bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transurethral intraluminal closure of a caudally located bladder neck tear in a standing mare
Authors: Hall M. D. , Rodgerson D. H.
Published: February 2019

This case report describes a minimally invasive transurethral approach to repair a caudally located, ventral tear in the neck of the bladder in a standing mare. The mare was diagnosed with a ruptured bladder 16 h post‐partum based on clinical signs, transabdominal ultrasonography, peritoneal fluid analysis and serum biochemistry, and cystoscopy. Under sedation and epidural anaesthesia, the tear was visualised with a laparoscope placed through a sterile disposable foil large animal vaginal speculum (Henry Schein®; Henry Schein Animal Health, Dublin, Ohio, USA). Using Karl Storz Macro needle holders (Karl Storz Endoscopy, Culver City, California, USA.) passed through the speculum, the defect was sutured in a single layer simple continuous pattern using 0 Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl®; Ethicon Inc., Cornelia, Georgia, USA.). The surgical time was 30 min and no complications were encountered. The mare has shown no signs of urine pooling, urine dribbling, or cystitis since the operation. She is alive at the time of submission (130 days post‐operatively).
A genealogy of military geographies: Complicities, entanglements, and legacies
Authors: Forsyth Isla
Published: February 2019

This paper argues that historical geography is particularly well positioned to make insightful contributions to military geographies and critical military studies more broadly because of its commitment to critically exploring the genealogies and consequences of military violence, which are too often seen as a given or historically non‐contingent. This is demonstrated by a review of existing literature which variously acknowledges the emergence of disciplinary geography in concert with the modern military, traces the contributions of geographers to and their entanglements with the military, and accounts for the complicities, consequences, and legacies of military activities and violence through a historical lens. The paper reveals how historical geography exposes the knowledges, technologies, and lives that produce and are shaped by military activities as being spatially and temporally specific. Further, it suggests future directions for historical geography that would extend and expand the discipline's attempts to more fully acknowledge the place of military geographies in our histories, politics, spatialities, cultures, and everyday lives.
Political trust, young people and institutions in Europe. A multilevel analysis
Authors: Chevalier Tom
Published: February 2019

The constant decline of political trust has been shown in political sociology. Young people in particular seem to display lower levels of political trust, which is a challenge for the sustainability of democracy. Still, these levels of political trust among youth differ greatly from one country to another. This article therefore seeks to answer the following question: How can we account for cross‐national diversity with regard to young people’s political trust? To answer this question, I performed multilevel analyses based on data from the European Social Survey. I show in the article that cross‐national diversity stems from the institutional arrangements that structure entry into adulthood, i.e., what I call ‘youth welfare citizenship regimes’: The more inclusive is the youth economic citizenship and the more individualised is their social citizenship, the higher is young people’s political trust – which could buffer the decline in political trust.
Characterization of Herves‐like transposable elements (hATs) in Drosophila species and their evolutionary scenario
Authors: Bernardo L. P. , Mombach D. M. , Loreto E. L. S.
Published: February 2019

A monophyletic group of Drosophila hAT transposable elements, referred to as Herves‐like, was characterized and found to be present in 46% of 57 screened Drosophila species. A remarkable characteristic of these elements is the presence of a long array of minisatellite repeats (MnRs) in both subterminal extremities of the elements. The copy number of these minisatellites was highly variable between and within populations. Twenty‐three strains of Drosophila willistoni, covering its geographic distribution, were screened for polymorphism in the copy number of 5′ MnRs, showing a variation from 7 to 20 repeat copies. These MnRs are well conserved among Drosophila species and probably function as transposase binding sequences, as provided by short subterminal repeats in other hAT elements. Miniature inverted repeat transposable elements were found in 27% of species carrying Herves‐like elements. Phylogenetic analysis showed incongruences between transposable elements and species phylogenies, suggesting that at least four horizontal transfer events have occurred.
A computationally efficient model for determining sound speed in shallow tropical freshwater systems, with field validation
Authors: Sadalage Jyoti , Das Arnab , Joshi Yashwant
Published: February 2019

