bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetic modeling of intravenous sildenafil in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Cochius - den Otter Suzan C. M. , Kipfmueller Florian , de Winter Brenda C. M. , Allegaert Karel , Tibboel Dick , Mueller Andreas , Koch Birgit C. P.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

We developed a pharmacokinetic model of intravenous sildenafil in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) to achieve a target plasma concentration of over 50 μg/l.

Methods

Twenty-three CDH newborns with pulmonary hypertension (64 blood samples) received intravenous sildenafil. Patients received a loading dose of 0.35 mg/kg (IQR 0.16 mg/kg) for 3 h, followed by a continuous infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/day (IQR 0.1 mg/kg/day). For model development, non-linear mixed modeling was used. Inter-individual variability (IIV) and inter-occasion variability were tested. Demographic and laboratory parameters were evaluated as covariates. Normalized prediction distribution errors (NPDE) and visual predictive check (VPC) were used for model validation.

Results

A two-compartment disposition model of sildenafil and a one-compartment disposition model of desmethyl sildenafil (DMS) was observed with IIV in sildenafil and DMS clearance and volume of distribution of sildenafil. NPDE and VPC revealed adequate predictability. Only postnatal age increased sildenafil clearance. This was partly compensated by a higher DMS concentration, which also has a therapeutic effect. In this small group of patients, sildenafil was tolerated well.

Conclusions

This model for sildenafil in CDH patients shows that concentration-targeted sildenafil dosing of 0.4 mg/kg in 3 h, followed by 1.6 mg/kg/day continuous infusion achieves appropriate sildenafil plasma levels.
Emergency Department Versus Operating Suite Intubation in Operative Trauma Patients: Does Location Matter?
Authors: Dumas R. P. , Jafari D. , Moore S. A. , Ruffolo L. , Holena D. N. , Seamon M. J.
Published: November 2019

Background

Decreasing the time from patient arrival to definitive surgical care in injured patients requiring an operation improves outcomes. We sought to study the effect of intubation location (emergency department versus operating suite) on time to definitive surgical care. We hypothesized that patients requiring emergency surgical interventions intubated in the emergency department would have shorter times to definitive care when compared to patients intubated in the operating suite.

Methods

All injured patients with a preoperative emergency department dwell time of less than 30 min and undergoing emergency operative procedures with the trauma surgery service at an urban Level I center (2010–2017) were analyzed. Demographics, clinical variables, and outcomes were assessed in relation to emergency department intubation versus operating suite intubation. The primary study endpoint was time to initiation of definitive surgical care, defined as the total elapsed time from emergency department arrival until operating room incision time. To investigate the relationship between clinical variables and time, multivariable regression was performed.

Results

In total, 241 patients were included. In total, 138 patients were intubated in the emergency department and 103 patients were intubated in the operative suite. There was no difference between patients intubated in the emergency department and those intubated in the operating room with respect to age, gender, injury mechanism, initial heart rate or systolic blood pressure. Emergency department patients were more likely to sustain post‐intubation, traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest (8.0 vs. 0.9%; p = 0.014). No statistical difference in total elapsed time from arrival to definitive surgical care was appreciated between study groups (41 vs. 43 min; p = 0.064). After controlling for clinical variables, emergency department intubation was not associated with time to definitive care (p = 0.386) in the multiple variable regression analysis.

Conclusion

When emergency department and operative suite intubation patients were compared, emergency department intubation did not decrease total elapsed time until definitive surgery but was associated with post‐intubation, traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest.
Bulk rheometry at high frequencies: a review of experimental approaches
Authors: Schroyen Bram , Vlassopoulos Dimitris , Van Puyvelde Peter , Vermant Jan
Published: November 2019

High-frequency rheology is a form of mechanical spectroscopy which provides access to fast dynamics in soft materials and hence can give valuable information about the local scale microstructure. It is particularly useful for systems where time-temperature superposition cannot be used, when there is a need to extend the frequency range beyond what is possible with conventional rotational devices. This review gives an overview of different approaches to high-frequency bulk rheometry, i.e. mechanical rheometers that can operate at acoustic (20 Hz–20 kHz) or ultrasound (> 20 kHz) frequencies. As with all rheometers, precise control and know-how of the kinematic conditions are of prime importance. The inherent effects of shear wave propagation that occur in oscillatory measurements will hence be addressed first, identifying the gap and surface loading limits. Different high-frequency techniques are then classified based on their mode of operation. They are reviewed critically, contrasting ease of operation with the dynamic frequency range obtained. A comparative overview of the different types of techniques in terms of their operating window aims to provide a practical guide for selecting the right approach for a given problem. The review ends with a more forward looking discussion of selected material classes for which the use of high-frequency rheometry has proven particularly valuable or holds promise for bringing physical insights.
Evaluating risk factors for re-exploration due to postoperative neck hematoma after thyroid surgery: a nested case-control study
Authors: Salem Farhad Allahyar , Bergenfelz A. , Nordenström E. , Dahlberg J. , Hessman O. , Lundgren C. I. , Almquist M.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Postoperative bleeding after thyroid surgery remains a potentially lethal complication. Outpatient thyroidectomy is an increasing trend in the high volume centers. There is a need to identify risk factors for postoperative bleeding in order to select proper patients for outpatient thyroidectomy. This study aimed to investigate this issue using a national population-based register.

