bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of functional GI disorders among pediatric patients with persistent asthma
Authors: Colman Ruben J , Rosario Neal Bryan S , Gutierrez Bonilla Analydia , Benavidez Alvarez Gabriela , Benavidez Alvarez Joel , Uy Vincent P , Pina Paulo R , Rubin David H
Published: August 2018

OBJECTIVE

Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (FGIDs), such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain and dyspepsia, are common causes of chronic GI symptoms in children. Prior studies found high comorbidity of FGID and asthma. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidities of FGID among pediatric patients with asthma at a university‐affiliated urban community hospital.

METHODS

This prospective, cross‐sectional study assessed FGID prevalence, asthma control and symptoms of anxiety among pediatric patients with persistent asthma. The pediatric ROME III questionnaire was used to assess FGID. The Asthma Control Test assessed asthma control. The Beck Anxiety Inventory assessed symptoms of anxiety.

RESULTS

Of the 110 enrolled patients, 18 (16.4%) met the diagnostic criteria for FGID, of which 10 were consistent with the diagnosis of functional abdominal pain disorder. Patients with FGID had a significantly lower mean asthma control score than patients without FGID (11.5 ± 4.9 vs 14.8 ± 5.3, P = 0.03; Cohen's d = 0.6) and higher mean anxiety scores than those without FGID (P < 0.01). Asthma control predicted the presence of FGID (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80–0.99, P = 0.03). However, after adjusted for anxiety, asthma control no longer predicted FGID presence (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83–1.05, P = 0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a high prevalence of FGID among patients with persistent asthma. Moreover, patients with FGID had poor asthma control and increased anxiety. Clinicians should consider FGID in patients with poor asthma control and assess them for anxiety.
Gender Wage and Productivity Gaps in the Manufacturing Industry. The Case of Ghana
Authors: Abegaz Melaku , Nene Gibson
Published: August 2018

The paper uses a panel of Ghanaian manufacturing data to examine the existence or nonexistence of labour market gender discrimination by comparing gender wage and productivity gaps for the period 1992–2003. In addition, the study investigates factors that affect the share of female employment. Results suggest that gender wage and productivity gaps exist in the manufacturing sector of Ghana. We also find no evidence of within‐firm gender wage discrimination, suggesting that the gender wage gap can be attributed largely to between‐firm wage inequalities and sorting of female workers to low productivity and low wage firms in the sector. Besides, our findings support the argument that globalisation and firm‐age are important in encouraging female employment which serves to reduce gender discrimination. Contrary, skill‐ and capital‐intensive firms have a lower share of female employees.
Day by day, hour by hour: Naturalistic language input to infants
Authors: Bergelson Elika , Amatuni Andrei , Dailey Shannon , Koorathota Sharath , Tor Shaelise
Published: August 2018

Measurements of infants’ quotidian experiences provide critical information about early development. However, the role of sampling methods in providing these measurements is rarely examined. Here we directly compare language input from hour‐long video‐recordings and daylong audio‐recordings within the same group of 44 infants at 6 and 7 months. We compared 12 measures of language quantity and lexical diversity, talker variability, utterance‐type, and object presence, finding moderate correlations across recording‐types. However, video‐recordings generally featured far denser noun input across these measures compared to the daylong audio‐recordings, more akin to ‘peak’ audio hours (though not as high in talkers and word‐types). Although audio‐recordings captured ~10 times more awake‐time than videos, the noun input in them was only 2–4 times greater. Notably, whether we compared videos to daylong audio‐recordings or peak audio times, videos featured relatively fewer declaratives and more questions; furthermore, the most common video‐recorded nouns were less consistent across families than the top audio‐recording nouns were. Thus, hour‐long videos and daylong audio‐recordings revealed fairly divergent pictures of the language infants hear and learn from in their daily lives. We suggest that short video‐recordings provide a dense and somewhat different sample of infants’ language experiences, rather than a typical one, and should be used cautiously for extrapolation about common words, talkers, utterance‐types, and contexts at larger timescales. If theories of language development are to be held accountable to ‘facts on the ground’ from observational data, greater care is needed to unpack the ramifications of sampling methods of early language input.
Employment Protection and Firm Relocation: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Dewit Gerda , Görg Holger , Temouri Yama
Published: August 2018

