bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cohort Profile: Perinatal depression and child socioemotional development ; the Bachpan cohort study from rural Pakistan
Authors: Sikander Siham , Ahmad Ikhlaq , Bates Lisa M , Gallis John , Hagaman Ashley , O’Donnell Karen , Turner Elizabeth Louise , Zaidi Ahmed , Rahman Atif , Maselko Joanna
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This is a prospective pregnancy–birth cohort designed to investigate the effects of depression on socioemotional development of children. Perinatal depression is a risk factor for poor child development and for many it has a recurring chronic course. Thus, the exposure to depression can continue through the early years of the child with detrimental developmental outcomes.

Participants

Between October 2014 and February 2016, we recruited 1154 pregnant women from a rural subdistrict of Pakistan. Data include longitudinal and repeated measures of maternal psychosocial measures and child growth, cognitive and socioemotional measures. Follow-up include mother–child dyad assessments at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th and 36th months of child age. All these follow-ups are community based at the household level. We have competed baseline assessment.

Findings to date

Of the eligible dyads, we followed 885 (76.6%), 929 (91%) and 940 (93.3%) at 3, 6 and 12 months post-childbirth. We include a subsample mother–child dyad DNA and inflammatory biomarkers, 73 and 104, respectively.

Future plans

While we continue to do 24-month and 36-month follow-up assessments, we plan to follow these mother–child dyads up to the age of 7–8 years with some children being exposed to at least 1 year of school environment. Investigators interested in learning more about the study can contact (jmaselko@unc.edu) and (siham.sikander@hdrfoundation.org).
Factors associated with possession of accurate knowledge regarding occupational health management among operations leaders of radiation decontamination workers in Fukushima, Japan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hidaka T , Kakamu T , Endo S , Kasuga H , Masuishi Y , Kumagai T , Sato S , Sasaki T , Fukushima T
Published: May 2019

Objectives

An operations leader (OL) takes an important role in occupational health management for radiation decontamination workers in Japan, and candidates for the position must participate in a training session to acquire the necessary knowledge as required by law. However, it has not been clarified whether the candidates for the OL position actually possess accurate knowledge regarding occupational health management for such work after the training session. We, therefore, aimed at examining the current occupational health management knowledge among the candidates and investigating factors related to the knowledge, with hypothesis that possession of accurate knowledge is associated with prior experience of having worked in radiation decontamination.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

The training sessions held by Fukushima Prefecture Labor Standard Associations in Fukushima, Japan, in 2017.

Participants

Eighty male candidates participated in the training sessions.

Outcome

The number/proportion of correct answers to the questions regarding occupational health management, such as those on working environment management, control of operations and health management.

Results

The proportion of those who possessed accurate knowledge regarding working environment management, control of operations and health management was 68.8%, 55.0% and 51.2%, respectively. Experience of radiation decontamination work was associated with the possession of inaccurate knowledge regarding working environment management (OR 0.140 (95% CI 0.042 to 0.464)), and the uncertainty of future radiation decontamination work schedules in difficult-to-return zones was associated with the possession of accurate knowledge regarding health management (OR 4.344 (95% CI 1.509 to 12.50)).

Conclusions

Previous experience in radiation decontamination work may hinder the ability to acquire accurate information regarding working environment management among candidates for an OL position. To promote adequate occupational health management for radiation decontamination workers, it is required to establish an effective instructional method for the OL candidate training sessions with consideration of previous relevant experience.
In-hospital mortality of cardiogenic shock complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Malaysia: a retrospective analysis of the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Database (NCVD) registry
Authors: Venkatason Padmaa , Zubairi Yong Z , Wan Ahmad Wan Azman , Hafidz Muhammad Imran , Ismail Muhammad Dzafir , Hadi Mohd Firdaus , Zuhdi Ahmad Syadi Mahmood
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) carries an extremely high mortality. The clinical pattern of this life threatening complication has never been described in Malaysian setting. This study is to investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of STEMI patients with CS in our population.

Design

A retrospective analysis of STEMI patients from 18 hospitals across Malaysia contributing to the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Database-acute coronary syndrome) registry (NCVD-ACS) year 2006–2013.

Participants

16 517 patients diagnosed of STEMI from 18 hospitals in Malaysia from the year 2006 to 2013.

Primary outcome measures

In-hospital and 30 day post-discharge mortality.

Results

CS complicates 10.6% of all STEMIs in this study. They had unfavourable premorbid conditions and poor outcomes. The in-hospital mortality rate was 34.1% which translates into a 7.14 times mortality risk increment compared with STEMI without CS. Intravenous thrombolysis remained as the main urgent reperfusion modality. Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in CS conferred a 40% risk reduction over non-invasive therapy but were only done in 33.6% of cases. Age over 65, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic lung and kidney disease conferred higher risk of mortality.

