bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Guillain–Barre's Syndrome in Children under 15 Years of Age in Oman
Authors: Koul Roshan , Al-Fuitaisi Amna , Macki Nabil , Patel Prakash Kurubarahalli , Al-Balushi Haleema , Al-Abaidani Idris , Al-Abri Seif Salem
Published: June 2018

Objective Guillain–Barre's syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy seen in all ages but mostly in the adult population. We aim to report the incidence of GBS in children under 15 years of age in Oman, a Gulf country.

Materials and Methods All children with GBS under 15 years of age were included in the study from January 2002 to December 2016. The data were compiled in Microsoft Excel format and analysis was performed using SPSS, version 17.0. Population-based age- and sex-specific rates of GBS were calculated using the estimated population for each 5-year period based on 2004, 2009, and 2014 mid-year population, respectively. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals of GBS at different age categories were calculated using the overall incidence of GBS in those under 15 years as reference.

Results The average annual incidence in those under 15 years was 3.1/100,000. Age-specific incidence was 4.0/100,000 in the age group 0 to 9 years and 4.7/100,000 in age group 0 to 4 years. Sixty percent had evidence of preceding infections, and the male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Fifty percent had cranial nerve involvement and 18% needed mechanical ventilation. Five percent had residual weakness. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) were used in all, and 3.3% required plasmapheresis when they did not improve with IVIG. Clinical profile of the GBS was not different from the rest reported in the literature.

Conclusion The incidence of GBS in Oman was 3.1/100,000 (range: 2.7–3.5 cases/100,000) in children under 15 years of age. The GBS is a smaller proportion among the total acute flaccid paralysis cases.
Repetitive Imaging following Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum Is Unnecessary
Authors: Sola Richard , Yu Yangyang R. , Friske Tyler C. , Jamal Abdur R. , Rosenfeld Eric H. , Mazziotti Mark V. , Peter Shawn D. St. , Shah Sohail R.
Published: June 2018

Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate the necessity of repeat imaging after an initial chest radiograph (CXR) following minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE).

Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent MIRPE from January 2012 to July 2016 at two academic children's hospitals. Data collected included demographics, severity of pectus defect (Haller index [HI]), utilization of CXRs, outpatient follow-up, and clinical outcomes.

Results A total of 360 patients (171 at Hospital 1 and 189 at Hospital 2) underwent MIRPE. Median age was 15.6 years and 84% were males. The median HI was 4.0. Median postoperative hospital length of stay was 4.2 days and median time to bar removal was 34 months. There was significant variation in postoperative imaging between the hospitals, including frequency of immediate postoperative CXR, total number of CXRs during hospitalization, and number of postoperative outpatient CXRs prior to bar removal. However, there was no significant difference in outcomes between the hospitals, including postoperative pneumothorax, postoperative chest tube placement, and complications.

Conclusion These data suggest that increased repetitive imaging after an initial postoperative CXR does not affect clinical outcomes and may not be necessary after MIRPE.
Space and time dimensions of algebras with application to Lorentzian noncommutative geometry and quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Bizi Nadir , Brouder Christian , Besnard Fabien
Published: June 2018

An analogy with real Clifford algebras on even-dimensional vector spaces suggests assigning an ordered pair (s, t) of space and time dimensions (or equivalently an ordered pair (m, n) of metric and KO dimensions) modulo 8 to any algebraic structure (that we call CPT corepresentation) represented over a Hilbert space by two self-adjoint involutions and an anti-unitary operator having specific commutation relations. It is shown that this assignment is compatible with the tensor product: the space and time dimensions of the tensor product of two CPT corepresentations are the sums of the space and time dimensions of its factors, and the same holds for the metric and KO dimensions. This could provide an interpretation of the presence of such algebras in PT-symmetric Hamiltonians or the description of topological matter. This construction is used to build an indefinite (i.e., pseudo-Riemannian) version of the spectral triple of noncommutative geometry, defined over a Krein space and classified by the pair (m, n) instead of the KO dimension only. Within this framework, we can express the Lagrangian (both bosonic and fermionic) of a Lorentzian almost-commutative spectral triple. We exhibit a space of physical states that solves the fermion-doubling problem. The example of quantum electrodynamics is described.
Probing compression versus stretch activated recruitment of cortical actin and apical junction proteins using mechanical stimulations of suspended doublets
Authors: Gao Xumei , Acharya Bipul R. , Engl Wilfried Claude Otto , De Mets Richard , Thiery Jean Paul , Yap Alpha S. , Viasnoff Virgile
Published: June 2018

