bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Slow pace of antileishmanial drug development
Authors: Kumar Awanish , Pandey Satish Chandra , Samant Mukesh
Published: March 2018

The protozoan parasiteLeishmaniais endemic in large parts of the world which causes leishmaniasis. Its visceral form is fatal if not treated and is caused mostly byLeishmania donovani,Leishmania infantumandLeishmania chagasi. Given the difficulties linked to vector (sandfly) control and the lack of an effective vaccine, the control of leishmaniasis relies mostly on chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the prevalence of parasites becoming resistant to the first-line drug pentavalent antimony (SbV) is increasing worldwide. Few alternative drugs are available that includes amphotericin B, pentamidine and miltefosine (oral). Already, decreases in efficacy, resistance and toxicity have been noted against these drugs. Dry antileishmanial pipeline further indicates the slow pace of drug discovery in this field where resistance as a major barrier. Full understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of the parasite is lagging. Since leishmaniasis is a neglected disease and occurs predominantly in the developing world largely, therefore, it is unaddressed. The pharma industry argues that development of the new drug is too costly and risky to invest in low return neglected diseases is very high. Research is also needed to identify new and effective drug targets. The lack of drug research and development for neglected diseases will require some new strategies. We have discussed the various cause of slow pace of antileishmanial drug discovery in this review to pay attention of researchers and also take the public and private initiative to make the process fast for new antileishmanial drug development.
Neighbourhood food environments: food choice, foodscapes and planning for health
Authors: Lake Amelia A
Published: March 2018

The burden of obesity contributes to increasing health inequality, and placing healthcare systems under huge strain. The modern society could broadly be described to support unhealthful eating patterns and sedentary behaviour; also described as obesogenic. Obesity prevention and treatment has focused on educational and behavioural interventions, with limited overall success. A sustainable approach is to address the environments that promote less healthy eating and high energy intake as well as sedentary behaviour. Approaches which modify the environment have the potential to assist in the prevention of this complex condition. The present paper focuses on food environments within the context of obesogenic environments. Takeaway and fast food, a fixture of our diet, is usually nutrient poor and energy dense. A ‘concentration effect’ has been observed, where there is a clustering of fast food and takeaway outlets in more deprived areas. Access to food and intake are associated; however, there are methodological challenges in associating the effect of the food environment on obesity. While there is an imperfect evidence base relating to the role of the food environment in terms of the obesity crisis; policy, practice, civic society and industry must work together and take action now, where current evidence suggests a change. Shaping the environment to better support healthful eating decisions has the potential to be a key aspect of a successful obesity prevention intervention.
The ECtHR's Role as a Guardian of Discourse: Safeguarding a Decision-Making Process Based on Well-Established Standards, Practical Rationality, and Facts
Authors: BAADE BJÖRNSTJERN
Published: March 2018

This article argues that understanding the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or the Court) to be that of a guardian of discourse would respect legitimate disagreement among pluralist democracies, while enabling the Court to safeguard human rights in a meaningful and effective way.

From the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR or the Convention) and the Court's jurisprudence, three basic standards of review can be distilled: First, wherever the Convention's requirements are sufficiently concrete, the Court holds contracting states to well-established standards. Second, when applying broad, abstract and relative Convention rights, the Court safeguards the practical rationality of a democratic decision-making discourse under the rule of law – a substantive review standard that is influenced by procedural factors. Third, the Court also needs to check the facts underlying the case, in order to render its control effective.

By setting ‘soft’ precedent in the form of factors that guide future decision-making without entirely prejudging it, and by taking into account second-order reasons concerning its legitimacy to intervene, the Court is acting as a second player in states’ decision-making discourse. Its task is not to replace the institutions originally responsible for taking the decision, but to ensure that they conform to their own role.
The typological effects of ABC constraint definitions
Authors: Bennett Wm. G. , DelBusso Natalie
Published: March 2018

Recent work under the theoretical banner of Agreement by Correspondence (ABC) has produced a variety of different – and sometimes contradictory – formulations of the constraints central to this framework. In OT, the effects of such definitional choices come out in the factorial typologies they predict. Yet knowing what languages a theoretical system derives is insufficient unless we know why it does so. This requires analysis of the internal ranking structures of the typology itself. This paper compares the typologies produced under different proposed modifications to the main ABC constraints. We analyse the typologies in Property Theory, a theory of typological organisation in OT. Our analyses show that all variations have a common core structure, and that differences in their factorial typologies reduce to differences in how this common structure expands and iterates for different features. This allows for precise delineation of how and why different ABC constraint definitions affect typologies.
Ultrasonographic diagnosis of diaphragm paralysis in a neonate during mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery
Authors: Nozaki Yoshihiro , Lin Lisheng , Kato Yoshiaki
Published: March 2018

