bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of serial focused ultrasound of the lungs and inferior vena cava for monitoring patients with acute dyspnea: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Arvig Michael Dan , Laursen Christian B. , Jacobsen Niels , Gæde Peter Haulund , Lassen Annmarie Touborg
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of serial focused ultrasound of the lungs (FLUS) and/or inferior vena cava (IVC) compared to standard care for monitoring patients with acute dyspnea.

Introduction:

Acute dyspnea is one of the most common complaints reported by patients in hospital emergency departments, and has high in-hospital mortality rates. The current methods of monitoring patients with acute dyspnea lack both sensitivity and specificity. Point-of-care FLUS and IVC is a promising monitoring tool, but an overview of the existing evidence is absent.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will include studies of adult patients admitted to hospital with acute dyspnea that is examined via FLUS, IVC or both a minimum of twice during hospitalization compared to standard care.

Methods:

The following electronic databases will be searched: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Gray literature will be sought in OpenGrey and ProQuest. The search is limited to articles written in English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and German. Articles published before 2003 will be excluded from the search and duplicates will be removed. Two independent reviewers will screen and critically appraise the included studies and perform the data extraction. If possible, data will be synthesized with statistical meta-analysis; otherwise, data will be presented in narrative form.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42018116608
Complex spike clusters and false‐positive rejection in a cerebellar supervised learning rule
Authors: Titley Heather K. , Kislin Mikhail , Simmons Dana H. , Wang Samuel S.‐H. , Hansel Christian
Published: July 2019

Key points

Spike doublets comprise ∼10% of in vivo complex spike events under spontaneous conditions and ∼20% (up to 50%) under evoked conditions.

Under near‐physiological slice conditions, single complex spikes do not induce parallel fibre long‐term depression.

Doublet stimulation is required to induce long‐term depression with an optimal parallel‐fibre to first‐complex‐spike timing interval of 150 ms.

The classic example of biological supervised learning occurs at cerebellar parallel fibre (PF) to Purkinje cell synapses, comprising the most abundant synapse in the mammalian brain. Long‐term depression (LTD) at these synapses is driven by climbing fibres (CFs), which fire continuously about once per second and therefore generate potential false‐positive events. We show that pairs of complex spikes are required to induce LTD. In vivo, sensory stimuli evoked complex‐spike doublets with intervals ≤150 ms in up to 50% of events. Using realistic [Ca2+]o and [Mg2+]o concentrations in slices, we determined that complex‐spike doublets delivered 100–150 ms after PF stimulus onset were required to trigger PF‐LTD, which is consistent with the requirements for eyeblink conditioning. Inter‐complex spike intervals of 50–150 ms provided optimal decoding. This stimulus pattern prolonged evoked spine calcium signals and promoted CaMKII activation. Doublet activity may provide a means for CF instructive signals to stand out from background firing.
Más allá de Bechdel: The Good Wife, The Good Fight y Orange is the new Black. La imagen de la mujer en las series de televisión feministas
Authors: Marín Ramos Esther
Published: July 2019

El importante activismo feminista de los últimos años ha llegado a penetrar en la cultura mainstream, aumentando de forma notable el número de series televisivas que ofrecen una imagen innovadora de la mujer, lejos de los estereotipos tradicionales. Orange is the new Black, The Good Wife y su secuela The Good Fight son ejemplos de esta tendencia, que han obtenido el aplauso unánime del público y la crítica, incluida la feminista. Este artículo pretende, desde el marco de la sociología de la cultura y una perspectiva de género, observar la forma en que estas construcciones efectivamente cumplen con los preceptos feministas y dar cuenta de las contradicciones que siguen mostrando una vez conquistado el espacio narrativo desde la propia mirada de las mujeres (Mulvey, 1975).
Use of Channel Information Update and Discrete Cosine Transform in Ensemble Smoother for Channel Reservoir Characterization
Authors: Jung Hyungsik , Jo Honggeun , Kim Sungil , Kang Byeongcheol , Jeong Hoonyoung , Choe Jonggeun
Published: July 2019

Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is one of the powerful optimization schemes for production data history matching in petroleum engineering. It provides promising characterization results and dependable future prediction of production performances. However, it needs high computational cost due to its recursive updating procedures. Ensemble smoother (ES), which updates all available observation data at once, has high calculation efficiency but tends to give unreliable results compared with EnKF. Particularly, it is challenging to channel reservoirs, because geological parameters of those follow a bimodal distribution. In this paper, we propose a new ES method using a channel information update scheme and discrete cosine transform (DCT). The former can assimilate channel information of ensemble models close to the reference, maintaining a bimodal distribution of parameters. DCT is also useful for figuring out main channel features by extracting out essential coefficients which represent overall channel characteristics. The proposed method is applied to two cases of 2D and 3D channel reservoirs and compared with EnKF and ES. The method not only provides reliable characterization results with clear channel connectivity but also preserves a bimodal distribution of parameters. In addition, it gives dependable estimations of future production performances by reducing uncertainties in the prior models.
Tip-enhanced strong coupling spectroscopy, imaging, and control of a single quantum emitter
Authors: Park Kyoung-Duck , May Molly A. , Leng Haixu , Wang Jiarong , Kropp Jaron A. , Gougousi Theodosia , Pelton Matthew , Raschke Markus B.
Published: July 2019

