bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Illness perceptions, risk perceptions and worries in patients with early systemic sclerosis: A focus group study
Authors: van Leeuwen Nina M. , Boonstra Maaike , Huizinga Tom W.J. , Kaptein Ad A. , de Vries‐Bouwstra Jeska K.
Published: January 2020

Objectives

This study explores illness perceptions, risk perceptions and degree of worry in patients with recently diagnosed systemic sclerosis (SSc). Specifically, it aims to answer whether and how early diagnosis in a stage that disease is relatively mild can impact patients' lives, and if and how disease severity associates with illness perceptions and risk perception.

Methods

Patients with a diagnosis of SSc <2 years were invited to participate in a focus group discussion for in‐depth exploration of illness perceptions, risk perceptions and worry. In addition, illness perceptions, risk perceptions and worries were evaluated with the use of questionnaires. To explore how patients perceive SSc, we asked them to draw their disease. Physician global assessment of disease severity was used to measure disease severity. Associations between disease severity, illness/risk perceptions, drawings and elements of the focus group were assessed.

Results

We observed three dimensions of illness perception as most relevant for patients: personal control, concern and consequences. Patients with SSc experienced many symptoms and felt low personal control. Concerns about the future were often mentioned, and the majority of patients scored high on the worry questionnaire. None of the patients was preoccupied with prognosis or death. All drawings illustrate the impact of SSc on daily life and psychological well‐being. Illness perceptions were highly variable between patients and did not associate with disease severity.

Conclusion

This study showed that a diagnosis of early SSc had a significant impact on patients' lives, also in the absence of severe disease complications.
Laterality of the ulnar neuropathy at the elbow
Authors: Podnar Simon
Published: January 2020

See editorial on pages E31–E32 in this issue.
Influence of Population Density and Length Structure on Angler Catch Rate in Kokanee Fisheries
Authors: Klein Zachary B. , Quist Michael C. , Schill Daniel J. , Dux Andrew M. , Corsi Matthew P.
Published: January 2020

Management agencies are often charged with providing fisheries that lead to angler participation. Catch rate is one of the primary drivers of angler participation but can be influenced by a suite of factors, including population structure (e.g., density and size structure). The complexity of understanding how population structure influences angler catch rate is typified in kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka fisheries. Previous research suggests that angler catch rates of kokanee are positively influenced by fish density and total length. However, that research was based on data collected using size-selective midwater trawls. Due to the potential limitation of previous research, we sought to (1) understand the relative bias of midwater trawls and gill nets for describing the size structure of kokanee available to anglers and (2) re-evaluate the influence of fish density and fish length on angler catch rates in kokanee fisheries. Midwater trawl, gill-net, and creel data were collected on five prominent kokanee fisheries throughout Idaho in 2016 and 2017. Catch composition and percent overlap of midwater trawls, gill nets, and angler-caught fish were compared to understand the efficacy of midwater trawls and gill nets for representing the size structure of kokanee available to anglers. In addition, the influence of kokanee density and length on angler catch rates was evaluated. Midwater trawls primarily sampled small kokanee (<330 mm) and exhibited little overlap with angler-caught fish, whereas gill nets sampled more large fish (>330 mm) and exhibited higher overlap with angler-caught fish when compared to midwater trawls. Fish length was not positively associated with angler catch rates. However, fish density exhibited a positive relationship with angler catch rates. Our results highlight the importance of gear choice for understanding how kokanee populations function and elucidate the tradeoffs associated with population density, fish length, and resulting kokanee fisheries.
Population Estimate of the State and Federally Threatened Spotfin Chub Using Underwater Observations
Authors: Doll Jason C. , Etchison Luke , Owensby Dylan
Published: January 2020

Determining the population demographics of threatened or endangered species can be difficult if the methods that are used must be minimally invasive. However, knowing the population status of species that are of conservation interest must be understood for successful management. We used underwater observations (i.e., snorkeling) to determine population estimates for Spotfin Chub Erimonax monachus in the Cheoah River in North Carolina, a species that is listed as threatened at both state (North Carolina) and federal levels. Seven sites were randomly selected between the Santeetlah Dam and the confluence with the Little Tennessee River. Each site was surveyed by three snorkelers who completed multipass snorkeling from July 17 to 25, 2019. The population estimates were generated with an N-mixture model and incorporated site-specific habitat. Four hundred and sixty-six observations of Spotfin Chub were recorded across all of the sites and passes. The simple model without covariates of abundance estimated a total population size of 12,139 (95% credible interval [CRI] = 9,821–15,453). Incorporating site-specific percentage of bedrock improved model fit and indicated that the percentage of bedrock was positively related to site-specific abundance. The total population size as estimated with the covariate model was 13,905 (95% CRI = 11,620–22,181). Our results yielded new insight into the status of a threatened species while confirming previous knowledge about its microhabitat use. Locally, the results of this work suggest that Spotfin Chub are well established in the Cheoah River and maintain a substrate affinity to bedrock. Broadly, the field methods that were used here are logistically feasible, cost efficient, and minimally stressful for the fish. We suggest that this methodology be considered when total and site-specific population estimates are needed to manage species of concern. Additionally, more detailed site-specific habitat can improve model estimates by explaining site-specific variability in abundance, resulting in more precise total population estimates.
High‐resolution in vivo MR‐STAT using a matrix‐free and parallelized reconstruction algorithm
Authors: van der Heide Oscar , Sbrizzi Alessandro , Luijten Peter R. , van den Berg Cornelis A.T.
Published: January 2020

