bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HLA‐B*44:138Q: Evidence for a confined deletion and recombination events in an otherwise unaffected HLA‐haplotype
Authors: Faé Ingrid , Wenda Sabine , Grill Cornelia , Fischer Gottfried F.
Published: November 2018

We discovered a new HLA‐B allele, HLA‐B*44:138Q, and confirmed its segregation. For characterisation, we used serology, sequence specific oligonucleotide (SSO), sequence specific primer (SSP), and full length sequencing by Sanger and next‐generation sequencing. From an evolutionary point the 5′ part of the new allele is identical with alleles from the HLA‐B*44:02 group, while its 3′ part is identical to the HLA‐B*15:18:01:02 allele, the breakpoint being located somewhere between intron 3 and exon 4. The salient feature of the new allele is a deletion of codon 94 in exon 3, which is unique for HLA‐alleles reported so far. Gene conversion can be hypothesised in the generation of this HLA sequence; however, the deletion seems to have occurred additionally. Other HLA‐alleles of the new allele's haplotype were common alleles.
A framework for connecting two interoperability universes: OGC Web Feature Services and Linked Data
Authors: Vilches‐Blázquez Luis M. , Saavedra Jhonny
Published: November 2018

Diverse studies have shown that about 80% of all available data are related to a spatial location. Most of these geospatial data are available as structured and semi‐structured datasets, and often use distinct data models, are encoded using ad‐hoc vocabularies, and sometimes are being published in non‐standard formats. Hence, these data are isolated within silos and cannot be shared and integrated across organizations and communities. Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) have emerged and contributed to significantly enhance data discovery and accessibility based on OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) Web services. However, finding, accessing, and using data disseminated through SDIs are still difficult for non‐expert users. Overcoming the current geospatial data challenges involves adopting the best practices to expose, share, and integrate data on the Web, that is, Linked Data. In this article, we have developed a framework for generating, enriching, and exploiting geospatial Linked Data from multiple and heterogeneous geospatial data sources. This proposal allows connecting two interoperability universes (SDIs, more specifically Web Feature Services, WFS, and Semantic Web technologies), which is evaluated through a study case in the (geo)biodiversity domain.
Transfusion‐associated chest pain
Authors: Murphy Colin , Parakh Rugvedita , Metcalf Ryan , Pagano Monica B.
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND

Chest pain is a common clinical dilemma and is rarely reported as part of suspected adverse events in transfusion recipients. The aim of this study is to describe and characterize the clinical presentation of transfusion‐associated chest pain and how it relates to currently defined National Healthcare Safety Network hemovigilance entities.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review at a single large academic institution of patients who reported chest pain during or after a transfusion that resulted in a transfusion reaction investigation during the period January 2004 to December 2016.

RESULTS

Of approximately 500,000 transfusions occurring during the study period and 3220 suspected transfusion reactions reported, 23 (0.7%) reactions involving chest pain were identified, of which 20 had medical records available for analysis. Ninety percent of cases presented with chest pain within 2.5 hours of the start of transfusion, with a mean time of onset of 92.2 minutes. Fourteen RBC units and 6 platelet units were implicated, and all transfusions were ABO identical. All posttransfusion workups were negative for hemolysis or agglutination on direct antiglobulin testing. Twenty percent of cases showed evidence of acute coronary ischemia that was first detected during transfusion with rising troponins or electrocardiographic abnormalities, all in association with RBC transfusion for anemia. For most reactions, the signs and symptoms did not fit any hemovigilance definitions for transfusion reactions.

CONCLUSION

Chest pain is an infrequently reported chief complaint for transfusion reactions. Increased circulatory volume due to transfusion may be an important contributor to myocardial demand ischemia in at‐risk patients. Additional studies are necessary to determine the clinical significance of chest pain during transfusion and to elucidate potential mechanisms.
Variations in RBC and frozen plasma utilization rates across 62 Ontario community hospitals
Authors: Qiang Judy K. , Thompson Troy , Callum Jeannie , Pinkerton Peter , Lin Yulia
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND

Recent province‐wide audits of frozen plasma (FP) and RBC use in Ontario showed a high rate of inappropriate transfusions.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a retrospective, ecological study to determine variations in RBC and FP utilization rates across Ontario community hospitals between 2012 and 2017. Annual utilization rates were reported using descriptive statistics. Rates of blood component use were correlated with size of hospital, presence of specialized programs, and quality improvement (QI) initiatives, using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

RBC and FP utilization rates decreased from 2012 to 2017 (p = 0.03 for FP; p < 0.01 for RBC). There was a 10‐fold difference in RBC and FP transfusion rates between the highest and lowest users. Smaller hospitals (p < 0.05) and sites with any QI initiative (p = 0.006) were associated with lower FP utilization rates. Hospitals without cancer programs (p = 0.02) and sites with RBC guidelines (p = 0.05) or with technologists who prospectively screened transfusion orders (p = 0.01) had lower RBC transfusion rates. RBC utilization rates decreased further after the implementation of RBC guidelines (p = 0.02) and order sets (p = 0.005). There was a positive correlation between FP and RBC transfusion rates for each fiscal year (p < 0.005 for all years).

