bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abnormal retrobulbar blood flow variables in central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Kilic Deniz , Karahan Mine , Vural Esra , Dursun Mehmet E. , Demirtaş Atılım A.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To evaluate if the retrobulbar blood flow variables were deteriorated in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients.

Methods

We included 25 CSC patients and 25 healthy subjects. We used color Doppler ultrasonography to assess the ophthalmic artery (OA), the central retinal artery (CRA), and the posterior ciliary arteries (PCA) for peak systolic velocity (PSV), end‐diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistance index (RI).

Results

Mean ages of the patients and controls were 42.3 ± 8.5 and 41.3 ± 9.4 years, respectively (P = .853). There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the values of PSV, EDV, and RI of CRA (P = .406, P = .627, P = .227) and PCA (P = .785, P = .403, P = .935, respectively). The PSV and EDV of OA were lower in the CSC patients (P = .005, P = .024, respectively). Whereas the RI of OA was not significantly different (P = .729). Submacular choroidal thickness (SCT) was greater in CSC patients (P < .001). There was a negative correlation between SCT and PSV of PCA (P = .022, r = −0.457) and between SCT and EDV of PCA (P = .004, r = −0.560) in CSC patients.

Conclusion

Hemodynamic changes in OA and a negative correlation between PCA values and SCT suggest ocular circulatory dysfunction in patients with CSC.
Morphological studies on the gills of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius, Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Hanafy Basma G.
Published: January 2020

The current work gives concern to study the morphology of the Merluccius merluccius gills by using gross morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and light microscopy. The findings of the present study revealed that the gill system consisted of four pairs of gill arches which carry the gill filaments on the convex border and gill rakers on the concave border of them. SEM results revealed that the rakers and the spines distribution on the first gill arch differed from that of the other three gill arches on the lateral and medial surfaces. On the surface the gill filaments, there were longitudinal ridges that carried pores of chloride cells and mucous cells. The histological examination revealed that, the gill arch composed of hyaline cartilage that presented in the form of cups. Each cup consisted of central cartilagenous core and peripheral cartilagenous matrix. The gill filaments composed of cartilaginous bar of peripheral cartilaginous matrix and central cartilaginous core extended from the gill arches and covered by an epithelial layers with a few mucous cells permeate it, and chloride cells were straggly in the interlamellar epithelium. Each gill filament carried several leaves like secondary lamellae on both sides of it. The epithelium, which lined the secondary lamellae, composed of epithelial pavement cells, some mucous cells, and pillar cells.
Snowpack determines relative importance of climate factors driving summer lake warming
Authors: Smits Adrianne P. , MacIntyre Sally , Sadro Steven
Published: January 2020

Mountain lakes experience extreme interannual climate variation as well as rapidly warming air temperatures, making them ideal systems to understand lake‐climate responses. Snowpack and water temperature are highly correlated in mountain lakes, but we lack a complete understanding of underlying mechanisms. Motivated by predicted declines in snowfall with future temperature increases, we investigated how surface heat fluxes and lake warming responded to variation in snowpack, ice‐off, and summer weather patterns in a high elevation lake in the Sierra Nevada, California. Ice‐off timing determined the phenology of lake exposure to solar radiation, and was the dominant mechanism linking snowpack to lake temperature. The relative importance of heat loss fluxes (longwave radiation, latent and sensible heat exchange) varied among wet and dry years. Declines in snowpack and ice cover in mountain systems will reduce variability in lake thermal responses and increase the responsiveness of lake warming to atmospheric forcing.
Wound Healing Process After Thermomechanical Skin Ablation
Authors: Kokolakis Georgios , von Grawert Leonie , Ulrich Martina , Lademann Juergen , Zuberbier Torsten , Hofmann Maja A.
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives

Energy‐based devices have been widely applied for skin ablation. A novel ablation technique based on thermomechanical principles (Tixel©) has been recently developed. The aim of this study was to examine the wound‐healing process and clinical aspects after thermomechanical skin ablation.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Six female participants were treated with Tixel© on healthy skin of the dorsal side of the right forearm in a single session with a 600 µm protrusion and 12 milliseconds pulse. The treated area was examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy on day 1, 2, 7, and 14 after treatment. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at the same time‐points.

Results

All patients developed erythema and mild edema on the treated areas, which completely disappeared within 14 days. No post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring was observed. Thermomechanical skin ablation resulted in the formation of homogeneous micro‐ablation zones. Two weeks after ablation, the honeycomb patterns of the epidermis in all examined layers was thoroughly restored. Thus, wound‐healing was completed.

