bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communities and regularities in the behavior of investment fund managers
Authors: Flori Andrea , Pammolli Fabio , Buldyrev Sergey V. , Regis Luca , Stanley H. Eugene
Published: March 2019

Significance

This paper relies on a unique database of fund managers’ holdings to map their behavior across asset classes. We unravel the existence of stable and persistent communities. This paper characterizes three different main behavioral attitudes: conservative, reactive, and proactive. Macroeconomic shocks temporarily perturb the configuration of the system, altering the differences between communities. This paper represents a significant step forward in understanding how heuristics, attitudes, and routines shape the behavior of expert investors. It opens a research trajectory in the analysis of behavioral interdependencies in financial markets.
Recollements of abelian categories and ideals in heredity chains—a recursive approach to quasi-hereditary algebras
Authors: Gao Nan , Koenig Steffen , Psaroudakis Chrysostomos
Published: March 2019

Recollements of abelian categories are used as a basis of a homological and recursive approach to quasi-hereditary algebras. This yields a homological proof of Dlab and Ringel’s characterisation of idempotent ideals occurring in heredity chains, which in turn characterises quasi-hereditary algebras recursively. Further applications are given to hereditary algebras and to Morita context rings.
Electrostatic capacity and measure of asymmetry
Authors: Jin HaiLin
Published: March 2019

In this paper, the

p
p

-Minkowski capacity measures of asymmetry in terms of the

q
q

-mixed capacity, which have the well-known Minkowski measure of asymmetry as a special case, are defined, and some properties of these measures are studied. In addition, we extend the

p
p

-Minkowski capacity measures of asymmetry to the corresponding Orlicz version.
Gradient system for the roots of the Askey-Wilson polynomial
Authors: van Diejen J.
Published: March 2019

Recently, it was observed that the roots of the Askey-Wilson polynomial are retrieved at the unique global minimum of an associated strictly convex Morse function [J. F. van Diejen and E. Emsiz, Lett. Math. Phys. 109 (2019), pp. 89–112]. The purpose of the present note is to infer that the corresponding gradient flow converges to the roots in question at an exponential rate.
On two-coloured noncrossing partition quantum groups
Authors: Freslon Amaury
Published: March 2019

We classify compact quantum groups associated to noncrossing partitions coloured with two elements

x
x

and

y
y

which are their own inverses. Together with the work of P. Tarrago and M. Weber, this completes the classification of all noncrossing partition quantum groups on two colours. We also give some general results on the class of all noncrossing partition quantum groups and suggest some wider classification statements.
Multiplication of weak equivalence classes may be discontinuous
Authors: Bernshteyn Anton
Published: March 2019

For a countably infinite group

Γ
\Gamma

, let

W

Γ

{\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma }

denote the space of all weak equivalence classes of measure-preserving actions of

Γ

{\Gamma }

on atomless standard probability spaces, equipped with the compact metrizable topology introduced by Abért and Elek. There is a natural multiplication operation on

W

Γ

{\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma }

(induced by taking products of actions) that makes

W

Γ

{\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma }

an Abelian semigroup. Burton, Kechris, and Tamuz showed that if

Γ

{\Gamma }

is amenable, then

W

Γ

{\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma }

is a topological semigroup; i.e., the product map
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="script upper W Subscript normal upper Gamma Baseline times script upper W Subscript normal upper Gamma Baseline right-arrow script upper W Subscript normal upper Gamma Baseline colon left-parenthesis German a comma German b right-parenthesis right-arrow from bar German a times German b">

W

Γ

×

W

Γ

→

W

Γ

:
(

a

,

b

)
↦

a

×

b

{\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma } \times {\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma } \to {\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma } \colon (\mathfrak {a}, \mathfrak {b}) \mapsto \mathfrak {a} \times \mathfrak {b}

is continuous. In contrast to that, we prove that if

Γ

{\Gamma }

is a Zariski dense subgroup of

S
L

d

(

Z

)

{\mathrm {SL}}_d({\mathbb {Z}})

for some

d
⩾
2

d \geqslant 2

(for instance, if

Γ

{\Gamma }

is a non-Abelian free group), then multiplication on

W

Γ

{\mathcal {W}}_{\Gamma }

is discontinuous, even when restricted to the subspace

F
W

Γ

{\mathcal {FW}}_{\Gamma }

of all free weak equivalence classes.
Modularity of residual Galois extensions and the Eisenstein ideal
Authors: Berger Tobias , Klosin Krzysztof
Published: March 2019

For a totally real field

F
F

, a finite extension

F

\mathbf {F}

of

F

p

\mathbf {F}_p

, and a Galois character

χ
:

G
F

→

F

×

\chi : G_F \to \mathbf {F}^{\times }

unramified away from a finite set of places

Σ
⊃
{

p

∣
p
}

\Sigma \supset \{\mathfrak {p} \mid p\}

, consider the Bloch–Kato Selmer group

H
:=

H

Σ

1

(
F
,

χ

−
1

)