We examine the determinants of the decision to relocate activities abroad for firms located in OECD countries. We argue that particular firm‐specific features play a crucial role for the link between employment protection and relocation. Stricter employment protection laws over time in the current production location discourage firms’ relocation abroad. While larger, more productive firms and firms with higher labour intensities have, ceteris paribus, higher propensities to relocate, they also face higher exit barriers if the country from which they consider relocating has strict employment protection laws. Our predictions are supported empirically, using firm‐level panel data for 28 OECD countries over the period 1997–2007.
Meeting public health needs in emergencies–World Health Organization guidelines
Authors: Norris Susan L.
Published: August 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a leading source of trustworthy guidelines in public health, including in emergencies. In addition to standard guidelines produced in preparation for emergency response, WHO has processes and methods for issuing guidelines in the context of urgent public health need, including rapid advice guidelines (production time 2 to 3 months) and health emergency interim guidelines (days to weeks). There are numerous challenges to producing guidelines in response to an emergency in addition to the compressed timeline which necessitates truncating or modifying standard processes. There is frequently a lack of scientific data on the disease or situation at hand, especially early in the event timeline. Resources are limited, particularly the availability of WHO staff and external experts, and disease and emergency response experts may lack knowledge and experience in developing guidelines. Finally, the rapid production of new information and the resultant short shelf‐life of recommendations pose a significant challenge to keeping guidelines up to date. In order to better meet end‐users’ needs, WHO must anticipate areas of uncertainty in emergency response and proactively develop relevant guidelines, explore optimal ways of communicating gaps in knowledge in the field to guideline developers, and promote and participate in research on the sources of bias in guideline development within compressed timeframes.
No Evidence of a Causal Role of Antiepileptic Drug Treatment with Regard to the Development of Dementia
Authors: Helmstaedter Christoph , Beghi Ettore , Elger Christian E. , Kälviäinen Reetta , Malmgren Kristina , May Theodor W. , Perucca Emilio , Trinka Eugen , Witt Juri‐Alexander
Published: August 2018

See the reply by Heidi Taipale et al
Successful laparotomy tumor resection and levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system for atypical polypoid adenomyoma
Authors: Narumi Risa , Takei Yuji , Morisawa Hiroyuki , Taneichi Akiyo , Matsubara Shigeki , Fujiwara Hiroyuki
Published: August 2018

Hysteroscopic transcervical resection (TCR) is often performed as fertility sparing treatment for atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) patients. However, TCR has the risk of uterine wall perforation, especially when the tumor extends deeply into the uterine muscle layer. We report an APA patient in whom it was impossible to completely resect the tumor by TCR, but laparotomy tumor resection followed by levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system (LNG‐IUS) was successful. The patient was a 35‐year‐old nulligravida woman. We performed laparotomy tumor resection and inserted the LNG‐IUS into uterine cavity just after surgery. Microscopic residual tumor was suspected based on histopathological findings. However, the patient has not relapsed for 26 months, even though the LNG‐IUS was removed after 6 months. Laparotomy tumor resection may be one fertility sparing treatment option for APA patients. Furthermore, it may be effective to use the LNG‐IUS after surgery for two purposes that are adhesion prevention and tumor disappearance.
A latent state–trait model for analyzing states, traits, situations, method effects, and their interactions
Authors: Hintz Fred , Geiser Christian , Shiffman Saul
Published: August 2018

Objective

Studies on situation and Person × Situation interaction effects often use only one method of measurement, so that the extent to which the effects may be method‐specific cannot be determined. We introduce a new multimethod latent state–trait model for random and fixed situations (MM‐LST‐RF), which allows examining person, situation, and Person × Situation interaction effects in the context of multimethod measurement designs (e.g., studies with multiple reporters), and discuss potential areas of application for the new model in personality research.

Method

The new model allows analyzing novel features of multimethod, multi‐situation data, including (a) the convergent validity and method specificity of trait (person) effects, situation effects, and Person × Situation interaction effects; (b) the degree of situation specificity of method effects; and (c) potential Method × Situation interactions. An application to smoker’s affect (N = 235; 57% female; 93% Caucasian) before and after quitting smoking is presented with positively and negatively worded items as methods.

Results

The MM‐LST‐RF model fit the smoking data well. Method specificity of many effects was high.

Conclusions

The MM‐LST‐RF model provides researchers with a new framework for testing method specificity of person, situation, and interaction effects.
Reliability and Feasibility of Systematic Registration of Coercive Measures in Care for People With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Schippers Baukje , Frederiks Brenda J. M. , van Nieuwenhuijzen Maroesjka , Schuengel Carlo
Published: August 2018

Policies limit the use of coercive measures as a measure of last resort to protect people from danger. Success of policies can only be determined by registering the use of coercive measures. The reliability of 57 standardized coercive measures was tested. In addition, implementation was investigated of improved registration in a residential care setting. This mixed methods study within a residential care organization for people with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands included 55 living units and 269 residents. Reliability of 57 standardized coercive measures was tested against other informants (colleague staff, trained outside observer) and results were validated by a panel of stakeholders. Second, the implementation of a mandatory routine registration system was investigated by comparing registration of coercive measures to personal files of 30 residents. Registration of coercive measures yielded reliable data for at least 25 out of 57 types of coercive measures. The second part of the study showed widely varying explanations of unreliable data by stakeholders, including knowledge and awareness of coercive measures of support staff and the influence of contextual factors on the encoding of coercive measures. After implementation, 46% of the coercive measures were registered in the registration system. Comprehensive registration of coercive measures by staff neither appeared feasible nor yielded reliable data. Clearly, multidisciplinary discussion among support staff and professionals is needed to decide whether care practices are restrictive or not. Further research should focus on how these considerations can lead to a reliable and meaningful registration.
How to (Not) Make the World Sacred: Congar's “Sacred Pedagogy”
Authors: Arnold Alec
Published: August 2018

