bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital cholangioscopy can detect residual biliary stones missed by occlusion cholangiogram in ERCP: a prospective tandem study
Authors: Sejpal Divyesh , Trindade Arvind , Lee Calvin , Miller Larry , Benias Petros , Inamdar Sumant , Singh Gurshawn , Stewart Molly , George Benley , Vegesna Anil
Published: April 2019

Background and study aims After stone removal in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an occlusion cholangiogram (OC) is performed to confirm bile duct clearance. OC can miss residual stones that can lead to recurrent biliary symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess if digital peroral cholangioscopy (POC) increased the diagnostic yield of residual biliary stones that are missed with OC.

Patients and methods Patients having ERCP performed for choledocholithiasis were enrolled into the study only if they had one of the following criteria: dilated bile duct ≥ 12 mm and/or if lithotripsy was being performed. An OC was performed to confirm duct clearance after removal of stones followed by POC, based on inclusion criteria. The incremental yield of biliary stones missed by OC but confirmed by POC was then measured. A total of 96 POC procedures were performed on 93 patients in two tertiary care centers.

Results Residual biliary stones were found in 34 % of cases. The average bile duct size in cases with residual stones was 15.1 mm ± 0.7 mm. One- to three-mm stones were found in 41 % of cases, 4- to 7-mm stones in 45 % of cases, and ≥ 8-mm stones in 14 % of cases. Lithotripsy was performed in 13 % of cases and was significantly associated with residual stones (30 % vs. 3 %, P < 0.001).

Conclusions Occlusion cholangiogram can miss residual stones in patients with dilated bile ducts and those receiving lithotripsy. Digital POC can increase the yield of residual stone detection in these patients and should be considered to confirm clearance of stones. (ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT03482375).
Ein Blick hinter die Demeter-Kulissen
Authors: Konrat Viktoria
Published: April 2019

Wofür steht das orange-weiß-grüne Demeter-Siegel eigentlich genau? Einer der Demeter-zertifizierten Höfe ist der Schwärzler Hof im Allgäu. Susanne Schwärzler gewährt spannende Einblicke in die anthroposophisch begründete Form der Landwirtschaft.
Consecutive Ring-Expansion Reactions for the Iterative Assembly of Medium-Sized Rings and Macrocycles
Authors: Stephens Thomas C. , Unsworth William P.
Published: April 2019

Macrocycles and medium-sized rings have important applications in several scientific fields but can be challenging to make using traditional end-to-end cyclization reactions. Ring-expansion methods represent a useful alternative and offer numerous practical benefits. In this Account, we discuss the current state of the art of ring-expansion strategies that have been applied consecutively. Such methods have the power to expedite the design and synthesis of functionalized macro­cycles via the selective, iterative insertion of smaller fragments into ring-enlarged products.

1 Introduction

2 Insertion Reactions

2.1 Transamidation/Transpeptidation

2.2 Transesterification

2.3 Transthioesterification

2.4 Aminyl Radical Cascade

2.5 Iterative Synthesis of Lactones

2.6 Successive Ring Expansion of β-Ketoesters and Lactams

3 Pericyclic Reactions

3.1 Sulfur-Mediated Rearrangements

3.2 Nitrogen-Mediated Rearrangements

4 Fragmentation Reactions

5 Conclusions and Future Outlook
Repeated Measures of Cervicovaginal Cytokines during Healthy Pregnancy: Understanding “Normal” Inflammation to Inform Future Screening
Authors: Buxton Miatta A. , Meraz-Cruz Noemi , Sánchez Brisa N. , Foxman Betsy , Gronlund Carina J. , Beltran-Montoya Jorge , Castillo-Castrejon Marisol , O'Neill Marie S. , Vadillo-Ortega Felipe
Published: April 2019

Objective This study aimed to describe characteristics of cervicovaginal cytokines obtained during pregnancy from women who subsequently delivered at term.

Study Design We used repeated measures of 20 cervicovaginal cytokines, collected on average on a monthly basis, from the second to the ninth month of gestation among 181 term pregnancies in the Mexico City Pregnancy Research on Inflammation, Nutrition, & City Environment: Systematic Analyses cohort (2009–2014). Cytokines were quantified using multiplex assay.

Results Cytokine distributions differed more between than within cytokines. Across trimesters, cytokines interleukin (IL)-1Ra, IL-1α, and IL-8 consistently had high concentrations compared with other measured cytokines. Cytokine intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.41 to 0.82. Spearman's correlation coefficients among cytokine pairs varied but correlation directions were stable; 95.3% of the 190 correlation pairs remained either negative or positive across trimesters. Mean longitudinal patterns of log-transformed cytokines from Tobit regression varied across but less within cytokines.

