bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel sandwich-tungstoantimonate cluster with FeII ions: synthesis, magnetic property and electrochemical sensing of dopamine
Authors: Sun Minghui , Wang Tianqi , Li Fengyan , Sun Zhixia , Xu Lin
Published: April 2018

A novel sandwich-type tungstoantimonate with ferrous ions was synthesized and its functional application in electrochemical sensing of dopamine was demonstrated.
Ammonium NHC-tagged olefin metathesis catalysts – influence of counter-ions on catalytic activity
Authors: Tracz Andrzej , Gawin Anna , Bieniek Michał , Olszewski Tomasz K. , Skowerski Krzysztof
Published: April 2018

Ruthenium-based catalysts bearing quaternary ammonium groups in their N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) fragments and different counter-ions were synthesised and tested in various olefin metathesis transformations.
Functional manganese ferrite/graphene oxide nanocomposites: effects of graphene oxide on the adsorption mechanisms of organic MB dye and inorganic As(v) ions from aqueous solution
Authors: Lan Huong Pham Thi , Tu Nguyen , Lan Hoang , Thang Le Hong , Van Quy Nguyen , Tuan Pham Anh , Dinh Ngo Xuan , Phan Vu Ngoc , Le Anh-Tuan
Published: April 2018

In this study, manganese ferrite-graphene oxide (MFO-GO) nanocomposites were prepared via a co-precipitation reaction of Fe3+ and Mn2+ ions in a GO suspension.
High N2 selectivity in selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 over Mn/Ti–Zr catalysts
Authors: Zhang Bolin , Zhang Shengen , Liu Bo , Shen Hanlin , Li Lin
Published: April 2018

The Ti–Zr support greatly promotes the catalytic performance of Mn-based catalysts.
Combined algicidal effect of urocanic acid,N-acetylhistamine andl-histidine to harmful algaPhaeocystis globosa
Authors: Zhuang Luer , Zhao Ling , Yin Pinghe
Published: April 2018

Ultrastructure ofPhaeocystis globosacells after treatment with EC50value for 72 h: (a) control, (b) ace (16 μg mL−1), (c) uro (8 μg mL−1), (d) uro + ace (1 : 1 TU, 8 : 16 μg mL−1) Chl, chloroplast; CW, cell wall; N, nucleus; PM, plasma membrane.
Fates of hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose in concentrated phosphoric acid with hydrogen peroxide (PHP) pretreatment
Authors: Wang Qing , Tian Dong , Hu Jinguang , Shen Fei , Yang Gang , Zhang Yanzong , Deng Shihuai , Zhang Jing , Zeng Yongmei , Hu Yaodong
Published: April 2018

The transformation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in lignocellulosic biomass in a novel pretreatment are elucidated based on model fractions.
Synthesis and self-assembly of a novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer consisting of isotactic polystyrene and 1,4-trans-polybutadiene-graft-poly(ethylene oxide)
Authors: Liang HuaQing , Zhou QiHua , Long YongJiang , Wei WanChu , Feng Shuo , Liang GuoDong , Zhu FangMing
Published: April 2018

Herein, a novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer consisting of isotactic polystyrene and 1,4-trans-polybutadiene-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) was synthesized and its self-assembly behavior was investigated.
Ag–Au bimetallic nanocomposites stabilized with organic–inorganic hybrid microgels: synthesis and their regulated optical and catalytic properties
Authors: Li Lei , Niu Rui , Zhang Ying
Published: April 2018

Ag–Au bimetallic nanocomposites stabilized with organic–inorganic hybrid microgels allowed the mass transfer of reactants to be controlled by temperature modulation.
Rapid uniaxial actuation of layered bacterial cellulose/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) composite hydrogel with high mechanical strength
Authors: Wang Qidong , Asoh Taka-Aki , Uyama Hiroshi
Published: April 2018

Anisotropic thermo-sensitive composite hydrogel based on bacterial cellulose was prepared by in situ polymerization, which could swell and deswell uniaxially.
Humidity control in a closed system utilizing conducting polymers
Authors: Wei Qingshuo , Mukaida Masakazu , Ding Wuxiao , Ishida Takao
Published: April 2018

In this study, we demonstrate that conducting polymers could be ideal materials for continuously managing humidity in a wide range of enclosed spaces.
A study of polymer chain diffusion by surface enhanced Raman: effects of plasmonic substrate topology
Authors: Mana Carla D. , Torchia Gustavo A. , Tomba J. Pablo
Published: April 2018

We report on a new methodology to track chain interdiffusion between polymer slabs based on Raman enhanced by plasmonic substrates.
Self-assembly of model short triblock amphiphiles in dilute solution
Authors: Zaldivar G. , Samad M. B. , Conda-Sheridan M. , Tagliazucchi M.
Published: April 2018

We present a molecular theory to study the morphology diagrams of short diblock and triblock amphiphiles in dilute solution.
Shell–corona microgels from double interpenetrating networks
Authors: Rudyak Vladimir Yu. , Gavrilov Alexey A. , Kozhunova Elena Yu. , Chertovich Alexander V.
Published: April 2018

Polymer microgels with a dense outer shell offer outstanding features as universal carriers for different guest molecules.
Improved tunable range of the field-induced storage modulus by using flower-like particles as the active phase of magnetorheological elastomers
Authors: Tong Yu , Dong Xufeng , Qi Min
Published: April 2018

