bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Islamic banking
Authors: Boubakri Narjess , Chen Ruiyuan Ryan , Guedhami Omrane , Li Xinming
Published: November 2019

The last two decades have witnessed a tremendous global growth in Islamic finance and banking, mainly prompted by the global financial crisis. This growth has been accompanied by an increasing interest among researchers, policymakers, managers of financial institutions, and the public about the functionalities of the Islamic banking system and how it differs from conventional banking. Against this backdrop, we start this chapter with an overview and assessment of the practice of Islamic banking around the world. Then, we discuss its primary characteristics, including its underlying principles and common financial products. Next, we review the key findings in the empirical literature on the differences between Islamic and conventional banking at the micro and macro levels. We conclude with a discussion of avenues for future research.
Bank Runs and Moral Hazard
Authors: Anginer Deniz , Demirgüç-Kunt Asli
Published: November 2019

Deposit insurance is a widely adopted policy to promote financial stability in the banking sector. Deposit insurance helps ensure depositor confidence in the financial system and prevents contagious bank runs, but it also comes with an unintended consequence of encouraging banks to take on excessive risk. In this chapter, we begin with a review of the economic costs and benefits associated with deposit insurance. Drawing on the recent literature, we then review and discuss optimal deposit insurance design and risk-based pricing of insurance premiums. Finally, we discuss the impact of the larger institutional environment on how well deposit insurance schemes work in practice.
Market Discipline in Regulation
Authors: Flannery Mark J. , Bliss Robert R.
Published: November 2019

With the introduction of Basel II in 2004, “market discipline” became one of the Basel Committee’s three pillars of prudential regulation. Although many academic papers have sought to test for the presence of effective market discipline in banking, few have dealt fully with the question. Effective market discipline involves two distinct steps: monitoring a bank’s condition and influencing it to avoid unacceptably large risks. Both phases of market discipline are necessary; neither one alone sufficient. In this chapter, we provide a careful definition of market discipline, explain how it may complement supervisory efforts to control an institution’s risk-taking, and review the available literature on the efficacy of market discipline. We also discuss how recent changes in supervisory actions toward failing banks has changed the channels through which market discipline will work going forward.
Banking in Latin America
Authors: De Carvalho Fernando J. Cardim , De Paula Luiz Fernando , Williams Jonathan
Published: November 2019

This chapter offers a unique portrayal of the evolution of banking in Latin America. We contextualize our analysis by providing a detailed assessment of how financial policy has evolved across the region beginning with development models of the post-1945 period. Events of the 1980s and 1990s are a source of recent developments, which we succinctly summarize as the financial deepening and growth of a market-oriented and more competitive environment. Specific developments include the repeal of state involvement in banking, and bank privatization including wider penetration of domestic banking by foreign banks. We examine the effects of consolidation on banking activity before considering the special role development banks have come to play, especially following the global financial crisis. Throughout the chapter, we present data to inform our comparative analysis across regional banking sectors, and between Latin America and other economies.
Paul and the Covenant
Authors: Welch John W. , Rennaker Jacob
Published: November 2019

This chapter examines the ways in which Paul utilizes the concept of covenant in his writings. It situates Paul’s usage of the term “covenant” (diathēkē) within the legal and religious contexts of covenants among ancient Israel. In noting the large variety of covenants in the Hebrew Bible, this chapter suggests that Paul’s use of covenant language and imagery reflects that same variety, and thus full treatments of Pauline texts dealing with covenant must be seen broadly in light of ancient Israelite covenant theology. Ultimately, this approach to Paul and the covenant requires a re-examination of his explicit references to covenant, and also a re-analysis of his writings for the sorts of language, concepts, and imagery that are regularly associated with covenants in the Hebrew Bible.
Supervised and unsupervised machine learning for automated scoring of sleep–wake and cataplexy in a mouse model of narcolepsy
Authors: Exarchos Ioannis , Rogers Anna A , Aiani Lauren M , Gross Robert E , Clifford Gari D , Pedersen Nigel P , Willie Jon T
Published: November 2019

