bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Many-body effects in a binary nano-particle mixture dispersed in ideal polymer solutions
Authors: Nguyen Huy S. , Forsman Jan , Woodward Clifford E.
Published: January 2019

A new mean-field theory is developed to treat a binary mixture of nanoparticles imbedded in a polydisperse polymer solution. The theory is based on a many-body polymer-mediated potential of mean force (PMF) between the particles and remains accurate even in the protein regime, where the particles’ diameters cannot necessarily be considered large compared to the polymer radius of gyration. As implemented here, the theory is strictly valid for dilute to semi-dilute polymer solutions near the theta temperature (the so-called theta regime) or when the range of the PMF is strongly affected by the polymer size. For non-adsorbing particles, this is the same regime where the celebrated Asakura-Oosawa (AO) model is often used. Unlike the traditional AO model, however, our approach includes polymer flexibility and is accurate in the protein regime. We use the theory to calculate phase diagrams for a binary mixture of unequal-sized particles, both adsorbing and non-adsorbing. To test the theory, we carry out comparisons with simulations and obtained good quantitative agreement, which gives support to its accuracy. On the other hand, the oft-used approach assuming pairwise-additive potentials of mean force produce quantitatively (and sometime qualitatively) different phase diagrams.
Nonlinear polarization coupling in freestanding nanowire/nanotube resonators
Authors: Vincent P. , Descombin A. , Dagher S. , Seoudi T. , Lazarus A. , Thomas O. , Ayari A. , Purcell S. T. , Perisanu S.
Published: January 2019

In this work, we study the nonlinear coupling between the transverse modes of nanoresonators such as nanotubes or nanowires in a singly clamped configuration. We previously showed that at high driving, this coupling could result in a transition from independent planar modes to a locked elliptical motion, with important modifications of the resonance curves. Here, we clarify the physical origins, associated with a 1:1 internal resonance, and study in depth this transition as a function of the relevant parameters. We present simple formulae that permit to predict the emergence of this transition as a function of the frequency difference between the polarizations and the nonlinear coefficients and give the “backbone curves” corresponding to the elliptical regime. We also show that the elliptical regime is associated with the emergence of a new set of solutions of which one branch is stable. Finally, we compare single and double clamped configurations and explain why the elliptical transition appears on different polarizations.
Real-time self-adaptive calibration method for high speed acquisition system
Authors: Zeng Hao , Ye Peng , Wei Wentao , Guo Lianping , Pan Huiqing , Yang Kuojun
Published: January 2019

The main factors that enable capture of complex and transient signals in real-time are improved sampling rates and processing speeds. The time-interleaved architecture is an effective method that allows systems to break through the speed bottleneck of single analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and go beyond the state-of-the-art process technology limit. However, the performance of the acquisition system may be reduced because of the offset, gain, and time mismatch errors that occur in time-interleaved ADC systems. To correct these errors, this paper first proposes a self-adaptive correction algorithm and then introduces real-time solutions for this algorithm. Finally, the proposed calibration method is implemented in a digital phosphor oscilloscope. Simulations and experimental testing indicate that this system shows good real-time performance and provides a high dynamic performance with an effective number of bits of 7.3 bits and a signal-to-noise ratio of 45.5574 dB.
Increased energy of THz waves from a cluster plasma by optimizing laser pulse duration
Authors: Mori Kazuaki , Hashida Masaki , Nagashima Takeshi , Li Dazhi , Teramoto Kensuke , Nakamiya Yoshihide , Inoue Shunsuke , Sakabe Shuji
Published: January 2019

We have investigated the generation of terahertz (THz) waves from an argon cluster plasma produced by laser pulses of various durations. THz energy depends on laser pulse duration and reaches a peak at a pulse duration of ∼250 fs. This dependence of THz energy on laser pulse duration is attributed to the plasma density produced by the rising edge of the pulse. By irradiating clusters with collinear double laser pulses, we demonstrate that the THz energy can be increased by controlling the plasma density. Optimizing the delay time of the collinear double laser pulses increases the THz energy by ∼2.5 times that with simultaneous irradiation of collinear double laser pulses.
Organic thin film memcapacitors
Authors: Cai Jia-Wei , Li Li-Xing , Xu Chao , Feng Yang , Zhong Ya-Nan , Xu Jian-Long , Gao Xu , Wang Sui-Dong
Published: January 2019

Organic thin film memcapacitors are designed and implemented by an organic multilayered structure, consisting of a semiconducting carrier accumulation layer and a polymer electret charge trapping layer. The capacitive states of the device can continuously and reversibly change upon programming/erasing at high biases, whereas they show nonvolatility upon reading at low biases or power off. The memcapacitive characteristics are ascribed to the modulation of the carrier accumulation threshold resulting from the cumulative and reversible charge trapping in the polymer electret layer. The organic thin film memcapacitors may provide more opportunities for developing organic-based synaptic electronic devices.
Ab initio investigation of Br-3d core-excited states in HBr and HBr+ toward XUV probing of photochemical dynamics
Authors: Kobayashi Yuki , Zeng Tao , Neumark Daniel M. , Leone Stephen R.
Published: January 2019