Material and method

A nested case-control study on patients registered in the Swedish national register for endocrine surgery (SQRTPA) was performed. Patients with postoperative bleeding were matched 1:1 by age and gender to controls. Additional information on cases and controls was obtained from attending surgeons using a questionnaire. Risk factors for postoperative bleeding were evaluated with logistic regression and are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The time of bleeding in relation to surgery was also investigated.

Results

There were 9494 operations, and 174 (1.8%) of them involved postoperative bleeding. In the whole cohort, patients with postoperative bleeding were older, 58 (46–69) vs. 49 (37–62) years, than patients without, p < 0.01. Male patients had a higher risk of bleeding, OR 2.18 (95% CI 1.58–2.99). In the case-control cohort, drain was an independent risk factor for bleeding, OR 1.64 (1.05–2.57). Two-thirds of patients bled within 6 h after surgery. The incidence of bleeding after 24 h was 10%.

Conclusion

High age, male gender, and drain are independent risk factors for bleeding after thyroid surgery. Even with careful patient selection, prolonged observation might be necessary in thyroid surgery.
How Data Protection Regulation Affects Startup Innovation
Authors: Martin Nicholas , Matt Christian , Niebel Crispin , Blind Knut
Published: November 2019

While many data-driven businesses have seen rapid growth in recent years, their business development might be highly contingent upon data protection regulation. While it is often claimed that stricter regulation penalizes firms, there is only scarce empirical evidence for this. We therefore study how data protection regulation affects startup innovation, exploring this question during the ongoing introduction of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our results show that the effects of data protection regulation on startup innovation are complex: it simultaneously stimulates and constrains innovation. We identify six distinct firm responses to the effects of the GDPR; three that stimulate innovation, and three that constrain it. We furthermore identify two key stipulations in the GDPR that account for the most important innovation constraints. Implications and potential policy responses are discussed.
Influence of graft size, histocompatibility,and cryopreservation on reproductive outcome following ovary transplantation in mice
Authors: Kolbe T. , Walter I. , Rülicke T.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Transplantation of ovarian tissue is a valuable method to rescue mouse strains with fertility problems and to revitalize archived strains. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of (i) different sizes of transplanted ovary pieces on reproductive outcome, (ii) use of immunodeficient recipients to overcome the limitation of histocompatibility, and (iii) to compare different protocols for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue.

Methods

Halves, quarters, and eights of mouse ovaries were transplanted. Half ovaries from B6 donors were transferred into immunodeficient mice. Halves of ovaries were frozen according to four different protocols, thawed and transferred.

Results

Pregnancy rate after transplantation of ovarian tissue was high (90–100%) independent of the transplant size. Although, the average litter size was significantly lower for recipients of quarters and eights (4.4 and 4.6 vs. 6.5), the total number of offspring produced per donor ovary was higher compared with recipients of halves. Pregnancy rate of immunodeficient recipients was 40% (mean 4.7 offspring per litter). All four cryopreservation protocols used were able to preserve functionality of the ovarian tissue.

Conclusions

Transplantation of ovarian tissue smaller than halves resulted in reduced litter sizes. The distribution of ovarian tissue of one donor female to 4 or 8 recipients will therefore yield in a higher total number of offspring in a certain time period. The use of immunodeficient recipients is an option for non-histocompatible donors. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is generally feasible but the function of frozen-thawed ovary halves after transplantation differs depending on the freezing protocol used.
Movement Imitation Therapy for Preterm Babies (MIT-PB): a Novel Approach to Improve the Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Infants at High-Risk for Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Soloveichick Marina , Marschik Peter B. , Gover Ayala , Molad Michal , Kessel Irena , Einspieler Christa
Published: November 2019

