bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical treatment of postburn heterotopic ossification around the elbow
Authors: Chen Ji-Ying , Fu Chun-Wei , Ho Hsu-Yu , Lu Yung-Chang
Published: February 2019

Rationale:

Heterotopic ossification (HO), which is defined as the formation of new bone in tissues that do not normally ossify, is an infrequent yet debilitating complication of burns. Herein, we report three patients who suffered from elbow HO after burn injury due to a dust explosion event. This is a case report that includes the most cases involved in a single mass casualty incident in the presented literature.

Patient concerns:

Case 1: A 28-year-old man presented with second-to-third degree 88% total body surface area (TBSA) burns after the explosion event. He complained of decreased progressive bilateral elbow range of motion (ROM) for 1.5 months after the burn injury.

Case 2: A 28-year-old woman presented with second-to-third degree 50% TBSA burns and complained of decreased progressive bilateral elbow ROM with intolerable pain on elbow extension for 1 month after the burn injury.

Case 3: A 22-year-old man presented with second-to-third degree 90% TBSA burns and complained of significantly decreased left elbow ROM with intolerable pain 5 months after the burn injury.

Diagnosis:

The follow-up radiograph of the symptomatic elbow of these three patients revealed heterotopic ossification formation. Three-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography performed preoperatively showed that HO mainly affected the humeroulnar joint.

Interventions:

We treated all three patients with surgical elbow HO resection and ulnar nerve transposition, followed by immediate passive ROM exercise since postoperative day 1 and continuous physical therapy.

Outcomes:

In case 1, the documented ROM gain on the last follow-up (18.5 months after surgery) was 30° in the right elbow and 118° in the left elbow. In case 2, the follow-up time was 21 months and the documented ROM gain on the last follow-up was 120° in the right elbow and 90° in the left elbow. In case 3, the follow-up time was 20 months and the documented left elbow ROM gain on the last follow-up was 40°.

Lessons:

We discuss our experience of treating postburn HO and review the recent literature. The postburn HO treatment results of early surgical excision combined with immediate postoperative physical therapy were satisfactory.
Abnormal nocturnal behavior due to hypoglycemia
Authors: Weng Ning , Luo Yan-Wen , Xu Jian-dong , Zhang Yue
Published: February 2019

Rationale:

Hypoglycemia, which is characterized mainly by palpitations, dizziness, and sweating, is common and easy to identify. However, some other symptoms, such as mental disorder or abnormal behavior, are atypical, which may lead to a misdiagnosis of epilepsy, sleepwalking, infarction, or mental disorder, among others.

Patient concerns:

We report a case of a patient with type 2 diabetes who presented with abnormal nocturnal behavior due to hypoglycemia.

Diagnosis:

Hypoglycemia was diagnosed based on a blood glucose level of 2.1 mmol/L when the patient turned up disoriented unresponsive, unable to understand what was said to him, and producing nonsensical speech. After the patient ate a piece of chocolate, his consciousness returned to normal and all mental symptoms disappeared. Polysomnography (PSG) was synchronously performed. The results of the PSG did not show any signs of abnormality during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Interventions:

We regulated his dose of insulin.

Outcomes:

No additional episodes occurred during the 3-month follow-up. Therefore, the abnormal nocturnal behavior of this patient was determined to be due to hypoglycemia, while the cause of the hypoglycemia was insulin overuse.

Lessons:

For physicians, if the cause of abnormal behavior cannot be detected, hypoglycemia should be suspected. Long-term persistent hypoglycemia may cause brain dysfunction and even result in permanent brain damage.
Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for severe acute diquat and glyphosate poisoning
Authors: Wang Danqiong , Zhang Guozheng , Zhang Weiwen , Luo Jian , Zhu Lihua , Hu Jianhua
Published: February 2019

Rationale:

Because of the lack of an antidote or effective treatment, patients with severe acute diquat and glyphosate poisoning always died within a few hours. Extracorporeal membrane pulmonary oxygenation (ECMO), as an artificial heart-lung supporting system, can be applied to support lung that is expected to recover from reversible pathological damage. However, to our knowledge, the application of ECMO for patients with diquat and glyphosate poisoning has not been reported.

Patient concerns:

A 40-year-old man ingested in 100 ml of diquat (20 g/100 ml) and 400 ml glyphosate (41 g/100 ml) was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), immediately complicated by the development of ventricular fibrillation, respiratory failure, renal failure, and multi-organ failure.

Diagnosis:

Diquat and glyphosate poisoning were diagnosed by stated ingestion history, and the diagnostic criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome were also met.

Interventions:

He was treated with veno-venous ECMO.

Outcomes:

He was successfully transferred out of the ICU on day 46 and discharged on day 67. The computed tomography scan showed no obvious pulmonary fibrosis 2 months after poisoning.

