bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical Data and Metabolic Profiles of Male Exclusive Narghile Smokers (ENSs) Compared With Apparently Healthy Nonsmokers (AHNSs)
Authors: Hasni Yosra , Bachrouch Sabrine , Mahjoub Mohamed , Maaroufi Amel , Rouatbi Sonia , Ben Saad Helmi
Published: January 2019

Studies evaluating the metabolic profiles of ENSs are scarce and presented controversial conclusions. This study aimed to compare the metabolic profiles of ENSs’ and AHNSs’ groups. Males aged 25–45 years and free from a known history of metabolic and/or cardiovascular diseases were included. According to the smoking status, two groups of ENSs and AHNSs were identified. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), waist circumference (WC, cm), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP, DBP, mmHg), fasting blood data in mmol/L (blood glycemia [FBG], triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high- and low- density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C, LDL-C]) and obesity status were evaluated. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) was defined according to the 2006 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) recommendations. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( SD) or percentages. Compared to the AHNSs’ group ( n = 29), the ENSs’ one ( n = 29) had (a) higher values of BMI (26.5 ± 2.3 vs. 28.2 ± 3.6), WC (95 ± 7 vs. 100 ± 10), and TG (1.22 ± 0.40 vs. 1.87 ± 0.85); and (b) included a lower percentage of males having low HDL-C (82.7% vs. 62.0%), and higher percentages of males having obesity (6.9% vs. 37.9%) or hypertriglyceridemia (10.7% vs. 51.7%). Both the ENSs’ and AHNSs’ groups: (a) had similar values of FBG (5.38 ± 0.58 vs. 5.60 ± 0.37), TC (4.87 ± 1.16 vs. 4.36 ± 0.74), HDL-C (0.92 ± 0.30 vs. 0.82 ± 0.21), LDL-C (3.09 ± 0.98 vs. 2.92 ± 0.77), SBP (117 ± 9 vs. 115 ± 8), and DBP (76 ± 6 vs. 73 ± 7); and (b) included similar percentages of males having normal weight (17.2% vs. 31.0%); overweight (44.8% vs. 62.1%); android obesity (79.3% vs. 59.6%), hypertension (10.3% vs. 10.3%), hyperglycemia (37.9% vs. 48.2%), and MetS (51.7% vs. 34.5%). There is a need to monitor narghile use among male metabolic patients since it alters some components of the MetS.
Electrospun polyacrylonitrile–lauric acid composite nanofiber webs as a thermal energy storage material
Authors: Ismar Ezgi , Sarac A Sezai
Published: January 2019

Phase-change materials have remarkable characteristics due to their simple phase-changeable nature. Within a certain temperature range, these materials can easily change from solid phase to liquid phase or vice versa. It is possible to build thermal energy storage mechanisms, thanks to their latent heat. In this study, composite nanofiber structures were prepared with lauric acid and polyacrylonitrile blends. Nanofiber webs were fabricated via electrospinning technique and combined with phase-change material due to their light weight and high surface area. Thermal energy storage properties were investigated via differential scanning calorimeter, and structural analysis was studied by Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the surface morphology of the fibers. Blended polyacrylonitrile–lauric acid nanofibers were successfully converted to nanofiber formation without losing their properties. Results showed that fabricated polyacrylonitrile–lauric acid composite nanofiber webs can be used as a thermal energy storage patch.
Grout diffusion model in porous media considering the variation in viscosity with time
Authors: Hou Fujin , Sun Keguo , Wu Qingdong , Xu Weiping , Ren Sijia
Published: January 2019

Grouting engineering is widely used in water plugging for geotechnical engineering. However, grout is usually treated as a Newton fluid and the viscosity is considered unchangeable over time during the grouting design process. This study proposes a grout diffusion model for porous media that considers the variation in viscosity with time. The flow equation is derived for a single smooth tubule. Then, the microequation of Bingham grout flowing in porous media is obtained. Finally, an assembled diffusion model of spheres and cylinders for grouting using a perforated pipe is proposed. A numerical simulation method is used to verify the grout diffusion mode. The research results can guide grouting design and practical grouting engineering in water plugging and reinforcement.
Study on the sensitivity of the hydraulic response characteristics of the electronic fuel injector regarding the key structural parameters
Authors: Feng Yaonan , Wang Jie , Ma Fukang , Su Tiexiong , Xu Chunlong , Wang Zengquan
Published: January 2019

The sensitivity of key structural parameters to the hydraulic response characteristics in an electronic fuel injector is investigated. First, the hydraulic response characteristic is defined in detail (the opening/closing delay and the opening/closing time). Second, the key structural parameters influencing the hydraulic response characteristics are derived. Finally, the importance and effects of key structural parameters on hydraulic response characteristics are examined, by using the design of experiments method and the range analysis. Results show that the fuel inlet passage diameter is the primary influencing factor to the opening delay and closing delay, while the control piston diameter has the dominant effect on opening time and closing time. A small opening delay and a small opening time prefer a little fuel inlet passage diameter and control piston diameter; however, they contribute to a large closing time and closing delay. The fuel outlet passage diameter is the secondary influencing factor in opening delay, but the second factor that affects the opening time is the diameter of needle.
Research on the rigid body pose estimation using dual quaternions
Authors: Li Jing
Published: January 2019

