bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Handling ecological problems in gaga rice cultivating through mantra darmawarsa of Merapi-Merbabu
Authors: Anjani A , Suparta I M
Published: September 2019

Darmawarsa text (L 329) is one of Merapi-Merbabu manuscripts tradition which currently is stored in The National Library, Jakarta. The text is written in “Buddha” script with an Old Javanese language. Darmawarsa has its meaning of goodness or virtue of the rain, which comes from two words namely dharma for obligation or virtue, and warsa for the year of the rain. The content of Darmawarsa text is about the mantra (spell) to summon and stop the rain that’s related to irrigating gaga rice cultivation which is known in the agricultural culture of Java. The methods applied to examine the text is textual criticism and ecological-religious approach. The results of the research are: (1) Gaga rice cultivation is an ancient method of planting rice that can be done in hilly land contour such as the slope of Merbabu mountains, (2) the peasant community has solved problems on the unstable of ecological conditions based on mantra (rain summoning spells) which theologically as part of their religious-cultural life, and (3) philologically, Darmawarsa text is a documentation of agricultural tradition of the past in dealing with environmental (ecological) problems by including local wisdom.
Bridging cassava to community: simple practices of connecting research - industry - community for sustainable food system
Authors: Khumaida N , Ardie SW , Purwanto YA
Published: September 2019

Indonesia is one of the third largest world cassava producers, however, Indonesia was still importing cassava to meet domestic demand. Indonesia utilizes cassava for food and feed, while the use of cassava for bio-energy is also emerging. To support the high cassava demand, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) is actively involved in the cassava development program. The multidisciplinary research activities in the university include breeding, ecophysiology, plant biotechnology, pest and disease management, also agricultural engineering. Designing research based on the industry- and community-demand is as important as delivering the research results to its users. Starting in 2017, the cassava research team in IPB implement simple practices to gain insights into market demand on cassava products and to deliver research results to the market. Through a Technology Based Pre-Enterprise Program, we introduce a one stop shopping concept for cassava based products and technologies to the industry and community with the brand name of Catalyst - Cassava Life Style. However, collaboration from various stakeholders is needed to realize the added value of cassava in Indonesia.
The dinoflagellate causing ciguatera fish poisoning, Prorocentrum lima, in Karimunjawa island waters - Central Java
Authors: Widiarti R , Zamani NP , Bengen DG , Madduppa H
Published: September 2019

Prorocentrum lima is one of the microalgae species in Dinoflagellates group, which could cause Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) syndrome. P. lima commonly found it attached to various kind of macroalgae species and could cause human poisoning through biomagnification process in the food chain. Research on the abundance of P. lima and the environmental factors influences had been conducted in Karimunjawa Island, on 24 August 2018, and the objective of the research is to analyze the P. lima distributions in Karimunjawa waters, based on the cells abundance and environmental factors. The research was carried out by collecting macroalgae Padina and Sargassum at four stations, in the reef flat of Karimunjawa Island. Macroalgae were put inside plastic bottles and vigorously shaken by vortex (12500 rpm, 1 minute). Water samples separated from the macroalgae, filtered through a series of sieves, and then observed under a light microscope. The environmental factors are analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results showed a high abundance of P. lima found at Station 1 (Tanjung Gelam beach), which are 266 cells/ml on Padina and 210 cells/ml on Sargassum. Based on PCA analysis, Station 1 was characterized by water current, light intensity, phosphate, and depth. Those environmental factors should support the higher abundance of P. lima cells at the station.
A review on perovskite lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3), its properties and applications
Authors: Rizwan Muhammad , Gul Samina , Iqbal Tahir , Mushtaq Uzma , Farooq M Hassan , Farman Muhammad , Bibi Rabia , Ijaz Mohsin
Published: September 2019

An introduction to perovskites along with their structure and properties are discussed. Lanthanum Aluminate (LaAlO3) compound, its phase transition from cubic to rhombohedral, chemical bonding, the electronic structure and the optical properties are argued in this review. The generalized gradient approximation by using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave is discussed. Other analysis methods are also discussed. The analysis of the bond population and the electronic density profile gives the nature of both ionic and covalent bonds. Moreover, dielectric function which is calculated is in full agreement with the experimental data. The spectrum of electron energy-loss, refractive index, conductivity, absorption spectrum and the reflectivity are easily obtained from a calculated dielectric function. The 6.1 eV optical band gap is exhibited by the absorption spectrum which agrees with some other experimental calculations. Importance of a perovskite type compounds cannot be denied. Different applications are also described in this paper.
Mechanotransduction and Uterine Blood Flow in Preeclampsia: The Role of Mechanosensing Piezo 1 Ion Channels
Authors: Arishe Olufunke O , Ebeigbe Anthony B , Webb R Clinton
Published: September 2019