Ultrafast X-ray/XUV transient absorption spectroscopy is a powerful tool for real-time probing of chemical dynamics. Interpretation of the transient absorption spectra requires knowledge of core-excited potentials, which necessitates assistance from high-level electronic-structure computations. In this study, we investigate Br-3d core-excited electronic structures of hydrogen bromide (HBr) using spin-orbit general multiconfigurational quasidegenerate perturbation theory (SO-GMC-QDPT). Potential energy curves and transition dipole moments are calculated from the Franck-Condon region to the asymptotic limit and used to construct core-to-valence absorption strengths for five electronic states of HBr (Σ10+, 3Π1, 1Π1, 3Π0+, 3Σ1) and two electronic states of HBr+ (2Π3∕2, 2Σ1∕2). The results illustrate the capabilities of Br-3d edge probing to capture transitions of the electronic-state symmetry as well as nonadiabatic dissociation processes that evolve across avoided crossings. Furthermore, core-to-valence absorption spectra are simulated from the neutral Σ10+ state and the ionic Π21/2,3/2 states by numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and exhibit excellent agreement with the experimental spectrum. The comprehensive and quantitative picture of the core-excited states obtained in this work allows for transparent analysis of the core-to-valence absorption signals, filling gaps in the theoretical understanding of the Br-3d transient absorption spectra.
Ultrafast excited state intramolecular proton/charge transfers in novel NIR-emitting molecules
Authors: Guo Yuanyuan , Dahal Dipendra , Kuang Zhuoran , Wang Xian , Song Hongwei , Guo Qianjin , Pang Yi , Xia Andong
Published: January 2019

The unusual large bathochromic shift from a novel near-infrared (NIR)-emitting molecule, 2-[3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxy-5-methylstyr-yl]-3-ehtylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium iodide (named cyanine 1) with combination of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) process in one molecular framework, is systematically investigated using ultrafast transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. In order to understand the synergetic coupling effect of the excited state intramolecular proton/charge transfers (ESIPT/ESICT) for the intense near-infrared emission of cyanine 1, an analogue non-ESIPT molecule, 2-[5-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxystyryl]-3-ehtylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium iodide (named cyanine 2) has also been investigated as comparison. Steady-state spectra and theoretical calculations suggest that the large Stokes shift and high fluorescence quantum yield in cyanine 1 originate from the ultrafast ESIPT, which leads to the efficient extension of π-conjugation in the molecular backbone in its excited states. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra further confirm above-mentioned conclusion that an extremely fast ESIPT process occurs in cyanine 1 upon excitation, followed by a solvent reorganization process (ca. 1.5 ps). This solvation is obviously slower compared to cyanine 2 (ca. 0.8 ps), indicating the extent of ESICT concerned ESIPT in keto* form of cyanine 1 is slightly weaker than that of ESICT in cyanine 2, where the fast ESIPT plays an important role in extending the efficient π-conjugation in the molecular backbone by adjusting the electronic charge distribution in keto* form. Such an effect can reduce the radiationless transition due to weak solvation process in keto* form, and then promotes the quantum yield of the large red-shifted fluorescence in cyanine 1.
Controllable spin modes created in nano-oscillator
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: January 2019

Research finds both quasi-linear and nonlinear self-localized bullet modes can be created with DC current in a nano-gap spin Hall nano-oscillator.
Expeditious prediction of post-mortem changes in frozen fish meat using three-dimensional fluorescence fingerprints
Authors: Rahman Md Mizanur , Shibata Mario , ElMasry Gamal , Nakazawa Naho , Nakauchi Shigeki , Hagiwara Tomoaki , Osako Kazufumi , Okazaki Emiko
Published: January 2019

The present study was conducted to characterize fluorophores in the fish body using three-dimensional fluorescence fingerprints (3D-FFs) and to utilize these 3D-FFs obtained from frozen horse mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) fillets to predict early post-mortem changes. Alive fish were sacrificed instantly, preserved in ice until 2 days, and then filleted, vacuum packed, and frozen. Subsequently, 3D-FFs of the frozen fillets were acquired using F-7000 aided with a fiber probe. Post-mortem freshness changes were tracked by measuring adenylate energy charge (AEC) values and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD and NADH) content. Partial least squares regression models for predicting AEC values and NADH content in frozen fish meat showed good fittings, with R2 of 0.90 and 0.85, by utilizing eight and five excitation wavelengths, respectively, based on their fluorescence features acquired from standard fluorophores. This novel approach of 3D-FFs could be utilized as an efficient technique for at-line monitoring of frozen fish quality.
Solid-state NMR characterization of triacylglycerol and polysaccharides in coffee beans
Authors: Kanai Noriko , Yoshihara Naoki , Kawamura Izuru
Published: January 2019

