bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covalent attachment of streptavidin to two dimensional magnetic nanocomposite enhances surface enhancement Raman spectroscopic signal
Authors: Mishra A. , Mishra A. , Yadav N. , Bhattacharya J. , Moulick R. Ghosh
Published: April 2019

In this work, we report that covalently attached protein to graphene oxide/magnetite (rGO-Fe3O4) nanocomposites can act as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic studies. The substrate rGO-Fe3O4 synthesized by hydrothermal process was modified with a fluorescently labeled protein, streptavidin (Strp), using silane chemistry. The modification was confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, where the fluorescence of the conjugated protein and the presence of the additional peaks were visualized, respectively. The transmission electron microscopy demonstrated a wide distribution of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on rGO sheets. In addition, when the Raman peaks of these bio-nanocomposites (rGO-Fe3O4-Strp) were compared with the GO-Strp sheets and Fe3O4-Strp nanoparticles, an active substrate-mediated surface enhancement Raman spectroscopic effect was observed. It suggests that covalently attached protein on rGO-Fe3O4 nanocomposite substrates acts as a better platform for biosensing application than bare GO sheets or Fe3O4 nanoparticles.
Role of Jakob number in Leidenfrost phenomena unveiled by theoretical modeling
Authors: Shi Meng , Frank Felix , Wang Letian , Xu Feng , Lu Tian Jian , Grigoropoulos Costas P.
Published: April 2019

The Leidenfrost phenomenon in its most common form is encountered when a droplet is levitated and driven by its own vapor. The recently discovered “cold Leidenfrost phenomenon” expands this phenomenon into low-temperature regimes. Although various theoretical models have been proposed, analytical exploration on generalized dimensionless laws is still absent. In this work, we elucidated the role of the dimensionless Jakob number in the Leidenfrost phenomenon through theoretical modeling. The model was verified by examining the cold Leidenfrost phenomenon of both a dry ice nub on the surface of water and a liquid nitrogen droplet on a smooth silicon surface. Regardless of the specific configuration, the dimensionless temperature distribution in the vapor film only depends on the Jakob number of the vapor and presents linear dependence when the Jakob number is below 0.25. This theoretical model would facilitate the exploration of physics for Leidenfrost events and, therefore, guide prediction as well as the design of applications in the future.
Optical and structural properties of dislocations in InGaN
Authors: Massabuau F. C.-P. , Horton M. K. , Pearce E. , Hammersley S. , Chen P. , Zielinski M. S. , Weatherley T. F. K. , Divitini G. , Edwards P. R. , Kappers M. J. , McAleese C. , Moram M. A. , Humphreys C. J. , Dawson P. , Oliver R. A.
Published: April 2019

Threading dislocations in thick layers of InxGa1−xN (5% < x < 15%) have been investigated by means of cathodoluminescence, time-resolved cathodoluminescence, and molecular dynamics. We show that indium atoms segregate near dislocations in all the samples. This promotes the formation of In-N-In chains and atomic condensates, which localize carriers and hinder nonradiative recombination at dislocations. We note, however, that the dark halo surrounding the dislocations in the cathodoluminescence image becomes increasingly pronounced as the indium fraction of the sample increases. Using transmission electron microscopy, we attribute the dark halo to a region of lower indium content formed below the facet of the V-shaped pit that terminates the dislocation in low composition samples (x < 12%). For x > 12%, the facets of the V-defect featured dislocation bundles instead of the low indium fraction region. In this sample, the origin of the dark halo may relate to a compound effect of the dislocation bundles, of a variation of surface potential, and perhaps, of an increase in carrier diffusion length.
A practical ansatz for evaluating the electronic friction tensor accurately, efficiently, and in a nearly black-box format
Authors: Jin Zuxin , Subotnik Joseph E.
Published: April 2019

It is well-known that under conditions of fast electronic equilibration and weak nonadiabaticity, nonadiabatic effects induced by electron-hole pair excitations can be partly incorporated through a frictional force. However, ab initio computation of the electronic friction tensor suffers from numerical instability and usually demands a convergence check. In this study, we present an efficient and accurate interpolation method for computing the electronic friction tensor in a nearly black-box manner as appropriate for molecular dynamics. In almost all cases, our method agrees quite well with the exact friction tensor which is available for several quadratic Hamiltonians. As such, we outperform more conventional approaches that are based on the introduction of a broadening parameter. Future work will implement this interpolation approach within ab initio software packages.
Roles of kink on the thermal transport in single polyethylene chains
Authors: Duan Xuhui , Li Zehuan , Liu Jun , Chen Gang , Li Xiaobo
Published: April 2019

The trans-gauche state transformation commonly exists in polymers. However, the fundamental understanding of the roles of kink (gauche state) on the thermal energy transport in polymer chains is rather limited. From atomic simulations, we show that kinks greatly scatter phonons in single polyethylene chains, and even a single kink can reflect more than half of the phonons. Further studies show that kinks not only add extra thermal resistance to the chain but also break the whole chain into small segments and each with reduced thermal conductivity. A simple series thermal resistance model is proposed to estimate the effective thermal conductivity of single polymer chains with multiple kinks.
Analytical gradient for the domain-based local pair natural orbital second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory method (DLPNO-MP2)
Authors: Pinski Peter , Neese Frank
Published: April 2019

