bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Response of Marine Riser with Large Displacement Excited by Top-End Vessel Motion using Penalty Method
Authors: Klaycham Karun , Athisakul Chainarong , Chucheepsakul Somchai
Published: February 2020

A marine riser operated in a deep-water field could be substantially affected by large amounts of movement of the floating platform, which is more complicated and very challenging to analyze. This paper presents a mathematical model involving nonlinear dynamic response analysis of a marine riser caused by sways and heave motions at the top end, which are treated as the constraint conditions. The nonlinear equation of motion, arising from the nonlinearity of the ocean current and wave loadings, is derived and written in general matrix form using the finite element method. The excitation caused by platform movement is imposed on the riser system through the time-dependent constrained condition using the penalty method. The advantages of this method are that it is easily implemented on the nonlinear equation of motion and it requires no additional unknown variable, and thus consumes less computational time. By this method, the stiffness matrix and the force vector of the system are then modified, enforcing top-end vessel motion. The dynamic responses are evaluated by using numerical time integration based on Newmark’s method with direct iteration. The effects of the oscillation frequency of top-end vessel sway and heave motions on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the riser are investigated. The numerical results reveal that the riser responses to the top-end vessel excitation behave like a periodic motion, which is conformable to the characteristics of vessel movements. The increase in the oscillation frequency of the top-end vessel increases the maximum displacement amplitude for both the horizontal and vertical directions. The directional motion of the vessel also significantly influences the response amplitude of the riser.
Helicity rotation induced by Lorentz boosts
Authors: Blasone Massimo , Bittencourt Victor A. S. V. , Bernardini Alex E.
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we calculate the helicity rotation angle induced by Lorentz boosts. This is relevant for the study of Lorentz boost effects on quantum entanglement encoded in pairs of massive fermions, which are described in terms of positive energy solutions of the Dirac equation with definite helicity. A Lorentz boost describing the change to an inertial frame moving at uniform speed will in general rotate the particle’s helicity. We obtain the coefficients of the helicity superposition in the boosted frame and specialize our results for a perpendicular boost geometry. We verify that the helicity rotation angle can be obtained in terms of the Wigner rotation angle for spin [Formula: see text] states, bridging the framework considered in our previous works to the one of the Wigner rotations. Finally, we calculate the boost-induced spin-parity entanglement for a single particle.
Role of the filter functions in noise spectroscopy
Authors: Pozza Nicola Dalla , Gherardini Stefano , Müller Matthias M. , Caruso Filippo
Published: February 2020

The success of quantum noise sensing methods depends on the optimal interplay between properly designed control pulses and statistically informative measurement data on a specific quantum-probe observable. To enhance the information content of the data and reduce as much as possible the number of measurements on the probe, the filter orthogonalization method has been recently introduced. The latter is able to transform the control filter functions on an orthogonal basis allowing for the optimal reconstruction of the noise power spectral density. In this paper, we formalize this method within the standard formalism of minimum mean squared error estimation and we show the equivalence between the solutions of the two approaches. Then, we introduce a nonnegative least squares formulation that ensures the nonnegativeness of the estimated noise spectral density. Moreover, we also propose a novel protocol for the design in the frequency domain of the set of filter functions. The frequency-designed filter functions and the nonnegative least squares reconstruction are numerically tested on noise spectra with multiple components and as a function of the estimation parameters.
Seismic Reduction Effectiveness of Friction Pendulum Bearings in Underground Station Structures
Authors: Jia Peng , Chen Zhiyi
Published: February 2020

Setting friction pendulum bearings (FPB) at the top of central columns may be a good strategy to reduce the stations’ seismic responses. In this paper, the FPB is simulated in a detailed manner. The seismic reduction effectiveness of the FPB is studied with the three-dimensional dynamic time history analysis method. It is found that FPB can effectively reduce the maximum shearing force of the central columns and slightly reduce the maximum bending moment. It is stated that FPBs are also effective in the underground station structures.
How to Reach Technological Early Adopters? An Empirical Analysis of Early Adopters’ Internet Usage Behavior in Germany
Authors: Reith Riccardo , Fischer Maximilian , Lis Bettina
Published: February 2020

Early adopters (EAs) represent a crucial group of consumers in the diffusion of innovations. Therefore, reaching potential technological EAs for up-and-coming innovations is of vital importance. However, little is known as to how potential EAs for new technologies use the Internet. Our study examines the Internet usage of EAs in comparison to the general public and gives an overview of 15 different channels. Consequently, we classified EAs and analyzed a vast set of data containing 119[Formula: see text]829 subjects. The results demonstrate significant differences between EAs and the remaining population and offer marketers new insights into EAs’ Internet usage behavior.
Quaternionic second-order freeness and the fluctuations of large symplectically invariant random matrices
Authors: Redelmeier C. E. I.
Published: February 2020

