bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of endoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal surgery on non‐functioning pituitary adenomas: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yu Shi‐Yuan , Du Qiu , Yao Si‐Yuan , Zhang Ke‐Nan , Wang Jian , Zhu Zhe , Jiang Xiao‐Bing
Published: January 2018

Both microscopic and endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery are effective approaches for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. The issue on the comparison of their efficacy and safety remains inconsistent. A thorough search of the literatures (PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE) were performed up to March 2017. Studies reporting outcomes of microscopic or endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery on nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas were included. A meta‐analysis was performed focusing on the early stage and long term outcomes. The final search yielded 19 eligible studies enrolling 3847 patients, 389 of them underwent microscopic approach and 3458 of them with endoscopic approach. As to the early stage outcomes, the rate of gross tumor resection was significantly higher in the endoscopic group than that in microscopic group (73% versus 60%, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, endoscopic approach showed priority over microscopy on postoperative hypopituitarism (63% versus 65%, P < 0.001) and CSF leakage (3% versus 7%, P < 0.001). For the long term outcomes, the rate of visual improvement was significant higher in the endoscopic group than that in microscopic group (77% versus 50%, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding the rate of permanent diabetic insipidus and meningitis. The endoscopic approach may be associated with higher rate of gross tumor movement and lower risk of postoperatively complications for treating nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma, when compared with microscopic approach. However, the confidence was shorted due to limited high quality evidence (largely randomized and controlled studies).
Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of TPH1 and TPH2 genes, and depressive disorders
Authors: Wigner Paulina , Czarny Piotr , Synowiec Ewelina , Bijak Michał , Białek Katarzyna , Talarowska Monika , Galecki Piotr , Szemraj Janusz , Sliwinski Tomasz
Published: January 2018

Tryptophan catabolites pathway disorders are observed in patients with depression. Moreover, single nucleotide polymorphisms of tryptophan hydroxylase genes may modulate the risk of depression occurrence. The objective of our study was to confirm the association between the presence of polymorphic variants of TPH1 and TPH2 genes, and the development of depressive disorders. Six polymorphisms were selected: c.804‐7C>A (rs10488682), c.‐1668T>A (rs623580), c.803+221C>A (rs1800532), c.‐173A>T (rs1799913)—TPH1, c.‐1449C>A (rs7963803), and c.‐844G>T (rs4570625)—TPH2. A total of 510 DNA samples (230 controls and 280 patients) were genotyped using TaqMan probes. Among the studied polymoorphisms, the G/G genotype and G allele of c.804‐7C>A—TPH1, the T/T homozygote of c.803+221C>A—TPH1, the A/A genotype and A allele of c.1668T>A—TPH1, the G/G homozygote and G allele of c.‐844G>T—TPH2, and the C/A heterozygote and A allele of c.‐1449C>A—TPH2 were associated with the occurrence of depression. However, the T/T homozygote of c.‐1668T>A—TPH1, the G/T heterozygote and T allele of c.‐844G>T—TPH2, and the C/C homozygote and C allele of c.‐1449C>A—TPH2 decreased the risk of development of depressive disorders. Each of the studied polymorphisms modulated the risk of depression for selected genotypes and alleles. These results support the hypothesis regarding the involvement of the pathway in the pathogenesis of depression.
How the dual process model of human cognition can inform efforts to de‐implement ineffective and harmful clinical practices: A preliminary model of unlearning and substitution
Authors: Helfrich Christian D. , Rose Adam J. , Hartmann Christine W. , van Bodegom‐Vos Leti , Graham Ian D. , Wood Suzanne J. , Majerczyk Barbara R. , Good Chester B. , Pogach Leonard M. , Ball Sherry L. , Au David H. , Aron David C.
Published: January 2018

Rationale and objectives

One way to understand medical overuse at the clinician level is in terms of clinical decision‐making processes that are normally adaptive but become maladaptive. In psychology, dual process models of cognition propose 2 decision‐making processes. Reflective cognition is a conscious process of evaluating options based on some combination of utility, risk, capabilities, and/or social influences. Automatic cognition is a largely unconscious process occurring in response to environmental or emotive cues based on previously learned, ingrained heuristics. De‐implementation strategies directed at clinicians may be conceptualized as corresponding to cognition: (1) a process of unlearning based on reflective cognition and (2) a process of substitution based on automatic cognition.

Results

We define unlearning as a process in which clinicians consciously change their knowledge, beliefs, and intentions about an ineffective practice and alter their behaviour accordingly. Unlearning has been described as “the questioning of established knowledge, habits, beliefs and assumptions as a prerequisite to identifying inappropriate or obsolete knowledge underpinning and/or embedded in existing practices and routines.” We hypothesize that as an unintended consequence of unlearning strategies clinicians may experience “reactance,” ie, feel their professional prerogative is being violated and, consequently, increase their commitment to the ineffective practice.

We define substitution as replacing the ineffective practice with one or more alternatives. A substitute is a specific alternative action or decision that either precludes the ineffective practice or makes it less likely to occur.