Despite commercial availability of software to facilitate sleep–wake scoring of electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) in animals, automated scoring of rodent models of abnormal sleep, such as narcolepsy with cataplexy, has remained elusive. We optimize two machine-learning approaches, supervised and unsupervised, for automated scoring of behavioral states in orexin/ataxin-3 transgenic mice, a validated model of narcolepsy type 1, and additionally test them on wild-type mice. The supervised learning approach uses previously labeled data to facilitate training of a classifier for sleep states, whereas the unsupervised approach aims to discover latent structure and similarities in unlabeled data from which sleep stages are inferred. For the supervised approach, we employ a deep convolutional neural network architecture that is trained on expert-labeled segments of wake, non-REM sleep, and REM sleep in EEG/EMG time series data. The resulting trained classifier is then used to infer on the labels of previously unseen data. For the unsupervised approach, we leverage data dimensionality reduction and clustering techniques. Both approaches successfully score EEG/EMG data, achieving mean accuracies of 95% and 91%, respectively, in narcoleptic mice, and accuracies of 93% and 89%, respectively, in wild-type mice. Notably, the supervised approach generalized well on previously unseen data from the same animals on which it was trained but exhibited lower performance on animals not present in the training data due to inter-subject variability. Cataplexy is scored with a sensitivity of 85% and 57% using the supervised and unsupervised approaches, respectively, when compared to manual scoring, and the specificity exceeds 99% in both cases.
Juvenile Toxicity Rodent Model to Study Toxicological Effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) at Dose Levels Derived From Italian Children Biomonitoring Study
Authors: Tassinari Roberta , Narciso Laura , Tait Sabrina , Busani Luca , Martinelli Andrea , Di Virgilio Antonio , Carli Fabrizia , Deodati Annalisa , La Rocca Cinzia , Maranghi Francesca ,   LIFE PERSUADED Project Group, Valeri Mauro , Mancini Francesca Romana , Cianfarani Stefano , Germani Daniela , Gastaldelli Amalia , Barsotti Graziano , Ciociaro Demetrio , Latta Veronica Della , Distante Graziella , Gaggini Melania , Landi Patrizia , Toffol Giacomo
Published: November 2019

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticizer with endocrine disrupting properties particularly relevant for children health. Recently BPA has been associated with metabolic dysfunctions but no data are yet available in specific, long-term studies. This study aimed to evaluate BPA modes of action and hazards during animal juvenile life-stage, corresponding to childhood. Immature Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were orally treated with 0 (vehicle only—olive oil), 2, 6, and 18 mg/kg bw per day of BPA for 28 days, from weaning to sexual maturity. Dose levels were obtained from the PERSUADED biomonitoring study in Italian children. Both no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL)/low-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) and estimated benchmark dose (BMD) approaches were applied. General toxicity, parameters of sexual development, endocrine/reproductive/functional liver and kidney biomarkers, histopathology of target tissues, and gene expression in hypothalamic-pituitary area and liver were studied. No mortality or general toxicity occurred. Sex-specific alterations were observed in liver, thyroid, spleen, leptin/adiponectin serum levels, and hypothalamic-pituitary gene expression. Thyroid homeostasis and liver were the most sensitive targets of BPA exposure in the peripubertal phase. The proposed LOAEL was 2 mg/kg bw, considering as critical effect the liver endpoints, kidney weight in male and adrenal histomorphometrical alterations and osteopontin upregulation in female rats. The BMD lower bounds were 0.05 and 1.33 mg/kg bw in males and females, considering liver and thyroid biomarkers, respectively. Overall, BPA evaluation at dose levels derived from children biomonitoring study allowed to identify sex-specific, targeted toxicological effects that may have significant impact on risk assessment for children.
Extrapolating In Vitro Screening Assay Data for Thyroperoxidase Inhibition to Predict Serum Thyroid Hormones in the Rat
Authors: Hassan Iman , El-Masri Hisham , Ford Jermaine , Brennan Amanda , Handa Sakshi , Paul Friedman Katie , Gilbert Mary E
Published: November 2019

Thyroperoxidase (TPO) is an enzyme essential for thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis and a target site for a number of xenobiotics that disrupt TH homeostasis. An in vitro high-throughput screening assay for TPO inhibition, the Amplex UltraRed-TPO (AUR-TPO), has been used to screen the ToxCast chemical libraries for this action. Output from this assay would be most useful if it could be readily translated into an in vivo response, namely a reduction of TH in serum. To this end, the relationship between TPO inhibition in vitro and serum TH decreases was examined in rats exposed to 2 classic TPO inhibitors, propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI). Serum and gland PTU, MMI, and TH levels were quantified using tandem liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Thyroperoxidase activity was determined in thyroid gland microsomes treated with PTU or MMI in vitro and ex vivo from thyroid gland microsomes prepared from exposed animals. A quantitative model was constructed by contrasting in vitro and ex vivo AUR-TPO results and the in vivo time-course and dose-response analysis. In vitro:ex vivo correlations of AUR-TPO outputs indicated that less than 30% inhibition of TPO in vitro was sufficient to reduce serum T4 by 20%, a degree of regulatory significance. Although further testing of model estimates using other TPO inhibitors is essential for verification of these initial findings, the results of this study provide a means to translate in vitro screening assay results into predictions of in vivo serum T4 changes to inform risk assessment.
Commitment Decisions in EU Competition Enforcement: Policy Effectiveness v. the Formal Rule of Law
Authors: Stones Ryan
Published: November 2019

