bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecularly imprinted polymer functionalized magnetic Fe3O4 for the highly selective extraction of triclosan
Authors: Kong Xuan , Li Fei , Li Yijun , He Xiwen , Chen Langxing , Zhang Yukui
Published: December 2019

We present a facile strategy to prepare the molecularly imprinted polymers layer on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with core‐shell structure via sol–gel condensation for recognition and enrichment of triclosan. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were first synthesized by a solvothermal method. Then, template triclosan was self‐assembled with the functional monomer 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane on the silica‐coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the presence of ethanol and water. Finally, the molecularly imprinted polymers were formed on the surface of silica‐coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles to obtain the product. The morphology, magnetic susceptibility, adsorption, and recognition property of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, vibrating sample magnetometry, and re‐binding experiments. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers showed binding sites with good accessibility, fast adsorption rate, and high adsorption capacity (218.34 μg/g) to triclosan. The selectivity of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers was evaluated by the rebinding capability of triclosan and two other structural analogues (phenol and p‐chlorophenol) in a mixed solution and good selectivity with an imprinting factor of 2.46 was obtained. The application of triclosan removal in environmental samples was demonstrated.
Efficient separation of tocopherol homologues in vegetable oil by ionic‐liquid‐based countercurrent chromatography using a non‐aqueous biphasic system
Authors: Fan Chen , Li Nai , Cao Xueli
Published: December 2019

Tocopherol homologues are important fat‐soluble bioactive compounds with high nutritional value. However, it is of great challenge to separate these homologues because of their high structural similarities. In this work, ionic‐liquid‐based countercurrent chromatography was used for the separation and purification of tocopherol homologues. Conventional countercurrent chromatography and ionic‐liquid‐based countercurrent chromatography solvent systems were evaluated in respect of partition coefficient, separation factor, and stationary phase retention factor to separate these targets. Kind of ionic liquids, amount of ionic liquid, and sample amount were systematically optimized. A novel countercurrent chromatography non‐aqueous biphasic system composed of n‐hexane‐methanol‐1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride was established. The baseline separation of tocopherol mixtures was obtained in one cycle process. The ionic liquid played a key role in the countercurrent chromatography separation, which resulted in difference of partition behavior of individual tocopherol in the whole system through different hydrogen‐bonding affinity. Finally, n‐hexane‐methanol‐1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (5:5:3, v/v) water‐free biphasic system was successfully applied to separate tocopherol homologues from vegetable oil that was not achieved beforehand. This method can be widely employed to separate many similar molecules such as tocotrienols, tocomonoenols, and marine‐derived tocopherol in food samples.
Fetal Nasal Bone Length in the East African Population
Authors: Burn Sabrina C. , Markese Amy , Bangdiwala Ananta , Gill Lisa , Jacobs Katherine
Published: December 2019

Objectives

To establish normal ranges of fetal nasal bone length throughout gestation in the East African population and to subsequently compare these measurements with the standardized reference.

Methods

A retrospective cross‐sectional study was performed at the University of Minnesota from January 2011 to December 2016. Fetal nasal bone length measurements were generated in a midsagittal plane at an angle of insonation of 45° from ultrasound images of 1407 nonanomalous fetuses of 1130 mothers of East African decent between 14 and 40 weeks’ gestation. The proportion of fetal nasal bone lengths of less than 5.2 mm at week 20 of gestation in the East African population was then compared with the 5% noted by the standardized reference by a χ2 test.

Results

The fetal nasal bone length increased linearly with advancing gestational age in fetuses of East African mothers (R2 = 0.53; P < .0001). The fetal nasal bone lengths of the East African fetuses were found to be shorter at all ages of gestation compared with the standard reference. At 20 weeks’ gestation 17% (95% confidence interval, 13%–22%) of the nasal bone lengths of the East African fetuses were less than 5.2 mm compared with 5% of white and African American fetuses.

Conclusions

Using the standard reference may lead to a greater than 3.5‐fold overdiagnosis of hypoplastic nasal bones in the East African population. To improve aneuploidy risk stratification and patient counseling in the East African population, the introduction of a standardized East African–based fetal nasal bone length reference seems warranted.
Chronic Kidney Disease in Liver Transplant Candidates: A Rising Burden Impacting Post–Liver Transplant Outcomes
Authors: Cullaro Giuseppe , Verna Elizabeth C. , Lee Brian P. , Lai Jennifer C.
Published: December 2019

