bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytochemicals Content, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Sophora viciifolia
Authors: Lin Bei‐Bei , Liu Xiang , Wu San‐Qiao , Zheng Hong‐Xing , Huo Ke‐Ke , Qi Shan‐Shan , Chen Chen
Published: May 2019

The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ethanol extracts from different parts of Sophora viciifolia. The content of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity were investigated, and individual polyphenols and alkaloids were analyzed and quantified by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The microdilution method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of extracts from S. viciifolia on six strains. The results for extracts from the different parts (flowers, leaves, and fruit) were compared in varying concentrations to determine whether one extract source is superior to another. Testing verified that extracts from the different parts of S. viciifolia did vary, as expected. For example, extract from the leaves had the best antimicrobial activity against pathogenic Candida albicans, but all extracts had good antimicrobial activity against the six tested strains. These results reveal that the active substances in S. viciifolia are abundant and have good antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, which can provide theoretical support for the subsequent development and utilization of S. viciifolia extracts.
Meta‐analysis of optimal timing of coronary intervention in non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Barbarawi Mahmoud , Kheiri Babikir , Zayed Yazan , Barbarawi Owais , Chahine Adam , Haykal Tarek , Kanugula Ashok K. , Bachuwa Ghassan , Alkotob Mohammad L. , Bhatt Deepak L.
Published: May 2019

Objectives

We conducted a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the efficacy and safety of early versus delayed invasive management of non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE‐ACS).

Background

Coronary angiography is recommended for patients with NSTE‐ACS, however, the optimal timing for this remains controversial.

Methods

Literature search of Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase for all RCTs that compared early with delayed invasive approaches in treating NSTE‐ACS was conducted by two independent authors. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), while the secondary outcomes included cardiovascular mortality, all‐cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and bleeding events. The Mantel‐Haenszel random‐effects model was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

We included 14 RCTs (9,637 patients, mean age 65.4, 67% males). The early invasive strategy was associated with a lower incidence of MACE compared with the delayed invasive strategy (RR 0.65, 95%CI 0.49–0.87; p = .003). Subgroup analysis according to GRACE score showed a lower incidence of MACE with early invasive strategies in GRACE >140 patients (p for interaction = .002). Furthermore, recurrent ischemia was lower in patients with an early invasive strategy (RR 0.42, 95%CI 0.26–0.69; p < .0005). In contrast, there were no significant differences in all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, MI, or bleeding events between groups (all p > .05).

Conclusions

Among patients with NSTE‐ACS, an early invasive strategy was associated with lower incidence of MACE and recurrent ischemia compared with delayed invasive strategy. There were no significant differences in all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, MI, or bleeding events between groups.
Malts: Quality and phenolic content of pearl millet and sorghum varieties for brewing nonalcoholic beverages and opaque beers
Authors: Embashu Werner , Nantanga Komeine K. M.
Published: May 2019

Background and objectives

The use of malted sorghum and pearl millet in the production of traditional foods and beverages is ubiquitous in Africa and India. However, there is limited industrial production and little data on the phenolic content and quality of pearl millet and sorghum malts of different varieties. Therefore, this study investigated the proximate content, malt quality, and phenolics of pearl millet (Okashana 2, Kantana, and Kangara) and sorghum (Macia and a landrace referred to as Red sorghum) varieties.

Findings

Malting increased the protein in all the varieties, except for Kangara. Germinative energies were >97% for all varieties, except for Red sorghum. Malt quality (reducing sugars, free amino nitrogen, and β‐amylase activity) was highest for Macia followed by Kantana. All pearl millet varieties and Macia had no condensed tannins. The total phenolic content and radical scavenging capacity decreased after malting for all the varieties.

Conclusions

Macia and Kantana can be candidates for industrial malting for brewing nonalcoholic beverages and opaque beers. Kantana and Red sorghum had higher amounts of phenolic compounds and can potentially be vectors of delivering phenolics into human diets.

Significance and novelty

This study investigated the phenolic content and quality of malts of different pearl millet and sorghum varieties, which can potentially be used to brew particularly low‐alcohol beverages.
A Theoretical Perspective on Charge Separation and Transfer in Metal Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Zhou Xin , Dong Hao
Published: May 2019

Semiconductor‐based photocatalytic decomposition of water is one of the most promising techniques to produce clean and renewable energy in the future. Photogenerated charge separation and transfer is considered as one of the crucial steps controlling the conversion efficiency of solar energy in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Many experimental methods have been developed to enhance the efficiency of this process, such as fabricating junction structures, manipulating exposed facets, and loading suitable cocatalysts. Besides a variety of time and spatial resolved spectroscopic techniques, density functional theory calculations have been widely used to explore the photoinduced charge dynamics due to the advances of relevant theory and methodologies along with the improved computer performance. This article reviews recent theoretical researches mainly by means of density functional theory calculations in the charge separation and transportation in metal oxide photocatalytic systems.We introduce some common theoretical and computational methods for investigating physicochemical properties of photocatalytic materials, discuss the charge mobility in bulk and surface of semiconductors, the interfacial charge transfer in junction structures, and the role of cocatalysts in complex photocatalysts, and then evaluate potential research directions for superior photocatalytic systems on the basis of computational investigation and theoretical comprehension of intrinsic properties.
Continuous Biocatalysis in Environmentally‐Friendly Media: A Triple Synergy for Future Sustainable Processes
Authors: Guajardo Nadia , Domínguez de María Pablo
Published: May 2019

