bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Water Level Rise on Urban Infrastructures: Washington, DC, and Shanghai as Case Studies
Authors: Zhang Yanjie , Ayyub Bilal M. , Zhang Dongming , Huang Hongwei , Saadat Yalda
Published: August 2019

The observed global sea level rise owing to climate change, coupled with the potential increase in extreme storms, requires a reexamination of existing infrastructural planning, construction, and management practices. Storm surge shows the effects of rising sea levels. The recent super storms that hit the United States (e.g., Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Sandy in 2012, Harvey and Maria in 2017) and China (e.g., Typhoon Haiyan in 2010) inflicted serious loss of life and property. Water level rise (WLR) of local coastal areas is a combination of sea level rise, storm surge, precipitation, and local land subsidence. Quantitative assessments of the impact of WLR include scenario identification, consequence assessment, vulnerability and flooding assessment, and risk management using inventory of assets from coastal areas, particularly population centers, to manage flooding risk and to enhance infrastructure resilience of coastal cities. This article discusses the impact of WLR on urban infrastructures with case studies of Washington, DC, and Shanghai. Based on the flooding risk analysis under possible scenarios, the property loss for Washington, DC, was evaluated, and the impact on the metro system of Shanghai was examined.
Estimating the direct impact of bank liquidity shocks on the real economy: Evidence from letter‐of‐credit import transactions in Colombia
Authors: Ahn JaeBin , Sarmiento Miguel
Published: August 2019

This study identifies and provides an estimate of the impact of bank liquidity shocks on real economic activity by exploring letter‐of‐credit import transactions in Colombia during the 2008 to 2009 global financial crisis. The detailed dataset on letter‐of‐credit transactions allows for exploiting within‐importer–exporter variation across issuing banks. The study finds substantial effects of bank liquidity shocks on letter‐of‐credit import transactions: banks that were more vulnerable to adverse liquidity shocks—proxied by the ex ante reliance on wholesale funding or borrowings from foreign banks—reduced letter‐of‐credit issuances more in both intensive and extensive margins. The study also confirms that it had real effects: importer–exporter pairs that relied more on letter‐of‐credit transactions experienced a greater reduction in their total imports in response to adverse bank liquidity shocks.
Does parenting correspond with children's defending behavior? Examining linkages in the context of peer social preference
Authors: Nelson David A. , Bailey Martina E. , Coyne Sarah M. , Cramer Christine M. , Olsen Joseph A.
Published: August 2019

Bullying intervention research points to the important role of children standing up for victims (defending behavior). This study provides an initial look at how certain parenting practices may be generally related to the socialization of defending behavior among children. Defenders typically enjoy significant social status, allowing them the social capital to intervene. With this in mind, we also assess how parenting and children's social preference scores might uniquely or interactively predict defending behavior. This cross‐sectional study employs a sample of 219 (101 boys) fourth‐grade children living in the Western United States. Both mothers and fathers self‐reported their authoritative, authoritarian, and psychologically controlling parenting practices. A peer sociometric assessment provided each child's social preference score. Peer nominations provided each child's reputation for defending behaviors. Multiple regression results showed that a few of the parenting dimensions significantly predicted girls’ defending behavior above and beyond peer social preference. In contrast, the defending behavior scores of boys were unrelated to parenting. Finally, we used interaction analyses to probe whether the association between defending and parenting meaningfully varies according to children's levels of social preference. We did not find evidence to support this. We discuss the ramifications of these findings for future research.
Affective Consistency and Sorting
Authors: Davis Nicholas T. , Klar Samara , Weber Christopher R.
Published: August 2019

Objective

Sorting is often portrayed as a mechanistic response to elite polarization: individuals recognize salient differences between the parties and match their preferences accordingly. Much less is known, however, about the psychological and motivational processes that contribute to it. In particular, how might affective reactions to elites shape convergence among political preferences?

Method

To explore the relationship between the consistency of self‐reported affect and sorting, we analyze cross‐sectional and panel data from the American National Election Studies.

Results

On balance, we find that negative emotions directed toward the opposing party candidate and positive emotions toward one's own party candidate are associated with an increase in the alignment of ideological and partisan preferences.

Conclusion

These findings illustrate how affect contributes to consistency in mass opinion.
Horses with equine recurrent uveitis have an activated CD4+ T‐cell phenotype that can be modulated by mesenchymal stem cells in vitro
Authors: Saldinger Laurel K. , Nelson Seldy G. , Bellone Rebecca R. , Lassaline Mary , Mack Maura , Walker Naomi J. , Borjesson Dori L.
Published: August 2019