The interfacial bond strength and field-induced storage modulus of magnetorheological elastomers can be enhanced by using flower-like active particles.
Tailoring the immuno-responsiveness of anodized nano-engineered titanium implants
Authors: Gulati Karan , Hamlet Stephen M. , Ivanovski Sašo
Published: March 2018

Implants modified with titania nanotubes towards immuno-modulation: advances, research gaps and the future.
Thalamocortical Tracts, but not the Putamen, Present Microstructural Abnormalities in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: A Diffusion Tractography Study
Authors: Esmail Eman , Yassine Inas , Zakaria Rania , El Dein Hadeel
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose The pathology of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is related to thalamocortical dysfunction, and the putamen is closely related to the thalamocortical circuit. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the microstructure of the thalamo-cortico-striatal circuit in JME patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Materials and Methods This case–control study was conducted on 13 patients with JME (10 females and 3 males with a mean age of 23.38 ± 4.75 years) and 9 age- and sex-matched volunteers as control subjects. All subjects underwent DTI and conventional magnetic resonance imaging. The data were then processed via denoising, registration, and segmentation of the internal capsule and right and left putamen using the FMRIB Software Library (FSL). The FSL was also used to calculate the different anisotropy measures: the fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), longitudinal diffusivity (LD), and radial diffusivity (RD).

Results The patients with JME had lower FA and higher LD in the thalamocortical tracts and lower MD in the frontal corticospinal tracts than the control subjects (p = 0.014, 0.001, and 0.04, respectively). No other significant differences were detected between the patients with JME and control subjects. The values measured in the right putamen were not significantly different from those measured in the left putamen in either the patients or controls.

Conclusion This study demonstrates that microstructural abnormalities occur in the thalamocortical tracts but not the putamen of patients with JME. Nevertheless, microstructural asymmetry was not observed in the patients with JME.
International Normalized Ratio Targets for Left-Sided Mechanical Valve Replacement
Authors: Gupta Saurabh , Belley-Cote Emilie , Sarkaria Anisha , Pandey Arjun , Spence Jessica , McClure Graham , Panchal Puru , Jaffer Iqbal , An Kevin , Eikelboom John , Whitlock Richard
Published: April 2018

Background Guidelines recommend higher international normalized ratio (INR) targets for patients with mechanical valves believed to be at higher risk for thromboembolism. Higher INR targets are associated with increased bleeding risk. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing effects of lower and higher INR targets on thromboembolic and bleeding risk in patients with mechanical heart valves.

Methods We searched Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating lower versus higher INR targets for adults with bileaflet mechanical valves. We performed title and abstract screening, full-text review, risk of bias evaluation and data collection independently and in duplicate. We pooled data using a random effects model and used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework to evaluate overall quality of evidence.

Results We identified six RCTs (n = 5,497). Lower INR targets were associated with significantly less bleeding—22% versus 40% (relative risk [RR]: 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31, 0.93, p = 0.03, very low quality). There was no difference in thromboembolism—2% in both groups (RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.85, p = 0.20, very low quality) or mortality—5.5% with lower INR targets versus 8.5% (RR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.21, p = 0.47, moderate quality).

Conclusion In patients with mechanical valves, higher INR targets are not supported by current evidence, which is of very low quality. In fact, our systematic review suggests that lower INR targets offer significantly lower bleeding risks with no significant difference in thromboembolic risk.
Grundimmunisierung und Auffrischimpfungen bleiben wichtig
Authors: Jäger-Becker Dagmar
Published: April 2018

Da besonders Säuglinge durch Keuchhusten gefährdet sind, ist ein frühzeitiger Impfschutz angeraten. Die STIKO empfiehlt die Grundimmunisierung von Säuglingen und Kleinkindern gegen Diphtherie, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis und Hepatitis B sowie gegen Haemophilus-influenzae-Typ-b (Hib) nach dem Schema 3 + 1: drei Impfungen im Alter von 2–4 Monaten, jeweils im Abstand von mindestens vier Wochen. Die letzte Impfung einer Grundimmunisierung wird im Alter von 11–14 Monaten gegeben. Mit dem Sechsfach-Impfstoff Hexyon® können Säuglinge ab einem Alter von sechs Wochen so immunisiert werden. Studien belegen eine hohe Immunogenität und gute Verträglichkeit. Trotz guter wirksamer Impfstoffe nimmt die Inzidenz von Pertussis in den letzten Jahren weltweit zu. Prof. Markus Knuf, Direktor der Klinik für Kinder und Jugendliche an den HELIOS Kliniken Wiesbaden, wies beim Herbst-Seminar des BVKJ in Bad Orb daher auf die Bedeutung von Grundimmunisierung und Auffrischung hin.
Vorgehen bei gastrointestinaler Blutung – die neue Leitlinie
Authors: Trebicka Jonel , Götz Martin
Published: April 2018

Was ist neu?

