bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymptomatic colitis induced by low-dose methotrexate
Authors: Ozeki Toshikazu , Fujita Yoshiro
Published: November 2016

A woman aged 77 years with a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented with inflammatory colitis confined to her rectum, which was incidentally found by a screening colonoscopy. Histopathological examination of colonic biopsies showed non-specific inflammatory infiltrates of lymphocytes, the cause of which was unknown. She had been diagnosed with RA 5 years before, and she was receiving methotrexate 6 mg weekly, to which tocilizumab had been added 4 years earlier, which achieved stable control of her disease. She had no gastrointestinal symptoms or other health problems. Tocilizumab-induced colitis was considered likely, and the drug was discontinued. Metronidazole was also prescribed because of possibleClostridium difficile-associated colitis. 3 months later, a repeat colonoscopy showed no improvement of the colitis. The methotrexate was also discontinued, and folinic acid was prescribed daily for 2 weeks, leading to complete resolution of the colitis observed at repeat colonoscopy.
Running exposure is associated with the risk of hamstring strain injury in elite Australian footballers
Authors: Ruddy Joshua D , Pollard Christopher W , Timmins Ryan G , Williams Morgan D , Shield Anthony J , Opar David A
Published: November 2016

Background

To investigate the association between running exposure and the risk of hamstring strain injury (HSI) in elite Australian footballers.

Methods

Elite Australian footballers (n=220) from 5 different teams participated. Global positioning system (GPS) data were provided for every athlete for each training session and match for the entire 2015 season. The occurrences of HSIs throughout the study period were reported. Receiver operator characteristic curve analyses were performed and the relative risk (RR) of subsequent HSI was calculated for absolute and relative running exposure variables related to distance covered above 10 and 24 km/hour in the preceding week/s.

Results

30 prospective HSIs occurred. For the absolute running exposure variables, weekly distance covered above 24 km/hour (>653 m, RR=3.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 7.2, sensitivity=0.52, specificity=0.76, area under the curve (AUC)=0.63) had the largest influence on the risk of HSI in the following week. For the relative running exposure variables, distance covered above 24 km/hour as a percentage of distance covered above 10 km/hour (>2.5%, RR=6.3, 95% CI 1.5 to 26.7, sensitivity=0.93, specificity=0.34, AUC=0.63) had the largest influence on the risk of HSI in the following week. Despite significant increases in the RR of HSI, the predictive capacity of these variables was limited.

Conclusions

An association exists between absolute and relative running exposure variables and elite Australian footballers' risk of subsequent HSI, with the association strongest when examining data within 7–14 days. Despite this, the use of running exposure variables displayed limited clinical utility to predict HSI at the individual level.
Sports injuries and illnesses in the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games
Authors: Steffen Kathrin , Moseid Christine Holm , Engebretsen Lars , Søberg Pia K , Amundsen Olav , Holm Kristian , Moger Thomas , Soligard Torbjørn
Published: November 2016

Background

Injury and illness surveillance during high-level youth sports events is an important first step in health prevention and caretaking of the young elite athletes.

Aim

To analyse injuries and illnesses that occurred during the 10 days 2nd Youth Olympic Winter Games (YOG), held in Lillehammer 2016.

Methods

We recorded the daily occurrence (or non-occurrence) of injuries and illnesses through the reporting of (1) all National Olympic Committee (NOC) medical teams and (2) the polyclinic and medical venues by the Lillehammer Organising Committee (LYOCOG) medical staff.

Results

In total, 1083 athletes (48 double-starters), 46% (n=502) of them females, from 70 NOCs were registered in the study. NOCs and LYOCOG reported 108 injuries and 81 illnesses, equalling to 9.5 injuries and 7.2 illnesses per 100 athletes. The percentage of injured athletes was highest in the snowboard and ski slopestyle and cross disciplines, alpine skiing and skeleton, and lowest in the Nordic skiing disciplines. Approximately, two-thirds of the injuries (n=71, 65.7%) prevented the athlete from training or competition, while 10 injuries (9.3%) were registered with an estimated absence from sport for >7 days. The rate of illness was highest in curling and the Nordic skiing disciplines with most of them being respiratory tract infections (81.5%).

Conclusions

Overall, 9% of the athletes incurred at least one injury during the games, and 7% an illness, which is similar to the first YOG in Innsbruck 2012 and slightly lower compared with previous Winter Olympic Games. The incidence of injuries and illnesses varied substantially between sports.
Long-term effects of the Active for Life Year 5 (AFLY5) school-based cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Anderson Emma L , Howe Laura D , Kipping Ruth R , Campbell Rona , Jago Russell , Noble Sian M , Wells Sian , Chittleborough Catherine , Peters Tim J , Lawlor Debbie A
Published: November 2016

Objective

To investigate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based intervention to improve physical activity and diet in children.

Design

Cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Setting

60 primary schools in the southwest of England.