H:=H^1_{\Sigma }(F, \chi ^{-1})

. The authors previously proved that the number

d
d

of isomorphism classes of (nonsemisimple, reducible) residual representations

ρ
¯

{\overline \rho }

giving rise to lines in

H
H

which are modular by some

ρ
f

\rho _f

(also unramified outside

Σ
\Sigma

) satisfies

d
≥
n
:=

dim

F

⁡
H

d \geq n:= \dim _{\mathbf {F}} H

. This was proved under the assumption that the order of a congruence module is greater than or equal to that of a divisible Selmer group. We show here that if in addition the relevant local Eisenstein ideal

J
J

is nonprincipal, then

d
>
n

d >n

. When

F
=

Q

F=\mathbf {Q}

we prove the desired bounds on the congruence module and the Selmer group. We also formulate a congruence condition implying the nonprincipality of

J
J

that can be checked in practice, allowing us to furnish examples where

d
>
n

d>n

.
A specialized condensin complex participates in somatic nuclear maturation inTetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Howard-Till Rachel , Tian Miao , Loidl Josef
Published: March 2019

Condensins are highly conserved proteins that are important for chromosome maintenance in nearly all forms of life. Although many organisms employ two forms of the condensin complex, the condensin genes in Tetrahymena have expanded even further. Here we report a form of condensin that is specifically active during sexual reproduction. This complex, condensin D, is composed of the core condensin proteins, Smc2 and Smc4, and two unique subunits, the kleisin Cph5 and Cpd2. Cpd2 is also found in somatic nuclei in vegetative cells, but is dispensable for growth and nuclear division. Immunoprecipitation experiments show that condensin D interacts with a putative member of a chromatin-remodeling complex during development. Condensin D is required for sexual reproduction and for endoreplication and genome reduction of the progeny’s somatic nuclei. Altogether, Tetrahymena possesses at least four forms of condensin to fulfill the needs of maintaining chromosomes in two different nuclei containing the somatic and germline genomes.
Predicting Early Mild Cognitive Impairment With Free Recall: The Primacy of Primacy
Authors: Talamonti Deborah , Koscik Rebecca , Johnson Sterling , Bruno Davide
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Serial position effects have been found to discriminate between normal and pathological aging, and to predict conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Different scoring methods have been used to estimate the accuracy of these predictions. In the current study, we investigated delayed primacy as predictor of progression to early MCI over established diagnostic memory methods. We also compared three serial position methods (regional, standard and delayed scores) to determine which measure is the most sensitive in differentiating between individuals who develop early MCI from a baseline of cognitively intact older adults.

Method

Data were analyzed with binary logistic regression and with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC). Baseline serial position scores were collected using the Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Test and used to predict conversion to early MCI. The diagnosis of early MCI was obtained through statistical algorithm and consequent consensus conference. One hundred and ninety-one participants were included in the analyses. All participants were aged 60 or above and cognitively intact at baseline.

Results

The binary logistic regression showed that delayed primacy was the only predictor of conversion to early MCI, when compared to total and delayed recall. ROC curves showed that delayed primacy was still the most sensitive predictor of progression to early MCI when compared to other serial position measures.

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with previous studies and support the hypothesis that delayed primacy may be a useful cognitive marker of early detection of neurodegeneration.
Liquid Formulation of AbobotulinumtoxinA: A 6-Month, Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Single Treatment, Ready-to-Use Toxin for Moderate-to-Severe Glabellar Lines
Authors: Ascher Benjamin , Rzany Berthold , Kestemont Philippe , Hilton Said , Heckmann Marc , Bodokh Isaac , Noah Ernst Magnus , Boineau Dominique , Kerscher Martina , Volteau Magali , Le Berre Philippe , Picaut Philippe
Published: March 2019

Background

Safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin A for glabellar line (GL) treatment are well established. Currently approved formulations require reconstitution before injection.

Objectives

The authors sought to assess 6-month efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of new ready-to-use abobotulinumtoxinA solution for injection (ASI) in patients with moderate-to-severe GL at maximum frown.

Methods

The authors conducted a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (NCT02353871). Patients (N = 185) were randomized (2:1) to receive ASI 50 U or placebo. GL severity was evaluated at days 8, 15, 29, 57, 85, 113, 148, and 183 employing a 4-point scale for investigator’s live assessment (ILA) and subject's self-assessment (SSA). Primary endpoint was ILA of GL at maximum frown at day 29, and secondary endpoints were ILA and SSA of GL at maximum frown (all time points), patient satisfaction with GL appearance, time to onset, and duration of action.

Results

Responder rates were significantly higher for ASI vs placebo (88.3% vs 1.4%; P < 0.0001) at day 29 by ILA and all time points by ILA (P < 0.0001-0.0441) and SSA (P < 0.0001-0.0036). Sixty percent of patients reported onset of treatment response on or before day 3 (P < 0.0001 vs placebo), and in 5% of patients, efficacy by ILA lasted 6 months (day 183; P = 0.0441 vs placebo). Patient satisfaction rates were significantly higher for ASI vs placebo at all visits (P < 0.0001). Safety was comparable with the known abobotulinumtoxinA profile.