It is important to understand the structural characteristics of triacylglycerol (TAG), polysaccharides and trace elements in coffee beans, so that residues can be reutilized in applications including biodiesel oils. Here, we performed 1H and 13C solid-state NMR measurements on Indonesian green beans, roasted beans, and spent coffee grounds (SCGs). In the NMR spectra, there were liquid-like TAG containing linoleic acids based on observed signals of -CH=CH-CH2-CH=CH- group in an acyl chain, which play a role in decreasing TAG’s melting point. We found TAG was still abundant in the SCGs from NMR spectra. After lipids were removed from SCGs, the intensity of the TAG signal decreased considerably, with approximately 64% of the TAG was successfully extracted. We described the chemical structure of TAG in coffee beans and demonstrated that it is possible quantify the amount of extracted TAG using solid-state NMR.
ChimeraUGEM: unsupervised gene expression modeling in any given organism
Authors: Diament Alon , Weiner Iddo , Shahar Noam , Landman Shira , Feldman Yael , Atar Shimshi , Avitan Meital , Schweitzer Shira , Yacoby Iftach , Tuller Tamir
Published: January 2019

Motivation

Regulation of the amount of protein that is synthesized from genes has proved to be a serious challenge in terms of analysis and prediction, and in terms of engineering and optimization, due to the large diversity in expression machinery across species.

Results

To address this challenge, we developed a methodology and a software tool (ChimeraUGEM) for predicting gene expression as well as adapting the coding sequence of a target gene to any host organism. We demonstrate these methods by predicting protein levels in seven organisms, in seven human tissues, and by increasing in vivo the expression of a synthetic gene up to 26-fold in the single-cell green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The underlying model is designed to capture sequence patterns and regulatory signals with minimal prior knowledge on the host organism and can be applied to a multitude of species and applications.

Availability and implementation

Source code (MATLAB, C) and binaries are freely available for download for non-commercial use at http://www.cs.tau.ac.il/~tamirtul/ChimeraUGEM/, and supported on macOS, Linux and Windows.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
EEG dataset and OpenBMI toolbox for three BCI paradigms: an investigation into BCI illiteracy
Authors: Lee Min-Ho , Kwon O-Yeon , Kim Yong-Jeong , Kim Hong-Kyung , Lee Young-Eun , Williamson John , Fazli Siamac , Lee Seong-Whan
Published: January 2019

Background

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems are mainly divided into three major paradigms: motor imagery (MI), event-related potential (ERP), and steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP). Here, we present a BCI dataset that includes the three major BCI paradigms with a large number of subjects over multiple sessions. In addition, information about the psychological and physiological conditions of BCI users was obtained using a questionnaire, and task-unrelated parameters such as resting state, artifacts, and electromyography of both arms were also recorded. We evaluated the decoding accuracies for the individual paradigms and determined performance variations across both subjects and sessions. Furthermore, we looked for more general, severe cases of BCI illiteracy than have been previously reported in the literature.

Results

Average decoding accuracies across all subjects and sessions were 71.1% (± 0.15), 96.7% (± 0.05), and 95.1% (± 0.09), and rates of BCI illiteracy were 53.7%, 11.1%, and 10.2% for MI, ERP, and SSVEP, respectively. Compared to the ERP and SSVEP paradigms, the MI paradigm exhibited large performance variations between both subjects and sessions. Furthermore, we found that 27.8% (15 out of 54) of users were universally BCI literate, i.e., they were able to proficiently perform all three paradigms. Interestingly, we found no universally illiterate BCI user, i.e., all participants were able to control at least one type of BCI system.

Conclusions

Our EEG dataset can be utilized for a wide range of BCI-related research questions. All methods for the data analysis in this study are supported with fully open-source scripts that can aid in every step of BCI technology. Furthermore, our results support previous but disjointed findings on the phenomenon of BCI illiteracy.
Microbiota-nourishing Immunity and Its Relevance for Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Byndloss Mariana X , Litvak Yael , Bäumler Andreas J
Published: January 2019

An imbalance in our microbiota may contribute to many human diseases, but the mechanistic underpinnings of dysbiosis remain poorly understood. We argue that dysbiosis is secondary to a defect in microbiota-nourishing immunity, a part of our immune system that balances the microbiota to attain colonization resistance against environmental exposure to microorganisms. We discuss this new hypothesis and its implications for ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease of the large intestine.
Epifauna associated with subsea pipelines in the North Sea
Authors: Lacey Nichola C , Hayes Peter
Published: January 2019

