bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and Safety of Mesh Repair for Incarcerated or Strangulated Hernias: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Lin Yu‐Te , Weng Tzu‐Yu , Tam Ka‐Wai
Published: February 2020

Background

Hernia repair with mesh in patients with incarcerated or strangulated hernias is controversial. Moreover, the use of mesh for hernia repair with concomitant bowel resection poses a great dilemma. This study compared the outcomes of mesh and anatomic repairs in patients with acutely incarcerated or strangulated hernias.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published before November 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective studies were included. We conducted meta‐analyses using a random‐effects model. The treatment outcome was measured by the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI), seroma formation, and hernia recurrence postoperatively.

Results

Two RCTs and six prospective studies with 978 patients were included. No significant difference in SSI incidence was observed between patients with incarcerated hernia from the mesh and anatomic repair groups. Recurrence was significantly lower in mesh repair group than in anatomic repair group (odds ratio, 0.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.01–0.45). Only two patients needed to have mesh explantation due to mesh infection. In the setting of hernia repair with concomitant bowel resection, the SSI rate with mesh repair was slightly higher, but most cases of infections were well controlled with conservative antibiotic therapy.

Conclusions

Mesh repair for incarcerated or strangulated hernias was feasible with a great benefit of lower recurrence rates. However, due to limited data, drawing conclusions regarding the use of mesh for hernia repair with concomitant bowel resection was difficult. Further studies with preset criteria for evaluating patients undergoing concomitant bowel resection may help elucidate this issue.
Evaluation of MR elastography as a response parameter for transarterial chemoembolization of colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Vogl Thomas J. , Martin Simon S. , Johnson Addison A. , Haas Yannick
Published: February 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as a response parameter in patients who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

Materials and methods

Forty-two patients (29 male patients; mean age, 61.5 years; range, 41–84 years) with repeated TACE therapy of colorectal liver metastases underwent on average 2 repetitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRE exams in 4- to 6-week intervals using a 1.5-T scanner. MRE-based liver stiffness measurements were performed in normal liver parenchyma and in metastatic lesions. Moreover, the size of the liver metastases was assessed during treatment and compared with the results of the MRE analysis.

Results

Liver metastases showed a significantly higher degree of stiffness compared with the normal liver parenchyma (p < 0.001). However, only a weak correlation was found between the lesion size and stiffness (r = − 0.32, p = 0.1). MRE analysis revealed an increase in stiffness of the colorectal liver metastases from 4.4 to 7.1 kPa after three cycles of TACE (p < 0.001). Also, the mean size of the metastases decreased from 17.0 to 11.3 cm2 (p < 0.001). Finally, the entire liver stiffness increased from 2.9 to 3.1 kPa over the three cycles of TACE therapy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, MRE showed a significant change in stiffness and size of liver metastases. Therefore, MRE may provide an added value for an evaluation of treatment response in patients with colorectal liver metastases undergoing TACE.

Key Points

• MRE showed an increase in stiffness of the colorectal liver metastases during TACE therapy.

• Liver metastases showed a significantly higher degree of stiffness compared with the normal liver parenchyma.

• However, only a weak correlation was found between the lesion size and stiffness.
How to avoid describing your radiological research study incorrectly
Authors: Halligan Steve , Kenis Shedrack F. , Abeyakoon Oshaani , Plumb Andrew A. O. , Mallett Susan
Published: February 2020

This review identifies and examines terms used to describe a radiological research “study” or “trial”. A taxonomy of clinical research descriptions is explained with reference to medical imaging examples. Because many descriptive terms have precise methodological implications, it is important that these terms are understood by readers and used correctly by researchers, so that the reader is not misled.

Key Points

• Multiple different terms are being used to describe radiological research “studies” and “trials”, and many of these terms have precise methodological implications.

• Radiological researchers sometimes use titles that describe their research incorrectly. This can mislead the reader as to what was actually done.

• It is important that readers and researchers understand the correct taxonomy of clinical research and that researchers adopt the correct description for their work.
Fracture fixation versus revision arthroplasty in Vancouver type B2 and B3 periprosthetic femoral fractures: a systematic review
Authors: Stoffel Karl , Blauth Michael , Joeris Alexander , Blumenthal Andrea , Rometsch Elke
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Hip arthroplasty (HA) is commonly performed to treat various hip pathologies. Its volume is expected to rise further due to the increasing age of the population. Complication rates are low; however, periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFF) are a rare, albeit serious, complication with substantial economic impact. While current guidelines propose revision with long-stemmed prostheses for all Vancouver B2 and B3 PFF, some recent research papers suggest that open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) could lead to an equivalent outcome. Our aim was to summarize the evidence, elucidating under which circumstances ORIF leads to a favorable outcome after B2 and B3 PFF compared with revision surgery.

Materials and methods

A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies on patients treated with ORIF and with stem revision after B2 and/or B3 fractures. Extracted information included initial pathology, stem fixation mechanism, bone quality and stem stability at the time of PFF, clinical outcomes, and mortality. Results of individual studies were summarized in a table in lieu of a quantitative data synthesis due to a lack of standardized information.