Conclusion Although mean concentrations of cervicovaginal cytokines among term pregnancies were high, they were largely stable over time. The high cytokine concentrations corroborate that pregnancy is associated with an active inflammatory state. These characterizations may serve as a baseline for comparison to other obstetric outcomes, which may be helpful in understanding deviations from normal gestational inflammation.
Asymptotic equivalence of quantum stochastic models
Authors: Bouten Luc , Gough John E.
Published: April 2019

We introduce the notion of perturbations of quantum stochastic models using the series product and establish the asymptotic convergence of sequences of quantum stochastic models under the assumption that they are related via a right series product perturbation. While the perturbing models converge to the trivial model, we allow that the individual sequences may be divergent corresponding to large model parameter regimes that frequently occur in physical applications. This allows us to introduce the concept of asymptotically equivalent models, and we provide several examples where we replace one sequence of models with an equivalent one tailored to capture specific features. These examples include a series product formulation of the principle of virtual work; essential commutativity of the noise in strong squeezing models; the decoupling of polarization channels in scattering by Faraday rotation driven by a strong laser field; and an application to quantum local asymptotic normality.
Periodic orbits of the planar anisotropic generalized Kepler problem
Authors: Llibre Jaume , Valls Claudia
Published: April 2019

Many generalizations of the Kepler problem with homogeneous potential of degree −1/2 have been considered. Here, we deal with the generalized anisotropic Kepler problem with homogeneous potential of degree −1. We provide the explicit solutions of this problem on the zero energy level and show that all of them are periodic.
Boundary triples for the Dirac operator with Coulomb-type spherically symmetric perturbations
Authors: Cassano Biagio , Pizzichillo Fabio
Published: April 2019

We determine explicitly a boundary triple for the Dirac operator H≔−iα⋅∇+mβ+V(x) in R3, for m∈R and V(x)=|x|−1(νI4+μβ−iλα⋅x/|x| β), with ν,μ,λ∈R. Consequently, we determine all the self-adjoint realizations of H in terms of the behavior of the functions of their domain in the origin. When supx|x||V(x)|≤1, we discuss the problem of selecting the distinguished extension requiring that its domain is included in the domain of the appropriate quadratic form.
Ground state solution and nodal solution for fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equation with indefinite potential
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhao Dun , Wang Qingxuan
Published: April 2019

We prove that under some mild assumptions, the nonlinear fractional Schrödinger equation (−Δ)su+V(x)u=f(u) (x∈RN), where V(x) is an indefinite potential, has two nonzero solutions: one is a positive ground state solution, and the other is a sign-changing solution.
Angular evolution of thickness-related unidirectional magnetoresistance in Co/Pt multilayers
Authors: Oh Junseok , Humbard Levi , Humbert Vincent , Sklenar Joseph , Mason Nadya
Published: April 2019

We report the magnetoresistance of Co/Pt superlattices having thickness gradients at different orientations relative to an applied current. We measure the magnetoresistance at a fixed field as a function of the out-of-plane field angle, and find a unidirectional magnetoresistance (UMR) in addition to the expected anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR). Specifically, the UMR signal is the difference in resistance between the (out-of-plane) +z and −z field orientation. The magnitude of UMR is minimized when the thickness gradient is parallel to the applied current and maximized when the gradient is nearly perpendicular to the current. The results imply the possibility of an alternative source of UMR in Co/Pt multilayers in addition to the previously considered anomalous Hall effect.
A unified heteronuclear decoupling picture in solid-state NMR under low radio-frequency amplitude and fast magic-angle-spinning frequency regime
Authors: Sharma Kshama , Equbal Asif , Nielsen Niels Chr. , Madhu P. K.
Published: April 2019

Heteronuclear spin decoupling is a highly important component of solid-state NMR experiments to remove undesired coupling interactions between unlike spins for spectral resolution. Recently, experiments using a unification strategy of standard decoupling schemes were presented for high radio-frequency (RF) amplitudes and slow-intermediate magic-angle-spinning (MAS) frequencies, in the pursuit of deeper understanding of spin decoupling under phase-modulated RF irradiation [A. Equbal et al., J. Chem. Phys. 142, 184201 (2015)]. The approach, unified two-pulse heteronuclear decoupling (UTPD), incorporates the simultaneous time- and phase-modulation strategies, commonly used in solid-state NMR. Here, the UTPD based decoupling scheme is extended to the experimentally increasingly important regime of low RF amplitudes and fast MAS frequencies. The unified decoupling approach becomes increasingly effective in identifying the deleterious dipole-dipole and, in particular, J recoupling conditions which become critical for the low-amplitude RF regime. This is because J coupling is isotropic and therefore not averaged out by sample spinning unlike the anisotropic dipole-dipole coupling. Numerical simulations and analytic theory are used to understand the effects of various nuclear spin interactions on the decoupling performance of UTPD, in particular, the crucial difference between the low-phase and high-phase UTPD conditions with respect to J coupling. In the UTPD scheme, when the cycle-frequency of the pulse-sequence is comparable to the RF nutation frequency, the existence of a non-zero effective rotation in the basic two-pulse scheme becomes an essential feature for the efficient and robust averaging out of the scalar J coupling. This broad viewpoint is expected to bring different optimum low-power decoupling pulse schemes under a common footing.
Extreme high field plasmonics: Electron acceleration and XUV harmonic generation from ultrashort surface plasmons
Authors: Macchi A. , Cantono G. , Fedeli L. , Pisani F. , Ceccotti T.
Published: April 2019