MR‐STAT is a recently proposed framework that allows the reconstruction of multiple quantitative parameter maps from a single short scan by performing spatial localisation and parameter estimation on the time‐domain data simultaneously, without relying on the fast Fourier transform (FFT). To do this at high resolution, specialized algorithms are required to solve the underlying large‐scale nonlinear optimisation problem. We propose a matrix‐free and parallelized inexact Gauss–Newton based reconstruction algorithm for this purpose. The proposed algorithm is implemented on a high‐performance computing cluster and is demonstrated to be able to generate high‐resolution (1 mm 
 1 mm in‐plane resolution) quantitative parameter maps in simulation, phantom, and in vivo brain experiments. Reconstructed
and
values for the gel phantoms are in agreement with results from gold standard measurements and, for the in vivo experiments, the quantitative values show good agreement with literature values. In all experiments, short pulse sequences with robust Cartesian sampling are used, for which MR fingerprinting reconstructions are shown to fail.
Imaging findings of pericoronal myxofibrous hyperplasia: Panoramic radiography and multidetector computed tomography
Authors: Ogura Ichiro , Tanaka Satoshi , Mizutani Masutaka , Okada Yasuo
Published: January 2020

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the imaging findings of pericoronal myxofibrous hyperplasia (PMH), especially panoramic radiography and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Materials and methods

In all, 13 patients with PMH who underwent panoramic radiography and MDCT were included in this study. For patients with PMH, interpretation with panoramic radiography and MDCT findings were independently analyzed by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Any discrepancies of the imaging evaluation were resolved by consensus of the two oral and maxillofacial radiologists.

Results

Almost all cases with PMH were teenage (n = 11, 84.6%), women (n = 10, 76.9%), and maxilla (n = 9, 69.2%). Of all cases with PMH, the interpretation with panoramic radiography was as dentigerous cyst (n = 4, 30.8%) or unerupted tooth (n = 9, 69.2%). MDCT findings of all cases were expansive process around crown of impacted tooth. MDCT showed well‐defined unilocular lesion and spread of lesion to better advantage than panoramic radiography. Furthermore, the CT values of PMH were 13.9 ± 3.9 HU (range, 8.4‐22.0 HU).

Conclusions

The results of the present study indicate the clinical and imaging features of PMH. We believe that PMH is often misdiagnosed because of the overlap of its histological features with other odontogenic cysts or unerupted tooth.
Shape memory composites composed of polyurethane/ZnO nanoparticles as potential smart biomaterials
Authors: Wang Yujie , Zhang Pei , Zhao Yuchun , Dai Ruixin , Huang Miaoming , Liu Wentao , Liu Hao , He Suqin , Zhu Chengshen
Published: January 2020

Polyurethanes are commonly used as shape memory materials due to their micro‐phase separation structure. The degree of micro‐phase separation is the key factor in the shape memory properties of materials. In this study, the shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) elastomer was prepared based on polycaprolactone diols, isophorone diisocyanate, and 1, 4‐butanediol. And the branched structure is introduced by glycerol and hexamethylene diisocyanate to increase the degree of micro‐phase separation. Moreover, nano‐ZnO is also used to enhance micro‐phase separation. Atomic force microscopy images clearly show that the nano‐ZnO disperses uniformly in the polymer matrix and leads to significant change in the phase structure of SMPU. Dynamic mechanical analysis results indicate that the SMPU/ZnO nanocomposites possess two phase transition above 0°C, one is the melting transition of the soft segments, which is near the body temperature, and the other is the glass transition of hard segments. And with the addition of nano‐ZnO, the difference in transition temperature between the hard and the soft segments is significantly increased. The relationship between shape memory properties and the micro‐phase separation is explored and discussed. In vitro biocompatibility studies show that the SMPU/ZnO nanocomposites have good biosafety. Therefore, the obtained bionanocomposites have the potential application prospect as smart biomaterials.
Low‐velocity impact behavior of glass fiber‐MWCNT/polymer laminates exposed to seawater and distilled water aging
Authors: Rubio‐González Carlos , José‐Trujillo Eduardo , Rodríguez‐González Julio A. , Mornas Alexandre , Talha Abderrahim
Published: January 2020