There is a large increase in uterine arterial blood flow during normal pregnancy. Structural and cellular adjustments occur in the uterine vasculature during pregnancy to accommodate this increased blood flow through a complex adaptive process that is dependent on multiple coordinated and interactive influences and this process is known as “vascular remodeling.” The etiology of preeclampsia involves aberrant placentation and vascular remodeling leading to reduced uteroplacental perfusion. The placental ischemia leads to development of hypertension and proteinuria in the mother, intrauterine growth restriction, and perinatal death in the fetus. However, the underlying source of the deficient vascular remodeling and the subsequent development of preeclampsia remain to be fully understood. Mechanoreceptors in the vascular system convert mechanical force (shear stress) to biochemical signals and feedback mechanisms. This review focuses on the Piezo 1 channel, a mechanosensitive channel that is sensitive to shear stress in the endothelium; it induces Ca2+ entry which is linked to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation as the mechanoreceptor responsible for uterine vascular dilatation during pregnancy. Here we describe the downstream signaling pathways involved in this process and the possibility of a deficiency in expression of Piezo 1 in preeclampsia leading to the abnormal vascular dysfunction responsible for the pathophysiology of the disease. The Piezo 1 ion channel is expressed in the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of small-diameter arteries. It plays a role in the structural remodeling of arteries and is involved in mechanotransduction of hemodynamic shear stress by endothelial cells (ECs).
How to govern the digital transformation of health services
Authors: Ricciardi Walter , Pita Barros Pedro , Bourek Aleš , Brouwer Werner , Kelsey Tim , Lehtonen Lasse ,   Expert Panel on Effective Ways of Investing in Health (EXPH), Anastasy Christian , Barros Pedro , Barry Margaret , Bourek Aleš , Brouwer Werner , De Maeseneer Jan , Kringos Dionne , Lehtonen Lasse , McKee Martin , Murauskiene Liubove , Nuti Sabina , Ricciardi Walter , Siciliani Luigi , Wild Claudia
Published: September 2019

The impact of digitalization of health services has been profound and is expected to be even more profound in the future. It is important to evaluate whether digital health services contribute to health system goals in an optimal way. This should be done at the level of the service, not the ‘digital transformation’. Decisions to adopt new digital health services, at different levels of the health care system, are ideally based on evidence regarding their performance in light of health system goals.

In order to evaluate this, a broad perspective should be taken in evaluations of digital health services. Attainment of the broad health system goals, including quality, efficiency and equity, are objectives against which to judge new digital health services. These goals in a broad sense are unaltered by the process of digitalization. Governance should be designed and tailored in such a way to capture all relevant changes in an adequate way.

When evaluating digital health services many specific aspects need to be considered.

Like for other innovations and (new) technologies, such promises may or may not materialize and potential benefits may also be accompanied by unintended and/or negative (side) effects in the short or long term. Hence, the introduction, implementation, use and funding of digital health technologies should be carefully evaluated and monitored.

Governments should play a more active role in the further optimization both of the process of decision making (both at the central and decentral level) and the related outcomes. They need to find a balance between centralized and decentralized activity. Moreover, the broader preparation of the health care system to be able to deal with digitalization, from education, through financial and regulatory preconditions, to implementation of monitoring systems to monitor its effects on health system performance remains important.
Distribution patterns of fungal taxa and inferred functional traits reflect the non-uniform vertical stratification of soil microhabitats in a coastal pine forest
Authors: Kluting Kerri , Clemmensen Karina , Jonaitis Stanislovas , Vasaitis Rimvydas , Holmström Sara , Finlay Roger , Rosling Anna
Published: September 2019

In boreal systems, soil profiles typically consist of distinct stratified horizons, with organic layers at the surface overlying deeper mineral horizons providing microhabitat variation along a depth gradient, and vertical stratification of fungal communities along such soil profiles is commonly observed. We studied fungal community structure in a coastal pine forest along a gradient of decreasing influence from the coast. In this system, the vertical stratification pattern of soil microhabitats (defined here as organic, mineral with roots and mineral without roots: O, MR and MN, respectively) is non-uniform; organic horizons are sometimes buried under drifting sand dunes. Our results show that soil microhabitats are distinct with respect to physiochemical characteristics, community composition and OTU richness. While community composition was partly related to depth and distance from the coastal forest edge, microhabitat appeared to have the strongest influence. A closer inspection of the OTUs with the highest relative sequence abundance within each microhabitat revealed that microhabitats support functionally distinct fungal communities with respect to trophic mode and growth morphology. These results suggest that in coastal pine forests, variation in soil microhabitats contributes to the high fungal diversity found belowground and may play an important role in optimizing nutrient cycling.
Large presacral abscess in a patient with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Wang Jing , Ng Matthew , Kochar Kunal
Published: September 2019

