bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removal of lower urinary tract stones by percutaneous cystolithotomy: 68 cases (2012–2017)
Authors: Cruciani Benoît , Vachon Catherine , Dunn Marilyn
Published: March 2020

Objective

To describe the use and outcome of percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) for removal of urethral and bladder stones in dogs and cats.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Animals

Sixty‐eight client‐owned dogs and cats.

Methods

Records were reviewed and analyzed for dogs and cats that underwent PCCL between January 2012 and December 2017. Signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging data, procedure time, use of lithotripsy, biopsy, perioperative and immediate postoperative complications, hospitalization times, stone composition, and urine culture results were recorded. Owners were contacted by phone or email 3 weeks after the procedure. Follow‐up communications with the owner and referring veterinarian were also recorded.

Results

Seventy percutaneous cystolithotomies were performed in 59 dogs and nine cats. The median duration of the procedure was 95 minutes (45‐420), and lithotripsy was required in 3% (2/70) of PCCL. Complications during the procedure were reported in one case. In eighty‐three percent of procedures (58/70), animals were discharged within 24 hours postoperative. Twenty‐four percent (16/68) of animals had minor complications (lower urinary tract signs), and one dog had a major complication (surgical wound dehiscence) during the 3 weeks after the operation. Long‐term follow‐up revealed stone recurrence in 21% of cases followed more than a year after the procedure (7/33).

Conclusion

Percutaneous cystolithotomy allowed removal of bladder and urethral stones with rapid postoperative recovery and few major perioperative or short‐term postoperative complications.

Clinical significance

Percutaneous cystolithotomy provides an attractive minimally invasive surgical alternative for removal of lower urinary tract stones in small animals.
Impact of a Training Intervention for Usein Emergency Situations on Knowledge and Skills Acquisition by Undergraduate Students
Authors: Meneguin Silmara , Pollo Camila Fernandes , Garuzi Miriane , Miot Helio Amante
Published: March 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an intervention aimed at the enhancing of undergraduate students in emergency situations and to identify the factors related to the acquisition of participants’ knowledge and skills. This was an intervention study using a convenience sample of 424 students from different campuses of a public university in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. Theoretical learning was assessed using pre-test and post-test multiple-choice questions, and skills in basic life support were assessed via simulation using a mannequin, immediate feedback devices and a checklist. The mean knowledge score attained was 15.1 (SD±3.50) on the pre-test and20.9 (SD±3.20) on the post-test (p< 0.001). Regarding basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, the mean scores before and after the training were 36.3(SD=±5.3) and178 (SD± 28.3) respectively (p< 0.001). Age was associated with an increase in knowledge and skills’ score when comparing before and after training scores (p=0.0000). The practical basic life support training intervention received an assessment of 75.4%from students of all areas. The training intervention contributed to improvement in both knowledge of care in emergency situations and basic life support skills. Age was the only factor that independently influenced the development of learning and psychomotor skills.
Capacidad predictiva de las facetas específicas de atención plena sobre ansiedad y depresión: Diferencias de Sexo
Authors: López Zamora Miguel , Jiménez Morales María Isabel
Published: March 2020

La atención plena o mindfulness hace referencia a una disposición general para atender con conciencia el momento presente, que implica la focalización de la misma con una actitud activa de aceptación y libre de juicios. Aunque los beneficios del mindfulness en el ámbito clínico son conocidos, el objetivo de este estudio es analizar las relaciones únicas entre facetas específicas de mindfulness y síntomas concretos de ansiedad y depresión en población española, así como las diferencias de sexo, considerando el efecto de la personalidad. En este estudio se empleó una muestra de 176 sujetos (51.7 % mujeres, 48.3 % hombres), con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 69 años (M = 29; SD = 9.66), de las regiones de Murcia y Andalucía (España). Los resultados del análisis de regresión lineal mostraron que, en mujeres con alta ansiedad, la faceta de Describir es capaz de predecir sintomatología ansioso-depresiva, mientras que, en el caso de los hombres, son las facetas de No juzgar y No reaccionar. En mujeres con altas puntuaciones en depresión, las facetas que mejor predicen sintomatología específica son Describir y No juzgar, mientras que, en el caso de los hombres con alta depresión, es la faceta de No juzgar. En conclusión, los resultados podrán contribuir a la mejora y eficacia de las intervenciones basadas en mindfulness para la prevención y tratamiento de problemas de ansiedad y depresión en hombres y mujeres.
Moral Disengagement in Emerging Adults’ Attitudes towards the Colombian Peace Accords
Authors: Parra Grajales Maria Fernanda , Zamora Vásquez Estefanía , Cuevas Jaramillo María Clara
Published: March 2020