The dual quaternion is the simplest and most effective mathematical tool to describe the translational and rotational motion of a general rigid body. Its computation and updating require screw vector. The relative pose information need to be updated when measuring the pose of the rigid body. In the traditional algorithm, it generally focuses on attitude updating, but less research on position updating. The rotation vector algorithm is used to represent the quaternion to update the attitude of the rigid body, but it cannot update the position. Because any general rigid body motion can be realized by rotation about a certain axis and translation along this axis, this article proposes an algorithm to update the position and attitude of the rigid body’s relative motion based on the screw vector. The rotation vector and screw vector are introduced in the rigid body motion and update the quaternion and dual quaternion, respectively; then, the relative pose information of the leader–follower rigid body based on the screw vector algorithm is deduced. The single-sample, two-sample, and three-sample algorithms are compared and simulated, and the simulation results show that this method not only overcomes the deficiencies associated with the separate updating of position and attitude using a traditional algorithm but also has higher precision than the traditional algorithm.
A gain-scheduling control strategy and short-term path optimization with genetic algorithm for autonomous navigation of a sailboat robot
Authors: dos Santos Davi Henrique , Goncalves Luiz Marcos Garcia
Published: January 2019

The development of a navigation system for autonomous robotic sailing is a particularly challenging task since the sailboat robot uses unpredictable wind forces for its propulsion besides working in a highly nonlinear and harsh environment, the water. Toward solving the problems that appear in this kind of environment, we propose a navigation system which allows the sailboat to reach any desired target points in its working environment. This navigation system consists of a low-level heading controller and a short-term path planner for situations against the wind. For the low-level heading controller, a gain-scheduling proportional-integral (GS-PI) controller is shown to better describe the nonlinearities inherent to the sailboat movement. The gain-scheduling-PI consists of a table that contains the best control parameters that are learned/defined for a particular maneuver and perform the scheduling according to each situation. The idea is to design specialized controllers which meet the specific control objectives of each application. For achieving short-term path-planned targets, a new approach for optimization of the tacking maneuvering to reach targets against the wind is also proposed. This method takes into account two tacking parameters: the side distance available for the maneuvering and the desired sailboat heading when tacking. An optimization method based on genetic algorithm is used in order to find satisfactory upwind paths. Results of various experiments verify the validity and robustness of the developed methods and navigation system.
Refractory Brewster metasurfaces control the frequency and angular spectrum of light absorption
Authors: Kwon Hoyeong , Chalabi Hamidreza , Alù Andrea
Published: January 2019

Ways to achieve highly efficient electromagnetic absorption over a broad bandwidth and broad angular spectrum have been discussed extensively in the past decades for various applications, such as low reflection devices and energy harvesting. To satisfy the efficiency requirements, metamaterial approaches have been explored in recent years. In this context, most studies have suggested the use of frequency selective surfaces or arrays of plasmonic resonators, which limit bandwidth and angular spectrum of performance. Here, we explore the application of refractory Brewster metasurfaces for photovoltaic applications. By matching the surface impedance of metasurfaces and free space at the Brewster angle, we show that metasurfaces can lead to efficient light absorption, and their response can be controlled accurately both in the angular and in the frequency spectrum to match the requirements of energy harvesting systems and facilitate large efficiency, high-temperature energy harvesting.
Facilitation by Tree Species in Variable Retention Harvesting for the Restoration of Monoculture Plantations in Southern China
Authors: Jiang Jun , Lu Yuanchang , Wang Ling , Liu Xianzhao , Cai Daoxiong , Jia Hongyan , Ming Angang , Chen Beibei
Published: January 2019

Facilitation can drive the successional dynamics and change the restoration trajectory of degraded forests. However, the relative importance of facilitation by tree species after variable retention harvesting is unclear. We used a field experiment to evaluate the effect of two facilitator species, Castanopsis fissa (C. fissa) and Manglietia glauca (M. glauca), managed with variable retention harvesting, on the development of two target species, Castanopsis hystrix (C. hystrix) and Erythrophloeum fordii (E. fordii), in a Masson pine ( Pinus massoniana) monoculture. The following variables were measured for all of the four interplanted tree species: structural growth, regeneration, aboveground biomass accumulation, leaf area index, and soil conditions. The results indicate that the abundance, growth, and aboveground biomass were relatively greater in plots planted with C. fissa compared with M. glauca and that the target species performed best with 50% retention harvesting of C. fissa, with an improved establishment of both target species indicating a positive interaction. In addition, the regeneration, leaf area index and soil conditions differed between the two facilitators in the variable retention harvesting treatments because of the different intrinsic characteristic of the facilitators. In summary, our results imply that managers have considerable flexibility to employ various types of facilitation schemes coupled with different harvesting systems for successful short-term restoration within a monoculture.
Alpine Ski Racing Injuries
Authors: Tarka Mitchell C. , Davey Annabelle , Lonza Geordie C. , O’Brien Casey M. , Delaney John P. , Endres Nathan K.
Published: January 2019

Context:

This article reviews the epidemiology of alpine ski racing–related injuries, risk factors, mechanisms of injury, and injury prevention strategies.

