bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of 5‐[(Pentafluorosulfanyl)methyl]‐γ‐butyrolactones via a Silver‐Promoted Intramolecular Cyclization Reaction
Authors: Roudias Majdouline , Gilbert Audrey , Paquin Jean‐François
Published: September 2019

The synthesis of 5‐[(pentafluorosulfanyl)methyl]‐γ‐butyrolactones bearing different substituents at position 3 or 4 is reported. A silver‐promoted intramolecular cyclization of substituted 4‐chloro‐5‐(pentafluorosulfanyl)pentanoic acids allows the preparation of the substituted SF5‐containing γ‐butyrolactones in up to 96 % yield.
The Tumor Suppressor Interferon Regulatory Factor 2 Binding Protein 2 Regulates Hippo Pathway in Liver Cancer by a Feedback Loop in Mice
Authors: Feng Xue , Lu Tiantian , Li Jinhui , Yang Ruizeng , Hu Liqiao , Ye Yi , Mao Feifei , He Lingli , Xu Jinjin , Wang Zuoyun , Liu Yingbin , Zhang Yonglong , Ji Hongbin , Zhao Yun , Cheng Shuqun , Tian Wei , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2019

Background and Aims

The conserved Hippo pathway regulates organ size, tissue homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. Interferon regulatory factor 2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) was originally identified as a transcriptional corepressor. However, the association between IRF2BP2 and the Hippo pathway remains largely unknown. In addition, the biological function and regulation mechanism of IRF2BP2 in liver cancer are poorly understood.

Approach and Results

In this study, we uncovered the clinical significance of IRF2BP2 in suppressing hepatocellular carcinogenesis. We showed that IRF2BP2, a direct target repressed by the Yes‐associated protein (YAP)/TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) transcriptional complex, inhibited YAP activity through a feedback loop. IRF2BP2 stabilized vestigial‐like family member 4 (VGLL4) and further enhanced VGLL4’s inhibitory function on YAP. Moreover, liver‐specific IRF2BP2 overexpression suppressed tumor formation induced by Hippo pathway inactivation.

Conclusions

These results revealed the important role of IRF2BP2 in repressing liver cancer progression and highlighted a feedback loop underlying the Hippo pathway in organ‐size control and tumorigenesis.
Pharmacokinetics of Neoadjuvant Axitinib Influenced the Efficacy in Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Yamamoto Yoshiaki , Otori Toru , Inoue Ryo , Yano Seiji , Hirata Hiroshi , Matsumoto Hiroaki , Matsuyama Kenji , Matsuyama Hideyasu
Published: September 2019

Although axitinib shows a good objective response rate and acceptable tolerability for advanced renal cell carcinoma, substantial differences in drug concentrations among individuals have hampered the reliable administration of the drug in a neoadjuvant setting. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between axitinib pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated in a neoadjuvant setting. We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients who underwent neoadjuvant axitinib treatment from prospective phase 2 study cohorts treated with axitinib and assessed whether the drug concentration was associated with clinical efficacy for primary tumors of advanced metastatic/oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Axitinib was administered orally at a starting dose of 5 mg twice daily for 2 months in principle before the operation, and the axitinib pharmacokinetics were examined. Best response, reduction rate, adverse events (AEs), and surgical complication were assessed. Four patients (25.0%) showed a partial response, and 12 (75.0%) had stable disease, with a mean reduction rate of 22.8%. No progressive disease was noted, and 9 of the 16 patinets (56.3%) showed downstaging. The trough level of axitinib significantly correlated with the objective response rate (P = .0052) and best tumor reduction (P = .0128). All AEs could be safely managed until termination of the dosing period. With respect to perioperative complications, grade 2 anemia was observed. Neoadjuvant axitinib treatment showed acceptable antitumor activity and safety profile for advanced renal cell carcinoma. The pharmacokinetics of neoadjuvant axitinib influenced the efficacy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Variations in prenatal screening in a US federal healthcare system: Same coverage, different options
Authors: Thagard Andrew S. , Foglia Lisa M. , Staat Barton C. , Lutgendorf Monica A.
Published: September 2019

The Military Health System (MHS) is a federally funded organization that provides care to active duty service members and their beneficiaries. Our objective was to determine what methods of prenatal screening are used by military treatment facilities (MTFs), assess variations between institutions, and determine how practice patterns align with national recommendations. We surveyed all MTFs offering comprehensive prenatal care (n = 49). Departments were asked about aneuploidy screening options, availability of diagnostic testing, and carrier screening. In all, 43 MTFs (88%) completed the survey. Most (39/43) patients were stratified based on risk (predominantly maternal age at delivery and history). The most commonly offered test was combined 1st/2nd trimester screening (59%). Sixty percent routinely offered diagnostic testing, though less than half routinely offered microarrays. The majority offered universal carrier screening for cystic fibrosis (98%) and complete blood count with screening for thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies (88%). At the time of data collection, only five facilities (12%) had implemented spinal muscular atrophy carrier screening. Considerable heterogeneity exists in prenatal aneuploidy testing and carrier screening within the MHS. Standardized guidelines, protocols, and laboratory support would improve processes across the system. Additional resources including genetic counseling support and provider education are needed.
Ongoing evolution of hepatitis B virus during viremia in patients with febrile in Central Africa
Authors: Abe Haruka , Ushijima Yuri , Bikangui Rodrigue , Loembe Marguerite M. , Agnandji Selidji T. , de Vries Sophia G. , Grobusch Martin P. , Lell Bertrand , Yasuda Jiro
Published: September 2019

