bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internal Fixation Versus Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Nondisplaced Femoral Neck Fractures in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Richards John T. , Overmann Archie L. , O'Hara Nathan N. , D'Alleyrand Jean-Claude , Slobogean Gerard P.
Published: November 2019

Objective:

To compare the outcomes of elderly patients with nondisplaced and minimally displaced femoral neck fractures treated with internal fixation versus arthroplasty.

Data Sources:

A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and central databases was conducted through June 25, 2019.

Study Selection:

Studies were included if the sample population was (1) 60 years of age or older, (2) had nondisplaced or minimally displaced (Garden I or II) femoral neck fractures, and (3) if the study compared internal fixation versus arthroplasty. Only full-text English manuscripts were included. The primary outcome was reoperation. Secondary outcomes included mortality, patient-reported outcomes, length of hospital stay, infection, and blood transfusions.

Data Extraction:

Two authors independently extracted data from the included studies. Each study was independently evaluated for quality using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment.

Data Synthesis:

Of the 1597 identified articles, 4 manuscripts met the eligibility criteria with a total of 579 patients (236 treated with hemiarthroplasty and 343 treated with internal fixation). Patients treated with arthroplasty had a significantly lower risk of reoperation when compared with those treated with internal fixation [relative risk: 0.30 (95% CI, 0.16–0.55, P < 0.01)]. There was no significant difference detected in 1-year mortality risk between the 2 treatment groups.

Conclusions:

In elderly patients with nondisplaced and minimally displaced femoral neck fractures, treatment with hemiarthroplasty may reduce the relative risk of reoperation by 70% when compared with internal fixation.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fluoroscopic Marker–Based Guidance System Improves Gamma Lag Screw Placement During Nailing of Intertrochanteric Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Weidert Simon , Sommer Fabian , Suero Eduardo M. , Becker Christopher A. , Pieske Oliver , Greiner Axel , Kammerlander Christian , Böcker Wolfgang , Grote Stefan
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

To determine whether a fluoroscopy-based navigation system would improve tip-apex distance (TAD) compared with the conventional technique.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Level 1 trauma center.

Patients:

A total of 161 patients were screened for inclusion in the study. After meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, 31 patients were randomized (n = 18 navigated vs. n = 13 control group), with the patient blinded to the result.

Intervention:

Fluoroscopy-based navigated guidance of lag screw length and position.

Main Outcome Measures:

Average TAD and the proportion of TAD over 25 mm.

Results:

TAD was lower in the navigated group compared with the control group (mean = 17.5 vs. 24.2 mm; P = 0.0018). No navigated cases exceeded the 25 mm TAD threshold, compared with 39% of conventional cases (P = 0.0076). Navigation resulted in fewer drilling attempts compared with the conventional technique (median = 1 vs. 4 attempts; P < 0.0001). We detected no significant differences in operation time or total number of fluoroscopic images (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Fluoroscopy-based computer navigated Gamma nailing for intertrochanteric fractures improved TAD and reduced the number of drilling attempts without increasing operation time compared with the conventional fluoroscopy-guided technique in a teaching hospital setting.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Prevalence of Osteoporosis in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Diseases
Authors: Zou Da , Jiang Shuai , Zhou Siyu , Sun Zhuoran , Zhong Woquan , Du Guohong , Li Weishi
Published: November 2019

Study Design.

Retrospective analysis.

Objective.

To investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) in patients undergoing lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD).

Summary of Background Data.

OP is related to many complications after lumbar fusion for patients with LDD. There are sparse data on the prevalence of OP among this specific population. Moreover, LDD can falsely elevate the bone mineral density measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), leading to unreliable diagnostic results. Computed tomography (CT) Hounsfield unit (HU) values can help identify osteoporotic patients undetected by DXA.

Methods.

A total of 479 patients aged≥50 years undergoing lumbar fusion for LDD were reviewed. The diagnosis of OP using DXA was based on World Health Organization criterion. The criterion for OP diagnosed on CT scan was the L1-HU value≤110.

Results.

The prevalence of OP diagnosed on lumbar DXA, hip DXA, and both was 32.4%, 19.6%, 39.7%, respectively. The females had higher prevalence of OP diagnosed on DXA (spine and hip) than males (48.9% vs. 27.1%, P < 0.001). In females but not males, the prevalence of OP significantly increased with age (females, 50–59: 28.0%, 60–69: 58.1%, ≥70: 78.8%, P < 0.001). Patients having primary diagnosis of degenerative lumbar scoliosis had the higher prevalence of OP than the rest patients (56.5% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.002). Among the 324 patients diagnosed with non-OP by lumbar DXA, the prevalence of OP diagnosed on CT scan was 25.9%, it increased with age and was also highest in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Conclusion.

OP was quite common among patients aged≥50 years undergoing lumbar fusion for LDD, especially for females aged≥60 years or patients having degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Older patients or patients having degenerative lumbar scoliosis are more likely to have unreliable lumbar T-scores. Measurements of HU values can help identify more osteoporotic patients in this population.

