bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of a clot aspiration system during transvenous lead extraction
Authors: Richardson Travis D. , Lugo Ricardo M. , Crossley George H. , Ellis Christopher R.
Published: January 2020

Introduction

The optimal approach to the extraction of leads with large vegetations remains uncertain.

Methods

High‐risk patients with lead associated vegetations undergoing device extraction at Vanderbilt Hospital with concomitant use of the Penumbra Aspiration System (Penumbra Inc, Alameda, CA) are described. An 8.5 Fr Agilis NXT (Abbott Inc, St. Paul, MN) was advanced to the right atrium, through which a Penumbra Indigo Cat‐8 catheter was advanced. Using intracardiac echocardiography, the Penumbra was positioned directly on the vegetation, suction was applied until adherent, and the Indigo catheter and Agilis sheath were then removed en‐bloc and aspirated debris flushed out. This was repeated until debulking was considered successful.

Results

Eight cases were performed. The median vegetation size was 2 cm. Pathogens were Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Candida, Cutibacterium, and Enterobacter. In seven of eight cases, aspiration successfully reduced vegetations to less than 1 cm before successful percutaneous cardiac implantable electronic device removal. One patient underwent surgical removal via thoracotomy. There were no acute complications related to the Penumbra catheter. Three patients had CT evidence of small pulmonary emboli postprocedure. The length of stay was 3 to 27 days. One patient died on POD 1 of refractory ventricular tachycardia unrelated to the procedure. One patient died of ongoing sepsis 2 weeks postextraction.

Conclusions

The Penumbra Indigo Aspiration system can be useful for vegetation debulking before transvenous lead extraction.
Prognostic significance of the renal resistive index in the primary prevention of type II diabetes
Authors: Delsart Pascal , Vambergue Anne , Ninni Sandro , Machuron François , Lelievre Bénédicte , Ledieu Guillaume , Fontaine Pierre , Merlen Emilie , Frimat Marie , Glowacki François , Montaigne David , Mounier‐Vehier Claire
Published: January 2020

The renal resistive index has been demonstrated to predict the progression of renal disease and recurrence of major cardiac events in high‐risk cardiovascular patients, in addition to other comorbidities. We aimed to assess the prognostic significance of the renal resistive index in type 2 diabetic patients for primary prevention. From 2008 to 2011, patients with type 2 diabetes underwent cardiovascular evaluation, including renal resistive index assessment by renal Doppler ultrasound. The incidence of all‐cause death, cardiovascular events, dialysis requirement or a twofold increase in creatinine was recorded. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Two hundred sixty‐six patients were included; 50% of the patients were men, an HbA1C level of 8.1 ± 1.7% (65 ± 13.6 mmol/mol) and a serum creatinine level of 8 [7‐9] mg/L. The mean 24‐hour systolic blood pressure, 24‐hour diastolic blood pressure, and 24‐hour pulse pressure were 133.4 ± 16.7, 76.5 ± 9.4, and 56.9 ± 12.4 mm Hg, respectively. The median renal resistive index was 0.7 [0.6‐0.7] with a threshold of 0.7 predictive of monitored events. After adjustment of the 24‐hour pulse pressure, age and 24‐hour heart rate, a renal resistive index ≥0.70 remained associated with all‐cause death (hazard ratio: 3.23 (1.16‐8.98); P = .025) and the composite endpoint of major clinical events (hazard ratio: 2.37 (1.34‐4.18); P = .003). An elevated renal resistive index with a threshold of 0.7 is an independent predictor of a first cardiovascular or renal event in type 2 diabetic patients. This simple index should be implemented in the multiparametric staging of diabetes.
Research update on the association between SFRP5, an anti‐inflammatory adipokine, with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease
Authors: Wang Di , Zhang Yaping , Shen Chengxing
Published: January 2020

Secreted frizzled‐related protein 5 (SFRP5), an anti‐inflammatory adipokine secreted by adipocytes, has been demonstrated to exert its anti‐inflammatory effect via antagonizing the non‐canonical wingless‐type family member 5A (WNT5A) signalling pathways. The WNT5A protein, as a potent pro‐inflammatory signalling molecule, is strongly involved in a variety of inflammatory disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and atherosclerosis. In this review, we systematically outlined the current understanding on the roles of SFRP5 in the pathogenesis of three inflammatory diseases including obesity, T2DM and coronary heart disease (CHD). Our review might stimulate future research using SFRP5 as a promising novel therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity, T2DM and CHD.
Atopy patch testing with aeroallergens in a large clinical population of dermatitis patients in Germany and Switzerland, 2000‐2015: a retrospective multicentre study
Authors: Dickel H. , Kuhlmann L. , Bauer A. , Bircher A.J. , Breuer K. , Fuchs T. , Grabbe J. , Mahler V. , Pföhler C. , Przybilla B. , Rieker‐Schwienbacher J. , Schröder‐Kraft C. , Simon D. , Treudler R. , Weisshaar E. , Worm M. , Trinder E. , Geier J.
Published: January 2020

Background

The diagnostic significance of the atopy patch test for the management of dermatitis possibly triggered by aeroallergens is still controversial. However, sufficiently large studies with routinely tested standardized aeroallergen patch test preparations in dermatitis patients are lacking.