Conclusion

Mortality rates of CS complicating STEMI in Malaysia are high. In-hospital PCI confers a 40% mortality risk reduction but the rate of PCI among our patients with CS complicating STEMI is still low. Efforts are being made to increase access to invasive therapy for these patients.
in-DEPtH framework: evidence-informed, co-creation framework for theDesign,Evaluation andProcurementofHealth services
Authors: Lo Kenneth , Karnon Jonathan
Published: May 2019

With a multitude of variables, the combinations of care, health program activities and outcomes are infinite, and this renders improvement efforts to complex health service interventions particularly intricate. Here, we describe a framework that seeks to incorporate research evidence and the multi-faceted considerations of stakeholders, context and resources to co-create sustainable health solutions that improve the health outcomes of patients and communities. This evidence-informed, co-creation framework for theDesign,Evaluation andProcurementofHealth services (in-DEPtH) is a systematic approach to support health agencies to commission services that are evidence-informed, contextually relevant and stakeholder engaged. The framework consists of several steps from defining the research question, health outcomes and search inclusion criteria, to the synthesis of evidence, and to co-creation and Delphi consultations with stakeholders. In this paper, we describe the various steps of the framework and explain the theoretical methods underpinning the framework. The approach of the framework is context neutral and can be applied to healthcare systems of different countries.
Route to diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy in a UK healthcare system: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hilton Bryn , Tempest-Mitchell Jennifer , Davies Benjamin , Kotter Mark
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) presents insidiously, making initial diagnosis challenging. Surgery has been shown to prevent further disability but existing spinal cord damage may be permanent. Delays in surgery lead to increased disability and reduced postoperative improvements. Therefore, rapid surgical assessment is key to improving patient outcomes. Unfortunately, diagnosis of DCM in primary care is often delayed. This study aimed to characterise patients with DCM route to diagnosis and surgical assessment as well as to plot disease progression over time.

Design

Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Setting

Single, tertiary centre using additional clinical records from primary and secondary care centres.

Participants

One year of cervical MRI scans conducted at a tertiary neurosciences centre (n=1123) were screened for cervical cord compression, a corresponding clinical diagnosis of myelopathy and sufficient clinical documentation to plot a route to diagnosis (n=43).

Primary outcome measures

Time to diagnosis from symptom onset, route to diagnosis and disease progression were the primary outcome measures in this study. Disease severity was approximated using a prospectively validated method for inferring modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (i-mJOA) functional scoring from clinical documentation.

Results

Patients received a referral to secondary care 6.4±7.7 months after symptom onset. Cervical MRI scanning and neurosurgical review occurred 12.5±13.0 and 15.8±13.5 months after symptom onset, respectively. i-mJOA was 16.0±1.7 at primary care assessment and 14.8±2.5 at surgical assessment. 61.0% of patients were offered operations. For those who received surgery, time between onset and surgery was 22.1±13.2 months.

Conclusions

Route to surgical assessment was heterogeneous and lengthy. Some patients deteriorated during this period. This study highlights the need for a streamlined pathway by which patients with cervical cord compression can receive timely assessment and treatment by a specialist. This would improve outcomes for patients using existing treatments.
Cohort profile: the Trivandrum non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cohort
Authors: Chalmers Jane , Ban Lu , Leena Kondarapassery B , Edwards Kimberley L , Grove Jane L , Aithal Guruprasad P , Shenoy Kotacherry T
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The Trivandrum non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cohort is a population-based study designed to examine the interaction between genetic and lifestyle factors and their association with increased risk of NAFLD within the Indian population.

Participants

Between 2013 and 2016, a total of 2222 participants were recruited to this cohort through multistage cluster sampling across the whole population of Trivandrum—a district within the state of Kerala, South India. Data were collected from all inhabitants of randomly selected households over the age of 25.

Findings to date

Full baseline clinical and pathological data were collected from 2158 participants. This included detailed demographic profiles, anthropometric measures and lifestyle data (food frequency, physical activity and anxiety and depression questionnaires). Biochemical profile and ultrasound assessment of the liver were performed and whole blood aliquots were collected for DNA analysis.

The NAFLD prevalence within this population was 49.8% which is significantly higher than the global pooled prevalence of 25%. This highlights the importance of robust, prospective studies like this to enable collection of longitudinal data on risk factors, disease progression and to facilitate future interventional studies.

Future plans

The complete analysis of data collected from this cohort will give valuable insights into the interaction of the phenotypic and genotypic profiles that result in such a dramatic increased risk of NAFLD within the Indian population. The cohort will also form the basis of future lifestyle interventional studies, aimed at improving liver and metabolic health.
Trends in the costs of drugs launched in the UK between 1981 and 2015: an analysis of the launch price of drugs in five disease areas
Authors: Ward Derek J , Doos Lucy , Stevens Andrew
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To investigate the trend in the launch price of new drugs for five common health conditions.

