bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome‐Wide Association Study Identifies Loci for Liver Enzyme Concentrations in Mexican Americans: The GUARDIAN Consortium
Authors: Young Kendra A. , Palmer Nicholette D. , Fingerlin Tasha E. , Langefeld Carl D. , Norris Jill M. , Wang Nan , Xiang Anny H. , Guo Xiuqing , Williams Adrienne H. , Chen Yii‐Der I. , Taylor Kent D. , Rotter Jerome I. , Raffel Leslie J. , Goodarzi Mark O. , Watanabe Richard M. , Wagenknecht Lynne E.
Published: June 2019

Objective

Populations of Mexican American ancestry are at an increased risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether loci in known and novel genes were associated with variation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (n = 3,644), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (n = 3,595), and gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) (n = 1,577) levels by conducting the first genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of liver enzymes, which commonly measure liver function, in individuals of Mexican American ancestry.

Methods

Levels of AST, ALT, and GGT were determined by enzymatic colorimetric assays. A multi‐cohort GWAS of individuals of Mexican American ancestry was performed. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were tested for association with liver outcomes by multivariable linear regression using an additive genetic model. Association analyses were conducted separately in each cohort, followed by a nonparametric meta‐analysis.

Results

In the PNPLA3 gene, rs4823173 (P = 3.44 × 10−10), rs2896019 (P = 7.29 × 10−9), and rs2281135 (P = 8.73 × 10−9) were significantly associated with AST levels. Although not genome‐wide significant, these same SNPs were the top hits for ALT (P = 7.12 × 10−8, P = 1.98 × 10−7, and P = 1.81 × 10−7, respectively). The strong correlation (r2 = 1.0) for these SNPs indicated a single hit in the PNPLA3 gene. No genome‐wide significant associations were found for GGT.

Conclusions

PNPLA3, a locus previously identified with ALT, AST, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in European and Japanese GWAS, is also associated with liver enzymes in populations of Mexican American ancestry.
Morphology, structure, and segmental dynamics in polyazomethine/hybrid carbon nanofillers composites
Authors: Bronnikov Sergei , Kostromin Sergei , Asandulesa Mihai , Podshivalov Aleksandr , Timpu Daniel
Published: June 2019

The polyazomethine/hybrid carbon nanofillers composites were fabricated. The nanofilles were comprised of thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) varying in rGO:MWCNTs ratio; the total nanofillers loading was 1 wt%. The scanning electron miscroscopy images revealed uniform distribution of the hybrid nanofillers and formation of 3D networks between rGO and MWCNTs. Molecular dynamics of the polymer chains in these nanocomposites was investigated with broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The polymer fragility, the dielectric glass transition temperature, and the dielectric relaxation strength of the nanocomposites were evaluated and analyzed depending on the rGO:MWCNTs ratio. The thermal glass transition temperature and the thermal relaxation strength evaluated from the differential scanning calorimetry data were shown to behave in other manner. This behavior was interpreted in terms of a fraction of polymer being immobilized in an interfacial layer around the nanoparticles.
Prognosis of fetuses with ventriculomegaly: An observational retrospective study
Authors: Chang Qingxian , Peng Yixian , Huang Qitao , Zhong Mei , Huang Liping , Li Jing , Chen Cuihua
Published: June 2019

Objective

To investigate the prognosis of fetuses with ventriculomegaly (VM).

Methods

Clinical data were collected from 234 cases of fetal VM diagnosed by ultrasound between March 2010 and July 2016. VM progression was monitored, and karyotyping and infection screening performed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed where increasing ventricular diameter was noted. Neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was carried out after birth, and Bayley Scales of Infant Development assessment at 6 months.

Results

The in utero outcomes of Group A were better than Group B in 173 pregnancies. Isolated VM (IVM) was associated with better prognosis than nonisolated VM (NIVM); the regression rates were 74.6% (59/79) and 52.1% (49/94), respectively (χ2 = 10.222, .006). The NBNA scores were significantly higher in Group A than Group B (χ2 = 4.231, .004), but not significantly different between IVM and NIVM. The composition ratios of both the psychomotor and mental developmental index (PDI and MDI) scores were not significantly different between Groups A and B (Z = 1.869, .062 and Z = 0.826, .409, respectively). Significant differences in in utero outcomes were observed between IVM and NIVM cases in Groups A and B.

Conclusions

Fetal VM prognosis is affected by the width of ventricle, chromosome abnormalities, coexisted abnormalities, and in utero progression.
Second‐trimester fetal head circumference in more than 350 000 pregnancies: Outcome and suggestion for sex‐dependent cutoffs for small heads
Authors: Lund Najaaraq , Sandager Puk , Leonhard Anne Katrine , Vogel Ida , Petersen Olav Bjørn
Published: June 2019

Objective

To explore the relationship between small fetal second‐trimester head circumference (HC) and pregnancy outcome and identify a cutoff point for offering genetic testing.

Method

Data from second‐trimester scans in Denmark were linked to national registers. Fetuses with anomalies diagnosed before this scan were excluded. Fetuses were grouped according to HC z‐score.

