bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploiting the T(x) function in fast hysteresis models for transient circuit simulations
Authors: Wilhelm Johann , Renhart Werner
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate an alternative to established hysteresis models.

Design/methodology/approach

Different mathematical representations of the magnetic hysteresis are compared and some differences are briefly discussed. After this, the application of the T(x) function is presented and an inductor model is developed. Implementation details of the used transient circuit simulator code are further discussed. From real measurement results, parameters for the model are extracted. The results of the final simulation are finally discussed and compared to measurements.

Findings

The T(x) function possesses a fast mathematical formulation with very good accuracy. It is shown that this formulation is very well suited for an implementation in transient circuit simulator codes. Simulation results using the developed model are in very good agreement with measurements.

Research limitations/implications

For the purpose of this paper, only soft magnetic materials were considered. However, literature suggests, that the T(x) function can be extended to hard magnetic materials. Investigations on this topic are considered as future work.

Originality/value

While the mathematical background of the T(x) function is very well presented in the referenced papers, the application in a model of a real device is not very well discussed yet. The presented paper is directly applicable to typical problems in the field of power electronics.
Accurate marine propellers flow field CFD through anisotropic mesh optimization
Authors: Abou El-Azm Aly Ahmed , Habashi Wagdi G.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the flow field around marine propellers is challenging because of geometric complexity and rotational effects. To capture the flow structure, grid quality and distribution around the blades is primordial. This paper aims to demonstrate that solution-based automatic mesh optimization is the most logical and practical way to achieve optimal CFD solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

In the current paper, open water propeller performance coefficients such as thrust and torque coefficients are numerically investigated. An anisotropic mesh adaptation technique is applied, believed for the first time, to marine propellers and to two computational domains.

Findings

The current study’s performance coefficients are compared with other previously published CFD results and improvements in terms of accuracy and computational cost are vividly demonstrated for different advance coefficients, as well as a much sharper capture of the complex flow features.

Originality/value

It will be clearly demonstrated that these two improvements can be achieved, surprisingly, at a much lower meshing and computational cost.
Intellectual disabilities and offending behaviour: the awareness and concerns of the police, district attorneys and judges
Authors: Søndenaa Erik , Olsen Terje , Kermit Patrick Stefan , Dahl Nina Christine , Envik Robert
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the awareness of intellectual disabilities (ID) amongst professionals in the criminal justice system (CJS) and their knowledge of those persons, either as victims, witnesses, suspects, accused or defendants.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of the professionals in the CJS (n=388), combined with a series of focus group interviews with experienced professionals (n=20), was conducted.

Findings

One out of three respondents (police, district attorneys and judges) reported that they have regular contact with suspects who have an ID. Differences in knowledge of ID amongst professionals in the CJS can explain awareness and detection of persons with ID.

Research limitations/implications

Non-responders may represent professionals with no knowledge or less interest in these issues.

Originality/value

Reflections on ID have not previously been studied in the Norwegian CJS. The findings serve as a basis and status quo for further research.
Life safety in single story steel frame buildings, part I – deterministic design
Authors: Sandström Joakim
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss fire safety design of single-story, single compartment buildings and evaluates whether time to structural damage is a relevant criterion when lethal fire conditions develop long before any structural fire damage can occur.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach is demonstrated in a design case study of a steel truss in a typical Swedish single-story steel frame building.

Findings

While not complying with deemed to satisfy fire resistance ratings, it is argued that the proposed design still can fulfill the life safety objective.

Originality/value

This paper presents practical application of a conceptual paper presenting a general approach to structural fire safety design and the life safety objective.
Genetically modified and biofortified crops and food security in developing countries
Authors: Adeyeye Samuel Ayofemi Olalekan , Idowu-Adebayo Folake
Published: August 2019

Purpose

In recent times, science and technology has taken a front seat in revolutionizing agricultural production and food processing globally with noticeable impact on food, nutrition and family health. This study was carried out to have a critical review of genetically modified (GM) foods and the use of GM and biofortified crops for food security in developing countries where foods are not adequately available and people are not food secured.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical review of GM foods was undertaken and the use of GM and biofortified crops for food security in developing countries where foods are not adequately available and people are not food secured was carried out.

Findings

Currently, there are no recent patents on GM and biofortified crops and this shows that there are more works to be done by policymakers, regulatory agencies, consumers and right organizations on environmental, health and biosafety of GM and biofortified crops. Advances in science and technology have changed our relationship with nature which enables crops to be modified and improved through selective breeding to obtain more stronger and productive crops. However, despite the benefits and improvements from GM and biofortified crops, controversy and arguments have continued to trail the consumption of GM and biofortified crops because of the perceived safety issues. Although genetic engineering has helped in developing fast-growing and pest-resistant crops, as well as reduction in use of pesticides, however, its impact on the environment and the consumers cannot be overemphasized. In conclusion, this study showed that the role of GM and biofortified crops for food security is the subject of public controversy; however, genetic engineering has the potential to improve world food production, increase food availability and influence farmers’ income and thus their economic access to food but the attendance potential risks related to food safety and avoidable environmental hazards should not be overlooked. There is need for comprehensive information on the impact of GM and biofortified crops on environment, human health and biosafety of the crops.

