bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure dependence of viscosity in supercooled water and a unified approach for thermodynamic and dynamic anomalies of water
Authors: Singh Lokendra P. , Issenmann Bruno , Caupin Frédéric
Published: April 2017

Significance

Commuting during rush hours teaches us that the denser the crowd, the slower the motion. Liquids follow this law, except water below ambient temperature: Increasing density decreases viscosity! This anomaly witnesses the progressive breaking of the hydrogen bond network in water. Because this network develops upon cooling, dramatic effects of pressure on viscosity are expected in water supercooled below its freezing point. However, no data were hitherto available under these extreme conditions. Using a time-of-flight viscometer, we provide viscosity data down to −29 °C and up to 3,000 atmospheres, revealing that pressure can reduce viscosity by nearly one half. We propose a model that treats water as a mixture of two species, and explains its thermodynamic and dynamic properties.
High-throughput, low-loss, low-cost, and label-free cell separation using electrophysiology-activated cell enrichment
Authors: Faraghat Shabnam A. , Hoettges Kai F. , Steinbach Max K. , van der Veen Daan R. , Brackenbury William J. , Henslee Erin A. , Labeed Fatima H. , Hughes Michael P.
Published: April 2017

Significance

Cell separation is a fundamental process in biomedicine, but is presently complicated, cumbersome, and expensive. We present a technique that can sort cells at a rate equivalent to or faster than gold-standard techniques such as fluorescence- and magnetic-activated cell sorting, but can do it label-free and with very low cell loss. The system uses dielectrophoresis to sort cells electrostatically, using an electrode chip that eschews microfabrication in favor of a laminate drilled with 397 electrode-bearing wells. This high level of parallelization makes the system immune to the bubbles that limit labs-on-chip, while also increasing capacity and throughput to levels comparable with high-throughput FACS and MACS, whereas the chip is cheap enough to be disposable, preventing interseparation contamination.
Reflections on Translation Theory
Authors: Chesterman Andrew
Published: April 2017

Originally published in different journals and collected volumes, these papers in conceptual analysis cover some central topics in translation theory and research: types of theory and hypothesis; causality and explanation; norms, strategies and so-called universals; translation sociology, and ethics. There are critical reviews of Catford’s theory, and of Skopos theory, and of Kundera’s views on literary translation, and detailed analyses of the literal translation hypothesis and the unique items hypothesis. The methodological discussions, which draw on work in the philosophy of science, will be of special relevance to younger researchers, for example those starting work on a doctorate. Some of the arguments and positions defended – for instance on the significant status of conceptual, interpretive hypotheses, and the ideal of consilience – relate to wider ongoing debates, and will interest any scholar who is concerned about the increasing fragmentation of the field and about the future of Translation Studies. Let the dialogue continue!
The Idea of a Text and the Nature of Textual Meaning
Authors: Pettersson Anders
Published: April 2017

In his account of text and textual meaning, Pettersson demonstrates that a text as commonly conceived is not only a verbal structure but also a physical entity, two kinds of phenomena which do not in fact add up to a unitary object. He describes this current notion of text as convenient enough for many practical purposes, but inadequate in discussions of a theoretically more demanding nature. Having clearly demonstrated its intellectual drawbacks, he develops an alternative, boldly revisionary way of thinking about text and textual meaning. His careful argument is in challenging dialogue with assumptions about language-in-use to be found in a wide range of present-day literary theory, linguistics, philosophical aesthetics, and philosophy of language.
Justifying the jihad
Authors: Clifton Jonathan
Published: April 2017

Islamic terrorism is arguably the biggest threat that western democracies are now facing. Using Membership Categorisation Analysis as a research methodology and transcripts of the recordings of the negotiations between law enforcement agencies and Mohammed Merah, a self-professed Islamic terrorist, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how an Islamic terrorist accounts for committing terrorist attacks. Taking an ethnomethodological stance, the analyses are rooted in Merah’s own practical reasoning, made visible through his identity work and the way in which he accounts for his actions and renders them intelligible as an act of Islamic terror. Findings indicate that Merah’s identity work points to a dichotomous (us and them) version of a religious and political world order in which an imagined de-territorialised Muslim community (the ummah) is being defended against the aggression of western democracies. Defence of this imagined community justifies global terrorist attacks against the enemies of Islam.
Effect of strain rate on the work-hardening rate in high-Mn steel
Authors: Sun S. , Zhao A. , Wu Q.
Published: April 2017

In order to investigate the effect of strain rate on the work-hardening rate in high-Mn steel, tensile tests are performed at different strain rates of 10−1 s−1, 10−2 s−1 and 10−3 s−1. Results indicate that high strain rate increases the stacking-fault energy due to the temperature effect. The tested steel has a negative strain rate sensitivity and work-hardening rate sensitivity. The deformation-induced transformations of γ → α′ and γ→ [Formula: see text] both occur. With the increase of strain rate, the transformation induced plasticity effect becomes weaken, the volume fraction of [Formula: see text]-martensite decreases, the density of deformation band reduces, the deformation band becomes coarse and the distance between adjacent two deformation bands increases, but the diameter and depth of the dimples get larger, and the number of dimples decreases.
Scaling of cytoskeletal organization with cell size inDrosophila
Authors: Spencer Alison K. , Schaumberg Andrew J. , Zallen Jennifer A.
Published: April 2017

