluated. The Ln2‐P3 treatment augmented osteoblast attachment and spreading, alkaline phosphatase activity, and the expression of osteogenic marker genes. Furthermore, the untreated and Ln2‐P3‐treated SLA titanium implants were inserted into the tibiae of rabbits for 9 and 11 days. Compared with the untreated implants, the Ln2‐P3‐treated implants showed a significantly higher bone‐to‐implant contact ratio at Day 9 after implantation and an increased bone area. The Ln2‐P3 treatment of the SLA titanium implant surface augmented osteoblastic activity and accelerated peri‐implant bone formation at the bone–implant interface. Overall, these results indicated that compared with the SLA titanium surface alone, the Ln2‐P3 peptide‐treated SLA titanium surface enhances initial osseointegration, thereby facilitating earlier implant loading.
Cell alignment by smectic liquid crystal elastomer coatings with nanogrooves
Authors: Babakhanova Greta , Krieger Jess , Li Bing‐Xiang , Turiv Taras , Kim Min‐Ho , Lavrentovich Oleg D.
Published: February 2020

Control of cells behavior through topography of substrates is an important theme in biomedical applications. Among many materials used as substrates, polymers show advantages since they can be tailored by chemical functionalization. Fabrication of polymer substrates with nano‐ and microscale topography requires processing by lithography, microprinting, etching, and so forth. In this work, we introduce a different approach based on anisotropic elastic properties of polymerized smectic A (SmA) liquid crystal elastomer (LCE). When the SmA liquid crystal coating is deposited onto a substrate with planar alignment of the molecules, it develops nanogrooves at its free surface. After photopolymerization, these nanogrooves show an excellent ability to align human dermal fibroblasts over large areas. The alignment quality is good for both bare SmA LCE substrates and for substrates coated with fibronectin. The SmA LCE nano‐topographies show a high potential for tissue engineering.
In vivo degradation rate of alginate–chitosan hydrogels influences tissue repair following physeal injury
Authors: Erickson Christopher B. , Newsom Jake P. , Fletcher Nathan A. , Feuer Zachary M. , Yu Yangyi , Rodriguez‐Fontan Francisco , Hadley Miller Nancy , Krebs Melissa D. , Payne Karin A.
Published: February 2020

The physis is a cartilaginous tissue in children's long bones that is responsible for bone elongation. Physeal injuries can heal with bony repair tissue known as a “bony bar,” and this can cause growth deformities. Current treatments involve surgical resection of the bony bar and insertion of inert materials in hopes of preventing bony bar re‐formation and preserving bone elongation. However, these materials frequently fail and the bony bar commonly returns. This study investigated alginate–chitosan hydrogels as interpositional materials to block bony bar formation in a rat model of physeal injury. Further, biomaterial properties such as substrate stiffness, permeability, and degradation rate were studied. Different ratio alginate:chitosan hydrogels with or without calcium cross‐linking were tested for their inhibition of bony bar formation and restoration of the injured physis. Alginate:chitosan were mixed (a) 90:10 with calcium (90:10 + Ca); (b) 50:50 with calcium (50:50 + Ca); (c) 50:50 without calcium (50:50 − Ca); and (d) 50:50 made with irradiated alginate (IA) and without calcium. We found that repair tissue was determined primarily by the in vivo degradation rate of alginate–chitosan hydrogels. 90:10 + Ca had a slow degradation rate, prevented cellular infiltration, and produced the most bony bar tissue while having softer, more permeable material properties. IA had the fastest degradation, showed high cellular infiltration, and produced the most cartilage‐like tissue while having stiffer, less permeable material properties. Our results suggest that the in vivo biomaterial degradation rate is a dynamic property that can be optimized to influence cell fate and tissue repair in physeal injuries.
Effect of PET‐CT on disease recurrence and management in patients with potentially resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases. Long‐term results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Serrano Pablo E. , Gu Chu‐Shu , Moulton Carol‐Anne , Husien Mohamed , Jalink Diederick , Martel Guillaume , Tsang Melanie E. , Hallet Julie , McAlister Vivian , Gallinger Steven , Levine Mark
Published: February 2020

Background

Preoperative evaluation of resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases with positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (PET‐CT) is used extensively. The PETCAM trial evaluated the effect of PET‐CT (intervention) vs no PET‐CT (control) on surgical management. PET‐CT resulted in 8% change in surgical management, therefore, we aimed to compare long‐term outcomes (disease‐free [DFS], overall survival [OS]).