Research limitations/implications

Few available literatures on the subject matter were critically reviewed.

Practical implications

The paper helps in creating awareness for more in-depth research on GM and biofortified crops and their impacts on food security in developing countries where foods are not adequately available and people are not food secured.

Originality/value

This research is of value to the researchers, policymakers and regulatory agencies in developing countries on food safety.
Relationships between different instructional approaches and students' Classical Chinese reading comprehension and motivation
Authors: Lau Kit‐ling
Published: August 2019

Previous studies comparing teacher‐centred (TC) and learner‐centred (LC) instruction have presented a mixed picture of the effectiveness of these two instructional approaches. By examining the effectiveness of different types of instruction on students' Classical Chinese (CC) reading comprehension and motivation, this study aims to contribute to instructional research by elucidating the positive and negative aspects of TC and LC instruction when they are applied in the context of teaching CC reading. A total of 454 Secondary 4 students between the ages of 15 and 17 years agreed to participate in this study on a voluntary basis. They completed a CC reading comprehension test and a questionnaire that measured their CC reading motivation and perceived CC reading instruction. Relationships between students' perceived CC reading instruction, reading motivation and reading comprehension were examined by correlation and path analyses. The findings of the correlation analyses indicated that traditional TC instruction positively and significantly correlated with students' CC reading performance and extrinsic motivation. Motivating tasks, one type of LC instruction, positively and significantly correlated with all types of motivation but did not significantly correlate with CC reading performance. In the path analysis, TC instruction exhibited a significant positive effect on reading comprehension, whereas motivating tasks continued to exhibit a significant positive effect on intrinsic motivation after the effect of the examined schools' achievement level was controlled for. The findings highlight the essential role of teachers in instructing students who are weak in particular subjects. Instead of viewing TC and LC instruction as two contradictory approaches, the findings indicate that a combined approach of TC and LC instruction can more effectively facilitate students' learning in a difficult school subject.
Review Article: Comments on William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England
Authors: DICKINSON HARRY T.
Published: August 2019

Wilfrid Prest has written the best biography of Sir William Blackstone, has edited his correspondence, and has produced an impressive range of essays and articles on Blackstone and his works. He has now persuaded a world‐renowned press to produce a new edition of Blackstone's most famous and most influential work, Commentaries on the Laws of England, that provides readers with the first edition of this four‐volume work (1765–9) and all the changes subsequently approved by Blackstone up to the ninth edition, published posthumously in 1783. He has recruited four major legal historians to provide scholarly introductions of great value. This review article seeks to appreciate why Blackstone's Commentaries had such an enormous impact when they first appeared and why they are still subject to serious study to this day. It first shows how Blackstone's academic, legal and political career influenced the structure and content of his Commentaries. It then examines the strengths and the weaknesses of the structure and contents of the Commentaries. Blackstone's four volumes sold well in the English‐speaking world and were generally well reviewed when they first appeared. In England, his discussion on religious toleration did arouse some criticism from radical Dissenters such as Joseph Priestley and his whole approach to the common law and the constitution was savaged by the young Jeremy Bentham. In Ireland and in the North American colonies his comments on the common law were well received, but his views on the sovereignty of parliament aroused the hostility of Irish and American Patriots. Despite this, Blackstone's Commentaries were very widely used by lawyers on the American frontier and they became for decades a major text in American university law schools. For much of the nineteenth century Blackstone's views were criticized in England by Bentham and his utilitarian disciples, who advocated legal reforms, but, from the 1930s onwards, leading lawyers and historians across the world have endeavoured to show that Blackstone was more critical of the legal system of his day and of the laws passed by parliament than Bentham had appreciated.
Nodal CTV selection according to primary tumour location and pT stage for biliary tract cancer
Authors: Socha Joanna , Surdyka Dariusz , Kepka Lucyna
Published: August 2019

Introduction/Purpose

To assist radiation oncologists in determining the elective nodal CTV for biliary tract cancer, we aimed to provide the rules for selection of the CTV for each subsite of biliary tract with respect to the pT stage, based on the analysis of the incidence and location of metastatic lymph nodes.

Methods

Systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed to determine the rate of pathological nodal involvement of each individual lymph node station (LNS) as a function of the primary tumour pT stage (pT1‐2 vs. pT3‐4) separately for right intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (rIHC), left/hilar intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma l/hIHC), proximal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (pEHC), middle extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (mEHC), distal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (dEHC) and gall bladder cancer (GBC). A 5% or higher risk of involvement was assumed to justify inclusion of the LNS in the CTV.

Results

Coeliac LNS, which is usually included in the CTV in clinical practice, has a low risk of involvement and can presumably be omitted for pT1‐2 GBC, for dEHC irrespective of pT stage and for mEHC. Para‐aortic and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) LNS that are usually omitted have a high risk of involvement. Para‐aortic LNS should be considered for inclusion for all the subsites except for pT1‐2 dEHC, and SMA LNS for all the subsites except for pT1‐2 dEHC, pT1‐2 GBC and pEHC. Left gastric artery, lesser curvature and paracardial LNS should be considered for inclusion for l/hIHC.

