bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reliable and efficient scale to assess upper motor neuron disease burden in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Quinn Colin , Edmundson Christyn , Dahodwala Nabila , Elman Lauren
Published: November 2019

Background

Validation of biomarkers of upper motor neuron (UMN) impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) requires a reliable clinical assessment of UMN findings. The Penn Upper Motor Neuron Score© (PUMNS) is a standardized measure of UMN signs in ALS. Our aims were to evaluate its intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability, and to examine inter‐item reliability as a proxy for item relatedness and scale efficiency.

Methods

Study procedures were performed during routine clinic visits. We calculated intra and inter‐rater reliability using Pearson's correlation coefficient and inter‐item reliability using Cronbach's alpha.

Results

PUMNS had high intra and inter‐rater reliability. Total and sub‐score correlation coefficients were all ≥0.96. The inter‐item reliability indicated appropriate item relatedness with reasonable efficiency and sub‐score correlation coefficients between 0.68 and 0.85.

Conclusions

PUMNS is a reliable measure of UMN signs in ALS and would be a useful tool in validating imaging and laboratory biomarkers of UMN injury in ALS.
Asymptomatic carriers in transmission dynamics of dengue with control interventions
Authors: Jan Rashid , Khan Muhammad Altaf , Gómez‐Aguilar J.F.
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we introduce a dengue disease transmission model with symptomatic and asymptomatic infectious classes. We obtain the threshold dynamics governed by the basic reproduction number of the system. We obtain sensitivity analysis of threshold dynamics to recognize the dominant factors that seriously affect the dengue infection. It has been shown that the biting rate and the rate of asymptomatic cases are more sensitive to the basic reproduction number, and predicts that control of mosquito size plays an essential role in reducing equilibrium level of dengue infection. Hence, the use of mosquito nets and control of population size of mosquitoes are highly suggested to the public. We use optimal control theory to help the public health personnel and biologists to adopt better understanding of the modeling strategies to control dengue fever. We apply preventive control, treatment, and insecticide spray to reach the desire objectives; moreover, the existence of the proposed optimal control problem is established analytically and achieves necessary conditions for optimal controls. The simulations obtained suggested that control measures such as mosquito eradication and preventive strategies effectively eradicate and control dengue infections during the epidemic.
Synergistic Flame Retardant Effect of Organic Phosphorus–Nitrogen and Inorganic Boron Flame Retardant on Polyethylene
Authors: Ai Lianghui , Yang Liu , Hu Junfeng , Chen Shanshan , Zeng Jinming , Liu Ping
Published: November 2019

In this study, to develop an organic/inorganic synergistic flame retardant, organic phosphorus–nitrogen flame retardant 6,6‐(((sulfonylbis(4,1‐phenylene)) bis(azanediyl))bis(thiophen‐2‐ylmethylene))bis(6H‐dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6‐oxide (DOPO‐N) and inorganic boron flame retardant zinc borate (ZB) were selected. The flame retardant properties of polyethylene (PE) containing ZB/DOPO‐N were investigated. PE/20%ZB/10%DOPO‐N had better thermal stability and flame retardant properties. The limiting oxygen index of PE/20%ZB/10%DOPO‐N reached 24.6%, and UL 94 V‐0 rating was attained. The peak heat release rate, total heat release, average effective heat combustion, and fire growth index of PE/20%ZB/10%DOPO‐N were lower than when ZB and DOPO‐N were added separately. In addition, the flame retardant mechanism was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. ZB/DOPO‐N simultaneously exerted condensed phase and gas phase flame retardant effect. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60: 414–422, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Temperature Accelerated Life Test and Failure Analysis on Upright Metamorphic Ga0.37In0.63P/Ga0.83In0.17As/Ge Triple Junction Solar Cells
Authors: Orlando Vincenzo , Lombardero Iván , Gabás Mercedes , Nuñez Neftali , Vázquez Manuel , Espinet‐González Pilar , Bautista Jesús , Romero Rocio , Algora Carlos
Published: November 2019

A temperature accelerated life test on Upright Metamorphic Ga0.37In0.63P/Ga0.83In0.17As/Ge triple‐junction solar cells has been carried out. The acceleration has been accomplished by subjecting the solar cells to temperatures (125, 145 and 165°C) significantly higher than the nominal working temperature inside a concentrator (90°C), while the nominal photo‐current (500×) has been emulated by injecting current in darkness. The failure distributions have been fitted to an Arrhenius–Weibull model resulting in an activation energy of 1.39 eV. Accordingly, a 72 years warranty time for those solar cells for a place like Tucson (AZ, USA), was determined. After the ALT, an intense characterization campaign has been carried out in order to determine the failure origin. We have detected that temperature soak alone is enough to degrade the cell performance by increasing the leakage currents, the series resistance, and the recombination currents. When solar cells were also forward biased an increase of series resistance together with a reduction of short circuit current is detected. The failure analysis shows that: a) several metallization sub‐products concentrate in several regions of front metal grid where they poison the silver, resulting in a two times reduction of the metal sheet resistance; b) the metal/cap layer interface is greatly degraded and there is also a deterioration of the cap layer crystalline quality producing a huge increase of the specific front contact resistance, c) the decrease of short circuit current is mainly due to the GaInP top subcell degradation.
Top‐down approach to attach liquid polyethylene glycol to solid surfaces by plasma interaction
Authors: Gaiser Sandra , Schütz Urs , Hegemann Dirk
Published: November 2019