Conclusions

ASI was significantly efficacious for improving moderate or severe GL vs placebo by investigator and patient assessment. ASI was associated with high patient satisfaction, a long duration of action, and comparable safety profile to abobotulinumtoxinA.

Level of Evidence: 1
Surgical Site Infections in Aesthetic Surgery
Authors: Kaoutzanis Christodoulos , Ganesh Kumar Nishant , Winocour Julian , Hood Keith , Higdon K Kye
Published: March 2019

Surgical site infections represent one of the most common postoperative complications in patients undergoing aesthetic surgery. As with other postoperative complications, the incidence of these infections may be influenced by many factors and varies depending on the specific operation performed. Understanding the risk factors for infection development is critical because careful patient selection and appropriate perioperative counseling will set the right expectations and can ultimately improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Various perioperative prevention measures may also be employed to minimize the incidence of these infections. Once the infection occurs, prompt diagnosis will allow management of the infection and any associated complications in a timely manner to ensure patient safety, optimize the postoperative course, and avoid long-term sequelae.
ngsLD: evaluating linkage disequilibrium using genotype likelihoods
Authors: Fox Emma A , Wright Alison E , Fumagalli Matteo , Vieira Filipe G
Published: March 2019

Motivation

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) measures the correlation between genetic loci and is highly informative for association mapping and population genetics. As many studies rely on called genotypes for estimating LD, their results can be affected by data uncertainty, especially when employing a low read depth sequencing strategy. Furthermore, there is a manifest lack of tools for the analysis of large-scale, low-depth and short-read sequencing data from non-model organisms with limited sample sizes.

Results

ngsLD addresses these issues by estimating LD directly from genotype likelihoods in a fast, reliable and user-friendly implementation. This method makes use of the full information available from sequencing data and provides accurate estimates of linkage disequilibrium patterns compared with approaches based on genotype calling. We conducted a case study to investigate how LD decays over physical distance in two avian species.

Availability and implementation

The methods presented in this work were implemented in C/C and are freely available for non-commercial use from https://github.com/fgvieira/ngsLD.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ORE identifies extreme expression effects enriched for rare variants
Authors: Richter F , Hoffman G E , Manheimer K B , Patel N , Sharp A J , McKean D , Morton S U , DePalma S , Gorham J , Kitaygorodksy A , Porter G A , Giardini A , Shen Y , Chung W K , Seidman J G , Seidman C E , Schadt E E , Gelb B D
Published: March 2019

Motivation

Non-coding rare variants (RVs) may contribute to Mendelian disorders but have been challenging to study due to small sample sizes, genetic heterogeneity and uncertainty about relevant non-coding features. Previous studies identified RVs associated with expression outliers, but varying outlier definitions were employed and no comprehensive open-source software was developed.

Results

We developed Outlier-RV Enrichment (ORE) to identify biologically-meaningful non-coding RVs. We implemented ORE combining whole-genome sequencing and cardiac RNAseq from congenital heart defect patients from the Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium and deceased adults from Genotype-Tissue Expression. Use of rank-based outliers maximized sensitivity while a most extreme outlier approach maximized specificity. Rarer variants had stronger associations, suggesting they are under negative selective pressure and providing a basis for investigating their contribution to Mendelian disorders.

Availability and implementation

ORE, source code, and documentation are available at https://pypi.python.org/pypi/ore under the MIT license.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Specific impact of past and new major cardiovascular events on acute kidney injury and end-stage renal disease risks in diabetes: a dynamic view
Authors: Pinier Cédric , Gatault Philippe , Fauchier Laurent , Angoulvant Denis , François Maud , Barbet Christelle , Bailly Elodie , Noble Johan , Chevallier Eloi , Rabot Nolwenn , Büchler Matthias , Sautenet Bénédicte , Halimi Jean-Michel
Published: March 2019

Background

Interconnections between major cardiovascular events (MCVEs) and renal events are recognized in diabetes, however, the specific impact of atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on top of established renal risk factors is unclear in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study in 861 consecutive patients followed in a nephrology setting during the 2000–13 period.

Results

The mean age was 70 ± 10 years, 65.1% were men and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 42.4 ± 21.0 mL/min/1.73 m2. During follow-up (median 59 months), 194 patients reached ESRD. A history of AF, HF or ACS was associated with an increased risk of reduced baseline eGFR. In turn, reduced baseline eGFR resulted in a greater risk of new MCVE (especially HF) during follow-up. Finally, all new MCVEs were risk factors for subsequent acute kidney injury (AKI) {HF: hazard ratio [HR] 8.99 [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.06–11.4]; AF: HR 5.42 (3.91–7.52); ACS: HR 8.82 (6.24–12.5); all P < 0.0001} and ESRD [HF: HR 5.52 (95% CI 4.01–7.60), P < 0.0001; AF: HR 3.48 (2.30–5.21), P < 0.0001; ACS: HR 2.31 (1.43–3.73), P = 0.0006]. The AF- and HF-associated risks of ESRD were significant after adjustments on all renal risks of ESRD (gender, blood pressure, eGFR, albuminuria, renin–angiotensin blockers, retinopathy and AKI), but the association was less strong for ACS. Importantly, no association was noted between other major events such as stroke or infections and the risk of ESRD.