An increasing number of pipelines across the UK Continental Shelf are reaching the end of their economic life, resulting in a growing impetus on decommissioning. Implicit to the decommissioning process is the evaluation of the environmental impacts of the different decommissioning options, however little is known regarding the epifauna that interact with these structures. This study utilized industry-collected footage from remotely operated vehicle inspections of pipelines to assess the interactions of benthic epifauna with pipelines, and their associated structures, for the first time. Footage was analysed from across the northern and central North Sea to examine relationships between faunal community compositions and pipelines and their protective coverings. The complex habitat of concrete and Link-lok mattresses had the highest numbers of observable taxa. Differences in community composition were largely due to varying proportions of common epilithic species. There was a weak relationship between pipeline covering type and the species composition of the immediately neighbouring substrate. Depth and latitude were the strongest correlators with the observed community compositions. This study has compiled the first dataset on epifaunal associations with subsea pipelines in the North Sea.
The 2016 Morocco–Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty: More Practical Reality in Providing a Balanced Investment Treaty?
Authors: Ejims Okechukwu
Published: January 2019

The law governing international investment comprises primarily treaties between individual States and regional arrangements focusing on investment provisions that protect and promote foreign investment and the principles of customary international law that govern it. Recently, there has been rapid growth in such agreements, and growing criticism of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) due to their unbalanced content and the vague and broad investment protection standards that can be interpreted in ways that prioritise investment protection over the right of host States to regulate. In this context, the Morocco–Nigeria BIT has been applauded as a balanced and innovative example of the genre and a response to the global backlash against BITs. This article shows how this BIT has taken a bold step towards such reconciliation, by attempting to balance investor protection with series of obligations placed on the investor on human rights, and environmental and social impact assessment, effectively safeguarding the host State’s regulatory space in relation to social and environmental matters. Whether this step has resolved the issue of balancing the interests of investment protection and the preservation of the regulatory interest of the host State is unlikely, given that some substantive provisions are drafted so as not to strike a proper balance between private and public interests. The discussion also shows that many provisions remain vague and, hence, continue to grant discretion to investor–State dispute settlement (ISDS) tribunals to determine the meaning of these provisions.
Null Structures and Degenerate Dispersion Relations in Two Space Dimensions
Authors: Fu Yuqiu , Tataru Daniel
Published: January 2019

For a dispersive partial differential equation, the degeneracy of its dispersion relation will deteriorate dispersion of waves and strengthen nonlinear effects. Such negative effects can sometimes be mitigated by some null structure in the nonlinearity. Motivated by water-wave problems, in this paper we consider a class of nonlinear dispersive PDEs in 2D with cubic nonlinearities, whose dispersion relations are radial and have vanishing Gaussian curvature on a circle. For such a model we identify certain null structures for the cubic nonlinearity, which suffice in order to guarantee global scattering solutions for the small data problem. Our null structures in the power-type nonlinearity are weak and only eliminate the worst nonlinear interaction. Such null structures arise naturally in some water-wave problems.
Quality and effectiveness of counselling at antiretroviral therapy centres in India: capturing counsellor and beneficiary perspectives
Authors: Agarwal Reshu , Rewari Bharat Bhushan , Allam Ramesh Reddy , Chava Nalini , Rathore A S
Published: January 2019

Background

Ensuring the quality and effectiveness of counselling is imperative for enabling people living with HIV to cope with treatment adherence. Countrywide assessment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres was undertaken to assess the quality and effectiveness of counselling. The insights gained from the assessment are expected to build an improved understanding of the counselling aspect and contribute to informing decisions strengthening the counselling provided at ART centres.

Methods

Assessment of counselling at 357 ART centres entailed interviews with counsellors and beneficiaries using a structured questionnaire administered by trained technical experts. Two counsellors and five beneficiaries at each ART centre were interviewed to assess both the quality and effectiveness of counselling. Beneficiaries were selected from different risk groups to understand their varied concerns and experiences.

Results

During the assessment, 618 counsellors were interviewed (45% women); also, 1785 beneficiaries were interviewed, consisting of 892 (49.9%) men, 857 (48.1%) women and 36 (2.0%) transgender. Counsellors were found to be relatively well informed on topics pertaining to pre-ART, ART preparedness and positive healthy living, and the psychosocial support extended to patients. Counsellors surveyed were not aware of critical areas such as counselling of pregnant women (44.5%) , drug adherence (44.8%) and the use of information, education and communication material during counselling, and pill count. The majority of beneficiaries reported being informed on issues pertaining to retention; however, 30–40% of beneficiaries were not informed regarding the critical elements of adherence such as counselling on ART side effects (68.5%), pill count (62.8%) and information on access to social benefit schemes (25.7%). Factors such as client volume, the training of the counsellors and adequate space for counselling affected the quality of counselling.