The optimum performance of any underwater system depends on the propagation characteristics of the acoustic signals in the local water medium. Shallow tropical freshwater systems suffer from sub‐optimal performance of sonar systems deployed for any acoustic sensing because of random fluctuations of the water medium. The propagation characteristics depend largely on the sound speed variations defined by the site‐specific physical parameters such as water temperature, salinity and depth. The present study focuses on analysing the sound speed profile of a typical shallow freshwater system (Khadakwasla Lake; 18.43°N, 73.76°E), using regression models with the goal of deriving a computationally efficient model. To this end, a linear and polynomial regression model was developed, and their performance compared with the results of the model of Chen and Millero (), based on root mean square error (RMSE). In situ measurements of electrical conductivity, temperature and density (CTD) were carried out using a Valeport 602 CTD meter. Approximately 125 CTD samples were obtained during a 2‐day experimental study conducted at Khadakwasla Lake from 11 October 2017 to 12 October 2017. The data collection was undertaken throughout the day at multiple locations in the lake over a spatial distance of ~16 km. The Valeport 602 CTD meter uses the Chen and Millero () formula, considered the most conventional sound speed equation. The computational complexity of the proposed models was measured in terms of the number of addition and multiplication operations required. The validation of both models was carried out by varying the model input parameters within defined limits. The model inputs have been derived from an in situ experimental data collection process in a typical shallow tropical freshwater system. The linear regression model exhibited an RMSE of 4.15 m/s, while the polynomial regression model exhibited a good agreement with an RMSE of 0.5 m/s.
Employee Engagement as Administrative Reform: Testing the Efficacy of the OPM's Employee Engagement Initiative
Authors: Hameduddin Taha , Fernandez Sergio
Published: February 2019

Researchers have long recognized administrative reform as a constant feature of American public administration. The employee engagement initiative of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has become one of the most prominent administrative reforms underway in the federal government. Like many reforms, the veracity of claims about this reform have gone untested. This article addresses this gap by testing the relationship between the OPM's employee engagement initiative and agency performance. After establishing the psychometric validity of the OPM's Employment Engagement Index, the authors use a five‐year panel data set of federal agencies and two‐way fixed‐effects regression to test the efficacy of this prominent reform. The analysis shows that efforts to encourage employee engagement generally have the expected relationship with performance, but the relationship varies according to the components that make up the index and the organizational level at which these efforts are expended.
Electromechanical Coupling and Frequency Characteristics of a Quartz Crystal Resonator Covered With Micropillars
Authors: Xie Xuan , Xie Jiemin , Luo Wei , Wu Zeyan
Published: February 2019

Recently, some researchers have studied the frequency characteristics of a quartz crystal resonator (QCR) covered with micropillars to measure the physical and geometric parameters of the micropillars. A recent study showed that the QCR-pillars device can greatly enhance the sensitivity when compared with conventional QCR sensors. In this research, we calculate the frequency and bandwidth shift of a QCR covered with micropillars based on the transmission line model with conductance analysis and small-load approximation, respectively. Numerical results showed that the frequency and bandwidth shift of QCR changed significantly when the height of the pillar approaches the critical height, which implies the coupled resonance. Two results fit very well except for the neighborhood of resonance point where the small-load approximation does not hold. The small-load approximation is quite simple and efficient as long as the frequency shift is small. The conductance analysis is relatively complicated but can deal with any case. The outcomes of this research are helpful for micro/nanowires characterization and further improvement of QCR-pillars devices for various applications such as biochemical sensors.
Analytical and Experimental Analysis of Static Friction Forces of Moving Cables Inside Curved Pipes
Authors: de Menezes Eduardo A. W. , Geiger Filipe P. , Perondi Eduardo A. , Fernández Javier M. , Santos Hugo F. L.
Published: February 2019

In-pipe robots are a powerful tool for hydrate plug removal inside ultradeepwater pipes. Most of these robots operate with the energy supplied by umbilical cables. The present work focuses on the development of a general strategy for computing the required forces for pulling such cables confined in ducts of generic length and geometry. Based on classical mathematical models applied in cable friction evaluation, a new equation set was developed and implemented in a computational algorithm designed to evaluate the static friction force related to the cumulative effects along the arbitrary set of curves present in a generic pipe. Therefore, the proposed computational routine can calculate the static friction forces associated with a cable inside a given pipe, whose coordinates are fed by the user. To evaluate the simulation performance, the achieved results were compared with the data obtained through experimental tests performed using a cable with polymeric coating positioned inside ducts. Different geometries, loads, and lubricating conditions were tested, and the analytical model could suitably estimate the required force to move an umbilical cable inside pipes.
Theoretical Analysis of Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Element Method Mathematical Model Solution Change With Varying Computational Cell Size
Authors: Volk Annette , Ghia Urmila
Published: February 2019

Successful verification and validation is crucial to build confidence in the application of coupled computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method (CFD–DEM). Model verification includes ensuring a mesh-independent solution, which poses a major difficulty in CFD–DEM due to the complicated relationship between solution and computational cell size. In this paper, we investigate the production of numerical error in the CFD–DEM coupling procedure with computational grid refinement. The porosity distribution output from simulations of fixed-particle beds is determined to be Gaussian, and the average and standard deviation of the representative distribution are reported against cell size. We find that the standard deviation of bed porosity increases exponentially as the cell size is reduced. The average drag calculated from each drag law is very sensitive to changes in the porosity standard deviation. When combined together, these effects result in an exponential change in expected drag force when the cell size is small relative to the particle diameter. The divided volume fraction method of porosity calculation is shown to be superior to the centered volume fraction (CVF) method. The sensitivity of five popular drag laws to changes in the porosity distribution is presented, and the Ergun and Beetstra drag laws are shown to be the least sensitive to changes in the cell size. A cell size greater than three average particle diameters is recommended to prevent errors in the simulation results. A grid refinement study (GRS) is used to quantify numerical error.
Nonlinear vibrations of thin plates with variable thickness: Application to sound synthesis of cymbals
Authors: Nguyen Quoc Bao , Touzé Cyril
Published: February 2019