Both approaches may work independently, eg, a substitute could displace an ineffective practice without changing clinicians' knowledge, and unlearning could occur even if no alternative exists. For some clinical practice, unlearning and substitution strategies may be most effectively used together.

Conclusions

By taking into account the dual process model of cognition, we may be able to design de‐implementation strategies matched to clinicians' decision‐making processes and avoid unintended consequence.
Disaggregating LWOP: Life Without Parole, Capital Punishment, and Mass Incarceration in Florida, 1972–1995
Authors: Seeds Christopher
Published: January 2018

Over the past 40 years, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (LWOP) has been transformed from a rare sanction and marginal practice of last resort into a routine punishment in the United States. Two general theses—one depicting LWOP as a direct outgrowth of death penalty abolition; another collapsing LWOP into the tough-on-crime sentencing policy of the mass incarceration era—serve as working explanations for this phenomenon. In the absence of in-depth studies, however, there has been little evidence for carefully evaluating these narratives. This article provides a state-level historical analytic account of LWOP's rise by looking to Florida—the state that uses LWOP more than any other—to explicate LWOP's specific processes and forms. Recounting LWOP's history in a series of critical junctures, the article identifies a different stimulus, showing how LWOP precipitated as Florida translated major structural upheavals that broke open traditional ways of doing and thinking about punishment. In doing so, the article reveals LWOP to be a multilayered product of incremental change, of many, sometimes disjointed and indirectly conversant, pieces. Presenting LWOP as the product of a variety of penal logics, including those prioritizing fairness and efficiency, the article more generally illustrates how very severe punishments can arise from reforms without primarily punitive purposes and in ways that were not necessarily planned.
Identifying behavioral states and habitat use of acoustically tracked humpback whales in Hawaii
Authors: Elizabeth Henderson E. , Helble Tyler A. , Ierley Glenn , Martin Steve
Published: January 2018

Although humpback whales have been well‐studied on their Hawaiian breeding grounds, it is difficult to track individual animals over long distances without tags, particularly when they move offshore. Here, singing humpback whales were localized in three dimensions on the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Kauai, Hawaii, located between 20 km and 80 km offshore, from January 2011 through June 2014. Detailed behavioral analyses were conducted on the resulting tracks. One hundred and eight individual tracks were identified and metrics of these tracks were examined. Using these metrics, the tracks were classified into four behavior categories, described herein as Directed Travel, Repeated Stationary Dives, Mill, and tracks with Combinations of behavioral states. Some diel and seasonal patterns were identified, with Mill tracks occurring more at night than the other behaviors, Repeated Stationary Dive tracks occurring more during the day, and Directed Travel occurring only at the start and end of the breeding season. These results provide detailed insights into the movement of singing humpback whales, particularly in offshore waters where they may be migrating into or out of breeding grounds. This also contributes valuable information on the baseline behavior of humpback whales on a US Navy training range.
Pediatric psoriasis: Evolving perspectives
Authors: Eichenfield Lawrence F. , Paller Amy S. , Tom Wynnis L. , Sugarman Jeffrey , Hebert Adelaide A. , Friedlander Sheila Fallon , Siegfried Elaine , Silverberg Nanette , Cordoro Kelly M.
Published: January 2018

Background/Objectives

Childhood‐onset psoriasis is a common skin disorder that has recently received increasing attention, particularly because of its significant medical, social, financial, and psychological burdens and its associated comorbidities. With limited data available and lack of standardized management guidelines for pediatric psoriasis, an expert panel desired to provide an updated critical overview and practical guidance for management of the affected population.

Methods

A panel of pediatric dermatologists with extensive experience in pediatric psoriasis defined and prioritized a core set of topics, performed an English‐language literature review, prepared critical evaluations and presentations of topic areas, and carried out a consensus meeting and follow‐up consensus manuscript.

Results

The summation of evolving perspectives in pediatric psoriasis includes epidemiology and natural history of the disease, precipitating factors and comorbidities, quality of life and burden of disease, clinical features and disease presentation, differential diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment, including topical, photo, and systemic therapies.

Conclusion

Pediatric psoriasis is an important immune‐mediated inflammatory skin disease with potential for significant impact on affected individuals and their caregivers. Current state‐of‐the‐art care is based primarily on experience and expert consensus, but pediatric data are accumulating and therapeutic options are rapidly evolving.
Seed limitation, not soil legacy effects, prevents native understorey from establishing in oak woodlands in Scotland after removal of Rhododendron ponticum
Authors: Maclean Janet E. , Mitchell Ruth J. , Burslem David F. R. P. , Genney David , Hall Jeanette , Pakeman Robin J.
Published: January 2018