In the framework of Colombia’s peace process, we explore the moral disengagement in the attitudes of Colombians from Cali towards the first version of the Peace Accords. To achieve this, we conducted 12 in-depth interviews with emerging adults. Participant characteristics considered in the study include how they voted in the 2016 peace referendum, age, sex, socioeconomic status and educational level. The transcripts were analyzed through a content analysis applying consensual qualitative research (CQR) guidelines and considering the identity markers mentioned above. The results show that most participants’ discourse presented moral disengagement mechanisms. However, the morality in their attitudes is not adequately comprehended by only analyzing traces of moral disengagement. Other moral elements must be considered, especially since morality appears to be an important aspect of the participants’ attitudes towards topics related to the peace accords. Social implications are discussed.
Psychological Counseling in Portuguese Higher Education: What are the Students’ Needs?
Authors: Carneiro Pinto Joana
Published: March 2020

This study explores the counseling needs of students attending Portuguese higher education. Specifically, a convenience sample of 375 students was surveyed online with the Survey of Student Needs. Descriptive results indicated that “overcoming procrastination”, “job search strategies” and “time management skills” were their main concerns. Inferential results indicated differences according to personal and academic information and present living conditions, particularly in regard to personal counseling needs. Also, a linear regression analysis found that gender, academic satisfaction and satisfaction with current living conditions had a predictive effect on counseling needs, and that students had a preference for individual counseling. Conclusions are drawn about the importance of developing interventions targeting specific clients.
Effect of Manufacturing Process on Lined Pipe Bending Response1
Authors: Gavriilidis Ilias , Karamanos Spyros A.
Published: March 2020

The effects of manufacturing process on mechanically lined pipe structural performance are investigated. Alternative manufacturing processes are considered, associated with either purely hydraulic or thermo-hydraulic expansion. The problem is solved numerically, accounting for geometric nonlinearities, local buckling phenomena, inelastic material behavior and contact between the two pipes. A three-dimensional model is developed, which simulates the manufacturing process in the first stage of the analysis and, subsequently, proceeds in the bending analysis of the lined pipe. This integrated two-stage approach constitutes the major contribution of the present research. Thermo-hydraulically expanded lined pipes are examined, with special emphasis on the case of partially heated liners, and reverse plastic loading in the liner pipe wall has been detected during depressurization. Furthermore, the numerical results show that the thermo-mechanical process results in higher mechanical bonding between the two pipes compared with the purely mechanical process and that this bonding is significantly influenced by the level of temperature in the liner pipe. It is also concluded that the value of initial gap between the two pipes before fabrication has a rather small effect on the value of liner buckling curvature. Finally, numerical results on imperfection sensitivity are reported for different manufacturing processes, and the beneficial effect of internal pressure on liner bending response is verified.
Effects of Ball’s Rolling, Gyroscopic, and Spin Slide in a Ball Bearing on Raceway’s Stress and Fatigue Life
Authors: Chen Zhuang , Chen Guanci
Published: March 2020

The motions between the ball and raceway in a ball bearing involve rolling, gyroscopic, and spin slide. These complex motions result in the serious distribution of the friction force. Based on the contact mechanics in tribology, the friction force greatly affects stress and fatigue life. Thus, it is necessary to figure out the effects of the motions and its friction force of ball–raceway contact on the fatigue life of a ball bearing. In this paper, first, the equivalent model of ball–raceway contact was studied and established for the convenience of finite element calculation. Second, the contact mechanics considering the friction force with the friction coefficient from 0 to 0.3 was computed. The influences of the motions and its friction forces of ball–raceway contact on the raceway’s stress were analyzed. Third, based on different structure fatigue life algorithms, the raceway’s fatigue life of the cases with the friction coefficient 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 were studied. The raceway’s fatigue life based on ISO 281-2007 bearing life theory is studied. Results show that the friction force on the contact surface has some influence on the stress and fatigue life to a certain extent. Especially, the ball’s spin has the greatest influence on the stress distribution and fatigue life of the raceway. Thus, for the cases of heavy load and high friction coefficient, the effect of the friction force of ball–raceway contacts cannot be neglected.
Qualitative Assessment of Contact Behavior in Fretting Wear of Dissimilar Mating Pairs Using Frictional Dissipation Energy Density Approach
Authors: Dhaka Pankaj , Prakash Raghu V.
Published: March 2020

Fretting is a damaging phenomenon, generally observed when a mating pair is subjected to a small amplitude of oscillatory motion. The contact behavior in fretting is governed by a complex interaction between mechanical properties of mating pair, contact geometry, and loading conditions. In most of the practical applications, dissimilar materials are chosen for a contacting pair with one of the materials having superior material properties than other so as to replace the worn-out or unfit component during the maintenance. In the literature, many researchers have studied the effect of dissimilar materials on fretting behavior but mainly in the context of hardness. As experimental methodology has been adopted in these studies, the effect of dissimilar material properties has been reported in terms of global variables like wear volume or fretting fatigue life, but its influence on underlying local contact tractions could not be studied. In the present work, a two-dimensional finite element analysis has been carried out for a cylinder-on-plate configuration. The effect of dissimilar materials for the mating pair has been studied by modeling elastic–plastic behavior for combinations of three different materials, namely, SS 304, ASTM A302-B, and aluminum. The validation of the finite element model is carried out by comparing the results of elastic analysis with the analytical solutions available in the literature. The pertinent contact parameters in the context of fretting wear, namely, contact pressure, contact slip, and contact stresses are extracted. A frictional dissipation energy density-based approach is used for the qualitative comparison of the fretting damage for different cases and validated with the literature data.
Ash Recycling: Partnering for Progress
Authors: Barnes Jan M.
Published: March 2020