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising among patients with cirrhosis, though it is not known what impact this has had on outcomes after liver transplantation (LT). All patients listed for LT in the United States between 2002 and 2017 were analyzed, excluding those listed with Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exceptions. The primary outcome was post‐LT mortality. We defined pre‐LT CKD as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/minute for 90 days or ≥42 days of hemodialysis. Cox regression determined the association between pre‐LT CKD and post‐LT mortality. Of 78,640 LT candidates, the proportion with CKD among LT recipients increased from 7.8% in 2002 to 14.6% in 2017 (test for trend, P < 0.001). Among the 39,719 LT recipients, pre‐LT CKD was significantly associated with post‐LT mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; P < 0.001) even after adjusting for donor risk index (DRI), age, MELD, etiology, hepatic encephalopathy, simultaneous liver‐kidney transplantation (SLKT), and diabetes. There was no mediating influence of SLKT on the effect of pre‐LT CKD on post‐LT survival (P > 0.05). Therefore, pre‐LT CKD has a deleterious impact on post‐LT outcomes, which is an impact that is not mediated through SLKT. These findings highlight the need for the identification of CKD when preventative measures are possible.
Dynamic glucose‐enhanced (DGE) MRI in the human brain at 7 T with reduced motion‐induced artifacts based on quantitative R1ρ mapping
Authors: Boyd Philip S. , Breitling Johannes , Zimmermann Ferdinand , Korzowski Andreas , Zaiss Moritz , Schuenke Patrick , Weinfurtner Nina , Schlemmer Heinz‐Peter , Ladd Mark E. , Bachert Peter , Paech Daniel , Goerke Steffen
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Dynamic glucose‐enhanced (DGE)‐MRI based on chemical exchange‐sensitive MRI, that is, glucoCEST and gluco‐chemical exchange‐sensitive spin‐lock (glucoCESL), is intrinsically prone to motion‐induced artifacts because the final DGE contrast relies on the difference of images, which were acquired with a time gap of several mins. In this study, identification of different types of motion‐induced artifacts led to the development of a 3D acquisition protocol for DGE examinations in the human brain at 7 T with improved robustness in the presence of subject motion.

Methods

DGE‐MRI was realized by the chemical exchange‐sensitive spin‐lock approach based either on relaxation rate in the rotating frame (R1ρ)‐weighted or quantitative R1ρ imaging. A 3D image readout was implemented at 7 T, enabling retrospective volumetric coregistration of the image series and quantification of subject motion. An examination of a healthy volunteer without administration of glucose allowed for the identification of isolated motion‐induced artifacts.

Results

Even after coregistration, significant motion‐induced artifacts remained in the DGE contrast based on R1ρ‐weighted images. This is due to the spatially varying sensitivity of the coil and was found to be compensated by a quantitative R1ρ approach. The coregistered quantitative approach allowed the observation of a clear increase of the DGE contrast in a patient with glioblastoma, which did not correlate with subject motion.

Conclusion

The presented 3D acquisition protocol enables DGE‐MRI examinations in the human brain with improved robustness against motion‐induced artifacts. Correction of motion‐induced artifacts is of high importance for DGE‐MRI in clinical studies where an unambiguous assignment of contrast changes due to an actual change in local glucose concentration is a prerequisite.
Semantic processing event‐related potential features in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Wang Kui , Zhao Yan‐li , Tan Shu‐ping , Zhang Jin‐guo , Li Dong , Chen Jing‐xu , Zhang Li‐gang , Yu Xin‐yang , Zhao Dan , Cheung Eric F. C. , Turetsky Bruce I. , Gur Ruben C. , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: December 2019

Impairment in semantic association has been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) patients and could underlie abnormal speech patterns in both disorders. In this study, we compared the electrophysiological semantic processing features in patients with these two disorders. Participants (n = 61; BD = 19; SZ = 19; healthy controls [HCs] = 23) were administered a semantic judgment task and event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Responses of the two patient groups were significantly slower than HCs, but comparable behavioral semantic priming effects were observed in both patient groups. The N400 priming effect was observed in all groups, with a delayed peak in the two patient groups. The N400 effect was enhanced for both BD and SZ patients over the left frontal and frontal pole region, but SZ patients showed additional reduction of N400 over the right posterior and occipital regions. The N400 mean amplitudes for related targets correlated with less severe negative symptoms in patients with SZ. Discriminant functional analysis using reaction time and N400 measures successfully classified 82% of the participants into their respective clinical groups. These results suggest that patients with BD and SZ have both overlapping and distinctive semantic processing dysfunction. These findings are consistent with the continuum conceptualization of these disorders, but also offer some support for the traditional Kraepelinian dichotomy.
Capacity Assessment of Prosthetic Performance for the Upper Limb (CAPPFUL): Characterization of Normative Kinematics and Performance
Authors: Boyle Alec , Prejean Brian , Ruhde Logan , Pool Kasey , Bollinger Christopher , Miguelez John , Conyers Dan , Ryan Tiffany , Kontson Kimberly L.
Published: December 2019

Background

Evaluation of maladaptive compensatory movement is important to objectively identify the impact of prosthetic rehabilitative intervention on body mechanics. The Capacity Assessment of Prosthetic Performance for the Upper Limb (CAPPFUL) scores this type of compensation by comparing movements of the prosthesis user to movements of individuals with intact, sound upper limbs (ULs). However, expected movements of individuals with sound, intact ULs have not been studied for the set of tasks performed in the CAPPFUL.

Objective

To enhance the scoring approach for the maladaptive compensatory movement domain of the CAPPFUL by defining normative kinematic movement and characterizing variability and repeatability.

