bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolated cilioretinal artery occlusion secondary to perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis
Authors: Mammo Danny A , McClelland Collin M , Chen John , Adams Matthew K , Pulido Jose , Davies John B
Published: April 2019

Introduction:

Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitides encompass a diverse spectrum of autoimmune diseases characterized by necrotizing small vessel vasculitis. Ocular manifestations may be the presenting findings of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitides.

Methods:

Single, retrospective case study.

Results:

We report the rare case of a 55-year-old woman with a cilioretinal artery occlusion as the presenting feature of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated microscopic polyangiitis.

Conclusions:

Although rare, antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-related vasculitis should be considered in any retinal vascular occlusion, particularly in the setting of patients with new vague headaches and a paucity of vasculopathic risk factors.
Productive pleasures across binary regimes: Phenomenologies of bisexual desires among Latino men
Authors: Fontdevila Jorge
Published: April 2019

Modern orders were founded on the repudiation of sexual ambiguity and the confinement of desire within discursive classifications of man/woman and hetero/homosexual binaries. However, the persistence of bisexual practices reveals the unstable nature of these modern binary regimes, which require the “erasure” of bisexuality to perpetuate their status quo. Yet some men negotiate their bisexual desires in productive ways without undermining their sense of masculinity and sexual agency. Based on qualitative interviews I explore the sexualities of a group of these men—Latino men who have sex with men and women in southern California. I find that sex with women involves interactional work that is more demanding on impression management and moral grounds. Sex with men is rougher, adventurous, and less restrained. I conclude that sex with men opens liminal spaces that resist binary definition and are less discursively regulated—relative “anti-structures” à la Victor Turner that decouple agency from (hetero)structure. This transgressive liminality is key to understanding these same-sex spaces' recurrent attraction and productive pleasure. The study challenges monolithic understandings of migrant sexualities by finding great diversity among non-gay identified men, including homoerotic practices combined with strong desire for women.
The Indian Inflation 2006–2016: An Econometric Investigation
Authors: Mukherjee Paramita , Coondoo Dipankor
Published: April 2019

Recently several changes have been adopted in the conduct of monetary policy in India, like tracking CPI (Consumer Price Index), targeting inflation and so on. However, certain curious features of inflation may have some implications on the effectiveness of such measures. This article tries to explore the nature of inflation during the last decade. There are certain views about the nature of Indian inflation from the structuralist perspective. This article contributes to the literature by empirically testing those propositions and coming out with some significant policy implications. The article is based on monthly data from January 2006 to March 2016. By employing econometric techniques like cointegration and vector autoregression (VAR), the article tries to explain the movements of different components of WPI (Wholesale Price Index) and CPI inflation, both core and headline inflation and how they are related to macroeconomic policy variables. The empirical analyses focus on finding out the existence of co-movements among the inflation and macroeconomic variables, explaining the role of components like food and fuel price in driving CPI and WPI. The results have some important policy implications. First, the movements of WPI and CPI and their headline and core counterparts are not explained by same set of variables. Second, food inflation is not explained by agricultural output pointing to the insufficient increase in supply in agriculture. Third, the determinants of CPI headline and core inflation are not same. So, both of them should be tracked while formulating policies. The relationship among the components of inflation point to the possibility of some adjustment in demand from one set of goods to another, implying adjustments in terms of relative prices which needs further exploration.

JEL: E31, E52, C32
The Economic Impact of Road Accidents: The Case of Sri Lanka
Authors: Bhavan Thangamani
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study is to disclose accident-related indices and investigate the extent to which the road accidents impact on the economic performance of Sri Lanka during the period from 1977 to 2016. Annual time-series data are used to evaluate the accident indices for econometric analysis. Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) unit root analysis and Johansen’s maximum likelihood estimator of the parameters of a cointegrating vector error correction model (VECM) are employed to test the stationary properties of the time series and to examine the long-run relationship between the variables, respectively. The results derived from the analysis confirm the existence of long-run relationship between the accident-related indices and macroeconomic indicators. The long-run elasticity values imply the signs and magnitude of impact of the accident indices on macroeconomic indicators.

JEL: R41, H510, I310, I32
India–China Trade: Asymmetrical Developments and Future Prospects
Authors: Ghosh Sunandan , Agarwal Manmohan , Banerjee Adrita
Published: April 2019

This article seeks to provide an overview of the evolution and analyses the changing composition of trade between India and China over the period 1983–2017. We find that Chinese exports are almost completely concentrated in manufactures, especially finished equipment goods, whereas Indian exports consist of both agriculture and manufactures and over time have shifted predominantly to intermediate goods. Further, both the countries are exporting those commodities to each other in which they have a revealed comparative advantage, with China’s exports being more diversified. We employ vector error correction estimation and show that China’s exports to India are dependent on India’s household consumption expenditure, while India’ exports to China are correlated to Chinese manufacturing value added. Finally, we calculate the share of each country’s commodity-wise export to the partner in their respective total exports with a view to studying prospects for India–China trade. We conclude that for further trade expansion, diversification is extremely necessary, and Indian exports of inputs to Chinese industries need to change substantially to accommodate the changing nature of China’s industrial structure.