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is an immune‐mediated disease causing repeated or persistent inflammatory episodes which can lead to blindness. Currently, there is no cure for horses with this disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are effective at reducing immune cell activation in vitro in many species, making them a potential therapeutic option for ERU. The objectives of this study were to define the lymphocyte phenotype of horses with ERU and to determine how MSCs alter T‐cell phenotype in vitro. Whole blood was taken from 7 horses with ERU and 10 healthy horses and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated. The markers CD21, CD3, CD4, and CD8 were used to identify lymphocyte subsets while CD25, CD62L, Foxp3, IFNγ, and IL10 were used to identify T‐cell phenotype. Adipose‐derived MSCs were expanded, irradiated (to control proliferation), and incubated with CD4+ T‐cells from healthy horses, after which lymphocytes were collected and analyzed via flow cytometry. The percentages of T‐cells and B‐cells in horses with ERU were similar to normal horses. However, CD4+ T‐cells from horses with ERU expressed higher amounts of IFNγ indicating a pro‐inflammatory Th1 phenotype. When co‐incubated with MSCs, activated CD4+ T‐cells reduced expression of CD25, CD62L, Foxp3, and IFNγ. MSCs had a lesser ability to decrease activation when cell‐cell contact or prostaglandin signaling was blocked. MSCs continue to show promise as a treatment for ERU as they decreased the CD4+ T‐cell activation phenotype through a combination of cell‐cell contact and prostaglandin signaling.
Estimating RC Time Constants Using Sound
Authors: Groff Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2019

Resistor-capacitor (RC) circuits are a popular topic for both theoretical discussion and experimental investigation in introductory physics. This article presents a novel approach to studying such circuits using a piezoelectric buzzer. A capacitor is discharged through a resistor and the buzzer, and the intensity of the sound produced by the buzzer is recorded as a function of time. Here the recordings are made using a smartphone. The voltage supplied to the buzzer, and thus the intensity of the sound it produces, depends on the voltage across the capacitor. As the capacitor discharges exponentially, the sound intensity decreases linearly since the intensity is measured in units of decibels. The linearly decreasing sound intensity can be analyzed to estimate the discharge time constant of the circuit.
An illustration of the effect of neglecting poroelastic physics of water-saturated glass beads in a laboratory phase speed inference process
Authors: Venegas Gabriel R. , Wilson Preston S.
Published: August 2019

The sound speed of sand has been shown to vary with frequency, yet in many instances in geoacoustic inversions, sand is modeled as a frequency-independent effective fluid. This paper investigates the effect to which assuming a frequency-independent fluid model that neglects poroelasticity can skew parameter estimation in a laboratory layered waveguide consisting of 1-mm diameter water-saturated glass beads (WSGBs), suspended in a water-filled glass tube. The phase speed in the waveguide was measured from 1 to 7 kHz and compared with phase speeds predicted in a finite element simulation of the experiment, where the WSGBs were treated as either a fluid with constant bulk density and frequency-independent or frequency-dependent sound speed, or by an effective density fluid model (EDFM) that includes poroelasticity. Measurement-simulation agreement occurred when using the EDFM to model the WSGB, although neglecting poroelasticity in the simulation only led to a maximum phase speed discrepancy of 8 m/s. However, this effect was significant when an inference process was used to determine the effective fluid properties of the WSGBs. Finally, high-frequency (150 to 450 kHz) direct sound speed measurements of the WSGB were obtained, and best matched the mid-frequency inference results obtained using the EDFM.
Hemisphere-specific properties of the ventriloquism aftereffect
Authors: Kopčo Norbert , Lokša Peter , Lin I-fan , Groh Jennifer , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara
Published: August 2019

Visual calibration of auditory space requires re-alignment of representations differing in (1) format (auditory hemispheric channels vs visual maps) and (2) reference frames (head-centered vs eye-centered). Here, a ventriloquism paradigm from Kopčo, Lin, Shinn-Cunningham, and Groh [J. Neurosci. 29, 13809–13814 (2009)] was used to examine these processes in humans for ventriloquism induced within one spatial hemifield. Results show that (1) the auditory representation can be adapted even by aligned audio-visual stimuli, and (2) the spatial reference frame is primarily head-centered, with a weak eye-centered modulation. These results support the view that the ventriloquism aftereffect is driven by multiple spatially non-uniform, hemisphere-specific processes.
cyp51A
Mutations, Extrolite Profiles, and Antifungal Susceptibility in Clinical and Environmental Isolates of the Aspergillus viridinutans Species Complex
Authors: Talbot Jessica J. , Frisvad Jens C. , Meis Jacques F. , Hagen Ferry , Verweij Paul E. , Hibbs David E. , Lai Felcia , Groundwater Paul W. , Samson Robert A. , Kidd Sarah E. , Barrs Vanessa R. , Houbraken Jos
Published: August 2019

The past decade has seen an increase in aspergillosis in humans and animals due to
Aspergillus viridinutans
species complex members. Azole resistance is common to these infections, carrying a poor prognosis.
cyp51A
gene mutations are the main cause of acquired azole resistance in
Aspergillus fumigatus
. This study aimed to determine if the azole-resistant phenotype in
A. viridinutans
complex members is associated with
cyp51A
mutations or extrolite profiles.
Characterization and Comparative Analysis of the Staphylococcus aureus Genomic Island
v
Saβ: an
In Silico
Approach
Authors: Kläui Anita J. , Boss Renate , Graber Hans U.
Published: August 2019