Objective

To evaluate the reaction frequency and the reaction profiles of 10 until mid‐2015 commercially available, standardized aeroallergen patch test preparations of the ‘Stallerpatch’ test series (Stallergenes, Antony Cedex, France) in a large multicentre patient cohort.

Methods

A retrospective data analysis of patients with suspected aeroallergen‐dependent eczematous skin lesions was performed, who were patch tested in 15 Information Network of Departments of Dermatology‐associated clinics between 2000 and 2015. Patients were stratified according to their atopic dermatitis (AD) status.

Results

The study group included 3676 patients (median age 41 years, 34.8% males, 54.5% AD). The most common aeroallergens causing positive patch test reactions were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (19.6%), Dermatophagoides farinae (16.9%), birch (6.2%), timothy grass (6.0%), cat dander (5.4%), mugwort (4.9%) and dog dander (4.6%). Reactions to other pollen allergen preparations, that is 5 grasses (3.2%), cocksfoot (2.1%) and plantain (1.6%), were less common. Positive patch test reactions to aeroallergens were consistently more frequent in patients with AD. These patients showed proportionally less dubious, follicular, irritant and weak positive reactions. Independent of AD status, a patient history of past or present allergic rhinitis was associated with an increased chance of a positive aeroallergen patch test reaction to pollen allergens.

Conclusion

The aeroallergen patch test is a useful add‐on tool in clinical routine, especially in patients with AD and/or respiratory allergy. A patch test series comprising Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, birch, timothy grass, cat dander and mugwort seems to be suitable. Controlled studies with specific provocation and elimination procedures are required to further evaluate the diagnostic significance of the proposed screening series.
Factors associated with diagnostic accuracy, technical success and adverse events of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li De‐Feng , Wang Jian‐yao , Yang Mei‐feng , Xiong Feng , Zhang Ding‐guo , Xu Zheng‐lei , Luo Min‐Han , Jing Zhen‐dong , Wang Kai‐Xuan , Wang Li‐sheng , Yao Jun
Published: January 2020

Background and Aim

Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy (EUS‐FNB) is used to diagnose lesions within or adjacent to the digestive tract. However, there is no report on the overall diagnostic accuracy, technical success, and adverse events of FNB. The aims of this study were to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis to comprehensively assess the diagnostic accuracy, technical success, and adverse events of FNB.

Methods

Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles published in English from January 1998 to May 2019 (No. CRD42019141647). Primary outcomes were EUS‐FNB related diagnostic accuracy rate, technical success rate, and adverse event rate.

Results

A total of 51 articles including 5330 patients met our criteria. The overall EUS‐FNB related diagnostic accuracy rate, technical success rate, and adverse event rate was 90.82% [95% confidence interval (CI) 88.69–92.76%], 99.71% [95% CI 99.35–99.93%], and 0.59% [95% CI 0.29–1.0%], respectively. Biopsy with 22G needle could increase the diagnostic accuracy rate and technical success rate to 92.17% [95% CI 89.32–94.61%] and 99.88% [95% CI 99.64–99.99%], respectively, and decrease the adverse event to 0.37% [95% CI 0.08–0.87%]. Moreover, it showed that 22G needle was an independent factor associated with a higher diagnostic accuracy rate and technical success rate and a lower adverse event rate (P = 0.04, P < 0.001, and P = 0.04, respectively) by univariate and multivariate meta‐regression analyses.

Conclusion

Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy is a feasible and safe procedure for lesions within or adjacent to the digestive tract. Biopsy using 22G needle could increase the diagnostic accuracy rate and technical success rate and decrease adverse event rate during the FNB procedure.
The Development and Validation of the FACES‐IV‐SF
Authors: Priest Jacob B. , Parker Elizabeth O. , Hiefner Angela , Woods Sarah B. , Roberson Patricia N. E.
Published: January 2020

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale IV (FACES‐IV) was developed to capture the balanced and unbalanced levels of cohesion and flexibility in families. Although this measure has been shown to be valid and reliable, its length at 62 items limits utility and uptake in clinical and research settings. This paper details the development of a shorter form of the FACES‐IV (the FACES‐IV Short Form) using two studies. In the first study, three item‐level analyses were used to identify 24 items that provided the best measurement of each of the scales of the FACES‐IV. In the second study, the reliability, and convergent and divergent validity of the short form was tested. Results suggest that the FACES‐IV‐SF is a valid and reliable measure that adheres to the theory underlying the original FACES‐IV but may be better utilized in clinical and research settings due to its brevity.
Association of vascular endothelial growth factor A polymorphisms and aberrant expression of connexin 43 and VEGFA with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous miscarriage
Authors: Sajjadi Maryam S. , Ghandil Pegah , Shahbazian Nahid , Saberi Alihossein
Published: January 2020

Aim

Idiopathic recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (IRSM) is one of the pregnancy outcomes that affects 1–2% of women trying to conceive. Specific genotype or aberrant expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and connexin 43 (Cx43) as two important genes for embryonic development are deemed to increase the risk of IRSM.