Conclusion

This systematic review provides an evidence‐based strategy for nodal CTV selection in biliary tract cancer according to primary tumour location and pT stage.
Psychopathology and Hypersexuality among Veterans with and without Histories of Alcohol‐use Disorders
Authors: Moisson Jonathan , Potenza Marc N. , Shirk Steven D. , Hoff Rani A. , Park Crystal L. , Kraus Shane W.
Published: August 2019

Background and Objectives

Little research has examined the clinical characteristics of U.S. post‐9/11 military veterans coping with alcohol problems. Specifically, we examined psychopathology and hypersexuality among male and female post‐9/11 veterans with and without a lifetime history of alcohol‐use disorders (AUDs).

Methods

Using data from a baseline telephone interview and follow‐up web‐based survey, we examined frequencies of AUDs, mental health and addictive disorders, sexual behaviors, hypersexuality, and problematic use of pornography in a national convenience sample of 283 U.S. veterans.

Results

Many (39.1%) veterans met lifetime criteria for AUDs. Bivariate associations revealed that veterans with lifetime AUDs met clinically significant levels of posttraumatic stress disorder and criteria for drug‐use disorders (lifetime). Veterans with lifetime AUDs also attended religious services less often, engaged in more solitary masturbation in the past month, and reported more issues with problematic use of pornography and hypersexuality compared with veterans without AUDs. Results from a logistic regression found that lifetime drug‐use disorders (odds ratio [OR] = 4.22) and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (OR = 1.98) were significant predictors of veterans with lifetime AUD status.

Discussion and Conclusions

We found differences among veterans with lifetime AUDs compared with those without on select measures of psychopathology, sexual behavior, and hypersexuality.

Scientific Significance

Further screening for substance‐use disorders and hypersexuality in Veterans Affairs is strongly encouraged while veterans are transitioning back into civilian life. (Am J Addict 2019;28:398–404)
Comparison of ultrasound‐guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block catheter technique with surgical pre‐peritoneal catheter for postoperative analgesia in abdominal surgery: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rao Kadam V. , Ludbrook G. , van Wijk R. M. , Hewett P. J. , Moran J. L. , Thiruvenkatarajan V. , Williams P. J.
Published: August 2019

Following abdominal surgery, the provision of postoperative analgesia with local anaesthetic infusion through both transmuscular quadratus lumborum block and pre‐peritoneal catheter have been described. This study compared these two methods of postoperative analgesia following laparotomy. Eighty‐two patients 18–85 years of age scheduled to undergo elective surgery were randomly allocated to receive either transmuscular quadratus lumborum block or pre‐peritoneal catheter block. In the transmuscular quadratus lumborum group, an 18‐gauge Tuohy needle was passed through the quadratus lumborum muscle under ultrasound guidance to reach its anterior aspect. A 20‐ml bolus of ropivacaine 0.375% was administered and catheters placed bilaterally. In the pre‐peritoneal catheter group, 20 ml of ropivacaine 0.375% was infiltrated at each of three subcutaneous sub‐fascial levels, and pre‐peritoneal plane catheters were placed bilaterally. Both groups received an infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% at 5 ml.h−1, continued up to 48 h along with a multimodal analgesic regime that included regular paracetamol and patient‐controlled analgesia with fentanyl. The primary end‐point was postoperative pain score on coughing, assessed using a numerical rating score (0–10). Secondary outcomes were pain score at rest, fentanyl usage until 48 h post‐operation, satisfaction scores and costs. There was no treatment difference between the two groups for pain score on coughing (p = 0.24). In the transmuscular quadratus lumborum group, there was a reduction in numerical rating score at rest (p = 0.036) and satisfaction scores on days 1 and 30 (p = 0.004, p = 0.006, respectively), but fentanyl usage was similar. In the transmuscular quadratus lumborum group, the highest and lowest blocks observed in the recovery area were T4 and L1, respectively. The transmuscular quadratus lumborum technique cost 574.64 Australian dollars more per patient than the pre‐peritoneal catheter technique.
Educating parents to improve parent–child interactions: Fostering the development of attentional control and executive functioning
Authors: Spruijt Andrea M. , Dekker Marielle C. , Ziermans Tim B. , Swaab Hanna
Published: August 2019

Background

Parent–child interaction is essential in the development of attentional control (AC) and executive functioning (EF). Educating parents in AC and EF development may help them to respond more adaptively to their child's developmental needs.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate whether parents can be educated to improve interactions with their child through a compact psycho‐educational programme that focuses on fostering the development of AC and EF.

Sample

Parents and their children in a low‐risk sample of four‐ to eight‐year‐olds were randomly assigned to either the educational programme condition (N = 34) or the control condition (N = 36).

Methods

Parental supportive presence and intrusiveness were observed during home visits, and children's performance‐based AC and EF were assessed before and after the four‐session programme.

Result

Parents in the educational programme improved significantly in support ( = .19) and intrusiveness ( = .09) compared to controls. There was no short‐term programme mediation effect on child AC and EF through parental support and intrusiveness. This study showed, however, that parents who improved after the educational programme had children who improved on AC and EF.