CONCLUSION

RBC and FP utilization showed wide variation across community hospitals in Ontario. Overall, transfusion rates decreased over time. A further decrease was observed at sites with QI initiatives, supporting their implementation in reducing utilization. These data will serve as a baseline to highlight sites and practices where QI initiatives may be most beneficial and replicated in other jurisdictions.
Reappraisal of the Eocene whiptail stingrays (Myliobatiformes, Dasyatidae) of the Bolca Lagerstätte, Italy
Authors: Marramà Giuseppe , Carnevale Giorgio , Naylor Gavin J. P. , Kriwet Jürgen
Published: November 2018

The Eocene whiptail stingrays of the family Dasyatidae from the Bolca Lagerstätte, NE Italy, are revised herein in detail. The analysis of the anatomical and morphometric features allows us to identify the species “Dasyatis” zigni (Molin, 1861) as a junior synonym of “D.” muricatus (Volta, 1796), and to assign it to the new genus Tethytrygon gen. n. This new taxon exhibits a unique combination of features (e.g., rhombic disc wider than long, elongated tail folds fail to reach the tip of the tail, thorns absent, single serrated tail sting, “caniniform” teeth on upper jaw, tooth crown ornamentation absent, 175–179 vertebrae, 108–117 pectoral radials, 24–27 pelvic radials and other features of clasper anatomy) that clearly support its attribution to the subfamily Neotrygoninae of the stingray family Dasyatidae. The morphological and phylogenetic affinities of Tethytrygon gen. n. with the living neotrygonines (Neotrygon and Taeniura) suggest a close association of this taxon with the tropical shallow‐water habitats hypothesized for the Bolca palaeoenvironment during the early Eocene. Moreover, the analysis of the fossil occurrences of the neotrygonines provides new insights into the role of the Tethys for the origin and evolutionary history of certain whiptail stingrays.
Turkish EFL Learners' Willingness to Communicate in L2 and Motivation
Authors: Altiner Cennet
Published: November 2018

Willingness to communicate in a second language has become an important area of research recently. However, different factors which influence learners' willingness to communicate have not been widely investigated in the Turkish classroom context. Motivation is considered as an important factor which has a direct influence on learners' willingness to communicate. Thus, this study will look into the relationship between English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' willingness to communicate (WTC) in Turkish EFL context and their motivation about English learning through the participation of 106 EFL students who were registered in the one-year preparatory school at Usak University, Turkey. Language Learning Orientation Scale and Willingness to Communicate Scale were adopted for the study. Descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis were carried out to find out the relationship between WTC and motivation. Findings indicated that participants were somewhat willing to communicate and there was a significant correlation between learners' WTC and motivation. The findings of this study is useful in terms of the pedagogical and theoretical implications which emphasize the role of motivation in encouraging L2 learners' willingness to communicate.
FluxTracer: A Ray Tracer Postprocessor to Assist in the Design and Optimization of Solar Concentrators and Receivers
Authors: Blanco Manuel , Constantinou Marios , Corsi Clotilde , Grigoriev Victor , Milidonis Kypros , Panagiotou Constantinos F. , Papanicolas Costas N. , Pye John , Votyakov Evgeny
Published: November 2018

This paper presents FluxTracer, an advanced open source computer tool to assist in the analysis, design, and optimization of solar concentrators and receivers. FluxTracer is a postprocessor for Monte Carlo ray tracers used to simulate the optical behavior of solar concentrating systems. By postprocessing the rays generated by the ray tracer, FluxTracer can partition into volumetric pixels (voxels) a region of interest in three-dimensional (3D) space defined by the user and compute for each voxel the radiant power density of the concentrated solar radiation. Depending upon the set of rays provided by the ray tracer, it may be able to integrate the radiant power density in every voxel over time. The radiant energy density analysis described is just one of the analyses that FluxTracer can carry out on the set of rays generated by the ray tracer. This paper presents the main analyses that FluxTracer can provide. It also presents examples of how the information provided by FluxTracer can be used to assist in the analysis, design, and optimization of solar concentrators and receivers. FluxTracer is the first of a series of components of an open-source computational framework for the analysis, design, and optimization of solar concentrators and receiver, being developed by The Cyprus Institute (CyI) and the Australian National University (ANU).
Western U.S. lake expansions during Heinrich stadials linked to Pacific Hadley circulation
Authors: McGee D. , Moreno-Chamarro E. , Marshall J. , Galbraith E. D.
Published: November 2018

Wet conditions in the southwest United States during Heinrich stadials are linked to southward shifts of the Pacific ITCZ.
Surgical adhesions in mice are derived from mesothelial cells and can be targeted by antibodies against mesothelial markers
Authors: Tsai Jonathan M. , Sinha Rahul , Seita Jun , Fernhoff Nathaniel , Christ Simon , Koopmans Tim , Krampitz Geoffrey W. , McKenna Kelly M. , Xing Liujing , Sandholzer Michael , Sales Jennifer Horatia , Shoham Maia , McCracken Melissa , Joubert Lydia-Marie , Gordon Sydney R. , Poux Nicolas , Wernig Gerlinde , Norton Jeffrey A. , Weissman Irving L. , Rinkevich Yuval
Published: November 2018

