bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatially structured intraspecific trait variation can foster biodiversity in disturbed, heterogeneous environments
Authors: Banitz Thomas
Published: June 2019

Trait variation within populations is an important area of research for empirical and theoretical ecologists. While differences between individuals are doubtlessly ubiquitous, their role for species coexistence is much less clear and highly debated. Both unstructured (random) and structured (linked to space, time or inheritance) intraspecific trait variation (ITV) may modify species interactions with nontrivial consequences for emerging community compositions. In many ecosystems, these compositions are further driven by prevalent disturbance regimes. I therefore explored the effects of unstructured as well as spatially structured ITV under disturbances in a generic ecological model of competing sessile species. Using spatially explicit, individual‐based simulations, I studied how intraspecific variation in life history traits together with interspecific tradeoffs and disturbance regimes shape long‐term community composition. I found that 1) unstructured ITV does not affect species coexistence in the given context, 2) spatially structured ITV may considerably increase coexistence, but 3) spatially clumped disturbances reduce this effect of spatially structured ITV, especially if interspecific tradeoffs involve dispersal distance. The findings suggest that spatially structured ITV with individual trait responses to local habitat conditions differing among species may create or expand humps in disturbance–diversity relationships. Hence, if present, these forms of spatially structured ITV should be included in ecological models and will be important for reliably assessing community responses to environmental heterogeneity and change.
Generalists and specialists in executive politics: Why ambitious meta‐policies so often fail
Authors: Jann Werner , Wegrich Kai
Published: June 2019

This article contributes to the politics of policy‐making in executive government. It introduces the analytical distinction between generalists and specialists as antagonistic players in executive politics and develops the claim that policy specialists are in a structurally advantaged position to succeed in executive politics and to fend off attempts by generalists to influence policy choices through cross‐cutting reform measures. Contrary to traditional textbook public administration, we explain the views of generalists and specialists not through their training but their positions within an organization. We combine established approaches from public policy and organization theory to substantiate this claim and to define the dilemma that generalists face when developing government‐wide reform policies (‘meta‐policies’) as well as strategies to address this problem. The article suggests that the conceptual distinction between generalists and specialists allows for a more precise analysis of the challenges for policy‐making across government organizations than established approaches.
Efficacy of repeated balloon venoplasty for treatment of hepatic venous outflow obstruction after pediatric living‐donor liver transplantation: A single‐institution experience
Authors: Shimata Keita , Sugawara Yasuhiko , Honda Masaki , Ikeda Osamu , Tamura Yoshitaka , Hayashida Shintaro , Ohya Yuki , Yamamoto Hidekazu , Yamashita Yasuyuki , Inomata Yukihiro , Hibi Taizo
Published: June 2019

HVOO is a rare complication after LT and an important cause of graft failure. Balloon venoplasty is the first‐line treatment for HVOO, but the effect of repeated balloon venoplasty and stent placement for HVOO recurrence after pediatric LDLT remains unclear. Between 1998 and 2016, 147 pediatric patients underwent LDLT in our institution. Among them, the incidence of HVOO and the therapeutic strategy were retrospectively reviewed. Ten patients were diagnosed with HVOO. All the patients underwent LLS grafts. Median age at the initial endovascular intervention was 2.7 years (range, 5 months‐8 years). The median interval between the LDLT and the initial interventional radiology was 2.7 months (range, 29 days‐35.7 months). Four patients experienced no recurrence after a single balloon venoplasty; 6 underwent balloon venoplasty more than 3 times because of HVOO recurrence; and 2 underwent stent placement due to the failure of repeated balloon venoplasty. All patients are alive with no symptoms of HVOO. The HVOO recurrence‐free period after the last intervention ranged from 20 days to 15.5 years (median, 8.9 years). Repeated balloon venoplasty may prevent unnecessary stent placement to treat recurrent HVOO after pediatric LDLT.
The Impact of Information Technology and Communication on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Authors: Sharma Luv , Queenan Carrie , Ozturk Orgul
Published: June 2019

Health care organizations have substantially invested in Health Information Technology (HIT) as part of an effort to improve quality. However, many hospitals fail to generate positive returns on this significant investment, based on reimbursements for quality measures through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Given the high cost of lawsuits, we investigate if HIT adoption reduces lawsuits, and their attendant costs, as another consideration in HIT payoffs. We use operational transparency theory to develop hypotheses on the individual and joint impact of HIT and communication quality in influencing patients’ likelihood to file a lawsuit. We combine data on 168 hospitals in the state of Florida from 2007 to 2011 in order to investigate these relationships. Analysis using a fractional response model indicates that HIT has a direct impact in reducing the number of lawsuits, this effect being higher for hospitals with higher communication quality scores. These results remain consistent irrespective of the type of caregiver (physician vs nurse) communicating with the patient or the severity of injury resulting in the lawsuit. Our results also remain robust under different operationalization of key independent variables and alternate model specifications. These results provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that reduce lawsuits.
Race, Residence, and Underemployment: Fifty Years in Comparative Perspective, 1968–2017
Authors: Slack Tim , Thiede Brian C. , Jensen Leif
Published: June 2019