Conclusions

Wound healing after thermomechanical skin ablation is much faster compared with other fractionated ablation methods. Treatment intervals of 2–4 weeks could be recommended. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Frequent acquirers and management compensation
Authors: Mishra Chandra S.
Published: January 2020

We find positive contemporaneous, short‐, and long‐run effects of an increase in the acquisition rate on management compensation. A positive bidirectional causality exists between acquisition frequency and management compensation. A higher firm value is likely to associate with higher acquisition frequency. Acquisition rate has a positive impact on the market share. Acquirers with lower market share are more likely to become frequent acquirers. A causal order follows from lower market share to higher acquisition frequency to higher firm value to higher management compensation. The impact of acquisition frequency on management compensation is higher for value‐enhancing acquirers relative to value‐destroying acquirers.
Genome‐wide identification and analysis of nuclear receptors genes for lethal screening against Bemisia tabaci Q
Authors: He Chao , Liu Shaonan , Liang Jinjin , Zeng Yang , Wang Shaoli , Wu Qingjun , Xie Wen , Zhang Youjun
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

Nuclear receptors (NRs) play an essential role in diverse biological processes, such as insect metamorphosis. Here, transcriptome analysis and functional studies were used to determine whether NRs are involved in metamorphosis of whitefly Bemisia tabaci Q, a serious pest to crops, and to find some potential insecticide targets.

RESULTS

Twenty NRs were identified in the Bemisia tabaci Q genome and categorized into the NR0‐NR6 subfamilies. The phylogenetic tree of NRs from Bemisia tabaci Q and other representative species was constructed, which provided evolutionary insight into their genetic distances. The results of spatiotemporal gene expression indicated that the majority of NR gene expression was higher in the head than the abdomen and higher in eggs than adults. Further functional analysis using RNA interference (RNAi) showed that NR genes play an important role in Bemisia tabaci Q pupation and eclosion. With respect to high mortality and effects on growth, this was reflected in the unable to become pupa when the third‐stage nymph treated with double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) and the developmental time delay (4–7 days) when pupae were treated with dsRNA for the 12 NR genes during molting compared with the development time in the control.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insight into NR functions during the metamorphosis stages of Bemisia tabaci Q. Several candidate genes could be potential insecticide targets for whitefly pest control due to their important roles in insect development. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Three different CT and FDG PET/CT findings of pulmonary involvement in methotrexate‐associated lymphoproliferative disease
Authors: Matsubayashi Sachi , Suzuki Manabu , Sakamoto Keita , Izumi Shinyu , Hojo Masayuki , Sugiyama Haruhito
Published: January 2020

Lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is one of the complications of methotrexate (MTX) therapy. In MTX‐associated LPD (MTX‐LPD), LPD lesions limited to the lungs are rare and show various types of opacity. A 75‐year‐old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented with myalgia. She had been taking MTX for 11 years. Chest computed tomography (CT) scans showed a nodule in the left lower lobe that had grown significantly and a new nodule in the right lower lobe. 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)/positron emission tomography (PET)/CT revealed significant FDG uptake in these nodules. Transbronchial biopsy specimen showed diffusely distributed CD20‐positive lymphoid cells, and we made a diagnosis of MTX‐LPD. All lung lesions disappeared within months after the immediate discontinuation of MTX. We also had two other patients with MTX‐LPD lung lesions that had high FDG uptake. FDG PET/CT might be a useful diagnostic tool as it may reflect disease progression and help identify separate lesions.
Separation principle for quasi‐one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinear systems with time delay
Authors: Hu Guang‐Da , Dong Wenqiang , Cong Yuhao
Published: January 2020

In this article, we address the problem of output stabilization for a class of nonlinear time‐delay systems. First, an observer is designed for estimating the state of nonlinear time‐delay systems by means of quasi‐one‐sided Lipschitz condition, which is less conservative than the one‐sided Lipschitz condition. Then, a state feedback controller is designed to stabilize the nonlinear systems in terms of weak quasi‐one‐sided Lipschitz condition. Furthermore, it is shown that the separation principle holds for stabilization of the systems based on the observer‐based controller. Under the quasi‐one‐sided Lipschitz condition, state observer and feedback controller can be designed separately even though the parameter (A,C) of nonlinear time‐delay systems is not detectable and parameter (A,B) is not stabilizable. Finally, a numerical example is provided to verify the efficiency of the main results.
Spectrally derived values of community leaf dry matter content link shifts in grassland composition with change in biomass production
Authors: Wayne Polley H. , Yang Chenghai , Wilsey Brian J. , Fay Philip A.
Published: January 2020

Leaf traits link environmental effects on plant species abundances to changes in ecosystem processes but are a challenge to measure regularly and over large areas. We used measurements of canopy reflectance from grassland communities to derive a regression model for one leaf trait, leaf dry matter content (LDMC). Partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis was used to model community‐weighted (species abundance‐weighted) values of LDMC as a function of canopy reflectance in visible and near‐infrared (NIR) wavebands. The PLSR model then was applied to airborne measurements of canopy reflectance to determine how community LDMC interacts with inter‐annual variation in precipitation to influence the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a surrogate of aboveground biomass production, of restored grassland during spring over 4 years. LDMC was well‐described by a PLSR model that included reflectance measurements located primarily in red edge and NIR portions of the spectrum. Community LDMC decreased as annual forb species became more abundant and was negatively correlated with maximum values of NDVI. Decreased precipitation reduced NDVI (biomass production) both by increasing community LDMC (LDMC response) and reducing the slope of the NDVI‐LDMC relationship (LDMC effect on NDVI). We find that grassland LDMC is well‐described by a regression model using canopy reflectance in red edge and NIR wavebands. Our results demonstrate the utility of spectral estimates of LDMC for discerning shifts in grassland composition and predicting consequences for production‐related ecosystem functions.
Soil organic carbon more strongly related to soil moisture than soil temperature in temperate grasslands
Authors: Kerr Destiny D. , Ochsner Tyson E.
Published: January 2020