Results

We identified 14 original research articles including both patients treated with ORIF and with stem revision after B2 and/or B3 PFF. Five studies included statistical comparisons, all were in favor of ORIF or indeterminate. The common lack of rigorous statistical analyses and significant methodological weaknesses made identification of outcome predictors impossible.

Conclusion

The choice of treatment modality for PFF depends on fracture, implant, and bone characteristics. Recent data show that successful outcome can be achieved without revising loose stems. ORIF may be a viable option if bone stock is adequate around uncemented or tapered polished stems with an intact cement mantle and the fracture geometry allows stable anatomic reconstruction. Conceptional considerations support this idea, but more data are needed to identify outcome predictors.
Single- versus double-bundle patellar graft insertion for isolated MPFL reconstruction in patients with patellofemoral instability: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Migliorini Filippo , Trivellas Andromahi , Colarossi Giorgia , Eschweiler Jörg , Tingart Markus , Rath Björn
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The MPFL reconstruction is performed either via a single-bundle (SB) or double-bundle (DB) procedure. The purpose of this study is to perform a systematic review comparing SB versus DB graft for recurrent patellofemoral instability, to summarize current evidence, and to clarify the role of both techniques. We focused on clinical scores, physical examination, complications, revision surgeries, and failures.

Material and methods

In May of 2019 the main online databases were accessed. All the clinical studies treating isolated MPFL reconstruction for patellofemoral instability through a single and/or double-bundle graft were enrolled in the present systematic review. Only articles reporting primary isolated MPFL reconstruction, reporting a minimum of 12-months follow-up were considered for inclusion.

Results

The scores of interest were in favour of the DB cohort: Kujala (+ 3.2, P = 0.03), Lysholm (+ 5.1, P = 0.001), Tegner (+ 0.3, P = 0.2), IKDC (+ 5.4, P = 0.01), VAS (+ 0.8, P = 0.3), ROM (+ 9.96, P = 0.04). In the DB graft, a reduction of overall complications (OR 0.59; P = 0.1), further surgeries (OR 0.64; P = 0.12) and re-dislocations (OR 0.61; P = 0.16) was observed. The SB group reported a reduction in the post-operative apprehension test (OR 2.42; P = 0.24).

Conclusion

Current study support the use of double-bundle tendon graft for isolated MPFL reconstruction in selected patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability.
Can portable air quality monitors protect children from air pollution on the school run? An exploratory study
Authors: Heydon James , Chakraborty Rohit
Published: February 2020

With air quality issues in urban areas garnering increasing media attention, concerned citizens are beginning to engage with air monitoring technology as a means of identifying and responding to the environmental risks posed. However, while much has been written about the accuracy of this sensing equipment, little research has been conducted into the effect it has on users. As such, this research deploys coping theory to explore the specific ways in which portable air quality sensors influence user behaviour. This is done using a qualitative exploratory design, targeting parents and carers of children on the school run. Drawing from survey and interview responses, the article illustrates the decision-making pathways underpinning engagement with monitors and the ways in which they influence beliefs and behaviours around air pollution. The study demonstrates that personal environmental monitors can play a role in protecting children from air pollution on the school run. They can raise awareness about air pollution and disrupt misconceptions about where it does and does not occur. They can also encourage the public to change their behaviour in an attempt to mitigate and manage risks. However, the findings additionally reveal that sensor technology does not generate a simple binary response among users, of behavioural change or not. When attempts at behavioural change fail to reduce risk, resulting negative feelings can lead to inaction. Hence, the relationship between the technology and the individual is entwined with various social circumstances often beyond a parent or carer’s control. Thus, top-down support aimed at tackling air pollution at source is essential if this bottom-up technology is to fulfil its full potential.
Higher Order Corrections to the Mean-Field Description of the Dynamics of Interacting Bosons
Authors: Boßmann Lea , Pavlović Nataša , Pickl Peter , Soffer Avy
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we introduce a novel method for deriving higher order corrections to the mean-field description of the dynamics of interacting bosons. More precisely, we consider the dynamics of N$$d$$d-dimensional bosons for large N. The bosons initially form a Bose–Einstein condensate and interact with each other via a pair potential of the form $$(N-1)^{-1}N^{d\beta }v(N^\beta \cdot )$$(N-1)-1Ndβv(Nβ·) for $$\beta \in [0,\frac{1}{4d})$$β∈[0,14d). We derive a sequence of N-body functions which approximate the true many-body dynamics in $$L^2({\mathbb {R}}^{dN})$$L2(RdN)-norm to arbitrary precision in powers of $$N^{-1}$$N-1. The approximating functions are constructed as Duhamel expansions of finite order in terms of the first quantised analogue of a Bogoliubov time evolution.
Opening the ‘black box’: what does observational research reveal about processes and practices of governing?
Authors: Watson Cate , Husband Gary , Ireland Aileen
Published: February 2020