We report an experimental approach to study the mechanosensitivity of cell-cell contact upon mechanical stimulation in suspended cell-doublets. The doublet is placed astride an hourglass aperture, and a hydrodynamic force is selectively exerted on only one of the cells. The geometry of the device concentrates the mechanical shear over the junction area. Together with mechanical shear, the system also allows confocal quantitative live imaging of the recruitment of junction proteins (e.g., E-cadherin, ZO-1, occludin, and actin). We observed the time sequence over which proteins were recruited to the stretched region of the contact. The compressed side of the contact showed no response. We demonstrated how this mechanism polarizes the stress-induced recruitment of junctional components within one single junction. Finally, we demonstrated that stabilizing the actin cortex dynamics abolishes the mechanosensitive response of the junction. Our experimental design provides an original approach to study the role of mechanical force at a cell-cell contact with unprecedented control over stress application and quantitative optical analysis.
Dual-gate MoS2 transistors with sub-10 nm top-gate high-k dielectrics
Authors: Bolshakov Pavel , Khosravi Ava , Zhao Peng , Hurley Paul K. , Hinkle Christopher L. , Wallace Robert M. , Young Chadwin D.
Published: June 2018

High quality sub-10 nm high-k dielectrics are deposited on top of MoS2 and evaluated using a dual-gate field effect transistor configuration. Comparison between top-gate HfO2 and an Al2O3/HfO2 bilayer shows significant improvement in device performance due to the insertion of the thin Al2O3 layer. The results show that the Al2O3 buffer layer improves the interface quality by effectively reducing the net fixed positive oxide charge at the top-gate MoS2/high-k dielectric interface. Dual-gate sweeping, where both the top-gate and the back-gate are swept simultaneously, provides significant insight into the role of these oxide charges and improves overall device performance. Dual-gate transistors encapsulated in an Al2O3 dielectric demonstrate a near-ideal subthreshold swing of ∼60 mV/dec and a high field effect mobility of 100 cm2/V·s.
Series solutions of Laguerre- and Jacobi-type differential equations in terms of orthogonal polynomials and physical applications
Authors: Alhaidari A. D.
Published: June 2018

We introduce two ordinary second-order linear differential equations of the Laguerre- and Jacobi-type. Solutions are written as infinite series of square integrable functions in terms of the Laguerre and Jacobi polynomials, respectively. The expansion coefficients of the series satisfy three-term recursion relations, which are solved in terms of orthogonal polynomials with continuous and/or discrete spectra. Most of these are well-known polynomials whereas few are not. We present physical applications of these differential equations in quantum mechanics.
Improving the mechanical quality factor of ultra-low-loss silicon resonators
Authors: Metcalf Thomas H. , Liu Xiao , Abernathy Matthew R.
Published: June 2018

In its as-fabricated state, a silicon mechanical resonator with a very high quality factor at liquid helium temperatures is found to have two energy loss mechanisms which can be removed with a 3 h anneal at 300 °C. Because of the silicon wafer processing history, these mechanisms are likely introduced during the resonator fabrication process. One energy loss mechanism contributes to the overall background damping over the entire measured temperature range, 400 mK ≤ T ≤ 300 K, at a level of ΔQ−1≈3×10−9, and gradually reappears after aging on the order of 100 d timescales. The second energy loss mechanism is a broad peak, ΔQ−1≈2×10−8, centered near 100 K. This peak does not re-appear upon aging and is tentatively attributed to the tetrafluoromethane reactive ion etch step, despite the fact that the silicon resonator is protected with silicon nitride and photoresist during the process.
Femtosecond laser-induced transformations in ultra-low expansion glass: Microstructure and local density variations by vibrational spectroscopy
Authors: Efthimiopoulos I. , Palles D. , Richter S. , Hoppe U. , Möncke D. , Wondraczek L. , Nolte S. , Kamitsos E. I.
Published: June 2018

We report X-ray diffraction, resonance Raman, and infrared (IR) results on pristine ultra-low expansion (ULE) glass, a binary titanosilicate glass with 5.67 mol. % TiO2. ULE processing by femtosecond (fs) laser radiation leads to nanograting writing and photo-darkening for imaging and data storage. We investigate here the vibrational/structural changes induced by fs laser irradiation of ULE at 515 nm. Optical imaging revealed the formation of micro-cavities, and Raman mapping showed molecular oxygen trapped in such cavities of laser-irradiated ULE glass. While titanium in the pristine glass was found predominantly in tetrahedral Ti4+ sites highly dispersed in the silicate matrix, Raman and IR reflectance spectroscopy on laser-irradiated ULE indicated the formation of Ti3+ sites; Ti3+ octahedral sites are formed in the shells of cavities and aggregate in amorphous Ti2O3-type clusters, while the glass around and below cavities contains Ti3+ tetrahedral sites dispersed in the silicate network. Laser-processed ULE glass was found to also exhibit local restructuring of the silicate matrix. Shifts of the strong IR band at about 1080–1100 cm−1 were translated into changes of the average Si-O-Si bond angle in the laser-transformed areas and found to reflect local density variations; the average local density increases relative to silica glass up to about 8% in the shells of micro-cavities and decreases by about 0.5% in the surrounding material. Chemical processes were proposed to account for photo-darkening and the local structural transformation effect in the probed areas of the fs laser-processed ULE glasses.
Collapse and runout of granular columns in pendular state
Authors: Santomaso Andrea Claudio , Volpato Silvia , Gabrieli Fabio
Published: June 2018