Diaphragm excursion method is unsuitable for diagnosis of diaphragm paralysis during positive pressure ventilation. We diagnosed diaphragm paralysis in a neonate, without interrupting positive pressure respiratory support after cardiac surgery, using the diaphragm thickness fraction, which could be evaluated during mechanical ventilation and was unaffected by bowel gases. The diaphragm thickness fraction method can help diagnose diaphragm dysfunction using only echography.
Spanish Version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale: Validation and Factorial Invariance Analysis in Chile
Authors: Bagherzadeh Mehdi , Loewe Nicolas , Mouawad Roy G. , Batista-Foguet Joan Manuel , Araya-Castillo Luis , Thieme Claudio
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study is to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Satisfaction with Life scale (SWLS) on a representative sample of the Chilean population (N = 1,500); (2) test the factorial invariance of the SWLS across gender and employment status (henceforth status); and (3) provide normative data of the SWLS for Chile. Results suggest that the Spanish version of the SWLS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring global life satisfaction in Chile and for comparison across gender and status. Confirmatory factor analysis shows support, across all groups, for a modified single-factor structure of the SWLS that allows error terms of items 1 and 2 to correlate (GFI > .98; RMSEA < .08). Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ranges between .68 and .84 for different groups, with an average value of .80 for the total sample. The SWLS scores converge with an alternative single-item measure of life satisfaction (r = .63, p < .001) and with measures of conceptually related constructs. The factorial structure of the scale is invariant with respect to gender and status (CFI > .99; RMSEA < .06). Metric invariance holds for gender (ΔCFI = 0; RMSEA = .051) and status (Δχ2 = 23.93, nonsignificant; ∆CFI = 0; RMSEA = .045). Scalar invariance holds for gender and some status combinations; partial scalar invariance holds for the rest. Mean levels of life satisfaction can be compared across gender and status, albeit cautiously for status combinations for which scalar invariance does not hold.
House Science Subcommittee Hearing Targets Sexual Harassment
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: March 2018

Witnesses testified about the culture that allows sexual harassment to persist, harassment’s impact on individuals and the scientific community, and what is being done to combat it.
Redox metals homeostasis in multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a review
Authors: Sheykhansari Sahar , Kozielski Kristen , Bill Joachim , Sitti Metin , Gemmati Donato , Zamboni Paolo , Singh Ajay Vikram
Published: March 2018

The effect of redox metals such as iron and copper on multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been intensively studied. However, the origin of these disorders remains uncertain. This review article critically describes the physiology of redox metals that produce oxidative stress, which in turn leads to cascades of immunomodulatory alteration of neurons in multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Iron and copper overload has been well established in motor neurons of these diseases’ lesions. On the other hand, the role of other metals like cadmium participating indirectly in the redox cascade of neurobiological mechanism is less studied. In the second part of this review, we focus on this less conspicuous correlation between cadmium as an inactive-redox metal and multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, providing novel treatment modalities and approaches as future prospects.
Associations between genomic stratification of breast cancer and centrally reviewed tumour pathology in the METABRIC cohort
Authors: Mukherjee A. , Russell R. , Chin Suet-Feung , Liu B. , Rueda O. M. , Ali H. R. , Turashvili G. , Mahler-Araujo B. , Ellis I. O. , Aparicio S. , Caldas C. , Provenzano E.
Published: March 2018

The integration of genomic and transcriptomic profiles of 2000 breast tumours from the METABRIC [Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium] cohort revealed ten subtypes, termed integrative clusters (IntClust/s), characterised by distinct genomic drivers. Central histopathology (N = 1643) review was undertaken to explore the relationship between these ten molecular subtypes and traditional clinicopathological features. IntClust subtypes were significantly associated with histological type, tumour grade, receptor status, and lymphocytic infiltration (p < 0.0001). Lymph node status and Nottingham Prognostic Index [NPI] categories were also significantly associated with IntClust subtype. IntClust 3 was enriched for tubular and lobular carcinomas, the latter largely accounting for the association with CDH1 mutations in this cluster. Mucinous carcinomas were not present in IntClusts 5 or 10, but did not show an association with any of the remaining IntClusts. In contrast, medullary-like cancers were associated with IntClust 10 (15/26). Hormone receptor-positive tumours were scattered across all IntClusts. IntClust 5 was dominated by HER2 positivity (127/151), including both hormone receptor-positive (60/72) and hormone receptor-negative tumours (67/77). Triple-negative tumours comprised the majority of IntClust 10 (132/159) and around a quarter of IntClust 4 (52/217). Whilst the ten IntClust subtypes of breast cancer show characteristic patterns of association with traditional clinicopathological variables, no IntClust can be adequately identified by these variables alone. Hence, the addition of genomic stratification has the potential to enhance the biological relevance of the current clinical evaluation and facilitate genome-guided therapeutic strategies.
Genome-wide transcriptome analysis identifies alternative splicing regulatory network and key splicing factors in mouse and human psoriasis
Authors: Li Jin , Yu Peng
Published: March 2018

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin, nails, and joints. For understanding the mechanism of psoriasis, though, alternative splicing analysis has received relatively little attention in the field. Here, we developed and applied several computational analysis methods to study psoriasis. Using psoriasis mouse and human datasets, our differential alternative splicing analyses detected hundreds of differential alternative splicing changes. Our analysis of conservation revealed many exon-skipping events conserved between mice and humans. In addition, our splicing signature comparison analysis using the psoriasis datasets and our curated splicing factor perturbation RNA-Seq database, SFMetaDB, identified nine candidate splicing factors that may be important in regulating splicing in the psoriasis mouse model dataset. Three of the nine splicing factors were confirmed upon analyzing the human data. Our computational methods have generated predictions for the potential role of splicing in psoriasis. Future experiments on the novel candidates predicted by our computational analysis are expected to provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of psoriasis and to pave the way for new therapeutic treatments.
Habitat degradation alters trophic pathways but not food chain length on shallow Caribbean coral reefs
Authors: Morillo-Velarde Piedad S. , Briones-Fourzán Patricia , Álvarez-Filip Lorenzo , Aguíñiga-García Sergio , Sánchez-González Alberto , Lozano-Álvarez Enrique
Published: March 2018