Statistical models for soil organic carbon (SOC) differ substantially regarding the degree to which climate variables, such as precipitation and air temperature, influence SOC. These discrepancies contribute to uncertainties regarding the potential feedback effects of climate change on SOC. Soil‐climate variables, such as soil moisture and soil temperature, can strongly influence SOC gains and losses, but these variables have not been widely utilized in statistical SOC models. We hypothesized that SOC is more strongly related to soil‐climate variables than to climate variables and that using soil‐climate variables in statistical SOC models would improve SOC estimates. We tested these hypotheses using >10 years of daily climate and soil‐climate data from 67 temperate grassland sites across Oklahoma, USA, along with soil physical properties, and corresponding SOC data at 5‐, 25‐, and 60‐cm depths. Soil moisture was the single most influential predictor variable, as indicated by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. The effects of precipitation and air temperature were insignificant, apart from a weak negative effect of precipitation at 25 cm. Models including soil‐climate variables provided more accurate SOC estimates than models excluding soil‐climate variables and were statistically superior based on the Akaike information criterion. Future soil moisture conditions, not precipitation or air temperature, may be the key determinant of climate change–SOC feedback effects at these grassland sites and similar sites worldwide.
Tracing insular woodiness in giant Daucus (s.l.) fruit fossils from the Early Pleistocene of Madeira Island (Portugal)
Authors: Góis‐Marques Carlos A. , de Nascimento Lea , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Madeira José , Menezes de Sequeira Miguel
Published: January 2020

Plants on oceanic islands can evolve insular syndromes such as secondary woodiness, a generalized trend found in island floras worldwide. This phenomenon occurs through evolution in situ. It is triggered by ecological and physiological stimuli that transform herbaceous annuals into woody perennials. However, well‐dated and informative fossils that could help track and frame the evolution of this syndrome are lacking. Remarkably, in Madeira Island (Portugal), there are good examples of Apiaceae that evolved secondary woodiness, like the giant neoendemic Melanoselinum (≡ Daucus). Apiaceae has a very scarce fossil record, despite being a cosmopolitan family and an economically important crop. Here we describe the oldest Daucus s.l. fossil known to date and the first fossil evidence of a plant with insular woodiness. The fossils are preserved as mummified/compressed mericarps within 1.3‐million‐year‐old fluvio‐lacustrine sediments of the Funchal unit, Upper Volcanic complex, near Porto da Cruz. We assign them to the extant neoendemic species Melanoselinum (≡ Daucus) decipiens. The mericarp morphology shows remarkable stasis since the Calabrian stage of the Early Pleistocene. Our results demonstrate that in the Madeiran Daucinae clade, insular woodiness developed at least 1.3 million years ago, indicating a coeval or earlier immigration to Madeira Island of a Daucus sp. Our results reinforce the role of palaeobotanical research in oceanic islands, supported by stratigraphy and geochronology studies, as a key element for the understanding of plant palaeobiogeography, ecology and evolution worldwide. We expect this contribution to shed light on the evolutionary origins of carrots, and related plant groups, an important element of human food, and to better comprehend the evolution of plant insular woodiness.
A segmentation network with multiattention and its application to SAR image analysis
Authors: An Yong , Long Jianwu , Mabu Shingo
Published: January 2020

Image segmentation plays an important role in image understanding and region‐based applications. Many image segmentation algorithms have been proposed, but in this paper, we enhance the segmentation performance of deep learning using attention models that extract important features from the target images. The structure of the segmentation network is an encoder–decoder model that can combine position features and channel features, where the attention mechanisms refine both position and channel features. In the experiments, the proposed method is applied to satellite image analysis, where synthetic aperture radar images are analyzed to detect landslide areas after heavy rain occurred. The experimental results show that the proposed method obtains higher segmentation accuracy comparing with some conventional methods. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3d dualities from 2d free field correlators: recombination and rank stabilization
Authors: Pasquetti Sara , Sacchi Matteo
Published: January 2020

Abstract

We propose various new 3d$$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 dualities exploiting their recently discovered connection to the duality relations for 2d free field CFT correlators. Most of the dualities involve, as the main building block, a quiver theory with monopole superpotential which enjoys various interesting properties such as being self-dual and reducing, in a suitable real mass deformation, to the familiar T [SU(N )] theory. In particular we propose a duality for the U(N) theory with one adjoint and k + 1 fundamental flavors. By iterating some basic dualities we can bring the theory to a stable form which, in turns, allows us to find a dual frame where the rank of the original theory appears as a parameter.
Optimal bounds for the tangent and hyperbolic sine means
Authors: Nowicka Monika , Witkowski Alfred
Published: January 2020