Results

We included 352 515 singleton fetuses. The mean HC was significantly larger among males than among females with z‐scores averaging 0.52 more in males. Small HC was associated with chromosomal anomaly, malformations of the CNS and heart, miscarriage/perinatal death, termination, preterm delivery, and intrauterine growth restriction (test for trend: P < .001 for all outcomes). Fetuses in the group with z‐score less than –3 had the highest incidence of adverse outcome, irrespective of fetal sex. In the groups with z‐scores between –3 and –2.5, and between –2.5 and –2, risk of adverse outcome was lower for females than males for all outcome categories.

Conclusion

Small HC in second trimester is a prognostic marker for adverse outcome. The smaller the HC, the higher the risk of adverse outcome. We suggest an HC cutoff point of –2 SD for males and –2.5 SD for females for offering genetic testing.
PREFACE: In silico pipeline for accurate cell‐free fetal DNA fraction prediction
Authors: Raman Lennart , Baetens Machteld , De Smet Matthias , Dheedene Annelies , Van Dorpe Jo , Menten Björn
Published: June 2019

Objective

During routine noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), cell‐free fetal DNA fraction is ideally derived from shallow‐depth whole‐genome sequencing data, preventing the need for additional experimental assays. The fraction of aligned reads to chromosome Y enables proper quantification for male fetuses, unlike for females, where advanced predictive procedures are required. This study introduces PREdict FetAl ComponEnt (PREFACE), a novel bioinformatics pipeline to establish fetal fraction in a gender‐independent manner.

Methods

PREFACE combines the strengths of principal component analysis and neural networks to model copy number profiles.

Results

For sets of roughly 1100 male NIPT samples, a cross‐validated Pearson correlation of 0.9 between predictions and fetal fractions according to Y chromosomal read counts was noted. PREFACE enables training with both male and unlabeled female fetuses. Using our complete cohort (nfemale = 2468, nmale = 2723), the correlation metric reached 0.94.

Conclusions

Allowing individual institutions to generate optimized models sidelines between‐laboratory bias, as PREFACE enables user‐friendly training with a limited amount of retrospective data. In addition, our software provides the fetal fraction based on the copy number state of chromosome X. We show that these measures can predict mixed multiple pregnancies, sex chromosomal aneuploidies, and the source of observed aberrations.
A conjugated alkyne functional bicyclic polybenzoxazine with superior heat resistance
Authors: Li Pengcheng , Dai Jie , Xu Yi , Ran Qichao , Gu Yi
Published: June 2019

A difunctional benzoxazine (coPh‐apa) with a conjugated alkyne group is synthesized by the oxidative coupling reaction from a monocycle‐benzoxazine (Ph‐apa) containing an alkyne group. A model compound, 1,4‐diphenylbutadiyne (coPa), is used to study the curing reaction process of coPh‐apa by DSC, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 13C NMR, and the results suggest that the conjugated alkyne groups are involved in the crosslinking reaction via the trimerization reaction of the conjugated alkynyl groups and the Diels–Alder reaction. Furthermore, thermal properties of the polybenzoxazine are studied by dynamic thermomechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. A glass‐transition temperature (Tgs) of as high as 412 °C and a char yield of 75.6% at 800 °C under nitrogen are obtained with the aid of the conjugated alkyne groups. Its excellent heat resistance dominates most thermosetting resins and will serve for heat shields. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1587–1592
Illness perception and affective symptoms in gastrointestinal cancer patients: A moderated mediation analysis of meaning in life and coping
Authors: Krok Dariusz , Telka Ewa , Zarzycka Beata
Published: June 2019

Objective

The character of the mediational relations between illness perception and affective symptoms often depends on the coping strategies used by patients. For example, these relationships may be moderated by meaning in life that plays a buffering role against the negative consequences of cancer. This study examined moderated mediation effects of meaning in life and coping on the relationship between illness perception and affective symptoms in cancer patients.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional research, 317 gastrointestinal cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combined therapy treatments were examined. They completed measures of illness perception, affective symptoms, meaning in life, and coping. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and the PROCESS macro.

Results

Illness perception was negatively associated with meaning in life and problem‐ and meaning‐focused coping but was positively associated with affective symptoms: fear, depression, and irritability. Two coping strategies—problem‐ and meaning‐focused—mediated the relationship between illness perception and affective symptoms. Meaning in life turned out to be a moderator of the indirect effects of illness perception on affective symptoms through problem‐ and meaning‐focused coping.

Conclusions

The relationship of illness perception with affective symptoms is embedded in moderated mediation effects of meaning in life and coping. It implies that emotional adjustment to the illness depends on the interplay between the ways in which cancer patients perceive their illness and the coping strategies used by them.
Exploring physiotherapists' considerations regarding the use of psychosocial strategies in practice
Authors: Driver Christina , Oprescu Florin , Lovell Geoff P.
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To investigate what factors physiotherapists consider when deciding whether to use psychosocial strategies with their patients and what factors they consider when choosing a specific approach.