Methods

Trial recruitment (2005‐2010) had prospective follow‐up until 2013. Events from 2013 to 2017 were collected retrospectively. Survival was described by the Kaplan‐Meier method and compared with log‐rank test. Oncologic risk factors were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Among 404 patients randomized, there were no differences in DFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89 to 1.43) or OS (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.78‐1.32) between groups. For all patients randomized, median DFS (PET‐CT vs no PET‐CT) was 16 months (95% CI, 13‐18) and 15 months (95% CI, 11‐22), P = .33. For patients who underwent liver resection (n = 368), DFS (17 vs 16 months, P = .51) and OS (58 months vs 52 months, P = .90) were similar between groups, respectively. Risk factors for DFS and OS were age, tumor size, node‐positive disease, extrahepatic metastases and disease‐free duration.

Conclusion

Preoperative PET‐CT changes surgical management in a small percentage of cases, without effect on recurrence rates or long‐term survival.
Therapeutic Efficacy of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Patients With Vocal Fold Atrophy
Authors: Okui Ayako , Konomi Ujimoto , Kanazawa Takeharu , Komazawa Daigo , Nakamura Kazuhiro , Matsushima Koji , Watanabe Yusuke
Published: February 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

In recent years, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) injection has been used in the treatment of aging‐related vocal fold atrophy. This injection not only improves closure by increasing the mass of the vocal fold but also improves its viscoelasticity. However, it has been reported that fibroblasts targeted by bFGF treatment decrease in number with age. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of local injection of bFGF on age‐related vocal atrophy as well as the influence of age on phonological outcomes.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

Fifty‐three patients with age‐related vocal fold atrophy underwent single injections of bFGF in their vocal folds. Phonological outcomes were evaluated 3 and 6 months after injection by acoustic and aerodynamic measurements.

Results

Voice Handicap Index (VHI), maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, and pitch range improved after injection, and the effects continued for 6 months. In those over 70 years of age, VHI and MPT showed improvement at 3 and 6 months after injection. In addition, the degree of improvement in VHI and MPT did not differ significantly between those older than 70 years and those younger than 70 years.

Conclusions

Regenerative treatments dependent on bFGF single injection was safe and effective for both early and late elderly patients suffering of vocal fold atrophy.

Level of Evidence

2c Laryngoscope, 2020
A decomposition analysis of managerial efficiency for the insurance companies: A data envelopment analysis approach
Authors: Nourani Mohammad , Kweh Qian Long , Devadason Evelyn Shyamala , Chandran V.G.R.
Published: February 2020

The insurance industry worldwide has become less fragmented through liberalization reforms. Yet, following the transformational changes, there is little empirical evidence on identifying the determinants of managerial efficiency. This paper employs a truncated regression analysis to determine the factors driving managerial efficiency of Malaysian insurers. Overall and divisional efficiencies are derived using data envelopment analysis. The decomposition analysis reveals that the observed inefficiency is mainly caused by investment capability division. The regression findings reveal that determinants of efficiency have dissimilar impacts on overall and divisional efficiencies. This study broadly supports financial liberalization as a means of promoting managerial efficiency.
Some results on generalizations of statistical boundedness
Authors: Temizsu Fatih , Et Mikail
Published: February 2020

In this work, the notion of
statistical boundedness is generalized with respect to
density and
statistical sense. Besides some inclusion theorems regarding the new sequence spaces
,
and
are examined.
A proper generalized decomposition approach for optical flow estimation
Authors: El Hamidi Abdallah , Saleh Marwan , Papadakis Nicolas , de Senneville B. Denis
Published: February 2020

This paper introduces the use of the proper generalized decomposition (PGD) method for the optical flow (OF) problem in a classical framework of Sobolev spaces, ie, optical flow methods including a robust energy for the data fidelity term together with a quadratic penalizer for the regularization term. A mathematical study of PGD methods is first presented for general regularization problems in the framework of (Hilbert) Sobolev spaces, and their convergence is then illustrated on OF computation. The convergence study is divided in two parts: (a) the weak convergence based on the Brézis‐Lieb decomposition and (b) the strong convergence based on a growth result on the sequence of descent directions. A practical PGD‐based OF implementation is then proposed and evaluated on freely available OF data sets. The proposed PGD‐based OF approach outperforms the corresponding non‐PGD implementation in terms of both accuracy and computation time for images containing a weak level of information, namely, low image resolution and/or low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).
Explicit iterative solution of a Caputo‐Hadamard–type fractional turbulent flow model
Authors: Zhang Lihong , Qin Nan , Ahmad Bashir
Published: February 2020