Despite several decades of research on governance, very little is known about processes and practices of governing and, crucially, the links between governing and organisational performance. This has led to calls to penetrate the ‘black box’ of the boardroom by conducting research which draws on data gathered through direct observation. Such calls, however, have so far produced a rather sparse and inchoate literature which would benefit from review in order to give shape to the field and provide direction for future research. Here, we critically examine the findings of this research, focusing on three emergent themes: (1) the extent to which empirical research supports the established theories in the field, particularly agency and stewardship theories; (2) what research says about ‘good’ and ‘effective’ governance and the relationship between them; and (3) the methodological and conceptual orientations which frame this research, and the claims made for ‘processual’ approaches. We conclude with an agenda for taking the field forward in order to extend knowledge and to contribute to theory around governing.
Enterprise IT service downtime cost and risk transfer in a supply chain
Authors: Wang Shaun S. , Franke Ulrik
Published: February 2020

In this paper we present an economic model for analyzing enterprise IT service downtime cost, first on a standalone basis and then in a supply chain setting. With a baseline probability model of Poisson arrival frequency with random downtime duration, we analyze optimal production of a firm’s investments in reducing frequency and duration of downtime, and corresponding premiums for insuring against downtime cost. We also present a model for the spillover effect of downtime for interconnected firms in a supply chain, and discuss how third-party insurance coverage can help enterprises to internalize the externalities of spillover effects on the supply chain.
Improving monarch butterfly optimization through simulated annealing strategy
Authors: Yang Dongfang , Wang Xitong , Tian Xin , Zhang Yonggang
Published: February 2020

Currently, a novel of meta-heuristic algorithm called monarch butterfly optimization (MBO) is presented for solving machine learning and continuous optimization problems. It has been proved experimentally that MBO is superior to artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC), ant colony optimization algorithm (ACO), Biogeography-based optimization (BBO), differential evolution algorithm (DE) and simple genetic algorithm (SGA) algorithms on most test functions. This paper presents a new version of MBO with simulated annealing (SA) strategy called SAMBO. The SA strategy is put in the migration operator and butterfly adjusting operator. So the newly proposed algorithm has two features: One is that the algorithm accepts all the butterfly individuals whose fitness are better than their parents. The other is that the algorithm randomly selects some individuals which are worse than their parents to disturbance the convergence of algorithm. In this way, the SAMBO algorithm can escape from local optima. Finally, the experiments are carried on 14 continuous nonlinear functions, and results show that SAMBO method exceeds the MBO algorithm on most test functions.
Social Cognitions and Mental Health as Predictors of Adolescents’ Mindfulness Practice
Authors: Beattie Marguerite M. , Konttinen Hanna M. , Volanen Salla-Maarit , Knittle Keegan P. , Hankonen Nelli E.
Published: February 2020

Objectives

While practicing mindfulness can potentially mitigate and prevent mental health problems among adolescents, mindfulness programs delivered in schools do not uniformly lead to uptake of mindfulness practice. This low adherence threatens the internal validity of mindfulness trials and may hinder the alleviation of mental health problems in youth who fail to take up potentially effective techniques. Consequently, it is vital to investigate what predicts uptake of independent mindfulness practice in such interventions.

Methods

Using path analyses, this study investigates whether social cognitions from the Reasoned Action Approach and initial mental health predict mindfulness practice among 1646 adolescent recipients of the school-based Healthy Learning Mind mindfulness intervention.

Results

In line with the Reasoned Action Approach, descriptive and injunctive norms, and positive and negative outcome expectations predicted intention to practice mindfulness (R2 = .37,p < .001), which in turn predicted different measures of mindfulness practice itself (R2 = .09–.17,p < .001). Neither perceived behavioral control nor mental health variables (depressive symptoms, internalization and externalization of difficulties, and resilience: R2 = .01,p > .05) were associated with mindfulness practice after the intervention.

Conclusion

Social norms and outcome expectations are potential intervention targets to increase mindfulness practice motivation and behavior among adolescents.
Mindfulness and Affect-Network Density: Does Mindfulness Facilitate Disengagement from Affective Experiences in Daily Life?
Authors: Rowland Zarah , Wenzel Mario
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Mindfulness has been positively associated with affective well-being, which may be explained by improved affective disengagement from prior experiences.

Methods

We used a dynamic network approach to represent temporal interconnections between specific affective states (i.e., network density)—with less interconnected states indicating better affective disengagement—to investigate whether mindfulness predicted a lower network density. One-hundred twenty-five undergraduate students (M age = 22.87; SD = 5.06 years; 77.6% female) completed a 40-day ambulatory assessment, reporting on their affective experiences and state mindfulness six times a day, and either practiced mindfulness or were on a wait-list (control condition).

Results

We found that neither the mindfulness training, β = −.11, p = .222, nor state mindfulness, β = −.06, p = .484, were associated with affective network density. However, given prior research indicating the importance of prior meditation experience, we found that participants with prior meditation experience reported lower affective network density when they reported higher state mindfulness than participants without meditation experiences, β = −.20, p = .048.