A presacral abscess with sacral osteomyelitis and gluteal abscesses is a very rare complication of Crohn’s disease and is often clinically unsuspected or overlooked. We report a case of a 58-year-old male who presented for right hip pain after a fall. An abdominal and pelvic CT scan showed an atypical presacral abscess with a fistulizing tract extending through the sciatic notch and lateral to the gluteus medius and minimus muscles forming an intramuscular abscess. The endoscopic transanal approach was used to drain the presacral abscess. This method of drainage was successful and the patient had a favorable prognosis.
Simulating cosmological substructure in the solar neighbourhood
Authors: Simpson Christine M , Gargiulo Ignacio , Gómez Facundo A , Grand Robert J J , Maffione Nicolás , Cooper Andrew P , Deason Alis J , Frenk Carlos , Helly John , Marinacci Federico , Pakmor Rüdiger
Published: September 2019

We explore the predictive power of cosmological, hydrodynamical simulations for stellar phase-space substructure and velocity correlations with the auriga simulations and aurigaia mock Gaia catalogues. We show that at the solar circle the auriga simulations commonly host phase-space structures in the stellar component that have constant orbital energies and arise from accreted subhaloes. These structures can persist for a few Gyr, even after coherent streams in position space have been erased. We also explore velocity two-point correlation functions and find this diagnostic is not deterministic for particular clustering patterns in phase space. Finally, we explore these structure diagnostics with the aurigaia catalogues and show that current catalogues have the ability to recover some structures in phase space but careful consideration is required to separate physical structures from numerical structures arising from catalogue generation methods.
Development and Evaluation of a Preoperative Trigeminal Neuralgia Scoring System to Predict Long-Term Outcome Following Microvascular Decompression
Authors: Panczykowski David M , Jani Ronak H , Hughes Marion A , Sekula Raymond F
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

Microvascular decompression (MVD) can be an effective intervention for trigeminal neuralgia (TN); however, an optimal system for patient selection and surgical outcome prediction has not been defined.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a preoperative TN grading system for the prediction of long-term pain relief after MVD.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients suffering unilateral TN who underwent MVD with >18-mo follow-up. A grading system was formulated using 3 previously validated preoperative characteristics. The primary end-point was long-term, pain-free status without use of medication. Ability to predict pain-free status was analyzed by multiple regression and assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Clinical utility to predict MVD success and reduce unnecessary surgeries was assessed by decision-curve analysis.

RESULTS

Of 208 patients analyzed, 73% were pain-free without medication at >18-mo follow-up. Pain-free status was predicted by classical TN type, positive response to carbamazepine and/or oxcarbazepine, and presence and nature of neurovascular compression demonstrated on MRI (all P < .01). The TN grading system demonstrated good discriminatory ability for prediction of pain-free status (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.91). Decision-curve analysis demonstrated a net reduction of 20 cases likely to be unsuccessful per 100 patients evaluated with this grading system above a decision threshold of 80%.

CONCLUSION

This TN grading system reliably predicts long-term pain-free status without medications following MVD. The use of the TN grading system as part of a comprehensive work-up may reduce the number of unsuccessful operations.
Books in Battle: The Violent Poetics of Misdirection in Old English Riddle 53
Authors: Aiello Matthew
Published: September 2019

Riddle 53 is one of the only remaining Old English riddles that still lacks a satisfactory solution. Previous solutions have included ‘battering-ram’ and GEALGA (‘gallows’ or ‘cross’), but neither of these answers solves the whole text. This article offers the first solution to solve the riddle completely without ignoring contradictory evidence or difficult lines; my solution is BOC OND FEÐER (‘book and quill-pen’). In addition to a new solution, this article offers an alternative approach for decoding medieval enigmas, one that foregrounds the connections between texts that surface reading and surface deceptions can offer. In other words, I argue for the clustering of riddles based on similarities in what I call the ‘poetics of misdirection’—their slippery surface themes and the places to which they are obviously trying to lead the reader—as an organizing principle for reading across the corpus. This method traces specific histories of poetic deception and appropriately situates Riddle 53 in a sub-genre of classroom literatures (in both Latin and Old English) that use violence and martial language as a form of misdirection when describing objects found in the early English scriptorium. Further, by focusing on the physical (rather than intellectual) labour required in the material process of bookmaking, this article emphasizes an aspect of life with books in the early Middle Ages that modern readers have often glossed over.
Disasters
Authors: Adelman Deborah S. , Fant Catherine , Wood Laura , Zak Concetta
Published: September 2019

The first installment in this Disaster Response Series reviews what qualifies as a disaster versus an emergency. This article includes a brief historical background of disasters that occurred in the US, relevant definitions, and levels and phases of appropriate disaster response by NPs.
Spinal Fusion Surgery and Local Antibiotic Administration
Authors: Maria Sartori , Deyanira Contartese , Francesca Salamanna , Lucia Martini , Alessandro Ricci , Silvia Terzi , Alessandro Gasbarrini , Milena Fini
Published: September 2019

Study Design.

Systematic review.

Objective.

