bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Histogel‐ and Gelfoam‐embedded bronchoalveolar lavage and transtracheal wash fluids compared with cytocentrifuged and sediment smear preparations
Authors: Haysom Laura Z. , Lee‐Fowler Tekla M. , Spangler Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2018

Background

Storage and temperature significantly impact bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, and shipment of samples to diagnostic laboratories is often necessary. Alternative sample preparation methods could limit storage and temperature effects.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine if airway wash samples that were fixed in formalin after being embedded in Histogel or Gelfoam gave comparable results to fresh cytocentrifuged or sediment smear preparations for the evaluation of cell morphology.

Methods

Eleven bronchoalveolar lavage and 3 transtracheal wash fluids were available, including 8 canine, 1 feline, and 5 equine samples. Cytocentrifuged and sediment smear preparations were prepared for routine analysis. Airway fluids were reserved for further evaluation. Total nucleated cell counts (TNCCs) were determined using a hemocytometer. The remaining fluid was used for Histogel and Gelfoam preparations. Each preparation was analyzed by a single board‐certified clinical pathologist and assigned cellularity (1‐3) and morphology scores (1‐4).

Results

Cellularity and morphology were significantly worse for the sediment smear, Histogel, and Gelfoam preparations compared with the cytocentrifuged preparations. The Gelfoam preparations had significantly worse cellularity scores than all other methods. Cellularity scores for sediment smears and Histogel preparations were significantly correlated with TNCCs.

Conclusions

TNCCs impacted the cellularity of the sediment smears and Histogel preparations. Cytocentrifuged preparations resulted in the best cellularity and morphology and are, therefore, recommended whenever possible. Neither the Histogel nor the Gelfoam methods demonstrated any advantage over sediment smear preparations, and both performed poorly when compared with cytocentrifuged preparations. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of these methods.
Venous blood provides lower glucagon‐like peptide‐1 concentrations than arterialized blood in the postprandial but not the fasted state: Consequences of sampling methods
Authors: Chen Yung‐Chih , Edinburgh Robert M. , Hengist Aaron , Smith Harry A. , Walhin Jean‐Philippe , Betts James A. , Thompson Dylan , Gonzalez Javier T.
Published: June 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) is an important obesity/diabetes target, with effects dependent on circulating GLP‐1 concentrations. Peripheral tissues extract GLP‐1; therefore, sampling venous versus arterialized blood might provide different GLP‐1 concentrations. This study examined whether arterialization alters GLP‐1 concentrations during fasting and feeding.

What is the main finding and its importance?

This study demonstrates that venous blood provides lower postprandial but not fasting GLP‐1 concentrations versus arterialized blood. Therefore, when accurate assessment of postprandial peripheral availability of GLP‐1 is required, blood sampling methods should be considered carefully, reported clearly, and arterialization is recommended.

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) displays concentration‐dependent effects on metabolism, appetite and angiogenesis; therefore, accurate determination of circulating GLP‐1 concentrations is important. In this study, we compared GLP‐1 concentrations in venous versus arterialized blood in both fasted and fed conditions. Venous and arterialized blood samples were obtained simultaneously from 10 young, healthy men before and 30, 60 and 120 min after ingestion of 75 g glucose. Plasma GLP‐1 concentrations increased in response to glucose ingestion (time effect, P < 0.01) and to a lesser extent in venous versus arterialized plasma (time × arterialization interaction, P < 0.01). Accordingly, the plasma incremental area under the curve was lower in venous versus arterialized plasma (974 ± 88 versus 1214 ± 115 pmol l (120 min)−1, respectively, P = 0.049). In the postprandial state, there was a positive relationship between arterialized GLP‐1 concentrations and the venous–arterialized difference in GLP‐1 concentrations (r2 = 0.51; P < 0.01). Both arterialized and venous peak GLP‐1 concentrations showed positive relationships with peak arterialized insulin concentrations (both r2 > 0.6, P < 0.01). Venous sampling results in lower concentrations of GLP‐1 in the postprandial but not the fasted state compared with arterialized blood. This absolute difference is biologically meaningful and is magnified when GLP‐1 availability is high. Therefore, sampling from arterialized blood may provide a better chance of detecting small differences in postprandial GLP‐1 availability with interventions. If absolute GLP‐1 concentrations are of interest, the blood sampling method should be considered carefully and reported clearly.
Study on the Liquid Refrigerant Defrosting System and the Defrosting Rule
Authors: Wang Meng , Zang Runqing , Feng Hai , Yu Chaoqun , Wang He , Zhang Chenxu
Published: June 2018