Level of Evidence: 3
Survival outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy with modified weekly nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin for completely resected nonsmall cell lung cancer: FAST-nab
Authors: Marushima Hideki , Kimura Hiroyuki , Miyazawa Tomoyuki , Sakai Hiroki , Furuya Naoki , Koji Kojima , Nakamura Haruhiko , Saji Hisashi
Published: November 2019

The relatively low toxicity profile of nab-paclitaxel plus carboplatin and its feasibility as an adjuvant administration was reported previously. This study aimed to evaluate the survival efficacy for completely resected patients with stage IB, II, and IIIA nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty-nine eligible patients with NSCLC who received surgical resection for pathological stage IB, II, or IIIA, followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with modified 3-week cycles of either nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) (100 mg/m2) on days 1 and 8 followed by carboplatin area (area under the curve = 6) on day 1 were prospectively enrolled and assessed for survival outcomes against patients with the same stages who received other postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy regimens during the same period. There were no significant differences in clinicopathological features, including age, gender, smoking status, performance status, surgical procedures, tumor histology, and pathological stage between the two groups. The cumulative overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years of the experimental and control groups in pathological stage IB–IIIA were 85.4% and 63.9%, respectively (P = 0.598), while recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates in these groups at 5 years were 65.2% and 34.8%, respectively (P = 0.344). Moreover, the cumulative OS rates of the experimental and control groups in pathological stage II–IIIA were 83.6% and 63.6%, respectively (P = 0.970), while RFS rates in these groups at 5 years were 61.1% and 37.3%, respectively (P = 0.460). This new regimen was considered an attractive alternative postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy option with relatively low toxicity and moderate survival outcomes for completely resected NSCLC.
Slow Nursing and Its Holistic Place in Dementia Care
Authors: Lillekroken Daniela
Published: November 2019

Despite a growing body of research literature within dementia care, research concerning how to provide holistic quality care and its benefit for people with dementia is still scarce. In this study, a secondary analysis of original qualitative data from a former study was employed. Findings demonstrated that slow nursing embodies a holistic caring approach, which may improve the care quality provided to people with dementia. The current findings also provide key knowledge that may contribute to nursing research and education.
Increasing Numbers of Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome Cases Caused by ST121 in Houston, Texas
Authors: Hultén Kristina G. , Kok Melissa , King Kathryn E. , Lamberth Linda B. , Kaplan Sheldon L.
Published: November 2019

Background:

The molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus strains causing staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) in the United States has not been described. We analyzed patient and S. aureus isolate characteristics associated with SSSS in children at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Methods:

Patients with SSSS were identified by ICD9/10 codes and available S. aureus isolates were identified from an ongoing S. aureus surveillance study. Medical records were reviewed for 58 patients with available S. aureus isolates. Isolate analyses included PCR for agr group, pvl (lukSF-PV), tst, eta and etb, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multi-locus sequence typing and antimicrobial susceptibilities.

Results:

Cases of SSSS increased from 2.3/10,000 admissions in 2008 to 52.6/10,000 admissions in 2017 (P < 0.0001). The 58 study cases (57 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, 1 MRSA) with isolates were from 2013 to 2017. The majority (88%) of isolates was of clonal cluster (CC) 121, agr group IV, pvl
−, tst
− and carried eta and/or etb and 26% were clindamycin resistant. Twelve ST121 isolates had high level resistance to mupirocin. Patients were treated with standard supportive care plus systemic antibiotics [clindamycin alone or in combination with another antibiotic (n = 44)]. One patient had a recurrent SSSS and one patient was transferred to a burn unit on day 3.

Conclusions:

Cases of SSSS are increasing at our hospital. Most S. aureus strains isolated were of one CC, CC121 and carried eta and etb. Supportive care plus clindamycin was effective treatment. We speculate that CC121 was recently introduced to our region and is responsible for the increasing numbers of SSSS cases observed at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Daily Dengue Severity Score to Assess Severe Manifestations
Authors: Tangnararatchakit Kanchana , Chuansumrit Ampaiwan , Watcharakuldilok Piangor , Apiwattanakul Nopporn , Lertbunrian Rojjanee , Keatkla Jiraporn , Yoksan Sutee
Published: November 2019

Background:

The study aimed to develop dengue severity score to assess severe manifestations among hospitalized patients with dengue infection.

Method:

Children and adolescents with serologically confirmed dengue infection admitted at Ramathibodi Hospital from 2004 to 2018 and treated by an expert multidisciplinary team were recruited. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and 14 items, related to clinical parameters and managements during hospitalization, were obtained daily as dengue severity score.

Results:

A total of 191 patients with a mean age of 10.7 years from 2004 to 2013 were recruited. They were classified as dengue fever (35), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) I (53), II (50), III (37) and IV (16). The analysis of 593 daily records revealed the range of daily severity score among patients with DHF grades III (10–20) and IV (31–47) were significantly higher than those of other groups (dengue fever, 5–13; DHF I, 2–10; DHF II, 6–11) with P-values of 0.0001. Using a validity test, a total daily score of ≥12 was an assessment tool for dengue shock syndrome with sensitivity, 86% and specificity, 84%. An additional 51 hospitalized patients with DHF grades II, III and IV with similar ages from 2014 to 2018 were recruited. The number of patients with severe manifestations, having daily score of ≥12, was significantly higher than those without severe manifestations starting from Day −3 to Day +1 of illness.