With the rapid increase of available sequencing data on clinically relevant bacterial species such as
S. aureus
, the genomic basis of clinical phenotypes can be investigated in much more detail, allowing a much deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in disease. We characterized in detail the
S. aureus
genomic island
v
Saβ and defined a superordinate system to categorize
S. aureus
strains based on their
v
Saβ type, providing information about the strains’ virulence-associated genes and clinical potential.
Peptidoglycan-Associated Cyclic Lipopeptide Disrupts Viral Infectivity
Authors: Johnson Bryan A. , Hage Adam , Kalveram Birte , Mears Megan , Plante Jessica A. , Rodriguez Sergio E. , Ding Zhixia , Luo Xuemei , Bente Dennis , Bradrick Shelton S. , Freiberg Alexander N. , Popov Vsevolod , Rajsbaum Ricardo , Rossi Shannan , Russell William K. , Menachery Vineet D.
Published: August 2019

In this article, we consider a role for bacteria in shaping coronavirus infection. Taking cues from studies of enteric viruses, we initially investigated how bacterial surface components might improve CoV infection. Instead, we found that peptidoglycan-associated surfactin is a potent viricidal compound that disrupts virion integrity with broad activity against enveloped viruses. Our results indicate that interactions with commensal bacterial may improve or disrupt viral infections, highlighting the importance of understanding these microbial interactions and their implications for viral pathogenesis and treatment.
Cost-effectiveness of offering an area-level financial incentive on breast feeding: a within-cluster randomised controlled trial analysis
Authors: Anokye Nana , Coyle Kathryn , Relton Clare , Walters Stephen , Strong Mark , Fox-Rushby Julia
Published: August 2019

Objective

To provide the first estimate of the cost-effectiveness of financial incentive for breastfeeding intervention compared with usual care.

Design

Within-cluster (‘ward’-level) randomised controlled trial cost-effectiveness analysis (trial registration number ISRCTN44898617).

Setting

Five local authority districts in the North of England.

Participants

5398 mother-infant dyads (intervention arm), 4612 mother-infant dyads (control arm).

Interventions

Offering a financial incentive (over a 6-month period) on breast feeding to women living in areas with low breastfeeding prevalence (<40% at 6–8 weeks).

Main outcome measures

Babies breast fed (receiving breastmilk) at 6–8 weeks, and cost per additional baby breast fed.

Methods

Costs were compared with differences in area-level data on babies’ breast fed in order to estimate a cost per additional baby breast fed and the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains required over the lifetime of babies to justify intervention cost.

Results

In the trial, the total cost of providing the intervention in 46 wards was £462 600, with an average cost per ward of £9989 and per baby of £91. At follow-up, area-level breastfeeding prevalence at 6–8 weeks was 31.7% (95% CI 29.4 to 34.0) in control areas and 37.9% (95% CI 35.0 to 40.8) in intervention areas. The adjusted difference between intervention and control was 5.7 percentage points (95% CI 2.7 to 8.6; p<0.001), resulting in 10 (95% CI 6 to 14) more additional babies breast fed in the intervention wards (39 vs 29). The cost per additional baby breast fed at 6–8 weeks was £974. At a cost per QALY threshold of £20 000 (recommended in England), an additional breastfed baby would need to show a QALY gain of 0.05 over their lifetime to justify the intervention cost. If decision makers are willing to pay £974 (or more) per additional baby breast fed at a QALY gain of 0.05, then this intervention could be cost-effective. Results were robust to sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

This study provides information to help inform public health guidance on breast feeding. To make the economic case unequivocal, evidence on the varied and long-term health benefits of breast feeding to both the baby and mother and the effectiveness of financial incentives for breastfeeding beyond 6–8 weeks is required.
Osteochondroma of acromioclavicular joint
Authors: Baig Muhammad Nouman , O’Malley Sandra , Fenelon Christopher , Kaar Ken
Published: August 2019

Osteochondroma is the most common type of benign bone tumour. It is a benign chondrogenic lesion derived from aberrant cartilage from the perichondral ring, and it commonly presents in the proximal humerus, proximal femur and knee. Osteochondroma is usually solitary but can be multiple with patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. Malignant changes happen in approximately 1% of cases. Osteochondroma usually causes local pain or swelling. We discuss a unique case of an osteochondroma that highlights the fact that osteochondroma can occur in the most unlikely places, and they should be properly visualised via radiography to evaluate any extensions and compromised surrounding structures before surgical intervention.
Idiopathic localised dilatation of the intestine in adults
Authors: Rotigliano Niccolò , Sauter Matthias , von Flüe Markus , Steinemann Daniel Christian
Published: August 2019

Idiopathic localised dilatation of the intestine (ILDI) presenting in adults is rare and difficult to diagnose. Only 18 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 32-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain and intermittent small bowel obstruction. After detailed radiological studies, the patient, known for Crohn’s disease, was scheduled for laparoscopy in the suspicion of small bowel stricture. A localised dilatation of the ileum was found intraoperatively and subsequently resected. A systematic review of this rare pathology in adults is carried out. ILDI should be part of the differential diagnosis in patients with unexplained abdominal pain or gastrointestinal bleeding in the presence of segmental dilatation of the intestine. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice.
Reducing overuse by recognising the unintended harms of good intentions
Authors: Slawson David , Shaughnessy Allen F
Published: August 2019