Habitat degradation can affect trophic ecology by differentially affecting specialist and generalist species, and the number and type of interspecific relationships. However, the effects of habitat degradation on the trophic ecology of coral reefs have received limited attention. We compared the trophic structure and food chain length between two shallow Caribbean coral reefs similar in size and close to each other: one dominated by live coral and the other by macroalgae (i.e., degraded). We subjected samples of basal carbon sources (particulate organic matter and algae) and the same 48 species of consumers (invertebrates and fishes) from both reefs to stable isotope analyses, and determined the trophic position of consumers and relative importance of various carbon sources for herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. We found that both reefs had similar food chain length and trophic structure, but different trophic pathways. On the coral-dominated reef, turf algae and epiphytes were the most important carbon source for all consumer categories, whereas on the degraded reef, particulate organic matter was a major carbon source for carnivores. Our results suggest that the trophic structure of the communities associated with these reefs is robust enough to adjust to conditions of degradation.
Multidimensional impulsivity as a mediator of early life stress and alcohol dependence
Authors: Kim Shin Tae , Hwang Syung Shick , Kim Hae Won , Hwang Eun Hee , Cho Jaeil , Kang Jee In , Kim Se Joo
Published: March 2018

Early life stress (ELS) leads to increased susceptibility to serious psychiatric problems such as alcohol dependence, but the mechanisms through which ELS affects alcohol dependence are unclear. We investigated the mediating role of multi-dimensional impulsivity in the associations between ELS and alcohol dependence. 330 male patients with alcohol dependence (mean age = 48.39) completed self-rating scales of ELS and several self-report measures of impulsivity as well as balloon analogue risk task (BART). After classifying different dimensions of impulsivity using factor analysis, structural equation modeling was conducted to test the mediation effects of impulsivity between ELS and alcohol dependence severity and social onset of hazardous drinking. Among the participants, 64.8%, 42.1% and 47.9% reported at least one episode of childhood maltreatment, sexual abuse and parental conflict, respectively. Response impulsivity-sensation seeking, reflection impulsivity and aggression partially mediated the association between ELS and severity of alcohol dependence (CFI = 0.902 and RMSEA = 0.079). Reflection impulsivity dimension partially mediated the association between ELS and social onset of hazardous drinking (CFI = 0.939, RMSEA = 0.091). These finding imply that stabilizing vulnerabilities such as reflection impulsivity via intervention programs that target young individuals with ELS may be helpful in delaying the onset of hazardous drinking and prevent alcohol dependence.
Evolution of joint cooperation under phenotypic variations
Authors: Wu Te , Wang Long , Lee Joseph
Published: March 2018

Effects of phenotypic variation on the species-environment systems and the evolution of cooperation under prescribed phenotypic diversity have been well addressed respectively. Interspecies interactions in the context of evolvable phenotypic diversity remain largely unconsidered. We address the evolutionary dynamics by considering evolvable phenotypic variations under group interactions. Each individual carries a capacitor of phenotypes and pays a cost proportional to its volume. A random phenotype from the capacitor is expressed and the population is thus divided into subpopulations. Group interactions happen in each of these subpopulations, respectively. Competition is global. Results show that phenotypic diversity coevolves with cooperation under a wide range of conditions and that tradeoff between expanding capacitor and rising cost leads to an optimal level of phenotypic diversity best promoting cooperation. We also find that evolved high levels of phenotypic diversity can occasionally collapse due to the invasion of defector mutants, suggesting that cooperation and phenotypic diversity can mutually reinforce each other.
Impact of the pulse contrast ratio on molybdenum Kα generation by ultrahigh intensity femtosecond laser solid interaction
Authors: Azamoum Y. , Tcheremiskine V. , Clady R. , Ferré A. , Charmasson L. , Utéza O. , Sentis M.
Published: March 2018

We present an extended experimental study of the absolute yield of Kα x-ray source (17.48 keV) produced by interaction of an ultrahigh intensity femtosecond laser with solid Mo target for temporal contrast ratios in the range of 1.7 × 107–3.3 × 109 and on three decades of intensity 1016–1019  W/cm². We demonstrate that for intensity I ≥ 2 × 1018  W/cm² Kα x-ray emission is independent of the value of contrast ratio. In addition, no saturation of the Kα photon number is measured and a value of ~2 × 1010 photons/sr/s is obtained at 10 Hz and I ~1019  W/cm². Furthermore, Kα energy conversion efficiency reaches the same high plateau equal to ~2 × 10−4 at I = 1019  W/cm² for all the studied contrast ratios. This original result suggests that relativistic J × B heating becomes dominant in these operating conditions which is supposed to be insensitive to the electron density gradient scale length L/λ. Finally, an additional experimental study performed by changing the angle of incidence of the laser beam onto the solid target highlights a clear signature of the interplay between collisionless absorption mechanisms depending on the contrast ratio and intensity.
Causes and risk factors for singleton stillbirth in Japan: Analysis of a nationwide perinatal database, 2013–2014
Authors: Haruyama Rei , Gilmour Stuart , Ota Erika , Abe Sarah K. , Rahman Md. Mizanur , Nomura Shuhei , Miyasaka Naoyuki , Shibuya Kenji
Published: March 2018