Geometrically nonlinear vibrations of thin plates and shells with variable thickness are investigated numerically with the purpose of synthesizing the sound of cymbals. In cymbal making, taper refers to the gradual change in thickness from the centre to the rim and is known to be a key feature that determines the tone of the instrument. It is generally used in conjunction with shape variations in order to enable the cymbal to play a bell-like sound when hit near its centre, or a crash sound when struck close to the edge. The von Kármán equations for thin plates with thickness and shape variations are derived, and a numerical method combining a Rayleigh-Ritz approach together with a Störmer-Verlet scheme for advancing the problem in time is detailed. One main advantage of the method is its ability to implement easily any frequency-dependent loss mechanism which is a key property for sound synthesis. Also, the accuracy of the computation of the nonlinear restoring force is especially preserved. The method is employed to synthesize the sounds of cymbal-like instruments. The impact of taper is addressed and the relative effects of both thickness and shape variations, are contrasted.
Periodic self-modulation of an electrodynamically driven heated wire near resonance
Authors: Penelet Guillaume , Garrett Steven L.
Published: February 2019

A thin nichrome wire driven near resonance by the Lorentz force and heated by an alternating electrical current is a popular lecture demonstration. Due to the convective cooling of the portions of the wire moving with the greatest amplitude, only glowing regions near a velocity node will be visible in a darkened room. Nonlinear effects and the thermal expansion coefficient of the wire displace the wire's tensioning mass. By adiabatic invariance, the work done on or by the vibrating wire, due to the changes in the mass's elevation, causes the natural frequency of the standing wave resonance to be shifted. Competition between the thermal inertia of the wire and the convective heat transfer coefficient introduces an exponential thermal relaxation time so that the amplitude of vibration is dependent on the ratio of the drive frequency to the changing resonance frequency at an earlier (retarded) time. These thermal and kinetic effects are incorporated into three coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations that are separated by the method of multiple time scales and are solved numerically, reproducing both the spontaneous appearance of stable periodic amplitude modulation and the hysteretic behavior observed with increasing or decreasing of the drive frequency.
Insertion and folding pathways of single membrane proteins guided by translocases and insertases
Authors: Serdiuk Tetiana , Steudle Anja , Mari Stefania A. , Manioglu Selen , Kaback H. Ronald , Kuhn Andreas , Müller Daniel J.
Published: February 2019

We observe how translocon and insertase insert single polypeptides along remarkably different pathways to fold membrane proteins.
Unexpected drug emerges for stroke recovery
Authors: Servick Kelly
Published: February 2019

HIV drug targets a protein that may hinder the brain's regrowth after damage.
Nobel laureate Steven Chu assumes term as AAAS president
Authors: Hoy Anne Q.
Published: February 2019

Chu calls on scientists to share scientific discoveries with the public
Technology Feature | Shotgunning the messenger: Single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Dove Alan
Published: February 2019

Biomarkers for neurological diseases used to be few and far between, but better technology is making it easier for researchers to track brain health by measuring molecules. This means less invasive testing, earlier diagnosis, faster drug development, and—hopefully—more effective treatments.
A pharmacological master key mechanism that unlocks the selectivity filter gate in K
+
channels
Authors: Schewe Marcus , Sun Han , Mert Ümit , Mackenzie Alexandra , Pike Ashley C. W. , Schulz Friederike , Constantin Cristina , Vowinkel Kirsty S. , Conrad Linus J. , Kiper Aytug K. , Gonzalez Wendy , Musinszki Marianne , Tegtmeier Marie , Pryde David C. , Belabed Hassane , Nazare Marc , de Groot Bert L. , Decher Niels , Fakler Bernd , Carpenter Elisabeth P. , Tucker Stephen J. , Baukrowitz Thomas
Published: February 2019

A key to potassium channel activation

Using drugs to activate potassium channels has the potential to treat conditions like epilepsy, heart arrhythmias, and pain. Schewe
et al.
report a class of negatively charged activators (NCAs) with a defined pharmacore that use a similar mechanism to activate many types of potassium channels. X-ray crystallography, functional analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations showed that the NCAs bind below the selectivity filter to open the filter gate and activate the channels. Targeting this NCA site might be exploited in rational drug design.