Spatially organized macromolecular complexes are essential for cell and tissue function, but the mechanisms that organize micron-scale structures within cells are not well understood. Microtubule-based structures such as mitotic spindles scale with cell size, but less is known about the scaling of actin structures within cells. Actin-rich denticle precursors cover the ventral surface of the Drosophila embryo and larva and provide templates for cuticular structures involved in larval locomotion. Using quantitative imaging and statistical modeling, we demonstrate that denticle number and spacing scale with cell length over a wide range of cell sizes in embryos and larvae. Denticle number and spacing are reduced under space-limited conditions, and both features robustly scale over a 10-fold increase in cell length during larval growth. We show that the relationship between cell length and denticle spacing can be recapitulated by specific mathematical equations in embryos and larvae and that accurate denticle spacing requires an intact microtubule network and the microtubule minus end–binding protein, Patronin. These results identify a novel mechanism of micro­tubule-dependent actin scaling that maintains precise patterns of actin organization during tissue growth.
Wound-induced Ca2+wave propagates through a simple release and diffusion mechanism
Authors: Handly L. Naomi , Wollman Roy
Published: April 2017

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are critical mediators of information concerning tissue damage from damaged cells to neighboring healthy cells. ATP acts as an effective DAMP when released into extracellular space from damaged cells. Extracellular ATP receptors monitor tissue damage and activate a Ca2+wave in the surrounding healthy cells. How the Ca2+wave propagates through cells after a wound is unclear. Ca2+wave activation can occur extracellularly via external receptors or intracellularly through GAP junctions. Three potential mechanisms to propagate the Ca2+wave are source and sink, amplifying wave, and release and diffusion. Both source and sink and amplifying wave regulate ATP levels using hydrolysis or secretion, respectively, whereas release and diffusion relies on dilution. Here we systematically test these hypotheses using a microfluidics assay to mechanically wound an epithelial monolayer in combination with direct manipulation of ATP hydrolysis and release. We show that a release and diffusion model sufficiently explains Ca2+-wave propagation after an epithelial wound. A release and diffusion model combines the benefits of fast activation at short length scales with a self-limiting response to prevent unnecessary inflammatory responses harmful to the organism.
MOST-visualization: software for producing automated textbook-style maps of genome-scale metabolic networks
Authors: Kelley James J , Maor Shay , Kim Min Kyung , Lane Anatoliy , Lun Desmond S
Published: April 2017

Visualization of metabolites, reactions and pathways in genome-scale metabolic networks (GEMs) can assist in understanding cellular metabolism. Three attributes are desirable in software used for visualizing GEMs: (i) automation, since GEMs can be quite large; (ii) production of understandable maps that provide ease in identification of pathways, reactions and metabolites; and (iii) visualization of the entire network to show how pathways are interconnected. No software currently exists for visualizing GEMs that satisfies all three characteristics, but MOST-Visualization, an extension of the software package MOST (Metabolic Optimization and Simulation Tool), satisfies (i), and by using a pre-drawn overview map of metabolism based on the Roche map satisfies (ii) and comes close to satisfying (iii).

Availability and Implementation

MOST is distributed for free on the GNU General Public License. The software and full documentation are available at http://most.ccib.rutgers.edu/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Disorders of the Dermis
Authors: Sybert Virginia P.
Published: April 2017

Chapter 5 covers Collagen disorders (Ainhum, Amniotic Bands, Buschke-Ollendorff Syndrome, Dermatosparaxis), Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (Ehlers-Danlos Types I, II, and III, Ehlers-Danlos Type IV, Ehlers-Danlos Type VI, Ehlers-Danlos Type VIII, and Reactive Perforating Collagenosis), Elastin (Costello Syndrome, Cutis Laxa, and Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum), Vascular disorders (Ataxia Telangiectasia, Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita, Fabry Syndrome, Familial Flame Nevi, Hereditary Glomus Tumors, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome, Maffucci Syndrome, and Sturge-Weber Syndrome, and Multiple Cutaneous and Mucosal Venous Malformations), Mixed disorders (Aplasia Cutis Congenita, Focal Dermal Hypoplasia, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex), and other Disorders of the Dermis (Albright Hereditary Osteodystrophy, Cutis Verticis Gyrata, Familial Dysautonomia, François Syndrome, Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome, Lipoid Proteinosis, and Multiple Pterygia). Each condition is discussed in detail, including dermatologic features, associated anomalies, histopathology, basic defect, treatment, mode of inheritance, prenatal diagnosis, and differential diagnosis.
Disorders of Subcutaneous Tissue
Authors: Sybert Virginia P.
Published: April 2017