A novel top‐down approach is presented to produce stable functional films from low vapor pressure liquids via plasma processing. Low‐pressure plasma activation and deposition are examined to cross‐link liquid polyethylene glycol (PEG‐400) surfaces. After stabilizing the thus‐obtained films on the liquid with a silicone backing layer, water contact angle measurements, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy imaging were used for characterization. The results show that PEG molecules are covalently bonded to the solid films providing high hydrophilicity.
Novel sampling strategies and a coarse‐grained score function for docking homomers, flexible heteromers, and oligosaccharides using Rosetta in CAPRI rounds 37–45
Authors: Roy Burman Shourya S. , Nance Morgan L. , Jeliazkov Jeliazko R. , Labonte Jason W. , Lubin Joseph H. , Biswas Naireeta , Gray Jeffrey J.
Published: November 2019

Critical Assessment of PRediction of Interactions (CAPRI) rounds 37 through 45 introduced larger complexes, new macromolecules, and multistage assemblies. For these rounds, we used and expanded docking methods in Rosetta to model 23 target complexes. We successfully predicted 14 target complexes and recognized and refined near‐native models generated by other groups for two further targets. Notably, for targets T110 and T136, we achieved the closest prediction of any CAPRI participant. We created several innovative approaches during these rounds. Since round 39 (target 122), we have used the new RosettaDock 4.0, which has a revamped coarse‐grained energy function and the ability to perform conformer selection during docking with hundreds of pregenerated protein backbones. Ten of the complexes had some degree of symmetry in their interactions, so we tested Rosetta SymDock, realized its shortcomings, and developed the next‐generation symmetric docking protocol, SymDock2, which includes docking of multiple backbones and induced‐fit refinement. Since the last CAPRI assessment, we also developed methods for modeling and designing carbohydrates in Rosetta, and we used them to successfully model oligosaccharide‐protein complexes in round 41. Although the results were broadly encouraging, they also highlighted the pressing need to invest in (a) flexible docking algorithms with the ability to model loop and linker motions and in (b) new sampling and scoring methods for oligosaccharide‐protein interactions.
Designing new donor materials based on functionalized DCCnT with different electron‐donating groups: A density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT)‐based study
Authors: Xu Xiaoping , Zheng Shaohui
Published: November 2019

Finding a promising donor/acceptor material of organic solar cells is one of the most important ways to improve their power conversion efficiency. Extensive studies have focused on designing and synthesizing new and suitable materials. Small organic molecule materials, different from polymers, have many merits, such as easy synthesis and modification, less by‐products, and crystallinity. In the present work, we theoretically design a series of new donor materials based on 1‐(1,1‐dicyanomethylene)‐cyclohex‐2‐ene‐substituted oligothiophenes, that is, DCCnT (n = 1‐4) series. Furthermore, we model and predict photoelectric properties of functionalized DCCnT with different electron‐donating groups (─CH3/─CHCH2/─OCH3/─NH2/─OH). The calculated results, based on density functional theory and time‐dependent functional theory, show that DCCnT‐X (X = OH, NH2, and OCH3) series show odd‐even effect of dipole moments when n varies from 1 to 4, whereas DCCnT‐CH3 and DCCnT‐CHCH2 do not. Finally, we find that DCC3T‐X (X = OH, OCH3, and NH2) may be better candidates of donor materials because of their larger dipole moments, stronger electron donating ability, and smaller exciton binding energy with respect to prototype DCCnT molecules.
Quantum information entropies of multiple quantum well systems in fractional Schrödinger equations
Authors: Solaimani M. , Dong Shi‐Hai
Published: November 2019

In this work, we study the position and momentum information entropies of multiple quantum well systems in fractional Schrödinger equations, which, to the best of our knowledge, have not so far been studied. Through a confining potential, their shape and number of wells (NOW) can be controlled by using a few tuning parameters; we present some interesting quantum effects that only appear in the fractional Schrödinger equation systems. One of the parameters denoted by the Ld can affect the position and momentum probability densities if the system is fractional (1 < α < 2). We find that the position (momentum) probability density tends to be more severely localized (delocalized) in more fractional systems (ie, in smaller values of α). Affecting the Ld on the position and momentum probability densities is a quantum effect that only appears in the fractional Schrödinger equations. Finally, we show that the Beckner Bialynicki‐Birula‐Mycieslki (BBM) inequality in the fractional Schrödinger equation is still satisfied by changing the confining potential amplitude Vconf, the NOW, the fractional parameter α, and the confining potential parameter Ld.
Thermomechanical Fatigue Testing of Dual Hardening Tool Steels
Authors: Hofinger Matthias , Seisenbacher Benjamin , Ognianov Miloslav , Leitner Harald , Turk Christoph , Kapp Marianne , Schnitzer Ronald
Published: November 2019