Fifty years ago, Yves Congar voiced concern over what he considered a serious point of confusion in the post-conciliar Church, namely, the meaning of “the sacred” in Christian faith and mission. This essay details Congar's diagnosis of the problem and explores the continued relevance of his constructive response, or, what he calls “sacred pedagogy.” For Congar, the world is not sacred in itself, because the body of Christ is the only sacred reality. Yet the world can become sacred, if we approach it “pedagogically,” as filled with signs that can lead us to grace. In the end, however, all present experience of the sacred will be transcended in the eschatological kingdom of God.
Probiotics for human use
Authors: Sanders M. E. , Merenstein D. , Merrifield C. A. , Hutkins R.
Published: August 2018

Probiotics have become a popular approach for managing digestive and immune health and are being recommended more frequently as effective therapeutic interventions by medical professionals. Introduced early in the 20th century, the science of probiotics has advanced considerably, especially in the past two decades. Researchers have adopted a consensus definition, begun to understand many of the mechanisms of action, defined characteristics important to probiotic function and have obtained clinical evidence supporting probiotic health benefits and product quality. Nonetheless, a need remains for clear, evidence‐based communications to consumers on the role of probiotics in a healthy diet and to healthcare providers regarding clinical use. However, regulatory frameworks in many countries have restricted progress on this front. There is a need for additional research to further clarify the most effective probiotics for given health outcomes and to identify people most likely to respond to specific probiotic interventions. This review provides current perspective on the probiotic concept, discusses evidence‐based probiotic interventions, considers fermented foods with regard to probiotics and addresses some regulatory challenges facing the probiotic field.
Working hours and cardiometabolic health – an emerging area of nutritional research
Authors: Gibson R.
Published: August 2018

Multifactorial work‐related diseases are diseases that occur in the general population, but may be exacerbated or partially caused by occupational exposures. There is increasing evidence to suggest that type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are associated with duration and time of working hours. Despite the role of diet in the aetiology of cardiometabolic disease being well established, gaps remain in understanding the relationship between working hours and diet. Studies that have compared the diets of shift to non‐shift workers have reported inconsistent results, likely due to the heterogeneity of study design, including variations in the industry studied and dietary measurement methods used. There is a paucity of research investigating dietary intakes across different shift types, both inside and outside of working hours and in relation to duration of working hours. From the published research that exists, there appears to be growing consensus that night working is associated with a change in the temporal distribution of energy intake and poorer food choices. Epidemiological studies have shown that consuming a higher percentage of energy during the evening is positively associated with metabolic syndrome, while controlled studies have demonstrated an altered metabolic response to eating at night compared to during daytime hours. In the UK, 15% of the working population are employed in jobs that require shift work and 13% of employees work more than 48 hours per week. Understanding the complex relationship between working hours, diet and cardiometabolic health will provide an opportunity to improve the health of a significant proportion of the population.
Feelings About Fracking: Using the Affect Heuristic to Understand Opposition to Coal Seam Gas Production
Authors: Hine Donald W. , Clarke Kirsten , Marks Anthony D. G. , Morgan Methuen I.
Published: August 2018

The rapid expansion of coal seam gas (CSG) extraction across Australia has polarized public opinion about the risks, benefits, and the future of the industry. We conducted a randomized controlled experiment to assess the impact of CSG messaging on opposition to the CSG industry. Residents of a major Australian city (N = 549), aged between 21 and 87 years, were randomly assigned to view one of three brief video messages (pro‐CSG, anti‐CSG, or a neutral control) sourced from the Internet. They then completed measures assessing CSG affective associations, perceived risks and benefits of CSG, and degree of opposition to the CSG industry. A subsample of 317 participants also completed the measures of affect, risks, benefits, and opposition two weeks following the initial message presentation. Message type significantly predicted message effects in a pattern consistent with the affect heuristic model, although overall, the message effects were modest in magnitude. Respondents who viewed the anti‐CSG video (relative to the control) reported more negative affective responses to CSG, perceived higher risks, fewer benefits, and greater opposition to the CSG industry. Those who viewed the pro‐CSG video (relative to the control) reported stronger positive affective responses to CSG, perceived more CSG benefits and fewer risks, and expressed less opposition to the industry. The effects persisted over a two‐week interval for the anti‐CSG message, but not for the pro‐CSG message. Our findings suggest that people's risk perceptions and views about the acceptability of CSG are malleable by messaging that targets affective pathways.
Boundaries of frequency and treatment time in conventional hemodialysis: Balancing convenience, economics, and health outcomes
Authors: Jones Clare B. , Chan Christopher T.
Published: August 2018