Following removal of the invasive species Rhododendron ponticum, the native understorey plant community typically fails to reestablish itself. Potential explanations for this failure include (1) lack of an appropriate native seed source; (2) inability of seed to penetrate a dense bryophyte layer; and (3) persistence of chemical “legacy effects” in the soil. We established an experiment to test these competing hypotheses in an Atlantic oak woodland where R. ponticum had been removed. The following experimental treatments were applied singly and in combination: (1) addition of a native seed mix to test for seed limitation; (2) removal of the established ground vegetation at the start of the experiment (which principally consisted of bryophytes) to test for the impact of a barrier layer; (3) addition of activated carbon to test for chemical legacy effects in the soil; and (4) fertilization as an additional measure to promote the establishment of native vascular plants. Application of the native seed mix was revealed to be an effective way to increase the cover of native vascular plants and was particularly effective when applied after the removal of the bryophyte layer. The application of activated carbon and/or fertilizer, however, had no effect on the cover of native vegetation. We conclude that reports of R. ponticum exerting chemical legacy effects long after its removal may have been overstated and that seed limitation and inability to successfully establish in a dense bryophyte layer provided the strongest barriers to natural recolonization by the native plant community following R. ponticum removal.
Regulating factory safety in the Bangladeshi garment industry
Authors: James Philip , Miles Lilian , Croucher Richard , Houssart Mark
Published: January 2018

This paper examines how far the workplace inspection program established under the 2013 Accord on Fire and Building Safety has served to improve safety in Bangladesh garment factories, and the extent to which its operation has been influenced by factors that the literature suggests are important in shaping the outcomes of private regulatory initiatives. The findings suggest that such regulation can generate positive outcomes, even in the absence of strong public regulatory support. They also caution against discounting the role of compliance‐based enforcement strategies, while highlighting the importance of their adequate resourcing and transparency. Some support is also offered for the argument that such regulatory initiatives could directly influence the market dynamics that shape supplier working conditions.
‘She is looking at me! Shall I share?’ How Chinese and American preschoolers respond to eye gaze during sharing
Authors: Wu Zhen , Chen Xi , Gros‐Louis Julie , Su Yanjie
Published: January 2018

Previous research shows that the recipient's verbal communication about desires increases young children's sharing behavior. The current study examined how an adult partner's non‐verbal communication through eye gaze influenced sharing behavior in children from different cultures. We presented one hundred forty‐six 3‐ to 5‐year‐old American and Chinese children with a Dictator Game, in which they were asked to distribute resources between themselves and an experimenter. Children were randomly assigned to three conditions, in which the experimenter alternated her gaze between the child and the items that she wanted, or looked randomly around the room, or left when the child made decisions about sharing but claimed to come back later. Results showed that Chinese children shared more than American children did in the alternating‐gaze condition, but not in the other two conditions; furthermore, the experimenter's alternating gaze influenced Chinese children to be more generous, but had no significant effect on American children. This suggests that compared to American children, Chinese children may be more compliant with others’ requests communicated through a subtle cue of eye gaze. The study demonstrates important differences in sharing behaviors between American and Chinese preschoolers, and these differences are consistent with the cultural constructs of individualism and collectivism.
Ca
2+
-dependent demethylation of phosphatase PP2Ac promotes glucose deprivation–induced cell death independently of inhibiting glycolysis
Authors: Lee Ha Yin , Itahana Yoko , Schuechner Stefan , Fukuda Masahiro , Je H. Shawn , Ogris Egon , Virshup David M. , Itahana Koji
Published: January 2018

Glucose starvation triggers cell death through a calcium-dependent signaling pathway independently of cell energy metabolism.
Characterization of the Preclinical Pharmacology of the New 2-Aminomethylphenol, JPC-3210, for Malaria Treatment and Prevention
Authors: Birrell Geoffrey W. , Heffernan Gavin D. , Schiehser Guy A. , Anderson John , Ager Arba L. , Morales Pablo , MacKenzie Donna , van Breda Karin , Chavchich Marina , Jacobus Laura R. , Shanks G. Dennis , Jacobus David P. , Edstein Michael D.
Published: January 2018

The new 2-aminomethylphenol, JPC-3210, has potent
in vitro
antimalarial activity against multidrug-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
lines, low cytotoxicity, and high
in vivo
efficacy against murine malaria. Here we report on the pharmacokinetics of JPC-3210 in mice and monkeys and the results of
in vitro
screening assays, including the inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isozymes. In mice, JPC-3210 was rapidly absorbed and had an extensive tissue distribution, with a brain tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio of about 5.4. JPC-3210 had a lengthy plasma elimination half-life of about 4.5 days in mice and 11.8 days in monkeys. JPC-3210 exhibited linear single-oral-dose pharmacokinetics across the dose range of 5 to 40 mg/kg of body weight with high oral bioavailability (∼86%) in mice. Systemic blood exposure of JPC-3210 was 16.6% higher in
P. berghei
-infected mice than in healthy mice.
In vitro
studies with mice and human hepatocytes revealed little metabolism and the high metabolic stability of JPC-3210. The abundance of human metabolites from oxidation and glucuronidation was 2.0% and 2.5%, respectively. CYP450 studies in human liver microsomes showed JPC-3210 to be an inhibitor of CYP2D6 and, to a lesser extent, CYP3A4 isozymes, suggesting the possibility of a metabolic drug-drug interaction with drugs that are metabolized by these isozymes.
In vitro
studies showed that JPC-3210 is highly protein bound to human plasma (97%). These desirable pharmacological findings of a lengthy blood elimination half-life, high oral bioavailability, and low metabolism as well as high
in vivo
potency have led the Medicines for Malaria Venture to select JPC-3210 (MMV892646) for further advanced preclinical development.
Diaphorina citri Nymphs Are Resistant to Morphological Changes Induced by “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” in Midgut Epithelial Cells
Authors: Mann Marina , Fattah-Hosseini Somayeh , Ammar El-Desouky , Stange Richard , Warrick EricaRose , Sturgeon Kasie , Shatters Robert , Heck Michelle
Published: January 2018

