bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thulium Laser Vapoenucleation of the Prostate (ThuVEP) in Men at High Cardiovascular Risk and on Antithrombotic Therapy: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Castellani Daniele , Di Rosa Mirko , Gasparri Luca , Pucci Michele , Dellabella Marco
Published: April 2020

Bleeding is the most common complication of transurethral resection of the prostate and simple open prostatectomy, especially in men on antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of thulium laser vapoenucleation of the prostate (ThuVEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients on chronic antithrombotic medications. Between January 2015 and December 2019, 88 men underwent the procedure under antithrombotic agents in our center. The mean age was 74.7 ± 6.1 years. Median prostate volume was 66.5 mL. Patients on oral anticoagulants were bridged to low-molecular-weight heparin (n = 35). Aspirin (n = 39), clopidogrel (n = 10), and ticlopidine (n = 4) were maintained. Of the patients, 69.3% had an American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥ 3. Blood loss at 24 h was comparable in all groups. Median catheterization length and postoperative stays were 2 and 3 days respectively. Acute cardiovascular events occurred in 2 patients (2.3%). Of the patients, 4 required prolonged bladder irrigation, 2 required blood transfusions, 1 required a cystoscopy for bleeding control, and 1 required a suprapubic cystostomy for blood clot evacuation. No patients died within 30 days of being discharged. Late complications occurred in 3 (3.8%) patients (1 optical urethrotomy and 1 bladder neck incision for stenosis; 1 acute myocardial infarction). All follow-up visits (1, 6, and 12-month) showed a significant improvement in all urinary parameters compared to baseline. ThuVEP appears to be a feasible surgical option in high-risk patients on antithrombotic regimens, with acceptable postoperative morbidity, good functional outcome, and low incidence of medium-term reoperation rate.
The Public Health Burden of Cardiomyopathies: Insights from a Nationwide Inpatient Study
Authors: Lannou Simon , Mansencal Nicolas , Couchoud Cécile , Lassalle Mathilde , Dubourg Olivier , Stengel Bénédicte , Jacquelinet Christian , Charron Philippe
Published: April 2020

Cardiomyopathies are responsible for heart failure and sudden cardiac death, but epidemiological data are scarce and the public health burden may be underestimated. We studied aggregating data from all public or private hospitals in France. Patients were categorized from relevant ICD-10 codes into dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, or other cardiomyopathies (DCM, HCM, RCM, or OCM, respectively). Between 2008 and 2015, a total of 326,461 distinct patients had cardiomyopathy-related hospitalizations. The hospital-based prevalence of cardiomyopathy was 809 per million inhabitants (PMI) per year, including 428 PMI for DCM, 101 PMI for HCM, 26 PMI for RCM, and 253 PMI for OCM. Patients with cardiomyopathies accounted for 51% of all heart transplants, 33% of defibrillator implantations, 38% of mechanical circulatory supports, and 11.3% of hospitalizations for heart failure. In patients less than 40 years of age, these figures were 71%, 51%, 63%, and 23%, respectively. Over 2008–2015 and considering all cardiomyopathies, there was a significant increase for heart transplant (average annual percentage change, AAPC: +3.86%, p = 0.0015) and for defibrillator implantation (AAPC: +6.98%, p < 0.0001), and a significant decrease of in-hospital mortality (AAPC: −4.7%, p = 0.0002). This nationwide study shows that cardiomyopathies constitute an important cause of hospitalization, with increasing invasive therapeutic procedures and decreasing mortality.
MRI Study of Paraspinal Muscles in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Authors: Diamanti Luca , Paoletti Matteo , Di Vita Umberto , Muzic Shaun Ivan , Cereda Cristina , Ballante Elena , Pichiecchio Anna
Published: April 2020

Background: the study of paraspinal muscles is pivotal for the diagnosis and staging of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and is usually performed by electromyography. Objective: to evaluate the role of paraspinal muscle MRI as a diagnostic biomarker in ALS. Methods: we evaluated T1-w images of newly diagnosed ALS patients (n = 14), age-matched healthy controls (n = 11), patients affected by inflammatory myopathy (n = 10), and lumbar radiculopathy (n = 19), and compared them semiquantitatively by using the Mercuri Scale. Results: a significant difference in the appearance of the psoas muscle was observed between ALS patients and patients with radiculopathy (p = 0.003); after stratifying ALS patients into spinal and bulbar onsets, we found a significant difference in the appearance of the longissimus dorsi muscle between the spinal onset ALS subgroup and bulbar onset ALS subgroup (p = 0.0245), while no difference was found for multifidus (p = 0.1441), iliocostal (p = 0.0655), and psoas muscles (p = 0.0813) between the cohort subgroups. Conclusions: paraspinal T1-w MRI could help to distinguish spinal ALS patients from healthy and pathological controls. Specifically, the study of longissimus dorsi could play the role of a diagnostic ALS biomarker.
Left Main Coronary Artery Disease and Outcomes after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusions
Authors: Winter Max-Paul , Goliasch Georg , Bartko Philipp , Siller-Matula Jolanta , Ayoub Mohamed , Aschauer Stefan , Distelmaier Klaus , Gebhard Catherine , Mashayekhi Kambis , Ferenc Miroslaw , Hengstenberg Christian , Toma Aurel
Published: April 2020