A tunable nanotip optical cavity controls hybrid quantum states of a single emitter at room temperature.
Topology optimization and 3D printing of multimaterial magnetic actuators and displays
Authors: Sundaram Subramanian , Skouras Melina , Kim David S. , van den Heuvel Louise , Matusik Wojciech
Published: July 2019

Actuators of notable complexity are fabricated using multimaterial 3D printing coupled with automated design synthesis.
Clinostat Rotation Affects Metabolite Transportation and Increases Organic Acid Production by
Aspergillus carbonarius
, as Revealed by Differential Metabolomic Analysis
Authors: Jiang Chunmei , Guo Dan , Li Zhenzhu , Lei Shuzhen , Shi Junling , Shao Dongyan
Published: July 2019

Fungi are ubiquitous in nature and have the ability to corrode various materials by producing metabolites. Research on how the space station environment, especially microgravity, affects fungal metabolism is helpful to understand the role of fungi in the space station. This work provides insights into the mechanisms involved in the metabolism of the corrosive fungus
Aspergillus carbonarius
under simulated microgravity conditions. Our findings have significance not only for preventing material corrosion but also for ensuring food safety, especially in the space environment.
Antibody-Dependent, Gamma Interferon-Independent Sterilizing Immunity Induced by a Subunit Malaria Vaccine
Authors: Chawla Bhavna , Mahajan Babita , Oakley Miranda , Majam Victoria F. , Belmonte Arnel , Sedegah Martha , Shimp Richard L. , Kaslow David C. , Kumar Sanjai
Published: July 2019

The development of effective malaria vaccines is hampered by incomplete understanding of the immunological correlates of protective immunity. Recently, the moderate clinical efficacy of thePlasmodium falciparumcircumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based RTS,S/AS01Evaccine in phase 3 studies highlighted the urgency to design and test more efficacious next-generation malaria vaccines.
Molecular Diagnosis of Vaginitis: Comparing Quantitative PCR and Microbiome Profiling Approaches to Current Microscopy Scoring
Authors: Lynch Tarah , Peirano Gisele , Lloyd Tracie , Read Ron , Carter Julia , Chu Angel , Shaman Jeffrey A. , Jarvis Joseph P. , Diamond Evan , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Church Deirdre
Published: July 2019

Vaginitis is often diagnosed by microscopy and limited to testing for bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. Approximately 10% of vaginal swabs are negative but designated “altered flora” by BV Nugent score, leaving clinicians unsure how to treat patients. Accurate and comprehensive vaginitis diagnostics are needed to direct treatment and reduce risks of recurrent or more severe infections.
Determination of MIC Quality Control Ranges for the Novel Gyrase Inhibitor Zoliflodacin
Authors: Miller Alita A. , Traczewski Maria M. , Huband Michael D. , Bradford Patricia A. , Mueller John P.
Published: July 2019

This report describes the results of two different, multilaboratory quality control (QC) studies that were used to establish QC ranges for the novel gyrase inhibitor zoliflodacin against the ATCC strains recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).
Immunity toStaphylococcus aureus: Implications for Vaccine Development
Authors: Proctor Richard A.
Published: July 2019

Cell-mediated immunity seems to be critical for prevention and resolution of invasiveS. aureusinfections, but an imbalance in this immunity may also produce SIRS and death or an inadequate protective response with prolonged bacteremia and death. This dysregulation is likely at the heart of mortality and severe disease in humans. Anti-toxin antibodies may also come into play in reducing the severity ofS. aureusinfections, but these antibodies might also address superantigen-induced immune dysregulation. Thus, while changing intrinsic T cell responses may be therapeutically difficult, monoclonal antibodies against superantigens may have utility in addressing dysfunctional immune responses toS. aureus. The models above are hypotheses for examining, and potentially dramatically improving immune response to and safety ofS. aureusvaccines.
Observed compliance with safe sleeping guidelines in licensed childcare services
Authors: Staton Sally , Pattinson Cassandra , Smith Simon , Pease Anna , Blair Peter , Young Jeanine , Irvine Susan , Thorpe Karen
Published: July 2019

Objective

To independently assess compliance with safe sleeping guidelines for infants <12 months in licensed childcare services.

Design

Full-day, in-situ observations of childcare practices (including sleep and non-sleep periods) conducted in 2016–2017.

Setting

Australian home-based and centre-based licensed childcare services. All subject to national regulation and legislation to comply with safe sleeping guidelines.

Participants

The sample was 18 licensed childcare settings (15 centre-based, 3 home-based) that had infants <12 months (n=49) attending at the time of observation. 31 educators completed self-report surveys.

Main outcomes and measures

Standard observations of childcare practices, including a 20-item infant Safe Sleeping Guideline checklist. Educator characteristics, including each individual’s knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding safe sleeping practices.

