bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Funnel plots and choropleth maps in cancer risk communication: a comparison of tools for disseminating population-based incidence data to stakeholders
Authors: Mazzucco Walter , Cusimano Rosanna , Zarcone Maurizio , Mazzola Sergio , Vitale Francesco
Published: April 2017

Background

Population-based cancer registries provide epidemiological cancer information, but the indicators are often too complex to be interpreted by local authorities and communities, due to numeracy and literacy limitations. The aim of this paper is to compare the commonly used visual formats to funnel plots to enable local public health authorities and communities to access valid and understandable cancer incidence data obtained at the municipal level.

Methods

A funnel plot representation of standardised incidence ratio (SIR) was generated for the 82 municipalities of the Palermo Province with the 2003–2011 data from the Palermo Province Cancer Registry (Sicily, Italy). The properties of the funnel plot and choropleth map methodologies were compared within the context of disseminating epidemiological data to stakeholders.

Results

The SIRs of all the municipalities remained within the control limits, except for Palermo city area (SIR=1.12), which was sited outside the upper control limit line of 99.8%. The Palermo Province SIRs funnel plot representation was congruent with the choropleth map generated from the same data, but the former resulted more informative as shown by the comparisons of the weaknesses and strengths of the 2 visual formats.

Conclusions

Funnel plot should be used as a complementary valuable tool to communicate epidemiological data of cancer registries to communities and local authorities, visually conveying an efficient and simple way to interpret cancer incidence data.
Accuracy of a step counter during treadmill and daily life walking by healthy adults and patients with cardiac disease
Authors: Thorup Charlotte Brun , Andreasen Jan Jesper , Sørensen Erik Elgaard , Grønkjær Mette , Dinesen Birthe Irene , Hansen John
Published: April 2017

Background

Step counters have been used to observe activity and support physical activity, but there is limited evidence on their accuracy.

Objective

The purpose was to investigate the step accuracy of the Fitbit Zip (Zip) in healthy adults during treadmill walking and in patients with cardiac disease while hospitalised at home.

Methods

Twenty healthy adults aged 39±13.79 (mean ±SD) wore four Zips while walking on a treadmill at different speeds (1.7–6.1 km/hour), and 24 patients with cardiac disease (age 67±10.03) wore a Zip for 24 hours during hospitalisation and for 4 weeks thereafter at home. A Shimmer3 device was used as a criterion standard.

Results

At a treadmill speed of 3.6 km/hour, the relative error (±SD) for the Zips on the upper body was −0.02±0.67 on the right side and −0.09 (0.67) on the left side. For the Zips on the waist, this was 0.08±0.71 for the right side and -0.08 (0.47) on the left side. At a treadmill speed of 3.6 km/hour and higher, the average per cent of relative error was <3%. The 24-hour test for the hospitalised patients showed a relative error of −47.15±24.11 (interclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.60), and for the 24-hour test at home, the relative error was −27.51±28.78 (ICC: 0.87). Thus, none of the 24-hour tests had less than the expected 20% error. In time periods of evident walking during the 24 h test, the Zip had an average per cent relative error of <3% at 3.6 km/hour and higher speeds.

Conclusions

A speed of 3.6 km/hour or higher is required to expect acceptable accuracy in step measurement using a Zip, on a treadmill and in real life. Inaccuracies are directly related to slow speeds, which might be a problem for patients with cardiac disease who walk at a slow pace.
Design and rationale of a matched cohort study to assess the effectiveness of a combined household-level piped water and sanitation intervention in rural Odisha, India
Authors: Reese Heather , Routray Parimita , Torondel Belen , Sclar Gloria , Delea Maryann G , Sinharoy Sheela S , Zambrano Laura , Caruso Bethany , Mishra Samir R , Chang Howard H , Clasen Thomas
Published: April 2017

Introduction

Government efforts to address massive shortfalls in rural water and sanitation in India have centred on construction of community water sources and toilets for selected households. However, deficiencies with water quality and quantity at the household level and community coverage and actual use of toilets have led Gram Vikas, a local non-governmental organization in Odisha, India, to develop an approach that provides household-level piped water connections contingent on full community-level toilet coverage.

Methods

This matched cohort study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a combined piped water and sanitation intervention. Households with children <5 years in 45 randomly selected intervention villages and 45 matched control villages will be followed over 17 months. The primary outcome is prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases; secondary health outcomes include soil-transmitted helminth infection, nutritional status, seroconversion to enteric pathogens, urogenital infections and environmental enteric dysfunction. In addition, intervention effects on sanitation and water coverage, access and use, environmental fecal contamination, women's empowerment, as well as collective efficacy, and intervention cost and cost-effectiveness will be assessed.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the ethics boards of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK and KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed literature and presentation to stakeholders, government officials, implementers and researchers.