The present review of clinical and preclinical in vivo studies focused on the local antibiotic administration for surgical site infection (SSI) in spinal fusion procedures and identifying new approaches or research direction able to release antibiotics in the infected environment.

Summary of Background Data.

SSI is a severe complication of spinal fusion procedures that represents a challenging issue for orthopedic surgeons. SSIs can range from 0.7% to 2.3% without instrumentation up to 6.7% with the use of instrumentation with significant implications in health care costs and patient management.

Method.

A systematic search was carried out by two independent researchers according to the PRISMA statement in three databases (www.pubmed.com, www.scopus.com and www.webofknowledge.com) to identify preclinical in vivo and clinical reports in the last 10 years. Additionally, to evaluate ongoing clinical trials, three of the major clinical registry websites were also checked (www.clinicaltrials.gov, www.who.int/ictrp, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu).

Results.

After screening, a total of 43 articles were considered eligible for the review: 36 clinical studies and seven preclinical studies. In addition, six clinical trials were selected from the clinical registry websites.

Conclusion.

The results reported that the topical vancomycin application seem to represent a strategy to reduce SSI incidence in spine surgery. However, the use of local vancomycin as a preventive approach for SSIs in spine surgery is mostly based on retrospective studies with low levels of evidence and moderate/severe risk of bias that do not allow to draw a clear conclusion. This review also underlines that several key points concerning the local use of antibiotics in spinal fusion still remains to be defined to allow this field to make a leap forward that would lead to the identification of specific approaches to counteract the onset of SSIs.

Level of Evidence: 4
Physical Activity: Levels, Knowledge, and Attitudes of Physical Therapy Students in the United States
Authors: Pathare Neeti , Conroy Jordan , Gillard Alexis , Hansen Mallory
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

To determine the physical activity (PA) level, knowledge of guidelines, and attitudes and role perceptions about promotion of PA in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional design study, convenience sampling was used to recruit DPT students (n = 87, 24.6 ± 4.4 y). Each participant completed a survey that included as follows: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), knowledge, attitudes, and role modeling about PA. A subset (n = 15) used Fitbit to record PA over a 7-day period. Data were converted to metabolic equivalent (METS)/min/min to categorize participants into low/moderate/vigorous PA levels. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted (P < .05).

Results:

On the IPAQ, 48%, 40%, and 12% participants reported a high, moderate, and low level of PA, respectively, and 62% participants met the guidelines. An agreement was noted between IPAQ and Fitbit data for meeting PA guidelines (P = .005). Respondents (61%) reported correct knowledge of PA guidelines and agreed/strongly agreed to the 7 questions (56%–86%) about the role of physical therapists in promoting PA.

Conclusions:

Based on our sample, most DPT students engage in and have knowledge of the recommended levels of PA, and value their role to give patients advice about PA.
Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Improves Sports Performance in an Elite Female Athlete
Authors: Mueller Karen , Williams Petra S. , Haley Laura , Heick John
Published: September 2019

Introduction and Purpose:

Rigorous training of elite athletes can lead to nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) and overtraining (OT), both of which decrease performance and increase the risk of injury. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of autonomic nervous system balance. Reductions in HRV are associated with NFOR and OT. Breath-based biofeedback increases HRV through activation of the baroreceptor reflex.

Purpose:

This case study explored the impact of breath-based HRV biofeedback (HRV-BF) training on daily resting HRV values of a female triathlete and the association between daily HRV with subjective performance indicators of workout quality and amount of postworkout energy.

Methods:

A 24-year-old female triathlete completed an 8-week A-B repeated-measures study—A: baseline; 4 weeks and B: intervention HRV-BF training; 4 weeks. The subject recorded daily resting HRV for 120 seconds, completed regular daily training, and measured workout performance and postworkout energy levels on a 0 to 10 scale. During B, the subject added 15 minutes of HRV-BF 5 times per week.

Results:

With HRV-BF, median HRV level increased (A: 137; B: 191) and the interquartile band narrowed (A: 83–184; B: 142–201), suggesting higher HRV with less variability. The subject had more days at highest readiness (A: 35%; B: 62%). Median values for reports of workout performance and postworkout energy increased.

Conclusions:

This study found that, for this subject, 15 minutes of HRV-BF, 5 times per week, was associated with increased HRV and improved subjective workout performance. Further research exploring HRV measures and biofeedback to inform athletic performance is warranted.
Utility of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-defined Severe Glaucoma Patients
Authors: Kolomeyer Natasha N. , Mantravadi Anand V. , Brody Gregory , Myers Jonathan S.
Published: September 2019

Precis:

Patients with Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-defined severe glaucoma often have clinically useful remaining retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), suggesting that structurally based rather than functionally based criteria would be more appropriate to use as guidelines for the utilization of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

Purpose:

RNFL OCT in glaucomatous eyes with advanced structural damage can reach a floor after which there is no further detectable thinning of RNFL. Insurers are considering limiting coverage for OCT in “severe stage glaucoma” defined by CMS. However, CMS definitions of severe glaucoma are based primarily on visual field criteria. Many of these patients may have preserved RNFL in other sectors. This study aims to assess the clinical utility of RNFL measurements by OCT in eyes with CMS-defined severe glaucoma.