Results

83% of childcare services were observed to be non-compliant on at least 1 of 20 target guidelines (median 2.5, max=7); 44% were observed placing infants prone/side and 67% used loose bedding, quilts, doonas/duvets, pillows, sheepskins or soft toys in cots. 71% of the childcare settings had a copy of current safe sleeping guidelines displayed either in or at entry to the infant sleep room.

Conclusion

Despite 25 years of public health messaging, non-compliance with safe sleeping guidelines was observed to be high in childcare services. Understanding of the reasons underlying non-compliance, particularly in contexts were legislative mandate and access to information regarding safe sleeping is high, is critical to informing ongoing public health messaging and should be the focus of future studies.

Trial registration number

ANZCTR 12618001056280—pre-results.
How fair is our service? Evaluating access to specialist paediatric care
Authors: Neale Francesca K , Armstrong Edward J , Cohen Jonathan M , Segal Terry Y , Hargreaves Dougal S
Published: July 2019

Objective

To assess equity of access to paediatric outpatient clinics in our hospital.

Design/setting

Retrospective analysis of consecutive accepted referrals to allergy, asthma, epilepsy, general paediatrics, rapid access, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes and endocrine outpatient clinics.

Patients

32 369 new patients, April 2007 to June 2018.

Results

Among local patients (58.1%) 0.2%–2.5% of patients referred to each clinic lived in the least deprived quintile, and 43.5%–48.4% in the most deprived quintile—similar to inpatient admissions and the local population. Tertiary clinics showed a much higher proportion of patients from the least deprived quintiles (15.9%–26.2%).

Conclusions

Local outpatient referrals broadly reflected the socioeconomic distribution, although not necessarily the distribution of need, of our local population. A relatively high proportion of patients in tertiary clinics were from more affluent postcodes, highlighting the need for referral inequalities to be evaluated across networks or regions.
Paediatric abdominal compartment syndrome and shock associated with gastric volvulus improved rapidly by gastric suction in the emergency department
Authors: Tetsuhara Kenichi , Tsuji Satoshi , Tomonaga Kotaro
Published: July 2019

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is not rare and has a high mortality in the paediatric intensive care unit. However, there are few reports about this in the emergency department (ED). We report an 8 month-old male patient with ACS in shock associated with gastric volvulus who improved rapidly by a simple procedure in the ED. He had congenital comorbidities, including multiple cranial anomalies and was transferred because of decreased mental status. He had compensated shock with cold and mottled skin of the lower extremities, paediatric Glasgow Coma Scale of E3V5M6 and prominence of the left upper abdomen. The abdominal X-ray showed a considerably distended stomach. Soon after aspiration of gastric contents, shock and mental status improved. Physicians should consider ACS in the differential diagnosis of shock with abdominal distention. ACS may be ameliorated by gastric suction. Gastric volvulus can induce shock and decreased mental status, particularly in patients with comorbidities.
Nocardial endocarditis in native aortic valve with nocardial sepsis in a case of breast cancer
Authors: Gupta Sudeep , Gulia Seema , Kannan Ram abhinav , Rodrigues Camilla , Dhareshwar Jayesh , Vora Amit
Published: July 2019

Central venous catheter-associated bacteraemia caused by Nocardia species is very rare; the diagnosis of nocardiosis in patients with cancer is challenging because its clinical presentation is varied, sometimes mimicking metastases, and the high index of clinical suspicion is required for prompt institution of therapy. Herein, we report a case of nocardial sepsis with native aortic valve endocarditis in a patient with breast cancer in whom multidisciplinary team involvement and prompt initiation of therapy have led to successful outcome.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis manifesting as refractory chylothorax and chyloperitoneum
Authors: Chen Yee-Shiuan , Memon Pauras
Published: July 2019

This is a rare case of sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (S-LAM) manifesting as refractory chylothorax and chyloperitoneum. A middle-aged woman with unremarkable medical history presented with respiratory failure, abdominal distension and anasarca. She was found to have high-output chylous effusion that required chest tube drainage, as well as chylous ascites. Notably initial chest and abdominal CT did not reveal characteristic pulmonary cysts or the presence of angiomyolipomas suggestive of LAM. An extensive oncologic and infectious work-up was undertaken with negative findings. The chylous effusion was persistent and refractory to thoracic duct embolization, total parenteral nutrition with octreotide, and talc pleurodesis. Diagnosis of S-LAM was confirmed after repeat chest CT showed subtle pulmonary cystic changes, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor-D level was found to be elevated at 834 pg/mL. Patient was started on sirolimus therapy, but lost to follow-up after hospital discharge. Patient died approximately 1 year later.
Bilateral synovial cysts of the temporomandibular joint
Authors: Buckley Christina , Beecher Suzanne , Sleeman Duncan , O’Shaughnessy Michael
Published: July 2019

Synovial cysts very rarely affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). On review of the literature, there are 29 reported cases of unilateral synovial cysts of the TMJ. We present a case of bilateral synovial cysts occurring at the TMJs.
Herniation of the hepatic flexure through the foramen of Winslow, and a review of literature describing the minimally invasive technique
Authors: Sim Kwang Kiat , Foster Amanda
Published: July 2019

