bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota in early life and its influence on health and disease: A position paper by the Malaysian Working Group on Gastrointestinal Health
Authors: Lee Yeong Yeh , Hassan Siti Asma , Ismail Intan Hakimah , Chong Sze Yee , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Amin Nordin Syafinaz , Lee Way Seah , Majid Noorizan Abdul
Published: December 2017

The role of gut microbiota in early life and its impact on gut health and subsequent diseases remain unclear. There is a lack of research and awareness in this area, especially in the Asia‐Pacific region, including Malaysia. This paper reports the position of a Malaysian Working Group on some key issues surrounding gut microbiota in early life and its role in gut health and diseases, as well as experts’ stand on probiotics and prebiotics. The group reached a consensus that certain factors, including elective caesarean; premature deliveries; complementary feeding; use of antibiotics, prebiotics and/or probiotics; and exposure to the external environmental, have an impact on gut microbiota in early life. However, as evidence is lacking, especially from the Asia‐Pacific region, further studies are needed to understand how gut microbiota in early life affects subsequent diseases, including allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and infantile colic. Lastly, although beneficial in acute diarrhoeal disease and probably allergic eczema, probiotics (and/or prebiotics) should be used cautiously in other gut dysbiotic conditions until more data are available.
The Inverse Kullback–Leibler Method for Fitting Vector Moving Averages
Authors: McElroy Tucker , Roy Anindya
Published: December 2017

A new method for the estimation of a vector moving average (VMA) process is presented. The technique uses Kullback–Leibler discrepancy with inverse spectra, and yields a Yule–Walker system of equations in inverse autocovariances for the VMA coefficients. This provides a direct formula for the coefficients, which always results in a stable matrix polynomial. The paper provides asymptotic results, as well as an analysis of the method's performance, in terms of speed, bias, and precision. Applications to preliminary estimation of VMA models are discussed, and the method is illustrated on retail data.
The Maximal Sustainable Public Debt in a Portfolio Balance and Global Version of the Diamond Overlapping Generations Model
Authors: Roberts Mark Andrew
Published: December 2017

Public debt is considered in a multi‐country version of the Diamond OLG model with a focus on its maximal sustainable value. Imperfect asset substitutability gives rise to a further nonlinearity through a risk premium, and, if primary deficits are exogenous, it is an additional source of bifurcation maximum. The merits of this portfolio approach are (i) an analysis that can embrace the broad empirical pattern of relative rates of return, and (ii) the result that a large amount of public debt may reflect a persistently low demand for it, so that potential crises may emanate from the demand side of its market.
Warfarin use and the risk of stroke, bleeding, and mortality in older adults on dialysis with incident atrial fibrillation
Authors: Tan Jingwen , Bae Sunjae , Segal Jodi B , Zhu Junya , Alexander G Caleb , Segev Dorry L , McAdams‐DeMarco Mara
Published: December 2017

Aim

There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of warfarin for atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment among older end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and differences among subgroups are unclear.

Methods

Older dialysis patients who were newly diagnosed with AF (7/2007‐12/2011) were identified in the United States Renal Data System. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of the outcomes (any stroke, ischaemic stroke, major bleeding, severe gastrointestinal bleeding, and death) by time‐varying warfarin use were estimated using Cox regression accounting for the inverse probability of treatment weight.

Results

Among 5765 older dialysis patients with incident AF, warfarin was associated with significantly increased risk of major bleeding (HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.33–1.68), but was not statistically associated with any stroke (HR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.75–1.12), ischaemic stroke (HR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.70–1.11) or gastrointestinal bleeding (HR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.80–1.32). Warfarin use was associated with a reduced risk of mortality (HR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.65–0.80). The association between warfarin and major bleeding differed by sex (male: HR = 1.29; 95%CI 1.08–1.55; female: HR = 1.67; 95%CI 1.44–1.93; P‐value for interaction = 0.03).