The liquid refrigerant defrosting (LRD) is a defrosting method which leads the liquid refrigerant in the high-pressure reservoir to the frosting evaporator. The refrigeration process is continuous during the defrosting period, which increases the defrosting frequency. Compared with the traditional defrosting method, no large fin spacing should be left to reduce the defrosting frequency. The system can recover all the defrosting cooling capacity to improve the subcooling, so that the indoor air temperature fluctuations are avoided. In order to explore the effect and the rule of the LRD, the defrosting experiments were carried out in different frosting mass under the condition of the cold storage temperature of −20 °C. The defrosting time, temperature rise value, cooling capacity, and compressor power consumption value were calculated at the different frosting mass. Interpolation and applying the curve fitting equation helps to obtain remaining values. The relative humidity was calculated by the frosting mathematical model. Finally, the relationship between the coefficient of performance (COP) and the defrosting cycle (the sum of the defrosting time and the frosting time) was obtained. The experiments and theoretical research showed that the fluctuating value of cold storage temperature was about 5 °C and the defrosting time was about 30 min during the defrosting process. In the case of the relative humidity of 70%, 80%, 90%, the optimum defrosting cycle of the experiment was 16.4, 10.9, 7.5 h and the frosting mass was 2.66, 2.90, 3.22 kg, and the maximum COP was 1.51, 1.48, 1.45.
Wearable Device Validity in Determining Step Count During Hiking and Trail Running
Authors: Navalta James W. , Montes Jeffrey , Bodell Nathaniel G. , Aguilar Charli D. , Lujan Ana , Guzman Gabriela , Kam Brandi K. , Manning Jacob W. , DeBeliso Mark
Published: June 2018

Because wearable technology is ubiquitous, it is important to determine validity and reliability not only in a laboratory setting, but applied environments where the general population utilizes the devices. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine intra-rater reliability of visual step count outdoors, 2) determine validity of commercially available wearable technology devices in this setting, and 3) report test-retest reliability of commercial devices during hiking and trail running. Individuals (N = 20) completed 5-min hikes and trail runs on a 200-m section of trail while wearing the following devices: Fitbit Surge 2, Garmin Vivosmart HR+, Leaf Health Tracker, Polar A360, Samsung Gear 2, Spire Activity Tracker, and Stryd Power Meter. Intra-rater reliability and test-retest reliability was determined through Intraclass Correlation (ICC), while validity was determined via Bland-Altman analysis (limits of agreement; LoA), mean average percentage error (MAPE), and ICC. Significance was accepted at the p < .05 level. Steps determined by two independent counters were significantly reliable for the hike (ICC = 0.993, p < 0.001) and trail run (ICC = 0.991, p < 0.001). Three devices were valid across both exercise types and all methods of validity: Garmin Vivosmart HR+ (MAPE = 5.4%, ICC = 0.815, LoA = −58.1 to 50.4), Leaf Health Tracker (MAPE = 8.4%, ICC = 0.816, LoA = −78.8 to 39.4), and Stryd Power Meter (MAPE = 4.7%, ICC = 0.799, LoA = −34.3 to 78.9). As only certain devices returned valid step measurements, continued testing in applied environments are needed to have confidence in utilizing technology to track health and activity goals.
Podocyte injury elicits loss and recovery of cellular forces
Authors: Haley Kathryn E. , Kronenberg Nils M. , Liehm Philipp , Elshani Mustafa , Bell Cameron , Harrison David J. , Gather Malte C. , Reynolds Paul A.
Published: June 2018

ERISM continuously maps dynamic changes in the forces podocytes exert on their substrate in a model of acute kidney damage.
Seismically determined elastic parameters for Earth’s outer core
Authors: Irving Jessica C. E. , Cottaar Sanne , Lekić Vedran
Published: June 2018

Seismic properties and equation-of-state parameters of the liquid iron alloy in the outer core are inferred from normal mode data.
Rapid Red Sea Deep Water renewals caused by volcanic eruptions and the North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: Yao Fengchao , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: June 2018

Large volcanic eruptions and the North Atlantic Oscillation caused rapid renewals of the Red Sea Deep Water.
Endothelial siRNA delivery in nonhuman primates using ionizable low–molecular weight polymeric nanoparticles
Authors: Khan Omar F. , Kowalski Piotr S. , Doloff Joshua C. , Tsosie Jonathan K. , Bakthavatchalu Vasudevan , Winn Caroline Bodi , Haupt Jennifer , Jamiel Morgan , Langer Robert , Anderson Daniel G.
Published: June 2018

Dysfunctional endothelial cells contribute to the pathophysiology of many diseases, including vascular disease, stroke, hypertension, atherosclerosis, organ failure, diabetes, retinopathy, and cancer. Toward the goal of creating a new RNA-based therapy to correct aberrant endothelial cell gene expression in humans, efficient gene silencing in the endothelium of nonhuman primates was achieved by delivering small interfering RNA (siRNA) with 7C1, a low–molecular weight, ionizable polymer that forms nanoparticles. After a single intravenous administration of 1 mg of siRNA per kilogram of animal, 7C1 nanoparticles delivering Tie2 siRNA caused Tie2 mRNA levels to decrease by approximately 80% in the endothelium of the lung. Significant decreases in Tie2 mRNA were also found in the heart, retina, kidney, pancreas, and bone. Blood chemistry and liver function analysis before and after treatment all showed protein and enzyme concentrations within the normal reference ranges. Furthermore, after controlling for siRNA-specific effects, no significant increases in inflammatory cytokine concentrations were found in the serum. Similarly, no gross lesions or significant underlying pathologies were observed after histological examination of nonhuman primate tissues. This study is the first demonstration of endothelial gene silencing in multiple nonhuman primate organs using systemically administered siRNA nanoparticles and highlights the potential of this approach for the treatment of disease in humans.
Geomorphic expression of rapid Holocene silicic magma reservoir growth beneath Laguna del Maule, Chile
Authors: Singer Brad S. , Le Mével Hélène , Licciardi Joseph M. , Córdova Loreto , Tikoff Basil , Garibaldi Nicolas , Andersen Nathan L. , Diefenbach Angela K. , Feigl Kurt L.
Published: June 2018