Since the inception of hemodialysis (HD) for patients with chronic kidney disease, the “perfect” dialysis prescription has remained elusive. Part of this may relate to the heterogeneity among populations, individual patients, and differences in access to health provision. The optimal balance between dialysis frequency and duration to achieve reductions in patient morbidity and mortality continues to be debated. The concept of dialysis adequacy originated from a post hoc mathematical analysis of the National Cooperative Study and has evolved to become a way of calculating dialysis dose and standardizing the dialysis prescription. In contrast, in its originally conceived sense, dialysis adequacy referred to the effective clearance of small solutes. Given the evolution of dialysis practice, we now aim to consider dialysis adequacy in a broader and more holistic manner particularly in view of our aging population and focus toward important patient‐centered outcomes. While the traditional thrice weekly, HD regimen remains the default renal replacement modality, alternative strategies including short daily HD, long conventional HD, and long nocturnal HD are being widely implemented. We aim for optimal solute clearance, effective ultrafiltration to achieve normotension (while avoiding intradialytic symptoms) and maintenance of nutritional parameters all within the caveat that quality of life and autonomy are preserved.
Gradience in Subcategorization? Locative Phrases with Italian Verbs of Motion
Authors: Cennamo Michela , Lenci Alessandro
Published: August 2018

The study of the argument vs. adjunct status of the locative phrase optionally occurring with verbs of motion in Italian, both bounded (directed motion) and unbounded (manner of motion), points to the notion of scalar change as a useful model for the argument/adjunct distinction: locative prepositional phrases referring to the scalar change component entailed by a verb (either its endpoint(s) or its direction) have an argument status, otherwise they are adjuncts. This finding has a distributional correlation in the differences in the association strength (i.e., head‐dependence) of locative prepositional phrases with this class of verbs.
Initial description of the core ocular surface microbiome in dogs: Bacterial community diversity and composition in a defined canine population
Authors: Leis Marina L. , Costa Matheus O.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To characterize the bacterial community residing on the conjunctiva of clinically healthy dogs.

Methods

Bacterial DNA from conjunctival swabs of 10 dogs with normal ocular examinations (both OD and OS, n = 20) was extracted, and 16S rRNA amplicons were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq 600. Resulting data were subjected to quality control steps, and analyzed for bacterial community richness and diversity, within‐ and between‐group dissimilarity, and relative taxonomic composition.

Results

High‐quality reads (2.22 million bp) resulted in a mean of 159 068 sequences per sample. Bacterial community evenness and diversity was high when compared to other species, and did not significantly differ when samples were grouped by dogs or eyes. As expected, within‐dog samples were more similar than between‐dog samples. Taxonomic classification revealed that >95% of the community consisted of Firmicutes (34.9 ± 8.8%), Actinobacteria (26.3 ± 7.1%), Proteobacteria (26.2 ± 6.6%), and Bacteroidetes (9.4 ± 2.4%). Key members of the dog ocular surface microbiome, found in all dogs and corresponding to >25% of all identified OTUs (operational taxonomic units), were part of the Bifidobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Moraxellaceae, Corynebacteriaceae families. Genera previously thought to account for the majority of the core ocular surface microbiome in the dog (Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., and Bacillus sp.) were associated with only 2.63% of overall reads.

Conclusions

This study shows the feasibility of conjunctival swabs and high‐throughput sequencing to profile the bacterial community structure of the canine ocular surface. A core ocular surface microbiome was identified for this canine population.
Effect of selective versus nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitors on gastric ulceration scores and intestinal inflammation in horses
Authors: Richardson Lauren M. , Whitfield‐Cargile Canaan M. , Cohen Noah D. , Chamoun‐Emanuelli Ana M. , Dockery Hannah J.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To determine whether a cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 selective nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) would reduce gastric ulceration and gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation compared with a non‐COX selective NSAID.

Study design

Randomized block design.

Animals

Twenty‐five healthy adult horses.

Methods

Horses were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 5), phenylbutazone (n = 10), or firocoxib (n = 10) administered daily for 10 days. Gastroscopy was performed on days 0 and 10, and both squamous and glandular ulcers were scored according to established scoring criteria. Fecal samples were collected on days 0, 10, and 20 to test for fecal myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Both classes of NSAID induced GI injury as determined by gastric ulceration scores and fecal MPO. Glandular gastric ulceration scores and fecal MPO concentrations were higher in horses treated with phenylbutazone at day 10 (P < .001 and P = .0018, respectively). Increases in fecal MPO were significantly decreased 10 days following cessation of treatment for firocoxib but remained greater than baseline for the phenylbutazone group.

Conclusion

Although both classes of NSAID induced gastric ulceration, the COX‐2 selective NSAID firocoxib induced less severe glandular ulceration. Although there were increases in fecal MPO in both groups after 10 days of treatment, this increase was significant only in horses receiving the nonselective COX inhibitor phenylbutazone.