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains to be a major public health issue worldwide, although there is currently a safe vaccine and effective antiviral treatments. In surveillance of infectious diseases in Gabon, HBV viremia was detected in patients with febrile. Whole‐genome sequencing was conducted to characterize the HBV strains currently circulating in Gabon and to investigate HBV genome diversity during viremia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of former subgenotype A5, which exhibits a particular pattern of distribution from several West and Central African countries to Haiti. Furthermore, sequencing analysis identified two similar HBV strains mixed in one sample, and a very rare 1‐base pair insertion in the viral precore region. This insertion caused a frameshift mutation, indicating the production of an aberrant fusion protein of the HBV x and e antigens. Our data showed that the detected HBV strain was possibly in an “evolving” state during viremia, a phase of active replication.
Analgesic Effect of Duloxetine on an Animal Model of Monosodium Iodoacetate‐Induced Hip Osteoarthritis
Authors: Kawarai Yuya , Orita Sumihisa , Nakamura Junichi , Miyamoto Shuichi , Suzuki Miyako , Inage Kazuhide , Hagiwara Shigeo , Suzuki Takane , Nakajima Takayuki , Akazawa Tsutomu , Ohtori Seiji
Published: September 2019

We investigated the efficacy of duloxetine on hyperalgesia, histopathological and radiographic findings, pain‐related sensory innervation of dorsal‐root ganglia (DRG), and spinal changes in a rat model of induced hip osteoarthritis (OA). The right hip joints of male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 6 rats/group) in the Sham group were injected with 25 μl of sterile saline and 25 μl of sterile saline with 2 mg of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) were injected to the MIA + Vehicle and MIA + Duloxetine groups. We injected duloxetine 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally in the MIA + Duloxetine group 28 days after injection, whereas rats in the MIA + Vehicle group were injected with 0.5 ml of 20% dimethyl sulfoxide. We assessed hyperalgesia, histopathological changes, immunoreactive (‐ir) neurons for calcitonin gene‐related peptide and activating transcription factor 3 in DRG, and immunoreactive neurons for ionized‐calcium‐binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. MIA administration into the hip joint let to mechanical hyperalgesia of the ipsilateral hind paw (p < 0.05). A single injection of duloxetine significantly attenuated it in induced hip OA (p < 0.05) and suppressed the number of Iba1‐ir microglia of the ipsilateral dorsal horn (p < 0.05). These results suggest that a single injection of duloxetine suppressed mechanical hyperalgesia and may influence the expression of Iba1 in the microglia of the ipsilateral dorsal horn in the MIA‐induced hip OA. This finding implies the inhibitory effects of duloxetine against neuropathic pain, which may lead to a change of microglial activities. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:422‐430, 2020
Technical Note: Virtual phantom analyses for preprocessing evaluation and detection of a robust feature set for MRI‐radiomics of the brain
Authors: Bologna Marco , Corino Valentina , Mainardi Luca
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of the paper was to use a virtual phantom to identify a set of radiomic features from T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain which is stable to variations in image acquisition parameters and to evaluate the effect of image preprocessing on radiomic features stability.

Methods

Stability to different sources of variability (time of repetition and echo, voxel size, random noise and intensity non‐uniformity) was evaluated for both T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted MRI images. A set of 107 radiomic features, accounting for shape and size, first order statistics, and textural features was used. Feature stability was quantified using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For each source of variability, stability was evaluated before and after preprocessing (Z‐score normalization, resampling, gaussian filtering and bias field correction). Features that have ICC > 0.75 in all the analysis of variability are selected as stable features. Last, the robust feature sets were tested on images acquired with random simulation parameters to assess their generalizability to unseen conditions.

Results

Preprocessing significantly increased the robustness of radiomic features to the different sources of variability. When preprocessing is applied, a set of 67 and 61 features resulted as stable for T1‐weighted and T2‐wieghted images respectively, over 80% of which were confirmed by the analysis on the images acquired with random simulation parameters.

Conclusion

A set of MRI‐radiomic features, robust to changes in TR/TE/PS/ST, was identified. This set of features may be used in radiomic analyses based on T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted MRI images.
Nanoagents Based on Poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐Poly(l‐thyroxine) Block Copolypeptide for Enhanced Dual‐Modality Imaging and Targeted Tumor Radiotherapy
Authors: Gu Xiaolei , Zhu Zhehong , Fan Qianyi , Wei Yaohua , Wang Guanglin , Meng Fenghua , Zhong Zhiyuan , Deng Chao
Published: September 2019