Foramen of Winslow hernias is a rare and challenging diagnosis as signs and symptoms are usually non-specific. CT imaging has become the method of choice in diagnosing such conditions preoperatively. Traditionally managed via laparotomy, there has been an increase in the use of the minimally invasive technique in recent times, though experience remains sparse. This is a case of a 73-year-old woman with hepatic flexure herniation through the foramen of Winslow who was managed by the traditional laparotomy approach. A review of the literature was performed to learn key techniques in the use of laparoscopy to manage future cases.
Unusual presentation of De Garengeot hernia
Authors: Lee Chang Woo , Mantelakis Angelos , Nahid Md Abu K , Shrestha Ashish
Published: July 2019

De Garengeot hernia describes a rare phenomenon in which a vermiform appendix is found in a femoral hernia sac. We describe a case of De Garengeot hernia presenting as a groin lump associated with loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue. A 72-year-old woman was referred to our rapid access 2-week clinic as isolated lymphadenopathy with a 4-week history of a gradual right groin swelling accompanied by an unintentional weight loss, lethargy and anorexia. An urgent excisional lymph node biopsy was performed preceding the CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. The biopsy showed a shaving of appendix wall, and the CT scan revealed a right-sided femoral hernia with appendix as its content. The patient was urgently contacted for a laparoscopic appendicectomy and an open right femoral hernia repair. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and her systemic symptoms fully resolved when reviewed 10 weeks after the operation.
Is the apparently protective effect of maternal nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) used in pregnancy on infant development explained by smoking cessation?: secondary analyses of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Iyen Barbara , Vaz Luis R , Taggar Jaspal , Cooper Sue , Lewis Sarah , Coleman Tim
Published: July 2019

Objective

To investigate relationships between maternal smoking status in pregnancy and infant development. The largest randomised controlled trial of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation in pregnancy, the smoking, nicotine and pregnancy (SNAP) trial, found that at 1 month after randomisation, smoking cessation rates were doubled in the NRT group compared with the placebo group. At delivery, there was no significant difference in cessation rates between groups. Surprisingly, infants born to women randomised to NRT were more likely to have unimpaired development at 2 years. We hypothesised that this apparently protective effect was due to smoking cessation caused by NRT and so, investigate this relationship using the same cohort.

Design

Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Seven antenatal hospitals in the Midlands and North-West England.

Participants

Eight hundred and eighty-four pregnant smokers randomised to receive either NRT patches or visually-identical placebo in the SNAP trial. Participants’ smoking behaviour were recorded at randomisation, 1 month after their target quit date and at delivery.

Methods

Using logistic regression models, we investigated associations between participants’ smoking measures and infant development (assessed using the Ages and Stages questionnaire) at 2 years.

Main outcome measures

2 year infant development.

Results

Developmental impairment was reported for 12.7% of study 2 year olds. Maternal heaviness of smoking at randomisation (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.96, p=0.091), validated smoking abstinence recorded at 1 month after a quit date (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.60 to 1.74, p=0.914) and validated smoking abstinence recorded at both 1 month after a quit date and at the end of pregnancy (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.81 to 2.85, p=0.795) were not independently associated with infant developmental impairment at 2 years.

Conclusion

We found no evidence that NRT treatment improved infants' developmental outcomes through smoking cessation.

Trial registration number

CTA03057/0002/001-0001; Post-results
Liver organoids: from basic research to therapeutic applications
Authors: Prior Nicole , Inacio Patricia , Huch Meritxell
Published: July 2019

Organoid cultures have emerged as an alternative in vitro system to recapitulate tissues in a dish. While mouse models and cell lines have furthered our understanding of liver biology and associated diseases, they suffer in replicating key aspects of human liver tissue, in particular its complex architecture and metabolic functions. Liver organoids have now been established for multiple species from induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, hepatoblasts and adult tissue-derived cells. These represent a promising addition to our toolbox to gain a deeper understanding of this complex organ. In this perspective we will review the advances in the liver organoid field, its limitations and potential for biomedical applications.
Comparison of manual and computer assigned injury severity scores
Authors: Otto Lauren , Wang Angela , Wheeler Krista , Shi Junxin , Groner Jonathan I , Haley Kathryn J , Nuss Kathryn E , Xiang Henry
Published: July 2019

Background

The study objective was to compare the ISS manually assigned by hospital personnel and those generated by the ICDPIC software for value agreement and predictive power of length of stay (LOS) and mortality.

Methods

We used data from the 2010–2016 trauma registry of a paediatric trauma centre (PTC) and 2014 National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) hospitals that reported manually coded ISS. Agreement analysis was performed between manually and computer assigned ISS with severity groupings of 1–8, 9–15, 16–25 and 25–75. The prediction of LOS was compared using coefficients of determination (R2) from linear regression models. Mortality predictive power was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves from logistic regression models.

Results

The proportion of agreement between manually and computer assigned ISS in PTC data was 0.84 and for NTDB was 0.75. Analysing predictive power for LOS in the PTC sample, the R2=0.19 for manually assigned scores, and the R2=0.15 for computer assigned scores (p=0.0009). The areas under the ROC curve indicated a mortality predictive power of 0.95 for manually assigned scores and 0.86 for computer assigned scores in the PTC data (p=0.0011).