In this article, by using the method of upper and lower solutions combined with the monotone iterative technique, we investigate a Caputo‐Hadamard–type fractional turbulent flow model. We prove new comparison results and obtain explicit monotone iterative sequences converging to the extremal solutions and unique solution of the model problem. Examples illustrating the main results are also presented.
Prevalence of denervation in the intrinsic foot muscles in patients with distal predominantly small fiber neuropathy
Authors: Parikh Prachi , Polston David , Li Yuebing
Published: February 2020

Background

We aimed to evaluate the significance of electromyographic findings in the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs) of patients with skin biopsy proven small fiber neuropathy (SFN).

Methods

This was a single‐center retrospective analysis of patients who underwent skin biopsy for intra‐epidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) measurement and electrodiagnostic (EDX) study for evaluation of polyneuropathy.

Results

A total of 1416 patents with normal lower extremity EDX studies proximal to the foot were included. Active denervation was seen in 16.1% of IFMs in patients with skin biopsy proven SFN and 4.1% of patients without SFN (P < .0001). Reinnervation changes without active denervation were observed in 30.4% of SFN patients and 23.8% of patients without SFN (P = .01). IENFD was lower in SFN patients with active denervation in IFMs than without (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Evaluation of active denervation in the IFMs can reveal large fiber dysfunction in SFN patients with otherwise normal routine EDX findings.
Manufacturing and characterization of hemp‐reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: del Borrello Michele , Mele Mattia , Campana Giampaolo , Secchi Matteo
Published: February 2020

The adoption of natural‐based fibers in place of inorganic reinforcements is an effective approach to reduce the environmental and economic impact of composite materials. In particular, hemp is an attractive solution due to its mechanical, physical, and growing properties. The present article deals with the manufacturing of thermoset hemp‐reinforced composite materials. In particular, the investigation moves into the production by resin transfer molding and by resin powder molding with the use of epoxy polymeric material. To describe the effects of the technological cycle onto the characteristic of realized products, different manufacturing parameters have been combined during the braiding of reinforcement and the polymerization of the final composite. Computed tomography, microscopical analysis, and tensile tests have been used to observe the main effects of the manufacturing process and mechanical properties of the materials. Furthermore, elastic moduli of the materials have been estimated by means of modified rule of mixture and Halpin‐Tsai models in order to verify their effectiveness in forecasting stiffness of the hemp‐reinforced composites in the early design phase. The article extends the existing knowledge base on hemp‐reinforced thermoset composites manufactured with different processes. Results also illustrate relations existing between error introduced by calculation models and the intrinsic variability in mechanical properties.
PEGylated hollow pH‐responsive polymeric nanocapsules for controlled drug delivery
Authors: Massoumi Bakhshali , Abbasian Mojtaba , Jahanban‐Esfahlan Rana , Motamedi Sanaz , Samadian Hadi , Rezaei Aram , Derakhshankhah Hossein , Farnudiyan‐Habibi Amir , Jaymand Mehdi
Published: February 2020

Novel pH‐responsive PEGylated hollow nanocapsules (HNCaps) were fabricated through a combination of distillation–precipitation copolymerization and surface thiol–ene ‘click’ grafting reaction. For this purpose, SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using the Stöber approach, and then modified using 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS). Afterward, a mixture of triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (as crosslinker), acrylic acid (AA; as pH‐responsive monomer) and MPS‐modified SiO2 nanoparticles (as sacrificial template) was copolymerized using the distillation–precipitation approach to afford SiO2@PAA core–shell nanoparticles. The SiO2 core was etched from SiO2@PAA using HF solution, and the obtained PAA HNCaps were grafted with a thiol‐end‐capped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through a thiol–ene ‘click’ reaction to produce PAA‐g‐PEG HNCaps. The fabricated HNCaps were loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as a model anticancer drug, and their drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies as well as pH‐dependent drug release behavior were investigated. The anticancer activity of the drug‐loaded HNCaps was extensively evaluated using MTT assay against human breast cancer cells (MCF7). The cytotoxicity assay results as well as superior physicochemical and biological features of the fabricated HNCaps mean that the developed DOX‐loaded HNCaps have excellent potential for cancer chemotherapy. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis of ionic polymers by free radical polymerization using aprotic trimethylsilylmethyl‐substituted monomers
Authors: Kaestner Pia , Strehmel Veronika
Published: February 2020