Future healthcare requires development of novel theranostic agents that are capable of not only enhancing diagnosis and monitoring therapeutic responses but also augmenting therapeutic outcomes. Here, a versatile and stable nanoagent is reported based on poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(l‐thyroxine) (PEG‐PThy) block copolypeptide for enhanced single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) dual‐modality imaging and targeted tumor radiotherapy in vivo. PEG‐PThy acquired by polymerization of l‐thyroxine‐N‐carboxyanhydride (Thy‐NCA) displays a controlled Mn, high iodine content of ≈49.2 wt%, and can spontaneously form 65 nm‐sized nanoparticles (PThyN). In contrast to clinically used contrast agents like iohexol and iodixanol, PThyN reveals iso‐osmolality, low viscosity, and long circulation time. While PThyN exhibits comparable in vitro CT attenuation efficacy to iohexol, it greatly enhances in vivo CT imaging of vascular systems and soft tissues. PThyN allows for surface decoration with the cRGD peptide achieving enhanced CT imaging of subcutaneous B16F10 melanoma and orthotopic A549 lung tumor. Taking advantages of a facile iodine exchange reaction, 125I‐labeled PThyN enables SPECT/CT imaging of tumors and monitoring of PThyN biodistribution in vivo. Besides, 131I‐labeled and cRGD‐functionalized PThyN displays remarkable growth inhibition of the B16F10 tumor in mice (tumor inhibition rate > 89%). These poly(l‐thyroxine) nanoparticles provide a unique and versatile theranostic platform for varying diseases.
Oxidation‐Responsive Nanoassemblies for Light‐Enhanced Gene Therapy
Authors: Zhang Na , Wang Yu , Wu Rui , Xu Chen , Nie Jing‐Jun , Zhao Nana , Yu Bingran , Liu Zunjin , Xu Fu‐Jian
Published: September 2019

Microenvironment‐responsive supramolecular assemblies have attracted great interest in the biomedical field due to their potential applications in controlled drug release. In this study, oxidation‐responsive supramolecular polycationic assemblies named CPAs are prepared for nucleic acid delivery via the host–guest interaction of β‐cyclodextrin based polycations and a ferrocene‐functionalized zinc tetraaminophthalocyanine core. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) can accelerate the disassembly of CPA/pDNA complexes, which would facilitate the release of pDNA in the complexes and further benefit the subsequent transfection. Such improvement in transfection efficiency is proved in A549 cells with high H2O2 concentration. Interestingly, the transfection efficiencies mediated by CPAs are also different in the presence or absence of light in various cell lines such as HEK 293 and 4T1. The single oxygen (1O2), produced by photosensitizers in the core of CPAs under light, increases the ROS amount and accelerates the disassembly of CPAs/pDNA complexes. In vitro and in vivo studies further illustrate that suppressor tumor gene p53 delivered by CPAs exhibits great antitumor effects under illumination. This work provides a promising strategy for the design and fabrication of oxidation‐responsive nanoassemblies with light‐enhanced gene transfection performance.
Near‐Infrared‐Driven Photocatalysts: Design, Construction, and Applications
Authors: Wang Li , Xu Xun , Cheng Qunfeng , Dou Shi Xue , Du Yi
Published: September 2019

Photocatalysts, which utilize solar energy to catalyze the oxidation or reduction half reactions, have attracted tremendous interest due to their great potential in addressing increasingly severe global energy and environmental issues. Solar energy utilization plays an important role in determining photocatalytic efficiencies. In the past few decades, many studies have been done to promote photocatalytic efficiencies via extending the absorption of solar energy into near‐infrared (NIR) light. This Review comprehensively summarizes the recent progress in NIR‐driven photocatalysts, including the strategies to harvest NIR photons and corresponding photocatalytic applications such as the degradation of organic pollutants, water disinfection, water splitting for H2 and O2 evolution, CO2 reduction, etc. The application of NIR‐active photocatalysts employed as electrocatalysts is also presented. The subject matter of this Review is designed to present the relationship between material structure and material optical properties as well as the advantage of material modification in photocatalytic reactions. It paves the way for future material design in solar energy–related fields and other energy conversion and storage fields.
Kontrazeptionsbeginn in der Pubertät – wann, wie, womit?
Authors: Böttcher Bettina
Published: September 2019

Während der Pubertät stellen sich Mädchen in der Praxis oft mit Fragen bezüglich und dem Wunsch nach einer Verhütung vor. Diese Beratung ist eine besondere Herausforderung, da gerade in der Adoleszenz die zuverlässige Kontrazeption zur Vermeidung ungewollter Schwangerschaften sehr wichtig ist und die Jugendlichen durch Nebenwirkungen der Kontrazeptiva nicht verunsichert werden sollten. Dennoch ist es aus medizinischer Sicht obligat, Kontraindikationen wie beispielsweise ein erhöhtes Thromboserisiko oder Wechselwirkungen mit einer bestehenden Medikation abzuklären, um dann gemeinsam mit der Jugendlichen ein geeignetes Kontrazeptivum auszuwählen. Neben der am häufigsten verwendeten Verhütungsmethode in der Adoleszenz – kombinierte Hormonpräparate, auch ggf. im Langzyklus – sollten die Mädchen umfassend über Barrieremethoden, insbesondere über den zusätzlichen Gebrauch von Kondomen zum Schutz vor Geschlechtskrankheiten, über Notfallkontrazeption und über lang wirksame kontrazeptive Maßnahmen informiert werden.
Four-year course of quality of life and obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Remmerswaal Karin C. P. , Batelaan Neeltje M. , Hoogendoorn Adriaan W. , van der Wee Nic J. A. , van Oppen Patricia , van Balkom Anton J. L. M.
Published: September 2019

Objective

Patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have high disease burden. It is important to restore quality of life (QoL) in treatment, so that patients become able to live a fulfilling life. Little is known about the longitudinal course of QoL in patients with OCD, its association with remission from OCD, and about factors that contribute to an unfavourable course of QoL in remitting patients.