“
Candidatus
Liberibacter asiaticus” is the causative bacterium associated with citrus greening disease. “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” is transmitted by
Diaphorina citri
more efficiently when it is acquired by nymphs rather than adults. Why this occurs is not known. We compared midguts of
D. citri
insects reared on healthy or “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus”-infected citrus trees using quantitative PCR, confocal microscopy, and mitochondrial superoxide staining for evidence of oxidative stress. Consistent with its classification as propagative, “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” titers were higher in adults than in nymphs. Our previous work showed that adult
D. citri
insects have basal levels of karyorrhexis (fragmentation of the nucleus) in midgut epithelial cells, which is increased in severity and frequency in response to “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus.” Here, we show that nymphs exhibit lower levels of early-stage karyorrhexis than adults and are refractory to the induction of advanced karyorrhexis by “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” in the midgut epithelium. MitoSox Red staining showed that guts of infected adults, particularly males, experienced oxidative stress in response to “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus.” A positive correlation between the titers of “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” and the
Wolbachia
endosymbiont was observed in adult and nymph midguts, suggesting an interplay between these bacteria during development. We hypothesize that the resistance of the nymph midgut to late-stage karyorrhexis through as yet unknown molecular mechanisms benefits “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” for efficient invasion of midgut epithelial cells, which may be a factor explaining the developmental dependency of “
Ca
. Liberibacter asiaticus” acquisition by the vector.
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Mutant with Point Mutations in
UL39
Is Impaired for Acute Viral Replication in Mice, Establishment of Latency, and Explant-Induced Reactivation
Authors: Mostafa Heba H. , Thompson Thornton W. , Konen Adam J. , Haenchen Steve D. , Hilliard Joshua G. , Macdonald Stuart J. , Morrison Lynda A. , Davido David J.
Published: January 2018

In the process of generating herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) mutations in the viral regulatory gene encoding infected cell protein 0 (ICP0), we isolated a viral mutant, termed KOS-NA, that was severely impaired for acute replication in the eyes and trigeminal ganglia (TG) of mice, defective in establishing a latent infection, and reactivated poorly from explanted TG. To identify the secondary mutation(s) responsible for the impaired phenotypes of this mutant, we sequenced the KOS-NA genome and noted that it contained two nonsynonymous mutations in
UL39
, which encodes the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, ICP6. These mutations resulted in lysine-to-proline (residue 393) and arginine-to-histidine (residue 950) substitutions in ICP6. To determine whether alteration of these amino acids was responsible for the KOS-NA phenotypes
in vivo
, we recombined the wild-type UL39 gene into the KOS-NA genome and rescued its acute replication phenotypes in mice. To further establish the role of
UL39
in KOS-NA's decreased pathogenicity, the
UL39
mutations were recombined into HSV-1 (generating UL39
mut
), and this mutant virus showed reduced ocular and TG replication in mice comparable to that of KOS-NA. Interestingly, ICP6 protein levels were reduced in KOS-NA-infected cells relative to the wild-type protein. Moreover, we observed that KOS-NA does not counteract caspase 8-induced apoptosis, unlike wild-type strain KOS. Based on alignment studies with other HSV-1 ICP6 homologs, our data suggest that amino acid 950 of ICP6 likely plays an important role in ICP6 accumulation and inhibition of apoptosis, consequently impairing HSV-1 pathogenesis in a mouse model of HSV-1 infection.

IMPORTANCE
HSV-1 is a major human pathogen that infects ∼80% of the human population and can be life threatening to infected neonates or immunocompromised individuals. Effective therapies for treatment of recurrent HSV-1 infections are limited, which emphasizes a critical need to understand in greater detail the events that modulate HSV-1 replication and pathogenesis. In the current study, we identified a neuroattenuated HSV-1 mutant (i.e., KOS-NA) that contains novel mutations in the UL39 gene, which codes for the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (also known as ICP6). This mutant form of ICP6 was responsible for the attenuation of KOS-NA
in vivo
and resulted in diminished ICP6 protein levels and antiapoptotic effect. Thus, we have determined that subtle alteration of the UL39 gene regulates expression and functions of ICP6 and severely impacts HSV-1 pathogenesis, potentially making KOS-NA a promising vaccine candidate against HSV-1.
Functional Analysis of the Dengue Virus Genome Using an Insertional Mutagenesis Screen
Authors: Perry Jeffrey W. , Chen Yanhua , Speliotes Elizabeth , Tai Andrew W.
Published: January 2018