Enzyme catalysis (biocatalysis) is a mature strategy to perform organic synthesis with high selectivity and under mild reaction conditions. However, despite their origin and biodegradability, the simple use of enzymes is not sufficient to validate a process as green or sustainable. To reinforce the value that biocatalysis may offer, enzymatic processes can be established in environmentally‐friendly media, such as water, neoteric solvents (e. g. deep‐eutectic‐solvents, DES), biogenic solvents (e. g. 2‐MeTHF or terpenes), or even solvent‐free systems (if substrates allow that). Furthermore, these options can be conducted in continuous biocatalytic processes, which are more efficient and sustainable. Hence, a triple synergy is generated, and very promising environmentally‐friendly options can be envisaged. This conceptual paper discusses these alternatives, providing relevant, recently reported, successful examples.
Delineation of the Critical Parameters of Salt Catalysts in the N‐Formylation of Amines with CO2
Authors: Hulla Martin , Ortiz Daniel , Katsyuba Sergey , Vasilyev Dmitry , Dyson Paul J.
Published: May 2019

N‐formylation of amines combining CO2 as a C1 source with a hydrosilane reducing agent is a convenient route for the synthesis of N‐formylated compounds. A large number of salts including ionic liquids (ILs) have been shown to efficiently catalyze the reaction and, yet, the key features of the catalyst remain unclear and the best salt catalysts for the reaction remain unknown. Here we demonstrate the detrimental effect of ion pairing on the catalytic activity and illustrate ways in which the strength of the interaction between the ions can be reduced to enhance interactions and, hence, reactivity with the substrates. In contrast to the current hypothesis, we also show that salt catalysts are more active as bases rather than nucleophiles and identify the pKa where the nucleophilic role of the catalyst switches to the more active basic role. The identification of these critical parameters allows the optimum salt catalyst and conditions for an N‐formylation reaction to be predicted.
Symmetries and Critical Phenomena in Fluids
Authors: Elgindi Tarek M. , Jeong In‐Jee
Published: May 2019

We study two‐dimensional active scalar systems arising in fluid dynamics in critical spaces in the whole plane. We prove an optimal well‐posedness result that allows for the data and solutions to be scale‐invariant. These scale‐invariant solutions are new and their study seems to have far‐reaching consequences.

More specifically, we first show that the class of bounded vorticities satisfying a discrete rotational symmetry is a global existence and uniqueness class for the two‐dimensional Euler squation. That is, in the well‐known L1∩L∞ theory of Yudovich, the L1‐assumption can be dropped upon having an appropriate symmetry condition. We also show via explicit examples the necessity of discrete symmetry for the uniqueness. This already answers problems raised by Lions in 1996 and Bendetto, Marchioro, and Pulvirenti in 1993.

Next, we note that merely bounded vorticity allows for one to look at solutions that are invariant under scaling—the class of vorticities that are 0‐homo‐geneous in space. Such vorticity is shown to satisfy a new one‐dimensional evolution equation on 𝕊1. Solutions are also shown to exhibit a number of interesting properties. In particular, using this framework, we construct time quasi‐periodic solutions to the two‐dimensional Euler equation exhibiting pendulum‐like behavior. Finally, using the analysis of the one‐dimensional equation, we exhibit strong solutions to the two‐dimensional Euler equation with compact support for which angular derivatives grow at least (almost) quadratically in time (in particular, superlinear) or exponential in time (the latter being in the presence of a boundary).

A similar study can be done for the surface quasi‐geostrophic (SQG) equation. Using the same symmetry condition, we prove local existence and uniqueness of solutions that are merely Lipschitz continuous near the origin—though, without the symmetry, Lipschitz initial data is expected to lose its Lipschitz continuity immediately. Once more, a special class of radially homogeneous solutions is considered, and we extract a one‐dimensional model that bears great resemblance to the so‐called De Gregorio model. We then show that finite‐time singularity formation for the one‐dimensional model implies finite‐time singularity formation in the class of Lipschitz solutions to the SQG equation that are compactly support.