Building upon our previously published work [P. Pinski and F. Neese, J. Chem. Phys. 148, 031101 (2018)], we derive the formally complete analytical gradient for the domain-based local pair natural orbital second order Møller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory method. Extensive testing of geometry optimizations shows that the deviations from resolution of the identity-based MP2 structures are small. Covalent bond lengths are reproduced to within 0.1 pm, whereas errors in interatomic distances between noncovalently interacting system parts do not exceed 1% with default truncation thresholds and 0.3% with tight thresholds. Moreover, we introduce a procedure to circumvent instabilities of the gradient caused by singular coupled-perturbed localization equations, as they occur for some symmetric systems with continuously degenerate localized orbitals. The largest system for which a geometry optimization was completed is a host-guest complex with over 200 atoms and more than 4000 basis functions (triple-zeta basis). The most demanding single-point gradient calculation was performed for the small protein crambin containing 644 atoms and over 12 000 basis functions.
Metal to insulator transition in conducting polyaniline/graphene oxide composites
Authors: Neti Eleni , Sakellis Elias , Papathanassiou Anthony N. , Vitoratos Evangelos , Sakkopoulos Sotirios
Published: April 2019

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements of polyaniline/graphene oxide composites were conducted for an as-prepared and a thermally annealed specimen, respectively, from 15 K to room temperature. The electrical conductivity values of the annealed composite display a very modest rise denoting the important contributions of the graphene oxide component to achieving electrical stability of the polymer. Patterns of the dc conductivity as a function of temperature also reveal a metal to insulator transition at around 75 K. The transition is dominated by two key factors: temperature and annealing process. Metal-like and insulating features are subsequently detected, as well, and accordingly described to provide a qualitative inspection of the charge transfer mechanisms involved.
Pressure-induced polymorphism and piezochromism in Mn2FeSbO6
Authors: Liu Lei , Song Hong X. , Li Xiaodong , Zhang Dongzhou , Mathieu Roland , Ivanov Sergey , Skogby Henrik , Lazor Peter
Published: April 2019

In the last decade, major efforts have been devoted to searching for polar magnets due to their vast potential applications in spintronic devices. However, the polar magnets are rare because of conflicting electronic configuration requirements of ferromagnetism and electric polarization. Double-perovskite oxides with a polar structure containing transition metal elements represent excellent candidates for the polar magnet design. Herein, the crystal structure evolution of Mn2FeSbO6 (MFSO) was investigated at pressures reaching ∼50 GPa by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, and ab initio calculation techniques. The XRD results reveal ilmenite- to perovskite-type phase transition at around 35 GPa. An additional intermediate phase, observed in the range of 31–36 GPa by Raman spectroscopy, but not the XRD technique, is proposed to represent the polar LiNbO3 phase. It is argued that this phase emerged due to the heating effect of the Raman-excitation laser. The LiNbO3-type MFSO compounds, displaying an intrinsic dipole ordering, represent a promising candidate for multiferroic materials. The detected phase transitions were found to be reversible although a significant hysteresis was noticeable between compression and decompression runs. Moreover, a pressure-induced piezochromism, signifying a bandgap change, was discovered by the direct visual observations and corroborated by ab initio calculations. The present study benefits an efficient high-pressure synthesis of polar magnetic double-perovskite oxides in the future.
Origin of enhanced anisotropy in FePt-C granular films revealed by XMCD
Authors: Streubel Robert , N'Diaye Alpha T. , Srinivasan Kumar , Ajan Antony , Fischer Peter
Published: April 2019

We study the effect of carbon segregants on the spin and orbital moments of L10 FePt granular media using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy and report an effective decoupling of the structural film properties from the magnetic parameters of the grains. The carbon concentration reduces the grain size from (200 ± 160) nm2 down to (50 ± 20) nm2 for 40 mol. %C and improves sphericity and the order of grains, while preserving the crystalline order, spin and orbital moments, and perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy. We identify the primary cause of enhanced saturation and coercive fields as the reduced demagnetization fields of individual grains. The ability to shrink grains without impairing their magnetic properties is a critical requirement for the commercialization of Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording.
Cross-plane thermal transport measurements across CVD grown few layer graphene films on a silicon substrate
Authors: Lu Baojie , Zhang Longhan , Balogun Oluwaseyi
Published: April 2019