Marking the fifteenth anniversary of the entry into force of Regulation 1/2003, 2019 offers a vantage point from which to analyse the rise of commitment decisions as the primary enforcement mechanism for non-cartel competition law investigations at EU level. Commitment decisions, the closure of competition cases with a package of remedial obligations in response to Commission concerns, have an undeniable administrative appeal. They afford the Commission the absolute discretion to counteract any form of market conduct, whether beyond the pre-existing scope of the law deduced by the EU Courts from Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, or below exacting thresholds for prohibition of legally controversial business practices. Furthermore, the Commission can secure any remedial outcome, even if disproportionate or seemingly disconnected from its competitive concerns, to thereby redraw markets according to its idealized vision. In this regard, commitment decisions allow the Commission to achieve its policy goals with utmost effectiveness. Nevertheless, this article argues that such a method of market intervention represents a significant divergence from realizing the ideal of the formal rule of law in EU competition enforcement: normative certainty for businesses, facilitated by the equal application of generalized legal norms, which are subject to close oversight by courts. This offers an aspirational legal form of considerable political and economic value. Using commitment decisions to enforce EU competition policy via ad hoc, subject-specific decision making, conditional upon unforeseeable remedial obligations, is of systemic detriment to the legal comprehensibility of not just future Commission decision making, but the entire edifice of norms deduced from the Treaties by the EU Courts in this field. A rather relaxed approach to judicially reviewing the remedial proportionality of commitment decisions has partly contributed to this issue. However it is suggested that the EU Courts are largely unable to remedy the problems of novel theories of harm or subject-specific determinations, delivering upon their important residual role envisaged by the rule of law ideal, because of a factor mostly beyond their control: the lack of commitment decisions brought before them for review. To that end, the article concludes by recommending the automatic review of commitment decisions by the Courts. This would hopefully foster a more balanced reconciliation of effective policy achievement by the Commission and realization of the formal rule of law ideal in contemporary EU competition enforcement.
Expression of Cyp2c/Cyp2j subfamily members and oxylipin levels during LPS‐induced inflammation and resolution in mice
Authors: Graves Joan P. , Bradbury J. Alyce , Gruzdev Artiom , Li Hong , Duval Caroline , Lih Fred B. , Edin Matthew L. , Zeldin Darryl C.
Published: November 2019

Inflammatory stimuli, such as bacterial LPS, alter the expression of many cytochromes P450. CYP2C and CYP2J subfamily members actively metabolize fatty acids to bioactive eicosanoids, which exhibit potent anti‐inflammatory effects. Herein, we examined mRNA levels of the 15 mouse Cyp2c and 7 mouse Cyp2j isoforms in liver, kidney, duodenum, and brain over a 96‐h time course of LPS‐induced inflammation and resolution. Plasma and liver eicosanoid levels were also measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Expression changes in Cyp2c and Cyp2j isoforms were both isoform and tissue specific. Total liver Cyp2c and Cyp2j mRNA content was reduced by 80% 24 h after LPS but recovered to baseline levels by 96 h. Total Cyp2c and Cyp2j mRNA in kidney (‐19%) and duodenum (‐64%) were reduced 24 h after LPS but recovered above baseline by 72 h. Total Cyp2c and Cyp2j mRNA content in brain was elevated at all time points after LPS dosing. Plasma eicosanoids transiently increased 3‐6 h after administration of LPS. In liver, esterified oxylipin levels decreased during acute inflammation and before recovering. The biphasic suppression and recovery of mouse Cyp2c and Cyp2j isoforms and associated changes in eicosanoid levels during LPS‐induced inflammation and resolution may have important physiologic consequences.—Graves, J. P., Bradbury, J. A., Gruzdev, A., Li, H., Duval, C., Lih, F. B., Edin, M. L., Zeldin, D. C. Expression of Cyp2c/Cyp2j subfamily members and oxylipin levels during LPS‐induced inflammation and resolution in mice. FASEB J. 33, 14784‐14797 (2019). www.fasebj.org
Prognostic Factors for the Failure of Endometrial Ablation
Authors: Beelen Pleun , Reinders Imke M. A. , Scheepers Wessel F. W. , Herman Malou C. , Geomini Peggy M. A. J. , van Kuijk Sander M. J. , Bongers Marlies Y.
Published: November 2019

OBJECTIVE:

To provide an overview of prognostic factors predicting failure of second-generation endometrial ablation.

DATA SOURCES:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched from 1988 until February 2019. The search was conducted without language restrictions using the following search terms: “endometrial ablation,” “prognosis,” “predict,” “long term,” “late onset,” “outcome.”

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION:

The literature search provided a total of 990 studies. All types of studies reporting about prognostic factors of second-generation endometrial ablation failure were included.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS:

After screening for eligibility, 56 studies were included in this review, of which 21 were included in the meta-analysis. In these 56 studies, 157,830 women were included. We evaluated 10 prognostic factors: age, myomas, history of tubal ligation, body mass index, parity, preexisting dysmenorrhea, caesarean delivery, bleeding pattern, uterus position, and uterus length. Meta-analysis was performed for the primary outcome (surgical reintervention) to estimate summary treatment effects. Younger age (aged 35 years or younger, odds ratio [OR] 1.68, 95% CI 1.19–2.36; aged 40 years or younger, OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.30–1.93; aged 45 years or younger OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.28–2.07), prior tubal ligation (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.23–1.73), and preexisting dysmenorrhea (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.41–3.19) were associated with an increased risk of surgical reintervention. Studies investigating the prognostic factors myomas and obesity showed conflicting results.