Design

Clinical measurement.

Setting

Laboratories at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and University of Texas‐Arlington.

Participants

Convenience sample of 20 participants with no upper limb (UL) disability or impairment.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measurements

Kinematic trajectories, range of motion, maximum angle, and completion time were calculated. Repeatability and intersubject variability were assessed by calculating Pearsonʼs correlation coefficient (R), adjusted coefficient of multiple correlation (CMCadj), and max SD (SDmax) for nine joint angles at the elbow, shoulder, neck, and torso.

Results

For most joints evaluated, repeatability was lower (R < 0.8) for CAPPFUL 3‐Zip vest, CAPPFUL 7‐Cut w/ knife, and CAPPFUL 8‐Squeeze water, implying inconsistent approaches within a subject from trial to trial for a given task. For most tasks, the joint angle SDmax across all participants was <20°. The approach for completing CAPPFUL 1 ‐ Weights in crate and CAPPFUL 4 ‐ Pick up dice was generally similar across participants (CMCadj >0.4). For other tasks, however, different approaches across participants at the torso and shoulder joint can be seen.

Conclusion(s)

This work established the expected movements of individuals with sound, intact ULs for tasks performed in the CAPPFUL that can be used to inform consistent, standardized scoring of the maladaptive compensatory movement domain.
From migrant student to migrant employee: Three models of the school‐to‐work transition of mainland Chinese in Hong Kong
Authors: Peng Yinni
Published: December 2019

Against the backdrop of the internationalisation of higher education and the increasing migration of young people in recent decades, how migrant students experience their school‐to‐work transition in host societies has become an important issue. Although the literature has explored the school‐to‐work transition of migrant students in higher education from a structural and an individual perspective, most studies have analysed this transition as a one‐time decision or focused on the migrant students' job‐hunting tactics. This study enriches the discussion of the intersection of youth transition and migration by discussing transition as a process of multiple and connected events, continuous experiences, and subjective interpretations. It demonstrates the diversity of the transition process in three models, proactive, challenging, and accommodative, and highlights the processual nature of transition with temporal, spatial, biographical, and emotional dimensions.
Monitoring recombinant protein expression in bacteria by rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry
Authors: Sarsby Joscelyn , McLean Lynn , Harman Victoria M. , Beynon Robert J.
Published: November 2019

Rationale

There is increasing interest in methods of direct analysis mass spectrometry that bypass complex sample preparation steps.

Methods

One of the most interesting new ionisation methods is rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (REIMS) in which samples are vapourised and the combustion products are subsequently ionised and analysed by mass spectrometry (Synapt G2si). The only sample preparation required is the recovery of a cell pellet from a culture that can be analysed immediately.

Results

We demonstrate that REIMS can be used to monitor the expression of heterologous recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Clear segregation was achievable between bacteria harvesting plasmids that were strongly expressed and other cultures in which the plasmid did not result in the expression of large amounts of recombinant product.

Conclusions

REIMS has considerable potential as a near‐instantaneous monitoring tool for protein production in a biotechnology environment.
Fault diagnosis and fault‐tolerant control based on Laplace transform for nonlinear networked control systems with random delay
Authors: Li Lifan , Yao Lina , Jin Haokun , Zhou Jinglin
Published: December 2019

Aiming at the problem of random delay for nonlinear networked control systems, a Laplace transform strategy is used to obtain the description of the random time‐delay block in the frequency domain in this paper and the equivalent system without delay can be obtained based on the output response expectation equivalent principle. Then, the fault diagnosis observer is designed to estimate the state and fault of the equivalent system simultaneously. The fault‐tolerant controller based on PI control algorithm and adaptive compensation is designed. Both the observer gain and fault tolerance controller gain are obtained by solving the linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified by the simulation and experiment results.
Deferoxamine pretreatment inhibits metal neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Alves Carla , Zancan Natália Piva , Concato Ani Carla , Vanin Ana Paula , Tamagno Wagner A. , Tessaro Diego , Kaizer Rosilene R.
Published: December 2019

Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly common in humans. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of extracellular plaques containing β‐amyloid peptides and neurofibrillary tangles in the brains. Researchers have focused on the elucidation of a correlation between high concentrations of aluminum or iron (in the organism with observed neuropathology). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aluminum and iron on the behavioral parameters (pharyngeal pumping and defecation cycle) of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans pretreated with deferoxamine (DFX). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was evaluated as well. DFX is a chelant that is widely used for the treatment of metal toxicity, and it has a high affinity for aluminum and iron. The worms were pretreated with DFX, and then exposed to aluminum and iron. In the absence of DFX, aluminum exposure decreased pharyngeal pumping compared with that in the control group. The defecation cycle of the control was significantly different from that of the worms exposed to aluminum. In contrast, an increased defecation cycle was observed in worms exposed to iron without DFX pretreatment. AChE activity increased in aluminum‐exposed groups that received DFX pretreatment compared with those that did not receive pretreatment. These results suggest that pretreatment with DFX is effective in reducing metal toxicity, particularly with reference to AChE activity, which did not decrease in groups that did not receive DFX pretreatment.
Superconformal blocks for mixed 1/2-BPS correlators with SU(2) R-symmetry
Authors: Baume Florent , Fuchs Michael , Lawrie Craig
Published: December 2019