Conclusions:

Daily dengue severity score of ≥12 was an accurate assessment tool for severe manifestations.
Selective modulation of tonic aversive qualities of neuropathic pain by morphine in the central nucleus of the amygdala requires endogenous opioid signaling in the anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Navratilova Edita , Nation Kelsey , Remeniuk Bethany , Neugebauer Volker , Bannister Kirsty , Dickenson Anthony H. , Porreca Frank
Published: November 2019

The amygdala is a key subcortical region believed to contribute to emotional components of pain. As opioid receptors are found in both the central (CeA) and basolateral (BLA) nuclei of the amygdala, we investigated the effects of morphine microinjection on evoked pain responses, pain-motivated behaviors, dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and descending modulation in rats with left-side spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Morphine administered into the right or left CeA had no effect on nerve injury–induced tactile allodynia or mechanical hyperalgesia. Right, but not left, CeA morphine produced conditioned place preference (CPP) and increased extracellular dopamine in the NAc selectively in SNL rats, suggesting relief of aversive qualities of ongoing pain. In SNL rats, CPP and NAc dopamine release following right CeA morphine was abolished by blocking mu opioid receptor signaling in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). Right CeA morphine also significantly restored SNL-induced loss of the diffuse noxious inhibitory controls, a spino-bulbo-spinal pain modulatory mechanism, termed conditioned pain modulation in humans. Microinjection of morphine into the BLA had no effects on evoked behaviors and did not produce CPP in nerve-injured rats. These findings demonstrate that the amygdalar action of morphine is specific to the right CeA contralateral to the side of injury and results in enhancement of net descending inhibition. In addition, engagement of mu opioid receptors in the right CeA modulates affective qualities of ongoing pain through endogenous opioid neurotransmission within the rACC, revealing opioid-dependent functional connections from the CeA to the rACC.
Use of Myoelectric Limb Orthoses for Elbow Flexion in Patients with Brachial Plexus Injury: A Case Series
Authors: Anderson Gregory R. , Beahrs Taylor R. , Kircher Michelle F. , Shin Alexander Y.
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Myoelectric limb orthoses (MLOs) are powered devices that assist with specific motions in patients with neuromuscular deficits or inadequate motor power. MLOs enable patients to self-initiate and control movements using their own muscle signals. While these devices have been used for patients that have sustained neurologic deficits from cerebrovascular accidents, their use in traumatic adult brachial plexus injuries is novel.

Materials and Methods

This case series presents three patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries treated with MLOs to improve elbow flexion after inadequate recovery. The MLO was used as both a rehabilitation device and a functional device.

Results/Conclusions

MLOs demonstrate potential for improving patient clinical outcomes and satisfaction after brachial plexus injuries with incomplete recovery or inadequate function after surgical intervention.
Effect of semaglutide on coronary atherosclerosis progression in patients with type II diabetes: rationale and design of the semaglutide treatment on coronary progression trial
Authors: Hamal Sajad , Cherukuri Lavanya , Shaikh Kashif , Kinninger April , Doshi Jay , Birudaraju Divya , Budoff Matthew J.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are a major burden in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus. In a landmark study, semaglutide (an injectable glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist) has been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular events, however, the mechanism of benefit is still unknown. The primary hypothesis of our current study is to assess the effect of semaglutide to reduce progression of noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque volume as measured by serial coronary CTA as compared to placebo in persons with diabetes over 1 year.

Methods:

One hundred forty patients will be enrolled after signing informed consent and followed up for 12 months and with a phone call 30 days after medical discontinuation. All the participants will undergo coronary artery calcium scoring and coronary computed tomography angiography at our center at baseline and 12 months. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to semaglutide 2 mg/1.5 ml (1.34 mg/ml) prefilled pen for subcutaneous (SC) injection or placebo 1.5 ml, pen-injector for SC injection in a 1:1 fashion as add-on to their standard of care.

Results:

As of July 2019, the study was approximately 30% enrolled with an estimated enrollment completion by first quarter of 2020 and end of study by first quarter 2021. Thirty patients were enrolled as of 23 July 2019. Preliminary data of demographics and clinical characteristics were summarized.

Conclusion:

Our current study will provide important imaging-derived data that may add relevance to the clinically derived outcomes from liraglutide effect and action in diabetes: evaluation of cardiovascular outcome results and semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus 6 trials.
Can training induce inflammatory control in asthma, or is it symptom control only?
Authors: Pitzner-Fabricius Anders , Toennesen Louise Lindhardt , Backer Vibeke
Published: November 2019

Purpose of review

Exercise has shown to reduce asthma symptoms; however, the underlying mechanism for this improvement remains unclear. Improvement in inflammatory control could be the reason for this reduction in symptoms. This review discusses recent studies evaluating the effect of exercise on inflammatory control in patients with asthma.