Methods

To investigate any possible association of VEGFA polymorphisms and aberrant expression of Cx43 and VEGFA with IRSM, we carried out a case–control study including embryo chorionic villus tissues of 100 pregnant women with IRSM and 100 embryo chorionic villus tissues of healthy pregnant women without history of miscarriage. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for genotyping of rs699947 (−2578C/A) and rs2010963 (−634G/C) polymorphisms in VEGFA. Besides, quantitative real‐time PCR was performed for VEGFA and Cx43 expression analysis.

Results

The results showed that the frequency of −634G/C and C/C genotypes was significantly higher in aborted fetuses (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) compared to the control group's. However, the frequency of −2578C/A genotypes was not significantly different between the cases and controls. Moreover, a significant higher expression of VEGF (P = 0.0005) and Cx43 (P = 0.0011) was observed in chorionic villus tissues of women with IRSM.

Conclusion

The finding demonstrated that IRSM frequency may depend on GC and CC genotypes of rs2010963 VEGF polymorphism and expression level of VEGF and Cx43 in IRSM patients was increased.
Effect of endometrial injury during menstruation on clinical outcomes in frozen–thawed embryo transfer cycles: A randomized control trial
Authors: Tang Zhixia , Hong Mingyun , He Fang , Huang Dayan , Dai Zhijun , Xuan Henghua , Zhang Hong , Zhu Weipei
Published: January 2020

Aim

To explore the clinical effect of endometrial injury (EI) on the third day of the menstrual cycle before frozen–thawed embryo transfer (frozen–thawed ET) on patients experienced two or more implantation failures.

Methods

A total of 200 patients who suffered at least two failed hormone‐replacement therapies and frozen–thawed ET were randomly divided into two groups: EI group and control group (n = 100 in each group). Patients in the EI group received local EI with a Pipelle catheter on the third day of the menstrual cycle before frozen–thawed ET. Primary outcomes were live birth, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates. Secondary outcomes were biochemical, multiple and ectopic pregnancy rates and abortion rates.

Results

The rate of live birth in EI group (51.00%) was significantly higher than that of control group (36.00%) (P = 0.032). Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates in EI group were significantly higher comparing to control group (64.00% vs 48.00%, P = 0.023 and 46.74% vs 30.11%, P = 0.001). The rate of multiple pregnancy in EI group (37.50%) was significantly higher than that of control group (18.75%) (P = 0.031). No significant difference in ectopic pregnancy rate and abortion rate was observed between EI group and control group.

Conclusion

Applying EI to patients experienced two or more implantation failures on the third day of the menstrual cycle before frozen–thawed ET can improve clinical outcomes.
People, Actors, and the Humanizing of Institutional Theory
Authors: Voronov Maxim , Weber Klaus
Published: January 2020

In much contemporary institutional scholarship, the term ‘actor’ is used as a shorthand for any entity imbued with agency. Talking about actors in institutions thus serves the necessity of allocating agency before returning to the analysis of institutional structures and processes. We find this approach to actorhood limiting, conceptually and normatively. Grounded in the perspective of pragmatist phenomenology, we assert the need for distinguishing between persons and actors, and the value of integrating the person into institutional analysis. We conceive of persons as humans with a reflective capacity and sense of self, who engage with multiple institutions through the performance of institutional roles. People may acquire actorhood by temporarily aligning their self with what is expected from a particular actor‐role in an institutional order. Conversely, institutions enter people’s lifeworld as they are personified in people’s social performances. We outline this perspective and examine conceptual and normative implications that arise from the integration of human experience in institutional analysis.
Institutions and Actorhood as Co‐Constitutive and Co‐Constructed: The Argument and Areas for Future Research
Authors: Meyer Renate E. , Vaara Eero
Published: January 2020

We argue that in order to overcome the reductionism and essentialism in institutional theory there is a need to acknowledge that institutions and social actors are co‐constitutive and co‐constructed in processes of communication. We elaborate this argument by drawing on the phenomenological foundation of institutional theory and point to promising areas of future research: the multimodal nature of institutions, the mediated and mediatized character of modern communication, and the contestedness of all social orders and their legitimation.
Determination of the lingual border of lower complete dentures: How to use a silicone impression material?
Authors: Yamazaki Fumiaki , Mihara Yusuke , Maeda Yoshinobu , Matsuda Ken‐ichi , Mameno Tomoaki , Ikebe Kazunori
Published: January 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to clarify the efficacy of a border‐moulding procedure with low‐flow silicone impression material compared with a conventional compound to complete denture fabrication. It also aimed to evaluate the influence of various functional tasks during the lingual‐side moulding procedure regarding the depth and width of the border.

Methods

Ten dentate subjects (three men, seven women; average age 30 years) were enrolled in this study after giving informed consent. A specially designed custom impression tray for the mandibular lingual side was fabricated for each subject. With the tray and heavy‐body‐type silicone material, lingual border moulding was performed that included four functional tasks: tongue protrusion (TP), licking the upper lip with the tongue (UL), swallowing (SW), and placing the tongue tip to the palate (PP).

Results

Within the limitations of this study, the results suggested that heavy‐body silicone impression material is satisfactory for use in the border‐moulding procedure, giving reproducible results.