Chapter 6 covers Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis, Familial Multiple Lipomatosis, Familial Symmetric Lipomatosis, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Lipogranulomatosis, Partial Lipodystrophy, and Berardinelli-Seip Syndrome. Each condition is discussed in detail, including dermatologic features, associated anomalies, histopathology, basic defect, treatment, mode of inheritance, prenatal diagnosis, and differential diagnosis.
Tumors/Hamartomas
Authors: Sybert Virginia P.
Published: April 2017

Chapter 10 covers Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, Cowden Syndrome, Cylindromatosis, Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome, Epidermal Nevus, Gardner Syndrome, Giant congenital nevocytic nevus, Hereditary Keratoacanthomas, Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer, Infantile Myofibromatosis, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Types 1, 2A, and 2B/3, Pilomatricoma, Proteus Syndrome, Sebaceous Nevus Syndrome, and Tumoral Calcinosis. Each condition is discussed in detail, including dermatologic features, associated anomalies, histopathology, basic defect, treatment, mode of inheritance, prenatal diagnosis, and differential diagnosis.
Photosensitivity
Authors: Sybert Virginia P.
Published: April 2017

Chapter 13 covers Bloom Syndrome, Hartnup Disorder, Kindler Syndrome, Polymorphous Light Eruption, Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome, and Xeroderma Pigmentosum. Each condition is discussed in detail, including dermatologic features, associated anomalies, histopathology, basic defect, treatment, mode of inheritance, prenatal diagnosis, and differential diagnosis.
Clinical Application of the Biopsychosocial Model
Authors: Engel George L.
Published: April 2017

Work by the late Dr. George Engel comprises this chapter of Patient-Centered Medicine: A Human Experience in which the clinical application of the biopsychosocial model is examined. How physicians approach patients and the problems they present are influenced by the conceptual models around which their knowledge is organized. In this chapter, the implications of the biopsychosocial model for the study and care of a patient with an acute myocardial infarction are presented and contrasted with approaches used by adherents of the more traditional biomedical model. A medical rather than a psychiatric patient was selected to emphasize the unity of medicine and to help define the place of psychiatrists in the education of physicians of the future.
The Doctor–Patient Relationship
Authors: Rosen David H. , Hoang Uyen B.
Published: April 2017

This chapter examines the doctor–patient relationship. It underscores the key nature of the human bond between the healthcare worker and the patient as a partnership, which is essential to the healing process. The doctor–patient relationship is anchored by the language of medicine to facilitate effective communication skills and to support ongoing cooperation. Because young doctors are socialized into a frequently dehumanized system, which can erode compassion and empathy, they are not helped to cope with the emotional impact of their work. The education of these future physicians must include helping the student to understand the language of medicine and to recognize the biopsychosocial forces experienced so intensely as half of the dyad of the doctor–patient relationship.
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in clinical practice
Authors: Waldemar Gunhild
Published: April 2017

The diagnostic evaluation in a patient with cognitive impairment suspected of having Alzheimer’s disease (AD) should include investigations aimed at 1) confirming and characterizing the cognitive impairment using cognitive tests with particular attention to typical (episodic memory impairment) and atypical presentations of AD; 2) checking the diagnostic criteria for AD and considering biomarkers to document AD pathology; and 3) differential diagnosis: ruling out other conditions which could cause cognitive impairment. With the advent of CSF and imaging biomarkers for AD, it may be possible to establish an early specific diagnosis, or to confirm an increased risk of progressing to AD dementia, in patients with mild cognitive symptoms. In such cases pre-biomarker counselling and patient consent is essential.
Caring for people with dementia towards and at the end of life
Authors: Robinson Louise
Published: April 2017

Research evidence confirms that people dying with dementia receive suboptimal care compared to those with terminal cancer. Good quality end-of-life care in dementia can be achieved. It requires good communication with open and sensitive discussions about future preferences for care; advice about power of attorney, and other practical issues including support services and technology; continuity of care through a named lead GP/care-home nurse; detailed observation for signs of distress once communication has been lost; and referral to specialist services such as old-age psychiatry for behavioural problems, and palliative care for end-of-life symptom management. Most importantly, the uncertainty of the dying trajectory needs to be clearly understood by health professionals and clearly explained to family carers to help them understand the slow and often prolonged pathway to dying.
Introduction to “Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in DSM-5, ICD-11, and RDoC: Conceptual questions and practical solutions”
Authors: Kendler Kenneth S.
Published: April 2017

This chapter presents an introduction to conceptual questions and practical solutions on obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) in DSM-5, ICD-11, and RDoC. It highlights the important issues confronted by the Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum, Posttraumatic, and Dissociative Disorders DSM-5 work group.
Introduction to “Factors in the development of psychiatric epidemics”
Authors: Kendler Kenneth S.
Published: April 2017