Clinical significance

These findings suggest that both classes of NSAID induce GI injury in horses; however, at the dosages used in this study, the COX‐2 selective NSAID firocoxib resulted in less severe injury.
Analytical and Numerical Investigations of Friction Number for Laminar Flow in Microchannels
Authors: El-Genk Mohamed S. , Pourghasemi Mahyar
Published: August 2018

Analytical and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses confirmed the presence of apparent slip for water flow in microchannels with equivalent hydraulic diameter, Dh < 103μm, markedly decreasing the friction number, fRein. The determined values of the slip length, β, from reported measurements of pressure losses in microchannels with aspect ratio, α = 1, 1.74, 2, and 40, are 0.9, 3.5, 1.6, and 0.125 μm, respectively. For Dh > 103μm, the apparent slip in microchannels diminishes, and the friction number approaches the theoretical Hagen–Poiseuille with no slip. The analytical solution for fully developed flow successfully benchmarked the CFD approach, which is subsequently used to investigate fRein and the flow development length, Le, for uniform inlet velocity in microchannels. For fully developed flow, the analytical and CFD values of fRein are in excellent agreement. For microchannels with Dh < 103μm, fRein decreases below that of the theoretical Hagen–Poiseuille with no slip, almost exponentially with decreased Dh. The difference increases with decreased Dh, but increased α and β. The friction number for uniform inlet velocity is identical to that for fully developed flow when Dh ≤ 100 μm, but is as much as 9% higher for larger Dh. For uniform inlet velocity, Le negligibly depends on α and β, but increases with increased Rein. The obtained values are correlated as: Le/Dh = 0.068 Rein.
Optimization of a 900 mm Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing in Large Steam Turbines by Advanced Modeling and Validation
Authors: Mermertas Ümit , Hagemann Thomas , Brichart Clément
Published: August 2018

Modernization of steam turbine components can extend power plant lifetime, decrease maintenance costs, increase service intervals, and improve operational flexibility. However, this can also lead to challenging demands for existing components such as bearings, e.g., due to increased rotor weights. Therefore, a careful design and evaluation process of bearings is of major importance. This paper describes the applied advanced modeling methods and performed validation for the optimization of a novel 900 mm three-pad tilting pad journal bearing that showed high temperature sensitivity to the fresh oil supply temperature. The bearing was developed to cope with increased rotor weights within the low pressure (LP) steam turbine modernization at two 1000 MW nuclear power plants. With a static load of 2.7 MN at a speed of 1500 rpm, it represents one of the highest loaded applications for tilting pad bearings in turbomachinery worldwide. After identification of the reasons for the sensitivity, advanced modeling methods were applied to optimize the bearing. For this purpose, a more comprehensive bearing model was developed considering the direct lubrication at the leading pad edge and pad deformation. The results of the entire analyses indicated modifications of bearing clearances, pad length, thickness, and pivot position. The optimized bearing was then implemented on both units and proved its excellent operational behavior at increased fresh oil supply temperatures of up to 55 °C. In conclusion, the application of advanced modeling methods proved to be the key success factor in the optimization of this bearing, which represents an optimal solution for turbomachinery.
Numerical Simulation of the Blade Aging Process in an Induced Draft Fan Due to Long Time Exposition to Fly Ash Particles
Authors: Castorrini Alessio , Venturini Paolo , Corsini Alessandro , Rispoli Franco
Published: August 2018

Erosion issues usually affect fans used for the extraction of exhaust gas in power plants. Because of the presence of fly ash within the exhaust flow, fan blades are subjected to material wear at the leading edge, trailing edge, and blade surface, and this may cause a modification of the blade aerodynamic profile, a reduction of blade chord and effective camber. All these effects result in a deterioration of the aerodynamic performance of the blade. Prediction of erosion process in industrial applications helps to better schedule the maintenance and predict the blade life. However, since usually numerical simulations of erosion process do not account for the change in target geometry, and then the variation in time of the erosion process itself, they can be only used to study a very short part (namely the beginning) of the whole process. To this aim, we report a numerical simulation of the blade aging process due to particle erosion in an induced draft fan. This is done using in-house numerical tools able to iteratively simulate the flow field, compute the particle tracking/dispersion/erosion, and modify the geometry (and mesh) according to the predicted erosion rate. First, we study the effect of the geometry damage due to erosion, for a generic particle flow and a given expected maximum damage. In the second part of the computation, a scale factor is introduced to align the simulation time and particle concentrations to a real application, comparing the results with the on-field observation.
Nonlinear Analysis of Rotordynamic Fluid Forces in the Annular Plain Seal by Using Extended Bulk-Flow Analysis: Influence of Static Eccentricity and Whirling Amplitude
Authors: Yamada Koya , Ikemoto Atsushi , Inoue Tsuyoshi , Uchiumi Masaharu
Published: August 2018