Conclusion

Older ESRD patients with AF who were treated with warfarin had a no difference in stroke risk, lower mortality risk, but increased major bleeding risk. The bleeding risk associated with warfarin was greater among women than men. The risk/benefit ratio of warfarin may be less favourable among older women.
Deregulating Overtime Hours Restrictions on Women and its Effects on Female Employment: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Japan
Authors: Kato Takao , Kodama Naomi
Published: December 2017

This paper provides novel evidence on the effect of deregulating overtime hours restrictions on women by using the 1985 Amendments to the Labour Standards Act (LSA) in Japan as a natural experiment. The original LSA of 1947 prohibited women from working overtime exceeding two hours a day; six hours a week; and 150 hours a year. The 1985 Amendments exempted a variety of occupations and industries from such an overtime restriction on women. Applying a difference‐in‐difference model to census data, we find causal evidence pointing to the positive effect of this particular piece of labour market deregulation on the proportion of female employment. We then carry out a series of sensitivity analyses to ensure the robustness of our finding. Especially, we conduct a falsification test and an event study to show that our causal inference is not threatened by the differential pretreatment trends. Finally, we use quantile regressions and find that for jobs with more rapidly growing proportion of female employment, the effect of the exemption from the overtime work restriction on women is larger.
Automated QT analysis on Holter monitors in pediatric patients can differentiate long QT syndrome from controls
Authors: Follansbee Christopher W. , Beerman Lee , Arora Gaurav
Published: December 2017

Background

Borderline QTc is a common referral to the pediatric cardiology clinic. Evaluation is challenging due to significant overlap of normal and abnormal QTc ranges. We hypothesized that automated QT analysis on Holter could differentiate between patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS) and healthy controls.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 39 patients with known genotype‐positive, phenotype‐positive LQTS who underwent Holter monitoring between January 2010 and January 2016. They were compared 2:1 to age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Automated QT analysis data were analyzed.

Results

Significant differences were found in all automated QT and QTc fields, except minimum QTc interval (P = 0.57). Mean QTc interval (LQTS 479 ± 28 ms vs controls 429 ± 16 ms; P ≤ 0.001) and percent QTc intervals (%QTc) >450 ms (LQTS 80 ± 28% vs controls 14 ± 16%; P ≤ 0.001) were selected for further analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated for each variable demonstrating high area under the curve values of 0.9494 and 0.9540, respectively. Threshold values of ≥461 ms for mean QTc (sensitivity 79.49%, specificity 98.72%) and ≥65% of %QTc >450 ms (sensitivity 79.49%, specificity 98.72%) allowed highly specific discrimination between cohorts (false positive rate 1.09%). Similarly, thresholds of <434 ms (sensitivity 97.44, specificity 61.54) for mean QTc and <32% (sensitivity 89.74, specificity 87.18) for %QTc >450 ms resulted in highly sensitive discrimination (false negative rates 2.17% and 8.7%).

Conclusion

Holter monitor testing with automated QT analysis may be a useful tool to differentiate LQTS and control patients.
Observational study on the occurrence of surgical glove perforation and associated risk factors in large animal surgery
Authors: Biermann Nora M. , McClure JT. , Sanchez Javier , Doyle Aimie J.
Published: December 2017

Objective

To determine the incidence of and associated risk factors for glove perforation in large animal surgery.

Study Design

Prospective observational cohort study.

Sample Population

Surgical gloves (n = 917) worn during 103 large animal surgical procedures.

Methods

Gloves worn by personnel involved in sterile preparation and surgical procedures were tested for perforation by 2 previously validated methods, water leak test (WLT) and electroconductivity testing (ECT). The association between surgical and glove‐related variables and glove perforation was assessed by using a multivariable mixed‐effect logistic regression model.

Results

At least 1 glove perforation was detected in 66% of surgical procedures, and 17.9% (164/917) of gloves tested were identified as perforated. All perforations were detected by ECT, whereas only 110/178 (61.8%) were detected by WLT. All perforations detected by WLT were also detected by ECT. The risk of glove perforation increased with duration of wear (>60 minutes odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% CI 1.4‐3.7; P < .001) and with invasiveness of procedures (OR 7.9, 95% CI 3.2‐19.5; P < .001). Primary surgeons were at higher risk for glove perforation than first (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1‐2.5; P = .008) and second (OR 3.4, 95% CI 2‐6.7; P < .001) assistants. Only 25% of glove perforations were detected intraoperatively by the wearer.

