bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of illicit glucocorticoid levels in camel hair using competitive ELISA – Comparison with LC–MS/MS
Authors: Ashraf S. Salman , El‐Gahany Wesam , Alraeesi Ayisha , Al‐Hajj Latifa , Al‐Maidalli Ayisha , Shah Iltaf
Published: December 2019

Accurate, sensitive, and rapid screening of performance‐enhancing drugs, including glucocorticoids, is critical to combat doping in animal racing sports. Samples of urine, saliva, and serum are usually used for random screening of controlled substances; however, they tend to provide only acute usage and doping information. Hair testing has the potential to detect long‐term drug use in racing animals. In the present study, commercially available ELISA‐kits were used to rapidly screen and analyze various natural and synthetic glucocorticoids in the hair of camels. The four glucocorticoids that were screened using the competitive ELISA were hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, flumethasone, and methylprednisolone. However, comparison of the results obtained using the ELISA method with our previously published LC–MS/MS assay did not show a good correlation. The results obtained with the ELISA analysis of hair samples of 27 different camels showed that this technique consistently yielded significantly higher levels of glucocorticoids compared with the LC–MS/MS assay. This is an interesting finding and suggests that commercially available ELISA tests may overestimate the amount of glucocorticoids present in camel hair, perhaps due to specificity and cross‐reactivity issues.
Changes in water color shift competition between phytoplankton species with contrasting light‐harvesting strategies
Authors: Luimstra Veerle M. , Verspagen Jolanda M. H. , Xu Tianshuo , Schuurmans J. Merijn , Huisman Jef
Published: December 2019

The color of many lakes and seas is changing, which is likely to affect the species composition of freshwater and marine phytoplankton communities. For example, cyanobacteria with phycobilisomes as light‐harvesting antennae can effectively utilize green or orange‐red light. However, recent studies show that they use blue light much less efficiently than phytoplankton species with chlorophyll‐based light‐harvesting complexes, even though both phytoplankton groups may absorb blue light to a similar extent. Can we advance ecological theory to predict how these differences in light‐harvesting strategy affect competition between phytoplankton species? Here, we develop a new resource competition model in which the absorption and utilization efficiency of different colors of light are varied independently. The model was parameterized using monoculture experiments with a freshwater cyanobacterium and green alga, as representatives of phytoplankton with phycobilisome‐based vs. chlorophyll‐based light‐harvesting antennae. The parameterized model was subsequently tested in a series of competition experiments. In agreement with the model predictions, the green alga won the competition in blue light whereas the cyanobacterium won in red light, irrespective of the initial relative abundances of the species. These results are in line with observed changes in phytoplankton community structure in response to lake brownification. Similarly, in marine waters, the model predicts dominance of Prochlorococcus with chlorophyll‐based light‐harvesting complexes in blue light but dominance of Synechococcus with phycobilisomes in green light, with a broad range of coexistence in between. These predictions agree well with the known biogeographical distributions of these two highly abundant marine taxa. Our results offer a novel trait‐based approach to understand and predict competition between phytoplankton species with different photosynthetic pigments and light‐harvesting strategies.
Effect of spatial scale and latitude on diversity–disease relationships
Authors: Magnusson Magnus , Fischhoff Ilya R. , Ecke Frauke , Hörnfeldt Birger , Ostfeld Richard S.
Published: December 2019

Natural ecosystems provide humans with different types of ecosystem services, often linked to biodiversity. The dilution effect (DE) predicts a negative relationship between biodiversity and risk of infectious diseases of humans, other animals, and plants. We hypothesized that a stronger DE would be observed in studies conducted at smaller spatial scales, where biotic drivers may predominate, compared to studies at larger spatial scales where abiotic drivers may more strongly affect disease patterns. In addition, we hypothesized a stronger DE in studies from temperate regions at mid latitudes than in those from subtropical and tropical regions, due to more diffuse species interactions at low latitudes. To explore these hypotheses, we conducted a meta‐analysis of observational studies of diversity–disease relationships for animals across spatial scales and geographic regions. Negative diversity–disease relationships were significant at small (combined site and local), intermediate (combined landscape and regional), and large (combined continental and global) scales and the effect did not differ depending on size of the study areas. For the geographic region analysis, a strongly negative diversity–disease relationship was found in the temperate region while no effect was found in the subtropical and tropical regions. However, no overall effect of absolute latitude on the strength of the dilution effect was detected. Our results suggest that a negative diversity–disease relationship occurs across scales and latitudes and is especially strong in the temperate region. These findings may help guide future management efforts in lowering disease risk.
Rare microbial taxa emerge when communities collide: freshwater and marine microbiome responses to experimental mixing
Authors: Rocca Jennifer D. , Simonin Marie , Bernhardt Emily S. , Washburne Alex D. , Wright Justin P.
Published: December 2019