For several US communities municipal waste combustor (MWC) ash recycling has been a commercial reality for almost a decade with over 1 million tons processed and beneficially used to date. Yet, despite the successes to date a recent report by the Integrated Waste Services Association shows less than 5% of the 7.5 million tons of ash generated in the US is recycled and beneficially used [1]. The technological, scientific and myriad of commercial successes categorically demonstrate the feasibility of ash recycling. The next step is for communities, regulatory agencies, transportation departments, and customers to partner with businesses to recycle their ash stream in an economically and environmentally sound manner. An example of this “partnering for progress” is the focus of this paper. The ash recycling partnership described in this paper was presented the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 1999. Proving that Partnering is a win-win situation for businesses, communities and the environment.
Ash Management Policy in Florida
Authors: Yon Mary Jean
Published: March 2020

Florida has recently revised its policy document concerning beneficial re-use of waste-to energy ash. The following is a reprint of the body of that document, without the appendices.
Preserving and Enhancing Energy Revenues From a Small RRF in a Deregulated Environment
Authors: Bilmes Jonathan S.
Published: March 2020

Restructuring of the electric utility industry has received much attention in the national media as higher electric rates have been experienced this year in major population centers such as San Diego, CA and Westchester County, NY. Further, the lack of adequate electric capacity (and/or the ability to transmit the electricity) has continued to plague major metropolitan areas such as Detroit, MI and Silicon Valley. What role does waste to energy have in helping solve these problems? This paper will discuss the real life experience of a waste to energy project (Bristol, CT Resource Recovery Facility) in the rapidly changing world of electric deregulation. When Connecticut passed its restructuring legislation in 1998 (Public Act 98-28), no one realized how much effort would have to be spent at the agency level to preserve and protect existing power purchase agreements, especially those with “above market” pricing structures. In a state such as Connecticut where the adopted legislation was considered very favorable to private power producers such as waste to energy, many surprises have occurred during the implementation of the legislation. Understanding how Connecticut’s electric restructuring legislation has been implemented will help those with interests in any waste to energy, landfill gas, biomass or other renewable power source be better prepared to manage similar state and federal legislative initiatives.
Getting More From Selling Your Energy: “An Indianapolis Experience”
Authors: Toombs David J.
Published: March 2020

Indianapolis is well known as the world’s racing capital with the Indy 500, Brickyard 400, and Formula One events. It is also called the Cross-Roads of America, due to being centrally located in the United States. It has an estimated population of 890,000 and the Metropolitan Service Area has a total population of 1,500,000.
Ankle Bracing Alters Coordination and Coordination Variability in Individuals With and Without Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Jagodinsky Adam E. , Wilburn Christopher , Moore Nick , Fox John W. , Weimar Wendi H.
Published: March 2020

Context: Ankle bracing is an effective form of injury prophylaxis implemented for individuals with and without chronic ankle instability, yet mechanisms surrounding bracing efficacy remain in question. Ankle bracing has been shown to invoke biomechanical and neuromotor alterations that could influence lower-extremity coordination strategies during locomotion and contribute to bracing efficacy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle bracing on lower-extremity coordination and coordination dynamics during walking in healthy individuals, ankle sprain copers, and individuals with chronic ankle instability. Design: Mixed factorial design. Setting: Laboratory setting. Participants: Forty-eight recreationally active individuals (16 per group) participated in this cross-sectional study. Intervention: Participants completed 15 trials of over ground walking with and without an ankle brace. Main Outcome Measures: Coordination and coordination variability of the foot–shank, shank–thigh, and foot–thigh were assessed during stance and swing phases of the gait cycle through analysis of segment relative phase and relative phase deviation, respectively. Results: Bracing elicited more synchronous, or locked, motion of the sagittal plane foot–shank coupling throughout swing phase and early stance phase, and more asynchronous motion of remaining foot–shank and foot–thigh couplings during early swing phase. Bracing also diminished coordination variability of foot–shank, foot–thigh, and shank–thigh couplings during swing phase of the gait cycle, indicating greater pattern stability. No group differences were observed. Conclusions: Greater stability of lower-extremity coordination patterns as well as spatiotemporal locking of the foot–shank coupling during terminal swing may work to guard against malalignment at foot contact and contribute to the efficacy of ankle bracing. Ankle bracing may also act antagonistically to interventions fostering functional variability.
FGF9 and FGF10 activate distinct signaling pathways to direct lung epithelial specification and branching
Authors: Yin Yongjun , Ornitz David M.
Published: March 2020

FGF9 and FGF10 preferentially activate distinct receptors and signaling pathways in the mouse lung epithelium.
A Biosynthetic Platform for Antimalarial Drug Discovery
Authors: Wilkinson Mark D. , Lai Hung-En , Freemont Paul S. , Baum Jake
Published: March 2020