Experiments on the excitation of propagating surface plasmons (SPs) by an ultrashort, high intensity laser interaction with grating targets are reviewed. At intensities exceeding 1019 W cm−2 on target, i.e., in the strongly relativistic regime of electron dynamics, multi-megaelectronvolt electrons are accelerated by the SP field as dense bunches collimated in a near-tangent direction. By the use of a suitable blazed grating, the bunch charge can be increased up to ≈660 pC. Intense extreme ultraviolet high harmonics (HHs) diffracted by the grating are observed when a plasma with a submicrometer scale is produced at the target surface by a controlled prepulse. When the SP is excited, the HHs are strongly enhanced in a direction quasi-parallel to the electrons. Simulations suggest that the HHs are boosted by nanobunching in the SP field of the electrons which scatter the laser field. Besides the static and dynamic tailoring of the target density profile, further control of electron and HH emission might be achieved by changing the SP duration using a laser pulse with a rotating wavefront. The latter technique may allow the production of nearly single-cycle SPs.
The characteristics of unsteady cavitation around a sphere
Authors: Cheng Xinsheng , Shao Xueming , Zhang Lingxin
Published: April 2019

The unsteady cavitation typically includes three processes: the growth of cavitation, the instability and shedding of cavitation, and the collapse of cloud cavitation and the regeneration of attached cavitation. In this paper, the unsteady features of the cavitating flow past a sphere are investigated. A detached eddy simulation turbulence model and a transport equation cavitation model are used to model the cavitating flow. The numerical results give the unsteady process of cavitation at different cavitation numbers (0.36 < σ < 1.0), which cover the cavitation state from inception to supercavitation. When the cavitation number 0.8 < σ < 1.0, the flow instability belongs to the single frequency mode; when the cavitation number σ < 0.8, the flow instability becomes the dual-frequency mode. We analyzed the Strouhal (St) number based on the length of the cavitation and found that the St numbers are stable around 0.5 and 0.2 in the dual-frequency mode. In this mode, the high frequency corresponds to the frequency of the large-scale cavity shedding caused by repeated re-entrant jets. The low frequency, caused by the combination of wake flow and cavitation, is close to the natural frequency of the sphere. In addition, the cavity leading edge position and cavity morphology are analyzed in details. Some of the numerical results are compared with existing experimental data.
Non-linear modeling of the threshold between ELM mitigation and ELM suppression by resonant magnetic perturbations in ASDEX upgrade
Authors: Orain F. , Hoelzl M. , Mink F. , Willensdorfer M. , Bécoulet M. , Dunne M. , Günter S. , Huijsmans G. , Lackner K. , Pamela S. , Suttrop W. , Viezzer E. ,   ASDEX Upgrade Team,   EUROfusion MST1 Team
Published: April 2019

The interaction between Edge-Localized Modes (ELMs) and Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMPs) is modeled with the magnetohydrodynamic code JOREK using experimental parameters from ASDEX Upgrade discharges. According to the modeling, the ELM mitigation or suppression is optimal when the amplification of both tearing and peeling-kink responses results in a better RMP penetration. The ELM mitigation or suppression is not only due to the reduction of the pressure gradient but predominantly arises from the toroidal coupling between the ELMs and the RMP-induced mode at the plasma edge, forcing the edge modes to saturate at a low level. The bifurcation from ELM mitigation to ELM suppression is observed when the RMP amplitude is increased. ELM mitigation is characterized by rotating modes at the edge, while the mode locking to RMPs is induced by the resonant braking of the electron perpendicular flow in the ELM suppression regime.
Two-body dissociation of C3H4 isomers investigated by 50 keV/u Ne8+ impact
Authors: Li Yutian , Xu Shenyue , Guo Dalong , Jia Shaokui , Jiang Xiaojuan , Zhu Xiaolong , Ma Xinwen
Published: April 2019

The fragmentation of two isomers of C3H4, propyne (CH3CCH) and allene (CH2CCH2), is investigated by 50 keV/u Ne8+ impact. Obvious isomer effects are observed by comparing the time-of-flight spectra generated from the two isomers. Six two-body fragmentation channels of C3H4    2+ dications are identified for each isomer. CH2   + + C2H2   + is found to be the most favored CC bond breaking channel for both isomers, indicating that CH3CCH2+ intends to rearrange to the structure containing the CH2 group before fragmentation. For CH bond breaking channels, it is found that the CH3CCH which contains a CH3 group is more efficient for H2   + and H3   + ejection. In addition, two-body dissociation channels of C3H4   3+ trications are identified. While the H+ + C3H3   2+ channel is observed in the fragmentation of both isomers, the H2   + + C3H2   2+ channel only occurs in the fragmentation of CH3CCH3+. For CH2CCH2   3+, the peak and shoulder structures in the kinetic energy release spectrum of the H+ + C3H3   2+ channel are attributed to different geometries of the C3H3   2+ product.
'Superbull' males: what role do they play and what drives their appearance within the Doryteuthis gahi Patagonian Shelf population?
Authors: Jones Jessica B. , Pierce Graham J. , Brickle Paul , Shcherbich Zhanna N. , Arkhipkin Alexander I.
Published: April 2019