Recent findings

New studies support that exercise is well tolerated and feasible regardless of intensity. Exercise seems to improve systemic low-grade inflammation, but consistency lacks when it comes to reduction in airway inflammation.

Physical exercise as an adjuvant therapy leads to improvement in asthma symptoms and asthma-related quality of life and should be recommended for all patients with asthma.
Time to rethink endpoints for new clinical trials of antiretrovirals? Long-term re-suppression of HIV RNA with integrase inhibitors
Authors: Pepperrell Toby , Venter Willem Daniel Francois , Moorhouse Michelle , McCann Kaitlyn , Bosch Brownwyn , Tibbatts Melissa , Woods Joana , Sokhela Simiso , Serenata Celicia , Hill Andrew
Published: November 2019

In the ADVANCE study of first-line treatment, there were 48 participants with HIV RNA at least 50 copies/ml in the week 48 window who had subsequent follow-up data available with no change in randomized treatment. More participants achieved virological re-suppression in the TAF/FTC+DTG and TDF/FTC+DTG arms (26/34, 76%) than on TDF/FTC/EFV (6/14 = 43%; P = 0.0421). It is unclear whether participants with HIV RNA at least 50 copies/ml at week 48 should be termed ‘virological failures’ on integrase inhibitor-based treatment.
Spirituality in heart failure: a review of the literature from 2014 to 2019 to identify spiritual care needs and spiritual interventions
Authors: Ross Linda , Miles Jackie
Published: November 2019

Purpose of review

The burden of heart failure is significant and its management is complex. Current evidence confirms a high level of spiritual distress and a strong desire for spiritual support, which is endorsed by healthcare policy, yet spiritual support is rarely provided for this patient group. There is a need to identify how spiritual support might be meaningfully included within holistic heart failure multidisciplinary care and how its effectiveness might be demonstrated.

Recent findings

A literature review was undertaken to identify recent evidence (2014–2019) of the spiritual care needs of heart failure patients/carers and the nature and effectiveness of spiritual interventions in heart failure care.

Taken as a whole, studies exploring heart failure patients’/carers’ needs reflected the broad spectrum of spirituality as defined by international consensus, however, some studies focused on only some aspects of spirituality and on advanced disease. All studies were limited. No single spiritual intervention was identified as effective in enhancing quality of life in patients with heart failure. Life review and relaxation/meditation appeared ineffective. Interventions, which included elements of ‘talking’ about spiritual matters, ‘spiritual coping’ and those involving a holistic person-centred team approach to care of which spiritual care was an aspect, are worth investigating further in well designed randomized controlled trials.
Field-realistic antidepressant exposure disrupts group foraging dynamics in mosquitofish
Authors: Martin Jake M. , Saaristo Minna , Tan Hung , Bertram Michael G. , Nagarajan-Radha Venkatesh , Dowling Damian K. , Wong Bob B. M.
Published: November 2019

Psychoactive pollutants, such as antidepressants, are increasingly detected in the environment. Mounting evidence suggests that such pollutants can disrupt the behaviour of non-target species. Despite this, few studies have considered how the response of exposed organisms might be mediated by social context. To redress this, we investigated the impacts of two environmentally realistic concentrations of a pervasive antidepressant pollutant, fluoxetine, on foraging behaviour in fish (
Gambusia holbrooki
), tested individually or in a group. Fluoxetine did not alter behaviour of solitary fish. However, in a group setting, fluoxetine exposure disrupted the frequency of aggressive interactions and food consumption, with observed effects being contingent on both the mean weight of group members and the level of within-group variation in weight. Our results suggest that behavioural tests in social isolation may not accurately predict the environmental risk of chemical pollutants for group-living species and highlight the potential for social context to mediate the effects of psychoactive pollutants in exposed wildlife.
Osmotic ‘cost’ of reproduction in breeding male toads
Authors: Brischoux François , Cheron Marion
Published: November 2019

Shifts between habitats during reproduction can induce costs that are independent of the reproductive effort and that often apply to both sexes. Such shifts can also illustrate physiological costs complementary to those involving energetic currencies. In this study, we investigated osmotic consequences of reproduction in a context where reproduction induces a shift from terrestrial habitats to freshwater environments. During reproduction, toads migrate to breeding ponds where males remain for several weeks, while females leave shortly after egg-laying. We assessed plasma osmolality of male spined toads during the whole reproductive period (approx. 30 days) in conjunction with markers of individual condition. We found that osmolality decreases during the protracted period of immersion in freshwater during reproduction, presumably through water influx as indicated by body mass changes. Hormonal markers of metabolism and sexual activity were positively correlated with osmolality. Recent research has highlighted hydric ‘costs’ of reproduction when access to water is limited. Our study adds to this growing field of investigation, yet with an opposite perspective, where water availability linked to reproduction provokes hyperhydration rather than dehydration.
Why intergroup variation matters for understanding behaviour
Authors: Kaufhold Stephan P. , van Leeuwen Edwin J. C.
Published: November 2019