To improve the neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with high grade intraventricular haemorrhage and cramped-synchronised (CS) general movements (GMs). Four very preterm infants with intraventricular haemorrhage grade III (n = 3) or intraventricular haemorrhage with apparent periventricular haemorrhagic infarction (n = 1) were diagnosed with CS GMs at 33 to 35 weeks postmenstrual age. A few days later MIT-PB [Movement Imitation Therapy for Preterm Babies], an early intervention programme, was commenced: the instant an infant showed CS movements, the therapist intervened by gently guiding the infant’s limbs so as to manoeuvre and smoothen the movements, thereby imitating normal GM sequences as closely as possible (at least for 10 min, 5 times a day, with increasing frequency over a period of 10 to 12 weeks). After a period of consistent CS GMs, the movements improved. At 14 weeks postterm age, the age specific GM pattern, fidgety movements, were normal in three infants, one infant had abnormal fidgety movements. At preschool age, all participants had a normal neurodevelopmental outcome. This report on four cases demonstrates that mimicking normal and variable GM sequences might have a positive cascading effect on neurodevelopment. The results need to be interpreted with caution and replication studies on larger samples are warranted. Nonetheless, this innovative approach may represent a first step into a new intervention strategy.
‘A German Whore and no Money at that’: Insanity and the Moral and Political Economies of German South West Africa
Authors: Fumanti Mattia
Published: November 2019

While the links between colonial psychiatry and racism figure prominently in histories of the diagnosis, treatment and institutionalisation of the mentally ill in Africa, there is an absence of patient-centred accounts, in the analysis of the efforts of the colonial-era subjects themselves to be pro-active not merely as the mentally ill, by clinical or court definition, but as persons embedded in social relationships with their kin and significant others. Moreover, despite an emerging scholarship, little is known of the experience of European settlers. In this respect there is a need for a more balanced representation, one that shows the ambivalence of colonial psychiatry and its reach into the lives of colonial subjects, Africans and Europeans alike. In this paper I focus on the narratives of a settler in German South West Africa and her efforts to escape diagnosis and institutionalisation. In building on a feminist approach to illness narratives, in particular on the idea of bearing empathic witness, I will explore the ways in which illness narratives can reveal the complex moral and political economies of the colonial world.
Evidence runs contrary to digestive stability predicting protein allergenicity
Authors: Herman Rod A. , Roper Jason M. , Zhang John X. Q.
Published: November 2019

A dogma has persisted for over two decades that food allergens are more stable to digestion compared with non-allergenic proteins. This belief has become enshrined in regulations designed to assess the allergenic risk of novel food proteins. While the empirical evidence accumulated over the last 20+ years has largely failed to confirm a correlation between digestive stability and the allergenic status of proteins, even those who accept this finding often assert that this shortfall is the result of faulty assay design rather than lack of causality. Here, we outline why digestive stability may not in fact correlate with allergenic potential.
Refractive Two-View Reconstruction for Underwater 3D Vision
Authors: Chadebecq François , Vasconcelos Francisco , Lacher René , Maneas Efthymios , Desjardins Adrien , Ourselin Sébastien , Vercauteren Tom , Stoyanov Danail
Published: November 2019

Recovering 3D geometry from cameras in underwater applications involves the Refractive Structure-from-Motion problem where the non-linear distortion of light induced by a change of medium density invalidates the single viewpoint assumption. The pinhole-plus-distortion camera projection model suffers from a systematic geometric bias since refractive distortion depends on object distance. This leads to inaccurate camera pose and 3D shape estimation. To account for refraction, it is possible to use the axial camera model or to explicitly consider one or multiple parallel refractive interfaces whose orientations and positions with respect to the camera can be calibrated. Although it has been demonstrated that the refractive camera model is well-suited for underwater imaging, Refractive Structure-from-Motion remains particularly difficult to use in practice when considering the seldom studied case of a camera with a flat refractive interface. Our method applies to the case of underwater imaging systems whose entrance lens is in direct contact with the external medium. By adopting the refractive camera model, we provide a succinct derivation and expression for the refractive fundamental matrix and use this as the basis for a novel two-view reconstruction method for underwater imaging. For validation we use synthetic data to show the numerical properties of our method and we provide results on real data to demonstrate its practical application within laboratory settings and for medical applications in fluid-immersed endoscopy. We demonstrate our approach outperforms classic two-view Structure-from-Motion method relying on the pinhole-plus-distortion camera model.
Life cycle assessment of California processing tomato: an evaluation of the effects of evolving practices and technologies over a 10-year (2005–2015) timeframe
Authors: Winans Kiara , Brodt Sonja , Kendall Alissa
Published: November 2019

Purpose

California is the largest US producer of processing tomatoes, generating 96% of all domestic production and nearly 30% of global supply. Processing tomatoes are mostly processed into diced and paste products. Consumers and actors along their supply chains are increasingly interested in understanding their environmental burdens and identifying opportunities for improvements. This study applies life cycle assessment (LCA) to California diced and paste products over a 10-year timeframe to characterize current impacts and historical trends.

Methods

The LCA considers a scope from cradle-to-processing facility gate and accords with relevant Product Category Rules as published by the International EPD® System. Extensive primary data were collected for tomato cultivation for the years 2005 and 2015, and from processing facilities for 2005, 2010, and 2015 to understand the effects of evolving practices and technologies. We estimate crop and regional specific nitrous oxide and nitrate leaching emissions using a biogeochemical model, and the USES-LCA model is used to determine potential impacts from pesticide application. A suite of impact assessment categories is included based on the CML method (only global warming potential and freshwater consumption values are in the abstract).