Hot‐work tool steels are exposed to complex interacting cyclic thermal and mechanical loadings. Due to the combination of strengthening via carbides and intermetallic precipitates, dual hardening steels achieve well‐balanced mechanical properties in terms of fatigue strength and fracture toughness. Therefore, dual hardening steels have a great potential for hot‐work applications. Herein, out‐of‐phase thermomechanical fatigue tests are used to simulate the loading conditions experienced in hot‐work tool steel applications on a laboratory scale. The testing is conducted on Fe–C–Cr–Mo–V and Fe–C–Cr–Mo–V–Ni–Al alloys to compare common 5% Cr and dual hardening hot‐work tool steels. The resistance to thermomechanical fatigue is therefore correlated with single or dual hardening. Both alloys experience softening during the fatigue testing. Atom probe tomography investigations reveal coarsening of the secondary hardening precipitates for both alloys. However, the number density of surface cracks is greater for the 5% Cr hot‐work tool steel. The dual hardening steel possesses higher resistance to softening and reaches a higher lifetime.
Tracking Stocking Success in a Long‐Lived Species through Genetics and Demographics: Evidence of Natural Reproduction in Lake Sturgeon after Twenty‐Two Years
Authors: Welsh Amy B. , Carlson Douglas M. , Schlueter Scott L. , Jackson James R.
Published: November 2019

Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens populations throughout the Great Lakes have experienced declines. Therefore, Lake Sturgeon have been stocked at several locations, including the Oswegatchie River in New York State, where Lake Sturgeon are listed as threatened. The goal of New York's Lake Sturgeon stocking program has been the establishment of self‐sustaining populations in six out of the seven management units in order to meet delisting criteria. Due to Lake Sturgeon's long lifespan and late sexual maturity, there is a significant delay before it can be determined whether natural reproduction is occurring at the reintroduction site. Our objective was to determine whether recently captured Lake Sturgeon from the Oswegatchie River were of hatchery origin and whether natural reproduction was occurring in the river. Age data and genetic data from 12 microsatellite loci were collected from 38 individuals from the Oswegatchie River. The genetic data were used to reconstruct families by using COLONY and STRUCTURE statistical analysis programs. The genetic diversity of the Oswegatchie River population was also compared with other natural and introduced Lake Sturgeon populations in the region. The combination of family reconstruction and age data indicated that natural reproduction is occurring in the Oswegatchie River. Individuals that were presumed to be recruited had ages ranging from 6 to 12 years. It is often thought female Lake Sturgeon typically do not reach sexual maturity until about 20 years of age. Only 12–15 years had elapsed since the earliest times of stocking, suggesting the possibility that remnant native females remained in the system or stocked female Lake Sturgeon have reached early sexual maturity. The genetic diversity of the Lake Sturgeon population in the Oswegatchie River is comparable to that of other nearby natural populations. However, the effective population size (Ne) was lower than that of many natural populations. As natural reproduction continues in the Oswegatchie River, Ne will likely increase.
Using morphological measurements to predict subspecies of Midcontinent sandhill cranes
Authors: VonBank Jay A. , Brandt David A. , Pearse Aaron T. , Wester David B. , Ballard Bart M.
Published: November 2019

The Midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) has historically been classified into 3 putative subspecies, but genetic analyses have identified only 2 genetically distinct subspecies. Previous studies have successfully used morphometrics in combination with an individual's sex to differentiate subspecies of sandhill cranes that had been inferred based on breeding area, but no study has used a sample of genetically determined subspecies to discriminate and develop predictive models. Using measurements from 843 adult sandhill cranes captured throughout their range and annual cycle (in 4 States and 1 Canadian province during 1998–2007), we used linear discriminant analysis to classify genetically identified A. c. canadensis (lesser) and A. c. tabida (greater) sandhill crane subspecies, and developed a field‐ready tool to predict subspecies using common morphometric measurements without determination of an individual's sex. Our top‐ranked model was 89.5% accurate overall, and used flattened wing chord, total culmen, and tarsometatarsus lengths to correctly identify 93.1% of A. c. canadensis and 82.8% of A. c. tabida subspecies. Additionally, we identified measurement thresholds based on posterior probabilities of correct classification to aid in subspecies determination when the linear discriminant procedure provided equivocal results. We also investigated whether sex determination could increase accuracy of our top‐ranked model, and found that accuracy increased <1% when including this information. We suggest collection of the morphometric measurements used in our top‐ranked model to determine subspecies of adult Midcontinent sandhill cranes. Our method does not require determining sex of the individual to correctly classify subspecies, allows for accurate and rapid subspecies determination, and can largely avoid additional costs and time associated with genetic analyses to determine subspecies. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
A Century of Forest Regrowth and Snow Loss Alters the Cooling Effect of Historical Land Use in the Upper Midwest
Authors: Blakely Bethany J. , Rocha Adrian V. , McLachalan Jason S.
Published: November 2019