Conclusions

Manually and computer assigned ISS had strong comparative agreement for minor injuries but did not correlate well for critical injuries (ISS=25–75). The LOS and mortality predictive power were significantly higher for manually assigned ISS when compared with computer assigned ISS in both PTC and NTDB data sets. Thus, hospitals should be cautious about transitioning to computer assigned ISS, specifically for patients who are critically injured.
Association of air pollution with the risk of initial outpatient visits for tuberculosis in Wuhan, China
Authors: Xu Man , Liao Jiaqiang , Yin Ping , Hou Jian , Zhou Yun , Huang Jiao , Liu Bing , Chen Ruoling , Ke Li , Chen Hongying , Hu Ping
Published: July 2019

Objectives

Previous studies suggested the association of air pollution with initialMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection and the disease development. However, few studies have been conducted on air pollution and initial tuberculosis (TB) consults using short-interval data. We investigated the weekly association between air pollution and initial TB outpatient visits.

Methods

We used a Poisson regression model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model to conduct a time-series study with weekly air pollution data and TB cases during 2014–2017 in Wuhan, China.

Results

A 10 µg/m3increase in NO2(nitrogen dioxide) was associated with 11.74% (95% CI: 0.70 to 23.98, lag 0–1 weeks), 21.45% (95% CI: 1.44 to 45.41, lag 0–2 weeks) and 12.8% (95% CI: 0.97 to 26.02, lag 0–1 weeks) increase in initial TB consults among all patients with TB, old patients (≥60 years old) and male ones, respectively. A 10 µg/m3increase in SO2(sulfur dioxide) was associated with −22.23% (95% CI: −39.23 to −0.49, lag 0–16 weeks), −28.65% (95% CI: −44.3 to −8.58, lag 0–16 weeks), −23.85 (95% CI: −41.79 to −0.37, lag 0–8 weeks) and −23.82% (95% CI: −41.31 to −1.11, lag 0–16 weeks) increase in initial TB consults among the total, young (aged 15–59 years old), old and male patients, respectively. In old patients, a 0.1 mg/m3increase in CO (carbon monoxide) and a 10 µg/m3increase in PM2.5(particulate matter) were separately associated with 42.32% (95% CI: 1.16 to 100.22, lag 0–16 weeks) and 17.38% (95% CI: 0.28 to 37.38, lag 0–16 weeks) increases in TB consults.

Conclusion

Our study first highlighted the importance of weekly association between air pollution and the risk of initial TB consults, which is helpful for the arrangements of TB screening and medical assistance.
Whole-body vibration and back pain-related work absence among heavy equipment vehicle mining operators
Authors: Barrero Lope H , Cifuentes Manuel , Rodríguez Andrés C , Rey-Becerra Estefany , Johnson Peter W , Marin Luz S , Piedrahita Hugo , Dennerlein Jack T
Published: July 2019

Objective

To determine the association between several whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure estimates and back pain-related work absence.

Methods

Exposures (based on the weighted daily root mean square acceleration, A(8); the daily vibration dose value, VDV(8); and the daily equivalent static compression dose, Sed(8)) of 2302 workers during 4 years were estimated using each worker’s monthly vehicle operation records and WBV measurements from 11 different types of heavy equipment vehicles in a large coal mine. Company payroll data provided work absence during the concurrent 4 years of exposure. Cox regression models estimated the associations between the different WBV metrics and time to first work absence related to back pain. An adjusted R2statistic provided a measure of model fit.

Results

All estimated metrics of WBV exposures were positively and significantly associated with back pain-related absence. HRs varied from 2.03 to 12.39 for every 0.21 m/s2increase in the A(8)-based exposures; from 1.03 to 1.18 for every 1.72 m/s1.75increase in VDV(8)-based exposures; and from 1.04 to 1.07 for every 0.06 MPa increase in Sed(8)-based exposures. Models using the estimated VDV(8) metric for the z axis fit the data best as measured by the R2statistic.

Conclusion

Higher WBV exposures were associated with back pain-related absences in this population, which appears after a few years of follow-up. Introducing controls to lower exposure levels may help reduce back pain-related work absences.
Plasma exchange in neurological disease
Authors: Osman Chinar , Jennings Rachel , El-Ghariani Khaled , Pinto Ashwin
Published: July 2019

Plasma exchange is a highly efficient technique to remove circulating autoantibodies and other humoral factors rapidly from the vascular compartment. It was the first effective acute treatment for peripheral disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis before intravenous immunoglobulin became available. The recent recognition of rapidly progressive severe antibody-mediated central nervous system disorders, such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor encephalitis, has renewed interest in using plasma exchange for their acute treatment also. In this review we explain the principles and technical aspects of plasma exchange, review its current indications, and discuss the implications for its provision in the UK.
Trends in total knee and hip arthroplasty recipients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Jiabin , Wilson Lauren , Poeran Jashvant , Fiasconaro Megan , Kim David H , Yang Elaine , Memtsoudis Stavros
Published: July 2019

Background

Arthroplasty is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the USA with projections of continuous growth. As this field undergoes continuous changes, the goal of this study was to provide an analysis of patient-related and healthcare system-related trends. This is important as it allows practitioners, administrators and policy makers to allocate needed resources appropriately.