We present a definition for second-order freeness in the quaternionic case. We demonstrate that this definition on a second-order probability space is asymptotically satisfied by independent symplectically invariant quaternionic matrices. This definition is different from the natural definition for complex and real second-order probability spaces, those motivated by the asymptotic behavior of unitarily invariant and orthogonally invariant random matrices respectively. Most notably, because the quaternionic trace does not have the cyclic property of a trace over a commutative field, the asymmetries which appear in the multi-matrix context result in an asymmetric contribution from the terms which appear symmetrically in the complex and real cases.
Personalized Models of Psychopathology
Authors: Wright Aidan G.C. , Woods William C.
Published: February 2020

The personalized approach to psychopathology conceptualizes mental disorder as a complex system of contextualized dynamic processes that is nontrivially specific to each individual, and it seeks to develop formal idiographic statistical models to represent these individual processes. Although the personalized approach draws on long-standing influences in clinical psychology, there has been an explosion of research in recent years following the development of intensive longitudinal data capture and statistical techniques that facilitate modeling of the dynamic processes of each individual's pathology. Advances are also making idiographic analyses scalable and generalizable. We review emerging research using the personalized approach in descriptive psychopathology, precision assessment, and treatment selection and tailoring, and we identify future challenges and areas in need of additional research. The personalized approach to psychopathology holds promise to resolve thorny diagnostic issues, generate novel insights, and improve the timing and efficacy of interventions.
Benchmark Experimental Gas-Phase Intermolecular Dissociation Energies by the SEP-R2PI Method
Authors: Knochenmuss Richard , Sinha Rajeev K. , Leutwyler Samuel
Published: February 2020

The gas-phase ground-state dissociation energy D0( S0) of an isolated and cold bimolecular complex is a fundamental measure of the intermolecular interaction strength between its constituents. Accurate D0 values are important for the understanding of intermolecular bonding, for benchmarking high-level theoretical calculations, and for the parameterization of dispersion-corrected density functionals or force-field models that are used in fields ranging from crystallography to biochemistry. We review experimental measurements of the gas-phase D0( S0) and D0( S1) values of 55 different M⋅S complexes, where M is a (hetero)aromatic molecule and S is a closed-shell solvent atom or molecule. The experiments employ the triply resonant SEP-R2PI laser method, which involves M-centered ( S0 → S1) electronic excitation, followed by S1 → S0 stimulated emission spanning a range of S0 state vibrational levels. At sufficiently high vibrational energy, vibrational predissociation of the M⋅S complex occurs. A total of 49 dissociation energies were bracketed to within ≤1.0 kJ/mol, providing a large experimental database of accurate noncovalent interactions.
Experimental Study of Friction Resistance between Steel and Concrete in Prefabricated Composite Beam with High‐Strength Frictional Bolt
Authors: Guo Qi , Chen Qing-wei , Xing Ying , Xu Ya-ning , Zhu Yi
Published: February 2020

Prefabrication of composites beam reduces the construction time and makes them easily to be assembled, deconstructed, and partially repaired. The use of high‐strength frictional bolt shear connectors can greatly enhance the sustainability of infrastructure. However, researches about the concrete‐steel friction behavior are very limited. To provide a contribution to this area, 21 tests were conducted to measure the friction coefficient and slip stiffness with different concrete strength, steel strength, and surface treatment of steel. An effective finite element model was developed to investigate the ultimate bearing capacity and load‐slip characteristics of bolt shear connection. The accuracy of the proposed finite element model is validated by the tests in this paper. The results demonstrate a positive correlation between concrete strength and friction coefficient and better performance of shot‐blasted steel. It is also proved that high‐strength frictional bolt has a 30% lower bearing capacity but better strength reserve and antiuplifting than the headed stud.
Impact of Magnetohydrodynamics on Stagnation Point Slip Flow due to Nonlinearly Propagating Sheet with Nonuniform Thermal Reservoir
Authors: Zeeshan Khan  , Rasheed Haroon Ur , Islam Saeed , Noor Sahib , Khan Waris , Abbas Tariq , Khan Ilyas , Kadry Seifedine , Nam Yunyoung , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: February 2020

In this analysis, we introduced heat convective aspects of stagnation point movement of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stream on a nonlinear oscillating plane with the impacts of velocity and heat slips with variable heat reservoir. By using some appropriate transformations, the governing differential equations are switched into an ordinary differential equation. The semianalytics technique called Homotpy Analysis Method (HAM) has been applied to evaluate the ordinary differential equations. For convergence achievement, a numerical method BVPh2-midpoint method is also applied and an outstanding agreement is found. The impacts of the governing constraints on flow, motion, and temperature distributions are investigated in detail. We observed that the temperature distribution increases with nonlinear heat reservoir parameter. Our results, in some limiting situations, matched well with previously published results, which approve that our obtained results are correct.
Phytochemical Study of Eight Medicinal Plants of the Lamiaceae Family Traditionally Used as Tea in the Sharri Mountains Region of the Balkans
Authors: Hajdari Avni , Mustafa Behxhet , Hyseni Lirie , Bajrami Ani , Mustafa Genista , Quave Cassandra L. , Nebija Dashnor
Published: February 2020