It is well known that even small amounts of liquid can strongly modify the mechanical behavior of granular packings in static and dynamic conditions. This experimental work, therefore, focuses on the collapse of columns of wet granular materials in the pendular wetting regime. Different from previous studies, where idealized spherical materials (glass beads) are typically used, here experiments on irregular wet calcium carbonate particles (coarse sand) were carried out and compared with glass sphere results. Particles of different sizes (in the range 0.8-5 mm) were mixed with water from 0% to 4% w/w and poured in a rectangular box. Flow was then triggered by removing a lateral wall of the box. The measured runout distances showed marked differences between the two types of materials which could not be explained only in terms of particle shape or capillary forces. Ring shear tests and 3D tomographic reconstructions of the liquid distribution in the materials highlighted the role of additional mechanisms related to liquid spreading at the particle surface, inter-particle friction, and contact lubrication.
Towards enhanced bubble detachment within a thin liquid film by electrowetting with voltage modulation
Authors: Wang Sheng , Hernan Brian J. , Chen Chung-Lung
Published: June 2018

This paper extends our previous bubble actuation study using a simple constant voltage by including the oscillating effect created by voltage modulation. Rather than normal contact angle change due to the constant voltage, voltage modulation exhibits preferable characteristics of periodical contact angle variation which is proved to be helpful for bubble detachment within a thin liquid film. Different waveform and frequency modulations were evaluated to acquire an optimal signal input for the purpose of inducing the maximum oscillation effects with which bubble detachment in a thin liquid film can be enhanced. The thick liquid film results show that the square waveform coupled with a frequency of 1 Hz allows for maximum contact angle change scope and induces the largest vertical bubble velocity. With the optimal signal, the tests of bubble detachment within a thin liquid film were conducted and characterized. Three different bubble detachment modes were observed and classified as follows: direct detachment, delayed detachment, and non-detachment. The actuation mechanism of the electrowetting effect on the bubble behavior within a thin liquid film was analyzed. The dimensionless parameter, Weber number, was used to characterize the bubble deformation. A high-speed frame analysis shows that a Weber number greater than 0.5 × 10−3 is necessary to break the energy barrier of the ultra-thin film and achieve the direct detachment mode. It is expected that a proper electrowetting actuation mechanism causing a relatively large Weber number can effectively enhance the bubble detachment within a thin liquid film which will provide promising applications to improve two-phase heat transfer.
Acoustic radiation torque of an acoustic-vortex spanner exerted on axisymmetric objects
Authors: Li Yuzhi , Guo Gepu , Tu Juan , Ma Qingyu , Guo Xiasheng , Zhang Dong , Sapozhnikov Oleg A.
Published: June 2018

Based on the analysis of the wave vector of an acoustic-vortex (AV) spanner, the radiation torque of object rotation is investigated. It is demonstrated that the rotation of an axisymmetric disk centered on the AV spanner is mainly driven by the acoustic radiation force. The radiation torque exerted on a small-radius object is inversely associated with the topological charge in the center AV, and it is enhanced significantly for a larger AV with a higher topological charge. With the sixteen-source experimental setup, radius dependencies of radiation torque for AV spanners with different topological charges are verified by quantitative laser-displacement measurements using disks with different radii. The favorable results demonstrate that the radiation torque is more applicable than the orbital angular momentum in describing the driving capability of an AV spanner and can be used as an effective tool in clinical applications to manipulate objects with a feature size at the wavelength-scale inside body.
Effects of slaughter age and storage period on quality parameters of loin veal from Korean Holstein bulls
Authors: Yim D. G. , Hur S. J.
Published: June 2018

The objective of the present study was to assess quality parameters of stored muscle longissimus dorsi from veal of young Holstein bulls of different ages (5, 6, 7 and 8 months). Samples were stored after vacuum packing for 1, 7, 10, 20 or 30 days at 0 ± 1°C, and then subjected to physicochemical analyses. This information is of importance in identifying the age of Holstein bull calves that is optimal for meat consumers in Korea. Fat and protein percentages, water-holding capacity, and Warner–Bratzler shear-force values were higher in the meat from the 8-month-old bulls, and cooking loss was also lower in this group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in concentrations of volatile basic nitrogen (protein-degradation values) among the samples during storage. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (indicators of lipid oxidation) were higher in the 8-month-old group than in the other groups during storage (P < 0.05). With regard to meat colour, lightness increased with storage in the 6-, 7-, and 8-month-old groups, while redness and yellowness were lower in the 8-month-old group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the best meat quality in the tested groups, in terms of fat content, water-holding capacity, shearing force and cooking loss, was present in the 8-month-old group. Therefore, 8-month-old Holstein bulls combined with aging are recommended for obtaining good quality of veal suitable for the Korean market.
A contribution to the identification of charcoal origin in Brazil III: microscopic identification of 10 Cerrado species
Authors: Gonçalves Thaís A. P. , Sonsin-Oliveira Julia , Nisgoski Silvana , Marcati Carmen R. , Ballarin Adriano W. , Muñiz Graciela I. B.
Published: June 2018

