bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interseason variability of a functional movement test, the 9+ screening battery, in professional male football players
Authors: Bakken A , Targett S , Bere T , Eirale C , Farooq A , Tol J L , Whiteley R , Witvrouw E , Khan K M , Bahr R
Published: September 2016

Background

The Nine Plus screening battery test (9+) is a functional movement test intended to identify limitations in fundamental movement patterns predisposing athletes to injury. However, the interseason variability is unknown.

Aim

To examine the variability of the 9+ test between 2 consecutive seasons in professional male football players.

Methods

Asymptomatic Qatar Star League players (n=220) completed the 9+ at the beginning of the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Time-loss injuries in training and matches were obtained from the Aspetar Injury and Illness Surveillance Program. No intervention was initiated between test occasions.

Results

A significant increase in the mean total score of 1.6 points (95% CI 1.0 to 2.2, p<0.001) was found from season 1 (22.2±4.1 (SD)) to season 2 (23.8±3.3). The variability was large, as shown by an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.24 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.36) and a minimal detectable change (MDC) of 8.7 points. Of the 220 players, 136 (61.8%) suffered a time-loss injury between the 2 tests. There was an improvement in mean total scores in the injured (+2.0±0.4 (SE), p<0.001) group but not in the uninjured group (+0.9±0.5, p=0.089). The variability from season 1 to season 2 was large both in the injured (ICC 0.25, 0.09 to 0.40, MDC 8.3) and uninjured (ICC 0.24, 0.02 to 0.43, MDC 9.1) groups.

Conclusions

The 9+ demonstrated substantial intraindividual variability in the total score between 2 consecutive seasons, irrespective of injury. A change above 8 points is necessary to represent a real change in the 9+ test between seasons.
Prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome in Qatar: results from a National Health Survey
Authors: Al-Thani Mohamed Hamad , Al-Thani Al Anoud Mohammed , Cheema Sohaila , Sheikh Javaid , Mamtani Ravinder , Lowenfels Albert B , Al-Chetachi Walaa Fattah , Almalki Badria Ali , Hassan Khalifa Shamseldin Ali , Haj Bakri Ahmad Omar , Maisonneuve Patrick
Published: September 2016

Objectives

To determine optimum measurements for abdominal obesity and to assess the prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome in Qatar.

Design

National health survey.

Setting

Qatar National STEPwise Survey conducted by the Supreme Council of Health during 2012.

Participants

2496 Qatari citizens aged 18–64 representative of the general population.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Measure of obesity (body mass index, waist circumference or waist-to-height ratio) that best identified the presence of at least 2 other factors of metabolic syndrome; cut-off values of waist circumference; frequency of metabolic syndrome.

Results

Waist circumference ≥102 for men and ≥94 cm for women was the best predictor of the presence of other determinants of metabolic syndrome (raised blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Using these values, we identified 28% of Qataris with metabolic syndrome, which is considerably lower than the estimate of 37% calculated using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Restricting the analysis to participants without known elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar or diabetes 16.5% would be classified as having metabolic syndrome. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased steadily with age (OR=3.40 (95% CI 2.02 to 5.74), OR=5.66 (3.65 to 8.78), OR=10.2 (5.98 to 17.6) and OR=18.2 (7.01 to 47.5) for those in the age group ‘30–39’, ‘40–49’, ‘50–59’, ‘60–64’ vs ‘18–29’; p<0.0001), decreased with increasing educational attainment (OR=0.61 (0.39 to 0.96) for those who attained ‘secondary school or more’ compared with ‘less than primary school’; p=0.03) and exercise (OR=0.60 (0.42 to 0.86) for those exercising ≥3000 vs <600 MET-min/week; p=0.006) but was not associated with smoking or diet.

Conclusions

Waist circumference was the best measure of obesity to combine with other variables to construct a country-specific definition of metabolic syndrome in Qatar. Approximately 28% of adult Qatari citizens satisfy the criteria for metabolic syndrome, which increased significantly with age. Education and physical activity were inversely associated with this syndrome.
‘It's surprising how differently they treat you’: a qualitative analysis of trainee reflections on a new programme for generalist doctors
Authors: Muddiman E , Bullock A D , MacDonald J , Allery L , Webb K L , Pugsley L
Published: September 2016

Objectives

An increase in patients with long-term conditions and complex care needs presents new challenges to healthcare providers around the developed world. In response, more broad-based training programmes have developed to better prepare trainees for the changing landscape of healthcare delivery. This paper focuses on qualitative elements of a longitudinal, mixed-methods evaluation of the postgraduate, post-Foundation Broad-Based Training (BBT) programme in England. It aims to provide a qualitative analysis of trainees' evaluations of whether the programme meets its intentions to develop practitioners adept at managing complex cases, patient focused care, specialty integration and conviction in career choice. We also identify unintended consequences.

Setting

9 focus groups of BBT trainees were held over a 12-month period. Discussions were audio-recorded and subjected to directed content analysis. Data were collected from trainees across all 7 participating regions: East Midlands; West Midlands; Severn; Northern; North Western; Yorkshire and Humber; Kent, Surry and Sussex.

