bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiotherapy for the treatment of distant nodes metastases from oligometastatic urothelial cancer: A retrospective case series
Authors: Leonetti Alessandro , D'Abbiero Nunziata , Baldari Giorgio , Andreani Stefano , Ruffini Livia , Viansone Alessandro A , Buti Sebastiano
Published: August 2018

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy in oligometastatic urothelial carcinoma with node‐only involvement.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data on the outcomes of patients who underwent stereotactic body radiotherapy for metastatic node lesions from oligometastatic urothelial carcinoma at Radiotherapy Unit of University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy. The investigated outcomes were lesion size, standardized uptake value, overall response rate, lesion control rate, lesion progression‐free interval, progression‐free survival and overall survival.

Results

Among seven patients included in the study, a total of 14 node metastatic lesions were treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy. The mean total dose of stereotactic body radiotherapy was 32 Gy (range 25–40 Gy). At first imaging evaluation, a mean variation of −4% (P = 0.427) in major diameter, −16% (P = 0.048) in minor diameter and –76% in standardized uptake value (P < 0.001) were documented. The overall response rate and lesion control rate were 43% and 100%, respectively. Median lesion progression‐free interval, progression‐free survival and overall survival were 11.4 months (95% CI 3.4–19.4), 2.9 months (95% CI 2.6–3.1) and 14.9 months (95% CI 12.3–17.5), respectively. Stereotactic body radiotherapy was effective in delaying the beginning of a systemic chemotherapy in four patients.

Conclusions

The present findings generate the hypothesis of a possible role for the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy in selected patients with distant node metastases from oligometastatic urothelial carcinoma.
Positron‐emission tomography imaging in urological oncology: Current aspects and developments
Authors: Rauscher Isabel , Eiber Matthias , Weber Wolfgang A , Gschwend Jürgen E , Horn Thomas , Maurer Tobias
Published: August 2018

Positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography combining both functional and morphological information has emerged as a powerful tool in oncological imaging within the past decades. The most commonly used radiotracer in oncology visualizing metabolic information is 2‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose. However, the use of 2‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose in urological oncology is challenging, as it is limited by physiological excretion through the urinary system. Therefore, it is only useful when applied to specific indications in selected patients with urological malignancy; for example, for detection of residual disease in the post‐chemotherapy management of patients with seminoma. Despite initial promising results in bladder cancer, no relevant additional diagnostic value with positron‐emission tomography using 2‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose or choline‐based tracers could be obtained, and should therefore be used with caution or only within clinical trials. In prostate cancer, however, a paradigm shift in imaging can be observed after development of new tracers that target the prostate‐specific membrane antigen. Biochemical recurrent prostate cancer has become a clinically widely accepted indication for prostate‐specific membrane antigen ligand positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography, with several studies showing superior detection efficacy compared with conventional imaging. For primary high‐risk prostate cancer, growing evidence suggests well‐improved staging. The present review aimed to provide an overview of the current status of positron‐emission tomography imaging in cancer of the urogenital system including the latest advances in 68Ga‐labeled and 18F‐labeled positron‐emission tomography agents targeting the prostate‐specific membrane antigen for positron‐emission tomography imaging of prostate cancer.
Individual Differences in Infant Speech Segmentation: Achieving the Lexical Shift
Authors: Kidd Evan , Junge Caroline , Spokes Tara , Morrison Lauren , Cutler Anne
Published: August 2018

We report a large‐scale electrophysiological study of infant speech segmentation, in which over 100 English‐acquiring 9‐month‐olds were exposed to unfamiliar bisyllabic words embedded in sentences (e.g., He saw a wild eagle up there), after which their brain responses to either the just‐familiarized word (eagle) or a control word (coral) were recorded. When initial exposure occurs in continuous speech, as here, past studies have reported that even somewhat older infants do not reliably recognize target words, but that successful segmentation varies across children. Here, we both confirm and further uncover the nature of this variation. The segmentation response systematically varied across individuals and was related to their vocabulary development. About one‐third of the group showed a left‐frontally located relative negativity in response to familiar versus control targets, which has previously been described as a mature response. Another third showed a similarly located positive‐going reaction (a previously described immature response), and the remaining third formed an intermediate grouping that was primarily characterized by an initial response delay. A fine‐grained group‐level analysis suggested that a developmental shift to a lexical mode of processing occurs toward the end of the first year, with variation across individual infants in the exact timing of this shift.
A model of crack healing of glass by viscous flow at elevated temperatures
Authors: Kanchika Shun , Wakai Fumihiro
Published: August 2018

The crack healing in glass occurs by viscous flow driven by surface tension at temperatures higher than the glass transition. The Vickers‐induced radial crack on glass surface is modeled using an oblate spheroid, where the major axis length is the crack length and the minor axis length is the crack opening displacement (COD). The finite element simulation showed that the crack length decreased approximately linearly with time. The recovery time, which was required to shrink to a quarter of the initial length, was proportional to the viscosity and the initial length, and inversely proportional to the surface energy. The recovery occurred faster with decreasing COD. The crack blunting took place also for very sharp cracks. Experimentally derived master curve of crack healing could be explained by the present simulation model fairly well.
A SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE ON HUMAN CAPITAL‐INTENSIVE FIRMS
Authors: Cézanne Cécile , Krafft Jackie , Saglietto Laurence
Published: August 2018