JEL: F14, F15, O24
Cone-beam computed tomography and three-dimensional orthodontics. Where we are and future perspectives
Authors: Leonardi Rosalia
Published: April 2019

Cone beam computerised tomography (CBCT) is becoming increasingly common in the orthodontic office and a wide range of software is now available. What is the state-of-the-art of CBCT prescription according to international guidelines? And what might we expect from CBCT in orthodontics in the future?
Evidence-based orthodontics: Too many systematic reviews, too few trials
Authors: Papageorgiou Spyridon N , Eliades Theodore
Published: April 2019

Why are there so many systematic reviews in orthodontics, and what are the negative consequences of this for our speciality as an academic discipline?
Human Biofield Therapy and the Growth of Mouse Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Yang Peiying , Jiang Yan , Rhea Patrea R. , Conway Tara L. , Chen Dongmei , Gagea Mihai , Harribance Sean L. , Cohen Lorenzo
Published: April 2019

Biofield therapies have gained popularity and are being explored as possible treatments for cancer. In some cases, devices have been developed that mimic the electromagnetic fields that are emitted from people delivering biofield therapies. However, there is limited research examining if humans could potentially inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and suppress tumor growth through modification of inflammation and the immune system. We found that human NSCLC A549 lung cancer cells exposed to Sean L. Harribance, a purported healer, showed reduced viability and downregulation of pAkt. We further observed that the experimental exposure slowed growth of mouse Lewis lung carcinoma evidenced by significantly smaller tumor volume in the experimental mice (274.3 ± 188.9 mm3) than that of control mice (740.5 ± 460.2 mm3; P < .05). Exposure to the experimental condition markedly reduced tumoral expression of pS6, a cytosolic marker of cell proliferation, by 45% compared with that of the control group. Results of reversed phase proteomic array suggested that the experimental exposure downregulated the PD-L1 expression in the tumor tissues. Similarly, the serum levels of cytokines, especially MCP-1, were significantly reduced in the experimental group ( P < .05). Furthermore, TILs profiling showed that CD8+/CD4− immune cell population was increased by almost 2-fold in the experimental condition whereas the number of intratumoral CD25+/CD4+ (T-reg cells) and CD68+ macrophages were 84% and 33%, respectively, lower than that of the control group. Together, these findings suggest that exposure to purported biofields from a human is capable of suppressing tumor growth, which might be in part mediated through modification of the tumor microenvironment, immune function, and anti-inflammatory activity in our mouse lung tumor model.
Influence of Hemoglobin Level on Muscle and Physical Functions, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality of Life in Patients With Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Fukushima Takuya , Nakano Jiro , Ishii Shun , Natsuzako Ayumi , Kawachi Haruna , Sakamoto Junya , Miyazaki Yasushi , Okita Minoru
Published: April 2019

Purpose. Patients with hematological malignancies often present with reduced muscle and physical functions, which are caused by the disease or related treatment. Moreover, patients with hematological malignancies rapidly develop low hemoglobin levels, and this may affect muscle and physical functions. This study aimed to identify the influence of hemoglobin levels on muscle and physical functions in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods. Using a cross-sectional study design, this study included 60 patients with hematological malignancies (mean age = 68.0 ± 10.2 years, women 56.7%) who were hospitalized for chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-related side effects and underwent examination for skeletal muscle mass (SMM), muscle strength, physical function, activities of daily living (ADLs), psychological status, and quality-of-life (QOL), including physical symptoms. Participants were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of hemoglobin levels: low (n = 19), middle (n = 20), and high (n = 21). Evaluation items were compared among the 3 groups. Results. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in terms of SMM. The low hemoglobin group showed significantly higher values of fatigue and dyspnea and lower values of muscle strength, ADLs, and QOL than the high hemoglobin group. Conclusions. Hemoglobin levels did not affect SMM; however, muscle weakness, decrease in physical function, physical symptoms such as fatigue and dyspnea, and decline in ADLs and QOL were observed in patients with low hemoglobin levels.
An Update on Loss to Follow-up After Upper Extremity Surgery: Survey of Patient Responses
Authors: Samade Richard , Colvell Kara , Goyal Kanu S.
Published: April 2019