Conclusion

Parent–child interaction can be enhanced in a low‐risk sample of four‐ to eight‐year‐olds using a compact educational group programme within the school community. Future studies should aim at examining variations in programme responsiveness and assessing associations between parent–child interaction and AC and EF over time.
Multiple myeloma treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in the Latin America Haemato‐Oncology (HOLA) Observational Study, 2008–2016
Authors: de Moraes Hungria Vania Tietsche , Martínez‐Baños Deborah M. , Peñafiel Christian R. , Miguel Carlos E. , Vela‐Ojeda Jorge , Remaggi Guillermina , Duarte Fernando B. , Cao Carmen , Cugliari Maria S. , Santos Telma , Machnicki Gerardo , Fernandez Mariana , Grings Mariana , Ammann Eric M. , Lin Jennifer H. , Chen Yen‐Wen , Wong Yu‐Ning , Barreyro Paula
Published: August 2019

Limited data are available regarding contemporary multiple myeloma (MM) treatment practices in Latin America. In this retrospective cohort study, medical records were reviewed for a multinational cohort of 1103 Latin American MM patients (median age, 61 years) diagnosed in 2008–2015 who initiated first‐line therapy (LOT1). Of these patients, 33·9% underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). During follow‐up, 501 (45·4%) and 129 (11·7%) patients initiated second‐ (LOT2) and third‐line therapy (LOT3), respectively. In the LOT1 setting, from 2008 to 2015, there was a decrease in the use of thalidomide‐based therapy, from 66·7% to 42·6%, and chemotherapy from, 20·2% to 5·9%, whereas use of bortezomib‐based therapy or bortezomib + thalidomide increased from 10·7% to 45·5%. Bortezomib‐based therapy and bortezomib + thalidomide were more commonly used in ASCT patients and in private clinics. In non‐ASCT and ASCT patients, median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 15·0 and 31·1 months following LOT1 and 10·9 and 9·5 months following LOT2, respectively. PFS was generally longer in patients treated with bortezomib‐based or thalidomide‐based therapy versus chemotherapy. These data shed light on recent trends in the management of MM in Latin America. Slower uptake of newer therapies in public clinics and poor PFS among patients with relapsed MM point to areas of unmet therapeutic need in Latin America.
A machine learning‐assisted decision‐support model to better identify patients with prostate cancer requiring an extended pelvic lymph node dissection
Authors: Hou Ying , Bao Mei‐Ling , Wu Chen‐Jiang , Zhang Jing , Zhang Yu‐Dong , Shi Hai‐Bin
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To develop a machine learning (ML)‐assisted model to identify candidates for extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) in prostate cancer by integrating clinical, biopsy, and precisely defined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Patients and Methods

In all, 248 patients treated with radical prostatectomy and ePLND or PLND were included. ML‐assisted models were developed from 18 integrated features using logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forests (RFs). The models were compared to the Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram using receiver operating characteristic‐derived area under the curve (AUC) calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

A total of 59/248 (23.8%) lymph node invasions (LNIs) were identified at surgery. The predictive accuracy of the ML‐based models, with (+) or without (−) MRI‐reported LNI, yielded similar AUCs (RFs+/RFs−: 0.906/0.885; SVM+/SVM−: 0.891/0.868; LR+/LR−: 0.886/0.882) and were higher than the MSKCC nomogram (0.816; P < 0.001). The calibration of the MSKCC nomogram tended to underestimate LNI risk across the entire range of predicted probabilities compared to the ML‐assisted models. The DCA showed that the ML‐assisted models significantly improved risk prediction at a risk threshold of ≤80% compared to the MSKCC nomogram. If ePLNDs missed was controlled at <3%, both RFs+ and RFs− resulted in a higher positive predictive value (51.4%/49.6% vs 40.3%), similar negative predictive value (97.2%/97.8% vs 97.2%), and higher number of ePLNDs spared (56.9%/54.4% vs 43.9%) compared to the MSKCC nomogram.

Conclusions

Our ML‐based model, with a 5–15% cutoff, is superior to the MSKCC nomogram, sparing ≥50% of ePLNDs with a risk of missing <3% of LNIs.
Self-reported changes in the expanded disability status scale score in patients with multiple sclerosis after autologous stem cell transplants: real-world data from a single center
Authors: Ruiz-Argüelles G J , Olivares-Gazca J C , Olivares-Gazca M , Leon-Peña A A , Murrieta-Alvarez I , Cantero-Fortiz Y , Gomez-Cruz G B , Ruiz-Argüelles A , Priesca-Marin M , Ruiz-Delgado G J
Published: August 2019