Conclusion

There were no significant differences among the functional tasks regarding the depth and width of the lingual flange except for swallowing, which exhibited the largest values.
RP11‐874J12.4 promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis via the miR‐19a‐5p/EBF1 axis
Authors: Liu Guo‐Min , Lu Tian‐Cheng , Sun Mao‐Lei , Ji Xuan , Zhao Yi‐An , Jia Wen‐Yuan , Luo Yun‐Gang
Published: January 2020

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) ranks as the fifth most frequent cancer worldwide, and the recurrence and migration of OSCC still pose large threats to patients. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as crucial players in cancer development, and it is of great significance to understand the regulatory nexus of lncRNAs in OSCC.

Methods

Here, we identified a novel lncRNA, RP11‐874J12.4, which is ectopically expressed in OSCC and facilitates OSCC.

Results

RP11‐874J12.4 directly binds to and regulates miR‐19a‐5p. Interestingly, RP11‐874J12.4 and miR‐19a‐5p form a negative regulatory loop that inhibits the expression of miR‐19a‐5p in OSCC. The expression of an oncogenic transcription factor, EBF1, is unleashed in OSCC due to the low expression of miR‐19a‐5p, which promotes the growth and migration of OSCC.

Conclusion

Our data illustrate a regulatory axis of RP11‐874J12.4/miR‐19a‐5P/EBF1 and an inhibitory loop with RP11‐874J12.4 and miR‐19a‐5p. These data provide insights into the tumorigenesis of OSCC and the novel drug targets for OSCC.
Dimensions of Religion and Spirituality: A Longitudinal Topic Modeling Approach
Authors: Kim Seong‐Hyeon , Lee Narae , King Pamela Ebstyne
Published: January 2020

In lieu of the traditional text data analysis methods, structural topic modeling was utilized to analyze the text contents of 255 self‐report inventories of religion and spirituality (R/S) published from 1929 to 2017. The study had two objectives: (a) to clarify and identify the latent dimensions of R/S inherent in the items of the measures; and (b) to examine and demonstrate the usefulness of a longitudinal topic modeling in the study of R/S. We identified 5,617 unique text terms from the measures and fitted topic models on those terms to extract latent dimensions called topics. We also simultaneously analyzed the longitudinal effect of publication decade (i.e., 1950s–2010s) on the topics. A topic model with three topics was chosen to best support the data: Experience of Transcendence (Topic 1), Engagement in Transcendence (Topic 2), and Essence of Transcendence (Topic 3). In addition, the longitudinal analysis revealed that Topic 1 showed a continual increase over the decades, while Topics 2 and 3 both demonstrated a gradual decrease, in effect matching the general trend of Topic 1's increasing popularity in society and the academia.
Thoracolumbar meningeal fibrosis in pugs
Authors: Rohdin Cecilia , Ljungvall Ingrid , Häggström Jens , Leijon Alexandra , Lindblad‐Toh Kerstin , Matiasek Kaspar , Rosati Marco , Wohlsein Peter , Jäderlund Karin Hultin
Published: January 2020

Background

Thoracolumbar myelopathies associated with spinal cord and vertebral column lesions, with a similar clinical phenotype, but different underlying etiologies, occur in pugs.

Objectives

To further characterize the clinical and neuropathological characteristics of pugs with longstanding thoracolumbar myelopathy.

Animals

Thirty client‐owned pure‐bred pugs with a history of more than a month of ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs, suggesting a myelopathy localized to the thoracolumbar spinal cord, were included in the study.

Methods

Prospective clinicopathological study. Included pugs underwent a complete neurological examination and gross and histopathologic postmortem studies with focus on the spinal cord. Computed tomography (n = 18), magnetic resonance imaging (n = 17), and cerebrospinal fluid analysis (n = 27) were performed before or immediately after death.

Results

Twenty male and 10 female pugs had a median age at clinical onset of 84 months (interquartile range, 66‐96). Affected pugs presented with a progressive clinical course and 80% were incontinent. There was circumferential meningeal fibrosis with concomitant focal, malacic, destruction of the neuroparenchyma in the thoracolumbar spinal cord in 24/30 pugs. Vertebral lesions accompanied the focal spinal cord lesion, and there was lympho‐histiocytic inflammation associated or not to the parenchymal lesion in 43% of the pugs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Meningeal fibrosis with associated focal spinal cord destruction and neighboring vertebral column lesions were common findings in pugs with long‐standing thoracolumbar myelopathy.
Ariopsis macrosperma sp. nov. (Araceae) from the northern Western Ghats, India
Authors: Page Navendu V. , Ingalhallikar Shrikant , Sardesai Milind M.
Published: January 2020

Ariopsis macrosperma sp. nov. from Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, is described and illustrated. It differs from the other two species in the genus, A. peltata and A. protanthera, in having a typical terrestrial habit, growing on the soil as undergrowth below the forest canopy, thick, leathery leaves and lower number of larger, ovoid and ribbed seeds.
Conifers exhibit a characteristic inactivation of auxin to maintain tissue homeostasis
Authors: Brunoni Federica , Collani Silvio , Casanova‐Sáez Rubén , Šimura Jan , Karady Michal , Schmid Markus , Ljung Karin , Bellini Catherine
Published: January 2020

Dynamic regulation of the concentration of the natural auxin (IAA) is essential to coordinate most of the physiological and developmental processes and responses to environmental changes. Oxidation of IAA is a major pathway to control auxin concentrations in angiosperms and, along with IAA conjugation, to respond to perturbation of IAA homeostasis. However, these regulatory mechanisms remain poorly investigated in conifers. To reduce this knowledge gap, we investigated the different contributions of the IAA inactivation pathways in conifers.