Surgical adhesions in mice derived from hypoxia-responsive mesothelial cells can be targeted with anti-mesothelial antibodies.
Graft-versus-host disease, but not graft-versus-leukemia immunity, is mediated by GM-CSF–licensed myeloid cells
Authors: Tugues Sonia , Amorim Ana , Spath Sabine , Martin-Blondel Guillaume , Schreiner Bettina , De Feo Donatella , Lutz Mirjam , Guscetti Franco , Apostolova Petya , Haftmann Claudia , Hasselblatt Peter , Núñez Nicolas G. , Hottiger Michael O. , van den Broek Maries , Manz Markus G. , Zeiser Robert , Becher Burkhard
Published: November 2018

Myeloid cells mediate GvHD immunopathology, whereas GvL relies on T cell cytotoxicity.
Molecular Adaptations of Bacterial Mercuric Reductase to the Hypersaline Kebrit Deep in the Red Sea
Authors: Ramadan Eman , Maged Mohamad , El Hosseiny Ahmed , Chambergo Felipe S. , Setubal João C. , El Dorry Hamza
Published: November 2018

Analysis of two structurally homologous but catalytically distinct mercuric reductases from the Kebrit Deep brine in the Red Sea sheds light on the adaptations that enable microorganisms to cope simultaneously with extreme salinity and toxic mercury compounds. One is strongly inhibited by high NaCl concentrations, while the other exhibits NaCl-dependent activation. Their different activity profiles imply that they may derive from bacterial microorganisms that utilize compatible solutes and salt-in strategies, respectively, to maintain osmotic balance. Three-dimensional modeling reveals that regions not involved in formation of the active homodimer are conserved between the two. However, in the NaCl-dependent form, distinct amino acid substitutions are found in areas that are critical for stability in high salt. The work provides insights into how two environmental stressors have shaped the structure of orthologous enzymes through selection and adaptation, enabling them to retain their catalytic function in what may be very different cellular contexts.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
PBP3 and PBP4 Facilitate NOD1 Agonist Peptidoglycan Fragment Release and Survival in Stationary Phase
Authors: Schaub Ryan E. , Perez-Medina Krizia M. , Hackett Kathleen T. , Garcia Daniel L. , Dillard Joseph P.
Published: November 2018

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
releases peptidoglycan fragments during growth, and these molecules induce an inflammatory response in the human host. The proinflammatory molecules include peptidoglycan monomers, peptidoglycan dimers, and free peptides.
Protocol for the systematic review of research on professional learning to promote implementation of a multitiered system of support in education
Authors: Castillo Jose M , Wolgemuth Jennifer R , Ginns Diana S , Latimer Joseph , Scheel Nicholas , McKenna Meaghan , March Amanda L , Moulton Sara , Wang Joy , Thoman Sarah , Jenkins Andrew , Henson Kelli , Ferron John M
Published: November 2018

Introduction

A multitiered system of supports (MTSS) represents a widely adopted public health approach to education in the USA. Researchers agree professional learning is critical for educators to implement the critical components of MTSS; however, professional learning approaches vary in their designs and targeted outcomes. While researchers increasingly focus their inquiries on professional learning for MTSS, no systematic research review exists.

Objectives

The primary objectives for this mixed-methods review are to (1) understand how professional learning focused on MTSS has been operationalised (2) determine the impact of professional learning on educator (eg, knowledge) and implementation (eg, data-based decision-making processes) outcomes and (3) understand the contextual variables that influence professional learning in the USA. We aim to determine which elements of professional learning improve educators’ capacity to implement MTSS.

Methods and analysis

We will include studies that use quantitative and qualitative methods. PsycInfo, PubMed, CIHAHL and ERIC will be the primary research databases used to search for studies published from January 1997 to May 2018. We also will search the US Institute for Educational Sciences and Office of Special Education Programs websites, ProQuest, Google Scholar, Science Watch and MSN. Finally, we will search the proceedings of relevant conferences, examine the reference lists of studies that pass full screening and contact authors for additional work. Data extraction will include participant demographics, intervention details, study design, outcomes, analyses and key findings. We will conduct a quality assessment and analyse the data using effect size and thematic analyses.

Ethics and dissemination

Institutional review board or ethics approval is not needed for this review of already published works. We will disseminate the findings through presentations at state, national and international conferences; presentations to stakeholders and agencies; publication in peer-reviewed journals; and posts to organisational and agency websites.
Assessing pain in horses
Authors: Gleerup Karina Bech
Published: November 2018

Pain management is important for optimal convalescence and is imperative for good horse welfare. Some veterinary procedures inevitably cause moderate to severe pain and some performance problems are the result of undiagnosed painful conditions. Recognising pain may pose a greater challenge than successfully alleviating it because it is an individual emotional experience. Recent research has found that behavioural traits are the most informative clinical sign when assessing pain in horses, which makes pain evaluation dependant on the observational skills of the veterinarian and the patient's owner. This article describes the pain process and how to evaluate behavioural changes that are associated with pain in horses.
Weaning and postweaning management of dairy replacement heifers
Authors: Sherwin Virginia , Remnant John
Published: November 2018