Design

Cross-sectional study using data on new drugs launched in the UK between 1981 and 2015 for hypertension, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia and colorectal cancer.

Data and sources

All drugs marketed in the UK between 1981 and 2015 (inclusive), and licensed specifically for the treatment of one of the five chosen conditions were included in the study. Newly launched medicines and their launch prices were identified by hand-searching all editions of the British National Formulary in addition to searching the websites of relevant regulatory agencies (European Medicines Agency and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). The launch price in UK pounds for a 28-day supply of each medicine at a typical or usual maintenance dose was adjusted for the effects of general inflation using the gross domestic product deflator series.

Results

104 drugs were included in our study with a mean inflation-adjusted 28-day launch price of £288 (SD £678). The launch price of new drugs varied significantly across the five conditions, with drugs for hypertension having the lowest mean price (£27) and drugs for colorectal cancer having the highest mean price (£1590) (p<0.001). There were large increases in launch prices across the study period, but the magnitude and pattern was markedly different between therapeutic areas. Biological drugs represented 13.5% of all included drugs and had a significantly higher launch price than non- biological drugs (£1233 vs £141, p<0.001). 22.1% of included drugs were first-of-kind and had a significantly higher launch price than follow-on drugs (£768 vs £151) (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Drugs prices continue to increase across different therapeutic areas. This has some association with novelty, but, it is not clear if this increase in price is associated with medical benefits.
General practitioners’ perceptions towards the use of digital health services for citizens in primary care: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Fagerlund Asbjørn Johansen , Holm Inger Marie , Zanaboni Paolo
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To explore general practitioners’ (GPs) perceptions towards use of four digital health services for citizens: an electronic booking service to make reservations with the GP; an electronic prescription service to request renewal of maintenance drugs; a service for text-based non-clinical enquiries to the GP office and a service for text-based electronic consultation (e-consultation) with the GP.

Design

A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews.

Setting

Primary care.

Participants

Nine GPs who were early adopters of the four services were interviewed.

Method

One moderator presented topics using open-ended questions, facilitated the discussion and followed up with further questions. Phone interviews were conducted, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data were analysed using the framework method.

Results

The use of digital services in primary care in Norway is growing, although the use of text-based e-consultations is still limited. Most GPs were positive about all four services, but there was still some scepticism regarding their effects. Advantages for GP offices included reduced phone load, increased efficiency, released time for medical assessments, less crowded waiting rooms and more precise communication. Benefits for patients were increased flexibility, autonomy and time and money savings. Children, the elderly and people with low computer literacy might still need traditional alternatives.

Conclusions

More defined and standardised routines, as well as more evidence of the effects, are necessary for large-scale adoption.
Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network: a protocol for a multi-site prospective cohort study to identify modifiable risk factors for mortality among acutely ill children in Africa and Asia
Authors:   The Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition Network
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Children admitted to hospitals in resource-poor settings remain at risk of both inpatient and post-discharge mortality. While known risk factors such as young age and nutritional status can identify children at risk, they do not provide clear mechanistic targets for intervention. The Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) cohort study aims to characterise the biomedical and social risk factors for mortality in acutely ill children in hospitals and after discharge to identify targeted interventions to reduce mortality.

Methods and analysis

The CHAIN network is currently undertaking a multi-site, prospective, observational cohort study, enrolling children aged 1 week to 2 years at admission to hospitals at nine sites located in four African and two South Asian countries. The CHAIN Network supports the sites to provide care according to national and international guidelines. Enrolment is stratified by anthropometric status and children are followed throughout hospitalisation and for 6 months after discharge. Detailed clinical, demographic, anthropometric, laboratory and social exposures are assessed. Scheduled visits are conducted at 45, 90 and 180 days after discharge. Blood, stool and rectal swabs are collected at enrolment, hospital discharge and follow-up. The primary outcome is inpatient or post-discharge death. Secondary outcomes include readmission to hospital and nutritional status after discharge. Cohort analysis will identify modifiable risks, children with distinct phenotypes, relationships between factors and mechanisms underlying poor outcomes that may be targets for intervention. A nested case–control study examining infectious, immunological, metabolic, nutritional and other biological factors will be undertaken.

Ethics and dissemination

This study protocol was reviewed and approved primarily by the Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee, and the institutional review boards of all partner sites. The study is being externally monitored. Results will be published in open access peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented to academic and policy stakeholders.

Trial registration number

NCT03208725.
Smoke signals: monitoring illicit cigarettes and smoking behaviour in Colombia to support tobacco taxes
Authors: Maldonado Norman , Llorente Blanca , Escobar Diego , Iglesias Roberto Magno
Published: May 2019

Background

A street cross-sectional survey in 2016 with a representative sample of 1697 smokers in five Colombian cities was used to estimate the penetration of illicit cigarettes (PIC). The first wave was collected 3 months before a 100% increase in tobacco excise tax, and a second wave collected data 9 months after tax reform was effective.