We provide optimal bounds for the tangent and hyperbolic sine means in terms of various weighted means of the arithmetic and geometric means.
Immigration background and adolescent mental health problems: the role of family affluence, adolescent educational level and gender
Authors: Duinhof E. L. , Smid S. C. , Vollebergh W. A. M. , Stevens G. W. J. M.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

European studies demonstrated that immigrant adolescents are at a higher risk for mental health problems than native adolescents, but little is known about the role of socioeconomic status (SES) and gender in this association. This study examined to what extent differences in the mental health problems of non-western immigrant and native Dutch adolescents were explained by adolescents’ family affluence and educational level and differed with the adolescents’ family affluence, educational level, and gender.

Methods

Adolescents in a Dutch nationally representative sample of 11–16-year old native Dutch (n = 5283) and non-western immigrants (n = 1054) reported on their family affluence, own educational level, conduct problems, emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems, and hyperactivity–inattention problems.

Results

Non-western immigrant adolescents were at a higher risk for conduct problems and peer relationship problems than native Dutch adolescents, but family affluence and educational level explained only a very small proportion of these differences. With two exceptions, differences in the mental health problems of non-western immigrants and natives were highly comparable for different family affluence levels, educational levels, and for boys and girls. Only for natives, a higher family SES was related to less conduct problems. Furthermore, only for non-western immigrants a high family SES related to more hyperactivity–inattention problems.

Conclusions

Our findings illustrate that the association between immigration background and adolescent mental health problems is largely independent of SES and gender. Future studies should include other factors to facilitate our understanding of the association between immigration background and adolescent mental health problems.
The effect of steatosis and fibrosis on blunt force vulnerability of the liver
Authors: Simon Gábor , Poór Viktor Soma , Heckmann Veronika , Kozma Zsolt , Molnár Tamás F.
Published: January 2020

The aim of our study was to examine the possible effect of steatosis and fibrosis on the blunt force vulnerability of human liver tissue. 3.5 × 3.5 × 2-cm-sized liver tissue blocks were removed from 135 cadavers. All specimens underwent microscopical analysis. The tissue samples were put into a test stand, and a metal rod with a square-shaped head was pushed against the capsular surface. The force (Pmax) causing liver rupture was measured and registered with a Mecmesin AFG-500 force gauge. Six groups were formed according to the histological appearance of the liver tissue: intact (group 1), mild steatosis (group 2), moderate steatosis (group 3), severe steatosis (group 4), fibrosis (group 5), and cirrhosis (group 6). The average Pmax value was 34.1 N in intact liver samples (range from 18.1 to 60.8 N, SD ± 8.7), 45.1 N in mild steatosis (range from 24.2 to 79.8 N SD ± 12.6), 55.4 N in moderate steatosis (range from 28.9 to 92.5 N, SD ± 16.0), 57.6 N in severe steatosis (range from 39.8 to 71.5 N, SD ± 11.9), 63.7 N in fibrosis (range from 37.8 to 112.2 N, SD ± 19.5), and 87.1 N in the case of definite cirrhosis (range from 52.7 to 162.7 N, 30.3). The Pmax values were significantly higher in samples with visible structural change than in intact liver sample (p = 0.023, 0.001, 0.009, 0.0001, 0.0001 between group 1 and groups 2 to 6 respectively). Significant difference was found between mild steatosis (group 2) and cirrhosis (group 6) (p = 0.0001), but the difference between mild, moderate, and severe steatosis (groups 2, 3, and 4) was not significant. Our study demonstrated that contrary to what is expected as received wisdom dictates, the diseases of the parenchyma (steatosis and presence of fibrosis) positively correlate with the blunt force resistance of the liver tissue.
Exploring the feasibility of an exercise programme including aerobic and resistance training in people with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
Authors: Mitropoulos Alexandros , Gumber Anil , Crank Helen , Akil Mohammed , Klonizakis Markos
Published: January 2020

Objectives

It is suggested that exercise can improve the vascular function and quality of life (QoL) in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), potentially offering clinical benefits to this population. Yet the feasibility of such an intervention remains untested. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of a combined exercise protocol (aerobic and resistance training) in people with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc).

Methods

Thirty-two lcSSc patients (66.5 ± 12 years old) were randomly allocated in two groups (exercise and control group). The exercise group underwent a 12-week exercise programme, twice per week. All patients performed the baseline, three- and six-month follow-up measurements where functional ability, body composition and QoL were assessed. Participants’ experiences were explored through interviews.