Conclusion

With concerted efforts in bridging the gaps in knowledge, infrastructure and information needs, India’s national AIDS control programme (NACP) can enhance the counselling services at ART centres and improve the quality of services for patient retention.
Populism, Hindu Nationalism, and Foreign Policy in India: The Politics of Representing “the People”
Authors: Wojczewski Thorsten
Published: January 2019

There is today a growing sense of a global rise of populism. Right-wing populist leaders and parties claim to represent the people and pit them against a “corrupt” elite and “dangerous” Others. However, the international dimensions of populism remain largely unexplored in the populism and international relations (IR) literature. By analyzing the relationship between foreign policy and populism, this article seeks to show how the phenomenon of populism can be integrated into IR theory and how IR scholarship can inform debates on populism. The article argues that poststructuralist IR, with its focus on foreign policy as a boundary-drawing practice that demarcates the Self from the Other, allows us to study how populist actors can use foreign policy as a site for the reproduction of their claim to represent the people. To grasp this, the article identifies different discursive strategies through which the people/elite antagonism can be constructed and interacts with other antagonisms such as the inside/outside divide of nationalism. It illustrates its arguments with a case study on India's foreign policy discourse under the Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, who has promised to purify India from a corrupt elite and pursue an “India first” policy.
Model-Based Screening for Robust Estimation in the Presence of Deviations from Linearity in Small Domain Models
Authors: Gershunskaya Julie , Savitsky Terrance D
Published: January 2019

Small domain estimation models, like the Fay-Herriot (FH), often assume a normally distributed latent process centered on a linear mean function. The linearity assumption may be violated for domains that express idiosyncratic phenomena not captured by the predictors. The direct sample estimate for such domain will be viewed as an outlier by FH when, in fact, it reflects an underlying true value. The model interpretation is also confounded by the variances of direct sample estimates because, while typically treated as fixed and known, they are estimates and thus contain noise. In this article, we construct a joint model for the direct estimates and their variances with nonparametric mixtures of normal distributions with the goal to improve robustness in estimation quality for these idiosyncratic domains. We devise a model-based screening tool to nominate domains where the model may not accurately account for deviations from the linearity assumption. We replace the modeled values for nominated domains with the direct estimate which we show robustify our models. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey publishes monthly employment estimates for domains defined by industry and geography. Model estimation is performed for smaller domains to improve the reliability of the direct estimator. We compare fit performances for our candidate models under data constructed to be similar to the CES and conduct a simulation study to assess the robustness of our candidate models in the presence of deviations from linearity. We apply our model-based screening method and quantify its ability to improve the quality of published estimates.
Military Relics: Soldiers and Sailors at Home in Thomas Hardy’s The Trumpet-Major
Authors: Hunt Aeron
Published: January 2019

Thomas Hardy’s 1880 text The Trumpet-Major, a historical novel set during the period of the Napoleonic invasion scares, is notable for its generic inconsistency and the strangeness of its plot and characters. This essay analyses the novel’s array of soldiers, sailors, members of the yeomanry focused on civil defence, and military veterans, arguing that Hardy’s novel’s formal strangeness grows in part out of its preoccupation with these examples of military figures at home – roles that, I suggest, focused a contemporary anxiety about social connectedness and the continuities and consistencies of life stories and identities. In highlighting the disquiet that these military figures register in the novel as well as outside it, in wider discussions of army reform and policies toward veterans and members of the military, I suggest that in Victorian accounts and in the ruptures registered in Hardy’s text we may find new insights into the languages of social connection – and their failures – that continue to vex us today.
Occupational exposure to foreigners and attitudes towards equal opportunities
Authors: Pecoraro Marco , Ruedin Didier
Published: January 2019

We examine the relationship between attitudes to foreigners and the share of foreigners at the occupational level. Using a question on equal opportunities for foreigners from the Swiss Household Panel, ordered probit regression models show a negative association between the share of foreigners in one’s occupation and positive attitudes to foreigners: workers seem to react to competition with foreigners. When we add the occupational unemployment rate, objective pressures in the labour market appear as relevant as contact at the occupational level. Further controlling for occupational heterogeneity establishes that both factors—particularly objective pressures—are probably accounted for by sorting on job quality. We also show that the association between the occupational share of foreigners and attitudes decreases for workers with better job prospects. This implies that workers welcome foreigners to overcome labour market shortages.
Stochastic Variational Inference for Bayesian Phylogenetics: A Case of CAT Model
Authors: Dang Tung , Kishino Hirohisa
Published: January 2019

The pattern of molecular evolution varies among gene sites and genes in a genome. By taking into account the complex heterogeneity of evolutionary processes among sites in a genome, Bayesian infinite mixture models of genomic evolution enable robust phylogenetic inference. With large modern data sets, however, the computational burden of Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling techniques becomes prohibitive. Here, we have developed a variational Bayesian procedure to speed up the widely used PhyloBayes MPI program, which deals with the heterogeneity of amino acid profiles. Rather than sampling from the posterior distribution, the procedure approximates the (unknown) posterior distribution using a manageable distribution called the variational distribution. The parameters in the variational distribution are estimated by minimizing Kullback–Leibler divergence. To examine performance, we analyzed three empirical data sets consisting of mitochondrial, plastid-encoded, and nuclear proteins. Our variational method accurately approximated the Bayesian inference of phylogenetic tree, mixture proportions, and the amino acid propensity of each component of the mixture while using orders of magnitude less computational time.
Genome editing in large animals: current status and future prospects
Authors: Zhao Jianguo , Lai Liangxue , Ji Weizhi , Zhou Qi
Published: January 2019