Intergroup variation (IGV) refers to variation between different groups of the same species. While its existence in the behavioural realm has been expected and evidenced, the potential effects of IGV are rarely considered in studies that aim to shed light on the evolutionary origins of human socio-cognition, especially in our closest living relatives—the great apes. Here, by taking chimpanzees as a point of reference, we argue that (i) IGV could plausibly explain inconsistent research findings across numerous topics of inquiry (experimental/behavioural studies on chimpanzees), (ii) understanding the evolutionary origins of behaviour requires an accurate assessment of species' modes of behaving across different socio-ecological contexts, which necessitates a reliable estimation of variation across intraspecific groups, and (iii) IGV in the behavioural realm is increasingly likely to be expected owing to the progressive identification of non-human animal cultures. With these points, and by extrapolating from chimpanzees to generic guidelines, we aim to encourage researchers to explicitly consider IGV as an explanatory variable in future studies attempting to understand the socio-cognitive and evolutionary determinants of behaviour in group-living animals.
Escaping the immune system by DNA repair and recombination in African trypanosomes
Authors: Sima Núria , McLaughlin Emilia Jane , Hutchinson Sebastian , Glover Lucy
Published: November 2019

African trypanosomes escape the mammalian immune response by antigenic variation—the periodic exchange of one surface coat protein, inTrypanosoma bruceithe variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), for an immunologically distinct one.VSGtranscription is monoallelic, with only oneVSGbeing expressed at a time from a specialized locus, known as an expression site.VSGswitching is a predominantly recombination-driven process that allowsVSGsequences to be recombined into the active expression site either replacing the currently activeVSGor generating a ‘new’VSGby segmental gene conversion. In this review, we describe what is known about the factors that influence this process, focusing specifically on DNA repair and recombination.
The inverted U-shaped effect of urban hotspots spatial compactness on urban economic growth
Authors: Xu Weipan , Chen Haohui , Frias-Martinez Enrique , Cebrian Manuel , Li Xun
Published: November 2019

The compact city, as a sustainable concept, is intended to augment the efficiency of urban function. However, previous studies have concentrated more on morphology than on structure. The present study focuses on urban structural elements, i.e. urban hotspots consisting of high-density and high-intensity socioeconomic zones, and explores the economic performance associated with their spatial structure. We use night-time luminosity data and the
Loubar
method to identify and extract the hotspot and ultimately draw two conclusions. First, with population increasing, the hotspot number scales sublinearly with an exponent of approximately 0.50–0.55, regardless of the location in China, the EU or the USA, while the intersect values are totally different, which is mainly due to different economic developmental level. Secondly, we demonstrate that the compactness of hotspots imposes an inverted U-shaped influence on economic growth, which implies that an optimal compactness coefficient does exist. These findings are helpful for urban planning.
Parameter identification using moment of velocity
Authors: Dorraki M. , Islam M. S. , Allison A. , Abbott D.
Published: November 2019

Many physical systems can be adequately modelled using a second-order approximation. Thus, the problem of system identification often reduces to the problem of estimating the position of a single pair of complex–conjugate poles. This paper presents a convenient but approximate technique for the estimation of the position of a single pair of complex–conjugate poles, using the moment of velocity (MoV). The MoV is a Hilbert transform based signal processing tool that addresses the shortcomings of instantaneous frequency. We demonstrate that the MoV can be employed for parameter identification of a dynamical system. We estimate the damping coefficient and oscillation frequency via MoV of the impulse response.
Does misjudgement in a stepping down paradigm predict falls in an older population?
Authors: Kluft N. , Bruijn S. M. , Weijer R. H. A. , van Dieën J. H. , Pijnappels M.
Published: November 2019

Although measures of actual and perceived physical ability appear to predict falls in older adults, a disparity between these two, also known as misjudgement, may even better explain why some older adults fall, while their peers with similar abilities do not. Therefore, we investigated whether adding a misjudgement term improved prediction of future falls. Besides conventional measures of actual (physical measures) and perceived abilities (questionnaires), we used a stepping down paradigm to quantify behavioural misjudgement. In a sample of 55 older adults (mean age 74.5 (s.d. = 6.6) years, 33 females and 20 fallers over a 10-month follow-up period), we tested the added value of a misjudgement term and of a stepping-down task by comparing experimental Bayesian logistic-regression models to a default null model, which was composed of the conventional measures: Falls Efficacy Scale international and QuickScreen. Our results showed that the default null model fitted the data most accurately; however, the accuracy of all models was low (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) ≤ 0.65). This indicates that neither a misjudgement term based on conventional measures, nor on behavioural measures improved the prediction of future falls in older adults (Bayes Factor
10
≤ 0.5).
Rheological and thermal degradation properties of hyperbranched polyisoprene prepared by anionic polymerization
Authors: Habibu Shehu , Sarih Norazilawati Muhamad , Sairi Nor Asrina , Zulkifli Muzafar
Published: November 2019