While the study of special infinite energy (i.e., nondecaying) solutions to fluid models is classical, this appears to be the first case where these special solutions can be embedded into a natural existence/uniqueness class for the equation. Moreover, these special solutions approximate finite‐energy solutions for long time and have direct bearing on the global regularity problem for finite‐energy solutions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A WiFi‐aware method for mobile data offloading with deadline constraints
Authors: Tang Wenda , Wu Chaobing , Qi Lianyong , Zhang Xuyun , Xu Xiaolong , Dou Wanchun
Published: May 2019

With an increasing number of public WiFi hotspots have been constructed in metropolitan areas, citizens can leverage these WiFi hotspots to surf the Internet with their smart devices almost everywhere. Compared to cellular networks, most people prefer using WiFi because this can not only save money by reducing the cellular data traffic but also save energy to prolong the battery lifetime of mobile devices. Mobile offloading techniques give the opportunity for smart devices to offload cellular data traffic to WiFi networks whenever they are connected WiFi networks. Although offloading to WiFi networks can cause communication delay, many delay‐tolerant applications still prefer doing so in order to save the cellular data traffic. Existing offloading approaches only take the application delay tolerance into consideration and therefore easy to induce some tasks missing deadlines. In this paper, we propose a novel WiFi‐aware method for mobile data offloading through WiFi networks with deadline constraints. Specifically, it takes the WiFi distribution in city areas into consideration while making offloading decision. The simulation results on real‐world data have shown that our method improves the percentage of tasks that can meet their deadlines, and reduces the average task completion time by comparing with other outstanding methods.
Efficacy of a phenol derivative, isopropyl vanillate, as an anti‐inflammatory agent: A new small molecule inhibitor of COX and neutrophil migration
Authors: Nogueira Kerolayne M. , de Souza Luan K. M. , de Oliveira Ana P. , Pacheco Gabriella , Iles Bruno , Alencar Matheus S. , Nicolau Lucas A. D. , Silva Renan O. , da Nóbrega Flávio R. , Sousa Damião P. , de Souza Marcellus H. L. P. , Medeiros Jand V. R.
Published: May 2019

Inflammation is the response of the body to noxious stimuli such as infections, trauma, or injury. Experimental studies have shown that vanillic acid has anti‐inflammatory effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory and antipyretic properties of the derivative of vanillic acid, isopropyl vanillate (ISP‐VT), in mice. The results of this study indicated that ISP‐VT reduced paw edema induced by carrageenan, dextran sulfate (DEX), compound 48/80, serotonin, bradykinin (BK), histamine (HIST), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Furthermore, ISP‐VT reduced recruitment of leukocytes and neutrophils and reduced its adhesion and rolling, and decreased myeloperoxidase enzyme activity (MPO), cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6), and vascular permeability. ISP‐VT also significantly reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in subplantar tissue of mice. ISP‐VT inhibited COX‐2 selectively compared to the standard drug. Our results showed that although ISP‐VT binds to COX‐1, it is less toxic than indomethacin, as evidenced by MPO analysis of gastric tissue. Treatment with the ISP‐VT significantly reduced rectal temperature in yeast‐induced hyperthermia in mice. Our results showed that the main mechanism ISP‐VT‐induced anti‐inflammatory activity is by inhibition of COX‐2. In conclusion, our results indicate that ISP‐VT has potential as an anti‐inflammatory and antipyretic therapeutic compound.
Unexpected Vinylcyclopropane Rearrangement: New Strategies toward Skipped Dienes Using Sulfonium Ylides
Authors: Richald Maximilien , Delbrassinne Arnaud , Robiette Raphaël
Published: May 2019

Vinylcyclopropanes are key intermediates in organic chemistry which undergo several important rearrangements. Herein, we report on an unexpected rearrangement of vinylcyclopropane into skipped diene proceeding at room temperature and with high selectivity. Deuteration experiments indicate that the mechanism of this rearrangement involves regioselective ring‐opening of the cyclopropane ring followed by 1,2‐migration of an aryl group. Based on this transformation, two complementary strategies toward skipped dienes bearing an aryl group on the central center were developed using sulfonium ylides.
Positive and negative intergroup contact and shared reality: Contact effects among host society and refugees
Authors: Lutterbach Sebastian , Beelmann Andreas
Published: May 2019

Two cross‐sectional studies examined the relationship between positive and negative intergroup contact and shared reality from a majority and a minority group perspective and indirect effects via two types of intergroup threat (threat to identity for the majority, discrimination fear for the minority) and differential closeness. Research was conducted in the context of German–Syrian relations to contrast contact effects on shared reality among German host society members and Syrian refugees. Study 1 revealed unique and asymmetrical effects of valenced contact on shared reality and indirect effects via threat to identity and differential closeness (N = 226). In Study 2, positive contact among Syrian refugees (N = 121) increased shared reality via differential closeness. Negative contact showed no relation to shared reality, but mediation analyses indicated an indirect effect via discrimination fear. Differences between majority and minority contact effects on shared reality are discussed along with the studies’ limitations and implications.
A micellar electrokinetic chromatography approach using diastereomeric derivatization and a volatile surfactant for the enantioselective separation of selenomethionine
Authors: Pérez‐Míguez Raquel , Marina Maria Luisa , Castro‐Puyana María
Published: May 2019