Objective 

Analyse changes after a cigarette tax increase in PIC, prices and smoking behaviour patterns for five Colombian cities (63% of the market). Smoking behaviour includes consumption intensity, presentation (stick/pack) and place of purchase.

Methods 

Repeated street cross-sectional survey with smokers’ self-report on smoking behaviour, last purchase information and direct observation of smokers’ packs. Sampling frame: smokers, men and women, aged 12 years or older, all income levels, resident in the five cities with the highest number of smokers representing 63% of cigarette market share (Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Cartagena and Cúcuta) with 1 733 316 smokers in 2013. Sample size was 1697 per wave, with confidence level 95%, margin of error 3.5% for Bogotá and Medellín and 5% for the other three cities. Smokers in second wave match first wave’s location, sex and age group. Illicit cigarettes were identified based on brand, health warnings and price.

Results 

After the tax hike, the average real price of a 20-stick pack increased by 28.2% and by 23.1% for loose cigarettes. Illicit cigarettes represented 3.4% of total cigarette consumption in 2016 and increased to 6.4% in 2017, lower than the current industry estimate of 18%. Consumption intensity decreased: the proportion of heavy smokers (more than 10 cigarettes per day) wentdown from 37% in 2016 to 26% in 2017.

Conclusion

After the tax increase, Colombia’s PIC remained at low levels, and there is enough space for new tobacco tax hikes.
Cellular Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, part II
Authors: Rutherford Daniel , Sullivan Michael
Published: May 2019

This paper is a continuation of [Cellular computation of Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, preprint (2016)]. For Legendrian surfaces in [Formula: see text]-jet spaces, we prove that the Cellular DGA defined in [Cellular computation of Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, preprint (2016)] is stable tame isomorphic to the Legendrian contact homology DGA, modulo the explicit construction of a specific Legendrian surface. In [Cellular computation of Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, to appear in Internat. J. Math.], we construct this surface, thereby completing Theorem 5.1 and the proof of the isomorphism.
Cellular Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, part III
Authors: Rutherford Daniel , Sullivan Michael
Published: May 2019

This paper is a continuation of [D. Rutherford and M. Sullivan, Cellular computation of Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, Part II, to appear in Internat. J. Math.]. We construct by-hand Legendrian surfaces for which specific properties of their gradient flow trees hold. These properties enable us to complete the proof in [D. Rutherford and M. Sullivan, Cellular computation of Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, Part II, to appear in Internat. J. Math.] that the Cellular DGA defined in [D. Rutherford and M. Sullivan, Cellular computation of Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, Part I, preprint (2016), arXiv:1608.02984] is stable tame isomorphic to the Legendrian contact homology DGA defined in [T. Ekholm, J. Etnyre and M. Sullivan, The contact homology of Legendrian submanifolds in [Formula: see text], J. Differential Geom. 71(2) (2005) 177–305].
Rigidity theory for C∗-dynamical systems and the “Pedersen Rigidity Problem”, II
Authors: Kaliszewski S. , Omland Tron , Quigg John
Published: May 2019

This is a follow-up to a paper with the same title and by the same authors. In that paper, all groups were assumed to be abelian, and we are now aiming to generalize the results to nonabelian groups.

The motivating point is Pedersen’s theorem, which does hold for an arbitrary locally compact group [Formula: see text], saying that two actions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] are outer conjugate if and only if the dual coactions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] are conjugate via an isomorphism that maps the image of [Formula: see text] onto the image of [Formula: see text] (inside the multiplier algebras of the respective crossed products).

We do not know of any examples of a pair of non-outer-conjugate actions such that their dual coactions are conjugate, and our interest is therefore exploring the necessity of latter condition involving the images; and we have decided to use the term “Pedersen rigid” for cases where this condition is indeed redundant.

There is also a related problem, concerning the possibility of a so-called equivariant coaction having a unique generalized fixed-point algebra, that we call “fixed-point rigidity”. In particular, if the dual coaction of an action is fixed-point rigid, then the action itself is Pedersen rigid, and no example of non-fixed-point-rigid coaction is known.
Relativistic modeling of Vela X-1 using the Karmarkar condition
Authors: Gedela Satyanarayana , Bisht Ravindra K. , Pant Neeraj
Published: May 2019