A warped paleoshoreline records 10,000 years of magma-driven surface deformation above an active rhyolite-producing reservoir.
Personalized machine learning for robot perception of affect and engagement in autism therapy
Authors: Rudovic Ognjen , Lee Jaeryoung , Dai Miles , Schuller Björn , Picard Rosalind W.
Published: June 2018

Personalized machine learning enables robot perception of children’s affective states and engagement during robot-assisted autism therapy.
Integrated pathogen load and dual transcriptome analysis of systemic host-pathogen interactions in severe malaria
Authors: Lee Hyun Jae , Georgiadou Athina , Walther Michael , Nwakanma Davis , Stewart Lindsay B. , Levin Michael , Otto Thomas D. , Conway David J. , Coin Lachlan J. , Cunnington Aubrey J.
Published: June 2018

Host and parasite RNA sequencing is combined with parasite load estimates to reveal mechanisms associated with human severe malaria.
Targeting the XPO1-dependent nuclear export of E2F7 reverses anthracycline resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Saenz-Ponce Natalia , Pillay Rachael , de Long Lilia Merida , Kashyap Trinayan , Argueta Christian , Landesman Yosef , Hazar-Rethinam Mehlika , Boros Samuel , Panizza Benedict , Jacquemyn Maarten , Daelemans Dirk , Gannon Orla M. , Saunders Nicholas A.
Published: June 2018

Selective mislocalization of E2F7 in head and neck cancers drives anthracycline resistance and can be reversed.
The hidden agenda for immune escape in colorectal cancer
Authors: Hinrichs Christian
Published: June 2018

Multi-omic studies reveal immune evasion profiles in colorectal cancer.
Recovery of Five Complete Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Genome Sequences from the 2015 Influenza Outbreak in India by Metagenomic Sequencing
Authors: Dash Paban Kumar , Pattabiraman Chitra , Tandel Kundan , Sharma Shashi , Kumar Jyoti S. , Siddappa Shilpa , Gowda Malali , Krishna Sudhir , Parida Manmohan
Published: June 2018

Five complete (H1N1)pdm09 viral sequences were recovered from hospitalized individuals during the 2015 influenza outbreak by metagenomic sequencing. Four of the genomes are from oropharyngeal swabs, and one is from an isolate.
High-Quality Genome Sequence of the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne arenaria Genotype A2-O
Authors: Sato Kazuki , Kadota Yasuhiro , Gan Pamela , Bino Takahiro , Uehara Taketo , Yamaguchi Katsushi , Ichihashi Yasunori , Maki Noriko , Iwahori Hideaki , Suzuki Takamasa , Shigenobu Shuji , Shirasu Ken
Published: June 2018

Root-knot nematodes (
Meloidogyne
spp.) cause serious damage to many crops globally. We report the high-quality genome sequence of
Meloidogyne arenaria
genotype A2-O.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Tilapia Lake Virus Isolate Obtained from Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Al-Hussinee Lowia , Subramaniam Kuttichantran , Ahasan Mohammad Shamim , Keleher Bill , Waltzek Thomas B.
Published: June 2018

Since its discovery in 2014, tilapia lake virus (TiLV) has emerged as a significant cause of mortality in tilapia cultured in Asia, Africa, and South America. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a TiLV isolate obtained during a diagnostic investigation of an ongoing mortality event involving Nile tilapia cultured in Thailand.
Draft Genome Sequences of Six Skin Isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Liang Zhong , Stephens Melissa , Ploplis Victoria A. , Lee Shaun W. , Castellino Francis J.
Published: June 2018

Whole-genome shotgun sequences and bottom-up assembly of contigs of six skin isolates of
Streptococcus pyogenes
,
viz
., NS88.3 (
emm
98.1), NS223 (
emm
91), NS455 (
emm
52), SS1448 (
emm
86.2), SS1572 (
emm
223), and SS1574 (
emm
224), are presented here. All contigs were annotated, and the gene arrangements and the inferred proteins were consistent with a pattern D classification.
Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio harveyi Strain GAN1709, Isolated from Diseased Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) Farmed in Japan
Authors: Monno Shinya , Sugiura Hidehiro , Yamashita Hazuki , Kato Yusuke , Morimitu Kazuyuki , Imajoh Masayuki
Published: June 2018