Results and discussion

The 2015 results of the study indicate that diced tomatoes are responsible for 0.16 kg CO2e and 71 L of freshwater per kg, and paste is responsible for 0.83 kg CO2e and 328 L of freshwater per kg. The main opportunities for improvement include natural gas use in the greenhouse phase, energy for irrigation pumping and fertilizer type in the cultivation phase, and natural gas and electricity use in the facility processing phase. These hotspots are consistent with studies of processing tomato in other parts of the world. Evaluating trends over time showed that technological improvements in the industry had reduced life cycle impacts; for example, global warming potential decreased by 12% for paste and 26% for diced products between 2005 and 2015.

Conclusions

Trends over time show increasing efficiency at the cultivation and processing facility stages that have led to reductions in all impact categories evaluated. However, additional opportunities exist beyond efficiency improvements. Fertilizer and pesticide choice are potential opportunities for further reducing impacts. Also, the introduction of renewables in each phase of the supply chain (solar-powered irrigation pumps and onsite solar energy generation for facilities) could reduce the overall supply chain GWP100 impacts by 9–10%.
Pancreas Transplantation from Donors after Circulatory Death: an Irrational Reluctance?
Authors: Leemkuil M. , Leuvenink H. G. D. , Pol R. A.
Published: November 2019

Purpose of Review

Beta-cell replacement is the best therapeutic option for patients with type 1 diabetes. Because of donor scarcity, more extended criteria donors are used for transplantation. Donation after circulatory death donors (DCD) are not commonly used for pancreas transplantation, because of the supposed higher risk of complications. This review gives an overview on the pathophysiology, risk factors, and outcome in DCD transplantation and discusses different preservation methods.

Recent Findings

Studies on outcomes of DCD pancreata show similar results compared with those of donation after brain death (DBD), when accumulation of other risk factors is avoided. Hypothermic machine perfusion is shown to be a safe method to improve graft viability in experimental settings.

DCD should not be the sole reason to decline a pancreas for transplantation. Adequate donor selection and improved preservation techniques can lead to enhanced pancreas utilization and outcome.
Pregnancy History, Hypertension, and Cognitive Impairment in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Miller Kathleen B. , Miller Virginia M. , Barnes Jill N.
Published: November 2019

Purpose of Review

Risks for developing cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline increase with age. In women, these risks may be influenced by pregnancy history. This review provides an integrated evaluation of associations of pregnancy history with hypertension, brain atrophy, and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women.

Recent Findings

Atrophy in the occipital lobes of the brain was evident in women who had current hypertension and a history of preeclampsia. Deficits in visual memory in women with a history of preeclampsia are consistent with these brain structural changes. The blood velocity response to chemical and sympathoexcitatory stimuli were altered in women with a history of preeclampsia linking impairments in cerebrovascular regulation to the structural and functional changes in the brain.

Having a history of preeclampsia should require close monitoring of blood pressure and initiation of anti-hypertensive treatment in perimenopausal women. Mechanisms by which preeclampsia affects cerebrovascular structure and function require additional study.
Tectonic control over drainage basin of South Andaman Island: study toward hydro-morphometric analysis
Authors: Ghosh Swati , Paul Ashis Kr.
Published: November 2019

Scientists and researchers in ancient and modern times have profoundly applied morphometric analysis to evaluate quantitative description of landforms or drainage basins and large regions.
The objective of this study is to enlighten certain features like tectonic control over drainage basin, the hydro-geomorphic characteristics of the drainage system and the geomorphic maturity of terrain of South Andaman Island. After extensive studies, drainage system in this particular island is broadly classified into five major drainage patterns (dendritic, trellis, parallel, radial and centripetal). An attempt has been made here to investigate the in-depth morphometric characteristics of dendritic pattern of a fourth-order watershed. In earlier attempts, researchers have used morphometric analysis to calculate stream ordering, stream length, length ratio and bifurcation ratio as part of linear aspects and drainage density, stream frequency, form factor, circulatory ratio, elongated ratio as part of areal aspects. The present case study has been carried out in remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) environment. Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission data has been used to prepare the digital elevation model and GIS to evaluate all linear, areal and relief aspects of this small drainage basin in South Andaman Island which was never unearthed till date.
Association between biochemical control and comorbidities in patients with acromegaly: an Italian longitudinal retrospective chart review study
Authors: Colao A. , Grasso L. F. S. , Di Cera M. , Thompson-Leduc P. , Cheng W. Y. , Cheung H. C. , Duh M. S. , Neary M. P. , Pedroncelli A. M. , Maamari R. , Pivonello R.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Achieving biochemical control (normalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] and growth hormone [GH]) is a key goal in acromegaly management. However, IGF-1 and GH fluctuate over time. The true potential impact of time-varying biochemical control status on comorbidities is unclear and relies on multiple, longitudinal IGF-1 and GH measurements. This study assessed the association between time-varying biochemical control status and onset of selected comorbidities in patients with acromegaly.