This chapter presents an introduction to factors in the development of psychiatric epidemics, as further discussed in the following chapter. It briefly discusses diagnostic fads in the field of psychiatry, and the differences between true increases in incidence, an increase in treated incidence but not true incidence, and an iatrogenic epidemic due to broadening of diagnostic criteria.
The ontology and epistemology of symptoms: The case of auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia
Authors: Parnas Josef , Urfer-Parnas Annick
Published: April 2017

We present a phenomenological account of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in schizophrenia. We examine the mode of articulation of AVH, their spatial and temporal characteristics, and their relation to self-alienation, reflecting an emergence of otherness (alterity) in the midst of the patient’s self. This process of self-alienation is associated with the emergence of a different reality, a new ontological framework, which obeys other rules of causality and time. Patient becomes psychotic not because they cannot distinguish AVH from mundane perception, but because they are in touch with an alternative form of reality. A characteristic feature of schizophrenia is the coexistence of these incompatible realities. AVH are radically different from perception, and associated delusions stem from a breakthrough to another ontological framework. Thus, the current definition of AVH seems incorrect: The symptom is ontologically complex, involving first- and second-person dimensions, relations to the structure of consciousness, and other psychopathological phenomena.
Validity and the causal structure of a disorder
Authors: Campbell John
Published: April 2017

There are two aspects to validation: one is establishing the very existence of a disorder, the other is determining how good our methods are of determining the presence of the disorder. Both aspects depend on the conception of the disorder as something with a causal structure implicating the symptoms of the disorder. The symptoms may figure in this structure as effects of a single latent variable, or as homeostatically related merely to one another, or in some more complex structure. But without some such conception of the causal structure of the disorder, we have no idea what we are about trying to validate criteria for the disorder. The problem in psychiatry is that we currently seem to be demanding that those causal structures should involve relations between psychological and physical variables; and we have no idea how to think of those relations in terms of causal processes and causal mechanisms.
Why we should be realists about psychiatric disorders— reply to Peter Zachar
Authors: Campbell John
Published: April 2017

This chapter presents a commentary on the importance of realism about psychiatric disorders. It discusses arguments such as epistemic iteration and modesty, framework assumptions in validation, non-empirical framework assumptions, operationalism in psychiatry, and paradigm shifts in non-empirical matter.
Basics of Ultrasound
Authors: Nader Antoun , John Greesh , Kendall Mark C.
Published: April 2017

This chapter discusses the basics of ultrasound wave emission and capture, probe selection, image-optimization techniques, artifact generation, and potential adverse biological effects. The rapid improvement of ultrasound image processing allows a dynamic exam with a reliable real-time assessment of the target tissue, the needle trajectory, and the injectate deposition. This, combined with ease of portability and absence of radiation, means the use of ultrasound guidance in regional anesthesia and interventional pain management is rapidly expanding. Basic understanding of ultrasound knobology principles is mandated by most societies using ultrasound technology and is essential for optimal use.
Basics of Computed Tomography
Authors: Malajikian Krikor , Finelli Daniel
Published: April 2017

Computed tomography (CT)-guidance is typically used when precise needle placement is essential for a successful procedure. It uses ionizing radiation, which could pose risks to the patient and operating staff if proper technique is not used. The performing physician should adhere to all principles of minimizing radiation exposure to the patient and clinicians. Common CT-guided imaging procedures include facet injections, nerve root injections, sacroiliac joint injections, intradiscal procedures, vertebroplasty/sacroplasty, and image-guided ablation of painful bone lesions. Computed tomography is also the imaging modality of choice for aspiration of deep paraspinal soft tissues in addition to disc space or bone biopsy in acute discitis/osteomyelitis. In fluoroscopic-guided knee or shoulder joint injections, CT arthrography is a useful adjunct to better assess anatomy when MRI is contraindicated. When imaging the postoperative spine, CT myelography has some advantages over MRI, and CT is also superior to MRI in assessing par intra-articularis defects or spondylolysis.
Cervical Facet Nerve Block and Radio Frequency Ablation: Fluoroscopy
Authors: van Eerd Maarten , Lataster Arno , van Kleef Maarten
Published: April 2017

In the cervical spinal column local anesthetic can be injected intra-articularly or adjacent to the ramus medialis (medial branch) of the ramus dorsalis of the segmental nerve. Nerve blocks of the ramus medialis are preferred to an intra-articular block, because it is sometimes technically difficult to position a needle into the facet joint. These procedures are typically performed under fluoroscopy, but there are increasing numbers of studies that describe these procedures with the help of ultrasound. Reports regarding the effects of intra-articular (steroid) injections are limited. There are no comparative studies between intra-articular steroid injections and radiofrequency (RF) therapy. Based on literature about the efficacy of RF treatment and a long track record of safety of RF treatment, many pain practitioners abandon intra-articular injections in favor of RF treatment.
Thoracic Facet Nerve Block: Fluoroscopy
Authors: Costandi Shrif , Saweris Youssef , Kot Michael , Mekhail Nagy
Published: April 2017