The aim of this paper is to provide an exhaustive survey of the academic research dedicated to the study of human capital‐intensive firms (HCIFs). We use a bibliometric analysis based on the three widely used databases (Econlit, Science Direct and Wiley) over the period 1992–2015. We are adapting a methodology developed in previous works to our specific object of study, and we generate a bottom‐up clustering on keywords, titles and abstracts. Our examination of the data sheds a light on five main clusters of works that respectively focus on (1) critical human resource management, (2) intellectual capital assessment, (3) funding risk and innovation (4) high‐skilled employees supporting economic development and (5) internal and external valuable social networks. In a critical appraisal of our results, we stress that the bibliometric analysis remains silent on how the different clusters are linked with each other. Based on our own appreciation of the HCIFs literature, we propose a further step in the identification of a central question linking up these clusters: a transversal review of the five clusters reveals that HCIFs appear as a network of specialized agents whose complementary human resources are decisive for the value‐creation process.
How do giraffes locate one another? A review of visual, auditory, and olfactory communication among giraffes
Authors: Kasozi H. , Montgomery R. A.
Published: August 2018

Understanding how giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) communicate is a topic that has intrigued biologists, ecologists, and society for many years. Despite this interest, communication remains one of the most understudied aspects of giraffe ecology. We reviewed published papers that referenced giraffe communication across olfactory, visual, and auditory dimensions. We found 21 studies, published between 1958 and 2018, that referenced the ways in which giraffes communicate. Ten of these studies described giraffe vocal signals and possibilities for vocal communication among giraffes. Giraffes have been reported to produce infrasonic, hisses, and low humming vocalizations. We found five studies that evaluated giraffe olfaction with implications for communication. Eleven studies suggested that giraffes have high visual capabilities with high dependence on sight for communication. From this evidence, we appreciate that giraffes use multimodal signals to convey vital information to each other. Nevertheless, we found that the inferences made about giraffe communication among these studies are primarily derived from opportunistic observations. Thus, our review highlights that communication remains a highly understudied component of giraffe behavior and ecology. We recommend that further studies seek to identify the ways in which visual, auditory, and olfactory signals facilitate communication among giraffes.
Staying vigilant of uncertainty to velocity of money: an application for oil‐producing countries
Authors: Sahin Afsin
Published: August 2018

Uncertainty in economic and financial variables has substantially changed the dynamics in monetary economics during the last two decades in oil‐producing countries. However, there are types of uncertainties which affect these countries heterogeneously in the short run and long run. For this purpose, Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) is estimated for oil‐producing countries and non‐homogenous results for money supply, income, oil, interest rate, US monetary policy and exchange uncertainties have been obtained.
Successful Management of Gorham–Stout Disease in Scapula and Ribs: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Li Ming‐hui , Zhang Hao‐qiang , Lu Ya‐jie , Gao Peng , Huang Hai , Hu Yong‐cheng , Wang Zhen
Published: August 2018

Gorham–Stout disease (GSD) is an extremely rare bone condition of unknown etiology characterized by spontaneous and progressive resorption of bones. GSD can occur at any age and is not related to gender, genetic inheritance, or race. Any part of the skeleton can be affected and the symptoms correlate with the sites involved. The diagnosis of GSD is established based on the combination of clinical, radiologic, and histologic features after excluding other diseases. Because of its rarity, current knowledge is limited to case reports and there is no agreement on the best strategy for treatment. The following case report describes a successfully treated case of GSD in a 26‐year‐old male patient with the left scapula and the 7th–9th left ribs involved. The patient was diagnosed with osteoporosis‐related pleural effusion at a local hospital. In our institution, the patient was diagnosed with GSD and treated with radiotherapy and bisphosphonate. The disease was controlled and there was no evidence of disease progression during follow‐up. Genetic sequencing was performed to investigate the etiology of GSD. In addition, the present study reviews the theories regarding the etiology, the clinical manifestations, the diagnostic approaches, and treatment options for this rare disease.
Victims of war—Psychoendocrine evidence for the impact of traumatic stress on psychological well‐being of adolescents growing up during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Authors: Shaheen Mohammed , Schindler Lena , Saar‐Ashkenazy Rotem , Bani Odeh Kifah , Soreq Hermona , Friedman Alon , Kirschbaum Clemens
Published: August 2018