Methods

Content analysis of two open‐ended questions contained within a cross‐sectional survey was conducted. Australian physiotherapists (N = 201) provided written comments.

Results

Textual data were subjected to content analysis. Two key categories emerged: practitioner considerations and patient considerations. Subcategories included physiotherapist factors, practice environment, patient biological factors, patient psychological factors, and patient social factors. When contemplating the use of psychosocial strategies, physiotherapists' responses aligned with a biopsychosocial perspective. The most common consideration overall was patient attitudes. Physiotherapists reflected on which specific psychosocial strategies they perceived were beneficial for a particular patient based on their presentation. Scope of practice was a minor factor in their decision‐making process, as physiotherapists considered their knowledge, confidence, and skill base more frequently.

Conclusion

Physiotherapists incorporate a biopsychosocial framework in their assessment of patients with regard to potential use of psychosocial strategies. Physiotherapists displayed language that reflected a developed understanding of psychological and social issues with respect to their patients' presentation. Nonetheless, selection of psychosocial strategies was predominantly based on experience, success with an approach, perceived knowledge, skill, and confidence, as opposed to evidence‐based efficacy of such strategies. These findings have implications for the training of physiotherapists. Desired outcomes are enhancing management of patients based on a biopsychosocial approach and ensuring inclusion of appropriate, relevant, and evidence‐based psychosocial strategies within their accepted scope of practice.
‐Algebras, the BV Formalism, and Classical Fields
Authors: Jurčo Branislav , Macrelli Tommaso , Raspollini Lorenzo , Sämann Christian , Wolf Martin
Published: June 2019

We summarise some of our recent works on‐algebras and quasi‐groups with regard to higher principal bundles and their applications in twistor theory and gauge theory. In particular, after a lightning review of‐algebras, we discuss their Maurer–Cartan theory and explain that any classical field theory admitting an action can be reformulated in this context with the help of the Batalin–Vilkovisky formalism. As examples, we explore higher Chern–Simons theory and Yang–Mills theory. We also explain how these ideas can be combined with those of twistor theory to formulate maximally superconformal gauge theories in four and six dimensions by means of‐quasi‐isomorphisms, and we propose a twistor space action.
The potential of trap and barrier cropping to decrease densities of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED on cotton in China
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Ming , Lövei Gabor L , Ferrante Marco , Yang Nian‐Wan , Wan Fang‐Hao
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) MED, is a destructive insect pest in many countries of the world. Although the use of insecticides for controlling B. tabaci has been effective to a certain extent, pesticides are not an acceptable long‐term control method, and alternatives should be sought. This paper focuses on the possibility of controlling B. tabaci on cotton using trap and barrier crops. We performed field experiments using cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as trap crops, and maize (Zea mays) as a barrier crop in various configurations in Hebei Province, North China.

RESULTS

The main activity periods were shortest on cantaloupe and ranged between 16–32 days for immatures and 14–33 days for adults. Adult whitefly densities were not significantly reduced by any treatment. During the main activity period, maize intercropping reduced densities of immature whiteflies from 24.2 individuals (ind.) 100 cm−2 to 4.0 ind.100 cm−2, but all treatments were successful in significantly reducing immature B. tabaci densities. This resulted in a significant yield premium.

CONCLUSIONS

Intercropping reduced B. tabaci densities on cotton more than perimeter planting. Maize was more effective to reduce densities of immature whiteflies on cotton than cantaloupe. The results will contribute to the development of more effective and practical approaches for protecting cotton from B. tabaci and lowering chemical pressure on this crop. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of groundwater conditions and co‐contaminants on sorption of perfluoroalkyl compounds on granular activated carbon
Authors: Siriwardena Dinusha P. , Crimi Michelle , Holsen Thomas M. , Bellona Christopher , Divine Craig , Dickenson Eric
Published: June 2019

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging and persistent organic pollutants that have been detected in many environmental media, humans, and wildlife. A common method to effectively remove PFAS from water is adsorption by activated carbon. Preliminary sorption experiments were conducted using five characterized Calgon Corporation coal‐based granular activated carbon (GAC; F100, F200, F816, F300, and F400), one coconut‐based GAC (CBC‐OLC 12 × 30), and one Jacobi Corporation coal‐based GAC (Omni‐G 12 × 40). Sorption of four representative PFAS onto each GAC was measured to select the most favorable carbon sources. F400 and CBC were chosen based on their performance in preliminary PFAS sorption experiments and contrasting properties. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were developed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS) at an initial concentration of 1 mg/L. Sorption capacities were determined for PFOA and PFOS individually and in the mixture. Individual compounds showed higher sorption than when present in the mixture for both PFOA and PFOS. PFOS showed higher sorption than PFOA both individually and in the mixture and F400 showed higher sorption capacity than CBC. The presence of co‐contaminants (kerosene, trichloroethylene, and ethanol), and variations in groundwater conditions (pH, presence of anions, naturally occurring organic matter, and iron oxides) demonstrated limited impact on the sorption of PFAS onto GAC under the experimental conditions tested.
The success of various endometrioma treatments in infertility: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Alborzi Saeed , Zahiri Sorouri Ziba , Askari Elham , Poordast Tahereh , Chamanara Kefayat
Published: June 2019

Background

Endometriosis is seen in 0.5%‐5% of fertile and 25%‐40% of infertile women. To investigate this conflict between gynecologists that ovarian endometriomas should be removed or not before making any decision about pregnancy among infertile women, the authors decided to carry out a systematic review and meta‐analysis to compare the effect of various available therapeutic methods and notice the impact of these options on women's pregnancy rate.