Anthropogenic land use affects climate by altering the energy balance of the Earth’s surface. In temperate regions, cooling from increased albedo is a common result of historical land-use change. However, this albedo cooling effect is dependent mainly on the exposure of snow cover following forest canopy removal and may change over time due to simultaneous changes in both land cover and snow cover. In this paper, we combine modern remote sensing data and historical records, incorporating over 100 years of realized land use and climatic change into an empirical assessment of centennial-scale surface forcings in the Upper Midwestern USA. We show that, although increases in surface albedo cooled through strong negative shortwave forcings, those forcings were reduced over time by a combination of forest regrowth and snow-cover loss. Deforestation cooled strongly (− 5.3 Wm−2) and mainly in winter, while composition shift cooled less strongly (− 3.03 Wm−2) and mainly in summer. Combined, changes in albedo due to deforestation, shifts in species composition, and the return of historical forest cover resulted in − 2.81 Wm−2of regional radiative cooling, 55% less than full deforestation. Forcings due to changing vegetation were further reduced by 0.32 Wm−2of warming from a shortened snow-covered season and a thinning of seasonal snowpack. Our findings suggest that accounting for long-term changes in land cover and snow cover reduces the estimated cooling impact of deforestation, with implications for long-term land-use planning.
Modeling radiofrequency responses of realistic multi-electrode leads containing helical and straight wires
Authors: Kozlov Mikhail , Horner Marc , Kainz Wolfgang
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To present a modeling workflow for the evaluation of a lead electromagnetic model (LEM) consisting of a transfer function (TF) and a calibration factor. The LEM represents an analytical relationship between the RF response of a lead and the incident electromagnetic field. The study also highlights the importance of including key geometric details of the lead and the electrode when modeling multi-electrode leads.

Methods

The electrical and thermal responses of multi-electrode leads with helical and straight wires were investigated using 3D electromagnetic (EM) and thermal co-simulations. The net dissipated power (P) around each lead electrode and the net temperature increase at the electrodes (ΔT) were obtained for a set of incident EM fields with different spatial distributions. A reciprocity approach was used to determine a TF for each electrode based on the results of the computational model. The evaluation of the calibration factors and the TF validation were performed using the linear regression of P versus the LEM predictions.

Results

P and ΔT were investigated for four multi-electrode leads and four single-electrode leads containing either helical or straight wires. All electrodes of the multi-electrode lead were found to be points of high power deposition and temperature rise. The LEMs for the individual electrodes varied substantially. A significant dependence of the calibration factors on the surrounding tissue medium was also found. Finally, the model showed that the TF, the calibration factor, P and ΔT for multi-electrode leads differ significantly from those for single-electrode leads.

Conclusion

These results highlight the need to evaluate a LEM for each electrode of a multi-electrode lead as well as for each possible surrounding medium. It is also shown that the results derived from simulations based on simplified single-electrode leads can significantly mislead multi-electrode lead analyses.
A speedy auction using approximated bidders’ preferences
Authors: Ingebretsen Carlson Jim
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a combinatorial auction, which is of particular interest when short completion times are of importance. It is based on a method for approximating the bidders’ preferences over two types of item when complementarity between the two may exist. The resulting approximated preference relation is shown to be complete and transitive at any given price vector. It is shown that an approximated Walrasian equilibrium always exists if all bidders either view the items as substitutes or complements. If the approximated preferences of the bidders comply with the gross substitutes condition, then the set of approximated Walrasian equilibrium prices forms a complete lattice. A process is proposed that is shown to always reach the smallest approximated Walrasian price vector. Simulation results suggest that the approximation procedure works well as the difference between the approximated and true minimal Walrasian prices is small.
Meaningful human control as reason-responsiveness: the case of dual-mode vehicles
Authors: Mecacci Giulio , Santoni de Sio Filippo
Published: November 2019

In this paper, in line with the general framework of value-sensitive design, we aim to operationalize the general concept of “Meaningful Human Control” (MHC) in order to pave the way for its translation into more specific design requirements. In particular, we focus on the operationalization of the first of the two conditions (Santoni de Sio and Van den Hoven 2018) investigated: the so-called ‘tracking’ condition. Our investigation is led in relation to one specific subcase of automated system: dual-mode driving systems (e.g. Tesla ‘autopilot’). First, we connect and compare meaningful human control with a concept of control very popular in engineering and traffic psychology (Michon 1985), and we explain to what extent tracking resembles and differs from it. This will help clarifying the extent to which the idea of meaningful human control is connected to, but also goes beyond, current notions of control in engineering and psychology. Second, we take the systematic analysis of practical reasoning as traditionally presented in the philosophy of human action (Anscombe, Bratman, Mele) and we adapt it to offer a general framework where different types of reasons and agents are identified according to their relation to an automated system’s behaviour. This framework is meant to help explaining what reasons and what agents (should) play a role in controlling a given system, thereby enabling policy makers to produce usable guidelines and engineers to design systems that properly respond to selected human reasons. In the final part, we discuss a practical example of how our framework could be employed in designing automated driving systems.
The relation between sarcomere energetics and the rate of isometric tension relaxation in healthy and diseased cardiac muscle
Authors: Vitale Giulia , Ferrantini Cecilia , Piroddi Nicoletta , Scellini Beatrice , Pioner Josè Manuel , Colombini Barbara , Tesi Chiara , Poggesi Corrado
Published: November 2019