In the last few decades, dengue virus, an arbovirus, has spread to over 120 countries. Although a vaccine has been approved in some countries, limitations on its effectiveness and a lack of effective antiviral treatments reinforce the need for additional research. The functions of several viral nonstructural proteins are essentially unknown. To better understand the functions of these proteins and thus dengue virus pathogenesis, we embarked on a genomewide transposon mutagenesis screen with next-generation sequencing to determine sites in the viral genome that tolerate 15-nucleotide insertions. Using this approach, we generated support for several published predicted transmembrane and enzymatic domains. Next, we created 7 mutants containing the 15-nucleotide insertion from the original selection and found 6 of them were capable of replication in both mammalian and mosquito tissue culture cells. Interestingly, one mutation had a significant impairment of viral assembly, and this mutation may lead to a better understanding of viral assembly and release. In addition, we created a fully infectious virus expressing a functionally tagged NS4B protein, which will provide a much-needed tool to elucidate the role of NS4B in viral pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE
Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne virus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions globally that can result in hospitalization and even death in some cases. Although a vaccine exists, its limitations and a lack of approved antiviral treatments highlight our limited understanding of dengue virus pathogenesis and host immunity. The functions of many viral proteins are poorly understood. We used a previously published approach using transposon mutagenesis to develop tools to study these proteins' functions by adding insertions randomly throughout the viral genomes. These genomes were transferred into cells, and infectious progeny were recovered to determine sites that tolerated insertions, as only the genomes that tolerated insertions would be able to propagate. Using these results, we created viruses with epitope tags, one in the viral structural protein Capsid and one in the viral nonstructural protein NS4B. Further investigation of these mutants may elucidate the roles of Capsid and NS4B during dengue virus infections.
Intratumoural heterogeneity may hinder precision medicine strategies in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Raspollini Maria Rosaria , Montagnani Ilaria , Montironi Rodolfo , Castiglione Francesca , Martignoni Guido , Cheng Liang , Lopez-Beltran Antonio
Published: January 2018

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an heterogeneous tumour at architectural, cellular and molecular level, a reason why the 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology consensus recommended wide sampling of RCC masses to include at least 1 block/cm of tumour together with perpendicular sections of the tumour/perinephric fat interface and the tumour/renal sinus interface. Intratumoural molecular heterogeneity may be a limitation at the moment of defining precision medicine strategies based on gene mutation status. This study analyses the presence of any mutation ofKRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, ALK, ERBB2, DDR2, MAP2K1, RETandEGFRgenes in 20 tissue blocks from a case of ccRCC and its metastasis. We observed the presence of the mutation at pH1047R ofPIK3CAgene in five samples of the tumour, while the remaining 15 samples did not show any mutation atPIK3CAor any other investigated gene. There is a great need to develop novel RCC sampling strategies to overcome tumour heterogeneity prior to define precision oncology strategies.
Transradial cerebral angiography: techniques and outcomes
Authors: Snelling Brian M , Sur Samir , Shah Sumedh S , Khandelwal Priyank , Caplan Justin , Haniff Rianna , Starke Robert M , Yavagal Dileep R , Peterson Eric C
Published: January 2018

Background

Despite several retrospective studies analyzing the safety and efficacy of transradial access (TRA) versus transfemoral access (TFA) for cerebral angiography, this transition for neurointerventional procedures has been gradual. Nonetheless, based on our positive initial institutional experience with TRA for mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients, we have started transitioning more of our cerebral angiography cases to TRA. Here we present our single institution experience.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients receiving TRA cerebral angiography at our institution between January 2016 and February 2017. We present our experience transitioning from TFA to TRA, including our criteria for patient selection, technical nuances, patient experience, complications, and operator learning curve.

Results

We included 148 angiograms performed in 141 people by one of four operators. No major complications were observed, and the technical success of the procedures was consistent with those of TFA. Marked improvement in operator efficiency was achieved in a short number of cases during this transition when looking at operator proficiency as a function of angiograms performed and days of exposure to TRA (4.3 vs 3.6 min/vessel, P<0.05).

Conclusions

Safety and efficiency can be preserved while transitioning to TRA. While further investigation is necessary to support transition to TRA, these findings should call for a re-evaluation of the role of TRA in catheter cerebral angiography.
Exercise is Medicine Canada physical activity counselling and exercise prescription training improves counselling, prescription, and referral practices among physicians across Canada
Authors: Fowles Jonathon R. , O’Brien Myles W. , Solmundson Kara , Oh Paul I. , Shields Chris A.
Published: January 2018