The influence of seawater (SW) and distilled water (DW) aging on low‐velocity impact behavior of glass fiber/polymer laminates with and without multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is experimentally investigated. To this aim, unidirectional glass fiber fabrics were coated with 0.75 wt% MWCNTs by airbrushing, infused with resin (epoxy or vinylester), and cured. Then, composite laminates with and without MWCNTs were cut into specimens for low‐velocity impact testing and exposed to hydrothermal aging by immersing them to SW and DW at 60°C for ~2000 h. After that time of conditioning, dry and wet specimens were tested using a drop‐weight tower with an impact energy of 15 J. Results showed that the moisture absorption content of composite laminates exposed to SW and DW aging is considerably higher on epoxy‐based specimens with respect to vinylester ones. The impact tests revealed that the measured impact peak force and absorbed energy in wet specimens are significantly lower compared to dry specimens due to plasticizing effect of the matrix. With the incorporation of MWCNTs into the laminates, the absorbed energy is increased due to additional damage mechanisms induced at CNT‐rich regions during the impact loading. It was also found that the damage area of the laminates after impact tends to be more prominent for laminates fabricated using vinylester resin than for those using epoxy resin as a result of its brittle behavior during impact loading. Post impact damage analyses by ultrasonic C‐scan imaging and scanning electron microscopy showed that matrix cracking, fiber breakage, fiber/matrix debonding, and delamination are the main damage mechanisms induced in the dry and wet specimens during impact.
The effect of pretreatment for SiH4 gas by microwave plasma on Si film formation behavior by thermal CVD
Authors: Hamanaka Keiichi , Takei Norihisa , Kakiuchi Hiroaki , Yasutake Kiyoshi , Ohmi Hiromasa
Published: January 2020

We propose a pretreatment method for monosilane (SiH4) gas by high‐density plasma toward the relatively low‐temperature formation (≤600°C) of a crystalline Si film by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD). SiH4 reaction behaviors with the plasma are investigated by using gas‐phase Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The dependence of the Si2H6 formation characteristics on total gas flow rate and input microwave power is examined. Si2H6 gas yields with the plasma treatment for SiH4 gas increased with decreasing input microwave power and increased with increasing total gas flow rate. Si films are prepared by TCVD using the plasma‐treated SiH4 gas. As a result, the pretreatment for SiH4 gas by high‐density plasma affects not only the deposition rate but also the crystallinity of the obtained Si film. The mechanism by which Si film formation is improved by plasma treatment is discussed.
68Ga‐labeling of internalizing RGD (iRGD) peptide functionalized with DOTAGA and NODAGA chelators
Authors: Satpati Drishty , Vats Kusum , Sharma Rohit , Sarma Haladhar Dev , Dash Ashutosh
Published: January 2020

The dual interaction with integrins and neuropilin‐1 receptor is the peculiar feature of iRGD peptide. Hence, in the present study, two iRGD peptide analogs were synthesized with DOTAGA and NODAGA as bifunctional chelator and aminohexanoic acid as a spacer for radiometalation with 68GaCl3. Negatively charged 68Ga‐DOTAGA‐iRGD and neutral 68Ga‐NODAGA‐iRGD radiotracers were investigated through in vitro cell uptake studies and in vivo biodistribution studies. Significant internalization of radiotracers in murine melanoma B16F10 cells was observed during in vitro studies. During in vivo studies, tumor uptake was higher for neutral 68Ga‐NODAGA‐iRGD, but 68Ga‐DOTAGA‐iRGD exhibited better tumor‐to‐blood ratio due to faster blood clearance. High kidney uptake of the two radiotracers was the limitation, which needs to be resolved through modification either in the peptide backbone or spacer/chelator.
Effect of the fixed combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, and butterbur extracts (Ze 185) on the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines in hospitalized psychiatric patients—A retrospective case‐control investigation
Authors: Keck Martin E. , Nicolussi Simon , Spura Kerstin , Blohm Cordula , Zahner Catherine , Drewe Jürgen
Published: January 2020

Stress is an increasing problem that can result in various psychiatric and somatoform symptoms. Among others, benzodiazepines and valerian preparations are used to treat stress symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the prescription of a fixed herbal extract combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, and butterbur (Ze 185) changes the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines in hospitalized psychiatric patients. In a retrospective case‐control study, anonymized medical record data from 3,252 psychiatric in‐house patients were analysed over a 3.5‐year period. Cases (n = 1,548) with a prescription of Ze 185 and controls (n = 1,704) were matched by age, gender, hospitalization interval, and main International Classification of Diseases, Version 10 F‐diagnoses. The primary objective was to investigate the effect of Ze 185 on the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines. Secondary objectives investigated the prescriptions of concomitant drugs and effectiveness of the hospital stay. Distribution of drug classes was analysed using the WHO's anatomic‐therapeutic‐chemical code. Data showed that both treatment modalities had a comparable clinical effectiveness but with significantly less prescriptions of benzodiazepines in the Ze 185 group (p = .006). This is of clinical importance because suitable alternatives to benzodiazepines are desirable. To obtain more support for this hypothesis, a dedicated randomized, controlled clinical trial monitoring drug safety is required.
Trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic test and technical tips: A review
Authors: Aoyama Naoki , Kato Keiichi
Published: January 2020

Background

Recently, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology initiated a clinical study of preimplantation genetic test for aneuploidy. There will be a great need for a standardized embryo biopsy technique in Japan. However, the gold standard trophectoderm (TE) biopsy procedure has not been established, and this review outlines the clinical use of TE biopsy.

Methods

Based on literature, the method and associated techniques for TE biopsy, a dissection method of TE cells from blastocysts, were investigated.