Conclusions

Past and new cardiovascular events (more HF and AF than ACS) have a strong, independent impact on the development of ESRD above and beyond established risk factors in diabetes.
Standardized subannular repair for type IIIb functional mitral regurgitation in a minimally invasive mitral valve surgery setting†
Authors: Pausch Jonas , Harmel Eva , Sinning Christoph , Reichenspurner Hermann , Girdauskas Evaldas
Published: March 2019

OBJECTIVES

Subannular repair techniques in addition to undersized ring annuloplasty have been developed to address high mitral regurgitation (MR) recurrence rates after mitral valve repair in type IIIb MR. We compared the results of annuloplasty with simultaneous standardized subannular repair versus isolated annuloplasty, focusing on the periprocedural outcomes of minimally invasive procedures.

METHODS

A consecutive series of 108 patients with type IIIb functional MR with severe signs of bileaflet tethering underwent an annuloplasty + subannular repair (group A; n = 60) versus isolated annuloplasty (group B; n = 48). The primary end point of this prospective, parallel cohort study was death or recurrent MR >2, 1 year postoperatively. The secondary end points were survival and clinical outcomes, with special regard for the minimally invasively treated subgroups.

RESULTS

Duration of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time were comparable between both study groups. Procedural outcomes as well as echocardiographic outcome parameters were similar and independent of access (fully endoscopic versus full sternotomy). At the 12-month follow-up, death or MR >2 occurred in 3.3% (2/60) of patients in group A vs in 20.8% (10/48) of patients in group B (P = 0.037). The overall mortality rate during the follow-up period was 1.7% (1/60) in group A vs 12.5% (6/48) in group B (P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized realignment of papillary muscles is feasible and reproducible via a minimally invasive approach, resulting in excellent periprocedural outcomes, and has a clear potential to significantly decrease MR recurrence and improve 1-year outcomes compared to isolated annuloplasty.
Physical workload and bodily fatigue after work: cross-sectional study among 5000 workers
Authors: Bláfoss Rúni , Sundstrup Emil , Jakobsen Markus D , Brandt Mikkel , Bay Hans , Andersen Lars L
Published: March 2019

Background

Persistent bodily fatigue after working days may indicate an imbalance between work demands and capacity of the workers. This study aimed to investigate associations between physical exposures at work and bodily fatigue after work.

Methods

Danish workers with physical work (N=5377) answered questions about various physical exposures during work and bodily fatigue after work in the 2010 round of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study. Associations were modeled using binary logistic regression controlled for various confounders.

Results

Mean age among the younger (<50 years) and older (≥50 years) workers was 36 and 56 years, respectively. Younger and older workers exposed to various physical exposures (e.g. ‘bending/twisting the back’) for more than a quarter of the workday were more fatigued after work. An exposure–response relationship was observed between the number of physical exposures and bodily fatigue, with odds ratios (OR) for fatigue in the body among younger workers being 1.01 (95%CI 0.63–1.63), 1.59 (95%CI 1.01–2.50), 2.37 (95%CI 1.54–3.66) and 2.84 (95%CI 1.85–5.36) for 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 types of combined physical exposures, respectively. Correspondingly, for older workers, ORs were 1.95 (95%CI 1.09–3.51), 4.06 (95%CI 2.32–7.12), 4.10 (95%CI 2.28–7.37) and 4.90 (95%CI 2.72–8.82) for 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 exposures, respectively.

Conclusion

While some of the single factor exposures were associated with increased bodily fatigue, the most marked associations were found when summing the number of different exposures. These results indicate that workplaces should focus on the sum of combined physical exposures rather than focusing solely on single exposures.
Rationale and Study Design of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Metformin to Prevent Frailty in Older Adults With Prediabetes
Authors: Espinoza Sara E , Musi Nicolas , Wang Chen-pin , Michalek Joel , Orsak Beverly , Romo Terry , Powers Becky , Conde Alice , Moris Melody , Bair-Kelps Darcy , Li Yan , Ganapathy Vinutha , Jergensen Tyson E , Kelly Lauri C , Jiwani Rozmin
Published: March 2019

Background

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that leads to poor health outcomes with aging. Previous studies have demonstrated that insulin resistance and inflammation predict frailty onset. Metformin is a widely used, well-tolerated drug that improves insulin sensitivity and displays anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known to prevent diabetes onset in adults with prediabetes. We hypothesize that metformin in older adults with prediabetes will promote healthy aging and prevent frailty. Here we describe an ongoing placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial of metformin for the prevention of frailty in older adults with prediabetes.