Cephalopod populations exhibit high variability in life history characteristics, such as longevity and size-at-age. The aim of this study was to understand how characteristics of a newly described ‘superbull’ male morph in Doryteuthis gahi populations (Patagonian Shelf) arise and whether there is a selective advantage. At the population level, it is speculated that superbulls provide temporal and spatial connectivity, but individual benefit is less obvious. Age structure and reproductive potential of males was investigated to determine whether superbulls could provide connectivity. Environmental variables affecting size-at-age were explored to ascertain whether morphological differences were primarily phenotypically driven. Superbulls from the autumn spawning cohort were significantly older than the residual population, with added longevity potentially leading to spawning with the following cohort. A reduction in relative testis weight was apparent in superbulls, but spermatophore production remained high. Generalised additive mixed models indicated temperature, location and hatch year had significant effects on size-at-age. Weak correlations between warm El Niño–Southern Oscillation phases and superbull abundance were found. The results suggest that superbulls provide temporal connectivity and arise through phenotypic plasticity, likely providing connectivity as a side effect of body shape and size rather than a genetically selected advantage.
Hydrogeochemical investigation and groundwater quality in Essaouira region, Morocco
Authors: Bahir Mohammed , Ouazar Driss , Ouhamdouch Salah
Published: April 2019

Given the scarcity, or even absence, of surface water and the domination of the semi-arid climate in the coastal zone of the Essaouira basin (Morocco), the Plio-Quaternary, Turonian, Barremian–Aptian and Hauterivian aquifers represent the main source of water for fine consumption and agriculture. However, the study of their quality is a priority. So as to reach the objective of this study, the combination of the two hydrogeochemical and geographical information system tools was used. The results obtained showed that the facies characterising the Plio-Quaternary aquifer was a combination of Ca–Mg–Cl and Na–Cl, and that characterising the Turonian, Barremian–Aptian and the Hauterivian aquifer was a combination of Ca–Mg–Cl. However, flagship ions in the study area are Cl, Na, Ca and Mg. For consumptions purpose, the comparison of the concentrations of major elements with the standards of the World Health Organization showed that all the elements presented concentrations below the threshold, except for chlorides, the concentrations of which exceeded the threshold. For the agricultural purposes, the two Wilcox and United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagrams, and the spatial distribution of parameters total dissolved solids, total hardness, permeability Kelly’s ratio, sodium hazard, sodium percentage and nitrates showed that the groundwater in the study area is adequate for persistent plants with a high to very high salinity tolerance.
Resveratrol directly affects ovarian cell sirtuin, proliferation, apoptosis, hormone release and response to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)
Authors: Sirotkin Alexander , Alexa Richard , Kádasi Attila , Adamcová Erika , Alwasel Saleh , Harrath Abdel Halim
Published: April 2019

The objective of our study was to examine the influence of the plant polyphenol resveratrol (R) on the rapamycin signalling pathway (mammalian target of rapamycin; mTOR) and basic ovarian cell functions in mammalian targets, as well as on their response to the physiological hormonal stimulators follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Resveratrol was found to stimulate sirtuin 1 accumulation and apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, suppress P and promote T and E release. Alone, FSH promoted proliferation and had no effect on apoptosis, but had an inhibitory effect on these processes when combined with R. IGF-I alone stimulated proliferation and inhibited apoptosis and promoted P production but not that of T; however, in the presence of R, the addition of IGF-I switched from having an anti-apoptotic to a pro-apoptotic effect and stimulated T release, but it did not modify the effect of IGF-I on proliferation and P output. These observations: (1) demonstrate that R directly affects the basic ovarian cell functions of proliferation, apoptosis and steroidogenesis, (2) provide further evidence of the involvement of FSH and IGF-I in the regulation of these processes, (3) demonstrate the ability of R to prevent and even invert the effects of FSH and IGF-I on ovarian cells and (4) indicate that the effects of R may be mediated by the mTOR–sirtuin intracellular signalling system.
Lat. scrībere in Germanic
Authors: Tarsi Matteo
Published: April 2019

The present article deals with the reflexes of Lat.scrīberein Germanic. It is proposed that the word was borrowed into Germanic at quite an early stage (1st century AD) as a result of contacts between West-Germanic-speaking populations and the Romans. Special stress is put on the importance of the Roman military in introducing the practice of writing among those that served in the army. Special attention is given to the North Germanic reflexes of Lat.scrīberein order to tentatively explain the morphological difference found in that branch of Germanic, where the verb is found both in the first class of strong verbs and in the second class of weak verbs. It is proposed that the former conjugation is primary, and that the rise of the latter is due to later developments such as lexical analogical processes and language-external causes. Furthermore, the present study confirms from a different perspective that English influence on writing is primary in the Old-West-Norse-speaking area. Finally,Schulte’s (2015)proposal is re-read in the light of terminological evidence from England and Scandinavia.
Interrogative engagement as a pragmatic and textual function in Legal Studies
Authors: Sala Michele
Published: April 2019

This chapter investigates the use of interrogative sentences in legal studies, a domain where persuasion does not benefit from corpus-based evidence but is an eminently discourse-based construct. Questions are particularly strategic tools to align readers to the writer’s point of view and guide interpretation, since they can be employed to both organize the argumentation and anticipate problematic aspects or doubts with the purpose of neutralizing them. Based on a corpus of 90 legal research articles taken from CADIS, this chapter examines questions according to their pragmatic and textual aspect, and assesses their specificity to the legal domain by comparing their frequency and function with a reference corpus of 270 research articles in other academic domains (applied linguistics, economics and medicine).
Silence and engagement in the multimodal genre of synchronous videoconferencing lectures
Authors: Querol-Julián Mercedes , Arteaga-Martínez Blanca
Published: April 2019