Background: Concomitant left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease in patients with chronic total occlusions (CTO) commonly results in referral for coronary artery bypass grafting, although the impact of LMCA in CTO patients remains largely unknown. Nevertheless, patient selection for percutaneous coronary intervention of CTOs (CTO-PCI) or alternative revascularization strategies should be based on precise evaluation of the coronary anatomy to anticipate those patients that most likely benefit from a procedure and not on strict adherence to perpetual clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of LMCA disease on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for CTO. Methods: We enrolled 3860 consecutive patients undergoing PCI for at least one CTO lesion and investigated the predictive value of concomitant LMCA disease. All-cause mortality was defined as the primary study endpoint. Results: We observed that LMCA disease is significantly associated with mortality. In the Cox regression analysis, we observed a crude hazard ratio (HR) 1.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–2.04, p < 0.001) for patients with LMCA disease as compared to patients without. Results remained unchanged after bootstrap- or clinical confounder-based adjustment. Conclusion: LMCA disease is associated with excess mortality in CTO patients. Specifically, anatomical features such as CTO of the circumflex artery represent a high risk patient population.
The Optimal Range of Serum Uric Acid for Cardiometabolic Diseases: A 5-Year Japanese Cohort Study
Authors: Kuwabara Masanari , Hisatome Ichiro , Niwa Koichiro , Bjornstad Petter , Roncal-Jimenez Carlos A. , Andres-Hernando Ana , Kanbay Mehmet , Johnson Richard J. , Lanaspa Miguel A.
Published: April 2020

The optimal range of serum uric acid (urate) associated with the lowest risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases is unknown in a generally healthy population. This 5-year cohort study is designed to identify the optimal range of serum urate. The data were collected from 13,070 Japanese between ages 30 and 85 at the baseline (2004) from the Center for Preventive Medicine, St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo. We evaluated the number of subjects (and prevalence) of those free of the following conditions: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) over 5 years for each 1 mg/dL of serum urate stratified by sex. Furthermore, the odds ratios (ORs) for remaining free of these conditions were calculated with multiple adjustments. Except for truly hypouricemic subjects, having lower serum urate was an independent factor for predicting the absence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and CKD, but not diabetes. The OR of each 1 mg/dL serum urate decrease as a protective factor for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and CKD was 1.153 (95% confidence interval, 1.068–1.245), 1.164 (1.077–1.258), and 1.226 (1.152–1.306) in men; 1.306 (1.169–1.459), 1.121 (1.022–1.230), and 1.424 (1.311–1.547) in women, respectively. Moreover, comparing serum urate of 3–5 mg/dL in men and 2–4 mg/dL in women, hypouricemia could be a higher risk for developing hypertension (OR: 4.532; 0.943–21.78) and CKD (OR: 4.052; 1.181–13.90) in women, but not in men. The optimal serum urate range associated with the lowest development of cardiometabolic diseases was less than 5 mg/dL for men and 2–4 mg/dL for women, respectively.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics Biomarkers for Identifying High Risk Patients with Extranodal Extension in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Kun , Lin Chien-Yu , Kang Chung-Jan , Liao Chun-Ta , Wang Wan-Ling , Chiang Meng-Han , Yen Tzu-Chen , Lin Gigin
Published: April 2020

Extranodal extension (ENE) is an independent adverse prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and is difficult to identify preoperatively. We aimed to discover biomarkers for high risk patients with ENE. Tandem tissue, plasma, and urine samples of 110 patients with OSCC were investigated through 600-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics analysis. We found that the levels of creatine, creatine phosphate, glycine, and tyramine in plasma significantly decreased in stage IV ENE positive OSCC compared with stage IV ENE negative OSCC. To understand the underlying mechanism behind the alteration of plasma metabolites, our tissue analysis revealed that the carnitine level significantly increased in tumors but significantly decreased in the adjacent normal tissue in advanced stage OSCC, in addition to decreased levels of alanine and pyruvate in tumor tissues. The global metabolomics analysis on tumor tissues also showed that stage IV tumors with an ENE positive status demonstrated higher levels of aspartate, butyrate, carnitine, glutamate, glutathione, glycine, glycolate, guanosine, and sucrose but lower levels of alanine, choline, glucose, isoleucine, lactate, leucine, myo-inositol, O-acetylcholine, oxypurinol, phenylalanine, pyruvate, succinate, tyrosine, valine, and xanthine than tumors with an ENE negative status. We concluded that metabolomics alterations in tumor tissues correspond to an increase in the tumor stage and are detectable in plasma samples. Metabolomic alterations of OSCC can serve as potential diagnostic markers and predictors of ENE in patients with stage IV OSCC.
Sex Differences in Clinical Presentation and Outcomes among Patients with Complement-Gene-Variant-Mediated Thrombotic Microangiopathy
Authors: Aigner Christof , Gaggl Martina , Kain Renate , Prohászka Zoltán , Garam Nóra , Csuka Dorottya , Sunder-Plassmann Raute , Piggott Leah Charlotte , Haninger-Vacariu Natalja , Schmidt Alice , Sunder-Plassmann Gere
Published: April 2020