Brazil has one of the richest biodiversities in the world. The Brazilian savanna is a hotspot for conservation priorities and its deforestation is of global concern. Conservation in this biome is threatened by unsustainable use of forests, such as illegal logging for charcoal production. Thus, government agents need to verify whether charcoal loads follow the Document of Forestry Origin (DOF). To improve charcoal identification, our study presents the microscopic description of 10 Cerrado species and provides an identification key to aid government agents during surveillance. We analysed charcoal samples with a scanning electron microscope. The method of carbonisation simulated real conditions. We chose species with similar wood anatomy (sparse axial parenchyma and narrow rays), which increases misidentification by forest controllers because of their difficulty to identify these features. Also, paratracheal scanty, diffuse and diffuse-in-aggregates parenchyma were harder to recognise in charcoal than in wood. Other features, such as vessels, rays and abundant axial parenchyma, were easily identified. The present work can be used as a part of a charcoal anatomy database focussed on preventing deforestation in Brazil and in other countries with similar problems.
Pathologic T Descriptor of Nonmucinous Lung Adenocarcinomas Now Based on Invasive Tumor Size
Authors: Anderson Kevin R , Onken Allison , Heidinger Benedikt H , Chen Yigu , Bankier Alexander A , VanderLaan Paul A
Published: June 2018

Objectives

The eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual now stratifies nonmucinous lung adenocarcinomas (nmLACAs) by the size of the invasive component only. This is determined by direct gross or microscopic measurement; however, a calculated invasive size based on the percentage of invasive growth patterns has been proposed as an alternative option.

Methods

To compare radiologic with different pathologic assessments of invasive tumor size, we retrospectively reviewed a cohort of resected nmLACAs with a part-solid appearance on computed tomography (CT) scan (n = 112).

Results

The median direct microscopic pathologic invasive measurements were not significantly different from the median calculated pathologic invasive measurements; however, the median CT invasive measurements were 0.26 cm larger than the median direct pathologic measurements (P < .001).

Conclusions

Our results show that pathologic calculated invasive tumor measurements are comparable to direct microscopic measurements of invasive tumor, thereby supporting the recommendation for use of calculated invasive tumor size by the pathologist if necessary.
STEPS: an efficient prospective likelihood approach to genetic association analyses of secondary traits in extreme phenotype sequencing
Authors: Bi Wenjian , Li Yun , Smeltzer Matthew P , Gao Guimin , Zhao Shengli , Kang Guolian
Published: June 2018

It has been well acknowledged that methods for secondary trait (ST) association analyses under a case–control design (ST$_{\text{CC}}$) should carefully consider the sampling process to avoid biased risk estimates. A similar situation also exists in the extreme phenotype sequencing (EPS) designs, which is to select subjects with extreme values of continuous primary phenotype for sequencing. EPS designs are commonly used in modern epidemiological and clinical studies such as the well-known National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Exome Sequencing Project. Although naïve generalized regression or ST$_{\text{CC}}$ method could be applied, their validity is questionable due to difference in statistical designs. Herein, we propose a general prospective likelihood framework to perform association testing for binary and continuous STs under EPS designs (STEPS), which can also incorporate covariates and interaction terms. We provide a computationally efficient and robust algorithm to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates. We also present two empirical mathematical formulas for power/sample size calculations to facilitate planning of binary/continuous STs association analyses under EPS designs. Extensive simulations and application to a genome-wide association study of benign ethnic neutropenia under an EPS design demonstrate the superiority of STEPS over all its alternatives above.
Genome of an allotetraploid wild peanut Arachis monticola: a de novo assembly
Authors: Yin Dongmei , Ji Changmian , Ma Xingli , Li Hang , Zhang Wanke , Li Song , Liu Fuyan , Zhao Kunkun , Li Fapeng , Li Ke , Ning Longlong , He Jialin , Wang Yuejun , Zhao Fei , Xie Yilin , Zheng Hongkun , Zhang Xingguo , Zhang Yijing , Zhang Jinsong
Published: June 2018

Arachis monticola (2n = 4x = 40) is the only allotetraploid wild peanut within the Arachis genus and section, with an AABB-type genome of ~2.7 Gb in size. The AA-type subgenome is derived from diploid wild peanut Arachis duranensis, and the BB-type subgenome is derived from diploid wild peanut Arachis ipaensis. A. monticola is regarded either as the direct progenitor of the cultivated peanut or as an introgressive derivative between the cultivated peanut and wild species. The large polyploidy genome structure and enormous nearly identical regions of the genome make the assembly of chromosomal pseudomolecules very challenging. Here we report the first reference quality assembly of the A. monticola genome, using a series of advanced technologies. The final whole genome of A. monticola is ~2.62 Gb and has a contig N50 and scaffold N50 of 106.66 Kb and 124.92 Mb, respectively. The vast majority (91.83%) of the assembled sequence was anchored onto the 20 pseudo-chromosomes, and 96.07% of assemblies were accurately separated into AA- and BB- subgenomes. We demonstrated efficiency of the current state of the strategy for de novo assembly of the highly complex allotetraploid species, wild peanut (A. monticola), based on whole-genome shotgun sequencing, single molecule real-time sequencing, high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology, and BioNano optical genome maps. These combined technologies produced reference-quality genome of the allotetraploid wild peanut, which is valuable for understanding the peanut domestication and evolution within the Arachis genus and among legume crops.
YAMP: a containerized workflow enabling reproducibility in metagenomics research
Authors: Visconti Alessia , Martin Tiphaine C , Falchi Mario
Published: June 2018