Whole microbial communities regularly merge with one another, often in tandem with their environments, in a process called community coalescence. Such events impose substantial changes: abiotic perturbation from environmental blending and biotic perturbation of community merging. We used an aquatic mixing experiment to unravel the effects of these perturbations on the whole microbiome response and on the success of individual taxa when distinct freshwater and marine communities coalesce. We found that an equal mix of freshwater and marine habitats and blended microbiomes resulted in strong convergence of the community structure toward that of the marine microbiome. The enzymatic potential of these blended microbiomes in mixed media also converged toward that of the marine, with strong correlations between the multivariate response patterns of the enzymes and of community structure. Exposing each endmember inocula to an axenic equal mix of their freshwater and marine source waters led to a 96% loss of taxa from our freshwater microbiomes and a 66% loss from our marine microbiomes. When both inocula were added together to this mixed environment, interactions amongst the communities led to a further loss of 29% and 49% of freshwater and marine taxa, respectively. Under both the axenic and competitive scenarios, the diversity lost was somewhat counterbalanced by increased abundance of microbial taxa that were too rare to detect in the initial inocula. Our study emphasizes the importance of the rare biosphere as a critical component of microbial community responses to community coalescence.
Endothelium‐dependent and independent coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Yang Jeong Hoon , Obokata Masaru , Reddy Yogesh N.V. , Redfield Margaret M. , Lerman Amir , Borlaug Barry A.
Published: December 2019

Background

Coronary microvascular inflammation is hypothesized to play a fundamental role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). No study has directly evaluated both endothelium‐dependent and independent coronary microvascular function in HFpEF.

Methods and results

Consecutive patients with HFpEF undergoing invasive coronary physiologic testing and echocardiography were examined. Endothelial function was quantified by the increase in coronary blood flow in response to intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine (10−6–10−4 mol/L) using a Doppler flow wire with quantitative angiography. Endothelium‐independent coronary microvascular function was assessed by the hyperaemic increase in coronary flow reserve in response to adenosine infusion. Among 162 HFpEF patients (67% women), coronary microvascular function was abnormal in 117 (72%). Isolated endothelium‐dependent microvascular dysfunction was present in 47 patients (29%), isolated endothelium‐independent microvascular dysfunction in 53 patients (33%), and combined microvascular dysfunction in 17 patients (10%). The presence of coronary microvascular dysfunction was not identifiable from medical co‐morbidities or other clinical characteristics. As compared to patients with normal endothelium‐independent function, HFpEF patients with endothelium‐independent coronary microvascular dysfunction displayed lower diastolic relaxation velocities (7.0 ± 1.8 vs. 8.4 ± 2.9 cm/s, P = 0.002) and higher estimated filling pressures (E/e' 13.1 ± 4.1 vs. 9.6 ± 3.4, P < 0.001). There were no relationships between left ventricular structure, function, or haemodynamics and endothelium‐dependent coronary vasodilatation. Endothelium‐independent microvascular dysfunction was associated with increased mortality.

Conclusions

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is common in patients with HFpEF and is caused equally by endothelium‐dependent and independent mechanisms, but the presence of microvascular dysfunction cannot be identified from clinical markers and co‐morbidities alone. Patients with HFpEF and endothelium‐independent microvascular dysfunction display worse diastolic dysfunction and outcomes.
cDC2 and plasmacytoid dendritic cells diminish from tissues of patients with non‐Hodgkin orbital lymphoma and idiopathic orbital inflammation
Authors: Laban Kamil G. , Rijken Rianne , Hiddingh Sanne , Mertens Jorre S. , van der Veen Rob L. P. , Eenhorst Christine A.E. , Pandit Aridaman , Radstake Timothy R.D.J. , de Boer Joke H. , Kalmann Rachel , Kuiper Jonas J. W.
Published: December 2019

Non‐Hodgkin orbital lymphoma (NHOL) and idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) are common orbital conditions with largely unknown pathophysiology. To investigate the immune cell composition of these diseases, we performed standardized 29 parameter flow cytometry phenotyping in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 18 NHOL patients, 21 IOI patients, and 41 unaffected controls. Automatic gating by FlowSOM revealed decreased abundance of meta‐clusters containing dendritic cells in patients, which we confirmed by manual gating. A decreased percentage of (HLA‐DR+CD303+CD123+) plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in the circulation of IOI patients and decreased (HLA‐DR+CD11c+CD1c+) conventional dendritic cells (cDC) type‐2 for IOI patients were replicated in an independent cohort of patients and controls. Meta‐analysis of both cohorts demonstrated that pDCs are also decreased in blood of NHOL patients and highlighted that the decrease in blood cDC type‐2 was specific for IOI patients compared to NHOL or controls. Deconvolution‐based estimation of immune cells in transcriptomic data of 48 orbital biopsies revealed a decrease in the abundance of pDC and cDC populations within the orbital microenvironment of IOI patients. Collectively, these data suggest a previously underappreciated role for dendritic cells in orbital disorders.
Synthesis of BiOF/TiO2 Heterostructures and Their Enhanced Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Nasr Maryline , Huang Wenshi , Bittencourt Carla , Cui Dandan , Sun Ying , Wang Lei , Caperaa Nathalie Gaillard , Ning Yuping , Song Ping , Bonnet Pierre , Wang Cong
Published: December 2019