Sex differences among patients with complement-gene-variant-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (cTMA) are not well established. We examined demographic and clinical data from female and male patients with a history of cTMA enrolled in the Vienna thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) cohort. Follow-up was three years after first presentation with cTMA. In this single-center study, we identified 51 patients with a first manifestation of cTMA between 1981 and 2019; 63% were female (p = 0.09). The median age at diagnosis did not differ between females and males. There was also no disparity between the sexes with regard to renal function or the need for renal replacement therapy at presentation. Furthermore, we observed similar use of plasma or eculizumab therapy and a comparable evolution of renal function of female and male patients. More females showed risk haplotypes of complement factor H (CFH) and CD46 (97% vs. 68%, p = 0.01), but there was no difference in the prevalence of rare pathogenic variants in complement-associated genes with regard to sex. In conclusion, the majority of cTMA patients enrolled in the Vienna TMA cohort were female. Clinical presentation and renal function did not differ between the sexes, but females more frequently presented with cTMA risk haplotypes.
People with Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms Were More Likely Depressed and Had Lower Health-Related Quality of Life: The Potential Benefit of Health Literacy
Authors: Nguyen Hoang C. , Nguyen Minh H. , Do Binh N. , Tran Cuong Q. , Nguyen Thao T. P. , Pham Khue M. , Pham Linh V. , Tran Khanh V. , Duong Trang T. , Tran Tien V. , Duong Thai H. , Nguyen Tham T. , Nguyen Quyen H. , Hoang Thanh M. , Nguyen Kien T. , Pham Thu T. M. , Yang Shwu-Huey , Chao Jane C.-J. , Duong Tuyen Van
Published: April 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic affects people’s health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), especially in those who have suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S). We examined the effect of modifications of health literacy (HL) on depression and HRQoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 14 February to 2 March 2020. 3947 participants were recruited from outpatient departments of nine hospitals and health centers across Vietnam. The interviews were conducted using printed questionnaires including participants’ characteristics, clinical parameters, health behaviors, HL, depression, and HRQoL. People with S-COVID-19-S had a higher depression likelihood (OR, 2.88; p < 0.001), lower HRQoL-score (B, −7.92; p < 0.001). In comparison to people without S-COVID-19-S and low HL, those with S-COVID-19-S and low HL had 9.70 times higher depression likelihood (p < 0.001), 20.62 lower HRQoL-score (p < 0.001), for the people without S-COVID-19-S, 1 score increment of HL resulted in 5% lower depression likelihood (p < 0.001) and 0.45 higher HRQoL-score (p < 0.001), while for those people with S-COVID-19-S, 1 score increment of HL resulted in a 4% lower depression likelihood (p = 0.004) and 0.43 higher HRQoL-score (p < 0.001). People with S-COVID-19-S had a higher depression likelihood and lower HRQoL than those without. HL shows a protective effect on depression and HRQoL during the epidemic.
Possible Role of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in Chronification of Inflammation: Focus on Atherosclerosis
Authors: Orekhov Alexander , Nikiforov Nikita , Ivanova Ekaterina , Sobenin Igor
Published: April 2020

Chronification of inflammation is the process that lies at the basis of several human diseases that make up to 80% of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can also explain a great deal of processes related to aging. Atherosclerosis is an example of the most important chronic inflammatory pathology in terms of public health impact. Atherogenesis is based on the inflammatory response of the innate immunity arising locally or focally. The main trigger for this response appears to be modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL), although other factors may also play a role. With the quick resolution of inflammation, atherosclerotic changes in the arterial wall do not occur. However, a violation of the innate immunity response can lead to chronification of local inflammation and, as a result, to atherosclerotic lesion formation. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms of the impaired immune response with a special focus on mitochondrial dysfunction. Some mitochondrial dysfunctions may be due to mutations in mitochondrial DNA. Several mitochondrial DNA mutations leading to defective mitophagy have been identified. The regulatory role of mitophagy in the immune response has been shown in recent studies. We suggest that defective mitophagy promoted by mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause innate immunity disorders leading to chronification of inflammation.
Executive Functions and Emotion Regulation in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Borderline Intellectual Disability
Authors: Predescu Elena , Sipos Roxana , Costescu Cristina A. , Ciocan Anamaria , Rus Diana I.
Published: April 2020