YAMP ("Yet Another Metagenomics Pipeline") is a user-friendly workflow that enables the analysis of whole shotgun metagenomic data while using containerization to ensure computational reproducibility and facilitate collaborative research. YAMP can be executed on any UNIX-like system and offers seamless support for multiple job schedulers as well as for the Amazon AWS cloud. Although YAMP was developed to be ready to use by nonexperts, bioinformaticians will appreciate its flexibility, modularization, and simple customization.
Binning enables efficient host genome reconstruction in cnidarian holobionts
Authors: Celis Juan Sebastián , Wibberg Daniel , Ramírez-Portilla Catalina , Rupp Oliver , Sczyrba Alexander , Winkler Anika , Kalinowski Jörn , Wilke Thomas
Published: June 2018

Background

Many cnidarians, including stony corals, engage in complex symbiotic associations, comprising the eukaryotic host, photosynthetic algae, and highly diverse microbial communities—together referred to as holobiont. This taxonomic complexity makes sequencing and assembling coral host genomes extremely challenging. Therefore, previous cnidarian genomic projects were based on symbiont-free tissue samples. However, this approach may not be applicable to the majority of cnidarian species for ecological reasons. We therefore evaluated the performance of an alternative method based on sequence binning for reconstructing the genome of the stony coral Porites rus from a hologenomic sample and compared it to traditional approaches.

Results

Our results demonstrate that binning performs well for hologenomic data, producing sufficient reads for assembling the draft genome of P. rus. An assembly evaluation based on operational criteria showed results that were comparable to symbiont-free approaches in terms of completeness and usefulness, despite a high degree of fragmentation in our assembly. In addition, we found that binning provides sufficient data for exploratory k-mer estimation of genomic features, such as genome size and heterozygosity.

Conclusions

Binning constitutes a powerful approach for disentangling taxonomically complex coral hologenomes. Considering the recent decline of coral reefs on the one hand and previous limitations to coral genome sequencing on the other hand, binning may facilitate rapid and reliable genome assembly. This study also provides an important milestone in advancing binning from the metagenomic to the hologenomic and from the prokaryotic to the eukaryotic level.
A Boussinesq slurry model of the F-layer at the base of Earth’s outer core
Authors: Wong Jenny , Davies Christopher J , Jones Chris A
Published: June 2018

Seismic observations suggest that a stably stratified layer, known as the F-layer, 150–300 km thick exists at the bottom of Earth’s liquid outer core. These observations contrast with the density inferred from the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM), which assumes an outer core that is well-mixed and adiabatic throughout. The liquid core is composed primarily of iron alloyed with a light component. A thermal boundary layer produces the opposite effect on the density profile compared with the observations, and single phase, thermochemical models do not provide a sufficient dynamic description of how light element is transported across the F-layer into the overlying liquid outer core. We therefore propose that the layer can be explained by a slurry on the liquidus, whereby solid particles of iron crystallize from the liquid alloy throughout the layer. The slurry model provides a dynamic explanation of how light element can be transported across a stable layer. We make two key assumptions, the first of which is fast-melting where the timescale of freezing is considered short compared to other processes. The second assumption is that we consider a binary alloy where the light element is purely composed of oxygen, which is expelled entirely into the liquid during freezing. We present a steady state 1-D box model of a slurry formulated in a reference frame moving at the speed of inner core growth. We ascertain temperature, light element concentration and solid flux profiles by varying the layer thickness, inner core heat flux and thermal conductivity, since there is some uncertainty in these estimates. Our solutions demonstrate that the steady state slurry can satisfy the geophysical constraints on the density jump across the layer and the core–mantle boundary heat flux.
Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Innovations Meeting of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: Charting the Future of Pediatric IBD
Authors: Picoraro Joseph A , Lee Dale , Heller Caren A , Weaver Alandra , Hyams Jeffrey S , Conklin Laurie S , Otley Anthony , Ziring David , Kugathasan Subra , Rosh Joel R , Mulberg Andrew , Denson Lee A , Kappelman Michael D , Grossman Andrew B , Bousvaros Athos , Park K T
Published: June 2018

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has facilitated transformational research in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), through the RISK and PROTECT studies, that has laid the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms of disease and predictors of therapeutic response in children. Despite these advances, children have lacked timely and informed access to the latest therapeutic advancements in IBD. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation convened a Pediatric Resource Organization for Kids with Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases (PRO-KIIDS) Clinical Innovations Meeting at the inaugural Crohn's and Colitis Congress in January 2018 to devise how to advance the care of children with IBD. The working group selected 2 priorities: (1) accelerating therapies to children with IBD and (2) stimulating investigator-initiated research while fostering sustainable collaboration; and proposed 2 actions: (a) the convening of a task force to specifically address how to accelerate pharmacotherapies to children with IBD and (b) the funding of a multicenter clinical and translational research study that incorporates the building of critical research infrastructure.