Full muscle relaxation happens when [Ca2+] falls below the threshold for force activation. Several experimental models, from whole muscle organs and intact muscle down to skinned fibers, have been used to explore the cascade of kinetic events leading to mechanical relaxation. The use of single myofibrils together with fast solution switching techniques, has provided new information about the role of cross-bridge (CB) dissociation in the time course of isometric force decay. Myofibril’s relaxation is biphasic starting with a slow seemingly linear phase, with a rate constant, slow kREL, followed by a fast mono-exponential phase. Sarcomeres remain isometric during the slow force decay that reflects CB detachment under isometric conditions while the final fast relaxation phase begins with a sudden give of few sarcomeres and is then dominated by intersarcomere dynamics. Based on a simple two-state model of the CB cycle, myofibril slow kREL represents the apparent forward rate with which CBs leave force generating states (gapp) under isometric conditions and correlates with the energy cost of tension generation (ATPase/tension ratio); in short slow kREL ~ gapp ~ tension cost. The validation of this relationship is obtained by simultaneously measuring maximal isometric force and ATP consumption in skinned myocardial strips that provide an unambiguous determination of the relation between contractile and energetic properties of the sarcomere. Thus, combining kinetic experiments in isolated myofibrils and mechanical and energetic measurements in multicellular cardiac strips, we are able to provide direct evidence for a positive linear correlation between myofibril isometric relaxation kinetics (slow kREL) and the energy cost of force production both measured in preparations from the same cardiac sample. This correlation remains true among different types of muscles with different ATPase activities and also when CB kinetics are altered by cardiomyopathy-related mutations. Sarcomeric mutations associated to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a primary cardiac disorder caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins, have been often found to accelerate CB turnover rate and increase the energy cost of myocardial contraction. Here we review data showing that faster CB detachment results in a proportional increase in the energetic cost of tension generation in heart samples from both HCM patients and mouse models of the disease.
Flexible yet fair: blinding analyses in experimental psychology
Authors: Dutilh Gilles , Sarafoglou Alexandra , Wagenmakers Eric-Jan
Published: November 2019

The replicability of findings in experimental psychology can be improved by distinguishing sharply between hypothesis-generating research and hypothesis-testing research. This distinction can be achieved by preregistration, a method that has recently attracted widespread attention. Although preregistration is fair in the sense that it inoculates researchers against hindsight bias and confirmation bias, preregistration does not allow researchers to analyze the data flexibly without the analysis being demoted to exploratory. To alleviate this concern we discuss how researchers may conduct blinded analyses (MacCoun and Perlmutter in Nature 526:187–189, 2015). As with preregistration, blinded analyses break the feedback loop between the analysis plan and analysis outcome, thereby preventing cherry-picking and significance seeking. However, blinded analyses retain the flexibility to account for unexpected peculiarities in the data. We discuss different methods of blinding, offer recommendations for blinding of popular experimental designs, and introduce the design for an online blinding protocol.
Process evaluation of a tailored work-related support intervention for patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Zaman AnneClaire G. N. M. , Tytgat Kristien M. A. J. , Klinkenbijl Jean H. G. , de Boer Angela G. E. M. , Frings-Dresen Monique H. W.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To perform a process evaluation of a tailored work-related support intervention for patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods

The intervention comprised three tailored psychosocial work-related support meetings. To outline the process evaluation of this intervention, we used six key components: recruitment, context, reach, dose delivered, dose received and fidelity. Data were collected using questionnaires, checklists and research logbooks and were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results

In total, 16 hospitals, 33 nurses and 7 oncological occupational physicians (OOPs) participated. Analysis of the six key components revealed that the inclusion rate of eligible patients was 47%. Thirty-eight intervention patients were included: 35 actually had a first meeting, 32 had a second and 17 had a third. For 31 patients (89%), the first meeting was face to face, as per protocol. However, in only 32% of the cases referred to support type A (oncological nurse) and 13% of the cases referred to support type B (OOP), the first meeting was before the start of the treatment, as per protocol. The average duration of the support type A meetings was around the pre-established 30 min; for the OOPs, the average was 50 min. Protocol was easy to follow according to the healthcare professionals. Overall, the patients considered the intervention useful.

Conclusions

This study has shown that the strategy of tailored work-related support is appreciated by both patients and healthcare professionals and applicable in clinical practice.

Implications for Cancer survivors

The intervention was appreciated by patients; however, whether the timing of the work-related support was adequate (i.e. before treatment was started) requires further research.