Overdiagnosis and overtreatment—overuse—is gaining wide acceptance as a leading nosocomial intervention in medicine. Not only does overuse create anxiety and diminish patients’ quality of life, in some cases it causes harm to both patients and others not directly involved in clinical care. Reducing overuse begins with the recognition and acceptance of the potential for unintended harm of our best intentions. In this paper, we introduce five cases to illustrate where harm can occur as the result of well-intended healthcare interventions. With this insight, clinicians can learn to appreciate the critical role of probability-based, evidence-informed decision-making in medicine and the need to consider the outcomes for all who may be affected by their actions. Likewise, educators need to evolve medical education and medical decision-making so that it focuses on the hierarchy of evidence and that what ‘ought to work’, based on traditional pathophysiological, disease-focused reasoning, should be subordinate to what ‘does work’.
Exploring geographic variation in acute appendectomy in Ireland: results from a national registry study
Authors: Ahmed Ola , Mealy Ken , Sorensen Jan
Published: August 2019

Objective

To explore geographic variations in Irish laparoscopic and open appendectomy procedures.

Design

Analysis based on 2014–2017 administrative hospital data from public hospitals.

Setting

Counties of Ireland.

Participants

Irish residents with hospital admissions for an appendectomy as the principal procedure.

Main outcome measures

Age and gender standardised laparoscopic and open appendectomy rates for 26 counties. Geographic variation measured with the extremal quotient (EQ), coefficient of variation (CV) and the systematic component of variation (SCV).

Results

23 684 appendectomies were included. 77.6% (n= 18,387) were performed laparoscopically. An EQ of 8.3 for laparoscopy and 10.0 for open appendectomy was determined. A high CV was demonstrated with a value of 36.7 and 80.8 for laparoscopic and open appendectomy, respectively. An SCV of 14.2 and 124.8 for laparoscopic and open appendectomy was observed. A wider variation was determined when children and adults were assessed separately.

Conclusions

The geographic distribution in rates of appendectomy varies considerably across Irish counties. Our data suggest that a patient’s likelihood of undergoing a laparoscopic or open appendectomy is associated with their county of residence.
PCASTt/SPCG-17—a randomised trial of active surveillance in prostate cancer: rationale and design
Authors: Ahlberg Mats Steinholtz , Adami Hans-Olov , Beckmann Kerri , Bertilsson Helena , Bratt Ola , Cahill Declan , Egevad Lars , Garmo Hans , Holmberg Lars , Johansson Eva , Rannikko Antti , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Jäderling Fredrik , Wassberg Cecilia , Åberg Ulrika W N , Bill-Axelson Anna
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Overtreatment of localised prostate cancer is substantial despite increased use of active surveillance. No randomised trials help define how to monitor patients or when to initiate treatment with curative intent.

Methods and analysis

A randomised, multicentre, intervention trial designed to evaluate the safety of an MRI-based active surveillance protocol, with standardised triggers for repeated biopsies and radical treatment. The aim is to reduce overtreatment of prostate cancer. 2000 men will be randomly allocated to either surveillance according to current practice or to standardised triggers at centres in Sweden, Norway, Finland and the UK. Men diagnosed in the past 12 months with prostate cancer, ≤T2a, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <15 ng/mL, PSA density ≤0.2 ng/mL/cc, any International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade 1 are eligible. Men with ISUP grade 2 in <30% of cores on systematic biopsy and <10 mm cancer in one core on systematic or targeted biopsy are also eligible. Men diagnosed on systematic biopsy should have an MRI and targeted biopsies against Prostate Imaging and Reporting Data System V.2 3–5 lesions before inclusion. Identical follow-up in the two study arms: biannual PSA testing, yearly clinical examination and MRI every second year. In the experimental arm, standardised triggers based on MRI and PSA density elicit repeated biopsies. MRI and histopathological progression trigger radical treatment. Primary outcome measure is progression-free survival. Secondary outcome measures are cumulative incidence of metastatic disease, treatments with curative intent, pT3-4 at radical prostatectomy, switch to watchful waiting, prostate cancer mortality and quality of life. Inclusion started in October 2016 and in October 2018; 275 patients have been enrolled.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained in each participating country. Results for the primary and secondary outcome measures will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT02914873.
Associations between contraception and stunting in Guatemala: secondary analysis of the 2014–2015 Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Flood David , Petersen Ashley , Martinez Boris , Chary Anita , Austad Kirsten , Rohloff Peter
Published: August 2019

Background

There has been limited research on the relationship between contraception and child growth in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examines the association between contraception and child linear growth in Guatemala, an LMIC with a very high prevalence of child stunting. We hypothesise that contraceptive use is associated with better child linear growth and less stunting in Guatemala.

Methods

Using representative national data on 12 440 children 0–59 months of age from the 2014–2015 Demographic and Health Survey in Guatemala, we constructed multivariable linear and Poisson regression models to assess whether child linear growth and stunting were associated with contraception variables. All models were adjusted for a comprehensive set of prespecified confounding variables.