Methods

The study included total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures from 2006 to 2016. Demographic information, comorbidities and complications were extracted and analyzed from the Premier Healthcare database.

Results

The surgical volume increased annually over the observation period by an average of 5.54% for TKA and 7.02% for THA, respectively. The average age of the patient population and the types of anesthesia used remained relatively consistent over time. Comorbidity burden increased, especially for obesity (16.52% in 2006 and 29.77% in 2016 for TKA, 11.15% in 2006 and 20.92% in 2016 for THA), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (6.82% in 2006 and 17.03% in 2016 for TKA, 4.69% in 2006 and 12.72% in 2016 for THA) and renal insufficiency (2.81% in 2006 and 7.01% in 2016 for TKA, 2.78% in 2006 and 6.43% in 2016 for THA). Minor trends of increases were also observed in the prevalence of liver disease, depression and hypothyroidism. All postoperative complications were trending lower except for acute renal failure, where an increase was noted (4.39% in 2006 and 8.10% in 2016 for TKA, 4.99% in 2006 and 8.42% in 2016 for THA).

Discussion

Significant trends in the care of patients who undergo TKA and THA were identified. Individuals undergoing these procedures presented with a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Despite these trajectories, complications declined over time. These data can be used to inform future research and to allocate resources to address changes in populations cared for and complications encountered.
Occupational exposure to asbestos and silica and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis: findings from a Swedish population-based case-control study
Authors: Ilar Anna , Klareskog Lars , Saevarsdottir Saedis , Wiebert Pernilla , Askling Johan , Gustavsson Per , Alfredsson Lars
Published: July 2019

Objective

Airborne agents including cigarette smoke associate with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We analysed to which extent occupational exposure to asbestos and silica confers an increased risk of developing serologically defined subsets of RA.

Methods

This Swedish population-based case-control study enrolled incident RA cases between 1996 and 2013 (n=11 285), identified through national public authority and quality registers, as well as from the Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis (EIRA) Study. Controls (n=1 15 249) were randomly selected from Sweden’s population register and matched on sex, age, index year and county. Occupational histories were obtained from national censuses. Exposure to asbestos and silica was assessed by job-exposure matrices. Logistic regression was used to calculate ORs adjusted for age, sex, county, index year, alcohol use and smoking.

Results

Results showed that male workers exposed to asbestos had higher risk of seropositive RA (OR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.4) and seronegative RA (OR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) compared with unexposed workers. The risk was highest among workers exposed to asbestos from 1970, before a national ban was introduced. Male workers exposed to silica also had higher risk of RA (seropositive RA: OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.6; seronegative RA: OR=1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.5). For the largest subset, seropositive RA, the OR increased with the number of years exposed to silica, up to OR=2.3 (95% CI 1.4 to 3.8, p for trend <0.0001). Women overall had lower ORs than men, but the duration and intensity of their exposure were lower.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we observed an association between asbestos exposure and risk of developing RA and extended previous findings of an association between silica exposure and RA risk, where a dose-response relationship was observed.
Changing surface radiation and energy budgets of the Hudson Bay Complex using the North American regional reanalysis (NARR) model
Authors: Bello Richard , Higuchi Kaz
Published: July 2019

Monthly and annual component fluxes of the surface radiation and energy budgets for the two-decade period from 1997 to 2016 are compared with the climate normal period (1981–2010) for the marine system consisting of James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Foxe Basin using estimates from the North American regional reanalysis model. Reflected solar radiation has declined unevenly, primarily offshore of major rivers, in polynyas and along shore leads, both during earlier melt and later freeze up. Annually, net radiation increases are driven by albedo decreases during the summer. Over 94% of the increases in ocean heat gain during the melt season are due to increases in absorbed sunlight. Large enhanced oceanic heat losses in the late fall are almost entirely consumed by intensified convective losses of both sensible and latent heat. All the seas within the Hudson Bay Complex show a reduced rate of ocean warming over the past two decades. This outcome can be partially reconciled with the observation that all water bodies are experiencing enhanced losses of energy during extended ice-free winters that exceed enhanced gains of energy during the extended ice-free summers. The implications of seasonal changes in ice cover for future climate are discussed.
Field testing of rocking foundations in cohesive soil: cyclic performance and footing mechanical response
Authors: Sharma Keshab , Deng Lijun
Published: July 2019

This paper presents a field test program of a large-scale soil–footing-structure system designed with a rocking foundation in a cohesive soil to examine the behaviour of the system and to provide case histories for possible performance-based seismic design of foundations. The rocking system was subjected to slow cyclic loadings at various drift ratios up to 7%. Twenty-four tests were conducted for foundations with varying initial factors of safety against the bearing failure, loading directions, rotation amplitudes, and embedment. A geotechnical investigation was carried out to determine soil properties before and after the experiments. The system performance indices, such as damping, stiffness, settlement, and re-centering capability, were quantified and compared with the published literature. Field test results showed that the strength and unit weight of soils at footing edges were increased due to rocking, for the present cohesive soil. The rocking moment capacity increased slightly with the increasing soil strength. An empirical equation for the secant stiffness was developed. The rocking system on the cohesive soil exhibited superior performance in terms of small residual settlement and large re-centering capability. Footing’s mechanical response was quantified using strain gauge readings. The footing remained elastic in tension; the transient soil–footing contact areas were estimated with strain gauges, and they agreed very well with the measured or calculated contact areas.
The contribution of phosphodiesterases to cardiac dysfunction in rats with metabolic syndrome induced by a high-carbohydrate diet
Authors: Okatan Esma N. , Turan Belma
Published: July 2019