Room-temperature time-domain thermoreflectance technique (TDTR) measurements of cross-plane heat conduction across gold-graphene-silicon interfaces are presented. The graphene layers are originally grown on a copper substrate by chemical vapor deposition and later transferred to a silicon substrate in layer-by-layer fashion. We estimate the thermal boundary conductance (TBC) as a function of number of graphene layers, by fitting a layered heat conduction model that accounts for heat accumulation in the gold layer to the TDTR data, using the TBC as a free fitting parameter. The estimated TBC was found to decrease with number of graphene layers at the interface, as observed in previous TDTR measurements reported in the literature. The decrease in TBC with number of graphene layers matches the trends in the transmission coefficient of low frequency (25 GHz) coherent acoustic phonons across the interface, indicating that the interface elastic stiffness decreases with the number of graphene layers due to poor bonding between the gold film and silicon substrate.
DNA methylation analysis and editing in single mammalian oocytes
Authors: Wei Yanchang , Lang Jingwen , Zhang Qian , Yang Cai-Rong , Zhao Zhen-Ao , Zhang Yixin , Du Yanzhi , Sun Yun
Published: April 2019

Significance

Many mammalian nongenetic diseases and developmental disorders originate from oocyte DNA methylation abnormalities. However, prevention and correction of this maternally transmitted nongenetic disorder remains challenging because of the lack of strategy that can evaluate and manipulate specific methylation at single oocyte level. In this study, using several models of epigenetic inheritance via oocytes, we have shown that specific methylation in a single oocyte can be evaluated from its sibling PB1 and can be edited in a targeted manner. Our study provides a strategy for prevention and correction of maternally transmitted nongenetic diseases or disorders, and will also facilitate the investigation of maternally transmitted nongenetic information at the very beginning of life.
Gravitational instabilities in binary granular materials
Authors: McLaren Christopher P. , Kovar Thomas M. , Penn Alexander , Müller Christoph R. , Boyce Christopher M.
Published: April 2019

Significance

Flow of granular materials, such as sand and catalytic particles, is critical to a wide range of natural phenomena and industrial processes. However, the physics underlying granular flows is poorly understood. We report the discovery of gravitational instabilities in binary granular materials driven by a gas channeling mechanism unseen in fluids. A Rayleigh–Taylor instability analog is observed despite a lack of surface tension between grains, while a droplet branching phenomenon demonstrates a deviation from fluid motion due to solidification of particles. These discoveries shed light on granular dynamics and can potentially explain geological formations and enable process technologies.
Testing the deconditioning hypothesis of low back pain: A study in 1182 older women
Authors: Tagliaferri Scott D , Armbrecht Gabriele , Miller Clint T , Owen Patrick J , Mundell Niamh L , Felsenberg Dieter , Thomasius Friederike , Belavy Daniel L
Published: April 2019

This study assessed the deconditioning hypothesis of low back pain (LBP) by examining physical function in relation to LBP and self‐reported physical activity in women. This cross‐sectional study recruited a representative population‐based sample of females aged greater than 60 years. In total, 1182 women were included in the study and completed questionnaires (physical activity and LBP intensity) and functional testing (countermovement jump, chair rise, gait speed and grip strength). Individuals were stratified into four groups based on physical activity and LBP status and analysed via a two‐way ANOVA. Most participants (87%) reported current LBP and 25% were physically active. Countermovement jump height, chair rise and grip strength were lower in physically inactive women (p ≤ 0.005), but not women with LBP (p ≥ 0.21). Gait speed was not associated with physical activity or LBP status. There was no association between LBP and physical activity status. Whilst LBP was associated with lower physical activity, contrary to the deconditioning hypothesis, LBP status itself was not associated with reduced physical function in community‐dwelling women 60 years and older. This implies that LBP may not be related to physical function in this population group, but rather to their physical activity levels.
A systematic social observation tool to measure the restorative potential of urban settings / Diseño de una herramienta de observación social sistemática del potencial restaurador de espacios urbanos
Authors: Subiza-Pérez Mikel , Vozmediano Laura , San Juan César
Published: April 2019

The study of psychological restoration in urban settings has undergone significant growth in recent years. The aim of this paper is to develop an instrument for the objective evaluation of the restorative potential of urban public spaces. Perceived restoration scales and a large number of systematic social observation instruments were reviewed, selecting items that might be suitable for the aims of this study and adding other items designed ad hoc. The resulting tool is made up of 183 items, grouped into 12 domains. The final format of the instrument was used by a group of four evaluators in a total of six urban squares. This paper reports the statistics obtained for the internal consistency of the instrument (inter-judge agreement) and convergent validity through correlations of the objective scores from each public square with the perceived and experienced restoration of a sample of users of said public squares ( N = 296). The tool delivered an adequate level of reliability, and its scores were related to restoration measures, although the size of this association was small.
The Casimir-like effect in a one-dimensional Bose gas
Authors: Reichert Benjamin , Ristivojevic Zoran , Petković Aleksandra
Published: April 2019

The electromagnetic Casimir effect manifests as the interaction between uncharged conducting objects that are placed in a vacuum. More generally, the Casimir-like effect denotes an induced interaction between external bodies in a fluctuating medium. We study the Casimir-like interaction between two impurities embedded in a weakly interacting one-dimensional Bose gas. We develop a theory based on the Gross–Pitaevskii equation that accounts for the effect of quantum fluctuations. At small separations, the induced interaction between the impurities decays exponentially with the distance. This is a classical result that can be understood using the mean-field Gross–Pitaevskii equation. We find that at larger distances, the induced interaction crosses over into a power law dependence due to the quantum fluctuations. We obtain an analytic expression for the interaction that interpolates between the two limiting behaviors. The obtained result does not require any regularization.
How can Big Data and machine learning benefit environment and water management: a survey of methods, applications, and future directions
Authors: Sun Alexander Y , Scanlon Bridget R
Published: April 2019