Advances in synthetic biology have enabled the production of a variety of compounds using bacteria as a vehicle for complex compound biosynthesis. Violacein, a naturally occurring indole pigment with antibiotic properties, can be biosynthetically engineered in
Escherichia coli
expressing its nonnative synthesis pathway. To explore whether this synthetic biosynthesis platform could be used for drug discovery, here we have screened bacterially derived violacein against the main causative agent of human malaria,
Plasmodium falciparum
.
Combining Random Mutagenesis and Metabolic Engineering for Enhanced Tryptophan Production in
Synechocystis
sp. Strain PCC 6803
Authors: Deshpande Arnav , Vue Jeremiah , Morgan John
Published: March 2020

Aromatic amino acids such as tryptophan are primarily used as additives in the animal feed industry and are typically produced using genetically engineered heterotrophic organisms such as
Escherichia coli
. This involves a two-step process, where the substrate such as molasses is first obtained from plants followed by fermentation by heterotrophic organisms. We have engineered photoautotrophic cyanobacterial strains by a combination of random mutagenesis and metabolic engineering. These strains grow on CO
2
as the sole carbon source and utilize light as the sole energy source to produce tryptophan, thus converting the two-step process into a single step. Our results show that combining random mutagenesis and metabolic engineering was superior to either approach alone. This study also builds a foundation for further engineering of cyanobacteria for industrial tryptophan production.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Burkholderia
sp. Strain THE68, a Bacterial Symbiont Isolated from Midgut Crypts of the Seed Bug Togo hemipterus
Authors: Takeshita Kazutaka , Jang Seonghan , Kikuchi Yoshitomo
Published: March 2020

Burkholderia
sp. strain THE68 is a bacterial symbiont isolated from the midgut crypts of a phytophagous stink bug,
Togo hemipterus
. Here, we report the complete 7.98-Mb genome of this symbiont, which consists of six circular replicons containing 7,238 protein coding genes.
Genome Sequence of a Segmented Filamentous Bacterium Strain That Confers a Rotavirus Resistance Phenotype in Mice
Authors: Shi Zhenda , Zhao Chunyu , Mattei Lisa M. , Bittinger Kyle , Jiang Baoming , Gewirtz Andrew T.
Published: March 2020

Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) are well appreciated for eliciting Th17 cell immune responses. Here, we report the genome sequence of a murine isolate of SFB, which confers strong protection against rotavirus infection independent of acquired immunity.
Genome Sequences of Clinical Isolates of NDM-1-Producing Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp.
similipneumoniae
and KPC-2-Producing Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp.
quasipneumoniae
from Brazil
Authors: Fuga Bruna , Cerdeira Louise , Andrade Flávio , Zaccariotto Tania , Esposito Fernanda , Cardoso Brenda , Rodrigues Larissa , Neves Ingrith , Levy Carlos E. , Lincopan Nilton
Published: March 2020

Klebsiella quasipneumoniae
is an emerging pathogen in human medicine. We report draft genome sequences of NDM-1- and KPC-2-producing
K. quasipneumoniae
strains from inpatients in Brazil.
K. quasipneumoniae
subsp.
quasipneumoniae
and
K. quasipneumoniae
subsp.
similipneumoniae
harbored broad resistomes. These data could contribute to a better understanding of acquired resistance in
K. quasipneumoniae
.
Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus ratti JH145
Authors: Garrett Sandra C. , Olson Sara , Graveley Brenton R.
Published: March 2020

We report here the complete genome sequence of
Streptococcus ratti
strain JH145.
Streptococcus ratti
is a cariogenic species of mutans streptococcus that has been isolated from rat and human teeth. The strain JH145, derived from strain BHT-2, is interesting for oral health because it does not produce cariogenic lactic acid but shows robust biofilm production.
Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Two Populations of Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) Based on 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Data
Authors: Serrano Wilbert , Olaechea Raul M. , Tarazona Ulrike I.
Published: March 2020

Despite the importance of the Peruvian scallop
Argopecten purpuratus
as a major cultivated species, information on its microbiota is limited. Here, we provide a high-throughput sequencing data analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons from the distal intestine of
A. purpuratus
. Geographical and seasonal variation of the indigenous gut microbiota is shown.
Complete Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium xenopi JCM15661
T
, Obtained Using Nanopore and Illumina Sequencing Technologies
Authors: Yoshida Mitsunori , Fukano Hanako , Asakura Takanori , Hisatsune Junzo , Hoshino Yoshihiko
Published: March 2020

Mycobacterium xenopi
is a slow-growing mycobacterial organism for which pathogenic features are unclear. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of an
M. xenopi
type strain. This sequence will provide essential information for future taxonomic and comparative genome studies of these mycobacteria.
Metagenomes in the Borderline Ecosystems of the Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Communities
Authors: Coleine Claudia , Albanese Davide , Onofri Silvano , Tringe Susannah G. , Pennacchio Christa , Donati Claudio , Stajich Jason E. , Selbmann Laura
Published: March 2020

Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities are microbial ecosystems dwelling inside rocks of the Antarctic desert. We present the first 18 shotgun metagenomes from these communities to further characterize their composition, biodiversity, functionality, and adaptation. Future studies will integrate taxonomic and functional annotations to examine the pathways necessary for life to evolve in the extremes.
Spinal arteriovenous malformation without endovascular arterial access: is a combined neurosurgical approach and direct venous puncture an option?
Authors: Pagiola Igor , Caroff Jildaz , Mihalea Cristian , Aghakhani Nozar , Ikka Léon , Chalumeau Vanessa , Iacobucci Marta , Ozanne Augustin , Gallas Sophie , Carrete Henrique , Marques Marcio Chaves , Nalli Darcio , Caldas Jose Guilherme , Frudit Michel Eli , Moret Jacques , Parker Fabrice , Spelle Laurent
Published: March 2020

This case report describes a combined neurosurgical and endovascular approach for the treatment of a conus medullaris arteriovenous malformation resulting in considerable improvement in the patient’s neurological condition (modified Rankin Scale score 2).
Surgical excision of post-traumatic myositis ossificans of the adductor longus in a football player
Authors: de Smet Gijs Herman Joseph , Buijk Steven E , Weir Adam
Published: March 2020

A football player was diagnosed with myositis ossificans of his right adductor longus muscle after an acute injury. Conservative treatment failed and 1 year after the initial trauma the patient underwent surgical excision of a large ossification. Seven months postoperatively, the patient was fully recovered and returned to his preinjury activity levels. We present our approach to this case and discuss our considerations, referring to background information about this rare disease.
Direct non-medical and indirect costs of diabetes and its associated complications in Vietnam: an estimation using national health insurance claims from a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Kieu Thi Tuyet Mai , Trinh Hong Nhung , Pham Huy Tuan Kiet , Nguyen Thanh Binh , Ng Junice Yi Siu
Published: March 2020

Objective

The prevalence of diabetes in Vietnam has increased from 2.5% in 2007 to 5.5% in 2017, but the burden of direct non-medical and indirect costs is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the direct non-medical costs and indirect costs due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated complications among Vietnam Health Insurance System (VHIS) enrollees in Vietnam.

Design

The first phase was a cross-sectional survey of patients with T2DM. In the second phase, data from the previous phase were used to predict direct non-medical costs and presenteeism costs of VHIS enrollees diagnosed with T2DM based on demographic and clinical characteristics in 2017. The human-capital approach was used for the calculation of indirect costs.

Setting and participants

This study recruited 315 patients from a national hospital, a provincial hospital and a district hospital aged 18 or above, diagnosed with T2DM, enrolled in VHIS, and having at least one visit to hospitals between 1 June and 30 July 2018. The VHIS dataset contained 1,395,204 patients with T2DM.

Outcome measures

The direct non-medical costs and presenteeism were collected from the survey. Absenteeism costs were estimated from the VHIS database. Costs of premature mortality were calculated based on the estimates from secondary sources.

Results

The total direct non-medical and indirect costs were US$239 million in 2017. Direct non-medical costs were US$78 million, whereas indirect costs were US$161 million. Costs of absenteeism, presenteeism and premature mortality corresponded to 17%, 73% and 10% of the indirect costs. Patients incurred annual mean direct non-medical costs of US$56. Annual mean absenteeism and presenteeism costs for patients in working age were US$61 and US$267, respectively.

Conclusions

The impact of T2DM on direct non-medical and indirect costs on diabetes is substantial. Direct non-medical and absenteeism costs were higher in patients with complications.
Anticipated impacts of Brexit scenarios on UK food prices and implications for policies on poverty and health: a structured expert judgement approach
Authors: Barons Martine Jayne , Aspinall Willy
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Food insecurity is associated with increased risk for several health conditions and with poor chronic disease management. Key determinants for household food insecurity are income and food costs. Whereas short-term household incomes are likely to remain static, increased food prices would be a significant driver of food insecurity.

Objectives

To investigate food price drivers for household food security and its health consequences in the UK under scenarios of Deal and No-deal for Britain’s exit from the European Union. To estimate the 5% and 95% quantiles of the projected price distributions.

Design

Structured expert judgement elicitation, a well-established method for quantifying uncertainty, using experts. In July 2018, each expert estimated the median, 5% and 95% quantiles of changes in price for 10 food categories under Brexit Deal and No-deal to June 2020 assuming Brexit had taken place on 29 March 2019. These were aggregated based on the accuracy and informativeness of the experts on calibration questions.

Participants

Ten specialists with expertise in food procurement, retail, agriculture, economics, statistics and household food security.

Results

When combined in proportions used to calculate Consumer Price Index food basket costs, median food price change for Brexit with a Deal is expected to be +6.1% (90% credible interval −3% to +17%) and with No-deal +22.5% (90% credible interval +1% to +52%).