Evidence Acquisition:

Pertinent literature from peer-reviewed publications from 1976 through 2018.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 5.

Results:

The rate of injury in alpine ski racing is high. In general, knee injuries are the most common, with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) disruptions being the most significant in terms of time loss from sport. Three specific mechanisms of ACL injury in alpine ski racers have recently been described (slip-catch, dynamic snowplow, and landing back-weighted). In contrast to other sports, female ski racers are not clearly at greater risk for ACL injury, especially at the highest level of competition. A high percentage of ski racers are able to return to their previous level of competition after ACL injury. Risk factors for injury and methods of injury prevention have been proposed; however, the rate of injury, particularly ACL injuries, has not decreased significantly.

Conclusion:

Alpine ski racing has a high injury rate. ACL injuries in particular remain problematic. Further study is needed to identify modifiable risk factors and implementation of injury prevention strategies.
Baby food and bedtime: Evidence for opposite phenotypes from different genetic and epigenetic alterations in Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes
Authors: Salminen Iiro Ilmari , Crespi Bernard J , Mokkonen Mikael
Published: January 2019

Prader–Willi and Angelman syndromes are often referred to as a sister pair of neurodevelopmental disorders, resulting from different genetic and epigenetic alterations to the same chromosomal region, 15q11-q13. Some of the primary phenotypes of the two syndromes have been suggested to be opposite to one another, but this hypothesis has yet to be tested comprehensively, and it remains unclear how opposite effects could be produced by changes to different genes in one syndrome compared to the other. We evaluated the evidence for opposite effects on sleep and eating phenotypes in Prader–Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome, and developed physiological–genetic models that represent hypothesized causes of these differences. Sleep latency shows opposite deviations from controls in Prader–Willi and Angelman syndromes, with shorter latency in Prader–Willi syndrome by meta-analysis and longer latency in Angelman syndrome from previous studies. These differences can be accounted for by the effects of variable gene dosages of UBE3A and MAGEL2, interacting with clock genes, and leading to acceleration (in Prader–Willi syndrome) or deceleration (in Angelman syndrome) of circadian rhythms. Prader–Willi and Angelman syndromes also show evidence of opposite alterations in hyperphagic food selectivity, with more paternally biased subtypes of Angelman syndrome apparently involving increased preference for complementary foods (“baby foods”); hedonic reward from eating may also be increased in Angelman syndrome and decreased in Prader–Willi syndrome. These differences can be explained in part under a model whereby hyperphagia and food selectivity are mediated by the effects of the genes SNORD-116, UBE3A and MAGEL2, with outcomes depending upon the genotypic cause of Angelman syndrome. The diametric variation observed in sleep and eating phenotypes in Prader–Willi and Angelman syndromes is consistent with predictions from the kinship theory of imprinting, reflecting extremes of higher resource demand in Angelman syndrome and lower demand in Prader–Willi syndrome, with a special emphasis on social–attentional demands and attachment associated with bedtime, and feeding demands associated with mother-provided complementary foods compared to offspring-foraged family-type foods.
Self-Esteem and School Belongingness: A Cross-Lagged Panel Study Among Urban Youth
Authors: Perry Justin C. , Lavins-Merillat Bethany D.
Published: January 2019

The present study explored the causal relationship between self-esteem and school belongingness among a sample of urban youth. Based on a longitudinal cross-lagged panel design, the results offered initial support for the personal agency perspective of growth in self-esteem leading to growth in school belongingness. We discuss the implications for school counselors and the study’s limitations and directions for future research.
Drug-Induced Liver Injury Caused by Kratom Use as an Alternative Pain Treatment Amid an Ongoing Opioid Epidemic
Authors: Osborne Caroline Stokes , Overstreet Amanda N. , Rockey Don C. , Schreiner Andrew D.
Published: January 2019

Kratom ( Mitragyna speciosa) is a prevalent medicinal plant used mainly for the stimulant and analgesic properties provided through multiple alkaloid compounds. Over the past decade, use of kratom has increased despite the limited knowledge of toxicities and adverse side effects. With the current opioid epidemic, both patients and providers are seeking alternative methods to treat both addiction and pain control, and kratom as an alternative means of treatment has increasingly entered the mainstream. In this article, we present the clinical course of a 47-year-old male who developed fatigue, pruritus, and abnormal liver tests (with a mixed hepatocellular/cholestatic pattern) approximately 21 days after beginning kratom. After extensive evaluation including a negligible alcohol history, negative hepatitis serologies, and inconclusive imaging, the patient was diagnosed with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by kratom. Nine months after his liver tests returned to normal, he took kratom again, and after a latency of 2 days, he developed fatigue, pruritus, and loss of appetite along with abnormal liver tests (with the same biochemical profile as previously), consistent with a positive rechallenge. We believe, through the use of the Roussel-Uclaf Causality Assessment Method and expert opinion, that this is a highly likely or definite example of kratom-induced DILI. With the gaining popularity of this drug, it appears that DILI may be an important complication of kratom for providers to recognize.
HIV Retesting of HIV-Negative Pregnant Women in the Context of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Primary Health Centers in Rural Zambia: What Did We Learn?
Authors: Mandala Justin , Kasonde Prisca , Badru Titilope , Dirks Rebecca , Torpey Kwasi
Published: January 2019