Novel BiOF/TiO2 heterostructures with controlled amounts of BiOF and TiO2 have been successfully synthesized via a simple solid‐state sintering method. The structural, morphological and optical properties were analyzed using several characterization techniques. A shift of the TiO2 absorption edge toward the visible region was observed. The optimal molar ratio of BiOF/TiO2 was found to be (1:3) with a photodegradation percentage of 91.2 % and it was 7 and 5 times more efficient than that of pure BiOF or TiO2 nanopowder, respectively. BiOF/TiO2 (1:3) heterojunction has showed high photodegradation stability for the Rh B photodegradation after three cycles. In the proposed photocatalytic mechanism, TiO2 absorbed the visible light and carried out the photocatalytic reaction owing to the decrease of its band gap value due to the formation of oxygen vacancies, while BiOF played an important role in the charge separation process due to the intimate contact of the BiOF/TiO2 heterojunction.
Dendrimer‐Based Gold Nanostructures for SERS Detection of Pesticides in Water
Authors: Fernandes Tiago , Fateixa Sara , Nogueira Helena I. S. , Daniel‐da‐Silva Ana L. , Trindade Tito
Published: December 2019

Dendrimers are polymers with well‐defined architectures and tunable chemistry, which make them useful in a number of applications. Herein, the chemistry of poly(amido)amine (PAMAM) dendrimers with different functional groups was explored to produce a variety of plasmonic systems based on Au colloidal nanoparticles. The resulting systems present long‐term colloidal stability and were investigated as sensitive platforms for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The application of these SERS platforms for the detection of water trace pollutants, was explored through the analysis of selected pesticides. Noteworthy, dendrimer coated Au nanoparticles with tunable properties such as size, shape and surface chemistry, were obtained by varying the dendrimer chemical properties. The surface chemistry of PAMAM capped Au colloids was explored in order to produce target selective SERS substrates for pesticide detection, that allowed to reach detection limits down to 10 nm.
Stochastic model for crop water stress during agricultural droughts
Authors: Mukherjee Debdas
Published: December 2019

The increasing occurrence of severe droughts and sparse rainfall due to climate change is resulting in high and costly demand for water resources. A greater understanding of uncertainties associated with the creeping occurrence of agricultural drought and proactive planning to mitigate drought impact hence needs a probabilistic assessment. This study presents the probabilistic characterization of agricultural drought, depicted by the cumulative soil moisture deficit above a threshold (Severity) and water stress in the plants (WSP‐sum) during dry periods (duration). The concept of Crop Growing Process (CGP) for specified crops is introduced and defined as a continuous flow of water from the soil through the roots of the plant to the leaves then transformed into water vapor and finally released. The CGP is a two‐state process, either a normal or subnormal state. The probability density function (PDF) of the WSP‐sum manifests the overall subnormal state of CGP over the duration by means of the failure probability estimated as the sum of two distinct parts from two independent phases. Phase1 estimates the part of the failure probability influenced by the average duration; and Phase‐2 estimates the remaining part influenced by the average severity. The phase with the smallest rate parameter determines the WSP‐sum, which indicates whether a premature end of CGP was due to drought or the CGP survived until the end of the cropping season. The predicted designed drought components for specified return periods are presented to assist in proactive drought management. The combined influence of all the drought components upon the WSP‐sum probabilistically characterizes agricultural drought, given the CGP.
Advancing fracture fragility assessment of pre‐Northridge welded column splices
Authors: Song Biao , Galasso Carmine , Kanvinde Amit
Published: December 2019

A refined probabilistic assessment of seismic demands and fracture capacity of welded column splice (WCS) connections in welded steel moment resisting frames (WSMRFs) is presented. Seismic demand assessment is performed through cloud‐based nonlinear time history analysis (NLTHA) for two case‐study structures, i.e., a 4‐ and a 20‐ story WSMRFs. Results from NLTHA are used to derive fracture fragility of WCS connections. To this aim, the study investigates (1) optimal ground‐motion intensity measures for conditioning probabilistic seismic demand models in terms of global (i.e., maximum inter‐story drift ratio) and local (i.e., peak tensile stress in the flange of WCSs) engineering demand parameters of WSMRFs; (2) the effect of ground‐motion vertical components on the longitudinal flange stress of WCS connections and their resulting fracture fragility; and (3) the effect of WCS capacity uncertainties on the fracture fragility estimates of those connections. For the latter case, an advanced finite element fracture mechanics‐based approach proposed by the authors is employed to capture aleatory and epistemic uncertainties affecting fracture capacities. The focus is on pre‐Northridge WCS connections featuring partial joint penetration and brittle materials, making them highly vulnerable to seismic fracture. Fracture fragility results for the case‐study structures are compared and discussed, highlighting the importance of the considered issues on fragility estimates, particularly in the case of high‐rise structures. Findings from the study contribute shedding some light on the influence of seismic demand and capacity uncertainties on the assessment of fracture fragility of WCS connections. These findings can guide similar performance‐based assessment exercises for WSMRFs to inform, for instance, the planning and design of retrofitting strategies for those vulnerable connections.
Evolution of the Edea‐Eseka geomorphic units: A 'natural laboratory' of a prototype active rifting cross‐cutting the Southern Cameroon (West African) passive margin
Authors: Nsangou Moussa N. , Owona Sébastien , Owono François M. , Ateba Christian B. , Ondoa Joseph M. , Ekodeck Georges E.
Published: December 2019