Background: Incomplete patient follow-up is a common problem after hand and upper extremity (HUE) surgery and is influenced by many demographic factors. The aims of this investigation are to determine patient-stated factors for lack of follow-up, identify potential interventions, and measure satisfaction following operations. Methods: A prospective survey sampling of 173 of 655 patients lost to follow-up after HUE operations in a single institution between June 2014 and July 2015 was performed. Demographic variables collected included age, sex, distance to clinic, insurance payor, and length of time to last follow-up visit. Survey responses regarding reasons for insufficient follow-up, future recommendations, and overall satisfaction were recorded. Statistical results were reported as P values, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: More than half (65.3%) of 173 patients erroneously thought that they had completed follow-up, with private insurance being the only risk factor (OR = 2.45, P = .010, 95% CI = 1.24-4.85). Other common reasons for insufficient follow-up included not placing the appointment into a personal calendar (7%), excessive costs (6%), and transportation (5%). Approximately half (51%) of 55 patients aware that they had missed follow-up stated that no intervention would have helped. Median patient satisfaction with their operation was 10/10 (interquartile range = 8-10). Conclusions: Most patients lost to follow-up after HUE operations were not aware that they had a follow-up appointment, but were nevertheless satisfied with treatment. Interventions targeted to patients who erroneously thought they had followed up may be the most beneficial.
A telemetry data based diagnostic health monitoring strategy for in-orbit spacecrafts with component degradation
Authors: Wang Cunsong , Lu Ningyun , Cheng Yuehua , Jiang Bin
Published: April 2019

Diagnostic health monitoring without prior knowledge is still a hard problem in the prognostic and health management field. A multivariate diagnostic health monitoring strategy is proposed based on telemetry data for in-orbit spacecrafts with component degradation. Compared with the existing univariate or direct diagnostic health monitoring methods, multivariate diagnostic health monitoring methods can avoid constructing one-dimensional synthesized health index and setting empirical thresholds for different health states. In our developed strategy, a deep forest algorithm combined with an effective feature extraction approach and fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm is proposed to achieve more accurate assessment of the current health state. First, a partitioning window is utilized to deal with the raw telemetry data and then features which have high monotonicity and trends are extracted for diagnostic health monitoring. Then, a fuzzy C-means algorithm is used to handle unlabeled telemetry data and determine states of degrading component. Finally, a deep forest classifier is adopted to obtain the prognostic model for online probabilistic diagnostic health monitoring. Verification results on a simulated spacecraft attitude control system can demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed multivariate diagnostic health monitoring strategy.
Real-time indocyanine green angiography with the SPY fluorescence imaging platform decreases benign ureteroenteric strictures in urinary diversions performed during radical cystectomy
Authors: Shen Jim K. , Jamnagerwalla Juzar , Yuh Bertram E. , Bassett Mitchell R. , Chenam Avinash , Warner Jonathan N. , Zhumkhawala Ali , Yamzon Jonathan L. , Whelan Christopher , Ruel Nora H. , Lau Clayton S. , Chan Kevin G.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Ischemia is thought to contribute to benign ureteroenteric stricture (UES) after radical cystectomy with urinary diversion (RCUD). Our institution adopted the use of ureteral perfusion assessment during all RCUDs using real-time indocyanine green angiography using the SPY fluorescence imaging platform (Stryker Corp., Kalamazoo, MI, USA). This guides the location of ureteral transection prior to ureteroenteric anastomosis. We sought to compare UES rates before and after adoption of SPY.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was undertaken for the first 47 consecutive cases of RCUD using SPY as well as the previous 47 consecutive cases, which were performed without SPY. Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare benign UES rates and the length of ureter excised during anastomosis. A p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results:

Median follow up was 12.0 months for SPY cases and 24.3 months for non-SPY cases. The UES rate for SPY RCUDs was 0% (0/93 ureters) compared with 7.5% (7/93 ureters) for non-SPY RCUDs ( p = 0.01). Amongst SPY RCUDs, 86 ureters had no hydronephrosis and 7 had mild hydronephrosis with reflux on loopogram. A total of 34.4% of ureters (32/93) had poor distal perfusion, requiring a more proximal anastomosis. The median length excised for ureters with poor distal perfusion was 3.8 cm, compared with 2.2 cm for ureters with good distal perfusion ( p < 0.0001). No complications attributable to the use of SPY were noted.

Conclusion:

Use of SPY to assess ureteral perfusion was associated with a decrease in the UES rate after RCUD. A total of 34.4% of ureters demonstrated poor distal perfusion, requiring a significantly more proximal ureteroenteric anastomosis.
Increasing stone complexity does not affect fluoroscopy time in percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Authors: Vollstedt Annah , Ingimarsson Johann , Dagrosa Lawrence , Pais Vernon
Published: April 2019

Background:

The aim of this work was to assess whether stone complexity with the Guy’s stone score (GSS) is associated with increased intraoperative fluoroscopy time.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed records of 261 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy between 2007 and 2015. Of these, 203 had both preoperative computed tomography for accurate staging and full intraoperative fluoroscopy and radiation dosimetry data were available. Stone complexity was assessed using GSS. A correlation between fluoroscopy time (FT) and GSS was assessed in a univariate and multivariate fashion, including parameters such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and number of accesses.

Results:

The overall mean FT was 3.69 min [standard deviation (SD) 2.77]. The overall mean Guy’s score was 2.5 (SD 1). There was a statistically significant correlation between operative time and FT ( r = 0.34, p < 0.0001). There was a trend towards increasing operative time with increasing GSS ( r = 0.12, p = 0.08), but there was no statistically significant correlation. There was no correlation between FT and GSS ( r = 0.04, p = 0.55). On multivariable regression, accounting for sex, BMI, age, and singular versus multiple accesses, there was no significant correlation between stone complexity and FT ( p = 0.893).