Abstract

For SCFTs with an SU(2) R-symmetry, we determine the superconformal blocks that contribute to the four-point correlation function of a priori distinct half-BPS superconformal primaries as an expansion in terms of the relevant bosonic conformal blocks. This is achieved by using the superconformal Casimir equation and the superconformal Ward identity to fix the coefficients of the bosonic blocks uniquely in a dimension-independent way. In addition we find that many of the resulting coefficients are related through a web of linear transformations of the conformal data.
Streamlined mail-based methods for large randomised trials: lessons learnt from the ASCEND study
Authors: Mafham Marion M. , Bowman Louise J. , Haynes Richard J. , Armitage Jane M.
Published: December 2019

Reliable assessment of the effects of an intervention usually requires large randomised trials but such studies are becoming increasingly complex and costly to run. ‘Streamlined’ trials are needed in which every aspect of the trial design and conduct is simplified, retaining only those elements needed to answer the research question and ensure the safety of the individual participants. In this review we discuss how the trial ‘A Study of Cardiovascular Events iN Diabetes’ (ASCEND) was streamlined. The study included a two-by-two factorial design: it assessed the effects of low-dose aspirin and, separately, supplementation with n-3 fatty acids on serious vascular events in 15,480 people with diabetes but no overt cardiovascular disease. Other key streamlined design features, such as mail-based recruitment and follow-up, mainly by post, with no in-person visits and use of a run-in period, are also described. We go on to discuss the success of the study and other studies that have employed a similar mail-based approach, and the type of clinical trials that are suitable for mail-based design. Finally, we consider the limitations of the study, and how these could be circumvented in future studies. ASCEND randomised large numbers of eligible participants, achieved good adherence rates and almost complete follow-up at a fraction of the cost of traditional clinic-based trials. Such studies are necessary if researchers are to address the important clinical questions most relevant to improving health.
Nonlinear optimal moisture perturbations as excitation of primary MJO events in a hybrid coupled climate model
Authors: Wei Yuntao , Ren Hong-Li , Mu Mu , Fu Joshua-Xiouhua
Published: December 2019

Although the moisture feedback has been well known to be essential in the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) dynamics, whether its pre-moistening effect plays a key role in exciting the onset of primary MJO events, as has been confirmed in the successive initiation, remains elusive. In this study, using a hybrid coupled climate model that has a good fidelity in simulating the intraseasonal variability, we develop a new framework of methodology to investigate the nonlinear excitation of primary MJO event, of which the key achievement is the successful implementation of theconditional nonlinear optimal perturbation(CNOP). In an application of this new framework, the CNOP-type moisture perturbations are calculated for the pre-chosen non-MJO reference states and generally favor a moistening in the equatorial region while drying in the poleward. Comparisons of the model simulation with observation give credibility to the existence of moisture signals several weeks before some primary MJO events. A suite of numerical experiments confirms that the CNOPs of moisture can contribute to the excitation and propagation of strong primary MJO events while random perturbations cannot. The moisture budget analysis further reveals the central importance of the horizontal moisture advection, especially the nonlinearly upscaled moisture transports associated with the high-frequency disturbances on the quasi-3–4-day and 6–8-day synoptic time scales, in supporting the nonlinear excitation of the primary MJO events. The subgrid-scale processes of evaporation, condensation and eddy transport of moisture are found to be critical for the pre-moistening effect in the boundary layer as well. This study directly supports the vital importance of the moisture perturbations, which are characterized by a particular pattern concentrated at low levels, to the nonlinear growth and propagation of the primary MJO events.
One-year clinical outcomes in patients with renal insufficiency after contemporary PCI: data from a multicenter registry
Authors: Scholz Sean S. , Lauder Lucas , Ewen Sebastian , Kulenthiran Saarraaken , Marx Nikolaus , Sakhov Orazbek , Kauer Floris , Witkowski Adam , Vaglimigli Marco , Wijns William , Scheller Bruno , Böhm Michael , Mahfoud Felix
Published: December 2019

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective

The outcome following revascularization using contemporary technologies (new-generation abluminal sirolimus-eluting stents with thin struts) in patients with CKD (i.e., glomerular filtration rate of < 60 mL/min/1.73m2) and in patients with hemodialysis (HD) is unknown.

Methods

e-Ultimaster is a prospective, single-arm, multi-center registry with clinical follow-up at 3 months and 1 year.