Patients and Methods:

Medical records of patients with CMS-defined severe glaucoma were consecutively reviewed. Data collected included average/sectoral RNFL thickness, and visual field mean deviation. Previous estimates of RNFL floor and test-retest variability for Cirrus OCT were used to establish 3 threshold values of RNFL. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, χ2 analysis, and analysis of variance.

Results:

A total of 129 eyes qualified (age: 71±12 y; mean deviation: −13.5±4.3 dB; average RNFL: 60.9±7.9 μm), A majority (66%) of eyes met severe glaucoma criteria with defects in both hemifields; 34% met only paracentral defect criteria. The proportion of eyes that had significant remaining average, superior, or inferior RNFL, estimated by thresholds 1 to 3, was 21% to 54%, 29% to 51%, and 16% to 37%, respectively. At least 1 vertical quadrant had significant remaining RNFL in 35% to 66% of eyes, depending on the threshold used.

Conclusions:

Our data demonstrate a substantial portion of eyes with CMS-defined severe glaucoma have measurable RNFL above the floor in at least 1 vertical quadrant that may be longitudinally monitored for progression. The presence of CMS-defined severe glaucoma does not exclude the potential utility of OCT to monitor progression.
Using Diagnoses to Estimate Health Care Cost Risk in Canada
Authors: Li Yin , Weir Sharada , Steffler Mitch , Shaikh Shaun , Wright James G. , Kantarevic Jasmin
Published: September 2019

Objective:

Until recently, the options for summarizing Canadian patient complexity were limited to health risk predictive modeling tools developed outside of Canada. This study aims to validate a new model created by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) for Canada’s health care environment.

Research Design:

This was a cohort study.

Subjects:

The rolling population eligible for coverage under Ontario’s Universal Provincial Health Insurance Program in the fiscal years (FYs) 2006/2007–2016/2017 (12–13 million annually) comprised the subjects.

Measures:

To evaluate model performance, we compared predicted cost risk at the individual level, on the basis of diagnosis history, with estimates of actual patient-level cost using “out-of-the-box” cost weights created by running the CIHI software “as is.” We next considered whether performance could be improved by recalibrating the model weights, censoring outliers, or adding prior cost.

Results:

We were able to closely match model performance reported by CIHI for their 2010–2012 development sample (concurrent R
2=48.0%; prospective R
2=8.9%) and show that performance improved over time (concurrent R
2=51.9%; prospective R
2=9.7% in 2014–2016). Recalibrating the model did not substantively affect prospective period performance, even with the addition of prior cost and censoring of cost outliers. However, censoring substantively improved concurrent period explanatory power (from R
2=53.6% to 66.7%).

Conclusions:

We validated the CIHI model for 2 periods, FYs 2010/2011–2012/2013 and FYs 2014/2015—2016/2017. Out-of-the-box model performance for Ontario was as good as that reported by CIHI for the development sample based on 3-province data (British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario). We found that performance was robust to variations in model specification, data sources, and time.
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound During Critical Illness in Children: Survey of Practices in Pediatric Neurocritical Care Centers*
Authors: LaRovere Kerri L. , Tasker Robert C. , Wainwright Mark , Reuter-Rice Karin , Appavu Brian , Miles Darryl , Lidsky Karen , Vittner Patrick , Gundersen Daniel , O’Brien Nicole F.
Published: September 2019

Objectives:

The scope of transcranial Doppler ultrasound in the practice of pediatric neurocritical care is unknown. We have surveyed pediatric neurocritical care centers on their use of transcranial Doppler and analyzed clinical management practices.

Design:

Electronic-mail recruitment with survey of expert centers using web-based questionnaire.

Setting:

Survey of 43 hospitals (31 United States, 12 international) belonging to the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group.

Patients:

None.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

A 67% (29/43) hospital-response rate. Of these centers, 27 reported using transcranial Doppler in the PICU; two hospitals opted out due to lack of transcranial Doppler availability/use. The most common diagnoses for using transcranial Doppler in clinical care were intracranial/subarachnoid hemorrhage (20 hospitals), arterial ischemic stroke (14 hospitals), and traumatic brain injury (10 hospitals). Clinical studies were carried out and interpreted by credentialed individuals in 93% (25/27) and 78% (21/27) of the centers, respectively. A written protocol for performance of transcranial Doppler in the PICU was available in 30% (8/27 hospitals); of these, two of eight hospitals routinely performed correlation studies to validate results. In 74% of the centers (20/27), transcranial Doppler results were used to guide clinical care: that is, when to obtain a neuroimaging study (18 hospitals); how to manipulate cerebral perfusion pressure with fluids/vasopressors (13 hospitals); and whether to perform a surgical intervention (six hospitals). Research studies were also commonly performed for a range of diagnoses.