Participants

Primary school children who were aged 8–9 years at recruitment, 9–10 years during the intervention and 10–11 years at the long-term follow-up assessment.

Intervention

Teacher training, provision of lesson and child–parent interactive homework plans and teaching materials.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcomes were accelerometer-assessed minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day, accelerometer-assessed minutes of sedentary behaviour per day and reported daily consumption of servings of fruit and vegetables.

Results

60 schools with 2221 eligible children were recruited. As in the previously published assessment immediately after the end of the intervention, none of the three primary outcomes differed between children in schools allocated to the intervention, compared with those in control schools at the end of the long-term follow-up (1 year after the end of the intervention). Differences in secondary outcomes were consistent with those at the immediate follow-up, with no evidence that these had diminished over time. Comparing intervention with control schools, the difference in mean child-reported screen viewing at the weekend was −16.03 min (95% CI −32.82 to 0.73), for servings of snacks per day, the difference was −0.11 (95% CI −0.39 to 0.06), in servings of high-energy drinks per day −0.20 (95% CI −0.39 to −0.01) and in servings of high-fat foods per day −0.12 (95% CI −0.39 to 0.00). None of these reached our predefined level of statistical significance, especially after accounting for multiple testing.

Conclusions

School-based curriculum interventions alone are unlikely to have a major public health impact on children's diet and physical activity.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN50133740, Post-results.
Predictors of in-hospital mortality among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Almeida Carlos Podalirio Borges de , Couban Rachel , Kallyth Sun Makosso , Cabral Vagner Kunz , Craigie Samantha , Busse Jason Walter , Silva Denise Rossato
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major public health issue worldwide, with 1.4 million deaths occurring annually. There is uncertainty regarding which factors are associated with in-hospital mortality among patients with pulmonary TB. This knowledge gap complicates efforts to identify and improve the management of those individuals with TB at greatest risk of death. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to establish predictors of in-hospital mortality among patients with pulmonary TB to enhance the evidence base for public policy.

Methods and analysis

Studies will be identified by a MEDLINE, EMBASE and Global Health search. Eligible studies will be cohort and case–control studies that report predictors or risk factors for in-hospital mortality among patients with pulmonary TB and an adjusted analysis to explore factors associated with in-hospital mortality. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to summarise the findings of some reported predictors. Teams of 2 reviewers will screen the titles and abstracts of all citations identified in our search, independently and in duplicate, extract data, and assess scientific quality using standardised forms quality assessment and tools tailored. We will pool all factors that were assessed for an association with mortality that were reported by >1 study, and presented the OR and the associated 95% CI. When studies provided the measure of association as a relative risk (RR), we will convert the RR to OR using the formula provided by Wang. For binary data, we will calculate a pooled OR, with an associated 95% CI.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is based on published data, and therefore ethical approval is not a requirement. Findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations at relevant conferences.

Trial registration number

CRD42015025755.
Medication reconciliation as a medication safety initiative in Ethiopia: a study protocol
Authors: Mekonnen Alemayehu B , McLachlan Andrew J , Brien Jo-anne E , Mekonnen Desalew , Abay Zenahebezu
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Medication related adverse events are common, particularly during transitions of care, and have a significant impact on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Medication reconciliation (MedRec) is an important initiative to achieve the Quality Use of Medicines, and has been adopted as a standard practice in many developed countries. However, the impact of this strategy is rarely described in Ethiopia. The aims of this study are to explore patient safety culture, and to develop, implement and evaluate a theory informed MedRec intervention, with the aim of minimising the incidence of medication errors during hospital admission.

Methods and analyses

The study will be conducted in a resource limited setting. There are three phases to this project. The first phase is a mixed methods study of healthcare professionals' perspectives of patient safety culture and patients' experiences of medication related adverse events. In this phase, the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture will be used along with semi-structured indepth interviews to investigate patient safety culture and experiences of medication related adverse events. The second phase will use a semi-structured interview guide, designed according to the 12 domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework, to explore the barriers and facilitators to medication safety activities delivered by hospital pharmacists. The third phase will be a single centre, before and after study, that will evaluate the impact of pharmacist conducted admission MedRec in an emergency department (ED). The main outcome measure is the incidence and potential clinical severity of medication errors. We will then analyse the differences in the incidence and severity of medication errors before and after initiation of an ED pharmacy service.
Long-term mortality in mothers with perinatal losses and risk modification by surviving children and attained education: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Halland Frode , Morken Nils-Halvdan , DeRoo Lisa A , Klungsøyr Kari , Wilcox Allen J , Skjærven Rolv
Published: November 2016

Objective

To assess the association between perinatal losses and mother's long-term mortality and modification by surviving children and attained education.

Design

A population-based cohort study.

Setting

Norwegian national registries.

Participants

We followed 652 320 mothers with a first delivery from 1967 and completed reproduction before 2003, until 2010 or death. We excluded mothers with plural pregnancies, without information on education (0.3%) and women born outside Norway.