Präendoskopisches Management Bei Verdacht auf gastrointestinale Blutung sind strukturierte Abläufe zu Risikostratifizierung, initialer Stabilisierung und Endoskopie definiert. Der Verdacht auf variköse Blutung erfordert neben dem Standard (PPI i. v., Erythromycin vor Endoskopie, ggf. Transfusion) spezifische medikamentöse Maßnahmen (Vasokonstriktoren, Antibiotika) bereits vor der Endoskopie, die bei Bestätigung für bis zu 5 bzw. 7 Tage durchgeführt werden.

Gerinnungsstatus und Antikoagulanzien Eine Notfallendoskopie zur Blutstillung soll unabhängig vom Gerinnungsstatus erfolgen.

Diagnostik Die Endoskopie ist diagnostisches und therapeutisches Verfahren der ersten Wahl bei der gastrointestinalen Blutung. Propofol ist auch im Notfall sicher zur Sedierung.

Therapie nicht variköser Blutungen Die alleinige endoskopische Injektionstherapie wird nicht empfohlen, sondern sollte mit einem mechanischen oder thermischen Verfahren kombiniert werden. Für neuere Therapieverfahren (großlumige Clips, Hämostasesprays, Stents) existieren vorläufige, gute Wirksamkeitsdaten in definierten Indikationen. Eine Biopsieentnahme ist auch während der Indexendoskopie möglich und sinnvoll zur Malignom- oder H.-pylori-Diagnostik. Bei schwerer unterer GI-Blutung verbessert eine zeitnahe Koloskopie nach intensivierter Darmvorbereitung die Detektion der Blutungsquelle.

Therapie der varikösen Blutung Bei Hochrisikopatienten mit Varizenblutung sollte die frühzeitige Anlage eines beschichteten TIPS erwogen werden. Bei refraktärer Blutung sollte ein Danis-Stent bei Ösophagusvarizen oder eine Linton-Nachlas-Sonde bei Fundusvarizen eingelegt und immer die Möglichkeit der TIPS-Implantation geprüft werden, ebenso bei Rezidivblutung bei fehlenden Kontraindikationen.
Doppler-Duplex-Sonografie der hirnversorgenden Gefäße – Fallstricke
Authors: Uphaus Timo , Gröschel Klaus
Published: April 2018

Dieser CME-Fortbildungsartikel soll einen strukturierten Untersuchungsgang der Doppler- und Duplexsonografie der hirnversorgenden Gefäße vermitteln und dabei auf besondere Schwierigkeiten/Fallstricke hinweisen. Im Einzelnen werden Kriterien zur Stenosegraduierung, häufig auftretende Fehlermöglichkeiten sowie anatomische und methodische Besonderheiten dargestellt.
Covariant conserved currents for scalar-tensor Horndeski theory
Authors: Schmidt J. , Bičák J.
Published: April 2018

The scalar-tensor theories have become popular recently in particular in connection with attempts to explain present accelerated expansion of the universe, but they have been considered as a natural extension of general relativity long time ago. The Horndeski scalar-tensor theory involving four invariantly defined Lagrangians is a natural choice since it implies field equations involving at most second derivatives. Following the formalisms of defining covariant global quantities and conservation laws for perturbations of spacetimes in standard general relativity, we extend these methods to the general Horndeski theory and find the covariant conserved currents for all four Lagrangians. The current is also constructed in the case of linear perturbations involving both metric and scalar fields. As a specific illustration, we derive a superpotential that leads to the covariantly conserved current in the Branse-Dicke theory.
Expansion of scroll wave filaments induced by chiral mismatch
Authors: Weingard Daniel , Steinbock Oliver , Bertram Richard
Published: April 2018

In three-dimensional excitable systems, scroll waves are rotating vortex states that consist of smoothly stacked spirals. This stacking occurs along one-dimensional phase singularities called filaments. If the system has a positive filament tension, these curves either straighten or collapse over time. The collapse can be prevented if the filament pins to a nonreactive object or a group of objects, but even in this case, the filament length does not typically grow. Using numerical simulations, we provide examples of filament growth induced by pinning, such as a scroll ring pinning to an inert trefoil knot, and explain the mechanism of this growth. Surprisingly, the corresponding filament loop thus not only persists in time but also steadily extends far from the pinning object.
A pair natural orbital based implementation of CCSD excitation energies within the framework of linear response theory
Authors: Frank Marius S. , Hättig Christof
Published: April 2018

We present a pair natural orbital (PNO)-based implementation of coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) excitation energies that builds upon the previously proposed state-specific PNO approach to the excited state eigenvalue problem. We construct the excited state PNOs for each state separately in a truncated orbital specific virtual basis and use a local density-fitting approximation to achieve an at most quadratic scaling of the computational costs for the PNO construction. The earlier reported excited state PNO construction is generalized such that a smooth convergence of the results for charge transfer states is ensured for general coupled cluster methods. We investigate the accuracy of our implementation by applying it to a large and diverse test set comprising 153 singlet excitations in organic molecules. Already moderate PNO thresholds yield mean absolute errors below 0.01 eV. The performance of the implementation is investigated through the calculations on alkene chains and reveals an at most cubic cost-scaling for the CCSD iterations with the system size.
Shortwave quantum cascade laser frequency comb for multi-heterodyne spectroscopy
Authors: Lu Q. Y. , Manna S. , Wu D. H. , Slivken S. , Razeghi M.
Published: April 2018