Conclusions:

At least 27 pediatric neurocritical care centers use transcranial Doppler during clinical care. In the majority of centers, studies are performed and interpreted by credentialed personnel, and findings are used to guide clinical management. Further studies are needed to standardize these practices.
Feasibility and Safety of Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Via a Unilateral Axillobreast Approach for Unilateral Benign Thyroid Tumor in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Hau , Nguyen Xuan Hien , Mai Thi Kim Ngan , Nguyen Thi Thu Nhung , Tran Ngoc Luong , Le Van Quang
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this research study was to assess the safety and surgical outcomes of endoscopic thyroidectomy applied via a unilateral axillobreast approach with CO2 insufflation to one-sided benign thyroid tumors in Vietnam. Only 1 patient of the 50 (2%) had a postoperative hematoma at the surgery site. Open surgical conversions did not occur. The duration of postoperative drainage was from 3 to 8 days, or 4.86±1.24 days on average. The length of stay in the hospital after surgery was 4 to 9 days, or 5.9±1.2 days on average. The postoperative pain in the first postoperative days was lower in intensity compared with open surgeries. The given method provided better results in terms of patient satisfaction with the cosmetic effect of the surgery compared with up-front surgery, minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy, and endoscopic procedures via the breast approach, and 96% of patients were completely satisfied.
Genotype-phenotype feasibility studies on khat abuse, traumatic experiences and psychosis in Ethiopia
Authors: Adorjan Kristina , Mekonnen Zeleke , Tessema Fasil , Ayana Mio , Degenhardt Franziska , Hoffmann Per , Fricker Nadine , Widmann Marina , Riedke Heike , Toennes Stefan W. , Soboka Matiwos , Suleman Sultan , Andlauer Till F.M. , Tesfaye Markos , Rietschel Marcella , Susser Ezra , Odenwald Michael , Schulze Thomas G. , Mattheisen Manuel
Published: September 2019

Studying the relationship between mental illnesses and their environmental and genetic risk factors in low-income countries holds excellent promises. These studies will improve our understanding of how risk factors identified predominantly in high-income countries also apply to other settings and will identify new, sometimes population-specific risk factors. Here we report the successful completion of two intertwined pilot studies on khat abuse, trauma, and psychosis at the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center in Ethiopia. We found that the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center offers a unique opportunity to collect well-characterized samples for mental health research and to perform genetic studies that, at this scale, have not been undertaken in Ethiopia yet. We also supported service development, education, and research for strengthening the professional profile of psychiatry at the site.
Physical Activity Induces Nucleus Accumbens Genes Expression Changes Preventing Chronic Pain Susceptibility Promoted by High-Fat Diet and Sedentary Behavior in Mice
Authors: Brandão Arthur de Freitas , Bonet Ivan José Magayewski , Pagliusi Marco , Zanetti Gabriel Gerardini , Pho Nam , Tambeli Cláudia Herrera , Parada Carlos Amilcar , Vieira André Schwambach , Sartori Cesar Renato
Published: September 2019

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was reported to increase pain behavior independent of obesity status in rats, whereas weight loss interventions such as voluntary physical activity (PA) for adults with overweight or obesity was reported to promote pain reduction in humans with chronic pain (CP). However, is unknown whether an HFD and sedentary (SED) behavior is underlying to CP susceptibility and whether voluntary PA can prevent it. Moreover, differential gene expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is considered to play a crucial role in CP susceptibility. The present study used an adapted model of the inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE)-induced persistent hyperalgesia (PH-ST) protocol for mice, an HFD, and a voluntary PA paradigm to test these hypotheses. In addition, we performed a transcriptome in the NAc and a gene ontology enrichment tools to investigate the differential gene expression and identify the biological processes associated with CP susceptibility tested here. Our results demonstrated that HFD and sedentary behavior promoted CP susceptibility, which in turn was prevented by voluntary PA, even when the animals were fed an HFD. Transcriptome in the NAc found 2,204 differential expression genes related CP susceptibility promoted by HFD and sedentary behavior and prevented by voluntary PA. The gene ontology enrichment revealed 41 biological processes implicated in CP susceptibility. Analyzing collectively those biological processes, our results suggested that genes related to metabolic and mitochondria stress were up-regulated in the CP susceptibility group, whereas genes related to neuroplasticity and axonogenesis were up-regulated in the CP prevented group. These findings provide pieces of evidence that an HFD and sedentary behavior promoted gene expression changes in the NAc related to neurodegeneration and those changes were also underlying to CP susceptibility. Additionally, our findings confirmed other findings supporting the crucial role of voluntary PA to prevent CP susceptibility and add novel insights of differential gene expression in the NAc related to neuroplasticity.
Mechanical characterization of compliant neural probes, their insertion regimes and a rule of thumb design
Authors: Smith Zac
Published: September 2019