Main findings

Two TE biopsy methods are used, namely assisted hatching (herniating) and non‐assisted hatching (direct suction); however, it is not clear which of these methods is superior. It is critical to understand whether the flicking or pulling method is beneficial.

Conclusion

Non‐assisted hatching biopsy method may cause blastocyst collapse with a higher probability, and it may extend the biopsy time. The biopsy procedure should be performed within 3 minutes, and thus direct TE suction may have greater disadvantages. It is a fact that pulling method of TE dissection with laser pulse is simple; however, excess laser shots may induce a higher frequency of mosaicism. It is important to understand that each technique of TE biopsy has benefits and disadvantages.
Distributed adaptive integral‐type event‐triggered cooperative output regulation of switched multiagent systems by agent‐dependent switching with dwell time
Authors: Ma Yajing , Zhao Jun
Published: January 2020

This article presents a distributed adaptive integral‐type event‐triggered scheme (ETS) and an agent‐dependent switching strategy with dwell time to solve the cooperative output regulation problem for switched multiagent systems. First, by constructing an adaptive law to dynamically update the time‐varying coupling weights for all the communication links, a fully distributed ETS is designed, where only the local information of the topology is adopted. Based on the integral‐type triggering condition, the interevent interval is substantially enlarged and Zeno behavior is explicitly ruled out. Second, each agent permits all the subsystems to be unstabilizable. The switching signal for each agent is different, and any adjacent switches of each agent satisfy the preset dwell time. Under the designed switching strategy, the solvability of the regulation problem is guaranteed. Finally, the effectiveness of the designed ETS and switching strategy is substantiated by an example.
Multikernel linear mixed model with adaptive lasso for complex phenotype prediction
Authors: Wen Yalu , Lu Qing
Published: January 2020

Linear mixed models (LMMs) and their extensions have been widely used for high‐dimensional genomic data analyses. While LMMs hold great promise for risk prediction research, the high dimensionality of the data and different effect sizes of genomic regions bring great analytical and computational challenges. In this work, we present a multikernel linear mixed model with adaptive lasso (KLMM‐AL) to predict phenotypes using high‐dimensional genomic data. We develop two algorithms for estimating parameters from our model and also establish the asymptotic properties of LMM with adaptive lasso when only one dependent observation is available. The proposed KLMM‐AL can account for heterogeneous effect sizes from different genomic regions, capture both additive and nonadditive genetic effects, and adaptively and efficiently select predictive genomic regions and their corresponding effects. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that KLMM‐AL outperforms most of existing methods. Moreover, KLMM‐AL achieves high sensitivity and specificity of selecting predictive genomic regions. KLMM‐AL is further illustrated by an application to the sequencing dataset obtained from the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative.
Nanosilver Mitigates Biofilm Formation via FapC Amyloidosis Inhibition
Authors: Huma Zil‐e , Javed Ibrahim , Zhang Zhenzhen , Bilal Hajira , Sun Yunxiang , Hussain Syed Zajif , Davis Thomas P. , Otzen Daniel E. , Landersdorfer Cornelia B. , Ding Feng , Hussain Irshad , Ke Pu Chun
Published: January 2020

Multidrug resistance of bacteria is a major challenge due to the wide‐spread use of antibiotics. While a range of strategies have been developed in recent years, suppression of bacterial activity and virulence via their network of extracellular amyloid has rarely been explored, especially with nanomaterials. Here, silver nanoparticles and nanoclusters (AgNPs and AgNCs) capped with cationic branched polyethylenimine polymer are synthesized, and their antimicrobial potentials are determined at concentrations safe to mammalian cells. Compared with the ultrasmall AgNCs, AgNPs entail stronger binding to suppress the fibrillization of FapC, a major protein constituent of the extracellular amyloid matrix of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both types of nanoparticles exhibit concentration‐dependent antibiofilm and antimicrobial properties against P. aeruginosa. At concentrations of 1 × 10−6 m or below, both the bactericidal activity of AgNCs and the antibiofilm capacity of AgNPs are associated with their structure‐mediated bio–nano interactions but not ion release. For AgNPs, specifically, their antibiofilm potency correlates with their capacity of FapC fibrillization inhibition, but not with their bactericidal activity. This study demonstrates the antimicrobial potential of safe nanotechnology through the novel route of amyloidosis inhibition.
Microalgal Hydrogen Production
Authors: Wang Yue , Yang Huanling , Zhang Xinna , Han Fei , Tu Wenfeng , Yang Wenqiang
Published: January 2020

Microalgae, as facultative aerobic organisms, convert solar energy to produce biohydrogen under anaerobic condition. Biohydrogen is a kind of ideal clean and renewable energy source with great commercial potential. Many endeavors have been focused on improving the biohydrogen yields by various means. Here, the research history of hydrogen production by microalgae (including cyanobacteria and green algae), the characteristics of nitrogenase and hydrogenase, the mechanisms of hydrogen production, the technological progress, and the application of enzymatic, genetic, and metabolic engineering methods to improve hydrogen production by microalgae are reviewed. In addition, the regulation of anaerobic metabolisms of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii after the disruption of key enzymes functioning in the fermentative pathways is discussed. Finally, the main challenges and obstacles facing the more efficient production and commercialization of hydrogen production from microalgae in the future are proposed.
A Freestanding Flexible Single‐Atom Cobalt‐Based Multifunctional Interlayer toward Reversible and Durable Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Li Yiju , Zhou Peng , Li Hui , Gao Tingting , Zhou Lei , Zhang Yelong , Xiao Ni , Xia Zhonghong , Wang Liang , Zhang Qinghua , Gu Lin , Guo Shaojun
Published: January 2020