Main outcome measures

Main outcome measures were age-specific (40–69 years) cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality. We calculated mortality in mothers with perinatal losses, compared with mothers without, and in mothers with one loss by number of surviving children in strata of mothers’ attained education (<11 years (low), ≥11 years (high)).

Results

Mothers with perinatal losses had increased crude mortality compared with mothers without; total: HR 1.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 1.4), cardiovascular: HR 1.8 (1.5 to 2.1), non-cardiovascular: HR 1.3 (1.2 to 1.4). Childless mothers with one perinatal loss had increased mortality compared with mothers with one child and no loss; cardiovascular: low education HR 2.7 (1.7 to 4.3), high education HR 0.91 (0.13 to 6.5); non-cardiovascular: low education HR 1.6 (1.3 to 2.2), high education HR 1.8 (1.1 to 2.9). Mothers with one perinatal loss, surviving children and high education had no increased mortality, whereas corresponding mothers with low education had increased mortality; cardiovascular: two surviving children HR 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4), three or more surviving children HR 1.6 (1.1 to 2.4); non-cardiovascular: one surviving child HR 1.2 (1.0 to 1.5), two surviving children HR 1.2 (1.1 to 1.4).

Conclusions

Irrespective of education, we find excess mortality in childless mothers with a perinatal loss. Increased mortality in mothers with one perinatal loss and surviving children was limited to mothers with low education.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation in real-world practice: a population-based cohort study protocol
Authors: Holbrook Anne , Dormuth Colin , Morrow Richard , Lee Agnes , Troyan Sue , Li Guowei , Pullenyegum Eleanor
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Anticoagulants are arguably the most important drug family of all, based on the frequency and duration of their use, and the clinical importance and frequency of benefits and harms. Several direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have recently joined warfarin for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, with a resultant significant expansion in use of oral anticoagulants (OACs). Our objectives are to compare safety and effectiveness of DOACs versus warfarin in a full population where anticoagulation management is good and to identify which types of patients do better with DOACs versus warfarin and vice versa.

Methods and analysis

This is a retrospective cohort study of all adults living in British Columbia who have a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in hospital or medical service data, and a first prescription for an OAC. Coprimary outcomes are ischaemic stroke and systemic embolism (benefit) and major bleeding (harm). Secondary outcomes include net clinical benefit (composite of stroke, systemic embolism, major bleeds, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism and death), drug discontinuation and individual composite item occurrence. We will estimate the effects of treatment in a 2-year follow-up period, using time-to-event models with propensity score adjustment to control confounding. Secondary analyses will examine ‘as treated’ outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol, data creation plan, privacy impact statement and data sharing agreements have been approved. Dissemination is planned via conferences and publications as well as directly to drug policy leaders. Information on the overall comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs versus warfarin in a country with high quality anticoagulation management, as well as for vulnerable subgroups, will be an important addition to the literature.
Influence of preinfarction angina and coronary collateral blood flow on the efficacy of remote ischaemic conditioning in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: post hoc subgroup analysis of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pryds Kasper , Bøttcher Morten , Sloth Astrid Drivsholm , Munk Kim , Rahbek Schmidt Michael , Bøtker Hans Erik
Published: November 2016

Objectives

Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) confers cardioprotection in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). We investigated whether preinfarction angina and coronary collateral blood flow (CCBF) to the infarct-related artery modify the efficacy of RIC.

Design

Post hoc subgroup analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Participants

A total of 139 patients with STEMI randomised to treatment with pPCI or RIC+pPCI.

Interventions

RIC was performed prior to pPCI as four cycles of 5 min upper arm ischaemia and reperfusion with a blood pressure cuff.

Primary outcome measure

Myocardial salvage index (MSI) assessed by single-photon emission computerised tomography. We evaluated the efficacy of RIC in subgroups of patients with or without preinfarction angina or CCBF.

Results

Of 139 patients included in the study, 109 had available data for preinfarction angina status and 54 had preinfarction angina. Among 83 patients with Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow 0/1 on arrival, 43 had CCBF. Overall, RIC+pPCI increased median MSI compared with pPCI alone (0.75 vs 0.56, p=0.045). Mean MSI did not differ between patients with and without preinfarction angina in either the pPCI alone (0.58 and 0.57; 95% CI −0.17 to 0.19, p=0.94) or the RIC+pPCI group (0.66 and 0.69; 95% CI −0.18 to 0.10, p=0.58). Mean MSI did not differ between patients with and without CCBF in the pPCI alone group (0.51 and 0.55; 95% CI −0.20 to 0.13, p=0.64), but was increased in patients with CCBF versus without CCBF in the RIC+pPCI group (0.75 vs 0.58; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.31, p=0.02; effect modification from CCBF on the effect of RIC on MSI, p=0.06).