Trial registration number

NCT02441699.
Measles outbreaks in the UK, is it when and where, rather than if? A database cohort study of childhood population susceptibility in Liverpool, UK
Authors: Keenan Alex , Ghebrehewet Sam , Vivancos Roberto , Seddon Dan , MacPherson Peter , Hungerford Daniel
Published: April 2017

Objectives

There was a large outbreak of measles in Liverpool, UK, in 2012–2013, despite measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation uptake rates that were higher than the national average. We estimated measles susceptibility of a cohort of children born in Liverpool between 1995 and 2012 to understand whether there was a change in susceptibility before and after the outbreak and to inform vaccination strategy.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

The city of Liverpool, North West UK.

Participants

All children born in Liverpool (72 101) between 1995 and 2012 inclusive who were identified using the Child Health Information System (CHIS) and were still resident within Liverpool in 2014.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We estimated cohort age-disaggregated and neighbourhood-disaggregated measles susceptibility according to WHO thresholds before and after the outbreak for children aged 1–17 years.

Results

Susceptibility to measles was above WHO elimination thresholds before and after the measles outbreak in the 10+ age group. The proportion of children susceptible before and after outbreak, respectively: age 1–4 years 15.0% before and 14.9% after; age 5–9 years 9.9% before and 7.7% after; age 10+ years 8.6% before and 8.5% after. Despite an intensive MMR immunisation catch-up campaign after the 2012–2013 measles outbreak, the overall proportion of children with no MMR remains high at 6.1% (4390/72 351). Across all age groups and before and after the outbreak, measles susceptibility was clustered by neighbourhood, with deprived areas having the greatest proportion of susceptible children.

Conclusions

The risk of sustained measles outbreaks remains, especially as large pools of susceptible older children will start leaving secondary education and continue to aggregate in higher education, employment and other community settings and institutions resulting in the potential for a propagated measles outbreak.
Ongoing university studies and the risk of suicide: a register-based nationwide cohort study of 5 million young and middle-aged individuals in Sweden, 1993–2011
Authors: Lageborn Christine Takami , Ljung Rickard , Vaez Marjan , Dahlin Marie
Published: April 2017

Objectives

To investigate the risk of suicide, unnatural death and all-cause death in university students compared with non-students, taking previous educational attainment into account.

Design

Open cohort study of all residents aged 18–39 and living in Sweden at any time between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2011.

Setting

We linked data from national registers and calculated person-years during university studies for three time periods (1993–1999, 2000–2005 and 2006–2011). Time as non-student was calculated and categorised according to attained educational level. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CIs were calculated with Poisson regression models, controlling for age and period.

Participants

The cohort consisted of 5 039 419 individuals, 51% men and 49% women.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of suicide (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9: E950–E959, ICD-10: X60–X84) or death with undetermined intent (ICD-9: E980-E989, ICD-10: Y10-Y34), unnatural death (ICD-9: E800-E999 and ICD-10: V01-Y99) and all-cause death.

Results

A total of 7316 deaths due to suicide were identified, of which 541 were registered among university students. The risk of suicide was twofold during ongoing university studies compared with when having attained university education, IRR 2.37 (95% CI 2.07 to 2.72) in men and IRR 2.15 (95% CI 1.77 to 2.61) in women.

Conclusions

Having ongoing university studies was associated with a higher risk of suicide compared with having attained university-level education. This finding highlights the importance of achieving a deeper understanding of suicidal behaviour during years at university. Further studies should assess risk factors for suicide and suicidal behaviour in university students.
Patient-reported outcome measures for monitoring primary care patients with depression: PROMDEP feasibility randomised trial
Authors: Kendrick Tony , Stuart Beth , Leydon Geraldine M , Geraghty Adam W A , Yao Lily , Ryves Rachel , Williams Samantha , Zhu Shihua , Dowrick Christopher , Lewis Glyn , Moore Michael
Published: April 2017

Objectives

To determine the feasibility of a trial of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for monitoring primary care patients with depression.

Design

Partly individually randomised, partly cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Nine general practices in Southern England.

Participants

47 adults with new episodes of depression: 22 intervention, 25 control.

Randomisation

Remote computerised sequence generation and allocation.

Interventions

Patient Health Questionnaire, Distress Thermometer Analogue Scale and PSYCHLOPS problem profile for monitoring depression, following diagnosis and at 10–35 days later. Feedback of scores to patients was determined by practitioners.

Blinding

Non-blinded, using self-completed measures.

Primary outcome

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Secondary outcome measures

Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), EuroQol Five-item, Five-level (EQ-5D-5L) Scale for quality of life, modified Client Service Receipt Inventory for costs, Medical Informant Satisfaction Scale (MISS), qualitative interviews with 14 patients and 13 practice staff about feasibility and acceptability of trial design.

Results

Three practices failed to recruit the target of six patients in 12 months. Follow-up rates were intervention patients: 18 (82%) at 12 weeks and 15 (68%) at 26 weeks; controls: 18 (72%) and 15 (60%), respectively. At 12 weeks, mean BDI-II score was lower among intervention group patients than controls by 5.8 points (95% CI −11.1 to −0.5), adjusted for baseline differences and clustering. WSAS scores were not significantly different. At 26 weeks, there were no significant differences in symptoms, social functioning, quality of life or costs, but mean satisfaction score was higher among controls by 22.0 points (95% CI −40.7 to −3.29). Intervention patients liked completing PROMs, but were disappointed when practitioners did not use the results to inform management.