In the present study, eight plant species belonging to Lamiaceae family were identified as ingredients for herbal teas in the region of Sharri Mountains: Thymus serpyllum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Origanum vulgare, Mentha longifolia, Ocimum basilicum, Teucrium chamaedrys, and Sideritis scardica, respectively. Chemical composition of essential oils obtained from these species was analyzed using GC-MS and GC-FID with the aim of examining their volatile compound profiles, responsible for their respective flavors and fragrance. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed with the aim of grouping plant species under study on the basis of their chemical composition. Experimental data revealed the typical volatile constituent pattern for the Lamiaceae family. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, responsible for flavor and medicinal use of these plants, were the most abundant groups of the volatile constituents. PCA data analysis resulted in the grouping of these analyzed species in four principal clusters.
Real Network Traffic Collection and Deep Learning for Mobile App Identification
Authors: Wang Xin , Chen Shuhui , Su Jinshu
Published: February 2020

The proliferation of mobile devices over recent years has led to a dramatic increase in mobile traffic. Demand for enabling accurate mobile app identification is coming as it is an essential step to improve a multitude of network services: accounting, security monitoring, traffic forecasting, and quality-of-service. However, traditional traffic classification techniques do not work well for mobile traffic. Besides, multiple machine learning solutions developed in this field are severely restricted by their handcrafted features as well as unreliable datasets. In this paper, we propose a framework for real network traffic collection and labeling in a scalable way. A dedicated Android traffic capture tool is developed to build datasets with perfect ground truth. Using our established dataset, we make an empirical exploration on deep learning methods for the task of mobile app identification, which can automate the feature engineering process in an end-to-end fashion. We introduce three of the most representative deep learning models and design and evaluate our dedicated classifiers, namely, a SDAE, a 1D CNN, and a bidirectional LSTM network, respectively. In comparison with two other baseline solutions, our CNN and RNN models with raw traffic inputs are capable of achieving state-of-the-art results regardless of TLS encryption. Specifically, the 1D CNN classifier obtains the best performance with an accuracy of 91.8% and macroaverage F-measure of 90.1%. To further understand the trained model, sample-specific interpretations are performed, showing how it can automatically learn important and advanced features from the uppermost bytes of an app’s raw flows.
An Unusual Occurrence of Multiple Metachronous and Synchronous Primary Cancers in a Female Patient
Authors: Torina Tyler B. , Hudspeth Emily L. , Chun Joon Min , Zaloga William , Alderink Carlisle , Abdeen Yazan
Published: February 2020

Multiple primary cancers, although uncommon, have been increasing in incidence in recent years. This trend is likely due to advances in factors such as diagnostic imaging, life expectancy, and interventional modalities with associated adverse effects. The patient presented in this case report is a 59-year-old Caucasian female with an extensive medical history who developed multiple primary cancers of the breast, mouth, gastrointestinal system, and lung in the span of four years. We attempted to elucidate the possible etiologies and risk factors that may have contributed. Given the patient’s complex medical and social history, interventions, environmental, and genetic predispositions, it is impossible to pinpoint a single etiology. Rather, it is more likely that the interplay of multiple factors contributed to the findings of this case.
A Novel Virtual 3D Brush Model Based on Variable Stiffness and Haptic Feedback
Authors: Huang Lei , Hou Zengxuan
Published: February 2020

A novel variable stiffness 3D virtual brush model and haptic decoration technique suitable for the surface of the three-dimensional objects for the automobile industry are introduced based on real-time haptic feedback mechanism using a 6 DOFs input device, and the haptic behavior of an expressive virtual 3D brush with variable stiffness is studied in detail for the first time. First, the intrinsic mechanism between the deformation of real hair brush and the applied external forces (such as the bending moment) is analyzed and studied in detail by introducing a bending spring to express the basic mechanical behavior for the 3D hair brush. Based on this brush model, many important painting features can be simulated, such as the softer brush tip, brush flattening, and bristle spreading. And a useful algorithm (named the weighted-average distance) for dealing with collision checking among the two objects (3D clay and the 3D brush) is presented. As long as the brush head is close to the 3D object, within a tolerance range, the computational tactile sensation force will be emerged, and the interactive painting process is implemented actually on the outer surface of the virtual object. We then calculate the related bounding ball for deformed 3D brush using a fast ball-expanding search algorithm to determine the virtual projection plane. Based on the real-time deformation about the virtual brush head at a sampling point, the 2D painting footprints, which is produced between the brush head and virtual projection painting plane, is calculated and rendered. Next, the 3D painting footprint could be easily produced via mapping the 2D painting footprints onto the surface of the 3D model in real time. Finally, the 3D painting strokes are formed via controlling the exerted force and overlapping the virtual 3D painting footprints with different shape, size, and following the moving direction of the 3D brush. Experiment result shows that the adopted method can effectively enhance reality to users, with high performance.
Association between Hypertension, Antihypertensive Drugs, and Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Syrian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hijazi Nermeen , Alourfi Zaynab
Published: February 2020