Conclusions

Preinfarction angina did not modify the efficacy of RIC in patients with STEMI undergoing pPCI. CCBF to the infarct-related artery seems to be of importance for the cardioprotective efficacy of RIC.

Trial registration number

NCT00435266, Post-results.
A refugee camp in the centre of Europe: clinical characteristics of asylum seekers arriving in Brussels
Authors: van Berlaer Gerlant , Bohle Carbonell Francisca , Manantsoa Sofie , de Béthune Xavier , Buyl Ronald , Debacker Michel , Hubloue Ives
Published: November 2016

Background

In the summer of 2015, the exodus of Syrian war refugees and saturation of refugee camps in neighbouring countries led to the influx of asylum-seekers in European countries, including Belgium. This study aims to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of asylum seekers who arrived in a huddled refugee camp, in the centre of a well-developed country with all medical facilities.

Methods

Using a descriptive cross-sectional study design, physicians of Médecins du Monde prospectively registered age, gender, origin, medical symptoms and diagnoses of all patients presenting to an erected field hospital in Brussels in September 2015. Diagnoses were post hoc categorised according to the International Classification of Diseases.

Results

Of 4037 patients examined in the field hospital, 3907 were included and analysed for this study. Over 11% of patients suffered from injuries, but these were outnumbered by the proportion of patients with respiratory (36%), dental (9%), skin (9%) and digestive (8%) diagnoses. More than 49% had features of infections at the time of the consultation.

Conclusions

Asylum seekers arriving in a refugee camp in Brussels after a long and hazardous journey suffer mostly from respiratory, dental, skin and digestive diseases. Still, one in seven suffers from injury. These findings, consistent with other reports, should be anticipated when composing emergency medical teams and interagency emergency health or similar kits to be used in a field hospital, even in a Western European country.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN13523620, Results.
Hemicraniectomy versus medical treatment with large MCA infarct: a review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alexander Paul , Heels-Ansdell Diane , Siemieniuk Reed , Bhatnagar Neera , Chang Yaping , Fei Yutong , Zhang Yuqing , McLeod Shelley , Prasad Kameshwar , Guyatt Gordon
Published: November 2016

Objective

Large middle cerebral artery stroke (space-occupying middle-cerebral-artery (MCA) infarction (SO-MCAi)) results in a very high incidence of death and severe disability. Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) for SO-MCAi results in large reductions in mortality; the level of function in the survivors, and implications, remain controversial. To address the controversy, we pooled available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the impact of DHC on survival and functional ability in patients with large SO-MCAi and cerebral oedema.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling patients suffering SO-MCAi comparing conservative management to DHC administered within 96 hours after stroke symptom onset. Outcomes were death and disability measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We used a random effects meta-analytical approach with subgroup analyses (time to treatment and age). We applied GRADE methods to rate quality/confidence/certainty of evidence.

Results

7 RCTs were eligible (n=338 patients). We found DHC reduced death (69–30% in medical vs surgical groups, 39% fewer), and increased the number of patients with mRS of 2–3 (slight to moderate disability: 14–27%, increase of 13%), those with mRS 4 (severe disability: 10–32%, increase of 22%) and those with mRS 5 (very severe disability 7–11%: increase of 4%) (all differences p<0.0001). We judged quality/confidence/certainty of evidence high for death, low for functional outcome mRS 0–3, and moderate for mRS 0–4 (wide CIs and problems in concealment, blinding of outcome assessors and stopping early).

Conclusions

DHC in SO-MCAi results in large reductions in mortality. Most of those who would otherwise have died are left with severe or very severe disability: for example, inability to walk and a requirement for help with bodily needs, though uncertainty about the proportion with very severe, severe and moderate disability remains (low to moderate quality/confidence/certainty evidence).
Developing predictive models for return to work using the Military Power, Performance and Prevention (MP3) musculoskeletal injury risk algorithm: a study protocol for an injury risk assessment programme
Authors: Rhon Daniel I , Teyhen Deydre S , Shaffer Scott W , Goffar Stephen L , Kiesel Kyle , Plisky Phil P
Published: November 2016

Background

Musculoskeletal injuries are a primary source of disability in the US Military, and low back pain and lower extremity injuries account for over 44% of limited work days annually. History of prior musculoskeletal injury increases the risk for future injury. This study aims to determine the risk of injury after returning to work from a previous injury. The objective is to identify criteria that can help predict likelihood for future injury or re-injury.

Methods

There will be 480 active duty soldiers recruited from across four medical centres. These will be patients who have sustained a musculoskeletal injury in the lower extremity or lumbar/thoracic spine, and have now been cleared to return back to work without any limitations. Subjects will undergo a battery of physical performance tests and fill out sociodemographic surveys. They will be followed for a year to identify any musculoskeletal injuries that occur. Prediction algorithms will be derived using regression analysis from performance and sociodemographic variables found to be significantly different between injured and non-injured subjects.