Results

Compliance was 92.6% with no dropouts. The individuals’ confidence to participate in the study’s exercise protocol for twice per week was 95%. The average value for the physical activity enjoyment scale was 103 ± 10 out of 119 (highest score). The mean values for the intention to engage in exercise twice per week were 6.4 ± 1 (likely) out of 7 (very likely). QoL for the exercise group showed to have a better life satisfaction, less anxiety and Raynaud’s phenomenon-accompanied pain.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a combined exercise protocol was feasible for people with lcSSc, with no adverse events, resulting in high adherence and low attrition rates, high enjoyment levels and intentions for future engagement to this exercise. Thus, the specific protocol is a safe adjunct therapy for people with lcSSc.

Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT number): NCT03058887, February 23, 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03058887?term=NCT03058887&rank=1Key Points• High-intensity interval training in combination with resistance training constitutes a feasible exercise protocol for people with lcSSc.• Overall, the exercise programme demonstrated high adherence and enjoyment levels and low attrition rates.• The exercise protocol was proved to be safe with no adverse events for people with lcSSc.
Numerical Study of Atrial Fibrillation Effects on Flow Distribution in Aortic Circulation
Authors: Deyranlou Amin , Naish Josephine H. , Miller Christopher A. , Revell Alistair , Keshmiri Amir
Published: January 2020

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia, which undermines cardiac function. Atrial fibrillation is a multi-facet malady and it may occur as a result of other diseases or it may trigger other problems. One of the main complications of AF is stroke due to the possibility of clot formation inside the atrium. However, the possibility of stroke occurrence due to the AF and the location from which an embolus dispatches are subject of debate. Another hypothesis about the embolus formation during AF is thrombus formation in aorta and carotid arteries, embolus detachment and its movement. To investigate the possibility of the latter postulation, the current work suggests a parametric study to quantify the sensitivity of aortic flow to four common AF traits including lack of atrial kick, atrial remodelling, left ventricle systolic dysfunction, and high frequency fibrillation. The simulation was carried out by coupling several in-house codes and ANSYS-CFX module. The results reveal that AF traits lower flow rate at left ventricular outflow tract, which in general lowers blood perfusion to systemic, cerebral and coronary circulations. Consequently, it leads to endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP) increase and variation of flow structure that both suggest predisposed areas to atherogenesis and thrombus formation in different regions in ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta.
Unraveling the Role of Astrocytes in Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in a Parkinson’s Disease Rat Model
Authors: Campos Ana Carolina Pinheiro , Kikuchi Daniel Seicho , Paschoa Amanda Faure Nardini , Kuroki Mayra Akemi , Fonoff Erich Talamoni , Hamani Clement , Pagano Rosana Lima , Hernandes Marina Sorrentino
Published: January 2020

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective therapeutic strategy for motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) when L-DOPA therapy induces disabling side effects. Classical inflammatory activation of glial cells is well established in PD, contributing to the progressive neurodegenerative state; however, the role of DBS in regulating the inflammatory response remains largely unknown. To understand the involvement of astrocytes in the mechanisms of action of DBS, we evaluated the effect of STN–DBS in regulating motor symptoms, astrocyte reactivity, and cytokine expression in a 6-OHDA-induced PD rat model. To mimic in vivo DBS, we investigate the effect of high-frequency stimulation (HFS) in cultured astrocytes regulating cytokine induction and NF-κB activation. We found that STN-DBS improved motor impairment, induced astrocytic hyperplasia, and reversed increased IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in the globus pallidus (GP) of lesioned rats. Moreover, HFS activated astrocytes and prevented TNF-α-induced increase of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and NF-κB activation in vitro. Our results indicate that DBS/HFS may act as a regulator of the inflammatory response in PD states, attenuating classical activation of astrocytes and cytokine induction, potentially through its ability to regulate NF-κB activation. These findings may help us understand the role of astrocyte signaling in HFS, highlighting its possible relationship with the effectiveness of DBS in neurodegenerative disorders.
Acute stroke and TIA patients have specific polygraphic features of obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Leino Akseli , Westeren-Punnonen Susanna , Töyräs Juha , Myllymaa Sami , Leppänen Timo , Ylä-Herttuala Salla , Muraja-Murro Anu , Kantanen Anne-Mari , Autere Jaana , Jäkälä Pekka , Mervaala Esa , Myllymaa Katja
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk for stroke, which is known to further impair respiratory functions. However, it is unknown whether the type and severity of respiratory events are linked to stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Thus, we investigate whether the characteristics of individual respiratory events differ between patients experiencing TIA or acute ischemic stroke and matched patients with clinically suspected sleep-disordered breathing.

Methods

Polygraphic data of 77 in-patients with acute ischemic stroke (n = 49) or TIA (n = 28) were compared to age, gender, and BMI-matched patients with suspected sleep-disordered breathing and no cerebrovascular disease. Along with conventional diagnostic parameters (e.g., apnea-hypopnea index), durations and severities of individual apneas, hypopneas and desaturations were compared between the groups separately for ischemic stroke and TIA patients.

Results

Stroke and TIA patients had significantly shorter apneas and hypopneas (p < 0.001) compared to matched reference patients. Furthermore, stroke patients had more central apnea events (p = 0.007) and a trend for higher apnea/hypopnea number ratios (p = 0.091). The prevalence of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5) was 90% in acute stroke patients and 79% in transient ischemic attack patients.