Rotor-dynamic fluid force (RD fluid force) of turbomachinery is one of the causes of the shaft vibration problem. Bulk flow theory is the method for analyzing this RD fluid force, and it has been widely used in the design stage of machine. The conventional bulk flow theory has been carried out under the assumption of concentric circular shaft's orbit with a small amplitude. However, actual rotating machinery's operating condition often does not hold this assumption, for example, existence of static load on the machinery causes static eccentricity. In particular, when such a static eccentricity is significant, the nonlinearity of RD fluid force may increase and become non-negligible. Therefore, conventional bulk flow theory is not applicable for the analysis of the RD fluid force in such a situation. In this paper, the RD fluid force of the annular plain seal in the case of circular whirling orbit with static eccentricity is investigated. The case with both the significant static eccentricity and the moderate whirling amplitude is considered, and the perturbation analysis of the bulk-flow theory is extended to investigate the RD fluid force in such cases. In this analysis, the assumption of the perturbation solution is extended to both static terms and whirling terms up to the third order. Then, the additional terms are caused by the coupling of these terms through nonlinearity, and these three kinds of terms are considered in the extended perturbation analysis of the bulk flow theory. As a result, a set of nonlinear analytical equations of the extended perturbation analysis of the bulk flow theory, for the case with both the significant static eccentricity and the moderate whirling amplitude, is deduced. The RD fluid force for such cases is analyzed, and the occurrence of constant component, backward synchronous component, and super-harmonic components in the RD fluid force is observed in addition to the forward synchronous component. The representation of RD fluid force coefficients (RD coefficients) are modified for the case with significant static eccentricity, and the variation of RD fluid force coefficients for the magnitude of static eccentricity is analyzed. These analytical results of RD fluid force and its RD coefficients are compared with the numerical results using finite difference analysis and experimental results. As a result, the validity of the extended perturbation analysis of the bulk-flow theory for the case with both the significant static eccentricity and the moderate whirling amplitude is confirmed.
Thin layer etching of low-k SiCO spacer using hydrogen ion implantation followed by hydrofluoric acid
Authors: Posseme Nicolas , Garcia-Barros Maxime , Leverd François , Benoit Daniel , Pollet Olivier , Audoit Guillaume , Guedj Cyril , Jannaud Audrey , Barnola S.
Published: August 2018

Spacer etching realization is considered today as one of the most critical processes for the fully depleted silicon on insulator devices realization. The challenge arises from the fact that low-k spacer needs to be introduced to improve device performances. In this paper, a new approach to etch the low-k SiCO film was investigated. This approach is based on the SiCO film modification by H2 plasma followed by a removal step of this modified layer using hydrofluoric acid- (HF) based wet cleaning. It has been demonstrated that SiCO layer modification depth is controlled by plasma parameters like bias voltage. The SiCO film modification induced by H2 plasma has been well understood by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy analyses in transmission or in multi-internal reflection. It has been demonstrated that the H2 plasma exposure converts the SiCO film in volume into an SiOxHy film, explaining the higher damaged film removal rate when dipped in liquid phase HF. Finally, the compatibility of the new etch approach with the SiCO low-k film has been demonstrated on pattern structures.
Minocycline Has No Clear Role in the Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Disease
Authors: Ruth Mike M. , Sangen Jasper J. N. , Pennings Lian J. , Schildkraut Jodie A. , Hoefsloot Wouter , Magis-Escurra Cecile , Wertheim Heiman F. L. , van Ingen Jakko
Published: August 2018

Mycobacterium abscessus
causes a difficult-to-treat pulmonary disease (MAb-PD). After initial intravenous treatment, minocycline is recommended in the oral continuation phase of treatment.
Diagnostic Performance of Multiplex Nucleic Acid Testing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Bronchial Wash Specimens for Respiratory Viral Pathogens
Authors: Munigala Satish , Burnham Carey-Ann D. , Anderson Neil W. , Liang Stephen Y. , Lawrence Steven J. , Warren David K.
Published: August 2018

There is limited knowledge on the yield of performing multiplex nucleic acid testing (NAT) on multiple lower respiratory tract specimens from a single patient with a single instance of infection. We evaluated the performance characteristics of multiplex NAT assays performed concurrently on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial wash (BW) specimens to detect respiratory pathogens.
Vascular wall components in thrombi obtained by acute stroke thrombectomy: clinical significance and related factors
Authors: Funatsu Naoko , Hayakawa Mikito , Hashimoto Tetsuya , Yamagami Hiroshi , Satow Tetsu , Takahashi Jun C , Koga Masatoshi , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki , Ishibashi-Ueda Hatsue , Iwama Toru , Toyoda Kazunori
Published: August 2018

Background and purpose

Vascular wall components (VWCs) are sometimes identified as collagen fibers in specimens retrieved by thrombectomy from acute stroke patients. However, their clinical significance and associated factors remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors associated with VWCs in retrieved thrombi.

Methods

Consecutive acute stroke patients treated endovascularly using the Penumbra aspiration catheter or stent retrievers (SRs) at our institute from November 2013 to April 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, and the retrieved thrombi were evaluated histopathologically. VWCs were defined as banded collagen fibers with a distinct boundary observed at the rim or outside of the retrieved thrombi. Factors associated with the presence of VWCs were studied.

Results

A total of 150 specimens (76 specimens retrieved by the Penumbra, 74 by SRs) from 101 patients (47 women, age 74.9±11.1 years) were investigated. Applied thrombectomy devices were aspiration catheters in 42 patients, SRs in 21 patients, and both in 38 patients. VWCs were observed in 24 specimens (16%) from 22 patients. A low proportion of erythrocyte components (41.7±24.8% vs 55.0±26.3%, P=0.01), a high frequency of the devices reaching the M2/P2 (75% vs 50%, P=0.02), and a high number of device passages (P for trend=0.02) were associated with VWC positive thrombi. Successful recanalization (Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia ≥2b) tended to be less frequent in patients with VWC positive thrombi than in those without (73% vs 89%, P=0.06).