The development of Li‐S batteries is greatly hindered by the polysulfide shuttling and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, leading to low utilization of active materials and rapid capacity decay. Herein, a freestanding multifunctional interlayer, prepared by layer‐by‐layer assembling of the single‐atom cobalt‐anchored nitrogen‐doped carbon nanosheets (NC@SA‐Co) and dual network of carbon nanotube‐cellulose nanofiber (CNT‐CNF) hybrid, is proposed to effectively enhance the polysulfide immobilization and sulfur redox kinetics. The conductive CNT network acts as the physical barrier to confine the polysulfide diffusion and to facilitate the reuse of polysulfides. The oxygen‐group‐terminated CNF network allows the hopping of Li+ ion and suppresses the polysulfide crossover due to the strong electrostatic repulsion. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the 2D NC@SA‐Co with numerous well‐defined single sites of Co–N4 can effectively serve as an electrocatalyst to boost the reversible reaction of polysulfides. As a result, the assembled Li‐S batteries with the multifunctional interlayer deliver a high reversible specific capacity of 1160 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and an ultralow capacity decay of 0.058% per cycle over 700 cycles. Even with a high sulfur loading of 7.2 mg cm−2, a high areal capacity of 8.3 mAh cm−2 can be achieved.
Software fault prediction using particle swarm algorithm with genetic algorithm and support vector machine classifier
Authors: Alsghaier Hiba , Akour Mohammed
Published: January 2020

Software fault prediction is a process of developing modules that are used by developers in order to help them to detect faulty classes or faulty modules in early phases of the development life cycle and to determine the modules that need more refactoring in the maintenance phase. Software reliability means the probability of failure has occurred during a period of time, so when we describe a system as not reliable, it means that it contains many errors, and these errors can be accepted in some systems, but it may lead to crucial problems in critical systems like aircraft, space shuttle, and medical systems. Therefore, locating faulty software modules is an essential step because it helps defining the modules that need more refactoring or more testing. In this article, an approach is developed by integrating genetics algorithm (GA) with support vector machine (SVM) classifier and particle swarm algorithm for software fault prediction as a stand though for better software fault prediction technique. The developed approach is applied into 24 datasets (12‐NASA MDP and 12‐Java open‐source projects), where NASA MDP is considered as a large‐scale dataset and Java open‐source projects are considered as a small‐scale dataset. Results indicate that integrating GA with SVM and particle swarm algorithm improves the performance of the software fault prediction process when it is applied into large‐scale and small‐scale datasets and overcome the limitations in the previous studies.
The role of glass powder in concrete with respect to its engineering performances using two closely different particle sizes
Authors: Patel Dhirendra , Shrivastava Ravikant , Tiwari R. P. , Yadav R. K.
Published: January 2020

One aspect of this paper is to examine the role of glass powder minerals in creating the pozzolanic compounds with usefulness in replacing traditional ordinary Portland cement and effectiveness toward conserving earth resources. Besides this, the study analyzes the effect of two closely mentioned particle size (GP75 and GP63) with 0–20% substitution on the behavior of concrete. To validate the blended system serviceability with control, the results are analyzed with the three‐way data presentation. The properties of specimen at fresh and hardening stages are compiled for 7, 28, and 90 days of curing period. The results of the study with respect to control and blended mixes describe that workability is not varied significantly up to 20% inclusion and the pozzolanic activity of GP63 is higher than that of the GP75, as the SAI value observed is 87–117% and 81–108%, respectively. In terms of strength, it is the bunch of compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength behavior demonstrating that up to 20% substitution level the gain in strength is progressive. The static and dynamic modulus of blended mix shows no significant difference at 28 days with control concrete. Moreover, the combination of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray micrography, and nondestructive mode of testing also features the accountability in this respect.
Seismic retrofit design and risk assessment of an irregular thermal power plant building
Authors: Wang Jianze , Dai Kaoshan , Li Bowei , Li Bo , Liu Yang , Mei Zhu , Yin Yexian , Li Jiahong
Published: January 2020