MS‐based quantification of IAA metabolites under steady‐state conditions and after perturbation was investigated to evaluate IAA homeostasis in conifers. Putative Picea abies GH3 genes (PaGH3) were identified based on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis including angiosperms and basal land plants. Auxin‐inducible PaGH3 genes were identified by expression analysis and their IAA‐conjugating activity was explored.

Compared to Arabidopsis, oxidative and conjugative pathways differentially contribute to reduce IAA concentrations in conifers. We demonstrated that the oxidation pathway plays a marginal role in controlling IAA homeostasis in spruce. By contrast, an excess of IAA rapidly activates GH3‐mediated irreversible conjugation pathways.

Taken together, these data indicate that a diversification of IAA inactivation mechanisms evolved specifically in conifers.
Traffic‐related environmental factors and childhood obesity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Zhuo , Zhao Li , Huang Qin , Hong Andy , Yu Chao , Xiao Qian , Zou Bin , Ji Shuming , Zhang Longhao , Zou Kun , Ning Yi , Zhang Junfeng , Jia Peng
Published: January 2020

A growing body of research links traffic‐related environmental factors to childhood obesity; however, the evidence is still inconclusive. This review aims to fill this important research gap by systematically reviewing existing research on the relationship between traffic‐related environmental factors and childhood obesity. Based on the inclusion criteria, 39 studies are selected with environmental factors of interest, including traffic flow, traffic pollution, traffic noise, and traffic safety. Weight‐related behaviours include active travel/transport, physical activity (PA), and intake of a high trans‐fat diet or stress symptoms; weight‐related outcomes are mainly body mass index (BMI) or BMI z‐scores and overweight/obesity. Of 16 studies of weight‐related behaviours, significant associations are reported in 11 out of 12 studies on traffic flow (two positively and nine negatively associated with PA), five out of six studies on traffic safety (four positively and one negatively associated with PA), one study on traffic pollution (positively with unhealthy food consumption), and one study on traffic noise (negatively associated with PA). Among 23 studies of weight‐related outcomes, significant associations are reported in six out of 14 studies on traffic flow (five positively and one negatively associated with obesity outcome), seven out of 10 studies on traffic pollution (all positively associated with obesity outcome), and two out of five on traffic noise (all positively associated with obesity outcome). Our findings show that long‐term traffic pollution is weakly positively associated with children's BMI growth, and traffic flow, pollution, and noise could affect weight‐related behaviours. Associations between traffic density and noise and weight status are rather inconclusive.
Uninterrupted growth in a non‐polar hadrosaur explains the gigantism among duck‐billed dinosaurs
Authors: Słowiak Justyna , Szczygielski Tomasz , Ginter Michał , Fostowicz‐Frelik Łucja
Published: January 2020

Duck‐billed dinosaurs (Hadrosauridae) were the most common ornithopods of the Late Cretaceous. Second only to sauropods and in many cases exceeding the sizes of the largest land mammals (such as indricotheres or proboscideans), they are among the largest terrestrial herbivores to have walked the Earth. Despite their gigantic size, diversity and abundance, their growth strategies remain poorly understood. Here, we examine the bone microstructure of several Mongolian hadrosauroids of varied adult sizes. The small and middle‐sized species have lines of arrested growth (LAGs). On the other hand, one of the largest duck‐billed dinosaurs, Saurolophus angustirostris, shows uninterrupted growth, comparable with other big hadrosaurs for which the lack of cyclical growth arrests was interpreted as a result of living in the polar region. Since both of the studied taxa inhabited warmer, continental, monsoon‐influenced environments of the Late Cretaceous Mongolia, we propose that the absence of LAGs is not a climatic‐driven condition but rather connected with the animal's size (i.e. ontogeny). Our results show that, like sauropods, hadrosaurs changed their growth dynamics from cyclical to continuous during their evolution, which made it possible for them to achieve comparable body sizes.
Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance reseptor‐related disease
Authors: Kilinc Ayse Ayzit , Alishbayli Gulizar , Taner Hasan Emir , Cokugras Fugen Cullu , Cokugras Haluk
Published: January 2020

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance receptor (CFTR)‐related disease is diagnosed in patients affected by CFTR dysfunction who do not fully meet the CF diagnostic criteria. Only 2% of all CF patients have CFTR‐related disease. We define the demographic characteristics of such patients, described the performance of mutational analyses, and describe the clinical findings.

Methods

Twenty‐four patients were followed‐up for CFTR‐related disease. Patients with CF symptoms but who did not completely fulfil the CF diagnostic criteria were enrolled. Age, body mass index at the times of diagnosis and admission, symptoms, pulmonary function and fecal elastase test results, gene analyses, and clinical findings during follow‐up were evaluated.