Conclusions

The number of households experiencing food insecurity and its severity is likely to increase because of expected sizeable increases in median food prices after Brexit. Higher increases are more likely than lower rises and towards the upper limits, these would entail severe impacts. Research showing a low food budget leads to increasingly poor diet suggests that demand for health services in both the short and longer terms is likely to increase due to the effects of food insecurity on the incidence and management of diet-sensitive conditions.
How valid are projections of the future prevalence of diabetes? Rapid reviews of prevalence-based and Markov chain models and comparisons of different models’ projections for England
Authors: Bevan Gwyn , De Poli Chiara , Keng Mi Jun , Raine Rosalind
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To examine validity of prevalence-based models giving projections of prevalence of diabetes in adults, in England and the UK, and of Markov chain models giving estimates of economic impacts of interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

Rapid reviews of both types of models. Estimation of the future prevalence of T2D in England by Markov chain models; and from the trend in the prevalence of diabetes, as reported in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), estimated by ordinary least squares regression analysis.

Setting

Adult population in England and UK.

Main outcome measure

Prevalence of T2D in England and UK in 2025.

Results

The prevalence-based models reviewed use sample estimates of past prevalence rates by age and sex and projected population changes. Three most recent models, including that of Public Health England (PHE), neither take account of increases in obesity, nor report Confidence Intervals (CIs). The Markov chain models reviewed use transition probabilities between states of risk and death, estimated from various sources. None of their accounts give the full matrix of transition probabilities, and only a minority report tests of validation. Their primary focus is on estimating the ratio of costs to benefits of preventive interventions in those with hyperglycaemia, only one reported estimates of those developing T2D in the absence of a preventive intervention in the general population.

Projections of the prevalence of T2D in England in 2025 were (in millions) by PHE, 3.95; from the QOF trend, 4.91 and by two Markov chain models, based on our review, 5.64 and 9.07.

Conclusions

To inform national policies on preventing T2D, governments need validated models, designed to use available data, which estimate the scale of incidence of T2D and survival in the general population, with and without preventive interventions.
Effect of fingolimod on MRI outcomes in patients with paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis: results from the phase 3 PARADIGMSstudy
Authors: Arnold Douglas L , Banwell Brenda , Bar-Or Amit , Ghezzi Angelo , Greenberg Benjamin M , Waubant Emmanuelle , Giovannoni Gavin , Wolinsky Jerry S , Gärtner Jutta , Rostásy Kevin , Krupp Lauren , Tardieu Marc , Brück Wolfgang , Stites Tracy E , Pearce Gregory L , Häring Dieter A , Merschhemke Martin , Chitnis Tanuja
Published: March 2020

Objective

PARADIGMSdemonstrated superior efficacy and comparable safety of fingolimod versus interferon β-1a (IFN β-1a) in paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS). This study aimed to report all predefined MRI outcomes from this study.

Methods

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) (aged 10–<18 years) were randomised to once-daily oral fingolimod (n=107) or once-weekly intramuscular IFN β-1a (n=108) in this flexible duration study. MRI was performed at baseline and every 6 months for up to 2 years or end of the study (EOS) in case of early treatment discontinuation/completion. Key MRI endpoints included the annualised rate of formation of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions, gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 lesions, new T1 hypointense lesions and combined unique active (CUA) lesions (6 months onward), changes in T2 and Gd+ T1 lesion volumes and annualised rate of brain atrophy (ARBA).

Results

Of the randomised patients, 107 each were treated with fingolimod and IFN β-1a for up to 2 years. Fingolimod reduced the annualised rate of formation of new/newly enlarging T2 lesions (52.6%, p<0.001), number of Gd+ T1 lesions per scan (66.0%, p<0.001), annualised rate of new T1 hypointense lesions (62.8%, p<0.001) and CUA lesions per scan (60.7%, p<0.001) versus IFN β-1a at EOS. The percent increases from baseline in T2 (18.4% vs 32.4%, p<0.001) and Gd+ T1 (–72.3% vs 4.9%, p=0.001) lesion volumes and ARBA (–0.48% vs −0.80%, p=0.014) were lower with fingolimod versus IFN β-1a, the latter partially due to accelerated atrophy in the IFN β-1a group.

Conclusion

Fingolimod significantly reduced MRI activity and ARBA for up to 2 years versus IFN β-1a in PoMS.
Rephasing invariance and permutation symmetry in flavor physics
Authors: Kuo T. K. , Chiu S. H.
Published: March 2020

With some modifications, the arguments for rephasing invariance can be used to establish permutation symmetry for the standard model. The laws of evolution of physical variables, which transform as tensors under permutation, are found to obey the symmetry, explicitly. We also propose to use a set of four mixing parameters, with unique properties, which may serve to characterize flavor mixing.
Probabilistic Topic Modeling for Comparative Analysis of Document Collections
Authors: Hua Ting , Lu Chang-Tien , Choo Jaegul , Reddy Chandan K.
Published: March 2020

Probabilistic topic models, which can discover hidden patterns in documents, have been extensively studied. However, rather than learning from a single document collection, numerous real-world applications demand a comprehensive understanding of the relationships among various document sets. To address such needs, this article proposes a new model that can identify the common and discriminative aspects of multiple datasets. Specifically, our proposed method is a Bayesian approach that represents each document as a combination of common topics (shared across all document sets) and distinctive topics (distributions over words that are exclusive to a particular dataset). Through extensive experiments, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our method compared with state-of-the-art models. The proposed model can be useful for “comparative thinking” analysis in real-world document collections.
DQ-DASH
Authors: Bentaleb Abdelhak , Yadav Praveen Kumar , Ooi Wei Tsang , Zimmermann Roger
Published: March 2020