CONCLUSION:

Younger age, prior tubal ligation and preexisting dysmenorrhea were found to be associated with failure of endometrial ablation. Obesity and the presence of large submucous myomas may be associated with failure, as well, though more research is necessary to estimate the influence of these factors. It is important to take the results of this review into account when counselling women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION:

PROSPERO, CRD42019126247.
Pregnancy Prolongation After Eculizumab Use in Early-Onset Preeclampsia
Authors: Lu Angela B. , Lazarus Benjamin , Rolnik Daniel L. , Palmer Kirsten R.
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND:

Untreated microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Accurate diagnosis is challenging owing to nonspecific clinical features and pathologic findings. Timely initiation of appropriate management is essential to optimize maternal and perinatal outcomes.

CASE:

A 26-year-old primiparous woman presented at 20 weeks of gestation with new-onset microangiopathic hemolytic anemia on a background of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes. She received eculizumab for presumed atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. At 24 weeks of gestation, she developed superimposed early-onset preeclampsia; she delivered at 27 weeks of gestation after continuing eculizumab.

CONCLUSION:

Eculizumab may prolong pregnancy in early-onset preeclampsia. Additional research is needed to assess short-term and long-term maternal and newborn outcomes.
Patient Experiences With Miscarriage Management in the Emergency and Ambulatory Settings
Authors: Miller Carolyn A. , Roe Andrea H. , McAllister Arden , Meisel Zachary F. , Koelper Nathanael , Schreiber Courtney A.
Published: November 2019

OBJECTIVE:

To quantitatively and qualitatively describe the patient experience for clinically stable patients presenting with miscarriage to the emergency department (ED) or ambulatory clinics.

METHODS:

We present a subanalysis of a mixed-methods study from 2016 on factors that influence miscarriage treatment decision-making among clinically stable patients. Fifty-four patients were evaluated based on location of miscarriage care (ED or ambulatory-only), and novel parameters were assessed including timeline (days) from presentation to miscarriage resolution, number of health system interactions, and number of specialty-based provider care teams seen. We explored themes around patient satisfaction through in-depth narrative interviews.

RESULTS:

Median time to miscarriage resolution was 11 days (range 5–57) (ED) and 8 days (range 0–47) (ambulatory-only). We recorded a mean of 4.4±1.4 (ED) and 3.0±1.2 (ambulatory-only) separate care teams and a median of 13 (range 8–20) (ED) and 19 (range 8–22) (ambulatory-only) health system interactions. Patients seeking care in the ED were younger (28.3 vs 34.0, odds ratio [OR] 5.8, 95% CI 1.8–18.7), more likely to be of black race (28.3 vs 34.0, OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1–10.0), uninsured or insured through Medicaid (16 vs 6, OR 6.8, 95% CI 2.1–22.5), and more likely to meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder when compared with ambulatory-only patients (10 vs 3, OR 6.0, 95% CI 1.5–23.4). Patients valued diagnostic clarity, timeliness, and individualized care. We found that ED patients reported a lack of clarity surrounding their diagnosis, inefficient care, and a mixed experience with health care provider sensitivity. In contrast, ambulatory-only patients described a streamlined and sensitive care experience.

CONCLUSION:

Patients seeking miscarriage care in the ED were more likely to be socioeconomically and psychosocially vulnerable and were less satisfied with their care compared with those seen in the ambulatory setting alone. Expedited evaluation of early pregnancy problems, with attention to clear communication and emotional sensitivity, may optimize the patient experience.
Performance of ultrasound for the visualization of the placental cord insertion
Authors: Rodriguez Diana , Eliner Yael
Published: November 2019

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review was to review the literature on the performance of ultrasound for the visualization of the placental cord insertion (PCI) and for the diagnosis of abnormal placental cord insertion (APCI). APCI included both marginal cord insertion (MCI) and velamentous cord insertion (VCI) PCI.

Recent findings

The overall rate of visualization of the PCI across all trimesters is 90.3% and for those studies routinely using color Doppler, 98.1% (P < 0.0001). Although the visualization was lower with advancing gestational age, it remained high even into the late third trimester. In all studies, where time was reported, the PCI was visualized in most cases in less than 1 min. Ultrasound performed best for the diagnosis of VCI with a sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of 100, 99.9 and 85.7%, respectively, with routine use of color Doppler.

Ultrasound is an excellent screening test for the evaluation of PCI across all trimesters. The use of color Doppler increases the rate of visualization and should be routinely used. Ultrasound with color Doppler is also an excellent screening test for the diagnosis of VCI. However, the performance of ultrasound is reduced with the inclusion of MCI.
Phacoemulsification Combined With Endoscopic Versus Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Poorly Controlled Glaucoma: A Comparative Case Series
Authors: Rodrigues Ian A.S. , Bloch Edward , Lim Wei Sing , Goyal Saurabh
Published: November 2019

Objective:

The objective of this study was to report medium-term outcomes of a novel combination of phacoemulsification with transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (phaco-TCP) compared with combined phacoemulsification and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco-ECP) in patients with uncontrolled or suboptimally controlled glaucoma and coexisting cataract.