Investigates mechanical theory of buckling compliant neural probes, how this relates to insertion forces using normalized force data and discusses potential strategies to improve the insertion ability of neural probes. This report also provides a guide for mechanically testing compliant neural probes and demonstrates a design rule of thumb that insertion forces should be 1/3 lower than the buckling force to enable reliable insertion.
Habenular and striatal activity during performance feedback are differentially linked with state-like and trait-like aspects of tobacco use disorder
Authors: Flannery Jessica S. , Riedel Michael C. , Poudel Ranjita , Laird Angela R. , Ross Thomas J. , Salmeron Betty Jo , Stein Elliot A. , Sutherland Matthew T.
Published: September 2019

Although tobacco use disorder is linked with functional alterations in the striatum, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and insula, preclinical evidence also implicates the habenula as a contributor to negative reinforcement mechanisms maintaining nicotine use. The habenula is a small and understudied epithalamic nucleus involved in reward and aversive processing that is hypothesized to be hyperactive during nicotine withdrawal thereby contributing to anhedonia. In a pharmacologic fMRI study involving administration of nicotine and varenicline, two relatively efficacious cessation aids, we utilized a positive and negative performance feedback task previously shown to differentially activate the striatum and habenula. By administering these nicotinic drugs (vs. placebos) to both overnight abstinent smokers (n=24) and nonsmokers (n=20), we delineated feedback-related functional alterations both as a function of a chronic smoking history (trait: smokers vs. nonsmokers) and as a function of drug administration (state: nicotine, varenicline). We observed that smokers showed less ventral striatal responsivity to positive feedback, an alteration not mitigated by drug administration, but rather correlated with higher trait-level addiction severity among smokers and elevated self-reported negative affect across all participants. Conversely, nicotine administration reduced habenula activity following both positive and negative feedback among abstinent smokers, but not nonsmokers; greater habenula activity correlated with elevated abstinence-induced, state-level tobacco craving among smokers and elevated social anhedonia across all participants. These outcomes highlight a dissociation between neurobiological processes linked with the trait of dependence severity and with the state of acute nicotine withdrawal. Interventions simultaneously targeting both aspects may improve currently poor cessation outcomes.

One-sentence teaser

In a pharmacological fMRI study, e dissociate brain alterations in the habenula linked with nicotine withdrawal and striatal alterations linked with addiction.
Selection of representative genomes for 24,706 bacterial and archaeal species clusters provide a complete genome-based taxonomy
Authors: Parks Donovan H. , Chuvochina Maria , Chaumeil Pierre-Alain , Rinke Christian , Mussig Aaron J. , Hugenholtz Philip
Published: September 2019

We recently introduced the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), a phylogenetically consistent, genome-based taxonomy providing rank normalized classifications for nearly 150,000 genomes from domain to genus. However, nearly 40% of the genomes used to infer the GTDB reference tree lack a species name, reflecting the large number of genomes in public repositories without complete taxonomic assignments. Here we address this limitation by proposing 24,706 species clusters which encompass all publicly available bacterial and archaeal genomes when using commonly accepted average nucleotide identity (ANI) criteria for circumscribing species. In contrast to previous ANI studies, we selected a single representative genome to serve as the nomenclatural type for circumscribing each species with type strains used where available. We complemented the 8,792 species clusters with validly or effectively published names with 15,914de novospecies clusters in order to assign placeholder names to the growing number of genomes from uncultivated species. This provides the first complete domain to species taxonomic framework which will improve communication of scientific results.
Motor cortical output for skilled forelimb movement is selectively distributed across projection neuron classes
Authors: Park Junchol , Phillips James W. , Guo Jian-Zhong , Martin Kathleen A. , Hantman Adam W. , Dudman Joshua T.
Published: September 2019

The interaction of descending neocortical outputs and subcortical premotor circuits is critical for shaping the skilled movements. Two broad classes of motor cortical output projection neurons provide input to many subcortical motor areas: pyramidal tract neurons (PT), which project throughout the neuraxis; and intratelencephalic neurons (IT), which project within cortex and subcortical striatum. It is unclear whether these classes are functionally in series or whether separable components of descending motor control signals are distributed across these distinct classes of projection neurons. Here we combine large-scale neural recordings across all layers of motor cortex with cell-type specific perturbations to study cortically-dependent mouse motor behaviors: kinematically-variable manipulation of a joystick and a kinematically-precise reach-to-grasp. We find that striatum-projecting IT neuron activity preferentially represents amplitude whereas pons-projecting PT neurons preferentially represent the variable direction of forelimb movements. Thus, separable components of descending motor cortical commands are distributed across motor cortical projection cell classes.