Results

Contraceptive use was generally associated with modest, statistically significant greater height-for-age z-score. Current use of a modern method for at least 15 months was associated with a prevalence ratio of stunting of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.94; p<0.001), and prior use of a modern method was associated with a prevalence ratio of stunting of 0.93 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.98; p<0.05). The severe stunting models found generally similar associations with modern contraceptive use as the stunting models. There was no significant association between use of a modern method for less than 15 months and the prevalence ratio of stunting or severe stunting.

Conclusions

Contraceptive use was associated with better child linear growth and less child stunting in Guatemala. In addition to the human rights imperative to expand contraceptive access and choice, family planning merits further study as a strategy to improve child growth in Guatemala and other countries with high prevalence of stunting.
Prognostic value of long non-coding RNA 01296 expression in human solid malignant tumours: a meta-analysis
Authors: Dai Chen , Dai Chenguang , Ni Hao , Xu Zhihua
Published: August 2019

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 01296 (LINC01296) has been reported to play an important role in many human malignancies, but a consistent perspective has not been established now. To explore the prognostic value of LINC01296 in different types of human solid malignant tumours, we performed this meta-analysis.An electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biological Medical Literature database and WanFang database was applied to select eligible literatures. Pooled ORs or HRs with their 95% CIs were calculated to estimate the effects.A total of 559 patients from nine eligible studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The results revealed that high LINC01296 expression was significantly related to larger tumour size (OR 3.42, 95% CI 2.08 to 5.63), lymph node metastasis (OR 3.03, 95% CI 2.01 to 4.57) and advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (OR 4.41, 95% CI 2.65 to 7.34). Moreover, we found that elevated LINC01296 expression predicted a poor outcome for overall survival (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.14) and recurrence-free survival (HR 4.00, 95% CI 1.04 to 15.67).High expression levels of LINC01296 were associated with unfavourable clinical outcomes of patients with cancer. Our results indicated that LINC01296 could serve as a prognostic predictor in human solid malignant tumours.
Azathioprine and the neurologist
Authors: McWilliam Matthew , Khan Usman
Published: August 2019

Neurologists are very familiar with using corticosteroids and are aware of their considerable risk of adverse effects with prolonged use. Thus, we frequently consider alternative immunosuppression or corticosteroid sparing agents. However, unlike other specialties, such as rheumatology, there are few indications for corticosteroid-sparing agents in neurology and so our experience is less extensive; even these indications may reduce further as more disease-modifying treatments become available for neurological conditions. Azathioprine is perhaps the most commonly used corticosteroid-sparing agent in neurology. This review aims to remind neurologists of important aspects of azathioprine prescribing, focussing on enhancing patient safety and clinician confidence in its prescribing.
Teaching best practice in hand hygiene: student use and performance with a gamified gesture recognition system
Authors: Mosley Caroline , Mosley John R , Bell Catriona , Aitchison Kay , Rhind Susan M , MacKay Jill
Published: August 2019

The use of an automated gesture recognition system to teach the commonly adopted, seven‐stage hand hygiene technique to veterinary undergraduate students was evaluated. The system features moderate gamification, intended to motivate the student to use the machine repeatedly. The system records each handwash stage, and those found to be difficult are identified and reported back. The gamification element alone was not sufficient to encourage repeated use of the machine, with only 13.6 per cent of 611 eligible students interacting with the machine on one or more occasion. Overall engagement remained low (mean sessions per user: 3.5, ±0.60 confidence interval), even following recruitment of infection control ambassadors who were given a specific remit to encourage engagement with the system. Compliance monitoring was introduced to explore how students used the system. Hand hygiene performance did not improve with repeated use. There was evidence that the stages—fingers interlaced, rotation of the thumb, rotation of the fingertips and rotation of the wrists—were more challenging for students to master (p=0.0197 to p<0.0001) than the back of the hand and of the fingers. Veterinary schools wishing to use such a system should consider adopting approaches that encourage peer buy‐in, and highlight the ability to practise difficult stages of the technique.
Orthogonal state of coherent state based on Hermite-excited superposition operator: Production and Wigner function
Authors: Wang Jian-Ming , Wang Zu-Jian , Yuan Hong-Chun , Xu Xue-Xiang
Published: August 2019

An orthogonal state of coherent state is produced by applying an orthogonalizer related with Hermite-excited superposition operator [Formula: see text]. Using some technique, we cleverly deal with the normalization and discuss the nonclassical and non-Gaussian characters of the orthogonal state. The analytical expressions for the Wigner functions of the orthogonal state are derived in detail. Numerical results show that the orthogonal state will exhibit its richly nonclassical and non-Gaussian character by changing the interaction parameters.
Tunable photoluminescent properties of rare-earth co-doped (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics by Pr3+ concentration
Authors: He Chongjun , An Yang , Deng Chenguang , Gu Xiaorong , Wang Jiming , Wu Tong , Liu Youwen , Lu Yuangang , Mao Rong , Chen Ziyun
Published: August 2019