The benefit of intra-articular local anaesthetic and steroid injections for the diagnosis and treatment of facet joint pain is controversial. Thoracic facet medial branch blocks are mainly used to confirm the diagnosis of thoracic facet arthropathy. Anatomic variability is blamed for failed treatments. Conventionally, thermal radiofrequency (RF) has been used to denervate thoracic facet joints. Cooled radiofrequency ablation (c-RFA) of the thoracic medial branch is emerging as a novel promising technique that provides relatively larger lesions that could compensate for the anatomic variation of these branches and improve outcomes. The most feared complication of RF procedures in the thoracic region is pneumothorax, which may manifest as shortness of breath or pain with inspiration. Using proper technique for placement of the needles under fluoroscopic guidance renders the risk of this complication almost negligible.
Lumbar Facet Nerve Block: Ultrasound
Authors: Provenzano David A.
Published: April 2017

This chapter describes the relevant anatomy and sonoanatomy and the ultrasound-guided technique for lumbar medial branch blocks. The ultrasound-guided lumbar medial branch block is an intermediate level block. Prior to performing this block, it is important to have a detailed understanding of lumbar sonoanatomy in order to be able to target the correct level, the lumbar medial branch and the L5 dorsal ramus zones. In those individuals with body mass indexes in the ideal range, current studies suggest the L3 and L4 medial branches can be successfully targeted. The L5 dorsal ramus may be challenging secondary to the iliac crest, which may limit the ultrasound views needed for the target zone. Further technical and equipment advancements are needed to improve and reduce the existing limitations associated with the ultrasound-guided lumbar medial branch block technique.
Lumbar Disc Procedures: Fluoroscopy
Authors: Kapural Leonardo
Published: April 2017

Discogenic lumbar pain is a frequent cause of prolonged disability. Currently, there are few effective minimally invasive therapeutic options to treat diseased discs and provide a long-term pain relief. Intradiscal biacuplasty improves functional capacity and affords pain relief in properly selected patients. Provocative discography is a relatively invasive intradiscal technique that has been used as a diagnostic tool to help to detect painful discs and associated morphological changes. One of the effective therapeutic approaches to control discogenic pain is to use an ablative radiofrequency intradiscal procedure, like biacuplasty. Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is currently in limited use. Serious complications of intradiscal procedures are rather rare.
Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection: Fluoroscopy
Authors: Lerman Imanuel R. , Hiller David , Walker Joseph
Published: April 2017

The caudal epidural steroid injection can be a routine procedure. However, the underlying anatomy of the sacral hiatus is highly variable and can be difficult to visualize under fluoroscopy. The “blind” palpation technique has repeatedly been shown to be inferior, resulting in significantly more complications, when compared to employing contrast-enhanced fluoroscopic guidance. Ultrasound image guidance can accurately localize the sacral hiatus more consistently than the palpation technique. However, ultrasound guidance does not improve the accuracy of proper needle placement, as ultrasound cannot visualize the needle or injectate after the needle has passed under the apex of the sacral hiatus. Fluoroscopic guidance is necessary to visualize the needle and to confirm that the needle tip is extradural, extravascular, and in the epidural space, and it is likely to remain the gold standard imaging modality when carrying out caudal epidural steroid injection.
Cervical Spine Deformity—Part 1: Biomechanics, Radiographic Parameters, and Classification
Authors: Tan Lee A. , Riew K. Daniel , Traynelis Vincent C.
Published: April 2017

Cervical spine deformities can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life by causing pain, myelopathy, radiculopathy, sensorimotor deficits, as well as inability to maintain horizontal gaze in severe cases. Many different surgical options exist for operative management of cervical spine deformities. However, selecting the correct approach that ensures the optimal clinical outcome can be challenging and is often controversial. We aim to provide an overview of cervical spine deformity in a 3-part series covering topics including the biomechanics, radiographic parameters, classification, treatment algorithms, surgical techniques, clinical outcome, and complication avoidance with a review of pertinent literature.
Effects of Hypercapnia and Hypercapnic Acidosis on Hospital Mortality in Mechanically Ventilated Patients*
Authors: Tiruvoipati Ravindranath , Pilcher David , Buscher Hergen , Botha John , Bailey Michael
Published: April 2017

Objectives:

Lung-protective ventilation is used to prevent further lung injury in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation. However, lung-protective ventilation can cause hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis. There are no large clinical studies evaluating the effects of hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis in patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Design:

Multicenter, binational, retrospective study aimed to assess the impact of compensated hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Settings:

Data were extracted from the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Centre for Outcome and Resource Evaluation Adult Patient Database over a 14-year period where 171 ICUs contributed deidentified data.

Patients:

Patients were classified into three groups based on a combination of pH and carbon dioxide levels (normocapnia and normal pH, compensated hypercapnia [normal pH with elevated carbon dioxide], and hypercapnic acidosis) during the first 24 hours of ICU stay. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent association of hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis with hospital mortality.

Interventions:

Nil.