The SW Cameroonian passive margin, a part of the Cameroon Low‐Plateau, presents several topographic levels cross‐cut by the Sanaga Fault (SF), Benue Triple Junction and Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL), three pre‐ and syn‐rift tectonic features that are still active. This study carried out on the Edea‐Eseka Region (EER) a portion of this margin (3°30′–4°N, 10°–10°55′E) aims to constrain the relationships between these features and the development of the morphology. Geomorphic indices, combined with field observations and supported by literature data show that the interactive activity of these structures constitutes the main force that controls the EER morphology. From West to East, EER consists of three morphotectonic units: the Coastal, Intermediate and Upper units. The Coastal unit built on the Douala‐Kribi/Campo Basin (<65 Ma) and assigned to the Aptian South Atlantic rifting, exhibits low reliefs deeply incised. The Intermediate and Upper units are developed on the Nyong and Oubanguide crystallophyllian complexes during the Eburnean/Trans‐Amazonian (2,400–1,750 Ma) and Pan‐African (650–540 Ma) orogenies, respectively. The Intermediate unit with moderate reliefs registers a strong differential erosion, whilst the Upper unit records high‐reliefs. Geomorphic indices, tectonic and recent seismic data reveal that the EER has been rejuvenated, experienced uplifts and tiltings synchronously with the main active phases of these features. The timing and magnitude of these activities vary from one unit to another. The morphotectonic model is consistent to the crucial tectonic phases: emplacement of SF (Palaeozoic), the breakup of Gondwana and erection of CVL (Cretaceous).
Effect of income on length of stay in a hospital or long‐term care facility among older adults with dementia in Japan
Authors: Murata Fumiko , Babazono Akira , Fukuda Haruhisa
Published: December 2019

Objective

We aimed to ascertain the degree of influence of income disparity among older people with newly developed dementia on the probability and duration of stay in a hospital or long‐term care facility and the degree of influence on medical expenses for hospitalization and care costs.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. Study participants included 12 829 individuals aged 75 years or older not diagnosed with dementia between April 2012 and March 2013 but newly diagnosed with dementia between April 2013 and March 2014.

Participants were categorized according to income. We evaluated the associations of income with the probability and duration of stay in a hospital or long‐term care facility and the costs for hospitalization and care.

Results

In the adjusted analyses, high‐income individuals had a lower probability of admission to a hospital or long‐term care facility than middle‐ and high‐income individuals. In all hospitals, low‐income individuals had the longest duration of stay, but in long‐term care facilities, income categories varied by facility type. Medical expenses for hospitalization and care costs were highest in the low‐income group.

Conclusion

Income category affects the probability and duration of stay in the hospital or a long‐term care facility, as well as expenses for hospitalization and care. It is necessary to consider a policy to enable low‐income older patients with dementia to continue living at home.
Oversampling Free Energy Perturbation Simulation in Determination of the Ligand‐Binding Free Energy
Authors: Ngo Son Tung , Nguyen Trung Hai , Tung Nguyen Thanh , Nam Pham Cam , Vu Khanh B. , Vu Van V.
Published: December 2019

Determination of the ligand‐binding affinity is an extremely interesting problem. Normally, the free energy perturbation (FEP) method provides an appropriate result. However, it is of great interest to improve the accuracy and precision of this method. In this context, temperature replica exchange molecular dynamics implementation of the FEP computational approach, which we call replica exchange free energy perturbation (REP) was proposed. In particular, during REP simulations, the system can easily escape from being trapped in local minima by exchanging configurations with high temperatures, resulting in significant improvement in the accuracy and precision of protein–ligand binding affinity calculations. The distribution of the decoupling free energy was enlarged, and its mean values were decreased. This results in changes in the magnitude of the calculated binding free energies as well as in alteration in the binding mechanism. Moreover, the REP correlation coefficient with respect to experiment (
RREP = 0.85 ± 0.15) is significantly boosted in comparison with the FEP one (
RFEP = 0.64 ± 0.30). Furthermore, the root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) of REP is also smaller than FEP, RMSEREP = 4.28 ± 0.69 versus RMSEFEP = 5.80 ± 1.11 kcal/mol, respectively. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exposure‐Response Analysis for Mogamulizumab in Adults With Cutaneous T‐Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Mukai Mayumi , Mould Diane , Maeda Hiroshi , Narushima Kazuya , Greene Douglas
Published: December 2019

Mogamulizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against C‐C chemokine receptor 4 approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome, the most common forms of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). The exposure‐response relationships for efficacy (progression‐free survival [PFS] and overall response rate [ORR]) and safety (the 5 most common treatment‐related adverse events by Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities [MedDRA] System Organ Class) for 184 patients with CTCL treated with mogamulizumab in a large, registrational clinical trial. Exposure metrics were area under the serum mogamulizumab concentration‐time curve over the dose interval at steady state (AUCss) and minimum serum mogamulizumab concentration after the first dose (Cmin,1st). PFS by investigator assessment, the primary efficacy objective, and PFS and ORR by independent review were not correlated with exposure metrics; however, there was a statistically significant positive relationship between a secondary objective, ORR by investigator assessment, and AUCss (P = .0168). The frequency of treatment‐related adverse events was not related to exposure metrics (Cmin,1st or AUCss) for any of the MedDRA System Organ Classes examined. Of the covariates that were found to have a statistically significantly effect on the population PK model (ie, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, body surface area, mild to moderate hepatic impairment, and sex), none was found to impact efficacy or safety, indicating that there is no need to modify dose on the basis of these parameters.
Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Mogamulizumab in Adults With Cutaneous T‐Cell Lymphoma or Adult T‐Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Mukai Mayumi , Maeda Hiroshi , Narushima Kazuya , Mould Diane R. , Greene Douglas
Published: December 2019

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) and adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) are rare non‐Hodgkin lymphomas commonly expressing C‐C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4). Mogamulizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against CCR4 approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome, the most common forms of CTCL. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and clinical study data from 444 adult patients with ATL or CTCL collected during 6 clinical trials of mogamulizumab were used to construct a population PK model, which was best described by a 2‐compartment model with linear clearance. Albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, mild‐to‐moderate hepatic impairment, and sex were statistically significant predictors of clearance; albumin was also a statistically significant predictor of peripheral volume of distribution; and body surface area was a statistically significant predictor for central volume of distribution. None of the other covariates—for example, age, body weight, body mass index, bilirubin, creatinine clearance, disease type (ATL and CTCL), ATL subtype (acute, lymphoma, and chronic), CTCL subtype (mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome), CCR4 expression (status or degree), race (Japanese and non‐Japanese), renal impairment (normal, mild, moderate, and severe), or performance status—had a statistically significant impact. Performance of the final population PK model was acceptable. This model will be valuable for guiding further studies of mogamulizumab.
Genetic diversity and biocontrol efficacy of indigenous Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium wilt of pepper
Authors: Hewedy Omar A. , Abdel‐Lateif Khalid S. , Bakr Ramadan A.
Published: December 2019

Trichoderma species are recognized as biocontrol agents with great potential in inhibiting fungal pathogens that cause significant crop losses. In this study, 15 Trichoderma isolates were collected from various Egyptian locations. Internal transcribed spacer sequencing revealed four different Trichoderma species; Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, and Trichoderma viride. The antagonistic activity of Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici was evaluated in vitro. The effect of Trichoderma isolates on pepper growth plants in the presence of F. oxysporum was studied in planta. The inhibition of pathogen mycelial growth in vitro ranged between 35.71% and 85.75%. The isolates Ta3 and Tl had the highest antagonistic ability in vitro against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici. However, Th7 and Th6 of T. harzianum isolates showed the highest values of disease severity reduction under greenhouse conditions. The genetic diversity of the Trichoderma isolates (Ta1, Ta2, Th1, Th2, Th3, Th4, Th5, and Tv) was investigated on the basis of ISSR and SCoT markers. SCoT primers generated a total of 28 bands, out of which 14 (50%) were polymorphic. ISSR primers gave 32 bands, and 11 of these bands (34.37%) were polymorphic.
Predictors of clinical outcome following revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors:   MARS Group
Published: December 2019

The underlying theme throughout this series of studies authored by the Multicenter anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) Revision Study consortium has been to determine the modifiable predictors or risk factors of long‐term outcomes of revision ACL reconstruction. The observational studies described and summarized in the manuscript are both clinically relevant and of great interest in finding out the long‐term consequences of the intervention and its relationship to the original injury. The successful completion of these studies has important implications for both therapy and future clinical trials. The identification of modifiable risk factors will play an important role in secondary prevention, while the identification of nonmodifiable risk factors will aid us in counseling our patients and making surgical decisions. Thus, we expect a profound clinical impact on patients' care. More importantly, this project represents an important step forward in bringing evidence to bear in clinical decision making in orthopedic surgery.
Osteophyte volume calculation using dissimilarity‐excluding Procrustes registration of archived bone models from healthy volunteers
Authors: Morton Amy M. , Akhbari Bardiya , Moore Douglas C. , Crisco Joseph J.
Published: December 2019