The main objective of this study is to investigate the multiple relations and to determine the differences between executive functions (EFs), emotion regulation, and behavioral and emotional problems in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline intellectual disability (ID), and typical development (TD). The sample included 85 children aged 6 to 11 years, 42 with typical development (TD), 27 with ADHD, and 16 with borderline ID. The results emphasized a positive correlation between adaptive emotion regulation strategies and EFs, and no significant relations between the maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and EFs. In addition, the executive function of planning correlated negatively with anxiety, ADHD symptoms, and conduct problems. The performance of both clinical groups regarding EFs was significantly lower than that of the TD group, and they differed significantly from each other only on visual attention. The presence of oppositional-defiant and conduct problems was higher in both clinical groups than in the TD group, and more anxiety symptoms were reported in children with ADHD. This study supports the idea that emotion regulation, Efs, and clinical symptoms are interconnected. It also profiles the deficits in cognitive functioning and emotion regulation in two clinical groups, thus helping future intervention programs.
Increased Sensitivity of PBMCs Isolated from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis to DNA Damaging Agents Is Connected with Inefficient DNA Repair
Authors: Galita Grzegorz , Brzezińska Olga , Gulbas Izabela , Sarnik Joanna , Poplawska Marta , Makowska Joanna , Poplawski Tomasz
Published: April 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory disease of the joints and surrounding tissues. RA manifests itself with severe joint pain, articular inflammation, and oxidative stress. RA is associated with certain types of cancer. We have assumed that RA patients’ increased susceptibility to cancer may be linked with genomic instability induced by impaired DNA repair and sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. The aim of this work was to analyze the sensitivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from RA patients to DNA damaging agents: tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH), bleomycin, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and calculate the repair efficiency. TBH induce oxidative DNA lesions repaired mainly by base excision repair (BER). Bleomycin induced mainly DNA double-strand breaks repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination repair (HRR). We included 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 20 healthy controls and used an alkaline version of the comet assay with modification to measure sensitivity to DNA damaging agents and DNA repair efficiency. We found an increased number of DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites in the RA patients compared to those in the controls. Exposure to DNA damaging agents evoked the same increased damage in both groups, but we observed statistically higher PMBC sensitivity to TBH, MMS, bleomycin as well as UV. Examination of the repair kinetics of both groups revealed that the DNA lesions induced by TBH and bleomycin were more efficiently repaired in the controls than in the patients. These data suggest impaired DNA repair in RA patients, which may accelerate PBMC aging and/or lead to higher cancer incidence among RA patients.
Assessing ICD-11 Gaming Disorder in Adolescent Gamers: Development and Validation of the Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A)
Authors: Paschke Kerstin , Austermann Maria Isabella , Thomasius Rainer
Published: April 2020

Background: Adolescents affected by Gaming Disorder (GD) show substantial impairments in daily functioning. GD was included in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a new diagnosis coming into effect in January 2022. An instrument to screen for GD in adolescents has not yet been published and is urgently needed for scientific research and clinical practice. Methods: In the present study, the ICD-11-based Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A) was developed by clinical experts and scientists. It was validated with 819 frequent gamers of 10 to 17 years and a respective caregiver in an online survey. Criterion validity was examined by assessing gaming behavior, emotional dysregulation, and academic performance. Item structure was investigated by factorial analyses. ROC- and Latent Profile Analyses were computed for differentiation between GD and Non-GD. Results: In line with the ICD-11 approach and accounting for cognitive-behavioral symptoms and negative consequences equally, GADIS-A items were best described by two factors. The new instrument showed excellent internal consistency, good criterion validity, and excellent discriminatory power. Conclusions: GADIS-A is the first successfully validated questionnaire to assess ICD-11 GD in adolescents. Thus, it can significantly contribute to reliably identify affected adolescents in clinical and research settings.
FOXA1 Gene Expression for Defining Molecular Subtypes of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer after Radical Cystectomy
Authors: Sikic Danijel , Eckstein Markus , Wirtz Ralph M. , Jarczyk Jonas , Worst Thomas S. , Porubsky Stefan , Keck Bastian , Kunath Frank , Weyerer Veronika , Breyer Johannes , Otto Wolfgang , Rinaldetti Sebastien , Bolenz Christian , Hartmann Arndt , Wullich Bernd , Erben Philipp
Published: April 2020

It remains unclear how to implement the recently revealed basal and luminal subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) into daily clinical routine and whether molecular marker panels can be reduced. The mRNA expression of basal (KRT5) and luminal (FOXA1, GATA3, KRT20) markers was measured by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and correlated to clinicopathological features, recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in 80 patients with MIBC who underwent radical cystectomy. Additionally, the correlation of single markers with the basal and non-basal subtypes defined by a 36-gene panel was examined and then validated in the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) cohort. High expression of FOXA1 (p = 0.0048) and KRT20 (p = 0.0317) was associated with reduced RFS. In the multivariable analysis, only FOXA1 remained an independent prognostic marker for DFS (p = 0.0333) and RFS (p = 0.0310). FOXA1 expression (AUC = 0.79; p = 0.0007) was closest to the combined marker expression (AUC = 0.79; p = 0.0015) in resembling the non-basal subtype defined by the 36-gene panel. FOXA1 in combination with KRT5 may be used to distinguish the basal and non-basal subtypes of MIBC.
Screening Performance of Edmonton Symptom Assessment System in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Battaglia Yuri , Zerbinati Luigi , Piazza Giulia , Martino Elena , Provenzano Michele , Esposito Pasquale , Massarenti Sara , Andreucci Michele , Storari Alda , Grassi Luigi
Published: April 2020