High underemployment has been a chronic structural feature of the rural United States for decades. In this paper, we assess whether and how inequalities in underemployment between metropolitan (metro) and nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) areas have changed over the course of the last five decades. Drawing on data from the March Current Population Survey from 1968 to 2017, we analyze inequality in the prevalence of underemployment between metro and nonmetro areas of the United States, paying special attention to differences between white, black, and Hispanic workers. Our results show that the underlying risk of underemployment has increased in both metro and nonmetro areas over the last 50 years. Nonmetro workers have consistently faced greater employment hardship compared to their metro counterparts, and these differences cannot be fully explained by differences in population characteristics. Nonmetro ethnoracial minorities have experienced particularly poor labor market outcomes. The disadvantage of ethnoracial minority status and rural residence is especially pronounced for nonmetro black workers, among whom underemployment has remained persistently high with only modest convergence with other workers. Hispanic workers also face an elevated risk of underemployment, but we observe a unique convergence between metro and nonmetro workers within this population.
Everyday dilemmas: New directions on the judgment and resolution of benevolence–integrity dilemmas
Authors: Moore Alexander K. , Munguia Gomez David M. , Levine Emma E.
Published: June 2019

Many everyday dilemmas reflect a conflict between two moral motivations: the desire to adhere to universal principles (integrity) and the desire to improve the welfare of specific individuals in need (benevolence). In this article, we bridge research on moral judgment and trust to introduce a framework that establishes three central distinctions between benevolence and integrity: (1) the degree to which they rely on impartiality, (2) the degree to which they are tied to emotion versus reason, and (3) the degree to which they can be evaluated in isolation. We use this framework to explain existing findings and generate novel predictions about the resolution and judgment of benevolence–integrity dilemmas. Though ethical dilemmas have long been a focus of moral psychology research, recent research has relied on dramatic dilemmas that involve conflicts of utilitarianism and deontology and has failed to represent the ordinary, yet psychologically taxing dilemmas that we frequently face in everyday life. The present article fills this gap, thereby deepening our understanding of moral judgment and decision making and providing practical insights on how decision makers resolve moral conflict.
Identification of the novel HLA‐A*02:839 allele in a Brazilian candidate for bone marrow donation
Authors: Stelet Vinicius N. , Cita Rafael F. , Romero Matilde , Mendes Maristela F. , Binato Renata
Published: June 2019

Identification of the novel HLA‐A*02:839 allele that differs from HLA‐A*02:01:01 in exon 4.
Mechanics of Strong and Tough Cellulose Nanopaper
Authors: Meng Qinghua , Wang Tie Jun
Published: June 2019

Cellulose nanopaper, which consists of a porous network of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), exhibits excellent mechanical properties with high strength and toughness. The physical mechanisms, including a realizable reduction of defect size in the nanopaper and facile formation/reformation of hydrogen bonds among CNFs, suggest a bottom-up material design strategy to address the conflict between strength and toughness. A thorough exploration of the rich potential of such a design strategy requires a fundamental understanding of its mechanical behavior. In this review, we supply a comprehensive perspective on advances in cellulose nanopaper mechanics over the most recent two decades from the three aspects of mechanical properties, structure–property relationship and microstructure-based mechanical modeling. We discuss the effects of size, orientation, polymerization degree, and isolate origins of CNFs; density or porosity and humidity of nanopaper; and hemicellulose and lignin on the mechanical properties of cellulose nanopaper. We also discuss the similarities and differences in the microstructure, mechanical properties, and toughening mechanisms between cellulose nanopaper and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) nanopaper, chitin nanopaper, carbon nanotube (CNT) nanopaper, and graphene nanopaper. Finally, we present the ideas, status quo, and future trends in mechanical modeling of cellulose nanopaper, including atomistic- and microscale-level numerical modeling, and theoretical modeling. This review serves as a modest spur intended to induce scientists to present their valuable contributions and especially to design more advanced cellulose nanopapers and promote the development of their mechanics.
Comparison Between the Hyperelastic Behavior of Fresh and Frozen Equine Articular Cartilage in Various Joints
Authors: Lee Hyeon , Campbell William D. , Theis Kelcie M. , Canning Margaret E. , Ennis Hannah Y. , Jackson Robert L. , Hanson R. Reid
Published: June 2019