Science
, this issue p.
875
The eruptive tempo of Deccan volcanism in relation to the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary
Authors: Sprain Courtney J. , Renne Paul R. , Vanderkluysen Loÿc , Pande Kanchan , Self Stephen , Mittal Tushar
Published: February 2019

Two timelines for extinction

The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction that wiped out the nonavian dinosaurs 66 million years ago was correlated with two extreme events: The Chicxulub impact occurred at roughly the same time that massive amounts of lava were erupting from the Deccan Traps (see the Perspective by Burgess). Sprainet al.used argon-argon dating of the volcanic ash from the Deccan Traps to argue that a steady eruption of the flood basalts mostly occurred after the Chicxulub impact. Schoeneet al.used uranium-lead dating of zircons from ash beds and concluded that four large magmatic pulses occurred during the flood basalt eruption, the first of which preceded the Chicxulub impact. Whatever the correct ordering of events, better constraints on the timing and rates of the eruption will help elucidate how volcanic gas influenced climate.

Science, this issue p.866, p.862; see also p.815
Persistence of pneumococcal antibodies after primary immunisation with a polysaccharide–protein conjugate vaccine
Authors: Zimmermann Petra , Perrett Kirsten P , Berbers Guy , Curtis Nigel
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Despite immunisation, antibiotics and intensive care management, infection withStreptococcus pneumoniaeremains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The WHO currently recommends vaccinating infants with either a 3+0 schedule (6 weeks, 3–4 and 4–6 months of age) or 2+1 schedule (2 doses before 6 months of age, plus a booster dose at 9–15 months of age). This study investigated pneumococcal antibody responses, including persistence of antibodies, after immunisation of healthy infants with a 3+0 schedule.

Methods

We measured pneumococcal antibody concentrations to all 13 antigens included in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) after immunisation with a 3+0 schedule in 91 infants at 7 months and in 311 infants at 13 months of age. The geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and the proportion of infants with an antibody concentration above the standard threshold correlate of protection (seroprotection rate) were calculated at both time points.

Results

At 7 months of age, GMCs varied between 0.52 µg/mLand 11.52 µg/mL, and seroprotection rates varied between 69% and 100%. At 13 months of age, GMCs had decreased to between 0.22 µg/mLand 3.09 µg/mL, with the lowest responses against serotype 4, followed by 19A, 3, 6B and 23F. Seroprotection rates at 13 months of age were below 90% for most serotypes, with the lowest rates for serotype 4 (23%) followed by 19A (50%), 23F (61%) and 6B (64%).

Conclusion

Our study shows that at 13 months of age, many infants vaccinated with a 3+0 schedule have pneumococcal antibody concentrations below the standard threshold correlate of protection. To optimise protection against pneumococcal disease through early childhood and to improve antibody persistence and indirect protective effects, immunisation schedules with booster doses might be necessary.
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis with corneal melt as the primary presentation in a case of human immunodeficiency virus
Authors: Tavassoli Shokufeh , Gunn David , Tole Derek , Darcy Kieren
Published: February 2019

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is an aggressive, potentially sight-threatening cause for peripheral corneal thinning. It is thought to be the result of immune complex deposition at the limbus, resulting in corneal inflammation and stromal melt. We present a case of a 43-year-old female patient of African origin, presenting with PUK and associated corneal perforation as the primary presentation of HIV infection. An urgent tectonic deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty was performed under general anaesthesia with excellent outcome. The patient was referred to the sexual health clinic and anti-retroviral treatment was initiated. This case is to the best of our knowledge the first report from the UK of PUK with corneal perforation as the primary presentation of HIV infection. As highlighted in this report, infection with HIV may initially be silent; therefore, it is vital to consider HIV infection when dealing with PUK of unknown aetiology.
Tuberculosis of the breast: an uncommon presentation of an old disease
Authors: Galego Maria Antonia , Lage Gisela , Shekhovtsova Maria , Duarte Raquel
Published: February 2019

Breast tuberculosis (TB) is considered an uncommon disease with an estimated incidence of 0.1% of all breast lesions reported in developed countries. A 53-year-old Caucasian woman, with a medical history of Crohn’s disease, previously treated with infliximab for 3 months suspended due to a presumptive diagnosis of TB for which antitubercular regimen was started. Five months after, a painful lump in the left breast was identified by the patient. Mammary ultrasound confirmed left breast nodules and axillary adenopathies. Histology and microbiology of both lesions confirmed breast TB. Molecular drug susceptibility testing in both samples revealed no resistance to first line anti-TB drugs and the regimen was maintained for 1 year, with clinical and radiological improvement. Mammary gland involvement usually results from lymphatic extension and differential diagnosis frequently includes breast cancer or bacterial abscess.
‘Acute-angled bevel’ sign to assess donor lenticule orientation in ultra-thin descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty
Authors: Titiyal Jeewan S , Kaur Manpreet , Shaikh Farin , Bari Aafreen
Published: February 2019