Methods

Study on the 4-year course of QoL of patients with chronic (n = 144), intermittent (n = 22), and remitting OCD (n = 73) using longitudinal data of the Netherlands Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association (NOCDA; complete data: n = 239; imputed data n = 382). The EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) utility score was used to assess QoL. In patients with remitting OCD, we examined patient characteristics that contributed to an unfavourable course of QoL, including sociodemographics, OCD characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, and personality traits.

Results

Course of QoL was associated with course of OCD. QoL improved in those who remitted from OCD; however, even in these patients, QoL remained significantly below the population norms. The correlation between QoL and severity of OCD was only moderate: r = − 0.40 indicating that other factors besides OCD severity contribute to QoL. In remitters, more severe anxiety and depression symptoms were related to a lower QoL. Results were similar in complete and imputed data sets.

Conclusions

Remission from OCD is associated with improvement of QoL, but comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms hamper the improvement of QoL. QoL could be improved by reducing OCD symptoms in patients with OCD and by treating comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms in remitting patients.
Adult-onset Still’s disease with macrophage activation syndrome diagnosed and treated based on cytokine profiling: a case-based review
Authors: Goda Ken , Kenzaka Tsuneaki , Hoshijima Masahiko , Yachie Akihiro , Akita Hozuka
Published: September 2019

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a relatively rare systemic inflammatory disorder and is diagnosed using various sets of classification criteria, with the Yamaguchi criteria as the most widely used criteria. Herein, we present the case of a 21-year-old woman admitted with a high fever, lasting for over 1 month, who did not fulfill the Yamaguchi criteria. However, by analyzing the inflammatory cytokine profile, we defined this case as AOSD based on a greatly elevated serum interleukin-18 level. In addition, we predicted the occurrence of macrophage activation syndrome by a characteristic increase in the soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II level, which allowed a timely intervention for this malicious complication. Therefore, we suggest that cytokine profiling will be useful for the diagnosis and management of AOSD.
Analysis of early-flowering genes at barley chromosome 2H expands the repertoire of mutant alleles at the Mat-c locus
Authors: Matyszczak Izabela , Tominska Marta , Zakhrabekova Shakhira , Dockter Christoph , Hansson Mats
Published: September 2019

Key message

Analyses of barleymat-closs of function mutants reveal deletions, splice-site mutations and nonsynonymous substitutions in a key gene regulating early flowering.

Optimal timing of flowering is critical for reproductive success and crop yield improvement. Several major quantitative trait loci for flowering time variation have been identified in barley. In the present study, we analyzed two near-isogenic lines, BW507 and BW508, which were reported to carry two independent early-flowering mutant loci,mat-b.7andmat-c.19, respectively. Both introgression segments are co-localized in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 2H. We mapped the mutation in BW507 to a 31 Mbp interval on chromosome 2HL and concluded that BW507 has a deletion ofMat-c, which is an ortholog ofAntirrhinum majus CENTRORADIALIS(AmCEN) andArabidopsis thaliana TERMINAL FLOWER1(AtTFL1). Contrary to previous reports, our data showed that both BW507 and BW508 areMat-cdeficient and none of them aremat-b.7derived. This work complements previous studies by identifying the uncharacterizedmat-c.19mutant and seven additionalmat-cmutants. Moreover, we explored the X-ray structure of AtTFL1 for prediction of the functional effects of nonsynonymous substitutions caused by mutations inMat-c.
Association of regenerating gene 1A single-nucleotide polymorphisms and nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility in southern Chinese population
Authors: Xing Haijie , Chen Xiangdong , Sun Hongxia , Han Yaofeng , Ding Lanshu , Chen Xiaoxia
Published: September 2019

Objective

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignancy in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Genetic susceptibility is a major contributing factor in determining the individual risk of NPC in these areas. To test the association between NPC and variants in regenerating gene 1A (REG1A), we conducted a hospital-based case–control study in a Cantonese-speaking population from Guangdong province.

Methods

We endeavored to determine whether genetic variants of the REG1A gene were associated with the risk of NPC amidst the Cantonese population in a hospital-based case–control study using polymerase chain reaction-restriction and direct sequencing analysis in 211 NPC patients and 150 healthy controls. The association between NPC risk and the 14C/T, 20C/T, 369G/T, 1201A/G, and 2922C/T polymorphisms was examined after adjustment for age and sex.