Participants

Focus group participants (61 in total) from the first and second cohorts of BBT.

Results

Evidence from trainees indicated that the programme was meeting its aims: trainees valued the extra time to decide on their onward career specialty, having a wider experience and developing a more integrated perspective. They thought of themselves as different and perceived that others they worked alongside also saw them as different. Being different meant benefitting from novel training experiences and opportunities for self-development. However, unintended consequences were feelings of isolation, and uncertainty about professional identity.

Conclusions

By spanning boundaries between specialties, trainee generalists have the potential to improve experiences and outcomes for patients with complex health needs. However, the sense of isolation will inhibit this potential. We employ the concept of ‘belongingness’ to identify challenges related to the implementation of generalist training programmes within existing structures of healthcare provision.
Composition of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour participation across the school-day, influence of gender and weight status: cross-sectional analyses among disadvantaged Victorian school children
Authors: Strugnell Claudia , Turner Kyle , Malakellis Mary , Hayward Josh , Foster Charlie , Millar Lynne , Allender Steve
Published: September 2016

Background

The after-school period has been described as the ‘critical window’ for physical activity (PA) participation. However, little is known about the importance of this window compared with the before and during-school period among socioeconomically disadvantaged children, and influence of gender and weight status.

Methods

39 out of 156 (RR=25%) invited primary schools across 26 local government areas in Victoria, Australia, consented to participate with 856 children (RR=36%) participating in the wider study. The analysis sample included 298 Grade 4 and Grade 6 children (mean age: 11.2±1.1; 44% male) whom met minimum accelerometry wear-time criteria and had complete height, weight and health-behaviours questionnaire data. Accelerometry measured duration in daily light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) was calculated for before-school=8–8:59, during-school=9:00–15:29 and after-school=15:30–18:00. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted.

Results

During-school represented the greatest accumulation of LPA and MVPA compared with the before and after-school periods. Boys engaged in 102 min/day of LPA (95% CI 98.5 to 104.9) and 62 min/day of MVPA (95% CI 58.9 to 64.7) during-school; girls engaged in 103 min/day of LPA (95% CI 99.7 to 106.5) and 45 min/day of MVPA (95% CI 42.9 to 47.4). Linear regression models indicated that girls with overweight or obesity engaged in significantly less LPA, MVPA and more time in ST during-school.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of in-school PA compared with after-school PA among socioeconomically disadvantage children whom may have fewer resources to participate in after-school PA.
Prevalence of factors associated with malnutrition among acute geriatric patients in Norway: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jacobsen Ellisiv Lærum , Brovold Therese , Bergland Astrid , Bye Asta
Published: September 2016

Objectives

Data on acute geriatric patients' nutritional status are lacking, and the associations among physical function, sarcopenia, health status and nutritional status are not sufficiently investigated in this population. The aims of this study are to investigate (1) nutritional status and sarcopenia in a group of acute geriatric patients, (2) the association between nutritional status, physical function and sarcopenia in acute geriatric patients, controlling for health status.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

Two acute geriatric hospital wards in Norway.

Participants

This study included 120 patients with a mean age of 82.6±8 years. The following inclusion criteria were used: age ≥65 years and admitted to an acute geriatric ward. The exclusion criteria included terminal illness, Mini-Mental State Examination <23, language difficulties or severe aphasia.

Main outcome measures

Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Physical function was measured using the Barthel activities of daily life index and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the mid-arm muscle circumference, gait speed and grip strength, in accordance with the EWGSOP algorithm. Diseases are organised by organ system classification.

Results

On the basis of the MNA classification, nearly one in two patients were at risk of malnutrition, while one in four were malnourished. Sarcopenia was present in 30% of the patients. A multivariate linear regression model was estimated and showed significant independent associations between SPPB score (β 0.64, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.90), sarcopenia (β −3.3, 95% CI −4.9 to −1.7), pulmonary disease (β −2.1, 95% CI −3.7 to −0.46), cancer (β −1.7, 95% CI −3.4 to −0.033) and nutritional status.

Conclusions

Our study shows a high prevalence of risk of malnutrition, malnutrition and sarcopenia. Further, the results indicate that a low total SPPB score, sarcopenia, cancer and pulmonary disease are significantly associated with declines in nutritional status, as measured by the MNA, in acute geriatric patients.
Is it worth screening elective orthopaedic patients for carriage ofStaphylococcus aureus? A part-retrospective case–control study in a Scottish hospital
Authors: Dancer Stephanie J , Christison Fraser , Eslami Attaolah , Gregori Alberto , Miller Roslyn , Perisamy Kumar , Robertson Chris , Graves Nick
Published: September 2016

Background

With recent focus on methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) screening, methicillin-susceptibleS. aureus(MSSA) has been overlooked. MSSA infections are costly and debilitating in orthopaedic surgery.