Vibrio harveyi
strain GAN1709 was isolated from a diseased greater amberjack farmed in Nomi Bay, Japan. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain, which comprises 6,265,473 bp, with a G+C content of 44.8%.
Draft Genome Sequence of Phosphate-Solubilizing Chryseobacterium sp. Strain ISE14, a Biocontrol and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium Isolated from Cucumber
Authors: Jeong Jin-Ju , Sang Mee Kyung , Pathiraja Duleepa , Park Byeonghyeok , Choi In-Geol , Kim Ki Deok
Published: June 2018

Chryseobacterium
sp. strain ISE14 is a phosphate-solubilizing endophytic bacterium that exhibits plant growth promotion and biocontrol activities against Phytophthora blight and anthracnose on pepper.
Complete Genome Sequence of Streptomyces sp. Strain BSE7F, a Bali Mangrove Sediment Actinobacterium with Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Handayani Ira , Ratnakomala Shanti , Lisdiyanti Puspita , Fahrurrozi  , Alanjary Mohammad , Wohlleben Wolfgang , Mast Yvonne
Published: June 2018

The strain
Streptomyces
sp. BSE7F, a novel
Streptomyces
strain isolated from Indonesian mangrove sediment, displays antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast.
Aedes Anphevirus: an Insect-Specific Virus Distributed Worldwide in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes That Has Complex Interplays with Wolbachia and Dengue Virus Infection in Cells
Authors: Parry Rhys , Asgari Sassan
Published: June 2018

The mosquito
Aedes aegypti
transmits a number of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), such as dengue virus and Zika virus. Mosquitoes also harbor insect-specific viruses that may affect replication of pathogenic arboviruses in their body. Currently, however, there are only a few insect-specific viruses described from
A. aegypti
in the literature. Here, we characterize a novel negative-strand virus, AeAV. Meta-analysis of
A. aegypti
samples showed that it is present in
A. aegypti
mosquitoes worldwide and is vertically transmitted.
Wolbachia
-transinfected mosquitoes are currently being used in biocontrol, as they effectively block transmission of several positive-sense RNA viruses in mosquitoes. Our results demonstrate that
Wolbachia
enhances the replication of AeAV and modestly reduces dengue virus replication in a cell line model. This study expands our understanding of the virome in
A. aegypti
as well as providing insight into the complexity of the
Wolbachia
virus restriction phenotype.
Perforated caecal carcinoma masquerading as lower limb necrotising fasciitis: lessons learnt
Authors: Patel Lopa , Teklay Samuel , Wallace David , Skillman Joanna
Published: June 2018

A 69-year-old man was admitted with non-resolving right leg cellulitis. Subsequent skin changes over the calf and discharging pus suggested necrotising fasciitis. After several wound debridements of the leg and imaging, the patient was found to have an iliopsoas abscess due to a metastatic perforated caecal tumour extending along the medial thigh to the calf. No micro-organisms indicative of typical necrotising fasciitis were isolated from the wound. The patient had an ileocaecal resection, and his leg was reconstructed with a split thickness skin graft. He continues to do well postoperatively. This case highlights key lessons when dealing with an unusual presentation leading to challenges in diagnosis such as: (1) the need for good interspecialty liaison, (2) prompt senior review and plan, and (3) ‘thinking outside the box’ when faced with a diagnostic challenge.
Qualitative study of Ebola screening at ports of entry to the UK
Authors: Kesten Joanna May , Audrey Suzanne , Holding Maya , Coope Caroline , Young Nick , Brown Colin S , Harries Jenny , Hickman Matthew , Oliver Isabel
Published: June 2018

Introduction

In response to the 2013–2016 West African outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD), Public Health England introduced enhanced screening at major UK ports of entry. Our aim was to explore screeners’ and screened travellers’ perceptions of screening as part of an evaluation of the screening programme.

Methods

We undertook qualitative focus groups and semistructured interviews with screeners and travellers who had returned from affected countries before and after the introduction of screening in England. The study was conducted in two airports: one international rail terminal and one military airport. Research topic guides explored perceptions of the purpose and implementation of the process, potential improvements and reactions to screening. The data were analysed using the framework method.

Results

Twenty-four screeners participated in 4 focus groups (one for each port of entry) and 23 travellers participated in interviews. Three themes are presented: ‘Context’, ‘Screeners’ experience of the programme’ and ‘Screening purpose and experiences’. The programme was implemented rapidly, refined over time and adapted to individual ports. Screeners reported diverse experiences of screening including negative impacts on their normal roles, difficult interactions with passengers and pressure to identify positive EVD cases. Screening was considered unlikely to identify individuals with symptoms of EVD, and some participants suggested it was driven by political concerns rather than empirical evidence. The screening process was valued for its provision of information and reassurance.