Big Data and machine learning (ML) technologies have the potential to impact many facets of environment and water management (EWM). Big Data are information assets characterized by high volume, velocity, variety, and veracity. Fast advances in high-resolution remote sensing techniques, smart information and communication technologies, and social media have contributed to the proliferation of Big Data in many EWM fields, such as weather forecasting, disaster management, smart water and energy management systems, and remote sensing. Big Data brings about new opportunities for data-driven discovery in EWM, but it also requires new forms of information processing, storage, retrieval, as well as analytics. ML, a subdomain of artificial intelligence (AI), refers broadly to computer algorithms that can automatically learn from data. ML may help unlock the power of Big Data if properly integrated with data analytics. Recent breakthroughs in AI and computing infrastructure have led to the fast development of powerful deep learning (DL) algorithms that can extract hierarchical features from data, with better predictive performance and less human intervention. Collectively Big Data and ML techniques have shown great potential for data-driven decision making, scientific discovery, and process optimization. These technological advances may greatly benefit EWM, especially because (1) many EWM applications (e.g. early flood warning) require the capability to extract useful information from a large amount of data in autonomous manner and in real time, (2) EWM researches have become highly multidisciplinary, and handling the ever increasing data volume/types using the traditional workflow is simply not an option, and last but not least, (3) the current theoretical knowledge about many EWM processes is still incomplete, but which may now be complemented through data-driven discovery. A large number of applications on Big Data and ML have already appeared in the EWM literature in recent years. The purposes of this survey are to (1) examine the potential and benefits of data-driven research in EWM, (2) give a synopsis of key concepts and approaches in Big Data and ML, (3) provide a systematic review of current applications, and finally (4) discuss major issues and challenges, and recommend future research directions. EWM includes a broad range of research topics. Instead of attempting to survey each individual area, this review focuses on areas of nexus in EWM, with an emphasis on elucidating the potential benefits of increased data availability and predictive analytics to improving the EWM research.
Design of a freeform uniformity corrector lens for extended sources in elliptical reflectors
Authors: Rausch Denise , Herkommer Alois M
Published: April 2019

Illumination design usually requires the collection of a large solid angle of radiation from the light source. However, it is known that elliptical reflectors in combination with extended uniform light sources result in a non-uniform irradiance profile at the secondary focus. Within this paper we propose a design method based on phase space transformations, which includes the source extension from the very beginning. We show that an analysis of the local mapping of the source to the target radiance distribution allows a profound understanding of the effects and in consequence a design concept for an additional freeform lens to correct the uniformity at the secondary focus.
Trans-National Adaptations of the Church Mouse, a Cross-Class Office Romance of the Early 1930s
Authors: Sharot Stephen
Published: April 2019

A Hungarian play, A Templom Egere (The Church Mouse), first performed in 1927, was adapted across nations on stage and for three film versions: the German Arm wie eine kirchenmaus (Poor as a Church Mouse, 1931), an American, Beauty and the Boss (1932), and a British, The Church Mouse (1934). All versions fuse a Cinderella theme with the prevalent discourse of the period on stenographers and secretaries as sexual attractions or as machines, identified with the typewriter, but the versions differ with respect to the heroine’s transformation from machine to alluring female and in their film styles, particularly in the extent and ways they ‘open-up’ the play.
Identification of differentially expressed gene sets using the Generalized Berk–Jones statistic
Authors: Gaynor Sheila M , Sun Ryan , Lin Xihong , Quackenbush John
Published: April 2019

Motivation

Cancer genomics studies frequently aim to identify genes that are differentially expressed between clinically distinct patient subgroups, generally by testing single genes one at a time. However, the results of any individual transcriptomic study are often not fully reproducible. A particular challenge impeding statistical analysis is the difficulty of distinguishing between differential expression comprising part of the genomic disease etiology and that induced by downstream effects. More robust analytical approaches that are well-powered to detect potentially causative genes, are less prone to discovering spurious associations, and can deliver reproducible findings across different studies are needed.

Results

We propose a set-based procedure for testing of differential expression and show that this set-based approach can produce more robust results by aggregating information across multiple, correlated genomic markers. Specifically, we adapt the Generalized Berk–Jones statistic to test for the transcription factors that may contribute to the progression of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. We demonstrate the ability of our method to produce reproducible findings by applying the same analysis to 21 publicly available datasets, producing a similar list of significant transcription factors across most studies. Our Generalized Berk–Jones approach produces results that show improved consistency over three set-based testing algorithms: Generalized Higher Criticism, Gene Set Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis.