Over 80% of perinatal mortality in Japan is due to stillbirths after 22 weeks of gestation, with one in 300 families experiencing fetal loss every year. This study aimed to assess causes and risk factors for singleton stillbirth in Japan. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology Perinatal Database from January 2013 to December 2014. A total of 379,211 births including 2,133 stillbirths were analyzed. Causes of death were classified into eight categories. A multi-level Poisson regression model was used to assess the relationship between stillbirth and key covariates. Causes of death were unknown in 25–40% of stillbirths across gestational age. Placental abnormality accounted for the largest proportion of known causes, followed by umbilical cord abnormality. Stillbirth risk was increased among small-for-gestational-age infants (adjusted relative risk [ARR]: 3.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.31–4.32) and nulliparous women (ARR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05–1.35). Maternal underweight, pregnancy-induced hypertension and oligohydramnios showed a protective effect. Our finding suggests that stillbirths occurring among women with known complications are likely already being prevented. Further reduction in stillbirths must target small-sized fetuses and nulliparous women. Improved recording of the causal pathways of stillbirths is also needed.
Fast and efficient wireless power transfer via transitionless quantum driving
Authors: Paul Koushik , Sarma Amarendra K.
Published: March 2018

Shortcut to adiabaticity (STA) techniques have the potential to drive a system beyond the adiabatic limits. Here, we present a robust and efficient method for wireless power transfer (WPT) between two coils based on the so-called transitionless quantum driving (TQD) algorithm. We show that it is possible to transfer power between the coils significantly fast compared to its adiabatic counterpart. The scheme is fairly robust against the variations in the coupling strength and the coupling distance between the coils. Also, the scheme is found to be reasonably immune to intrinsic losses in the coils.
Biological Age is a predictor of mortality in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Soriano-Tárraga Carolina , Giralt-Steinhauer Eva , Mola-Caminal Marina , Ois Angel , Rodríguez-Campello Ana , Cuadrado-Godia Elisa , Fernández-Cadenas Israel , Cullell Natalia , Roquer Jaume , Jiménez-Conde Jordi
Published: March 2018

Age and stroke severity are the main mortality predictors after ischemic stroke. However, chronological age and biological age are not exactly concordant. Age-related changes in DNA methylation in multiple CpG sites across the genome can be used to estimate biological age, which is influenced by lifestyle, environmental factors, and genetic variation. We analyzed the impact of biological age on 3-month mortality in ischemic stroke. We assessed 594 patients with acute ischemic stroke in a cohort from Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) and validated the results in an independent cohort. Demographic and clinical data, including chronological age, vascular risk factors, initial stroke severity (NIHSS score), recanalization treatment, and previous modified Rankin scale were registered. Biological age was estimated with an algorithm based on DNA methylation in 71 CpGs. Biological age was predictive of 3-month mortality (p = 0.041; OR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.10), independently of NIHSS score, chronological age, TOAST, vascular risk factors, and blood cell composition. Stratified by TOAST classification, biological age was associated with mortality only in large-artery atherosclerosis etiology (p = 0.004; OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.04–1.25). As estimated by DNA methylation, biological age is an independent predictor of 3-month mortality in ischemic stroke regardless of chronological age, NIHSS, previous modified Rankin scale, and vascular risk factors.
How zinc ions shift and enhance the nucleotide's fluorescence spectra
Authors: Omerzu A. , Turel I.
Published: March 2018

Zinc–nucleotide complexes in alkaline solutions exhibit strong fluorescence enhancement and red shift, thus enabling an optical discrimination between the nucleotides.
A thermochromic luminous polyurethane based on long persistent luminescent phosphors and thermochromic pigment
Authors: Tian Saiqi , Wen Jiating , Fan Haojun , Chen Yi , Yan Jun
Published: March 2018

A thermochromic luminous polyurethane, which can reversibly change its color and fluorescence emission with temperature, was prepared through incorporating long persistent luminescent phosphors and thermochromic pigment.
Construction of needle-like crystalline AgO ordered structures from Ag nanoparticles and their properties
Authors: Tian Hua , Zhang Zhi-ying , Liu Chun-yan
Published: March 2018

Well-ordered AgO needle-like structures were first prepared by electrochemical oxidation, showing excellent high rate discharge ability as a battery cathode.
The role of thermal annealing on the microstructures of (Ti, Fe)-alloyed Si thin-film anodes for high-performance Li-ion batteries
Authors: Oh Minsub , Kim Ilwhan , Lee Hoo-Jeong , Hyun Seungmin , Kang Chiwon
Published: March 2018

We investigated the role of annealing on the microstructural changes and cyclic stability of (Ti, Fe)-alloyed Si thin-film anodes.
Physical process-aided fabrication of periodic Au–M (M = Ag, Cu, Ag–Cu) alloyed nanoparticle arrays with tunable localized surface plasmon resonance and diffraction peaks
Authors: Zhang Honghua , Wang Chu , Li Huilin , Jiang Longfa , Men Dandan , Wang Jun , Xiang Junhuai
Published: March 2018

An interesting and facile physical route is proposed to fabricate multi-elemental alloyed nanoparticle arrays with controllable size, composition and periodicity.
RGD-modified dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase conjugated to titanium dioxide nanoparticles –switchableintegrin-targeted photodynamic treatment of melanoma cells
Authors: Dayan Avraham , Fleminger Gideon , Ashur-Fabian Osnat
Published: March 2018