This chapter analyses how teachers, in synchronous videoconferencing lectures of Didactics in Mathematics, manage silence to promote engagement. The epistemology of Mathematics, with its specific semiotic resources, requires special consideration to guarantee an adequate acquisition of contents and teaching procedures. A qualitative approach allows the analysis of multimodal interaction during significant episodes of absence of talk, in a teaching-learning context with different communicative channels, oral for teachers (who are in front of the camera) and written for learners (who use the chat). Results reveal the importance of the multimodal strategies used to repair teachers’ and learners’ silence in two main situations: the IRF (Initiation-Response-Feedback) cycle initiated by teacher’s questions and the teaching exchange when interacting with materials.
The papacy, Inquisition and Saint Guinefort the Holy Greyhound
Authors: Rist Rebecca
Published: April 2019

Just before 1261 the Dominican inquisitor Stephen of Bourbon (d.1261) visited an area of south-eastern France known as the Dombes, in the diocese of Lyons and there found that women were venerating a certain St Guinefort as a healer of children. He was extremely pleased to hear this, until he discovered that St Guinefort was not a holy man, but a greyhound. Furthermore, he discovered that the women of the Dombes were involved in a rite which allowed for the death of sickly babies. The medieval Church was unwavering in its condemnation of infanticide. Yet Stephen of Bourbon chose to shut down the rite, rather than impose more severe penalties, suggesting that he did not suspect ritual murder. The Church’s censure was not just a ban on a non-orthodox cult, or a theological statement that animals could not be saints, or a crackdown on magical and heretical practices – although it was all these things. It was also the condemnation of a healing cult that had got badly out of hand. The legend of St Guinefort the Holy Greyhound reveals the medieval Church engaged in a familiar struggle: to balance popular piety with orthodox teaching.
HIV-specific humoral immune responses by CRISPR/Cas9-edited B cells
Authors: Hartweger Harald , McGuire Andrew T. , Horning Marcel , Taylor Justin J. , Dosenovic Pia , Yost Daniel , Gazumyan Anna , Seaman Michael S. , Stamatatos Leonidas , Jankovic Mila , Nussenzweig Michel C.
Published: April 2019

A small number of HIV-1–infected individuals develop broadly neutralizing antibodies to the virus (bNAbs). These antibodies are protective against infection in animal models. However, they only emerge 1–3 yr after infection, and show a number of highly unusual features including exceedingly high levels of somatic mutations. It is therefore not surprising that elicitation of protective immunity to HIV-1 has not yet been possible. Here we show that mature, primary mouse and human B cells can be edited in vitro using CRISPR/Cas9 to express mature bNAbs from the endogenous Igh locus. Moreover, edited B cells retain the ability to participate in humoral immune responses. Immunization with cognate antigen in wild-type mouse recipients of edited B cells elicits bNAb titers that neutralize HIV-1 at levels associated with protection against infection. This approach enables humoral immune responses that may be difficult to elicit by traditional immunization.
What a drag!: Skeletal myosin binding protein-C affects sarcomeric shortening
Authors: Colson Brett A.
Published: April 2019

Colson discusses a recent investigation of the functional effect of slow myosin binding protein-C in slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers.
Optimization of Cellulose Isolation from Melaleuca leucadendron Twigs by Box-Behnken Design
Authors: Prasetyo D J , Maryana R , Jatmiko T H , Hernawan  , Wahono S K
Published: April 2019

The production of Melaleuca leucadendron essential oil generates a lot of solid waste, since only under 2% take it out as the oil product. The solid waste contains cellulose as an important content which can be isolated by alkaline treatment of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In this project, optimization of alkaline treatment of M. leucadendron twigs (MLT) waste was studied in order to obtain optimum isolated cellulose. The experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure and boiling temperature. The 33 Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to evaluate the effects of treatment time, solid loading and NaOH concentration. Quadratic model evaluation showed that the model is a prospective to describe the effects of the variables (R2=0.8994, p<0.05). The significant variables were found in linear term of NaOH concentration and quadratic term of treatment time. The optimum result of the experimental variables range was predicted in treatment time, solid loading and NaOH concentrations of 60 minutes, 10%, and 1.83% respectively. In conclusion, BBD is appropriate to optimize cellulose isolation process of MLT.
Modulation instability of discrete angular momentum in coupled fiber rings
Authors: Maitland Calum , Faccio Daniele , Biancalana Fabio
Published: April 2019

We present an analysis of temporal modulation instability in a ring array of coupled optical fibers. Continuous-wave signals are shown to be unstable to perturbations carrying discrete angular momenta, both for normal and anomalous group velocity dispersion. We find the frequency spectrum of modulation instability is different for each perturbation angular momentum and depends strongly on the coupling strength between fibers in the ring. Twisting the ring array also allows the frequency spectra to be tuned through the induced tunnelling Peierls phase.
Setting Realistic Health Goals: Antecedents and Consequences
Authors: Avishai Aya , Conner Mark , Sheeran Paschal
Published: April 2019

We defined realistic health goals by how well people’s intentions to act matched up with how they expected to act. Intentions were better translated into behavior for more realistic health goals.
Time of Year Effects on Self-Reported Estimates of Past-Year Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Mojica-Perez Yvette , Callinan Sarah , Livingston Michael
Published: April 2019