Conclusion

This qualitative study found that the UK EVD screening process was perceived to be acceptable to assess individual risk and provide information and advice to travellers. Future programmes should have clear objectives and streamlined processes to minimise disruption, tailored to the nature of the threat and developed with the needs of humanitarian workers as well as general travellers in mind.
Development of an interprofessional collaboration competency scale for children with medical complexity
Authors: Shimmura Keiko , Tadaka Etsuko
Published: June 2018

Objective

To develop and validate an interprofessional collaboration competency scale for children with medical complexity (ICC-CMC). These children have the most complex healthcare needs, complicated chronic conditions, severe functional limitations and often need a considerable amount of healthcare resources.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The self-administered ICC-CMC questionnaire was developed based on a literature review and 12 expert interviews.

Participants

Participants were 2347 interprofessionals from the health, medical, welfare and education fields in seven prefectures in Japan.

Main outcome measure(s)

We used Cronbach’s alpha values to assess the internal consistency of the scale. Construct validity was confirmed with confirmatory factor analysis, and an existing scale was administered to assess criterion-related validity.

Results

In total, 378 professionals provided valid responses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified 12 items on three factors: ‘sharing needs assessment skills’, ‘resource development skills’ and ‘creative networking skills’. The final model showed good fit on four indices (eg, goodness of fit index: 0.925). The Cronbach’s alpha for the entire scale was 0.93 and was above 0.80 for each factor. The correlation coefficient between the existing scale and the ICC-CMC was 0.72 (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The ICC-CMC demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and validity. The scale has potential use in advancing professionals’ individual practice and team performance in interprofessional collaboration. In addition, the ICC-CMC has the potential of improving satisfaction and outcomes for children with medical complexity and their families.
Derivation and validation of a chief complaint shortlist for unscheduled acute and emergency care in Uganda
Authors: Rice Brian Travis , Bisanzo Mark , Maling Samuel , Joseph Ryan , Mowafi Hani
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Derive and validate a shortlist of chief complaints to describe unscheduled acute and emergency care in Uganda.

Setting

A single, private, not-for profit hospital in rural, southwestern Uganda.

Participants

From 2009 to 2015, 26 996 patient visits produced 42 566 total chief complaints for the derivation dataset, and from 2015 to 2017, 10 068 visits produced 20 165 total chief complaints for the validation dataset.

Methods

A retrospective review of an emergency centre quality assurance database was performed. Data were abstracted, cleaned and refined using language processing in Stata to produce a longlist of chief complaints, which was collapsed via a consensus process to produce a shortlist and turned into a web-based tool. This tool was used by two local Ugandan emergency care practitioners to categorise complaints from a second longlist produced from a separate validation dataset from the same study site. Their agreement on grouping was analysed using Cohen’s kappa to determine inter-rater reliability. The chief complaints describing 80% of patient visits from automated and consensus shortlists were combined to form a candidate chief complaint shortlist.

Results

Automated data cleaning and refining recognised 95.8% of all complaints and produced a longlist of 555 chief complaints. The consensus process yielded a shortlist of 83 grouped chief complaints. The second validation dataset was reduced in Stata to a longlist of 451 complaints. Using the shortlist tool to categorise complaints produced 71.5% agreement, yielding a kappa of 0.70 showing substantial inter-rater reliability. Only one complaint did not fit into the shortlist and required a free-text amendment. The two shortlists were identical for the most common 14 complaints and combined to form a candidate list of 24 complaints that could characterise over 80% of all emergency centre chief complaints.

Conclusions

Shortlists of chief complaints can be generated to improve standardisation of data entry, facilitate research efforts and be employed for paper chart usage.
Cauterisation versus fibrin glue for conjunctival autografting in primary pterygium surgery (CAGE CUP): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lešin Mladen , Paradžik Martina , Marin Lovrić Josipa , Olujić Ivana , Ljubić Žana , Vučinović Ana , Bućan Kajo , Puljak Livia
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Pterygium is a non-cancerous growth of the conjunctival tissue over the cornea that may lead to visual impairment in advanced stages, restriction of ocular motility, chronic inflammation and cosmetic concerns. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice, but recurrence of pterygium is a frequent problem. It has been previously shown that fibrin glue may result in less recurrence and may take less time than sutures for fixing the conjunctival graft in place during pterygium surgery. However, fibrin glue is a biological material and it carries the risk of transmitting infectious agents from pooled and single-donor blood donors and anaphylaxis in susceptible individuals. Cauterisation is another surgical option, and it would be advantageous to know whether cauterisation may be superior surgical option compared with fibrin glue. This protocol describes the rationale and design of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) in which we will compare cauterisation versus fibrin glue for conjunctival autografting in primary pterygium surgery.