Conclusions

PROMs may improve depression outcome in the short term, even if PROM scores do not inform practitioners' management. Challenges in recruiting and following up patients need addressing for a definitive trial of relatively brief measures which can potentially inform management.https://www.isrctn.com/search?q=97492541

Trial registration number

ISRCTN 97492541; Pre-results.
Feasibility of melatonin for prevention of delirium in critically ill patients: a protocol for a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled study
Authors: Burry Lisa , Scales Damon , Williamson David , Foster Jennifer , Mehta Sangeeta , Guenette Melanie , Fan Eddy , Detsky Michael , Azad Azar , Bernard Francis , Rose Louise
Published: April 2017

Introduction

Delirium is highly prevalent in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. At this time, there is no drug that effectively prevents delirium in critically ill patients. Alterations in melatonin secretion and metabolism may contribute to the development of delirium. Administration of exogenous melatonin has been shown to prevent delirium in non-critically ill surgical and medical patients. This trial will demonstrate the feasibility of a planned multicentre, randomised controlled trial to test the hypothesis that melatonin can prevent delirium in critically ill patients compared with placebo.

Methods and analysis

This feasibility trial is a randomised, 3-arm, placebo-controlled study of melatonin (2 vs 0.5 mg vs placebo, administered for a maximum of 14 days) for the prevention of delirium in critically ill patients. A total of 69 patients aged 18 years and older with an expected ICU length of stay >48 hours will be recruited from 3 Canadian ICUs. The primary outcome is protocol adherence (ie, overall proportion of study drug doses administered in the prescribed administration window). Secondary outcomes include pharmacokinetic parameters, incidence, time to onset, duration of delirium, number of delirium-free days, adverse events, self-reported sleep quality, rest-activity cycles measured by wrist actigraphy, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay and mortality. Data will be analysed using an intention-to-treat approach.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by Health Canada and the research ethics board of each study site. Trial results will be presented at international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

NCT02615340: Pre-results.
Hypokalaemia: Addressing human factors and improving education around prescription and administration of Intravenous(IV) Potassium infusion in Trauma and Orthopaedics
Authors: Thirumal Vanushia , Love Gavin
Published: April 2017

A high incidence of hypokalaemia was noted in Trauma and Orthopaedics of Ninewells Hospital. We sought to establish the reason behind this and implemented three PDSA cycles via questionnaires to 30 ward staff, both doctors and nurses over a 1 week period in December, February and July 2016. Key baseline measures include availability of IV fluids with 40mmol potassium on the wards, confidence prescribing or administering IV fluids with 40mmol potassium, necessity for cardiac monitoring during slow IV potassium replacement and recognition of confusion and learning need in this area. Interventions made include awareness and education session, departmental guideline, improving stock of IV fluids and hypokalaemia management pathway for mild, moderate and severe hypokalaemia. Post-intervention results showed 70% from 33% who said 40mmol IV potassium was available, 87% from 67% were confident prescribing or administering IV potassium and 70% from 27% were aware that cardiac monitoring was not necessary.
Improving the safety of chemotherapy prescribing in oncology through the introduction of an assessment proforma
Authors: Scullin Paula , Devlin Olivia , Forde Caroline
Published: April 2017

Chemotherapy remains a high risk treatment with the potential to cause significant patient morbidity and mortality. In the UK the Manual for Cancer Services: Chemotherapy Measures provides national quality measures for essential elements that should be incorporated and documented in chemotherapy assessments.

It was recognised that in the outpatient oncology chemotherapy unit in the Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland, that the written records of chemotherapy assessments were sub-optimal. At baseline (December 2015) median completion of chemotherapy assessment documentation was only 63%, based on a scoring system incorporating key assessment parameters from the Manual for Cancer Services and Belfast Trust standards for record keeping. A target of median chemotherapy assessment documentation being at least 95% complete was set.

A paper chemotherapy assessment proforma was developed and introduced over an eight month period, using small tests of change and continuous data collection and feedback. The proportion of chemotherapy assessments documented using the proforma increased, as it was adjusted to be more user friendly and particularly after it started being pre-filed in medical notes.

Increased use of the proforma correlated with improvement in completeness of chemotherapy assessment documentation. From week 29 to project completion (week 33), following proformas being routinely pre-filed and uptake increasing, assessments were on average 97% complete. Documentation of a patient's performance status, a critical aspect of the assessment, also improved to a median of 99% over the last seven weeks of the project from a baseline of 88%. The proforma has been positively viewed by staff with 94% agreeing it promotes safety.