Fresh and frozen cartilage samples of the fetlock, carpus, and stifle were collected from 12 deceased horses. Half were measured immediately following extraction, and half were frozen for seven days and then measured. Seven indentations (various normalized displacements) were implemented with an indention rate of 0.1 mm/s. Solid phase aggregate modulus (Es), hyperelastic material constant (α), and fluid load fraction (F′) of equine articular cartilage were assessed using the Ogden hyperelastic model. The properties were statistically compared in various joints (fetlock, carpus, and stifle), and between fresh and frozen samples using various statistical models. There was no statistical difference between the fetlock and carpus in the aggregate modulus (p = 0.5084), while both were significantly different from the stifle (fetlock: p = 0.0017 and carpus: p = 0.0406). For the hyperelastic material constant, no statistical differences between joints were observed (p = 0.3310). For the fluid load fraction, the fetlock and stifle comparison showed a difference (p = 0.0333), while the carpus was not different from the fetlock (p = 0.1563) or stifle (p = 0.3862). Comparison between the fresh and frozen articular cartilage demonstrated no significant difference among the joints in the three material properties: p = 0.9418, p = 0.7031, and p = 0.9313 for the aggregate modulus, the hyperelastic material constant, and the fluid load fraction, respectively.
Reliability Analysis of Networks Interconnected With Copulas
Authors: Behrensdorf Jasper , Broggi Matteo , Beer Michael
Published: June 2019

With the increasing size and complexity of modern infrastructure networks rises the challenge of devising efficient and accurate methods for the reliability analysis of these systems. Special care must be taken in order to include any possible interdependencies between networks and to properly treat all uncertainties. This work presents a new approach for the reliability analysis of complex interconnected networks through Monte Carlo simulation and survival signature. Application of the survival signature is key in overcoming limitations imposed by classical analysis techniques and facilitating the inclusion of competing failure modes. The (inter)dependencies are modeled using vine copulas while the uncertainties are handled by applying probability boxes and imprecise copulas. The proposed method is tested on a complex scenario based on the IEEE reliability test system, proving its effectiveness and highlighting the ability to model complicated scenarios subject to a variety of dependent failure mechanisms.
On the Robust Estimation of Small Failure Probabilities for Strong Nonlinear Models
Authors: Faes Matthias , Sadeghi Jonathan , Broggi Matteo , de Angelis Marco , Patelli Edoardo , Beer Michael , Moens David
Published: June 2019

Structural reliability methods are nowadays a cornerstone for the design of robustly performing structures, thanks to advancements in modeling and simulation tools. Monte Carlo-based simulation tools have been shown to provide the necessary accuracy and flexibility. While standard Monte Carlo estimation of the probability of failure is not hindered in its applicability by approximations or limiting assumptions, it becomes computationally unfeasible when small failure probability needs to be estimated, especially when the underlying numerical model evaluation is time consuming. In this case, variance reduction techniques are commonly employed, allowing for the estimation of small failure probabilities with a reduced number of samples and model calls. As a competing approach to variance reduction techniques, surrogate models can be used to substitute the computationally expensive model and performance function with an easy to evaluate numerical function calibrated through a supervised learning procedure. Both these tools provide accurate results for structural application. However, particular care should be taken into account when the reliability problems deal with high-dimensional or strongly nonlinear structural performances since the accuracy of the estimate is largely dependent on choices made during the surrogate modeling process. In this work, we compare the performance of the most recent state-of-the-art advance Monte Carlo techniques and surrogate models when applied to strongly nonlinear performance functions. This will provide the analysts with an insight to the issues that could arise in these challenging problems and help to decide with confidence on which tool to select in order to achieve accurate estimation of the failure probabilities within feasible times with their available computational capabilities.
Compensating for oblique ear-probe insertions in ear-canal reflectance measurements
Authors: Nørgaard Kren Rahbek , Fernandez-Grande Efren , Laugesen Søren
Published: June 2019

Measurements of the ear-canal reflectance using an ear probe require estimating the characteristic impedance of the ear canal in situ. However, an oblique insertion of the ear probe into a uniform waveguide prevents accurately estimating its characteristic impedance using existing time-domain methods. This is caused by the non-uniformity immediately in front of the ear probe when inserted at an oblique angle, resembling a short horn loading, and introduces errors into the ear-canal reflectance. This paper gives an overview of the influence of oblique ear-probe insertions and shows how they can be detected and quantified by estimating the characteristic impedance using multiple truncation frequencies, i.e., limiting the utilized frequency range. Additionally, a method is proposed to compensate for the effects on reflectance of an oblique ear-probe insertion into a uniform waveguide. The incident impedance of the horn loading is estimated, i.e., were the uniform waveguide anechoic, which replaces the characteristic impedance when calculating reflectance. The method can compensate for an oblique ear-probe insertion into a uniform occluded-ear simulator and decrease the dependency of reflectance on insertion depth in an ear canal. However, more research is required to further assess the method in ear canals.
Partial compensation to delayed auditory feedback: An analysis of syllable duration
Authors: Davis Samantha N. , Brajot François-Xavier
Published: June 2019