Heifer rearing represents approximately 20 per cent of a dairy farm's total cost, but it is often an area with many potential inefficiencies. There is a lot of scope for veterinarians to be involved in the management of postweaning heifers to help drive performance improvement on dairy farms. This article discusses preparing for weaning, the weaning process and postweaning management of the replacement dairy heifer.
Reheating constraints to supersymmetry flat direction inflation
Authors: Gao Tie-Jun , Yang Xiu-Yi
Published: November 2018

In this work, we investigate constraints on the reheating era within the framework of supersymmetry flat direction inflation. We express the e-folding number during reheating Nre and the final reheating temperature Tre as functions of the scalar spectral index ns, and compare the numerical results with current bounds given by the Planck 2015 data (Planck Collab. Astron. Astrophys. 594, A20 (2016). doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/201525898 ). Moreover, we express the inflationary observable quantities in terms of the duration of reheating Nre and the effective equation-of-state parameter of the reheating fluid ωre, and constrain the reheating processes in the Nre–ωre plane.
Circadian effect can be characterized by midnight pupil size
Authors: Rao Feng
Published: November 2018

This study investigated whether the effect of circadian effect can be characterized by midnight pupil size. A phosphor-converted LED and an RGB LED with the same photopic luminance and color temperatures but different circadian luminance were selected as the experimental light sources. The steady-state pupil diameters stimulated by these two LEDs’ lighting were obtained by the infrared video, which were affected by photopic and circadian effects together. Twenty healthy volunteers were tested at different times of a day for five working days. It was found that the steady-state pupil size stimulated by these two LEDs were significantly different at midnight, but showed no significant difference in daytime, which indicated the circadian effect can be characterized by midnight pupil size. This study was very important for the design and evaluation of healthy lighting.
Community cores expansion for overlapping community detection in complex networks
Authors: Yan Yongjie , Yu Guang , Yan Xiangbin , Xie Hui
Published: November 2018

The identification of communities has attracted considerable attentions in the last few years. We propose a novel heuristic algorithm for overlapping community detection based on community cores in complex networks. We introduce a novel clique percolation algorithm and maximize cliques in the finding overlapping communities (node covers) in graphs. We show how vertices can be used to quantify types of local structure presented in a community and identify group nodes that have similar roles in relation to their neighbors. We compare the approach with other three common algorithms in the analysis of the Zachary’s karate club network and the dolphins network. Experimental results in real-world and synthetic datasets (Lancichinetti–Fortunato–Radicchi (LFR) benchmark networks [A. Lancichinetti and S. Fortunato, Phys. Rev. E 80 (2009) 016118]) demonstrate the model has scalability and is well behaved.
BayesPiles
Authors: Vogogias Athanasios , Kennedy Jessie , Archambault Daniel , Bach Benjamin , Smith V. Anne , Currant Hannah
Published: November 2018

We address the problem of exploring, combining, and comparing large collections of scored, directed networks for understanding inferred Bayesian networks used in biology. In this field, heuristic algorithms explore the space of possible network solutions, sampling this space based on algorithm parameters and a network score that encodes the statistical fit to the data. The goal of the analyst is to guide the heuristic search and decide how to determine a final consensus network structure, usually by selecting the top-scoring network or constructing the consensus network from a collection of high-scoring networks. BayesPiles, our visualisation tool, helps with understanding the structure of the solution space and supporting the construction of a final consensus network that is representative of the underlying dataset. BayesPiles builds upon and extends MultiPiles to meet our domain requirements. We developed BayesPiles in conjunction with computational biologists who have used this tool on datasets used in their research. The biologists found our solution provides them with new insights and helps them achieve results that are representative of the underlying data.
Molecular characterization of a precision-cut rat lung slice model for the evaluation of antifibrotic drugs
Authors: Huang Xinqiang , Li Li , Ammar Ron , Zhang Yan , Wang Yihe , Ravi Kandasamy , Thompson John , Jarai Gabor
Published: November 2018

The translation of novel pulmonary fibrosis therapies from preclinical models into the clinic represents a major challenge demonstrated by the high attrition rate of compounds that showed efficacy in preclinical models but demonstrated no significant beneficial effects in clinical trials. A precision-cut lung tissue slice (PCLS) contains all major cell types of the lung and preserves the original cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts. It represents a promising ex vivo model to study pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, using RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) induced robust fibrotic responses in the rat PCLS model, as it changed the expression of genes functionally related to extracellular matrix remodeling, cell adhesion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and various immune responses. Nintedanib, pirfenidone, and sorafenib each reversed a subset of genes modulated by TGFβ1, and of those genes we identified 229 whose expression was reversed by all three drugs. These genes define a molecular signature characterizing many aspects of pulmonary fibrosis pathology and its attenuation in the rat PCLS fibrosis model. A panel of 12 genes and three secreted biomarkers, including procollagen I, hyaluronic acid, and WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 were validated as efficacy end points for the evaluation of antifibrotic activity of experimental compounds. Finally, we showed that blockade of αV-integrins suppressed TGFβ1-induced fibrotic responses in the rat PCLS fibrosis model. Overall, our results suggest that the TGFβ1-induced rat PCLS fibrosis model may represent a valuable system for target validation and to determine the efficacy of experimental compounds.
Disruption of the airway epithelial barrier in a murine model of respiratory syncytial virus infection
Authors: Smallcombe Carrie C. , Linfield Debra T. , Harford Terri J. , Bokun Vladimir , Ivanov Andrei I. , Piedimonte Giovanni , Rezaee Fariba
Published: November 2018