In order to reset the immune system to baseline function, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been performed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). After June 2015, 617 new consecutive patients with MS were autografted in our center with non-frozen peripheral blood stem cells. The autografts were performed on an out-patient basis, after conditioning with cyclophosphamide and rituximab. The aim of the study was the assessment of both safety and efficacy of the method. The study’s primary co-end-points were recovery of granulocyte and platelet counts and transplant-related mortality. Secondary end-points were overall survival and clinical response (improvement or stabilization of the self-reported expanded disability status scale score). The protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02674217.0. We included 401 females and 216 males, with a median age of 46 years. A total of 259 patients had relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), 228 had secondary progressive (SPMS) and 130 had primary progressive (PPMS) multiple sclerosis. All procedures were initially performed on an out-patient basis and only 32 individuals (5%) required hospitalization. One to three aphereses (median 1) were required to harvest at least 1 × 106/kg viable CD34+ cells. The total number of viable CD34+ infused cells ranged between 1 and 37·83 × 106/kg (median 5·68). Patients recovered more than 0·5 × 109/l absolute granulocytes by day 8 (median, range = 2–14), and platelet values were above 20 × 109/l by day 4 (median, range = 0–11). Eleven individuals required red blood cells and six needed platelet transfusions. To date, there have been no deaths attributable to the transplant, yielding a 30-month overall survival of 100%. Patients have been followed for 3–42 months (median = 12). The overall response rate (decrease or stabilization of the self-reported EDSS score) at 12 months was 78% for all patients (83% in RRMS, 78% in PPMS and 73% in SPMS), while the disability progression-free survival was 82% for all patients (86% in RRMS, 78·5% in SPMS and 78% in SPMS). Changes in the self-reported EDSS score in parallel with neurological improvement were observed in people with all types of MS after HSCT, employing the ‘Mexican method’.
Speech, language, and feeding phenotypes of SATB2‐associated syndrome
Authors: Thomason Ashlen , Pankey Emily , Nutt Beth , Caffrey Aisling R. , Zarate Yuri A.
Published: August 2019

SATB2‐associated syndrome (SAS) is a recently identified disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental deficits and craniofacial anomalies. Assessments of speech, language, and feeding‐related issues were conducted among 61 individuals with SAS (median age = 86 months, range = 26 months to 29 years of age). Individuals with SAS were mostly non‐verbal communicators (72.1%) with severe deficits in both language comprehension and expression. The majority of individuals had receptive vocabulary skills of a child younger than 3 years of age. Based on parent report, the average spoken lexicon was 28.6 (SD = 84.6, n = 55) with a range of 0 to 500 (median = 5 words). All of the individuals with SAS with enough verbal ability either showed signs of childhood apraxia of speech or already had a diagnosis (n = 40) and 73.3% exhibited problems with reliable communication with unfamiliar partners. Hypernasal resonance (17.8%) due to velopharyngeal insufficiency secondary to a history of cleft palate and/or apraxic palatal movement (60.0% of hypernasal patients with no history of cleft palate), problems with chewing (68.2%), overstuffing the mouth with solids (64.9%), pharyngeal phase dysphagia (60.8%), and sialorrhea (63.3%) were common in this population. Mutation type was not predictive of receptive or expressive language abilities. We developed language and communication treatment recommendations based on these findings.
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate in a hospital wristband
Authors: van Amerongen Cynthia C. A. , Dahlin Jakob , Isaksson Marléne , Schuttelaar Marie L. A.
Published: August 2019

Background

1,6‐Hexanediol diacrylate (1,6‐HDDA) is a multifunctional acrylate and a potent sensitizer.

Objectives

To report a case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 1,6‐HDDA in a hospital wristband.

Methods

A male patient presented with eczema on his wrist where he had worn a hospital wristband. Patch testing was performed with our extended European baseline series, additional series, and pieces of the hospital wristband. Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) was performed with extracts from the wristband and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry was used for chemical analysis.

Results

Positive reactions were found to pieces of the wristband, including adhesive rim (+++), inside (+++), and outside (++); to multiple allergens in the (meth)acrylates series; and to extracts of the wristband in acetone and ethanol. Chemical analysis of the ethanol extract showed presence of lauryl acrylate and 1,6‐HDDA. Patch testing with TLC strips and subsequent chemical analysis showed that the substance causing the strongest reaction was 1,6‐HDDA, to which the patient had a confirmed positive patch test reaction.

Conclusion

1,6‐HDDA was identified as the culprit allergen responsible for allergic contact dermatitis caused by the hospital wristband.
Statistical Learning of Unfamiliar Sounds as Trajectories Through a Perceptual Similarity Space
Authors: Wang Felix Hao , Hutton Elizabeth A. , Zevin Jason D.
Published: August 2019

In typical statistical learning studies, researchers define sequences in terms of the probability of the next item in the sequence given the current item (or items), and they show that high probability sequences are treated as more familiar than low probability sequences. Existing accounts of these phenomena all assume that participants represent statistical regularities more or less as they are defined by the experimenters—as sequential probabilities of symbols in a string. Here we offer an alternative, or possibly supplementary, hypothesis. Specifically, rather than identifying or labeling individual stimuli discretely in order to predict the next item in a sequence, we need only assume that the participant is able to represent the stimuli as evincing particular similarity relations to one another, with sequences represented as trajectories through this similarity space. We present experiments in which this hypothesis makes sharply different predictions from hypotheses based on the assumption that sequences are learned over discrete, labeled stimuli. We also present a series of simulation models that encode stimuli as positions in a continuous two‐dimensional space, and predict the next location from the current location. Although no model captures all of the data presented here, the results of three critical experiments are more consistent with the view that participants represent trajectories through similarity space rather than sequences of discrete labels under particular conditions.
Superior vena cava–right atrium junction flow‐pattern post‐transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale
Authors: Yalonetsky Sergey , Tal Roi , Aharonson Doron , Gross Gil , Lorber Avraham
Published: August 2019

Background

The patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder is a bulky metallic device. Its impact on the normal blood flow at the superior vena cava–right atrial (SVC‐RA) junction is not clear.