A MEKC methodology with UV detection was developed for the enantioselective separation of selenomethionine (SeMet). The use of (+)‐1‐(9‐fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate (FLEC) as chiral derivatization reagent to form SeMet diastereomers enabled their subsequent separation using ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) as a volatile pseudostationary phase. The effect of APFO concentration and pH, temperature, injection volume, and derivatization conditions (time and FLEC/SeMet ratio) were evaluated in order to select the best separation conditions. A chiral resolution of 4.4 for DL‐SeMet was achieved in less than 6 min using 100 mM APFO at pH 8.5 as electrophoretic buffer. Satisfactory results were obtained in terms of linearity, precision (RSD from 3.4 to 5.1% for migration times and from 1.8 to 4.6% for corrected peak areas), accuracy, and LODs (3.1 × 10−6 M and 3.7 × 10−6 M for d and l enantiomers, respectively). The method was successfully applied to the determination of l‐SeMet in food supplements.
Model‐based clustering for noisy longitudinal circular data, with application to animal movement
Authors: Ranalli M. , Maruotti A.
Published: May 2019

In this work, we introduce a model for circular data analysis to robustly estimate parameters, under a longitudinal clustering setting. A hidden Markov model for longitudinal circular data combined with a uniform conditional density on the circle to capture noise observations is proposed. A set of exogenous covariates is available; they are assumed to affect the evolution of clustering over time. Parameter estimation is carried out through a hybrid expectation–maximization algorithm, using recursions widely adopted in the hidden Markov model literature. Examples of application of the proposal on real and simulated data are performed to show the effectiveness of the proposal.
Charging history and fluid evolution for the Carboniferous volcanic reservoirs in the western Chepaizi Uplift of Junggar Basin as determined by fluid inclusions and basin modelling
Authors: Shi Bingbing , Chang Xiangchun , Xu Youde , Mao Lixin , Zhang Jianhua , Li Yang
Published: May 2019

Fluid inclusions are rich in the Carboniferous volcanic reservoirs in the western Chepaizi Uplift, occurring in liquid, gaseous, and gas–liquid phases. In this study, the fluid inclusions were investigated in terms of petrographic, optical, and microthermometric characteristics, coupled with pressure–volume–temperature–composition (PVTX) simulations. Two periods of hydrothermal activities in the Carboniferous volcanic reservoirs were suggested by the bimodal distributions of Th (homogenization temperatures) of fluid inclusions with 120–140°C and 160–190°C as the main peaks. The early charged fluids were characterized by a low temperature, low salinity, relatively higher density, and low G/L (gas–liquid volumetric ratio) of aqueous inclusions, whilst the late charged fluids featured a high temperature, moderate salinity, moderate density, and high G/L of aqueous inclusions. The oil inclusions hosted in calcite or quartz veins exhibited light yellow and yellowish‐green fluorescence, whereas those in the microcracks cutting or within quartz or calcite veins showed blue‐white fluorescence. The burial and geothermal histories imply an existence of abnormal hydrothermal activity under overpressure and high temperature, which is evidenced by the simulated trapping pressure that is higher than the lithostatic pressure and the measured Th values that are higher than the formation paleo‐temperatures. The Th range is widely and continuously distributed and, in combination with the burial history, indicates that the hydrocarbon accumulation in the research area has been a continuous process since the Paleogene. Combined with the reconstruction of tectonic evolution and hydrocarbon generation and expulsion, two oil‐charging episodes were defined, that is, the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene (23–16 Ma) and the Late Miocene–Holocene (6 Ma–). The western section of the Aika Fault Belt (F2), together with the sheet sandbodies of the Toutunhe Formation (J2t), and the unconformities between Carboniferous–Cretaceous may have served as the migration pathways.
Homocysteine, rather than age of onset, is a better predictor for cognitive function in older adults with bipolar disorder
Authors: Chen Pao‐Huan , Liu Hsing‐Cheng , Lu Mong‐Liang , Chen Chun‐Hsin , Chang Ching‐Jui , Chiu Wei‐Che , Sun I‐Wen , Liu Shen‐Ing , Tsai Shang‐Ying , Chiu Chih‐Chiang , Stewart Robert
Published: May 2019

Objectives

The association between older‐age bipolar disorder and cognitive impairments may be mediated by vascular burden. The aim of the study was to examine the difference of cognitive function between older people with late‐onset bipolar disorder (LOBD) and early‐onset bipolar disorder (EOBD) by considering rigorous vascular risk burden evaluation, comprehensive cognitive tests, and relevant biochemistry data.

Methods

We recruited 95 outpatients aged over 55 with a DSM‐IV‐TR diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. Fifty had LOBD, defined by age of onset after 40. Cognitive function was evaluated through a battery of tests assessing verbal memory, attention/speed, visuospatial function, verbal fluency, and cognitive flexibility. Vascular risk assessments included individual disorders, 10‐year Framingham cardiovascular risk scores, and serum levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, and triiodothyronine.

Results

No differences were observed between LOBD and EOBD on any cognitive test after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition to age and educational years, multiple linear regression analyses indicated significantly negative associations between serum homocysteine levels and cognitive performances in attention, psychomotor speed, verbal memory, and executive function.