Availability and implementation

Data are in the MetaGxBreast R package. Code is available at github.com/ryanrsun/gaynor_sun_GBJ_breast_cancer.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Behaviour and neuropathology in mice injected with human contactin-associated protein 2 antibodies
Authors: Giannoccaro Maria Pia , Menassa David A , Jacobson Leslie , Coutinho Ester , Prota Gennaro , Lang Bethan , Leite M Isabel , Cerundolo Vincenzo , Liguori Rocco , Vincent Angela
Published: April 2019

Serum antibodies that bind to the surface of neurons or glia are associated with a wide range of rare but treatable CNS diseases. In many, if not most instances, the serum levels are higher than CSF levels yet most of the reported attempts to reproduce the human disease in mice have used infusion of antibodies into the mouse cerebral ventricle(s) or intrathecal space. We used the intraperitoneal route and injected purified plasma IgG from either a CASPR2-antibody-positive patient (n = 10 mice) or healthy individual (n = 9 mice) daily for 8 days. Lipopolysaccharide was injected intraperitoneally on Day 3 to cause a temporary breach in the blood brain barrier. A wide range of baseline behaviours, including tests of locomotion, coordination, memory, anxiety and social interactions, were established before the injections and tested from Day 5 until Day 11. At termination, brain tissue was analysed for human IgG, CASPR2 and c-fos expression, lymphocyte infiltration, and neuronal, astrocytic and microglial markers. Mice exposed to CASPR2-IgG, compared with control-IgG injected mice, displayed reduced working memory during the continuous spontaneous alternation test with trends towards reduced short-term and long-term memories. In the open field tests, activities were not different from controls, but in the reciprocal social interaction test, CASPR2-IgG injected mice showed longer latency to start interacting, associated with more freezing behaviour and reduced non-social activities of rearing and grooming. At termination, neuropathology showed more IgG deposited in the brains of CASPR2-IgG injected mice, but a trend towards increased CASPR2 expression; these results were mirrored in short-term in vitro experiments where CASPR2-IgG binding to hippocampal neurons and to CASPR2-transfected HEK cells led to some internalization of the IgG, but with a trend towards higher surface CASPR2 expression. Despite these limited results, in the CASPR2-IgG injected mouse brains there was increased c-fos expression in the piriform-entorhinal cortex and hypothalamus, and a modest loss of Purkinje cells. There was also increased microglia density, morphological changes in both microglia and astrocytes and raised complement C3 expression on astrocytes, all consistent with glial activation. Patients with CASPR2 antibodies can present with a range of clinical features reflecting central, autonomic and peripheral dysfunction. Although the behavioural changes in mice were limited to social interactions and mild working-memory defects, the neuropathological features indicate potentially widespread effects of the antibodies on different brain regions.
Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke After Treatment of Infective Endocarditis: A Danish, Nationwide, Propensity Score–Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Klein Christine Falk , Gørtz Sanne , Wohlfahrt Jan , Nørgaard Munch Tina , Melbye Mads , Bundgaard Henning , Iversen Kasper Karmark
Published: April 2019

Background

Several studies have reported a high risk of ischemic stroke (IS) during the acute phase of infective endocarditis (IE). The long-term risk of IS after IE, however, is not fully illuminated.

Methods

This Danish, nationwide, register-based, propensity score–matched cohort study used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of IS for persons with vs without a history of left-sided IE, from 1977 to 2015.

Results

We followed 9312 patients exposed to a first-time IE and 91 996 nonexposed, matched control persons. Compared to persons without IE, patients with a history of IE had a significantly increased risk of IS; the risk was highest during the first 4 weeks after IE diagnosis (HR 57.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 45.58–71.78; P < .0001) and a moderately elevated risk persisted until 2 years after IE (4 weeks to 3 months after IE, HR 5.40, 95% CI 4.11–7.19; 3 months to 2 years after IE, HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.48–2.01). Mediation analyses showed that the higher risk of IS the first 2 years after IE could not be explained by atrial fibrillation (AF) or inserted mechanical valves in IE patients. In the period from 4 weeks to 3 months after IE diagnosis, patients treated with anticoagulative therapy had a lower risk of IS (HR 0.30, 95% CI .10–0.96; P = .04).

Conclusions

Patients with a history of IE had an increased risk of IS for up to 2 years after IE diagnosis. The increased risk was unrelated to AF and inserted mechanical valves. During the initial phase after IE, patients taking an anticoagulative medication had a lower risk of IS.
Acute kidney injury calculated using admission serum creatinine underestimates 30-day and 1-year mortality after acute stroke
Authors: Arnold Julia , Sims Don , Gill Paramjit , Cockwell Paul , Ferro Charles
Published: April 2019

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosis requires ascertainment of change from a known baseline. Although pre-admission serum creatinine (SCr) is recommended, to date, all studies of AKI in acute stroke have used the first SCr on admission.

Methods

All patients admitted with an acute stroke to an emergency hospital were recruited. We compared use of pre-admission SCr with admission SCr to diagnose AKI. Regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for 30-day and 1-year mortality, respectively.