Methods

We examined SVC‐RA junction flow‐pattern using pulsed‐wave (PW) ultrasound Doppler in 21 patients (4 male, aged 52.7 ± 9 years) who underwent PFO device closure 4–120 months previously, in comparison with 21 age‐ and sex‐matched controls (4 male, aged 51 ± 8.5 years) with structurally normal hearts.

Results

Mean systolic flow velocity at the SVC‐RA junction was 60 ± 11 cm/s in the PFO closure group and 64 ± 17 cm/s in the control group (P = 0.27). Mean diastolic blood flow velocity at the SVC‐RA junction in those groups was 30 ± 8 and 35 ± 9 cm/s, respectively (P = 0.1).The mean systolic wave duration was 439 ± 52 ms in the PFO closure group and 422 ± 67 ms in the control group (P = 0.4). The mean diastolic wave duration was 320 ± 75 and 277 ± 88 ms, respectively (P = 0.12).

Conclusion

The study results show that transcatheter PFO closure does not affect the normal blood flow at the SVC‐RA junction.
Factors influencing the end‐diastolic vortex assessed by using vector flow mapping
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxia , Niu Jun , Wu Ling , Li Qiaozhen , Han Yu , Li Yiwei , Wu Xiaoyi , Che Xinyi , Li Zhiguo , Ma Na , Zhang Haibin
Published: August 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing the late diastolic vortex in normal and abnormal ventricles.

Methods

Color Doppler data in left ventricle (LV) were acquired from apical long‐axis view and analyzed using vector flow mapping in 57 patients with coronary artery disease, 57 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and 53 healthy volunteers.

Results

In normals, corrected area and flux of the end‐diastolic vortex were positively correlated with transmitral A velocity and heart rate. Subjects with E/A <1 had higher vortex flux than those with E/A >1. Heart rate was the only independent predictor of corrected vortex area (R2 = .170, P = .004), and transmitral A velocity and heart rate were the independent predictors of corrected vortex flux (R2 = .490, P < .001). Patients with various mitral filling patterns showed significant differences in vortex area and flux. The vortex area and flux were positively correlated with transmitral i velocity and a′. Transmitral A velocity was the only independent predictor of corrected vortex area (R2 = .180, P < .001), while transmitral A velocity, heart rate, LV end‐systolic short diameter, and end‐diastolic long diameter were the independent determinants of corrected vortex flux (R2 = .593, P < .001).

Conclusions

The end‐diastolic vortex is formed and mainly affected by the late LV filling. The compensatory atrial contraction may enhance the end‐diastolic vortex that facilitates coupling between diastole and systole. LV size can influence the end‐diastolic vortex in patients with LV dysfunction and enlargement.
Spatial insurance in multi‐trophic metacommunities
Authors: Limberger Romana , Pitt Alexandra , Hahn Martin W. , Wickham Stephen A.
Published: August 2019

Metacommunity theory suggests that dispersal is a key driver of diversity and ecosystem functioning in changing environments. The capacity of dispersal to mitigate effects of environmental change might vary among trophic groups, potentially resulting in changes in trophic interactions and food web structure. In a mesocosm experiment, we compared the compositional response of bacteria, phyto‐ and zooplankton to a factorial manipulation of acidification and dispersal. We found that the buffering capacity of dispersal varied among trophic groups: dispersal alleviated the negative effect of acidification on phytoplankton diversity mid‐experiment, but had no effect on the diversity of zooplankton and bacteria. Likewise, trophic groups differed in whether dispersal facilitated compositional change. Dispersal accelerated changes in phytoplankton composition under acidification, possibly mediated by changes in trophic interactions, but had no effect on the composition of zooplankton and bacteria. Overall, our results suggest that the potential for spatial insurance can vary among trophic groups.
Bisphenol A in human saliva and urine before and after treatment with dental polymer‐based restorative materials
Authors: Berge Trine L. L. , Lygre Gunvor B. , Lie Stein A. , Lindh Christian H. , Björkman Lars
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study was to quantify bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations in saliva and urine before and after treatment with dental polymer‐based restorative materials to assess if placement of this material is associated with increased BPA levels in saliva and urine. Twenty individuals in need of at least one dental restoration with polymer‐based restorative material were included in this study. The participants were instructed to abstain from eating, drinking, and brushing their teeth for at least 10 h prior to sampling. Saliva and urine were collected before and 10 min (saliva only), 1 h, 24 h, and 1 wk after treatment. Samples were stored at −80°C before analyses. BPA in saliva and urine was determined with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Linear mixed effects regression models were used for statistical analyses. There was a statistically significant increase of salivary BPA concentration directly after placement of the dental polymer‐based restorations. Following placement, the concentration of BPA decreased exponentially with time. One week after treatment the BPA level in saliva was only marginally higher than before treatment. In urine, no statistically significant change of the BPA concentration was detected after treatment.
Multicenter validation of automated trajectories for selective laser amygdalohippocampectomy
Authors: Vakharia Vejay N. , Sparks Rachel E. , Li Kuo , O'Keeffe Aidan G. , Pérez‐García Fernando , França Lucas G. S. , Ko Andrew L. , Wu Chengyuan , Aronson Joshua P. , Youngerman Brett E. , Sharan Ashwini , McKhann Guy , Ourselin Sebastien , Duncan John S.
Published: August 2019