Methods

This review is based on PRISMA recommendations with an electronic search using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, etc, from 2000 to 2018, in the English language. The studies compare pregnancy rate based on four different treatment types of OMAs between infertile women: (surgery + ART, surgery + spontaneous pregnancy, aspiration ± sclerotherapy + ART, and ART alone).

Main findings

At least eight prospective studies were included, in which 553 infertile women were compared in terms of treatment methods of OMAs before trying to become pregnant.

Conclusion

Treatments are usually based on the patient's clinical condition and must be individual, with the purpose of relieving pain, improving fertility, or both. The authors do not have not any significant difference between our four groups of study; however, the success of surgical procedure compared to other methods was higher and the success of ART alone was the least.
Interactive volumetric segmentation for textile micro‐tomography data using wavelets and nonlocal means
Authors: MacNeil J. Michael L. , Ushizima Daniela M. , Panerai Francesco , Mansour Nagi N. , Barnard Harold S. , Parkinson Dilworth Y.
Published: June 2019

This work addresses segmentation of volumetric images of woven carbon fiber textiles from micro‐tomography data. We propose a semi‐supervised algorithm to classify carbon fibers that requires sparse input as opposed to completely labeled images. The main contributions are: (a) design of effective discriminative classifiers, for three‐dimensional textile samples, trained on wavelet features for segmentation; (b) coupling of previous step with nonlocal means as simple, efficient alternative to the Potts model; and (c) demonstration of reuse of classifier to diverse samples containing similar content. We evaluate our work by curating test sets of voxels in the absence of a complete ground truth mask. The algorithm obtains an average 0.95 F1 score on test sets and average F1 score of 0.93 on new samples. We conclude with discussion of failure cases and propose future directions toward analysis of spatiotemporal high‐resolution micro‐tomography images.
Building a bridge to behavioral economics: countervailing cognitive biases in lifetime saving decisions
Authors: Bahaddin Babak , Weinberg Stephen , Luna‐Reyes Luis F. , Andersen David
Published: June 2019

This research project bridges system dynamics and behavioral economics by importing tools and concepts, such as feedback dynamics, into mainstream behavioral economics research. This project focuses on countervailing cognitive biases, a theory where two competing cognitive biases can interact or even cancel out each other. We apply this concept to a key problem in behavioral economics: the difficulty that people have in making optimal trade‐offs between spending and saving for retirement. The simple model introduced in this paper represents the first iteration in the effort, and provides a proof‐of‐concept model that reproduces theoretical optimal behaviors from behavioral economics. Our exploratory analysis then adds to the simulation two cognitive biases that partially cancel each other out in ways that we had not initially expected. In the next step, we modify our original system dynamics model as an example of how to replace an economic optimization calculation with a decision‐making heuristic involving information feedback.

© 2019 System Dynamics Society
New fossil woods from lower Cenozoic volcano‐sedimentary rocks of the Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, and the implications for the trans‐Antarctic Peninsula Eocene climatic gradient
Authors: Oh Changhwan , Philippe Marc , McLoughlin Stephen , Woo Jusun , Leppe Marcelo , Torres Teresa , Park Tae‐Yoon S. , Choi Han‐Gu
Published: June 2019

Ten embedded fossil logs sampled in situ from the middle Eocene volcano‐sedimentary rocks close to Suffield Point in the Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, are assigned to Protopodocarpoxylon araucarioides Schultze‐Motel ex Vogellehner, Phyllocladoxylon antarcticum Gothan, Agathoxylon antarcticum (Poole & Cantrill) Pujana et al., A. pseudoparenchymatosum (Gothan) Pujana et al. and an unidentified angiosperm wood. Differences in the taxonomic representation and growth‐ring characters of the Eocene woods on King George Island and coeval assemblages from Seymour Island, on the western and eastern sides of the Antarctic Peninsula respectively, are interpreted to result from environmental and climatic gradients across the Peninsula Orogen during the early Palaeogene. In particular, a precipitation gradient inferred across the Peninsula at that time might have been induced by a rain‐shadow effect.
Comparison of brain microstructure after prenatal spina bifida repair by either laparotomy‐assisted fetoscopic or open approach
Authors: Sanz Cortes M. , Torres P. , Yepez M. , Guimaraes C. , Zarutskie A. , Shetty A. , Hsiao A. , Pyarali M. , Davila I. , Espinoza J. , Shamshirsaz A. A. , Nassr A. , Whitehead W. , Lee W. , Belfort M. A.
Published: June 2019

Objective

To compare prenatal and postnatal brain microstructure between infants that underwent fetoscopic myelomeningocele (MMC) repair and those that had open‐hysterotomy repair.