A 6.5-year-old boy with congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy underwent clear corneal ultra-thin descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). After graft insertion, it was difficult to assess graft orientation due to hazy cornea. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) showed a well-attached graft and the bevelled edge of donor lenticule made an acute angle with the overlying stroma. Postoperative anterior segment OCT confirmed the presence of acute-angled bevel sign. A wetlab experiment was performed with experimental corneoscleral tissues to confirm the findings. Donor lenticule was injected in the artificial chamber with stromal-side up as well as stromal side-down. ‘Acute-angled bevel sign’ was observed on iOCT in the experimental cases with stromal-side up. In inverse graft, the acute-angled bevel was not observed, instead the configuration was obtuse angled. Identifying the ‘acute-angled bevel sign’ on iOCT confirms correct graft orientation after unfolding and is extremely useful for hazy corneas and ultrathin DSAEK lenticules.
Does daily dietary intake affect diabetic retinopathy progression? 10-year results from the 45 and Up Study
Authors: Yan Xixi , Han Xiaotong , Wu Changfan , Keel Stuart , Shang Xianwen , Zhang Lei , He Mingguang
Published: February 2019

Background/aims

To evaluate the associations of dietary consumption with the 10-year incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression in working-aged Australians with diabetes.

Methods

We obtained longitudinal data of all diabetic subjects aged 45–65 years from the baseline of the 45 and Up Study and linked this data with Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims until 2016. Retinal photocoagulation (RPC), as determined based on the MBS data, was used as a proxy measure of DR progression. Dietary measurements were assessed via self-reported consumption of meat, dairy products, whole-meal bread, breakfast cereal, vegetables, fruit and fruit juice using a self-administered questionnaire at baseline. Cox regression was used to assess the association between dietary consumption and incident RPC during the follow-up period.

Results

A total of 8122 participants were included in the current analysis with a mean age of 57.2±5.2 years. During a mean follow-up of 8.6 years, 314 participants (3.8% of baseline) received RPC. Higher consumption of cheese and whole-meal bread was associated with a lower risk of incident RPC, with the HRs of the highest quartiles versus the lowest being 0.58 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.83; test for trend, p=0.007) and 0.64 (0.46 to 0.89; p=0.04), respectively. Body mass index, insulin treatment and gender were significant modifiers for the association between cheese/whole-meal bread and RPC.

Conclusion

Consumption of cheese and whole-meal bread could reduce the risk of DR progression among the working-aged Australian population with diabetes.
Preservation of retinoblastoma group E eyes with neovascular glaucoma using intravenous chemotherapy: risk factors and outcomes
Authors: Rao Raksha , Honavar Santosh G , Reddy Vijayanand Palkonda
Published: February 2019

Background/aim

To report the outcomes of retinoblastoma group E eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG) treated conservatively with intravenous chemotherapy and investigate factors associated with eye salvage and secondary enucleation.

Methods

This is a retrospective, comparative, interventional case series. The outcome measures were life salvage, eye salvage and vision salvage.

Results

Of the 37 eyes managed by intravenous chemotherapy, secondary enucleation was necessary in 21 eyes (group 1) and eye salvage was possible in 16 eyes (group 2). A comparison of both groups revealed significant difference with group 1 demonstrating greater duration of symptoms (18.8 weeks vs 5.4 weeks, p=0.016), greater intraocular pressure (IOP) at presentation (36 mm Hg vs 30 mm Hg, p=0.044), greater increase in corneal diameter (1.52 mm vs 0.50 mm, p=0.013) and the presence of sterile orbital cellulitis (9 vs 1, p=0.023). Further, the risk factors for secondary enucleation by univariate analysis were duration of symptoms >10 weeks (p=0.003), presenting IOP >26 mm Hg (p=0.045), buphthalmos (p=0.014) and sterile orbital cellulitis (p=0.023) and by multivariate analysis were age at presentation >6 months (p=0.012) and buphthalmos (p=0.017). At a mean follow-up of 20.5 months, none of the patients in either group developed systemic metastasis.

Conclusion

For retinoblastoma group E eyes presenting with NVG, the chance of eye salvage with intravenous chemotherapy is better when the age at diagnosis is <6 months, duration of symptoms is <10 weeks, IOP is <26 mm Hg, and in the absence buphthalmos and sterile orbital inflammation.
Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-up Data from the National database (KITCHEN): protocol for data-driven population-based repeated cross-sectional and 6-year cohort studies
Authors: Nakajima Kei , Iwane Taizo , Higuchi Ryoko , Shibata Michi , Takada Kento , Uda Jun , Anan Mami , Sugiyama Michiko , Nakamura Teiji
Published: February 2019

Introduction

The unmitigated incidence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, has gained attention in Japan. ‘Big data’ can be useful to clarify conflicting observations obtained from studies with small samples and about rare conditions that are often neglected. We epidemiologically address these issues using data from health check-ups conducted in Kanagawa Prefecture, the prefecture with the second largest population in Japan, in the Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-up Data from the National Database (KITCHEN).