Altered feedback perturbation studies have shown that speakers only partially compensate for shifts in vocal pitch, intensity, or spectral content. The partial compensation generally plateaus around 30%–40% of the non-shifted, baseline production and is proposed to reflect the integrated effect of altered (auditory) and non-altered (somatosensory) sensory feedback. The authors hypothesized that the same pattern should hold for changes in syllable duration with delayed auditory feedback. To test this, the authors calculated average syllable duration from 21 young adults who read a standard passage as auditory feedback was delayed by 0, 10, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 600 ms. Given the complex nature of speech errors elicited under delayed auditory feedback, the authors compared durational effects across two broad error categories: prolongations and repetitions. Average syllable duration increased non-linearly and reached a peak near 40% of baseline durations. Separated by error type, prolongations, and distortions made up 89% of perceived errors. Only 9% of perceived errors were identified as repetitions. Unlike prolongations, however, the duration of repeated tokens ranged from 74% to 110% of the target syllable and compensated fully for the delay. These results are consistent with the notion that increasing syllable duration compensates partially for delays in auditory feedback. The compensation pattern resembles that of responses to other forms of altered auditory feedback, which suggests that this may be a general attribute of low-level, sensorimotor compensation. The higher frequency of prolongation occurrences further suggests that these may be the primary means of compensation for delayed auditory feedback. Repetitions, on the other hand, likely reflect compensatory mechanisms of higher-level motor planning or sequencing processes.
The Effects of a 2-Year Middle School Physical Education Program on Physical Activity and Its Determinants
Authors: Roth Sarah E. , Gill Monique , Chan-Golston Alec M. , Rice Lindsay N. , Crespi Catherine M. , Koniak-Griffin Deborah , Prelip Michael L.
Published: June 2019

Purpose: This study examines the effects of the middle school SPARK physical education (PE) curriculum on predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors for physical activity (PA) as well as self-reported PA in a predominantly low-income, Latinx student population in Los Angeles, CA. Methods: Data were collected from 3763 students of seventh and eighth grades at 2 time points at the 16 middle schools enrolled in the study. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to assess intervention effects on PA attitudes, PE enjoyment, FitnessGram passing, daily PA, and muscle-strengthening PA, controlling for demographic variables. Results: Although there was no detectable intervention effect on increasing the number of students exercising 60 minutes per day, there was a negative intervention effect detected for muscle-strengthening exercises. A significant positive intervention effect was detected for both PE enjoyment and FitnessGram passing. Deeper analysis of these findings revealed that the positive effect on PE enjoyment occurred only among male students. Conclusion: The SPARK curriculum had mixed effects on students’ PA behavior as well as predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors for PA. Incorporating student perspectives into the evaluation of intervention efforts to promote PA can facilitate a better understanding of the ways in which these efforts influence PA behaviors and its determinants.
BDNF increases synaptic NMDA receptor abundance by enhancing the local translation of Pyk2 in cultured hippocampal neurons
Authors: Afonso Pedro , De Luca Pasqualino , Carvalho Rafael S. , Cortes Luísa , Pinheiro Paulo , Oliveiros Barbara , Almeida Ramiro D. , Mele Miranda , Duarte Carlos B.
Published: June 2019

The RNA binding protein hnRNP K mediates BDNF-induced proteome remodeling at the neuronal synapse.
New connections: NMDARs in learning and memory
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: June 2019

Studies provide critical insight into the roles and regulation of NMDA receptors in learning and memory.
New β-Lactamase Inhibitors Nacubactam and Zidebactam Improve the
In Vitro
Activity of β-Lactam Antibiotics against Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Clinical Isolates
Authors: Kaushik Amit , Ammerman Nicole C. , Parrish Nicole M. , Nuermberger Eric L.
Published: June 2019

The new diazabicyclooctane-based β-lactamase inhibitors avibactam and relebactam improve the
in vitro
activity of β-lactam antibiotics against bacteria of the
Mycobacterium abscessus
complex (MABC). Here, we evaluated the
in vitro
activities of two newer diazabicyclooctane-based β-lactamase inhibitors in clinical development, nacubactam and zidebactam, with β-lactams against clinical isolates of MABC.
Loss of
mcr
Genes Mediated by Plasmid Elimination and IS
Apl1
Authors: Zhang Pei , Bai Li , Li Yan , Wang Zhiqiang , Li Ruichao
Published: June 2019

We characterized the stability of a plasmid pCP53-mcr1_3 encoding
mcr-1
and
mcr-3.19
with and without colistin exposure during cultural passages via S1-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and nanopore MinION sequencing. Both
mcr-1
and
mcr-3.19
were missing in certain subclones, mediated by genetic excision (IS
Apl1-mcr-1-pap2
), and deletions of large multidrug resistance (MDR) regions confirmed by IS
Apl1
and plasmid elimination.
Genomewide Elucidation of Drug Resistance Mechanisms for Systemically Used Antifungal Drugs Amphotericin B, Caspofungin, and Voriconazole in the Budding Yeast
Authors: Balkan Cigdem , Ercan Ilkcan , Isik Esin , Sahin Akdeniz Esra , Balcioglu Orhan , Kodedová Marie , Zimmermannová Olga , Dundar Muhammed , Sychrová Hana , Koc Ahmet
Published: June 2019