Methods and analyses

This will be a parallel group RCT comparing cauterisation versus fibrin glue for conjunctival autografting in primary pterygium surgery. Computer-generated randomisation will be used, and allocation concealment will be conducted using sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes. Surgeons will not be blinded to the procedures, but participants, other investigators and outcome assessors will be blinded. Adult participants with primary pterygium operated in a tertiary hospital in Split, Croatia, will be included. Primary outcome will be recurrence of pterygium, defined as any regrowth of tissue from the area of excision across the limbus onto the cornea after 180 days.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial was approved by the ethics review board of the University Hospital Split (500-03/17-01/68). Results will be disseminated at conferences and through peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number

NCT03321201; Pre-results.
Characteristics and treatment of African-American and European-American patients with resistant hypertension identified using the electronic health record in an academic health centre: a case−control study
Authors: Shuey Megan M , Gandelman Jocelyn S , Chung Cecilia P , Nian Hui , Yu Chang , Denny Joshua C , Brown Nancy J
Published: June 2018

Objective

To identify patients with hypertension with resistant and controlled blood pressure (BP) using electronic health records (EHRs) in order to elucidate practices in the real-world clinical treatment of hypertension and to enable future genetic studies.

Design

Using EHRs, we developed and validated algorithms to identify patients with resistant and controlled hypertension.

Setting

An academic medical centre in Nashville, Tennessee.

Population

European-American (EA) and African-American (AA) patients with hypertension.

Main outcome measures

Demographic characteristics: race, age, gender, body mass index, outpatient BPs and the history of diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease stage 3, ischaemic heart disease, transient ischaemic attack, atrial fibrillation and sleep apnoea.

Medication treatment

All antihypertensive medication classes prescribed to a patient at the time of classification and ever prescribed following classification.

Results

The algorithms had performance metrics exceeding 92%. The prevalence of resistant hypertension in the total hypertensive population was 7.3% in EA and 10.5% in AA. At diagnosis, AA were younger, heavier, more often female and had a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and higher BPs than EA. AA with resistant hypertension were more likely to be treated with vasodilators, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers and alpha-2 agonists while EA were more likely to be treated with angiotensin receptor blockers, renin inhibitors and beta blockers. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists use was increased in patients treated with more than four antihypertensive medications compared with patients treated with three (12.4% vs 2.6% in EA, p<0.001; 12.3% vs 2.8% in AA, p<0.001). The number of patients treated with a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist increased to 37.4% in EA and 41.2% in AA over a mean follow-up period of 7.4 and 8.7 years, respectively.

Conclusions

Clinical treatment of resistant hypertension differs in EA and AA patients. These results demonstrate the feasibility of identifying resistant hypertension using an EHR.
Exercise for stroke prevention
Authors: Prior Peter L , Suskin Neville
Published: June 2018

We review evidence concerning exercise for stroke prevention. Plausible biological reasons suggest that exercise would be important in preventing stroke. While definitive randomised controlled trials evaluating the impact of physical activity (PA) and exercise on preventing stroke and mortality are lacking, observational studies, small randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses have provided evidence that PA and exercise favourably modify stroke risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco use. It is, therefore, important to understand the factors associated with poststroke PA/exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness. Positively associated factors include self-efficacy, social support and quality of patients’ relationships with health professionals. Negatively associated factors include logistical barriers, medical comorbidities, stroke-related deficits, negative exercise beliefs, fear of falling, poststroke fatigue, arthropathy/pain and depression. Definitive research is needed to specify efficacious behavioural approaches to increase poststroke exercise. Effective techniques probably include physician endorsement of exercise programmesto patients, enhancement of patient–professional relationships, providing patients an exercise rationale, motivational interviewing, collaborative goal-setting with patients, addressing logistical concerns, social support in programsmes, structured exercise programming, individualised behavioural instruction, behavioural diary recording, reviewing behavioural consequences of exercise efforts, reinforcing successful exercise performance. Exercise programming without counselling may increase short-term activity; simple advice or information-giving is probably ineffective. Older patients or those with cognitive impairment may need increased structure, with emphasis on behaviour per se, versus self-regulation skills. We support the latest American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines (2014) recommending PA and exercise for stroke prevention, and referral to behaviourally oriented programmes to improve PA and exercise.
Dual versus mono antiplatelet therapy for acute non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Yingying , Zhou Mengyuan , Zhong Xi , Wang Yongjun , Zhao Xingquan , Liu Liping , Wang Yilong
Published: June 2018

Objective

Recent years have seen new evidence on the efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention. We updated a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials evaluating dual antiplatelet versus monotherapy for patients with acute non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke (IS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Methods

We searched PubMed and identified randomised controlled trials evaluating dual antiplatelet versus monotherapy for acute non-cardioembolic IS or TIA within 3 days of ictus up to May 2018. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI were calculated using random effects models. Clinical endpoints included stroke recurrence, composite vascular events and major bleeding.

Results

18 randomised controlled trials including 15 515 patients were pooled in the meta-analysis. When compared with monotherapy among patients with acute IS or TIA, dual antiplatelet therapy reduced the risk of stroke recurrence (RR 0.69; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.78; p<0.001) and composite vascular events (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.80; p<0.001). Dual therapy was associated with a significant increase in the risk of major bleeding (RR 1.77; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.87; p=0.02) when all trial data were combined. However, when all previous trials before the completion of the POINT trial were analysed, dual antiplatelet versus monotherapy was not associated with a significant increase in the risk of major bleeding (RR 1.46; 95% CI 0.77 to 2.75; p=0.25).