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are versatile light sources with tailorable emitting wavelengths covering the mid-infrared and terahertz spectral ranges. When the dispersion is minimized, frequency combs can be directly emitted from quantum cascade lasers via four-wave mixing. To date, most of the mid-infrared quantum cascade laser combs are operational in a narrow wavelength range wherein the QCL dispersion is minimal. In this work, we address the issue of very high dispersion for shortwave QCLs and demonstrate 1-W dispersion compensated shortwave QCL frequency combs at λ ∼ 5.0 μm, spanning a spectral range of 100 cm−1. The multi-heterodyne spectrum exhibits 95 equally spaced frequency comb lines, indicating that the shortwave QCL combs are ideal candidates for high-speed high-resolution spectroscopy.
Potential energy landscape of TIP4P/2005 water
Authors: Handle Philip H. , Sciortino Francesco
Published: April 2018

We report a numerical study of the statistical properties of the potential energy landscape of TIP4P/2005, one of the most accurate rigid water models. We show that, in the region where equilibrated configurations can be generated, a Gaussian landscape description is able to properly describe the model properties. We also find that the volume dependence of the landscape properties is consistent with the existence of a locus of density maxima in the phase diagram. The landscape-based equation of state accurately reproduces the TIP4P/2005 pressure-vs-volume curves, providing a sound extrapolation of the free-energy at low T. A positive-pressure liquid-liquid critical point is predicted by the resulting free-energy.
On the properties of synchrotron-like X-ray emission from laser wakefield accelerated electron beams
Authors: McGuffey C. , Schumaker W. , Matsuoka T. , Chvykov V. , Dollar F. , Kalintchenko G. , Kneip S. , Najmudin Z. , Mangles S. P. D. , Vargas M. , Yanovsky V. , Maksimchuk A. , Thomas A. G. R. , Krushelnick K.
Published: April 2018

The electric and magnetic fields responsible for electron acceleration in a Laser Wakefield Accelerator (LWFA) also cause electrons to radiate x-ray photons. Such x-ray pulses have several desirable properties including short duration and being well collimated with tunable high energy. We measure the scaling of this x-ray source experimentally up to laser powers greater than 100 TW. An increase in laser power allows electron trapping at a lower density as well as with an increased trapped charge. These effects resulted in an x-ray fluence that was measured to increase non-linearly with laser power. The fluence of x-rays was also compared with that produced from K-α emission resulting from a solid target interaction for the same energy laser pulse. The flux was shown to be comparable, but the LWFA x-rays had a significantly smaller source size. This indicates that such a source may be useful as a backlighter for probing high energy density plasmas with ultrafast temporal resolution.
On the solvation of the phosphocholine headgroup in an aqueous propylene glycol solution
Authors: Rhys Natasha H. , Al-Badri Mohamed Ali , Ziolek Robert M. , Gillams Richard J. , Collins Louise E. , Lawrence M. Jayne , Lorenz Christian D. , McLain Sylvia E.
Published: April 2018

The atomic-scale structure of the phosphocholine (PC) headgroup in 30 mol. % propylene glycol (PG) in an aqueous solution has been investigated using a combination of neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution experiments and computer simulation techniques—molecular dynamics and empirical potential structure refinement. Here, the hydration of the PC headgroup remains largely intact compared with the hydration of this group in a bilayer and in a bulk water solution, with the PG molecules showing limited interactions with the headgroup. When direct PG interactions with PC do occur, they are most likely to coordinate to the N(CH3)3+ motifs. Further, PG does not affect the bulk water structure and the addition of PC does not perturb the PG-solvent interactions. This suggests that the reason why PG is able to penetrate into membranes easily is that it does not form strong-hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interactions with the headgroup allowing it to easily move across the membrane barrier.
Spin-wave intermodal coupling in the interconnection of magnonic units
Authors: Sadovnikov A. V. , Grachev A. A. , Gubanov V. A. , Odintsov S. A. , Martyshkin A. A. , Sheshukova S. E. , Sharaevskii Yu. P. , Nikitov S. A.
Published: April 2018

We report experimental investigation of spin-wave transport along combined magnonic structures which are comprised of the 90°-magnonic bend and adjacent nonidentical magnetic stripes. The latter has the form of a spin-wave coupler. Using space-resolved Brillouin light-scattering spectroscopy and micromagnetic simulations, we study propagation, transformation, and coupling of spin waves in the combined structure. We show that characteristics of spin-wave transport in such structures are defined strongly by the intermodal dipolar spin-wave coupling. The developed structure can operate as a multifunctional magnonic device and can be used to turn the spin wave at 90° performing the functionality of a directional coupler, a power splitter, a multiplexer, or a frequency separator. Our results show that interconnection of magnonic units can be utilized for further development of planar topologies of insulator-based magnonic networks.
PKA-RII subunit phosphorylation precedes activation by cAMP and regulates activity termination
Authors: Isensee Jörg , Kaufholz Melanie , Knape Matthias J. , Hasenauer Jan , Hammerich Hanna , Gonczarowska-Jorge Humberto , Zahedi René P. , Schwede Frank , Herberg Friedrich W. , Hucho Tim
Published: April 2018