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramic materials have received extensive attention due to their potential application in new optoelectronic devices. The outstanding advantages of lead-free piezoelectric materials are nontoxicity and environmental-friendliness. Photoluminescence is one of the important properties of ceramics. This property is widely used in printing, testing materials, medical and other technologies. At the same time, materials with up-conversion luminescence can also be used to detect infrared light. Here, we had made [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] co-doped [Formula: see text] (NBT) ceramics. Photoluminescence properties of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] co-doped NBT were studied. The structure of the doped ceramics was characterized by the X-ray diffraction pattern which shows that the doping had little effect on the ceramic structure. Studies on luminescent spectra show that [Formula: see text] has an inhibitory effect on the up-conversion luminescence of [Formula: see text], and a certain concentration of [Formula: see text] promotes the luminescence of [Formula: see text] in the mid-infrared region. Intensity of the up-conversion luminescence was substantially linear with the power of the excitation source. These findings are expected to improve the performance of the NBT-based optoelectronic devices.
China’s Implementation of Goal 9 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: International Capacity Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: LIU Yanhong
Published: August 2019

The experience in reform and opening up shows that China’s achievements in industrialization are largely attributed to its industrial openness towards the outside world and the international cooperation. As it enters the second decade of the 21st century, China’s industry has stepped into a new era of leading international development cooperation and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in global industry, namely a period of developing international capacity cooperation supported by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As vigorously driven by the BRI, the international capacity cooperation has not only pushed forward the creation of new industrial cooperation models among developing countries, but also opened new paths and contributed Chinese approaches to regional and global industrial cooperations under the new situation, in particular for the implementation of the inclusive and sustainable industrial development goal set in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This mainly manifests as: dovetailing the top-level design with planning to build new mechanism-based capacity cooperation models, achieving cross-border infrastructure connectivity to promote trade, investment and industrial cooperation, constructing cooperation zones as an important platform for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in capacity cooperation, breaking the financial bottleneck of regional development through diversified and open financial cooperation, and leading the leapfrog development of countries along the Belt and Road through technological cooperation and collaborative innovation.
Evolution of the Ring Concept for the Forearm and Its Implication on Treatment: From Galeazzi, Monteggia, Essex-Lopresti, and Darrach to the Current Era
Authors: Elzinga Kate , Chung Kevin
Published: August 2019

Geometrically, rings distribute their stress along their arc instead of concentrating at any one point. The forearm ring is composed of the radius, ulna, proximal radioulnar joint, and distal radioulnar joint. The annular ligament, interosseous membrane, and triangular fibrocartilage complex link and stabilize the ring. Injuries to the forearm occur along a continuum with recognized patterns of ring disruption, including Galeazzi, Monteggia, and Essex-Lopresti injuries. The Darrach procedure causes a disruption to the forearm ring and can lead to painful convergence between the radius and distal ulnar stump. Injuries to the forearm ring are unstable. Management of forearm injuries is centered on the restoration of the anatomy and stability of the forearm ring. Forearm ring injuries and their treatment are discussed in this article.
Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty with Dynamic Suspension Sling Using Extensor Carpi Radialis Tendon
Authors: Takagi Takehiko , Kobayashi Yuka , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: August 2019

Background: Despite various treatment methods, complications are reported with ligament reconstruction for thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthropathy, such as proximal migration, dorsal subluxation of the first metacarpal base, and hyperextension of the first CMC joint. The flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon is, in some cases, too thin to maintain suspension on the first metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. We used one-half of the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) tendon instead of the FCR tendon, and compared this method with conventional reconstruction using the FCR tendon.

Methods: The procedures were performed during 12 thumb CMC arthropathies. One-half of the ECRL tendon was passed and then wrapped around the intact FCR tendon several times for 6 cases (ECRL group). One-half of the FCR tendon was passed for 6 cases (FCR group). On radiography, we compared the thumb to index finger metacarpal angle (M1M2) and the first MCP angle (P1M1) between groups. Grip strength, pinch strength, and DASH score were also evaluated up to 2 years post-surgery.

Results: In the ECRL group, M1M2 and P1M1 1 year post-surgery showed significant improvements compared to those before surgery; they showed no significant difference in the FCR group, although they achieved a peak at 3 months post-surgery in both groups. Both groups showed improvements in other parameters from 3 months to 1 year post-surgery.

Conclusions: Postoperative progression of hyperextension of the first CMC joint was significantly reduced in the ECRL group. The ECRL tendon is thicker than the FCR tendon. In addition, the insertion site of the ECRL tendon is at the dorsal side of the second metacarpal, and the tendon can extend from the dorsal side to the volar side to stabilize the first metacarpal. Thumb CMC arthroplasty using one-half of the ECRL tendon is a useful reconstruction method.
Metadata-private communication for the 99%
Authors: Gilad Yossi
Published: August 2019

Sketching the underlying system needed to facilitate metadata-private communication for several applications with a large user base.
Demo hour
Authors: van Dijk Dick , Dulake Nick , Petrelli Daniela , Marshall Mark T. , Kockelkorn Hub , Not Elena , Cavada Dario , Maule Stefano , Pisetti Anna , Venturini Adriano
Published: August 2019

Over four years, meSch produced over a dozen demos: small experiments focused on a specific technology or place; interactive stations designed as part of large exhibitions open to the public; and tangible interaction and data souvenirs that bridge the physical-digital divide. The four projects presented here offer a sample of visitor experiences we created, deployed, and evaluated.