The significant popularity of HTTP adaptive video streaming (HAS), such as Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), over the Internet has led to a stark increase in user expectations in terms of video quality and delivery robustness. This situation creates new challenges for content providers who must satisfy the Quality-of-Experience (QoE) requirements and demands of their customers over a best-effort network infrastructure. Unlike traditional single server DASH, we developed a
D
istributed
Q
ueuing theory bitrate adaptation algorithm for
DASH
(DQ-DASH) that leverages the availability of multiple servers by downloading segments in parallel. DQ-DASH uses a

M
x
/D/1/K

queuing theory based bitrate selection in conjunction with the request scheduler to download subsequent segments of the same quality through parallel requests to reduce quality fluctuations. DQ-DASH facilitates the aggregation of bandwidth from different servers and increases fault-tolerance and robustness through path diversity. The resulting resilience prevents clients from suffering QoE degradations when some of the servers become congested. DQ-DASH also helps to fully utilize the aggregate bandwidth from the servers and download the imminently required segment from the server with the highest throughput. We have also analyzed the effect of buffer capacity and segment duration for multi-source video streaming.
Assessing and Improving Malware Detection Sustainability through App Evolution Studies
Authors: Cai Haipeng
Published: March 2020

Machine learning–based classification dominates current malware detection approaches for Android. However, due to the evolution of both the Android platform and its user apps, existing such techniques are widely limited by their reliance on new malware samples, which may not be timely available, and constant retraining, which is often very costly. As a result, new and emerging malware slips through, as seen from the continued surging of malware in the wild. Thus, a more practical detector needs not only to be accurate on particular datasets but, more critically, to be able to
sustain
its capabilities over time without frequent retraining. In this article, we propose and study the sustainability problem for learning-based app classifiers. We define sustainability metrics and compare them among five state-of-the-art malware detectors for Android. We further developed
DroidSpan
, a novel classification system based on a new behavioral profile for Android apps that captures sensitive access distribution from lightweight profiling. We evaluated the sustainability of
DroidSpan
versus the five detectors as baselines on longitudinal datasets across the past eight years, which include 13,627 benign apps and 12,755 malware. Through our extensive experiments, we showed that
DroidSpan
significantly outperformed all the baselines in substainability at reasonable costs, by 6%–32% for same-period detection and 21%–37% for over-time detection. The main
takeaway
, which also explains the superiority of
DroidSpan
, is that the use of features consistently differentiating malware from benign apps over time is essential for sustainable learning-based malware detection, and that these features can be learned from studies on app evolution.
The role of the sphingolipid pathway in liver fibrosis: an emerging new potential target for novel therapies
Authors: Ishay Yuval , Nachman Dean , Khoury Tawfik , Ilan Yaron
Published: March 2020

Sphingolipids (SL) are a family of bioactive lipids and a major cellular membrane structural component. SLs include three main compounds: ceramide (Cer), sphingosine (Sp), and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1P), all of which have emerging roles in biological functions in cells, especially in the liver. They are under investigation in various liver diseases, including cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. In this review, we provide an overview on the role of SLs in liver pathobiology and focus on their potential role in the development of hepatic fibrosis. We describe recent evidence and suggest SLs are a promising potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver disease and fibrosis.
Renal tissue Po2sensing during acute hemodilution is dependent on the diluent
Authors: Abrahamson Jessica R. , Read Austin , Chin Kyle , Mistry Nikhil , Joo Hannah , Desjardins Jean-Francois , Liu Elaine , Thai Kerri , Wilson David F. , Vinogradov Sergei A. , Maynes Jason T. , Gilbert Richard E. , Connelly Kim A. , Baker Andrew J. , Mazer C. David , Hare Gregory M. T.
Published: March 2020

Sensing changes in blood oxygen content ([Formula: see text]) is an important physiological role of the kidney; however, the mechanism(s) by which the kidneys sense and respond to changes in [Formula: see text] are incompletely understood. Accurate measurements of kidney tissue oxygen tension ([Formula: see text]) may increase our understanding of renal oxygen-sensing mechanisms and could inform decisions regarding the optimal fluid for intravascular volume resuscitation to maintain renal perfusion. In some clinical settings, starch solution may be nephrotoxic, possibly due to inadequacy of tissue oxygen delivery. We hypothesized that hemodilution with starch colloid solutions would reduce [Formula: see text] to a more severe degree than other diluents. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 77) were randomized to undergo hemodilution with either colloid (6% hydroxyethyl starch or 5% albumin), crystalloid (0.9% saline), or a sham procedure (control) ( n = 13–18 rats/group). Data were analyzed by ANOVA with significance assigned at P < 0.05. After hemodilution, mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased marginally in all groups, while hemoglobin (Hb) and [Formula: see text] decreased in proportion to the degree of hemodilution. Cardiac output was maintained in all groups after hemodilution. [Formula: see text] decreased in proportion to the reduction in Hb in all treatment groups. At comparably reduced Hb, and maintained arterial oxygen values, hemodilution with starch resulted in larger decreases in [Formula: see text] relative to animals hemodiluted with albumin or saline ( P < 0.008). Renal medullary erythropoietin (EPO) mRNA levels increased more prominently, relative to other hypoxia-regulated molecules (GLUT-1, GAPDH, and VEGF). Our data demonstrate that the kidney acts as a biosensor of reduced [Formula: see text] following hemodilution and that [Formula: see text] may provide a quantitative signal for renal cellular responsiveness to acute anemia. Evidence of a more severe reduction in [Formula: see text] following hemodilution with starch colloid solution suggests that tissue hypoxia may contribute to starch induced renal toxicity.
Challenging balance during sensorimotor adaptation increases generalization
Authors: Bakkum Amanda , Donelan J. Maxwell , Marigold Daniel S.
Published: March 2020