An average prevalence of 35% for psychiatric comorbidity has been reported in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and an even higher prevalence of other psychosocial syndromes, as defined by the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), has also been found in this population. Consequently, an easy, simple, rapid psychiatric tool is needed to measure physical and psychological symptoms of distress in KTRs. Recently, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), a pragmatic patient-centred symptom assessment tool, was validated in a single cohort of KTRs. The aims of this study were: to test the screening performances of ESAS for the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision (ICD-10) psychiatric diagnoses in KTRs; to investigate the optimal cut-off points for ESAS physical, psychological and global subscales in detecting ICD-10 psychiatric diagnoses; and to compare ESAS scores among KTR with ICD-10 diagnosis and DCPR diagnosis. 134 KTRs were evaluated and administered the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 6.0 and the DCPR Interview. The ESAS and Canadian Problem Checklist (CPC) were given as self-report instruments to be filled in and were used to examine the severity of physical and psychological symptoms and daily-life problems. The physical distress sub-score (ESAS-PHYS), psychological distress sub-score (ESAS-PSY) and global distress score (ESAS-TOT) were obtained by summing up scores of six physical symptoms, four psychological symptoms and all single ESAS symptoms, respectively. Routine biochemistry, immunosuppressive agents, socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Receiving Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to examine the ability of the ESAS emotional distress (DT) item, ESAS-TOT, ESAS-PSY and ESAS-PHYS, to detect psychiatric cases defined by using MINI6.0. The area under the ROC curve for ESAS-TOT, ESAS-PHYS, ESAS-PSY and DT item were 0.85, 0.73, 0.89, and 0.77, respectively. The DT item, ESAS-TOT and ESAS-PSY optimal cut-off points were ≥4 (sensitivity 0.74, specificity 0.73), ≥20 (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.74) and ≥12 (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.80), respectively. No valid ESAS-PHYS cut-off was found (sensitivity <0.7, specificity <0.7). Thirty-nine (84.8%) KTRs with ICD-10 diagnosis did exceed both ESAS-TOT and ESAS-PSY cut-offs. Higher scores on the ESAS symptoms (except shortness of breath and lack of appetite) and on the CPC problems were found for ICD-10 cases and DCRP cases than for ICD-10 no-cases and DCPR no-cases. This study shows that ESAS had an optimal screening performance (84.8%) to identify ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis, evaluated with MINI; furthermore, ESAS-TOT and ESAS-PSY cut-off points could provide a guide for clinical symptom management in KTRs.
A Pilot Study Evaluating the Effects of 670 nm Photobiomodulation in Healthy Ageing and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Grewal Manjot K. , Sivapathasuntharam Chrishne , Chandra Shruti , Gurudas Sarega , Chong Victor , Bird Alan , Jeffery Glen , Sivaprasad Sobha
Published: April 2020

Limited evidence suggests that the application of 670 nm of red light alters the course of aged decline. A previous report on 18 patients showed regression of drusen and improvement in visual functions in patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 12 months. We evaluated the functional and structural effects of applying 670 nm light to 31 patients with intermediate AMD and 11 people aged 55 years or above with normal retina. The study eyes were treated daily in the morning with a 670 nm hand-held light source housed in a torch-like tube that emitted energy equivalent to 40 mW/cm2 or 4.8J/ cm2 for 2 min at the viewing aperture. Visual function in terms of best-corrected visual acuity, low luminance visual acuity, scotopic thresholds and rod-intercept time were compared between baseline and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Structural changes on optical coherence tomography OCT and colour photographs were also assessed. Five withdrew consent voluntarily due to the intensity of the study visit assessments and two developed neovascular AMD and were excluded from further treatment and the analysis. In normal ageing, there was an improvement in scotopic thresholds in the group with no AMD by 1.77dB (p = 0.03) and no other parameters showed any clinically significant change. In eyes with intermediate AMD, there was no significant improvement in any functional or structural changes at any time point up to 12 months although the compliance was good. This pilot study shows that photobiomodulation with 670 nm has no effect in patients who have already progressed to intermediate AMD.
Consequences of Anthropic Actions in Cullera Bay (Spain)
Authors: Pagán José Ignacio , López Isabel , Bañón Luis , Aragonés Luis
Published: April 2020

Urbanization and anthropogenic activities have generated significant imbalances in coastal areas. This study analysed the shoreline evolution of the Bay of Cullera (Spain), characterized by strong urban and tourist pressure and with important human interventions during the last century. The evolution of the shoreline was analysed using 60 years of aerial images since the 1950s of the seabed, the maritime climate and the distribution of sediment, as well as anthropogenic actions, such as urban development or the channelling of the Júcar River through the integration of information in a geographical information system (GIS). The results showed: (i) Changes in land-use, in which the substitution of the crop and mountain areas by urban areas was mainly observed. (ii) A general increase in the beach area, although there were important periods of erosion in some points due to anthropic actions. (iii) A significant decrease in the median sediment size in the whole bay since 1987, with a current D50 of 0.125–0.180 mm. The analysis carried out has made it possible to identify trends in coastal accumulation and regression in the different sections of the sector, as well as to demonstrate the usefulness and advantages of GIS.
Long-Wave Penetration through a Laterally Periodic Continental Shelf
Authors: Knowles Jeffrey , Yeh Harry
Published: April 2020