Conclusion

The present study found that neither high levels of mindfulness nor a mindfulness training automatically improved affective disengagement in the form of lower network density. Rather, it seems that only those who were already familiar with practicing mindfulness and who were mindful in their daily life experienced easier disengagement from previous affective experiences. These findings may point toward a different, more complex, understanding of mindfulness in experienced meditators.
Organisms, activity, and being: on the substance of process ontology
Authors: Austin Christopher J.
Published: February 2020

According to contemporary ‘process ontology’, organisms are best conceptualised as spatio-temporally extended entities whose mereological composition is fundamentally contingent and whose essence consists in changeability. In contrast to the Aristotelian precepts of classical ‘substance ontology’, from the four-dimensional perspective of this framework, the identity of an organism is grounded not in certain collections of privileged properties, or features which it could not fail to possess, but in the succession of diachronic relations by which it persists, or ‘perdures’ as one entity over time. In this paper, I offer a novel defence of substance ontology by arguing that the coherency and plausibility of the radical reconceptualisation of organisms proffered by process ontology ultimately depends upon its making use of the ‘substantial’ principles it purports to replace.
The exosomal integrin α5β1/AEP complex derived from epithelial ovarian cancer cells promotes peritoneal metastasis through regulating mesothelial cell proliferation and migration
Authors: Li Xiaoduan , Tang Meiling , Zhu Qinyi , Wang Xinjing , Lin Yingying , Wang Xipeng
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most malignant cancers in the gynecologic system. Many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage with disseminated intra-peritoneal metastases. EOC spreads via both direct extension and trans-coelomic spread. However, the interplay between human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and EOC cells is still ambiguous. We hypothesize that integrins (ITG) in HPMCs may play important roles in EOC metastasis.

Methods

The expression of different integrin subtypes from HPMCs was assessed using Western blotting. The expression of integrin α5β1 (ITGA5B1) and its co-localization with asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) in HPMCs derived from EOC patients (EOC-HPMCs) were assessed using immunofluorescence. The role and mechanism of the exosomal ITGA5B1/AEP complex in HPMCs was assessed using both in vitro and in vivo assays. A retrospective study involving 234 cases was carried out to assess ITGA5B1 and AEP levels in circulating sera and ascites of EOC patients, as well as associations between ITGA5B1/AEP expression and overall survival.

Results

We found that ITGA5B1was highly expressed and co-localized with AEP in EOC cells, and that the exosomal ITGA5B1/AEP complex secreted by EOC cells played an important role in the proliferation and migration of HPMCs. High levels of exosomal ITGA5B1/AEP were also found in circulating sera and ascites of EOC patients, and the expression of ITGA5B1/AEP in EOC tissues was found to be negatively associated with overall survival.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that EOCs may regulate the function of HPMCs through exosomal ITGA5B1/AEP, which may be crucial for peritoneal metastasis.
Hamiltonians without ultraviolet divergence for quantum field theories
Authors: Teufel Stefan , Tumulka Roderich
Published: February 2020

We propose a way of defining Hamiltonians for quantum field theories without any renormalization procedure. The resulting Hamiltonians, called IBC Hamiltonians, are mathematically well defined (and in particular, ultraviolet finite) without an ultraviolet cutoff such as smearing out the particles over a nonzero radius; rather, the particles are assigned radius zero. These Hamiltonians agree with those obtained through renormalization whenever both are known to exist. We describe explicit examples of IBC Hamiltonians. Their definition, which is best expressed in the particle–position representation of the wave function, involves a kind of boundary condition on the wave function, which we call an interior–boundary condition (IBC). The relevant configuration space is one of a variable number of particles, and the relevant boundary consists of the configurations with two or more particles at the same location. The IBC relates the value (or derivative) of the wave function at a boundary point to the value of the wave function at an interior point (here, in a sector of configuration space corresponding to a lesser number of particles).
The temporal evolution of a far-right forum
Authors: Kleinberg Bennett , van der Vegt Isabelle , Gill Paul
Published: February 2020

The increased threat of right-wing extremist violence necessitates a better understanding of online extremism. Radical message boards, small-scale social media platforms, and other internet fringes have been reported to fuel hatred. The current paper examines data from the right-wing forum Stormfront between 2001 and 2015. We specifically aim to understand the development of user activity and the use of extremist language. Various time-series models depict posting frequency and the prevalence and intensity of extremist language. Individual user analyses examine whether some super users dominate the forum. The results suggest that structural break models capture the forum evolution better than stationary or linear change models. We observed an increase of forum engagement followed by a decrease towards the end of the time range. However, the proportion of extremist language on the forum increased in a step-wise matter until the early summer of 2011, followed by a decrease. This temporal development suggests that forum rhetoric did not necessarily become more extreme over time. Individual user analysis revealed that super forum users accounted for the vast majority of posts and of extremist language. These users differed from normal users in their evolution of forum engagement.
Experienced Childhood Maltreatment in a Sample of Pedophiles: Comparisons with Patients of a Psychosomatic Outpatient Clinic and the General Population
Authors: Marx Caroline M. , Tibubos Ana N. , Brähler Elmar , Beutel Manfred E.
Published: February 2020

Background

Adverse childhood events have a lasting impact on mental health. Studies on patients with pedophilia focus on traumatic events as sexual abuse in their childhood, in which further childhood maltreatment is rarely described.