Discussion

Due to the high rates of injuries, injury prevention and prediction initiatives are growing. This is the first study looking at predicting re-injury rates after an initial musculoskeletal injury. In addition, multivariate prediction models appear to have move value than models based on only one variable. This approach aims to validate a multivariate model used in healthy non-injured individuals to help improve variables that best predict the ability to return to work with lower risk of injury, after a recent musculoskeletal injury.

Trial registration number

NCT02776930.
Nature and governance of veterinary clinical research conducted in the UK
Authors: Fordyce P. , Mullan S.
Published: December 2016

In order to quantify the amount of clinical research conducted on client‐owned animals under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, and the nature and extent of any ethical review of that research, a questionnaire was sent to 6 UK veterinary schools, 1 charity veterinary clinic and 12 private referral clinics. The questionnaire examined whether and how much clinical research respondents undertook, and the composition of any ethical review panels examining research proposals. The questionnaire revealed a substantial amount of clinical research was conducted in the UK, with over 200 veterinary surgeons involved in the year of the survey, with at least 170 academic papers involving clinical research published by respondents in the same year. However, it proved impossible to quantify the full extent of clinical research in the UK. All UK veterinary schools required ethical review of clinical research. The composition and working practices of their ethical review panels generally reflected skill sets in ethical review panels set‐up under statute to consider the ethics of non‐clinical biomedical research on animals and clinical research conducted on human patients. The process for review of clinical research in the private sector was less clear.
Effects in dogs with behavioural disorders of a commercial nutraceutical diet on stress and neuroendocrine parameters
Authors: Sechi S. , Di Cerbo A. , Canello S. , Guidetti G. , Chiavolelli F. , Fiore F. , Cocco R.
Published: November 2016

The well‐being of dogs can be affected by changes in human lifestyle, eating habits and increased stressors that lead to behavioural disorders including fear, hyperactivity and anxiety, followed by negative affective moods and poor welfare. This randomised, controlled clinical evaluation involved 69 dogs, 38 males and 31 females, of different breeds, with behavioural disorders related to anxiety and chronic stress. They were fed a control diet or a nutraceutical diet (ND group) for 45 days. Neuroendocrine (serotonin, dopamine, β‐endorphins, noradrenaline and cortisol) and stress (derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP)) parameters related to behavioural disorders were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study period. Results showed a significant increase in serotonin, dopamine and β‐endorphins plasma concentrations (*P<0.05, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01, respectively) and a significant decrease in noradrenaline and cortisol plasma concentrations in the ND group (*P<0.05). dROMs significantly decreased in the ND group (*P<0.05) while BAP was not affected. This study demonstrated for the first time that a specific diet significantly and positively affected neuroendocrine parameters and dROMs. These results open significant perspectives concerning the use of diet and nutraceuticals in the treatment of behavioural disorders.
𝒲-Algebra constraints and topological recursion for AN-singularity (with an Appendix by Danilo Lewanski)
Authors: Milanov Todor , Lewanski Danilo
Published: November 2016

We derive a Bouchard–Eynard type topological recursion for the total descendant potential of [Formula: see text]-singularity. Our argument relies on a certain twisted representation of a Heisenberg Vertex Operator Algebra (VOA) constructed via the periods of [Formula: see text]-singularity. In particular, our approach allows us to prove that the topological recursion for the total descendant potential is equivalent to a certain generating set of [Formula: see text]-algebra constraints.
Multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann modeling of the acoustic field generated by focused transducer
Authors: Shan Feng , Guo Xiasheng , Tu Juan , Cheng Jianchun , Zhang Dong
Published: November 2016

The high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has become an attractive therapeutic tool for the noninvasive tumor treatment. The ultrasonic transducer is the key component in HIFU treatment to generate the HIFU energy. The dimension of focal region generated by the transducer is closely relevant to the safety of HIFU treatment. Therefore, it is essential to numerically investigate the focal region of the transducer. Although the conventional acoustic wave equations have been used successfully to describe the acoustic field, there still exist some inherent drawbacks. In this work, we presented an axisymmetric isothermal multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method (MRT-LBM) model with the Bouzidi–Firdaouss–Lallemand (BFL) boundary condition in cylindrical coordinate system. With this model, some preliminary simulations were firstly conducted to determine a reasonable value of the relaxation parameter. Then, the validity of the model was examined by comparing the results obtained with the LBM results with the Khokhlov–Zabolotskaya–Kuznetsov (KZK) equation and the Spheroidal beam equation (SBE) for the focused transducers with different aperture angles, respectively. In addition, the influences of the aperture angle on the focal region were investigated. The proposed model in this work will provide significant references for the parameter optimization of the focused transducer for applications in the HIFU treatment or other fields, and provide new insights into the conventional acoustic numerical simulations.
A NOTE ON ASYMMETRIES IN FRIENDSHIP NETWORKS
Authors: HE QUQIONG , SARANGI SUDIPTA , SUN ZHENGJIA
Published: November 2016