The introduction of a chemotherapy assessment proforma is a simple measure which can result in improved documentation of chemotherapy assessments, including performance status. It also serves as a prompt for safe decision making regarding chemotherapy prescriptions, enhancing the quality of outpatient chemotherapy care being delivered.
A dirty little secret: stigma, shame and hepatitis C in the health setting
Authors: Northrop Jane Megan
Published: April 2017

While recent medical innovation shows great promise in treating hepatitis C (HCV), it remains a condition associated with profound stigma. HCV is a bloodborne virus (BBV) most commonly transmitted in high-income countries by injecting drug use, and it is the stigmatising association between the two which is deeply problematic for those with HCV. A qualitative study undertaken in 2002 found that disclosure in health settings places those with HCV in positions of pronounced vulnerability. Disclosure is a primal scene, an interface, where the stigma of HCV, replete with connotations of disease and deviance, potentially transforms those affected into shamed subjects. Standard precautions protect health workers and minimise the transmission of contagion, measures which, in theory, also mitigate the requirement of those with BBVs to unnecessarily disclose their blood status. However, questions on pre-employment health checks, concerns that health treatments might adversely affect the liver and an ethical need to pre-emptively inform healthcare professionals undertaking exposure prone procedures are occasions when those with HCV confront the decision to disclose their blood status. This paper employs Goffman's model of actual and virtual social identities, along with Douglas' notion of dirt and pollution, to examine the dilemmas around disclosure those with HCV negotiate within the health setting. Discriminatory responses by healthcare professionals elucidate the stigmatising potential HCV carries. The subsequent reticence by those with HCV to disclose their blood status risks less than optimum healthcare. Recent studies indicate that stigma occurring in health settings remains a perennial concern for those with HCV.
Effect of antifouling dendrimers and Au DENPs on the enhancement of PCR amplification
Authors: Zhang Haixia , Peng Chen , Li Aijun , Shi Xiangyang , Cao Xueyan
Published: April 2017

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been considered as one of the most fundamental techniques to amplify and analyze specific DNA fragments in the field of molecular biology and clinical medicine. Recently, a variety of nanoparticles (NPs) have been regarded as a novel method to enhance both the quality and yield of PCR technique. Herein, we report the use of generation 5 (G5) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers and dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs) modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties and (or) acetyl groups as a novel class of enhancers to improve the PCR amplification. We set up the nonspecific PCR and two-round PCR as model systems to investigate mechanisms of enhanced PCR. Our results show that dendrimer-based derivatives seem to enhance the PCR specificity. It is worth noting that the modification of antifouling PEG significantly lowered the optimization capability of the corresponding dendrimers, although this inhibition effect can be remarkably compromised by the entrapment of Au NPs. Furthermore, we found that in the presence of Au NPs, the thermal conductivity induced by Au NPs could play the dominant role in the PCR optimization, whereas in the absence of Au NPs, the electrostatic interaction of the dendrimers with PCR components may be the major factor affecting the PCR system. Our results also showed that the optimal concentrations of the materials in the two test systems were very close, which indicates that the developed dendrimer derivatives with good thermal stability may be the efficient PCR additives for enhancing different PCR systems.
Deformation and rupture of vesicles confined in narrow channels
Authors: Harman Alison , Bertrand Martine , Joós Béla
Published: April 2017

Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the rheological properties of lipid bilayer vesicles as they travel in tight capillaries, such as those found in the vasculature and micro-fluidic devices. By varying the channel size, we study the build-up of tension as the flow increases with the aim of predicting the location of lysis and the mechanisms of rupture. Highly confined, fully inflated vesicles show the greatest stress and rupture near their front tip. We also simulate vesicles with reduced volume v = 0.6, the same reduced volume as red blood cells, to show how stress builds up in those objects in various conditions.
Direct and sequential ejection of the two valence electrons of beryllium by ultrashort laser pulses with photon energies below 18.2 eV
Authors: Laulan Stéphane , Albert Marc-André , Barmaki Samira
Published: April 2017

We investigate the two-photon double ionization of a beryllium atom by intense ultrashort laser pulses. We apply a nonperturbative approach to solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We treat the atom as a two-active-electron system with two outer electrons in the field of a frozen core that includes the nucleus and the electrons of the 1s2 inner shell. We trigger the ionization with photon energies lower than the second ionization potential Ip(Be+(2s)) = 18.2 eV of the atom so that the 2s2 valence shell electrons can be directly ejected in the double continuum or sequentially ejected via excitation ionization through the Be+(2p) ion. We investigate, for various photon energies, the contribution of each of the direct and sequential processes to the ionization dynamic.
Determination of mass hierarchy with νμ → ντ appearance and the effect of nonstandard interactions
Authors: Rashed Ahmed , Datta Alakabha
Published: April 2017

Crucial developments in neutrino physics would be the determination of the mass hierarchy (MH) and measurement of the CP phase in the leptonic sector. The patterns of the transition probabilities [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are sensitive to these oscillation parameters. An asymmetry parameter can be defined as the difference of these two probabilities normalized to their sum. The profile of the asymmetry parameter gives a clear signal of the mass ordering as it is found to be positive for inverted hierarchy and negative for normal hierarchy. The asymmetry parameter is also sensitive to the CP phase. We consider the effects of nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSI) on the determination of the mass hierarchy. Since we assume the largest new physics effects involve the [Formula: see text] sector only, we ignore NSI in production and study the NSI effects in detection as well as along propagation. We find that the NSI effects can significantly modify the prediction of the asymmetry parameter though the MH can still be resolved.
Quadrangulations of Animation Sequence
Authors: Du Ping , Tu Changhe
Published: April 2017