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective case series of 80 consecutive patients with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. In total, 46 eyes underwent phaco-ECP and 34 phaco-TCP. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) between 6 and 21 mm Hg with ≥20% reduction from preoperative IOP (with no increase in ocular hypotensive medications or further glaucoma surgery). Secondary outcomes were change in IOP, number of ocular hypotensive medications and safety.

Results:

The mean follow-up was 32.6 ±10.3 months. Preoperative clinical characteristics were similar in both groups. At latest follow-up, success rate was greater with phaco-TCP than phaco-ECP (67.6% and 47.8%, P=0.037). IOP was also significantly lower after phaco-TCP (14.88±5.57 mm Hg, from 22.62±6.52 mm Hg) than phaco-ECP (18.07±6.72 mm Hg, from 22.83±7.88, P=0.0273). Ocular hypotensive medications required reduced similarly after phaco-TCP (from 3.38±0.88 to 2.65±1.04 medications, P=0.0012) and phaco-ECP (from 3.07±0.929 to 2.63±1.42 medications, P=0.0108). There were no cases of hypotony or reduction in vision related to glaucoma with either surgical intervention and a similar proportion required further glaucoma surgery (phaco-ECP 15.2%, phako-TCP 5.9%, P=0.2884).

Conclusions:

Phaco-TCP appears more successful in controlling IOP than phaco-ECP with similar safety. Further investigation is warranted of this newly proposed combination which may be particularly useful where access or experience with ECP or other minimally invasive glaucoma surgery is limited.
Evaluating the efficacy of an attention modification program for patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Carleton R. Nicholas , Asmundson Gordon J.G. , Korol Stephanie L. , LeBouthillier Daniel M. , Hozempa Kadie , Katz Joel D. , Vlaeyen Johan W.S. , Crombez Geert
Published: November 2019

Persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain may be hypervigilant for pain-related cues which, paradoxically, may be maintaining their pain. Several randomized controlled trials have assessed whether a modified dot-probe protocol (ie, attention bias modification [ABM]) reduces chronic pain- and pain-related symptoms in persons with several diagnoses, including fibromyalgia. Scalability and economic efficiency potentiates the appeal of ABM protocols; however, research results have been mixed, with only some studies evidencing significant symptom gains from ABM and some evidencing gains for the control group. The current randomized controlled trial sought to replicate and extend previous ABM research using idiosyncratic word stimuli and a 1-month follow-up. Participants included treatment-seeking adult women (n = 117) with fibromyalgia who were randomly assigned to a standard (ie, control) or active (ie, ABM) condition. The protocol was delivered online and involved twice-weekly 15-minute sessions, for 4 weeks, with questionnaires completed at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up. Symptom reports were analysed with mixed hierarchical modelling. There was no evidence of differences between the control and ABM groups. Both groups had small significant (Ps < 0.05) improvements in pain experiences at posttreatment, but not at follow-up (Ps > 0.05). There were no significant changes for either group on measures of anxiety sensitivity, illness/injury sensitivity, pain-related fear, pain-related anxiety, or attentional biases (Ps > 0.05). The current findings add to the emerging and mixed literature regarding ABM for pain by demonstrating that ABM produces no substantive improvements in pain or pain-related constructs in a large sample of patients with fibromyalgia.
Developing a Model of Care for Home Infusions of Natalizumab for People With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Schultz Timothy J. , Thomas Anne , Georgiou Paul , Cusack Lynette , Juaton Mahasen , Simon Lorraine , Naidoo Kerisha , Webb Kevin , Karnon Jonathan , Ravindran Janakan
Published: November 2019

Natalizumab is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis that requires 4-weekly infusions that are usually provided in hospital outpatient clinics. In this study, a model of care (MOC), an overarching design for the provision of a health care service, was developed to permit home infusions of natalizumab. The proposed new MOC comprised 9 dimensions, in addition to the central concept of patient-centered care at home. The new MOC is responsive to patient needs and prioritizes the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship. It provides practical examples of patient-centered care to guide clinical practice for this patient population in the home setting.
Gastric Mucosal Hypertrophy Masquerading as Metastasis From Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Pancreas Detected on 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT
Authors: Malik Dharmender , Elumalai Ramkumar , Verma Ritu , Belho Ethel Shangne , Seniaray Nikhil , Mahajan Harsh
Published: November 2019

A 57-year-old man, on octreotide treatment for metastatic neuroendocrine tumor pancreas, was referred for whole-body 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT scan to evaluate treatment response. PET/CT scan revealed DOTANOC-avid lesion in the head of the pancreas with multiple tracer-avid soft tissue lesions in the liver, bilateral adrenal glands, and periportal lymph nodes. In addition, diffuse intense DOTANOC-avid mural thickening with intraluminal polypoidal mass formation was noted within the stomach causing significant luminal compromise, histopathological examination of which turned out be hypertrophic hypersecretory gastropathy. This case highlights the possibility of overexpression of somatostatin receptors in gastric hypertrophy, which has been little explored in literature.
Demonstration of 99mTc-MDP Uptake in a Mobile Urinary Bladder Calculus on SPECT/CT
Authors: Carnahan Molly B. , Hoang Peter , Eversman William G. , Yang Ming
Published: November 2019