Aim

In addition to previous studies on patients with pedophilia that focus on traumatic events as sexual abuse, we further investigate different types of childhood maltreatment.

Methods

We compared 3 samples using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire: patients with pedophilia, psychotherapy outpatients, and general population (GP). Descriptive analyses were conducted for prevalence rates. To assess statistical differences between the samples concerning retrospective childhood trauma, we conducted t-tests and a multivariate analysis of variance. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of childhood maltreatment.

Outcomes

Emotional and sexual abuse was associated with pedophilic sexual preference.

Results

Significant differences of experienced childhood maltreatment were found between the samples with the patients with pedophilia reporting the highest rates. Psychotherapy outpatients reported more childhood maltreatment than the GP except for sexual abuse.

Clinical Implications

Our results speak to a burdened and stressful childhood of patients with pedophilia; a fantasized, sexualized world in an abusive and neglecting childhood may function as a refuge and lead to “psychic withdrawal.”

Strengths & Limitations

This is the first study comparing a small sample of patients with pedophilia with psychotherapy outpatients and a representative sample of the GP. The use of an established and standardized questionnaire of childhood maltreatment represents a strength. However, the questionnaire's exclusive focus on abuse and neglect represents a limitation as it fails to examine other sources of adverse childhood experiences (eg, intrafamily relationships or loss of a parent).

Conclusion

A better understanding can help establish more effective treatment and prevention programs for patients with pedophilia.
Slaves and Slavery in Kingston, 1770–1815
Authors: Burnard Trevor
Published: February 2020

Historians have mostly ignored Kingston and its enslaved population, despite it being the fourth largest town in the British Atlantic before the American Revolution and the town with the largest enslaved population in British America before emancipation. The result of such historiographical neglect is a lacuna in scholarship. In this article, I examine one period of the history of slavery in Kingston, from when the slave trade in Jamaica was at its height, from the early 1770s through to the early nineteenth century, and then after the slave trade was abolished but when slavery in the town became especially important. One question I especially want to explore is how Kingston maintained its prosperity even after its major trade – the Atlantic slave trade – was stopped by legislative fiat in 1807.
Molecular evidence of sustained urban malaria transmission in Amazonian Brazil, 2014–2015
Authors: Salla L. C. , Rodrigues P. T. , Corder R. M. , Johansen I. C. , Ladeia-Andrade S. , Ferreira M. U.
Published: February 2020

The relative contribution of imported vs. locally acquired infections to urban malaria burden remains largely unexplored in Latin America, the most urbanised region in the developing world. Here we use a simple molecular epidemiology framework to examine the transmission dynamics of Plasmodium vivax in Mâncio Lima, the Amazonian municipality with the highest malaria incidence rate in Brazil. We prospectively genotyped 177 P. vivax infections diagnosed in urban residents between June 2014 and July 2015 and showed that local parasites are structured into several lineages of closely related microsatellite haplotypes, with the largest genetic cluster comprising 32% of all infections. These findings are very unlikely under the hypothesis of multiple independent imports of parasite strains from the rural surroundings. Instead, the presence of an endemic near-clonal parasite lineage circulating over 13 consecutive months is consistent with a local P. vivax transmission chain in the town, with major implications for malaria elimination efforts in this and similar urban environments across the Amazon.
Predicting the Unpredictable – Harder than Expected
Authors: Eriksson Anneli , Gerdin Wärnberg Martin , Tylleskär Thorkild , von Schreeb Johan
Published: February 2020

Introduction:

An earthquake is a hazard that may cause urgent needs requiring international assistance. To ensure rapid funding for such needs-based humanitarian assistance, swift decisions are needed. However, data to guide needs-based funding decisions are often missing in the acute phase, causing delays. Instead, it may be feasible to use data building on existing indexes that capture hazard and vulnerability information to serve as a rapid tool to prioritize funding according to the scale of needs: needs-based funding. However, to date, it is not known to what extent the indicators in the indexes can predict the scale of disaster needs. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for the scale of disaster needs after earthquakes.

Methodology:

The predictive performance of vulnerability indicators and outcome indicators of four commonly used disaster risk and severity indexes were assessed, both individually and in different combinations, using linear regression. The number of people who reportedly died or who were affected was used as an outcome variable for the scale of needs, using data from the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) provided by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters at the Université Catholique de Louvain (CRED; Brussels, Belgium) from 2007 through 2016. Root mean square error (RMSE) was used as the performance measure.

Results:

The assessed indicators did not predict the scale of needs. This attempt to create a multivariable model that included the indicators with the lowest RMSE did not result in any substantially improved performance.