Conclusions

Among older people with bipolar disorder, LOBD is not associated with more cognitive dysfunction in this study. However, higher serum homocysteine levels were significantly associated with worse cognitive performance in this particular group. Clinicians therefore have to pay attention to the cognitive function in older bipolar patients with higher levels of homocysteine.
5G‐Hander: A network service for handover detection in 5G networks
Authors: Grasso Christian , Schembra Giovanni
Published: May 2019

In the next Fifth Generation (5G) networks, Telco Operators will assign network slices to their users and will guarantee very stringent requirements even in mobility. In this context, detecting handover events will be challenging in order to design management and orchestration policies allowing resource allocation and network slice assignment dynamically. To this purpose, this letter proposes a network service called 5G‐Hander that enables the Network Orchestrator to be alerted of an incoming handover before it is completed, in order to decide resource reallocation or even to inhibit its occurrence. Numerical results show how the proposed network service works in a little, but realistic, network.
Effects of the presence of probiotic bacteria in the aging medium on the surface roughness and chemical composition of two dental alloys
Authors: Musa Trolic Ines , Todoric Zrinka , Pop Acev Darko , Makreski Petre , Pejova Biljana , Spalj Stjepan
Published: May 2019

The aims of this study were: (a) to determine if the presence of probiotic bacteria in an aging medium, that is, artificial saliva in this study, has relevant effects on the surface roughness and the chemical composition of two main alloys used in dentistry (NiTi and stainless steel [SS]) and (b) in the case of NiTi, if these effects are influenced by the coating of the alloy (rhodium and titanium nitride). Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the surface morphology and identify metal oxides formed on the surface of the alloys. Experiments demonstrated that the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri can induce processes that alter some features of the surface such as roughness and chemical composition. The effect is dependent on the type of alloy and coating. The bacteria increased roughness in the case of uncoated NiTi more than saliva alone (pH = 4.8). Probiotic bacteria tend to decrease the corrosive influence of saliva on NiTi when the alloy is coated with rhodium or titanium nitride and this effect was also evidenced on SS. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that only SS samples are prone to oxidation processes, predominantly associated with exposure to saliva rather than probiotic bacteria.
Suboptimal geographic accessibility to comprehensive HIV care in the US: regional and urban–rural differences
Authors: Masiano Steven P , Martin Erika G , Bono Rose S , Dahman Bassam , Sabik Lindsay M , Belgrave Faye Z , Adimora Adaora A , Kimmel April D
Published: May 2019

Achieving US state and municipal benchmarks to end the HIV epidemic and promote health equity requires access to comprehensive HIV care. However, this care may not be geographically accessible for all people living with HIV (PLHIV). We estimated county‐level drive time and suboptimal geographic accessibility to HIV care across the contiguous US, assessing regional and urban–rural differences. We integrated publicly available data from four federal databases to identify and geocode sites providing comprehensive HIV care in 2015, defined as the co‐located provision of core HIV medical care and support services. Leveraging street network, US Census and HIV surveillance data (2014), we used geographic analysis to estimate the fastest one‐way drive time between the population‐weighted county centroid and the nearest site providing HIV care for counties reporting at least five diagnosed HIV cases. We summarized HIV care sites, county‐level drive time, population‐weighted drive time and suboptimal geographic accessibility to HIV care, by US region and county rurality (2013). Geographic accessibility to HIV care was suboptimal if drive time was >30 min, a common threshold for primary care accessibility in the general US population. Tests of statistical significance were not performed, since the analysis is population‐based. We identified 671 HIV care sites across the US, with 95% in urban counties. Nationwide, the median county‐level drive time to HIV care is 69 min (interquartile range (IQR) 66 min). The median county‐level drive time to HIV care for rural counties (90 min, IQR 61) is over twice that of urban counties (40 min, IQR 48), with the greatest urban–rural differences in the West. Nationally, population‐weighted drive time, an approximation of individual‐level drive time, is over five times longer in rural counties than in urban counties. Geographic access to HIV care is suboptimal for over 170,000 people diagnosed with HIV (19%), with over half of these individuals from the South and disproportionately the rural South. Nationally, approximately 80,000 (9%) drive over an hour to receive HIV care. Suboptimal geographic accessibility to HIV care is an important structural barrier in the US, particularly for rural residents living with HIV in the South and West. Targeted policies and interventions to address this challenge should become a priority.
Hepatitis C risk perceptions and attitudes towards reinfection among HIV‐diagnosed gay and bisexual men in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Schroeder Sophia E , Higgs Peter , Winter Rebecca , Brown Graham , Pedrana Alisa , Hellard Margaret , Doyle Joseph , Stoové Mark
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Gay and bisexual men (GBM) are at increased risk of hepatitis C/HIV co‐infection. In Australia, the availability of subsidized direct‐acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C has rendered eliminating co‐infection possible. High reinfection rates in subgroups with continued exposure may compromise elimination efforts. To inform the development of hepatitis C risk reduction support in GBM, we explored reinfection risk perceptions and attitudes among GBM living with HIV recently cured from hepatitis C.