There were higher estimates of alcohol consumption for respondents completing the survey in November (late spring) and lower estimates in August and September (late winter/early spring). Seasonal variations in alcohol consumption have the potential to impact respondents’ accurate recall of alcohol consumption in the last 12 months.
Bovine endometrium responds differentially to age-matched short and long conceptuses†
Authors: Sánchez José María , Mathew Daniel J , Behura Susanta K , Passaro Claudia , Charpigny Gilles , Butler Stephen T , Spencer Thomas E , Lonergan Pat
Published: April 2019

This study combined in vitro production of bovine blastocysts, multiple embryo transfer techniques, and a conceptus-endometrial explant co-culture system to test the hypothesis that bovine endometrium exposed to long vs. short day 15 conceptuses would exhibit a different transcriptome profile reflective of potential for successful pregnancy establishment. Bovine endometrial explants collected at the late luteal stage of the estrous cycle were cultured in RPMI medium for 6 h with nothing (control), 100 ng/mL recombinant ovine interferon tau (IFNT), a long day 15 conceptus, or a short day 15 conceptus. Transcriptional profiling of the endometrial explants found that exposure of endometrium to IFNT, long conceptuses, or short conceptuses altered (P < 0.05) expression of 491, 498, and 230 transcripts, respectively, compared to the control. Further analysis revealed three categories of differentially expressed genes (DEG): (i) commonly responsive to exposure to IFNT and conceptuses, irrespective of size (n = 223); (ii) commonly responsive to IFNT and long conceptuses only (n = 168); and genes induced by the presence of a conceptus but independent of IFNT (n = 108). Of those 108 genes, 101 were exclusively induced by long conceptuses and functional analysis revealed that regulation of molecular function, magnesium-ion transmembrane transport, and clathrin coat assembly were the principal gene ontologies associated with these DEG. In conclusion, bovine endometrium responds differently to age-matched conceptuses of varying size in both an IFNT-dependent and -independent manner, which may be reflective of the likelihood of successful pregnancy establishment.
The Problem with Crime Problem-Solving: Towards a Second Generation Pop?
Authors: Borrion Hervé , Ekblom Paul , Alrajeh Dalal , Borrion Aiduan Li , Keane Aidan , Koch Daniel , Mitchener-Nissen Timothy , Toubaline Sonia
Published: April 2019

In his 2018 Stockholm prize winner lecture, Goldstein highlighted the need for problem-oriented policing (POP) to be not only effective but also fair. Contributing to the development of POP, this study examines how a wider perspective on problem-solving generally, and scoping in particular, can be adopted to address some of the growing challenges in 21st century policing. We demonstrate that the concept of ‘problem’ was too narrowly defined and that, as a result, many problem-solving models found in criminology are ill-structured to minimize the negative side-effects of interventions and deliver broader benefits. Problem-solving concepts and models are compared across disciplines and recommendations are made to improve POP, drawing on examples in architecture, conservation science, industrial ecology and ethics.
Music training is neuroprotective for verbal cognition in focal epilepsy
Authors: Bird Laura J , Jackson Graeme D , Wilson Sarah J
Published: April 2019

Focal epilepsy is a unilateral brain network disorder, providing an ideal neuropathological model with which to study the effects of focal neural disruption on a range of cognitive processes. While language and memory functions have been extensively investigated in focal epilepsy, music cognition has received less attention, particularly in patients with music training or expertise. This represents a critical gap in the literature. A better understanding of the effects of epilepsy on music cognition may provide greater insight into the mechanisms behind disease- and training-related neuroplasticity, which may have implications for clinical practice. In this cross-sectional study, we comprehensively profiled music and non-music cognition in 107 participants; musicians with focal epilepsy (n = 35), non-musicians with focal epilepsy (n = 39), and healthy control musicians and non-musicians (n = 33). Parametric group comparisons revealed a specific impairment in verbal cognition in non-musicians with epilepsy but not musicians with epilepsy, compared to healthy musicians and non-musicians (P = 0.029). This suggests a possible neuroprotective effect of music training against the cognitive sequelae of focal epilepsy, and implicates potential training-related cognitive transfer that may be underpinned by enhancement of auditory processes primarily supported by temporo-frontal networks. Furthermore, our results showed that musicians with an earlier age of onset of music training performed better on a composite score of melodic learning and memory compared to non-musicians (P = 0.037), while late-onset musicians did not differ from non-musicians. For most composite scores of music cognition, although no significant group differences were observed, a similar trend was apparent. We discuss these key findings in the context of a proposed model of three interacting dimensions (disease status, music expertise, and cognitive domain), and their implications for clinical practice, music education, and music neuroscience research.
Impact of Abstinence and of Reducing Illicit Drug Use Without Abstinence on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Viral Load
Authors: Nance Robin M , Trejo Maria Esther Perez , Whitney Bridget M , Delaney Joseph A C , Altice Fredrick L , Beckwith Curt G , Chander Geetanjali , Chandler Redonna , Christopoulous Katerina , Cunningham Chinazo , Cunningham William E , Del Rio Carlos , Donovan Dennis , Eron Joseph J , Fredericksen Rob J , Kahana Shoshana , Kitahata Mari M , Kronmal Richard , Kuo Irene , Kurth Ann , Mathews W Chris , Mayer Kenneth H , Moore Richard D , Mugavero Michael J , Ouellet Lawrence J , Quan Vu M , Saag Michael S , Simoni Jane M , Springer Sandra , Strand Lauren , Taxman Faye , Young Jeremy D , Crane Heidi M
Published: April 2019

Background

Substance use is common among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) and a barrier to achieving viral suppression. Among PLWH who report illicit drug use, we evaluated associations between HIV viral load (VL) and reduced use of illicit opioids, methamphetamine/crystal, cocaine/crack, and marijuana, regardless of whether or not abstinence was achieved.