Large animals (non-human primates, livestock and dogs) are playing important roles in biomedical research, and large livestock animals serve as important sources of meat and milk. The recently developed programmable DNA nucleases have revolutionized the generation of gene-modified large animals that are used for biological and biomedical research. In this review, we briefly introduce the recent advances in nuclease-meditated gene editing tools, and we outline these editing tools’ applications in human disease modeling, regenerative medicine and agriculture. Additionally, we provide perspectives regarding the challenges and prospects of the new genome editing technology.
Reconstruction of Chronic Boutonniere Deformity of the Thumb in a Golf Player
Authors: Yoo Jae-Sung , Kim Jong-Phil , Kim Seong-Jun , Kim Joon-kyom
Published: January 2019

We present the case of a professional golf player who gradually developed a boutonniere deformity of the thumb due to chronic repetitive injury to the thumb and was treated with reconstruction of its insertion onto the proximal phalangeal base. The athlete showed an insertion variation of the extensor pollicis brevis, where some slips attached onto the extensor hood and the other slips ran along with the extensor pollicis longus to the distal phalanx, providing no slip to the proximal phalanx. The slips inserting to the distal phalanx were transferred to the base of the proximal phalanx and sagittal band reconstruction. As a result, the boutonniere deformity of the thumb fully recovered with satisfactory outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Level V.
What Mentors Tell Us About Acknowledging Effort and Sustaining Academic Research Mentoring: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Mancuso Carol A. , Berman Jessica R. , Robbins Laura , Paget Stephen A.
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

Continuing education is necessary to foster new and effective research mentoring skills. We asked faculty about their research mentoring practices and what would support their skills and abilities as ongoing and effective research mentors.

Methods:

Twenty-two experienced mentors were interviewed and asked about perceived areas for improvement, and challenges and facilitators to continued research mentoring. Responses were analyzed with qualitative techniques using semistructured interviews, grounded theory, and a constant comparative analytic strategy.

Results:

The average time since the completion of the doctoral degree was 26 years. Twenty-one participants believed that more comprehensive institutional acknowledgment for their efforts would enhance research mentoring. This specifically included acknowledging their time spent and service (ie, effort) in multiple in-person and behind-the-scenes tasks. These research mentoring efforts were largely viewed as overlooked by the traditional focus on the achievement of tangible outcomes. Participants thought that a formal plan to organize research mentoring (such as a mentor's charter, and continuing education tailored to both novice and experienced research mentors) was needed to promote evolution of skills and documentation of time and service. Possible methods to support research mentors were suggested and included financial support for travel to national meetings, assistance in developing new projects, and consideration of mentoring activities in the process for academic promotion.

Discussion:

Research mentors wanted their achievements, time spent, and service (ie, effort) to be acknowledged by the institution. A formal written mentoring charter and corresponding continuing education could facilitate acknowledging achievements, time, and service and thus help to sustain academic research mentoring.
A Case Report of Complete Blockage of a Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant Following Insertion of a 3-0 Supramid Suture
Authors: Lee Richard M.H. , Bouremel Yann , Eames Ian , Brocchini Steve , Khaw Peng Tee
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to present a case of a Baerveldt glaucoma implant lumen being completely occluded with a 3-0 Supramid stent suture.

Patient and Methods:

The patient underwent Baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery with placement of an intraluminal 3-0 Supramid stent suture that acts to restrict flow across the device and reduce the risk of postoperative hypotony. Following suturing of the implant to the sclera, the device was flow tested. No flow was observed through the device tube and a significant ballooning of the tube diameter occurred with increased pressure on the device. The device was explanted from the eye and replaced with a different implant without further postoperative complication. The explanted device was assessed using custom microfluidic equipment in an in vitro environment.

Results:

This phenomenon occurred despite using several different batches of the 3-0 Supramid stent suture and the device had to be removed and replaced with another device without complication. In vitro microfluidic assessment of the device demonstrated no flow across the device tube despite over 150 mm Hg of pressure being exerted on the device.

Conclusions:

We hypothesize that the blockage occurred at the junction between the device tube and plate and that the ballooning phenomenon observed was due to a defect in the tube wall. This case highlights the importance of flow testing all glaucoma drainage devices before insertion given the variation in manufacturing conditions to avoid the risk of intraoperative complications.
In-hospital Complications in Trauma Patients According to Injury Severity
Authors: Teixeira Lopes Maria Carolina Barbosa , de Aguiar Wagner , Yamaguchi Whitaker Iveth
Published: January 2019