10.1093/ibd/izy205_video1 izy205.video1 5799266615001
New insights into behavioural ecology of European seabass off the West Coast of France: implications at local and population scales
Authors: de Pontual Hélène , Lalire Maxime , Fablet Ronan , Laspougeas Claire , Garren François , Martin Stéphane , Drogou Mickael , Woillez Mathieu
Published: June 2018

From 2010 to 2012, 246 data storage tags were deployed on European seabass in the Iroise Natural Marine Park, a marine protected area (MPA) off west Brittany, France. A return rate of 14.6% associated with long time series of data provided new information on fish ecology (e.g. maximum experienced depth greater than 225 m, temperature range 6.80–21.87°C). Depth and temperature series were used to infer individual migration using an innovative hidden Markov model (HMM) especially developed for seabass geolocation. Reconstructed fish tracks revealed that seabass is a partially migratory species, as individuals exhibited either long-distance migrations towards the Bay of Biscay or the Celtic Sea, or residency behaviour in the Iroise Sea. Fidelity to summer feeding areas and to winter spawing areas was demonstrated. These results suggest that the population is spatially structured. The Iroise Sea is likely a mixing zone for different stocks or sub-populations, and may also shelter a resident population. At the population scale, such findings may impact ICES stock assessment and the resulting decisions from EU managers. At the local scale, conservation action could be taken by MPA managers. Besides, this study demonstrates the high potential of archival tags for investigating multi-year behavioural patterns such as site fidelity to offshore spawning areas.
Classification of Toric Manifolds over an n-Cube with One Vertex Cut
Authors: Hasui Sho , Kuwata Hideya , Masuda Mikiya , Park Seonjeong
Published: June 2018

A complete nonsingular toric variety (called a toric manifold) is over $P$ if its quotient by the compact torus is homeomorphic to $P$ as a manifold with corners. Bott manifolds are toric manifolds over an $n$-cube $I^n$ and blowing them up at a fixed point produces toric manifolds over $\operatorname{vc}(I^n)$ an $n$-cube with one vertex cut. They are all projective. On the other hand, Oda’s three-fold, the simplest non-projective toric manifold, is over $\operatorname{vc}(I^3)$. In this paper, we classify toric manifolds over $\operatorname{vc}(I^n)$$(n\ge 3)$ as varieties and as smooth manifolds. It consequently turns out that there are many non-projective toric manifolds over $\operatorname{vc}(I^n)$ but they are all diffeomorphic, and toric manifolds over $\operatorname{vc}(I^n)$ in some class are determined by their cohomology rings as varieties.
5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Induced Fluorescence in Focal Cortical Dysplasia: Report of 3 Cases
Authors: Roberts David W , Bravo Jaime J , Olson Jonathan D , Hickey William F , Harris Brent T , Nguyen Lananh N , Hong Jennifer , Evans Linton T , Fan Xiaoyao , Wirth Dennis , Wilson Brian C , Paulsen Keith D
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Three patients enrolled in a clinical trial of 5-aminolevulinic-acid (5-ALA)-induced fluorescence-guidance, which has been demonstrated to facilitate intracranial tumor resection, were found on neuropathological examination to have focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate in this case series visible fluorescence and quantitative levels of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) during surgery and correlate these findings with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathology.

METHODS

Patients were administered 5-ALA (20 mg/kg) approximately 3 h prior to surgery and underwent image-guided, microsurgical resection of their MRI- and electrophysiologically identified lesions. Intraoperative visible fluorescence was evaluated using an operating microscope adapted with a commercially available blue light module. Quantitative PpIX levels were assessed using a handheld fiber-optic probe and a wide-field imaging spectrometer. Sites of fluorescence measurements were co-registered with both preoperative MRI and histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

Three patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of FCD (Types 1b, 2a, and 2b) underwent surgery. All patients demonstrated some degree of visible fluorescence (faint or moderate), and all patients had quantitatively elevated concentrations of PpIX. No evidence of neoplasia was identified on histopathology, and in 1 patient, the highest concentrations of PpIX were found at a tissue site with marked gliosis but no typical histological features of FCD.

CONCLUSION

FCD has been found to be associated with intraoperative 5-ALA-induced visible fluorescence and quantitatively confirmed elevated concentrations of the fluorophore PpIX in 3 patients. This finding suggests that there may be a role for fluorescence-guidance during surgical intervention for epilepsy-associated FCD.
The role of family absolute and relative income in suicide among Chinese rural young adults: mediation effects of social support and coping strain
Authors: Zhou Qin , Zhang Jie , Hennessy Dwight A
Published: June 2018

Background

suicide is a major public health issue in China. However, research on the impact of absolute and relative economic stats on suicide is scarce among the Chinese population, particularly rural young adults. Using a case-control psychological autopsy study design, we aimed to investigate the effect of family absolute and relative income on suicide among Chinese rural young adults and to further explore the potential mediating mechanism under these associations.