This paper presents a novel approach to quadrangulate a sequence of meshes with global optimization method, generating consistent quad meshes expressing global topological and geometric characteristics during animation. The key contribution is that our method first proposes a grouping strategy to extract the geometric and topological features of the sequence in animation quadrangulation. Animation sequence is firstly divided into groups through picked key frames. Then analyze the local deformation of each group and detect the surface feature for each reference frame, inducing a set of hard and soft constraints for each key frame of every subgroup, next smooth the cross field of each reference frame and combine them through singularities for the whole sequence, finally compute a field guided global parametrization and quad meshes extraction with an off-the-shelf method. It is effective and easy to implement, and experiment results and comparisons show that our method achieves better quality.
Projective dimension and regularity of the path ideal of the line graph
Authors: Zhu Guangjun
Published: April 2017

By generalizing the notion of the path ideal of a graph, we study some algebraic properties of some path ideals associated to a line graph. We show that the quotient ring of these ideals are always sequentially Cohen–Macaulay and also provide some exact formulas for the projective dimension and the regularity of these ideals. As some consequences, we give some exact formulas for the depth of these ideals.
On some divisibility properties of binomial sums
Authors: Sun Brian Yi
Published: April 2017

In this paper, we consider two particular binomial sums [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] which are inspired by two series for [Formula: see text] obtained by Guillera. We consider their divisibility properties and prove that they are divisible by [Formula: see text] for all integers [Formula: see text]. These divisibility properties are stronger than those divisibility results found by He, who proved the above two sums are divisible by [Formula: see text] with the WZ-method.
A new approach to water head estimation based on water inflow into the tunnel (case study: Karaj water conveyance tunnel)
Authors: Morsali Massoud , Nakhaei Mohammad , Rezaei Mohsen , Hassanpour Jafar , Nassery Hamidreza
Published: April 2017

The accurate estimation of groundwater head in tunnels is a critical issue in tunnelling and in designing the lining and its sealing potential. This study was conducted to estimate the actual groundwater pressure on the lining of the tunnel in the Karaj–Tehran water conveyance tunnel. High water pressure (over 400 m) was estimated from the water level in boreholes whereas low water pressure (5 m) was measured at piezometers installed in the tunnel. In this regard, estimation of the groundwater head based on the water inflow into the tunnel is considered as a new approach. Water head and permeability, as fundamental parameters for the estimation of water inflow into the tunnel, are estimated through analytical methods and experimental studies prior to the tunnel boring. Because the actual data for water inflow into the tunnel are available, the water head can be estimated based on the volume of infiltrated water. Using these techniques, the water pressure along the tunnel axis is estimated to be between 5 and 170 m in different zones. This method is recommended for water head estimation in other tunnels with similar geological properties.
Assessment of floor water inrush with vulnerability index method: application in Malan Coal Mine of Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Wu Qiang , Liu Yuanzhang , Wu Haixia , Zeng Yifan
Published: April 2017

Floor water inrush is a dangerous threat for mining and early prediction is of great importance. A desktop assessment of floor water inrush for coal seams #8 (#C8) and #9 (#C9) was conducted in Malan Coal Mine, China. Nine main controlling factors of floor water inrush were determined based on analysis of the geological, tectonic and hydrogeological conditions of the coalfield and the mechanisms of floor water inrush. Thematic maps of the main controlling factors were then obtained using the graphical visualization, data and spatial analysis functions of a geographic information system (GIS). The influence weight of each factor was estimated using the analytic hierarchy process method, and assessment models of floor water inrush for #C8 and #C9 were established. Vulnerability zoning maps of #C8 and #C9 were developed separately, and appropriate prevention and control measures against floor water inrush were proposed for different risk levels.
Source to surface model of monogenetic volcanism: a critical review
Authors: Smith I. E. M. , Németh K.
Published: April 2017

Small-scale volcanic systems are the most widespread type of volcanism on Earth and occur in all of the main tectonic settings. Most commonly, these systems erupt basaltic magmas within a wide compositional range from strongly silica undersaturated to saturated and oversaturated; less commonly, the spectrum includes more siliceous compositions. Small-scale volcanic systems are commonly monogenetic in the sense that they are represented at the Earth's surface by fields of small volcanoes, each the product of a temporally restricted eruption of a compositionally distinct batch of magma, and this is in contrast to polygenetic systems characterized by relatively large edifices built by multiple eruptions over longer periods of time involving magmas with diverse origins. Eruption styles of small-scale volcanoes range from pyroclastic to effusive, and are strongly controlled by the relative influence of the characteristics of the magmatic system and the surface environment.
A Survey of Qualitative Spatial and Temporal Calculi
Authors: Dylla Frank , Lee Jae Hee , Mossakowski Till , Schneider Thomas , Delden André Van , Ven Jasper Van De , Wolter Diedrich
Published: April 2017