There are only a few antifungal drugs used systemically in treatment, and invasive fungal infections that are resistant to these drugs are an emerging problem in health care. In this study, we performed a high-copy-number genomic DNA (gDNA) library screening to find and characterize genes that reduce susceptibility to amphotericin B, caspofungin, and voriconazole in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
.
Small-Molecule Morphogenesis Modulators Enhance the Ability of 14-Helical β-Peptides To Prevent Candida albicans Biofilm Formation
Authors: Rodríguez López Angélica de L. , Lee Myung-Ryul , Wang Nathan B. , Dunn Kaitlin K. , Sanchez Hiram , Raman Namrata , Andes David R. , Lynn David M. , Palecek Sean P.
Published: June 2019

Candida albicans
is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for mucosal candidiasis and systemic candidemia in humans. Often, these infections are associated with the formation of drug-resistant biofilms on the surfaces of tissues or medical devices. Increased incidence of
C. albicans
resistance to current antifungals has heightened the need for new strategies to prevent or eliminate biofilm-related fungal infections.
Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax
Authors: Tournier Jean-Nicolas , Rougeaux Clémence , Biot Fabrice V. , Goossens Pierre L.
Published: June 2019

Inhalational anthrax caused by
Bacillus anthracis
, a spore-forming Gram-positive bacterium, is a highly lethal infection. Antibodies targeting the protective antigen (PA) binding component of the toxins have recently been authorized as an adjunct to antibiotics, although no conclusive evidence demonstrates that anthrax antitoxin therapy has any significant benefit. We discuss here the rational basis of anti-PA development regarding the pathogenesis of the disease.
Assignment of Serotype-Specific IgG1, IgG2, and IgA Weight-Based Antibody Units to the Human Pneumococcal Standard Reference Serum, 007sp
Authors: Jones Scott , Finnegan Kier , Wee Jae Hee , D’Argoeuves Polly , Roalfe Lucy , Byrne Suzanne , Heffernan Sarah , Hunt Adam , Johnson Marina , Jones Tessa , Pearce Emma , Richardson Hayley , Thalasselis Vasili , Goldblatt David
Published: June 2019

A well-characterized antibody standard is an indispensable reagent for use in assays designed to measure antibodies with precision and where assays between laboratories need to be comparable. The human pneumococcal standard reference serum, lot 89SF, greatly facilitated the standardization of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methodologies during a critical period when the first pneumococcal polysaccharide-conjugate vaccines were being evaluated for licensure. Due to dwindling supplies of lot 89SF, a new reference standard, 007sp, was produced in 2011. Understanding the isotype and subclass composition of either natural or vaccine induced responses to pathogens has assumed increasing importance. In this study, we have assigned IgA, IgG1, and IgG2 values to pneumococcal serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F by bridging to existing values in lot 89SF.
Does hospital information technology infrastructure promote the implementation of clinical practice guidelines? A multicentre observational study of Japanese hospitals
Authors: Sasaki Noriko , Yamaguchi Naohito , Okumura Akiko , Yoshida Masahiro , Sugawara Hiroyuki , Imanaka Yuichi
Published: June 2019

Objectives

It remains unclear whether insufficient information technology (IT) infrastructure in hospitals hinders implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and affects healthcare quality. The objectives of this study were to describe the present state of IT infrastructure provided in acute care hospitals across Japan and to investigate its association with healthcare quality.

Methods

A questionnaire survey of hospital administrators was conducted in 2015 to gather information on hospital-level policies and elements of IT infrastructure. The number of positive responses by each respondent to the survey items was tallied. Next, a composite quality indicator (QI) score of hospital adherence to CPGs for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was calculated using administrative claims data. Based on this QI score, we performed a chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) analysis to identify correlates of hospital healthcare quality. The independent variables included hospital size and teaching status in addition to hospital policies and elements of IT infrastructure.

Results

Wide variations were observed in the availability of various IT infrastructure elements across hospitals, especially in local area network availability and access to paid evidence databases. The CHAID analysis showed that hospitals with a high level of access to paid databases (p<0.05) and internet (p<0.05) were strongly associated with increased care quality in larger or teaching hospitals.

Conclusions

Hospitals with superior IT infrastructure may provide higher-quality care. This allows clinicians to easily access the latest information on evidence-based medicine and facilitate the dissemination of CPGs. The systematic improvement of hospital IT infrastructure may promote CPG use and narrow the evidence-practice gaps.
Social support, social network and salt-reduction behaviours in children: a substudy of the School-EduSalt trial
Authors: Ma Yuan , Feng Xiangxian , Ma Jun , He Feng J , Wang Haijun , Zhang Jing , Xie Wuxiang , Wu Tao , Yin Yunjian , Yuan Jianhui , MacGregor Graham A , Wu Yangfeng
Published: June 2019

Objectives

Healthy behaviour changes, such as reducing salt intake, are important to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Social environment is a major challenge to achieve such behaviours, but the explicit mechanisms remain largely unknown. We investigated whether social networks of children were associated with their behaviours to reduce salt intake.