Methods

This was a longitudinal retrospective cohort study of 57 fetuses that met the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) trial criteria and underwent prenatal MMC repair, by a fetoscopic (n = 27) or open‐hysterotomy (n = 30) approach, at 21.4–25.9 weeks' gestation. Fetoscopic repair was performed under CO2 insufflation, according to our protocol. Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before surgery in 30 cases (14 fetoscopic and 16 open), at 6 weeks postsurgery in 48 cases (24 fetoscopic and 24 open) and within the first year after birth in 23 infants (five fetoscopic and 18 open). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from the basal ganglia, frontal, occipital and parietal lobes, mesencephalon and genu as well as splenium of the corpus callosum were calculated. ADC values at each of the three timepoints (presurgery, 6 weeks postsurgery and postnatally) and the percentage change in the ADC values between the timepoints were compared between the fetoscopic‐repair and open‐repair groups. ADC values at 6 weeks after surgery in the two prenatally repaired groups were compared with those in a control group of eight healthy fetuses that underwent MRI at a similar gestational age (GA). Comparison of ADC values was performed using the Student's t‐test for independent samples (or Mann–Whitney U‐test if non‐normally distributed) and multivariate general linear model analysis, adjusting for GA or age at MRI and mean ventricular width.

Results

There were no differences in GA at surgery or GA/postnatal age at MRI between the groups. No significant differences were observed in ADC values in any of the brain areas assessed between the open‐repair and fetoscopic‐repair groups at 6 weeks after surgery and in the first year after birth. No differences were detected in the ADC values of the studied areas between the control and prenatally repaired groups, except for significantly increased ADC values in the genu of the corpus callosum in the open‐hysterotomy and fetoscopic‐repair groups. Additionally, there were no differences between the two prenatally repaired groups in the percentage change in ADC values at any of the time intervals analyzed.

Conclusions

Fetoscopic MMC repair has no detectable effect on brain microstructure when compared to babies repaired using an open‐hysterotomy technique. CO2 insufflation of the uterine cavity during fetoscopy does not seem to have any isolated deleterious effects on fetal brain microstructure. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Monitoring infiltration rates with time domain reflectometers
Authors: Ahmed Farzana , Borst Michael
Published: June 2019

The current study determines infiltration rates in six tree boxes located in Louisville, KY, and analyzes the effects of season, age of the tree box, and depth on infiltration. Street and parking lot runoff enter each tree box through a curb cut. Time domain reflectometers (TDRs) were embedded in the tree box media at different depths to continuously monitor volumetric soil moisture content and other parameters. The moisture content recorded by the TDRs was used to calculate steady‐state infiltration rates through the media at the TDR location using the Green–Ampt equation. For each rain event, steady‐state infiltration rate and drainage rate were separately calculated. For four of the six tree boxes, the steady‐state infiltration rate did not vary with depth. However, the drainage rate varied with depth for five of the six tree boxes. Overall, the drainage rate through the entire depth is 1.7 times larger than in the upper layer. During the second year of the study, the steady‐state infiltration rate and drainage rate decreased by 20% and 38%, respectively, from the first year. The steady‐state infiltration rate and drainage rate vary with seasons. Some correlation (r = −0.5) was observed between initial soil moisture content and steady‐state infiltration rate.

Practitioner points

Initial infiltration rate and drainage rate decrease by 20% and 30%, respectively, within a year.

The smallest infiltration rates were observed during winter and largest infiltration rates were observed in summer.

Initial and saturated infiltration rates varied among all six tree boxes.
Non-Abelian gauged supergravities as double copies
Authors: Chiodaroli Marco , Günaydin Murat , Johansson Henrik , Roiban Radu
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Scattering amplitudes have the potential to provide new insights to the study of supergravity theories with gauged R-symmetry and Minkowski vacua. Such gaugings break supersymmetry spontaneously, either partly or completely. In this paper, we develop a framework for double-copy constructions of Abelian and non-Abelian gaugings of

$$ \mathcal{N}=8 $$

N
=
8

supergravity with these properties. They are generally obtained as the double copy of a spontaneously-broken (possibly supersymmeric) gauge theory and a theory with explicitly-broken supersymmetry. We first identify purely-adjoint deformations of

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

super-Yang-Millstheorythatpreservethedualitybetweencolorandkinematics. A combination of Higgsing and orbifolding yields the needed duality-satisfying gauge-theory factors with multiple matter representations. We present three explicit examples. Two are Cremmer-Scherk-Schwarz gaugings with unbroken

$$ \mathcal{N}=6,\;4 $$

N
=
6
,

4

supersymmetry and U(1) gauge group. The third has unbroken

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

supersymmetry and SU(2) × U(1) gauge group. We also discuss examples in which the double-copy method gives theories with explicitly-broken supersymmetry.
R-parity violating decays of Wino chargino and wino neutralino LSPs and NLSPs at the LHC
Authors: Dumitru Sebastian , Ovrut Burt A. , Purves Austin
Published: June 2019