Methods and analysis

This research consists of a series of population-based cross-sectional studies repeated from 2008–2014 and 6-year cohort studies. Since 2017, we have reviewed the data of people living in Kanagawa Prefecture who underwent a health check-up mainly for general health and the prevention of metabolic syndrome. The sample size ranges from 1.2 million to 1.8 million people in the cross-sectional studies and from 370 000 to 590 000 people in the cohort studies. These are people aged 40–74 years, whose clinical parameters were measured and who responded individually to a questionnaire. We investigate potential associations and causalities of various aetiologies, including diabetes and metabolic syndrome, using clinical data and lifestyle information. With multidisciplinary analysis, including data-driven analysis, we expect to obtain a wide range of novel findings, to confirm indeterminate previous findings, especially in terms of cardiometabolic disease, and to provide new perspectives for human health promotion and disease prevention.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was received from the Ethics Committee of Kanagawa University of Human Services (10-43). The protocol was approved in December 2016 by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (No. 121). The study results will be disseminated through open platforms including journal articles, relevant conferences and seminar presentations.
Can we IMPROVE cardiovascular outcomes through phosphate lowering in CKD? Rationale and protocol for the IMpact of Phosphate Reduction On Vascular End-points in Chronic Kidney Disease (IMPROVE-CKD) study
Authors: Lioufas Nicole , Toussaint Nigel D , Pedagogos Eugenia , Elder Grahame , Badve Sunil V , Pascoe Elaine , Valks Andrea , Hawley Carmel
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at heightened cardiovascular risk, which has been associated with abnormalities of bone and mineral metabolism. A deeper understanding of these abnormalities should facilitate improved treatment strategies and patient-level outcomes, but at present there are few large, randomised controlled clinical trials to guide management. Positive associations between serum phosphate and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in both the general and CKD populations have resulted in clinical guidelines suggesting that serum phosphate be targeted towards the normal range, although few randomised and placebo-controlled studies have addressed clinical outcomes using interventions to improve phosphate control. Early preventive measures to reduce the development and progression of vascular calcification, left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffness are crucial in patients with CKD.

Methods and analysis

We outline the rationale and protocol for an international, multicentre, randomised parallel-group trial assessing the impact of the non-calcium-based phosphate binder, lanthanum carbonate, compared with placebo on surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in a predialysis CKD population—theIMpact ofPhosphateReductionOnVascularEnd-points (IMPROVE)-CKD study. The primary objective of the IMPROVE-CKD study is to determine if the use of lanthanum carbonate reduces the burden of cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD stages 3b and 4 when compared with placebo. The primary end-point of the study is change in arterial compliance measured by pulse wave velocity over a 96-week period. Secondary outcomes include change in aortic calcification and biochemical parameters of serum phosphate, parathyroid hormone and FGF-23 levels.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for the IMPROVE-CKD trial was obtained by each local Institutional Ethics Committee for all 17 participating sites in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia prior to study commencement. Results of this clinical trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12610000650099.
Supra-inguinal injection for fascia iliaca compartment block results in more consistent spread towards the lumbar plexus than an infra-inguinal injection: a volunteer study
Authors: Vermeylen Kris , Desmet Matthias , Leunen Ine , Soetens Filiep , Neyrinck Arne , Carens Dirk , Caerts Ben , Seynaeve Patrick , Hadzic Admir , Van de Velde Marc
Published: February 2019

Background and objectives

Lumbar plexus block has been used to provide postoperative analgesia after lower limb surgery. The fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) has been proposed as an anterior approach of the lumbar plexus targeting the femoral, obturator and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. However, both radiological and clinical evidence demonstrated that an infra-inguinal approach to the fascia iliaca compartment does not reliably block the three target nerves.

We hypothesized that a supra-inguinal approach of the fascia iliaca compartment results in a more consistent block of the three target nerves than an infra-inguinal approach.

Methods

We performed a randomized controlled, double-blind trial in 10 healthy volunteers. Both an infra-inguinal FICB (I-FICB) and a supra-inguinal FICB (S-FICB) were performed on the left or the right side in each volunteer. Forty milliliters of lidocaine 0.5% was injected with each approach. Sensory and motor block and spread of local anesthetics (LA) on MRI were assessed.

Results

After an S-FICB, 80% of the volunteers had a complete sensory block of the medial, anterior and lateral region of the thigh, compared with 30% after an I-FICB (p=0.035). There was an insignificant effect on motor function with both approaches. After an S-FICB, in 8 out of 10 volunteers there was spread of LA in the expected anatomic location of the obturator nerve on MRI compared with 1 out of 10 volunteers after an I-FICB (p=0.0017). The cranial spread of LA after an S-FICB on MRI was higher than after an I-FICB (p=0.007), whereas there was a more caudal spread of LA on MRI after an I-FICB than after an S-FICB (p=0.005).