Conclusion

Stroke patients had different characteristics of respiratory events, i.e., their polygraphic phenotype of OSA differs compared to matched reference patients. The observed differences in polygraphic features might indicate that stroke and TIA patients suffer from OSA phenotype recently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Therefore, optimal diagnostics and treatment require routine OSA screening in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease, even without previous suspicion of OSA.
Comparison of health behaviours between cancer survivors and the general population: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lifelines cohort
Authors: Cortés-Ibáñez Francisco O. , Jaramillo-Calle Daniel A. , Vinke Petra C. , Byambasukh Oyuntugs , Corpeleijn Eva , Sijtsma Anna , Eulenburg Christine , Vonk Judith M. , de Bock Geertruida H.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To compare the differences in lifestyle behaviours between cancer survivors (CSs) and cancer-free participants in a large and representative population-based cohort.

Methods

We included 115,257 adults from the Lifelines cohort. Cancer status was self-reported, and health behaviours were measured (e.g. body mass index [BMI]) or assessed by questionnaire (e.g. physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary behaviour and diet). The data were then categorised for logistic regression analysis, stratified and adjusted by sex and age (< 55 vs ≥ 55 years).

Results

CSs (5473; 4.7%) were diagnosed 9 ± 8.5 years before data collection, were older (mean age 55.4 vs 44.4 years) and more often female (66.6% vs 33.4%) than the cancer-free participants. They were also more likely to be physically active and to have a better diet, and also less likely to be alcohol drinkers; but, were more likely to have a higher BMI, be former smokers and to be sedentary. After adjustment for sex and age, however, BMI was more likely to be normal, physical activity was more likely to be higher and smoking to be prevalent in CSs. Current smoking was also significantly higher among females and those aged < 55 years who were CSs than for those with no history of cancer.

Conclusions

In this population-based cohort, CSs have health behaviour comparable to those without a cancer diagnosis.

Implications for cancer survivors

Smoking cessation strategies should target all CSs, but efforts could yield greatest benefit if they target females and those younger than 55 years.
Organoid of ovarian cancer: genomic analysis and drug screening
Authors: Liu H.-D. , Xia B.-R. , Jin M.-Z. , Lou G.
Published: January 2020

Ovarian cancer is the most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive system, and its standard treatments are cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Great advances have been achieved in novel treatment strategies, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy. However, ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among gynecological tumors due to therapeutic resistance and the gap between preclinical data and actual clinical efficacy. Organoids are a 3D culture model that markedly affects gene analysis, drug screening, and drug sensitivity determination of tumors, especially when used in targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In addition, organoid can lead to advances in the preclinical research of ovarian cancer due to its convenient cultivation, good genetic stability, and high homology with primary tumors.
Zwischen Einblicken und Beweisen
Authors: Marchand Silke
Published: January 2020

Digitale Portfolio-Apps ermöglichen, Bildungsprozesse im Vergleich zur Papiervariante detaillierter und mit mehr Bildern und Videos zu dokumentieren. Das prozessorientierte Portfolioverfahren wird dabei oft mit diagnostischen Instrumenten verknüpft, indem z. B. Portfolioeinträgen Kompetenzen aus einem Kompetenzraster zugeordnet werden können. Eltern können freigegebene Beiträge über einen Elternzugang einsehen, kommentieren oder sogar selbst Einträge erstellen. Diskutiert wird, inwiefern diese Veränderungen den Dokumentationsfokus auf das Sichtbare verschieben, Inszenierung von Leistung und Selbstdarstellung in der Bildungsdokumentation verstärken sowie eine Beweislogik in die Kommunikation und eine potenziell wirkmächtige Pseudo-Objektivität in das entstehende Artefakt einbringen könnten.
Optimal management of coronary artery disease in cancer patients
Authors: Han Xue‐Jie , Li Jian‐Qiang , Khannanova Zulfiia , Li Yue
Published: January 2020

Owing to early diagnosis and rapid development of treatments for cancers, the five‐year survival rate of all cancer types has markedly improved worldwide. Over time, however, there has been an increase in the number of cancer patients who develop coronary artery disease (CAD) due to different causes. First, many risk factors are shared between cancer and CAD. Second, inflammation and oxidative stress are common underlying pathogeneses in both disorders. Lastly, cancer therapy can result in endothelial injury, coronary artery spasm, and coagulation, thereby increasing the risk of CAD. As more cancer patients are being diagnosed with CAD, specialized cardiac care should be established to minimize the cardiovascular mortality of cancer survivors.
Multiple movement dependencies and parasitic gaps
Authors: Gould Isaac
Published: January 2020