Abstract

The R-parity violating decays of both Wino chargino and Wino neutralino LSPs are analyzed within the context of the B − L MSSM “heterotic standard model”. These LSPs correspond to statistically determined initial soft supersymmetry breaking parameters which, when evolved using the renormalization group equations, lead to an effective theory satisfying all phenomenological requirements; including the observed electroweak vector boson and Higgs masses. The explicit decay channels of these LSPs into standard model particles, the analytic and numerical decay rates and the associated branching ratios are presented. The decay lengths of these RPV interactions are discussed. It is shown that the vast majority of these decays are “prompt”, although a small, but calculable, number correspond to “displaced vertices” of various lengths. It is demonstrated that for a Wino chargino LSP, the NLSP is the Wino neutralino with a mass only slightly higher than the LSP — and vice-versa. As a consequence, we show that both the Wino chargino and Wino neutralino LSP/NLSP R-parity violating decays should be simultaneously observable at the CERN LHC.
The Application of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging During Robotic Liver Resection: A Case‐Matched Study
Authors: Marino Marco Vito , Di Saverio Salomone , Podda Mauro , Gomez Ruiz Marcos , Gomez Fleitas Manuel
Published: June 2019

Background

The ICG fluorescence properties are progressively gaining momentum in the HPB surgery. However, the exact impact of ICG application on surgical outcomes is yet to be established.

Methods

Twenty‐five patients who underwent ICG fluorescence‐guided robotic liver resection were case‐matched in a 1:1 ratio to a cohort who underwent standard robotic liver resection.

Results

In the ICG group, six additional lesions not diagnosed by preoperative workup and intraoperative ultrasound were identified and resected. Four of the lesions were proved to be malignant. Despite the similar operative time (288 vs. 272 min, p = 0.778), the risk of postoperative bile leakage (0% vs. 12%, p = 0.023), R1 resection (0% vs. 16%, p = 0.019) and readmission (p = 0.023) was reduced in the ICG group compared with the no‐ICG group.

Conclusions

The ICG fluorescence is a real‐time navigation tool which enables surgeons to enhance visualization of anatomical structures and overcome the disadvantages of minimally invasive liver resection. The procedure is not time‐consuming, and its applications can reduce the postoperative complication rate in robotic liver surgery.
Cytokine Response in the Pleural Fluid and Blood in Minimally Invasive and Open Esophagectomy
Authors: Delko T. , Watson D. I. , Beck‐Schimmer B. , Immanuel A. , Hussey D. J. , Zingg U.
Published: June 2019

Background

Transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer triggers a massive inflammatory reaction. The data whether a minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) leads to less pronounced inflammatory response compared to open right‐sided transthoracic esophagectomy (OE) are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of the inflammatory reaction, represented by levels of the pro‐inflammatory interleukins IL‐6 and IL‐8, the anti‐inflammatory IL‐1 RA and the chemokines CINC‐1 and MCP‐1 in the right pleural fluid and the blood from patients undergoing standard OE or MIE.

Methods

Pleural drainage fluid and blood was collected at five different time points during the first 72 h following surgery, and the concentrations of IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐1 RA, CINC‐1 and MCP‐1 were analyzed using enzyme‐linked immune‐sorbent assays in 24 patients undergoing MIE or OE.

Results

The groups were matched for cancer stage and comorbidities. Pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory mediator levels in the pleural fluid were markedly increased at the end of surgery and on postoperative days 1–3. The pleural inflammatory response of all cyto‐ and chemokines was lower in the MIE group, reaching significance at some time points. Cyto‐ and chemokine response levels measured in the blood were overall lower compared to those in the pleural fluid. The chemokines CINC‐1 and MCP‐1 reacted less pronounced or not at all. Preoperative pulmonary comorbidity, postoperative pulmonary morbidity and length of surgery were associated with an increased reaction in selected mediators.

Conclusions

The minimally invasive technique attenuates the inflammatory response, especially locally in the thoracic compartment. Length of procedure, preoperative pulmonary comorbidity and postoperative pulmonary complications are mirrored in an increase in individual inflammatory markers in the pleural fluid. The value of the chemokines CINC‐1 and MCP‐1 as markers of inflammation in the setting of esophagectomy is unclear.
Compliance Dynamism: Capturing the Polynormative and Situational Nature of Business Responses to Law
Authors: Wu Yunmei , van Rooij Benjamin
Published: June 2019