From reaching to walking, real-life experience suggests that people can generalize between motor behaviors. One possible explanation for this generalization is that real-life behaviors often challenge our balance. We propose that the exacerbated body motions associated with balance-challenged whole body movements increase the value to the nervous system of using a comprehensive internal model to control the task. Because it is less customized to a specific task, a more comprehensive model is also a more generalizable model. Here we tested the hypothesis that challenging balance during adaptation would increase generalization of a newly learned internal model. We encouraged participants to learn a new internal model using prism lenses that created a new visuomotor mapping. Four groups of participants adapted to prisms while performing either a standing-based reaching or precision walking task, with or without a manipulation that challenged balance. To assess generalization after the adaptation phase, participants performed a single trial of each of the other groups’ tasks without prisms. We found that both the reaching and walking balance-challenged groups showed significantly greater generalization to the equivalent, nonadapted task than the balance-unchallenged groups. Additionally, we found some evidence that all groups generalized across tasks, for example, from walking to reaching and vice versa, regardless of balance manipulation. Overall, our results demonstrate that challenging balance increases the degree to which a newly learned internal model generalizes to untrained movements.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Real-life experience indicates that people can generalize between motor behaviors. Here we show that challenging balance during the learning of a new internal model increases the degree of generalization to untrained movements for both reaching and walking tasks. These results suggest that the effects of challenging balance are not specific to the task but instead apply to motor learning more broadly.
Intraplatelet L-Arginine-Nitric Oxide Metabolic Pathway: From Discovery to Clinical Implications in Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders
Authors: Gawrys Jakub , Gajecki Damian , Szahidewicz-Krupska Ewa , Doroszko Adrian
Published: March 2020

Despite the development of new drugs and other therapeutic strategies, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains still the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world population. A lot of research, performed mostly in the last three decades, revealed an important correlation between “classical” demographic and biochemical risk factors for CVD, (i.e., hypercholesterolemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, smoking, renal failure, aging, diabetes, and hypertension) with endothelial dysfunction associated directly with the nitric oxide deficiency. The discovery of nitric oxide and its recognition as an endothelial-derived relaxing factor was a breakthrough in understanding the pathophysiology and development of cardiovascular system disorders. The nitric oxide synthesis pathway and its regulation and association with cardiovascular risk factors were a common subject for research during the last decades. As nitric oxide synthase, especially its endothelial isoform, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of NO bioavailability, inhibiting its function results in the increase in the cardiovascular risk pattern. Among agents altering the production of nitric oxide, asymmetric dimethylarginine—the competitive inhibitor of NOS—appears to be the most important. In this review paper, we summarize the role of L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in cardiovascular disorders with the focus on intraplatelet metabolism.
Capsaicin Alleviates the Deteriorative Mitochondrial Function by Upregulating 14-3-3η in Anoxic or Anoxic/Reoxygenated Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Qiao Yang , Hu Tianhong , Yang Bin , Li Hongwei , Chen Tianpeng , Yin Dong , He Huan , He Ming
Published: March 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are byproducts of a defective electron transport chain (ETC). The redox couples, GSH/GSSG and NAD+/NADH, play an essential role in physiology as internal defenses against excessive ROS generation by facilitating intracellular/mitochondrial (mt) redox homeostasis. Anoxia alone and anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) are dissimilar pathological processes. In this study, we measured the impact of capsaicin (Cap) on these pathological processes using a primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocyte in vitro model. The results showed that overproduction of ROS was tightly associated with disturbed GSH/GSSG and NAD+/NADH suppressed mt complex I and III activities, decreased oxygen consumption rates, and elevated extracellular acidification rates. During anoxia or A/R period, these indices interact with each other causing the mitochondrial function to worsen. Cap protected cardiomyocytes against the different stages of A/R injury by rescuing NAD+/NADH, GSH/GSSG, and mt complex I/III activities and cellular energy metabolism. Importantly, Cap-mediated upregulation of 14-3-3η, a protective phosphoserine-binding protein in cardiomyocytes, ameliorated mt function caused by a disruptive redox status and an impaired ETC. In conclusion, redox pair, mt complex I/III, and metabolic equilibrium were significantly different in anoxia alone and A/R injury; Cap through upregulating 14-3-3η plays a protection against the above injury in cardiomyocyte.