Conclusions

An S-FICB produces a more complete sensory block of the medial, anterior and lateral region of the thigh, compared with an I-FICB. Our study demonstrates that an S-FICB with 40 mL of LA more reliably spreads LA to the anatomical location of the three target nerves of the lumbar plexus on MRI than an I-FICB. An S-FICB also leads to a more consistent spread in a cranial direction under the fascia iliaca and around the psoas muscle.

Clinical trial registration

This work was registered with the European clinical trial registry: Identifier Eudra CT 2015-004607-24.
Simulation of heat transfer at welding with oscillating electron beam
Authors: Kaisheva D. , Angelov V. , Petrov P.
Published: February 2019

This work presents a numerical model of the temperature distribution during electron beam welding, performed by circular and elliptical beam oscillation. The numerical calculations have been done using Green’s functions. A method of finding the dependence between the source power and the weld’s depth is proposed. We present the calculated temperature distribution in electron beam welded aluminium alloy AMg6 with circular and elliptical oscillating beam for different technological parameters. The experimental shape of the weld and the calculated one show a good correspondence.
Synthesis, electrochemistry, protonation and X-ray analysis of meso-aryl substituted open-chain pentapyrroles
Authors: Shan Wenqian , Quesneau Valentin , Desbois Nicolas , Blondeau-Patissier Virginie , Naitana Mario L. , Rousselin Yoann , Gros Claude P. , Ou Zhongping , Kadish Karl M.
Published: February 2019

Five meso-tetraaryl open-chain pentapyrroles were synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemistry and protonation reactions in nonaqueous media. The investigated compounds are represented as (Ar)4PPyH3 where Ar [Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]-F2Ph, [Formula: see text]-BrPh, Ph, [Formula: see text],[Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]-(OMe)3Ph or [Formula: see text]-MePh and were characterized by UV-vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammetry was used to measure redox potentials, while protonation involving the conversion of (Ar)4PPyH3 to [(Ar)4PPyH5][Formula: see text] was monitored by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Equilibrium constants for proton addition were calculated using the Hill equation. One of the pentapyrroles was also structurally characterized. The electrochemical data, protonation constants and crystal structure were then compared with data for previously examined pentapyrroles and analyzed as a function of the solvent properties and nature of substituents on the meso-phenyl rings of the macrocycle.
Beyond worst-case analysis
Authors: Roughgarden Tim
Published: February 2019

The need for deeply understanding when algorithms work (or not) has never been greater.
A hitchhiker's guide to the blockchain universe
Authors: Waldo Jim
Published: February 2019

Blockchain remains a mystery, despite its growing acceptance.
Predicting program properties from 'big code'
Authors: Raychev Veselin , Vechev Martin , Krause Andreas
Published: February 2019

We present a new approach for predicting program properties from large codebases (aka "Big Code"). Our approach learns a probabilistic model from "Big Code" and uses this model to predict properties of new, unseen programs.

The key idea of our work is to transform the program into a representation that allows us to formulate the problem of inferring program properties as structured prediction in machine learning. This enables us to leverage powerful probabilistic models such as Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) and perform
joint
prediction of program properties.

As an example of our approach, we built a scalable prediction engine called JSNICE for solving two kinds of tasks in the context of JavaScript: predicting (syntactic) names of identifiers and predicting (semantic) type annotations of variables. Experimentally, JSNICE predicts correct names for 63% of name identifiers and its type annotation predictions are correct in 81% of cases. Since its public release at http://jsnice.org, JSNice has become a popular system with hundreds of thousands of uses.

By formulating the problem of inferring program properties as structured prediction, our work opens up the possibility for a range of new "Big Code" applications such as de-obfuscators, decompilers, invariant generators, and others.
Questioning a new intellectual property right for press publishers
Authors: Samuelson Pamela
Published: February 2019

Considering the implications of the "link tax" provision of the proposed EU Directive for the Digital Single Market for traditional press publishers.
The January 2019 issue
Authors: Bonaventure Olivier
Published: February 2019

2019 is a special year for SIGCOMM as your SIG will celebrate its 50
th
birthday at SIGCOMM'19 in August. During the last half century, the networking field has evolved a lot and SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review (CCR) contributed to this evolution by timely disseminating technical papers. CCR will celebrate SIGCOMM's birthday with a special issue that will contain editorial notes that reflect on both the past and the future of your SIG. This special issue will be published in October 2019. Its detailed content is still being worked on, but we expect that you will find lots of interesting information in this issue. If you plan to submit papers to CCR, please note that the October 2019 issue will not publish any new technical paper. All the papers submitted between March 1
st
, 2019 and September 1
st
, 2019 will be considered for the January 2020 issue.
Network telemetry
Authors: Yu Minlan
Published: February 2019