Results

A total of 19,475 patients were enrolled, including 1466 patients with CKD, with 167 undergoing HD. Patients with CKD had a higher prevalence of overall comorbidities, multiple/small vessel disease (≤ 2.75 mm), bifurcation lesions, and more often left main artery treatments (allp < 0.0001) when compared with patients with normal renal function (reference). CKD patients had a higher risk of target lesion failure (unadjusted OR, 2.51 [95% CI 2.04–3.08]), target vessel failure (OR, 2.44 [95% CI 2.01–2.96]), patient-oriented composite end point (OR, 2.19 [95% CI 1.87–2.56]), and major adverse cardiovascular events (OR, 2.34 [95% CI 1.93–2.83,pfor all < 0.0001]) as reference. The rates of target lesion revascularization (OR, 1.17 [95% CI 0.79–1.73],p = 0.44) were not different. Bleeding complications were more frequently observed in CKD than in the reference (allp < 0.0001).

Conclusion

In this worldwide registry, CKD patients presented with more comorbidities and more complex lesions when compared with the reference population. They experienced higher rate of adverse events at 1-year follow-up.

Graphic abstract
Self-reported health problems in a health risk appraisal predict permanent work disability: a prospective cohort study of 22,023 employees from different sectors in Finland with up to 6-year follow-up
Authors: Pihlajamäki Minna , Uitti Jukka , Arola Heikki , Korhonen Mikko , Nummi Tapio , Taimela Simo
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Work disability (WD) as a medico-legal concept refers to disability benefits (DB) that are granted due to diseases that permanently reduce work ability. We studied whether an occupational healthcare instrument for the prediction of sickness absence (SA) risk—a health risk appraisal (HRA)—also predicts permanent WD.

Methods

HRA results were combined with registry data on DB of 22,023 employees from different industry sectors. We analysed how the HRA risk categories predict DB and considered occupational group, gender, age, and prior SA as confounding variables. Cumulative incidence function illustrates the difference between the HRA risk categories, and the Fine–Gray model estimates the predictors of WD during 6-year follow-up.

Results

The most common primary reasons for permanent WD were musculoskeletal (39%) and mental disorders (21%). Self-reported health problems in the HRA, labelled as “WD risk factors”, predicted DB when controlling for age and prior SA. Hazard ratios were 10.9 or over with the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval 3.3 or over among those with two simultaneous WD risk factors. 14% of the females and 17% of the males with three or more simultaneous WD risk factors had received a DB, whereas the respective figures among those without findings were 1.9% and 0.3%.

Conclusions

Self-reported health problems in the HRA, especially multiple simultaneous WD risk factors, predict permanent WD among both genders across occupational groups. Screening WD risk with a self-administered questionnaire is a potential means for identifying high-risk employees for targeting occupational healthcare actions.
Flip-Connectivity of Triangulations of the Product of a Tetrahedron and Simplex
Authors: Liu Gaku
Published: December 2019

A flip is a minimal move between two triangulations of a polytope. The set of triangulations of a polytope was shown by Santos to not always be connected by flips, and it is an interesting problem to find large classes of polytopes for which it is. One such class which has received considerable attention is the product of two simplices. Santos proved that the set of triangulations of a product of two simplices is connected by flips when one of the simplices is a triangle. However, the author showed that it is not connected when one of the simplices is four-dimensional and the other has very large dimension. In this paper we show that it is connected when one of the simplices is a tetrahedron, thereby extending Santos’s result as far as possible.
Healthcare professionals’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators in implementing physical activity programmes delivered to cancer survivors in a shared-care model: a qualitative study
Authors: IJsbrandy Charlotte , van Harten Wim H. , Gerritsen Winald R. , Hermens Rosella P.M.G. , Ottevanger Petronella B.
Published: December 2019

Background

The positive impact of physical activity programmes has been recognised, but the current uptake is low. Authorities believe delivering these programmes in a shared-care model is a future perspective. The present study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators affecting physical activity programme implementation in a shared-care model delivered with the cooperation of all the types of healthcare professionals involved.

Methods

Thirty-one individual interviews with primary healthcare professionals (PHPs) and four focus group interviews with 39 secondary healthcare professionals (SHPs) were undertaken. We used Grol and Flottorp’s theoretical models to identify barriers and facilitators in six domains: (1) physical activity programmes, (2) patients, (3) healthcare professionals, (4) social setting, (5) organisation and (6) law and governance.

Results

In the domain of physical activity programmes, those physical activity programmes that were non-tailored to the patients’ needs impeded successful implementation. In the domain of healthcare professionals, the knowledge and skills pertaining to physical activity programmes and non-commitment of healthcare professionals impeded implementation. HCPs expressed their concerns about the negative influence of the patient’s social network. Most barriers occurred in the domain of organisation. The PHPs and SHPs raised concerns about ineffective collaboration and networks between hospitals. Only the PHPs raised concerns about poor communication, indeterminate roles, and lack of collaboration with SHPs. Insufficient and unclear insurance coverage of physical activity programmes was a barrier in the domain of law and governance.