Conclusions

The histopathology of occlusive thrombi, arterial sites where devices reached, and number of device passages, might affect the presence of VWCs in retrieved thrombi.
NCCT and CTA-based imaging protocol for endovascular treatment selection in late presenting or wake-up strokes
Authors: Santos Telma , Carvalho Andreia , Cunha André Almeida , Rodrigues Marta , Gregório Tiago , Paredes Ludovina , Costa Henrique , Roriz José Mário , Pinho João , Veloso Miguel , Castro Sérgio , Barros Pedro , Ribeiro Manuel
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Recently, the benefit of selecting patients for endovascular treatment (EVT) beyond the 6-hour time window using a tissue-based approach was demonstrated in two randomized trials. The optimal imaging protocol for selecting patients is under debate, and it is still unknown if a simpler and faster protocol may adequately select patients with wake-up stroke (WUS) and late-presenting stroke (LPS) for EVT.

Objective

To compare outcomes of patients submitted to EVT presenting within 6 hours of symptom onset or 6–24 hours after last seen well, selected using non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) and CT angiography (CTA).

Methods

An observational study was performed, which included consecutive patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion treated with EVT. Patients presenting within 6 hours were treated if their NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was ≥6 and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS) was ≥6, while patients presenting with WUS or 6–24 hours after last seen well (WUS/LPS) were treated if their NIHSSscore was ≥12 and ASPECTS was ≥7.

Results

249 patients were included, 63 of whom were in the WUS/LPS group. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for longer symptom-recanalization time, lower admission NIHSS (16 vs 17, P=0.038), more frequent tandem occlusions (25.4% vs 11.8%, P=0.010), and large artery atherosclerosis etiology (22.2% vs 11.8%, P=0.043) in the WUS/LPS group. No differences in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, peri-procedural complications or mortality were found between groups. Three-month functional independence was similar in both groups (65.1% in WUS/LPS vs 57.0% in ≤6 hours, P=0.259) and no differences were found after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions

This real-world observational study suggests that EVT may be safe and effective in patients with WUS and LPS selected using clinical-core mismatch (high NIHSS/high ASPECTS in NCCT).
Effect of video game playing and a glucose preload on subjective appetite, subjective emotions, and food intake in overweight and obese boys
Authors: Gheller Brandon J.F. , Totosy de Zepetnek Julia O. , Welch Jo M. , Rossiter Melissa D. , Luhovyy Bohdan , Brett Neil R. , Bellissimo Nick
Published: August 2018

Video game playing (VGP) is associated with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). VGP and caloric preloads in the pre-meal environment influence short-term food intake (FI) in healthy-weight children. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of pre-meal VGP and a glucose preload on subjective emotions, subjective appetite, and FI in boys with OW/OB. On 4 separate mornings, boys with OW/OB (n = 22; mean ± SD: age = 11.9 ± 1.6 years; body mass index percentile = 94.3 ± 3.9) participated in 4 test conditions. Two hours after a standardized breakfast, boys consumed equally sweetened preloads (250 mL) of sucralose (0 kcal) or glucose (200 kcal), with or without 30 min of subsequent VGP. Immediately after each test condition, FI was evaluated during an ad libitum pizza meal. Subjective appetite was measured at 0 (baseline), 15, and 30 min. Subjective emotions (aggression, anger, excitement, disappointment, happiness, upset, and frustration) were measured at 0 and 30 min. VGP did not affect FI, but the glucose preload decreased FI compared with the sucralose control (Δ = −103 ± 48 kcal, p < 0.01). However, cumulative FI (preload kcal + meal kcal) was 9% higher after the glucose preload (p < 0.01). Subjective appetite increased with time (p < 0.05) but was not influenced by preload or VGP. Frustration was the only subjective emotion that increased following VGP (p < 0.01). A glucose preload, but not VGP, suppressed FI in boys with OW/OB, suggesting a primary role of physiological factors in short-term FI regulation.
Cytoplasmic Mechanisms of Recognition and Defense of Microbial Nucleic Acids
Authors: Hu Ming-Ming , Shu Hong-Bing
Published: August 2018

Microbial nucleic acids are major signatures of invading pathogens, and their recognition by various host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) represents the first step toward an efficient innate immune response to clear the pathogens. The nucleic acid–sensing PRRs are localized at the plasma membrane, the cytosol, and/or various cellular organelles. Sensing of nucleic acids and signaling by PRRs involve recruitment of distinct signaling components, and PRRs are intensively regulated by cellular organelle trafficking. PRR-mediated innate immune responses are also heavily regulated by posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, polyubiquitination, sumoylation, and glutamylation. In this review, we focus on our current understanding of recognition of microbial nucleic acid by PRRs, particularly on their regulation by organelle trafficking and posttranslational modifications. We also discuss how sensing of self nucleic acids and dysregulation of PRR-mediated signaling lead to serious human diseases.
The Exposome: Molecules to Populations
Authors: Niedzwiecki Megan M. , Walker Douglas I. , Vermeulen Roel , Chadeau-Hyam Marc , Jones Dean P. , Miller Gary W.
Published: August 2018