Lessons:

ECMO may be effective in the treatment of patients with severe ARDS caused by diquat and glyphosate poisoning when conventional management does not work.
Comparison of Ivor-Lewis versus Sweet procedure for middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jun , Wei Ning , Jiang Nanqing , Lu Yiming , Zhang Xiaoying
Published: February 2019

Our study compared the Ivor-Lewis and Sweet procedures used for treating middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and assessed the associated perioperative complications and long-term survival rates of the patients.

This retrospective study involved 624 middle and lower thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma patients who received either Ivor-Lewis (n = 325) or Sweet (n = 299) procedures at our hospital. Further, the perioperative conditions and long-term survival rates were analyzed for both groups.

Relative to the Sweet group, the Ivor-Lewis group showed lower volume of drainage within 24 hours after operation (400 (300–500) ml vs 550 (400–658) ml,P = .031). Although we found no significant differences in major postoperative complications between the groups (72 (22.2) vs 65 (21.7),P = .90), there were significant differences observed in minor postoperative complications between the Ivor-Lewis and Sweet groups (59 (18.2) vs 32 (10.7),P = .008). Perioperative death rates remained comparable for the 2 groups (2 (0.6) vs 2 (0.7),P > .99). Further, comparison of the 2 groups revealed that the Ivor-Lewis group had increased number of dissected lymph nodes, (20 (4–42) vs 16 (3–31),P < .001), especially in the upper mediastinum (4 (0–5) vs 2 (0–2),P < .001). The long-term survival rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (Kaplan-Meier method,P = .95; Cox regression,P = .20).

These findings suggest that perioperative complications and long-term survival rates were comparable for both patients groups. Patients receiving the Sweet procedure had reduced minor postoperative complications compared to those receiving the Ivor-Lewis procedure. Due to improved quality of lymph node dissection in the upper mediastinum, the Ivor-Lewis procedure may have advantages over the Sweet procedure for treating patients with esophageal cancer with enlarged lymph nodes in the upper mediastinum.
Association between food allergy and ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Niu Qian , Wei Wei , Huang Zhuochun , Zhang Junlong , Yang Bin , Wang Lanlan
Published: February 2019

Food allergies can alter the gut microbiome composition, increasing the risk of conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

To identify the association between specific allergens and AS, we investigated the differences in the serum levels of 14 food antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G between AS patients and healthy participants. The association between the levels of these antibodies and disease activity was assessed by measuring the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).

We enrolled 75 AS patients and 78 healthy controls who had undergone antigen-specific IgG tests in West China Hospital between January 2015 and October 2017, and performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for specific IgG against 14 food allergens: rice, egg, mushroom, milk, pork, chicken, beef, crab, codfish, corn, soybean, tomato, shrimp, and wheat. The following tests were used to analyze differences between AS patients and healthy controls: χ2 test for sex, and a 2-tailed Student t-test or Mann–Whitney U test based on the results of Levene test for age and IgG levels. Correlations between IgG and CRP levels were calculated using a Spearman's correlation.

AS patients had significantly higher serum levels of beef-, crab-, and pork-specific IgG than did healthy participants. In addition, the serum levels of pork-specific IgG were significantly and positively correlated with CRP.

These results suggest that α-Gal, the predominant natural antigen in mammalian red meat, might play a potential role in the pathogenesis of AS, and therefore, AS patients should exclude such allergenic foods, including beef, crab and pork, from their daily diet.
Multi-b value diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion modeling
Authors: Liao Cheng-cheng , Qin Yun-ying , Tang Qi , Tan Xiao-hong , Ke Qing , Rong Yan , Zhong Jian-Hong , Li Le-qun , Cen Hong
Published: February 2019

The diagnostic efficiency of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with different b-values and application of an intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model for differentiating disease states of lymphoma was investigated.

Thirty-six patients at initial diagnosis and 69 after chemotherapy underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) with multiple b-values. Analysis parameters included the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for each b-value. Standard ADC, D, D∗, and f were calculated using an IVIM model.

For patients at initial diagnosis, compared with aggressive lymphomas, the benign lymph nodes exhibited higher mean ADC (2.34 vs 0.66 × 10−3 mm2/s, P < .01) for b = 200 s/mm2. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and the cutoff value were 0.992, 96%, 100%, and 1.09 ×10−3 mm2/s, respectively. For patients who had finished chemotherapy, the f-values of IVIM for those with partial remission (PR) were higher than those of complete remission (CR) (56.22 vs 21.81%, P < .01). The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and the cutoff value were 0.937, 94%, 82%, 42.10%, respectively.

For b = 200 s/mm2, ADC values are most helpful for characterizing benign lymph nodes and malignant lymphomas. The f-value of the IVIM is most valuable in the identification of residual lesions of lymphomas after chemotherapy.
Risk of malignancies among asymptomatic postmenopausal women with thickened endometrium
Authors: Li Zhe , Li Lei
Published: February 2019

The risk of malignancies and related factors among asymptomatic postmenopausal women with thickened endometrium in transvaginal sonography (TVS) are unclear.