Osteophytes are associated with later stage osteoarthritis and are most commonly described using semiquantitative radiographic grading systems. A detailed understanding of osteophyte formation is, in part, limited by the ability to quantify bone pathology. Osteophytes can be quantified relative to pre‐osteoarthritic bone, or to the contralateral bone if it is healthy; however, in many cases, neither are available as references. We present a method for computing three‐dimensional (3D) osteophyte models using a library of healthy control bones. An existing data set containing the computed tomography scans of 90 patients with first carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (OA) and 46 healthy subjects were utilized. A healthy bone that best fit each OA subject's bone was determined using a dissimilarity‐excluding Procrustes registration technique (DEP) that minimized the influence of dissimilar features (ie, osteophytes). The osteophyte model was then computed through Boolean subtraction of the reference bone model from the OA bone model. DEP reference bones conformed significantly better to the OA bones (P < .0001) than by finite difference iterative closest point registration (root mean squared distances, 0.33 ± 0.05 and 0.41 ± 0.16 mm, respectively). The effect of library size on dissimilarity measure was investigated by leave‐k‐out cross‐validation randomly reducingkfrom 46 to 1. A library ofn ≥ 31 resulted in less than 10% difference from the theoretical minimum value. The proposed method enables quantification of osteophytes when the disease‐free bone or the healthy contralateral bone is not available for any 3D data set. Quantifying osteophyte formation and growth may aid in understating the associated mechanisms in OA.
A multi‐method approach to dating the burial and skeleton of Kiacatoo Man, New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Pietsch Timothy , Kemp Justine , Pardoe Colin , Grün Rainer , Olley Jon , Wood Rachel
Published: December 2019

Kiacatoo Man, a large, rugged Aboriginal adult buried in the Lachlan riverine plains of southeastern Australia, was discovered in 2011. Laser‐ablation uranium series analysis on bone yielded a minimum age for the burial of 27.4 ± 0.4 ka (2σ). Single‐grain, optically stimulated luminescence ages on quartz sediment in which the grave had been dug gave a weighted mean age of 26.4 ± 1.5 ka (1σ). Luminescence samples from the grave infill and from sediment beneath the grave exhibit overdispersed dose distributions consistent with bioturbation or other disturbance, which has obscured the burial signal. The overlap between the minimum (U‐series) and maximum (luminescence) ages places the burial between 27.0 and 29.4 ka (2σ). Luminescence ages obtained from the channel belt of between 28 ± 2 and 25 ± 3 ka indicate that fluvial sedimentation was occurring before the Last Glacial Maximum, which is consistent with the broader geomorphic setting. Together, these results are internally and regionally consistent, and indicate that Kiacatoo Man was one of the more ancient individuals so far identified in Australia. His remains are important to our understanding of patterns of biological variation and other processes that have shaped people in the Murray‐Darling Basin through time. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Meta‐Analysis of Band Reporting Probabilities for North American Waterfowl
Authors: Arnold Todd W. , Alisauskas Ray T. , Sedinger James S.
Published: December 2019

Knowledge of band reporting is important for converting band encounter data into estimates of harvest probabilities, which can then be used to assess harvest management goals or estimate population size and other vital rates. Historical estimates of band reporting probabilities have come from reward‐band studies or joint analysis of band recovery and harvest survey data, but there are long gaps between estimates, and most studies have focused exclusively on mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). We compiled 337 estimates of band reporting probabilities for North American waterfowl and conducted a Bayesian state‐space analysis to provide a continuous time series of estimated reporting probability from 1948 to 2010. Band reporting probability increased sharply between 1996 and 2000 when toll‐free phone numbers were added to band inscriptions and agencies implemented electronic methods for band reporting, but our analysis also identified gradual long‐term trends in reporting probability throughout the time series. We found little evidence for among‐species variation in reporting probability, but a few species that are widely regarded as trophies by waterfowl hunters (canvasbacks [Aythya valisineria], redheads [Aythya americana], and northern pintails [Anas acuta]) had higher historical reporting probabilities than mallards. We also found little evidence of geographic variation in reporting probabilities, although we confirmed lower reporting probabilities for eastern Canada. We recommend using our estimates of band reporting probabilities and their variances as informed priors in future analyses of band recovery data to fully embrace uncertainty about how this parameter affects estimates of other population parameters. Retrospective studies using parts collection data are needed to explore potential among‐species variation in reporting probabilities during recent decades. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Kinetics and mechanism of quinolinium dichromate mediated oxidation of sugar alcohols in Bronsted acid media
Authors: Kodali Satish Babu , Jakku Narendar Reddy , Kamatala Chinna Rajanna , Yerraguntla Rajeshwar Rao
Published: December 2019

Bronsted acid catalyzed oxidation of certain sugar alcohols (polyols) has been studied by quinolinium dichromate (QDC) using aqueous sulfuric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acids at different temperatures. At constant acidity, reaction kinetics revealed the second‐order kinetics with a first order in [Alcohol] and [QDC]. Zucker‐Hammett, Bunnett, and Bunnett‐Olsen criteria were used to analyze acid‐dependent rate accelerations. Bunnett‐Olsen plots of (log k + Hν) versus (Hν + log [H+]), and (log k) versus (Hν + log [H+]) afforded slope values (ϕ and ϕ*, respectively) > 0.47, suggesting that a water molecule acts as a prton transfer agent in the slow step of the mechanism in the oxidation of alcohols by QDC in the presence of aqueous sulfuric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acids.
Intersegmenter Variability in High‐Speed Laryngoscopy‐Based Glottal Area Waveform Measures
Authors: Maryn Youri , Verguts Monique , Demarsin Hannelore , van Dinther Joost , Gomez Pablo , Schlegel Patrick , Döllinger Michael
Published: December 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