Objective

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a novel minimally invasive alternative to open mesial temporal resection in drug‐resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The safety and efficacy of the procedure are dependent on the preplanned trajectory and the extent of the planned ablation achieved. Ablation of the mesial hippocampal head has been suggested to be an independent predictor of seizure freedom, whereas sparing of collateral structures is thought to result in improved neuropsychological outcomes. We aim to validate an automated trajectory planning platform against manually planned trajectories to objectively standardize the process.

Methods

Using the EpiNav platform, we compare automated trajectory planning parameters derived from expert opinion and machine learning to undertake a multicenter validation against manually planned and implemented trajectories in 95 patients with MTLE. We estimate ablation volumes of regions of interest and quantify the size of the avascular corridor through the use of a risk score as a marker of safety. We also undertake blinded external expert feasibility and preference ratings.

Results

Automated trajectory planning employs complex algorithms to maximize ablation of the mesial hippocampal head and amygdala, while sparing the parahippocampal gyrus. Automated trajectories resulted in significantly lower calculated risk scores and greater amygdala ablation percentage, whereas overall hippocampal ablation percentage did not differ significantly. In addition, estimated damage to collateral structures was reduced. Blinded external expert raters were significantly more likely to prefer automated to manually planned trajectories.

Significance

Retrospective studies of automated trajectory planning show much promise in improving safety parameters and ablation volumes during LITT for MTLE. Multicenter validation provides evidence that the algorithm is robust, and blinded external expert ratings indicate that the trajectories are clinically feasible. Prospective validation studies are now required to determine if automated trajectories translate into improved seizure freedom rates and reduced neuropsychological deficits.
Understanding T cell signaling using membrane reconstitution
Authors: Hui Enfu
Published: August 2019

T cells are central players of our immune system, as their functions range from killing tumorous and virus‐infected cells to orchestrating the entire immune response. In order for T cells to divide and execute their functions, they must be activated by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) through a cell‐cell junction. Extracellular interactions between receptors on T cells and their ligands on APCs trigger signaling cascades comprised of protein‐protein interactions, enzymatic reactions, and spatial reorganization events, to either stimulate or repress T cell activation. Plasma membrane is the major platform for T cell signaling. Recruitment of cytosolic proteins to membrane‐bound receptors is a common critical step in many signaling pathways. Membranes decrease the dimensionality of protein‐protein interactions to enable weak yet biologically important interactions. Membrane resident proteins can phase separate into micro‐islands that promote signaling by enriching or excluding signal regulators. Moreover, some membrane lipids can either mediate or regulate cell signaling by interacting with signaling proteins. While it is critical to investigate T cell signaling in a cellular environment, the large number of signaling pathways involved and potential crosstalk have made it difficult to obtain precise, quantitative information on T cell signaling. Reconstitution of purified proteins to model membranes provides a complementary avenue for T cell signaling research. Here, I review recent progress in studying T cell signaling using membrane reconstitution approaches.
Idiopathic basal crux ventricular arrhythmias with left bundle branch block and superior axis: A comparison with inferior‐septal valvular arrhythmias
Authors: Kawamura Mitsuharu , Arai Shuhei , Gokan Toshihiko , Yoshikawa Kosuke , Ogawa Ko , Ochi Akinori , Chiba Yuta , Onishi Yoshimi , Munetsugu Yumi , Ito Hiroyuki , Onuki Tatsuya , Kobayashi Youichi , Shinke Toshiro
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) with superior axis is common in patients with idiopathic‐ventricular arrhythmia (VA) originating from the tricuspid annulus (TA) and rarely from the cardiac basal crux and mitral annulus (MA). We described the electrocardiography and electrophysiological findings of idiopathic‐VA presenting with LBBB and superior axis.

Methods and Results

We described 42 idiopathic‐VA patients who had an LBBB and superior axis; 15 basal crux‐VA, 17 TA‐VA, and 10 MA‐VA. No patient had a structural heart disease. Among patients with idiopathic‐VA referred for ablation, we investigated the electrocardiogram and clinical characteristics of basal crux‐VA as compared with other LBBB and superior axis‐VA. The left ventricular ejection fraction with MA‐VA was significantly lower in comparison with basal crux‐VA (P = .01). All patients had a positive R wave in lead I and aVL. The maximum deflection index with basal crux‐VA was significantly higher in comparison with TA‐VA or MA‐VA (P = .01). Patients with basal crux‐VA presented with QS wave in lead II more frequently as compared with TA‐VA or MA‐VA (P = .001). All MA‐VA patients had Rs wave in V6, and basal crux‐VA, and TA‐VA patients had a monophasic R wave or Rs wave in V6. Basal crux‐VA patients underwent ablation in the middle cardiac vein (MCV) or coronary sinus (success rate: 94%, recurrence rate: 6%).