Methods

Medical charts of adults with confirmed acromegaly and ≥ 6 months of follow-up at an Italian endocrinology center were reviewed. Patients were followed from the first diagnosis of acromegaly at the center until loss to follow-up, chart abstraction, or death. Biochemical control status was assessed annually and defined as IGF-1 ≤ the upper limit of normal, or GH ≤ 2.5 µg/L in the few cases where IGF-1 was unavailable. Time-varying Cox models were used to assess the association between biochemical control status and comorbidities.

Results

Among 150 patients, 47% were female, average age at diagnosis was 43.1, and mean length of follow-up was 10.4 years. Biochemical control was significantly associated with a lower hazard of diabetes (HR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.15; 0.83) and cardiovascular system disorders (HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.31; 0.93), and a higher hazard of certain types of arthropathy (HR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.04; 2.71); associations for other comorbidities did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

Results further support the importance of achieving biochemical control, as this may reduce the risk of high-burden conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular system disorders. The association for arthropathy suggests irreversibility of this impairment. Due to limitations, caution is required when interpreting these results.
Prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment among diverse Hispanics/Latinos: Study of Latinos‐Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging results
Authors: González Hector M. , Tarraf Wassim , Schneiderman Neil , Fornage Myriam , Vásquez Priscilla M. , Zeng Donglin , Youngblood Marston , Gallo Linda C. , Daviglus Martha L. , Lipton Richard B. , Kaplan Robert , Ramos Alberto R. , Lamar Melissa , Thomas Sonia , Chai Albert , DeCarli Charles
Published: November 2019

Introduction

We estimated the prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among middle‐aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos.

Methods

Middle‐aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos enrolled (n = 6377; 50–86 years) in this multisite prospective cohort study were evaluated for MCI using the National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer's Association diagnostic criteria.

Results

The overall MCI prevalence was 9.8%, which varied between Hispanic/Latino groups. Older age, high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and elevated depressive symptoms were significant correlates of MCI prevalence. Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE) and APOE2 were not significantly associated with MCI.

Discussion

MCI prevalence varied among Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, but not as widely as reported in the previous studies. CVD risk and depressive symptoms were associated with increased MCI, whereas APOE4 was not, suggesting alternative etiologies for MCI among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. Our findings suggest that mitigating CVD risk factors may offer important pathways to understanding and reducing MCI and possibly dementia among diverse Hispanics/Latinos.
A Different Trajectory: Market-Consciousness in Chinese Political Economy, 800–1800
Authors: Dunstan Helen
Published: November 2019

This article engages critically with William Rowe's notion of an “alternative economic discourse” linking the market-consciousness shown in some aspects of Dong Wei's approach to famine relief in the Song dynasty to that which informed many subsistence-policy discussions and some aspects of bureaucratic practice during the high Qing. The longevity of the discursive tradition is shown to be understated if we start with Dong Wei, but it is also taken as an interpretative challenge. Comparison with the case ofancien régimeFrance is used to suggest an alternative conceptualization that enables us to differentiate between (1) a mainstream tradition of conventionally accepted market-conscious prescriptions that were not perceived as challenging Confucian moralism, and (2)avant-gardedepartures. A review of the arguments used down the centuries to justify distributing famine relief in monetary form is used to pinpoint one such departure and to reflect on its significance in a multi-century perspective.
Can Economic Assistance Shape Combatant Support in Wartime? Experimental Evidence from Afghanistan
Authors: LYALL JASON , ZHOU YANG-YANG , IMAI KOSUKE
Published: November 2019

Governments, militaries, and aid organizations all rely on economic interventions to shape civilian attitudes toward combatants during wartime. We have, however, little individual-level evidence that these “hearts and minds” programs actually influence combatant support. We address this problem by conducting a factorial randomized control trial of two common interventions—vocational training and cash transfers—on combatant support among 2,597 at-risk youth in Kandahar, Afghanistan. We find that training only improved economic livelihoods modestly and had little effect on combatant support. Cash failed to lift incomes, producing a boom-and-bust dynamic in which pro-government sentiment initially spiked and then quickly reversed itself, leaving a residue of increased Taliban support. Conditional on training, cash failed to improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods but did increase support for the Afghan government for at least eight months after the intervention. These findings suggest that aid affects attitudes by providing information about government resolve and competence rather than by improving economic livelihoods.
Less Popular but More Effective Toeholds in Corporate Takeovers
Authors: Dai Yun , Gryglewicz Sebastian , Smit Han T. J.
Published: November 2019