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of hospitalization for infants and young children worldwide. RSV is known to infect epithelial cells and increase the permeability of model airway epithelial monolayers in vitro. We hypothesized that RSV infection also induces airway barrier dysfunction in vivo. C57BL/6 mice were intranasally inoculated with RSV, and on day 4 post-inoculation were examined for viral replication, lung inflammation, and barrier integrity as well as the structure and molecular composition of epithelial junctions. In parallel, primary mouse tracheal epithelial cells (mTEC) were cultured for in vitro studies. RSV-infected mice lost weight and showed significant peribronchial inflammation compared with noninfected controls and UV-inactivated RSV-inoculated animals. RSV infection increased the permeability of the airway epithelial barrier and altered the molecular composition of epithelial tight junctions. The observed RSV-induced barrier disruption was accompanied by decreased expression of several tight-junction proteins and accumulation of cleaved extracellular fragments of E-cadherin in bronchoalveolar lavage and mTEC supernatants. Similarly, in vitro RSV infection of mTEC monolayers resulted in enhanced permeability and disruption of tight-junction structure. Furthermore, incubation of mTEC monolayers with a recombinant fragment of E-cadherin caused tight-junction disassembly. Taken together, these data indicate that RSV infection leads to airway barrier dysfunction in vivo, mediated by either decreased expression or cleavage of junctional proteins. Our observations provide further insights into the pathophysiology of RSV infection and provide a rationale for development of barrier-protecting agents to alleviate the pathogenic effects of RSV infection.
A novel GABAA receptor ligand MIDD0301 with limited blood-brain barrier penetration relaxes airway smooth muscle ex vivo and in vivo
Authors: Yocum Gene T. , Perez-Zoghbi Jose F. , Danielsson Jennifer , Kuforiji Aisha S. , Zhang Yi , Li Guanguan , Rashid Roni M. S. , Kodali Revathi , Stafford Douglas C. , Arnold Leggy A. , Cook James M. , Emala Charles W.
Published: November 2018

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells express GABA A receptors (GABAARs), and previous reports have demonstrated that GABAAR activators relax ASM. However, given the activity of GABAARs in central nervous system inhibitory neurotransmission, concern exists that these activators may lead to undesirable sedation. MIDD0301 is a novel imidazobenzodiazepine and positive allosteric modulator of the GABAAR with limited brain distribution, thus eliminating the potential for sedation. Here, we demonstrate that MIDD0301 relaxes histamine-contracted guinea pig ( P < 0.05, n = 6–9) and human ( P < 0.05, n = 6–10) tracheal smooth muscle ex vivo in organ bath experiments, dilates mouse peripheral airways ex vivo in precision-cut lung-slice experiments ( P < 0.001, n = 16 airways from three mice), and alleviates bronchoconstriction in vivo in mice, as assessed by the forced-oscillation technique ( P < 0.05, n = 6 mice). Only trace concentrations of the compound were detected in the brains of mice after inhalation of nebulized 5 mM MIDD0301. Given its favorable pharmacokinetic properties and demonstrated ability to relax ASM in a number of clinically relevant experimental paradigms, MIDD0301 is a promising drug candidate for bronchoconstrictive diseases, such as asthma.
CORP: Measurement of upper and lower limb muscle strength and voluntary activation
Authors: Nuzzo James L. , Taylor Janet L. , Gandevia Simon C.
Published: November 2018

Muscle strength, the maximal force-generating capacity of a muscle or group of muscles, is regularly assessed in physiological experiments and clinical trials. An understanding of the expected variation in strength and the factors that contribute to this variation is important when designing experiments, describing methodologies, interpreting results, and attempting to replicate methods of others and reproduce their findings. In this review (Cores of Reproducibility in Physiology), we report on the intra- and inter-rater reliability of tests of upper and lower limb muscle strength and voluntary activation in humans. Isometric, isokinetic, and isoinertial strength exhibit good intra-rater reliability in most samples (correlation coefficients ≥0.90). However, some tests of isoinertial strength exhibit systematic bias that is not resolved by familiarization. With the exception of grip strength, few attempts have been made to examine inter-rater reliability of tests of muscle strength. The acute factors most likely to affect muscle strength and serve as a source of its variation from trial-to-trial or day-to-day include attentional focus, breathing technique, remote muscle contractions, rest periods, temperature (core, muscle), time of day, visual feedback, body and limb posture, body stabilization, acute caffeine consumption, dehydration, pain, fatigue from preceding exercise, and static stretching >60 s. Voluntary activation, the nervous system’s ability to drive a muscle to create its maximal force, exhibits good intra-rater reliability when examined with twitch interpolation (correlation coefficients >0.80). However, inter-rater reliability has not been formally examined. The methodological factors most likely to influence voluntary activation are myograph compliance and sensitivity; stimulation location, intensity, and inadvertent stimulation of antagonists; joint angle (muscle length); and the resting twitch.
CPR Guidance by an Emergency Physician via Video Call: A Simulation Study
Authors: Lee Dong Keon , Park Seung Min , Kim Yu Jin , Lee Choung Ah , Jeong Won Jung , Kim Gi Woon , Shin Dong Hyuk , Lee Young Hwan
Published: November 2018