Electric power system is one of essential lifeline systems for an urban community. An actual power plant building with typical coal‐fired power generation process is selected to be studied in this paper. The detrimental impacts on the seismic performance of the structural system induced by heavy coal bunkers and irregular bracing configurations are expected to be mitigated by using retrofit strategies. A total of three retrofit design schemes that employ the isolation and supplemental damping techniques are developed. The original design scheme of the actual thermal power plant building that adopts steel special concentrically braced frame as lateral‐force resisting system is used as benchmark for comparison purposes. Nonlinear response‐history analyses are performed, and the obtained seismic responses are compared. To better quantify the benefit of the considered retrofit strategies, seismic risk in terms of probabilities of exceeding designated damage states as well as the downtime are analyzed. For the studied thermal power plant building, the results show that the added damping system is more effective in seismic risk reduction than the isolation for heavy coal bunkers. Compared to the original structural system design, the use of supplemental damping system cut the downtime of the thermal power plant building at most 42%.
Revisiting the typification of Bocconia frutescens (Papaveraceae)
Authors: Galán‐de‐Mera Antonio , Linares‐Perea Eliana , Vicente‐Orellana José A.
Published: January 2020

The current lectotype of Bocconia frutescens at LINN is shown not to comprise original material and must be overturned. We select an illustration by Sloane based on a specimen at BM, as lectotype.
Active surveillance for prostate cancer: an update
Authors: Merriel Sam
Published: January 2020

An increasing number of men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer has been accompanied by more men being considered for active surveillance as a management option. Here the author provides an update on recent developments in active surveillance and changes to NICE guidance.
Microscopic haematuria in general practice
Authors: Woodhouse Christopher
Published: January 2020

Investigation of gross haematuria is warranted because of the prevalence of cancer. However, opinion varies for non‐visible haematuria and decisions about who should be investigated further or referred depend on a variety of factors.
Cholera: what every doctor should know
Authors: Brightman Christopher
Published: January 2020

In 1817 there was a major outbreak of cholera in India that spread to Asia and Europe. The disease reached England in 1831, and war in America and Europe helped its spread. Here the author describes the bacteriology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this notifiable disease.
O‐MedAL: Online active deep learning for medical image analysis
Authors: Smailagic Asim , Costa Pedro , Gaudio Alex , Khandelwal Kartik , Mirshekari Mostafa , Fagert Jonathon , Walawalkar Devesh , Xu Susu , Galdran Adrian , Zhang Pei , Campilho Aurélio , Noh Hae Young
Published: January 2020

Active learning (AL) methods create an optimized labeled training set from unlabeled data. We introduce a novel online active deep learning method for medical image analysis. We extend our MedAL AL framework to present new results in this paper. A novel sampling method queries the unlabeled examples that maximize the average distance to all training set examples. Our online method enhances performance of its underlying baseline deep network. These novelties contribute to significant performance improvements, including improving the model's underlying deep network accuracy by 6.30%, using only 25% of the labeled dataset to achieve baseline accuracy, reducing backpropagated images during training by as much as 67%, and demonstrating robustness to class imbalance in binary and multiclass tasks.

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Machine Learning

Technologies > Classification

Application Areas > Health Care
Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease Impacts on the Pathophysiology and Phenotype of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
Authors: Moulignier Antoine , Costagliola Dominique
Published: January 2020

Evidence from epidemiological studies on the general population suggests that midlife cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia later in life. In the modern combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) era, as in the general population, CVD and MetS were strongly and independently associated with poorer cognitive performances of sustained immunovirologically controlled persons living with human immunodeficiency viruses (PLHIVs). Those findings suggest that CV/metabolic comorbidities could be implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and might be more important than factors related to HIV infection or its treatment, markers of immunocompetence, or virus replication. The association between CVD/MetS and cognition decline is driven by still not well-understood mechanisms, but risk might well be the consequence of increased brain inflammation and vascular changes, notably cerebral small-vessel disease. In this review, we highlight the correspondences observed between the findings concerning CVD and MetS in the general population and virus-suppressed cART-treated PLHIVs to evaluate the real brain-aging processes. Indeed, incomplete HIV control mainly reflects HIV-induced brain damage described during the first decades of the pandemic. Given the growing support that CVD and MetS are associated with HAND, it is crucial to improve early detection and assure appropriate management of these conditions.
Deposit-scale structural architecture of the Sigma-Lamaque gold deposit, Canada—insights from a newly proposed 3D method for assessing structural controls from drill hole data
Authors: Cowan E. J.
Published: January 2020

Deposit-scale structural analysisis a practical method of structurally analyzing 3D drilling data. This interpretation method uses readily available distributed 3D data at the most relevant scale for mining and exploration. This method does not depend on collecting traditional structural data from core, such as orientation of planar and linear data, but relies on the premise that grade distributions sampled from drilling provide insight into the structural control of the deposit, with the interpretation of structural geometry done using a computer 3D viewer. This method is applied to the well-studied Archean Sigma-Lamaque gold deposit, which features late-orogenic vein mineralization, and which is controlled by three orders of structural features. The first-order control is the easterly plunging pipe-like conduit parallel to F2fold plunge defined by the intersection of bedding (S0) and foliation (S2) (~ 1.5 km radius × 3 km down-plunge). The second-order controls, nested within the first-order, are the younger subvertical Late Diorite plugs that intruded vertically into the host rocks along the established S2foliation anisotropy (1250:400:150 m dimension for Main Plug). The third-order control, laterally limited by first- and second-order structural controls, is the well-documented gold-bearing vein sets (1–10 m thick and up to 1.5 km in extent) that developed in the Late Diorites and in the older folded volcanogenic stratigraphy and diorites. It is proposed that the first-order control defined by the moderately plunging F2fold is the main fluid pathway resulting from structural permeability formed during earlier folding. The second-order Late Diorite plugs and other competent lithological units, which intersected and fractured during late-stage D2compression, served as chemically reactive sites causing gold to precipitate along this first-order pathway. It is predicted that intrusions that do not intersect the first-order structural conduits are less likely to be mineralized. Greenfield orogenic-gold exploration requires that the first-order controls are identified, and the geometry of hydrothermal alteration is best understood in the context of the structural architecture of the host rocks.
Smart design engineering: a literature review of the impact of the 4th industrial revolution on product design and development
Authors: Pereira Pessôa Marcus Vinicius , Jauregui Becker Juan Manuel
Published: January 2020