In this longitudinal study at a tertiary teaching hospital, all medical records of hysteroscopy were searched and retrospectively reviewed according to age, TVS results and diseases coded as International Classification of Diseases version 10. Asymptomatic postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness ≥5 mm from January 2006 to January 2016 were included. A follow-up was provided up to January 2017.

Four hundred eighty-eight patients were included with a median endometrial thickness of 8 mm (range 5–30) in TVS. The most common pathologic findings were polyps (51.0%) and normal endometrium (34.2%). Fifteen (3.1%) and 10 cases (2.0%) had endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) and carcinoma. Patients with carcinoma had significantly more abnormal serum CA125, thicker endometrium, and more lesions with positive Doppler flow signals. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, endometrial thickness of 12 mm had the best predictive ability for malignancies. In multivariate analysis, endometrial lesion with positive Doppler flow signals in TVS was the only independent factor for EIN/carcinoma (odds ratio [OR] 8.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–45.1) and for carcinoma (OR 16.0, 95% CI 1.3–192.8). After a median follow-up of 45 months, carcinoma occurred in 1 of 35 (2.8%) women with repeated thickened endometrium.

Among asymptomatic postmenopausal women with thickened endometrium, the risk of EIN and malignancy was minimal but worth of long-term follow-up. Endometrial lesions with positive Doppler flow signals in TVS suggested a high risk of malignancy.
Improving the Patient Experience and Decreasing Patient Anxiety With Nursing Bedside Report
Authors: Baldwin Kathleen M. , Spears Mary Joy
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

The study’s purpose was to explore the patient experience in an intervention group participating in nursing bedside report and the control group not participating.

Design:

This descriptive, observational study had 3 objectives: (1) to measure baseline anxiety on admission to the hospital using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, (2) to describe patient self-reported anxiety and patient experiences during hospitalization, and (3) to evaluate the opinions by the intervention group about participating in nursing bedside report.

Methods:

This mixed-methods study included quantitative and qualitative data. Three data collection tools were used: a demographic data tool, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and daily journal entries. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, and qualitative data using content analysis.

Results:

There were no differences in baseline anxiety scores between patient groups. Anxiety levels decreased during hospitalization. About 73% of patients completed their journals. Themes that emerged were patients’ perceptions of care, patient engagement, communication, and teamwork.

Conclusions:

Journal responses showed communication played a significant role in patients’ perceptions of their patient experience. Because patients exhibited different baseline anxiety levels, assessing anxiety level on admission may help nurses develop plans of care that improve the patient experience. Further study is needed about the patient experience.
Survival After Minimally Invasive Radical Hysterectomy for Early-stage Cervical Cancer
Authors: Melamed Alexander , Margul Daniel J. , Chen Ling , Keating Nancy L. , del Carmen Marcela G. , Yang Junhua , Seagle Brandon-Luke L. , Alexander Amy , Barber Emma L. , Rice Laurel W. , Wright Jason D. , Kocherginsky Masha , Shahabi Shohreh , Rauh-Hain J. Alejandro
Published: February 2019

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2018;379:1905–1914)

Women diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer often undergo frontline radical hysterectomy, which has been associated with a cure rate of greater than 80% in stage IA2 and IB1 disease. Radical hysterectomy has been traditionally performed as open surgery.
A Systematic Analysis of Online Marketing Materials Used by Providers of Expanded Carrier Screening
Authors: Chokoshvili Davit , Borry Pascal , Vears Danya F.
Published: February 2019

(Abstracted from Genet Med 2018;20:976–984)

Carrier screening aims to identify prospective parents at risk of having a child with a monogenic disorder. Carrier screening is primarily performed for recessive genetic disorders, for which carriers are said to be individuals who have (or carry) 1 mutated copy of the gene associated with a recessive disorder and 1 normal copy.
Intracranial EEG reveals bihemispheric parietal and extra parietal brain networks supporting mental arithmetic
Authors: Umbach Gray , Rugg Michael , Worrell Gregory , Sperling Michael , Gross Robert , Jobst Barbara , Jacobs Josh , Zaghloul Kareem , Stein Joel , Davis Kathryn , Lega Bradley
Published: February 2019

Mathematical reasoning is central to everyday life. Lesion data and functional MRI studies suggest that even simple arithmetic involves the coordination of multiple spatially diverse brain regions, but to date, math processing has not been well characterized using direct brain recordings, especially outside of the parietal cortex. To address this, we utilized an unparalleled data set of 310 subjects implanted with intracranial electrodes to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of arithmetic reasoning. Our data support the importance of regions previously implicated in numerosity such as the superior parietal lobule and intraparietal sulcus. However, we also identify contributions to arithmetic processing from regions such as the entorhinal cortex and temporal pole. Using the excellent bihemispheric coverage afforded by our data set and the precise temporal resolution of intracranial recordings, we characterize in detail the spatial and temporal characteristics of an arithmetic processing network, quantifying subtle hemispheric differences for selected regions. We also examine how activity in these regions predicts arithmetic ability and look for gender differences in the pattern of network activation. Our findings further define the complex network of regions involved in human arithmetical reasoning.
Drift-diffusion models for multiple-alternative forced-choice decision making
Authors: Roxin Alex
Published: February 2019