Methods

Between April and August 2017, 15 GBM living with diagnosed HIV were recruited from high caseload HIV primary care services in Melbourne following successful hepatitis C treatment. In‐depth interviews were conducted exploring understandings of hepatitis C risks, experiences of co‐infection and attitudes towards reinfection. Constructivist grounded theory guided data aggregation.

Results

Participants’ understandings of their hepatitis C infection and reinfection trajectories were captured in three categories. Hepatitis C and HIV disease dichotomies: Hepatitis C diagnosis was a shock to most participants and contrasted with feelings of inevitability associated with HIV seroconversion. While HIV was normalized, hepatitis C was experienced as highly stigmatizing. Despite injecting drug use, interviewees did not identify with populations typically at risk of hepatitis C. Risk environments and avoiding reinfection: Interviewees identified their social and sexual networks as risk‐perpetuating environments where drug use was ubiquitous and higher risk sex was common. Avoiding these risk environments to avoid reinfection resulted in community disengagement, leaving many feeling socially isolated. Hepatitis C care as a catalyst for change: Engagement in hepatitis C care contributed to a better understanding of hepatitis C risks. Interviewees were committed to applying their improved competencies around transmission risk reduction to avoid reinfection. Interviewees also considered hepatitis C care as a catalyst to reduce their drug use.

Conclusions

Hepatitis C/HIV co‐infection among GBM cannot be understood in isolation from co‐occurring drug use and sex, nor as separate from their HIV infection. Hepatitis C prevention must address subcultural heterogeneity and the intersectionality between multiple stigmatized social identities. Hepatitis C care presents an opportunity to provide support beyond cure. Peer support networks could mitigate social capital loss following a commitment to behaviour change and reduce hepatitis C reinfection risks.
A novel trust‐region–based algorithm with flexible Jacobian updates for expedited optimization of high‐frequency structures
Authors: Pietrenko‐Dabrowska Anna
Published: May 2019

Simulation‐driven design closure is mandatory in the design of contemporary high‐frequency components. It aims at improving the selected performance figures through adjustment of the structure's geometry (and/or material) parameters. The computational cost of this process when employing numerical optimization is often prohibitively high, which is a strong motivation for the development of more efficient methods. This is especially important in the case of complex and multiparameter structures. In the paper, an expedited trust‐region–based algorithm for electromagnetic (EM)‐driven design optimization of high‐frequency structures is proposed. The presented technique involves a flexible sensitivity update scheme depending on the relative design changes with respect to the trust‐region size, as well as a direction of the design relocation and its alignment with the coordinate system axes. This allows for performing finite‐differentiation–based sensitivity updates less frequently and, consequently, brings considerable computational savings. Numerical results obtained for an ultra‐wideband antenna and a microwave coupler demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the reference procedure in terms of the number of EM simulations necessary to arrive at the optimized solution (around 50%). At the same time, the design quality loss is minor.
Morphologic, intraoperative, and histologic risk factors for sinonasal inverted papilloma recurrence
Authors: Lee Jake J. , Roland Lauren T. , Licata Jordan J. , Orlowski Hilary L.P. , Jiramongkolchai Pawina , Piccirillo Jay F. , Kallogjeri Dorina , Klatt‐Cromwell Cristine N. , Chernock Rebecca D. , Schneider John S.
Published: May 2019

Objective

Sinonasal inverted papillomas (IP) are benign neoplasms with a propensity for local recurrence. Many risk factors are reported, with little consistency between studies. This study aimed to comprehensively assess for demographic, imaging, histopathologic, and intraoperative risk factors for recurrence.

Methods

We performed a single‐center retrospective cohort study of patients with pathologically diagnosed IP without malignancy who underwent surgical resection between 1997 and 2018. Eligible patients were identified through a database maintained by the Department of Pathology. Logistic regression identified variables associated with recurrence, and conjunctive consolidation was performed to create a predictive model.

Results

Of 76 subjects, 37% (n = 28) had recurrence. Median follow‐up and time to recurrence were 2.9 (range 0.5–21.1) and 1.7 (range 0.2–13.0) years, respectively. Confirmed negative margins on histology were protective (odds ratio [OR] 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08–0.85). Frontal sinus involvement (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.83, 95% CI 1.20–28.37), incomplete resection (aOR 9.67, 95% CI 2.24–41.72), and presence of dysplasia (aOR 4.38, 95% CI 1.01–19.10) were significantly associated with recurrence on multivariable analysis. A three‐level composite recurrence risk staging system was created by consolidating the above three variables. The recurrence risks of composite stage I, II, and III disease were 20%, 38%, and 100%, respectively. No demographic, imaging, staging, or surgical approach variables were associated with recurrence.

Conclusion

Frontal sinus involvement, incomplete resection, and dysplasia were significant risk factors for IP recurrence, whereas confirmed negative margins were protective. Creation of a composite staging system using the above variables may allow for risk stratification and a patient‐specific approach to postoperative IP management.