Methods

We broadened MRSA screening to include MSSA for elective orthopaedic patients. Preoperative decolonisation was offered if appropriate. Elective and trauma patients were audited for staphylococcal infection during 2 6-month periods (A: January to June 2013 MRSA screening; B: January to June 2014 MRSA and MSSA screening). Trauma patients are not screened presurgery and provided a control. MSSA screening costs of a modelled cohort of 500 elective patients were offset by changes in number and costs of MSSA infections to demonstrate the change in total health service costs.

Findings

Trauma patients showed similar infection rates during both periods (p=1). In period A, 4 (1.72%) and 15 (6.47%) of 232 elective patients suffered superficial and deep MSSA infections, respectively, with 6 superficial (2%) and 1 deep (0.3%) infection among 307 elective patients during period B. For any MSSA infection, risk ratios were 0.95 (95% CI 0.41 to 2.23) for trauma and 0.28 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.65) for elective patients (period B vs period A). For deep MSSA infections, risk ratios were 0.58 (95% CI 0.20 to 1.67) for trauma and 0.05 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.36) for elective patients (p=0.011). There were 29.12 fewer deep infections in the modelled cohort of 500 patients, with a cost reduction of £831 678 for 500 patients screened.

Conclusions

MSSA screening for elective orthopaedic patients may reduce the risk of deep postoperative MSSA infection with associated cost-benefits.
Gender- and age-specific associations between sleep duration and prevalent hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: a cross-sectional study from CHARLS 2011–2012
Authors: Guo Jing , Fei Yue , Li Junqin , Zhang Lisan , Luo Qiong , Chen Guangdi
Published: September 2016

Objectives

The impact of gender and age on the association between sleep duration and hypertension is not well known in Asians. The objective of this study was to analyse gender- and age-specific associations between sleep duration and prevalent hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.

Design

Secondary analysis of a cohort sample.

Setting

This study used data from the national baseline survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011–2012), covering 150 counties/districts and 450 villages/resident committees from 28 provinces in China.

Participants

Community-based subjects were drawn from the CHARLS through multistage probability sampling. Overall, this study included 9086 eligible subjects aged 45 years or above.

Outcome measures

Self-reported sleep duration was obtained using a structured questionnaire. The mean of three measures of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure was calculated. By gender and age groups (45–60 years, middle-aged; ≥60 years, elderly), relationships between self-reported sleep duration and prevalent hypertension were examined using logistic regression models to estimate OR and 95% CIs.

Results

Compared with the reference group (≥7 and <8 hours/night), the group who had less sleep (<6 hours/night) had a higher likelihood of hypertension in the whole sample (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.52). Significant ORs (95% CIs) of hypertension were 1.68 (1.17 to 2.42), 1.69 (1.11 to 2.59) and 2.21 (1.29 to 3.80) for <6, 6–7 (≥6 and <7) and 8–9 (≥8 and <9) hours/night, respectively, in middle-aged men but not women. Interestingly, a significant association was observed between long sleep duration (≥9 hours/night) and hypertension in middle-aged women (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.35) but not in men.

Conclusions

Extremes of sleep duration increased the likelihood of prevalent hypertension in middle-aged Chinese depending on gender, suggesting that appropriate strategies for improvement in sleep health are required.
PIPc study: development of indicators of potentially inappropriate prescribing in children (PIPc) in primary care using a modified Delphi technique
Authors: Barry Emma , O'Brien Kirsty , Moriarty Frank , Cooper Janine , Redmond Patrick , Hughes Carmel M , Bennett Kathleen , Fahey Tom , Smith Susan M
Published: September 2016

Objective

There is limited evidence regarding the quality of prescribing for children in primary care. Several prescribing criteria (indicators) have been developed to assess the appropriateness of prescribing in older and middle-aged adults but few are relevant to children. The objective of this study was to develop a set of prescribing indicators that can be applied to prescribing or dispensing data sets to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing in children (PIPc) in primary care settings.

Design

Two-round modified Delphi consensus method.

Setting

Irish and UK general practice.

Participants

A project steering group consisting of academic and clinical general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists was formed to develop a list of indicators from literature review and clinical expertise. 15 experts consisting of GPs, pharmacists and paediatricians from the Republic of Ireland and the UK formed the Delphi panel.

Results

47 indicators were reviewed by the project steering group and 16 were presented to the Delphi panel. In the first round of this exercise, consensus was achieved on nine of these indicators. Of the remaining seven indicators, two were removed following review of expert panel comments and discussion of the project steering group. The second round of the Delphi process focused on the remaining five indicators, which were amended based on first round feedback. Three indicators were accepted following the second round of the Delphi process and the remaining two indicators were removed. The final list consisted of 12 indicators categorised by respiratory system (n=6), gastrointestinal system (n=2), neurological system (n=2) and dermatological system (n=2).