Conclusions

Among patients with acute non-cardioembolic IS or TIA within 3 days of ictus, dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with a reduction in stroke recurrence, and composite vascular events, when compared with monotherapy. However, a significant increase in the risk of major bleeding was observed.
Biochar affects aspen seedling growth and reclaimed soil properties in the Athabasca oil sands region
Authors: Dietrich Sebastian T. , MacKenzie M. Derek
Published: June 2018

Restoring ecosystem function after oil sands surface mining involves reestablishing the biotic and abiotic ecosystem components that affect biogeochemical cycles and fluxes. In boreal forest ecosystems, pyrogenic carbon is a native soil component that affects a variety of biogeochemical parameters and biochar is its human-made analog. To evaluate the benefits of biochar amendment to reclamation cover soils, we compared characteristics and function of peat–mineral mix (PM) and forest floor–mineral mix (FFM) with and without biochar in an 18 wk greenhouse study. We assessed nutrient bioavailability (NO3, NH4, P, K, S, Mg, and Ca), foliar nutrient concentrations (N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca, Na, and Mo), soil respiration, rhizosphere polysaccharide concentration, soil organic matter stability, and Populus tremuloides Michx. seedling growth. Seedling growth increased significantly on PM cover soil with biochar. Biochar improved K nutritional status and potentially interacted with Na bioavailability in PM, affecting growth. Soil respiration significantly decreased in PM with biochar and increased in FFM. Soil organic matter stability was positively correlated with seedling growth and increased with biochar. Our findings suggest that biochar may have a significant positive effect on upland forest reclamation in the Athabasca oil sands region, especially on sites that are reclaimed with PM.
Single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for solar cell applications
Authors: Obaidullah Madina , Esat Volkan , Sabah Cumali
Published: June 2018

Emerging nanotechnologies have revealed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as one of the best materials with immense potential. Considering the outstanding physical, mechanical, electrochemical, thermal, and optoelectronic properties of CNTs, extensive studies have been reported assessing their applications in several disciplines. This paper presents a broad review of the studies in the literature that address the contribution of CNTs in terms of their applications as different parts of solar cells such as photoelectrode, photoconductor, top and back electrode, replacement of indium tin oxide (ITO) as transparent conducting electrode (TCE) in a variety of photovoltaics such as silicon, organic, polymer and dye-sensitized with their subsequent efficiencies.
A Full-Band Timing Mismatch Calibration Technique in Time-Interleaved ADCs
Authors: Li Jing , Ye Xin , Luo Jian , Ning Ning , Yu Qi
Published: June 2018

This paper proposes a full-band calibration scheme of timing mismatch for Time-Interleaved Analog-to-Digital Converters (TI-ADC) based on Automatic Identification (AI) detection scheme. Besides estimating the value of timing mismatch, AI detection scheme also judges the odd–even property of the Nyquist zone (NZ) which the input signal belongs to and thus adaptively adjusts the calibration polarity for full-band application. On the other hand, Successive-Approximation-Register (SAR) correction technique is employed to speed up the convergence process of calibration with low cost. The efficiency of the proposed calibration scheme is verified by MATLAB simulation and implementation on PCB. Both results show that with an input signal whose bandwidth is within any NZ, the proposed calibration methodology is effective. Compared with the traditional calibration schemes, the proposed calibration method achieves fast convergence speed with [Formula: see text] samples and costs less hardware with 2.1[Formula: see text]k gate counts.
A Method for Measuring the Constraint Complexity of Components in Automotive Embedded Software Systems
Authors: Garg Mohit , Lai Richard
Published: June 2018

The rapid growth of software-based functionalities has made automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs) significantly complex. Factors affecting the software complexity of components embedded in an ECU depend not only on their interface and interaction properties, but also on the structural constraints characterized by a component’s functional semantics and timing constraints described by AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR) languages. Traditional constraint complexity measures are not adequate for the components in embedded software systems as they do not yet sufficiently provide a measure of the complexity due to timing constraints which are important for quantifying the dynamic behavior of components at run-time. This paper presents a method for measuring the constraint complexity of components in automotive embedded software systems at the specification level. It first enables system designers to define non-deterministic constraints on the event chains associated with components using the AUTOSAR-based Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time and Embedded systems (MARTE)-UML and Timing Augmented Description Language (TADL). Then, system analysts use Unified Modeling Language (UML)-compliant Object Constraint Language (OCL) and its Real-time extension (RT-OCL) to specify the structural and timing constraints on events and event chains and estimate the constraint complexity of components using a measure we have developed. A preliminary version of the method was presented in M. Garg and R. Lai, Measuring the constraint complexity of automotive embedded software systems, in Proc. Int. Conf. Data and Software Engineering, 2014, pp. 1–6. To demonstrate the usefulness of our method, we have applied it to an automotive Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).
Bank External Financing and Early Adoption of SFAS 133
Authors: Wang Sophia I-Ling
Published: June 2018