Level of Evidence

3

Laryngoscope, 130:590–596, 2020
The coral ecosphere: A unique coral reef habitat that fosters coral–microbial interactions
Authors: Weber Laura , Gonzalez‐Díaz Patricia , Armenteros Maickel , Apprill Amy
Published: May 2019

Scleractinian corals are bathed in a sea of planktonic and particle‐associated microorganisms. The metabolic products of corals influence the growth and composition of microorganisms, but interactions between corals and seawater microorganisms are underexplored. We conducted a field‐based survey to compare the biomass, diversity, composition, and functional capacity of microorganisms in small‐volume seawater samples collected adjacent to five coral species with seawater collected > 1 m away from the reef substrate on the same reefs. Seawater collected close to corals generally harbored copiotrophic‐type bacteria and its bacterial and archaeal composition was influenced by coral species as well as the local reef environment. Trends in picoplankton abundances were variable and either increased or decreased away from coral colonies based on coral species and picoplankton functional group. Genes characteristic of surface‐attached and potentially virulent microbial lifestyles were enriched in near‐coral seawater compared to reef seawater. There was a prominent association between the coral Porites astreoides and the coral symbiont Endozoicomonas, suggesting recruitment and/or shedding of these cells into the surrounding seawater. This evidence extends our understanding of potential species‐specific and reef site‐influenced microbial interactions that occur between corals and microorganisms within this near‐coral seawater environment that we propose to call the “coral ecosphere.” Microbial interactions that occur within the coral ecosphere could influence recruitment of coral‐associated microorganisms and facilitate the transfer of coral metabolites into the microbial food web, thus fostering reef biogeochemical cycling and a linkage between corals and the water column.
A geometric property in and its applications
Authors: Bachar M. , Khamsi M. A. , Mendez O. , Bounkhel M.
Published: May 2019

In this work, we initiate the study of the geometry of the variable exponent sequence space when . In 1931 Orlicz introduced the variable exponent sequence spaces while studying lacunary Fourier series. Since then, much progress has been made in the understanding of these spaces and of their continuous counterpart. In particular, it is well known that is uniformly convex if and only if the exponent is bounded away from 1 and infinity. The geometry of when either or remains largely ill‐understood. We state and prove a modular version of the geometric property of when , known as uniform convexity in every direction. We present specific applications to fixed point theory. In particular we obtain an analogue to the classical Kirk's fixed point theorem in when .
Submersions and curves of constant geodesic curvature
Authors: Godoy Molina M. , Grong E. , Markina I.
Published: May 2019

Considering Riemannian submersions, we find necessary and sufficient conditions for when sub‐Riemannian normal geodesics project to curves of constant first geodesic curvature or constant first and vanishing second geodesic curvature. We describe a canonical extension of the sub‐Riemannian metric and study geometric properties of the obtained Riemannian manifold. This work contains several examples illustrating the results.
Identification of a de novo FOXP1 mutation and incidental discovery of inherited genetic variants contributing to a case of autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy
Authors: Jay Kristy , Mitra Amit , Harding Taylor , Matthes David , Van Ness Brian
Published: May 2019

Background

Autism spectrum disorder is commonly co‐diagnosed intellectual disability, language disorder, anxiety, and epilepsy, however, symptom management is difficult due to the complex genetic nature of ASD.

Methods

We present a next‐generation sequencing‐based case study with both de novo and inherited genetic variants and highlight the impact of structural variants on post‐translational regulation of protein expression. Since management of symptoms has classically been through pharmaceutical therapies, a pharmacogenomics screen was also utilized to determine possible drug/gene interactions.

Results

A de novo variant was identified within the FOXP1 3′ untranslated regulatory region using exome sequencing. Additionally, inherited variants that likely contribute to the current and potential future traits were identified within the COMT, SLC6A4, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 genes.

Conclusion

This study aims to elucidate how a collection of variant genotypes could potentially impact neural development resulting in a unique phenotype including ASD and epilepsy. Each gene's contribution to neural development is assessed, and the interplay of these genotypes is discussed. The results highlight the utility of exome sequencing in conjunction with pharmacogenomics screening when evaluating possible causes of and therapeutic treatments for ASD‐related symptoms.
Kaiser's mental health crisis continues to worsen, new union survey finds
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: May 2019

A new survey released by the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) has found that Kaiser Permanente's capacity to deliver clinically appropriate care to its enrollees has been “seriously compromised.” According to the survey, Kaiser's mental health clinicians report that wait times for treatment appointments have grown longer over the past two years.
MRI‐only based synthetic CT generation using dense cycle consistent generative adversarial networks
Authors: Lei Yang , Harms Joseph , Wang Tonghe , Liu Yingzi , Shu Hui‐Kuo , Jani Ashesh B. , Curran Walter J. , Mao Hui , Liu Tian , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Automated synthetic computed tomography (sCT) generation based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images would allow for MRI‐only based treatment planning in radiation therapy, eliminating the need for CT simulation and simplifying the patient treatment workflow. In this work, the authors propose a novel method for generation of sCT based on dense cycle‐consistent generative adversarial networks (cycle GAN), a deep‐learning based model that trains two transformation mappings (MRI to CT and CT to MRI) simultaneously.