Results

Ten patients (42%) were female and 14 (58%) male. Their mean age was 15.3 years (minimum–maximum 6–20 years). The mean age at diagnosis was 8.5 years (minimum–maximum 3–14 years) and the most common presenting complaint was a cough (n = 19). During follow up, chronic sinusitis developed in 15 patients, bronchiectasis in 13, nasal polyposis in six, failure to thrive in three, recurrent pancreatitis in two, asthma in one, and congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens in one. Fecal elastase levels were low in only one of the three patients who failed to thrive. In terms of CFTR gene mutations, two were found in 10 patients, one in eight patients, and none in six.

Conclusions

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance receptor‐related disease presents with various clinical findings. Serious symptoms may develop later in life. Late diagnosis significantly compromises the quality and duration of life in such patients.
Increased serum circulating asprosin levels in children with obesity
Authors: Sünnetçi Silistre Eda , Hatipoğl Halil Uğur
Published: January 2020

Background

Childhood obesity is a growing and significant problem worldwide. Asprosin is a novel adipokine that is significantly associated with glucose and insulin production in the liver during fasting. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate whether there would be differences between obese, overweight, and normal weight children in terms of serum asprosin levels.

Methods

Forty‐four children with obesity, 54 overweight children, and 60 normal weight children were compared in terms of serum asprosin levels and other anthropometric, biochemical, and hormonal parameters that are associated with being overweight and with obesity.

Results

Serum asprosin levels were found to be significantly different between groups: 70.903 ± 17.49 ng/mL, 79.744 ± 29.54 ng/mL, and 106.293 ± 122.69 ng/mL in normal weight, overweight, and obese children respectively. Post‐hoc analysis revealed that the asprosin level was significantly higher in obese children compared with normal weight children (P = 0.009). Additionally, asprosin was found to be a predictor of obesity in multiple regression analysis.

Conclusion

Our study is the first to demonstrate increased levels of asprosin in obese children compared with normal weight children. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the role of asprosin in the etiology of childhood obesity, as well as other diseases that might be associated with effects of asprosin.
Strong body, clear mind: Physical activity diminishes the effects of supervisor interpersonal injustice
Authors: Watkins Trevor , Umphress Elizabeth E.
Published: January 2020

We integrate exercise physiology tenets with self‐regulation theory to explain how physical activity diminishes the effects of supervisor interpersonal injustice. We posit that individuals can help prevent self‐regulation depletion from interpersonal injustice when they engage in physical activity. In Study 1, we manipulated physical activity and interpersonal injustice in a laboratory setting, and in Study 2, utilizing a two‐week experience sampling method we examined how employees reacted differently to daily interpersonal injustice as a function of their general level of physical activity engagement. Our results demonstrate that both acute and chronic levels of physical activity attenuate the effects of supervisor interpersonal injustice episodes on self‐regulation depletion, which subsequently reduces social undermining directed toward the supervisor. Our findings highlight the theoretical and practical significance of physical activity for interpersonal injustice and for organizations in general.
Light Sources and Dosimetry Techniques for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Kim Michele M. , Darafsheh Arash
Published: January 2020

Effective treatment delivery in photodynamic therapy (PDT) requires coordination of the light source, the photosensitizer, and the delivery device appropriate to the target tissue. Lasers, light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), and lamps are the main types of light sources utilized for PDT applications. The choice of light source depends on the target location, photosensitizer used, and light dose to be delivered. Geometry of minimally accessible areas also plays a role in deciding light applicator type. Typically, optical fiber‐based devices are used to deliver the treatment light close to the target. The optical properties of tissue also affect the distribution of the treatment light. Treatment light undergoes scattering and absorption in tissue. Most tissue will scatter light, but highly pigmented areas will absorb light, especially at short wavelengths. This review will summarize the basic physics of light sources, and describe methods for determining the dose delivered to the patient.
Water law and governance in post‐conflict settings
Authors: Bruch Carl , Weinthal Erika , Troell Jessica
Published: January 2020

In the aftermath of conflict, managing water is critical, as access to water and sanitation is necessary for meeting basic human needs, restoring livelihoods, ensuring food security, rebuilding the economy and promoting reconciliation. This article argues that governance is critical for meeting the challenges in the water sector in post‐conflict settings, not just for restoring livelihoods and basic human wellbeing, but also for supporting sustainable development and addressing emerging challenges such as the increasing prevalence of droughts and floods that threaten to erase many of the peace dividends that water may provide at war’s end. This article examines water and water law through the lens of State fragility, conflict and governance to shed light on the importance of building resilient and flexible water governance institutions that can withstand what is often a precarious peacebuilding process in which conflict may continue even after a peace agreement is reached.
Controls on Early Cretaceous desert sediment provenance in south‐west Gondwana, Botucatu Formation (Brazil and Uruguay)
Authors: Bertolini Gabriel , Marques Juliana C. , Hartley Adrian J. , Da‐Rosa Atila A. S. , Scherer Claiton M. S. , Basei Miguel A. S. , Frantz José C.
Published: January 2020