Conclusion

Incidence of glove perforation is similar in large animal, human, and small animal surgery and is influenced by duration of wear, invasiveness of the surgery, and role of the wearer. ECT is more sensitive than WLT for detection of glove perforation.
Activity‐dependent control of NMDA receptor subunit composition at hippocampal mossy fibre synapses
Authors: Carta Mario , Srikumar Bettadapura N. , Gorlewicz Adam , Rebola Nelson , Mulle Christophe
Published: December 2017

Key points

CA3 pyramidal cells display input‐specific differences in the subunit composition of synaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs).

Although at low density, GluN2B contributes significantly to NMDAR‐mediated EPSCs at mossy fibre synapses.

Long‐term potentiation (LTP) of NMDARs triggers a modification in the subunit composition of synaptic NMDARs by insertion of GluN2B.

GluN2B subunits are essential for the expression of LTP of NMDARs at mossy fibre synapses.

Single neurons express NMDA receptors (NMDARs) with distinct subunit composition and biophysical properties that can be segregated in an input‐specific manner. The dynamic control of the heterogeneous distribution of synaptic NMDARs is crucial to control input‐dependent synaptic integration and plasticity. In hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells from mice of both sexes, we found that mossy fibre (MF) synapses display a markedly lower proportion of GluN2B‐containing NMDARs than associative/commissural synapses. The mechanism involved in such heterogeneous distribution of GluN2B subunits is not known. Here we show that long‐term potentiation (LTP) of NMDARs, which is selectively expressed at MF–CA3 pyramidal cell synapses, triggers a modification in the subunit composition of synaptic NMDARs by insertion of GluN2B. This activity‐dependent recruitment of GluN2B at mature MF–CA3 pyramidal cell synapses contrasts with the removal of GluN2B subunits at other glutamatergic synapses during development and in response to activity. Furthermore, although expressed at low levels, GluN2B is necessary for the expression of LTP of NMDARs at MF–CA3 pyramidal cell synapses. Altogether, we reveal a previously unknown activity‐dependent regulation and function of GluN2B subunits that may contribute to the heterogeneous plasticity induction rules in CA3 pyramidal cells.
Plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition of aluminum sulfide thin films
Authors: Kuhs Jakob , Hens Zeger , Detavernier Christophe
Published: December 2017

Aluminum sulfide is a promising material for energy storage, photonics, and microelectronics applications. Most of these applications require thin films with a high control over layer thickness and composition making atomic layer deposition an ideal deposition technique. The authors report a plasma enhanced process for aluminum sulfide based on trimethylaluminum and H2S-plasma. The growth characteristics were studied using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry, indicating linear growth at a rate of 1.2 Å/cycle at 90 °C. Self-saturated growth could be achieved in a temperature window ranging from 90 to 350 °C. The process relies on combustion reactions during the plasma step, as confirmed by the observation of CS2 using in situ mass spectrometry measurements. Ex situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy measurements showed that the deposited layers are amorphous and pinhole free.
Directionality and gain of small acoustic velocity horns
Authors: Donskoy Dimitri M.
Published: December 2017

Acoustic Velocity Horns (AVHs) are acoustically small funnels open to incident acoustic waves from mouth and throat (for single horns) or both mouths for double horns. Unlike traditional pressure horns terminated at the throat, AVHs yield appreciable amplification of the particle velocity across a wide frequency range starting from extremely low infrasound frequencies. Such horns can be utilized to enhance the performance of conventional vector and acoustic intensity sensors. The present paper includes derivation of directional properties and gains for acoustic velocity as well as pressure for horns of various configurations: single and symmetrical double-horns, and symmetrical horns with inserts of various profiles. The study reveals that the conical double-horns provide the highest velocity gain as compared to horns with an exponential profile or with inserts. The maximum gain cannot exceed a horn's mouth-to-throat radii ratio. In addition to the velocity gain, AVHs offer dipole directionality for the particle velocity and omnidirectional response with no gain for acoustic pressure. These findings were experimentally validated using a water-submerged conical double-horn.
Lactococcus lactis Diversity in Undefined Mixed Dairy Starter Cultures as Revealed by Comparative Genome Analyses and Targeted Amplicon Sequencing of
epsD
Authors: Frantzen Cyril A. , Kleppen Hans Petter , Holo Helge
Published: December 2017