Type II isoforms of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)–dependent protein kinase A (PKA-II) contain a phosphorylatable epitope within the inhibitory domain of RII subunits (pRII) with still unclear function. In vitro, RII phosphorylation occurs in the absence of cAMP, whereas staining of cells with pRII-specific antibodies revealed a cAMP-dependent pattern. In sensory neurons, we found that increased pRII immunoreactivity reflects increased accessibility of the already phosphorylated RII epitope during cAMP-induced opening of the tetrameric RII2:C2 holoenzyme. Accordingly, induction of pRII by cAMP was sensitive to novel inhibitors of dissociation, whereas blocking catalytic activity was ineffective. Also in vitro, cAMP increased the binding of pRII antibodies to RII2:C2 holoenzymes. Identification of an antibody specific for the glycine-rich loop of catalytic subunits facing the pRII-epitope confirmed activity-dependent binding with similar kinetics, proving that the reassociation is rapid and precisely controlled. Mechanistic modeling further supported that RII phosphorylation precedes cAMP binding and controls the inactivation by modulating the reassociation involving the coordinated action of phosphodiesterases and phosphatases.
Gonioscopy-assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy: An Ab Interno Circumferential Trabeculotomy: 24 Months Follow-up
Authors: Grover Davinder S. , Smith Oluwatosin , Fellman Ronald L. , Godfrey David G. , Gupta Aditi , Montes de Oca Ildamaris , Feuer William J.
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to provide 24-month follow-up on surgical success and safety of an ab interno circumferential 360-degree trabeculotomy.

Methods:

Chart review of patients who underwent a gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) procedure was performed by 4 of the authors (D.S.G., O.S., R.L.F., and D.G.G.). The surgery was performed in adults with various types of open-angle glaucoma with preoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs) of ≥18 mm Hg.

Results:

In total, 198 patients aged 24 to 89 years underwent the GATT procedure with at least 18 months follow-up. Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma had an average IOP decrease of 9.2 mm Hg at 24 months with an average decrease of 1.43 glaucoma medications. The mean percentage of IOP decrease in these primary open-angle glaucoma groups at 24 months was 37.3%. In secondary open-angle glaucoma, at 24 months there was an average decrease in IOP of 14.1 mm Hg on an average of 2.0 fewer medications. The mean percentage of IOP decrease in the secondary open-angle glaucoma groups at 24 months was 49.8%. The cumulative proportion of failure at 24 months ranged from 0.18 to 0.48, depending on the group. In all 6 study groups, at all 5 postoperative time points (3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo) the mean IOP and reduction in glaucoma medications was significantly reduced from baseline (P<0.001) with the exception of one time point.

Conclusions:

The 24-month results demonstrate that GATT is relatively safe and effective in treating various forms of open-angle glaucoma. The long-term results for GATT are relatively equivalent to those previously reported for GATT and ab externo trabeculotomy studies.
Scanning Behavior and Daytime Driving Performance of Older Adults With Glaucoma
Authors: Lee Samantha Sze-Yee , Black Alex A. , Wood Joanne M.
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to assess the link between visual scanning behavior and closed-road driving performance in older drivers with glaucomatous visual impairment.

Materials and Methods:

Participants included 13 older drivers with glaucoma [mean age=71.6±7.1 y; average better-eye mean deviation (MD)=−2.9±2.1 dB, average worse-eye MD=−12.5±7.1 dB] and 10 visually normal controls (mean age=70.6±7.4 y). Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, useful field of view, and motion sensitivity were assessed. Participants drove around a closed-road circuit while their eye movements were recorded with an ASL Mobile Eye-XG, and head movements recorded using the gyroscope sensors of a smart phone. Measures of driving performance included hazards hit, sign recognition, and lane-crossing time; an overall driving score was derived from these component measures.

Results:

Participants with glaucoma had significantly poorer overall driving scores (P=0.026) and hit more hazards (P=0.043) than controls. The glaucoma group also exhibited larger saccades (P<0.001) and horizontal (P<0.001) and vertical search variances (P=0.002) than controls. Larger saccades were associated with better driving scores in the glaucoma group (P=0.001), but not the controls (P=0.75). Head movements did not differ between groups. For all participants, better-eye MD was the strongest visual predictor of overall driving score (P<0.001), followed by the other measures of visual fields, motion sensitivity, contrast sensitivity, and useful field of view (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

Older drivers with glaucoma had poorer driving performance than controls and demonstrated differences in eye movement patterns. The association between larger saccades and better driving scores in those with glaucoma suggests that altering scanning behavior may benefit driving performance and safety in this group.
Cognitive impairment in a rat model of neuropathic pain: role of hippocampal microtubule stability
Authors: You Zerong , Zhang Shuzhuo , Shen Shiqian , Yang Jinsheng , Ding Weihua , Yang Liuyue , Lim Grewo , Doheny Jason T. , Tate Samuel , Chen Lucy , Mao Jianren
Published: April 2018