We generalize the analysis of Brueckner’s [(2006). Friendship networks. Journal of Regional Science, 847–865] friendship networks under different types of asymmetries. We first study cost asymmetries by allowing for cost-magnetic agents. These are players whose linking costs are the lowest. Next we focus on network-based asymmetries by allowing for knows-everyone agents. We identify conditions under which Nash networks are interlinked stars in both these cases. We also find that for asymmetric situations (whether in costs, values, or architectures), the equilibrium effort choices regarding the links between different types of agents are robust across the various friendship network models.
Graded A-identities for the matrix algebra of order two
Authors: Brandão Antonio Pereira , Gonçalves Dimas José , Koshlukov Plamen
Published: November 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be a field of characteristic 0 and let [Formula: see text]. The algebra [Formula: see text] admits a natural grading [Formula: see text] by the cyclic group [Formula: see text] of order 2. In this paper, we describe the [Formula: see text]-graded A-identities for [Formula: see text]. Recall that an A-identity for an algebra is a multilinear polynomial identity for that algebra which is a linear combination of the monomials [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] runs over all even permutations of [Formula: see text] that is [Formula: see text], the [Formula: see text]th alternating group. We first introduce the notion of an A-identity in the case of graded polynomials, then we describe the graded A-identities for [Formula: see text], and finally we compute the corresponding graded A-codimensions.
Efficient numerical methods for multiscale crowd dynamics with emotional contagion
Authors: Wang Li , Short Martin B. , Bertozzi Andrea L.
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we develop two efficient numerical methods for a multiscale kinetic equation in the context of crowd dynamics with emotional contagion [A. Bertozzi, J. Rosado, M. Short and L. Wang, Contagion shocks in one dimension, J. Stat. Phys. 158 (2014) 647–664]. In the continuum limit, the mesoscopic kinetic equation produces a natural Eulerian limit with nonlocal interactions. However, such limit ceases to be valid when the underlying microscopic particle characteristics cross, corresponding to the blow up of the solution in the Eulerian system. One method is to couple these two situations — using Eulerian dynamics for regions without characteristic crossing and kinetic evolution for regions with characteristic crossing. For such a hybrid setting, we provide a regime indicator based on the macroscopic density and fear level, and propose an interface condition via continuity to connect these two regimes. The other method is based on a level set formulation for the continuum system. The level set equation shares similar forms as the kinetic equation, and it successfully captures the multi-valued solution in velocity, which implies that the multi-valued solution other than the viscosity solution should be the physically relevant ones for the continuum system. Numerical examples are presented to show the efficiency of these new methods.
A new characterization of Suzuki’s simple groups
Authors: Zhang Jinshan , Shao Changguo , Shen Zhencai
Published: November 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be a finite group. A vanishing element of [Formula: see text] is an element [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] for some irreducible complex character [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. Denote by Vo[Formula: see text] the set of the orders of vanishing elements of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we prove that if [Formula: see text] is a finite group such that Vo[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text].
Phase space analysis in a model of f(T) gravity with nonlinear sign changeable interactions
Authors: Khurshudyan Martiros
Published: November 2016

Sign changeable interactions continue to gain serious attention in modern cosmology. On the other hand, recent interest towards nonlinear interactions gave us a motivation to consider various sign changeable nonlinear interactions. In this paper, we will consider cosmological models involving suggested new sign changeable nonlinear interactions. To describe background dynamics of the large scale universe [Formula: see text] gravity is used i.e the universe is governed by torsional modified gravity. In our models, we adopted barotropic EoS and pressureless fluid to model dark energy and dark matter, respectively. In addition to other assumptions about the models, particular form of [Formula: see text] is considered to perform phase space analysis.
Geometry of warped product pointwise semi-slant submanifolds of cosymplectic manifolds and its applications
Authors: Ali Akram , Ozel Cenap
Published: November 2016

It is known from [K. Yano and M. Kon, Structures on Manifolds (World Scientific, 1984)] that the integration of the Laplacian of a smooth function defined on a compact orientable Riemannian manifold without boundary vanishes with respect to the volume element. In this paper, we find out the some potential applications of this notion, and study the concept of warped product pointwise semi-slant submanifolds in cosymplectic manifolds as a generalization of contact CR-warped product submanifolds. Then, we prove the existence of warped product pointwise semi-slant submanifolds by their characterizations, and give an example supporting to this idea. Further, we obtain an interesting inequality in terms of the second fundamental form and the scalar curvature using Gauss equation and then, derive some applications of it with considering the equality case. We provide many trivial results for the warped product pointwise semi-slant submanifolds in cosymplectic space forms in various mathematical and physical terms such as Hessian, Hamiltonian and kinetic energy, and generalize the triviality results for contact CR-warped products as well.
Numerical Investigation of Tsunami-Like Solitary Wave Interaction with a Seawall
Authors: Jiang Changbo , Liu Xiaojian , Yao Yu , Deng Bin , Chen Jie
Published: November 2016