Aprotic ionic polymers containing trimethylsilylmethyl‐substituted imidazolium structures are synthesized using free radical polymerization of monomers comprising a vinyl group either at the cation or at the anion. Bulk polymerization is used for the room temperature ionic liquid monomer 1‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐3‐vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. In contrast to this, solution polymerization is applied for 1‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium p‐styrene sulfonate because this monomer undergoes self‐polymerization during melting at a higher temperature than selected for bulk polymerization. Glass transition temperature (T
g) of the ionic polymers and intrinsic viscosity measurements indicate differences between these polymers, which are composed either of a polycation with a trimethylsilylmethyl substituent at each vinylimidazolium segment of the polymer chain and mobile bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NTf2−) anions or a polyanion containing p‐styrene sulfonate segments and mobile 1‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium cations. The new aprotic ionic polymers containing trimethylsilylmethyl substituents may be interesting for application in adhesive, interlayer and membrane manufacturing.
Nature of the chemical bonding inD3h[MH3M]+cations (M = Be, Mg)
Authors: Penotti Fabio E. , Cooper David L. , Karadakov Peter B. , Ponec Robert
Published: February 2020

Motivated by the particularly short metal‐metal distance that has been predicted for theD3h[BeH3Be]+cation, comparable to those anticipated for triple bonds, we investigate the nature of the bonding interactions in theD3h[MH3M]+cations (M = Be, Mg). CCSD(T)/cc‐pVQZ calculations are used to determine optimized geometries for all of the various species, including those “capped” by He or Ne atoms (as proxies for an inert gas matrix). The primary tools that are then used to investigate the nature of the chemical bonding are spin‐coupled generalized valence bond calculations and the analysis of localized natural orbitals and of domain‐averaged Fermi holes. The various results for all of the systems considered indicate the presence of highly polar three‐center two‐electron M─H─M bonding character instead of any significant direct metal‐metal bonding.
Head‐up display assisted endoscopic lumbar discectomy—A technical note
Authors: Liounakos Jason I. , Urakov Timur , Wang Michael Y.
Published: February 2020

Background

Minimally invasive surgery is heavily dependent on indirect visualization and image guidance, often resulting in non‐ergonomic postures. Minimally invasive surgeons are more likely to experience neck pain, shoulder pain, and fatigue compared to open surgeons. Spinal endoscopy is rapidly increasing in popularity among minimally invasive spine surgeons. A primary ergonomic issue is the position of the endoscope display, which is often not in line with the operative field or the surgeon's natural line of sight.

Methods

Smart glasses providing a head‐up display are used in a case of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy to bring the surgeon's line of sight into parallel with the operative field.

Results

Bringing the surgeon's visual and motor axes into parallel resulted in a more comfortable and ergonomic operating position.

Conclusions

Head‐up displays may provide an elegant and relatively simple solution to the issue of inadequate ergonomics in minimally invasive surgery.
Micromechanical Behavior of Transformation‐Induced Plasticity‐Assisted Annealed Martensitic Steel Using In Situ Neutron Diffraction
Authors: Song Chenghao , Wang Haoliang , Sun Zhenzhong , Wei Zhengying , Yu Hao , Lu Jun
Published: February 2020

Herein, the transformation kinetics of retained austenite (RA) and the deformation mechanisms of constituent phases are quantified for a transformation‐induced plasticity (TRIP‐assisted) annealed martensitic (TAM) steel. This steel shows a good combination of strength and ductility (product of strength and elongation is 30.3 GPa%). The RA transformation coefficient k (=7.46) is at a medium level, indicating that RA has a suitable mechanical stability compared with other steels. An in situ neutron diffraction technique is used to experimentally study the stress partitioning among the constituent phases of the TAM steel. The results show that it is three times for stress partitioning occurring in TAM steel under uniaxial tensile test. When the engineering stress is just over the elastic limit, the stress from the annealed martensite is transferred to the hard phases and RA. After the specimen reaches the yield strength, the increasing rate of the lattice plane strain of RA declines because the stress from the RA transfers to the harder phase (twin martensite), resulting from the TRIP effect. When the engineering stress reaches 934 MPa, the increasing rate of the lattice plane strain of RA increases again possibly due to the increase in the carbon content of RA.
The M-theory archipelago
Authors: Agmon Nathan B. , Chester Shai M. , Pufu Silviu S.
Published: February 2020