The objective of this work is to explore a new parametric class of exact solutions of the Einstein field equations coupled with the Karmarkar condition. Assuming a new metric potential [Formula: see text] with parameter (n), we find a parametric class of solutions which is physically well-behaved and represents compact stellar model of the neutron star in Vela X-1. A detailed study specifically shows that the model actually corresponds to the neutron star in Vela X-1 in terms of the mass and radius. In this connection, we investigate several physical properties like the variation of pressure, density, pressure–density ratio, adiabatic sound speeds, adiabatic index, energy conditions, stability, anisotropic nature and surface redshift through graphical plots and mathematical calculations. All the features from these studies are in excellent conformity with the already available evidences in theory. Further, we study the variation of physical properties of the neutron star in Vela X-1 with the parameter (n).
Gravitational major-axis contraction of Mercury’s elliptical orbit
Authors: Liu Q. H. , Li Q. , Liu T. G. , Wang X.
Published: May 2019

The local curvature of the space produced by the Sun causes not only the perihelion precession of Mercury’s elliptical orbit, but also the variations of the whole orbit, in comparison with those predicted by the Newtonian theory of gravitation. Calculations show that the gravitational major-axis contraction of Mercury’s elliptical orbit is 1.3 km which can in principle be confirmed by the present astronomical distance measurement technology.
An Enhanced Evolutionary Technique for the Generation of Compact Reconfigurable Scan-Network Tests
Authors: Cantoro Riccardo , Damljanovic Aleksa , Reorda Matteo Sonza , Squillero Giovanni
Published: May 2019

Nowadays, many Integrated Systems embed auxiliary on-chip instruments whose function is to perform test, debug, calibration, configuration, etc. The growing complexity and the increasing number of these instruments have led to new solutions for their access and control, such as the IEEE 1687 standard. The standard introduces an infrastructure composed of scan chains incorporating configurable elements for accessing the instruments in a flexible manner. Such an infrastructure is known as Reconfigurable Scan Network or RSN. Since permanent faults affecting the circuitry can cause malfunction, i.e., inappropriate behavior, detecting them is of utmost importance. This paper addresses the issue of generating effective sequences for testing the reconfigurable elements within RSNs using evolutionary computation. Test configurations are extracted with automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) and used to guide the evolution. Post-processing techniques are proposed to improve the evolutionary fittest solution. Results on a standard set of benchmark networks show up to 27% reduced test time with respect to test generation based on RSN exploration.
Wheeler’s it from bit proposal in loop quantum gravity
Authors: Mäkelä Jarmo
Published: May 2019

As an attempt to realize Wheeler’s “it-from-bit proposal” that physics should be reduced to simple yes–no questions, we consider a model of loop quantum gravity, where the only allowed values of the quantum numbers [Formula: see text] at the punctures [Formula: see text] of the spin network on the spacelike two surfaces of spacetime are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. When [Formula: see text], the puncture is in the vacuum, and it does not contribute to the area of the two surface, whereas when [Formula: see text], the puncture is in an excited state, and the allowed values of the associated quantum number [Formula: see text] are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. As a consequence, the spin network used as a model of spacetime is analogous to a system of particles with spin [Formula: see text], and every puncture carries exactly one bit of information. When applied to spacetimes with horizon, our model enables us to find an explicit expression for the partition function of spacetime. Using this partition function we may, among other things, obtain the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy law for black holes. When applied to cosmological models with horizon, the partition function predicts a cosmic phase transition in the early universe, where the cosmological constant went through a dramatic decrease and the matter of the universe was created out of the vacuum.
Nuclear mass measurements with radioactive ion beams
Authors: Famiano Michael A.
Published: May 2019

Nuclear masses are the most fundamental of all nuclear properties, yet they can provide a wealth of knowledge, including information on astrophysical sites, constraints on existing theory, and fundamental symmetries. In nearly all applications, it is necessary to measure nuclear masses with very high precision. As mass measurements push to more short-lived and more massive nuclei, the practical constraints on mass measurement techniques become more exacting. Various techniques used to measure nuclear masses, including their advantages and disadvantages are described. Descriptions of some of the world facilities at which the nuclear mass measurements are performed are given, and brief summaries of planned facilities are presented. Future directions are mentioned, and conclusions are presented which provide a possible outlook and emphasis on upcoming plans for nuclear mass measurements at existing facilities, those under construction, and those being planned.
ACCURACY AND SURFACE INTEGRITY ANALYSIS OF MICRO HOLES DRILLED ON HASTELLOY-X ALLOY USING A LASER SOURCE WITH OPTIMIZATION
Authors: SIVAPRASAD P. V. , NOORUL HAQ A.
Published: May 2019