Trial registration

NTR5022.
The δ15N value of N2 fixing actinorhizal plants and legumes grown with N2 as the only nitrogen source
Authors: Gentili Francesco G. , Huss-Danell Kerstin
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different plant parts and the age of plants at harvest as well as N2 fixing bacterial strains on the N concentration in symbiotic plant parts, especially on the δ15N signature of the actinorhizal plants and legumes. The 15N natural abundance method was used. Two actinorhizal plants were studied: Alnus incana (L.) infected with the Frankia strains ArI3 or “lsF” (local source of Frankia) and Hippophaë rhamnoides (L.) infected with the Frankia strains T1 or E15b. Two legume species were studied: Hedysarum coronarium (L.), infected with a soil suspension, and Robinia pseudoacacia (L.), infected with a crushed nodule suspension. It was particularly interesting that in A. incana, the two Frankia strains affected not only N concentration and δ15N signature of leaves and roots, but also had an impact on plant growth at first harvest. In Hippophaë rhamnoides plants inoculated with the Frankia strains T1 and E15b, N concentrations and δ15N values did not differ at any harvest time. However, plants nodulated by the Frankia strain T1 showed a higher nitrogen fixation rate and higher plant dry matter at all harvesting times. Based on our results for the quantification of N2 fixation with the “B” value, that is the δ15N value of the N2 fixing plants relying only on N2 fixation, plant parts, ages and strains should be carefully considered.
What is the optimal risk scoring for predicting complications after colorectal surgery in elderly patients?
Authors: Inoue Koetsu , Ueno Tatsuya , Akishige Naoki , Soeta Toshihiro , Tsuchiya Takahiro , Nakayama Shun , Shima Kentaro , Goto Shinji , Takahashi Michinaga , Naitoh Takeshi , Naito Hiroo
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACT

Background:

Although several risk scoring systems that predict postoperative complication incidence are available, the optimal scoring tool for elderly colorectal cancer patients remains unknown.

Material and Methods:

Records of 659 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer were retrospectively reviewed, and 130 patients aged >80 years were divided into two groups according to postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade II) as Complication group and Non-complication group.Scoring systems such as the Surgical Apgar score (SAS), and the Prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and sections of the Physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM; physiological score (PS-P), and operative severity score (OS-P)), the Colorectal POSSUM (CR-POSSUM; physiological score (PS-CP) and operative severity score (OS-CP)), and Estimating the physiologic ability and surgical stress score (E-PASS; preoperative risk score (PRS), surgical stress score (SSS) and comprehensive risk score (CRS)) were analyzed.

Results:

The PS-P, PRS, and CRS were significantly different between the two groups in univariate analysis. Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve of PRS was the highest among the scoring systems. Multivariate analysis also showed PRS was a useful risk scoring tool.

Conclusions:

PRS may be useful for predicting the occurrence of complications for colorectal cancer in elderly patients.

Highlights:
Protecting privacy: are today's national laws a boon or bane?
Authors: Srimoolanathan Aravind
Published: November 2019

“Data is the new Oil,” is a well-known notion first coined by UK mathematician and business strategist Clive Humby 1 . But while data has undoubtedly assumed this pre-eminent role in the current digital era, the fact remains that protecting data from theft and illegal usage is a far more onerous task than securing oil ever was.
Ballooning emplacement and alteration of the Chah-Musa subvolcanic intrusion (NE Iran) inferred from magnetic susceptibility and fabric
Authors: Seifivand Ali , Sheibi Maryam
Published: November 2019

The porphyritic diorite Chah-Musa subvolcanic intrusion is located in the Toroud-Chah Shirin magmatic arc in the northern Central Iranian structural zone. The elliptical Chah-Musa body hosts a copper deposit and intrudes an Eocene sequence of volcanic breccia, agglomerate and red tuffaceous sediment. High magnetic susceptibility values are attributed to the presence of magnetite as a magnetic carrier. Changes in bulk magnetic susceptibility correlate with zonation of alteration in the intrusion. Although the degree of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility decreases due to hydrothermal alteration, the field observations confirm that this parameter can be used as a strain marker. Strongly oblate magnetic ellipsoids are found in the eastern half of the intrusion where isolated outcrops of flat-lying tuffaceous host cover dioritic rocks (roof zone). Stations with prolate ellipsoids mostly belong to the centre of the intrusion where the magnetic lineations plunge steeply. They are interpreted as indicating the main feeder zone. The concentric fabric pattern at the periphery of intrusion, the oblate magnetic ellipsoids at the roof, the highest anisotropy degree along the small diameter of the intrusion, and an intense deformation of the host rocks, especially at the western margin, all are evidence that the intrusion was ballooning during the late stages of its emplacement. Ascent and emplacement of the Chah-Musa body is ascribed to the tensional space provided by a dextral shear zone created by the regional left-lateral movement on the bounding Anjilow and Toroud strike-slip faults.
The utility of lateral neck radiographs in the management of fish bones
Authors: Pitts-Tucker T , Biggs T C , Patel N N
Published: November 2019

Background

Lateral neck radiographs are commonly used in the investigation and management of patients presenting with suspected fish bone impaction. The effectiveness of these is questioned, as many fish do not have radio-opaque bones.