Abstract

We combine supersymmetric localization results and the numerical conformal bootstrap technique to study the 3d maximally supersymmetric ($$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8) CFT on N coincident M2-branes (the U(N)k × U(N)−k ABJM theory at Chern-Simons level k = 1). In particular, we perform a mixed correlator bootstrap study of the superconformal primaries of the stress tensor multiplet and of the next possible lowest-dimension half-BPS multiplet that is allowed by 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 superconformal symmetry. Of all known 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 SCFTs, the k = 1 ABJM theory is the only one that contains both types of multiplets in its operator spectrum. By imposing the values of the short OPE coefficients that can be computed exactly using supersymmetric localization, we are able to derive precise islands in the space of semi-short OPE coefficients for an infinite number of such coefficients. We find that these islands decrease in size with increasing N. More generally, we also analyze 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 SCFT that contain both aforementioned multiplets in their operator spectra without inputing any additional information that is specific to ABJM theory. For such theories, we compute upper and lower bounds on the semi-short OPE coefficients as well as upper bounds on the scaling dimension of the lowest unprotected scalar operator. These latter bounds are more constraining than the analogous bounds previously derived from a single correlator bootstrap of the stress tensor multiplet. This leads us to conjecture that the U(N)2 × U(N + 1)−2 ABJ theory, and not the k = 1 ABJM theory, saturates the single correlator bounds.
Integration of robust and tolerance design in early stages of the product development process
Authors: Goetz Stefan , Schleich Benjamin , Wartzack Sandro
Published: February 2020

Due to the tightening of requirements and the increasing complexity of products, robust design becomes more and more important in the context of a straightforward product development. Although various robust design methods have been evolved to support the design of products that are less sensitive to variations, these methods are not sufficiently integrated into early stages of the product development process. This is mainly due to the lack of concrete product data necessary for robustness evaluation and tolerance specification. For this reason, it is still unclear to product development engineers when and how to apply existing approaches for enhancing the robustness of products. Therefore, this paper describes a holistic methodology that supports the designer in developing a robust product layout including an initial, validated tolerance specification based on the functional requirements. The proposed framework focuses on the close linkage of robust design activities with product data along the product development process and demonstrates the resulting benefits of an early consideration of variations and tolerances. In addition to the proper choice of robust product concepts and their corresponding spatial arrangement in the product structure, the approach allows a conceptual tolerance specification and the subsequent CAD-based analysis based on the preliminary design. Thus, the proposed approach aims to reduce iterations in the conventional tolerancing. To demonstrate the process, the methodology is applied to an electric window regulator.
Digitization of the budgeting process: determinants of the use of business analytics and its effect on satisfaction with the budgeting process
Authors: Bergmann Mareike , Brück Christian , Knauer Thorsten , Schwering Anja
Published: February 2020

Since the use of business analytics promises automation of business processes and time savings, the budgeting process seems predestined for the integration of analytical methods. Therefore, this study examines the determinants of the use of business analytics in the budgeting process and its effect on satisfaction with the budgeting process. Specifically, we focus on one technical determinant (data infrastructure sophistication) and the importance of the two major budgeting functions (the planning and the evaluation function), which could affect the degree of dissemination of using analytical methods. Based on a survey among German companies, we find, as predicted, that the sophistication of the data infrastructure is positively associated with the use of business analytics in the budgeting process. Further, the more a company emphasizes the planning function, the greater the extent to which business analytics is used in the budgeting process. In contrast, we find no association between the evaluation function and the use of business analytics in the budgeting process. Finally, we find that the use of business analytics is positively associated with satisfaction with the budgeting process. Thus, the use of business analytics can help to overcome dissatisfaction with traditional budgeting systems. Overall, our findings provide practitioners with valuable indications under which circumstances the use of analytical methods appears reasonable.
Age-associated changes in the immune system may influence the response to anti-PD1 therapy in metastatic melanoma patients
Authors: Kasanen Henna , Hernberg Micaela , Mäkelä Siru , Brück Oscar , Juteau Susanna , Kohtamäki Laura , Ilander Mette , Mustjoki Satu , Kreutzman Anna
Published: February 2020