Undefined mesophilic mixed (DL) starter cultures are used in the production of continental cheeses and contain unknown strain mixtures of
Lactococcus lactis
and leuconostocs. The choice of starter culture affects the taste, aroma, and quality of the final product. To gain insight into the diversity of
Lactococcus lactis
strains in starter cultures, we whole-genome sequenced 95 isolates from three different starter cultures. Pan-genomic analyses, which included 30 publically available complete genomes, grouped the strains into 21
L. lactis
subsp
. lactis
and 28
L. lactis
subsp.
cremoris
lineages. Only one of the 95 isolates grouped with previously sequenced strains, and the three starter cultures showed no overlap in lineage distributions. The culture diversity was assessed by targeted amplicon sequencing using
purR
, a core gene, and
epsD
, present in 93 of the 95 starter culture isolates but absent in most of the reference strains. This enabled an unprecedented discrimination of starter culture
Lactococcus lactis
and revealed substantial differences between the three starter cultures and compositional shifts during the cultivation of cultures in milk.

IMPORTANCE
In contemporary cheese production, standardized frozen seed stock starter cultures are used to ensure production stability, reproducibility, and quality control of the product. The dairy industry experiences significant disruptions of cheese production due to phage attacks, and one commonly used countermeasure to phage attack is to employ a starter rotation strategy, in which two or more starters with minimal overlap in phage sensitivity are used alternately. A culture-independent analysis of the lactococcal diversity in complex undefined starter cultures revealed large differences between the three starter cultures and temporal shifts in lactococcal composition during the production of bulk starters. A better understanding of the lactococcal diversity in starter cultures will enable the development of more robust starter cultures and assist in maintaining the efficiency and stability of the production process by ensuring the presence of key bacteria that are important to the characteristics of the product.
Isolation of the (+)-Pinoresinol-Mineralizing Pseudomonas sp. Strain SG-MS2 and Elucidation of Its Catabolic Pathway
Authors: Shettigar Madhura , Balotra Sahil , Cahill David , Warden Andrew C. , Lacey Michael J. , Kohler Hans-Peter E. , Rentsch Daniel , Oakeshott John G. , Pandey Gunjan
Published: December 2017

Pinoresinol is a dimer of two β-β′-linked coniferyl alcohol molecules. It is both a plant defense molecule synthesized through the shikimic acid pathway and a representative of several β-β-linked dimers produced during the microbial degradation of lignin in dead plant material. Until now, little has been known about the bacterial catabolism of such dimers. Here we report the isolation of the efficient (+)-pinoresinol-mineralizing
Pseudomonas
sp. strain SG-MS2 and its catabolic pathway. Degradation of pinoresinol in this strain is inducible and proceeds via a novel oxidative route, which is in contrast to the previously reported reductive transformation by other bacteria. Based on enzyme assays and bacterial growth, cell suspension, and resting cell studies, we provide conclusive evidence that pinoresinol degradation in strain SG-MS2 is initiated by benzylic hydroxylation, generating a hemiketal via a quinone methide intermediate, which is then hydrated at the benzylic carbon by water. The hemiketal, which stays in equilibrium with the corresponding keto alcohol, undergoes an aryl-alkyl cleavage to generate a lactone and 2-methoxyhydroquinone. While the fate of 2-methoxyhydroquinone is not investigated further, it is assumed to be assimilated by ring cleavage. The lactone is further metabolized via two routes, namely, lactone ring cleavage and benzylic hydroxylation via a quinone methide intermediate, as described above. The resulting hemiketal again exists in equilibrium with a keto alcohol. Our evidence suggests that both routes of lactone metabolism lead to vanillin and vanillic acid, which we show can then be mineralized by strain SG-MS2.