Violent conflicts are severe traumatic stressors with detrimental effects on physical and mental health, with children and adolescents being particularly at risk. For the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, characteristic patterns of dysregulation in trauma‐exposed individuals have been shown. This study set out to investigate self‐reported mental well‐being in Palestinian adolescents growing up during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) as a psychoendocrine marker for long‐term HPA axis aberrations along with the potential protective factor sense of coherence (SoC; i.e., the global mindset to interpret the world and emerging stressors as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful) were examined. Between 2014 and 2016, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, HCC, and SoC were examined in 233 adolescents aged 11 to 16 from the West Bank. More than half of the participants reported trauma exposure, with 40% fulfilling the criteria of a preliminary PTSD diagnosis and a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. HCC was significantly elevated in the PTSD subgroup compared to the subgroup not exposed to any traumatic events (p = 0.046), with trauma‐exposed individuals in between. HCC was further associated with typical sequelae of traumatic stress. Notably, SoC was inversely related to self‐reported psychopathology, as well as to HCC in the trauma group. The results illustrate the situation of adolescents exposed to chronic traumatic stress and extend the literature on aberrant HPA axis functioning under such conditions. They also point out a central role of SoC, which may imply new strategies to aid individuals exposed to ongoing conflicts.
Outward Foreign Direct Investment Patterns of Italian Firms in the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme*
Authors: Borghesi Simone , Franco Chiara , Marin Giovanni
Published: August 2018

We consider the role played by the European Union's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) as a possible driver of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) for Italian manufacturing firms. Using a panel dataset of about 22,000 firms covering the first two phases of the EU ETS and the period before the EU ETS, we measure the patterns of FDI towards countries not covered by the EU ETS. The results show that the EU ETS had a weak effect on the number of new subsidiaries abroad (extensive margin), while it had a larger impact on production taking place in foreign subsidiaries (intensive margin), especially in trade‐intensive sectors.
A central limit theorem for the Hellinger loss of Grenander‐type estimators
Authors: Lopuhaä Hendrik P. , Musta Eni
Published: August 2018

We consider Grenander‐type estimators for a monotone function
, obtained as the slope of a concave (convex) estimate of the primitive of λ. Our main result is a central limit theorem for the Hellinger loss, which applies to estimation of a probability density, a regression function or a failure rate. In the case of density estimation, the limiting variance of the Hellinger loss turns out to be independent of λ.
The right to be weary? Endurance and exhaustion in austere times
Authors: Wilkinson Eleanor , Ortega‐Alcázar Iliana
Published: August 2018

This paper seeks to advance understandings of austerity's everyday affects by examining how neoliberal welfare retrenchment is lived, experienced and resisted. Drawing on interviews with young people in housing need, we demonstrate the ways in which day‐to‐day coping with welfare reform can lead to a state of fatigue, a gradual slow wearing‐out that comes with having to endure everyday hardship. Such weariness, we argue, is an integral part of understanding the everyday impacts of austerity. Yet despite the apparent centrality of weariness to issues such as precarity and poverty, there has not yet been sustained discussion into the idea of weariness itself. A common conceptualisation positions weariness as the antithesis of political action, where individuals are slowly worn down until they no longer have the strength or capacity to resist. However, this paper offers a more reparative reading of weariness, one which does not narrowly conceptualise weariness as simply a closing down. Instead we question whether weariness should necessarily always be equated with inaction. The paper focuses on forms of suffering and violence that are felt as a kind of steady on‐going form of endurance, rather than as a sudden eruption. We foreground affective moments that are neither passionate nor intense, but instead listless and still, generating feelings of inertia, flatness, impasse. The paper concludes with some reflections on what we term “the right to be weary,” examining how weariness could be understood as a potential retreat from the relentless drive to move forwards, a form of passive dissent.
Establishment of reference intervals for serum symmetric dimethylarginine in adult nonracing Greyhounds
Authors: Liffman Rebekah , Johnstone Thurid , Tennent‐Brown Brett , Hepworth Graham , Courtman Natalie
Published: August 2018

Background

The reference intervals (RIs) for the renal biomarkers urea and creatinine, in Greyhounds, are higher than those for non‐sighthound breeds. A recent study has demonstrated a higher concentration of another biomarker of renal function, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), in Greyhounds compared with other dog breeds, and thus a breed‐specific RI for serum SDMA may be appropriate for Greyhounds. Greyhounds appear to be predisposed to renal disease, and the establishment of an appropriate RI for SDMA may improve the ability to identify early renal dysfunction in this breed.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to establish an RI for serum SDMA in nonracing Greyhounds and to determine whether the RI for Greyhounds is different from that of non‐sighthound breeds.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 101 clinically healthy, nonracing Greyhounds for serum SDMA measurements. Results from Greyhounds were compared with serum SDMA concentrations measured in a group of non‐sighthound dogs (n = 24) of similar weight, age, and sex, and with a previously established canine serum SDMA RI.

Results

The serum SDMA RI for Greyhounds was 6.3‐19.9 μg/dL (0.31‐0.99 μmol/L). Greyhounds had a significantly higher mean value (13.1 μg/dL) than that of the non‐sighthound dogs (10.2 μg/dL) (P < .001), and the RI of Greyhounds was different from previously established canine RIs for SDMA.