This work presents a UVA switchable integrin-targeted photodynamic therapy in melanoma, composed of an RGD-modified DLDH conjugated to TiO2nanoparticles, with high selectivity towards integrin-expressing cancer cells.
Structural study on PVA assisted self-assembled 3D hierarchical iron (hydr)oxides
Authors: Kong Yan , Zhuang Yuan , Yu Jianwei , Han Zhiyong , Shi Baoyou
Published: March 2018

Polymers with hydroxyl groups may have great influence on the formation process of metal oxides due to complexation.
A molecular quantum switch based on tunneling inmeta-d-phenol C6H4DOH
Authors: Fábri Csaba , Albert Sieghard , Chen Ziqiu , Prentner Robert , Quack Martin
Published: March 2018

The concept of a molecular quantum switch is introduced from realistic, quantitative wavepacket analyses of tunneling switching inm-d-phenol.
Abnormal self-discharge in lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Seong Won Mo , Park Kyu-Young , Lee Myeong Hwan , Moon Sehwan , Oh Kyungbae , Park Hyeokjun , Lee Sechan , Kang Kisuk
Published: March 2018

We report that the self-discharge of lithium-ion batteries can be abnormally accelerated when thermal ‘history’ is memorized as the form of an internal ‘parasitic’ lithium source.
Materials discovery by chemical analogy: role of oxidation states in structure prediction
Authors: Davies Daniel W. , Butler Keith T. , Isayev Olexandr , Walsh Aron
Published: March 2018

We have built a model that ascribes probabilities to the formation of hypothetical compounds, given the proposed oxidation states of the constituent species.
Unsaponifiable fraction isolated from grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed oil attenuates oxidative and inflammatory responses in human primary monocytes
Authors: Millan-Linares Maria C. , Bermudez Beatriz , Martin Maria E. , Muñoz Ernesto , Abia Rocio , Millan Francisco , Muriana Francisco J. G. , Montserrat-de la Paz Sergio
Published: March 2018

Grape seed oil has significant potential for the management of inflammatory and oxidative conditions.
Effects of Epilepsy on Language Functions: Scoping Review and Data Mining Findings
Authors: Dutta Manaswita , Murray Laura , Miller Wendy , Groves Doyle
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study involved a scoping review to identify possible gaps in the empirical description of language functioning in epilepsy in adults. With access to social network data, data mining was used to determine if individuals with epilepsy are expressing language-related concerns.

Method

For the scoping review, scientific databases were explored to identify pertinent articles. Findings regarding the nature of epilepsy etiologies, patient characteristics, tested language modalities, and language measures were compiled. Data mining focused on social network databases to obtain a set of relevant language-related posts.

Results

The search yielded 66 articles. Epilepsy etiologies except temporal lobe epilepsy and older adults were underrepresented. Most studies utilized aphasia tests and primarily assessed single-word productions; few studies included healthy control groups. Data mining revealed several posts regarding epilepsy-related language problems, including word retrieval, reading, writing, verbal memory difficulties, and negative effects of epilepsy treatment on language.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the need for future specification of the integrity of language in epilepsy, particularly with respect to discourse and high-level language abilities. Increased awareness of epilepsy-related language issues and understanding the patients' perspectives about their language concerns will allow researchers and speech-language pathologists to utilize appropriate assessments and improve quality of care.
Reading for Meaning: What Influences Paragraph Understanding in Aphasia?
Authors: Webster Janet , Morris Julie , Howard David , Garraffa Maria
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The current study investigated the effect of text variables including length, readability, propositional content, and type of information on the reading comprehension of people with aphasia.

Method

The performance of 75 people with aphasia was compared with 87 healthy, age-matched control participants. Reading comprehension was considered in terms of both accuracy in responding to questions tapping comprehension and reading time. Participants with aphasia (PWA) were divided into 2 groups (no reading impairment [PWA:NRI] and reading impairment [PWA:RI]) depending on whether their performance fell within the 5th percentile of control participants.

Results

As groups, both PWA:NRI and PWA:RI differed significantly from control participants in terms of reading time and comprehension accuracy. PWA:NRI and PWA:RI differed from each other in terms of accuracy but not reading time. There was no significant effect of readability or propositional density on comprehension accuracy or reading time for any of the groups. There was a significant effect of length on reading time but not on comprehension accuracy. All groups found main ideas easier than details, stated information easier than inferred, and had particular difficulty with questions that required integration of information across paragraphs (gist).