This study examines whether and how US bank holding companies that early adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” experience changes in their external financing activities relative to banks that did not early adopt the standard. Consistent with predictions, the study shows that early adopters hold higher and experience greater changes in their leverage compared with nonearly adopters. In addition, early adopters experience greater shifts in weights of liabilities other than insured deposits in banks’ funding mix. This finding is consistent with banking literature which states that banks have shifted towards nondeposit debts to finance their balance sheet growth.
Financial Statement Analysis: Evidence from Chinese Firms
Authors: Eng Li Li , Tian Xi , Robert Yu T.
Published: June 2018

This paper conducts a fundamental analysis of Chinese firms based on accounting numbers in their financial statements. The sample consists of 2,164 Chinese firms listed on Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges during the period 2001 to 2013. We use nine fundamental signals and specify a benchmark model and an augmented model. We regress future excess returns on the signals and find that they are associated with excess returns; five of the signals are negatively associated with excess returns, while the other four are positively associated with excess returns. Further analysis suggests that our finding is mainly driven by state-owned firms.
Near-infrared spectroscopy muscle oximetry of patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
Authors: Kadamati Parvathi , Sugar Jeffrey J. , Quirk Brendan J. , Mehrvar Shima , Chelimsky Gisela G. , Whelan Harry T. , Chelimsky Thomas C. , Ranji Mahsa
Published: June 2018

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disabling condition characterized by orthostatic intolerance with tachycardia in the absence of drop-in blood pressure. A custom-built near-infrared spectroscopy device (NIRS) is applied to monitor the muscle oxygenation, noninvasively in patients undergoing incremental head-up tilt table (HUT). Subjects (6 POTS patients and 6 healthy controls) underwent 30[Formula: see text]mins of 70∘ on a HUT. The results showed a significant difference in deoxyhemoglobin (Hb), change-in-oxygenation [Formula: see text] and blood volume [Formula: see text] between patients and healthy controls. However, oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) showed a significantly faster rate of change in the healthy controls during the first 10[Formula: see text]mins of the tilt and during the recovery. This NIRS muscle oximetry tool provides quantitative measurements of blood oxygenation monitoring in diseases such as POTS.
Deterministic construction of compressed sensing matrices with characters over finite fields
Authors: Wang Gang , Niu Min-Yao , Fu Fang-Wei
Published: June 2018

Compressed sensing theory provides a new approach to acquire data as a sampling technique and makes sure that an original sparse signal can be reconstructed from few measurements. The construction of compressed sensing matrices is a central problem in compressed sensing theory. In this paper, the deterministic compressed sensing matrices with characters of finite fields are constructed and the coherence of the matrices are computed. Furthermore, the maximum sparsity of recovering the original sparse signals by using our compressed sensing matrices is obtained. Meanwhile, a comparison is made with the compressed sensing matrices constructed by DeVore based on polynomials over finite fields. In the numerical simulations, our compressed sensing matrix outperforms DeVore’s matrix in the process of recovering original sparse signals.
China’s Recent Deleveraging: A Panacea for Its Financial Ills?
Authors: CHAN Sarah
Published: June 2018

China has made containing financial risks a top priority. The authorities’ recent deleveraging efforts have produced some results with interbank lending growth declining and corporate debt-to-gross domestic product ratio stabilising. However, policymakers will have to address structural weaknesses in the financial system through institutional reforms. Supply-side structural reforms such as deleveraging the state-owned enterprises are therefore crucial as it meaningfully defuses China’s debt risks.
Exact solutions for time-fractional Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation of Geometric Brownian motion via Lie point symmetries
Authors: Naderifard Azadeh , Dastranj Elham , Hejazi S. Reza
Published: June 2018

In this paper, the transition joint probability density function of the solution of geometric Brownian motion (GBM) equation is obtained via Lie group theory of differential equations (DEs). Lie symmetry analysis is applied to find new solutions for time-fractional Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation of GBM. This analysis classifies the forms of the solutions for the equation by the similarity variables arising from the symmetry operators. Finally, an analytic method called invariant subspace method is applied in order to find another exact solution.
LIBOR market model with multiplicative basis
Authors: Zhong Yangfan
Published: June 2018

The study on the multiple-curve interest rate models becomes increasingly active since the 2007 credit crunch, for which one curve, typically the OIS curve, is used for discounting purpose, while the LIBOR curves (associated with various market tenors) are used for projecting the future cash flows. In this work, we extend the standard LIBOR market model to accommodate such multiple-curve setting by means of a multiplicative basis. The multiplicative basis is modeled as an exponential function of multi-factor square-root processes. Under the multiplicative basis setup, the OIS forward rates are correlated with the implied (additive) LIBOR-OIS spreads. We then derive closed-form pricing formulas for caplet, swaption, and interest rate futures in the multiplicative basis framework. In particular, we show that the valuation of caplet and swaption can be easily computed by a proper integral of real-valued functions, which facilitates the calibration of our model. Finally, we discuss a slight modification of our model to allow for negative interest rates.