Clinical evidence indicates that cognitive impairment is a common comorbid condition of chronic pain. However, the cellular basis for chronic pain–mediated cognitive impairment remains unclear. We report here that rats exhibited memory deficits after spared nerve injury (SNI). We found that levels of stable microtubule (MT) were increased in the hippocampus of the rats with memory deficits. This increase in stable MT is marked by α-tubulin hyperacetylation. Paclitaxel, a pharmacological MT stabilizer, increased the level of stable MT in the hippocampus and induced learning and memory deficits in normal rats. Furthermore, paclitaxel reduced long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices and increased stable MT (evidenced by α-tubulin hyperacetylation) levels in hippocampal neuronal cells. Intracerebroventricular infusion of nocodazole, an MT destabilizer, ameliorated memory deficits in rats with SNI-induced nociceptive behavior. Expression of HDAC6, an α-tubulin deacetylase, was reduced in the hippocampus in rats with cognitive impairment. These findings indicate that peripheral nerve injury (eg, SNI) affects the MT dynamic equilibrium, which is critical to neuronal structure and synaptic plasticity.
The Relationship Between Nursing Workload, Quality of Care, and Nursing Payment in Intensive Care Units
Authors: CHANG Li-Yin , YU Hsiu-Hui , CHAO Yann-Fen C.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Nursing workload is highly associated with patient safety. It has been argued that the imbalance between nursing payment and nursing workload in Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI)-covered intensive care units (ICUs) has resulted in the inadequate allocation of nursing manpower. However, limited empirical data are currently available to support this argument.

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between nursing workload, quality of care, and NHI-covered nursing payments in ICU settings.

Methods:

This macrodata analysis study retrieved data from the existing ICU patient classification system, nursing quality monitoring system, and infection control monitoring system of a medical center in central Taiwan. Data on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 (TISS-28) and non-TISS-28 scores, nursing hours, and nursing labor utilization rate were retrieved for the 23-month period beginning in January 2013 and ending in November 2014. The indices of care quality used in this study included incidence of falls, pressure sore density, incidence of restraint use, incidence of tube self-extraction, and infection density.

Results:

A total of 92,442 data sets were collected from eight ICUs, with 61% of the direct ICU nursing hours categorized as TISS-28 and 39% categorized as non-TISS-28. Mean nursing hours totaled 12.5 hours. The direct nursing hours, the total nursing hours, the bed occupancy rate, the nursing hours calculated by patient classification system, and the nursing hours calculated by nurse–patient ratio were statistically, significantly correlated respectively with all of the care quality indices except for incidence of falls. The number of items of patient care in the patient classification records was greater than that of NHI-covered nursing payments. The NHI-covered nursing payment for every patient accounted for only 4.77% of the total medical expenses in the ICU.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice:

Data from the patient classification database, quality monitoring database, and medical cost database indicate excessive nursing workload and underpayment from the Taiwan NHI program. Current nursing workload was significantly associated with care quality. This study provides empirical data for administrators to consider when revising nursing staffing and NHI payment policies.
Quality of Primary Care Provided to Medicare Beneficiaries by Nurse Practitioners and Physicians
Authors: Buerhaus Peter , Perloff Jennifer , Clarke Sean , O’Reilly-Jacob Monica , Zolotusky Galina , DesRoches Catherine M.
Published: April 2018

Objective:

To examine differences in the quality of care provided by primary care nurse practitioners (PCNPs), primary care physicians (PCMDs), or both clinicians.

Data Sources:

Medicare part A and part B claims during 2012–2013.

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort design using standard risk-adjustment methodologies and propensity score weighting assessing 16 claims-based quality measures grouped into 4 domains of primary care: chronic disease management, preventable hospitalizations, adverse outcomes, and cancer screening.

Extraction Methods:

Continuously enrolled aged, disabled, and dual eligible beneficiaries who received at least 25% of their primary care services from a random sample of PCMDs, PCNPs, or both clinicians.

Principal Findings:

Beneficiaries attributed to PCNPs had lower hospital admissions, readmissions, inappropriate emergency department use, and low-value imaging for low back pain. Beneficiaries attributed to PCMDs were more likely than those attributed to PCNPs to receive chronic disease management and cancer screenings. Quality of care for beneficiaries jointly attributed to both clinicians generally scored in the middle of the PCNP and PCMD attributed beneficiaries with the exception of cancer screening.

Conclusions:

The quality of primary care varies by clinician type, with different strengths for PCNPs and PCMDs. These comparative advantages should be considered when determining how to organize primary care to Medicare beneficiaries.
Perforation of a Peptic Ulcer in a Hiatal Hernia Into the Left Ventricle With Systemic Air and Food Embolism
Authors: Igarashi Ikumi , Suzuki Keishi , Hosono Fumi , Ichinose Azusa , Abe Shoko , Sugiyama Akira , Sekido Yasutomo
Published: April 2018

Perforation of a peptic ulcer into the ventricle is uncommon, and the definitive diagnosis is difficult in living patients. We herein report a case of perforation of a peptic ulcer in a hiatal hernia into the left ventricle with systemic air and food embolism. This is the first case report of the perforation diagnosed by computed tomography and confirmed by autopsy. Computed tomography was useful for the diagnosis of perforation into the ventricle.
Left ventricular compressions improve return of spontaneous circulation and hemodynamics in a swine model of traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest
Authors: Anderson Kenton L. , Fiala Kristin C. , Castaneda Maria G. , Boudreau Susan M. , Araña Allyson A. , Bebarta Vikhyat S.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including closed chest compressions, has commonly been considered ineffective in traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest (TCPA) because traditional chest compressions do not produce substantial cardiac output. However, recent evidence suggests that chest compressions located over the left ventricle (LV) produce greater hemodynamics when compared to traditional compressions. We hypothesized that chest compressions located directly over the LV would improve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and hemodynamics when compared with traditional chest compressions, in a swine model of TCPA.