Studying compliance, in terms of the business responses to legal rules, is notoriously difficult. This paper focuses on the difficulty of capturing the behavioral response itself, rather than on difficulties in explaining compliance and isolating particular factors of influence on it. The paper argues that existing approaches to capture such compliance, using surveys and governmental data, run the risk of failing to capture compliance as it occurs in the reality of day-to-day business responses to the law. It does so by means of a unique ethnographic approach to study compliance. Drawing from data of deep participant observation about responses to legal rules in two small businesses, the paper finds that in this context there is Compliance Dynamism. This means that compliance varies for different rules, it varies over time, and businesses learn from one response to the law to the next on a daily basis. Compliance is also situational, and there is an Indirect Observer Effect, where the way compliance is measured, especially when using data derived from inspections, shapes what compliance is observed and what is not. Therefore, compliance should be captured not as a singular state but as a string of reiterative processes that occur in their situational context. And this fundamentally challenges most existing methods to capture compliance and thus our understanding of what compliance occurs and what may shape it. In its conclusion, the paper draws out the implications this has for studies that seek to find simple and usable findings about compliance.
Implicit math‐gender stereotype present in adults but not in 8th grade
Authors: Morrissey Kyle , Hallett Darcy , Bakhtiar Aishah , Fitzpatrick Cheryll
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Traditional math‐gender stereotypes suggest that boys/men are more likely to enjoy and succeed in mathematics while girls/women are more likely to enjoy and succeed at language arts subjects. The usefulness of implicit measures of math‐gender stereotypes has been a subject of investigation in mainly the adult research literature. This is problematic, as adults have typically already made many important decisions about their academic and professional futures, thus making it unclear as to whether implicit attitudes about mathematics causally influence men and women's participation in STEM. Therefore, it is important to assess if the same kind of implicit and explicit stereotypes are found among adolescents who have yet to make many of these decisions.

Methods

A total of 196 eighth‐grade students and 80 adults participated in this study. Participants completed both implicit and explicit self‐report measures of math‐gender stereotype attitudes, in addition to measures of math self‐concept, verbal self‐concept, as well as mathematical performance.

Results/conclusions: We found that adolescent boys and girls reported either in‐group favouritism or egalitarian attitudes towards math and language subjects. Adult participants reported more typical math‐gender stereotypes on self‐report measures. Adults also demonstrated a correlation between explicit and implicit measures of math‐gender stereotype, which was not the case for adolescents. Implicit math‐gender stereotype measures were not a reliable predictor of any other math‐related variables among adults or adolescents. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for the potential usefulness of implicit measures of math‐gender stereotypes for adolescents.
The prevalence and risk of DSM‐IV axis I disorder in adults with early‐life earthquake stress: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Song Mei , Wang Lan , Zhao Xiao‐Chuan , Li Na , Wang Ran , Gao Yuan‐Yuan , Yu Lu‐Lu , An Cui‐Xia , Wang Xue‐Yi
Published: June 2019

Objectives

Tangshan earthquake which had a magnitude of 7.8 killed approximately 250,000 people in China in 1976. In the present study, we sought to determine the prevalence and risks of mental disorders in adults who experienced earthquake as an infant or in the prenatal period.

Methods

This cross‐sectional cohort study recruited participants based on the urban resident registry of Tangshan, Hebei province, 2013 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method with selection probabilities proportional to size. We recruited subjects who were born between July 29, 1975 and April 28, 1978 that was one year before and 1.9 years after the occurrence of Tangshan Earthquake, respectively. Current psychiatric diagnoses and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were obtained through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Axis I Disorders Patient Research Version. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze risk factors of mental disorders.

Results

Totally1380 subjects were included with 392 subjects exposed to the earthquake in the fetal period, 399 subjects who experienced the earthquake during their infancy, and 589 subjects who had no exposure to the earthquake. Twenty‐one (2.7%; current 1.9%) subjects exposed to earthquake were diagnosed with major depressive disorderversus 2.3% (current 1.5%) in the non‐exposure group. Five (0.6%; current 0.6%) subjects with exposure to earthquake had bipolar disorder versus 0.9% in the non‐exposure group.Thirteen (1.6%; current 1.6%) subjects with exposure to earthquake had schizophreniaversus 0.2% in the non‐exposure group (P=0.006). Furthermore, 5.2% (current 3.7%) subjects with exposure to earthquake had anxiety disorders versus 5.7% (current 3.9%) in the non‐exposure group. Moreover, 8.1% (current 7.0%)subjects with exposure to earthquake had alcohol use disorders versus 7.1% (current 5.3%) in the non‐exposure group. Furthermore, the prevalence of schizophrenia of the prenatal exposure group (2.3%) was significantly higher than the other two groups (χ2 = 10.273, P = 0.006); however, no statistically significant difference was found in the current and lifetime prevalence of other DSM‐IV axis I disorders among the three groups (P > 0.05). Our multivariate regression analysis showed that prenatal earthquake stress exposure was not a significant risk of any of the lifetime or current DSD‐IV axis I disorders.