The canonical computational model for the cognitive process underlying two-alternative forced-choice decision making is the so-called drift-diffusion model (DDM). In this model, a decision variable keeps track of the integrated difference in sensory evidence for two competing alternatives. Here I extend the notion of a drift-diffusion process to multiple alternatives. The competition between n alternatives takes place in a linear subspace of n-1 dimensions; that is, there are n-1 decision variables, which are coupled through correlated noise sources. I derive the multiple-alternative DDM starting from a system of coupled, linear firing rate equations. If the original neuronal system is nonlinear, one can once again derive a model describing a lower dimensional diffusion process. The dynamics of the nonlinear DDM can be recast as the motion of a particle on a potential, the general form of which is given analytically for an arbitrary number of alternatives.
Rapid and Active Stabilization of Visual Cortical Firing Rates Across Light-Dark Transitions
Authors: Turrigiano Gina G , Torrado Pacheco Alejandro , Tilden Elizabeth I , Gruztner Sophie M , Lane Brian , Wu Yue , Hengen Keith B , Gjorgjieva Julijana
Published: February 2019

The dynamics of neuronal firing during natural vision are poorly understood. Surprisingly, mean firing rates of neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) of freely behaving rodents are similar during prolonged periods of light and darkness, but it is unknown whether this reflects a slow adaptation to changes in natural visual input, or insensitivity to rapid changes in visual drive. Here we use chronic electrophysiology in freely behaving rats of either sex to follow individual V1 neurons across many dark-light (D-L) and light-dark (L-D) transitions. We show that, even on rapid timescales (1s to 10 min), neuronal activity was only weakly modulated by transitions that coincided with the expected 12h/12h light-dark cycle. In contrast, a larger subset of V1 neurons consistently responded to unexpected L-D and D-L transitions, and disruption of the regular L-D cycle with 60 hours of complete darkness induced a robust increase in V1 firing upon re-introduction of visual input. Thus, V1 neurons fire at similar rates in the presence or absence of natural stimuli, and significant changes in activity arise only transiently in response to unexpected changes in the visual environment. Further, although mean rates were similar in L and D, pairwise correlations were significantly stronger during natural vision, suggesting that information about natural scenes in V1 is more readily extractable from correlations than from individual firing rates. Together, our findings show that V1 firing rates are rapidly and actively stabilized during expected changes in visual input, and are remarkably stable at both short and long timescales.
Weak Coupling Between Intracellular Feedback Loops Explains Dissociation of Clock Gene Dynamics
Authors: Schmal Christoph , Ono Daisuke , Myung Jihwan , Pett J. Patrick , Honma Sato , Honma Ken-Ichi , Herzel Hanspeter , Tokuda Isao T.
Published: February 2019

Circadian rhythms are generated by interlocked transcriptional-translational negative feedback loops (TTFLs), the molecular process implemented within a cell. The contributions, weighting and balancing between the multiple feedback loops remain debated. Dissociated, free-running dynamics in the expression of distinct clock genes has been described in recent experimental studies that applied various perturbations such as slice preparations, light pulses, jet-lag, and culture medium exchange. In this paper, we provide evidence that this "presumably transient" dissociation of circadian gene expression oscillations may occur at the single-cell level. Conceptual and detailed mechanistic mathematical modeling suggests that such dissociation is due to a weak interaction between multiple feedback loops present within a single cell. The dissociable loops provide insights into underlying mechanisms and general design principles of the molecular circadian clock.
MassComp, a lossless compressor for mass spectrometry data
Authors: Yang Ruochen , Chen Xi , Ochoa Idoia
Published: February 2019

Background: Mass Spectrometry (MS) is a widely used technique in biology research, and has become key in proteomics and metabolomics analyses. As a result, the amount of MS data has significantly increased in recent years. For example, the MS repository MassIVE contains more than 123TB of data. Somehow surprisingly, these data are stored uncompressed, hence incurring a significant storage cost. Efficient representation of these data is therefore paramount to lessen the burden of storage and facilitate its dissemination.
Results We present MassComp, a lossless compressor optimized for the numerical (m/z)-intensity pairs that account for most of the MS data. We tested MassComp on several MS data and show that it delivers on average a 46% reduction on the size of the numerical data, and up to 89%. These results correspond to an average improvement of more than 27% when compared to the general compressor gzip and of 40% when compared to the state-of-the-art numerical compressor FPC. When tested on entire files retrieved from the MassIVE repository, MassComp achieves on average a 59% size reduction. MassComp is written in C++ and freely available at https://github.com/iochoa/MassComp.
Conclusions: The compression performance of MassComp demonstrates its potential to significantly reduce the footprint of MS data, and shows the benefits of designing specialized compression algorithms tailored to MS data. MassComp is an addition to the family of omics compression algorithms designed to lessen the storage burden and facilitate the exchange and dissemination of omics data.
Targeted enhancement of flotillin-dependent endocytosis augments cellular uptake and impact of cytotoxic drugs
Authors: Fekri Farnaz , Abousawan John , Bautista Stephen , Dayam Roya M. , Antonescu Costin N. , Karshafian Raffi
Published: February 2019