Background:

This observational study describes implementation of HIV retesting of HIV-negative women in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services in Zambia.

Methods:

Uptake of retesting and PMTCT services were compared across age, parity, and weeks of gestation at the time of the first HIV test, antiretrovirals regime, and HIV early diagnosis results from infants born to HIV-positive mothers.

Results:

A total of 19 090 pregnant women were tested for HIV at their first antenatal visit, 16 838 tested HIV-negative and were offered retesting 3 months later: 11 339 (67.3%) were retested; of those, 55 (0.5%) were HIV positive. Uptake of the PMTCT package by women HIV positive at retest was not different but HIV-exposed infants born to women who retested HIV positive were infected at a higher rate (11.1%) compared to those born to women who tested HIV positive at their initial test (3.2%).

Conclusion:

We suggest rigorously (1) measuring the proportion of MTCT attributable to women who seroconvert during pregnancy and possibly adjust PMTCT approaches and (2) addressing the substantial loss to follow-up of HIV-negative pregnant women before HIV retesting.
Thinking Like a Manager: A Participatory Exercise for Understanding Managerial Roles
Authors: White Alexandra
Published: January 2019

Using the premise of a fictional earbud company, “EarWorm,” students in an introductory management course become EarWorm managers who problem-solve and make decisions about the best choices for their company. This article outlines this engaging and participatory exercise in detail. Students are able to directly connect course concepts to EarWorm’s challenges in an active model that gives them ownership over their company’s fate. Appendices to the article provide related active learning activities using the EarWorm premise, which can serve as instructional modules to help students explore key management concepts related to global business and organization design.
Management of Raynaud’s phenomenon in systemic sclerosis—a practical approach
Authors: Fernández-Codina Andreu , Cañas-Ruano Esperanza , Pope Janet E
Published: January 2019

Raynaud’s phenomenon is nearly universal in systemic sclerosis. Vasculopathy is part of systemic sclerosis. Raynaud’s phenomenon can cause of complications and impairment, especially when tissue ischemia and digital ulcers develop. There are many treatment options for Raynaud’s phenomenon in systemic sclerosis often with sparse data and few robust studies comparing the different treatment options. Recommendations from guidelines usually include calcium channel blockers as first-line pharmacological treatment. In the clinical setting, multiple variables such as financial factors, geography where access to medications varies, and patient factors, baseline hypotension, can influence the treatment for Raynaud’s phenomenon and digital ulcers. Prostacyclins and PDE-5 inhibitors are reserved for more severe Raynaud’s phenomenon or healing of digital ulcers. Prevention of digital ulcers may also include endothelin receptor blocker (bosentan) in some countries. Other treatments had less consensus. Algorithms developed by systemic sclerosis experts might be helpful in deciding which treatment to choose for each setting, using a step-wise strategy, which intends to complement guidelines. This review focuses on a practical approach to the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon and digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis, based on algorithms designed by systemic sclerosis experts using consensus, and we review the evidence that supports treatment from initial to second and third-line options.
High subclonal fraction of 17p deletion is associated with poor prognosis in multiple myeloma
Authors: Thakurta Anjan , Ortiz Maria , Blecua Pedro , Towfic Fadi , Corre Jill , Serbina Natalya V. , Flynt Erin , Yu Zhinuan , Yang Zhihong , Palumbo Antonio , Dimopoulos Meletios A. , Gutierrez Norma C. , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Sonneveld Pieter , Avet-Loiseau Herve
Published: January 2019

Deletions of chromosome 17p (del17p) that span the TP53 gene are associated with poor outcome in multiple myeloma (MM), but the prognostic value of del17p cancer clonal fraction (CCF) remains unclear. We applied uniform cytogenetic assessments in a large cohort of newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients carrying varying levels of del17p. Incremental CCF change was associated with shorter survival, and a robust CCF threshold of 0.55 was established in discovery and replication data sets. After stratification on the 0.55-CCF threshold, high-risk patients had statistically significantly poorer outcomes compared with low-risk patients (median progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS], 14 and 32 vs 23.1 and 76.2 months, respectively). Analyses of a third data set comprising whole-exome sequencing data from NDMM patients identified presence of TP53 deletions/mutations as a necessary requirement for high-risk stratification in addition to exceeding the del17p CCF threshold. Meta-analysis conducted across 3 data sets confirmed the robustness of the CCF threshold for PFS and OS. Our analyses demonstrate the feasibility of fluorescence in situ hybridization– and sequencing-based methods to identify TP53 deletions, estimate CCF, and establish that both CCF threshold of 0.55 and presence of TP53 deletion are necessary to identify del17p-carrying NDMM patients with poor prognosis.
Thrombotic microangiopathy as a cause of cardiovascular toxicity from the BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor ponatinib
Authors: Latifi Yllka , Moccetti Federico , Wu Melinda , Xie Aris , Packwood William , Qi Yue , Ozawa Koya , Shentu Weihui , Brown Eran , Shirai Toshiaki , McCarty Owen J. , Ruggeri Zaverio , Moslehi Javid , Chen Junmei , Druker Brian J. , López Jose A. , Lindner Jonathan R.
Published: January 2019