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors, including insulin resistance among others, underlying the development of diabetes and (or) cardiovascular diseases. Studies show a close relationship between cardiac dysfunction and abnormal cAMP catabolism, which contributes to pathological remodelling. Stimulating the synthesis of cAMP via suppression of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) has positive therapeutic effects. Therefore, we examined the role of PDEs on cardiac dysfunction in high-carbohydrate diet-induced MetS rats. We first demonstrated significantly high expression levels of PDE3 and PDE4, the most highly expressed subtypes, together with depressed cAMP levels in heart tissue from MetS rats. Second, we demonstrated the activity of these PDEs by using either their basal or PDE inhibitor-induced intracellular levels of cAMP and Ca2+, the transient intracellular Ca2+ changes under electrical stimulation, isometric contractions in papillary muscle strips and some key signalling proteins (such as RyR2, PLN, PP1A, and PKA) are responsible for the Ca2+ homeostasis in isolated cardiomyocytes from MetS rats. The clear recovery in decreased basal cAMP levels, increased protein expression levels of PDE3 and PDE4, and positive responses in the altered Ca2+ homeostasis to PDE inhibitors as seen in our study can provide important insights about the roles of activated PDEs in depressed contractile activity in hearts from MetS rats.
Seedling, early vegetative, and adult plant growth of oilseed rapes (Brassica napus L.) under saline stress
Authors: Gyawali Sanjaya , Parkin Isobel A.P. , Steppuhn Harold , Buchwaldt Miles , Adhikari Bijaya , Wood Robert , Wall Ken , Buchwaldt Lone , Singh Murari , Bekkaoui Diana , Hegedus Dwayne D.
Published: July 2019

Salinity is a major limiting factor for early crop establishment and yield. In this study, 131 Brassica napus genotypes were evaluated for germination and early seedling growth in Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with NaCl. Selected genotypes were then evaluated for tolerance to salinity at the vegetative and reproductive stages in greenhouse and semi-hydroponic systems using 1.4, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 28 dS m−1 salt stress. Relative salt tolerance (RST) was calculated and compared with genotype performance under no salt stress (control). The area under the germination progress curve (AUGPC) varied from 53 to 90 in the control and from 6 to 89 under 200 mmol L−1 NaCl stress. The seedling vigor index (SVI) ranged from 200 to 1606 and 10 to 736 in the control and 200 mmol L−1 salt stress treatments, respectively. The RST for germination, root length, shoot length, and SVI ranged from 8% to 97.7%, 2% to 98.3%, 6.5% to 70.8%, and 1.9% to 83%, respectively. Root length was most severely affected by saline conditions, followed by shoot length and AUGPC, when RST percentages of these traits were compared among responses of the 131 genotypes. Genotypes showed varying levels of proline and glucosinolate accumulation under different levels of saline stress. Greater accumulation of proline and glucosinolates was recorded with increased salinity level. This study indicates that variation exists in seedling and adult plant responses to saline stress in B. napus genotypes and that improvement for salinity tolerance requires selection at the seedling, vegetative, and reproductive plant stages.
Intercropping winter cereals in Kura clover for spring forage production
Authors: Kazula Maciej J. , Andrzejewska Jadwiga , Conley Shawn P. , Albrecht Kenneth A.
Published: July 2019