Conclusion

This study supports the use of a Greyhound‐specific RI for SDMA. Using previously established canine RIs for this breed could result in the overdiagnosis of renal disease.
Multiplexed protein maps link subcellular organization to cellular states
Authors: Gut Gabriele , Herrmann Markus D. , Pelkmans Lucas
Published: August 2018

Making multiplexed subcellular protein maps

Being able to visualize protein localizations within cells and tissues by means of immuno-fluorescence microscopy has been key to developments in cell biology and beyond. Gut
et al.
present a high-throughput method that achieves the detection of more than 40 different proteins in biological samples across multiple spatial scales. This allows the simultaneous quantification of their expression levels in thousands of single cells; captures their detailed subcellular distribution to various compartments, organelles, and cellular structures within each of these single cells; and places all this information within a multicellular context. Such a scale-crossing dataset empowers artificial intelligence–based computer vision algorithms to achieve a comprehensive profiling of intracellular protein maps to measure their responses to different multicellular, cellular, and pharmacological contexts, and to reveal new cellular states.

Science
, this issue p.
eaar7042
Meropenem Combined with Ciprofloxacin Combats Hypermutable Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Respiratory Infections of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Rees Vanessa E. , Yadav Rajbharan , Rogers Kate E. , Bulitta Jürgen B. , Wirth Veronika , Oliver Antonio , Boyce John D. , Peleg Anton Y. , Nation Roger L. , Landersdorfer Cornelia B.
Published: August 2018

Hypermutable
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
organisms are prevalent in chronic respiratory infections and have been associated with reduced lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF); these isolates can become resistant to all antibiotics in monotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the time course of bacterial killing and resistance of meropenem and ciprofloxacin in combination against hypermutable and nonhypermutable
P. aeruginosa
.
Acute-Phase CD4
+
T Cell Responses Targeting Invariant Viral Regions Are Associated with Control of Live Attenuated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Sutton Matthew S. , Ellis-Connell Amy , Moriarty Ryan V. , Balgeman Alexis J. , Gellerup Dane , Barry Gabrielle , Weiler Andrea M. , Friedrich Thomas C. , O'Connor Shelby L.
Published: August 2018

Studies defining effective cellular immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and SIV have largely focused on a rare population that express specific MHC class I alleles and control virus replication in the absence of antiretroviral treatment. This leaves in question whether similar effective immune responses can be achieved in the larger population. The majority of HIV-infected individuals mount CD8
+
T cell responses that target variable viral regions that accumulate high-frequency escape mutations. Limiting T cell responses to these variable regions and targeting invariant viral regions, similar to observations in rare “elite controllers,” may provide an ideal strategy for the development of effective T cell responses in individuals with diverse MHC genetics. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to determine whether T cell responses can be redirected toward invariant viral regions in individuals without protective MHC alleles and if these responses improve control of virus replication.
Neuralized E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3 Is an Inducible Antiviral Effector That Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Assembly by Targeting Viral E1 Glycoprotein
Authors: Zhao Yanan , Cao Xuezhi , Guo Mingzhe , Wang Xuesong , Yu Tao , Ye Liqing , Han Lin , Hei Lei , Tao Wanyin , Tong Yimin , Xu Yongfen , Zhong Jin
Published: August 2018

The exact biological function of NEURL3, a putative E3 ligase, remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that NEURL3 could be upregulated upon HCV infection in a manner dependent on pattern recognition receptor-mediated innate immune response. NEURL3 inhibits HCV assembly by directly binding viral E1 envelope glycoprotein to disrupt its interaction with E2, an action that requires its Neuralized homology repeat (NHR) domain but not the RING domain. Furthermore, we found that NEURL3 has a pangenotypic anti-HCV activity and interacts with E1 of genotypes 2a, 1b, 3a, and 6a but does not inhibit other closely related RNA viruses, such as ZIKV, DENV, and VSV. To our knowledge, our study is the first report to demonstrate that NEURL3 functions as an antiviral host factor. Our results not only shed new insight into how host innate immunity acts against HCV, but also revealed a new important biological function for NEURL3.
Holistic Assessment of Rumen Microbiome Dynamics through Quantitative Metatranscriptomics Reveals Multifunctional Redundancy during Key Steps of Anaerobic Feed Degradation
Authors: Söllinger Andrea , Tveit Alexander Tøsdal , Poulsen Morten , Noel Samantha Joan , Bengtsson Mia , Bernhardt Jörg , Frydendahl Hellwing Anne Louise , Lund Peter , Riedel Katharina , Schleper Christa , Højberg Ole , Urich Tim
Published: August 2018