Conclusions

Both accuracy of comprehension and reading speed need to be considered when characterizing reading difficulties in people with aphasia.
Waveform design method under dual constraints for radar imaging
Authors: Song Yongping , Hu Jun , Zhu Jiahua , Jin Tian , Zhou Zhimin
Published: March 2018

This study focuses on the cognitive waveform optimisation for radar imaging. Classical cognitive waveform optimisation methods could degrade the point spread function and affect the imaging quality. To achieve high imaging quality, a waveform optimisation method maximising the receiving signal‐to‐clutter ratio under dual constraints including transmitting energy constraint and range profile constraint is designed. The proposed method is based on the response power ratio between a target and clutter, without the requirement of the precise prior knowledge about target and clutter response models. Combined with the shadow ghost mitigation in the through‐wall‐imaging radar (TWIR) imaging application, implementation of the proposed method is discussed. Simulations predict the performance of the proposed method, and through‐wall imaging experiments were conducted, employing an ultra‐wideband stepped frequency continuous waveform TWIR, and indicate that the proposed method can efficiently suppress the shadow ghosts in radar images, and simultaneously guarantee the imaging quality.
Multipath conductors for EMI filter: recent developments
Authors: Verma Rohit Kumar , Maity Tanmoy , Hofsajer Ivan W.
Published: March 2018

This study presents an overview of the multipath conductor concept and some recent developments of multipath conductors especially in the field of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Multipath conductors are made up of several layers of materials with different electromagnetic properties. The conductors are configured to conduct currents in parallel. These current may contain low‐frequency desired currents and undesirable higher frequencies. These multipath conductors are used as a lowpass dissipative filter to reduce EMI in compact power electronics circuits by replacing the conventional filter. This new type of filtering structure has several advantages over the convention filters. The purpose of this study is to review the work done so far in terms of the analytical and software analysis of multipath conductor based EMI filters. This will create interest among the new researchers in this developing field by understanding the basic technique and applications to aid in their research further.
Exoplanet atmospheres with GIANO
Authors: Brogi M. , Giacobbe P. , Guilluy G. , de Kok R. J. , Sozzetti A. , Mancini L. , Bonomo A. S.
Published: March 2018

Context. High-resolution spectroscopy (R ≥ 20 000) at near-infrared wavelengths can be used to investigate the composition, structure, and circulation patterns of exoplanet atmospheres. However, up to now it has been the exclusive dominion of the biggest telescope facilities on the ground, due to the large amount of photons necessary to measure a signal in high-dispersion spectra.

Aims. Here we show that spectrographs with a novel design – in particular a large spectral range – can open exoplanet characterisation to smaller telescope facilities too. We aim to demonstrate the concept on a series of spectra of the exoplanet HD 189 733 b taken at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo with the near-infrared spectrograph GIANO during two transits of the planet.

Methods. In contrast to absorption in the Earth’s atmosphere (telluric absorption), the planet transmission spectrum shifts in radial velocity during transit due to the changing orbital motion of the planet. This allows us to remove the telluric spectrum while preserving the signal of the exoplanet. The latter is then extracted by cross-correlating the residual spectra with template models of the planet atmosphere computed through line-by-line radiative transfer calculations, and containing molecular absorption lines from water and methane.

Results. By combining the signal of many thousands of planet molecular lines, we confirm the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere of HD 189 733 b at the 5.5σ level. This signal was measured only in the first of the two observing nights. By injecting and retrieving artificial signals, we show that the non-detection on the second night is likely due to an inferior quality of the data. The measured strength of the planet transmission spectrum is fully consistent with past CRIRES observations at the VLT, excluding a strong variability in the depth of molecular absorption lines.
A Hybrid High-Order method for Kirchhoff–Love plate bending problems
Authors: Bonaldi Francesco , Di Pietro Daniele A. , Geymonat Giuseppe , Krasucki Françoise
Published: March 2018

We present a novel Hybrid High-Order (HHO) discretization of fourth-order elliptic problems arising from the mechanical modeling of the bending behavior of Kirchhoff–Love plates, including the biharmonic equation as a particular case. The proposed HHO method supports arbitrary approximation orders on general polygonal meshes, and reproduces the key mechanical equilibrium relations locally inside each element. When polynomials of degree k ≥ 1 are used as unknowns, we prove convergence in hk+1 (with h denoting, as usual, the meshsize) in an energy-like norm. A key ingredient in the proof are novel approximation results for the energy projector on local polynomial spaces. Under biharmonic regularity assumptions, a sharp estimate in hk+3 is also derived for the L2-norm of the error on the deflection. The theoretical results are supported by numerical experiments, which additionally show the robustness of the method with respect to the choice of the stabilization.
Global entropy weak solutions for general non-local traffic flow models with anisotropic kernel
Authors: Chiarello Felisia Angela , Goatin Paola
Published: March 2018

We prove the well-posedness of entropy weak solutions for a class of scalar conservation laws with non-local flux arising in traffic modeling. We approximate the problem by a Lax-Friedrichs scheme and we provide L∞ and BV estimates for the sequence of approximate solutions. Stability with respect to the initial data is obtained from the entropy condition through the doubling of variable technique. The limit model as the kernel support tends to infinity is also studied.
Exponential stability and numerical treatment for piezoelectric beams with magnetic effect
Authors: Ramos Anderson J.A. , Gonçalves Cledson S.L. , Corrêa Neto Silvério S.
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we consider a one-dimensional dissipative system of piezoelectric beams with magnetic effect, inspired by the model studied by Morris and Özer (Proc. of 52nd IEEE Conference on Decision & Control (2013) 3014–3019). Our main interest is to analyze the issues relating to exponential stability of the total energy of the continuous problem and reproduce a numerical counterpart in a totally discrete domain, which preserves the important decay property of the numerical energy.
Ruthenium- and Rhodium-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Coupling Reactions of Cyclopropenones with Alkenes or Alkynes
Authors: Kondo Teruyuki , Taniguchi Ryosuke , Kimura Yu
Published: March 2018