Conclusion:

None of the indicators, nor any combination of the indicators, used in the four assessed indexes were able to predict the scale of needs in the assessed earthquakes with any precision.
Quality assessment of systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examine preventive antibiotic uses and management practices designed to prevent disease in livestock
Authors: Vriezen Rachael , Sargeant Jan M. , Vriezen Ellen , Winder Charlotte B. , O'Connor Annette M.
Published: February 2020

To implement effective stewardship in food animal production, it is essential that producers and veterinarians are aware of preventive interventions to reduce illness in livestock. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SR/MA) provide transparent, replicable, and quality-assessed overviews. At present, it is unknown how many SR/MA evaluate preventive antibiotic use or management practices aimed at reducing disease risk in animal agriculture. Further, the quality of existing reviews is unknown. Our aim was to identify reviews investigating these topics and to provide an assessment of their quality. Thirty-eight relevant reviews were identified. Quality assessment was based on the AMSTAR 2 framework for the critical appraisal of systematic reviews. The quality of most of the reviews captured was classified as critically low (84.2%,n= 32/38), and only a small percentage of the evaluated reviews did not contain critical weaknesses (7.9%,n= 3/38). Particularly, a small number of reviews reported the development of ana prioriprotocol (15.8%,n= 6/38), and few reviews stated that key review steps were conducted in duplicate (study selection/screening: 26.3%,n= 10/38; data extraction: 15.8%,n= 6/38). The development of high-quality reviews summarizing evidence on approaches to antibiotic reduction is essential, and thus greater adherence to quality conduct guidelines for synthesis research is crucial.
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of injectable antibiotic options for the control of bovine respiratory disease in the first 45 days post arrival at the feedlot
Authors: O'Connor A. M. , Hu D. , Totton S. C. , Scott N. , Winder C. B. , Wang B. , Wang C. , Glanville J. , Wood H. , White B. , Larson R. , Waldner C. , Sargeant J. M.
Published: February 2020

We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to determine the comparative efficacy of antibiotics used to control bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle on feedlots. The information sources for the review were: MEDLINE®, MEDLINE In-Process and MEDLINE® Daily, AGRICOLA, Epub Ahead of Print, Cambridge Agricultural and Biological Index, Science Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science, the Proceedings of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, World Buiatrics Conference, and the United States Food and Drug Administration Freedom of Information New Animal Drug Applications summaries. The eligible population was weaned beef cattle raised in intensive systems. The interventions of interest were injectable antibiotics used at the time the cattle arrived at the feedlot. The outcome of interest was the diagnosis of BRD within 45 days of arrival at the feedlot. The network meta-analysis included data from 46 studies and 167 study arms identified in the review. The results suggest that macrolides are the most effective antibiotics for the reduction of BRD incidence. Injectable oxytetracycline effectively controlled BRD compared with no antibiotics; however, it was less effective than macrolide treatment. Because oxytetracycline is already commonly used to prevent, control, and treat BRD in groups of feedlot cattle, the use of injectable oxytetracycline for BRD control might have advantages from an antibiotic stewardship perspective.
Beauty from within: Oral administration of a sulfur-containing supplement methylsulfonylmethane improves signs of skin ageing
Authors: Muizzuddin Neelam , Benjamin Rodney
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Background: Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organosulfur compound with known benefits for joint health, sports nutrition, immune function, and anti‐aging formulations and is gaining popularity as a nutritional supplement for the support of hair, skin and nails. Methods: The study was conducted in two steps; in Part I (pilot study) a panel of 20 participants ingested either 3 g a day of MSM or placebo capsules for 16 weeks. Visual and subject self assessment of wrinkles and skin texture as the predominant sign of ageing was observed. In Part II (dose-response study), 63 participants ingested either 1 g or 3 g per day of MSM for 16 weeks. Expert clinical grading, instrumental measurements and consumer perception was used to evaluate skin conditions like lines and wrinkles. Additionally, instrumentational analysis was conducted using corneometer and cutometer for investigation of skin hydration, firmness and elasticity. Results: Part I of the study clearly indicates that oral ingestion of MSM (3 g/d) reduces signs of ageing like facial wrinkles ( p < 0.05) and skin roughness ( p < 0.05) as compared to placebo. Detailed analysis in Part II instrumentation assessments showed a significant ( p < 0.05) improvement from baseline in the severity of facial wrinkles, as well as improved skin firmness, elasticity and hydration with MSM. Some of these parameters exhibited a good dose-response indicating that the higher (3 g/d) of the supplement was more effective than the lower dose of 1 g/d, but generally the lower dose of 1 g/d appeared to be sufficiently effective in reducing the facial signs of ageing. Conclusion: This study indicated that MSM is effective in reducing visual signs of skin ageing even at a low dose of 1 g/d.
Chemical Composition of Carbonate Hardground Cements as Reconstructive Tools for Phanerozoic Pore Fluids
Authors: Erhardt Andrea M. , Turchyn Alexandra V. , Dickson J. A. D. , Sadekov Aleksey Y. , Taylor Paul D. , Wilson Mark A. , Scott Peter , Schrag Daniel P.
Published: February 2020