The Lower Cretaceous Botucatu Formation records the development of widespread dry–aeolian desert sedimentation throughout the Paraná Basin in south‐west Gondwana. To reconstruct the provenance of the aeolian sediment, petrography, granulometric analysis, U‐Pb detrital zircon ages have been determined from along the southern basin margin in Rio Grande do Sul state (southern Brazil) and Uruguay (Tacuarembó region). The dataset reveals a mean composition Qt89F8L3, comprising very fine to medium‐grained quartozose and feldspatho‐quartzose framework. Heavy mineral analysis reveals an overall dominance of zircon, tourmaline and rutile grains (mean ZTR0.84) with sporadic garnet, epidote and pyrolusite occurrences. The detrital zircon U‐Pb ages are dominated by Cambrian to Neoproterozoic (515 to 650 Ma), Tonian to Stenian (900 to 1250 Ma) and Orosirian to Rhyacian (1.8 to 2.2 Ga) material. The detrital zircon dataset demonstrates a significant lateral variation in sediment provenance: Cambrian to Neoproterozoic detrital zircons dominate in the east, while Tonian to Stenian and Orosirian to Rhyacian ages predominate in the west of the study area. Sandstones are quartz‐rich with dominantly durable zircon, tourmaline and rutile heavy mineral suite, with subtle but statistically significant along‐strike differences in heavy mineral populations and detrital mineralogy which are thought to record local sediment input points into the aeolian system. The similar age spectra of Botucatu desert with proximal Paraná Basin units, the predominance of quartzose, and zircon, tourmaline and rutile components, suggests that recycling is the mechanism responsible for the erg feeding.
Contemporary Characteristics and Lethality Correlates of Serious Suicide Attempts in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Rengasamy Manivel , Sylvester Christie , Shulman Joshua , Pizon Anthony
Published: January 2020

Objective

Adolescent suicide rates have increased in the past decade. Few studies have examined contemporary pediatric suicide attempters with medically serious suicide attempts, particularly among younger pediatric suicide attempters.

Method

This preliminary chart review study examined 200 adolescents with medically serious suicide attempts and sought to identify general cohort characteristics, differences in cohort characteristics based on age, correlates of lethality, and correlates of rescue (likelihood of prompt medical attention).

Results

Our study found that younger adolescents specifically endorsed increased cyberbullying (β = 1.1, p = .046) and less hopelessness (β = −0.83, p = .02) compared to older adolescents. Suicide attempt lethality was negatively associated with female gender (β = −0.59, p = .041), rescue (β = −0.19, p = .005), an anxiety diagnosis (β = −0.81, p = .0003), and history of consensual sexual activity (β = −0.79, p = .002). Rescue was positively associated with an ADHD diagnosis (β = 0.73, p = .018) and less attempt planning (β = 0.96, p = .01), while a history of previous suicide attempt (β = −0.54, p = .04) and more proximal suicide attempt (β = −0.045, p = .008) were associated with a lower rescue score.

Conclusion

Our preliminary findings suggest clinicians and future researchers may need to assess certain social and diagnostic factors in children and adolescents at particularly high risk for death by suicide.
Compared Thermal Modeling of Anode- and Electrolyte-Supported SOFC-Gas Turbine Hybrid Systems
Authors: Akroot Abdulrazzak , Namli Lutfu , Ozcan Hasan
Published: January 2020

In this study, two solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) hybrid systems (anode-supported model (ASM) and electrolyte-supported model (ESM)) is developed in matlab® and compared. The hybrid system model is considered to investigate the impacts of various operating parameters such as SOFC operating temperature and steam/carbon ratio on power production and performance of the hybrid system where it is projected that results can be utilized as guidelines for optimal hybrid system operation. According to the findings, a maximum 695 kW power is produced at 750 °C operating temperature for the anode-supported model, whereas 627 kW power is produced at 1000 °C for the electrolyte-supported model. The highest electrical efficiencies for the anode-supported model and the electrolyte-supported model are 64.6% and 58.3%, respectively. Besides, the lower value of the steam to carbon ratio is favorable for increased power output from the fuel cell and consequently a high SOFC efficiency.
Recent Advances in Integrated Response Analysis of Floating Wind Turbines in a Reliability Perspective
Authors: Moan Torgeir , Gao Zhen , Bachynski Erin E. , Nejad Amir R.
Published: January 2020

Offshore wind provides an important source of renewable energy. While wind turbines fixed to the seabed in shallow water have already been industrialized, floating wind turbines are still at an early stage of development. The cost of wind power is decreasing fast. Yet, the main challenges, especially for novel floating wind turbine concepts, are to increase reliability and reduce costs. The reliability perspective here refers to the lifecycle integrity management of the system to ensure reliability by actions during design, fabrication, installation, operation, and decommissioning. The assessment should be based on response analysis that properly accounts for the effect of different sub-systems (rotor, drivetrain, tower, support structure, and mooring) on the system behavior. Moreover, the load effects should be determined so as to be proper input to the integrity check of these sub-systems. The response analysis should serve as the basis for design and managing inspections and monitoring, with due account of inherent uncertainties. In this paper, recent developments of methods for numerical and experimental response assessment of floating wind turbines are briefly described in view of their use to demonstrate system integrity in design as well as during operation to aid inspection and monitoring. Typical features of offshore wind turbine behavior are also illustrated through some numerical case studies.
Deformation of an Elastic Beam on a Winkler Foundation
Authors: Butler Adam J. O. , Meyer Colin R. , Neufeld Jerome A.
Published: January 2020