Background. Osteoporosis and hypertension are frequent and often coexisting diseases among the elderly. Recent studies suggested that both diseases may share the same etiopathology. Moreover, the treatment of hypertension can affect the bone mineral density and worsen osteoporosis. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of low bone mass and osteoporosis in postmenopausal Syrian women and investigate their relationship with hypertension and antihypertensive drugs. Methods. 813 postmenopausal women were involved in this cross-sectional study, aged between 40 and 96 yrs. Their menopause duration ranged between 1 and 43 yrs. Bone mineral density was measured using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the total lumbar spine (L1-L4) and left hip. T-score values were used to determine the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The existence of HTN was defined as blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or a history of hypertension medication. Results. Using the world health organization criteria, 24% had osteoporosis and 45.2% had low bone mass. The incidence of osteoporosis and low bone mass significantly increased with age and menopause duration and decreased with BMI. Prevalence of hypertension was almost equal among the women who had or did not have osteoporosis. However, hypertensive women who used thiazides or beta blockers had higher values of total lumbar BMD compared with the women who did not. Conclusion. Hypertension in postmenopausal Syrian women aged over 40 was not found to be associated with osteoporosis. However, the mean total lumbar BMD of the hypertensive women who took thiazide diuretics or beta blocker was found to be increased significantly comparing to the women who did not take either.
Eco-Driving Optimal Controller for Autonomy Tracking of Two-Wheel Electric Vehicles
Authors: Bello Y. , Azib T. , Larouci C. , Boukhnifer M. , Rizoug N. , Patino D. , Ruiz F.
Published: February 2020

The eco-driving profiles are algorithms able to use additional information in order to create recommendations or limitation over the driver capabilities. They increase the autonomy of the vehicle but currently their usage is not related to the autonomy required by the driver. For this reason, in this paper, the eco-driving challenge is translated into two-layer optimal controller designed for pure electric vehicles. This controller is oriented to ensure that the energy available is enough to complete a demanded trip, adding speed limits to control the energy consumption rate. The mechanical and electrical models required are exposed and analyzed. The cost function is optimized to correspond to the needs of each trip according to driver behavior, vehicle, and traject information. The optimal controller proposed in this paper is a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) associated with a nonlinear unidimensional optimization. The combination of both algorithms allows increasing around 50% the autonomy with a limitation of the 30% of the speed and acceleration capabilities. Also, the algorithm is able to ensure a final autonomy with a 1.25% of error in the presence of sensor and actuator noise.
Clinical Characteristics of Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes Compared with Typical Type 1 Diabetes: One-Year Follow-Up Study from the Guangdong T1DM Translational Medicine Study
Authors: Yang Daizhi , Zhou Yongwen , Luo Sihui , Zheng Xueying , Ling Ping , Qiu Liling , Xu Wen , Liang Hua , Yao Bin , Weng Jianping , Yan Jinhua
Published: February 2020