Conclusions

We could distinguish basal crux‐VA, TA‐VA, and MA‐VA, using a combination of clinical and electrocardiographic findings. These findings might be useful for counseling patients about an ablation strategy. Ablation via the MCV is effective for eliminating basal crux‐VA.
Safety and efficacy of biatrial vs left atrial surgical ablation during concomitant cardiac surgery: A meta‐analysis of clinical studies with a focus on the causes of pacemaker implantation
Authors: Cappabianca Giangiuseppe , Ferrarese Sandro , Tutino Cassandra , Corazzari Claudio , Matteucci Matteo , Mantovani Vittorio , Musazzi Andrea , De Ponti Roberto , Beghi Cesare
Published: August 2019

Introduction

The latest STS guidelines recommend concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation not only during mitral surgery (Class IA) but also during other‐than‐mitral cardiac surgery procedures (Class IB) in patients with preoperative AF. Conventional Cox‐Maze III/IV procedures are performed on both atria (BA), but several studies reported excellent results with left atrial only (LA) ablations: the scope of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of BA vs LA approach.

Methods and Results

Pubmed, Scopus, and WOS were searched from inception to November 2018: 28 studies including 7065 patients and comparing the performance of BA vs LA approaches were identified: of these, 16 (57.1%) enrolled exclusively patients with non‐paroxysmal AF forms, 10 (35.7%) focused on mitral surgery as main procedure, and 16 (57.1%) regarded patients undergone Cox‐Maze with radiofrequency. The 6‐ and 12‐months prevalence of sinus rhythm were higher in the BA group (OR, 1.37, CI, 1.09‐1.73, P = .008 and OR, 1.37, CI, 0.99‐1.88, P = .05 respectively). Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation (OR, 1.85, CI, 1.38‐2.49, P < .0001) and reopening for bleeding (OR, 1.70, CI, 1.05‐2.75, P = .03) were higher in the BA group. Among patients undergone PPM implantation, BA group had a significantly higher risk of sinoatrial node dysfunction (OR, 3.01, CI, 1.49‐6.07, P = .002).

Conclusions

Concomitant BA ablation appears superior to LA ablation in terms of efficacy but is associated with a higher risk of bleeding and of PPM implantation, more frequently due to sinoatrial node dysfunction. LA approach should be preferable in patients with a higher risk of bleeding or with perioperative risk factors for PPM implantation.
Education, Activity Engagement, and Cognitive Function in US Chinese Older Adults
Authors: Zhang Wei , Tang Fengyan , Chen Yiwei , Silverstein Merril , Liu Sizhe , Dong XinQi
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether and how early‐life experiences such as years of schooling affect late‐life cognitive function through a pathway of activity engagement.

DESIGN

Prospective.

SETTING

We used data from 2 waves of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE).

PARTICIPANTS

PINE is the largest population‐based epidemiological study of Chinese‐American adults aged 60 and older in the greater Chicago area. Wave 1 data were collected for 2 years, from July 2011 to June 2013, and Wave 2 data were collected from 2013 to 2015; total sample size was 2,713.

MEASUREMENTS

Education was measured in years of schooling. Activity engagement was assessed using 15 items grouped into two clusters: cognitive activity and social activity. Cognitive function was evaluated using five instruments to assess general mental status (Chinese Mini‐Mental State Examination (C‐MMSE)), episodic memory, perceptual speed, working memory, global cognition score.

RESULTS

Adjusting for sociodemographic and health‐related control variables, education measured at Wave 1 was associated with better global cognition (b = 0.025, p < .001), C‐MMSE (b = .037, p < .001), episodic memory (b = .026, p < .001), Symbol Digit Modalities Test perceptual speed (b = .036, p < .001), and Digit Span Backward working memory (b = .047, p < .001) at Wave 2. Activity engagement, cognitive activity in particular, significantly mediates the effect of education on all cognitive tests, with the size of the mediating effect ranging from 16% to approximately 24%.

CONCLUSION

Amount of schooling early in life is significantly related to late‐life cognitive function in virtually all domains, and cognitive activity is one of many links between the two. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S525–S531, 2019
Reconstrucción de la negritud y políticas del reconocimiento: afrodescendientes en Oaxaca
Authors: Hernández‐Díaz Jorge
Published: August 2019

Las manifestaciones propias de la movilización política de la población afrodescendiente en la costa de Oaxaca para conseguir su reconocimiento como pueblo diferenciado, son históricamente recientes. Hasta hace muy poco tiempo las expresiones de carácter reivindicatorio de las personas que se reclamaran negras, morenas, afrodescendientes o afromexicanas eran casi inexistentes. Este texto describe y analiza el proceso de reconstitución de las identidades afrodescendientes en los últimos años del siglo XX y lo que va del siglo XXI como manifestaciones patentes que indican que la movilización étnica de la población afrodescendiente es un nuevo actor político en el contexto estatal y nacional.