Methods

Older adults aged more than 65 years are randomized to metformin or placebo and are followed for 2 years. Prediabetes, required for inclusion, is assessed by 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Exclusion criteria are baseline frailty (Fried criteria), diabetes, dementia, untreated depression, active malignancy, or severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurologic diseases. Primary outcome is frailty; secondary outcomes are physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery), systemic and skeletal muscle tissue inflammation, muscle insulin signaling, insulin sensitivity (insulin clamp), glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test), and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). Subjects are followed every 3 months for safety assessments and every 6 months for frailty assessment (Fried criteria) and oral glucose tolerance test, and every 12 or 24 months for secondary outcomes. Enrollment of 120 subjects (completers) will take place over a 2-year period.

Conclusion

Metformin is being examined in this study as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent frailty in older adults with prediabetes. Findings from this trial may have future implications for the screening and potential treatment of prediabetes in older patients with metformin for the prevention of frailty.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids Have Equivalent Effects to Other Essential Amino Acids on Lifespan and Aging-Related Traits in Drosophila
Authors: Juricic Paula , Grönke Sebastian , Partridge Linda
Published: March 2019

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been suggested to be particularly potent activators of Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling. Moreover, increased circulating BCAAs are associated with higher risk of insulin resistance and diabetes in both mice and humans, and with increased mortality in mice. However, it remains unknown if BCAAs play a more prominent role in longevity than do other essential amino acids (EAAs). To test for a more prominent role of BCAAs in lifespan and related traits in Drosophila, we restricted either BCAAs or a control group of three other EAAs, threonine, histidine and lysine (THK). BCAA restriction induced compensatory feeding, lipid accumulation, stress resistance and amelioration of age-related gut pathology. It also extended lifespan in a dietary-nitrogen-dependent manner. Importantly, the control restriction of THK had similar effects on these phenotypes. Our control diet was designed to have every EAA equally limiting for growth and reproduction, and our findings therefore suggest that the level of the most limiting EAAs in the diet, rather than the specific EAAs that are limiting, determines the response of these phenotypes to EAA restriction.
Sustaining Cooperation: Community Enforcement versus Specialized Enforcement
Authors: Acemoglu Daron , Wolitzky Alexander
Published: March 2019

We introduce the possibility of coercive punishment by specialized enforcers into a model of community enforcement. We assume that, just as regular agents need to be given incentives to cooperate with each other, specialized enforcers need to be given incentives to carry out costly punishments. We fully characterize optimal equilibria in the model. When the specialized enforcement technology is sufficiently effective, cooperation is best sustained by a “one-time enforcer punishment equilibrium”, where any deviation by a regular agent is punished only once, and only by enforcers. In contrast, enforcers themselves are disciplined (at least in part) by community enforcement. The reason why there is no community enforcement following deviations by regular agents is that such a response, by reducing future cooperation, would decrease the amount of punishment that enforcers are willing to impose on deviators. Conversely, when the specialized enforcement technology is less effective, optimal equilibria involve a mix of specialized enforcement and community enforcement (which might take the form of “ostracism”). Our results hold both under perfect monitoring of actions and under various types of private monitoring.
Turbulent vertical mixing in hot exoplanet atmospheres
Authors: Menou Kristen
Published: March 2019

Turbulent vertical transport driven by double-diffusive shear instabilities is identified as likely important in hot exoplanet atmospheres. In hot Jupiter atmospheres, the resulting vertical mixing appears sufficient to alleviate the nightside cold trap, thus facilitating the maintenance of nocturnal clouds on these planets. The strong level of vertical mixing expected near hot Jupiter thermal photospheres will impact their atmospheric chemistry and even their vertical structures where cloud radiative feedback proves important.
Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion using 3-Dimensional Total Navigation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Kirnaz Sertac , Navarro-Ramirez Rodrigo , Wipplinger Christoph , Schmidt Franziska Anna , Hussain Ibrahim , Kim Eliana , Härtl Roger
Published: March 2019

This video demonstrates the workflow of a minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) using a portable intraoperative CT (iCT) scanner, (Airo®, Brainlab AG, Feldkirchen, Germany), combined with state-of-the-art total 3D computer navigation. The navigation is used not only for instrumentation but also for intraoperative planning throughout the procedure, inserting the cage, therefore, completely eliminating the need for fluoroscopy. In this video, we present a case of a 72-yr-old female patient with a history of lower back pain, right lower extremity radicular pain and weakness for 2 yr due to L4-L5 spondylolisthesis with instability and severe lumbar spinal stenosis. The patient is treated by a L4-L5 unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) and MIS-TLIF. MIS-TLIF using total 3D navigation significantly improves the workflow of the conventional TLIF procedure. The tailored access to the spine is translated into smaller but more efficient surgical corridors. This modification in a “total navigation” modality minimizes the staff radiation exposure to 0 by navigating in real time over iCT obtained images that can be acquired while the surgical staff is protected or outside the OR. Furthermore, this technique makes real-time and virtual intraoperative imaging of screws and their planned trajectory feasible. 3D Navigation eliminates the need for K-Wires, thus decreasing the risk of vascular penetration injury due to K-Wire malpositioning. 3D navigation can also predict the positioning of the interbody cage, thereby, decreasing the risk of malpositioning or subsidence. Patient consent was obtained prior to performing the procedure.
Investor Protection and Asset Prices
Authors: Basak Suleyman , Chabakauri Georgy , Yavuz M Deniz
Published: March 2019