Qualitative spatial and temporal reasoning (QSTR) is concerned with symbolic knowledge representation, typically over infinite domains. The motivations for employing QSTR techniques include exploiting computational properties that allow efficient reasoning to capture human cognitive concepts in a computational framework. The notion of a qualitative calculus is one of the most prominent QSTR formalisms. This article presents the first overview of all qualitative calculi developed to date and their computational properties, together with generalized definitions of the fundamental concepts and methods that now encompass all existing calculi. Moreover, we provide a classification of calculi according to their algebraic properties.
Understanding Human-Machine Networks
Authors: Tsvetkova Milena , Yasseri Taha , Meyer Eric T. , Pickering J. Brian , Engen Vegard , Walland Paul , Lüders Marika , Følstad Asbjørn , Bravos George
Published: April 2017

In the current hyperconnected era, modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems form sophisticated networks where not only do people interact with other people, but also machines take an increasingly visible and participatory role. Such Human-Machine Networks (HMNs) are embedded in the daily lives of people, both for personal and professional use. They can have a significant impact by producing synergy and innovations. The challenge in designing successful HMNs is that they cannot be developed and implemented in the same manner as networks of machines nodes alone, or following a wholly human-centric view of the network. The problem requires an interdisciplinary approach. Here, we review current research of relevance to HMNs across many disciplines. Extending the previous theoretical concepts of socio-technical systems, actor-network theory, cyber-physical-social systems, and social machines, we concentrate on the interactions among humans and between humans and machines. We identify eight types of HMNs: public-resource computing, crowdsourcing, web search engines, crowdsensing, online markets, social media, multiplayer online games and virtual worlds, and mass collaboration. We systematically select literature on each of these types and review it with a focus on implications for designing HMNs. Moreover, we discuss risks associated with HMNs and identify emerging design and development trends.
Biological obstacles and technological leaps
Authors: Katdare Ketaki
Published: April 2017

Technology can address biological threats like viral epidemics and bioterrorism that could put humankind on the brink of biological disaster.
Monolayer FeSe on SrTiO3
Authors: Huang Dennis , Hoffman Jennifer E.
Published: April 2017

Epitaxial engineering of solid state heterointerfaces is a leading avenue to realizing enhanced or novel electronic states of matter. As a recent example, bulk FeSe is an unconventional superconductor with a modest transition temperature (Tc) of 9 K. However, when a single atomic layer of FeSe is grown on SrTiO3, its Tc can skyrocket by an order of magnitude to 65 K or 109 K. Since this discovery in 2012, efforts to reproduce, understand, and extend these findings continue to draw both excitement and scrutiny. In this review, we first present a critical survey of experimental measurements performed using a wide range of techniques. We then turn to the open question of microscopic mechanisms of superconductivity. We examine contrasting indications for both phononic (conventional) and magnetic/orbital (unconventional) means of electron pairing, as well as speculations about whether they could work cooperatively to boost Tc in a monolayer of FeSe.
Diagonalizing Transfer Matrices and Matrix Product Operators: A Medley of Exact and Computational Methods
Authors: Haegeman Jutho , Verstraete Frank
Published: April 2017

Transfer matrices and matrix product operators play a ubiquitous role in the field of many-body physics. This review gives an idiosyncratic overview of applications, exact results, and computational aspects of diagonalizing transfer matrices and matrix product operators. The results in this paper are a mixture of classic results, presented from the point of view of tensor networks, and new results. Topics discussed are exact solutions of transfer matrices in equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical physics, tensor network states, matrix product operator algebras, and numerical matrix product state methods for finding extremal eigenvectors of matrix product operators.
Reduced membrane cholesterol limits pulmonary endothelial Ca2+entry after chronic hypoxia
Authors: Zhang Bojun , Naik Jay S. , Jernigan Nikki L. , Walker Benjimen R. , Resta Thomas C.
Published: April 2017

Chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced pulmonary hypertension is associated with diminished production of endothelium-derived Ca2+-dependent vasodilators such as nitric oxide. Interestingly, ATP-induced endothelial Ca2+entry as well as membrane cholesterol (Chol) are decreased in pulmonary arteries from CH rats (4 wk, barometric pressure = 380 Torr) compared with normoxic controls. Store-operated Ca2+entry (SOCE) and depolarization-induced Ca2+entry are major components of the response to ATP and are similarly decreased after CH. We hypothesized that membrane Chol facilitates both SOCE and depolarization-induced pulmonary endothelial Ca2+entry and that CH attenuates these responses by decreasing membrane Chol. To test these hypotheses, we administered Chol or epicholesterol (Epichol) to acutely isolated pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) from control and CH rats to either supplement or replace native Chol, respectively. The efficacy of membrane Chol manipulation was confirmed by filipin staining. Epichol greatly reduced ATP-induced Ca2+influx in PAECs from control rats. Whereas Epichol similarly blunted endothelial SOCE in PAECs from both groups, Chol supplementation restored diminished SOCE in PAECs from CH rats while having no effect in controls. Similar effects of Chol manipulation on PAEC Ca2+influx were observed in response to a depolarizing stimulus of KCl. Furthermore, KCl-induced Ca2+entry was inhibited by the T-type Ca2+channel antagonist mibefradil but not the L-type Ca2+channel inhibitor diltiazem. We conclude that PAEC membrane Chol is required for ATP-induced Ca2+entry and its two components, SOCE and depolarization-induced Ca2+entry, and that reduced Ca2+entry after CH may be due to loss of this key regulator.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This research is the first to examine the direct role of membrane cholesterol in regulating pulmonary endothelial agonist-induced Ca2+entry and its components. The results provide a potential mechanism by which chronic hypoxia impairs pulmonary endothelial Ca2+influx, which may contribute to pulmonary hypertension.
Ultrasound detection of altered placental vascular morphology based on hemodynamic pulse wave reflection
Authors: Rahman Anum , Zhou Yu-Qing , Yee Yohan , Dazai Jun , Cahill Lindsay S. , Kingdom John , Macgowan Christopher K. , Sled John G.
Published: April 2017