Nissenbaum (2000) and Heck and Himmelreich (2017) (henceforth HH) are two prominent works that are noteworthy for focusing on the interaction of multiple movement dependencies (MMDs) and parasitic gaps (PGs). However, these two works consider disjoint and contrasting types of data paradigms. In this squib, I take both types of paradigms into consideration. In doing so, there are three inter-related questions that arise for our understanding of PGs (and in particular for PGs that involve certain MMDs). The first question asks what the correct descriptive generalizations about PG paradigms are. Going beyond such a generalization, we can also ask how to properly account for the data (and whether a unified analysis is possible). Finally, and more specifically, we can ask how to account for the compositional semantics of PGs, especially those involving MMDs.
Break or Bend in Case of Emergency?: Rule of Law and State of Emergency in European Public Health Administration
Authors: BASTOS Filipe Brito , DE RUIJTER Anniek
Published: January 2020

In this article, we ask what the impact is of the role of the EU administration in responding to emergencies in terms of (changes to) the rule of law. A response to an emergency in some cases creates exceptions to rule of law guarantees that bind the authorities to procedural rules and fundamental rights. These exceptions can become more permanent and even change the constitutional order of the EU. We articulate the legal framework for health emergencies, and discuss how the EU court has interpreted and developed this framework in two key decisions. We then ask whether this framework offers adequate safeguards for upholding the rule of law in cases of major health emergencies. We conclude that public health emergencies can bend and even break rule of law requirements for the EU administration, and advocate for more legal guidance on proportionality, which may offer better safeguards suited for protecting the rights of affected parties.
Lower bound for the Perron–Frobenius degrees of Perron numbers
Authors: YAZDI MEHDI
Published: January 2020

Using an idea of Doug Lind, we give a lower bound for the Perron–Frobenius degree of a Perron number that is not totally real, in terms of the layout of its Galois conjugates in the complex plane. As an application, we prove that there are cubic Perron numbers whose Perron–Frobenius degrees are arbitrary large, a result known to Lind, McMullen and Thurston. A similar result is proved for bi-Perron numbers.
Bernoulli decomposition and arithmetical independence between sequences
Authors: YU HAN
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we study the set $$\begin{eqnarray}A=\{p(n)+2^{n}d~\text{mod}~1:n\geq 1\}\subset [0,1],\end{eqnarray}$$ where $p$ is a polynomial with at least one irrational coefficient on non-constant terms, $d$ is any real number and, for $a\in [0,\infty )$, $a~\text{mod}~1$ is the fractional part of $a$. With the help of a method recently introduced by Wu, we show that the closure of $A$ must have full Hausdorff dimension.
The honest cheat: a timely history of cheating and fraud following Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords [2017] UKSC 67
Authors: Griffiths Cerian
Published: January 2020

The UK Supreme Court took the opportunity in Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords [2017] UKSC 67 to reverse the long-standing, but unpopular, test for dishonesty in R v Ghosh. It reduced the relevance of subjectivity in the test of dishonesty, and brought the civil and the criminal law approaches to dishonesty into line by adopting the test as laid down in Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd v Tan. This paper employs extensive legal historical research to demonstrate that the Supreme Court in Ivey was too quick to dismiss the significance of the historical roots of dishonesty. Through an innovative and comprehensive historical framework of fraud, this paper demonstrates that dishonesty has long been a central pillar of the actus reus of deceptive offences. The recognition of such significance permits us to situate the role of dishonesty in contemporary criminal property offences. This historical analysis further demonstrates that the Justices erroneously overlooked centuries of jurisprudence in their haste to unite civil and criminal law tests for dishonesty.
Queering the southern border: challenges to Italian homonationalism in Emma Dante'sVia Castellana Bandiera(2013)
Authors: Polizzi Goffredo
Published: January 2020

Set in contemporary Palermo, Emma Dante'sVia Castellana Bandiera(2013) offers a powerful exploration of the South as a site of cultural contact, interaction and confrontation by focusing on a western-like showdown between two women whose lives are differently marked by mobility and migration. In Dante's film, the simultaneous articulation of queerness and southernness is a way to queer the traditional image of the frontier and to offer an evocative elaboration on how identities are constructed, mobilised and played off against each other in the neoliberal context.
Recapturing Regime Type in International Relations: Leaders, Institutions, and Agency Space
Authors: Hyde Susan D. , Saunders Elizabeth N.
Published: January 2020

A wave of recent research challenges the role of regime type in international relations. One striking takeaway is that democratic and autocratic leaders can often achieve similar levels of domestic constraint, which in many issue areas results in similar international outcomes—leading many to question traditional views of democracies as distinctive in their international relations. In this review essay, we use recent contributions in the field to build what we call a “malleable constraints” framework, in which all governments have an institutionally defined default level of domestic audience constraint that is generally higher in democracies, but leaders maintain some agency within these institutions and can strategically increase their exposure to or insulation from this constraint. Using this framework, we argue that regime type is still a crucial differentiator in international affairs even if, as recent studies suggest, democratic and autocratic leaders can sometimes be similarly constrained by domestic audiences and thus achieve similar international outcomes. This framework helps reconcile many competing claims in recent scholarship, including the puzzle of why autocracies do not strategically increase domestic audience constraint more often. Just because autocracies can engage audience constraints and democracies can escape them does not mean that they can do so with equal ease, frequency, or risk.
First record of vertical movements of the totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) as evidenced by pop-up satellite tags in the Upper Gulf of California
Authors: Hernández-Tlapale Cristina , De-Anda-Montañez Juan Antonio , Trasviña-Castro Armando , Valenzuela-Quiñonez Fausto , Ketchum James T. , Muhlia-Melo Arturo
Published: January 2020