Empirical evidence suggests that investor protection significantly affects ownership concentration and asset prices. We develop a dynamic asset pricing model to address the empirical regularities and uncover some of the underlying mechanisms at play. Our model features a controlling shareholder that endogenously accumulates control over a firm, and diverts a fraction of its output. Better investor protection decreases stock holdings of controlling shareholders, increases stock mean returns, and increases stock return volatilities when ownership concentration is sufficiently high, consistent with the related empirical evidence. The model also predicts that better protection increases interest rates and decreases the controlling shareholder’s leverage.

Received August 14, 2017; editorial decision January 15, 2019 by Editor Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
OPTICALLY STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE OF LiF:Mg,Cu,P POWDER—INFLUENCE OF THERMAL TREATMENT
Authors: Sądel M , Bilski P , Kłosowski M
Published: March 2019

It was recently found that LiF:Mg,Cu,P, which is a very well-known thermoluminescent (TL) material, exhibits also quite substantial optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). In the present work a study on the influence of thermal treatment on the LiF:Mg,Cu,P OSL intensity has been performed. The results revealed that the well-known ‘gold standard’ of 240°C annealing is not appropriate for OSL measurements. The annealing at lower temperatures produced significantly higher OSL intensity. The highest enhancement of the OSL signal, reaching 95% (compared to the initial signal after standard annealing at 240°C/10 min) was obtained after annealing at about 190–200°C/30 min. The OSL emission spectrum of LiF:Mg,Cu,P was also measured and found to be peaked at 360 nm.
Exacerbation of Psychosis During the Perimenstrual Phase of the Menstrual Cycle: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Reilly Thomas J , Sagnay de la Bastida Vanessa C , Joyce Dan W , Cullen Alexis E , McGuire Philip
Published: March 2019

Psychotic disorders can be exacerbated by the hormonal changes associated with childbirth, but the extent to which exacerbations occur with the menstrual cycle is unclear. We addressed this issue by conducting a systematic review. Embase, Medline, and PsychINFO databases were searched for studies that measured exacerbations of psychotic disorders in relation to the menstrual cycle. We extracted exacerbation measure, definition of menstrual cycle phase, and measurement of menstrual cycle phase. Standard incidence ratios were calculated for the perimenstrual phase based on the observed admissions during this phase divided by the expected number of admissions if the menstrual cycle had no effect. Random effects models were used to examine pooled rates of psychiatric admission in the perimenstrual phase. Nineteen studies, comprising 1193 participants were eligible for inclusion. Eleven studies examined psychiatric admission rates, 5 examined symptoms scores, 2 examined self-reported exacerbation, and 1 examined both admission rates and symptom scores. A random effects model demonstrated the rate of admissions during the perimenstrual phase was 1.48 times higher than expected (95% CI: 1.31–1.67), with no significant heterogeneity detected. Four of six symptom score studies reported perimenstrual worsening, but lack of consistency in timepoints precluded meta-analysis. Two studies examining self-reported menstrual exacerbations reported prevalences ranging from 20% to 32.4%. Psychiatric admission rates are significantly higher than expected during the perimenstrual phase. There is some evidence that a worsening of psychotic symptoms also occurs during this phase, but further research with more precise measurement of the menstrual cycle and symptomatology is required.
Do Weak Institutions Prolong Crises? On the Identification, Characteristics, and Duration of Declines during Economic Slumps
Authors: Bluhm Richard , de Crombrugghe Denis , Szirmai Adam
Published: March 2019

This paper studies periods of prolonged contractions in output per capita in a sample of 145 countries from 1950 to 2014. Economic slumps are defined as abrupt interruptions of a period of growth by several regime switches. Slumps start with a sharp contraction along with a trend break, which is followed by another switch when growth stabilizes again. The paper then analyzes the correlates of these slumps, focusing on the length and depth of the contraction, from the beginning of the slump to its trough. The results establish three new stylized facts: (i) weak political institutions predate crises whereas political reforms tend to follow them, (ii) the length and depth of economic declines are robustly correlated with executive constraints and ethnic heterogeneity, and (iii) there is a robust interaction between these two variables, suggesting that institutions constraining leaders are important for stabilizing growth. This is particularly relevant for Sub-Saharan Africa, where politics are often ethnic and decision makers are comparatively unconstrained.
Pathogen Detection and Microbiome Analysis of Infected Wheat Using a Portable DNA Sequencer
Authors: Hu Yiheng , Green Gamran S. , Milgate Andrew W. , Stone Eric A. , Rathjen John P. , Schwessinger Benjamin
Published: March 2019