Derived from the term exposure, the exposome is an omic-scale characterization of the nongenetic drivers of health and disease. With the genome, it defines the phenome of an individual. The measurement of complex environmental factors that exert pressure on our health has not kept pace with genomics and historically has not provided a similar level of resolution. Emerging technologies make it possible to obtain detailed information on drugs, toxicants, pollutants, nutrients, and physical and psychological stressors on an omic scale. These forces can also be assessed at systems and network levels, providing a framework for advances in pharmacology and toxicology. The exposome paradigm can improve the analysis of drug interactions and detection of adverse effects of drugs and toxicants and provide data on biological responses to exposures. The comprehensive model can provide data at the individual level for precision medicine, group level for clinical trials, and population level for public health.
Abnormal absorptive colonic motor activity in germ-free mice is rectified by butyrate, an effect possibly mediated by mucosal serotonin
Authors: Vincent Alexander D. , Wang Xuan-Yu , Parsons Sean P. , Khan Waliul I. , Huizinga Jan D.
Published: August 2018

The role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the control of colonic motility is controversial. Germ-free (GF) mice are unable to produce these metabolites and serve as a model to study how their absence affects colonic motility. GF transit is slower than controls, and colonization of these mice improves transit and serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] levels. Our aim was to determine the role SCFAs play in improving transit and whether this is dependent on mucosal 5-HT signaling. Motility was assessed in GF mice via spatiotemporal mapping. First, motor patterns in the whole colon were measured ex vivo with or without luminal SCFA, and outflow from the colon was recorded to quantify outflow caused by individual propulsive contractions. Second, artificial fecal pellet propulsion was measured. Motility was then assessed in tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH1) knockout (KO) mice, devoid of mucosal 5-HT, with phosphate buffer, butyrate, or propionate intraluminal perfusion. GF mice exhibited a lower proportion of propulsive contractions, lower volume of outflow/contraction, slower velocity of contractions, and slower propulsion of fecal pellets compared with controls. SCFAs changed motility patterns to that of controls in all parameters. Butyrate administration increased the proportion of propulsive contractions in controls yet failed to in TPH1 KO mice. Propionate inhibited propulsive contractions in all mice. Our results reveal significant abnormalities in the propulsive nature of colonic motor patterns in GF mice, explaining the decreased transit time in in vivo studies. We show that butyrate but not propionate activates propulsive motility and that this may require mucosal 5-HT.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Understanding the role that the microbiota play in governing the physiology of colonic motility is lacking. Here, we offer for the first time, to our knowledge, a detailed analysis of colonic motor patterns and pellet propulsion using spatiotemporal mapping in the absence of microbiota. We show a striking difference in germ-free and control phenotypes and attribute this to a lack of fermentation-produced short-chain fatty acid. We then show that butyrate but not propionate can restore motility and that the butyrate effect likely requires mucosal 5-hydroxytryptamine.
Loss of Nuclear Localized Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein in Primary Breast Cancer Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome and Correlates with Suppressed Stat5 Signaling
Authors: Tran Thai H. , Utama Fransiscus E. , Sato Takahiro , Peck Amy R. , Langenheim John F. , Udhane Sameer S. , Sun Yunguang , Liu Chengbao , Girondo Melanie A. , Kovatich Albert J. , Hooke Jeffrey A. , Shriver Craig D. , Hu Hai , Palazzo Juan P. , Bibbo Marluce , Auer Paul W. , Flister Michael J. , Hyslop Terry , Mitchell Edith P. , Chervoneva Inna , Rui Hallgeir
Published: August 2018

Purpose:

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is required for normal mammary gland development and biology. A PTHLH gene polymorphism is associated with breast cancer risk, and PTHrP promotes growth of osteolytic breast cancer bone metastases. Accordingly, current dogma holds that PTHrP is upregulated in malignant primary breast tumors, but solid evidence for this assumption is missing.

Experimental Design:

We used quantitative IHC to measure PTHrP in normal and malignant breast epithelia, and correlated PTHrP levels in primary breast cancer with clinical outcome.

Results:

PTHrP levels were markedly downregulated in malignant compared with normal breast epithelia. Moreover, low levels of nuclear localized PTHrP in cancer cells correlated with unfavorable clinical outcome in a test and a validation cohort of breast cancer treated at different institutions totaling nearly 800 cases. PTHrP mRNA levels in tumors of a third cohort of 737 patients corroborated this association, also after multivariable adjustment for standard clinicopathologic parameters. Breast cancer PTHrP levels correlated strongly with transcription factors Stat5a/b, which are established markers of favorable prognosis and key mediators of prolactin signaling. Prolactin stimulated PTHrP transcript and protein in breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, effects mediated by Stat5 through the P2 gene promoter, producing transcript AT6 encoding the PTHrP 1-173 isoform. Low levels of AT6, but not two alternative transcripts, correlated with poor clinical outcome.

Conclusions:

This study overturns the prevailing view that PTHrP is upregulated in primary breast cancers and identifies a direct prolactin–Stat5–PTHrP axis that is progressively lost in more aggressive tumors.