Conclusions:

In the setting of conscious efforts to reduce intraoperative radiation exposure, increasing stone complexity, as classified by GSS, did not correlate with FT on univariate or multivariate analysis. Thus, treatment of more complex stones may be undertaken without concern that there is an inevitable need for significantly increased fluoroscopy exposure to the patient or operating room staff.
Conditioning Brain Responses to Improve Quadriceps Function in an Individual With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Krishnan Chandramouli , Washabaugh Edward P. , Dutt-Mazumder Aviroop , Brown Scott R. , Wojtys Edward M. , Palmieri-Smith Riann M.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Persistent quadriceps weakness and activation failure are common in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A growing body of evidence indicates that this chronic quadriceps dysfunction could be partly mediated due to reduced corticospinal excitability. However, current rehabilitation approaches do not directly target corticospinal deficits, which may be critical for restoring optimal clinical outcomes after the surgery. This case study tested the feasibility of operant conditioning of torque responses evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to improve quadriceps function after ACL reconstruction.

Hypothesis:

Operant conditioning of motor evoked torque responses would improve quadriceps strength, voluntary activation, and corticospinal excitability.

Study Design:

Case study and research report.

Level of Evidence:

Level 5.

Methods:

A 24-year-old male with an ACL reconstruction (6 months postsurgery) trained for 20 sessions (2-3 times per week for 8 weeks) to increase his TMS-induced motor evoked torque response (MEP torque) of the quadriceps muscles using operant conditioning principles. Knee extensor strength, voluntary quadriceps muscle activation, and quadriceps corticospinal excitability were evaluated at 3 time points: preintervention (pre), 4 weeks (mid), and immediately after the intervention (post).

Results:

The participant was able to successfully condition (ie, increase) the quadriceps MEP torque after 1 training session, and the conditioned MEP torque gradually increased over the course of 20 training sessions to reach about 500% of the initial value at the end of training. The participant’s control MEP torque values and corticospinal excitability, which were measured outside of the conditioning paradigm, also increased with training. These changes were paralleled by improvements in knee extensor strength and voluntary quadriceps muscle activation.

Conclusion:

This study shows that operant conditioning of MEP torque is a feasible approach to improving quadriceps corticospinal excitability and quadriceps function after ACL reconstruction and encourages further testing in a larger cohort of ACL-reconstructed individuals.

Clinical Relevance:

Operant conditioning may serve as a potential therapeutic adjuvant for ACL rehabilitation.
The Expressions of Dickkopf-Related Protein 1 and Frizzled-Related Protein Are Negatively Correlated to Local Inflammation and Osteoarthritis Severity
Authors: Huang Xiaobin , Zhong Leilei , van Helvoort Eefje , Lafeber Floris , Mastbergen Simon , Hendriks Jan , Post Janine N. , Karperien Marcel
Published: April 2019

Objective

To investigate the presence of WNT antagonists Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1), Frizzled-related protein (FRZB) and BMP antagonist Gremlin 1 (GREM1) in synovial fluid (SF) and serum, respectively, from end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and correlate their expression with other markers of OA.

Design

In a cross-sectional study, SF and serum were collected from OA patients ( n = 132). The concentrations of DKK1, FRZB and GREM1 in SF and serum were determined using immunoassays. Correlation measurements were performed between groups and previously assessed disease markers, such as synovium nitric oxide (NO), inerleukin-1β (IL1β), tumor necrosis factor–α (TNFα), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

Results

The OA patients with the celecoxib treatment till surgery have higher median SF FRZB values compared with the control (no treatment); the celecoxib 3-days before surgery stopped treatment group has higher median serum FRZB values than the control and the naproxen treatment group. The combinational analysis of SF DKK1 and SF FRZB negatively correlated with macroscopic cartilage scores and histological synovium scores in OA patients. The expression of DKK1 and FRZB in SF showed the same expression trend as their expression in serum. Furthermore, the SF concentration of DKK1 was positively correlated with FRZB in both SF and serum. In contrast, it was negatively correlated with synovium NO and IL1β. SF FRZB was negatively correlated with synovium NO, IL1β, cartilage PGE2, and age.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest DKK1 and FRZB were negatively correlated with OA severity and multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our data indicate that DKK1 and FRZB can be joint disease–specific biomarkers.
Abuse potential of mirogabalin in recreational polydrug users
Authors: Mendell Jeanne , Levy-Cooperman Naama , Sellers Ed , Vince Bradley , Kelsh Debra , Lee James , Warren Vance , Zahir Hamim
Published: April 2019