IMPORTANCE
The oxidative catabolism of (+)-pinoresinol degradation elucidated here is fundamentally different from the reductive cometabolism reported for two previously characterized bacteria. Our findings open up new opportunities to use lignin for the biosynthesis of vanillin, a key flavoring agent in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals, as well as various new lactones. Our work also has implications for the study of new pinoresinol metabolites in human health. The enterodiol and enterolactone produced through reductive transformation of pinoresinol by gut microbes have already been associated with decreased risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The metabolites from oxidative metabolism we find here also deserve attention in this respect.
Draft Genome Sequence of Haloparvum sedimenti Strain DYS4, the Type Species of the Genus
Haloparvum
, Isolated from a Salt Mine
Authors: Chen Shaoxing , Wang Chuanming , Li He , Shen Yunmei
Published: December 2017

Here is the genome sequence of
Haloparvum sedimenti
DYS4, the type species of the genus
Haloparvum
, isolated from a salt mine. The DNA G+C content of this genome was 68.27 mol%. The scaffold
N
50
was 96,635 bp. The completely sequenced and annotated genome is 3,243,052 bp and contains 3,313 genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas stutzeri Strain 19, an Isolate Capable of Efficient Degradation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Brown Lisa M. , Gunasekera Thusitha S. , Ruiz Oscar N.
Published: December 2017

Pseudomonas stutzeri
strain 19 is a Gram-negative bacterium capable of degrading aromatic hydrocarbons. The draft genome of
P. stutzeri
19 is estimated to be 5.1 Mb, containing 4,652 protein-coding genes and a G+C content of 63.3%. Multiple genes responsible for the degradation of aromatics are present in this strain.
HPV vaccination rate in French adolescent girls: an example of vaccine distrust
Authors: Lefèvre Hervé , Schrimpf Cécile , Moro Marie Rose , Lachal Jonathan
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To explore the clinical issues of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to develop explanatory hypotheses for the low level of vaccination among adolescent girls in France where the full course coverage is low (<15%).

Design

We used semistructured interviews. Our qualitative and phenomenological procedure applied interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Participants

16 physicians regularly faced with the prescription of HPV vaccine, represented several medical specialties (paediatrics, general practice, internal medicine, gynaecology), with hospitalist or private practices.

Main outcome measures

The results connect three superordinate themes grouping three concentric levels: within society, during the consultation and in the individual doctor’s feelings.

Results

The modalities and contents of the information about HPV vaccination raise questions about the limitations of the information doctors receive. The ineluctable association between sexuality and HPV vaccination explains their reluctance to raise topics considered to be private. The reasons for HPV vaccination illustrate the difficulty of arguing in favour of it. In view of the frequent parental reluctance, which weakens the parent–physician alliance, physicians must take responsibility for defending the benefits of vaccination. They nonetheless remain citizens whose opinions may implicitly echo the general reluctance, promoted by disinformation. In delaying or avoiding the subject of vaccination, they involuntarily become an instrument of anti-vaccination discourse.

Conclusions

It is imperative to improve the distribution of credible information about vaccination, unbiased and scientifically supported by a strong institutional position and to rethink the place of the clinician in the system of adolescent health and disease prevention in France.
Dose-dependent relationship between acidosis at birth and likelihood of death or cerebral palsy
Authors: Kelly Rod , Ramaiah SM , Sheridan Helen , Cruickshank Hilary , Rudnicka Magda , Kissack Chris , Becher Julie-Clare , Stenson Ben J
Published: December 2017

Background

The acid-base status of infants around birth can provide information about their past, current and future condition. Although umbilical cord blood pH <7.0 or base deficit ≥12 mmol/L is associated with increased risk of adverse outcome, there is uncertainty about the prognostic value of degree of acidosis as previous studies have used different variables, thresholds, outcomes and populations.

Methods

Retrospective review of routinely collected clinical data in all live-born inborn infants of 35 weeks gestation or more delivered between January 2005 and December 2013 at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Edinburgh, UK. Infants were included if their lowest recorded pH was <7 and/or highest base deficit ≥12 mmol/L on either umbilical cord blood and/or neonatal blood gas within 1 hour of birth. Neurodevelopmental outcome of the infants with encephalopathy was collected from the targeted follow-up database.