Ru3(CO)12-catalyzed divergent ring-opening coupling reactions of a cyclopropenone with methyl acrylate (an electron-deficient alkene) are developed. Under an argon atmosphere, a decarbonylative linear codimer is obtained, while cyclopentenones are obtained under carbon monoxide (20 atm) without decarbonylation. While ruthenium complexes show no catalytic activity for the ring-opening cocyclization of cyclopropenones with ethylene (20 atm) or bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (2-norbornene), rhodium complexes, especially [RhCl(η4-1,5-cod)]2, show high catalytic activity for the desired cocyclization reactions to give the corresponding cyclopentenones in high yields and selectivities. In addition, [RhCl(η4-1,5-cod)]2 realizes the catalytic ring-opening co­cyclization of cyclopropenones with internal alkynes to give the corresponding cyclopentadienones. In all these reactions, ruthena- or rhodacyclobutenones are considered to be key intermediates, generated by strain-driven oxidative addition of a cyclopropenone C–C bond to an ­active ruthenium or rhodium species.
Hereditäres und erworbenes von-Willebrand-Syndrom
Authors: Arnheim Katharina , Westrup Dagmar
Published: March 2018

Das von-Willebrand-Syndroms (VWS) stellt aufgrund seines heterogenen Erscheinungsbilds eine Herausforderung für Diagnostik und Behandlung dar. Es erfordert einen individualisierten Behandlungsansatz und gegebenenfalls ein fein abgestimmtes Management von Blutungsund Thromboserisiko. So sollte zum Beispiel bei der Substitutionstherapie mit von-Willebrand-Faktor-(VWF) Konzentraten eine Überladung mit Faktor VIII (FVIII) vermieden werden, um eine prothrombogene Situation nicht zu verstärken. Auf einem Symposium im Rahmen des GTH-Kongresses 2017 wurde das mitunter komplexe Vorgehen bei Patienten mit kongenitalem VWS wie auch erworbenem VWS in Verbindung mit kardialen Grunderkrankungen vorgestellt und diskutiert.
Antikoagulation in der täglichen Praxis
Authors: Guschmann Michael
Published: March 2018

Das 16. Expertentreffen “Antikoagulation von und für Experten” am 17./18. November in Berlin beleuchtete aktuelle klinische Fragestellungen in zentralen Anwendungsgebieten, in denen NMHs weiterhin unverzichtbar sind. Diskutiert wurden z. B. Schwangere, Tumorpatienten sowie pharmakologische Besonderheiten der NMH als noch immer breit verwendete Antikoagulanzien. Intensiv wurde auch diskutiert, was Biosimilars als Nachahmerpräparate von NMH für den Einsatz in der täglichen Praxis bedeuten könnten, vor allem unter dem Aspekt in der entsprechenden Fachinformation geforderten Nachverfolgbarkeit. Insbesondere wurde thematisiert, ob eine durch den Arzt nicht mehr nachvollziehbare Substitution dieser Biologika in der Apotheke unter Berücksichtigung der Patientensicherheit möglich sein sollte.
Dosimetrie bei Anwendung von 131I bei benignen Schilddrüsenerkrankungen: DIN 6861-1
Authors: Hänscheid Heribert , Verburg Frederik
Published: March 2018

Bei der Behandlung benigner Schilddrüsenerkrankungen mit 131I ist eine prätherapeutische Dosimetrie zur Bemessung der Therapieaktivität und eine Abschätzung der therapeutisch verabreichten Energiedosis in Deutschland gesetzlich vorgeschrieben. Zur Durchführung der Dosimetrie existieren Handlungsempfehlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Nuklearmedizin und der European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Um Methodik und Verfahrensablauf der Dosisbestimmungen national weiter zu harmonisieren, wird aktuell die Norm DIN 6861 – 1 erstellt. Die DIN 6861 – 1 übernimmt viele Empfehlungen der Leitlinien als Forderungen und führt bei den Berechnungen zu vergleichbaren Ergebnissen. Im Detail finden sich aber auch Unterschiede, z. B. wird bei den Berechnungen die Abhängigkeit der absorbierten Energiedosis von der Größe des therapierten Volumens explizit berücksichtigt. Beim Formalismus verlässt die DIN 6861 – 1 die tradierten Schreibweisen und verwendet die international zunehmend als Standard für die Dosimetrie bei innerer Exposition akzeptierte Nomenklatur des Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) Committee of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. Dem Nutzer wird durch die neue DIN-Norm zudem eine vollständige Liste der für eine nachvollziehbare Dosimetrie notwendigen Dokumentation an die Hand gegeben.
Dosimetrie beim Schilddrüsenkarzinom
Authors: Pfestroff Kathrin , Verburg Frederik , Lassmann Michael , Pfestroff Andreas , Schmidt Lothar , Luster Markus
Published: March 2018

Die Radiojodtherapie mit 131I ist ein essenzieller Bestandteil der Behandlung von Patienten mit malignen Schilddrüsenerkrankungen. Die individuelle Dosimetrie ist sowohl prätherapeutisch, um die zu verabreichenden Aktivitäten zu bestimmen, als auch für die Beurteilung der absorbierten Dosen im Tumor bzw. in den Metastasen sowie in „Nicht-Zielorganen“ sinnvoll.