Methods and materials

The cycle GAN‐based model was developed to generate sCT images in a patch‐based framework. Cycle GAN was applied to this problem because it includes an inverse transformation from CT to MRI, which helps constrain the model to learn a one‐to‐one mapping. Dense block‐based networks were used to construct generator of cycle GAN. The network weights and variables were optimized via a gradient difference (GD) loss and a novel distance loss metric between sCT and original CT.

Results

Leave‐one‐out cross‐validation was performed to validate the proposed model. The mean absolute error (MAE), peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), and normalized cross correlation (NCC) indexes were used to quantify the differences between the sCT and original planning CT images. For the proposed method, the mean MAE between sCT and CT were 55.7 Hounsfield units (HU) for 24 brain cancer patients and 50.8 HU for 20 prostate cancer patients. The mean PSNR and NCC were 26.6 dB and 0.963 in the brain cases, and 24.5 dB and 0.929 in the pelvis.

Conclusion

We developed and validated a novel learning‐based approach to generate CT images from routine MRIs based on dense cycle GAN model to effectively capture the relationship between the CT and MRIs. The proposed method can generate robust, high‐quality sCT in minutes. The proposed method offers strong potential for supporting near real‐time MRI‐only treatment planning in the brain and pelvis.
Dose distribution prediction in isodose feature‐preserving voxelization domain using deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Ma Ming , K. Buyyounouski Mark , Vasudevan Varun , Xing Lei , Yang Yong
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To implement a framework for dose prediction using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) based on the concept of isodose feature‐preserving voxelization (IFPV) in simplifying the representation of the dose distribution.

Methods

The concept of IFPV was introduced for concise representation of a treatment plan. IFPV is a sparse voxelization scheme that partitions the voxels into subgroups according to their geometric, anatomical, and dosimetric features. In this study a deep CNN was constructed to buildup a dose prediction model in IFPV domain based on 60 volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans from a database of previously treated 70 prostate cancer patients. The dose prediction model learns the contour to dose relationship and predicts the dose distribution in IFPV domain given the input contours. Additional ten independent prostate cases were selected as testing data.DVH comparison, dose difference maps, and residual analysis with the sum of absolute residual (SAR) were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method.

Results

The proposed IFPV‐based method achieved good prediction performance in terms of DVH comparison and dose difference maps. Statistical results of SARs showed that the IFPV‐based method is comparable with voxel‐based method even though the number of dose representation points used in the IFPV‐based method was substantially reduced. The proposed approach achieved mean SARs of 0.029 ± 0.020 and 0.077 ± 0.030 for bladder and rectum, respectively, compared with mean SARs of 0.039 ± 0.029 and 0.069 ± 0.028 in the conventional voxel‐based method.

Conclusions

A novel deep CNN‐based dose prediction method in IFPV domain was proposed. The proposed approach has great potential to significantly improve the efficiency of dose prediction and facilitate the treatment planning workflow.
Nonuniform Fourier‐decomposition MRI for ventilation‐ and perfusion‐weighted imaging of the lung
Authors: Bondesson David , Schneider Moritz J. , Gaass Thomas , Kühn Bernd , Bauman Grzegorz , Dietrich Olaf , Dinkel Julien
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To improve the robustness of pulmonary ventilation‐ and perfusion‐weighted imaging with Fourier decomposition (FD) MRI in the presence of respiratory and cardiac frequency variations by replacing the standard fast Fourier transform with the more general nonuniform Fourier transform.

Theory and Methods

Dynamic coronal single‐slice MRI of the thorax was performed in 11 patients and 5 healthy volunteers on a 1.5T whole‐body scanner using a 2D ultra‐fast balanced steady‐state free‐precession sequence with temporal resolutions of 4‐9 images/s. For the proposed nonuniform Fourier‐decomposition (NUFD) approach, the original signal with variable physiological frequencies that was acquired with constant sampling rate was retrospectively transformed into a signal with (ventilation or perfusion) frequency‐adapted sampling rate. For that purpose, frequency tracking was performed with the synchro‐squeezed wavelet transform. Ventilation‐ and perfusion‐weighted NUFD amplitude and signal delay maps were generated and quantitatively compared with regularly sampled FD maps based on their signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).

Results

Volunteers and patients showed statistically significant increases of SNR in frequency‐adapted NUFD results compared to regularly sampled FD results. For ventilation data, the mean SNR increased by and in volunteers and patients, respectively; for perfusion data, SNR increased by and . Two patients showed perfusion signal in pulmonary areas with NUFD that could not be imaged with FD.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that using nonuniform Fourier transform in combination with frequency tracking can significantly increase SNR and reduce frequency overlaps by collecting the signal intensity onto single frequency bins.