Background. Fulminant type l diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) is a subtype of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with abrupt onset, but data on its progression was limited. This study was aimed at exploring the clinical features through one-year follow-up. Methods and Materials. Patients with T1DM finishing at least one-year follow-up from June 2011 to July 2018 were enrolled from Guangdong Type 1 Diabetes Translational Medicine Study. Patients who fulfilled the respective criteria were categorized as an FT1DM group and a typical T1DM group (TT1DM). The 1 : 4 propensity score matching based on onset age, duration, and gender was performed between the FT1DM and TT1DM groups. Characteristics at the onset and after one-year follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results. A total of 53 patients with FT1DM and 212 matched patients with TT1DM were included. At the onset, there was a shorter duration of symptomatic period before diagnosis observed in the FT1DM group than in the TT1DM group (2 [1, 7] vs. 30 [10, 60] days, P<0.001). FT1DM patients had higher plasma glucose levels and higher percentage of diabetes ketoacidosis (P<0.001, respectively). Both fasting and postprandial C-peptide levels (FCP and PCP, respectively) in FT1DM were significantly lower (P<0.001). At enrollment, the duration of diabetes was 0.03 (0.00, 0.81) and 0.07 (0.00, 1.11) years and the level of HbA1c was 7.21±1.56% and 10.06±3.23% (P<0.001) in the FT1DM and TT1DM groups, respectively. After one year, both FCP and PCP were still significantly lower in the FT1DM group (P<0.001, 0.022) and the HbA1c level was similar between the two groups (P=0.128). The level of HDL-C in FT1DM was significantly higher than that in the TT1DM group at enrollment (P=0.019), and the change from enrollment was significantly greater than that in the FT1DM group (P=0.042). Conclusion. Patients with FT1DM had more severe metabolic derangement and deficiency of insulin secretion than patients with TT1DM at the onset, but glycaemic and metabolic control was not worse than that in TT1DM.
A Discrete Mathematical Modeling of the Influence of Alcohol Treatment Centers on the Drinking Dynamics Using Optimal Control
Authors: Khajji Bouchaib , Labzai Abderrahim , Kouidere Abdelfatah , Balatif Omar , Rachik Mostafa
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we propose a discrete mathematical model that describes the interaction between the classes of drinkers, namely, potential drinkers P, moderate drinkers M, heavy drinkers H, poor heavy drinkers Tp, rich heavy drinkers Tr, and quitters of drinking Q. We also focus on the importance of treatment within addiction treatment centers aiming to find the optimal strategies to minimize the number of drinkers and maximize the number of heavy drinkers who join addiction treatment centers. We use three controls which represent awareness programs through media and education for the potential drinkers, efforts to encourage the heavy drinkers to join addiction treatment centers, and psychological support with follow-up for the individuals who quit drinking. We use Pontryagin’s maximum principle in discrete time to characterize these optimal controls. The resulting optimality system is solved numerically by Matlab. Consequently, the obtained results confirm the performance of the optimization strategy.
Comparative Genomics of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serotype 8 Reveals the Importance of Prophages in the Genetic Variability of the Species
Authors: Prado Isabelle Gonçalves de Oliveira , da Silva Giarlã Cunha , Crispim Josicelli Souza , Vidigal Pedro Marcus Pereira , Nascimento Moysés , Santana Mateus Ferreira , Bazzolli Denise Mara Soares
Published: February 2020

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the etiologic agent of porcine pleuropneumonia. Currently, there are 18 different serotypes; the serotype 8 is the most widely distributed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and southeastern Brazil. In this study, genomes of seven A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 8 clinical isolates were compared to the other genomes of twelve serotypes. The analyses of serotype 8 genomes resulted in a set of 2352 protein-coding sequences. Of these sequences, 76.6% are present in all serotypes, 18.5% are shared with some serotypes, and 4.9% were differential. This differential portion was characterized as a series of hypothetical and regulatory protein sequences: mobile element sequence. Synteny analysis demonstrated possible events of gene recombination and acquisition by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in this species. A total of 30 sequences related to prophages were identified in the genomes. These sequences represented 0.3 to 3.5% of the genome of the strains analyzed, and 16 of them contained complete prophages. Similarity analysis between complete prophage sequences evidenced a possible HGT with species belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae. Thus, mobile genetic elements, such as prophages, are important components of the differential portion of the A. pleuropneumoniae genome and demonstrate a central role in the evolution of the species. This study represents the first study done to understand the genome of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 8.
Interference Analysis of Metal Conductors for Target-Resonance-Based Detection Method
Authors: Chen Lin , Zhang Huaiqing , A Yinchun , Song Wei
Published: February 2020

Frequency bifurcation phenomenon is an important input characteristic of the magnetically coupled resonant wireless power transfer (MCR-WPT) system in overcoupling situation. In this paper, frequency bifurcation phenomenon in MCR is extended to the general transmitter-receiver coupling system, and the two main factors affecting the phenomenon are analyzed. Finally, the phenomenon is introduced into the field of signal detection, and a noncontact detection method based on target coil resonance is proposed in this paper. Since the proposed method is a kind of electromagnetic method, the detection system is highly susceptible to the surrounding metal conductors. Therefore, the detection performance of this method under three metal-environment conditions is analyzed, respectively. Simulations and experiments show that the metal barrier can weaken the detection because of the eddy current effect, but as long as the barrier does not completely isolate the two coils, the method still has strong penetrability. Besides, the metal plate placed parallel outside the transmitter has less influence on the detection when compared with the metal barrier, and the metal plate by the side of the transmitter can even enhance the detection effect. As a consequence, this method has strong stability in metal environment.
Circulating Immune Cell Composition and Cancer Risk: A Prospective Study Using Epigenetic Cell Count Measures
Authors: Le Cornet Charlotte , Schildknecht Konstantin , Rossello Chornet Araceli , Fortner Renée T. , González Maldonado Sandra , Katzke Verena A. , Kühn Tilman , Johnson Theron , Olek Sven , Kaaks Rudolf
Published: February 2020