Daniela Petrelli, Director of the meSch project
Large-scale and long-term co-design of digital health
Authors: Andersen Tariq Osman
Published: August 2019

This forum is dedicated to personal health in all its many facets: decision making, goal setting, celebration, discovery, reflection, and coordination, among others. We look at innovations in interactive technologies and how they help address current critical healthcare challenges. ---
Yunan Chen, Editor
O processo contra As Flores do Mal (1857): sustentação oral do procurador Ernest Pinard
Authors: Resende Letícia Campos de , Anjos Yuri Cerqueira dos
Published: August 2019

Apresentamos aqui a tradução da Sustentação Oral de Ernest Pinard durante o processo contra As Flores do Mal, de Charles Baudelaire. O texto é antecedido de um breve comentário introdutório visando a contextualização e propondo algumas pistas de entendimento acerca do discurso e de seus desdobramentos.
La justice et son revers dans les Lettres Persanes
Authors: Chauvel Thaïs
Published: August 2019

Cet article s’interroge sous quelles formes les Lettres persanes de Montesquieu posent la question de la justice et de son revers, l’injustice. On se demande en quoi la richesse de la forme épistolaire, elliptique et diversifiée, permet-elle d’aborder le thème de la justice, de son rapport au pouvoir et à la violence. Pour répondre à cette problématique, on entend analyser l’essai philosophique exposé par le personnage d’Usbek, la fable des Troglodytes employée à des fins didactiques, et enfin, le dispositif fictionnel du “roman du sérail”.
La justice balzacienne: des tables de la loi aux tables de l’aloi
Authors: Lévêque Laure
Published: August 2019

C’est l’œuvre de Balzac qui signe véritablement l’entrée de la justice en littérature, laquelle fournit la matière d’une multitude d’intrigues. Nostalgique d’une société organique dont il réfère la perte à l’événement révolutionnaire, Balzac conçoit la justice rapportée à ce moment, synonyme pour lui de bascule d’une société de droit à un ordre de fait que symbolise le contrat, garant d’un nouveau pacte social dont La Comédie humaine passe au scalpel tous les dysfonctionnements. Dès lors, la justice dit-elle le droit ? Pas sûr, à lire les avertissements que professe le duc de Chaulieu dans Les Mémoires de deux jeunes mariées : « Il n’y aura plus que des lois pénales ou fiscales, la bourse ou la vie ». Et l’on peut d’autant plus en douter à voir Vautrin devenir chef de la police ce que le précédent de Vidocq ne peut suffire à expliquer : au-delà du cas particulier, ce sont bien des mutations structurelles que désignent Balzac, celles qui accompagnent l’entrée dans la société civile.
Association Between Meteorological Factors and the Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Li MeiHua , Hu Si , Yu NianZu , Zhang Ying , Luo Muyun
Published: August 2019

Background

Both meteorological factors and morphological factors are important factors to predict intracranial aneurysm rupture. This study investigated the relationship between meteorological factors and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Additionally, the morphological differences between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms under these high‐risk meteorological conditions were assessed.

Methods and Results

The records of 1751 patients with aSAH with 2124 intracranial aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to assess the risks of incident
aSAH
on the basis of daily meteorological data. Morphological parameters were analyzed using 1‐way
ANOVA
tests, and significant parameters (
P
<0.05) were further examined using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Daily
aSAH
incidence had significant negative correlations with daily mean, maximum, and minimum temperature (
P
<0.001) and a significant positive correlation with daily mean atmospheric pressure (
P
<0.001). Additionally, 58 patients with multiple aneurysms were assessed to determine morphological differences. There were significant differences in the mean values for aneurysm size, neck width, length, height, width, parent artery diameter, shape of the aneurysm, aspect ratio, size ratio, and bottleneck factor (
P
<0.05). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that aspect ratio (β=1.277, odds ratio=3.585, 95%
CI
, 1.588–8.090;
P
=0.002) was an independent risk factor for aneurysm rupture. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the ruptured aneurysm threshold of size was 3.45 mm and aspect ratio was 1.05.

Conclusions

Lower daily mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures and a higher daily mean atmospheric pressure were associated with an increased rate of
aSAH
. Additionally, under these meteorological conditions, the aneurysm size and aspect ratio thresholds for predicting rupture of an aneurysm may be lower.
Effects of 6 Months of Exercise‐Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Autonomic Function and Neuro‐Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity in Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Authors: Badrov Mark B. , Wood Katelyn N. , Lalande Sophie , Sawicki Carolyn P. , Borrell Lindsay J. , Barron Carly C. , Vording Jennifer L. , Fleischhauer Arlene , Suskin Neville , McGowan Cheri L. , Shoemaker J. Kevin
Published: August 2019

Background

Autonomic dysregulation represents a hallmark of coronary artery disease (
CAD
). Therefore, we investigated the effects of exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation (
CR
) on autonomic function and neuro‐cardiovascular stress reactivity in
CAD
patients.