Background. In South Korea, the prehospital treatment of cardiac arrest is generally led by an emergency medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P), and defibrillation is delivered by the automatic external defibrillator (AED). This study aimed at examining the effects of direct medical guidance by an emergency physician through a video call that enabled prompt manual defibrillation. Methods. Two-hundred eighty-eight paramedics based in Gyeonggi Province were studied for four months, from July to November 2015. The participants were divided into 96 teams, and the teams were randomly divided into either a conventional group that was to use the AED or a video call guidance group which was to use the manual defibrillators, with 48 teams in each group. The time to first defibrillation, total hands-off time, and hands-off ratio were compared between the two groups. Results. The median value of the time to the first defibrillation was significantly shorter in the video call guidance group (56 s) than in the conventional group (73 s) (p<0.001). The median value of the total hands-off time was also significantly shorter (228 vs. 285.5 s) (p<0.001), and the hands-off ratio, defined as the proportion of hands-off time out of the total CPR time, was significantly shorter in the video call guidance group (0.32 vs. 0.41) (p<0.001). Conclusion. Physician-guided CPR with a video call enabled prompt manual defibrillation and significantly shortened the time required for first defibrillation, hands-off time, and hands-off ratio in simulated cases of prehospital cardiac arrest.
Modeling and Robustness Study of Railway Transport Networks Using P-Timed Petri Nets
Authors: Mhalla Anis , Gaied Mohanned
Published: November 2018

The importance of public transport systems continues to grow. These systems must respond to an increasing demand for population mobility and traffic disturbances. Rail transport networks can be considered as Discrete Event Systems (DES) with time constraints. The time factor is a critical parameter, since it includes dates to be respected in order to avoid overlaps, delays, and collisions between trains. P-time Petri Nets have been recognized as powerful modeling and analysis tools for railway transport systems. Temporal disturbances in these systems include railway infrastructure, traffic management, and disturbances (weather, obstacles on the tracks, malice, social movement, etc.). The developments presented in this paper are devoted to the modeling and the study of the robustness of the railway transport systems in order to evaluate the stability and the efficiency of these networks. In this study two robust control strategies towards time disturbances are presented. The first one consists of compensating the disturbance as soon as it is observed in order to avoid constraints violation. The second one allows generating, by the control, a temporal lag identical to the disturbance in order to avoid the death of marks on the levels of synchronization transitions of the P-time Petri net model.
Wear Calculation-Based Degradation Analysis and Modeling for Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Ball Screw
Authors: Zhang Li , Gao Hongli , Dong Dawei , Fu Guoqiang , Liu Qi
Published: November 2018

Ball screw is a kind of precise transmission element in drive system of machine tool. In this paper, the degradation model of ball screw is proposed based on wear calculation-based degradation analysis and experimental data-based validation. At first, fatigue wear is analyzed to be the predominant degradation mode of ball screw. The wear volume formula of ball screw is derived as the function of working load and stroke number. Secondly, the degradation rate of ball screw is analyzed to be affected by the total degradation and wear rate. Based on this finding, the degradation model of ball screw is theoretically derived as an exponential model by inputting wear volume formula. Thirdly, experimental data-based cross-validation method is proposed to validate the exponential degradation model. Determination coefficients are calculated to evaluate the fitting degree between the degradation model and real degradation path. Next, run-to-failure test of ball screw is carried out to collect experimental data in different working conditions. The average determination coefficient of different working conditions is calculated as 0.7848, which indicates that the proposed model can well fit the actual degradation path. In addition, the proposed model is applied to predict remaining useful life (RUL) of the tested ball screw by using collected data. RUL is estimated in a high and stable accuracy after 168000 strokes. For further validation, comparison with linear model is performed. All results show that the exponential degradation model is reasonable and correct in reflecting the degradation process of ball screw.
Occipitocervical Dislocation in Low-Energy Trauma
Authors: Tavolaro Celeste , Bransford Richard , Yerrapragada Aditya , Bellabarba Carlo , Zhou Haitao
Published: November 2018