Seawall is a most commonly used structure in coastal areas to protect the landscape and coastal facilities. The studies of interactions between the tsunami-like solitary waves and the seawalls are relatively rare in the literature. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model based on OpenFOAM® was developed to investigate the tsunami-like solitary waves propagating over a rectangular seawall. The Navier–Stokes equations for two-phase incompressible flow, combining with methods of [Formula: see text] for turbulence closure and Volume of Fluid (VOF) for tracking the free surface, were solved. Laboratory experiments were performed to measure some of the hydrodynamic feature associated with solitary waves. The model was then validated by the laboratory data, and good agreements were found for free surface, velocity and dynamic pressure around the seawall. Finally, a series of numerical experiments were conducted to analyze the evolution of both wave and flow fields, the overtopping discharge as well as wave pressure (force) around the seawall, special attention is given to the effects of seawall crest width. Our findings will help to improve the understanding in the occurrences of tsunami-induced damages in the vicinity of seawall such as wave impact and local scouring.
Kronecker product and bat algorithm-based coefficient generation for privacy protection on cloud
Authors: Karlekar Nandkishor P. , Gomathi N.
Published: November 2016

Due to widespread growth of cloud technology, virtual server accomplished in cloud platform may collect useful data from a client and then jointly disclose the client’s sensitive data without permission. Hence, from the perspective of cloud clients, it is very important to take confident technical actions to defend their privacy at client side. Accordingly, different privacy protection techniques have been presented in the literature for safeguarding the original data. This paper presents a technique for privacy preservation of cloud data using Kronecker product and Bat algorithm-based coefficient generation. Overall, the proposed privacy preservation method is performed using two important steps. In the first step, PU coefficient is optimally found out using PUBAT algorithm with new objective function. In the second step, input data and PU coefficient is then utilized for finding the privacy protected data for further data publishing in cloud environment. For the performance analysis, the experimentation is performed with three datasets namely, Cleveland, Switzerland and Hungarian and evaluation is performed using accuracy and DBDR. From the outcome, the proposed algorithm obtained the accuracy of 94.28% but the existing algorithm obtained only the 83.64% to prove the utility. On the other hand, the proposed algorithm obtained DBDR of 35.28% but the existing algorithm obtained only 12.89% to prove the privacy measure.
Monoamine Oxidase Is Overactivated in Left and Right Ventricles from Ischemic Hearts: An Intriguing Therapeutic Target
Authors: Manni Maria Elena , Rigacci Stefania , Borchi Elisabetta , Bargelli Valentina , Miceli Caterina , Giordano Carla , Raimondi Laura , Nediani Chiara
Published: December 2016

Growing evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play a key role in human heart failure (HF). Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is emerging as a major ROS source in several cardiomyopathies. However, little is known about MAO activity in human failing heart and its relationship with redox imbalance. Therefore, we measured MAO activity in the left (LV) and in the right (RV) ventricle of human nonfailing (NF) and in end‐stage ischemic (IHD) and nonischemic failing hearts. We found that both MAO isoforms (MAO‐A/B) significantly increased in terms of activity and expression levels only in IHD ventricles. Catalase and aldehyde dehydrogenase‐2 activities (ALDH‐2), both implicated in MAO‐catalyzed catecholamine catabolism, were significantly elevated in the failing LV, whereas, in the RV, statistical significance was observed only for ALDH‐2. Oxidative stress markers levels were significantly increased only in the failing RV. Actin oxidation was significantly elevated in both failing ventricles and related to MAO‐A activity and to functional parameters. These data suggest a close association between MAO‐A‐dependent ROS generation, actin oxidation, and ventricular dysfunction. This latter finding points to a possible pathogenic role of MAO‐A in human myocardial failure supporting the idea that MAO‐A could be a new therapeutic target in HF.
Assessing Nurses Knowledge of Glasgow Coma Scale in Emergency and Outpatient Department
Authors: Basauhra Singh Harvinderjit Kaur a/p , Chong Mei Chan , Thambinayagam Hari Chandran a/l , Zakaria Mohd Idzwan bin , Cheng Siew Ting , Tang Li Yoong , Azahar Nurul Hafizan
Published: December 2016

Assessment of level of consciousness using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a tool requiring knowledge that is important in detecting early deterioration in a patient’s level of consciousness. Critical thinking used with the skill and knowledge in assessing the GCS is the foundation of all nursing practice. This study aims to explore the knowledge and competence in assessing the GCS among staff nurses working in the Emergency and Outpatient Departments. This is a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design using the GCS Knowledge Questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used. Nurses in these Departments were asked to partake in the survey. Data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive and Pearson’s chi square was used. Result showed that 55.56% of nurses had poor knowledge followed by 41.48% and 2.96% with satisfactory knowledge and good knowledge, respectively. The result on the association between knowledge and education level showed a significant association between the two variables (X2=18.412, df = 3, n=135, and p<0.05). There was also a significant correlation between knowledge and age group (X2=11.085, df = 2, n=135, and p<0.05). Overall, this study supports that good knowledge and skill are important in assessing GCS level.
Differentiation between Good and Low-Responders to Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Menke Marcel N. , Ebneter Andreas , Zinkernagel Martin S. , Wolf Sebastian
Published: December 2016