Hastelloy-X is a nickel-based superalloy used for making parts of extreme temperature applications. This paper is aimed at studying the effects of laser drilling parameters on accuracy and surface characteristics of the micro-holes drilled on Hastelloy-X alloy. The independent factors like power, pulse width, pulse repetition rate and gas pressure were selected as process variables. The experiments were designed using response surface methodology (RSM) with four factors at five levels. The process was evaluated in terms of exit diameter, entrance diameter, taper and entrance circularity error along with the surface topography analysis of the hole. Weighted principal component analysis (WPCA) is performed to calculate the accuracy of a hole through the geometric index (GI). It also determines the optimal combination among the alternatives. Relationship of GI with input parameters was established with RSM and analysis of the variance (ANOVA) was done to enact the significance of process parameters on the outputs. The obtained results proved that power, gas pressure and pulse width are the most influencing factors of accuracy. The desirability analysis also confirmed the optimal input sequence that has been obtained from the RSM–WPCA approach.
Study of CXCR4 chemokine receptor inhibitors using QSPR and molecular docking methodologies
Authors: Mostashari-Rad Tahereh , Arian Roya , Sadri Houri , Mehridehnavi Alireza , Mokhtari Marzieh , Ghasemi Fahimeh , Fassihi Afshin
Published: May 2019

CXCR4 is involved in inflammation, cancer metastasis and also HIV-1 entry into immune host cells. In the present research, it was decided to investigate the efficacy of some CXCR4 inhibitors from both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics points of view. Quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) approach was applied to model the metabolic stability and instability of the compounds. Using QSPR modeling, it was tried to predict the metabolic stability using new hybrid algorithm which consisted of three different steps: descriptor reduction (PCA), stable–instable classification (KNN) and biological stability prediction (PLS). In the QSPR step, it is shown that the descriptor reduction (PCA) affects the result of the classification procedure (KNN). Besides, the obtained QSPR model can predict the metabolic stability of the stable compounds with [Formula: see text] of 0.98 for train data and of 0.64 for test data. In other words, increment and decrement of stability were followed by the model. Molecular docking simulation was exploited to define the essential interactions of an effective inhibitor with CXCR4 receptor.
Coupling Simulation of an Impact-Induced Rollover Accident and Evaluation of Curtain Airbag Effectiveness
Authors: Jiang Chengyue , Yin Zhiyong , Ren Lihai , Hu Yuanzhi , Liu Xi , Zhu Hongxu
Published: May 2019

The causes of fatal and serious injuries in rollover accidents have yet to be fully identified. This study aimed to reconstruct a complex accident, based on both video analysis and vehicle coupling simulation. Besides, the major fatal injury causation and curtain airbag’s effectiveness were analyzed. The coupling model, including finite element tire and multi-body vehicle body, was developed to estimate the vehicle trajectory. A validated curtain airbag (CAB) module, was introduced for occupant protection effectiveness evaluation. The vehicle trajectory from the simulation correlated well with that from video recordings and simulation result indicated that passenger’s head contact with road (maximum contact force 9834.9[Formula: see text]N) was assumed to be the main reason of the victim death. After introducing the CAB, the maximum head acceleration was reduced from 129.1[Formula: see text]g to 24.9[Formula: see text]g, and the neck Fz was reduced by 80.0% as well. The coupling simulation method turned out to be efficient to reconstruct certain complex accident case. Such study is beneficial for further similar accident reconstruction and restraint system evaluation.
A class of Finsler spaces with general (α,β)-metrics
Authors: Tiwari Bankteshwar , Gangopadhyay Ranadip , Prajapati Ghanashyam Kr.
Published: May 2019

In the present paper, we prove that a general [Formula: see text]-metric [Formula: see text] is of isotropic [Formula: see text]-curvature if and only if it is of isotropic [Formula: see text]-curvature under an extra condition on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Attempted syntheses of N-confused hydroporphyrins through modified Lindsey routes
Authors: Xiong Ruisheng , Arkhypchuk Anna I. , Eszter Borbas K.
Published: May 2019

Unlike N-confused porphyrins which are well-known and extensively studied tetrapyrroles, N-confused hydroporphyrins are almost unknown, largely because so far they have resisted attempts at rational synthesis. Here, we report our efforts towards the total synthesis of N-confused hydroporphyrins. We have prepared N-confused building blocks analogous to the non-N-confused substrates in the Lindsey synthesis of sparsely substituted chlorins. We have systematically flipped the A, B and C pyrrole rings in the dipyrrolic precursors of the target N-confused macrocycles, preparing in total an N-confused “Western half” (tetrahydrodipyrrin) and two N-confused “Eastern halves” (brominated formyldipyrromethanes). These were subjected to a range of cyclization conditions. While we successfully isolated and identified three macrocyclic products, none of these proved to be the desired N-confused hydroporphyrin.
Chief Technology Officers: One Mission, Different Organizational Roles
Authors: Lohmüller Bertram , Petrikhin Alexander
Published: May 2019