Traumatic occipitocervical dislocation (OCD) is described in the literature as a potentially fatal injury secondary to high-energy trauma. We describe a case of OCD occurring in a patient who sustained a ground-level fall whose only clinical symptom was posterior neck pain without neurologic compromise. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to diagnose severe injury to the structurally important ligamentous complex that stabilizes the base of the skull to the spine, along with unstable fractures of the occipital condyle and C1. Emergent surgical instrumentation and fusion of occiput-C2 was performed. Postoperatively, neurologic integrity was maintained. This case illustrates that traumatic OCD is not exclusively secondary to high-energy mechanisms. It also demonstrates that severe neck pain as the only clinical manifestation in a patient with head or neck low-energy trauma is suggestive of a possible OCD. We highlight the importance of the use of head and neck CT as the first imaging-based diagnostic tool to aid in identifying this injury. Finally, surgical stabilization should be performed as soon as possible to minimize neurologic sequelae.
An Efficient Algorithm for LCS Problem between Two Arbitrary Sequences
Authors: Li Yubo
Published: November 2018

The longest common subsequence (LCS) problem is a classic computer science problem. For the essential problem of computing LCS between two arbitrary sequences s1 and s2, this paper proposes an algorithm taking O(n+r) space and O(r+n2) time, where r is the total number of elements in the set (i,j)|s1[i]=s2[j]. The algorithm can be more efficient than relevant classical algorithms in specific ranges of r.
Dynamic Stability Analysis of Rockmass: A Review
Authors: Dong Longjun , Wang Junhui , Li Xibing , Peng Kang
Published: November 2018

There are a series of human or natural activities, including earthquakes, explosions, and rockbursts, which have caused a number of safety accidents in geotechnical engineering. This review paper summarized the theories and methods for dynamic stability analysis of rockmass. First, numerical simulation methods, including finite element method (FEM), discrete element method (DEM), finite difference method (FDM), boundary element method (BEM), discontinuous deformation analysis method (DDA), and numerical manifold method (NMM), are summarized. Second, the laboratory experiments, containing shaking table test, split‐Hopkinson pressure bar test (SHPB), improved true‐triaxial test, dynamic centrifugal model test, acoustic emission (AE) technique, and dynamic infrared monitoring, are considered. Third, the in situ tests including microseismic (MS) technique, velocity tomography, stress‐strain monitoring, and electromagnetic radiation monitoring are considered. Finally, some comprehensive analysis methods based on statistical theories are also provided. It is pointed out that the study foundation for the dynamic stability of rockmass is weak to explain the mechanism. So, a set of general comprehensive theories integrating the different methods, including theoretical analysis, numerical methods, laboratory experiments, and in situ tests, should be completely established. This is the most effective way for further investigation.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Aster incisus through the Inhibition of NF-κB, MAPK, and Akt Pathways in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Authors: Ngabire Daniel , Seong Yeong-Ae , Patil Maheshkumar Prakash , Niyonizigiye Irvine , Seo Yong Bae , Kim Gun-Do
Published: November 2018

Aster incisus is a common flower found in almost all regions of South Korea. In the current study, we investigated the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the Aster incisus methanol extract in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. We analyzed the phytochemicals contained in the extract by GC-MS. GC-MS results showed that the Aster incisus extract contains 9 known compounds. Later on, DPPH assay, WST-1 assay, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Western blot, and RT-PCR were conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract. Our WST-1 assay results revealed that Aster incisus did not affect the viability of all tested cell lines up to a concentration of 200 μg/ml; therefore, lower concentrations (50 μg/ml and 150 μg/ml) were used for further assays. Aster incisus scavenged DPPH and inhibited the production of NO. Aster incisus also reduced significantly the production of inflammation-related enzymes (iNOS, Cox-2) and cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6) and the gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, further Western blot results indicated that Aster incisus inhibited the expression of p-PI3K, p-IκBα, p-p65 NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, p-SAPK/JNK, and p-Akt. Our results demonstrated that Aster incisus suppressed the expression of the inflammation mediators through the regulation of NF-κB, MAPK, and Akt pathways.
The Movement Characteristics of Coal Granular Body in Excavating Rescue Channel in the Collapsed Body
Authors: Chuanbo Hao , Zhenwen Liu , Fukun Xiao , Gang Liu , Rui Zhang
Published: November 2018

The collapsed body formed after the underground power disaster is broken into loose body. The mechanical characteristics of the collapsed body are quite different from those of the homogeneous rock mass, and the rescue tunnel is affected by its moving characteristics. In this study, the lateral pressure coefficient of the collapsed body and the angle of the slip surface were deduced. The numerical experiment based on CDEM slump excavation was performed. The accumulation state of the collapsed body and the active lateral pressure coefficient and the angle of the slip surface are obtained. The characteristics of the force of the accumulation body which naturally collapsed were studied. Particle size, excavation position, excavation shape, volume, and the influence of natural repose angle on the occurrence mode and particle movement were obtained; the velocity field and slip surface of the lower left and middle lower parts during excavation and the variation of the natural repose angle were analyzed.
Indole-3-Carbinol Induces Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma MG-63 and U2OS Cells
Authors: Lee Chang Min , Lee Jongsung , Nam Myeong Jin , Park See-Hyoung
Published: November 2018