Conclusions

The PIPc indicators are a set of prescribing criteria developed for use in children in primary care in the absence of clinical information. The utility of these criteria will be tested in further studies using prescribing databases.
Surgery during holiday periods and prognosis in oesophageal cancer: a population-based nationwide Swedish cohort study
Authors: Markar Sheraz R , Wahlin Karl , Mattsson Fredrik , Lagergren Pernilla , Lagergren Jesper
Published: September 2016

Objective

Previous studies indicate an increased short-term and long-term mortality from major cancer surgery performed towards the end of the working week or during the weekend. We hypothesised that the prognosis after major cancer surgery is also negatively influenced by surgery conducted during holiday periods.

Setting

Population-based nationwide Swedish cohort study.

Participants

Patients undergoing oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer between 1987 and 2010. Among 1820 included patients, 206 (11.3%) and 373 (20.5%) patients were operated on during narrow and wide holiday periods, respectively.

Interventions

Narrow (7 weeks) and wide (14 weeks) Swedish holiday periods.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

90-day all-cause, 5-year all-cause and 5-year disease-specific mortality.

Results

Narrow holiday period did not increase all-cause 90-day (HR=0.84, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.33), all-cause 5-year (HR=1.01, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.21) or disease-specific 5-year mortality (HR=1.04, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.26). Similarly, wide holiday period did not increase the risk of 90-day (HR=0.79, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.13), all-cause 5-year (HR=0.96, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.1) or disease-specific 5-year mortality (HR=1.03, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.19).

Conclusions

No measurable effects of holiday periods on short-term or longer term mortality following surgery for oesophageal cancer were observed in this population-based study, indicating that an adequate surgical experience was maintained during holiday periods.
Off-label use of rituximab for systemic lupus erythematosus in Europe
Authors: Rydén-Aulin Monica , Boumpas Dimitrios , Bultink Irene , Callejas Rubio Jose Luis , Caminal-Montero Luis , Castro Antoni , Colodro Ruiz Agustín , Doria Andrea , Dörner Thomas , Gonzalez-Echavarri Cristina , Gremese Elisa , Houssiau Frederic A , Huizinga Tom , Inanç Murat , Isenberg David , Iuliano Annamaria , Jacobsen Søren , Jimenéz-Alonso Juan , Kovács Lászlo , Mariette Xavier , Mosca Marta , Nived Ola , Oristrell Joaquim , Ramos-Casals Manuel , Rascón Javier , Ruiz-Irastorza Guillermo , Sáez-Comet Luis , Salvador Cervelló Gonzalo , Sebastiani Gian Domenico , Squatrito Danilo , Szücs Gabriella , Voskuyl Alexandre , van Vollenhoven Ronald
Published: September 2016

Objectives

Rituximab (RTX) is a biological treatment used off-label in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This survey aimed to investigate the off-label use of RTX in Europe and compare the characteristics of patients receiving RTX with those receiving conventional therapy.

Methods

Data on patients with SLE receiving RTX were taken from the International Registry for Biologics in SLE retrospective registry and complemented with data on patients with SLE treated with conventional therapy. For nationwide estimates of RTX use in patients with SLE, investigators were asked to provide data through case report forms (CRFs). Countries for which no data were submitted through CRFs, published literature and/or personal communication were used, and for European countries where no data were available, estimates were made on the assumption of similarities with neighbouring countries.

Results

The estimated off-label use of RTX in Europe was 0.5%–1.5% of all patients with SLE. In comparison with patients with SLE on conventional therapy, patients treated with RTX had longer disease duration, higher disease activity and were more often treated with immunosuppressives. The most frequent organ manifestations for which either RTX or conventional therapy was initiated were lupus nephritis followed by musculoskeletal and haematological. The reason for treatment was, besides disease control, corticosteroid-sparing for patients treated with conventional therapy.

Conclusions

RTX use for SLE in Europe is restrictive and appears to be used as a last resort in patients for whom other reasonable options have been exhausted.
Response to: ‘Why medical professionals have no moral claim to conscientious objection accommodation in liberal democracies’ by Schuklenk and Smalling
Authors: Glick Shimon M , Jotkowitz Alan
Published: September 2016

The recent essay by Schuklenk and Smalling opposing respect for physicians’ conscientious objections to providing patients with medical services that are legally permitted in liberal democracies is based on several erroneous assumptions. Acting in this manner would have serious harmful effects on the ethos of medicine and of bioethics. A much more nuanced and balanced position is critical in order to respect physicians’ conscience with minimal damage to patients’ rights.
CHA2DS2-VASc score, left atrial size and atrial fibrillation as stroke risk factors in the Tromsø Study
Authors: Tiwari Sweta , Løchen Maja-Lisa , Jacobsen Bjarne K , Hopstock Laila A , Nyrnes Audhild , Njølstad Inger , Mathiesen Ellisiv B , Schirmer Henrik
Published: September 2016

Objective

CHA2DS2-VASc score, left atrial (LA) size and atrial fibrillation (AF) have individually been associated with stroke risk. Our aim was to investigate the predictive ability of combinations of these factors for the odds of incident stroke in a population-based cohort study.