METHODS

Transthoracic echocardiography was used to mark the location of the aortic root (traditional compressions), and the center of the LV on animals (n = 26) which were randomized to receive chest compressions in one of the two locations. After hemorrhage, ventricular fibrillation was induced. After 10 minutes of ventricular fibrillation, basic life support (BLS) with mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated and performed for 10 minutes followed by advanced life support (ALS) for an additional 10 minutes. During BLS, the area of maximal compression was verified using transesophageal echocardiography. Hemodynamic variables were averaged over the final 2 minutes of the BLS and ALS periods.

RESULTS

Five (38%) of the LV group achieved ROSC compared with zero of the aortic root group (p = 0.04). Additionally, there was an increase in aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP), aortic diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) at the end of both the BLS (95% confidence interval, SBP, −49 to −21; DBP, −14 to −5.6; and CPP, −15 to −7.4) and ALS (95% confidence interval: SBP, −66 to −21; DBP, −49 to −6.8; and CPP, −51 to −7.5) resuscitation periods among the LV group.

CONCLUSION

In our swine model of TCPA, chest compressions performed directly over the LV improved ROSC and hemodynamics when compared with traditional chest compressions.
Patient Experience of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Brown Sarah K. , Nowlin Rachel B. , Sartorelli Rebecca , Smith Johan , Johnson Karen
Published: April 2018

Objective

The aim of the study was to explore patient perception and perceived benefit of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by assessing the real-world experience of adult patients who received ECT, focusing on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed patient self-report of depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), perception of physical and cognitive ECT adverse effects (ECT Outcomes Survey) and satisfaction with treatment (Patient Satisfaction Survey). Symptoms and adverse effects were measured at both intake and final ECT session for comparison over time. Data were collected from 1089 adult patients with depression, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder in 23 psychiatric facilities in the United States and its territories from 2014 to 2015.

Results

On average, patient scores reflect satisfaction with treatment and reduction in depressive symptoms and adverse effects across the course of ECT treatment. Patients reported a decrease in depression, with an average Patient Health Questionnaire change of 13.2 from intake to final ECT session (P < 0.001). Furthermore, 85.5% of patients indicated on the Patient Satisfaction Survey that they benefited or improved as a result of their ECT. Subsequent analyses revealed alleviation of depressive symptoms and ability to return to social, and work life tasks are significant contributors to satisfaction with treatment, whereas adverse effects including memory problems have less influence on satisfaction.

Conclusions

Patients tend to perceive ECT as a safe and beneficial treatment option for severe mood disorders, even when considering adverse effects. This study reinforces the value of standardized data collection and outcomes measures to better monitor patient response to treatment, refine the clinical practice of ECT, and provide data to support patient education.
Neurocognitive Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With a 2-Coil Device in Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Kavanaugh Brian C. , Aaronson Scott T. , Clarke Gregory N. , Holtzheimer Paul E. , Johnson Clark W. , McDonald William M. , Schneider M. Bret , Carpenter Linda L.
Published: April 2018

Background

Neurocognitive dysfunction is an understudied and undertreated aspect of psychiatric research and treatment. There is emerging evidence to suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may possess neurocognition-enhancing capabilities.

Methods

This study examined the neurocognitive data from a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial of an investigational 2-coil rTMS device in antidepressant treatment or treatment-intolerant major depressive disorder patients. This device has the potential to stimulate deeper areas of the brain than the Food and Drug Administration–approved TMS devices, which primarily stimulate cortical brain areas and may therefore have different neurocognitive adverse effects. Patients received 20 daily rTMS treatments (10-Hz stimulation; either active or sham) with coil centers positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Neurocognitive safety was evaluated at baseline and within 72 hours of final treatment session with a computerized battery assessing aspects of attention and memory in 84 participants.

Results

There were no observed negative neurocognitive effects of the 2-coil rTMS device. A significant effect of active rTMS was observed on the quality of episodic memory. There were no observed effects for attention or working memory. Baseline quality of episodic memory predicted depression treatment response and remission, in that lower baseline episodic memory was associated with greater likelihood of depression response/remission. This was observed in logistic regression analyses controlling for treatment and baseline depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

The 2-coil rTMS device is a cognitively safe treatment for treatment-resistant depression that may possess episodic memory-enhancing capabilities. Furthermore, baseline episodic memory may reflect an important predictor of subsequent depression treatment response/remission to rTMS.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Plasmaviridae
Authors: Krupovic Mart ,   ICTV Report Consortium
Published: April 2018