Methods

This was a longitudinal cohort study of PLWH from 7 HIV clinics or 4 clinical studies. We used joint longitudinal and survival models to examine the impact of decreasing drug use and of abstinence for each drug on viral suppression. We repeated analyses using linear mixed models to examine associations between change in frequency of drug use and VL.

Results

The number of PLWH who were using each drug at baseline ranged from n = 568 (illicit opioids) to n = 4272 (marijuana). Abstinence was associated with higher odds of viral suppression (odds ratio [OR], 1.4–2.2) and lower relative VL (ranging from 21% to 42% by drug) for all 4 drug categories. Reducing frequency of illicit opioid or methamphetamine/crystal use without abstinence was associated with VL suppression (OR, 2.2, 1.6, respectively). Reducing frequency of illicit opioid or methamphetamine/crystal use without abstinence was associated with lower relative VL (47%, 38%, respectively).

Conclusions

Abstinence was associated with viral suppression. In addition, reducing use of illicit opioids or methamphetamine/crystal, even without abstinence, was also associated with viral suppression. Our findings highlight the impact of reducing substance use, even when abstinence is not achieved, and the potential benefits of medications, behavioral interventions, and harm-reduction interventions.
Cost-effectiveness of Treatment Regimens for Clostridioides difficile Infection: An Evaluation of the 2018 Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines
Authors: Rajasingham Radha , Enns Eva A , Khoruts Alexander , Vaughn Byron P
Published: April 2019

Background

In 2018, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI). However, there is little guidance regarding which treatments are cost-effective.

Methods

We used a Markov model to simulate a cohort of patients presenting with an initial CDI diagnosis. We used the model to estimate the costs, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of different CDI treatment regimens recommended in the recently published 2018 IDSA guidelines. The model includes stratification by the severity of the initial infection, and subsequent likelihood of cure, recurrence, mortality, and outcomes of subsequent recurrences. Data sources were taken from IDSA guidelines and published literature on treatment outcomes. Outcome measures were discounted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).

Results

Use of fidaxomicin for nonsevere initial CDI, vancomycin for severe CDI, fidaxomicin for first recurrence, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for subsequent recurrence (strategy 44) cost an additional $478 for 0.009 QALYs gained per CDI patient, resulting in an ICER of $31 751 per QALY, below the willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000/QALY. This is the optimal, cost-effective CDI treatment strategy.

Conclusions

Metronidazole is suboptimal for nonsevere CDI as it is less beneficial than alternative strategies. The preferred treatment regimen is fidaxomicin for nonsevere CDI, vancomycin for severe CDI, fidaxomicin for first recurrence, and FMT for subsequent recurrence. The most effective treatments, with highest cure rates, are also cost-effective due to averted mortality, utility loss, and costs of rehospitalization and/or further treatments for recurrent CDI.
Low Golimumab Trough Levels at Week 6 Are Associated With Poor Clinical, Endoscopic and Histological Outcomes in Ulcerative Colitis Patients: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Sub-analysis of the Evolution Study
Authors: Magro F , Lopes S , Silva M , Coelho R , Portela F , Branquinho D , Correia L , Fernandes S , Cravo M , Caldeira P , Sousa H T , Patita M , Lago P , Ramos J , Afonso J , Redondo I , Machado P , Cornillie F , Lopes J , Carneiro F ,   Portuguese IBD Group [GEDII]
Published: April 2019

Background and Aims

Golimumab has an established exposure-response relationship in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC]. However, the association of serum golimumab trough levels [TL] with objective markers of disease activity, such as endoscopic and histological activity scores and concentrations of biomarkers, remains less understood. This report describes the relationship of serum golimumab TL at the end of the induction period [Week 6] with clinical, endoscopic, histological, and biomarker parameters.

Methods

This was an open-label, uncontrolled, prospective and interventional study. Moderate to severely active UC patients naïve to biologic therapy were treated with golimumab. Serum golimumab TL and faecal calprotectin levels were measured at baseline [Week 0 of induction] and Week 6.

Results

A total of 34 patients completed the induction phase [Week 6] and were included in this analysis. Overall, 47.1% and 14.7% of patients achieved clinical response and remission with significantly higher serum golimumab TL in patients with early response or remission [3.7 μg/mL vs 1.3 μg/mL, p = 0.0013; and 3.1 μg/mL vs 1.7 μg/mL, p = 0.0164, respectively]. In addition, golimumab TL were significantly higher in patients achieving histological remission [4.2 μg/mL vs 1.7 μg/mL, p = 0.0049]. Week 6 golimumab TL were inversely correlated with the total Mayo score [rs = -0.546; p = 0.0008], the Mayo endoscopic subscore [rs = -0.381; p = 0.0262], the Geboes histological activity score [rs = -0.464; p = 0.0057], and faecal calprotectin levels [rs = -0.497; p = 0.0044].