The transformation of long waves—such as tsunamis and storm surges—evolving over a continental shelf is investigated. We approach this problem numerically using a pseudo-spectral method for a higher-order Euler formulation. Solitary waves and undular bores are considered as models for the long waves. The bathymetry possesses a periodic ridge-valley configuration in the alongshore direction which facilitates a means by which we may observe the effects of refraction, diffraction, focusing, and shoaling. In this scenario, the effects of wave focusing and shoaling enhance the wave amplitude and phase speed in the shallower regions of the domain. The combination of these effects leads to a wave pattern that is atypical of the usual behavior seen in linear shallow-water theory. A reciprocating behavior in the amplitude on the ridge and valley for the wave propagation causes wave radiation behind the leading waves, hence, the amplitude approaches a smaller asymptotic value than the equivalent case with no lateral variation. For an undular bore propagating in one dimension over a smooth step, we find that the water surface resolves into five different mean water levels. The physical mechanisms for this phenomenon are provided.
Evaluating the Potential for Tidal Phase Diversity to Produce Smoother Power Profiles
Authors: Preziuso Danielle , García-Medina Gabriel , O’Neil Rebecca , Yang Zhaoqing , Wang Taiping
Published: April 2020

Although tidal energy conversion technologies are not yet commercially available or cost-competitive with other renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and solar panels, tides are a highly predictable resource. Tidal energy’s predictability indicates that the resource could introduce less volatility into balancing the electric grid when compared to other renewables, a fundamentally desirable attribute for the electric system. More specifically, tidal energy resources are unique in that they have the potential to produce relatively smoother power profiles over time through aggregation. In order to generate smooth power profiles from tidal resources, sufficient complexity within the timing of tides is necessary within electrical proximity. This study evaluates the concept of aggregating diverse tides for the purpose of reducing periods of no and low energy production and creating smoother power profiles in regions around Alaska and Washington by calculating cross-correlations of tidal current velocity time series. Ultimately, study results show limited potential to exploit the resources for this purpose and describe the institutional mechanisms necessary to realize the benefits in practice.
RETRACTED: Efficacy of Chelerythrine against Mono- and Dual-Species Biofilms of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus and Its Properties of Inducing Hypha-to-Yeast Transition of C. albicans
Authors: Qian Weidong , Zhang Jianing , Wang Wenjing , Liu Miao , Fu Yuting , Li Xiang , Wang Ting , Li Yongdong
Published: April 2020

Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus specifically often resulted in biofilm-associated diseases, ranging from superficial mucosal to life-threatening systemic infections. Recent studies reported that chelerythrine displayed antimicrobial activities against a few microorganisms, but its effects on mono- and dual-species biofilms of C. albicans and S. aureus have never been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of chelerythrine against mono- and dual-species biofilms, and explore its effect on the hyphal growth and the hypha-to-yeast transition of C. albicans. The results showed that minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC90S) of chelerythrine against planktonic cells of mono-species were 4 and 2 μg/mL, while the MIC and MBIC90 were 6 and 3 μg/mL for dual-species. Meanwhile, the decrease in three matrix component levels and tolerance to antibiotics of biofilms formed by mono- and dual-species exposed to chelerythrine were confirmed by a confocal laser scanning microscope, in conjugation with five fluorescent dyes and a gatifloxacin diffusion assay. Moreover, C. albicans and S. aureus mono-species showed a 96.4, and 92.3% reduction, respectively, in 24-h preformed biofilm biomass in the presence of 128 µg/mL of chelerythrine. Similarly, preformed (24 h) dual-species biofilm biomass also displayed a significant reduction (90.7%) when treated with 192 μg/mL chelerythrine. Chelerythrine inhibited hyphae formation of C. albicans at 4 μg/mL, and C. albicans in hypha-form can be converted into yeast-form at 8 μg/mL of chelerythrine. Therefore, chelerythrine shows promise as a potential antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent for clinical effective treatments of mono- and mixed-species and/or biofilm-associated infections.
The Structure, Vibrational Spectra, and Thermal Expansion Study of AVO4 (A=Bi, Fe, Cr) and Co2V2O7
Authors: He Xiaoke , Zhang Chenjun , Tian Ding
Published: April 2020

Vanadate is an important functional material. It has been widely studied and applied in luminescence and photocatalysis. Vanadium compounds have been synthesized to investigate the thermal expansion properties and structure. Both BiVO4 and Co2V2O7 are monoclinic at room temperature, FeVO4’s crystal structure is triclinic, and CrVO4 is orthorhombic. The relatively linear, thermal-expansion, and temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy results showed that the phase transition of BiVO4 occurred at 200 to 300 °C. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of Co2V2O7 was larger than that of the monoclinic structure BiVO4. The CTE of the tetragonal structure of BiVO4 was 15.27 × 10−6 °C−1 which was the largest CTE in our measurement results, and the CTE of anorthic structure FeVO4 was 2.84 × 10−6 °C−1 and was the smallest.
T-Equivalences: The Metric Behavior Revisited
Authors: Fuster-Parra Pilar , Martín Javier , Recasens Jordi , Valero Óscar
Published: April 2020