Despite their claimed advantages, toehold strategies have rarely been adopted in recent corporate takeovers and do not seem to increase acquirer returns. Are toeholds ineffective and becoming obsolete? We show that this is not the case. We find that toeholds are preferred for executing difficult takeovers. After controlling for such endogeneity in toehold-based acquisitions, toeholds do increase returns to acquirers. Moreover, the performance of toehold strategies improves over time due to more selective and more effective acquisition of toeholds. We find that this time trend is in part explained by learning from past toehold acquisitions.
Bacterial feeding nematodes ingest haemocytes in the haemocoel of the insectGalleria mellonella
Authors: Ono Masaya , Hayakawa Yoichi , Yoshiga Toyoshi
Published: November 2019

Insect parasitic nematodes have acquired mechanisms to evade their host immune response for successful parasitism. Despite the importance of understanding of the evolution of evasion mechanisms from host immunity, insect immune response against non-parasitic nematodes has not been well studied. In our previous study, we demonstrated that a non-insect parasitic nematodeCaenorhabditis eleganswas not encapsulated by haemocytes in the larvae of the greater wax mothGalleria mellonella. To understand how nematodes influence insect haemocytes to escape encapsulation, we examined the effect ofC. eleganson haemocytes in the haemocoel ofG. mellonellalarvae. Injection of nematodes resulted in the decrease of haemocyte density while mortality and spreading ability of haemocytes, the haematopoietic organs were not affected.In vitroco-incubation of haemocytes with nematodes resulted in a decrease of haemocyte density and we observed feeding on haemocytes by nematodes. Injection ofC. elegansfeeding-delay mutants into insects did not cause the decrease of haemocyte density. The decrease of haemocyte density was due to the nematode's ingestion of haemocytes. Furthermore, an entomopathogenic nematode and other bacterial feeding nematodes also showed similar feeding behaviour. The nematode's ability to feed on haemocytes may have played an important role in the evolution of nematode parasitism in bacterial-feeding nematodes.
A continent of and for whiteness?: “White” colonialism and the 1959 Antarctic Treaty
Authors: Mancilla Alejandra
Published: November 2019

There are at least four ways in which Antarctic colonialism was white: it was paradigmatically performed by white men; it consisted in the taking of vast, white expanses of land; it was carried out with acarte blanche(literally, “blank card”) attitude; and it was presented to the world as a white, innocent adventure. While the first, racial whiteness has been amply problematised, I suggest that the last three illuminate yet other moral wrongs of the Antarctic colonial project. Moreover, they might be constitutive of a larger class of “white” colonialisms beyond the White Continent.
Grey Wolf Optimization-Based Second Order Sliding Mode Control for Inchworm Robot
Authors: Roy Rupam Gupta , Ghoshal Dibyendu
Published: November 2019

The flexible motion of the inchworm makes the locomotion mechanism as the prominent one than other limbless animals. Recently, the application of engineering greatly assists the inchworm locomotion to be applicable in the robotic mechanism. Due to the outstanding robustness, sliding mode control (SMC) has been validated as a robust control strategy for diverse types of systems. Even though the SMC techniques have made numerous achievements in several fields, some systems cannot be comfortably accepted as the general SMC approaches. Accordingly, this paper develops the Grey Wolf-Second order sliding mode control (GW-SoSMC) to control the manipulator of the inchworm robot. The GW-SoSMC reduces the chattering phenomenon of SMC and improves the controlling ability of SoSMC by weightage function. Subsequently, it compares the performance of the proposed method with several conventional techniques like Grey Wolf-SMC (GW-SMC), FireFly-SoSMC (FF-SoSMC), Artificial Bee Colony-SoSMC (ABC-SoSMC), Group Searching-SoSMC (GS-SoSMC), and Genetic Algorithm-SoSMC (GA-SoSMC). It portrays the valuable comparative analysis by measuring the accomplished joint angles, error, and response of the controller. Thus the proposed method discovers the supervisory controller for the inchworm robot that is immensely better than conventional controllers mentioned earlier.
Strategic investment in tuberculosis control in the Republic of Bulgaria
Authors: Doan T. N. , Varleva T. , Zamfirova M. , Tyufekchieva M. , Keshelava A. , Hristov K. , Yaneva A. , Gadzheva B. , Zhang S. , Irbe S. , Ragonnet R. , McBryde E. S. , Trauer J. M.
Published: November 2019