Anti-PD1 treatment has improved the survival of metastatic melanoma patients, yet it is unknown which patients benefit from the treatment. In this exploratory study, we aimed to understand the effects of anti-PD1 therapy on the patients’ immune system and discover the characteristics that would result in successful treatment. We collected peripheral blood (PB) samples from 17 immuno-oncology-naïve metastatic melanoma patients before and after 1 and 3 months of anti-PD1 therapy. In addition, matching tumor biopsies at the time of diagnosis were collected for tissue microarray. The complete blood counts, PB immunophenotype, serum cytokine profiles, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were analyzed and correlated with the clinical data. Patients were categorized based on their disease control into responders (complete response, partial response, stable disease > 6 months, N = 11) and non-responders (progressive disease, stable disease ≤ 6 months, N = 6). During therapy, the PB natural killer T (NKT) cell frequency, expression of CD25 and CD45RO on cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells, and serum CXC chemokine levels were significantly increased in responders. Furthermore, higher age together with age-associated characteristics from PB, lower frequency of PB-naïve CD8+ T cells, and elevated levels of serum MCP-4 and OPG were discovered as baseline predictors of treatment response. We therefore propose that in addition to T cells, anti-PD1 treatment is associated with NK- and NKT-cell population dynamics, and that the age-associated characteristics from PB together with older age may contribute to prolonged PFS in anti-PD1-treated melanoma patients.
Determinants of Farmland Abandonment on the Urban–Rural Fringe
Authors: Zhou Ting , Koomen Eric , Ke Xinli
Published: February 2020

China’s urban explosion has resulted in a substantial loss of agricultural production on the fringes of many cities. Farmland is not only converted into urban uses but also taken out of production because it has lost its value for those who can farm it. This farmland abandonment process has received little research attention. This paper studies the abandonment of farmland around the rapidly urbanizing city of Wuhan and aims to identify its important determinants based on an extensive field survey among local farmers. Around 800 semi-structured field interviews were conducted to capture the parcel and location characteristics, farming practices, and household characteristics. Important parcel-related drivers of land abandonment are lack of family members to work the land and fragmentation of parcels. Spatial characteristics are less important, except for the presence of certain soil types that favour cultivation and designation under the farmland protection policy. The planted crop species and the option to transfer land to other farmers are important farming practices to continue cultivation. Moreover, farmers with a higher farming income and lower education levels are less likely to abandon their farmland. We suggest that land use policies can help in preventing further farmland abandonment by steering urban development away from the most suitable soils for farming and concentrating development to limit the fragmentation of parcels. Strengthening the land market and removing the remaining barriers for farmers to transfer land to colleagues can further help to keep farmland in production.
Cryotherapy for the prevention of weekly paclitaxel-induced peripheral adverse events in breast cancer patients
Authors: Shigematsu Hideo , Hirata Taizo , Nishina Mai , Yasui Daisuke , Ozaki Shinji
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This randomized phase II study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of cryotherapy in preventing peripheral neuropathy and dermatological adverse events in breast cancer patients treated with weekly paclitaxel.

Methods

Patients treated with 12 weekly doses of paclitaxel for breast cancer were randomized (1:1) into a cryotherapy or control group. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a marked decrease in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Neurotoxicity (FACT-NTX) score. The secondary endpoints were Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (CTCAE) for peripheral neuropathy, and FACT-Taxane score.

Results

Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to the cryotherapy (n = 22) or control groups (n = 22). The percentage of patients with a marked decrease in FACT-NTX scores was significantly lower in the cryotherapy group than in the control group (41 vs. 73%, p = 0.03). The incidence of CTCAE grade ≥ 2 sensory (p = 0.001) and motor peripheral neuropathy (p = 0.01), and PNQ grade D or higher for sensory peripheral neuropathy (p = 0.02), and decrease in the FACT-Taxane score (p = 0.02) were also significantly lower in the cryotherapy group than in the control group. There were no serious side effects associated with cryotherapy.

Conclusion

Cryotherapy is an effective approach for prevention of peripheral neuropathy and dermatological adverse events in breast cancer patients treated with weekly paclitaxel.