Network telemetry is about understanding what is happening in the current network. It serves as the basis for making a variety of management decisions for improving the performance, availability, security, and efficiency of networks. However, it is challenging to build real-time and fine-grained network telemetry systems because of the need to support a variety of measurement queries, handle a large amount of traffic for large networks, while staying within the resource constraints at hosts and switches. Today, most operators take a bottom-up approach by passively collecting data from individual devices and infer the network-wide information they need. They are often limited by the monitoring tools device vendors provide and find it hard to extract useful information. In this paper, we argue for a top-down approach: We should provide a high-level declarative abstraction for operators to specify measurement queries, programmable measurement primitives at switches and hosts, and a runtime that translates the high-level queries into low-level API calls. We discuss a few recent works taking this top-down approach and call for more research in this direction.
Prenatal Developmental Origins of Future Psychopathology: Mechanisms and Pathways
Authors: Monk Catherine , Lugo-Candelas Claudia , Trumpff Caroline
Published: February 2019

The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis applied to neurodevelopmental outcomes asserts that the fetal origins of future development are relevant to mental health. There is a third pathway for the familial inheritance of risk for psychiatric illness beyond shared genes and the quality of parental care: the impact of pregnant women's distress—defined broadly to include perceived stress, life events, depression, and anxiety—on fetal and infant brain–behavior development. We discuss epidemiological and observational clinical data demonstrating that maternal distress is associated with children's increased risk for psychopathology: For example, high maternal anxiety is associated with a twofold increase in the risk of probable mental disorder in children. We review several biological systems hypothesized to be mechanisms by which maternal distress affects fetal and child brain and behavior development, as well as the clinical implications of studies of the developmental origins of health and disease that focus on maternal distress. Development and parenting begin before birth.
Caracterización clínico-epidemiológica de mordeduras en personas mayores en la provincia de los Andes, región de Valparaíso, Chile
Authors: Salas Ramírez Rocio Belen , Villagra Castillo Vania , Torres Hidalgo Marisa
Published: February 2019

Introducción: las mordeduras constituyen un relevante problema de salud, con amplio espectro clínico, pudiendo causar la muerte. Existe escasa información del tema en personas mayores (PM). Método: análisis de base de datos realizada a partir de formularios de notificación de mordeduras de centros de salud y de Protocolos de Denuncia de Animal Mordedor en la provincia de Los Andes, Chile.Objetivo: caracterizar epidemiológicamente las mordeduras en personas mayores ocurridas en la provincia de Los Andes, V región, (2005-2007).Resultados: de los 2358 casos de mordeduras notificados, 234 casos ocurrieron en PM (9,92% del total de casos), con un promedio de edad de 70,09 ± 7,896 años (rango = 60-95 años). La tasa de mordeduras para PM fue de 657,1 por 100000 hbtes (2005), 745,8 por 100000 hbtes (2006) y 627,6 por 100000 hbtes (2007). De éstos, la mayoría se produjo en el sexo femenino (56,8%) (p 0,016). El animal mordedor más frecuente fue el perro (75,6%) en ambos sexos. La complicación más frecuente fue la herida (74,4%), seguida por enfermedad por arañazo de gato (2,1%) y fractura (1,3%). Hubo 1 caso de artritis y 1 de celulitis por mordedura de araña.Conclusiones: las mordeduras en personas mayores son causa de morbilidad importante. Es relevante mejorar los sistemas de registro y vigilancia, y las medidas de educación en la tenencia responsable de animales para lograr una disminución de casos. Se requieren más estudios para determinar otras complicaciones y consecuencias de mordeduras en PM no visualizadas en este estudio.
Periodontal inflammation correlates with systemic inflammation and insulin resistance in patients with recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Oyarzo Natacha , Riveros María , Andaur Constanza , Liberona Jessica , Cortés Víctor
Published: February 2019

Background: diabetes and periodontitis are common comorbidities; however, the clinical implications of this association remain only partially known. This study was aimed to characterize the periodontal status of type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients and its correlation with metabolic and inflammatory parameters. Methods: patients (n = 30) with 5 or less years since the diagnosis of T2D (18 â€“ 65 years old) were recruited. Anthropometric (Body Mass Index, BMI), metabolic (fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, HOMA-IR, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol, triglycerides) and inflammatory parameters (ultrasensitive C reactive protein, usCRP) were quantified. Periodontal evaluation included clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), gingival level (GL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) average. Statistical significance was assessed by Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation tests. Results: mean values of BOP, CAL, PD and GL were 39.3, 2.8, 2.8, and 0.1, respectively. BOP significantly correlated with BMI and HOMA-IR and was higher in patients with elevated usCRP >3 mg/L (p<0.05). Age and duration of T2D directly and inversely correlated with CAL and GL, respectively. BOP correlated with HOMA-IR and usCRP but not with patientsÂ´age, duration of T2D or BMI. Conclusions: in patients with recent diagnosis of T2D, BOP is associated with usCRP and HOMA-IR levels, suggesting that periodontal inflammation promotes insulin resistance possibly by increasing systemic inflammation.