The third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) ponatinib has been associated with high rates of acute ischemic events. The pathophysiology responsible for these events is unknown. We hypothesized that ponatinib produces an endothelial angiopathy involving excessive endothelial-associated von Willebrand factor (VWF) and secondary platelet adhesion. In wild-type mice and ApoE−/− mice on a Western diet, ultrasound molecular imaging of the thoracic aorta for VWF A1-domain and glycoprotein-Ibα was performed to quantify endothelial-associated VWF and platelet adhesion. After treatment of wild-type mice for 7 days, aortic molecular signal for endothelial-associated VWF and platelet adhesion were five- to sixfold higher in ponatinib vs sham therapy (P < .001), whereas dasatinib had no effect. In ApoE−/− mice, aortic VWF and platelet signals were two- to fourfold higher for ponatinib-treated compared with sham-treated mice (P < .05) and were significantly higher than in treated wild-type mice (P < .05). Platelet and VWF signals in ponatinib-treated mice were significantly reduced by N-acetylcysteine and completely eliminated by recombinant ADAMTS13. Ponatinib produced segmental left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in 33% of wild-type and 45% of ApoE−/− mice and corresponding patchy perfusion defects, yet coronary arteries were normal on angiography. Instead, a global microvascular angiopathy was detected by immunohistochemistry and by intravital microscopy observation of platelet aggregates and nets associated with endothelial cells and leukocytes. Our findings reveal a new form of vascular toxicity for the TKI ponatinib that involves VWF-mediated platelet adhesion and a secondary microvascular angiopathy that produces ischemic wall motion abnormalities. These processes can be mitigated by interventions known to reduce VWF multimer size.
Selective targeting of NAMPT by KPT-9274 in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Mitchell Shaneice R. , Larkin Karilyn , Grieselhuber Nicole R. , Lai Tzung-Huei , Cannon Matthew , Orwick Shelley , Sharma Pratibha , Asemelash Yerdanose , Zhang Pu , Goettl Virginia M. , Beaver Larry , Mims Alice , Puduvalli Vinay K. , Blachly James S. , Lehman Amy , Harrington Bonnie , Henderson Sally , Breitbach Justin T. , Williams Katie E. , Dong Shuai , Baloglu Erkan , Senapedis William , Kirschner Karl , Sampath Deepa , Lapalombella Rosa , Byrd John C.
Published: January 2019

Treatment options for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain extremely limited and associated with significant toxicity. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is involved in the generation of NAD+ and a potential therapeutic target in AML. We evaluated the effect of KPT-9274, a p21-activated kinase 4/NAMPT inhibitor that possesses a unique NAMPT-binding profile based on in silico modeling compared with earlier compounds pursued against this target. KPT-9274 elicited loss of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis and induced apoptosis in AML subtypes independent of mutations and genomic abnormalities. These actions occurred mainly through the depletion of NAD+, whereas genetic knockdown of p21-activated kinase 4 did not induce cytotoxicity in AML cell lines or influence the cytotoxic effect of KPT-9274. KPT-9274 exposure reduced colony formation, increased blast differentiation, and diminished the frequency of leukemia-initiating cells from primary AML samples; KPT-9274 was minimally cytotoxic toward normal hematopoietic or immune cells. In addition, KPT-9274 improved overall survival in vivo in 2 different mouse models of AML and reduced tumor development in a patient-derived xenograft model of AML. Overall, KPT-9274 exhibited broad preclinical activity across a variety of AML subtypes and warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for AML.
Pelvic exenteration in gynecologic cancer: complications and oncological outcome
Authors: Lago Víctor , Poveda Ines , Padilla-Iserte Pablo , Simón-Sanz Eduardo , García-Granero Álvaro , Pontones Jose Luis , Matute Luis , Domingo Santiago
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Pelvic exenteration (PE) is indicated in cases of unresponsive, recurrent pelvic cancer or for palliative intent. Despite the fact that the surgery is associated with a high rate of morbidity, it is currently the only real option that can effect a cure.

Material and methods

Patients who underwent PE between January 2011 and July 2017 in our centre were retrospectively reviewed. Data related to surgery, complications and outcomes were recorded.