Results

56 574 infants were eligible. 506 infants (0.9%) met inclusion criteria. Poor condition at birth and all adverse outcomes increased with worsening acidosis. Combined outcome of death or cerebral palsy was 3%, 10% and 40% at lowest pH of 6.9–6.99, 6.8–6.89 and <6.8, respectively, and 8%, 14% and 59% at a base deficit of 12–15.9, 16–19.9 and 20 mmol/L or more, respectively.

Conclusions

There is a dose-dependent relationship between the degree of acidosis within an hour of delivery, and the likelihood of adverse neonatal and later neurodevelopmental outcome in infants born at 35 weeks gestation or more.
Development of forced normalisation psychosis with ethosuximide
Authors: Apap Mangion Sean , Rugg-Gunn Fergus
Published: December 2017

A 50-year-old man with known multidrug resistant coexistent focal and generalised epilepsy was commenced on ethosuximide, with normalisation of his electroencephalogram and cessation of absence seizures. Within 3 weeks, he developed a rapidly worsening paranoid psychosis with visual and olfactory hallucinations. A month after the cessation of ethosuximide and concurrent treatment with olanzapine, his psychosis resolved and permitted reinitiation of ethosuximide at a lower dose without recurrence of psychotic symptoms.
Ambulatory versus inpatient management of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomised control trial with patient preference arm
Authors: Mitchell-Jones Nicola , Farren Jessica Alice , Tobias Aurelio , Bourne Tom , Bottomley Cecilia
Published: December 2017

Objective

To determine whether ambulatory (outpatient (OP)) treatment of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is as effective as inpatient (IP) care.

Design

Non-blinded randomised control trial (RCT) with patient preference arm.

Setting

Two multicentre teaching hospitals in London.

Participants

Women less than 20 weeks’ pregnant with severe NVP and associated ketonuria (>1+).

Methods

Women who agreed to the RCT were randomised via web-based application to either ambulatory or IP treatment. Women who declined randomisation underwent the treatment of their choice in the patient preference trial (PPT) arm. Treatment protocols, data collection and follow-up were the same for all participants.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome was reduction in Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) score 48 hours after starting treatment. Secondary outcome measures were duration of treatment, improvement in symptom scores and ketonuria at 48 hours, reattendances within 7 days of discharge and comparison of symptoms at 7 days postdischarge.

Results

152/174 eligible women agreed to participate with 77/152 (51%) recruited to the RCT and 75/152 (49%) to the PPT.

Patients were initially compared in four groups (randomised IP, randomised OP, non-randomised IP and non-randomised OP). Comprehensive cohort analysis of participants in the randomised group (RCT) and non-randomised group (PPT) did not demonstrate any differences in patient demographics or baseline clinical characteristics. Pooled analysis of IP versus OP groups showed no difference in reduction in PUQE score at 48 hours (p=0.86). There was no difference in change in eating score (p=0.69), drinking score (p=0.77), well-being rating (p=0.64) or reduction in ketonuria (p=0.47) at 48 hours, with no difference in duration of index treatment episode (p=0.83) or reattendances within 7 days (p=0.52).

Conclusions

Ambulatory management is an effective direct alternative to IP management of severe NVP. The trial also demonstrated that many women requiring treatment for severe NVP have strong preferences regarding treatment setting, which may need to be considered by care providers, especially given the psychological impact of severe NVP.

Trial registration number

http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN24659467(March 2014).
Case-based discussion from the neonatal intensive care unit: a case of an intentional oesophageal intubation
Authors: Jamieson Katharine , Boyd Stephanie , Tan Susern , Wong Davina , James Paul , Durward Andrew , Nyman Andrew
Published: December 2017

Tracheal agenesis (TA) is a rare congenital defect consisting of complete or partial absence of the trachea below the larynx. Antenatal diagnosis is challenging, and most cases are detected in the postnatal period. Airway management of such cases, particularly in the absence of antenatal diagnosis, can be challenging. Various methods of management have been described but with limited success, and overall prognosis remains very poor. We present an unexpected case of TA, highlighting management issues and diagnostic methods.
Ultrasonographic scoring system for superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in horses: intra‐ and inter‐rater variability
Authors: Alzola Domingo Rafael , Riggs Chris M , Gardner David S , Freeman Sarah L
Published: December 2017

Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) tendinopathy is an important musculoskeletal problem in horses. The study objective was to validate an ultrasonographic scoring system for SDFT injuries. Ultrasonographic images from 14 Thoroughbred racehorses with SDFT lesions (seven core; seven diffuse) and two controls were blindly assessed by five clinicians on two occasions. Ultrasonographic parameters evaluated were: type and extent of the injury, location, echogenicity, cross‐sectional area and longitudinal fibre pattern of the maximal injury zone (MIZ). Inter‐rater variability and intra‐rater reliability were assessed using Kendall's coefficient of concordance (KC) and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LC), respectively. Type of injury (core vs. diffuse) had perfect inter/intra‐rater agreement. Cases with core lesions had very strong inter‐rater agreement (KC ≥0.74, P<0.001) and intra‐rater reliability (LC ≥0.73) for all parameters apart from echogenicity. Cases with diffuse lesions had strong inter‐rater agreement (KC ≥0.62) for all parameters, but weak agreement for echogenicity (KC=0.22); intra‐rater reliability was excellent for MIZ location and fibre pattern (LC ≥0.82), and moderate (LC ≥0.58) for cross‐sectional area and number of zones affected. This scoring system was reliable and repeatable for all parameters, except for echogenicity. A validated scoring system will facilitate reliable recording of SDFT injuries and inter‐study meta‐analyses.
Potential risk posed by the importation of ticks into the UK on animals: records from the Tick Surveillance Scheme
Authors: Hansford Kayleigh M , Pietzsch Maaike E , Cull Benjamin , Gillingham Emma L , Medlock Jolyon M
Published: December 2017

In order to monitor important tick vectors in the UK, Public Health England's Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) receives specimens from across the country for identification. In recent years, an increasing number of these specimens have been removed from animals with a recent history of travel outside the UK. This paper presents all data collated by the TSS on ticks entering the country on recently travelled or imported animals since surveillance commenced in 2005. Ten different tick species representing six different genera were identified, entering the UK from 15 different countries. Key themes appear to be emerging from the last 10 years of data, including canine travel from Cyprus and Spain being associated with Rhipicephalus sanguineus importation, and canine travel from France being associated with the importation of multiple tick species and canine illness. In addition, more unusual importation routes have been uncovered, such as the importation of Hyalomma lusitanicum on a dog. Some companion animal owners may not be fully aware of the risks associated with ticks, and may not seek advice from a veterinarian before travel or importing a pet. Promoting awareness of ticks and tickborne disease risk during and after travel or animal importation is needed and veterinarians play an importation role in disseminating this information to their clients.
Decay processes in woody debris influence the taxonomic and functional composition of littoral macroinvertebrates
Authors: Czarnecka Magdalena , Miler Oliver
Published: December 2017

We examined the effects of woody debris decay state on the densities, taxonomic and functional composition, and diversity of macroinvertebrates in littoral zones of undeveloped lakes. Our study revealed that the interacting effects of increasing roughness and softness of the wood, as well as changes in the quality of food resources with progressing decomposition of woody debris, exerted the strongest impacts on macroinvertebrate communities. Structurally complex, decomposed wood supported higher densities and species richness of macroinvertebrates than undecayed wood. We also found several taxa that were typical for decayed wood, including macroinvertebrates considered as xylophages. Decaying wood underpinned greater functional richness than undecayed wood, with high densities of collector–gatherers and shredders that could benefit from organic matter originating from decomposing wooden tissue, as well as predators attracted by numerous potential prey inhabiting this complex habitat. As decaying wood enhanced abundant and diverse macroinvertebrate communities, which in turn could subsidize upper trophic levels, it provides a valuable habitat in littoral zones, particularly in lakes with already sparse macrophyte cover.
PROSPERITY OR STAGNATION: THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
Authors: MO PAK HUNG
Published: December 2017