Results

A total of 1354 patients were recruited from December 2012 to September 2015. Incidence of AKI was 18.7 and 19.9% using pre-admission SCr and admission SCr, respectively. Diagnosis of AKI was associated with significantly increased 30-day and 1-year mortality. Diagnosis of AKI using pre-admission SCr had a stronger relationship with both 30-day and 1-year mortality. In 443 patients with a pre-admission SCr and at least two SCr during admission, AKI diagnosed using pre-admission SCr had a stronger relationship than AKI diagnosed using admission SCr with 30-day mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 2.64; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–5.12; P = 0.004 versus OR = 2.10; 95% CI 1.09–4.03; P = 0.026] and 1-year mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.90, 95% CI 1.32–2.76; P = 0.001 versus HR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.01–2.15; P = 0.046] in fully adjusted models.

Conclusions

AKI after stroke is common and is associated with increased 30-day and 1-year mortality. Using first SCr on admission gives a comparable AKI incidence to pre-admission SCr, but underestimates 30-day and 1-year mortality risk.
The Ugly Truth: Abject Corporeality as Political Authenticity
Authors: Shugart Helene A
Published: April 2019

In this article, I argue that, as materialized in the figures of current U.S. President Donald Trump and immediate past New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a culturally resonant variant of political authenticity has become aligned with the corporeally abject. In a climate in which conventional cornerstones of political comportment have become suspect, the corporeal abject has become a marker of authenticity, material evidence of resistance to perceived “politics as usual.” Moreover, mediated coverage of Trump and Christie that turns on their corporeal abjection to the end of critique augments and sediments this effect; fetishizing the grotesque corporeal features of Trump and Christie effectively serves to secure their relative “realness” and their concomitant distance from the artifice and deceit against which a disaffected public draws itself. This analysis prompts a theoretical reconsideration of relationships between abjection, subjectivity, and relative privilege and the role and relevance of the body in mediating those relationships.
Scimitar sign in the absence of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage: a case report
Authors: Manso Paulo Henrique , Moreira Valéria de Melo , Aiello Vera Demarchi
Published: April 2019

Background

Scimitar syndrome consists of anomalous pulmonary vein drainage to the inferior vena cava. Its name derives from the image this anomalous pulmonary vein creates on a chest radiograph. We describe a case of normal venous pulmonary vein drainage that also presented the scimitar sign due to an aorto-collateral vessel.

Case summary

A 15-month-old girl presented with mild dyspnoea and fever. Control chest X-ray showed an image of cardiac dextroposition, hypoplastic right lung, and the ‘scimitar sign’. Although the transthoracic echocardiogram confirmed the initial suspicion of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, the computed tomography (CT) scan showed normal right pulmonary veins connected to the left atrium and revealed that an aorto-collateral vessel caused the scimitar sign.

Discussion

Although the patient had several typical alterations of the scimitar syndrome, the pulmonary venous connection was normal, and the scimitar sign was due to an aorto-collateral vessel. It might be difficult to describe venous pulmonary connections on the basis of echocardiography, so an angio CT scan proved to be a valuable tool in this scenario.
The effects of continuity of care on the health of mother and child in the postnatal period: a systematic review
Authors: D’haenens Florence , Van Rompaey Bart , Swinnen Eva , Dilles Tinne , Beeckman Katrien
Published: April 2019

Background

Continuity of care (COC) is essential for high-quality patient care in the perinatal period. Insights in the effects of COC models on patient outcomes are important to direct perinatal healthcare organization. To our knowledge, no previous review has listed the effects of COC on the physical and mental health of mother and child in the postnatal period.

Methods

A search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL and CINAHL), from 2000 to 2018. Studies were included if: participants were healthy mothers or newborns with a gestational age between 37–42 weeks; they covered the perinatal period and aimed to measure breastfeeding or any outcome related to the maternal/newborn physical or mental health. At least one of the three COC types (management, informational and relationship) was identified in the intervention. The methodological quality was assessed.

Results

Ten articles were included. COC is mostly present in the identified care models. The effects of COC on the outcomes of mother and child in the postnatal period seem mostly to be positive, although not always significant. The relation between COC and the outcomes can be influenced by confounding factors, like the socio-economic status of the included population. Interventions with COC during pregnancy appear to be more effective for all the studied outcome factors.

Conclusion

COC as management, relational and informational continuity starting antenatal has the most impact on the postnatal outcomes of mother and child.
Consensus control of singular multi-agent systems based on iterative learning approach
Authors: Gu Panpan , Tian Senping
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the iterative learning control technique is applied for singular multi-agent systems to perform consensus tracking. Here, the communication among the followers is described by a directed graph, and only a portion of the followers can receive the leader’s information. Based on the equivalent restrict decomposition form of singular agents, a unified distributed learning algorithm is proposed in both continuous-time domain and discrete-time domain. Furthermore, the convergence condition of the algorithm is presented and analyzed. It is shown that the algorithm can guarantee the states of the followers converge to the leader’s trajectory on a finite time interval along the iteration axis. Finally, two simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
What is the digestibility and caloric value of different botanical parts in corn residue to cattle?1
Authors: Petzel Emily A , Titgemeyer Evan C , Smart Alexander J , Hales Kristin E , Foote Andrew P , Acharya Subash , Bailey Eric A , Held Jeffrey E , Brake Derek W
Published: April 2019