Results

We found an increased risk of developing NPC in individuals with REG1A 2922C/T variant genotype (p = 0.003, OR 0.419, 95% CI 0.235–0.746), and after adjustment for sex and age (p = 0.003, OR 0.406, 95% CI 0.226–0.732). No association between other polymorphisms (14C/T, 20C/T, 369G/T, and 1201A/G) and the risk of NPC was observed, before or after adjustment for age and sex.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the REG1A 2922C/T polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of developing NPC in a Cantonese population from Guangdong province. Larger studies are required to confirm our findings and unravel the underlying mechanisms.
Phantom design and dosimetric characterization for multiple simultaneous cell irradiations with active pencil beam scanning
Authors: Clausen Monika , Khachonkham Suphalak , Gruber Sylvia , Kuess Peter , Seemann Rolf , Knäusl Barbara , Mara Elisabeth , Palmans Hugo , Dörr Wolfgang , Georg Dietmar
Published: September 2019

A new phantom was designed for in vitro studies on cell lines in horizontal particle beams. The phantom enables simultaneous irradiation at multiple positions along the beam path. The main purpose of this study was the detailed dosimetric characterization of the phantom which consists of various heterogeneous structures. The dosimetric measurements described here were performed under non-reference conditions. The experiment involved a CT scan of the phantom, dose calculations performed with the treatment planning system (TPS) RayStation employing both the Pencil Beam (PB) and Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms, and proton beam delivery. Two treatment plans reflecting the typical target location for head and neck cancer and prostate cancer treatment were created. Absorbed dose to water and dose homogeneity were experimentally assessed within the phantom along the Bragg curve with ionization chambers (ICs) and EBT3 films. LETd distributions were obtained from the TPS. Measured depth dose distributions were in good agreement with the Monte Carlo-based TPS data. Absorbed dose calculated with the PB algorithm was 4% higher than the absorbed dose measured with ICs at the deepest measurement point along the spread-out Bragg peak. Results of experiments using melanoma (SKMel) cell line are also presented. The study suggested a pronounced correlation between the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and LETd, where higher LETd leads to elevated cell death and cell inactivation. Obtained RBE values ranged from 1.4 to 1.8 at the survival level of 10% (RBE10). It is concluded that dosimetric characterization of a phantom before its use for RBE experiments is essential, since a high dosimetric accuracy contributes to reliable RBE data and allows for a clearer differentiation between physical and biological uncertainties.
Meta-analysis of haematoma volume, haematoma expansion and mortality in intracerebral haemorrhage associated with oral anticoagulant use
Authors: Seiffge David J. , Goeldlin Martina B. , Tatlisumak Turgut , Lyrer Philippe , Fischer Urs , Engelter Stefan T. , Werring David J.
Published: September 2019

Objective

To obtain precise estimates of age, haematoma volume, secondary haematoma expansion (HE) and mortality for patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) taking oral anticoagulants [Vitamin K antagonists (VKA-ICH) or non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC-ICH)] and those not taking oral anticoagulants (non-OAC ICH) at ICH symptom onset.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing VKA-ICH or NOAC-ICH or both with non-OAC ICH. Primary outcomes were haematoma volume (in ml), HE, and mortality (in-hospital and 3-month). We calculated odds ratios (ORs) using the Mantel–Haenszel random-effects method and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) and determined the mean ICH volume difference.

Results

We identified 19 studies including data from 16,546 patients with VKA-ICH and 128,561 patients with non-OAC ICH. Only 2 studies reported data on 4943 patients with NOAC-ICH. Patients with VKA-ICH were significantly older than patients with non-OAC ICH (mean age difference: 5.55 years, 95%CI 4.03–7.07,p < 0.0001,I2 = 92%,p < 0.001). Haematoma volume was significantly larger in VKA-ICH with a mean difference of 9.66 ml (95%CI 6.24–13.07 ml,p < 0.00001;I2 = 42%,p = 0.05). HE occurred significantly more often in VKA-ICH (OR 2.96, 95%CI 1.74–4.97,p < 0.00001;I2 = 65%). VKA-ICH was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality (VKA-ICH: 32.8% vs. non-OAC ICH: 22.4%; OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.61–2.07,p < 0.00001,I2 = 20%,p = 0.27) and 3-month mortality (VKA-ICH: 47.1% vs. non-OAC ICH: 25.5%; OR 2.24, 95%CI 1.52–3.31,p < 0.00001,I2 = 71%,p = 0.001). We did not find sufficient data for a meta-analysis comparing NOAC-ICH and non-OAC-ICH.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis confirms, refines and expands findings from prior studies. We provide precise estimates of key prognostic factors and outcomes for VKA-ICH, which has larger haematoma volume, increased rate of HE and higher mortality compared to non-OAC ICH. There are insufficient data on NOACs.
Unexpected emergence from the vegetative state: delayed discovery rather than late recovery of consciousness
Authors: van Erp Willemijn S. , Aben Anoek M. L. , Lavrijsen Jan C. M. , Vos Pieter E. , Laureys Steven , Koopmans Raymond T. C. M.
Published: September 2019

Background

The vegetative state, also known as the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, is one of the worst possible outcomes of acquired brain injury and confronts rehabilitation specialists with various challenges. Emergence to (minimal) consciousness is classically considered unlikely beyond 3–6 months after non-traumatic or 12 months after traumatic etiologies. A growing body of evidence suggests that these timeframes are too narrow, but evidence regarding chances of recovery is still limited.

Objective

To identify the moment of recovery of consciousness in documented cases of late emergence from a vegetative state.

Methods

Four cases of apparent late recovery of consciousness, identified within a prospective cohort study, were studied in-depth by analyzing medical, paramedical and nursing files and interviewing the patients’ families about their account of the process of recovery.