Design

An ancillary study of a school-based cluster randomised controlled trial to reduce salt intake in children and their families (School-EduSalt), in which salt intake of children was significantly reduced by 25%.

Setting

14 primary schools in urban Changzhi, northern China.

Participants

603 children aged 10–12 years in the intervention arm.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We developed a score assessing salt-reduction behaviours (SRB score) of children based on self-administered questionnaires. The SRB score was validated by the changes in salt intake measured by 24-hour urine collection in a random sample of 135 children. A 1-unit increase in SRB score was associated with a 0.31 g/day greater reduction in salt intake during the trial (95% CI 0.06 to 0.57, p=0.016).

Results

Children from families with more family members not supporting salt reduction had significantly lower SRB scores (p<0.0001). Children from a class with a smaller size and from a class with more friendship connections, as well as children having more friends within the class all showed higher SRB scores (all p<0.05). Children whose school teachers attended the intervention programme more frequently also had higher SRB scores (p=0.043).

Conclusion

Social networks were associated with the behaviours to reduce salt intake in children. Future salt-reduction programmes may benefit from strategies that actively engage families and teachers, and strategies that enhance interconnectivity among peers.

Trial registration number

NCT01821144; post-results.
Diabetes-related symptoms, acute complications and management of diabetes mellitus of patients who are receiving palliative care: a protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Bettencourt-Silva Rita , Aguiar Beatriz , Sá-Araújo Vânia , Barreira Rosa , Guedes Vânia , Marques Ribeiro Maria João , Carvalho Davide , Östlundh Linda , Paulo Marília Silva
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Worldwide, an estimated 40 million people are in need of palliative care each year, but only 14% receive it. The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients receiving palliative care is higher than in the general population. This association is intended to grow as a result of the rising burden of DM worldwide, ageing populations and the improved overall survival time of several diseases over the last few decades. Recommendations for DM management in the context of palliative care are mainly based on expert opinion as there is a lack of suitable evidence base and randomised clinical trials in palliative care are scarce. The aim of our systematic review is to identify the best DM management practices in order to reduce important DM-related symptoms and acute complications in patients receiving palliative care.

Methods and analysis

The authors will study the DM treatment and management literature, surveying the different approaches employed to treat adult palliative patients. Core health bibliographic databases will be searched from January 1990 to May 2019. Data sources will include Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and grey literature. Details regarding diet, oral and injectable glucose-lowering medicines, insulin regimens and blood glucose monitoring strategies will be evaluated. We defined the primary outcomes to compare between DM management approaches as the presence of symptoms (polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia) and acute complications of DM (hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state and diabetic ketoacidosis), and secondary outcomes as hospital admissions and deaths due to DM-related complications, health-related quality of life and glycaemic control.

Ethics and dissemination

The systematic review methodology does not require ethics approval due to the nature of the study design. The results of the systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be publicly available.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018115772.
Shortened cataract surgery by standardisation of the perioperative protocol according to the Joint Commission International accreditation: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Okumura Yuichi , Inomata Takenori , Iwagami Masao , Eguchi Atsuko , Mizuno Ju , Shiang Tina , Kawasaki Shiori , Shimada Akie , Inada Eiichi , Amano Atsushi , Murakami Akira
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To investigate the impact of standardisation of the perioperative protocol based on the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation guidelines for operating time in cataract surgery.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Setting

Single centre in Japan.

Participants

Between March 2014 and June 2016, 3127 patients underwent cataract surgery under topical anaesthesia including 2581 and 546 patients before and after JCI accreditation, respectively.

Primary and secondary outcomes

We compared three time periods, comprising the preprocedure/surgery time (pre-PT), PT and post-PT, and total PT (TPT) of cataract surgery between patients before and after JCI accreditation, by regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and cataract surgery-associated confounders.

Results

The main outcomes were pre-PT, PT, post-PT and TPT. Pre-PT (19.8±10.5 vs 13.9±8.5 min, p<0.001) and post-PT (3.5±4.6 vs 2.6±2.1 min, p<0.001) significantly decreased after JCI accreditation, while PT did not significantly change (16.8±6.7 vs 16.2±6.3 min, p=0.065). Consequently, TPT decreased on average by 7.3 min per person after JCI accreditation (40.1±13.4 vs 32.8±10.9 min, p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, pre-PT (β=−5.82 min, 95% CI −6.75 to −4.88), PT (β=−0.76 min, 95% CI −1.34 to −1.71), post-PT (β=−0.85 min, 95% CI −1.24 to −0.45) and TPT (β=−7.43 min, 95% CI −8.61 to −6.24) were significantly shortened after JCI accreditation.

Conclusion

Perioperative protocol standardisation, based on JCI accreditation, shortened TPT in cataract surgery under local anaesthesia.
Prevalence of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease across the lifespan: a population-based epidemiological study
Authors: Theadom Alice , Roxburgh Richard , MacAulay Erin , O’Grady Gina , Burns Joshua , Parmar Priya , Jones Kelly , Rodrigues Miriam
Published: June 2019

Objectives

This population-based study aimed to determine age-standardised prevalence of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) across the lifespan using multiple case ascertainment sources.