Method

the information of 393 suicide cases and 416 community living controls were collected for this study. A Binary Choice Model was used to analyze the association between family absolute and relative income and suicide risk, as well as potential mediating factors for these associations.

Results

a much stronger association was found between relative income and suicide than between absolute income and suicide. Social support was a dominant mediator for the association between family relative income and suicide among both female and male young adults. Coping strain emerged as a mediating factor within the link between absolute income and suicide for males.

Conclusions

public health interventions to reduce suicide should pay more attention to relative income in addition to absolute income as potential targets for intervention, and how social support and coping strain act as mediating factors.
A Critical Review of Aflatoxin Contamination of Peanuts in Malawi and Zambia: The Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Njoroge Samuel M. C.
Published: June 2018

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop in Malawi and Zambia. The crop is valued for soil improvement in cereal-based cropping systems, for improving the livelihoods of farming households who consume it and also sell it for cash, and for earning foreign exchange when exported. Research and development efforts have resulted in an increase in both peanut production area and productivity. However, a key challenge that still needs to be solved in these countries is how to produce peanuts with acceptable levels of aflatoxin contamination. Data continues to show that aflatoxin continues to be a problem in both formal and informal trade. As a result, unlike 30 years ago, most of the peanut trade has now shifted to domestic and regional markets that do not restrict the sale of aflatoxin-contaminated peanuts. Impacts of aflatoxin contamination on health and also on the full cost burden of control are not well documented. Technologies are available for mitigating against aflatoxin contamination. The advantages, disadvantages, and gaps associated with these technologies are discussed. Considerable money and effort continues to be invested in Malawi and Zambia into mitigating aflatoxin contamination, but evidence of long-term success is limited. Based on past and current initiatives, the prospects of eliminating aflatoxin in the near future at the household level and in trade are not promising.
Hypoxic‐stabilized EPAS1 proteins transactivate DNMT1 and cause promoter hypermethylation and transcription inhibition of EPAS1 in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Xiang‐Hong , Bao Yang , Wang Xiaotian , Yan Fengyang , Guo Shicheng , Ma Yanyun , Xu Dong , Jin Li , Xu Jibin , Wang Jiucun
Published: June 2018

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality globally. Although cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer, the aberrant expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes contributes a great deal to tumorigenesis. Here, we reveal that aberrant expression of endothelial PAS domain‐containing protein 1 (EPAS1) gene, which encodes hypoxia inducible factor 2a, has a critical role in NSCLC. Our results showed EPAS1 mRNA was down‐regulated in 82.5% of NSCLC tissues, and a new region of EPAS1 promoter was found to be highly methylated in lung cancer cell lines and NSCLC tissues. Moreover, the methylation rates were negatively correlated to EPAS1 mRNA expression in lung tissues. Further, demethylation analysis demonstrated EPAS1 was regulated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in NSCLC. In contrast, DNMT1was verified as an EPAS1 target gene by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and could be transactivated by stabilized EPAS1 proteins in hypoxic lung cells, thereby decreasing EPAS1 mRNA expression by methylation regulation. Collectively, our study suggests there might be a mechanism of negative‐feedback regulation for EPAS1in NSCLC. That is, hypoxic‐stabilized EPAS1 proteins transactivated ΌΝΜΤΊ, which further promoted the hypermethylation of EPAS1 promoter and decreased EPAS1 mRNA expression levels in NSCLC.—Xu, X.‐H., Bao, Y., Wang, X., Yan, F., Guo, S., Ma, Y., Xu, D., Jin, L., Xu, J., Wang, J. Hypoxic‐stabilized EPAS1 proteins transactivate DNMT1 and cause promoter hypermethylation and transcription inhibition of EPAS1 in non‐small cell lung cancer. FASEB J. 32, 6694–6705 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Topical application of anthranilate derivatives ameliorates psoriatic inflammation in a mouse model by inhibiting keratinocyte‐derived chemokine expression and neutrophil infiltration
Authors: Lin Zih‐Chan , Hsieh Pei‐Wen , Hwang Tsong‐Long , Chen Chi‐Yuan , Sung Calvin T. , Fang Jia‐You
Published: June 2018