Results

All patients were found to have shown signs of consciousness well within the expected time frame (5 weeks–2 months post-ictus). These behaviors, however, went unnoticed or were misinterpreted, leading to a diagnostic delay of several months to over 5 years. Absence of appropriate diagnostics, the use of erroneous terminology, sedative medication but also patient-related factors such as hydrocephalus, language barriers and performance fluctuations are hypothesized to have contributed to the delay.

Conclusions

Delayed recognition of signs of consciousness in patients in a vegetative state may not only lead to suboptimal clinical care, but also to distorted prognostic figures. Discriminating late recovery from the delayed discovery of consciousness, therefore, is vital to both clinical practice and science.
A review of friction damping modeling and testing
Authors: Gagnon Louis , Morandini Marco , Ghiringhelli Gian Luca
Published: September 2019

This survey provides an insight into the modeling and testing of uniaxial friction dampers. The focus is on attenuating the linear relative movement along planar surfaces for frequencies between 10 Hz and 1 kHz. An overview of the different approaches seen in the literature concerning friction damping is provided. Examples and evaluation of such dampers excited over a wide range of frequencies are presented. The information required to develop models of friction dampers is covered. To that end, different modeling approaches are presented for dry friction. Dynamic friction models with an internal state are covered, and their advantages are described. Other modeling approaches are reported for complete systems with friction dampers. Both numerical and analytical models are covered. Experimental configurations from a selection of authors are also included. Finally, a series of suggestions for the numerical modeling and experimental testing of a friction damper are given.
Compound danshen dripping pills normalize a reprogrammed metabolism of myocardial ischemia rats to interpret its time-dependent efficacy in clinic trials: a metabolomic study
Authors: Aa Nan , Guo Jia-Hua , Cao Bei , Sun Run-Bin , Ma Xiao-Hui , Chu Yang , Zhou Shui-Ping , Aa Ji-Ye , Yang Zhi-Jian , Sun He , Wang Guang-Ji
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Clinical trials of Compound danshen dripping pills (CDDP) indicated distinct improvement in patients with chronic stable angina. Daily fluctuation of therapeutic effect agreed with a peak-valley PK profile during a 4-week CDDP regimen, but stabilized after 8-week treatment.

Objectives

This article aims to explore the underlying mechanism for the time-dependent drug efficacy of the up-down fluctuation or stabilization in clinic trials.

Methods

A rat model of myocardial ischemia was established via isoproterenol induction. Metabolomics was employed to analyze the energy-related substances both in circulatory system and myocardium in the myocardial ischemia model.

Results

CDDP treatment ameliorated myocardial ischemia, reversed the reprogramming of the metabolism induced by ISO and normalized the level of most myocardial substrates and the genes/enzymes associated with those metabolic changes. After 1- or 2-week treatment, CDDP regulated plasma and myocardial metabolome in an analogous, time-dependent way, and modulated metabolic patterns of ischemic rats that perfectly matched with the fluctuated or stabilized effects observed in clinical trials with 4 or 8-week treatment, respectively.

Conclusion

Metabolic modulation by CDDP contributes to the fluctuated or stabilized therapeutic outcome, and is a potential therapeutic approach for myocardial ischemia diseases.
Finding indications of lag time, saturation and trading inflow in the emergence record of exotic agricultural insect pests in Japan
Authors: Morimoto Nobuo , Kiritani Keizi , Yamamura Kohji , Yamanaka Takehiko
Published: September 2019

Agricultural imports are the primary pathway for the introduction of exotic insect pests. The invasion records of exotic insect pests are also influenced by the lag time before detection and saturation caused by the limited species pool of potential invaders. We compiled an exhaustive list of exotic insect species in mainland Japan and tried to evaluate the connection between the commodity types of agricultural imports and insect types of agricultural pests, in addition to the effects of lag time and saturation. We found that lag time was prominent when all pest types were merged into one group, whilst saturation always existed when we divided the records into the four agricultural pest types. Saturation was especially prominent in stored product pests because this group contained many cosmopolitan insect pests that could have easily inhabited the newly built mills throughout Japan in the 1950s. We suspect that the saturation effect was masked by admixture amongst pests with different saturation patterns. Our findings indicate that all commodities, i.e. flowers, fruits, vegetables, cereal and timber, contributed to the invasion of pest insects as potential pathways. However, it was unclear if certain items had comparatively greater significance in this process.
Scheduling of undergraduate thesis examination: a case study in Industrial Engineering Department of Universitas Sebelas Maret
Authors: Rosyidi Cucuk Nur , Budiningsih Endah , Jauhari Wakhid Ahmad
Published: September 2019

Undergraduate thesis examination in Industrial Engineering Department of Universitas Sebelas Maret conducted through two stages, namely intermediate and final examination. Currently, the scheduling process of such examinations is done by the undergraduate thesis coordinator manually without certain systematic method or approach. In this paper, we develop an optimization model for the examinations scheduling considering several factors, namely the number of lecturers that must attend the examinations, the availability of rooms for examinations, the availability of each lecturer, and the assignment distributions. The model uses integer programming approach. Two performance criteria are used in the model, namely the difference between the number of each lecturer’s assignment with the average number of lecturer assignments and the number of penalties from the assignment of lecturers on certain time slot. The developed model is able to solve the scheduling problem more efficiently than manual scheduling done by thesis coordinator. The optimal solutions from the optimization model show a total difference in the assignment of lecturer with an average of 29.6 and a penalty of 0.
Umbilical Cord Abnormalities and Pregnancy Outcome
Authors: Elsayed Waleed , Sinha Anita
Published: September 2019