Design

Point-prevalence epidemiological study in the Auckland Region of New Zealand (NZ).

Setting

Multiple case ascertainment sources including primary care centres, hospital services, neuromuscular disease registry, community-based organisations and self-referral were used to identify potentially eligible participants.

Participants

Adults (≥16 years, n=207, 87.7%) and children (<16 years, n=29, 12.3%) with a confirmed clinical or molecular diagnosis of CMT, hereditary sensory neuropathy, hereditary motor neuropathy or hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies who resided in the Auckland Region of NZ on 1 June 2016.

Primary outcome

Prevalence per 100 000 persons with 95% CIs by subtype, age and sex were calculated and standardised to the world population.

Results

Age-standardised point prevalence of all CMT cases was 15.7 per 100 000 (95% CI 11.6 to 21.0). Highest prevalence was identified in those aged 50–64 years 25.2 per 100 000 (95% CI 19.4 to 32.6). Males had a higher prevalence (16.6 per 100 000, 95% CI 10.9 to 25.2) than females (14.6 per 100 000, 95% CI 9.6 to 22.4). Prevalence of CMT1A was 6.9 per 100 000 (95% CI 5.6 to 8.4). The majority (93.2%) of cases were identified through medical records, with 6.8% of cases uniquely identified through community sources.

Conclusions

A small but significant proportion of people with CMT are not connected to healthcare services. Epidemiological studies using medical records alone to identify cases may risk underestimating prevalence. Further studies using population-based methods and reporting age-standardised prevalence are needed to improve global understanding of the epidemiology of CMT.
Diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Authors: Khalique Zohya , Pennell Dudley
Published: June 2019

Cardiac structure and function are complex and inter-related. Current in vivo techniques assess the heart on a macroscopic scale, but a novel technique called diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DT-CMR) can now assess the cardiac microstructure non-invasively. It provides information on the helical arrangement of cardiomyocytes that drives torsion and offers dynamic assessment of the sheetlets (aggregated cardiomyocytes) that rotate through the cardiac cycle to facilitate wall thickening. Through diffusion biomarkers, the expansion and organisation of the underlying myocardium can be described. DT-CMR has already identified novel microstructural abnormalities in cardiomyopathy, and ischaemic and congenital heart disease. This new knowledge supports the potential of DT-CMR to improve diagnostics and prognostication in various cardiac diseases.
Study of warm mix asphalt using reclaimed asphalt pavement and copper slag: a review
Authors: Mohi ud Din Ishfaq , Mir Mohammad Shafi
Published: June 2019

The incorporation of copper slag (CS) in asphalt pavements proves to be a good substitute in replacing the natural aggregates. This reduces pavement construction cost and plays a key role in protecting the environment. The CS can be used with recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) material especially in warm mix asphalt pavements. The use of RAP not only leads to environmental benefits but also considerably saves natural resources and decreases the requirement to use virgin bitumen. The use of CS in pavement construction sector eliminates the disposal as well as leaching problems associated with it. This paper focuses on the review of studies carried out on the use of CS along with RAP in road construction. It presents and discusses the work done on the use of CS in the pavement construction sector and the use of RAP in providing the necessary stiffening effect to the asphalt pavements. It analyzes the requirement and advantage of using CS with RAP in asphalt pavements in light of previous research findings and its influence on various engineering properties in pavements. This paper also reviews the work done to study the environmental impact of using CS in asphalt mixes.
Within-river straying: sex and size influence recovery location of hatchery Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Authors: Pollock Amanda M.M. , Kamran Maryam , Dittman Andrew H. , Johnson Marc A. , Noakes David L.G.
Published: June 2019

Salmon straying is often defined as the failure of adults to return to their natal river system. However, straying within a river basin can be problematic if hatchery salmon do not return to their hatchery of origin and subsequently spawn in the wild with natural-origin salmon. We examined within-river straying patterns from 34 years of coded-wire tag data, representing 29 941 hatchery fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Elk River, Oregon, USA. Using classification tree analysis, we found that females and larger salmon were more likely to be recovered on the spawning grounds than males and smaller fish. Females larger than 980 mm had a 51.6% likelihood of recovery on the spawning grounds rather than at the Elk River Hatchery. Our findings raise questions about the behavior of straying adults and implications for management of these stocks, with a focus on methods to reduce within-river straying. We recommend further studies to determine whether carcass recoveries are fully representative of hatchery salmon that stray within the Elk River basin.
Improvement of harmonic spectra from superposition of initial state driven by homogeneous and inhomogeneous combined field
Authors: Li Yi , Feng R. Liqiang , Qiao Yan
Published: June 2019