As Bulgaria transitions away from Global Fund grant, robust estimates of the comparative impact of the various response strategies under consideration are needed to ensure sustained effectiveness of the tuberculosis (TB) programme. We tailored an established mathematical model for TB control to the epidemic in Bulgaria to project the likely outcomes of seven intervention scenarios. Under existing programmatic conditions projected forward, the country's targets for achieving TB elimination in the coming decades will not be achieved. No interventions under consideration were predicted to accelerate the baseline projected reduction in epidemiological indicators significantly. Discontinuation of the ‘Open Doors’ program and activities of non-governmental organisations would result in a marked exacerbation of the epidemic (increasing incidence in 2035 by 6–8% relative to baseline conditions projected forward). Changing to a short course regimen for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) would substantially decrease MDR-TB mortality (by 21.6% in 2035 relative to baseline conditions projected forward). Changing to ambulatory care for eligible patients would not affect TB burden but would be markedly cost-saving. In conclusion, Bulgaria faces important challenges in transitioning to a primarily domestically-financed TB programme. The country should consider maintaining currently effective programs and shifting towards ambulatory care to ensure program sustainability.
Utility of expert focused cardiac ultrasound in paediatric cardiology outreach clinics
Authors: Rauser-Foltz Kristina K. , Danford David A. , Strawn Jennifer K. , Kutty Shelby
Published: November 2019

Objective:

This prospective observational study evaluates the utility of expert focused cardiac ultrasound (eFCU) with spectral Doppler to inform decision making in established patients with specific, selected congenital cardiac defects in outreach clinics. Secondary objectives include determining if the addition of eFCU expands capacity in paediatric cardiology outreach clinics and if it improves the patient experience.

Methods:

Patients aged 2 months to 19 years old with a diagnosis of ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, aortic valve stenosis, or pulmonary valve stenosis with the need for follow-up echocardiography in an outreach clinic from August 2017 to June 2018 were studied. A novel assessment tool was used to determine the success of eFCU.

Results:

Forty-two patients from 11 clinics underwent eFCU with one unsuccessful exam making the failure rate 2.3% (95% CI 0.0006–0.1256). Addition of eFCU led to a significant increase in volume of patients able to be seen 19 versus 15.5 (p < 0.01). A majority of parents/patients reported a positive experience with eFCU.

Conclusion:

Expert focused cardiac ultrasound with spectral Doppler can be used successfully for follow-up in patients with select CHD and the addition of eFCU permits increased patient capacity in outreach clinics and has the potential to improve the patient experience.
Transitional justice in postwar Austria
Authors: Braumann Céline
Published: November 2019

Austria's post-World War II transition from two consecutive, abusive regimes (the Austro-fascist and the Nazi regime) to a functioning democracy has not yet been thoroughly assessed through the lens of transitional justice. An evaluation of what could now be dubbed transitional-justice measures shows that Austria was reluctant in accepting its collective responsibility vis-à-vis the victims of World War II. Another defining factor of Austria's transition is that it never encouraged the surviving victims of the Nazi regime to return. An appraisal of Austria's transition in light of the two final ends of transitional justice, namely democracy and reconciliation, culminates in two conclusions: first, Austria attained the goal of democracy but failed with reconciliation; second, the current model of transitional justice is ill-equipped to assess the non-linear course of long-past transitions.
Why achieving gender equality is of fundamental importance to improve the health and well-being of future generations: a DOHaD perspective
Authors: Roseboom Tessa J.
Published: November 2019

Despite progress in gender equality, women continue to be disadvantaged compared with men. Worldwide, women are more often confronted with poverty, violence, and mental health problems, and they have less access to food and education. All these factors do not only affect women themselves, but also have a negative impact on the child’s early environment and impair its early development, thereby reducing the health and well-being of future generations. Framing gender equality as a women’s issue fails to highlight the importance of gender equality for the health and well-being of the next generation. As a scientific community investigating early human development and health, we have failed to fully recognize and underscore the importance of gender equality in achieving the best possible start for every child. If women and men had equal rights and opportunities, their children would be more likely to reach their full potential which would improve the health and well-being of future generations. Our studies and interventions have not fully taken into account the complexity of gender inequality and women’s disadvantaged positions in society. We need better insight into the complex adaptive interactions between various societal and human factors contributing to gender inequality and find approaches that take this complexity into account. If we want DOHaD science to have societal impact, we should strive beyond gender equality for gender equity and help women achieve equal rights and opportunities. We need to work with public health professionals, human rights activists, and policymakers to gauge the importance of gender equality. After all, gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but also a necessary foundation for healthier future generations.
The association between birthweight and grandparental type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in a multiethnic population
Authors: Kjøllesdal Marte , Jenum Anne Karen , Næss Øyvind , Sletner Line
Published: November 2019

Intergenerational links of chronic disease have been suggested, as birthweight (BW) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in both parents and grandparents. However, most studies investigating these relationships have used relatively homogenous, white, majority populations. This study aimed to investigate the association between BW and CVD and T2D in a multiethnic population, that is, where the parents and grandparents often developed in a different environment from that where the child was born. Participants were women from a population-based cohort study of pregnant women (STORK Groruddalen), attending Child Health Clinics for antenatal care in three administrative city districts in Oslo, Norway, 2008–2010. Information about socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were collected among mothers and fathers. Parents reported history of CVD or T2D among grandparents. In logistic regressions, higher BW z-scores were associated with lower odds of T2D among maternal (OR 0.71 (95% CI 0.53, 0.97) and paternal (0.68 (0.49, 0.94) grandmothers after adjustments for parental and grandmothers’ characteristics. BW was not associated with CVD, but the association in maternal grandfathers was borderline significant. Our results indicate intergenerational transmission of chronic diseases like T2D in a multiethnic population.
Geocoronal Hydrogen Emission Variation Over Two Solar Cycles
Authors: Nossal S. M. , Mierkiewicz E. J. , Roesler F. L. , Woodward R. C. , Gardner D. D. , Haffner L. M.
Published: November 2019