Methods

We followed 2844 participants from the Tromsø Study from 1994 to 2012. Information on LA size and CHA2DS2-VASc score (age, sex, congestive heart failure, hypertension, vascular disease, stroke and diabetes) were obtained at baseline. AF status was recorded from medical records. The outcome measure was all strokes. The association between covariates and stroke was investigated by means of multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 325 participants (45% women, mean age at baseline 59.3 years) had a stroke. Incidence rates for stroke were 6.4 in women and 8.4 in men per 1000 person-years. Participants with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥1 and LA size <2.8 had ∼4 times (95% CI 2.6 to 5.3) increased odds of stroke, whereas participants with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥1 and LA size ≥2.8 had ∼9 times (95% CI 5.3 to 16.4) increased odds of stroke, compared with participants with CHA2DS2-VASc score 0, irrespective of AF status. Adjustment for significant covariates had minimal impact on the OR estimates.

Conclusions

Combining CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥1 and enlarged LA size identified participants with high odds of stroke regardless of AF status.
Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation
Authors: Punzi Leonardo , Galozzi Paola , Luisetto Roberto , Favero Marta , Ramonda Roberta , Oliviero Francesca , Scanu Anna
Published: September 2016

Post-traumatic arthritis (PTA) develops after an acute direct trauma to the joints. PTA causes about 12% of all osteoarthritis cases, and a history of physical trauma may also be found in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis. Symptoms include swelling, synovial effusion, pain and sometimes intra-articular bleeding. Usually, PTA recoveries spontaneously, but the persistence of symptoms after 6 months may be considered pathological and so-called chronic PTA. A variety of molecular, mechanobiological and cellular events involved in the pathogenesis and the progression of PTA have been identified. The activation of inflammatory mechanisms during the PTA acute phase appears to play a critical role in the chronic disease onset. Human studies and experimental models have revealed that a series of inflammatory mediators are released in synovial fluid immediately after the joint trauma. These molecules have been proposed as markers of disease and as a potential target for the development of specific and preventative interventions. Currently, chronic PTA cannot be prevented, although a large number of agents have been tested in preclinical studies. Given the relevance of inflammatory reaction, anticytokines therapy, in particular the inhibition of interleukin 1 (IL-1), seems to be the most promising strategy. At the present time, intra-articular injection of IL-1 receptor antagonist is the only anticytokine approach that has been used in a human study of PTA. Despite the fact that knowledge in this area has increased in the past years, the identification of more specific disease markers and new therapeutic opportunities are needed.
Rainfall-triggered slope instabilities under a changing climate: comparative study using historical and projected precipitation extremes
Authors: Robinson Joe D. , Vahedifard Farshid , AghaKouchak Amir
Published: September 2016

This study aims to quantitatively assess the impact of extreme precipitation events under current and future climate scenarios on landslides. Rainfall-triggered landslides are analyzed primarily using extreme precipitation estimates, derived using the so-called stationary assumption (i.e., statistics of extreme events will not vary significantly over a long period of time). However, extreme precipitation patterns have shown to vary substantially due to climate change, leading to unprecedented changes in the statistics of extremes. In this study, a nonstationary approach, applied to climate model simulations, is adopted to project the upper bound of future precipitation extremes. Future precipitation estimates are obtained from the coupled model intercomparison project phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations. Baseline (historical) and projected (future) precipitation extremes are obtained for a study area near Seattle, Washington. The precipitation patterns are integrated into a series of fully coupled two-dimensional stress – unsaturated flow finite element simulations. The responses of the baseline and projected models at a 7 day rainfall duration obtained for a 50 year recurrence interval are compared in terms of the local strength reduction factor, displacements, matric suctions, and suction stresses. The results indicate that the usage of historical rainfall data can lead to underestimations in the hydromechanical behavior of natural slopes where locally increased transient seepage rates occur from the upper bound of future extreme precipitation estimates.
Effect of embedment on consolidated undrained capacity of skirted circular foundations in soft clay under planar loading
Authors: Vulpe Cristina , Gourvenec Susan M. , Cornelius Alexander F.
Published: September 2016

The effect of foundation embedment ratio and soil–skirt interface roughness on the consolidated undrained capacity of skirted circular foundations under planar loading in normally consolidated clay has been investigated through coupled three-dimensional finite element analyses. Results are presented as failure envelopes, and changes in shape and size of the normalized vertical–horizontal–moment (VHM) failure envelopes are described as a function of relative magnitude and duration of applied preload. Results show that embedment ratio and interface roughness affect the load distribution within the soil mass, but that consolidated undrained capacity under planar loading scales proportionately with the (unconsolidated) undrained capacity of the foundation. This latter feature enables the results to be neatly synthesized into a relatively straightforward method for use in engineering practice for prediction of gain in undrained VHM capacity due to preload and consolidation.
Rotational barriers in five related amides
Authors: Weaver-Guevara Holly M. , Fitzgerald Ryan W. , Greenberg Arthur
Published: September 2016