Psoriasis is an inflammatory autoimmune skin disorder possessing a complex etiology related to genetic and environmental triggers. Keratinocytes show a potential role for the origin of psoriasis. In this study, we estimated the efficiency of 2 anthranilate derivatives—(E)‐4‐(N‐{2‐[1‐(hydroxyimino)ethyl]phenyl}sulfamoyl)phenyl pivalate (HFP031) and butyl 2‐[2‐(2‐fluorophenyl)acetamido]benzoate (HFP034)—on psoriasis amelioration in a mouse model. The results showed that topical treatment with both compounds could attenuate epidermal thickness and scaling in an imiquimod (IMQ)‐induced psoriasis mouse model via decreased expression of cytokines and chemokines [C‐X‐C chemokine ligand (CXCL)1 and CXCL2], leading to the reduction of neutrophilic abscess in the skin. The in vivo cutaneous absorption of HFP034 was 7.6‐fold greater than that of HFP031. Both compounds caused negligible irritation on healthy mouse skin. In addition, we examined the effect of the anthranilate derivatives on chemokine expression in IMQ‐treated HaCaT keratinocytes. Our results elucidated a mechanism for anti‐inflammatory activity of HFP034 that involved the elevation of intracellular cAMP concentration, suppression of NF‐κB activity, and attenuation of neutrophil chemoattractant expression. These results suggest that HFP034 could increase the cutaneous concentration of cAMP to suppress neutrophil infiltration into the skin. Topically applied HFP034 may demonstrate a potential for future clinical application as a novel therapy for psoriasis treatment.—Lin, Z.‐C., Hsieh, P.‐W., Hwang, T.‐L., Chen, C.‐Y., Sung, C. T., Fang, J.‐Y. Topical application of anthranilate derivatives ameliorates psoriatic inflammation in a mouse model by inhibiting keratinocyte‐derived chemokine expression and neutrophil infiltration. FASEB J. 32, 6783–6795 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Percutaneous Transiliac–Transsacral Screw Fixation of Sacral Fragility Fractures Improves Pain, Ambulation, and Rate of Disposition to Home
Authors: Walker J. Brock , Mitchell Sean M. , Karr Sean D. , Lowe Jason A. , Jones Clifford B.
Published: June 2018

Objective:

To determine whether percutaneous transiliac–transsacral screw fixation improves pain, ambulation, length of stay, and the rate of disposition to home in patients with sacral fragility fractures.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Single academic Level 1 trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

Elderly patients who presented with an isolated sacral fragility fracture between August 2015 and August 2017. Of the 41 patients included in the study, 16 were treated operatively and 25 were treated nonoperatively.

Intervention:

Percutaneous transiliac–transsacral screw fixation.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Pain, ambulation, length of stay, complications, and disposition.

Results:

Patients treated operatively reported a greater improvement in pain as measured by the visual analog scale (3.9 vs. 0.6 points, P < 0.001). At the time of discharge, 100% of surgically treated patients were able to ambulate compared with 72% in the nonoperative group (P = 0.03). Average distance ambulating at the time of discharge was higher in the operative group (95 vs. 35 ft, P < 0.01). Length of stay was similar between the 2 groups (3.6 days in operative group vs. 4.2 days in nonoperative group, P = 0.5). Of the patients treated operatively, 75% were discharged to home compared with only 20% in the nonoperative group (P < 0.001). There were no complications related to surgery.

Conclusions:

Percutaneous transiliac–transsacral screw fixation of sacral fragility fractures lessens pain, improves ambulation, and increases the rate of disposition to home. Further investigation is needed to determine if surgical fixation provides benefit regarding medium- and long-term outcome variables.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Clubfoot Etiology: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Observational and Randomized Trials
Authors: Chen Cynthia , Kaushal Neil , Scher David M. , Doyle Shevaun M. , Blanco John S. , Dodwell Emily R.
Published: June 2018

Background:

Clubfoot is a common congenital anomaly with multiple potential risk factors. Identification of modifiable risk factors may minimize future incidence of clubfoot. The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically review and analyze the best clinical evidence regarding risk factors associated with clubfoot.

Methods:

Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched from 1967 to May 11, 2016 for studies reporting risk factors for clubfoot. Randomized trials and observational studies were eligible for inclusion, and assessed in duplicate. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale or Cochrane risk of bias tool; low quality studies were excluded, all randomized trials were included. Two reviewers extracted data independently. This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Pooled effect estimates for the odds of clubfoot were calculated using random or fixed-effects models based on heterogeneity.

Results:

Forty-two studies (28 case-control, 10 cohort, 4 randomized trials) comprising 31,844 clubfoot cases and 6,604,013 controls were included. Risk factors associated with increased odds of clubfoot included maternal smoking [odds ratio (OR)=1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54-1.78], paternal smoking (OR=1.72; 95% CI, 1.05-2.84), maternal body mass index >30 (OR=1.46; 95% CI, 1.29-1.65), family history (OR=7.80; 95% CI, 4.04-15.04), amniocentesis (OR=2.08; 95% CI, 1.34-3.21), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure (OR=1.78; 95% CI, 1.34-2.37) maternal single status (OR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.23), gestational diabetes (OR=1.40; 95% CI, 1.13-1.72), nulliparity (OR=1.32; 95% CI, 1.19-1.45), male sex (OR=1.68; 95% CI, 1.48-1.94), and aboriginal Australian race (OR=2.35; 95% CI, 1.63-3.38).

Conclusions:

Smoking, maternal obesity, family history, amniocentesis, and some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposures are the most clinically relevant exposures associated with increased odds of clubfoot, with family history representing the greatest risk. Recognition of modifiable risk factors may help in counseling patients, and minimizing clubfoot incidence.

Level of Evidence:

Level II.