Although ample evidence indicates that immune cell homeostasis is an important prognostic outcome determinant in patients with cancer, few studies have examined whether it also determines cancer risk among initially healthy individuals. We performed a case–cohort study including incident cases of breast (n = 207), colorectal (n = 111), lung (n = 70), and prostate (n = 201) cancer as well as a subcohort (n = 465) within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Heidelberg cohort. Relative counts of neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocyte sublineages were measured by qRT-PCR. HRs and 95% confidence intervals were used to measure the associations between relative counts of immune cell and cancer risks. When relative counts of immune cell types were taken individually, a significant positive association was observed between relative counts of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and lung cancer risk, and significant inverse associations were observed between relative CD8+ counts and risks of lung and breast cancer (overall and ER+ subtype). Multivariable models with mutual adjustments across immune markers showed further significant positive associations between higher relative FOXP3+ T-cell counts and increased risks of colorectal and breast cancer (overall and ER− subtype). No associations were found between immune cell composition and prostate cancer risk. These results affirm the relevance of elevated FOXP3+ Tregs and lower levels of cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells as risk factors for tumor development.

Significance:

This epidemiologic study supports a role for both regulatory and cytotoxic T cells in determining cancer risk among healthy individuals.

See related commentary by Song and Tworoger, p. 1801
Remodeling Translation Primes CD8+ T-cell Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Hurst Katie E. , Lawrence Kiley A. , Robino Rob A. , Ball Lauren E. , Chung Dongjun , Thaxton Jessica E.
Published: February 2020

The requisites for protein translation in T cells are poorly understood and how translation shapes the antitumor efficacy of T cells is unknown. Here we demonstrated that IL15-conditioned T cells were primed by the metabolic energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase to undergo diminished translation relative to effector T cells. However, we showed that IL15-conditioned T cells exhibited a remarkable capacity to enhance their protein translation in tumors, which effector T cells were unable to duplicate. Studying the modulation of translation for applications in cancer immunotherapy revealed that direct ex vivo pharmacologic inhibition of translation elongation primed robust T-cell antitumor immunity. Our work elucidates that altering protein translation in CD8+ T cells can shape their antitumor capability.
Challenging Management of Neovascular Glaucoma to Achieve the Best Visual Outcome
Authors: Putera Ikhwanuliman , Suryono Astrianda N. , Artini Widya
Published: February 2020

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) resulting from ischemic insults caused by various diseases, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy and central vein occlusion, remains a challenging situation. This case report aims to describe the complex management of NVG, resulting from diabetic retinopathy, to achieve the best visual outcome. A 47-year-old male presented with poor visual acuity of both eyes. His right eye was inoperable. Ahmed valve implantation with intraoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection was performed in his left eye. Panretinal photocoagulation was performed serially after phacoemulsification. However, intraocular pressure was found to be raised, thus necessitating 5-fluorouracil needling bleb revision and administration of intracameral bevacizumab injection. During 15 months of follow-up we were able to achieve the best visual outcome possible in this patient. Comprehensive management of NVG should be implemented with a multidisciplinary approach.
Binge-Watching Behaviour: The Role of Impulsivity and Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Steins-Loeber Sabine , Reiter Theresia , Averbeck Heike , Harbarth Lydia , Brand Matthias
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Following the digital progress and the availability of online streaming services, binge-watching (in the literature often defined as watching >2 episodes of a TV series in one sitting) has become a popular viewing pattern. Concerns about possible negative consequences of this behaviour have arisen and its proximity to behavioural addictions is discussed. The aim of the present study was to explore how depressive symptoms, impulsivity and their potential interaction are related to the consequences of binge-watching. In addition, the possible association of the Big 5 personality traits neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness with consequences from binge-watching was assessed. Method: An online survey including the assessment of intensity of and negative consequences from binge-watching (with an adapted version of the Short-Internet-Addiction Test and a newly developed questionnaire) and questionnaires on depressive symptoms (i.e., General Depression Scale), impulsivity (i.e., Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) and personality traits (i.e., short version of the Big 5 Inventory) was completed by 228 participants. Results: Regression analysis indicated that impulsivity was associated with loss of control and neglect of duties, while depressive symptoms led to neglect of duties and social problems. No significant interaction effects were observed. Conscientiousness was the only personality trait that explained a significant proportion of the variance of consequences from binge-watching. Discussion/Conclusion: Our findings suggest that depressive symptoms and impulsivity are 2 independent pathways to negative consequences from binge watching. However, given the rather low proportion of variance proportion explained, future studies are warranted to enhance our understanding of other individual characteristics and to further clarify the proximity to behavioural addictions.
Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Neurocysticercosis
Authors: Mustafa Nayab , Al Ayyat Dania , Awad Mazin , Elamin Maha , Bin Haider Entisar , Alkhoori Samia
Published: February 2020