This paper is dedicated to the technology management issue in the context of increasing requirements and challenges that modern executives have to face regarding efficient and proactive technology and innovation management, support of new product and service lines, and business development. The main focus of this research is the diversity of organizational roles performed by top and middle managers experiencing a strong impact of the “technological factor”. Those executives who officially occupy the highest position associated with technology responsibilities are called Chief Technology Officers (CTOs). At the same time, in many companies — especially in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) — such a position is not officially given. The managers who partially or fully perform the CTO functionality even if they do not have this official post are respectively named “Hidden” CTOs. At the same time, it is important to note that despite the presence in practice of more than 40 years, the term CTO is still associated with lots of controversy. There are dozens of contradictory definitions and disputes between practitioners and theorists that lead to a blurring of the CTO term meaning. In practice, it can be observed that the contradictions about the functionality of a technology manager can lead to the fact that the management potential cannot be fully activated and that management priorities are set incorrectly or unclearly. This paper presents a new approach to the CTO position definition based on the analysis of internal and external specifics combined with change management dynamics. Further, this new approach was used as the framework for an empirical study, based on a semi-structured questionnaire and personal interviews. In the study, the roles of international executives dealing with technological topics were investigated. The first results of the study have shown that modern technology executives are not narrowly profiled specialists focusing on purely technological issues. They are increasingly appointed as members of the top management team (TMT), for bringing in the technological perspective in the general management process. In their function, they link up between different stakeholders in terms of technology efficient use and their progressive development.
Algorithm 993
Authors: Fackler Paul L.
Published: May 2019

An algorithm for multiplying a chain of Kronecker products by a matrix is described. The algorithm does not require that the Kronecker chain actually be computed and the main computational work is a series of matrix-matrix multiplications. Use of the algorithm can lead to substantial savings in both memory requirements and computational speed. Although similar algorithms have been described before, this article makes two novel contributions. First, it shows how shuffling of data can be (largely) avoided. Second, it provides a simple method to determine the optimal ordering of the workflow.
Automated Tiling of Unstructured Mesh Computations with Application to Seismological Modeling
Authors: Luporini Fabio , Lange Michael , Jacobs Christian T. , Gorman Gerard J. , Ramanujam J. , Kelly Paul H. J.
Published: May 2019

Sparse tiling is a technique to fuse loops that access common data, thus increasing data locality. Unlike traditional loop fusion or blocking, the loops may have different iteration spaces and access shared datasets through indirect memory accesses, such as A[map[i]]—hence the name “sparse.” One notable example of such loops arises in discontinuous-Galerkin finite element methods, because of the computation of numerical integrals over different domains (e.g., cells, facets). The major challenge with sparse tiling is implementation—not only is it cumbersome to understand and synthesize, but it is also onerous to maintain and generalize, as it requires a complete rewrite of the bulk of the numerical computation. In this article, we propose an approach to extend the applicability of sparse tiling based on raising the level of abstraction. Through a sequence of compiler passes, the mathematical specification of a problem is progressively lowered, and eventually sparse-tiled C for-loops are generated. Besides automation, we advance the state-of-the-art by introducing a revisited, more efficient sparse tiling algorithm; support for distributed-memory parallelism; a range of fine-grained optimizations for increased runtime performance; implementation in a publicly available library, SLOPE; and an in-depth study of the performance impact in Seigen, a real-world elastic wave equation solver for seismological problems, which shows speed-ups up to 1.28× on a platform consisting of 896 Intel Broadwell cores.
The Economics of Kenneth J. Arrow: A Selective Review
Authors: Maskin Eric S.
Published: May 2019

This article reviews Kenneth Arrow's seminal work in economics, giving special emphasis to his contributions to social choice theory and general equilibrium theory.
Microbial Profiles and Risk Factors of Preexisting Biliary Infection in Patients with Therapeutic Endoscopy
Authors: Ruan Hua-Qiang , Liao Guo-Lin , Peng Peng , Liu Shi-Quan , Wu Chang-Liang , Qin Jian-Fu , Liang Zhi-Hai , Tang Guo-Du , Qin Meng-Bin , Huang Jie-An
Published: May 2019

Background. The bile infection may already exist before the administration of an interventional procedure, despite no clinical manifestations of cholangitis detected. Blood cultures remained negative even in more than half of the febrile cases with cholangitis. Risk factors associated with bacterial growth in bile before the intervention are not well defined. To establish the bacterial profiles isolated from the bile samples and to identify risk factors for bacterial colonization in the bile system. Methods. Individuals who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) interventions were enrolled. Bile samples were aspirated and were immediately transferred into a sterile tube for storage. Results. Positive bile cultures were detected in 363 (38.0%) of 956 patients, including 322 benign diseases and 41 malignances. Of 363 positive cases, 351 (96.7%) were monoinfection and 12 (3.3%) multi-infection. Escherichia coli were the most common Gram-negative bacteria (210, 56.0%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (45, 12.0%). Enterococcus faecalis represented the most common Gram-positive microorganism (19, 5.07%), while Candida albicans (11, 2.93%) were the dominant fungi. Klebsiella pneumoniae were more frequently detected in malignant diseases (P=0.046). Age, previous ERCP history or OLT history, and CBD diameter were independent risk factors for positive cultures (P<0.05) while preoperative jaundice drug therapy was the protective factor for bile infection (P<0.05). Conclusion. Monomicrobial infection was dominant among all infections, and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were more frequently isolated from patients with malignant diseases. To effectively manage patients who are at a high risk for bile infection, a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan for each case should be prepared.
Helicity and Spin of Linearly Polarized Hermite-Gaussian Modes
Authors: Fernandez-Guasti M. , Hernández J.
Published: May 2019