Since the notion of T-equivalence, where T is a t-norm, was introduced as a fuzzy generalization of the notion of crisp equivalence relation, many researchers have worked in the study of the metric behavior of such fuzzy relations. Concretely, a few techniques to induce metrics from T-equivalences, and vice versa, have been developed. In several fields of computer science and artificial intelligence, a generalization of pseudo-metric, known as partial pseudo-metrics, have shown to be useful. Recently, Bukatin, Kopperman and Matthews have stated that the notion of partial pseudo-metric and a type of generalized T-equivalence are linked. Inspired by the preceding fact, in this paper, we state a concrete relationship between partial pseudo-metrics and the aforesaid generalized T-equivalences. Specifically, a method for constructing partial pseudo-metrics from the new type of T-equivalences and, reciprocally, for constructing the generalized T-equivalences from partial pseudo-metrics are provided. However, important differences between the new approach and the classical one are established. Special interest is paid to the case in which the minimum, drastic, and Łukasiewicz t-norms are under consideration.
Variations on the Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem: A Survey
Authors: Mawhin Jean
Published: April 2020

This paper surveys some recent simple proofs of various fixed point and existence theorems for continuous mappings in

R

n

. The main tools are basic facts of the exterior calculus and the use of retractions. The special case of holomorphic functions is considered, based only on the Cauchy integral theorem.
Automatic Calibration of Process Noise Matrix and Measurement Noise Covariance for Multi-GNSS Precise Point Positioning
Authors: Zhang Xinggang , Li Pan , Tu Rui , Lu Xiaochun , Ge Maorong , Schuh Harald
Published: April 2020

The Expectation-Maximization algorithm is adapted to the extended Kalman filter to multiple GNSS Precise Point Positioning (PPP), named EM-PPP. EM-PPP considers better the compatibility of multiple GNSS data processing and characteristics of receiver motion, targeting to calibrate the process noise matrix Qt and observation matrix Rt, having influence on PPP convergence time and precision, with other parameters. It is possibly a feasible way to estimate a large number of parameters to a certain extent for its simplicity and easy implementation. We also compare EM-algorithm with other methods like least-squares (co)variance component estimation (LS-VCE), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), showing that EM-algorithm from restricted maximum likelihood (REML) will be identical to LS-VCE if certain weight matrix is chosen for LS-VCE. To assess the performance of the approach, daily observations from a network of 14 globally distributed International GNSS Service (IGS) multi-GNSS stations were processed using ionosphere-free combinations. The stations were assumed to be in kinematic motion with initial random walk noise of 1 mm every 30 s. The initial standard deviations for ionosphere-free code and carrier phase measurements are set to 3 m and 0.03 m, respectively, independent of the satellite elevation angle. It is shown that the calibrated Rt agrees well with observation residuals, reflecting effects of the accuracy of different satellite precise product and receiver-satellite geometry variations, and effectively resisting outliers. The calibrated Qt converges to its true value after about 50 iterations in our case. A kinematic test was also performed to derive 1 Hz GPS displacements, showing the RMSs and STDs w.r.t. real-time kinematic (RTK) are improved and the proper Qt is found out at the same time. According to our analysis despite the criticism that EM-PPP is very time-consuming because a large number of parameters are calculated and the first-order convergence of EM-algorithm, it is a numerically stable and simple approach to consider the temporal nature of state-space model of PPP, in particular when Qt and Rt are not known well, its performance without fixing ambiguities can even parallel to traditional PPP-RTK.
An Improved Bytewise Approximate Matching Algorithm Suitable for Files of Dissimilar Sizes
Authors: Gayoso Martínez Víctor , Hernández-Álvarez Fernando , Hernández Encinas Luis
Published: April 2020

The goal of digital forensics is to recover and investigate pieces of data found on digital devices, analysing in the process their relationship with other fragments of data from the same device or from different ones. Approximate matching functions, also called similarity preserving or fuzzy hashing functions, try to achieve that goal by comparing files and determining their resemblance. In this regard, ssdeep, sdhash, and LZJD are nowadays some of the best-known functions dealing with this problem. However, even though those applications are useful and trustworthy, they also have important limitations (mainly, the inability to compare files of very different sizes in the case of ssdeep and LZJD, the excessive size of sdhash and LZJD signatures, and the occasional scarce relationship between the comparison score obtained and the actual content of the files when using the three applications). In this article, we propose a new signature generation procedure and an algorithm for comparing two files through their digital signatures. Although our design is based on ssdeep, it improves some of its limitations and satisfies the requirements that approximate matching applications should fulfil. Through a set of ad-hoc and standard tests based on the FRASH framework, it is possible to state that the proposed algorithm presents remarkable overall detection strengths and is suitable for comparing files of very different sizes. A full description of the multi-thread implementation of the algorithm is included, along with all the tests employed for comparing this proposal with ssdeep, sdhash, and LZJD.
A db-Scan Hybrid Algorithm: An Application to the Multidimensional Knapsack Problem
Authors: García José , Moraga Paola , Valenzuela Matias , Pinto Hernan
Published: April 2020