Conclusions

Improving the domain of organisation seems the most challenging because the collaboration, communication, networks, and interactive roles between the PHPs and SHPs are all inadequate. Survivor care plans, more use of health information technology, improved rehabilitation guidelines, and better networks might benefit implementing physical activity programmes.
Health-related quality of life in adult patients with brain metastases after stereotactic radiosurgery: a systematic, narrative review
Authors: Verhaak Eline , Gehring Karin , Hanssens Patrick E. J. , Aaronson Neil K. , Sitskoorn Margriet M.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

A growing number of patients with brain metastases (BM) are being treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and the importance of evaluating the impact of SRS on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in these patients has been increasingly acknowledged. This systematic review summarizes the current knowledge about the HRQoL of patients with BM after SRS.

Methods

We searched EMBASE, Medline Ovid, Web-of-Science, the Cochrane Database, PsycINFO Ovid, and Google Scholar up to November 15, 2018. Studies in patients with BM in which HRQoL was assessed before and after SRS and analyzed over time were included. Studies including populations of several types of brain cancer and/or several types of treatments were included if the results for patients with BM and treatment with SRS alone were described separately.

Results

Out of 3638 published articles, 9 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. In 4 out of 7 studies on group results, overall HRQoL of patients with BM remained stable after SRS. In small study samples of longer-term survivors, overall HRQoL remained stable up to 12 months post-SRS. Contradictory results were reported for physical and general/global HRQoL, which might be explained by the different questionnaires that were used.

Conclusions

In general, SRS does not have significant negative effects on patients’ overall HRQoL over time. Future research is needed to analyze different aspects of HRQoL, differences in individual changes in HRQoL after SRS, and factors that influence these changes. These studies should take into account several methodological issues as discussed in this review.
A snapshot neural ensemble method for cancer-type prediction based on copy number variations
Authors: Karim Md. Rezaul , Rahman Ashiqur , Jares João Bosco , Decker Stefan , Beyan Oya
Published: December 2019

An accurate diagnosis and prognosis for cancer are specific to patients with particular cancer types and molecular traits, which needs to address carefully. The discovery of important biomarkers is becoming an important step toward understanding the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis in which genomics data and clinical outcomes need to be analyzed before making any clinical decision. Copy number variations (CNVs) are found to be associated with the risk of individual cancers and hence can be used to reveal genetic predispositions before cancer develops. In this paper, we collect the CNVs data about 8000 cancer patients covering 14 different cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Then, two different sparse representations of CNVs based on 578 oncogenes and 20,308 protein-coding genes, including genomic deletions and duplication across the samples, are prepared. Then, we train Conv-LSTM and convolutional autoencoder (CAE) networks using both representations and create snapshot models. While the Conv-LSTM can capture locally and globally important features, CAE can utilize unsupervised pretraining to initialize the weights in the subsequent convolutional layers against the sparsity. Model averaging ensemble (MAE) is then applied to combine the snapshot models in order to make a single prediction. Finally, we identify most significant CNVs biomarkers using guided-gradient class activation map plus (GradCAM++) and rank top genes for different cancer types. Results covering several experiments show fairly high prediction accuracies for the majority of cancer types. In particular, using protein-coding genes, Conv-LSTM and CAE networks can predict cancer types correctly at least 72.96% and 76.77% of the cases, respectively. Contrarily, using oncogenes gives moderately higher accuracies of 74.25% and 78.32%, whereas the snapshot model based on MAE shows overall 2.5% of accuracy improvement.
Clinical efficacy and safety of dotinurad, a novel selective urate reabsorption inhibitor, in Japanese hyperuricemic patients with or without gout: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, confirmatory phase 2 study
Authors: Hosoya Tatsuo , Sano Takafumi , Sasaki Tomomitsu , Fushimi Masahiko , Ohashi Tetsuo
Published: December 2019

Background

Dotinurad, a novel selective urate reabsorption inhibitor (SURI), reduces serum uric acid levels by selectively inhibiting urate transporter 1 (URAT1) for the treatment of hyperuricemia with or without gout. We confirmed the serum uric acid lowering effect and safety of dotinurad.

Methods

This was a confirmatory, 12-week, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose escalation, late phase 2 study. The study arms were dotinurad 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg and placebo. The primary endpoint was the percent change in serum uric acid level from the baseline to the final visit. The secondary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving a serum uric acid level ≤ 6.0 mg/dL at the final visit.

Results

The study drugs were administered to 200 Japanese hyperuricemic patients with or without gout. The mean percent change in serum uric acid level from the baseline to the final visit in the dotinurad 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg groups and the placebo group was 21.81%, 33.77%, 42.66%, 61.09%, and − 2.83%, respectively. The percentage of patients achieving a serum uric acid level ≤ 6.0 mg/dL at the final visit in each group was 23.1%, 65.9%, 74.4%, 100%, and none, respectively. Regarding safety, the incidence of adverse events did not increase with dose escalation in the dotinurad groups. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of gouty arthritis in each group.