Interest in the low carbonyl IR frequency of 2-hydroxy-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)acetamide (2) initially prompted our interest in the amide rotational barrier of this molecule and four related amides that present a variety of hydrogen-bonding possibilities. In the course of this study, a previously incorrect structural assignment was established as N,N-bis[2-(acetyloxy)ethyl]-acetamide (6). In acetonitrile-d3, the carbonyl IR frequencies of the five amides were all essentially normal amide frequencies. Despite very different hydrogen-bonding possibilities in the five amides, no clear trends emerged in the comparison of the rotational barriers (ΔG‡), and the rotational barriers were essentially normal for amides. The rotational barrier of 2 did not vary over one order of magnitude difference in concentration.
X-ray characterization of tripyridinium bis[tetrabromidoferrate(III)] bromide asymmetric unit in solution by Debye function analysis
Authors: Baniasadi F. , Sahraei N. , Fathi M. B. , Tehranchi M. M. , Safari N. , Amani V.
Published: September 2016

Abundant asymmetric unit of the [FeBr4]2[py.H]3Br magnetic molecule in the acetonitrile solvent was characterized via Debye function analysis (DFA) of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern from dilute solution. A diluted solution of the material in acetonitrile solvent has been prepared to reduce, as far as possible, the interaction between the molecular units. The X-ray diffraction from the sample was measured and Debye function simulations of three out of ten chemically plausible molecular units were observed to suitably comply with the experimental results. These three configurations were further optimized with first-principles method in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and the most stable structure according to the calculated total energy is presented.
Standard approach for energy transfer scheme and tunable emission for white light-emitting diodes (W-LEDs)
Authors: Taide S. T. , Ingle N. B. , Omanwar S. K.
Published: September 2016

Rare-earth (RE) activated (Dy[Formula: see text]/Sm[Formula: see text] and Ce[Formula: see text]/Tb[Formula: see text]) polycrystalline CaSO4 phosphors were prepared by co-precipitation method. Powder XRD pattern confirmed their structure and phase, while FE-SEM investigation reflected the particle morphology. The optical absorption and emission analysis were carried out to find efficient energy transfer within codoped phosphors, a possible energy transfer mechanism was discussed and energy transfer efficiencies were calculated. The multicolor emission from these materials suggests sustainable and well-defined approach towards possibility of obtaining tunable emission for producing while light emission, which finds potential applications in field emission display (FED) and white light-emitting diodes (W-LEDs).
Superconductors with spin–orbit interactions
Authors: Ovchinnikov Yu. N.
Published: September 2016

The effect of spin-orbit (SO) interaction on the formation of the critical states in thin superconducting films in magnetic field oriented along the film is investigated. Hereby, the case of interband pairing is considered. It was found that eight branches exist in the plane of two parameters [Formula: see text] determined by the value of magnetic field and SO interaction. Six modes leads to inhomogeneous states with different values of the impulse [Formula: see text]. Each state is doubly degenerate over direction of impulse [Formula: see text]. The parameter values at critical point are found for all eight branches in explicit form for zero temperature. The optimal two branches are estimated, corresponding to largest critical magnetic field value for given SO interaction.
3-Colored Triangulation of 2D Maps
Authors: Bueno Lucas Moutinho , Stolfi Jorge
Published: September 2016

We describe an algorithm to triangulate a general map on an arbitrary surface in such way that the resulting triangulation is vertex-colorable with three colors. (Three-colorable triangulations can be efficiently represented and manipulated by the GEM data structure of Montagner and Stolfi.) The standard solution to this problem is the barycentric subdivision, which produces [Formula: see text] triangles when applied to a map with [Formula: see text] edges, such that [Formula: see text] of them are border edges (adjacent to only one face). Our algorithm yields a subdivision with at most [Formula: see text] triangles, where [Formula: see text] is the Euler Characteristic of the surface; or at most [Formula: see text] triangles if all [Formula: see text] faces of the map have the same degree [Formula: see text]. Experimental results show that the resulting triangulations have, on the average, significantly fewer triangles than these upper bounds.
Axion and dilaton + metric emerge jointly from an electromagnetic model universe with local and linear response behavior
Authors: Hehl Friedrich W.
Published: September 2016

We take a quick look at the different possible universally coupled scalar fields in nature. Then, we discuss how the gauging of the group of scale transformations (dilations), together with the Poincaré group, leads to a Weyl–Cartan spacetime structure. There the dilaton field finds a natural surrounding. Moreover, we describe shortly the phenomenology of the hypothetical axion field. In the second part of our essay, we consider a spacetime, the structure of which is exclusively specified by the premetric Maxwell equations and a fourth rank electromagnetic response tensor density [Formula: see text] with 36 independent components. This tensor density incorporates the permittivities, permeabilities and the magneto-electric moduli of spacetime. No metric, no connection, no further property is prescribed. If we forbid birefringence (double-refraction) in this model of spacetime, we eventually end up with the fields of an axion, a dilaton and the 10 components of a metric tensor with Lorentz signature. If the dilaton becomes a constant (the vacuum admittance) and the axion field vanishes, we recover the Riemannian spacetime of general relativity theory. Thus, the metric is encapsulated in [Formula: see text], it can be derived from it.
LIPS
Authors: Xie Bo , Chen Kongyang , Tan Guang , Lu Mingming , Liu Yunhuai , Wu Jie , He Tian
Published: September 2016