This article proposes a hybrid algorithm that makes use of the db-scan unsupervised learning technique to obtain binary versions of continuous swarm intelligence algorithms. These binary versions are then applied to large instances of the well-known multidimensional knapsack problem. The contribution of the db-scan operator to the binarization process is systematically studied. For this, two random operators are built that serve as a baseline for comparison. Once the contribution is established, the db-scan operator is compared with two other binarization methods that have satisfactorily solved the multidimensional knapsack problem. The first method uses the unsupervised learning technique k-means as a binarization method. The second makes use of transfer functions as a mechanism to generate binary versions. The results show that the hybrid algorithm using db-scan produces more consistent results compared to transfer function (TF) and random operators.
The Dynamics of Digits: Calculating Pi with Galperin’s Billiards
Authors: Aretxabaleta Xabier M. , Gonchenko Marina , Harshman Nathan L. , Jackson Steven Glenn , Olshanii Maxim , Astrakharchik Grigory E.
Published: April 2020

In Galperin billiards, two balls colliding with a hard wall form an analog calculator for the digits of the number π . This classical, one-dimensional three-body system (counting the hard wall) calculates the digits of π in a base determined by the ratio of the masses of the two particles. This base can be any integer, but it can also be an irrational number, or even the base can be π itself. This article reviews previous results for Galperin billiards and then pushes these results farther. We provide a complete explicit solution for the balls’ positions and velocities as a function of the collision number and time. We demonstrate that Galperin billiard can be mapped onto a two-particle Calogero-type model. We identify a second dynamical invariant for any mass ratio that provides integrability for the system, and for a sequence of specific mass ratios we identify a third dynamical invariant that establishes superintegrability. Integrability allows us to derive some new exact results for trajectories, and we apply these solutions to analyze the systematic errors that occur in calculating the digits of π with Galperin billiards, including curious cases with irrational number bases.
Percentile Study of χ Distribution. Application to Response Time Data
Authors: Castro-Palacio Juan Carlos , Fernández-de-Córdoba Pedro , Isidro J. M. , Navarro-Pardo Esperanza , Selvas Aguilar Romeo
Published: April 2020

As a continuation of our previous work, where a Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution was found to model a collective’s reaction times, in this work we will carry out a percentile study of the χ distribution for some freedom ranging from k = 2 to k = 10. The most commonly used percentiles in the biomedical and behavioral sciences have been included in the analysis. We seek to provide a look-up table with percentile ratios, taken symmetrically about the median, such that this distribution can be identified in practice in an easy way. We have proven that these ratios do not depend upon the variance chosen for the k generating Gaussians. In general, the χ probability density, generalized to take any value of the variance, represents an ideal gas in a k-dimensional space. We also derive an approximate expression for the median of the generalized χ distribution. In the second part of the results, we will focus on the practical case of k = 3, which represents the ideal gas in physics, and models quite well the reaction times of a human collective. Accurately, we will perform a more detailed scrutiny of the percentiles for the reaction time distribution of a sample of 50 school-aged children (7200 reaction times).
Negative Affectivity Is Associated with a Higher Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure in Normotensive Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lin Tin-Kwang , Lin Chin-Lon , Li Yi-Da , Huang Ying , Koo Malcolm , Weng Chia-Ying
Published: April 2020

Background and objectives: Type D personality, characterized by two stable traits (social inhibition and negative affectivity), is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. A possible mediating factor for this association could be hypertension. Previous research has shown that individuals with Type D personality were associated with an increased risk of hypertension. However, the association of negative affectivity and social inhibition on blood pressure in normotensive individuals has not yet been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether negative affectivity and social inhibition were associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in normotensive middle-aged and older Taiwanese adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Individuals attending general health examination at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan who were 40 to 75 years old were recruited. Patients with self-reported hypertension or currently receiving antihypertensive medication were excluded. Negative affectivity and social inhibition were assessed with the 14-item Type D Scale-Taiwanese version. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the association of Z-score transformed negative affectivity and social inhibition on blood pressure. Results: A total of 92 patients with a mean age of 51.5 years were included in the study, and 15 (16.3%) were defined as having a Type D personality. The Z-score transformed negative affectivity score (p = 0.035, effect size = 0.18) and Z-score transformed social inhibition score (p = 0.054, effect size = 0.17) were significantly associated with a higher systolic blood pressure. In addition, the Z-score transformed negative affectivity score (p = 0.036, effect size = 0.28) and Z-score transformed social inhibition score (p = 0.154, effect size = 0.24) were significantly associated with a higher diastolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Negative affectivity of the Type D personality was significantly associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with a medium effect size, in apparently healthy middle-aged and older adults. Assessment of negative affectivity may be clinically useful in identifying individuals at risk of hypertension.