Mirogabalin is a selective calcium channel α2δ subunit ligand being developed to treat neuropathic pain. In accordance with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance, the human abuse potential of mirogabalin (15–105 mg) was examined, relative to placebo, diazepam (15 or 30 mg), and pregabalin (200 or 450 mg), in two single-dose, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled crossover studies in recreational polydrug users who could discern between positive comparator and placebo. The primary endpoint was maximum observed effect ( Emax) for Drug Liking Visual Analog Scale. At therapeutic doses, mirogabalin Drug Liking Emax did not differ significantly from placebo and was significantly lower than diazepam and pregabalin. This indicates therapeutic doses mirogabalin may have less abuse potential versus diazepam or pregabalin. At supratherapeutic doses (⩾4× therapeutic dose), mirogabalin had significantly higher Drug Liking Emax than placebo, but lower Emax than pregabalin. In both studies, therapeutic doses of mirogabalin demonstrated limited evidence of abuse potential.
Use of mobile applications in the management of overweight and obesity in primary and secondary care
Authors: Alnuaimi Asmaa , Rawaf Salman , Hassounah Sondus , Chehab Mohamad
Published: April 2019

Summary

Mobile technology has emerged as a potentially useful application in the process of facilitating weight loss management. While several empirical studies have demonstrated the positive effects of mobile-based interventions, the extent of such effectiveness is still a topic of debate. Thus, the current systematic review involved searching electronic databases for studies on the use of mobile app-based interventions in the management of overweight and obesity among adults over 18 years of age in a primary and secondary care setting. The results of the review revealed that mobile apps are effective tools for weight loss management and sustaining such loss when compared to standard interventions. However, further research is needed to consider the sustained benefits and the applicability of mobile app-based interventions for large-scale population coverage.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Intangible Cultural Heritage Using CiteSpace
Authors: Su Xinwei , Li Xi , Kang Yanxin
Published: April 2019

In recent years, studies on intangible cultural heritage (ICH) have substantially increased as the subject has received extensive attention from scholars. This study collected all the papers (249) on ICH from the Web of Science (WoS) core database. CiteSpace analysis software was used for the bibliometric analysis of all papers, and the results of the analysis of literature clustering, scientific research collaboration, co-citations, and so on were visually displayed. The results show that there is not substantial collaboration among researchers, research institutions, or countries that conduct research on ICH. The relationship between high-yield and high-citation authorship is inconsistent and weak. High-yield countries are mainly concentrated in a small group that includes China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The research has mainly focused on heritage protection, heritage space, heritage management, heritage policy, and the internationalization of heritage. In recent years, the focus of research has been on creative heritage tourism, community participation in heritage protection and development, and the authenticity of heritage.
Modal Preference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: An Experiment With New Modes of Transport
Authors: Nguyen Duy Chinh , Hoang Huu Dung , Hoang Huu Tien , Bui Quang Trung , Nguyen Lan Phuong
Published: April 2019

An overwhelming majority of inhabitants in Ho Chi Minh City use motorbike as their primary means of transport, causing severe urban traffic congestion. As an effort to combat congestion, the local and central government started constructing the first urban railway line (metro) in 2009. In this study, travel demand for different modes of transport was investigated using discrete choice experiment. In addition to conventional choices such as motorbike and bus, we included new technology-assisted taxi service and the first urban railway (Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien) as a hypothetical choice. The data set contains 267 respondents spanning 19 communes across the railway. The results pointed out that mode choice is influenced by both total travel time and total travel cost. The findings also highlighted the importance of transiting time and transiting cost in public transports. In terms of welfare, metro users are willing to pay 976 and 667 VND for a minute reduction of transiting time and transporting time, respectively. When a motorbike user switches to metro mode, monetary welfare of that individual rises by approximately 56,000 VND.
Mnemonic Discrimination Under Stress and Its Clinical Relevance for Anxiety
Authors: Bernstein Emily E. , Kleiman Evan M. , McNally Richard J.
Published: April 2019

Mnemonic discrimination, the ability to differentiate highly similar old and new entities, is a novel mechanism of interest in anxiety disorders. However, little research has been conducted with individuals experiencing severe anxiety. Mnemonic discrimination was assessed in adults with a wide range of anxiety severity. State affect was manipulated to test whether the relationship between anxiety and mnemonic discrimination is more informative under threatening versus neutral conditions. Relative to control conditions, mnemonic discrimination worsened following a psychological (social evaluative) stressor in Study 1 but not a physical (aversive sounds) stressor in Study 2. There were no main effects of performance in predicting anxiety. In Study 1, there was an interaction such that only poor performance following the stressor was associated with severe anxiety. Results suggest that mnemonic discrimination is sensitive to affective context and that mnemonic discrimination under states of psychological distress may be particularly relevant in the study of anxiety.
Neural Correlates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Trauma Exposure, and Postmigration Stress in Response to Fear Faces in Resettled Refugees
Authors: Liddell Belinda J. , Cheung Jessica , Outhred Tim , Das Pritha , Malhi Gin S. , Felmingham Kim L. , Nickerson Angela , Den Miriam , Askovic Mirjana , Coello Mariano , Aroche Jorge , Bryant Richard A.
Published: April 2019