In this study, we report the chemical composition of early carbonate cement precipitates in carbonate hardgrounds to understand the geochemical signature of near‐surface carbonate mineral precipitation. As carbonate hardgrounds lithify at or near the sediment‐water interface, they acquire cements that may be minimally evolved from paleoseawater. Using a suite of chemical measurements, we explore the potential of carbonate hardground cements as paleoenvironmental proxies. Trace metal and isotopic ratios, including some rare earth elements, Mg/Ca, manganese, and strontium concentrations, δ18O, δ13C, and 87Sr/86Sr, were analyzed in the carbonate cements from 17 Phanerozoic carbonate hardgrounds. The sensitivity of the geochemical signal to alteration depends on the geochemical analysis in question and the environmental water‐rock ratio. Of these samples, only our modern sample has measurements consistent with primary precipitation from seawater; all other samples precipitated from chemically evolved seawater or were influenced by meteoric water, even if only minimally changed. The more recent samples from the Cenozoic had seawater 87Sr/86Sr. The Mesozoic samples, in contrast, did not preserve seawater 87Sr/86Sr, even though the Mg/Ca, δ18O, and δ13C values were consistent with precipitation from seawater. Finally, the Paleozoic samples preserved expected seawater 87Sr/86Sr, though rare earth element and δ18O suggest primary precipitation was from evolved seawater. Additionally, we place our results in the context of open versus closed system precipitation using transects of the Mg/Ca ratios across individual cements. Overall, we stress that one geochemical measurement provides only a partial record of fluid composition, but multiple measurements allow a potential understanding of the seawater geochemical signal.
AGU Centennial Grand Challenge: Volcanoes and Deep Carbon Global CO2 Emissions From Subaerial Volcanism—Recent Progress and Future Challenges
Authors: Fischer Tobias P. , Aiuppa Alessandro
Published: February 2020

Quantifying the global volcanic CO2 output from subaerial volcanism is key for a better understanding of rates and mechanisms of carbon cycling in and out of our planet and their consequences for the long‐term evolution of Earth's climate over geological timescales. Although having been the focus of intense research since the early 1990s, and in spite of recent progress, the global volcanic CO2 output remains inaccurately known. Here we review past developments and recent progress and examine limits and caveats of our current understanding and challenges for future research. We show that CO2 flux measurements are today only available for ~100 volcanoes (cumulative measured flux, 44 Tg CO2/year), implying that extrapolation is required to account for the emissions of the several hundred degassing volcanoes worldwide. Recent extrapolation attempts converge to indicate that persistent degassing through active crater fumaroles and plumes releases ~53–88 Tg CO2/year, about half of which is released from the 125 most actively degassing subaerial volcanoes (36.4 ± 2.4 Tg CO2/year from strong volcanic gas emitters, Svge). The global CO2 output sustained by diffuse degassing via soils, volcanic lakes, and volcanic aquifers is even less well characterized but could be as high as 83 to 93 Tg CO2/year, rivaling that from the far more manifest crater emissions. Extrapolating these current fluxes to the past geological history of the planet is challenging and will require a new generation of models linking subduction parameters to magma and volatile (CO2) fluxes.
Six‐Axis Ground Motion Measurements of Caldera Collapse at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i—More Data, More Puzzles?
Authors: Wassermann J. , Bernauer F. , Shiro B. , Johanson I. , Guattari F. , Igel H.
Published: February 2020

Near‐field recordings of large earthquakes and volcano‐induced events using traditional seismological instrumentation often suffer from unaccounted effects of local tilt and saturation of signals. Recent hardware advances have led to the development of the blueSeis‐3A, a very broadband, highly sensitive rotational motion sensor. We installed this sensor in close proximity to permanently deployed classical instrumentation (i.e., translational seismometer, accelerometer, and tiltmeter) at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS). There, we were able to record three ~Mw 5 earthquakes associated with large collapse events during the later phase of the 2018 Kīlauea summit eruption. Located less than 2 km from the origins of these sources, the combined six‐axis translational and rotational measurements revealed clear static rotations around all three coordinate axes. With these six component recordings, we have been able to reconstruct the complete time history of ground motion of a fixed point during an earthquake for the first time.
High‐Accuracy Near‐Infrared Carbon Dioxide Intensity Measurements to Support Remote Sensing
Authors: Long D. A. , Reed Z. D. , Fleisher A. J. , Mendonca J. , Roche S. , Hodges J. T.
Published: February 2020