Nationale und internationale Leitlinien empfehlen Methoden und Berechnungsverfahren, die für die Dosimetrie anwendbar sind, aber dem behandelnden Arzt bei der Interpretation der Ergebnisse und der therapeutischen Konsequenz einen Behandlungskorridor bieten. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die Grundprinzipien und Methoden der Dosimetrie und zeigt, wie dosimetrische Untersuchungen in der Radiojodtherapie die Behandlung des Schilddrüsenkarzinoms beeinflussen können.
Comparison of the Revenue Situation in Interventional Radiology Based on the Example of Peripheral Artery Disease in the Case of a DRG Payment System and Various Internal Treatment Charges
Authors: Vogt Florian , Hunold Peter , Haegele Julian , Stahlberg Erik , Barkhausen Jörg , Goltz Jan
Published: March 2018

Purpose Calculation of process-orientated costs for inpatient endovascular treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) from an interventional radiology (IR) perspective. Comparison of revenue situations in consideration of different ways to calculate internal treatment charges (ITCs) and diagnosis-related groups (DRG) for an independent IR department.

Materials and Methods Costs (personnel, operating, material, and indirect costs) for endovascular treatment of PAD patients in an inpatient setting were calculated on a full cost basis. These costs were compared to the revenue situation for IR for five different scenarios: 1) IR receives the total DRG amount. IR receives the following DRG shares using ITCs based on InEK shares for 2) “Radiology” cost center type, 3) “OP” cost center type, 4) “Radiology” and “OP” cost center type, and 5) based on DKG-NT (scale of charges of the German Hospital Society).

Results 78 patients (mean age: 68.6 ± 11.4y) with the following DRGs were evaluated: F59A (n = 6), F59B (n = 14), F59C (n = 20) and F59 D (n = 38). The length of stay for these DRG groups was 15.8 ± 12.1, 9.4 ± 7.8, 2.8 ± 3.7 and 3.4 ± 6.5 days Material costs represented the bulk of all costs, especially if new and complex endovascular procedures were performed. Revenues for neither InEK shares nor ITCs based on DKG-NT were high enough to cover material costs. Contribution margins for the five scenarios were 1 = € 1,539.29, 2 = € –1,775.31, 3 = € –2,579.41, 4 = € –963.43, 5 = € –2,687.22 in F59A, 1 = € –792.67, 2 = € –2,685.00, 3 = € –2,600.81, 4 = € –1,618.94, 5 = € –3,060.03 in F59B, 1 = € –879.87, 2 = € –2,633.14, 3 = € –3,001.07, 4 = € –1,952.33, 5 = € –3,136.24 in F59C and 1 = € 703.65, 2 = € –106.35, 3 = € –773.86, 4 = € 205.14, 5 = € –647.22 in F59 D. InEK shares return on average € 150 – 500 more than ITCs based on the DKG-NT catalog.

Conclusion In this study positive contribution margins were seen only if IR receives the complete DRG amount. InEK shares do not cover incurred costs, with material costs representing the main part of treatment costs. Internal treatment charges based on the DKG-NT catalog provide the worst cost coverage.

Key points 

Citation Format
Endoscopic ultrasound assessment of gastrointestinal polypoid lesions of indeterminate morphology in patients with portal hypertension
Authors: Sigounas Dimitrios , Shams Amanullah , Hayes Peter , Plevris John
Published: March 2018

Background and study aims Polypoid lesions found during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) are occasionally found in patients with portal hypertension (PH). This study aimed to assess the true nature of such polypoid lesions using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and determine the accuracy of UGIE in differentiating between vascular and non-vascular lesions in PH.

Patients and methods We retrospectively assessed all patients with PH referred for EUS due to polypoid lesions of unknown nature at UGIE over a 7-year period. Cases of known varices were excluded. UGIE findings were compared to EUS findings.

Results 66 patients were included (26 male). Commonest UGIE findings were: possible varices (19.4 %), polypoid/neoplastic lesion (52.8 %) and submucosal lesion (16.7 %). After EUS, the final diagnoses were: varices in 25 %, polypoid lesion with underlying vessel/varix in 27.8 % and non-vascular lesion or submucosal lesion in 47.2 %. The diagnostic accuracy of UGIE was suboptimal, since 28.6 % of possible varices were eventually found to be non-vascular, while 15.8 % of polyp/neoplastic looking lesions proved to be varices and 42.1 % were lesions with underlying vessel/varix. 50 % of submucosal lesions were eventually found to be varices.

Conclusion Endoscopists should have a high index of suspicion of varices or polyps related to varices when assessing atypical looking polypoid lesions in patients with PH. In such cases EUS should be considered before obtaining biopsies.
Laryngektomie: Rekonstruktion mit dauerhaftem Speichel-Bypass-Tubus
effektiver
Authors: Kress Peter
Published: March 2018

Piazza C et al. Fasciocutaneous free flaps for reconstruction of hypopharyngeal defects. Laryngoscope 2017;
127: 2731–2737

Pharynxdefekte nach totaler Laryngektomie und zirkumferenzieller oder partieller Pharyngektomie können
verschiedenartig rekonstruiert werden. In einer Vergleichsstudie untersuchten Ärzte des Zentrums für
Kopf-Hals-Chirurgie der Universität von Brescia verschiedene Rekonstruktionsstrategien nach totaler
Laryngektomie. Bestimmt wurden der Erfolg der Lappenrekonstruktionen, das Auftreten pharyngokutaner
Fisteln sowie die pharyngo-ösophageale Stenose-Rate.