Measurements and Main Results:

A total of 252,812 patients (normocapnia and normal pH, 110,104; compensated hypercapnia, 20,463; and hypercapnic acidosis, 122,245) were included in analysis. Patients with compensated hypercapnia and hypercapnic acidosis had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores (49.2 vs 53.2 vs 68.6; p < 0.01). The mortality was higher in hypercapnic acidosis patients when compared with other groups, with the lowest mortality in patients with normocapnia and normal pH. After adjusting for severity of illness, the adjusted odds ratio for hospital mortality was higher in hypercapnic acidosis patients (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.62–1.88) and compensated hypercapnia (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10–1.26) when compared with patients with normocapnia and normal pH (p < 0.001). In patients with hypercapnic acidosis, the mortality increased with increasing Pco
2 until 65 mm Hg after which the mortality plateaued.

Conclusions:

Hypercapnic acidosis during the first 24 hours of intensive care admission is more strongly associated with increased hospital mortality than compensated hypercapnia or normocapnia.
Neurocognitive Correlates of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children Born at Extremely Low Gestational Age
Authors: Scott Megan N. , Hunter Scott J. , Joseph Robert M. , O'Shea Thomas Michael , Hooper Stephen R. , Allred Elizabeth N. , Leviton Alan , Kuban Karl
Published: April 2017

Objective:

Compared with children born near term, those born extremely preterm (EP) are at much higher risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Little information is available about differences in neuropsychological outcomes among EP children with and without ADHD. Our analyses aimed to evaluate the neuropsychological correlates of ADHD symptoms in extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs).

Methods:

We obtained Child Symptom Inventory-4 reports from parents (n = 871) and teachers (n = 634) of 10-year-old children born before the 28th week of gestation. Participants completed standardized assessments of neurocognitive and academic functioning.

Results:

In the total sample, children who screened positive for ADHD symptoms were at increased risk for neurocognitive limitations. These associations were weaker when the sample was limited to those with intelligence quotient (IQ) ≥70 or ≥85. Even those with IQ ≥85 who screened positive for ADHD symptoms were more likely than their peers to have deficits on the DAS-II Working Memory Cluster and the NEPSY-II Auditory Response subtest. The risks for impaired academic performance (Z ≤ −1) on components of the WIAT-III were 2-to-3 times higher in this group than among ELGANs not classified as having ADHD symptoms.

Conclusion:

Among children born EP, those with ADHD symptoms are more likely to have global neurocognitive impairment. When IQ is within normal limits, ADHD symptoms are associated with deficits in executive functioning skills. These findings highlight a group at risk for executive functioning deficits and related academic difficulties, even in the absence of intellectual disability.
Mangiferin inhibits hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome and exerts antidepressant effects in a chronic mild stress mice model
Authors: Cao Changfu , Su Meiqing , Zhou Feng
Published: April 2017

A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation may contribute toward the development of major depressive disorder. Mangiferin, a glucosylxanthone from Mangifera indica, exerts a number of biological actions, including anti-inflammatory effects. Although mangiferin has potential antidepressant activity, the mechanisms of this effect remain unclear. The present study investigated the effects of mangiferin on behavioral changes and inflammatory responses induced by chronic mild stress (CMS) in mice. We found that treatment with mangiferin for 3 weeks significantly increased the body weight of mice and ameliorated CMS-induced behavioral abnormalities by increasing sucrose consumption, improving locomotor activities, and decreasing the immobility time in the forced-swimming test and tail-suspension test. It also suppressed increased serum corticosterone levels in CMS mice. In response to CMS induction, the NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was activated and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels were increased in the mouse hippocampus. Mangiferin treatment downregulated the expression of NLRP3, the adaptor protein ASC, and caspase-1, which subsequently reduced the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in CMS mice. In sum, our results indicate that mangiferin exerts antidepressant-like effects in CMS model, possibly by inhibiting IL-1β production and NLRP3 inflammasome expression.
New Insights Into the Lipid Layer of the Tear Film and Meibomian Glands
Authors: Arita Reiko , Fukuoka Shima , Morishige Naoyuki
Published: April 2017

Meibomian glands secrete lipids (meibum) that form the surface lipid layer of the tear film and thereby prevent excessive evaporation of tear fluid. Meibomian gland dysfunction is a major cause of evaporative dry eye, which is more prevalent than aqueous-deficient dry eye. Noninvasive meibography with infrared light and an infrared charge-coupled device camera can detect morphological changes of meibomian glands in both upper and lower eyelids, whereas tear interferometry allows qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the lipid layer of the tear film. Such assessment of meibomian gland morphology provides clinical information that contributes to the diagnosis of evaporative dry eye, whereas that of the lipid layer of the tear film allows the monitoring of meibomian gland function. In addition, the balance between the lipid and aqueous layers of the tear film revealed by tear interferometry has provided both support for the operation of a compensatory system that maintains tear film homeostasis as well as insight into the pathophysiology of dry eye.
Intraoperative S-Stamp Enabled Rescue of 3 Inverted Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Grafts
Authors: Veldman Peter B. , Mayko Zachary M. , Straiko Michael D. , Terry Mark A.
Published: April 2017

Purpose:

To report the clinical outcomes of 3 Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) grafts, in which an upside down DMEK graft orientation was discovered after SF6 gas insufflation of the anterior chamber and the orientation was then corrected intraoperatively.