This article presents a Light Intensity--based Positioning System (LIPS) for indoor environments. The system uses off-the-shelf light-emitting diode lamps as signal sources and light sensors as signal receivers. The design is inspired by the observation that a light sensor has
deterministic sensitivity
to both the distance and incident angle of a light signal, an under-utilized feature of photodiodes now widely found on mobile devices. We develop a stable and accurate light intensity model to capture the phenomenon, based on which a new positioning principle,
Multi-Face Light Positioning
, is established that uses three collocated sensors to uniquely determine the receiver’s position, assuming merely a
single
source of light. We have implemented a prototype on both dedicated embedded systems and smartphones. Experimental results show average positioning accuracy within 0.4m across different environments, with high stability against interferences from obstacles, ambient lights, temperature variation, and so on.
BLOW-UP
Authors: Wang Chen , Wei Wei , Lin Hongzhi , Jiang Hongbo , Lui John C. S.
Published: September 2016

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), a space filling curve (SFC) refers to a path passing through all nodes in the network, with each node visited at least once. By enforcing a linear order of the sensor nodes through an SFC, many applications in WSNs concerning serial operations on both sensor nodes and sensor data can be performed, with examples including serial data fusion and path planning of mobile nodes. Although a few studies have made efforts to find such SFCs in WSNs, they primarily target 2D planar or 3D surface settings and cannot be directly applied to 3D volumetric WSNs due to considerably more complex geometric features and topology shapes that the 3D volumetric settings introduce. This article presents BLOW-UP, a distributed, scalable, and connectivity-based algorithm to construct an SFC for a 3D volumetric WSN (or alternatively to linearize the 3D volumetric network). The main idea of BLOW-UP is to decompose the given 3D volumetric network into a series of connected and closed layers, and the nodes are traversed layer by layer, incrementally from the innermost to the outermost, yielding an SFC covering the entire network, provably at least once and at most a constant number of times. To the best of our knowledge, BLOW-UP is the first algorithm that realizes linearization in 3D volumetric WSNs. It does not require advance knowledge of location or distance information. It is also scalable with a nearly constant per-node storage cost and message cost. Extensive simulations under various networks demonstrate its effectiveness on nodes’ covered times, coverage rate, and covering speed.
Following Targets for Mobile Tracking in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Tian , Peng Zhen , Liang Junbin , Wen Sheng , Bhuiyan Md Zakirul Alam , Cai Yiqiao , Cao Jiannong
Published: September 2016

Traditional tracking solutions in wireless sensor networks based on fixed sensors have several critical problems. First, due to the mobility of targets, a lot of sensors have to keep being active to track targets in all potential directions, which causes excessive energy consumption. Second, when there are holes in the deployment area, targets may fail to be detected when moving into holes. Third, when targets stay at certain positions for a long time, sensors surrounding them have to suffer heavier work pressure than do others, which leads to a bottleneck for the entire network. To solve these problems, a few mobile sensors are introduced to follow targets directly for tracking because the energy capacity of mobile sensors is less constrained and they can detect targets closely with high tracking quality. Based on a realistic detection model, a solution of scheduling mobile sensors and fixed sensors for target tracking is proposed. Moreover, the movement path of mobile sensors has a provable performance bound compared to the optimal solution. Results of extensive simulations show that mobile sensors can improve tracking quality even if holes exist in the area and can reduce energy consumption of sensors effectively.
Testosterone decreases urinary bladder smooth muscle excitability via novel signaling mechanism involving direct activation of the BK channels
Authors: Hristov Kiril L. , Parajuli Shankar P. , Provence Aaron , Petkov Georgi V.
Published: September 2016

In addition to improving sexual function, testosterone has been reported to have beneficial effects in ameliorating lower urinary tract symptoms by increasing bladder capacity and compliance, while decreasing bladder pressure. However, the cellular mechanisms by which testosterone regulates detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) excitability have not been elucidated. Here, we used amphotericin-B perforated whole cell patch-clamp and single channel recordings on inside-out excised membrane patches to investigate the regulatory role of testosterone in guinea pig DSM excitability. Testosterone (100 nM) significantly increased the depolarization-induced whole cell outward currents in DSM cells. The selective pharmacological inhibition of the large-conductance voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels with paxilline (1 μM) completely abolished this stimulatory effect of testosterone, suggesting a mechanism involving BK channels. At a holding potential of −20 mV, DSM cells exhibited transient BK currents (TBKCs). Testosterone (100 nM) significantly increased TBKC activity in DSM cells. In current-clamp mode, testosterone (100 nM) significantly hyperpolarized the DSM cell resting membrane potential and increased spontaneous transient hyperpolarizations. Testosterone (100 nM) rapidly increased the single BK channel open probability in inside-out excised membrane patches from DSM cells, clearly suggesting a direct BK channel activation via a nongenomic mechanism. Live-cell Ca2+ imaging showed that testosterone (100 nM) caused a decrease in global intracellular Ca2+ concentration, consistent with testosterone-induced membrane hyperpolarization. In conclusion, the data provide compelling mechanistic evidence that under physiological conditions, testosterone at nanomolar concentrations directly activates BK channels in DSM cells, independent from genomic testosterone receptors, and thus regulates DSM excitability.
High-frequency neural activity predicts word parsing in ambiguous speech streams
Authors: Kösem Anne , Basirat Anahita , Azizi Leila , van Wassenhove Virginie
Published: September 2016