Exercise is Medicine Canada (EIMC) is an initiative that promotes physical activity (PA) counselling and exercise prescription within health care. The purpose of this study was to compare physicians’ perceptions and practices around PA counselling and exercise prescription following EIMC training. Physicians (n = 46) from 7 different provinces completed questionnaires initially and 3 months following an EIMC workshop. Three months after intervention, physicians reported greater confidence compared with baseline for providing physical activity and exercise (PAE) information to patients (79% vs 55%; p < 0.001), assessing patients’ PAE (69% vs 44%, p = 0.005), answering patients’ PAE questions (78% vs 54%, p < 0.001), providing PAE advice (71% vs 43%, p < 0.001), and identifying which patients would benefit from referral to qualified exercise professionals (77% vs 52%, p = 0.002). At follow-up, physicians reported PA prescription barriers as less impactful (out of 4; all p < 0.05), including perceived patients’ lack of interest (2.75 to 2.25), lack of available resources (2.59 to 2.00), and lack of time (2.41 to 2.14). The proportion of physicians providing written exercise prescriptions increased from 20% to 74%. This study suggests that the completion of a 1-day EIMC workshop increases physicians’ confidence, knowledge, and counselling behaviours of physicians in prescribing PAE.
The CXCL12–CXCR4 axis promotes migration, invasiveness, and EMT in human papillary thyroid carcinoma B-CPAP cells via NF-κB signaling
Authors: Lin Yuanqiang , Ma Qingjie , Li Lin , Wang Hui
Published: January 2018

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy involving local and distant metastasis. It is known that CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) interacts specifically with CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) to guide the migration of PTC cells. However, the signaling pathway downstream of the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis in PTC is not fully understood. In the present study, high expression of CXCR4 was detected in 38 out of 82 specimens of PTC, and the expression level of CXCR4 significantly correlated with the stage of PTC. Additionally, the roles of the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis in the migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of B-CPAP cells were investigated in vitro. The motility and invasiveness were significantly enhanced in CXCR4-overexpressing B-CPAP cells with CXCL12 treatment. Moreover, the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis promoted the EMT process, as evidenced by a decreased level of E-cadherin and increased expressions of N-cadherin and vimentin. Furthermore, the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis activated the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, whereas BAY11-7082, an IκB phosphorylation inhibitor, counteracted CXCL12–CXCR4-induced migration, invasion, and EMT processes in B-CPAP cells. In conclusion, the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis promotes the migration, invasion, and EMT processes in B-CPAP cells, at least partly, by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
A morphometric comparison of three closely related species of Gentiana (Gentianaceae), endemic to the region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: Ni Liang-Hong , Zhao Zhi-Li
Published: January 2018

Gentiana section Cruciata (Gentianaceae) is mainly found on alpine mountains across Eurasia, with the greatest species diversity occurring on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk. and the closely related species Gentiana robusta King ex Hook. f. and Gentiana tibetica King ex Hook. f. in sect. Cruciata show extremely high morphological similarity, which could be one of the main reasons for their misidentification. This study targets the authentication of the three closely related species in section Cruciata using morphometric analysis of flower shape. We collected 130 individuals in 14 populations of G. crassicaulis, 38 individuals in 12 populations of G. tibetica, and 45 individuals in 13 populations of G. robusta throughout the respective geographical ranges of the species. We used the parameters for bract length (l1), bract width (w1), inflorescence circumference (c), inflorescence width (w2), calyx length (l2), and corolla length (l3) to quantify the flower shape. The analyses showed that the parameters Rb (l1/w1), Ri (w1/w2), and l3 were significantly different between two of the species: G. crassicaulis and G. tibetica could be identified through corolla length, and although very similar to G. crassicaulis and G. tibetica, G. robusta is distinguishable using the parameters Rb and Ri.
Models to predict total phosphorus concentrations in coastal embayments of eastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
Authors: Campbell Stuart D. , Chow-Fraser Patricia
Published: January 2018

Several coastal embayments of eastern Georgian Bay show signs of water-quality impairment thought to be caused by human activities. Here, we evaluate the ability of the Lakeshore Capacity Model (LCM), developed for Precambrian Shield lakes, to assess the impact of cottage development on the trophic status of ten Georgian Bay embayments. The LCM could only be applied to eight embayments due to the large size and complexity of two watersheds and produced unacceptably high estimates of mean seasonal total phosphorus concentrations ([TP]; i.e., exceeded 20% of measured values for five of eight embayments); accuracy of [TP] estimates could not be improved by accounting for internal phosphorus loading. We developed an additional model, the Anthro-Geomorphic Model (AGM), which uses building density and basin morphometry as variables. Estimates of [TP] for the AGM were within 20% of measured values for all sites. Compared with other aquatic systems, coastal embayments of Georgian Bay have significantly higher chlorophyll a concentrations per unit [TP]; we suggest that the TP–chlorophyll relationship presented in this study be used to estimate productivity in these systems.
Chen Ning Yang’s New Contributions After He Returned to Where He Started
Authors: Zhu Bang-Fen
Published: January 2018