Methods:

A total of 371 consecutive DMEK cases using an S-stamp were analyzed and found to include 3 cases in which the DMEK graft was initially elevated with SF6 gas in an upside down orientation, as demonstrated intraoperatively by the S-stamp. In each case, the graft was immediately manipulated into the proper orientation and the rescued case completed using our standard technique. The postoperative complications of these cases were reported and the percentage of endothelial cell loss at 6 months was compared with that of cases in this series without this rare intraoperative complication.

Results:

All 3 rescued grafts achieved successful recipient corneal clearance and improved vision for the patient. There was no graft failure, rebubble, or rejection in these 3 cases. The average 6-month endothelial cell loss in the 3 initially inverted grafts was 51%, 58.3%, and 67% compared with 31.6% (SD ± 17.4%) in the series at large.

Conclusions:

Incorporation of a stromal-sided S-stamp has been previously shown to reduce the risk of iatrogenic primary graft failure through the prevention of upside down graft implantation. In these 3 instances, although the stamp did not prevent initial upside down graft elevation, it did allow the surgeon to immediately recognize this rare problem, correct it intraoperatively, and prevent iatrogenic graft failure in each case.
Clinical Validation of a Sound Processor Upgrade in Direct Acoustic Cochlear Implant Subjects
Authors: Kludt Eugen , D’hondt Christiane , Lenarz Thomas , Maier Hannes
Published: April 2017

Objective:

The objectives of the investigation were to evaluate the effect of a sound processor upgrade on the speech reception threshold in noise and to collect long-term safety and efficacy data after 2½ to 5 years of device use of direct acoustic cochlear implant (DACI) recipients.

Study Design:

The study was designed as a mono-centric, prospective clinical trial.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center.

Patients:

Fifteen patients implanted with a direct acoustic cochlear implant.

Intervention:

Upgrade with a newer generation of sound processor.

Main Outcome Measures:

Speech recognition test in quiet and in noise, pure tone thresholds, subject-reported outcome measures.

Results:

The speech recognition in quiet and in noise is superior after the sound processor upgrade and stable after long-term use of the direct acoustic cochlear implant. The bone conduction thresholds did not decrease significantly after long-term high level stimulation.

Conclusions:

The new sound processor for the DACI system provides significant benefits for DACI users for speech recognition in both quiet and noise. Especially the noise program with the use of directional microphones (Zoom) allows DACI patients to have much less difficulty when having conversations in noisy environments. Furthermore, the study confirms that the benefits of the sound processor upgrade are available to the DACI recipients even after several years of experience with a legacy sound processor. Finally, our study demonstrates that the DACI system is a safe and effective long-term therapy.
Spectacle Compliance among Adolescents: A Qualitative Study from Southern India
Authors: Narayanan Anuradha , Kumar Shuba , Ramani Krishna Kumar
Published: April 2017

Purpose

To understand the perceptions of adolescents and their parents about spectacle compliance of adolescents in Southern India.

Methods

Using a qualitative snapshot design, three focus group discussions were conducted each with parents and adolescents studying in schools located in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of participants. Separate focus group guides were developed for parents and adolescents. All focus group discussions were conducted in the school premises and audio recorded. These audio files were then transcribed verbatim and then translated into English. A framework analytical approach was used for data analysis that involved gaining familiarity with the data to identify a thematic framework.

Results

Two major themes that emerged were (1) perceptions on barriers to spectacle compliance that was further subdivided into physical, psychological, and societal barriers; and (2) solutions to improve spectacle use. Barriers identified included scars on the nose, unattractive frames contributing to poor appeal, adolescents feeling discriminated and set apart, fears of injury to eyes, lack of parental involvement, and negative attitudes of society toward those wearing spectacles. Solutions given by the stakeholders included provision of lightweight, well-fitting, trendy frames of adolescents’ choice, importance and need for periodical eye examinations, including teachers in encouraging spectacle use and preventing bullying and teasing by other adolescents, provision of free spectacles along with periodic replacement, and inclusion of awareness sessions on spectacle use for both parents and adolescents.