Two cavity ring‐down spectrometers were employed to accurately measure line intensities in a series of near‐infrared carbon dioxide bands including (30012) ← (00001), (30013) ← (00001), and (30014) ← (00001) near 1.6 μm. Relative combined standard uncertainties for these band intensities were less than 0.1% and showed significant, percent‐level deviations with respect to many existing spectroscopic databases (although close agreement was observed with the HITRAN 2016 database in the (30013) ← (00001) and (30014) ← (00001) bands). Further, the resulting line intensities were utilized in Total Carbon Column Observing Network retrievals and led to significantly reduced biases in the (30012) ← (00001) and (30013) ← (00001) bands. These results indicate that refinements of spectroscopic databases are required to meet the accuracy targets of both ground‐ and satellite‐based remote sensing missions.
Observing U.S. Regional Variability in Lightning NO2 Production Rates
Authors: Lapierre Jeff L. , Laughner Joshua L. , Geddes Jeffrey A. , Koshak William J. , Cohen Ronald C. , Pusede Sally E.
Published: February 2020

Lightning is a large and variable source of nitrogen oxides (NOx ≡ NO + NO2) to the upper troposphere. Precise estimates of lightning NOx (LNOx) production rates are needed to constrain tropospheric oxidation chemistry; however, controls over LNOx variability are poorly understood. Here, we describe an observational analysis of variability in LNO2 with lightning type by exploiting U.S. regional differences in lightning characteristics in the Southeast, South Central, and North Central United States. We use satellite NO2 measurements from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument with Berkeley High Resolution vertical column densities, a combined lightning data set derived from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network and National Lightning Detection NetworkTM measurements, and hourly winds from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts climate reanalysis data set (ERA5) over May–August 2014–2015. We find evidence that cloud‐to‐ground (CG) strokes produce a factor of 9–11 more NO2 than intracloud (IC) strokes for storms with stroke rates of at least 2,800 strokes·cell−1·hr−1. We show that regional differences in LNO2 production rates are generally consistent with regional patterns CG and IC stroke frequency and stroke current density. A comparison of stroke‐based and flash‐based CG/IC LNO2 estimates suggests that CG LNO2 is potentially underestimated when derived with flash data due to the operational definition of CG lightning. We find that differences in peak current explain a large portion of CG/IC LNO2 variability, but that other factors must also be important, including minimum stroke rate. Because IC and CG strokes produce NOx in distinct areas of the atmosphere, we test the sensitivity of our results against the atmospheric NO2 vertical distribution assumed in the a priori profiles; we show that the relative CG to IC LNO2 was generally insensitive to the assumed NO2 vertical distribution.
Environmental Controls on Tropical Sea Breeze Convection and Resulting Aerosol Redistribution
Authors: Park J. M. , van den Heever S. C. , Igel A. L. , Grant L. D. , Johnson J. S. , Saleeby S. M. , Miller S. D. , Reid J. S.
Published: February 2020

Sea breeze fronts propagate inland from the coastline, driving convective initiation and aerosol redistribution. Forecasting sea breezes is challenging due to uncertainties in the initial conditions, as well as the covariance and interaction of various meteorological and surface parameters. Using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System coupled to an interactive land‐surface model, we conduct an ensemble of 130 idealized cloud‐resolving simulations by simultaneously perturbing six atmospheric and four surface parameters describing the initial conditions. To identify the key parameters impacting the inland characteristics and the intensity of the sea breeze convection in a tropical rainforest, we apply statistical emulation and variance‐based sensitivity analysis techniques. This study extends a previous study which explored the impacts of various parameters on sea breeze characteristics in arid environments devoid of moist convection. Wind speed is identified as the main contributor to the inland extent, similar to the arid environment study. However, the relative impacts of surface properties on the inland extent are less significant in the moist environment where land‐surface heating can be suppressed via moist convective processes and vegetation‐atmosphere interactions. Two sea breeze‐initiated convection regimes are also identified: shallow and deep. Over the shallow regime, where convective available potential energy is limited, the inversion layer strength is the primary control of the convective intensity. Over the deep regime, boundary layer temperature exerts a robust control over the convective available potential energy and hence the convective intensity. The potential vertical redistribution of aerosols is closely related to the convective intensity.
A New Detailed Plasma‐Chemistry Model for the Potential Impact of Blue Jet Streamers on Atmospheric Chemistry
Authors: Xu C. , Huret N. , Garnung M. , Celestin S.
Published: February 2020

A detailed ion‐neutral chemistry model named MiPO‐Streamer model has been developed to simulate the impact of blue jet streamers on stratospheric chemistry. It is based on the MiPLaSMO model (Microphysical and Photochemical Lagrangian Stratospheric Model of Ozone) widely used over the last 20 years to interpret balloon and satellite measurements associated with stratospheric ozone. In this study, instead of using a reduced electric field with constant value during blue jet streamer discharge process, we used a time‐dependent reduced electric field coming from an explicit streamer model. The simulations are performed on daytime/nighttime and in 2‐day long‐term duration at 27 km where the catalytic cycle of NOx is the most efficient to destroy ozone. Among 117 species considered, we put the focus on nitrogen, oxygen, chlorine, and bromine species, and ozone perturbation. The model results indicate that the densities of neutral species through an electrodynamic streamer simulation show an impact of a factor 2 as compared to the pulse‐based simulation at 27 km.