Background. Ranibizumab is approved for treatment of macular edema in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Some eyes show low-response to treatment with regard to visual acuity gain (VA) and OCT central retinal thickness (CRT) reduction. The goal of this study was to quantify the percentage of low-responders. Methods. Treatment of naïve eyes with macular edema secondary to RVO was included and monthly VA and CRT were analyzed. Four weeks after the loading phase, and at the end of the study, eyes were grouped into low- and good responders based on predefined criteria. The responder and low-responder groups were then compared at various time points. Results. Forty-three eyes were included. Regarding VA, 27.9% were low-responders after the loading phase and 30.2% at the end of the study. For CRT, 34.9% were low-responders after the loading phase versus 27.9% at the end of the study. 75% of patients that were VA low-responders and 73.3% of CRT low-responders after loading phase remained low-responders at the end of the study. Conclusion. Approximately 30% of patients showed low response to ranibizumab after the loading phase and after 1 year of treatment. Two-thirds of patients that were low-responders after the loading phase remained low-responders after 1 year.
Magnetic Resonance Volumetry: Prediction of Subjective Memory Complaints and Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Associations with Genetic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Rogne Sigbjørn , Vangberg Torgil , Eldevik Petter , Wikran Gry , Mathiesen Ellisiv B. , Schirmer Henrik
Published: November 2016

Background/Aims: Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are strong predictors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subsequent Alzheimer’s disease. Our aims were to see if fully automated cerebral MR volume measurements could distinguish subjects with SMC and MCI from controls, and if probable parental late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), apolipoprotein E ε4 genotype, total plasma homocysteine, and cardiovascular risk factors were associated with MR volumetric findings. Methods: 198 stroke-free subjects comprised the control (n = 58), the SMC (n = 25) and the MCI (n = 115) groups. Analysis of covariance and receiver operating characteristic curve was used to see if MR volumetry distinguished subjects with SMC and MCI from controls. Results: Subjects with SMC and MCI had significantly larger lateral ventricles and smaller hippocampal volumes than controls. The area under the curve in subjects with SMC and MCI compared to that of controls was less than 0.68 for all volumes of intracranial structures. There was an interaction between sex and probable parental LOAD for hippocampal volume, with a significant association between probable parental LOAD and hippocampal volume in women. Conclusions: Fully automated MR volumetry can distinguish subjects with SMC and MCI from controls in a general population, but insufficiently to assume a clear clinical role. Research on sporadic LOAD might benefit from a sex-specific search for genetic risk factors.
Distinct in vitro Complement Activation by Various Intravenous Iron Preparations
Authors: Hempel Julia Cordelia , Poppelaars Felix , Gaya da Costa Mariana , Franssen Casper F.M. , de Vlaam Thomas P.G. , Daha Mohamed R. , Berger Stefan P. , Seelen Marc A.J. , Gaillard Carlo A.J.M.
Published: November 2016

Background: Intravenous (IV) iron preparations are widely used in the treatment of anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). All IV iron preparations carry a risk of causing hypersensitivity reactions. However, the pathophysiological mechanism is poorly understood. We hypothesize that a relevant number of these reactions are mediated by complement activation, resulting in a pseudo-anaphylactic clinical picture known as complement activation-related pseudo allergy (CARPA). Methods: First, the in-vitro complement-activating capacity was determined for 5 commonly used IV iron preparations using functional complement assays for the 3 pathways. Additionally, the preparations were tested in an ex-vivo model using the whole blood of healthy volunteers and HD patients. Lastly, in-vivo complement activation was tested for one preparation in HD patients. Results: In the in-vitro assays, iron dextran, and ferric carboxymaltose caused complement activation, which was only possible under alternative pathway conditions. Iron sucrose may interact with complement proteins, but did not activate complement in-vitro. In the ex-vivo assay, iron dextran significantly induced complement activation in the blood of healthy volunteers and HD patients. Furthermore, in the ex-vivo assay, ferric carboxymaltose and iron sucrose only caused significant complement activation in the blood of HD patients. No in-vitro or ex-vivo complement activation was found for ferumoxytol and iron isomaltoside. IV iron therapy with ferric carboxymaltose in HD patients did not lead to significant in-vivo complement activation. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that iron dextran and ferric carboxymaltose have complement-activating capacities in-vitro, and hypersensitivity reactions to these drugs could be CARPA-mediated.