Refugees are exposed to multiple traumatic events and postmigration stressors, elevating risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there is limited research into how these factors affect emotional neural systems. Here, resettled refugees in Australia ( N = 85) completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan while viewing fear and neutral faces. We examined the influence of PTSD symptoms, cumulative trauma, and recent postmigration stress on neural reactivity and regional coupling within the refugee sample. Cumulative trauma and postmigration stress but not PTSD symptoms correlated with fear-related brain activity and connectivity. Trauma exposure correlated with stronger activity but overall decreased connectivity in the bilateral posterior insula/rolandic operculum, postcentral gyrus, ventral anterior cingulate cortex, and posterior cingulate gyrus. Postmigration stress correlated with fusiform gyrus hyperactivity and increased connectivity in face-processing networks. Findings highlight the impact of past trauma and recent postmigration stress on fear-related neural responses within refugees over and above PTSD symptoms.
A Case and Review of Ophthalmomyiasis Caused by Oestrus ovis in the Central Valley of California, United States
Authors: D’Assumpcao Carlos , Bugas Addie , Heidari Arash , Sofinski Sandra , McPheeters Rick A.
Published: April 2019

Ophthalmomyiasis externa is the infestation of external ocular structures most commonly by Oestrus ovis, sheep nasal bot fly, which have a pupal stage in soil. Farmers and shepherds are commonly affected but rarely in urban areas. This is the first case of Oestrus ovis ophthalmomyiasis externa in California since Catalina Island 1986. No livestock exposure was noted. Manure fertilizer sourced from grazing fields of natural hosts was used on a local urban sports field and is the suspected source.
Beyond retail: New ways of classifying UK shopping and consumption spaces
Authors: Dolega Les , Reynolds Jonathan , Singleton Alex , Pavlis Michalis
Published: April 2019

Early attempts to classify shopping activity often took a relatively simple approach, largely driven by the lack of reliable data beyond fascia name and retail outlet counts by centre. There seems to be a consensus amongst contemporary scholars, commercial research consultancies and retailers that more comprehensive classifications would generate better-informed debate on changes in the urban economic landscape, as well as providing the basis for a more effective comparison of retail centres across time and space, particularly given the availability of new data sources and techniques and in the context of the transformational changes presently affecting the retail sector. This paper seeks to demonstrate the interrelationship between supply and demand for retailing services by integrating newly available data sources within a rigorously specified classification methodology. This in turn provides new insight into the multidimensional and dynamic taxonomy of consumption spaces within Great Britain. First, such a contribution is significant in that it moves debate within the literature past simple linear scaling of retail centre function to a more nuanced understanding of multiple functional forms; and second, in that it provides a nationally comparative and dynamic framework through which the evolution of retail structures can be evaluated. Using non-hierarchical clustering techniques, the results are presented in the form of a two-tier classification with 5 distinctive ‘coarse’ clusters and 15 more detailed and nested sub-clusters. The paper concludes that more nuanced and dynamic classifications of this kind can help deliver more effective insights into changing role of retailing and consumer services in urban areas across space and through time and will have implications for a variety of stakeholders.
Extended responsibility or continued dis/articulation? Critical perspectives on electronic waste policies from the Israeli-Palestinian case
Authors: Davis John-Michael , Garb Yaakov
Published: April 2019

Extended producer responsibility policies and interventions propose a template for electronic waste management with considerable and growing discursive and policy traction worldwide. Originating in the global North, they increasingly implicate countries and sites in the global South, in particular, people working in informal electronic waste hubs that process Northern electronic waste. This paper examines the implications of extended producer responsibility in one such place through the lenses of critical waste studies and the dis/articulations approach to global commodity chains, which can usefully be extended to analyze the afterlife of commodities. From Israel and the Palestinian Authority's perspectives, recently activated extended producer responsibility legislation is a common-sense way to rationalize the management of electronic waste. But from the cluster of Palestinian villages that has processed the bulk of Israel's electronic waste for more than a decade, extended producer responsibility constitutes the most recent in a series of external driving forces that have disarticulated and rearticulated their landscapes and livelihoods from external economies over the last half century. The restricted scope of reformist extended producer responsibility policies notion of “responsibility” combined with the asymmetrical terms of dis/articulation between North and South is likely to result in outcomes that not only downgrade the informal sector's position in the value chain, but also undermine their ability to upgrade the electronic waste sector in a way that could avoid further pollution. We consider the options at this junction using the heuristic of suggesting what a more temporally, geographically, and sectorally conceived “extension of responsibility” might mean for extended producer responsibility.
Asrij/OCIAD1 suppresses CSN5-mediated p53 degradation and maintains mouse hematopoietic stem cell quiescence
Authors: Sinha Saloni , Dwivedi Tirath Raj , Yengkhom Roja , Bheemsetty Venkata Anudeep , Abe Takaya , Kiyonari Hiroshi , VijayRaghavan K. , Inamdar Maneesha S.
Published: April 2019