Methods and Results

Twenty‐two
CAD
patients (4 women; 62±8 years) were studied before and following 6 months of aerobic‐ and resistance‐training–based
CR
. Twenty‐two similarly aged, healthy individuals (
CTRL
; 7 women; 62±11 years) served as controls. We measured blood pressure, muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, heart rate variability (linear and nonlinear), and cardiovagal (sequence method) and sympathetic (linear relationship between burst incidence and diastolic blood pressure) baroreflex sensitivity during supine rest. Furthermore, neuro‐cardiovascular reactivity during short‐duration static handgrip (20s) at 40% maximal effort was evaluated. Six months of
CR
lowered resting blood pressure (
P
<0.05), as well as muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst frequency (48±8 to 39±11 bursts/min;
P
<0.001) and burst incidence (81±7 to 66±17 bursts/100 heartbeats;
P
<0.001), to levels that matched
CTRL
and improved sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity in
CAD
patients (
P
<0.01). Heart rate variability (all
P
>0.05) and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (
P
=0.11) were unchanged following
CR
, yet values were not different pre‐
CR
from
CTRL
(all
P
>0.05). Furthermore, before
CR
,
CAD
patients displayed greater blood pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity reactivity to static handgrip versus
CTRL
(all
P
<0.05); yet, responses were reduced following
CR
(all
P
<0.05) to levels observed in
CTRL
.

Conclusions

Six months of exercise‐based
CR
was associated with marked improvement in baseline autonomic function and neuro‐cardiovascular stress reactivity in
CAD
patients, which may play a role in the reduced cardiac risk and improved survival observed in patients following exercise training.
Anticoagulant Prescribing for Non‐Valvular Atrial Fibrillation in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Rose Adam J. , Goldberg Robert , McManus David D. , Kapoor Alok , Wang Victoria , Liu Weisong , Yu Hong
Published: August 2019

Background

Direct acting oral anticoagulants (
DOAC
s) theoretically could contribute to addressing underuse of anticoagulation in non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (
NVAF
). Few studies have examined this prospect, however. The potential of
DOAC
s to address underuse of anticoagulation in
NVAF
could be magnified within a healthcare system that sharply limits patients’ exposure to out‐of‐pocket copayments, such as the Veterans Health Administration (
VA
).

Methods and Results

We used a clinical data set of all patients with
NVAF
treated within
VA
from 2007 to 2016 (n=987 373). We examined how the proportion of patients receiving any anticoagulation, and which agent was prescribed, changed over time. When first approved for
VA
use in 2011,
DOAC
s constituted a tiny proportion of all prescriptions for anticoagulants (2%); by 2016, this proportion had increased to 45% of all prescriptions and 67% of new prescriptions. Patient characteristics associated with receiving a
DOAC
, rather than warfarin, included white race, better kidney function, fewer comorbid conditions overall, and no history of stroke or bleeding. In 2007, before the introduction of
DOAC
s, 56% of
VA
patients with
NVAF
were receiving anticoagulation; this dipped to 44% in 2012 just after the introduction of
DOAC
s and had risen back to 51% by 2016.

Conclusions

These results do not suggest that the availability of
DOAC
s has led to an increased proportion of patients with
NVAF
receiving anticoagulation, even in the context of a healthcare system that sharply limits patients’ exposure to out‐of‐pocket copayments.
Seasonality and El Niño Diversity in the Relationship between ENSO and Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Activity
Authors: Choi Yumi , Ha Kyung-Ja , Jin Fei-Fei
Published: August 2019

Both the impacts of two types of El Niño on the western North Pacific (WNP) tropical cyclone (TC) activity and the seasonality in the relationship between genesis potential index (GPI) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are investigated. The ENSO-induced GPI change over the northwestern (southeastern) part of the WNP is mostly attributed to the relative humidity (absolute vorticity) term, revealing a distinct meridional and zonal asymmetry in summer and fall, respectively. The seasonal change in ENSO (background states) from summer to fall is responsible for the seasonal change in GPI anomalies south of 20°N (over the northeastern part of the WNP). The downdraft induced by the strong upper-level convergence in the eastern Pacific (EP)-type El Niño and both the northwestward-shifted relative vorticity and northward-extended convection over the southeastern part of the WNP in the central Pacific (CP)-type El Niño lead to distinct TC impacts over East Asia (EA). The southward movement of genesis location of TCs and increased westward-moving TCs account for the enhanced strong typhoon activity for the EP-type El Niño in summer. In fall the downdraft and anomalous anticyclonic steering flows over the western part of the WNP remarkably decrease TC impacts over EA. The enhanced moist static energy and midlevel upward motion over the eastern part of the WNP under the northern off-equatorial sea surface temperature warming as well as longer passage of TCs toward EA are responsible for the enhanced typhoon activity for the CP-type El Niño. It is thus important to consider the seasonality and El Niño pattern diversity to explore the El Niño–induced TC impacts over EA.