Two experiments were conducted to measure rates of ruminal disappearance, and energy and nutrient availability and N balance among cows fed corn husks, leaves, or stalks. Ruminal disappearance was estimated after incubation of polyester bags containing husks, leaves or stalks in 2 separate ruminally cannulated cows in a completely randomized design. Organic matter (OM) that initially disappeared was greatest for stalks and least for husks and leaves (P < 0.01), but amounts of NDF that initially disappeared was greatest for husks, intermediate for stalks, and least for leaves (P < 0.01). Amounts of DM and OM that slowly disappeared were greatest in husks, intermediate in leaves, and least in stalks (P < 0.01). However, amounts of NDF that slowly disappeared were greatest in leaves, intermediate in husks, and least in stalks (P < 0.01). Rate of DM and OM disappearance was greater for leaves, intermediate for husks and least for stalks, but rate of NDF disappearance was greatest for stalks, intermediate for leaves, and least for husks (P < 0.01). Energy and nutrient availability in husks, leaves, or stalks were measured by feeding ruminally cannulated cows husk-, leaf-, or stalk-based diets in a replicated Latin square. Digestible energy lost as methane was less (P = 0.02) when cows were fed leaves in comparison to husks or stalks, and metabolizable energy (Mcal/kg DM) was greater (P = 0.03) when cows were fed husks and leaves compared with stalks. Heat production (Mcal/d) was not different (P = 0.74) between husks, leaves, or stalks; however, amounts of heat produced as a proportion of digestible energy intake were less (P = 0.05) among cows fed leaves in comparison to stalks or husks. Subsequently, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for net energy available for maintenance from leaves (1.42 Mcal/kg DM) to be greater than stalks (0.91 Mcal/kg DM), and husks (1.30 Mcal/kg DM) were intermediate. Nitrogen balance was greater when cows were fed leaves, intermediate for husks, and least for stalks (P = 0.01). Total tract digestion of NDF was greater (P < 0.01) for husks and leaves compared with stalks. Husks had greater (P = 0.04) OM digestibility in comparison to stalks, and leaves were intermediate. Apparently, greater production of methane from husks in comparison to leaves limited amounts of energy available for maintenance from husks even though total-tract nutrient digestion was greatest when cows were fed husks or leaves.
Amputation Following Burn Injury
Authors: Bartley Colleen N , Atwell Kenisha , Purcell Laura , Cairns Bruce , Charles Anthony
Published: April 2019

Amputation following burn injury is rare. Previous studies describe the risk of amputation after electrical burn injuries. Therefore, we describe the distribution of amputations and evaluate risk factors for amputation following burn injury at a large regional burn center. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients ≥17 years admitted from January 2002 to December 2015. Patients who did and did not undergo an amputation procedure were compared. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors for amputation. Amputations were further categorized by extremity location and type (major, minor) for comparison. Of the 8313 patients included for analysis, 1.4% had at least one amputation (n = 119). Amputees were older (46.7 ± 17.4 years) than nonamputees (42.6 ± 16.8 years; P = .009). The majority of amputees were white (47.9%) followed by black (39.5%) when compared with nonamputees (white: 57.1%, black: 27.3%; P = .012). The most common burn etiology for amputees was flame (41.2%) followed by electrical (23.5%) and other (21.9%). Black race (odds ratio [OR]: 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–4.30; P = .010), electric (OR: 13.54; 95% CI: 6.23–29.45; P < .001) and increased %TBSA (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02–1.05; P < .001) were associated with amputation. Burn etiology, the presence of preexisting comorbidities, black race, and increased %TBSA increase the odds of post burn injury. The role of race on the risk of amputation requires further study.
Resistance to Medical Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Longoni Chiara , Bonezzi Andrea , Morewedge Carey K
Published: April 2019

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare, but little is known about consumer receptivity to AI in medicine. Consumers are reluctant to utilize healthcare provided by AI in real and hypothetical choices, separate and joint evaluations. Consumers are less likely to utilize healthcare (study 1), exhibit lower reservation prices for healthcare (study 2), are less sensitive to differences in provider performance (studies 3A–3C), and derive negative utility if a provider is automated rather than human (study 4). Uniqueness neglect, a concern that AI providers are less able than human providers to account for consumers’ unique characteristics and circumstances, drives consumer resistance to medical AI. Indeed, resistance to medical AI is stronger for consumers who perceive themselves to be more unique (study 5). Uniqueness neglect mediates resistance to medical AI (study 6), and is eliminated when AI provides care (a) that is framed as personalized (study 7), (b) to consumers other than the self (study 8), or (c) that only supports, rather than replaces, a decision made by a human healthcare provider (study 9). These findings make contributions to the psychology of automation and medical decision making, and suggest interventions to increase consumer acceptance of AI in medicine.
Overexpression of mechanical sensitive miR-337-3p alleviates ectopic ossification in rat tendinopathy model via targeting IRS1 and Nox4 of tendon-derived stem cells
Authors: Geng Yiyun , Zhao Xiaoying , Xu Jiajia , Zhang Xudong , Hu Guoli , Fu Sai-Chuen , Dai Kerong , Chen Xiaodong , Patrick Yung shu-huang , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: April 2019