Ground‐based hydrogen Balmer‐α observations from Northern midlatitudes span multiple solar cycles, facilitating investigation of decadal scale variations, including natural variability in the hydrogen response to solar geophysical changes. Here we present a reanalysis of ground‐based hydrogen emission observations from the early 1990s and their comparison with observations obtained in 2000–2001 in the context of the extended Northern Hemisphere midlatitude geocoronal hydrogen emission data set. This work suggests an increase in hydrogen emission intensity between the solar‐maximum period of 1990–1991 (Solar Cycle 22) and the near‐solar‐maximum period of 2000–2001 (Solar Cycle 23), with the caveat that this is a limited data set and that there are calibration uncertainties discussed in this paper. Solar activity was higher during the earlier solar maximum period. Thus, the apparent increase in intensity is counter to previous observations from midlatitudes in which the observed intensity increases with higher solar activity. This increase was also not seen in comparison of intensities from three solar minima periods. Further, the apparent increase in intensity is also likely of larger magnitude than model simulations would predict due to increases in methane and carbon dioxide. We will discuss the reanalysis and recalibration of the 1990–1991 observations using current analysis approaches and the interpretation of these observations in the context of observations and modeling of hydrogen variation over different time scales. The detailed review of the calibration procedures has also provided insights to guide design of future observations.
Spatiotemporal Observations of Wave Dispersion Within Sea Ice Using Sentinel‐1 SAR TOPS Mode
Authors: Monteban Dennis , Johnsen Harald , Lubbad Raed
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we derive the dispersion relation for waves within ice‐covered waters from the Sentinel‐1 Interferometric Wide swath mode by using an innovative new implementation of the method proposed by Johnsen and Collard (2009). We apply this method to the spatial burst overlap area that is present due to the terrain observations with progressive scans (TOPS) technique. The advantage of this implementation is the use of a larger time separation between subsequent images that results in a less noisy and higher‐quality imaginary spectrum, which allows us to obtain spatiotemporal information of the dispersion relation. We studied seven wave events in the Barents Sea, where we have accompanying in situ data of sea currents and sea ice draft, available from the Barents Sea Metocean and Ice Network measurement program. Having simultaneous data on the currents is a significant improvement over previous studies and allows us to quantify these data's influence on the dispersion relation. The derived dispersion relation from Sentinel‐1 is derived for long waves propagating through icy waters (peak wavelengths 100–350 m), and it does not deviate from the theoretical open‐water dispersion relation. At present, however, the spatial resolution of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is too coarse and does not enable the study of the dispersion relation for short waves within sea ice.
Twenty‐Year Variations in Satellite‐Derived Chlorophyll‐a and Phytoplankton Size in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea
Authors: Sun Xuerong , Shen Fang , Brewin Robert J.W. , Liu Dongyan , Tang Rugang
Published: November 2019

Phytoplankton cell size is a useful ecological indicator for evaluating the response of phytoplankton community structure to environmental changes. Ocean‐color remote observations and algorithms have allowed us to estimate phytoplankton size classes (PSCs) at decadal scale, helping us to understand their trends under ocean warming. Here a large data set of pigments, derived through high performance liquid chromatography, was collected in the Bohai Sea (BS) and Yellow Sea (YS) between 2014 and 2016. The data set was used to reparametrize the sea surface temperature (SST)‐dependent three‐component model of Brewin et al. (2017) to the region. The model was validated using independent in situ data set and subsequently applied to satellite chlorophyll‐a data from Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative, spanning from 1997 to 2016, to derive percentages of three PSCs to total chlorophyll‐a. Monthly‐averaged PSCs exhibited spatial‐temporal variations in the study area, linked to topography, temperature, solar radiation, currents, and monsoonal winds. In the surface central south Yellow Sea (SYS), influenced by bottom Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass, tight relationships between PSCs and environmental factors were observed, where high SST, high sea level anomaly, low mixed‐layer depth, and low wind speed resulted in higher proportions of nanoplankton and picoplankton from June to October. Significant interannual anomlies in PSCs were found associated with El Niño events in the central SYS, related to anomalies in SST. The refined model characterized 20‐year variations in chlorophyll‐a concentration and PSCs in complicated optical, hydrodynamic, and biogeochemical environments in the BS and YS.