Results

Twenty-three patients were included. PE was performed due to recurrent gynaecological cancer, persistence of disease and after first diagnosis in 19 (82%), 2 (9%) and 2 patients (9%), respectively. Total PE was performed in 15 cases (65%), followed by anterior PE in 5 cases (22%) and posterior PE in 3 cases (13%). Early grade II, III and IV complications occurred in 15 (65%), 5 (22%) and 2 patients (9%), respectively. No mortality was observed within 30 days. Medium-late grade II, III, IV and V complications occurred in 15 (65%), 11 (48%), 3 (13%) and 2 cases (9%), respectively. Two patients died after > 30-day period from surgery-related complications. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 48 months after PE was 41.6% and 30.8% respectively.

Conclusions

PE provides about a 40% 4-year survival chance in a selected group of patients. The early-complications rate and 30-day mortality were acceptable. Nevertheless, the medium-late complication grades II–V were 65, 48, 18 and 9%, respectively. We must focus on identifying those patients who could potentially benefit most from PE.
Effect of interactive cognitive-motor training on eye-hand coordination and cognitive function in older adults
Authors: Chan Pi-Tuan , Chang Wen-Chi , Chiu Huei-Ling , Kao Ching-Chiu , Liu Doresses , Chu Hsin , Chou Kuei-Ru
Published: January 2019

Background

Poor eye–hand coordination is associated with the symptoms of the early stage of cognitive decline. However, previous research on the eye–hand coordination of older adults without cognitive impairment is scant. Therefore, this study examined the effects of interactive cognitive-motor training on the visual-motor integration, visual perception, and motor coordination sub-abilities of the eye–hand coordination and cognitive function in older adults.

Methods

A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with older adults. Sixty-two older adults were randomly assigned to the experimental (interactive cognitive-motor training) or active control (passive information activity) group, and both groups received 30 min of training each week, three times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was eye–hand coordination, which was further divided into the sub-abilities of visual–motor integration, visual perception, and motor coordination. The secondary outcome was cognitive function. The generalized estimating equation was used to examine differences in immediate posttest, 3-month posttest, and 6-month posttest results between the two groups. Additionally, the baseline effect sizes were compared with the effect sizes of the immediate posttest, 3-month posttest, and 6-month posttests for the experimental group.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups. The only statistically significant difference between the groups was in the attention dimension of cognitive function (p = 0.04). The visual–motor integration results showed a small to moderate effect size for pre post comparisons.

Conclusions

The 24 sessions of interactive cognitive-motor training showed no difference to an active control intervention. In the future, this intervention could be further investigated to establish whether it can be superior to an active control group in other populations.

Trial registration

The study protocol has been published on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (registry no.: ChiCTR-IOR-14005490).
Tobacco smoke induced hepatic cancer stem cell-like properties through IL-33/p38 pathway
Authors: Xie Chunfeng , Zhu Jianyun , Wang Xueqi , Chen Jiaqi , Geng Shanshan , Wu Jieshu , Zhong Caiyun , Li Xiaoting
Published: January 2019

Background

Tobacco smoke (TS) critically contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) induced by TS is an early event in the initiation of carcinogenesis. Tumor specific microenvironment including inflammatory factors is key mediator for maintaining the stemness of CSCs through various pathways such as p38 MAPK. However, the mechanisms of inflammatory factors in TS-induced acquisition of liver CSCs properties remain undefined. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-33/p38 axis in long term TS-induced acquisition of hepatic CSCs properties in mouse liver tissues and human liver cells.

Methods

BALB/c mice were exposed to TS for 12 weeks, along with or without 1 mg/kg SB203580 (p38 inhibitors) treatment. Histopathological analysis, alterations in the levels of IL-33, liver CSCs markers, EMT-like changes and p38 MAPK activation in liver tissues of mice were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescence assay and Western blot analysis. Moreover, LO2 immortalized human liver cells were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and the tumorsphere formation ability was determined. LO2 cells were further treated with IL-33 or CSE and the expression of phosphorylated p38, liver CSCs markers and EMT-related proteins was examined.

Results

Long term TS exposure increased the levels of CSCs markers, induced epithelial-to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammatory factor IL-33 expression. Moreover, we showed that p38 MAPK modulated TS-stimulated hepatic CSC-like properties, as evidenced by the findings that long term TS exposure activated p38, and that TS-induced stemness was abolished by p38 inhibition. In addition, data from in vitro model showed that similar to cigarette smoke extract (CSE), IL-33 treatment promoted the activation of p38, increased the levels of liver CSCs markers expression and EMT-like changes.