Hyperbranched polyisoprene was prepared by anionic copolymerization under high vacuum condition. Size exclusion chromatography was used to characterize the molecular weight and branching nature of these polymers. The characterization by differential scanning calorimetry and melt rheology indicated lowerTgand complex viscosity in the branched polymers as compared with the linear polymer. Degradation kinetics of these polymers was explored using thermogravimetric analysis via non-isothermal techniques. The polymers were heated under nitrogen from ambient temperature to 600°C using heating rates from 2 to 15°C min−1. Three kinetics methods namely Friedman, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose were used to evaluate the dependence of activation energy (Ea) on conversion (α). The hyperbranched polyisoprene decomposed via multistep mechanism as manifested by the nonlinear relationship betweenαandEawhile the linear polymer exhibited a decline inEaat higher conversions. The averageEavalues range from 258 to 330 kJ mol−1for the linear, and from 260 to 320 kJ mol−1for the branched polymers. The thermal degradation of the polymers studied involved one-dimensional diffusion mechanism as determined by Coats–Redfern method. This study may help in understanding the effect of branching on the rheological and decomposition kinetics of polyisoprene.
Induction, identification and genetics analysis of tetraploid
Actinidia chinensis
Authors: Li Shengxing , Liu Xiaozhen , Liu Huiming , Zhang Xianang , Ye Qinxia , Zhang Hanyao
Published: November 2019

Actinidia chinensis
is a commercially important fruit, and tetraploid breeding of
A. chinensis
is of great significance for economic benefit. In order to obtain elite tetraploid cultivars, tetraploid plants were induced by colchicine treatment with leaves of diploid
A. chinensis
‘SWFU03’. The results showed that the best treatment was dipping leaves 30 h in 60 mg l
−1
colchicine solutions, with induction rate reaching 26%. Four methods, including external morphology comparison, stomatal guard cell observation, chromosome number observation and flow cytometry analysis were used to identify the tetraploid of
A. chinensis
. Using the induction system and flow cytometry analysis methods, 187 tetraploid plants were identified. Three randomly selected tetraploid plants and their starting diploid plants were further subjected to transcriptome analysis, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) analysis. The transcriptome analysis results showed that there were a total of 2230 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the diploid and tetraploid plants, of which 660 were downregulated and 1570 upregulated. The DEGs were mainly the genes involved in growth and development, stress resistance and antibacterial ability in plants. RT-qPCR results showed that the gene expression levels of the growth and stress resistance of tetraploid plants were higher than those of diploid ones at the transcriptome level. MSAP analysis of DNA methylation results showed that tetraploid plants had lower methylation ratio than diploid ones. The present results were valuable to further explore the epigenetics of diploid and tetraploid kiwifruit plants.
Climate induced stress and mortality in vervet monkeys
Authors: Young Christopher , Bonnell Tyler R. , Brown Leslie R. , Dostie Marcus J. , Ganswindt Andre , Kienzle Stefan , McFarland Richard , Henzi S. Peter , Barrett Louise
Published: November 2019

As the effects of global climate change become more apparent, animal species will become increasingly affected by extreme climate and its effect on the environment. There is a pressing need to understand animal physiological and behavioural responses to climatic stressors. We used the reactive scope model as a framework to investigate the influence of drought conditions on vervet monkey (
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
) behaviour, physiological stress and survival across 2.5 years in South Africa. Data were collected on climatic, environmental and behavioural variables and physiological stress via faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs). There was a meaningful interaction between water availability and resource abundance: when food availability was high but standing water was unavailable, fGCM concentrations were higher compared to when food was abundant and water was available. Vervet monkeys adapted their behaviour during a drought period by spending a greater proportion of time resting at the expense of feeding, moving and social behaviour. As food availability decreased, vervet mortality increased. Peak mortality occurred when food availability was at its lowest and there was no standing water. A survival analysis revealed that higher fGCM concentrations were associated with an increased probability of mortality. Our results suggest that with continued climate change, the increasing prevalence of drought will negatively affect vervet abundance and distribution in our population. Our study contributes to knowledge of the limits and scope of behavioural and physiological plasticity among vervet monkeys in the face of rapid environmental change.
Pd/MCM-41 catalyst for acetylene hydrogenation to ethylene
Authors: Kang Lihua , Cheng Bozhen , Zhu Mingyuan
Published: November 2019

This study aims to produce ethylene using the calcium carbide route, acetylene from calcium carbide and then selective hydrogenation of the high-concentration acetylene to ethylene. A series of catalysts with different supports, such as Al
2
O
3
, SiO
2
and MCM-41, were prepared using the ethylene glycol reduction method and their catalytic properties for high-concentration acetylene hydrogenation of calcium carbide to ethylene were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetry, among others. The results show that the small particle size and uniform dispersion of palladium (Pd) particles in the Pd/MCM-41 catalyst produced the highest ethylene yield of 62.09%. Then, the conditions for the basic reaction, such as reaction temperature and space velocity, were optimized using MCM-41 as a support. The yield of ethylene after condition optimization was as high as 82.87%, while the loading of Pd was 0.1%.
The utilization of red mud waste as industrial honeycomb catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NO
Authors: Huangfu Lin , Abubakar Abdullahi , Li Changming , Li Yunjia , Wang Chao , Yu Jian , Gao Shiqiu
Published: November 2019