Chen Ning Yang returned to Tsinghua University as a full professor in 2003. Regarding the fact that very few people know what Professor Yang has contributed to science and to China after his return, in this article new contributions of Chen Ning Yang are introduced as far as the author knows, including his leading role in China’s sciences, the research in statistical physics, the role in cultivating gifted students, his research in history of science, and all other aspects relating to China’s developments.
Canonical simulations with worldlines: An exploratory study in ϕ24 lattice field theory
Authors: Orasch Oliver , Gattringer Christof
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we explore the perspectives for canonical simulations in the worldline formulation of a lattice field theory. Using the charged [Formula: see text] field in two dimensions as an example, we present the details of the canonical formulation based on worldlines and outline the algorithmic strategies for canonical worldline simulations. We discuss the steps for converting the data from the canonical approach to the grand canonical picture which we use for cross-checking our results. The canonical approach presented here can easily be generalized to other lattice field theories with a worldline representation.
Enabling Interactive Infrastructure with Body Channel Communication
Authors: Varga Virag , Vakulya Gergely , Sample Alanson , Gross Thomas R.
Published: January 2018

Body channel communication (BCC) uses the human body to carry signals, and therefore provides communication and localization that are directly tied to human presence and actions. Previous BCC systems were expensive, could operate only in a laboratory, or only focused on special use cases. We present here an end-to-end BCC system that is designed for ambient intelligence. We introduce the BCC infrastructure that consists of portable devices (e.g., a simple sphere), mobile devices (e.g., a smartwatch-like wristband), and stationary devices (e.g., floor/wall tiles). We also describe the core technology that is used in each of these units. The TouchCom hardware-software platform is a simple transceiver with software-centered processing. The focus on software (even the implementation of the physical layer is based on software) allows the adaptivity that is necessary to operate a BCC-based system in practice. The paper describes the design and a prototype implementation of the TouchCom-based interactive infrastructure and provides evidence that this BCC infrastructure works for different persons and different setups. The system provides moderate bandwidth (about 3.5 kb/s) that is suitable for several usage scenarios like games, localization, and identification. The implemented demonstrations illustrate the benefits these applications gain when touching an object is tied to communication.
Mitigating Bystander Privacy Concerns in Egocentric Activity Recognition with Deep Learning and Intentional Image Degradation
Authors: Dimiccoli Mariella , Marín Juan , Thomaz Edison
Published: January 2018

Recent advances in wearable camera technology and computer vision algorithms have greatly enhanced the automatic capture and recognition of human activities in real-world settings. While the appeal and utility of wearable camera devices for human-behavior understanding is indisputable, privacy concerns have limited the broader adoption of this method. To mitigate this problem, we propose a deep learning-based approach that recognizes everyday activities in egocentric photos that have been intentionally degraded in quality to preserve the privacy of bystanders. An evaluation on 2 annotated datasets collected in the field with a combined total of 84,078 egocentric photos showed activity recognition performance with accuracy between 79% and 88% across 17 and 21 activity classes when the images were subjected to blurring (mean filter k=20). To confirm that image degradation does indeed raise the perception of bystander privacy, we conducted a crowd sourced validation study with 640 participants; it showed a statistically significant positive relationship between the amount of image degradation and participants' willingness to be captured by wearable cameras. This work contributes to the field of privacy-sensitive activity recognition with egocentric photos by highlighting the trade-off between perceived bystander privacy protection and activity recognition performance.
Smartphone App Usage Prediction Using Points of Interest
Authors: Yu Donghan , Li Yong , Xu Fengli , Zhang Pengyu , Kostakos Vassilis
Published: January 2018

In this paper we present the first population-level, city-scale analysis of application usage on smartphones. Using deep packet inspection at the network operator level, we obtained a geo-tagged dataset with more than 6 million unique devices that launched more than 10,000 unique applications across the city of Shanghai over one week. We develop a technique that leverages transfer learning to predict which applications are most popular and estimate the whole usage distribution based on the Point of Interest (POI) information of that particular location. We demonstrate that our technique has an 83.0% hitrate in successfully identifying the top five popular applications, and a 0.15 RMSE when estimating usage with just 10% sampled sparse data. It outperforms by about 25.7% over the existing state-of-the-art approaches. Our findings pave the way for predicting which apps are relevant to a user given their current location, and which applications are popular where. The implications of our findings are broad: it enables a range of systems to benefit from such timely predictions, including operating systems, network operators, appstores, advertisers, and service providers.
Pentose phosphate pathway activity parallels lipogenesis but not antioxidant processes in rat liver
Authors: Jin Eunsook S. , Lee Min Hee , Murphy Rebecca E. , Malloy Craig R.
Published: January 2018