The family Plasmaviridae includes bacterial viruses with slightly pleomorphic, enveloped virions with a diameter of 50–125 nm. Virions contain infectious, circular, supercoiled dsDNA molecule(s) of approximately 12 kbp. Plasmaviruses infect Acholeplasma species, wall-less bacteria of the class Mollicutes, and are released by budding through the cell membrane without causing host cell lysis. Although the temperate bacteriophage Acholeplasma virus L2 of Acholeplasma laidlawii is currently the only classified plasmavirus, related prophages reside in the genomes of different Acholeplasma species, where they are integrated into tRNA genes. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Plasmaviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/plasmaviridae.
Ebola outbreak brings to light an unforeseen impact of tsetse control on sleeping sickness transmission in Guinea
Authors: Kagabadouno Moïse , Camara Oumou , Camara Mamadou , Ilboudo Hamidou , Camara Mariame , Rayaisse Jean-Baptiste , Diaby Abdoulaye , Traoré Balla , Leno Mamadou , Courtin Fabrice , Jamonneau Vincent , Solano Philippe , Bucheton Bruno
Published: March 2018

In addition to the thousands of deaths due the unprecedented ebola outbreak that stroke West Africa (2014-2016), national health systems in affected countries were deeply challenged impacting a number of diseases control programs. Here we describe the case of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), a deadly neglected tropical disease due to a trypanosome transmitted by tsetse flies for which no vaccine nor chemoprophylaxis exists. Data are presented for the disease focus of Boffa in Guinea where a pilot elimination project combining medical screening and vector control was launched in 2012. During ebola, HAT active screening activities were postponed and passive surveillance also was progressively impaired. However, tsetse control using small insecticide impregnated targets could be maintained. The over two years disruption of screening activities led to a dramatic increase of HAT prevalence, from 0.7% in 2013 (21/2885) to 2% (69/3448) in 2016, reaching epidemic levels (>5%) in some villages. In deep contrast, control levels reached in 2013 (0.1%; 7/6564) were maintained in areas covered with impregnated targets as no cases were found in 2016 (0/799). In Boffa, ebola has thus incidentally provided a unique framework to assess the impact of current HAT control strategies. A first lesson is that the “screen and treat” strategy is fragile as rapid bursts of the disease may occur in case of disruption. A second lesson is that vector control reducing human-tsetse contacts, even implemented alone, is effective in providing a good level of protection against infection. This advocates for a greater attention being paid to the combination of tsetse control together with medical activities in aiming to reach the HAT elimination objective in Africa.
The Organizational Principles of Membranes Below 100 nm: Experimental Breakthroughs Occasion a “Modeling Manifesto”
Authors: Hsieh E. Lyman C.-L. , Eggeling C.
Published: March 2018

New experimental techniques reveal the plasma membrane to be heterogeneous and "scale-rich," from nanometers to microns, and from microseconds to seconds. This is critical information, as heterogeneous, scale-dependent transport governs the molecular encounters that underlie cellular signaling. The data are rich, and reaffirm the importance of the cortical cytoskeleton, protein aggregates, and lipidomic complexity to the statistics of molecular encounters. Moreover, the data demand simulation approaches with a particular set of features, hence the “manifesto”. Together with the experimental data, simulations which satisfy these requirements hold the promise of a deeper understanding of membrane spatiotemporal organization. Several experimental breakthroughs are reviewed, the constraints that they place on simulations are discussed, and the status of simulation approaches which aim to meet them are detailed.
Mechanical Properties of a Primary Cilium from the Stochastic Motions of the Cilium Tip
Authors: Flaherty J. , Feng Z. , Peng Z. , Young Y.-N. , Resnick A.
Published: March 2018

The stochastic tip dynamics of a primary cilium held within an optical trap is quantified by combining experimental, analytical and computational tools. Primary cilia are cellular organelles, present on most vertebrate cells, hypothesized to function as a fluid flow sensor. The mechanical properties of a cilium remain incompletely characterized. We measured the fluctuating position of an optically trapped cilium tip under untreated, Taxol-treated, and HIF-stabilized conditions. We applied analytical modeling to derive the mean-squared displacement of the trapped tip of a cilium and compared the results with experimental measurements. We provide, for the first time, evidence that the effective flexural rigidity of a ciliary axoneme is length-dependent, and longer cilia are stiffer than shorter cilia. We then provide a rational explanation for both effects. We demonstrate that the apparent length-dependent flexural rigidity can be understood by a combination of modeling axonemal microtubules orthotropic elastic shells and including (actin-driven) active stochastic basal body motion. It is hoped that our improved characterization of cilia will result in deeper understanding of the biological function of cellular flow sensing by this organelle. Our model could be profitably applied to motile cilia and our results also demonstrate the possibility of using easily observable ciliary dynamics to probe interior cytoskeletal dynamics.
Stimulus predictability does not modulate bottom-up attentional capture
Authors: Meijs Erik L. , Klaassen Felix H. , Bokeria Levan , Gaal Simon van , Lange Floris P. de
Published: March 2018

Attention can be involuntarily captured by physically salient stimuli, a phenomenon known as bottom-up attention. Typically, these salient stimuli occur unpredictably in time and space. Therefore, in a series of three behavioral experiments, we investigated the extent to which such bottom-up attentional capture is a function of one’s prior expectations. In the context of an exogenous cueing task, we systematically manipulated participants’ spatial (Experiment 1) or temporal (Experiment 2 and 3) expectations about an uninformative cue, and examined the extent of attentional capture by the cue. We anticipated larger attentional capture for unexpected compared to expected cues. However, while we observed robust attentional capture in all experiments, we did not find any evidence for a modulation of attentional capture by prior expectation. This underscores the automatic and reflexive nature of bottom-up attention.