As a new way for the high-value utilization of red mud (RM) waste, we proposed an improved approach to prepare the RM-based sludge/powder via the sulfuric acid hydrothermal dissolution and NH
3
aqueous precipitation route and then the RM-based industrial-sized honeycomb (150 × 150 × 600 mm) was successfully produced by the extrusion moulding method in pilot scale. The synthesized RM-based powdery/honeycomb catalyst exhibited more than 80% deNO

x

activity and good durability of H
2
O and SO
2
above 350°C. But the decline of NO conversion was also observed above 350°C, which was confirmed to result from the increased oxygenation of NH
3
at high temperature. To improve the NO conversion at high temperature, NH
3
was shunted and injected into the catalyst bed at two different places (entrance and centre) to facilitate its uniform distribution, which relieved the oxidation of NH
3
and increased deNO

x

efficiency with 98% NO conversion at 400°C. This work explored the industrial application feasibility for the RM-based honeycomb catalyst as well as the possible solution to decrease the oxygenation of NH
3
at high temperature, which presented a valuable reference for the further pilot tests of RM catalyst in industry.
New records of theropods from the latest Cretaceous of New Jersey and the Maastrichtian Appalachian fauna
Authors: Brownstein Chase Doran
Published: November 2019

The faunal changes that occurred in the few million years before the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction are of much interest to vertebrate palaeontologists. Western North America preserves arguably the best fossil record from this time, whereas terrestrial vertebrate fossils from the eastern portion of the continent are usually limited to isolated, eroded postcranial remains. Examination of fragmentary specimens from the American east, which was isolated for the majority of the Cretaceous as the landmass Appalachia, is nonetheless important for better understanding dinosaur diversity at the end of the Mesozoic. Here, I report on two theropod teeth from the Mount Laurel Formation, a lower-middle Maastrichtian unit from northeastern North America. One of these preserves in detail the structure of the outer enamel and resembles the dentition of the tyrannosauroid
Dryptosaurus aquilunguis
among latest Cretaceous forms in being heavily mediolaterally compressed and showing many moderately developed enamel crenulations. Along with previously reported tyrannosauroid material from the Mt Laurel and overlying Cretaceous units, this fossil supports the presence of non-tyrannosaurid tyrannosauroids in the Campanian–Maastrichtian of eastern North America and provides evidence for the hypothesis that the area was still home to relictual vertebrates through the end of the Mesozoic. The other tooth is assignable to a dromaeosaurid and represents both the youngest occurrence of a non-avian maniraptoran in eastern North America and the first from the Maastrichtian reported east of the Mississippi. This tooth, which belonged to a 3–4 m dromaeosaurid based on size comparisons with the teeth of taxa for which skeletons are known, increases the diversity of the Maastrichtian dinosaur fauna of Appalachia. Along with previously reported dromaeosaurid teeth, the Mt Laurel specimen supports the presence of mid-sized to large dromaeosaurids in eastern North America throughout the Cretaceous.
A homotopy training algorithm for fully connected neural networks
Authors: Chen Qipin , Hao Wenrui
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we present a homotopy training algorithm (HTA) to solve optimization problems arising from fully connected neural networks with complicated structures. The HTA dynamically builds the neural network starting from a simplified version and ending with the fully connected network via adding layers and nodes adaptively. Therefore, the corresponding optimization problem is easy to solve at the beginning and connects to the original model via a continuous path guided by the HTA, which provides a high probability of obtaining a global minimum. By gradually increasing the complexity of the model along the continuous path, the HTA provides a rather good solution to the original loss function. This is confirmed by various numerical results including VGG models on CIFAR-10. For example, on the VGG13 model with batch normalization, HTA reduces the error rate by 11.86% on the test dataset compared with the traditional method. Moreover, the HTA also allows us to find the optimal structure for a fully connected neural network by building the neutral network adaptively.
Intraspecific male combat behaviour predicts morphology of cervical vertebrae in ruminant mammals
Authors: Vander Linden Abby , Dumont Elizabeth R.
Published: November 2019

Cranial weapons of all shapes and sizes are common throughout the animal kingdom and are frequently accompanied by the evolution of additional traits that enhance the use of those weapons. Bovids (cattle, sheep, goats, antelope) and cervids (deer) within the mammal clade Ruminantia are particularly well known for their distinct and varied cranial appendages in the form of horns and antlers, which are used as weapons in intraspecific combat between males for access to mates. Combat in these species takes many forms, including head-on collisions (ramming); stabbing an opponent's head or body with horn tips (stabbing); rearing and clashing downwards with horns (fencing); or interlocking antlers or horns while vigorously pushing and twisting (wrestling). Some aspects of weapon and skull morphology have been linked to combat behaviours in bovid and cervid species, but the contribution of postcranial structures that support these weapons, such as the neck, has not been explored. To investigate the role of the neck in intraspecific combat, we quantified biomechanically relevant linear variables of the cervical vertebrae (C1–C7) from males and females of 55 ruminant species. We then used phylogenetic generalized least-squares regression to assess differences among species that display primarily ramming, stabbing, fencing and wrestling combat styles. In males, we found that wrestlers have longer vertebral centra and longer neural spines than rammers, stabbers or fencers, while rammers have shorter and wider centra and taller neural spine lever arms. These results suggest a supportive role for the cervical vertebrae in resisting forces generated by male–male combat in ruminant mammals and indicate that evolutionary forces influencing cranial weapons also play a role in shaping the supporting anatomical structures.
Relation between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T and A1298C Polymorphisms and Migraine Susceptibility
Authors: Rai Vandana , Kumar Pradeep
Published: November 2019