Cellular uptake is limiting for the efficacy of many cytotoxic drugs used to treat cancer. Identifying endocytic mechanisms that can be modulated with targeted, clinically-relevant interventions is important to enhance the efficacy of various cancer drugs. We identify that flotillin-dependent endocytosis can be targeted and upregulated by ultrasound and microbubble (USMB) treatments to enhance uptake and efficacy of cancer drugs such as cisplatin. USMB involves targeted ultrasound following administration of encapsulated microbubbles, used clinically for enhanced ultrasound image contrast. USMB treatments robustly enhanced internalization of the molecular scaffold protein flotillin, as well as flotillin-dependent fluid-phase internalization, a phenomenon dependent on the protein palmitoyltransferase DHHC5 and the Src-family kinase Fyn. USMB treatment enhanced DNA damage and cell killing elicited by the cytotoxic agent cisplatin in a flotillin-dependent manner. Thus, flotillin-dependent endocytosis can be modulated by clinically-relevant USMB treatments to enhance drug uptake and efficacy, revealing an important new strategy for targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment.
Prediction of prospective leaf morphology in lettuce based on intracellular chloroplast position
Authors: Hikawa Mio , Nishizawa Kazuyo , Kodama Yutaka
Published: February 2019

In the accumulation response, chloroplasts move toward weak blue light, staying at positions along the periclinal cell wall. By contrast, in the avoidance response, chloroplasts move away from strong blue light, escaping to positions along the anticlinal cell wall. The accumulation response maximizes light capture and the avoidance response reduces photodamage. The intracellular positioning of chloroplasts is important for optimizing photosynthesis and may have common signals with the regulators that determine leaf morphology, another factor that affects photosynthesis. Here, we propose that intracellular chloroplast position can be used to predict prospective leaf morphology in lettuce (Lactuca sativa). To test this, we induced the accumulation or avoidance response in lettuce cells through exposure to the appropriate strength of blue light and observed the growth of the plants. Our results indicated that leaf area increased in response to weak blue light inducing the accumulation response, and leaf thickness increased in response to strong blue light inducing the avoidance response.
150 years of the Trades Union Congress – reflections on the past and challenges for the future
Authors: Nowak Paul , Hodder Andy
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look back on 150 years of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and reflect on the recent challenges to organised labour.

Design/methodology/approach

Places unions in their current context and discusses how they have responded to the challenge of declining membership.

Findings

With declining membership levels and the lack of a “silver bullet” solution, unions continue to face many challenges, although there is some light at the end of the organising tunnel.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the special issue which reflects on 150 years of the TUC.
An investigation of the factors influencing cost system functionality using decision trees, support vector machines and logistic regression
Authors: Kuzey Cemil , Uyar Ali , Delen Dursun
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The paper aims to identify and critically analyze the factors influencing cost system functionality (CSF) using several machine learning techniques including decision trees, support vector machines and logistic regression.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a self-administered survey method to collect the necessary data from companies conducting business in Turkey. Several prediction models are developed and tested; a series of sensitivity analyses is performed on the developed prediction models to assess the ranked importance of factors/variables.

Findings

Certain factors/variables influence CSF much more than others. The findings of the study suggest that utilization of management accounting practices require a functional cost system, which is supported by a comprehensive cost data management process (i.e. acquisition, storage and utilization).

Research limitations/implications

The underlying data were collected using a questionnaire survey; thus, it is subjective which reflects the perceptions of the respondents. Ideally, it is expected to reflect the objective of the practices of the firms. Second, the authors have measured CSF it on a “Yes” or “No” basis which does not allow survey respondents reply in between them; thus, it might have limited the choices of the respondents. Third, the Likert scales adopted in the measurement of the other constructs might be limiting the answers of the respondents.

Practical implications

Information technology plays a very important role for the success of CSF practices. That is, successful implementation of a functional cost system relies heavily on a fully integrated information infrastructure capable of constantly feeding CSF with accurate, relevant and timely data.

Originality/value

In addition to providing evidence regarding the factors underlying CSF based on a broad range of industries interesting finding, this study also illustrates the viability of machine learning methods as a research framework to critically analyze domain specific data.
Alignment of business in robotic process automation
Authors: Zhang Ning , Liu Bo
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to find out how business aligns with robotic process automation (RPA) and whether the alignment has the same factors as for IT–business alignment.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Condition configurations for positive and negative impact for business alignment with RPA.