The description of the movements and habitat preference of marine fishes is essential to understand their biology and in the evaluation of commercially exploited species and the conservation of endangered ones. In this regard, little is known about the movements of the totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), despite its being listed as critically endangered and having been a relevant fishery resource in the past century in Mexico. Totoaba is a fish species endemic to the Gulf of California characterized by late maturation, prolonged life and annual reproduction. Totoaba has maintained its known historical distribution range, although its movements and habitat occupancy in the water column have remained poorly understood. The present study describes, for the first time and at a daily fine scale, the vertical movements and habitat preferences of the totoaba in the Upper Gulf of California. Pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) were used to record depth and temperature at 4-minute intervals. Ten individuals were caught and tagged in May 2016 in the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve. All PSATs were either prematurely released or lost. Data derived from two recovered tags that saved data for 43 and 75 tracking days, respectively, were analysed. The results showed that tagged fishes moved southward to the vicinity of Angel de la Guarda Island; these are consistent with spatial displacement patterns reported in the literature, with a linear displacement of 223 km from deployment to pop-up sites. Fish spent 47% of the time within a depth range of 25–35 m. Depth increased to 70 m for one fish in early summer (late June). The preferred temperature of fishes ranged between 21–23°C. A generalized linear model revealed that vertical movement was influenced by temperature. The vertical displacement of the totoaba shows a diurnal variation that may be associated with the distribution of its prey. Further work is needed to test this hypothesis with a larger number of organisms.
25-year follow-up of treated and not-treated adolescents after the Spitak earthquake: course and predictors of PTSD and depression
Authors: Goenjian Armen K. , Steinberg Alan M. , Walling David , Bishop Sheryl , Karayan Ida , Pynoos Robert
Published: January 2020

Background

There is a paucity of long-term prospective disaster studies of the psychological sequelae among survivors.

Methods

At 1½ and 25 years after the Spitak earthquake, 142 early adolescents from two cities were assessed: Gumri (moderate–severe exposure) and Spitak (very severe exposure). The Gumri group included treated and not-treated subjects, while the Spitak group included not-treated subjects. Instruments included: DSM-III-R PTSD-Reaction Index (PTSD-RI); DSM-5 PTSD-Checklist (PCL); Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS); and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D).

Results

(1) Between 1½ and 25 years, PTSD rates and mean scores decreased significantly in the three groups (over 50%). However, at 25 years 9.1–22.4% met DSM-5 PTSD criteria. (2) At 1½ years, the Spitak group had higher PTSD-RI (p < 0.001) and DSRS scores (p < 0.001) compared to the Gumri-not-treated group. At 25 years, the Spitak group that had experienced fewer post-earthquake adversities (p < 0.03), had a greater decrease in PTSD-RI scores (p < 0.02), and lower CES-D scores (p < 0.01). (3) Before treatment, PTSD-RI and DSRS scores did not differ between the Gumri-treated and not-treated groups. At 25-years, the Gumri-treated group showed a greater decrease in PTSD-RI scores (p < 0.03), and lower mean PTSD-RI (p < 0.02), PCL (p < 0.02), and CES-D (p < 0.01) scores. (4) Predictors of PTSD symptom severity at 25-years included: home destruction, treatment, social support, post-earthquake adversities, and chronic medical illnesses.

Conclusion

Post-disaster PTSD and depressive symptoms can persist for decades. Trauma-focused treatment, alleviation of post-disaster adversities, improving the social ecology, and monitoring for chronic medical illnesses are essential components of recovery programs.
Redressing international problems: North Korean nuclear politics
Authors: Choi Shine
Published: January 2020

Marysia Zalewski's Feminist International Relations: Exquisite Corpse on feminism and global politics directly addresses matters of style, that is, questions of language and representation that foreground the invisible yet so palpable aspect of how meanings circulate. This article puts Zalewski's work in conversation with Trinh Minh-ha's D-Passage: The Digital Way and Lynda Barry's What It Is that similarly push the limits of how we craft feminist arguments. These feminists show how styles of writing and thinking, and how ideas gain shape to circulate matter in academic sites of knowledge as much as in art and culture. Building on these works, I put forward the thesis: to theorise is to feel out boundaries and question the questions we encounter that perennially relegate women as taint and malaise. I further explore this thesis by highlighting the visual dimensions of writing and thinking, in particular, what drawing, and drawing lines that shape ideas do. I focus on caricatures from the currently evolving North Korean nuclear crisis to loosen up the ways we go about thinking about war and politics wherein thinking is recognised not so much as a craft to be perfected but a democratic form of being in the world.