During speech listening, the brain parses a continuous acoustic stream of information into computational units (e.g., syllables or words) necessary for speech comprehension. Recent neuroscientific hypotheses have proposed that neural oscillations contribute to speech parsing, but whether they do so on the basis of acoustic cues (bottom-up acoustic parsing) or as a function of available linguistic representations (top-down linguistic parsing) is unknown. In this magnetoencephalography study, we contrasted acoustic and linguistic parsing using bistable speech sequences. While listening to the speech sequences, participants were asked to maintain one of the two possible speech percepts through volitional control. We predicted that the tracking of speech dynamics by neural oscillations would not only follow the acoustic properties but also shift in time according to the participant's conscious speech percept. Our results show that the latency of high-frequency activity (specifically, beta and gamma bands) varied as a function of the perceptual report. In contrast, the phase of low-frequency oscillations was not strongly affected by top-down control. Whereas changes in low-frequency neural oscillations were compatible with the encoding of prelexical segmentation cues, high-frequency activity specifically informed on an individual's conscious speech percept.
Glycolysis selectively shapes the presynaptic action potential waveform
Authors: Lujan Brendan , Kushmerick Christopher , Banerjee Tania Das , Dagda Ruben K. , Renden Robert
Published: September 2016

Mitochondria are major suppliers of cellular energy in neurons; however, utilization of energy from glycolysis vs. mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) in the presynaptic compartment during neurotransmission is largely unknown. Using presynaptic and postsynaptic recordings from the mouse calyx of Held, we examined the effect of acute selective pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis or mitochondrial OxPhos on multiple mechanisms regulating presynaptic function. Inhibition of glycolysis via glucose depletion and iodoacetic acid (1 mM) treatment, but not mitochondrial OxPhos, rapidly altered transmission, resulting in highly variable, oscillating responses. At reduced temperature, this same treatment attenuated synaptic transmission because of a smaller and broader presynaptic action potential (AP) waveform. We show via experimental manipulation and ion channel modeling that the altered AP waveform results in smaller Ca2+ influx, resulting in attenuated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). In contrast, inhibition of mitochondria-derived ATP production via extracellular pyruvate depletion and bath-applied oligomycin (1 μM) had no significant effect on Ca2+ influx and did not alter the AP waveform within the same time frame (up to 30 min), and the resultant EPSC remained unaffected. Glycolysis, but not mitochondrial OxPhos, is thus required to maintain basal synaptic transmission at the presynaptic terminal. We propose that glycolytic enzymes are closely apposed to ATP-dependent ion pumps on the presynaptic membrane. Our results indicate a novel mechanism for the effect of hypoglycemia on neurotransmission. Attenuated transmission likely results from a single presynaptic mechanism at reduced temperature: a slower, smaller AP, before and independent of any effect on synaptic vesicle release or receptor activity.
Prisms to Shift Pain Away: Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Exploration of CRPS with Prism Adaptation
Authors: Christophe Laure , Chabanat Eric , Delporte Ludovic , Revol Patrice , Volckmann Pierre , Jacquin-Courtois Sophie , Rossetti Yves
Published: September 2016

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is an invalidating chronic condition subsequent to peripheral lesions. There is growing consensus for a central contribution to CRPS. However, the nature of this central body representation disorder is increasingly debated. Although it has been repeatedly argued that CRPS results in motor neglect of the affected side, visual egocentric reference frame was found to be deviated toward the pain, that is, neglect of the healthy side. Accordingly, prism adaptation has been successfully used to normalize this deviation. This study aimed at clarifying whether 7 CRPS patients exhibited neglect as well as exploring the pathophysiological mechanisms of this manifestation and of the therapeutic effects of prism adaptation. Pain and quality of life, egocentric reference frames (visual and proprioceptive straight-ahead), and neglect tests (line bisection, kinematic analyses of motor neglect and motor extinction) were repeatedly assessed prior to, during, and following a one-week intense prism adaptation intervention. First, our results provide no support for visual and motor neglect in CRPS. Second, reference frames for body representations were not systematically deviated. Third, intensive prism adaptation intervention durably ameliorated pain and quality of life. As for spatial neglect, understanding the therapeutic effects of prism adaptation deserves further investigations.