Findings

The positive and negative configurations that possibly impact business alignment with RPA.

Research limitations/implications

There are some human instincts during conditions dichotomization and limited number of cases.

Practical implications

The findings can be used to guide practice application in real industry.

Originality/value

This paper adopted crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis to find condition configurations for alignment of business and RPA for more generalization.
Adaptive whale optimization for intelligent multi-constraints power quality improvement under deregulated environment
Authors: Thakur Niharika , Awasthi Y.K. , Hooda Manisha , Siddiqui Anwar Shahzad
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Power quality issues highly affect the secure and economic operations of the power system. Although numerous methodologies are reported in the literature, flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices play a primary role. However, the FACTS devices require optimal location and sizing to perform the power quality enhancement effectively and in a cost efficient manner. This paper aims to attain the maximum power quality improvements in IEEE 30 and IEEE 57 test bus systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper contributes the adaptive whale optimization algorithm (AWOA) algorithm to solve the power quality issues under deregulated sector, which enhances available transfer capability, maintains voltage stability, minimizes loss and mitigates congestions.

Findings

Through the performance analysis, the convergence of the final fitness of AWOA algorithm is 5 per cent better than artificial bee colony (ABC), 3.79 per cent better than genetic algorithm (GA), 2,081 per cent better than particle swarm optimization (PSO) and fire fly (FF) and 2.56 per cent better than whale optimization algorithm (WOA) algorithms at 400 per cent load condition for IEEE 30 test bus system, and the fitness convergence of AWOA algorithm for IEEE 57 test bus system is 4.44, 4.86, 5.49, 7.52 and 9.66 per cent better than FF, ABC, WOA, PSO and GA, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper presents a technique for minimizing the power quality problems using AWOA algorithm. This is the first work to use WOA-based optimization for the power quality improvements.
Explaining primary care physicians’ decision to quit patient‐centered medical homes: Evidence from Quebec, Canada
Authors: Ammi Mehdi , Diop Mamadou , Strumpf Erin
Published: February 2019

Objective

To examine the factors explaining primary care physicians’ (PCPs) decision to leave patient‐centered medical homes (PCMHs).

Data Sources

Five‐year longitudinal data on all the 906 PCPs who joined a PCMH in the Canadian province of Quebec, known there as a Family Medicine Group.

Study Design

We use fixed‐effects and random‐effects logit models, with a variety of regression specifications and various subsamples. In addition to these models, we examine the robustness of our results using survival analysis, one lag in the regressions and focusing on a matched sample of quitters and stayers.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We extract information from Quebec's universal health insurer billing data on all the PCPs who joined a PCMH between 2003 and 2005, supplemented by information on their elderly and chronically ill patients.

Principal Findings

About 17 percent of PCPs leave PCMHs within 5 years of follow‐up. Physicians’ demographics have little influence. However, those with more complex patients and higher revenues are less likely to leave the medical homes. These findings are robust across a variety of specifications.

Conclusion

As expected, higher revenue favors retention. Importantly, our results suggest that PCMH may provide appropriate support to physicians dealing with complex patients.
The role of DNA methyltransferase activity in cocaine treatment and withdrawal in the nucleus accumbens of mice
Authors: Urb Mari , Niinep Kerly , Matsalu Terje , Kipper Karin , Herodes Koit , Zharkovsky Alexander , Timmusk Tõnis , Anier Kaili , Kalda Anti
Published: February 2019

An increasing number of reports have provided crucial evidence that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, may be involved in initiating and establishing psychostimulant‐induced stable changes at the cellular level by coordinating the expression of gene networks, which then manifests as long‐term behavioral changes. In this study, we evaluated the enzyme activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) after cocaine treatment and during withdrawal. Furthermore, we studied how genetic or pharmacological inhibition of DNMTs in mouse nucleus accumbens (NAc) affects the induction and expression of cocaine‐induced behavioral sensitization. Our results showed that after silencing Dnmt3a in the NAc during the induction phase of cocaine‐induced sensitization, overall DNMT activity decreases, correlating negatively with behavioral sensitization. Reduced Dnmt3a mRNA during this phase was the largest contributing factor for decreased DNMT activity. Cocaine withdrawal and a challenge dose increased DNMT activity in the NAc, which was associated with the expression of behavioral sensitization. Long‐term selective Dnmt3a transcription silencing in the NAc did not alter DNMT activity or the expression of cocaine‐induced behavioral sensitization. However, bilateral intra‐NAc injection of a non‐specific inhibitor of DNMT (RG108) during withdrawal from cocaine decreased DNMT activity in the NAc and had a small effect on the expression of cocaine‐induced behavioral sensitization. Thus, cocaine treatment and withdrawal is associated with biphasic changes in DNMT activity in the NAc, and the expression of behavioral sensitization decreases with non‐selective inhibition of DNMT but not with selective silencing of Dnmt3a.
Identification of a novel mutation in EXT2 in a fourth‐generation Korean family with multiple osteochondromas and overview of mutation spectrum
Authors: Yang Aram , Kim Jinsup , Jang Ja‐Hyun , Lee Chung , Lee Ji‐Eun , Cho Sung Yoon , Jin Dong‐Kyu
Published: February 2019