We report a large mobile bladder calculus with intense 99mTc-MDP uptake demonstrated on both whole-body bone scintigraphy and SPECT/CT images in a patient with complicated chronic history of urolithiasis and urinary tract infection. Bone tracer uptake in bladder calculus is a rare phenomenon and might be related to the composition and matrix of calculus, direct exposure to excreted radiotracer, and bacterial colonization on the surface of calculus.
18F-PSMA 1007 Uptake in Brain Metastases From Breast Cancer
Authors: Marafi Fahad , Sasikumar Arun , Alfeeli Mahmoud , Fathallah Wael
Published: November 2019

A 64-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer on follow-up had suspicious recurrent brain metastases. She underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT, 18F-PSMA 1007 brain PET/CT, and brain MRI. 18F-PSMA 1007 showed intense tracer localization in the suspected recurrent brain metastasis in right parietal lobe and also picked up 2 more metastatic brain lesions, which had concurrent findings of metastasis in subsequent MRI. Our case highlights the feasibility of 18F-PSMA 1007 PET/CT imaging of brain metastases from nonprostate cancers. It may be used as surrogate imaging tracer for potential theranostic application using alpha or beta emitters considering its similarity to PSMA-617.
Notch signalling in T cell homeostasis and differentiation
Authors: Brandstadter Joshua D. , Maillard Ivan
Published: November 2019

The evolutionarily conserved Notch signalling pathway regulates the differentiation and function of mature T lymphocytes with major context-dependent consequences in host defence, autoimmunity and alloimmunity. The emerging effects of Notch signalling in T cell responses build upon a more established role for Notch in T cell development. Here, we provide a critical review of this burgeoning literature to make sense of what has been learned so far and highlight the experimental strategies that have been most useful in gleaning physiologically relevant information. We outline the functional consequences of Notch signalling in mature T cells in addition to key specific Notch ligand–receptor interactions and downstream molecular signalling pathways. Our goal is to help clarify future directions for this expanding body of work and the best approaches to answer important open questions.
Diagnosing the performance of human mobility models at small spatial scales using volunteered geographical information
Authors: Camargo Chico Q. , Bright Jonathan , Hale Scott A.
Published: November 2019

Accurate modelling of local population movement patterns is a core, contemporary concern for urban policymakers, affecting both the short-term deployment of public transport resources and the longer-term planning of transport infrastructure. Yet, while macro-level population movement models (such as the gravity and radiation models) are well developed, micro-level alternatives are in much shorter supply, with most macro-models known to perform poorly at smaller geographical scales. In this paper, we take a first step to remedy this deficit, by leveraging two novel datasets to analyse where and why macro-level models of human mobility break down. We show how freely available data from OpenStreetMap concerning land use composition of different areas around the county of Oxfordshire in the UK can be used to diagnose mobility models and understand the types of trips they over- and underestimate when compared with empirical volumes derived from aggregated, anonymous smartphone location data. We argue for new modelling strategies that move beyond rough heuristics such as distance and population towards a detailed, granular understanding of the opportunities presented in different regions.
Dynamic pore structure evolution of the ion adsorbed rare earth ore during the ion exchange process
Authors: Zhou Lingbo , Wang Xiaojun , Zhuo Yulong , Hu Kaijian , Zhong Wen , Huang Guangli
Published: November 2019

During the leaching process of the ion-adsorbed rare earth (RE) ore, the pore structure evolution of the ore body plays a vital role in the seepage of the leaching solution. To investigate the evolution of the pore structure during the leaching process, experiments have been carried out with remodelled RE ore samples based on the physical characteristics of
in situ
ores. The seepage rate difference between deionized water leaching solution and 2% NH
4
Cl leaching solution during the active leaching period was analysed. The porosity and the dynamic pore size evolution of pore structures in the ore body are discussed. Results indicate that along with ion exchange between the RE ore and the leaching solution, the porosity of the sample remains constant and the pore structure shows a decreasing trend in the first part and an increasing trend in the second part. Specifically, during the ion exchange process, the number of minimal pores (0–5 µm), small pores (5–10 µm) and medium pores (10–25 µm) increases significantly and the number of medium–large pores (25–60 µm), large pores (60–120 µm) and mega pores (greater than 120 µm) decreases dramatically. Along with the completion of the ion exchange process, the evolution of porous structure shows an opposite trend. The mechanism study reveals that the evolution of pore structure is induced by the difference of ionic strength in the leaching solution during the ion exchange process, where the RE ore microparticles will be absorbed or desorbed on to the solid phase.
Don’t follow the leader: how ranking performance reduces meritocracy
Authors: Livan Giacomo
Published: November 2019