Abnormally pulsatile umbilical artery (UA) Doppler ultrasound velocity waveforms are a hallmark of severe or early onset placental-mediated intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), whereas milder late onset IUGR pregnancies typically have normal UA pulsatility. The diagnostic utility of these waveforms to detect placental pathology is thus limited and hampered by factors outside of the placental circulation, including fetal cardiac output. In view of these limitations, we hypothesized that these Doppler waveforms could be more clearly understood as a reflection phenomenon and that a reflected pulse pressure wave is present in the UA that originates from the placenta and propagates backward along the UA. To investigate this, we developed a new ultrasound approach to isolate that portion of the UA Doppler waveform that arises from a pulse pressure wave propagating backward along the UA. Ultrasound measurements of UA lumen diameter and flow waveforms were used to decompose the observed flow waveform into its forward and reflected components. Evaluation of CD1 and C57BL/6 mice at embryonic day (E)15.5 and E17.5 demonstrated that the reflected waveforms diverged between the strains at E17.5, mirroring known changes in the fractal geometry of fetoplacental arteries at these ages. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of noninvasively measuring wave reflections that originate from the fetoplacental circulation. The observed reflections were consistent with theoretical predictions based on the area ratio of parent to daughters at bifurcations in fetoplacental arteries suggesting that this approach could be used in the diagnosis of fetoplacental vascular pathology that is prevalent in human IUGR. Given that the proposed measurements represent a subset of those currently used in human fetal surveillance, the adaptation of this technology could extend the diagnostic utility of Doppler ultrasound in the detection of placental vascular pathologies that cause IUGR.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we describe a novel approach to noninvasively detect microvascular changes in the fetoplacental circulation using ultrasound. The technique is based on detecting reflection pulse pressure waves that travel along the umbilical artery. Using a proof-of-principle study, we demonstrate the feasibility of the technique in two strains of experimental mice.
Comment on “Unilateral Global Bifurcation from Intervals for Fourth-Order Problems and Its Applications”
Authors: Aliyev Ziyatkhan
Published: April 2017

In the recent paper W. Shen and T. He and G. Dai and X. Han established unilateral global bifurcation result for a class of nonlinear fourth-order eigenvalue problems. They show the existence of two families of unbounded continua of nontrivial solutions of these problems bifurcating from the points and intervals of the line trivial solutions, corresponding to the positive or negative eigenvalues of the linear problem. As applications of this result, these authors study the existence of nodal solutions for a class of nonlinear fourth-order eigenvalue problems with sign-changing weight. Moreover, they also establish the Sturm type comparison theorem for fourth-order problems with sign-changing weight. In the present comment, we show that these papers of above authors contain serious errors and, therefore, unfortunately, the results of these works are not true. Note also that the authors used the results of the recent work by G. Dai which also contain gaps.
miR-34a and miR-34b/c Suppress Intestinal Tumorigenesis
Authors: Jiang Longchang , Hermeking Heiko
Published: April 2017

The p53-inducible miR-34a and miR-34b/c genes are frequently silenced in colorectal cancer. To address the in vivo relevance of miR-34a/b/c function for suppression of intestinal tumor formation, we generated ApcMin/+ mice with deletions of the miR-34a and/or miR-34b/c genes separately or in combination. Combined deletion of miR-34a/b/c increased the number of intestinal stem cells as well as Paneth and Goblet cells, resulting in enlarged intestinal crypts. miR-34a/b/c-deficient ApcMin/+ mice displayed an increased tumor burden and grade and decreased survival. miR-34a/b/c-deficient adenomas showed elevated proliferation and decreased apoptosis and displayed pronounced bacterial infiltration, which may be due to an observed decrease in infiltrating immune cells and downregulation of barrier proteins. mRNA induction in miR-34a/b/c-deficient tumors was enriched for miR-34a/b/c seed-matching sites and for mRNAs encoding proteins related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, stemness, and Wnt signaling. Accordingly, cells explanted from miR-34a/b/c-deficient adenomas formed tumor organoids at an increased rate. Several upregulated miR-34 targets displayed elevated expression in primary human colorectal cancers that was associated with lymph-node metastases (INHBB, AXL, FGFR1, and PDFGRB) and upregulation of INHBB and AXL in primary colorectal cancer was associated with poor patient survival. In conclusion, our results show that miR-34a/b/c suppress tumor formation caused by loss of Apc and control intestinal stem cell and secretory cell homeostasis by downregulation of multiple target mRNAs. Cancer Res; 77(10); 2746–58. ©2017 AACR.
Morphoproteomic Characterization of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Fragmentation, a Histological Marker of Increased Tumor Invasiveness
Authors: Casanova Ruben , Xia Daniel , Rulle Undine , Nanni Paolo , Grossmann Jonas , Vrugt Bart , Wettstein Reto , Ballester-Ripoll Rafael , Astolfo Alberto , Weder Walter , Moch Holger , Stampanoni Marco , Beck Andrew H. , Soltermann Alex
Published: April 2017