High‐speed videoendoscopy (HSV) has potential to objectively quantify vibratory vocal fold characteristics during phonation. Glottal Analysis Tools (GAT) version 2018, developed in Erlangen, Germany, is software for determining various glottal area waveform (GAW) quantities. Before having GAT analyze HSV videos, segmenters have to define glottis manually across videos in a semiautomatic segmentation protocol. Such interventions are hypothesized to induce variability of subsequent GAW measure computation across segmenters and may attenuate GAT measures’ reliability to a certain point. This study explored intersegmenter variability in GAT's GAW measures based on semiautomatic image processing.

Study Design

Cohort study of rater reliability.

Methods

In total, 20 HSV videos from normophonic and dysphonic subjects with various laryngeal disorders were selected for this study and segmented by three trained segmenters. They separately segmented glottis areas in the same frame sets of the videos. Upon analysis of GAW, GAT offers 46 measures related to topologic GAW dynamic characteristics, GAW periodicity and perturbation characteristics, and GAW harmonic components. To address GAT's reliability, intersegmenter‐based variability in these measures was examined with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

In general, ICC behavior of the 46 GAW measures across three raters was highly acceptable. ICC of one parameter was moderate (0.5 < ICC < 0.75), good for seven parameters (0.75 < ICC < 0.9), and excellent for 38 parameters (0.9 < ICC).

Conclusions

Overall, high ICC values confirm clinical applicability of GAT for objective and quantitative assessment of HSV. Small intersegmenter differences with actual small parameter differences suggest that manual or semiautomatic segmentation in GAT does not noticeably influence clinical assessment outcome. To guarantee the software's performance, we suggest segmentation training before clinical application.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 130:E654–E661, 2020
Salt‐spray corrosion behavior of a Cu–Al composite plate under AC current
Authors: Cheng Yulin , Yuan Xiaoguang , Huang Hongjun , Zuo Xiaojiao , Zhang Yifan
Published: December 2019

Cu–Al composite plate corrosion tests, under a 0–100 A AC current, were conducted for 48 hr in a neutral salt spray. The morphology and corrosion products were studied by scanning electron microscope and X‐ray powder diffraction, through which the effect of the current was analyzed. Meanwhile, the rate and degree of corrosion were evaluated by weight loss, electrochemical and electrolytic conductivity detection methods. The results showed that when the current increased, the corrosion rate initially increased and then decreased. When the current value was 50 A, the corrosion rate was the highest. The corrosion of the Cu–Al composite plate mainly included galvanic corrosion at the interface and pitting on the aluminum matrix, with no corrosion on the copper matrix. The state of the passivation film changed to loose, peeling, rupture, accumulation, compact, and so on when the current value increased. The type of corrosion product was not affected by the current value. The current affects the electromobility of the chloride ions by influencing the conductivity of the corrosion medium. The higher the electromobility of the chloride ions, the less the destruction of the passivation film and as a result, there is a decreased rate and degree of corrosion.
Corrosion behavior of Cu–Sn bronze alloys in simulated archeological soil media
Authors: Liang Zhipeng , Jiang Kaixi , Zhang Tingan , Dou Zhihe
Published: December 2019

The corrosion behavior of synthetic Cu–Sn bronze alloys with six different Sn contents was examined through an electrochemical test and a synthetic test in a simulated corrosive medium. The mechanism of corrosion and the morphology of the corroded surfaces were characterized through field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy. At the corrosion potential, the corrosion behavior appears to be determined by the charge transfer step and the diffusion process. It was found that the bronze‐IV (Cu–26.8Sn) specimen exhibited the best corrosion resistance, as evidenced by a low corrosion current density and a high impedance. This improvement resulted from an increase in the content of the Cu–Sn solid solution in the alloy, which was conducive to forming a relatively more protective passive film on the surface of the bronze alloy. This finding would be valuable in the anticorrosion protection of archeological artefacts after their excavation.
The small‐is‐very‐small principle
Authors: Visser Albert
Published: December 2019