In-hospital complications in trauma patients are frequent and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between posttraumatic complications and the injured body region, injury and trauma severity, length of stay, and mortality in hospitalized trauma patients. This observational and retrospective study included 147 trauma patients with posttraumatic complications hospitalized in a university hospital located in São Paulo, Brazil. The injury and trauma severity was measured using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS), respectively. The association between variables was verified applying χ2 test, Fisher exact text, likelihood ratio, and Mann-Whitney U test, considering significance level of 5%. The most frequent in-hospital complications were infectious, cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal. Patients with head injury AIS score of 3 or more had higher percentage of neurological complications and those with lower extremity injury AIS score of less than 3 had higher percentage of metabolic and renal complications. There was no association between thoracic injury and cardiovascular complications, nor between types of complications and trauma severity (ISS). Patients without cardiovascular complication and those with infections had longer hospital length of stay, and mortality was higher in those with cardiovascular complications. Complication's studies in trauma patients may contribute to identify events related with poor outcome and to implement specific measures for improving quality of trauma care and patient security.
Decreasing Trauma Readmission Rates by Implementing a Callback Program
Authors: Bath Jennifer , Freeman Daniel , Salamoun Mariana , Harvey Ellen , Wright Andrea , Hamill Mark , Lollar Daniel , Love Bower Katie , Collier Bryan
Published: January 2019

Decreasing hospital lengths of stay increases the burden on trauma patients after discharge. Our hypothesis was that a discharge callback protocol would decrease readmission rates. A retrospective quality improvement study evaluated all trauma patients admitted from 2012 to 2016 at a Level I trauma center. A postdischarge callback protocol was implemented in 2014, with a mature protocol in place in 2015. The precall and callback groups were compared regarding demographics, injury severity, and trauma readmission. Callback data included length of call, unsolicited patient comments, and education provided. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables, whereas an independent-samples t test was used to compare continuous data. The precall program group included 4,470 admissions, and the call program group included 4,647 admissions. The precall program group had a higher injury severity score (ISS; 11.7 vs. 10.3; p < .001) and fewer males (62% vs. 65%, p = .002). In the call program group, there was a significant decrease in readmission rates (1.42% vs. 0.81%; p = .04). Patients with an unplanned readmission had a higher ISS (14.9 vs. 11.0, p < .01), a longer mean hospital length of stay during initial admission (9.3 days vs. 4.8 days, p < .01), and were more often discharged to locations with medical oversight (37.4% vs. 26.7%, p = .03). Of the patients in the call program group, 27.9% were reached. An average of 5.8 ± 2.9 min per call was calculated, equating to a 0.2 full-time equivalent. A discharge callback program for approximately 2,500 trauma patients per year leads to fewer readmissions, which financially supports the callback position.
Consideration of sexually transmitted infections in the differential diagnosis: Case studies
Authors: O'Byrne Patrick , MacPherson Paul , Kitson Cynthia , Bourgault Andree
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose:

The rates of many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have increased in recent years. Many health care professionals miss these potential diagnoses in clinical practice.

Methods:

Two case studies are presented, one an adult female with dysuria; the other an adult male with a rash. Appropriate differential diagnoses and relevant history, examination, and investigation details are discussed.

Conclusions:

Not all dysuria signifies a urinary tract infection. Although most rashes are not syphilis or HIV, it is important to rule out these etiologies for rashes in adults without a previous history of similar dermatologic conditions.

Implications for Practice:

Due to increased rates of many STI and HIV, it is important for nurse practitioners who work in primary care to consider these infections in patients who present with dysuria and rashes. Similarly, nurse practitioners who work in STI clinic settings should consider non-STI diagnoses in their work. In both cases, a perspective that includes both STI and non-STI etiologies is essential.
Morbidity of Vestibular Schwannomas as Documented by Treating Providers
Authors: Nuño Miriam , Ugiliweneza Beatrice , Boakye Maxwell , Monfared Ashkan
Published: January 2019

Objective:

Characterize the morbidity associated with vestibular schwannoma (VS) as documented by treating providers.

Study Design:

Retrospective analysis of the MarketScan database.

Setting:

MarketScan database.

Subjects and Methods:

A study of morbidity in VS patients who underwent treatment between 2002 and 2012 was conducted. A detailed account of morbidity at multiple time points before and after treatment was described.

Results:

Of 3,355 patients treated for VS, 2,029 (60.5%) underwent surgery and 1,326 (39.5%) radiation. The average (SD) age of diagnosis was 52.5 (12.1) years. Patients were followed for a mean (SD) of 29.1 (24.2) months before and 39.2 (30.5) months after treatment. Hearing loss (65.4%), vertigo (28.0%), tinnitus (24.7%), and headache (15.2%) were the most documented symptoms at 6 months before treatment. At this juncture, higher rates of hearing loss (71.6 versus 58.6%, p < 0.0001), vertigo (32.3 versus 21.4%, p<0.0001), and tinnitus (26.9 versus 21.5%, p=0.0004) were reported for the surgery cohort. At 6 months posttreatment, surgery cohort were reported to have higher rates of hearing loss (OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.82–2.52), vertigo (OR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.23–1.96), balance (OR 4.17, 95% CI: 3.03–5.56), facial weakness (OR 10.0, 95% CI: 6.67–14.29), headache (OR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.23–1.96), fatigue (OR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.19–4.17), and swallowing difficulties (OR 2.33, 95% CI: 1.43–3.70) compared with radiosurgery group. Surgery patients also experienced more treatment-related complications than the radiation (28.5 versus 2.6%, p<0.0001) cohort.