Fungal diseases of plants are responsible for major losses in agriculture, highlighting the need for rapid and accurate identification of plant pathogens. Disease outcomes are often defined not only by the main pathogen but are influenced by diverse microbial communities known as the microbiome at sites of infection. Here we present the first use of whole genome shot-gun sequencing with a portable DNA sequencing device as a method for the detection of fungal pathogens from wheat (Triticum aestivum) in a standard molecular biology laboratory. The data revealed that our method is robust and applicable to the diagnosis of fungal diseases including wheat stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), Septoria tritici blotch (caused by Zymoseptoria tritici), and yellow leaf spot (caused by Pyrenophora tritici repentis). We also identified the bacterial genus Pseudomonas co-present with Puccinia and Zymoseptoria but not Pyrenophora infections. One limitation of the method is the over-representation of redundant wheat genome sequences from samples. This could be addressed by long-range amplicon-based sequencing approaches in future studies, which specifically target nonhost organisms. Our work outlines a new approach for detection of a broad range of plant pathogens and associated microbes using a portable sequencer in a standard laboratory, providing the basis for future development of an on-site disease monitoring system.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Stem Blight of Blueberry Caused by Lasiodiplodia vaccinii sp. nov. in China
Authors: Zhao Lin , Wang Yu , He Wei , Zhang Ying
Published: March 2019

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are largely cultivated in China because of their nutritional benefits and economic value. Blueberry stem blight caused by members of the Botryosphaeriaceae has become one of the most severe diseases affecting blueberry cultivation in China. In this study, we examined the causal agent of blueberry stem blight at commercial greenhouse farms in the suburban area of Beijing, China. In total, 37 isolates of Botryosphaeriaceae were obtained from 100 stem blight samples of blueberry. Twelve of 37 strains were morphologically consistent with the genus Lasiodiplodia, showing ellipsoid to ovoid, one-celled, hyaline conidia that sometimes turned brown, with median septa and longitudinal striations when mature. These 12 strains were identified as belonging to a novel fungal species, Lasiodiplodia vaccinii, based on phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated internal transcribed spacer, RNA polymerase II gene, β-tubulin gene, and translation elongation factor-1α gene sequences as well as morphological characteristics. Pathogenicity tests indicated that L. vaccinii can cause twig blight on blueberry seedlings in the greenhouse. Mycelial growth of L. vaccinii occurred at pH values ranging from 3.0 to 10.0, with an optimum at 6.2, and at temperatures from 15 to 40°C, with an optimum at 30.3°C. Of the seven carbon sources tested, sucrose, fructose, and glucose were all highly efficient in supporting the mycelial growth of L. vaccinii, and xylose was the least effective. Of six nitrogen sources tested, yeast extract and tryptone best promoted mycelial growth of L. vaccinii. The ability of L. vaccinii to grow at high temperatures may help to explain its occurrence in Beijing greenhouses in this study.
Allergy to food additives
Authors: Valluzzi Rocco Luigi , Fierro Vincenzo , Arasi Stefania , Mennini Maurizio , Pecora Valentina , Fiocchi Alessandro
Published: March 2019

Purpose of review

To provide an update of the studies concerning the diagnosis and management of food additives allergy.

Recent findings

Additives improve specific characteristics of food products, but they may induce allergic even life-threatening reactions. Physical examination and medical history are basic to assess specific in-vivo and in-vitro tests. The only treatment for allergic patients consists in avoiding the food containing culprit additives. High-risk patients should be able to recognize severe reactions and self-manage them.

The prevalence of adverse reactions to food additives is low, and it may depend on comorbidities, like asthma or chronic idiopathic urticaria. Food labels may help the correct identification of ingredients. Natural additives like spices should cause immediate reactions because of a pollen-sensitization or panallargen proteins presence. Additive-free diets may help the patient care, but the authors suggest assessing an oral food challenge with the culprit substance if there are no contraindications.
The Exceptional Teacher Initiative: Finding a Silver Lining in Addressing Medical Student Mistreatment
Authors: Blackall George F. , Wolpaw Terry , Shapiro Dan
Published: March 2019

Problem

The Penn State College of Medicine (PSCOM) faced escalating reports of learner mistreatment in 2013–2017. As systems were implemented to gather and respond to student reports, faculty members expressed concern that these were creating a culture that focused on negative behaviors to the exclusion of acknowledging outstanding teaching that was also occurring.

Approach

The Exceptional Teacher Initiative was introduced in August 2017 to attempt to shift the institutional conversation around learner mistreatment by balancing reports of mistreatment with reports highlighting examples of excellent teaching considered in-line with organizational values. The primary goals of the program were to make it easy for students to submit narratives describing outstanding teaching experiences and to capture the nuances of what the teacher did that were notable to the student. Students were invited to write about teachers who challenged and changed them. Narratives were sent to the named teachers and their educational and clinical leaders.