Conclusion

The serum uric acid lowering effect and safety of dotinurad were confirmed in hyperuricemic patients with or without gout.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT02416167
NorthEuraLex: a wide-coverage lexical database of Northern Eurasia
Authors: Dellert Johannes , Daneyko Thora , Münch Alla , Ladygina Alina , Buch Armin , Clarius Natalie , Grigorjew Ilja , Balabel Mohamed , Boga Hizniye Isabella , Baysarova Zalina , Mühlenbernd Roland , Wahle Johannes , Jäger Gerhard
Published: December 2019

This article describes the first release version of a new lexicostatistical database of Northern Eurasia, which includes Europe as the most well-researched linguistic area. Unlike in other areas of the world, where databases are restricted to covering a small number of concepts as far as possible based on often sparse documentation, good lexical resources providing wide coverage of the lexicon are available even for many smaller languages in our target area. This makes it possible to attain near-completeness for a substantial number of concepts. The resulting database provides a basis for rich benchmarks that can be used to test automated methods which aim to derive new knowledge about language history in underresearched areas.
Renal cell carcinoma in young FH mutation carriers: case series and review of the literature
Authors: Hol J. A. , Jongmans M. C. J. , Littooij A. S. , de Krijger R. R. , Kuiper R. P. , van Harssel J. J. T. , Mensenkamp A. , Simons M. , Tytgat G. A. M. , van den Heuvel-Eibrink M. M. , van Grotel M.
Published: December 2019

Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC) is an autosomal dominant syndrome caused by heterozygous pathogenic germline variants in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. It is characterized by cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas and an increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is usually adult-onset. HLRCC-related RCC tends to be aggressive and can metastasize even when the primary tumor is small. Data on children and adolescents are scarce. Herein, we report two patients from unrelated Dutch families, with HLRCC-related RCC at the ages of 15 and 18 years, and a third patient with an FH mutation and complex renal cysts at the age of 13. Both RCC’s were localized and successfully resected, and careful MRI surveillance was initiated to monitor the renal cysts. One of the patients with RCC subsequently developed an ovarian Leydig cell tumor. A review of the literature identified 10 previously reported cases of HLRCC-related RCC in patients aged younger than 20 years, five of them presenting with metastatic disease. These data emphasize the importance of recognizing HLRCC in young patients to enable early detection of RCC, albeit rare. They support the recommendations from the 2014 consensus guideline, in which genetic testing for FH mutations, and renal MRI surveillance, is advised for HLRCC family members from the age of 8–10 years onwards.
Experienced Severity of Imprisonment Among Fathers and Non-Fathers
Authors: Reef Joni , Dirkzwager Anja
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Even though 90% of the prison population is male, fatherhood among prisoners is an overlooked topic. Previous studies suggest that experienced severity of detention is different between fathers and non-fathers in prison because there is a unique deprivation strain related to fatherhood. There are criminological arguments and arguments in the legal context why we need more knowledge on the experience of detention by incarcerated fathers.

Methods

We studied longitudinal data of 785 males in pre-trial detention in the Netherlands from the nationwide Prison Project study population: 329 fathers were compared with 456 non-fathers for experienced severity, adjustment patterns (i.e. mental distress and misconduct), and deprivations strains.

Results

We found differences between fathers and non-fathers, both in adjustment and deprivation strains. Fathers reported less adjustment problems and different deprivation strains than non-fathers. Missing children during pre-trial detention was associated with depressive behavior (β = 0.158, p < 0.005) and anxiety among fathers (β = 0.128, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results underline the importance of designing interventions for fathers in prison and educating sentencers about this topic. Proportional sentencing of fathers in the criminal justice system could only be validated as long as sufficient attention will be paid to their unique deprivation strain, which is, missing their children. During pre-trial detention, care for the child-father relation may not only lead to father’s emotional wellbeing during pre-trial detention, but may also lead to strengthened family bonds and children’s wellbeing on the long term.
Intra-residue methyl–methyl correlations for valine and leucine residues in large proteins from a 3D-HMBC-HMQC experiment
Authors: Siemons Lucas , Mackenzie Harold W. , Shukla Vaibhav Kumar , Hansen D. Flemming
Published: November 2019

Methyl-TROSY based NMR experiments have over the last two decades become one of the most important means to characterise dynamics and functional mechanisms of large proteins and macromolecular machines in solution. The chemical shift assignment of methyl groups in large proteins is, however, still not trivial and it is typically performed using backbone-dependent experiments in a ‘divide and conquer’ approach, mutations, structure-based assignments or a combination of these. Structure-based assignment of methyl groups is an emerging strategy, which reduces the time and cost required as well as providing a method that is independent of a backbone assignment. One crucial step in available structure-based assignment protocols is linking the two prochiral methyl groups of leucine and valine residues. This has previously been achieved by recording NOESY spectra with short mixing times or by comparing NOESY spectra. Herein, we present a method based on through-bond scalar coupling transfers, a 3D-HMBC-HMQC experiment, to link the intra-residue methyl groups of leucine and valine. It is shown that the HMBC-HMQC method has several advantages over solely using NOESY spectra since a unique intra-residue cross-peak is observed. Moreover, overlap in the methyl-TROSY HMQC spectrum can easily be identified with the HMBC-HMQC experiment, thereby removing possible ambiguities in the assignment.
Drivers of and barriers to partner switch in interfirm alliances: a conceptual model
Authors: Hampl Nina
Published: December 2019