Objective

This study evaluated the utility of lateral neck radiographs in the management of patients presenting with fish bones retained in the upper aerodigestive tract, with the creation of a treatment algorithm to guide further management.

Methods

An audit of practice was undertaken at the University Hospital of Southampton, identifying all patients admitted with potential fish bone impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract. Following analysis, a treatment algorithm was constructed for use by junior doctors.

Results

In total, 34 per cent of patients with a normal radiograph were subsequently found to have a fish bone present under local or general anaesthetic assessment. The sensitivity of radiographs in the detection of fish bones was found to be 51.6 per cent.

Conclusion

Lateral neck radiographs have limited value in the management of suspected fish bone impaction, and should only be used following detailed clinical examination of the upper aerodigestive tract.
Genotyping of viable Toxoplasma gondii from the first national survey of feral swine revealed evidence for sylvatic transmission cycle, and presence of highly virulent parasite genotypes
Authors: Dubey J. P. , Cerqueira-Cézar C. K. , Murata F. H. A. , Verma S. K. , Kwok O. C. H. , Pedersen K. , Rosenthal B. M. , Su C.
Published: November 2019

Feral swine are known reservoirs of various pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we report the first national survey of viable T. gondii in feral swine in the USA. We paired serological surveys with parasite isolation and bioassay to evaluate the prevalence and genetic diversity of these parasites. From 2012–2017, sera and tissues from 1517 feral swine across the USA were collected for the isolation of viable T. gondii. Serum samples were initially screened for antibodies to T. gondii, and then the tissues of seropositive feral swine were bioassayed in mice. Antibodies were detected in 27.7% of feral swine tested by the modified agglutination test (1:25 or higher). Antibody positive rates increased significantly with age, with 10.1% of juveniles, 16.0% of sub-adults and 38.4% of adults testing seropositive. Myocardium (50 g) from 232 seropositive feral swine was digested in pepsin and bioassayed in mice. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 78 feral swine from 21 states. Twelve of the 78 isolates were pathogenic to outbred Swiss Webster mice and 76 of the 78 isolates could be propagated further in cell culture and were genotyped. For genotyping, deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from cell culture-derived tachyzoites was characterized by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism using the genetic markers SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico. Genotyping revealed 15 ToxoDB genotypes, including 43 isolates for genotype #5 (haplogroup 12), 11 isolates for #24, four isolates for #2 (haplogroup 3), two isolates for each of genotypes #3 (haplogroup 2), #4 (haplogroup 12), #216, #221, #289 and #297 and one isolate for each of genotypes #1 (haplogroup 2), #39, #66, #260, #261 and #299. Genotype #5 was the most frequently isolated, accounted for 57% (43/76) of the isolates, followed by #24, accounted for 14% (11/76). Genotypes #260, #289, #297 and #299 are new types. Genotype #289 was highly virulent to mice and originated from feral swine collected in Louisiana on the same day at the same location. Genotype #216 was previously demonstrated to be highly virulent to mice. Our results indicate moderate genetic diversity of T. gondii in feral swine in the USA, with the genotype #5 (haplogroup 12) dominant in the continental USA, whereas genotype #24 (10/14) was dominant in Hawaii, suggesting different population structures of the parasites among the two distinct geographical locations.
Psychiatric management of anti-NMDAR encephalitis: a cohort analysis
Authors: Warren Nicola , O'Gorman Cullen , McKeon Gemma , Swayne Andrew , Blum Stefan , Siskind Dan
Published: November 2019

Background

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an immune-mediated disorder which requires multi-disciplinary treatment including immunomodulation therapy. First presentation is most commonly to psychiatric services and continuing psychiatric care is required to treat disabling symptoms, such as behaviour disturbance, psychosis and catatonia. There is minimal available evidence to guide symptomatic treatment and concern for increased sensitivity to antipsychotics complicates traditional approaches.

Methods

All cases of cerebrospinal fluid positive anti-NMDAR encephalitis tested in Queensland, Australia were identified. Demographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected and reviewed by two independent clinicians. Pre-specified variables reflecting possible treatment side effects were compared.

Results

The majority of the 30 cases (83%) had early psychiatric symptoms and were treated with antipsychotics (67%), average daily olanzapine equivalence dose of 11.5 mg, prior to immunomodulation therapy. Although there was an 88% reduction in cases with aggression, there was little improvement in psychosis, affective symptoms or catatonia with antipsychotics alone. In the cases with psychiatric symptoms, there was no significant difference in the rate of occurrence of neurological and autonomic symptoms between cases prescribed and not prescribed antipsychotics.