Umbilical cord anomalies can be related to its morphology (coiling, length and thickness); placental insertion (marginal and velamentous insertion); in utero distortion (knotting, torsion and nuchal cord) vascular abnormalities (single umbilical artery) and primary tumours or masses (haemangioma and teratoma). Some of these conditions may be associated with other foetal abnormalities or aneuploidy. On the other hand, several prenatal complications including intrauterine growth restriction IUGR and stillbirth can be attributed to cord accidents or abnormalities. Early detection and close follow up of umbilical cord abnormalities can reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality and assist in decision making. To understand the normal development of the umbilical cord and discuss several pathologic processes which are involved in different cord abnormalities.
The rise of renewables and energy transition: what adaptation strategy exists for oil companies and oil-exporting countries?
Authors: Fattouh Bassam , Poudineh Rahmatallah , West Rob
Published: September 2019

The energy landscape is changing rapidly with far-reaching implications for the global energy industry and actors, including oil companies and oil-exporting countries. These rapid changes introduce multidimensional uncertainty, the most important of which is the speed of the transition. While the transformation of the energy system is rapid in certain regions of the world, such as Europe, the speed of the global energy transition remains highly uncertain. It is also difficult to define the end game (which technology will win and what the final energy mix will be), as the outcome of transition is likely to vary across regions. In this context, oil companies are facing a strategic dilemma: attempt the risky transition to low-carbon technologies by moving beyond their core business or just focus on maximising their return from their hydrocarbon assets. We argue that, due to the high uncertainty, oil companies need to develop strategies that are likely to be successful under a wide set of possible future market conditions. Furthermore, the designed strategies need to be flexible and evolve quickly in response to anticipated changes in the market. For oil-exporting countries, there is no trade-off involved in renewable deployment as such investments can liberate oil and gas for export markets, improving the economics of domestic renewables projects. In the long run, however, the main challenge for many oil countries is economic and income diversification as this represents the ultimate safeguard against the energy transition. Whether or not these countries succeed in their goal of achieving a diversified economy and revenue base has implications for investment in the oil sector and oil prices and consequently for the speed of the global energy transition.
“Je me sens déshandicapée.” Approche anthropologique de la chirurgie de l’obésité et des situations de sortie de handicap
Authors: Troisoeufs Aurélien
Published: September 2019

En 2014, la Cour européenne de justice reconnaît, pour la première fois, que l’obésité sévère puisse être considérée comme une situation de handicap au travail. Cette reconnaissance, pas encore appliquée en France, émerge dans un contexte où l’obésité comme maladie à soigner semble faire consensus. Le développement de la chirurgie de l’obésité et ses résultats médicaux renforcent actuellement cette perspective. L’absence de débats publics, en France, concernant cette potentielle reconnaissance d’handicap de l’obésité, et simultanément l’utilisation fréquente du terme handicap ou “déshandicap” par les personnes opérées pour évoquer les effets de cette chirurgie sont les deux constats à l’origine de l’article. Dans une démarche ethnographique, il est proposé de rendre compte de la façon dont les personnes, expérimentant cette transformation corporelle, participent à redéfinir l’obésité, la chirurgie bariatrique et le handicap, en amont des débats et décisions politiques que pourrait déclencher cette reconnaissance de handicap. À partir du néologisme émique “se déshandicaper,” fil conducteur de l’article, il est analysé l’idée de sortie du handicap et d’entrée dans une normalité, en montrant que ces situations confrontent les personnes opérées à de nouvelles injonctions sociales et interrogent de façon originale la relation handicap et normalité.
Martha Kneale on Why Metaphysical Necessities Are NotA Priori
Authors: LEECH JESSICA
Published: September 2019

In her 1938 paper ‘Logical and Metaphysical Necessity’, Martha Kneale introduces the necessarya posteriori. I present a critical summary of Kneale's argument that so-called ‘metaphysical propositions’ are necessary but nota priori. I argue that Kneale is well placed to offer a template for reconciling conceivability approaches to modal epistemology with the post-Kripkean trend for taking metaphysical necessities to have their source in mind-independent reality.
#RhodesMustFall: How a Decolonial Student Movement in the Global South Inspired Epistemic Disobedience at the University of Oxford
Authors: Ahmed A. Kayum
Published: September 2019

When the #RhodesMustFall (#RMF) movement erupted at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in March 2015, it not only sparked the proliferation of student movements across South Africa, but also led to the formation of #RMF at the University of Oxford and similar movements at universities in the United States. By drawing on ninety-eight interviews with various actors involved in both movements, Ahmed’s empirical research contributes to the limited academic literature on the connections between the #RMF movements in Cape Town and in Oxford. The example of the #RMF movement in Cape Town inspired the #RMF Oxford movement to challenge the epistemic architecture of the University of Oxford.
On the origin of the drag force on dimpled spheres
Authors: Beratlis Nikolaos , Balaras Elias , Squires Kyle
Published: September 2019