Intercropping winter cereals into Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) has the potential to improve forage nutritive value without reducing yields. The objective of this research was to compare forage yield and nutritive value of cereal–legume mixtures to cereals or Kura clover grown in monoculture and harvested at two different maturity stages in spring. Winter rye (Secale cereale L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and winter triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) were sown in autumn at two locations as monocultures and into herbicide suppressed and non-suppressed Kura clover and harvested for forage the following spring. Harvested at the cereal crop boot stage at Arlington, forage yields averaged 4.7, 4.8, 5.3, and 1.7 Mg ha−1and 3.5, 3.7, 4.1, and 2.6 Mg ha−1at Lancaster for mixtures with non-suppressed Kura clover, suppressed Kura clover, monoculture cereals, and monoculture clover, respectively. At the milk stage, yields across all mixture treatments increased by 46% to 115% compared to the boot stage at Arlington and by 88% to 101% at Lancaster. Kura clover in mixtures increased crude protein by 34% to 46% and in vitro true digestibility by 3% to 6%, neutral detergent fiber digestibility by 0% to 6%, and reduced neutral detergent fiber concentration by 8% to 18% relative to cereal monocultures. The nutritive value of mixtures and monoculture Kura clover was always greater than that of monoculture cereals. Winter cereals can be successfully managed with Kura clover for forage production by maximizing nutritive value with boot stage harvests or achieving higher yields by harvesting at the milk stage.
QoS provisioning-based routing protocols using multiple data sink in IoT-based WSN
Authors: Verma Sandeep , Sood Neetu , Sharma Ajay Kumar
Published: July 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a promising paradigm in which the objects are fused with the capabilities of sensing, networking, identifying and processing to make it feasible for them to communicate with one another and with the other dedicated devices over the Internet to acquire some goals. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)-based IoT has proliferated its manifold applications in almost every sector of human lives. Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning in WSN-based IoT still requires significant research attention. In this paper, QoS provisioning-based routing protocols are proposed that use multiple data sinks in WSN-based IoT. The proposed protocols are named as Optimized-Energy and Threshold Sensitive Stable Election Protocol (O-ETSSEP) and Multiple data Sinks-based Optimized-ETSSEP (MSO-ETSSEP). The Cluster Head (CH) selection is optimized by incorporating distance, residual energy, node density and energy threshold factors in both protocols. Both protocols use three levels of energy heterogeneity for the energy balancing in the network. MSO-ETSSEP employs multiple (four) data sinks around each periphery of the square-shaped network to mitigate the hot-spot problem by circumventing multi-hop communication. The performance evaluation of these protocols is done based on the QoS provisioning performance metrics. The simulation results obtained confirm the superiority of the proposed protocols over the state-of-the-art protocols.
Understanding Added Value in Integrated Transport Planning: Exploring the Framework of Intelligence, Design and Choice
Authors: Hilbers Anne Marel , Sijtsma Frans , Busscher Tim , Arts Jos
Published: July 2019

Transport infrastructure projects have become more integrated in nature. An important driver of the ambition to approach space in a more integrated manner is the idea that doing so will generate added value. However, in transport infrastructure planning practice, the argument to adopt integrated planning approaches seems to be mainly rhetorical in nature. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the discussion about the notion of added value through integrated planning by developing an analytical evaluation framework. In order to do so, we go back to one of the founding fathers of decision-making sciences and present a conceptual synthesis. We explore this synthesis by conducting a literature review and an illustrative expert session. We conclude with the analytical evaluation framework and elaborate on implications in practice.
Deep-seated focused fluid migration as indicator for hydrocarbon leads in the East Shetland Platform, North Sea Province
Authors: Karstens Jens , Müller Philipp , Berndt Christian , Patruno Stefano
Published: July 2019

Hydrocarbon exploration in the North Sea Basin has revealed a multitude of focused fluid conduits, which manifest in seismic data as pipe or chimney structures that in some instances are connected to underlying hydrocarbon reservoirs. 3D seismic data from the eastern margin of the East Shetland Platform reveal the presence of more than 450 focused fluid conduits. Most of these initiate at the Base Tertiary Unconformity and cross-cut the overlying sediments. The focused fluid conduits correlate with intra-platform basin structures beneath the Base Tertiary Unconformity and with permeable sediment lobes, channels and deltaic units in the overlying Paleocene to Eocene successions, which include known hydrocarbon reservoirs (e.g. Bressay, Bentley, Skipper or Piper). Clusters of pipes associated with other channels and deltaic units may indicate the presence of additional prospects at the eastern margin of the East Shetland Platform. Our study highlights the potential of using seismically imaged focused fluid system analyses in hydrocarbon exploration in platform areas on both sides of the Viking Graben and other frontier areas as they reveal the presence of working hydrocarbon charge pathways.
An adaptive variational finite difference framework for efficient symmetric octree viscosity
Authors: Goldade Ryan , Wang Yipeng , Aanjaneya Mridul , Batty Christopher
Published: July 2019

While pressure forces are often the bottleneck in (near-)inviscid fluid simulations, viscosity can impose orders of magnitude greater computational costs at lower Reynolds numbers. We propose an implicit octree finite difference discretization that significantly accelerates the solution of the free surface viscosity equations using adaptive staggered grids, while supporting viscous buckling and rotation effects, variable viscosity, and interaction with scripted moving solids. In experimental comparisons against regular grids, our method reduced the number of active velocity degrees of freedom by as much as a factor of 7.7 and reduced linear system solution times by factors between 3.8 and 9.4. We achieve this by developing a novel adaptive variational finite difference methodology for octrees and applying it to the optimization form of the viscosity problem. This yields a linear system that is symmetric positive definite by construction, unlike naive finite difference/volume methods, and much sparser than a hypothetical finite element alternative. Grid refinement studies show spatial convergence at first order in
L
∞
and second order in
L
1
, while the significantly smaller size of the octree linear systems allows for the solution of viscous forces at higher effective resolutions than with regular grids. We demonstrate the practical benefits of our adaptive scheme by replacing the regular grid viscosity step of a commercial liquid simulator (Houdini) to yield large speed-ups, and by incorporating it into an existing inviscid octree simulator to add support for viscous flows. Animations of viscous liquids pouring, bending, stirring, buckling, and melting illustrate that our octree method offers significant computational gains and excellent visual consistency with its regular grid counterpart.