Conclusions

Collectively, these data suggested that IL-33/p38 axis plays an important role in long term TS exposure-induced acquisition of hepatic CSC-like properties.
Vilnius Declaration on chronic respiratory diseases: multisectoral care pathways embedding guided self-management, mHealth and air pollution in chronic respiratory diseases
Authors: Valiulis A. , Bousquet J. , Veryga A. , Suprun U. , Sergeenko D. , Cebotari S. , Borelli D. , Pietikainen S. , Banys J. , Agache I. , Billo N. E. , Bush A. , Chkhaidze I. , Dubey L. , Fokkens W. J. , Grigg J. , Haahtela T. , Julge K. , Katilov O. , Khaltaev N. , Odemyr M. , Palkonen S. , Savli R. , Utkus A. , Vilc V. , Alasevicius T. , Bedbrook A. , Bewick M. , Chorostowska-Wynimko J. , Danila E. , Hadjipanayis A. , Karseladze R. , Kvedariene V. , Lesinskas E. , Münter L. , Samolinski B. , Sargsyan S. , Sitkauskiene B. , Somekh D. , Vaideliene L. , Valiulis A. , Hellings P. W.
Published: January 2019

Background

Over 1 billion people suffer from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. They cause an enormous burden and are considered as major non-communicable diseases. Many patients are still uncontrolled and the cost of inaction is unacceptable. A meeting was held in Vilnius, Lithuania (March 23, 2018) under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and several scientific societies to propose multisectoral care pathways embedding guided self-management, mHealth and air pollution in selected chronic respiratory diseases (rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma and COPD). The meeting resulted in the Vilnius Declaration that was developed by the participants of the EU Summit on chronic respiratory diseases under the leadership of Euforea.

Conclusion

The Vilnius Declaration represents an important step for the fight against air pollution in chronic respiratory diseases globally and has a clear strategic relevance with regard to the EU Health Strategy as it will bring added value to the existing public health knowledge.
Interactions on site between powdering porous limestone, natural salt mixtures and applied ammonium oxalate
Authors: Dreyfuss Tabitha
Published: January 2019

The consolidation of powdering porous limestone with ammonium oxalate treatment is hereby being examined through its performance in the field. The literature to date reports this treatment’s potential use for consolidation and protection (from acid attack), while still retaining the water transport properties and supporting compatibility. This inspired a long-term research project which started in the laboratory and progressed to real buildings with a specific focus on the interactions in the stone taking place between the treatment and salt mixtures that may be present on site. This study focuses on the outcomes following a 24-h application of a 5% ammonium oxalate poultice on a historical soil-retaining wall located in a seventeenth century garden. In this case, besides calcium oxalate, the by-product formation of ammonium magnesium chloride was detected through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). This is a first-time reported finding, which is important to consider within the environmental context of built heritage and ammonium oxalate treatment.
Knowledge Summaries for Comprehensive Breast Cancer Control: Feedback From Target Audiences in Kenya
Authors: Cira Mishka Kohli , Zujewski Jo Anne , Dvaladze Allison , Brand Nathan R. , Vogel Amanda L.
Published: January 2019

PURPOSE

Comprehensive breast cancer control programs are needed to decrease breast cancer mortality, but few tools exist to assist stakeholders in limited-resource settings. The Knowledge Summaries for Comprehensive Breast Cancer Control (KSBCs) are a series of evidence-based publications intended to support cancer control planning at various resource levels. The goals of this evaluation research study were to learn about the extent to which the KSBCs could be useful to policymakers, health care providers, and breast cancer advocates in Kenya, and whether introducing the KSBCs led to their uptake, and if so, how they were used.

METHODS

This study used one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and self-administered online surveys. Policymakers were recruited from the Ministry of Health. Providers were recruited from four hospitals in two cities, Nairobi and Eldoret, and one rural municipality, Kijabe. Advocates were recruited from cancer advocacy organizations.

RESULTS

Twenty individuals participated in the research. They found the KSBCs to be educational reference tools that create a shared planning-related knowledge base among diverse stakeholders. The KSBCs were seen to be applicable to a variety of contexts and stakeholders.

CONCLUSION

This study found that the KSBCs can be useful as both an educational tool and a convening tool for multistakeholder engagement in breast cancer prevention and control in a variety of settings. Additional engagement with users of the KSBCs can provide more knowledge about how the KSBCs are used and how they contribute to building collaborations across stakeholder groups to strengthen breast cancer prevention and control in low-resource settings.
“A Tool, Not a Crutch”: Patient Perspectives About IBM Watson for Oncology Trained by Memorial Sloan Kettering
Authors: Hamilton Jada G. , Genoff Garzon Margaux , Westerman Joy S. , Shuk Elyse , Hay Jennifer L. , Walters Chasity , Elkin Elena , Bertelsen Corinna , Cho Jessica , Daly Bobby , Gucalp Ayca , Seidman Andrew D. , Zauderer Marjorie G. , Epstein Andrew S. , Kris Mark G.
Published: January 2019

PURPOSE:

IBM Watson for Oncology trained by Memorial Sloan Kettering (WFO) is a clinical decision support tool designed to assist physicians in choosing therapies for patients with cancer. Although substantial technical and clinical expertise has guided the development of WFO, patients’ perspectives of this technology have not been examined. To facilitate the optimal delivery and implementation of this tool, we solicited patients’ perceptions and preferences about WFO.