A common scenario in the Emergency Department shows patients presenting with abnormal behavior and agitation. A full workup is performed to rule out organic causes for the patients’ presentation after which they are referred to the Psychiatry Department for further assessment regarding major mental disorders. Similarly, the aforementioned protocol was followed for our patient and he was admitted to the psychiatry ward but was later referred to the Neurology and Infectious Diseases Unit as he developed altered mental status. He was then diagnosed as having neurocysticercosis (NCC), which is a common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. In a multiethnic city like Dubai, NCC should always be considered as a differential diagnosis for abnormal behavior. Symptomatic NCC carries a mortality rate of more than 50%, making early detection and treatment very important. Hence, it is encouraged to screen patients with a high pretest probability using brain CT and MRI.
Effects of Exercise Training in Postoperative Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Xu Cheng , Su Xiaoqi , Ma Siyu , Shu Yaqin , Zhang Yuxi , Hu Yuanli , Mo Xuming
Published: February 2020

Background

The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to assess the effects of exercise training on quality of life, specific biomarkers, exercise capacity, and vascular function in congenital heart disease (
CHD
) subjects after surgery.

Methods and Results

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,
MEDLINE
, and
EMBASE
from the date of the inception of the database through April 2019. Altogether, 1161 records were identified in the literature search. Studies evaluating outcomes before and after exercise training among postoperative patients with congenital heart disease were included. The assessed outcomes were exercise capacity, vascular function, serum
NT
‐pro
BNP
(N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide) levels and quality of life. We analyzed heterogeneity by using the I
2
statistic and evaluated the evidence quality according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (
GRADE
) guidelines. Nine randomized controlled trials were included. The evidence indicated that exercise interventions increased the one of the quality of life questionnaire score (mean difference=3.19 [95%
CI
, 0.23, 6.16];
P
=0.03; I
2
=39%) from the score before the interventions. However, no alterations in exercise capacity, vascular function, NT‐proBNP or quality of life were observed after exercise training. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that NT‐proBNP levels were lower in the group with exercise training than in the group without exercise training over the same duration of follow‐up. The evidence quality was generally assessed to be low.

Conclusions

In conclusion, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that physical exercise improves long‐term follow‐up outcomes of congenital heart disease, although it has some minor effects on quality of life.
Strategic Culture and Thailand's Response to Vietnam's Occupation of Cambodia, 1979–1989: A Cold War Epilogue
Authors: Raymond Gregory V.
Published: February 2020

Thailand's role in the Cold War is often seen through the prism of its support for U.S. operations during the Vietnam War. Yet after the departure of U.S. troops from Thai territory in 1976, the Thai government was largely left to fend for itself. Soon after the U.S. withdrawal, a serious crisis arose for Thailand: Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia from 1979 to 1989. Scholars have examined Thailand's diplomacy during this period but have devoted scant attention to Thailand's defense planning. This article considers both the strategic and the operational dimensions of that planning. The analysis shows that Thailand's strategic culture can explain its adroit strategic-level decision-making and its ability to use its relationships with China, the United States, and the Association of South East Asian Nations to make the costs of Vietnam's occupation unsustainably high. In contrast, Thai military organizational culture can help explain why, at the operational level, Thailand's defense planning was compromised by unclear and incoherent military doctrine, materiel procurement, preparedness planning, and resource allocation.
Global Horse Trade in the United States: 1981-2013
Authors: Aguilera Michael B.
Published: February 2020

Similar to other commodities, US sport horses have increasingly been outsourced. The sport horse commodity chain is a long process involving many actors. The data presented document a shift away from US-born horses to those born in Europe. Since the 1980s, the American sport horse market has become a global market. Over $300 million dollars in horses are imported into the United States, and over a third comes from Germany. These foreign horses have uprooted the domestic supply of sport horses, who were US-born ex-racehorses. This research relies on import data to document the transition from a domestic market to a global market. This transformation has wide-reaching implications for the equestrian industry in the US. Through analysis of import statistics, content analysis, and participant observation, data are presented that illustrate how equestrian show jumping changed as a result of the dependence on European supplies of horses.
First record and two new species of the genus Limonius Eschscholtz (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Dendrometrinae) from Taiwan
Authors: ARIMOTO KÔICHI , SUZUKI WATARU
Published: February 2020

Limonius sapphirus sp. n. and L. onyx sp. n. are described from Taiwan, representing the first record of the genus Limonius in Taiwan. We provide an updated key to the genera of the subtribe Athouina in Taiwan and general morphological information of L. eximius Lewis, 1894 and L. ignicollis Lewis, 1894, which are endemic to Japan, for comparison with the two Taiwanese species. We believe that the two Taiwanese species and L. ignicollis are closely allied, sharing morphological characteristics of the lateral carina of prothorax, prosternal spine and aedeagus.
Modulation of South Asian Jet Wave Train on the Extreme Winter Precipitation over Southeast China: Comparison between 2015/16 and 2018/19
Authors: Li Xiuzhen , Wen Zhiping , Huang Wan-Ru
Published: February 2020