The angular momentum content and propagation of linearly polarized Hermite-Gaussian modes are analyzed. The helicity gauge invariant continuity equation reveals that the helicity and flow in the direction of propagation are zero. However, the helicity flow exhibits nonvanishing transverse components. These components have been recently described as photonic wheels. These intrinsic angular momentum terms, depending on the criterion, can be associated with spin or orbital momentum. The electric and magnetic contributions to the optical helicity will be shown to cancel out for Hermite-Gaussian modes. The helicity ϱAC here derived is consistent with the interpretation that it represents the projection of the angular momentum onto the direction of motion.
Traditional Herbal Formula Taeeumjowi-Tang (TJ001) Inhibits p53-Mutant Prostate Cancer Cells Growth by Activating AMPK-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Kang Sooyeon , Kim Hyo In , Choi Yu-Jeong , Lee Seul Ki , Kim Ji Hye , Cheon Chunhoo , Ko Seong-Gyu
Published: May 2019

Dysregulated lipid metabolism is a prominent feature of prostate cancers (PCas); several enzymes involved in lipid accumulation are highly expressed. Here, we elucidated efficacy of TJ001, a traditional herbal decoction, in inhibitingde novolipogenesis. TJ001 had significant cytotoxicity against DU145 but not PC3 and LNCaP cells and, similarly, TJ001 markedly AMPK phosphorylation only in DU145 cells. This was accompanied by the downregulation of phosphorylated-acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) expression and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) proteolytic cleavage, thereby inhibiting its role as a transcription factor to induce lipid biosynthesis. When Oil Red O staining was performed, it is reflected in the reduction of lipid droplets (LDs). TJ001 also induced G1/S cell cycle arrestviaa cell cycle inhibitor (CKI) p21WAF1/CIP1upregulation. Although p53 proteins remained unchanged, both cyclin E and cyclin D1 were decreased. Moreover, TJ001 suppressed the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Generally, the prolonged G1/S phase arrest accompanies apoptosis, but TJ001 failed to work as a trigger apoptosis in DU145 cells. We showed that mutant p53 proteins were required for the survival of DU145 cells. In presence of TJ001, inhibition of endogenous mutant p53 by RNAi led to cell viability reduction and induction of the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio. In addition, it induced apoptotic cell death in DU145 cells. At the cellular level, induction of PARP, caspase-3, and caspase-9 cleavages was observed, and caspase-3 activity was increased in the p53 knockdown cells treated with TJ001. Taken together, we demonstrated that TJ001 inhibited cell growth in DU145 prostate cancer cells as indicated by blocking lipogenesis and induction in G1/S cell cycle arrest. In addition, we may provide an evidence that mutant p53 protein has potential role as an oncogenic action in DU145 cells. Collectively, the combination of mutant p53 targeting and TJ001 treatment resulted in decreased cell growth in DU145 cells.
Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Width of a Prefabricated Crack on the Dimensionless Stress Intensity Factor of Notched Semi‐Circular Bend Specimens
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Wang Longfei , Gao Mingzhong
Published: May 2019

To analyze the effect of the width of a prefabricated crack on the dimensionless stress intensity factor of notched semi‐circular bend (NSCB) specimens, ABAQUS software was employed to perform numerical calibration of the crack tip stress intensity factor for the width of prefabricated cracks in the range of 0.0∼2.0 mm. The relative errors of the dimensionless stress intensity factor for different widths of prefabricated cracks were analyzed. The results indicate that the dimensionless stress intensity factor shows an approximate linear increase as the width of the prefabricated crack increases. The longer is the length of the prefabricated crack, the “faster” is the increase in speed. The effect of the dimensionless support spacing on the increase in the speed of the dimensionless stress intensity factor due to the increase in crack width is minimal. When the prefabricated crack width is 2.0 mm, the maximum relative error of the dimensionless stress intensity factor is 4.325%. The new formula for the dimensionless stress intensity factor that eliminates the influence of the width of a prefabricated crack is given, which provides a theoretical basis for the more accurate fracture toughness value measured using an NSCB specimen.