METHODS:

We conducted nine focus groups with 46 patients with breast, lung, or colorectal cancer with various treatment experiences: neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy, chemotherapy for metastatic disease, or systemic therapy through a clinical trial. In-depth qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed to describe patients’ attitudes and perspectives concerning WFO and how it may be used in clinical care.

RESULTS:

Analysis of the qualitative data identified three main themes: patient acceptance of WFO, physician competence and the physician-patient relationship, and practical and logistic aspects of WFO. Overall, participant feedback suggested high levels of patient interest, perceived value, and acceptance of WFO, as long as it was used as a supplementary tool to inform their physicians’ decision making. Participants also described important concerns, including the need for strict processes to guarantee the integrity and completeness of the data presented and the possibility of physician overreliance on WFO.

CONCLUSION:

Participants generally reacted favorably to the prospect of WFO being integrated into the cancer treatment decision-making process, but with caveats regarding the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the data powering the system and the potential for giving WFO excessive emphasis in the decision-making process. Addressing patients’ perspectives will be critical to ensuring the smooth integration of WFO into cancer care.
The Evolution of Cooperation: The Role of Costly Strategy Adjustments
Authors: Romero Julian , Rosokha Yaroslav
Published: January 2019

We study the evolution of cooperation in the indefinitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma when it is costly for players to adjust their strategy. Our experimental interface allows subjects to design a comprehensive strategy that then selects actions for them in every period. We conduct lab experiments in which subjects can adjust their strategies during a repeated game but may incur a cost for doing so. We find three main results. First, subjects learn to cooperate more when adjustments are costless than when they are costly. Second, subjects make more adjustments to their strategies when adjustments are costless, but they still make adjustments even when they are costly. Finally, we find that cooperative strategies emerge over time when adjustments are costless but not when adjustments are costly. These results highlight that within-game experimentation is critical to the rise of cooperative behavior. We provide simulations based on an evolutionary algorithm to support these results. (JEL C71, C72, C73, C91)
The Impact of Monitoring in Infinitely Repeated Games: Perfect, Public, and Private
Authors: Aoyagi Masaki , Bhaskar V. , Fréchette Guillaume R.
Published: January 2019

This paper uses a laboratory experiment to study the effect of the monitoring structure on the play of the infinitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma. Keeping the strategic form of the stage game fixed, we examine the behavior of subjects when information about past actions is perfect (perfect monitoring), noisy but public (public monitoring), and noisy and private (private monitoring). We find that the subjects sustain cooperation in every treatment, but that their strategies differ across the three treatments. Specifically, the strategies under imperfect monitoring are both more complex and more lenient than those under perfect monitoring. The results show how the changes in strategies across monitoring structures mitigate the effect of noise in monitoring on efficiency. (JEL C72, C73, C92, D82, D83)
Make and Buy: Outsourcing, Vertical Integration, and Cost Reduction
Authors: Loertscher Simon , Riordan Michael H.
Published: January 2019

Globalization reshaped supply chains and the boundaries of firms in favor of outsourcing. Now, even vertically integrated firms procure substantially from external suppliers. To study procurement and the structure of firms in this reshaped economy, we analyze a model in which integration grants a downstream customer the option to source internally. Integration is advantageous because it allows the customer to avoid paying markups sometimes, but disadvantageous because it discourages investments in cost reduction by independent suppliers. The investment-discouragement effect more likely outweighs the markup-avoidance effect if the upstream market is more competitive, as is so in a more global economy. (JEL D21, D24, D25, G31, L14, L22, L24)
The Risk of Failure: Trial and Error Learning and Long-Run Performance
Authors: Callander Steven , Matouschek Niko
Published: January 2019

Innovation is often the key to sustained progress, yet innovation itself is difficult and highly risky. Success is not guaranteed as breakthroughs are mixed with setbacks and the path of learning is typically far from smooth. How decision makers learn by trial and error and the efficacy of the process are inextricably linked to the incentives of the decision makers themselves and, in particular, to their tolerance for risk. In this paper, we develop a model of trial and error learning with risk averse agents who learn by observing the choices of earlier agents and the outcomes that are realized. We identify sufficient conditions for the existence of optimal actions. We show that behavior within each period varies in risk and performance and that a performance trap develops, such that low performing agents opt to not experiment and thus fail to gain the knowledge necessary to improve performance. We also show that the impact of risk reverberates across periods, leading, on average, to divergence in long-run performance across agents. (JEL D81, D83, O31, O38)
Competition in Treasury Auctions
Authors: Elsinger Helmut , Schmidt-Dengler Philipp , Zulehner Christine
Published: January 2019

We investigate the role of competition on the outcome of Austrian Treasury auctions. Austria’s EU accession led to an increase in the number of banks participating in treasury auctions. We use structural estimates of bidders’ private values to examine the effect of increased competition on auction performance. We find robust evidence that bidders’ surplus dropped sharply after EU accession, but less than reduced form estimates would suggest. The difference can be explained by reduced form estimates not taking into account the increase in valuations upon EU accession. (JEL D44, E63, G21, H63)