In the name of meritocracy, modern economies devote increasing amounts of resources to quantifying and ranking the performance of individuals and organizations. Rankings send out powerful signals, which lead to identifying the actions of top performers as the ‘best practices’ that others should also adopt. However, several studies have shown that the imitation of best practices often leads to a drop in performance. So, should those lagging behind in a ranking imitate top performers or should they instead pursue a strategy of their own? I tackle this question by numerically simulating a stylized model of a society whose agents seek to climb a ranking either by imitating the actions of top performers or by randomly trying out different actions, i.e. via serendipity. The model gives rise to a rich phenomenology, showing that the imitation of top performers increases welfare overall, but at the cost of higher inequality. Indeed, the imitation of top performers turns out to be a self-defeating strategy that consolidates the early advantage of a few lucky—and not necessarily talented—winners, leading to a very unequal, homogenized and effectively non-meritocratic society. Conversely, serendipity favours meritocratic outcomes and prevents rankings from freezing.
Control of chaotic systems by deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Bucci M. A. , Semeraro O. , Allauzen A. , Wisniewski G. , Cordier L. , Mathelin L.
Published: November 2019

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is applied to control a nonlinear, chaotic system governed by the one-dimensional Kuramoto–Sivashinsky (KS) equation. DRL uses reinforcement learning principles for the determination of optimal control solutions and deep neural networks for approximating the value function and the control policy. Recent applications have shown that DRL may achieve superhuman performance in complex cognitive tasks. In this work, we show that using restricted localized actuation, partial knowledge of the state based on limited sensor measurements and model-free DRL controllers, it is possible to stabilize the dynamics of the KS system around its unstable fixed solutions, here considered as target states. The robustness of the controllers is tested by considering several trajectories in the phase space emanating from different initial conditions; we show that DRL is always capable of driving and stabilizing the dynamics around target states. The possibility of controlling the KS system in the chaotic regime by using a DRL strategy solely relying on local measurements suggests the extension of the application of RL methods to the control of more complex systems such as drag reduction in bluff-body wakes or the enhancement/diminution of turbulent mixing.
Interfacial acoustic waves in one-dimensional anisotropic phononic bicrystals with a symmetric unit cell
Authors: Darinskii A. N. , Shuvalov A. L.
Published: November 2019

The paper is concerned with the interfacial acoustic waves localized at the internal boundary of two different perfectly bonded semi-infinite one-dimensional phononic crystals represented by periodically layered or functionally graded elastic structures. The unit cell is assumed symmetric relative to its midplane, whereas the constituent materials may be of arbitrary anisotropy. The issue of the maximum possible number of interfacial waves per full stop band of a phononic bicrystal is investigated. It is proved that, given a fixed tangential wavenumber, the lowest stop band admits at most one interfacial wave, while an upper stop band admits up to three interfacial waves. The results obtained for the case of generally anisotropic bicrystals are specialized for the case of a symmetric sagittal plane.
Longitudinal wave propagation in a one-dimensional quasi-periodic waveguide
Authors: Sorokin Vladislav S.
Published: November 2019

The paper deals with the analysis of wave propagation in a general one-dimensional (1D) non-uniform waveguide featuring multiple modulations of parameters with different, arbitrarily related, spatial periods. The considered quasi-periodic waveguide, in particular, can be viewed as a model of pure periodic structures with imperfections. Effects of such imperfections on the waveguide frequency bandgaps are revealed and described by means of the method of varying amplitudes and the method of direct separation of motions. It is shown that imperfections cannot considerably degrade wave attenuation properties of 1D periodic structures, e.g. reduce widths of their frequency bandgaps. Attenuation levels and frequency bandgaps featured by the quasi-periodic waveguide are studied without imposing any restrictions on the periods of the modulations, e.g. for their ratio to be rational. For the waveguide featuring relatively small modulations with periods that are not close to each other, each of the frequency bandgaps, to the leading order of smallness, is controlled only by one of the modulations. It is shown that introducing additional spatial modulations to a pure periodic structure can enhance its wave attenuation properties, e.g. a relatively low-frequency bandgap can be induced providing vibration attenuation in frequency ranges where damping is less effective.
Energy flux and dissipation of inhomogeneous plane waves in hereditary viscoelasticity
Authors: Scott N. H.
Published: November 2019

Inhomogeneous small-amplitude plane waves of (complex) frequency
ω
are propagated through a linear dissipative material which displays hereditary viscoelasticity. The energy density, energy flux and dissipation are quadratic in the small quantities, namely, the displacement gradient, velocity and velocity gradient, each harmonic with frequency
ω
, and so give rise to attenuated constant terms as well as to inhomogeneous plane waves of frequency 2
ω
. The quadratic terms are usually removed by time averaging but we retain them here as they are of comparable magnitude with the time-averaged quantities of frequency
ω
. A new relationship is derived in hereditary viscoelasticity that connects the amplitudes of the terms of the energy density, energy flux and dissipation that have frequency 2
ω
. It is shown that the complex group velocity is related to the amplitudes of the terms with frequency 2
ω
rather than to the attenuated constant terms as it is for homogeneous waves in conservative materials.
Rodent gene drives for conservation: opportunities and data needs
Authors: Godwin John , Serr Megan , Barnhill-Dilling S. Kathleen , Blondel Dimitri V. , Brown Peter R. , Campbell Karl , Delborne Jason , Lloyd Alun L. , Oh Kevin P. , Prowse Thomas A. A. , Saah Royden , Thomas Paul
Published: November 2019