One-sentence summary:

Separable components of cortical motor commands are distributed across distinct glutamatergic projection neuron cell-types.
Operant self-stimulation of thalamic terminals in the dorsomedial striatum is constrained by metabotropic glutamate receptor 2
Authors: Johnson Kari A. , Voyvodic Lucas , Mateo Yolanda , Lovinger David M.
Published: September 2019

Dorsal striatal manipulations including stimulation of dopamine release and activation of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are sufficient to drive reinforcement-based learning. Glutamatergic innervation of the dorsal striatum by both the cortex and thalamus is a critical determinant of both MSN activity and local regulation of dopamine release. However, the relationship between glutamatergic inputs to the striatum and behavioral reinforcement is not well understood. We sought to evaluate the reinforcing properties of optogenetic stimulation of thalamostriatal terminals, which are associated with vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2) expression, in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS), a region implicated in goal-directed operant behaviors. In mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) under control of the Vglut2 promoter, brief optical stimulation of the DMS reinforces operant lever-pressing behavior. Mice also acquire operant self-stimulation of thalamic terminals in the DMS when ChR2 expression is virally targeted to the intralaminar thalamus. Because the presynaptic G protein-coupled receptor metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2) robustly inhibits glutamate and dopamine release induced by activation of thalamostriatal afferents, we examined the regulation of thalamostriatal self-stimulation by mGlu2. We find that administration of an mGlu2/3 agonist or an mGlu2-selective positive allosteric modulator reduces self-stimulation. In contrast, blockade of these receptors increases thalamostriatal self-stimulation, suggesting that endogenous activation of these receptors negatively modulates the reinforcing properties of thalamostriatal activity. These findings demonstrate that stimulation of thalamic terminals in the DMS is sufficient to reinforce a self-initiated action, and that thalamostriatal reinforcement is constrained by mGlu2 activation.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid analogues differentially affect cardiac Nav, Cav, and Kv channels through unique mechanisms
Authors: Bohannon Briana M. , Wu Xiaoan , Perez Marta E. , Liin Sara I. , Peter Larsson H.
Published: September 2019

The cardiac ventricular action potential depends on several voltage-gated ion channels, including Nav, Cav, and Kv channels. Mutations in these channels can cause Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) which increases the risk for ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have emerged as potential therapeutics for LQTS because they are modulators of voltage-gated ion channels. Here we demonstrate that PUFA analogues vary in their selectivity for human voltage-gated ion channels involved in the ventricular action potential. The effects of specific PUFA analogues range from selective for a specific ion channel to broadly modulating all three cardiac ion channels (NaV, CaL, and IKs). In addition, PUFA analogues do not modulate these channels through a shared mechanism. Our data suggest that different PUFA analogues could be tailored towards specific forms of LQTS, which are caused by mutations in distinct cardiac ion channels, and thus restore a normal ventricular action potential.
Reproducibility test of radiomics using network analysis and Wasserstein K-means algorithm
Authors: Oh Jung Hun , Apte Aditya P. , Katsoulakis Evangelia , Riaz Nadeem , Hatzoglou Vaios , Yu Yao , Leeman Jonathan E. , Mahmood Usman , Pouryahya Maryam , Iyer Aditi , Shukla-Dave Amita , Tannenbaum Allen R. , Lee Nancy Y. , Deasy Joseph O.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To construct robust and validated radiomic predictive models, the development of a reliable method that can identify reproducible radiomic features robust to varying image acquisition methods and other scanner parameters should be preceded with rigorous validation. Due to the property of high correlation present between radiomic features, we hypothesize that reproducible radiomic features across different datasets that are obtained from different image acquisition settings preserve some level of connectivity between features in the form of a network.

Methods

We propose a regularized partial correlation network to identify robust and reproducible radiomic features. This approach was tested on two radiomic feature sets generated with two different reconstruction methods from a cohort of 47 lung cancer patients. The commonality of the resulting two networks was assessed. A largest common network component from the two networks was tested on phantom data consisting of 5 cancer samples. We further propose a novel K-means algorithm coupled with the optimal mass transport (OMT) theory to cluster samples. This approach following the regularized partial correlation analysis was tested on computed tomography (CT) scans from 77 head and neck cancer patients that were downloaded from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) and validated on CT scans from 83 head and neck cancer patients treated at our institution.

Results

Common radiomic features were found in relatively large network components between the resulting two partial correlation networks from a cohort of 47 lung cancer patients. The similarity of network components in terms of the common number of radiomic features was statistically significant. For phantom data, the Wasserstein distance on a largest common network component from the lung cancer data was much smaller than the Wasserstein distance on the same network using random radiomic features, implying the reliability of those radiomic features present in the network. Further analysis using the proposed Wasserstein K-means algorithm on TCIA head and neck cancer data showed that the resulting clusters separate tumor subsites and this was validated on our institution data.

Conclusions

We showed that a network-based analysis enables identifying reproducible radiomic features. This was validated using phantom data and external data via the Wasserstein distance metric and the proposed Wasserstein K-means method.