Conclusions

The study has identified both barriers and solutions for improving spectacle compliance among school adolescents from the viewpoint of the stakeholders involved. Implementing the solutions suggested by the stakeholders through planned intervention programs could possibly help in ensuring better compliance of spectacle use among school adolescents.
Local nucleation of microtubule bundles through tubulin concentration into a condensed tau phase
Authors: Hernández-Vega Amayra , Braun Marcus , Scharrel Lara , Jahnel Marcus , Wegmann Susanne , Hyman Bradley T. , Alberti Simon , Diez Stefan , Hyman Anthony A.
Published: April 2017

Non-centrosomal microtubule bundles play important roles in cellular organization and function. Although many diverse proteins are known that can bundle microtubules, biochemical mechanisms by which cells could locally control the nucleation and formation of microtubule bundles are understudied. Here, we demonstrate that concentration of tubulin into a condensed, liquid-like compartment composed of the unstructured neuronal protein tau is sufficient to nucleate microtubule bundles. We show that under conditions of macro-molecular crowding, tau forms liquid drops. Tubulin partitions into these drops, efficiently increasing tubulin concentration and driving the nucleation of microtubules. These growing microtubules form bundles enclosed in a liquid sheath of tau. Our data suggest that condensed compartments of microtubule bundling proteins could promote the local formation of microtubule bundles in neurons by acting as non-centrosomal microtubule nucleation centers, and that liquid-like tau encapsulation could provide both stability and plasticity to long axonal microtubule bundles.
On reciprocal causation in the evolutionary process
Authors: Svensson Erik I.
Published: April 2017

Recent calls for a revision of standard evolutionary theory (SET) are based in part on arguments about the reciprocal causation. Reciprocal causation means that cause-effect relationships are obscured, as a cause could later become an effect andvice versa. Such dynamic cause-effect relationships raise questions about the distinction between proximate and ultimate causes, as originally formulated by Ernst Mayr. They have also motivated some biologists and philosophers to argue for an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES). The EES will supposedly expand the scope of the Modern Synthesis (MS) and Standard Evolutionary Theory (SET), which has been characterized as gene-centred, relying primarily on natural selection and largely neglecting reciprocal causation. I critically examine these claims, with a special focus on the last conjecture and conclude – on the contrary– that reciprocal causation has long been recognized as important both in SET and in the MS tradition, although it remains underexplored. Numerous empirical examples of reciprocal causation in the form of positive and negative feedbacks are now well known from both natural and laboratory systems. Reciprocal causation have also been explicitly incorporated in mathematical models of coevolutionary arms races, frequency-dependent selection, eco-evolutionary dynamics and sexual selection. Such dynamic feedbacks were already recognized by Richard Levins and Richard Lewontin, well before the recent call for an EES. Reciprocal causation and dynamic feedbacks is one of the few contributions of dialectical thinking and Marxist philosophy in evolutionary theory, and should be recognized as such. I discuss some promising empirical and analytical tools to study reciprocal causation and the implications for the EES. While reciprocal causation have helped us to understand many evolutionary processes, I caution against uncritical extension of dialectics towards heredity and constructive development, particularly if such extensions involves attempts to restore Lamarckian or “soft inheritance”.
Derivation and Validation of a Record Linkage Algorithm between EMS and the Emergency Department
Authors: Redfield Colby , Tlimat Abdulhakim , Halpern Yoni , Schoenfeld David , Ullman Edward , Sontag David A , Nathanson Larry A , Horng Steven
Published: April 2017

Background

Linking EMS electronic patient care reports (ePCRs) to ED records can provide clinicians access to vital information that can alter management. It can also create rich databases for research and quality improvement. Unfortunately, previous attempts at ePCR - ED record linkage have had limited success.

Objective

To derive and validate an automated record linkage algorithm between EMS ePCR’s and ED records using supervised machine learning.

Methods

All consecutive ePCR’s from a single EMS provider between June 2013 and June 2015 were included. A primary reviewer matched ePCR’s to a list of ED patients to create a gold standard. Age, gender, last name, first name, social security number (SSN), and date of birth (DOB) were extracted. Data was randomly split into 80%/20% training and test data sets. We derived missing indicators, identical indicators, edit distances, and percent differences. A multivariate logistic regression model was trained using 5k fold cross-validation, using label k-fold, L2 regularization, and class re-weighting.

Results

A total of 14,032 ePCRs were included in the study. Inter-rater reliability between the primary and secondary reviewer had a Kappa of 0.9. The algorithm had a sensitivity of 99.4%, a PPV of 99.9% and AUC of 0.99 in both the training and test sets. DOB match had the highest odd ratio of 16.9, followed by last name match (10.6). SSN match had an odds ratio of 3.8.

Conclusions

We were able to successfully derive and validate a probabilistic record linkage algorithm from a single EMS ePCR provider to our hospital EMR.
pomp-astic Inference for Epidemic Models: Simple vs. Complex
Authors: Stocks Theresa , Britton Tom , Höhle Michael
Published: April 2017

Infectious disease surveillance data often provides only partial information about the progression of the disease in the individual while disease transmission is often modelled using complex mathematical models for large populations, where variability only enters through a stochastic observation process. In this work it is shown that a rather simplistic, but truly stochastic transmission model, is competitive with respect to model fit when compared with more detailed deterministic transmission models and even preferable because the role of each parameter and its identifiability is clearly understood in the simpler model. The inference framework for the stochastic model is provided by iterated filtering methods which are readily implemented in theR package pomp. We illustrate our findings on German rotavirus surveillance data from 2001 to 2008 and calculate a model based estimate for the basic reproduction numberR0using these data.