Two extremely wet winters in 2015/16 and 2018/19 over Southeast China are compared in this study. South-to-north discrepancies appear in the spatial distribution of precipitation, with anomalous precipitation centered over the southeast coast in 2015/16 and the lower reaches of Yangtze River valley in 2018/19, respectively. Both instances of enhanced precipitation are ascribed mainly to warm and moist advection from the south, with transport in 2015/16 partly by a deepened India–Burma trough to the west, whereas with transport in 2018/19 mainly by a subtropical western North Pacific anticyclone (WNPAC). Both the India–Burma trough and WNPAC are maintained by the wave trains propagating along the South Asian jet, which are zonally offset by a quarter-wavelength. Further study of the wave train sources in 2015/16 and 2018/19 shows that they both tend to originate from extremely strong storm-track activity over the North Atlantic but have different displacement. The former is located more northeastward than the mean storm track and is modulated by a strong positive NAO, whereas the latter lies over the midlatitude central North Atlantic along with a circumglobal teleconnection. These differences further result in a quarter-wavelength offset in the Rossby wave source near the entrance of the South Asian jet by the convergence of upper-level divergent wind.
Cricoid Chondronecrosis: Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Mims Mark M. , Leclerc Andree A. , Smith Libby J.
Published: February 2020

Objective:

Cricoid chondronecrosis is a rare entity that has significant consequences for patients. Reports of its occurrence are scattered in the literature and currently there is no comprehensive review to help guide providers.

Methods:

A case report from our institution is presented. A review of available literature is then provided with assessment of risk factors, signs and symptoms at presentation, laryngeal exam findings, radiologic findings, and surgical techniques.

Results:

Twenty-four cases of cricoid chondronecrosis were reviewed from the literature. Patient age ranged from 8 months to 76 years. A history of endotracheal intubation for various reasons was present in all but two cases, and duration of intubation ranged from 6 hours to 28 days. Patients presented with airway compromise in all but two cases—one asymptomatic patient with prior tracheostomy and another with dysphagia after radiation. Dysphonia (n = 6) and dysphagia (n = 3) were less commonly present. Subglottic stenosis (n = 19) was the most common exam finding followed by vocal fold impairment (n = 11). When CT scan findings were reported, fragmentation of the cartilage and/or hypodensity of the central lamina were described in all but one case. Interventions ranged from observation on antibiotics and steroids to surgical therapies including tracheostomy, dilation, and posterior cricoid split, with or without stent placement.

Conclusions:

Cricoid chondronecrosis is a serious, rare entity that can occur even after a short period of endotracheal intubation. Providers must have a high level of suspicion in patients that present with upper airway dyspnea with a history of prior intubation.

Level of evidence:

Level 4
The influence of partners on fathers’ decision-making about parental leave in Italy: Rethinking maternal gatekeeping
Authors: Cannito Maddalena
Published: February 2020

The article discusses the accounts of 35 heterosexual Italian fathers about their partners’ influence on their decision-making about taking parental leave. While Italian men’s low use of parental leave has been explored, their partners’ influence on their choices in this matter has not. Using interviews with working fathers, 25 of whom took parental leave, what emerges is the primary role taken on by women. However, despite the pivotal role played by women in decision-making, the data show a complex and dynamic scenario: on the one hand, men’s choice to take parental leave is the result of a process of negotiation that involves the way gender is performed, and in which men, too, are active subjects of social change; on the other, men who do not take parental leave talk about a ‘natural’ choice linked to the fact that their partners want to be there with the child. However, the latter is the result of gender stereotypes that position fathers as mothers’ helpers and prioritize men’s commitment in the labor market. For these reasons, the data also contribute to refining the notion of ‘maternal gatekeeping’, reconsidering it in light of how gender is done and redone.
Medical Authority under Siege: How Clinicians Transform Patient Resistance into Acceptance
Authors: Stivers Tanya , Timmermans Stefan
Published: February 2020

Over the past decades, professional medical authority has been transformed due to internal and external pressures, including weakened institutional support and patient-centered care. Today’s patients are more likely to resist treatment recommendations. We examine how patient resistance to treatment recommendations indexes the strength of contemporary professional authority. Using conversation analytic methods, we analyze 39 video recordings of patient-clinician encounters involving pediatric epilepsy patients in which parents resist recommended treatments. We identify three distinct grounds for parental resistance to treatments: preference-, fear-, and experience-based resistance. Clinicians meet these grounds with three corresponding persuasion strategies ranging from pressuring, to coaxing, to accommodating. Rather than giving parents what they want, physicians preserve their professional authority, adjusting responses based on whether the resistance threatens their prerogative to prescribe. While physicians are able to convert most resistance into acceptance, resistance has the potential to change the treatment recommendation and may lead to changed communication styles.
In search of global labour markets
Authors: Gumbrell-McCormick Rebecca , Hyman Richard
Published: February 2020

In this introductory article, the Guest Editors consider key themes involved in discussion of cross-border labour migration, exploring the ambiguities of some of the main concepts involved. They summarise the six substantive articles which follow, and identify some major topics for further research.