Conclusions:

Patients who eventually underwent surgery were reported by their providers to have higher morbidity before and after treatment.
Experimental Study of the Tissue Repair of Neo-Esophagus After Esophageal Muscularis Resection
Authors: Wen Yi-chao , Liang Xian-liang , Liang Jian-hui
Published: January 2019

Attempts have been made to observe the tissue repair of neo-esophagus after esophageal muscularis resection and to investigate possibility of the regeneration repair of esophageal muscularis resection in neo-esophagus. Sixteen pigs were divided into two groups: group A and group B. Pigs in group A were performed with the partial resection of mere esophageal muscularis propria reserved mucosa muscle layer in a segment of thoracic esophagus. Pigs in group B were performed with nitinol composite artificial esophagus with polyester sewing rings replacement a segment of thoracic esophagus resection. Pigs in the two groups were performed with euthanasia at the following times: 2, 4, 6, and 12 months for postmortem analysis, which demonstrated the absence of esophageal muscularis regeneration in the specimens that were sampled from different time points. Reserved mucosa muscle layer did not show hyperplasia to repair coloboma of esophageal muscularis propria deletion in group A. These results suggest that after esophageal muscularis resection, including mucosa muscle layer or esophageal muscularis propria, the coloboma of esophageal muscularis was repaired with connective tissue filling quickly. It would be very difficult for the regeneration repair of esophageal muscularis in neo-esophageal tissue structure after esophageal muscularis resection.
Detection of Thromboembolic Events and Pump Thrombosis in HeartWare HVAD Using Accelerometer in a Porcine Model
Authors: Schalit Itai , Espinoza Andreas , Pettersen Fred-Johan , Snartland Steinar , Ringdal Mari-Ann L. , Hoel Tom N. , Skulstad Helge , Fosse Erik , Fiane Arnt E. , Halvorsen Per S.
Published: January 2019

We have recently demonstrated that accelerometer-based pump thrombosis and thromboembolic events detection is feasible in vitro. This article focuses on detection of these conditions in vivo. In an open-chest porcine model (n = 7), an accelerometer was attached to the pump casing of an implanted HeartWare HVAD. Pump vibration was analyzed by Fast Fourier Transform of the accelerometer signals, and the spectrogram third harmonic amplitude quantified and compared with pump power. Interventions included injection of thrombi into the left atrium (sized 0.3–0.4 ml, total n = 35) and control interventions; pump speed change, graft obstruction, and saline bolus injections (total n = 47). Graft flow to cardiac output ratio was used to estimate the expected number of thrombi passing through the pump. Sensitivity/specificity was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve. Graft flow to cardiac output ratio averaged 66%. Twenty-six of 35 (74%) thrombi caused notable accelerometer signal change. Accelerometer third harmonic amplitude was significantly increased in thromboembolic interventions compared with control interventions, 64.5 (interquartile range [IQR]: 18.8–107.1) and 5.45 (IQR: 4.2–6.6), respectively (p < 0.01). The corresponding difference in pump power was 3 W (IQR: 2.9–3.3) and 2.8 W (IQR: 2.4–2.9), respectively (p < 0.01). Sensitivity/specificity of the accelerometer and pump power to detect thromboembolic events was 0.74/1.00 (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.956) and 0.40/1.00 (AUC: 0.759), respectively. Persistent high third harmonic amplitude was evident at end of all experiments, and pump thrombosis was confirmed by visual inspection. The findings demonstrate that accelerometer-based detection of thromboembolic events and pump thrombosis is feasible in vivo and that the method is superior to detection based on pump power.
Recently reported familial hypercholesterolemia-related mutations from cases in the Middle East and North Africa region
Authors: Awan Zuhier A. , Bondagji Nabeel S. , Bamimore Mary A.
Published: January 2019

Purpose of review

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disorder where cases have a significantly higher risk of having premature myocardial infarction than noncases. The prevalence of this genetic disease is currently unknown in countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. Given that a high percentage of marriages are consanguineous in this region, the prevalence may be much higher than assumed. We systematically reviewed the literature to identify case-related mutations reported within the last 4 years and since our first report in 2014.

Recent findings

Mutations were reported in familial hypercholesterolemia cases from the Saudi, Iranian, Lebanese, and Syrian populations. Some of the mutations were novel and a variety of familial hypercholesterolemia genotypes were identified, such as compound heterozygotes and double heterozygotes.

In recent years, work has been done to identify familial hypercholesterolemia cases in various countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. With regards to the prospective familial hypercholesterolemia registry for the Middle East and North Africa region, an important goal for the near future would be to have physician specialists collaborate with primary care clinicians for the identification and optimal care of familial hypercholesterolemia cases.