Ruminant animals, such as cows, live in a tight symbiotic association with microorganisms, allowing them to feed on otherwise indigestible plant biomass as food sources. Methane is produced as an end product of the anaerobic feed degradation in ruminants and is emitted to the atmosphere, making ruminant animals among the major anthropogenic sources of the potent greenhouse gas methane. Using newly developed quantitative metatranscriptomics for holistic microbiome analysis, we here identified bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic key players and the short-term dynamics of the rumen microbiome during anaerobic plant biomass degradation and subsequent methane emissions. These novel insights might pave the way for novel ecologically and economically sustainable methane mitigation strategies, much needed in times of global climate change.
Kawasaki disease: a prospective population survey in the UK and Ireland from 2013 to 2015
Authors: Tulloh Robert M R , Mayon-White Richard , Harnden Anthony , Ramanan Athimalaipet V , Tizard E Jane , Shingadia Delane , Michie Colin A , Lynn Richard M , Levin Michael , Franklin Orla D , Craggs Pippa , Davidson Sue , Stirzaker Rebecca , Danson Mike , Brogan Paul A
Published: August 2018

Objective

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an increasingly common vasculitis with risk of coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). The last UK survey was in 1990, whereas current epidemiology, treatment patterns and complication rates are unknown. The aim of this study was to address this knowledge gap.

Methods

A British Paediatric Surveillance Unit survey in the UK and Ireland from 1 January 2013 to 28 February 2015 ascertained demographics, ethnicity, seasonal incidence, treatment and complication rates.

Results

553 cases were notified: 389 had complete KD, 46 had atypical KD and 116 had incomplete KD; 2 were diagnosed at postmortem with an incidence of 4.55/100 000 children under 5 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1 and a median age of 2.7 years (2.5 months–15 years). Presentation was highest in January and in rural areas. Most were white (64%), and Chinese and Japanese Asians were over-represented as were black African or African mixed-race children. 94% received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The overall CAA rate was 19%, and all-cardiac complications affected 28%. Those with CAA received IVIG later than in those without (median 10 days vs 7 days). Those under 1 year had fewer symptoms, but the highest CAA rate (39%). Overall 8 of 512 cases (1.6%) had giant CAA, and 4 of 86 cases (5%) under 1 year of age developed giant CAA. Mortality from KD was 0.36%.

Conclusions

The UK and Ireland incidence of KD has increased and is more frequently seen in winter and rural areas. Delayed IVIG treatment is associated with CAA, suggesting earlier and adjunctive primary treatment might reduce complications to prevent CAA, particularly in the very young.
Impact of missing individual patient data on 18 meta-analyses of randomised trials in oncology: Gustave Roussy experience
Authors: Fayard Florence , Petit Claire , Lacas Benjamin , Pignon Jean Pierre
Published: August 2018

Objective

To compare the characteristics, quality and treatment effects of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) by individual patient data (IPD) availability, in trials eligible for 18 IPD meta-analyses (MA).

Design

Trial characteristics, risk of bias (RoB) and hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival were extracted from IPD-MA publications and/or RCTs publications. Data for the RoB assessment were extracted for a subset of 73 RCTs. Two investigators blinded to whether IPD was available or not evaluated the RoB for these trials. Treatment effects were compared using ratios of global HRs (RHRs) of IPD-unavailable trials and IPD-available trials. RHR were pooled using a fixed-effect model.

Data sources

We examined the IPD availability for each trial eligible for each IPD-MA; when the IPD was not available for a trial, we used information from published sources.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

We selected all published IPD-MAs conducted at Gustave Roussy and the RCTs eligible for each.

Results

349 RCTs (73 018 patients) from 18 MAs were eligible: 60 RCTs (5890 patients) had unavailable IPD and 289 RCTs (67 128 patients) had available IPD. The main reason for IPD unavailability was data loss by investigators. IPD-unavailable trials were smaller (p<0.001), more often monocentric (p<0.001) and non-international (p=0.0004) than IPD-available trials. Geographical areas differed (p=0.054) between IPD-unavailable IPD-available trials. RoB was higher in IPD-unavailable RCTs for random sequence generation (p=0.007) and allocation concealment (p=0.006). The HR and 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival were extractable from publications in 23/60 IPD-unavailable trials included in 10 different MAs. Treatment effects were significantly greater for IPD-unavailable trials compared with IPD-available trials (RHR=0.86 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.98)).

Conclusions

IPD-unavailable RCTs were significantly different from IPD-available RCTs in terms of trial characteristics and were at greater RoB. IPD-unavailable RCTs had a significantly greater treatment effect.
Validation of the ICH score in patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage admitted to the intensive care unit in Southern Spain
Authors: Rodríguez-Fernández Sonia , Castillo-Lorente Encarnación , Guerrero-Lopez Francisco , Rodríguez-Rubio David , Aguilar-Alonso Eduardo , Lafuente-Baraza Jesús , Gómez-Jiménez Francisco Javier , Mora-Ordóñez Juan , Rivera-López Ricardo , Arias-Verdú María Dolores , Quesada-García Guillermo , Arráez-Sánchez Miguel Ángel , Rivera-Fernández Ricardo
Published: August 2018

Objective

Validation of the intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) score in patients with a diagnosis of spontaneous ICH admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

A multicentre cohort study was conducted in all consecutive patients with ICH admitted to the ICUs of three hospitals with a neurosurgery department between 2009 and 2012 in Andalusia, Spain. Data collected included ICH, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) scores. Demographic data, location and volume of haematoma and 30-day mortality rate were also collated.