It is well established that dimples accelerate the drag crisis on a sphere. The result of the early drag crisis is a reduction of the drag coefficient by more than a factor of two when compared to a smooth sphere at the same Reynolds number. However, when the drag coefficients for smooth and dimpled spheres in the post-critical regime are compared, the latter is higher by a factor of two to three. To understand the origin of this behaviour, we conducted direct numerical simulations of the flow around a dimpled sphere, which is similar to commercially available golf balls, in the post-critical regime. By comparing the results to those for a smooth sphere, it is found that dimples, although effective in accelerating the drag crisis, impose a local drag penalty, which contributes significantly to the overall drag force. This finding challenges the broadly accepted view that dimples only indirectly affect the drag force on a sphere by energizing the near-wall flow and delaying global separation.
Behaviour of small-scale turbulence in the turbulent/non-turbulent interface region of developing turbulent jets
Authors: Breda M. , Buxton O. R. H.
Published: September 2019

Tomographic particle image velocimetry experiments were conducted in the near and intermediate fields of two different types of jet, one fitted with a circular orifice and another fitted with a repeating-fractal-pattern orifice. Breda & Buxton (J. Vis., vol. 21 (4), 2018, pp. 525–532; Phys. Fluids, vol. 30, 2018, 035109) showed that this fractal geometry suppressed the large-scale coherent structures present in the near field and affected the rate of entrainment of background fluid into, and subsequent development of, the fractal jet, relative to the round jet. In light of these findings we now examine the modification of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI) and spatial evolution of the small-scale behaviour of these different jets, which are both important factors behind determining the entrainment rate. This evolution is examined in both the streamwise direction and within the TNTI itself where the fluid adapts from a non-turbulent state, initially through the direct action of viscosity and then through nonlinear inertial processes, to the state of the turbulence within the bulk of the flow over a short distance. We show that the suppression of the coherent structures in the fractal jet leads to a less contorted interface, with large-scale excursions of the inner TNTI (that between the jet’s azimuthal shear layer and the potential core) being suppressed. Further downstream, the behaviour of the TNTI is shown to be comparable for both jets. The velocity gradients develop into a canonical state with streamwise distance, manifested as the development of the classical tear-drop shaped contours of the statistical distribution of the velocity-gradient-tensor invariants $\mathit{Q}$ and $\mathit{R}$. The velocity gradients also develop spatially through the TNTI from the irrotational boundary to the bulk flow; in particular, there is a strong small-scale anisotropy in this region. This strong inhomogeneity of the velocity gradients in the TNTI region has strong consequences for the scaling of the thickness of the TNTI in these spatially developing flows since both the Taylor and Kolmogorov length scales are directly computed from the velocity gradients.
JET SCHEMES OF QUASI-ORDINARY SURFACE SINGULARITIES
Authors: COBO HELENA , MOURTADA HUSSEIN
Published: September 2019

We describe the irreducible components of the jet schemes with origin in the singular locus of a two-dimensional quasi-ordinary hypersurface singularity. A weighted graph is associated with these components and with their embedding dimensions and their codimensions in the jet schemes of the ambient space. We prove that the data of this weighted graph is equivalent to the data of the topological type of the singularity. We also determine a component of the jet schemes (equivalent to a divisorial valuation on$\mathbb{A}^{3}$), that computes the log-canonical threshold of the singularity embedded in$\mathbb{A}^{3}$. This provides us with pairs$X\subset \mathbb{A}^{3}$whose log-canonical thresholds are not computed by monomial divisorial valuations. Note that for a pair$C\subset \mathbb{A}^{2}$, where$C$is a plane curve, the log-canonical threshold is always computed by a monomial divisorial valuation (in suitable coordinates of$\mathbb{A}^{2}$).
On pathological properties of fixed point algebras in Kirchberg algebras
Authors: Suzuki Yuhei
Published: September 2019

We investigate how the fixed point algebra of a C*-dynamical system can differ from the underlying C*-algebra. For any exact group Γ and any infinite group Λ, we construct an outer action of Λ on the Cuntz algebra 𝒪2whose fixed point algebra is almost equal to the reduced group C*-algebra${\rm C}_{\rm r}^* (\Gamma)$. Moreover, we show that every infinite group admits outer actions on all Kirchberg algebras whose fixed point algebras fail the completely bounded approximation property.
A National Conversation About Race? Political Discussion Across Lines of Racial and Partisan Difference
Authors: Eveland William P. , Appiah Osei
Published: September 2019

Dialogue about race-based topics is essential to combat prejudice, foster mutual understanding, and improve race relations. This study describes the extent to which political conversations—especially those about race-related topics—are taking place within and across racial and political groups. This national survey with a Black oversample found racially diverse discussion networks to be more likely among Blacks than Whites, but politically diverse networks to be more likely among Whites than Blacks. Blacks were more likely than Whites to talk about race-related topics such as police treatment of Blacks (and less likely about several topics not explicitly tied to race), but by no means did Whites entirely avoid race-related topics, even in their same-race discussions. Moreover, there was evidence that discussion in cross-race dyads affected the mix of topics Whites and Blacks discussed, revealing the potential for cross-race interaction to alter political agendas. Rather than being less likely to talk about police treatment of Blacks with Blacks, Whites were more likely to discuss this topic when in mixed-race dyads, while Blacks talked about it less often with Whites than with other Blacks. Findings are discussed in the context of political disagreement and intergroup contact theory.