Conclusions

Psychiatric input is imperative for both acute and longer-term management of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Primary symptomatic treatment should remain immunotherapy and surgery. Antipsychotic medications have particular value in managing agitation and aggression. Potential side effects from antipsychotic treatment are difficult to differentiate from progression of anti-NMDAR encephalitis but there was no evidence in this cohort of increased antipsychotic sensitivity. Treatment with psychotropic medication should be individualised and adjusted during the course of the illness.
Notes on the speech of the Afro-Baloch of the southern coast of Iran
Authors: KORN AGNES , NOURZAEI MARYAM
Published: November 2019

The aim of the present article is to describe the morphosyntactic properties of Iranian Coastal Balochi as spoken by the Afro-Balochi community. The Afro-Baloch have completely switched to Balochi and there are no traces of African languages in their speech. In comparison with other Balochi dialects of Iran on the one hand and Coastal Balochi dialects of Pakistan on the other, Coastal Balochi as spoken in Iran shows archaic characteristics, particularly in its case system, in the demonstrative pronouns and in the alignment features. This particularly applies to the speech of the Afro-Baloch, who due to persisting social segregation have limited access to education and media.
Spatial patterning and correlates of self-harm in Manchester, England
Authors: Lin Chien-Yu , Bickley Harriet , Clements Caroline , Webb Roger T. , Gunnell David , Hsu Chia-Yueh , Chang Shu-Sen , Kapur Nav
Published: November 2019

Aims

To investigate the spatial distribution of self-harm incidence rates, their socioeconomic correlates and sex/age differences using data on self-harm presentations to emergency departments from The Manchester Self-Harm Project (2003–2013).

Methods

Smoothed standardised incidence ratios for index self-harm episodes (n = 14 771) and their associations with area-level socioeconomic factors across 258 small areas (median population size = 1470) in the City of Manchester municipality were estimated using Bayesian hierarchical models.

Results

Higher numbers and rates of self-harm were found in the north, east and far southern zones of the city, in contrast to below average rates in the city centre and the inner city zone to the south of the centre. Males and females aged 10–24, 25–44 and 45–64 years showed similar geographical patterning of self-harm. In contrast, there was no clear pattern in the group aged 65 years and older. Fully adjusted analyses showed a positive association of self-harm rates with the percentage of the unemployed population, households privately renting, population with limiting long-term illness and lone-parent households, and a negative association with the percentage of ethnicity other than White British and travel distance to the nearest hospital emergency department. The area-level characteristics investigated explained a large proportion (four-fifths) of the variability in area self-harm rates. Most associations were restricted to those aged under 65 years and some associations (e.g. with unemployment) were present only in the youngest age group.

Conclusions

The findings have implications for allocating prevention and intervention resources targeted at high-risk groups in high incidence areas. Targets for area-based interventions might include tackling the causes and consequences of joblessness, better treatment of long-term illness and consideration of the accessibility of health services.
Global Variability of Simulated and Observed Vegetation Growing Season
Authors: Peano D. , Materia S. , Collalti A. , Alessandri A. , Anav A. , Bombelli A. , Gualdi S.
Published: November 2019

Vegetation phenology and its variability have substantial influence on land‐atmosphere interaction, and changes in growing season length are additional indicators of climate change impacts on ecosystems. For these reasons, global land surface models are routinely evaluated in order to assess their ability to reproduce the observed phenological variability. In this work, we present a new approach that integrates a wider spectrum of growing season modes, in order to better describe the observed variability in vegetation growing season onset and offset, as well as assess the ability of state‐of‐the‐art land surface models to capture this variability at the global scale. The method is applied to the Community Land Model version 4.5 (CLM4.5) simulations and LAI3g satellite observation. The comparison between data and model outputs shows that CLM4.5 is capable of reproducing the growing season features in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitude and high latitude, but also displays its limitations in areas where water availability acts as the main driver of vegetation phenological activity. Besides, the new approach allows evaluating land surface models in capturing multigrowing‐season phenology. In this regard, CLM4.5 proves its ability in reproducing the two‐growing‐season cycles in the Horn of Africa. In general, the new methodology expands the area of analysis from northern midlatitude and high latitude to the global continental areas and allows to assess the vegetation response to the ongoing climate change in a larger variety of ecosystems, ranging from semiarid regions to rain forests, passing through temperate deciduous and boreal evergreen forests.
Io's Effect on Energetic Charged Particles as Seen in Juno Data
Authors: Paranicas C. , Mauk B.H. , Haggerty D.K. , Clark G. , Kollmann P. , Rymer A.M. , Westlake J. , Allen R.C. , Szalay J. , Ebert R.W. , Sulaiman A.H. , Imai M. , Roussos E. , Krupp N. , Nénon Q. , Bagenal F. , Bolton S. J.
Published: November 2019

On 12 February 2019, the Juno spacecraft crossed the particle drift shells (L shells) of the moon Io. The energetic particle detector, Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument (JEDI), found very low fluxes of energetic protons when the spacecraft was inward of about L~6.5. Recent modeling suggests wave‐particle interactions may explain why energetic proton fluxes measured at these radial distances are low. JEDI also measured both a wide and a narrow decrease in the energetic electron count rate in Io's wake. At the time of this decrease, the JEDI detectors were dominated by 0.42 to 10‐MeV electrons. The dimensions of the narrow count rate decrease are about three Io diameters and are unlikely to be caused by absorption by moon itself.