Accurate stratification of tumors is imperative for adequate cancer management. In addition to staging, morphologic subtyping allows stratification of patients into additional prognostic groups. In this study, we used an image-based computational method on pan-cytokeratin IHC stainings to quantify tumor fragmentation (TF), a measure of tumor invasiveness of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In two independent clinical cohorts from tissue microarrays (TMA: n = 208 patients) and whole sections (WS: n = 99 patients), TF was associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of blood vessel infiltration. A third cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA: n = 335 patients) confirmed the poor prognostic value of TF using a similar human-based score on hematoxylin-eosin staining. Integration of RNA-seq data from TCGA and LC-MS/MS proteomics from WS revealed an upregulation of extracellular matrix remodeling and focal adhesion processes in tumors with high TF, supporting their increased invasive potential. This proposed histologic parameter is an independent and unfavorable prognostic marker that could be established as a new grading parameter for LSCC. Cancer Res; 77(10); 2585–93. ©2017 AACR.
Tissue-Specific Signaling Networks Rewired by Major Somatic Mutations in Human Cancer Revealed by Proteome-Wide Discovery
Authors: Zhao Junfei , Cheng Feixiong , Zhao Zhongming
Published: April 2017

Massive somatic mutations discovered by large cancer genome sequencing projects provide unprecedented opportunities in the development of precision oncology. However, deep understanding of functional consequences of somatic mutations and identifying actionable mutations and the related drug responses currently remain formidable challenges. Dysfunction of protein posttranslational modification plays critical roles in tumorigenesis and drug responses. In this study, we proposed a novel computational oncoproteomics approach, named kinome-wide network module for cancer pharmacogenomics (KNMPx), for identifying actionable mutations that rewired signaling networks and further characterized tumorigenesis and anticancer drug responses. Specifically, we integrated 746,631 missense mutations in 4,997 tumor samples across 16 major cancer types/subtypes from The Cancer Genome Atlas into over 170,000 carefully curated nonredundant phosphorylation sites covering 18,610 proteins. We found 47 mutated proteins (e.g., ERBB2, TP53, and CTNNB1) that had enriched missense mutations at their phosphorylation sites in pan-cancer analysis. In addition, tissue-specific kinase–substrate interaction modules altered by somatic mutations identified by KNMPx were significantly associated with patient survival. We further reported a kinome-wide landscape of pharmacogenomic interactions by incorporating somatic mutation-rewired signaling networks in 1,001 cancer cell lines via KNMPx. Interestingly, we found that cell lines could highly reproduce oncogenic phosphorylation site mutations identified in primary tumors, supporting the confidence in their associations with sensitivity/resistance of inhibitors targeting EGF, MAPK, PI3K, mTOR, and Wnt signaling pathways. In summary, our KNMPx approach is powerful for identifying oncogenic alterations via rewiring phosphorylation-related signaling networks and drug sensitivity/resistance in the era of precision oncology. Cancer Res; 77(11); 2810–21. ©2017 AACR.
Development of a T-cell Receptor Mimic Antibody against Wild-Type p53 for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Li Demin , Bentley Carol , Anderson Amanda , Wiblin Sarah , Cleary Kirstie L.S. , Koustoulidou Sofia , Hassanali Tasneem , Yates Jenna , Greig Jenny , Nordkamp Marloes Olde , Trenevska Iva , Ternette Nicola , Kessler Benedikt M. , Cornelissen Bart , Cragg Mark S. , Banham Alison H.
Published: April 2017

The tumor suppressor p53 is widely dysregulated in cancer and represents an attractive target for immunotherapy. Because of its intracellular localization, p53 is inaccessible to classical therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, an increasingly successful class of anticancer drugs. However, peptides derived from intracellular antigens are presented on the cell surface in the context of MHC I and can be bound by T-cell receptors (TCR). Here, we report the development of a novel antibody, T1-116C, that acts as a TCR mimic to recognize an HLA-A*0201–presented wild-type p53 T-cell epitope, p5365–73(RMPEAAPPV). The antibody recognizes a wide range of cancers, does not bind normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and can activate immune effector functions to kill cancer cells in vitro. In vivo, the antibody targets p5365–73 peptide–expressing breast cancer xenografts, significantly inhibiting tumor growth. This represents a promising new agent for future cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Res; 77(10); 2699–711. ©2017 AACR.