The central result of this paper isthe small‐is‐very‐small principlefor restricted sequential theories. The principle says roughly that whenever the given theory shows that a definable property has a small witness, i.e., a witness in a sufficiently small definable cut, then it shows that the property has a very small witness: i.e., a witness below a given standard number. Which cuts are sufficiently small will depend on the complexity of the formula defining the property. We draw various consequences from the central result. E.g., roughly speaking, (i) every restricted, recursively enumerable sequential theory has a finitely axiomatized extension that is conservative with respect to formulas of complexity ; (ii) every sequential model has, for anyn, an extension that is elementary for formulas of complexity , in which the intersection of all definable cuts is the natural numbers; (iii) we have reflection for ‐sentences with sufficiently small witness in any consistent restricted theoryU; (iv) supposeUis recursively enumerable and sequential. Suppose further that every recursively enumerable and sequentialVthat locally intepretsU, globally interpretsU. Then,Uis mutually globally interpretable with a finitely axiomatized sequential theory. The paper contains some careful groundwork developing partial satisfaction predicates in sequential theories for the complexity measuredepth of quantifier alternations.
Ultrafilter extensions do not preserve elementary equivalence
Authors: Saveliev Denis I. , Shelah Saharon
Published: December 2019

We show that there are models and such that elementarily embeds into but their ultrafilter extensions and are not elementarily equivalent.
Enhanced Strain Sensing Performance of Polymer/Carbon Nanotube‐Coated Spandex Fibers via Noncovalent Interactions
Authors: Chen Qin , Li Yuntao , Xiang Dong , Zheng Yongfeng , Zhu Wanqiu , Zhao Chunxia , Li Hui , Han Hongchang , Shen Yucai
Published: December 2019

Over the past decade, flexible strain sensors have been of tremendous interest due to their wide application in robotics, medical diagnostics, human motion detection, and healthcare. Herein, a fiber strain sensor is fabricated by continuously coating a layer of ultrathin multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites onto the surface of commercial spandex fiber. The effect of noncovalent functionalization of MWCNTs using 1‐pyrenecarboxylic acid (PCA) on the electrical conductivity as well as the sensing performance of the fiber sensor is investigated. The low‐cost strain sensor possesses a large workable strain (up to 200% strain), high sensitivity (gauge factor is 14 191.5 under 170–200% strain), and excellent stability (up to 1000 cycles), and regular signal responses within a wide measuring frequency range of 0.01–1 Hz are achieved with the introduction of PCA via enhanced nanotube dispersion and polymer–nanofiller interactions. Additionally, the resistance response to strain is fitted with a model based on tunneling theory to understand the sensing mechanism, and to prove that the fitted results are in agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, the developed sensor is successfully applied in human motion detection, such as joint movement, facial microexpressions, and speech recognition.
Metabolic Correlates of Dopaminergic Loss in Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Authors: Huber Maria , Beyer Leonie , Prix Catharina , Schönecker Sonja , Palleis Carla , Rauchmann Boris‐Stephan , Morbelli Silvia , Chincarini Andrea , Bruffaerts Rose , Vandenberghe Rik , Van Laere Koen , Kramberger Milica G. , Trost Maja , Grmek Marko , Garibotto Valentina , Nicastro Nicolas , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Lemstra Afina W. , van der Zande Jessica , Pilotto Andrea , Padovani Alessandro , Garcia‐Ptacek Sara , Savitcheva Irina , Ochoa‐Figueroa Miguel A. , Davidsson Anette , Camacho Valle , Peira Enrico , Arnaldi Dario , Bauckneht Matteo , Pardini Matteo , Sambuceti Gianmario , Vöglein Jonathan , Schnabel Jonas , Unterrainer Marcus , Perneczky Robert , Pogarell Oliver , Buerger Katharina , Catak Cihan , Bartenstein Peter , Cumming Paul , Ewers Michael , Danek Adrian , Levin Johannes , Aarsland Dag , Nobili Flavio , Rominger Axel , Brendel Matthias
Published: December 2019

Background

Striatal dopamine deficiency and metabolic changes are well‐known phenomena in dementia with Lewy bodies and can be quantified in vivo by 123I‐Ioflupane brain single‐photon emission computed tomography of dopamine transporter and 18F‐fluorodesoxyglucose PET. However, the linkage between both biomarkers is ill‐understood.

Objective

We used the hitherto largest study cohort of combined imaging from the European consortium to elucidate the role of both biomarkers in the pathophysiological course of dementia with Lewy bodies.

Methods

We compared striatal dopamine deficiency and glucose metabolism of 84 dementia with Lewy body patients and comparable healthy controls. After normalization of data, we tested their correlation by region‐of‐interest–based and voxel‐based methods, controlled for study center, age, sex, education, and current cognitive impairment. Metabolic connectivity was analyzed by inter‐region coefficients stratified by dopamine deficiency and compared to healthy controls.

Results

There was an inverse relationship between striatal dopamine availability and relative glucose hypermetabolism, pronounced in the basal ganglia and in limbic regions. With increasing dopamine deficiency, metabolic connectivity showed strong deteriorations in distinct brain regions implicated in disease symptoms, with greatest disruptions in the basal ganglia and limbic system, coincident with the pattern of relative hypermetabolism.

Conclusions

Relative glucose hypermetabolism and disturbed metabolic connectivity of limbic and basal ganglia circuits are metabolic correlates of dopamine deficiency in dementia with Lewy bodies. Identification of specific metabolic network alterations in patients with early dopamine deficiency may serve as an additional supporting biomarker for timely diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. © 2019 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.