Outcomes

Over the first 12 months of the Exceptional Teacher Initiative, learners submitted 553 narratives naming 253 different individuals across 37 departments. Faculty members and students expressed appreciation for this effort to highlight the positive. A monthly Exceptional Moments in Teaching feature was introduced in 2018, in which a named educator is featured prominently across the PSCOM.

Next Steps

Future plans include examining the impact of being named an exceptional teacher, ways exceptional teachers create respectful teaching interactions, and common threads within student narratives that illuminate specific techniques, behaviors, and attitudes that create exceptional teaching experiences.
Innovation in Residency Selection: The AAMC Standardized Video Interview
Authors: Bird Steven B. , Hern H. Gene , Blomkalns Andra , Deiorio Nicole M. , Haywood Yolanda , Hiller Katherine M. , Dunleavy Dana , Dowd Keith
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Innovative tools are needed to shift residency selection toward a more holistic process that balances academic achievement with other competencies important for success in residency. The authors evaluated the feasibility of the AAMC Standardized Video Interview (SVI) and evidence of the validity of SVI total scores.

Method

The SVI, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges, consists of six questions designed to assess applicants’ interpersonal and communication skills and knowledge of professionalism. Study 1 was conducted in 2016 for research purposes. Study 2 was an operational pilot administration in 2017; SVI data were available for use in residency selection by emergency medicine programs for the 2018 application cycle. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and standardized mean differences were used to examine data.

Results

Study 1 included 855 applicants; Study 2 included 3,532 applicants. SVI total scores were relatively normally distributed. There were small correlations between SVI total scores and United States Medical Licensing Examination Step exam scores, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society membership, and Gold Humanism Honor Society membership. There were no-to-small group differences in SVI total scores by gender and race/ethnicity, and small-to-medium differences by applicant type.

Conclusions

Findings provide initial evidence of the validity of SVI total scores and suggest that these scores provide different information than academic metrics. Use of the SVI, as part of a holistic screening process, may help program directors widen the pool of applicants invited to in-person interviews and may signal that programs value interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism.
Current role of primary surgical treatment in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bozec Alexandre , Culié Dorian , Poissonnet Gilles , Dassonville Olivier
Published: March 2019

Purpose of review

The objective of this review article is to discuss the current role of surgery as the primary treatment modality in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Recent findings

HNSCC represents one of the cancer locations where the primary treatment modality is the most under discussion. Indeed, the respective roles of primary surgical resection followed, as necessary, by adjuvant radiotherapy or definitive chemoradiotherapy remain controversial. The results of organ preservation trials and the drastic rise in the incidence of human papillomavirus-induced oropharyngeal tumors, which are known to be highly radiosensitive, have led to an increasing use of chemoradiation-based therapies in HNSCC patients. However, no chemoradiation-based protocol has shown better oncologic outcomes than radical primary surgery. Moreover, development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as transoral robotic surgery, and advances in head and neck microvascular reconstruction have considerably improved the clinical outcomes of the patients and have led to a reconsideration of the role of primary surgery in HNSCC patients.

Surgery should be the primary treatment modality for most resectable oral cavity cancers and for T4a laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancers. Primary surgery could also be the preferred modality of treatment for most early (T1–T2, N0) laryngeal and hypo/oropharyngeal carcinomas when this strategy offers an opportunity to reserve radiotherapy for a potential recurrence or second primary tumor. Primary surgery should also be considered in patients with locally advanced human papillomavirus-negative oropharyngeal carcinoma.
Ultrasound Assessment of Subcutaneous Abdominal Fat Thickness After Treatments With a High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field Device: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Katz Bruce , Bard Robert , Goldfarb Richard , Shiloh Aaron , Kenolova Dilyana
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

High-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology is intended for muscle toning, firming, and strengthening.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study is to quantify the effect of HIFEM treatments on subcutaneous fat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 33 patients participated in the study. Each subject underwent 4 treatments on the abdomen with the HIFEM device. Ultrasound images were obtained measuring the thickness of the subcutaneous fat from 4 standardized measurement points. Ultrasound images were taken before treatment and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. Photographs were captured using both 2D and 3D cameras. Weight measurements were taken, as well as surveys assessing both patient comfort, satisfaction, and adverse events.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in the subcutaneous fat thickness across the abdomen was observed, averaging 19.0%/4.47 ± 3.23 mm (p < .01) at 1 month after treatment and 23.3%/5.78 ± 4.07 mm 3 months after treatment. At 1 month, the most significant reduction in subcutaneous fat was measured subumbilically (26.6%/6.25 ± 4.70 mm; p < .01) and epiumbilically (21.6%/5.08 ± 3.69 mm; p < .01). No discomfort was reported, and 91% of study participants were satisfied with their result.

CONCLUSION

Based on the ultrasonographic and photographic observations, the authors conclude that the application of an HIFEM field is an effective option for the noninvasive treatment of subcutaneous fat.