Multiple osteochondromas (MOs) or hereditary multiple exostoses is a rare autosomal‐dominant disease characterized by growths of MOs, which are benign cartilage‐capped bone tumors that grow away from the growth plates. Almost 90% of MOs have a molecular explanation and 10% are unexplained. MOs are genetically heterogeneous with two causal genes on 8q24.11 (EXT1) and 11p12 (EXT2), with a higher frequency in EXT1. MO is a very rare genetic disorder, and the genotype–phenotype of MO with EXT2 mutation has not been well investigated in Korea. We present the clinical radiographic and molecular analysis of a four‐generation Korean family with 11 MO‐affected members (seven males and four females). The affected members from the third generation available for molecular analysis and their detailed medical histories showed moderate‐to‐severe phenotypes (clinical classes II–III), including bony deformities and limb misalignment with pain requiring surgical correction. The x‐rays showed MOs in multiple sites. A novel EXT2 frameshift mutation (c.590delC, p.P197Qfs*73) was revealed by targeted exome sequencing in the affected members of this family. In this article, we not only expand the phenotypic–genotypic spectrum of MOs but also highlight the phenotypic heterogeneity in a family with the same mutation. In addition, we compiled the mutation spectrum of EXT2 from a literature review and identified that exon 2 of EXT2 is a mutation hot spot. Early medical attention with diagnosis of MO through careful examination of the clinical manifestations and genetic analysis can provide the opportunity to establish coordinated multispecialty management of the patient.
Mate searching inEnnya maculicornis(Membracidae: Polyglyptini) initiated by females: behavioural and acoustic descriptions
Authors: Cossio‐Rodriguez Romina , Cocroft Reginald B. , Niemeyer Hermann M. , Pinto Carlos F.
Published: February 2019

1. In treehoppers in which courtship has been studied, males initiate the search for females by periodically emitting a vibrational signal. The responses by the female are used by males as a beacon and give rise to a duet.

2. Courtship and mating of the treehopperEnnya maculicorniswere characterised through the simultaneous recording of vibrational signals and the behaviour of males and females in an arena.

3. InE. maculicornis, female initiated mate searching. Females produced two types of signals during the this process: (i) a signal that preceded the approach by the male and (ii) a signal that preceded mating. Males emitted two signals associated with two stereotyped body movements: (i) a signal produced as a response to the first signal emitted by the female, involving a change in the male's locomotory mode and the approach to the female, and (ii) a signal produced after finding and holding on to the female, involving simultaneous abdomen raising and wing fluttering. These signals were repeated several times before the female emitted the second signal. The four signalling patterns were observed in all recordings in which mating was observed. When any of the signals was missing, mating did not occur.

4. Female‐biased sex ratios inE. maculicornis, along with iteroparity, are suggested to explain the initiation of mate searching behaviour by females. A comparison of data with that from other treehoppers indicates that vibrational signals and their associated behaviour are more diverse among treehoppers than has been appreciated previously.
Foreign market portfolio concentration and performance
Authors: Fjesme Sturla Lyngnes
Published: February 2019

Using security holdings of 49,857 foreign investors on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE), I test whether concentrated investment strategies in international markets result in excess risk‐adjusted returns. I find that investors with higher learning capacity increase returns, while investors with lower learning capacity decrease returns from the portfolio concentration. I measure learning capacity as institutional classification, geographical proximity to Norway, and cultural closeness to Norwegian investors (as based on the Hofstede cultural closeness measures). I conclude, consistent with the information advantage theory, that concentrated investment strategies in foreign markets can be optimal (disastrous) for investors with higher (lower) learning capacity.
Pulmonary sarcoidosis as a cause of intermittent fever of unknown origin in a hemodialysis patient with renal cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review
Authors: Shima Hisato , Nishitani Masaaki , Tashiro Manabu , Inoue Tomoko , Kawahara Kazuhiko , Okada Kazuyoshi , Minakuchi Jun , Kawashima Shu
Published: February 2019

Hemodialysis patients have weakened immune systems and can exhibit fever due to various causes. Herein, we describe the case of a 61‐year‐old hemodialysis patient who exhibited intermittent low‐grade fever after a pacemaker had been implanted 2 months before due to sick sinus syndrome. She had a medical history of subcutaneous sarcoidosis and uveitis. Active pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed based on elevated soluble interleukin‐2 receptor, elevated lysozyme level, and gallium‐67 scintigraphy uptake in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. She was also diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma via contrast computed tomography. However, because her C‐reactive protein level remained normal, the possibility of neoplastic fever was considered low. After the initiation of prednisolone administration, her fever gradually disappeared. Her serum soluble interleukin‐2 receptor and lysozyme level improved in parallel with the enlargement of the mediastinal lymph node and gallium‐67 scintigraphy uptake.
Media content analysis of the introduction of a “soft opt‐out” system of organ donation in Wales 2015‐17
Authors: Dallimore David J. , McLaughlin Leah , Williams Carol , Noyes Jane
Published: February 2019