We present a simple model for geophysical systems involving sources of deformation, such as magmatic intrusions, subglacial lakes, and the subsurface storage of CO2. We consider the idealized system of a uniform elastic layer overlying a localized region of constant pressure that is surrounded by a Winkler foundation composed of springs. We investigate the effect of source depth and foundation stiffness on the resulting displacement profiles at both the surface and the level of the source. The system is characterized by three key features: the maximum uplift, the maximum subsidence, and the distance to the point of zero displacement. For each of these, we determine asymptotic scaling behavior in the limits of a thin/thick layer and a soft/stiff foundation and form composite curves that allow specific parameter values to be determined from field data. Both two-dimensional and axisymmetric pressure patches are considered, and in the thin-layer limit we derive analytical solutions.
Automatic Detection of Manufacturing Equipment Cycles Using Time Series
Authors: Seevers Jan-Peter , Jurczyk Kristina , Meschede Henning , Hesselbach Jens , Sutherland John W.
Published: January 2020

Manufacturing industry companies are increasingly interested in using less energy in order to enhance competitiveness and reduce environmental impact. To implement technologies and make decisions that lead to less energy demand, energy/power data are required. All too often, however, energy data are either not available, or available but too aggregated to be useful, or in a form that makes information difficult to access. Attention herein is focused on this last point. As a step toward greater energy information transparency and smart energy-monitoring systems, this paper introduces a novel, robust time series-based approach to automatically detect and analyze the electrical power cycles of manufacturing equipment. A new pattern recognition algorithm including a power peak clustering method is applied to a large real-life sensor data set of various machine tools. With the help of synthetic time series, it is shown that the accuracy of the cycle detection of nearly 100% is realistic, depending on the degree of measurement noise and the measurement sampling rate. Moreover, this paper elucidates how statistical load profiling of manufacturing equipment cycles as well as statistical deviation analyses can be of value for automatic sensor and process fault detection.
Acaricide resistance and mechanisms in Tetranychus urticae populations from greenhouses in Turkey

Authors: Alpkent Yasin Nazım , İnak Emre , Ulusoy Selçuk , Ay Recep
Published: January 2020

Turkey has great potential in vegetable production especially in greenhouses. However, plant pests such as Tetranychus urticae Koch can cause significant yield losses with the contribution of suitable climate conditions of greenhouses that allow to fast development of spider mites. Although synthetic acaricides are the most preferred control tools to manage T. urticae populations in Turkey, control failure has often been reported because of its ability to quickly develop resistance. In this study, bifenthrin and hexythiazox toxicity over five field-collected strains were evaluated and mechanisms of resistance have also been investigated via biochemical and molecular methods. Resistance mutations in voltage gated sodium channel and chitin synthase I which are the target sites of bifenthrin and hexythiazox, respectively, were found in various strains. The specific activity of P450 and GST enzymes was significantly increased in all field-collected strains comparing with susceptible strain. In addition, synergists of P450 and esterase enzymes enhanced the bifenthrin and hexythiazox toxicity, respectively. The results of this study will contribute to design proper resistance management strategies in Turkish greenhouses.
Acoustic cues and linguistic experience as factors in regional dialect classification
Authors: Alcorn Steven , Meemann Kirsten , Clopper Cynthia G. , Smiljanic Rajka
Published: January 2020

Listeners are able to classify talkers by regional dialect of their native language when provided with even short speech samples. However, the way in which American English listeners use segmental and prosodic information to make such decisions is largely unknown. This study used a free classification task to assess native American English listeners' ability to group together talkers from six major dialect regions of American English. Listeners residing in Ohio and Texas were provided with a sentence-long (experiment 1) or paragraph-long (experiment 2) speech sample produced by talkers from each of the six regions presented in one of three conditions: unmodified, monotonized (i.e., flattened F0), and low-pass filtered (i.e., spectral information above 400 Hz removed). In both experiments, listeners in the unmodified and monotonized conditions made more accurate groupings, reflecting their reliance on segmental properties for classifying regional variation. Accuracy was highest for Northern and Western talkers (experiment 1) and Mid-Atlantic talkers (experiment 2). Listeners with experience with multiple dialects as a result of geographic mobility did not show increased accuracy, suggesting a complex relationship between linguistic experience and the perception of available acoustic cues to socioindexical variation.
Voiced stops in the command performance of Southern US English
Authors: Walker Abby
Published: January 2020

Four self-identified code-switchers from Southwest Virginia and six actors who did not identify as having Southern accents each recorded two sets of stimuli in which they aimed to produce a more Southern and a more Standardized US accent. An analysis of the Voice Onset Time (VOT) of phrase and word initial voiced stops revealed that both groups of speakers produced more tokens with prevoicing (lead or negative lag voicing) when speaking in the Southern versus the Standard guise, and that in the Standard guise, the Southern speakers produced more prevoiced tokens than the actors. These findings support fairly recent descriptions of lead voicing as a feature of Southern US English. They additionally show that despite the lack of overt commentary about this feature, speakers have an awareness of the association between lead voicing and Southern US English because they manipulate the feature in a socially meaningful way; in Labov's [(1972). Sociolinguistic Patterns (Blackwell, Oxford)] terminology, negative lag voicing is a marker of Southern US English.