Historically, research on alliance termination assumes that alliance partners only withdraw from alliances in the event of alliance failure (failure-driven alliance termination). However, recent research on the dissolution of alliances shows that firms also withdraw from alliances through alliance partner switch when they find options with higher match quality than the current partner (option-driven alliance termination). This paper builds on previous work in that field and develops a comprehensive conceptual model of drivers of and barriers to partner switch in interfirm alliances. Based on matching theory, the rectification of alliance partner fit is defined in relation to strategic need, social status and social power as the main drivers and switching costs, social embeddedness and social norms as the main barriers to partner switch. Furthermore, it is argued that market uncertainty and behavioural uncertainty as well as the financial strength and social status of the focal firm have a moderating effect on such drivers and barriers.
Is it Necessary to Perform Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Thin Melanoma? A Retrospective Single Center Analysis
Authors: Kocsis A. , Karsko L. , Kurgyis Zs. , Besenyi Zs. , Pavics L. , Dosa-Racz E. , Kis E. , Baltas E. , Ocsai H. , Varga E. , Bende B. , Varga A. , Mohos G. , Korom I. , Varga J. , Kemeny L. , Nemeth I. B. , Olah J.
Published: December 2019

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard procedure for regional lymph node staging and still has the most important prognostic value for the outcome of patients with thin melanoma. In addition to ulceration, SLNB had to be considered even for a single mitotic figure in thin (<1 mm) melanoma according to AJCC7th guideline, therefore, a retrospective review was conducted involving 403 pT1 melanoma patients. Among them, 152 patients suffered from pT1b ulcerated or mitotic rate ≥ 1/ mm2melanomas according to the AJCC7th staging system. SLNB was performed in 78 cases, of which nine (11.5%) showed SLN positivity. From them, interestingly, we found a relatively high positive sentinel rate (6/78–8%) in the case of thin primary melanomas ˂0.8 mm. Moreover, the presence of regression increased the probability of sentinel positivity by 5.796 fold. After reassessing pT stage based on the new AJCC8th, 37 pT1b cases were reordered into pT1a category. There was no significant relation between other characteristics examined (age, gender, Breslow, Clark level, and mitosis index) and sentinel node positivity. Based on our data, we suggest that mitotic rate alone is not a sufficiently powerful predictor of SLN status in thin melanomas. If strict histopathological definition criteria are applied, regression might be an additional adverse feature that aids in identifying T1 patients most likely to be SLN-positive. After reassessing of pT1b cases according to AJCC8thregression proved to be independent prognostic factor on sentinel lymph node positivity. Our results propose that sentinel lymph node biopsy might also be considered at patients with regressive thin (˂0.8 mm) melanomas.
Human adaptation to invasive species: A conceptual framework based on a case study metasynthesis
Authors: Howard Patricia L.
Published: November 2019

Species invasions are a major driver of ecological change, are very difficult to control or reverse, and will increase with climate change and global trade. Invasion sciences consider how species in invaded environments adapt, but neither scientists nor policy makers consider human adaptation to invasive species and how this affects ecosystems and well-being. To address this, a framework conceptualising autochthonous human adaptation to invasions was developed based on the Human Adaptation to Biodiversity Change framework and a case study metasynthesis. Results show that adaptation occurs within different spheres of human activity and organisation at different social-ecological scales; responses have feedbacks within and across these spheres. Adaptation to invasives and other drivers is a set of highly contextual, complex, non-linear responses that make up pathways pursued over time. Most invasive species management and adaptation occurs ‘from below,’ and policies and planned control efforts should support autochthonous adaptation, rather than undermining it.
Conjugate gradient variants for $${\ell}_{p}$$-regularized image reconstruction in low-field MRI
Authors: de Leeuw den Bouter Merel L. , van Gijzen Martin B. , Remis Rob F.
Published: December 2019

We consider the MRI physics in a low-field MRI scanner, in which permanent magnets are used to generate a magnetic field in the millitesla range. A model describing the relationship between measured signal and image is derived, resulting in an ill-posed inverse problem. In order to solve it, a regularization penalty is added to the least-squares minimization problem. We generalize the conjugate gradient minimal error (CGME) algorithm to the weighted and regularized least-squares problem. Analysis of the convergence of generalized CGME (GCGME) and the classical generalized conjugate gradient least squares (GCGLS) shows that GCGME can be expected to converge faster for ill-conditioned regularization matrices. The$${\ell}_{p}$$ℓp-regularized problem is solved using iterative reweighted least squares for$$p=1$$p=1and$$p=\frac{1}{2}$$p=12, with both cases leading to an increasingly ill-conditioned regularization matrix. Numerical results show that GCGME needs a significantly lower number of iterations to converge than GCGLS.