Migraine is a neurological disorder which impairs the patient’s quality of life. Several association studies investigating the association between MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and susceptibility to migraine were published. But the results were conflicting, so authors performed a meta-analysis of published case control studies. Four databases were searched for suitable studies up to December, 2018. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated adopting additive, homozygote, co-dominant, dominant, and recessive genetic models.

Results of MTHFR C677T polymorphism studies meta-analysis showed significant association with migraine risk using allele contrast, homozygote, dominant and recessive genetic models (T vs. C: OR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.00-1.26, p= 0.05; TT vs. CC: OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.0-1.5, p= 0.04; CT vs. CC: OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 0.97-1.07, p= 0.25; TT+CT vs. CC: OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.0-1.29, p= 0.04; TT vs. CT +CC: OR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.28-3.42, p= 0.002). However, results of MTHFR A1298 polymorphism studies meta-analysis did not show any association with migraine. Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity and migraine types i. e migraine with aura (MA) and without aura (MO) were also performed. Results of present meta-analysis indicate overall association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism with migraine in total 24 studies, in Asian population and in MA cases but did not show any association with Caucasian population and MO cases.
Deep functional synthesis: a machine learning approach to gene functional enrichment
Authors: Wang Sheng , Ma Jianzhu , Fong Samson , Rensi Stefano , Han Jiawei , Peng Jian , Pratt Dexter , Altman Russ B. , Ideker Trey
Published: November 2019

Gene functional enrichment is a mainstay of genomics, but it relies on manually curated databases of gene functions that are incomplete and unaware of the biological context. Here we present an alternative machine learning approach, Deep Functional Synthesis (DeepSyn), which moves beyond gene function databases to dynamically infer the functions of a gene set from its associated network of literature and data, conditioned on the disease and drug context of the current experiment. Using a knowledge graph with 3,048,803 associations between genes, diseases, drugs, and functions, DeepSyn obtained accurate performance (range 0.74 AUC to 0.96 AUC) on a variety of biological applications including drug target identification, gene set functional enrichment, and disease gene prediction.

Availability

The DeepSyn codebase is available on GitHub at http://github.com/wangshenguiuc/DeepSyn/ under an open source distribution license.
Reanalysis of Alzheimer’s Brain Sequencing Data Reveals Absence of Purported HHV6A and HHV7
Authors: Chorlton Samuel D.
Published: November 2019

Readhead et al. recently reported in Neuron the detection and association of Human Herpesviruses 6A (HHV6A) and 7 (HHV7) with Alzheimer’s disease by shotgun sequencing. I was skeptical of the specificity of their modified Viromescan bioinformatics method and subsequent analysis for numerous reasons. In their supplementary data, they report the detection of Variola virus, the etiological agent of the eradicated disease smallpox, in 97.5% of their Mount Sinai Brain Bank dataset. I reanlyzed Readhead et al’s data using highly sensitive and specific alternative methods and find no HHV7 reads in their samples; HHV6A reads were found in only 2 out of their top 15 samples sorted by reported HHV6A abundance. Finally, I recreate Readhead et al’s modified Viromescan method and identify reasons for its low specificity.
Decoding the genomic basis of osteoarthritis
Authors: Steinberg Julia , Southam Lorraine , Butterfield Natalie C , Roumeliotis Theodoros I , Fontalis Andreas , Clark Matthew J , Jayasuriya Raveen L , Swift Diane , Shah Karan M , Curry Katherine F , Brooks Roger A , McCaskie Andrew W , Lelliott Christopher J. , Choudhary Jyoti S , Bassett JH Duncan , Williams Graham R , Wilkinson J Mark , Zeggini Eleftheria
Published: November 2019

Osteoarthritis causes pain and functional disability for a quarter of a billion people worldwide, with no disease-stratifying tools nor modifying therapy. Here, we use primary cartilage and synovium from osteoarthritis patients to construct a molecular quantitative trait locus map of gene expression and protein abundance. By integrating data across omics levels, we identify likely effector genes for osteoarthritis-associated genetic signals. We detect pronounced molecular differences between macroscopically intact and highly degenerated cartilage. We identify molecularly-defined patient subgroups that correlate with clinical characteristics, stratifying patients on the basis of their molecular profile. We construct and validate a 7-gene classifier that reproducibly distinguishes between these disease subtypes, and identify potentially actionable compounds for disease modification and drug repurposing.