A larger harmonic cutoff with a higher harmonic yield is a necessary requirement for producing intense ultrashort extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray sources. In this paper, we present a potential method to improve the harmonic cutoff and harmonic yield from the superposition of initial states in the He atom driven by the low-intensity homogeneous and inhomogeneous combined field. The results can be separated into two parts, that is, (i) the extension of harmonic cutoff via the optimization of three-color homogeneous and inhomogeneous field (covering the carrier envelope phase, delay time, intensity ratio, and inhomogeneous effect); and (ii) the enhancement of harmonic yield via the superposition of ground state and excited state as the initial state. Consequently, a water window harmonic plateau with an intensity enhancement of six orders of magnitude can be obtained. Moreover, the harmonic plateau is contributed by a single harmonic emission peak. Finally, through the Fourier transformation of some selected harmonics on the spectral continuum, a number of sub-50 as water window attosecond pulses with the intensity enhancement of six orders of magnitude can be obtained.
Machine learning-based secure data analyzing for FPGA-based solar PV FED speed control of brushless DC motor using versatile threshold optimization technique
Authors: Saravanan G. , Karthikeyan C.
Published: June 2019

The predicted global energy emergency expected shortly is due to the fast exhaustion of conventional fossil non-renewable energy source assets and reliably decreasing expenses of solar photovoltaic (SPV) modules. This photovoltaic (PV) power conversion stage prompts an expanded cost, size, unpredictability and diminished effectiveness for automotive applications. As an advanced system, the solar PV fed brushless direct current motor (BLDCM) is being used for most of the automotive applications. A primary control method fit for working the solar PV array at its peak power utilizes a conventional voltage source inverter (VSI) to control proposed fractional order BLDCM chaos control utilizing versatile threshold optimization (VTO) algorithm. The SPV is used as primary sources while the battery as reinforcement. The proposed control takes out the BLDCM phase using current control techniques. No extra power is related to the speed control of BLDCM and its fine start. The suitability of proposed framework is shown through its execution assessment utilizing MATLAB2017a programming in light of the simulated results and experimental approval on a created model, under practical operating conditions. Execution of the proposed FPGA-based control drive of BLDC motor is likewise researched through experimental test setup utilizing SPARTAN-6 FPGA, the run-time data are analyzed through IOT network using Adaptive Least Square Regression. The proposed system simulation result is justified by the hardware result.
Going to School on a Robot
Authors: Ahumada-Newhart Veronica , Olson Judith S.
Published: June 2019

Telepresence robots have recently been introduced as a way for children who are homebound due to medical conditions to attend their local schools. These robots provide an experience that is a much richer learning experience than the typical home instruction services of 4–5 hours a week. Because the robots on the market today were designed for use by adults in work settings, they do not necessarily fit children in school settings. We carried out a study of 19 homebound students, interviewing and observing them as well as interviewing their parents, teachers, administrators, and classmates. We organized our findings along the lines of the various tasks and settings the child is in, developing a
learner-centered analytic framework
, then
teacher
-,
classmate
-, and
homebound-controller-centered analytic frameworks
. Although some features of current robots fit children in school settings, we discovered a number of cases where there was a mismatch or additional features are needed. Our findings are described according to analytic frames that capture user experiences. Based on these user-centered findings, we provide recommendations for designing the robot and user interface to better fit children using robots for school and learning activities.
Online Vertex-Weighted Bipartite Matching
Authors: Huang Zhiyi , Tang Zhihao Gavin , Wu Xiaowei , Zhang Yuhao
Published: June 2019

We introduce a weighted version of the ranking algorithm by Karp et al. (STOC 1990), and we prove a competitive ratio of 0.6534 for the vertex-weighted online bipartite matching problem when online vertices arrive in random order. Our result shows that random arrivals help beating the 1-1/e barrier even in the vertex-weighted case. We build on the randomized primal-dual framework by Devanur et al. (SODA 2013) and design a two dimensional gain sharing function, which depends not only on the rank of the offline vertex, but also on the arrival time of the online vertex. To our knowledge, this is the first competitive ratio strictly larger than 1-1/e for an online bipartite matching problem achieved under the randomized primal-dual framework. Our algorithm has a natural interpretation that offline vertices offer a larger portion of their weights to the online vertices as time increases, and each online vertex matches the neighbor with the highest offer at its arrival.
Dynamics of Leslie-Gower Pest-Predator Model with Disease in Pest Including Pest-Harvesting and Optimal Implementation of Pesticide
Authors: Suryanto Agus , Darti Isnani
Published: June 2019

We propose a model which describes the interaction between pest and its natural predator. We assume that pest can be infected with diseases or pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The model is constructed by combining the Leslie-Gower model and S-I epidemic model. It is also considered the effects of pest harvesting. Harvesting in this case is intended to take a number of pests as one of the pest population control strategies. The proposed model will be analyzed dynamically to study its qualitative behaviour. The dynamical analysis includes the determination of all possible equilibrium points and their stability properties. Furthermore we also discuss the implementation of pesticide control where its optimal strategy is determined by Pontryagin’s maximum principle. To support our analytical studies, we perform some numerical simulations and their interpretation.