Results

A total of 336 patients were included. 105 of whom underwent surgery. Median (IQR) age: 62 (50–70) years. APACHE-II: 21(15–26) points, GCS: 7 (4–11) points, ICH score: 2 (2–3) points. 11.1% presented with bilateral mydriasis on admission (mortality rate=100%). Intraventricular haemorrhage was observed in 58.9% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 54.17% while the APACHE-II predicted mortality was 57.22% with a standardised mortality ratio (SMR) of 0.95 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.09) and a Hosmer-Lemenshow test value (H) of 3.62 (no significant statistical difference, n.s.). 30-day mortality was 52.38% compared with the ICH score predicted mortality of 48.79%, SMR: 1.07 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.23), n.s. Mortality was higher than predicted at the lowest scores and lower than predicted in the more severe patients, (H=55.89, p<0.001), Gruppo Italiano per la Valutazione degli Interventi in Terapia Intensiva calibration belt (p<0.001). The area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.74 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.79).

Conclusions

ICH score shows an acceptable discrimination as a tool to predict mortality rates in patients with spontaneous ICH admitted to the ICU, but its calibration is suboptimal.
Sugar and energy content of carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages in Haidian District, Beijing: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lin Lizi , Li Chenxiong , Jin Chuyao , Peng Yuanzhou , Hashem Kawther M , MacGregor Graham A , He Feng J , Wang Haijun
Published: August 2018

Objective

The consumption of carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages (CSSBs) is associated with a range of health problems, but little is known about the sugar and energy content of CSSBs in China. The study aimed to investigate the sugar and energy content of CSSBs in Beijing, China.

Study design

We carried out a cross-sectional survey in 15 different supermarkets from July to October 2017 in Haidian District, Beijing.

Methods

The product packaging and nutrient labels of CSSBs were recorded by a snapshot in time to obtain company name, product name, serving size, and nutrient content, that is, carbohydrate, sugar and energy. For CSSB labels not showing sugar content, we used carbohydrate content as substitute. The sugar and energy content of CSSBs within each type of flavour were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test. The sugar content within the recommended levels was described using frequency. We also compared the sugar and energy content of top 5 CSSBs in terms of sales among three countries (China, UK and USA).

Results

A total of 93 CSSB products were found. The median sugar content was 9.3 (IQR: 5.7–11.2) g/100 mL, and the energy content was 38 (IQR: 23–46) kcal/100 mL. There were 79 products labelled ‘Red’ (high) per serving based on the criteria set in the UK (>11.25 g/100 mL). We found 62.4% of CSSBs had sugar content per serving that exceeds the daily free sugar intake for adults (25 g) recommended by the WHO. Some of the branded products sold in China had higher sugar content when they were compared with those in Western countries.

Conclusions

CSSBs in Beijing, China have high sugar and energy content. Reduction in sugar content and serving size of CSSBs and taxation policy on beverages will be beneficial in reducing sugar intake in China.
Sex and gender differences in caregiving burden experienced by family caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Xiong Chen , Biscardi Melissa , Nalder Emily , Colantonio Angela
Published: August 2018

Introduction

While much is known about caregiving burden and its consequences on both caregivers and care recipients, reports on the sex and gender differences that may be present among family caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) are lacking. Attention to and a synthesis of these sex and gender distinctions have direct implications on the planning and development of health services for this population. The current protocol outlines a strategy for a systematic review of the current evidence to identify and synthesise sex and gender distinctions in caregiving burden experienced by family caregivers of PWD.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive search strategy for studies that examine the sex and gender differences in caregiving impacts and experiences has been developed in collaboration with an information specialist at a university. All peer-reviewed English language studies on adult family caregivers of PWD, published from January 2007 to September 2017, found through Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and bibliographies of identified articles, will be considered eligible. Study quality will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists.

Ethics and dissemination

As the first systematic review of its kind that focus on sex and gender differences in caregiving burden, findings will be relevant for healthcare practitioners and researchers who can better prescribe and develop interventions and technologies to better address the specific challenges and burden experienced by male and female family caregivers of PWD. Moreover, given that more than half of family caregivers are females; these sex and gender differences will also be pertinent to policy-makers when evaluating and planning of our healthcare systems to better meet the needs of this population.