Industrial revolutions (IRs) are mostly associated with how transformations regarding the operations of an enterprise affect said enterprise’s manufacturing systems. However, the impact of these transformations exceeds the production systems themselves; rather, they affect the entire value chain, from the product design and development process (PDDP) through manufacturing and supply-chain management to marketing and disposal. As the new PDDP to a large extent defines the value chain for a company, the challenge lies in ensuring that the designed product will help the company fully benefit from the IRs. By analysing the 4th IR, the authors reveal that few publications shed light on this aspect. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to establish features and properties that will shape the PDDP throughout the 4th IR and into a smart design engineering. To accomplish this, the authors conduct a systematic review of the literature, which provides ten findings. These findings are then analysed by 11 specialists both from academia and the industry, and the findings’ relations to the 4th IR and their impact on the product development process is discussed. By establishing these findings, this paper provides a platform for the understanding of what could potentially shape smart design engineering and its design-related activities.
Impaired Bone Microarchitecture in Patients with Hereditary Hemochromatosis and Skeletal Complications
Authors: Jandl Nico Maximilian , Rolvien Tim , Schmidt Tobias , Mussawy Haider , Nielsen Peter , Oheim Ralf , Amling Michael , Barvencik Florian
Published: January 2020

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) is characterized by excessive intestinal iron absorption resulting in a pathological increase of iron levels. Parenchyma damage may be a consequence of iron deposition in affected organs (e.g., liver, pancreas, gonads) as well as bones and joints, leading to osteoporosis with increased fracture risk and arthropathy. Up to date, it is not known whether HHC can also be considered as a risk factor for osteonecrosis. Likewise, the underlying skeletal changes are unknown regarding, e.g., microstructural properties of bone. We aimed to study the spectrum of skeletal complications in HHC and the possible underlying microarchitectural changes. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed all patients with HHC (n = 10) presenting in our outpatient clinic for bone diseases. In addition to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) was performed and bone turnover markers, 25-OH-D3, ferritin and transferrin saturation were measured. Cortical volumetric bone mineral density (Ct.BMD) and cortical thickness (Ct.Th) were reduced, whereas trabecular microstructure (Tb.Th) and volumetric bone mineral density (Tb.BMD) were preserved compared to age- and gender-adjusted reference values from the literature. Interestingly, the occurrence of bone complications was age dependent; while younger patients presented with osteonecroses or transient bone marrow edema, patients older than 65 years presented with fractures. Our study provides first insights into altered bone microarchitecture in HHC and sheds new light on the occurrence of osteonecrosis. If available, HR-pQCT is a useful complement to fracture risk assessment and to determine microstructural deterioration and volumetric bone mineralization deficits.
Establishing the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory (ZCMEI-21) in patients treated for chronic middle ear disease
Authors: Bächinger David , Mlynski Robert , Weiss Nora M.
Published: January 2020

Aim

To determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory (ZCMEI-21), a questionnaire assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in chronic otitis media (COM).

Methods

In this longitudinal study, 103 patients completed the ZCMEI-21 before and after surgery for chronic otitis media. An anchor-based method including a global rating of change (GRC) was used to assess the MCID of the ZCMEI-21.

Results

A total of 103 patients were included. The mean preoperative and postoperative ZCMEI-21 scores were 28.6 (SD 13.6), and 21.8 (SD 12.8), respectively. The mean change was 6.8 (SD 0.8; p < 0.0001). A significant correlation between the ZCMEI-21 scores and the GRC was found (r =  − 0.5; p < 0.001). Using the anchor-based method, the MCID of the ZCMEI-21 was estimated at 5.3 (SD 12.0).