In an attempt to improve organ donation rates, some countries are considering moving from “opt‐in” systems where citizens must express their willingness to be an organ donor, to “opt‐out” systems where consent is presumed unless individuals have expressed their wishes otherwise, by, for example, joining an “opt‐out” register. In Wales—a part of the United Kingdom—the devolved government recently legislated for an “opt‐out” system. For the change to be effective, a public awareness campaign was critical to the policy's success. Using quantitative and qualitative content analysis, we explored media coverage of the change to better understand the relationship between the state, policy actors, media and the public when such policy changes take place. Our findings illustrate how a state communication campaign can effectively set the media agenda within which we saw a degree of interdependency created with the state using the media to promote policy, and the media relying on the state for credible information. Yet we also found that the media is not uncritical and observed how it uses its autonomy to influence policy setting. Over the period of study, we found that a change in tone and view towards deemed consent organ donation has taken place in the media. However, while this may influence or reflect public attitudes, it is yet to be seen whether the media campaign translates into behavioural change that will result in increases in organ donations.
MicroRNA‐488 inhibits endometrial glandular epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in endometriosis mice via Wnt by inhibiting FZD7
Authors: Zhu Hui , Cao Xi‐Xia , Liu Juan , Hua Hua
Published: February 2019

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory syndrome and nearly 6%‐10% of women are affected by it during the reproductive period. Previous studies have proved that microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate that restored miR‐488 would effectively inhibit the development of endometriosis. The microarray‐based data analysis was performed to screen endometriosis‐related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The mouse model in endometriosis syndrome was established by being subcutaneously injected with Estradiol benzoate, and the ectopic endometrial tissues and normal endometrial tissues were collected. Additionally, the endometrial glandular epithelial cells were extracted from the endometrial glandular epithelial tissues from normal and endometriosis mice. In order to examine the role of miR‐488 in mice with endometriosis, we measured miR‐488 expression and expression levels of Frizzled‐7 (FZD7), cyclinD1, β‐catenin, and c‐Myc in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we detected the effect of miR‐488 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion in vitro. FZD7 was upregulated in human endometriosis. The data showed higher expression levels of FZD7, β‐catenin, c‐Myc and cyclinD1, and lower miR‐488 expression in mouse endometrial tissues. FZD7 was the target gene of miR‐488. Furthermore, elevated miR‐488 in isolated mouse endometrial glandular endometrial cells inhibited FZD7, the translocation of β‐catenin to nucleus, the activation of Wnt pathway, and the cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Collectively, these findings indicated that up‐regulated miR‐488 may reduce the proliferation, migration and invasion of endometrial glandular epithelial cells through inhibiting the activation of Wnt pathway by down‐regulating FZD7.
Cardioprotective effect of MMP‐2‐inhibitor‐NO‐donor hybrid against ischaemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Krzywonos‐Zawadzka Anna , Franczak Aleksandra , Olejnik Agnieszka , Radomski Marek , Gilmer John F. , Sawicki Grzegorz , Woźniak Mieczysław , Bil‐Lula Iwona
Published: February 2019

Hypoxic injury of cardiovascular system is one of the most frequent complications following ischaemia. Heart injury arises from increased degradation of contractile proteins, such as myosin light chains (MLCs) and troponin I by matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP‐2). The aim of the current research was to study the effects of 5‐phenyloxyphenyl‐5‐aminoalkyl nitrate barbiturate (MMP‐2‐inhibitor‐NO‐donor hybrid) on hearts subjected to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Primary human cardiac myocytes and Wistar rat hearts perfused using Langendorff method have been used. Human cardiomyocytes or rat hearts were subjected to I/R in the presence or absence of tested hybrid. Haemodynamic parameters of heart function, markers of I/R injury, gene and protein expression of MMP‐2, MMP‐9, inducible form of NOS (iNOS), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), as well as MMP‐2 activity were measured. Mechanical heart function, coronary flow (CF) and heart rate (HR) were decreased in hearts subjected to I/R Treatment of hearts with the hybrid (1‐10 µmol/L) resulted in a concentration‐dependent recovery of mechanical function, improved CF and HR. This improvement was associated with decreased tissue injury and reduction of synthesis and activity of MMP‐2. Decreased activity of intracellular MMP‐2 led to reduced degradation of MLC and improved myocyte contractility in a concentration‐dependent manner. An infusion of a MMP‐2‐inhibitor‐NO‐donor hybrid into I/R hearts decreased the expression of iNOS and reduced the levels of ADMA. Thus, 5‐phenyloxyphenyl‐5‐aminoalkyl nitrate barbiturate protects heart from I/R injury.