Trial registration number

CRD42018070032.
CDK12: an emerging therapeutic target for cancer
Authors: Lui Goldie Y L , Grandori Carla , Kemp Christopher J
Published: August 2018

Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) belongs to the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases that regulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes, thereby modulating multiple cellular functions. Early studies characterised CDK12 as a transcriptional CDK that complexes with cyclin K to mediate gene transcription by phosphorylating RNA polymerase II. CDK12 has been demonstrated to specifically upregulate the expression of genes involved in response to DNA damage, stress and heat shock. More recent studies have implicated CDK12 in regulating mRNA splicing, 3’ end processing, pre-replication complex assembly and genomic stability during embryonic development. Genomic alterations in CDK12 have been detected in oesophageal, stomach, breast, endometrial, uterine, ovarian, bladder, colorectal and pancreatic cancers, ranging from 5% to 15% of sequenced cases. An increasing number of studies point to CDK12 inhibition as an effective strategy to inhibit tumour growth, and synthetic lethal interactions have been described with MYC, EWS/FLI and PARP/CHK1 inhibition. Herein, we discuss the present literature on CDK12 in cell function and human cancer, highlighting important roles for CDK12 as a clinical biomarker for treatment response and potential as an effective therapeutic target.
Establishing a protocol for thromboelastography in sea turtles
Authors: Barratclough Ashley , Hanel Rita , Stacy Nicole I , Ruterbories Laura K , Christiansen Emily , Harms Craig A
Published: August 2018

Thromboelastography (TEG) provides a global evaluation of haemostasis. This diagnostic test is widely used in mammals but has not previously been performed in reptiles, mainly due to the limited availability of taxon‐specific reagents. The objective of this pilot study was to establish a protocol to perform TEG in sea turtles. Pooled citrated plasma, stored at −80°C, from four green turtles (Chelonia mydas) was assayed on a TEG 5000. Several initiators were evaluated: kaolin (n=2), RapidTEG (n=2), fresh (n=2) and frozen (n=6) thromboplastin extracted from pooled brain tissue from several chelonian species, human recombinant tissue factor at 1:100 (n=1), Reptilase (n=2), and rabbit thromboplastin (n=1). Both fresh and frozen chelonian thromboplastin were superior in producing quantifiable TEG reaction time compared with all other reagents. These findings are consistent with the lack of an intrinsic pathway in turtles and confirmed a lack of coagulation in the turtle samples in response to mammalian thromboplastin. A TEG protocol was subsequently established for harvested species‐specific frozen thromboplastin. The frozen thromboplastin reagent remained stable after one year of storage at −80°C. The developed protocol will be useful as a basis for future studies that aim to understand the pathophysiology of haemostatic disorders in various stranding conditions of sea turtles.
Use of Distributed Semi-Supervised Clustering for Text Classification
Authors: Li Pei , Deng Ze
Published: August 2018

Text classification is an important way to handle and organize textual data. Among existing methods of text classification, semi-supervised clustering is a main-stream technique. In the era of ‘Big data’, the current semi-supervised clustering approaches for text classification generally do not apply for excessive costs in scalability and computing performance for massive text data. Aiming at this problem, this study proposes a scalable text classification algorithm for large-scale text collections, namely D-TESC by modifying a state-of-the-art semi-supervised clustering approach for text classification in a centralized fashion (TESC). D-TESC can process the textual data in a distributed manner to meet a great scalability. The experimental results indicate that (1) the D-TESC algorithm has a comparable classification quality with TESC, and (2) outperforms TESC by average 7.2 times by using eight CPU threads in terms of scalability.
A characterization related to Schrödinger equations on Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Faraci Francesca , Farkas Csaba
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we consider the following problem: [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text]-dimensional ([Formula: see text], non-compact Riemannian manifold with asymptotically non-negative Ricci curvature, [Formula: see text] is a real parameter, [Formula: see text] is a positive coercive potential, [Formula: see text] is a bounded function and [Formula: see text] is a suitable nonlinearity. By using variational methods, we prove a characterization result for existence of solutions for [Formula: see text].
Polynomials and tensors of bounded strength
Authors: Bik Arthur , Draisma Jan , Eggermont Rob H.
Published: August 2018

Notions of rank abound in the literature on tensor decomposition. We prove that strength, recently introduced for homogeneous polynomials by Ananyan–Hochster in their proof of Stillman’s conjecture and generalized here to other tensors, is universal among these ranks in the following sense: any non-trivial Zariski-closed condition on tensors that is functorial in the underlying vector space implies bounded strength. This generalizes a theorem by Derksen–Eggermont–Snowden on cubic polynomials, as well as a theorem by Kazhdan–Ziegler which says that a polynomial all of whose directional derivatives have bounded strength must itself have bounded strength.
Geometric grid network and third-order compact scheme for solving nonlinear variable coefficients 3D elliptic PDEs
Authors: Jha Navnit , Gopal Venu , Singh Bhagat
Published: August 2018

By using nonuniform (geometric) grid network, a new high-order finite-difference compact scheme has been obtained for the numerical solution of three-space dimensions partial differential equations of elliptic type. Single cell discretization to the elliptic equation makes it easier to compute and exhibit stability of the numerical solutions. The monotone and irreducible property of the Jacobian matrix to the system of difference equations analyses the converging behavior of the numerical solution values. As an experiment, applications of the compact scheme to Schrödinger equations, sine-Gordon equations, elliptic Allen–Cahn equation and Poisson’s equation have been presented with root mean squared errors of exact and approximate solution values. The results corroborate the reliability and efficiency of the scheme.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSUMPTION TAXES ON ANIMAL FOOD PRODUCTS TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: JANSSON TORBJÖRN , SÄLL SARAH
Published: August 2018

Livestock cause around 10% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union. Despite the large quantities, no economic policy is in place to reduce emissions from the sector. In this paper, we introduce consumption taxes on animal products in the European Union to reduce GHG emissions. Impacts are simulated using the CAPRI model, which was created to analyze the impacts of agricultural policy reforms within the EU. Tax levels of 16, 60 and 290 Euro per ton of GHG emissions are used in the estimations.