Conclusions

Knowledge of values indicating a clinically relevant change in patient-reported outcome measures is important when interpreting effects of different treatment modalities. This is the first study assessing the MCID of a questionnaire measuring HRQoL in COM, i.e. the ZCMEI-21. We recommend a MCID of 5 in COM patients undergoing surgical treatment. This information substantially increases the usefulness of the ZCMEI-21 as an outcome measure in COM as changes can be assessed with regard to their clinical meaningfulness.
Intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) inPinus nigra(J. F. Arnold) at high-elevation in the central Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Piermattei Alma , Campelo Filipe , Büntgen Ulf , Crivellaro Alan , Garbarino Matteo , Urbinati Carlo
Published: January 2020

Although wood anatomical features can provide yearly resolved climatic information at sub-seasonal resolution, the occurrence of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) might be triggered by several abiotic factors under different ecological settings. Here, we use information on cambial age and tree-ring width to standardize the frequency of IADFs in European black pines from three different mountain slopes in the central Apennines (Italy). At each site, we sampled isolated 15–30-year pioneer pines above the forest limit, as well as close-grown 40–60-year planted pines at the forest limit. Mainly restricted to the latewood of both pioneer and planted trees, the occurrence of IADFs reveals a significant positive relationship with cambial age and ring width. Although the standardized IADFs are well synchronized between the planted and pioneer pines, the frequency of IADFs in narrow rings was higher in the pioneer pines. Drought conditions in July and August are responsible for the highest IADFs frequency in planted and pioneer pines, respectively. Our study underlines the value of IADFs to obtain a more nuanced understanding of the climatic drivers of wood formation at the intra-annual scale.
Fracture load of 3D printed PEEK inlays compared with milled ones, direct resin composite fillings, and sound teeth
Authors: Prechtel Alexander , Stawarczyk Bogna , Hickel Reinhard , Edelhoff Daniel , Reymus Marcel
Published: January 2020

Objective

The objective of this in vitro study was to investigate fracture load, fracture types, and impact of chewing simulation of human molars restored with 3D printed indirect polyetheretherketone (PEEK) inlays and compare these with milled indirect PEEK inlays, direct resin composite fillings, and sound teeth.

Materials and methods

A total of 112 molars with form congruent class I cavities were restored with (n = 16/group) 3D printed indirect PEEK inlays via fused layer manufacturing (FLM): (1) Essentium PEEK (ESS), (2) KetaSpire PEEK MS-NT1 (KET), (3) VESTAKEEP i4 G (VES), (4) VICTREX PEEK 450G (VIC), (5) milled indirect PEEK inlays JUVORA Dental Disc 2 (JUV), and (6) direct resin composite fillings out of Tetric EvoCeram (TET). Sound teeth (7) acted as positive control group. Half of the specimens of each group (n = 8) were treated in a chewing simulator combined with thermal cycling (1.2 million × 50 N; 12,000 × 5 °C/55 °C). Fracture load and fracture types of all molars were determined. Statistical analyses using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and two-way ANOVA with partial eta squared (ηp2) followed by Scheffé post hoc test, chi square test and Weibull modulusmwith 95% confidence interval were computed (p < 0.05).

Results

ESS and TET demonstrated the lowest fracture load with a minimum of 956 N, whereas sound molars showed the highest values of up to 2981 N. Chewing simulation indicated no impact (p = 0.132). With regard to Weibull modulus, KET presented a lower value after chewing simulation than JUV, whereas TET had the highest value without chewing simulation. All indirect restorations revealed a tooth fracture (75–100%), direct resin composite fillings showed a restoration fracture (87.5%), and 50% of the sound teeth fractured completely or had cusp fractures.

Conclusions

All 3D printed and milled indirect PEEK inlays as well as the direct resin composite fillings presented a higher fracture load than the expected physiological and maximum chewing forces.

Clinical relevance

3D printing of inlays out of PEEK via FLM provided promising results in mechanics, but improvements in terms of precision and esthetics will be required to be practicable in vivo to represent an alternative dental material.
Probabilistische Modellierung und Vorhersage der Standzeit und Zuverlässigkeit eines Fräswerkzeugs mittels der Bayesianischen Statistik
Authors: Salehi M. , Wald G. , Schmitz T. L. , Haas R. , Ovtcharova J.
Published: January 2020

In diesem Artikel wird die probabilistische Modellierung und Vorhersage für die Standzeit und Zuverlässigkeit eines Fräswerkzeugs mittels der Bayesianischen Statistik beschrieben. Zur Entwicklung des probabilistischen Modells wird eine Markov-Chain-Monte-Carlo-Simulation (MCMC) auf das Taylor-Standzeit-Modell angewendet. Die A‑priori-Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen werden aus der Literaturrecherche ermittelt. Aus anschließenden Fräsversuchen werden ein Trainings- und ein Testdatensatz generiert. Die Versuche werden in einem Bereich der Schnittgeschwindigkeiten von 300 bis 400 m/min durchgeführt. Die A‑posteriori-Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen werden unter Verwendung des Trainingssatzes berechnet. Mittels der trainierten A‑posteriori-Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen werden anschließend die Testdatensätze bei den Schnittgeschwindigkeiten von 300 bis 400 m/min vorhergesagt. Es folgt ein Vergleich des probabilistischen Standzeitmodells mit den Testdatensätzen. Anschließend werden die A‑posteriori-Verteilungen der Werkzeugstandzeit verwendet, um eine Zuverlässigkeitsanalyse unter Verwendung der Zuverlässigkeitsfunktion in Abhängigkeit der Schnittgeschwindigkeit durchzuführen. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Werkzeugstandzeit- und Zuverlässigkeitsfunktion die gemessenen Werkzeugstandzeiten innerhalb der Unsicherheitsintervalle mit einem maximalen Vorhersagefehler von 18 % mit lediglich zwei Trainingsdatenpunkten vorhersagen können.