Tendinopathy, which is characterized by the ectopic ossification of tendon, is a common disease occurring in certain population, such as athletes that suffer from repetitive tendon strains. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of tendinopathy caused by the overuse of tendon is still lacking. Here, we found that the mechanosensitive miRNA, miR-337-3p, had lower expression under uniaxial cyclical mechanical loading in tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) and negatively controlled chondro-osteogenic differentiation of TDSCs. Importantly, downregulation of miR-337-3p expression was also observed in both rat and human calcified tendons, and overexpressing miR-337-3p in patellar tendons of rat tendinopathy model displayed a robust therapeutic efficiency. Mechanistically, we found that the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β was the upstream factor of miR-337-3p that bridges the mechanical loading with its downregulation. Furthermore, the target genes of miR-337-3p, NADPH oxidase 4, and insulin receptor substrate 1, activated chondro-osteogenic differentiation of TDSCs through JNK and ERK signaling, respectively. Thus, these findings not only provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying ectopic ossification in tendinopathy but also highlight the significance of miR-337-3p as a putative therapeutic target for clinic treatment of tendinopathy.
Secular Trends of Ascariasis Infestation and Nutritional Status in Chinese Children From 2000 to 2014: Evidence From 4 Successive National Surveys
Authors: Dong Yanhui , Zou Zhiyong , Hu Peijin , Dong Bin , Wang Zhenghe , Yang Zhaogeng , Wen Bo , Ma Yinghua , Song Yi , Ma Jun , Lau Patrick W C
Published: April 2019

Background

This study aimed to assess secular trends and epidemiological status of ascariasis infestations and to explore its effects on the nutritional transition among Chinese children from 2000 to 2014.

Methods

Data were collected from 69 435 Chinese children aged 7-year-olds and 9-year-olds in 4 successive cross-sectional surveys of Chinese National Survey on Students’ Constitution and Health. Ascariasis infestation was defined by using the Kato-Katz method. Nutritional status was classified into stunting, thinness, overweight, and obesity by WHO definition.

Results

From 2000 to 2014, the ascariasis infestation rates decreased from 9.1% to 1.7%, the stunting and thinness prevalence decreased from 4.3% and 13.8% to 0.7% and 7.1%, while the overweight and obesity prevalence increased from 3.6% and 2.1% to 9.8% and 9.1%, respectively. Compared to children in the ascariasis noninfestation group, those infected with ascariasis had a worse nutritional status. Yet, the disparity in nutritional status between 2 groups disappeared over time. Provinces with a higher gross domestic product per capita simultaneously had lower ascariasis infestation rates, lower stunting and thinness prevalence, and higher overweight and obesity prevalence.

Conclusions

The retardation effects caused by ascariasis infestation on nutritional status in Chinese children seemed to be offset by the rapid economic development and nutritional transition over time; nevertheless, multiple prevention and control measures are still needed and should be continuously strengthened.
Antimicrobial Resistance or Delayed Appropriate Therapy—Does One Influence Outcomes More Than the Other Among Patients With Serious Infections Due to Carbapenem-Resistant Versus Carbapenem-Susceptible Enterobacteriaceae?
Authors: Lodise Thomas P , Berger Ariel , Altincatal Arman , Wang Rosa , Bhagnani Tarun , Gillard Patrick , Bonine Nicole G
Published: April 2019

Background

The relative contribution of antimicrobial resistance versus delayed appropriate treatment to the clinical and economic burden of Enterobacteriaceae infections is not well understood.

Methods

Using a large US hospital database, we identified all admissions between July 2011 and September 2014 with evidence of serious Enterobacteriaceae infection. The “index date” was the earliest date on which a culture positive for Enterobacteriaceae was drawn. Infections were classified as carbapenem-resistant (CRE) or carbapenem-susceptible (CSE). Receipt of antimicrobials with activity against all index pathogens on the index date or ≤2 days thereafter was deemed as “timely”; all other instances were “delayed.” Associations between CRE status and delayed appropriate therapy on outcomes were estimated using inverse probability weighting and multivariate regression models (ie, logistic model for discharge destination and composite mortality [in-hospital death or discharge to hospice] or generalized linear model for duration of antibiotic therapy, hospital length of stay [LOS], and costs).

Results

A total of 50 069 patients met selection criteria; 514 patients (1.0%) had CRE. Overall, 67.5% of CSE patients (vs 44.6%, CRE) received timely appropriate therapy (P < .01). Irrespective of CRE status, patients who received delayed appropriate therapy had longer durations of antibiotic therapy and LOS, higher costs, lower likelihood of discharge to home, and greater likelihood of the composite mortality outcome (P for trend < .01).

Conclusions

Delayed appropriate therapy is a more important driver of outcomes than CRE, although the 2 factors are somewhat synergistic. Better methods of early CRE identification may improve outcomes in this patient population.