Inactivation of the tumor suppressor p53 is essential for unrestrained growth of cancers. However, only 11% of hematological malignancies have mutant p53. Mechanisms that cause wild-type p53 dysfunction and promote leukemia are inadequately deciphered. The stem cell protein Asrij/OCIAD1 is misexpressed in several human hematological malignancies and implicated in the p53 pathway and DNA damage response. However, Asrij function in vertebrate hematopoiesis remains unknown. We generated the first asrij null (knockout [KO]) mice and show that they are viable and fertile with no gross abnormalities. However, by 6 months, they exhibit increased peripheral blood cell counts, splenomegaly, and an expansion of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with higher myeloid output. HSCs lacking Asrij are less quiescent and more proliferative with higher repopulation potential as observed from serial transplantation studies. However, stressing KO mice with sublethal γ irradiation or multiple injections of 5-fluorouracil results in reduced survival and rapid depletion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) by driving them into proliferative exhaustion. Molecular and biochemical analyses revealed increased polyubiquitinated protein levels, Akt/STAT5 activation and COP9 signalosome subunit 5 (CSN5)-mediated p53 ubiquitination, and degradation in KO HSPCs. Further, we show that Asrij sequesters CSN5 via its conserved OCIA domain, thereby preventing p53 degradation. In agreement, Nutlin-3 treatment of KO mice restored p53 levels and reduced high HSPC frequencies. Thus, we provide a new mouse model resembling myeloproliferative disease and identify a posttranslational regulator of wild-type p53 essential for maintaining HSC quiescence that could be a potential target for pharmacological intervention.
Magnetization clustering inversion — Part 2: Assessing the uncertainty of recovered magnetization directions
Authors: Sun Jiajia , Li Yaoguo
Published: April 2019

The unknown magnetization directions in the presence of remanence have posed great challenges for interpreting magnetic data. Estimating magnetization directions based on magnetic measurements, therefore, has been an active area of research within the applied geophysics community. Despite the availability of several methods for estimating magnetization directions, quantifying the uncertainty of such estimates has remained untackled. We have investigated the use of the magnetization-clustering inversion (MCI) method for the purpose of assessing the uncertainty of the recovered magnetization directions. Specifically, we have leveraged the fact that the number of clusters that one expects to see among the magnetization directions recovered from MCI needs to be supplied by a user. We propose to implement a sequence of MCIs by assuming a series of different cluster numbers, and subsequently, to calculate the standard deviations of the recovered magnetization directions at each location in a model as a practical way of quantifying the uncertainty of the estimated magnetization directions. We have developed two different methods for the calculations of the standard deviations, and have also investigated the maximum number of clusters that one needs to consider to reliably assess the uncertainty. After the proof-of-concept study on a synthetic data set, we applied our methods to a field data set from an iron-oxide-copper-gold deposit exploration in the Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil. The high-confidence zones that correspond to low-uncertainty zones indicate a high spatial correspondence with the mineralization zones inferred from the drillholes and geology.
Modeling wave propagation in cracked porous media with penny-shaped inclusions
Authors: Zhang Lin , Ba Jing , Carcione José M. , Sun Weitao
Published: April 2019

Understanding acoustic wave dispersion and attenuation induced by local (squirt) fluid flow between pores and cracks (compliant pores) is fundamental for better characterization of the porous rocks. To describe this phenomenon, some squirt-flow models have been developed based on the conservation of the fluid mass in the fluid mechanics. By assuming that the cracks are represented by isotropically distributed (i.e., randomly oriented) penny-shaped inclusions, this study applies the periodically oscillating squirt flow through inclusions based on the Biot-Rayleigh theory, so that the local squirt flow and global wave oscillation of rock are analyzed in the same theoretical framework of Hamilton’s principle. The governing wave-propagation equations are derived by incorporating all of the crack characteristics (such as the crack radius, crack density, and aspect ratio). In comparison with the previous squirt models, our model predicts the similar characteristics of wave velocity dispersion and attenuation, and our results are in agreement with Gassmann equations at the low-frequency limit. In addition, we find that the fluid viscosity and crack radius only affect the relaxation frequency of the squirt-flow attenuation peak, whereas the crack density and aspect ratio also affect the magnitudes of dispersion and attenuation. The application of this study to experimental data demonstrates that when the differential pressure (the difference between confining pressure and pore pressure) increases, the closure of cracks can lead to a decrease of attenuation. The results confirm that our model can be used to analyze and interpret the observed wave dispersion and attenuation of real rocks.
Clinical and biological effects of long-term lithium treatment in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: randomised clinical trial
Authors: Forlenza Orestes V. , Radanovic Márcia , Talib Leda L. , Gattaz Wagner F.
Published: April 2019

Background

Experimental studies indicate that lithium may facilitate neurotrophic/protective responses in the brain. Epidemiological and imaging studies in bipolar disorder, in addition to a few trials in Alzheimer's disease support the clinical translation of these findings. Nonetheless, there is limited controlled data about potential use of lithium to treat or prevent dementia.