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is widely assumed to play a key role in both reductive biosynthesis and protection from oxidative stress because it is the major source of NADPH. However, little is known about the activity of the PPP in fatty liver, which is characterized by both oxidative stress and lipogenesis. This study was designed to test whether the PPP is active in parallel with lipogenesis and antioxidant processes in the fatty liver of whole animals. Eight- and 16-wk-old obese Zucker diabetic fatty rats and their lean littermates received [U-13C3]glycerol, and 13C labeling patterns of glucose and triglycerides were analyzed for the assessment of hepatic PPP activity and the potentially related processes simultaneously. Oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, and NADPH-producing enzymes in the liver were further examined. Both PPP activity and lipogenesis increased in the fatty liver of young obese Zucker rats but decreased together in older obese Zucker rats. As expected, lipid peroxidation measured by malondialdehyde increased in the fatty liver of obese Zucker rats at both ages. However, evidence for antioxidant processes such as [glutathione] or activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase was not altered. Hepatic PPP activity paralleled lipogenesis but was dissociated from biomarkers of oxidative stress or antioxidant processes. In summary, NADPH from the PPP was presumably consumed for reductive biosynthesis rather than antioxidant defense in the fatty liver.
Impact of Fitness Status on the Optically Measured Hemodynamic Indexes
Authors: Kuznik B. I. , Smolyakov Y. N. , Davydov S. O. , Tsybikov N. N. , Maksimova O. G. , Malinina A. V. , Shenkman L. , Kaminsky A. , Fine I.
Published: January 2018

The physiological characteristics of skin blood flow can be described in terms of the hemodynamic indices (HI). The HI is derived from the laser speckle characteristics, which are governed by the cutaneous blood flow. A miniaturized dynamic light-scattering sensor was used to measure the speckle pattern from the finger root. Three groups of subjects from 15 to 25 years of age were tested. The first group included subjects who are actively engaged in sport activities; the second group included subjects with low level of physical activity; and the third group included healthy controls with moderate physical activity. The HI parameters were measured prior to and after the performance of a determined physical load. As a marker of cardiovascular fitness (CVF), we used the postload decay rate of HI. We found that the hemodynamic response to the physical load provides a statistically significant correlation with the postload heart rate decay. It was also found that postocclusion increase of the arterial HI is more prominent in the group with higher physical activity. These results indicate that hemodynamic indices can be used as an additional marker for cardiovascular fitness level.
Performance Deterioration of Heavy-Haul Railway Bridges under Fatigue Loading Monitored by a Multisensor System
Authors: Yu Zhiwu , Shan Zhi , Yuan Ju , Li Xiao
Published: January 2018

Heavy-haul railway bridges play an increasingly essential role in the transportation in China due to the increasing transport volume. The performance deterioration of the scale models of a typical heavy-haul railway bridge under fatigue loading is monitored in this work, based on a multisensor system including the fiber-reinforced polymer optical fiber Bragg grating and electrical resistance strain gauges, linear variable displacement transducer, and accelerometer. Specifically, by monitoring/observing on the failure mode, fatigue life, load-midspan deflection response, material strain development, and so forth, this work develops an S-N model by comparing the relationship between fatigue life and rebar stress range with that between fatigue life and load level and proposes a damage evolution model considering the coupling of the stiffness degradation and inelastic deformation of specimens. It is found that the fatigue life of specimens is determined by the fatigue life of the rebar at the bottom and it may be lower than 2.0 million cycles with a 30-ton axle weight when environmental factors are taken into account. The predictions of the models agree well with experimental results. Therefore, this work furthers the understanding of the fatigue performance deterioration of the bridges by using a multisensor system.
Two- and Three-Dimensional Fast Intrawall Imaging with Microwave Tomographic Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Wenji , Hoorfar Ahmad , Thajudeen Christopher
Published: January 2018

A fast and efficient microwave tomographic algorithm is proposed for 2-D and 3-D real-time intrawall imaging. The exploding reflection model is utilized to simplify the imaging formulation, and the half-space Green’s function is expanded in the spectral domain to facilitate the easy implementation of the imaging algorithm with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). The linearization of the inversion scheme and employment of FFT/IFFT in the imaging formula make the algorithm suitable for various applications pertaining to the inspection of a large probed region and allow real-time processing. Representative numerical and experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm for real-time intrawall characterization.
Low Birth Weight, Cumulative Obesity Dose, and the Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Feng Cindy , Osgood Nathaniel D. , Dyck Roland F.
Published: January 2018

Background. Obesity history may provide a better understanding of the contribution of obesity to T2DM risk.Methods. 17,634 participants from the 1958 National Child Development Study were followed from birth to 50 years. Cumulative obesity dose, a measure of obesity history, was calculated by subtracting the upper cut-off of the normal BMI from the actual BMI at each follow-up and summing the areas under the obesity dose curve. Hazard ratios (HRs) for diabetes were calculated using Cox regression analysis. Three separate models compared the predictive ability of cumulative obesity dose on diabetes risk with the time-varying BMI and last BMI.Results. In final models, 341 of 15,043 (2.27%) participants developed diabetes; male sex and low birth weight were significant confounding variables. Adjusted HRs were 1.080 (95% CI: 1.071, 1.088) per 10-unit cumulative obesity dose, 1.098 (95% CI: 1.080, 1.117) per unit of the time-varying BMI, and 1.146 (95% CI: 1.084, 1.212) per unit of the last BMI. Cumulative obesity dose provided the best predictive ability for diabetes.Conclusions. Cumulative obesity dose is an improved method for evaluating the impact of obesity history on diabetes risk. The link between low birth weight and T2DM is strengthened by adjusting for cumulative obesity dose.