Conclusion

Adults who were exposed to earthquake in the prenatal period had a significantly higher rate of schizophrenia than those who were not exposed or who experienced earthquake in their infancy. No statistically significant difference was found in the current and lifetime prevalence of other DSM‐IV axis I disorders between those exposed and those not exposed to earthquake. Furthermore, prenatal earthquake stress exposure was not a significant risk of any of the lifetime or current DSD‐IV axis I disorders.
Shaping the adult brain with exercise during development: Emerging evidence and knowledge gaps
Authors: Perez Emma C. , Bravo Diana R. , Rodgers Shaefali P. , Khan Ali R. , Leasure J. Leigh
Published: June 2019

Exercise is known to produce a myriad of positive effects on the brain, including increased glia, neurons, blood vessels, white matter and dendritic complexity. Such effects are associated with enhanced cognition and stress resilience in humans and animal models. As such, exercise represents a positive experience with tremendous potential to influence brain development and shape an adult brain capable of responding to life's challenges. Although substantial evidence attests to the benefits of exercise for cognition in children and adolescents, the vast majority of existing studies examine acute effects. Nonetheless, there is emerging evidence indicating that exercise during development has positive cognitive and neural effects that last to adulthood. There is, therefore, a compelling need for studies designed to determine the extent to which plasticity driven by developmental exercise translates into enhanced brain health and function in adulthood and the underlying mechanisms. Such studies are particularly important given that modern Western society is increasingly characterized by sedentary behavior, and we know little about how this impacts the brain's developmental trajectory. This review synthesizes current literature and outlines significant knowledge gaps that must be filled in order to elucidate what exercise (or lack of exercise) during development contributes to the health and function of the adult brain.
High Altitude Deterioration: A Historical Essay
Authors: Lankford Harvey V.
Published: June 2019

This wilderness essay about high altitude deterioration will explore the historical mountaineering and medical literature with a limited discussion of physiology. The writings of mountaineers and physician-mountaineers provide an evocative supporting narrative to illustrate one of the problems of living at altitude.
DYNAMIC PRINCIPAL COMPONENT REGRESSION: APPLICATION TO AGE-SPECIFIC MORTALITY FORECASTING
Authors: Shang Han Lin
Published: June 2019

In areas of application, including actuarial science and demography, it is increasingly common to consider a time series of curves; an example of this is age-specific mortality rates observed over a period of years. Given that age can be treated as a discrete or continuous variable, a dimension reduction technique, such as principal component analysis (PCA), is often implemented. However, in the presence of moderate-to-strong temporal dependence, static PCA commonly used for analyzing independent and identically distributed data may not be adequate. As an alternative, we consider a dynamic principal component approach to model temporal dependence in a time series of curves. Inspired by Brillinger’s (1974, Time Series: Data Analysis and Theory. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston) theory of dynamic principal components, we introduce a dynamic PCA, which is based on eigen decomposition of estimated long-run covariance. Through a series of empirical applications, we demonstrate the potential improvement of 1-year-ahead point and interval forecast accuracies that the dynamic principal component regression entails when compared with the static counterpart.
The Mass Casualty Incident in Turin, 2017: A Case Study of Disaster Responders’ Mental Health in an Italian Level I Hospital
Authors: Caramello Valeria , Bertuzzi Leticia , Ricceri Fulvio , Albert Umberto , Maina Giuseppe , Boccuzzi Adriana , Della Corte Francesco , Schreiber Merritt C
Published: June 2019

Objective:

To assess the psychological impact of a mass casualty incident (MCI) in a subset of personnel in a level I hospital.

Methods:

Emergency department staff responded to an MCI in June 2017 in Turin, Italy by an unexpected sudden surge of casualties following a stampede (mass escape). Participants completed the Psychological Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment Responder Self-Triage System (PsySTART-R), which classified the potential risk of psychological distress in “no risk” versus “at risk” categorization and identified a range of impacts aggregated for the population of medical responders. Participants were administered a questionnaire on the perceived effectiveness of management of the MCI. Two months later, the participants were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5).

Results:

The majority of the responders were classified as “no risk” by the PsySTART-R; no significant differences on HADS, K6, and PCL-5 were found in the participants grouped by the PsySTART-R categories. The personnel acquainted to work in emergency contexts (emergency department and intensive care unit) scored significantly lower in the HADS than the personnel usually working in other wards. The number of positive PsySTART-R criteria correlated with the HADS depression score.

Conclusions:

Most of the adverse psychological implications of the MCI were well handled and averted by the responders. A possible explanation could be related to factors such as the clinical condition of the victims (most were not severely injured, no fatalities), the small number of casualties (87) brought to the hospital, the event not being considered life-threatening, and its brief duration, among others. Responders had mainly to cope with a sudden surge in casualties and with organizational issues.
Home Health Service Provision After Hurricane Harvey
Authors: Bell Sue Anne , Horowitz Jennifer , Iwashyna Theodore
Published: June 2019

Objective:

To determine the extent of service disruption among home health agencies impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Methods:

Structured interviews with optional open-ended questions were conducted with home health agencies in and around Houston, Texas. A random sample of 277 agencies was selected and contacted via telephone during the study period, from February to May of 2018.

Results:

Only 45% of 122 participating agencies indicated that their offices were open during Hurricane Harvey, and three-fourths reported that home visits were disrupted. The length of disruption varied: 7% reported a disruption of 1 day or less and 46% indicated a disruption of 1 week or longer. Disruption occurred even though nearly all (99%) of the agencies had—and close to all (92%) of them activated—an emergency preparedness plan.

Conclusions:

Although most of the participating home health agencies activated their emergency preparedness plan, significant disruption in home health services occurred. While agencies are required to have clear, detailed plans in place, gaps in effective implementation of emergency preparedness plans remain.