Invasive rodents impact biodiversity, human health and food security worldwide. The biodiversity impacts are particularly significant on islands, which are the primary sites of vertebrate extinctions and where we are reaching the limits of current control technologies. Gene drives may represent an effective approach to this challenge, but knowledge gaps remain in a number of areas. This paper is focused on what is currently known about natural and developing synthetic gene drive systems in mice, some key areas where key knowledge gaps exist, findings in a variety of disciplines relevant to those gaps and a brief consideration of how engagement at the regulatory, stakeholder and community levels can accompany and contribute to this effort. Our primary species focus is the house mouse,
Mus musculus
, as a genetic model system that is also an important invasive pest. Our primary application focus is the development of gene drive systems intended to reduce reproduction and potentially eliminate invasive rodents from islands. Gene drive technologies in rodents have the potential to produce significant benefits for biodiversity conservation, human health and food security. A broad-based, multidisciplinary approach is necessary to assess this potential in a transparent, effective and responsible manner.
Evaluation of the accuracy of 99DOTS, a novel cellphone-based strategy for monitoring adherence to tuberculosis medications
Authors: Thomas Beena E. , Kumar J. Vignesh , Chiranjeevi M. , Shah Daksha , Khandewale Amit , Haberer Jessica E. , Mayer Kenneth H. , Subbaraman Ramnath
Published: November 2019

99DOTS is a cellphone-based strategy for monitoring tuberculosis medication adherence. In a cohort of 650 Indian tuberculosis patients, we compared 99DOTS’ adherence record against results of urine isoniazid tests collected during unannounced home visits. 99DOTS had suboptimal accuracy for measuring adherence, partly due to poor patient engagement with 99DOTS.
Physicians in the management and leadership of health care: A systematic review of the conditions conducive to organizational performance
Authors: Savage Mairi , Savage Carl , Brommels Mats , Mazzocato Pamela
Published: November 2019

Introduction

The influx of management ideas into health care has triggered considerable debate about if and how managerial and medical logics can co-exist. Recent reviews suggest that clinician involvement in hospital leadership can lead to superior performance.

Objective

To systematically explore the conditions instrumental for medical leadership to have an impact on organizational performance.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Psychinfo for peer-reviewed, empirical, English language articles and reviews published between January 1, 2006 and August 12, 2018. We performed a thematic synthesis through inductive line-by-line coding of the included studies.

Results

The search yielded 1447 publications, of which 62 were included. Three major themes were identified that described a movement 1. From medical protectionism to management through medicine, 2. From command and control to participatory leadership practices, and 3. Organizational practices to support incidental versus willing leaders. Based on these themes, the authors developed a model to depict conditions that facilitate or impede the influence of medical leadership through a virtuous cycle of management through medicine or a vicious cycle of medical protectionism.

Conclusions

This review helps individuals, organizations, educators, and trainers better understand how medical leadership can be both a boon and a barrier to the performance of health care organizations. In contrast to the conventional view of conflicting logics, medical leadership would benefit from a more integrative mental model of management and medicine. Nurturing medical engagement requires participatory leadership enabled through long-term investments at the individual, organizational, and system levels. These combined efforts will enable a shift to new leadership paradigms suitable to the complexity of health care, and establish conditions favorable for large-system transformation and health care reform.

Strengths and limitations of this study

While previous literature reviews have established a correlation between physicians in leadership roles and organizational performance, this is to our knowledge the first review that seeks to explore what contributes to that link.

The review expands on the typically quantitative focus of systematic reviews by providing a thematic synthesis of fifty-five empirical studies and seven literature reviews.

A model is presented that depicts a virtuous cycle of management through medicine and a vicious cycle of medical protectionism.

This review is limited by the quality and heterogeneity of the included studies.

While plausible correlations between conditions and performance outcomes are explored, to establish causality requires study designs that can determine the strength of the relationships.
Convergence of glandular trichome morphology and chemistry in two montane monkeyflower species
Authors: Eguiguren Sofía Bustamante , Nguyen Ha An , Caldwell Alexis , Nolin Kristine A. , Wu Carrie A.
Published: November 2019

Two distantly-related North American montane monkeyflower species,Mimulus lewisiiandMimulus tilingii,possess glandular trichomes. In this study, we characterized the morphological and histochemical features of these glandular trichomes. For each species, we used traditional light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine morphological characteristics, and determined the main components of the secretory products using histochemical and thin layer chromatography (TLC) staining techniques. We identified type VI glandular trichomes on leaf surfaces in both species of monkeyflowers. These trichomes exhibited stalk-cell lengths and head-cell counts that varied across adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces, stems, and sepals. Both species contained secretory products within the cuticle of the trichome head, which releases the subcuticular metabolites when ruptured. Histochemical tests in bothM. lewisiiandM. tilingiiconfirmed that secretions contained lipids and polysaccharides. TLC plate staining indicated the presence of UV active compounds with polyalcohols, lipids, and amines. The common morphology and chemistry of the glandular trichomes suggests an analogous response to similar environmental conditions in these evolutionary distant montane monkeyflowers.