Conclusions

A higher early exposure to golimumab is associated with a better objective response in active UC patients and appears to drive the outcome at Week 6.
Fast manual long-axis strain assessment provides optimized cardiovascular event prediction following myocardial infarction
Authors: Schuster Andreas , Backhaus Sören J , Stiermaier Thomas , Kowallick Johannes T , Stulle Alina , Koschalka Alexander , Lotz Joachim , Kutty Shelby , Bigalke Boris , Gutberlet Matthias , Hasenfuß Gerd , Thiele Holger , Eitel Ingo
Published: April 2019

Aims

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) global longitudinal strain (GLS) provides incremental prognostic value following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but requires substantial post-processing. Alternatively, manual global long-axis strain (LAS) can be easily assessed from standard steady state free precession images. We aimed to define the prognostic value of LAS in a large multicentre study in patients following AMI.

Methods and results

A total of 1235 patients with myocardial infarction [n = 795 with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 440 with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)] underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in eight centres across Germany. Assessment of LAS was performed in a blinded core-laboratory measuring the systolic shortening between the epicardial apical border and the middle of a line connecting the origins of the mitral leaflets. Primary clinical endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse clinical events (MACE) including death, reinfarction, and congestive heart failure within 1 year after AMI. During 1-year follow-up, 76 patients suffered from MACE. Impaired LAS was associated with higher MACE occurrence both in STEMI (P < 0.001) and NSTEMI (P = 0.001) patients. Association of LAS remained significant (P = 0.017) after correction for univariate significant parameters for MACE prediction. C-statistics revealed incremental value of additional LAS assessment for optimized event prediction compared with left ventricular ejection fraction (MACE P = 0.044; mortality P = 0.013) and a combination of established clinical and imaging parameters (MACE P = 0.084; mortality P = 0.027), but not CMR-FT GLS (MACE P = 0.075; mortality P = 0.380).

Conclusion

LAS provides software independent, widely available, easy and fast approximation of longitudinal left ventricular shortening early after reperfused AMI with incremental prognostic value beyond established risk stratification parameters.

Clinical Trials.gov

NCT00712101 and NCT01612312.
Teeth movement 12 years after orthodontic treatment with and without retainer: relapse or usual changes?
Authors: Abdulraheem Salem , Schütz-Fransson Ulrike , Bjerklin Krister
Published: April 2019

Aims

To identify if lower incisor movements after orthodontic treatment are due to the relapse of the orthodontic treatment or due to natural growth.

Subjects and methods

The subjects consisted of 92 patients who have had orthodontic treatment, divided into three groups, group 1: 38 individuals had no retainer in the lower jaw. Group 2: 24 individuals had a retainer 0.028 inch, a spring hard wire bonded to the mandibular canines only. Group 3: 30 individuals had a 0.0195-inch Twist-Flex wire, bonded to all mandibular incisors and canines. Study models before orthodontic treatment (T0), immediately after orthodontic treatment (T1), 6 years after orthodontic treatment (T2), and 12 years after orthodontic treatment (T3) were used for the measurements. The wires in groups 2 and 3 were removed after mean 2.6 years (SD 1.49). Little Irregularity Index (LII), inter-canine distance, available mandibular anterior space, and number of crowded incisors were registered. A Tooth Displacement Index (TDI) was developed to measure the tooth displacement directions at T0 and T3.

Results

The LII showed equal values before treatment (T0) and at the follow-up registrations (T2 and T3). But about 25 per cent of the tooth displacements at T2 and T3 did not exist before treatment, at T0. This indicates usual growth changes and not relapse of the orthodontic treatment.

Conclusion

As about 25 per cent of the displaced incisors can be considered as an effect of natural growth, not a relapse of the orthodontic treatment, it is valuable to use a displacement index in combination with other variables for investigations of stability after orthodontic treatment. Importance of the present study is that it is possible to differ between relapse and usual growth changes.
Associations between healthcare consumption in country of origin and in country of residence by people with Turkish and Moroccan backgrounds living in the Netherlands: the HELIUS study
Authors: Şekercan Aydın , Snijder Marieke B , Peters Ron J , Stronks Karien
Published: April 2019

Background

In Europe, a substantial percentage of the 22 million inhabitants with histories of migration from non-European countries utilize healthcare in their countries of origin. That could reflect avoidance of healthcare in the country of residence, but this has not been studied previously.

Methods

We linked Dutch healthcare reimbursement data to the multi-ethnic population-based data from the HELIUS study conducted in Amsterdam. In multivariable logistic regression and negative binomial generalized estimating equation (GEE) analyses, we examined associations between healthcare use in country of origin and in country of residence by people with Turkish and with Moroccan backgrounds (N = 2920 and N = 3031, respectively) in the period 2010–15.

Results

Participants with Turkish and Moroccan backgrounds who utilized healthcare one or multiple times in the country of origin (n = 1335 and n = 558, respectively) were found to be more likely, in comparison with non-users (n = 1585, n = 2473), to be frequent attenders of services by general practitioners, medical specialists and/or allied health professionals in the Netherlands [odds ratios between 1.21 (95% CI 0.91–1.60) and 3.15 (95% CI 2.38–4.16)]. GEE analyses showed similar results.

Conclusion

People with Turkish or Moroccan backgrounds living in the Netherlands who use healthcare in their countries of origin are more likely than non-users to be higher users of healthcare in the Netherlands. We thus found no indications for avoidance of healthcare in the country of residence.