Our results show that consumption taxes have small mitigation effects, up to 4.9% of total agricultural emissions from the EU-27, mainly due to inelastic demand. The main source of reductions is beef and France is the country where most reductions would take place, given high levels of production and consumption in the country, combined with a large demand elasticity of beef.
A Probabilistic, Ontological Framework for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Authors: Chantas Giannis , Karavarsamis Sotiris , Nikolopoulos Spiros , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: August 2018

In this article, we propose Multi-Entity Bayesian Networks (MEBNs) as the probabilistic ontological framework for the analysis of the Tsamiko and Salsa dances. More specifically, our analysis has the objective of the dancer assessment with respect to both choreography execution accuracy and the synchronization of the dance movements with the musical rhythm. For this task, we make use of the explicit, expert-provided knowledge on dance movements and their relations to the musical beat. Due to the complexity of this knowledge, the MEBNs were used as the probabilistic ontological framework in which the knowledge is formalized. The reason we opt for MEBNs for this task is that they combine Bayesian and formal (first-order) logic into a single model. In this way, the Bayesian probabilistic part of MEBNs was used to capture, using example data and training, the implicit part of the expert knowledge about dances, i.e., this part of the knowledge that cannot be formalized and explicitly defined accurately enough, while the logical maintains the explicit knowledge representation in the same way ontologies do. Moreover, we present in detail the MEBN models we built for Tsamiko and Salsa, using expert-provided explicit knowledge. Last, we conduct experiments that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MEBN-based methodology we employ to achieve our analysis objectives. The results of the experiments demonstrate the superiority of MEBNs to conventional models, such as BNs, in terms of the dancer assessment accuracy.
Classroom-Based Research Projects for Computing Teachers
Authors: Sentance Sue , Sinclair Jane , Simmons Carl , Csizmadia Andrew
Published: August 2018

The introduction of Computing to the national curriculum in England has led to a situation where in-service teachers need to develop subject knowledge and pedagogical expertise in computer science, which presents a significant challenge. Professional learning opportunities can support this; these may be most effective when situated in the teachers’ own working practices. This article describes a project to support Computing teachers in developing pedagogical skills by carrying out classroom-based research in their schools. A group of 22 primary (Grades K--5) and secondary (Grades 6--10) teachers from schools across England planned, designed, and implemented research projects either individually or in small groups, supported by a team of university colleagues. Inter and intra group progress was shared online and face-to-face within a distributed community of inquiry. Data collection included surveys, video data, and the projects completed by the teachers. The findings from the project are analysed using Clarke and Hollingsworth’s Interconnected Model of Teacher Professional Growth (IMTPG), which enables an identification and exploration of teacher change. Results of the analysis demonstrate that the approach can foster “growth networks”—the construct used within IMTPG to indicate teacher change which is likely to be sustained and fundamental to teachers’ understanding. The individual nature of this change indicates that the approach supports personal change related to each teacher’s specific situation. Although there is a huge literature on action research as part of teacher professional learning, we believe this to be the first time this has been carried out in the context of computer science education. We conclude by critically reflecting on the lessons that we have learned in leading this project.
Design and Implementation of Adaptive SpMV Library for Multicore and Many-Core Architecture
Authors: Tan Guangming , Liu Junhong , Li Jiajia
Published: August 2018

Sparse matrix vector multiplication (SpMV) is an important computational kernel in traditional high-performance computing and emerging data-intensive applications. Previous SpMV libraries are optimized by either application-specific or architecture-specific approaches but present difficulties for use in real applications. In this work, we develop an auto-tuning system (SMATER) to bridge the gap between specific optimizations and general-purpose use. SMATER provides programmers a unified interface based on the compressed sparse row (CSR) sparse matrix format by implicitly choosing the best format and fastest implementation for any input sparse matrix during runtime. SMATER leverages a machine-learning model and retargetable back-end library to quickly predict the optimal combination. Performance parameters are extracted from 2,386 matrices in the SuiteSparse matrix collection. The experiments show that SMATER achieves good performance (up to 10 times that of the Intel Math Kernel Library (MKL) on Intel E5-2680 v3) while being portable on state-of-the-art x86 multicore processors, NVIDIA GPUs, and Intel Xeon Phi accelerators. Compared with the Intel MKL library, SMATER runs faster by more than 2.5 times on average. We further demonstrate its adaptivity in an algebraic multigrid solver from the Hypre library and report greater than 20% performance improvement.