Aims

To determine the benefits of lithium treatment in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a clinical condition associated with high risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Method

A total of 61 community-dwelling, physically healthy, older adults with MCI were randomised to receive lithium or placebo (1:1) for 2 years (double-blind phase), and followed-up for an additional 24 months (single-blinded phase) (trial registration at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01055392). Lithium carbonate was prescribed to yield subtherapeutic concentrations (0.25–0.5 mEq/L). Primary outcome variables were the cognitive (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale – cognitive subscale) and functional (Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes) parameters obtained at baseline and after 12 and 24 months. Secondary outcomes were neuropsychological test scores; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of Alzheimer's disease-related biomarkers determined at 0, 12 and 36 months; conversion rate from MCI to dementia (0–48 months).

Results

Participants in the placebo group displayed cognitive and functional decline, whereas lithium-treated patients remained stable over 2 years. Lithium treatment was associated with better performance on memory and attention tests after 24 months, and with a significant increase in CSF amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ1−42) after 36 months.

Conclusions

Long-term lithium attenuates cognitive and functional decline in amnestic MCI, and modifies Alzheimer's disease-related CSF biomarkers. The present data reinforces the disease-modifying properties of lithium in the MCI–Alzheimer's disease continuum.

Declaration of interest

None.
Trends in Step-determined Physical Activity among Japanese Adults from 1995 to 2016
Authors: TAKAMIYA TOMOKO , INOUE SHIGERU
Published: April 2019

Purpose

We tried to clarify the trends in step-determined physical activity (PA) among Japanese adults from 1995 to 2016.

Methods

Raw data from the National Health and Nutrition Surveys Japan (NHNS-J) performed between 1995 and 2016 were used, in compliance with the Statistics Act of Japan. NHNS-J was conducted annually by the Japanese government (the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare) using a representative Japanese sample, with the same sampling method every year except in 2012 and 2016. A 1-d pedometer survey was conducted each year as a part of the NHNS-J, on a weekday in November specified by each individual. Because of the difference in age distribution of the samples, age-adjusted mean steps per day were calculated from 1995 to 2016 by sex. The time trends of step-determined PA levels among Japanese adults were described and examined using Joinpoint regression.

Results

The highest age-adjusted mean number of steps for men was 8235 steps per day in 2000, whereas it was 7667 steps per day in 2015. The highest age-adjusted mean numbers of steps for women were 7474 steps per day in 1998 and 6691 steps per day in 2015. The age-adjusted step-determined PA trend showed significantly decreasing trend from 1997 to 2008 in men (annual percentage change, −0.74; P < 0.001) and from 1998 to 2008 (annual percentage change, −1.30; P < 0.001) in women, by Joinpoint regression.

Conclusion

The age-adjusted step-determined PA among Japanese adults between 1995 and 2016 decreased from around 1997 to 1998 until around 2008, but since then, the decreasing trend became unclear both in men and in women. Continuous monitoring of PA trends is essential to assess the effectiveness of policies.
Match Play–induced Changes in Landing Biomechanics with Special Focus on Fatigability
Authors: SMEETS ANNEMIE , VANRENTERGHEM JOS , STAES FILIP , VERSCHUEREN SABINE
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Growing evidence exists that match-related fatigue induces biomechanical alterations that might increase lower extremity injury risk. Fatigue studies often use match simulation protocols that expose all subjects to a standardized demand (e.g., a fixed distance/time). In those studies, the induced level of fatigue depends then on subjects’ fatigability. If between-subject variability in fatigability is high, this might confound overall fatigue effects. Therefore, the first aim was to investigate whether a fatigue protocol with fixed demand causes alterations in landing patterns. Second, we assessed the relationship between fatigability and landing patterns as we hypothesized that athletes with high fatigability would show movement patterns that involve greater injury risk.

Methods

Eighteen athletes performed three different unilateral landing tasks before and after a match simulation protocol while muscle activation (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, hamstrings medialis, hamstrings lateralis, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and gluteus medius) and landing kinematics and kinetics of the hip, knee, and ankle joint were recorded. Furthermore, RPE was administered to measure fatigability. ANOVA analyses were conducted to investigate fatigue effects on landing patterns. Correlation analyses assessed the relationship between fatigability (postfatigue RPE) and landing patterns.

Results

The ANOVA analyses did not show any overall postfatigue alterations in landing patterns. However, correlation analyses showed an association between fatigability and landing patterns. Athletes who had higher RPE scores showed smaller postfatigue knee flexion angles and smaller pre- and postfatigue knee abduction angles across different landing tasks.

Conclusion

The fixed demand protocol did not cause overall alterations in landing patterns. When fatigability was taken into account, high fatigability was related with less optimal landing patterns.
General Electric Uses Simulation and Risk Analysis for Silicon Carbide Production System Design
Authors: Biller Bahar , Hartig Michael , Olson Ronald J. , Sandvik Peter , Trant Gerald , Sui Yang , Minnick Andrew
Published: April 2019

The authors describe their development of a model that uses simulation and risk analysis to support silicon carbide manufacturing at General Electric.