This study was focused on investigating the anticancer potential of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) against osteosarcoma MG-63 and U2OS cells. A wound healing assay indicated that IC3 inhibited migration of MG-63 and U2OS cells. MTT, WST-1, and colony formation assays revealed that treatment of MG-63 and U2OS cells with I3C decreased cell viability. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that I3C induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in MG-63 and U2OS cells. Moreover, via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- (TdT-) mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, we detected that I3C induced DNA fragmentation. Western blotting demonstrated that activated forms of caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9, as well as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were increased in MG-63 and U2OS cells, following treatment with I3C. Furthermore, protein expression levels of FOXO3, Bax, and Bim extra-large form were increased while those of Akt, JNK, p38, phosphorylated ERK, and Bcl-xL were decreased by I3C treatment in MG-63 and U2OS cells. Thus, the study indicates that I3C may induce apoptosis in human osteosarcoma MG-63 and U2OS cells via the activation of apoptotic signaling pathways by FOXO3.
Combination Use of BMP2 and VEGF165 Promotes Osseointegration and Stability of Titanium Implants in Irradiated Bone
Authors: Huang Bo , Yao Qianqian , Huang Yan , Zhang Liang , Yao Yang , Gong Ping , Tang Hua
Published: November 2018

Background. Clinical data demonstrated that failure rate of titanium implant in irradiated bone was 2-3 times higher than that in nonirradiated bone and it is difficult to get the ideal results in irradiated bone. Purpose. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of HBO, BMP2, VEGF165, and combined use of BMP2/VEGF165 on osseointegration and stability of titanium implant in irradiated bone. Materials and Methods. Sixty rabbits were randomly assigned to 5 groups (control group, HBO group, VEGF165 group, BMP2 group, and BMP2/VEGF165 group) after receiving 15 Gy radiation. Implant surgery was performed on tibias eight weeks later. They were sacrificed at two or eight weeks after operation. Implant stability, calcium, and ALP activity in serum, the ratio of bone volume to total volume, the rate of bone growth, and gene expression were assessed. Result. There was no mortality and no implants failed during the experiment. Implant stability was significantly compromised in the control group compared to the other four experimental groups, and the BMP2/VEGF165 group had the highest implant stability. HBO, BMP2, and VEGF165 significantly increased BV/TV and the rate of bone growth, while the BMP2/VEGF165 showed the best effect among groups. The expression of RUNX2 in HBO, BMP2, and VEGF165/BMP2 group was higher than that in the VEGF165 and control groups at two weeks. The expression of OCN in HBO, BMP2, VEGF165, and VEGF165/BMP2 groups was higher than that in the control group, and the gene expression of CD31 was higher in HBO, VEGF165, and BMP2/VEGF165 groups than that in control and BMP2 groups. Conclusion. HBO, BMP2, and VEGF165 could increase bone formation around the implant and improved the implant stability in irradiated bone. The combination use of BMP2 and VEGF165 may be promising in the treatment of implant patients with radiotherapy.
Outcomes from the Introduction of a Combined Urology Outpatient Clinic
Authors: Browne Clíodhna , Dowling Catherine M. , O’Malley Patrick , Nusrat Nadeem , Walsh Kilian , Jaffry Syed , Rogers Eamonn , Durkan Garrett C. , D’Arcy Frank T.
Published: November 2018

Background. A combined urology clinic staffed by four consultants and four non‐consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) was introduced in our institution in October 2015. This clinic is supported by a pre‐clinic radiology meeting and a synchronous urology clinical nurse specialist (CNS) clinic with protected uroflow/trial of void slots. Herein, we report on the outcomes of this clinic in comparison with the standard format of urology outpatient review. Methods. We carried out a retrospective review of clinic attendances from May to July 2016. We recorded the number of new and return attendances, which team members had reviewed the patient and patient outcomes. We also calculated the waiting times for new patients to be reviewed in the outpatient clinic. Results. The combined urology clinic reviewed an average of 12 new and 46 return patients per clinic. The standard urology clinic reviewed an average of 8 new and 23 return patients per clinic. 54% of patients were seen by a consultant in the combined urology clinic, and 20% of patients were seen by a consultant in the standard urology clinic. The rate of patient discharge for new patients was 14.8% in the combined clinic compared to 5.9% in the standard clinic. Overall patient outcomes are outlined in the table. The waiting time for review of new patients in the combined clinic was reduced by 39% from 144 days to 89 days over a one-year period. Conclusions. The introduction of a combined urology outpatient clinic with the support of pre‐clinic radiology meeting and synchronous urology CNS clinic facilitates patient discharge.
Decoupled Independent Vector Analysis Algorithm for Convolutive Blind Source Separation without Orthogonality Constraint on the Demixing Matrices
Authors: Wang Pengfei , Li Jiong , Zhang Hang
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we consider the problem of convolutive blind source separation in frequency domain and introduce a solution to the problem in an independent vector analysis (IVA) framework. IVA utilizes both the statistical independence of different sources in each frequency bin and the statistical dependence of the same source in different frequency bins. However, most of previous works impose orthogonality constraint on the rows of each separation matrix which may undermine the separation performance. In this work, we propose a nonorthogonal IVA algorithm based on decoupled relative Newton method. This proposed algorithm updates the separation matrices row by row, and unlike deflation separation algorithm, there is no separation error accumulation arising. Simulation results are provided to show the superior convergence behavior and separation performance of the proposed algorithm.