The focus of this paper is to examine the effects and mechanism of government expenditures (GEs) in determining the long-term inflation differentials across countries. For this purpose, we formulate a theoretical model and the related regression system. The models allow us to understand and quantify the supply-side (SS) and demand-side (DS) effects of GEs in determining prosperity or stagnation across countries. This study provides cross-country evidences and related mechanisms supporting the hypothesis and conclusion that active short-term AD policies and over-estimated potential output, as argued in Orphanides (2003), were contributive to the Great Inflation.
Supercontinuum generation in chalcogenide layered spiral microstructured optical fiber
Authors: Rodrigues Sílvia M. G. , Facão Margarida , Ferreira Mário F. S.
Published: December 2017

The layered spiral microstructured optical fiber (LS-MOF) design allows higher nonlinearities than the most common microstructured optical fibers. Here, we have chosen a highly nonlinear glass for its composition, the arsenic trisulfide, and we have determined its dispersion and nonlinear characteristics. After adjusting the fiber’s parameters, we obtained a record value for the nonlinear parameter of 50.7[Formula: see text]W[Formula: see text]m[Formula: see text], at 1.550[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. We have simulated light propagation under these optimized circumstances, achieving a broad supercontinuum, extending from 500[Formula: see text]nm to 3900[Formula: see text]nm, in a very short distance: 0.3[Formula: see text]mm.
Transient Response of a Circular Nanoplate Subjected to Low Velocity Impact
Authors: Liu Jie , Liu Hua , Yang Jia-Ling , Feng Xi-Qiao
Published: December 2017

The transient response of a circular nanoplate subjected to the normal impact by a nanosphere (e.g., C[Formula: see text]) is investigated theoretically. The nanoplate is modeled by the Kirchhoff thin plate theory. Gurtin–Murdoch’s theory is employed to account for the surface effects of the nanoplate with surface elasticity and surface residual stress. The van der Waals interaction between the nanosphere and the nanoplate is also taken into account. The governing equations for the vibration of the nanoplate impinged by a rigid nanosphere are established by using the Hamilton’s principle. The displacement field in the circular nanoplate is obtained by using the Fourier–Bessel expansion method. We reveal some physical mechanisms in the nanoimpact problem that are different from those in macroscopic impact problems, and surface effects have pronounced influences on the dynamic responses of a plate when its thickness shrinks to a few nanometers.
Statistical Modeling for Health Economic Evaluations
Authors: Baio Gianluca
Published: December 2017

Health economic evaluation has become increasingly important in medical research and recently has been built on solid statistical and decision-theoretic foundations, particularly under the Bayesian approach. In this article we review the basic concepts and issues associated with the statistical and decision-theoretic components of health economic evaluations. We present examples of typical models used in different contexts (depending on the availability of data). We also describe the process of uncertainty analysis, a crucial component of economic evaluations for health care interventions, aimed at assessing the impact of uncertainty in the model parameters on the final decision-making process. Finally, we discuss some of the most recent methodological developments, related with the application of advanced statistical models (e.g., Gaussian process regression) to facilitate the application of computationally expensive tools such as value of information analysis.
Epigenetic Regulation of the Promotor Region of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Nerve Growth Factor in Opioid-Maintained Patients
Authors: Groh Adrian , Jahn Kirsten , Burkert Alexandra , Neyazi Alexandra , Schares Laura , Janke Eva , Rehme Marie , Schuster Rilana , Hillemacher Thomas , Bleich Stefan , Frieling Helge , Heberlein Annemarie
Published: December 2017

Aims: The nerve growth factor (NGF) and the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) may be of importance for psychiatric diseases including substance use disorders. The aim of the study was to identify differences in the regulation of both neuropeptides via the DNA-methylation status of the promotor regions of NGF and VEGF-A in different forms of maintenance therapy for opioid dependence and the related stress regulation via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Methods: We compared methylation levels of opioid-dependent patients receiving treatment with diamorphine (n = 28) or levomethadone (n = 54) and similar levels in a healthy control group (n = 72). Results: There was a significantly higher methylation of VEGF-A in opioid-maintained patients with levomethadone compared to that in the control group (estimated marginal means [EMM] [SE]): 0.036 [0.003] vs. 0.020 [0.003]; p < 0.001). We performed a cluster analysis for NGF, splitting up the results in 4 clusters. We found significant changes in methylation rates of the opioid-maintained patients compared to the controls in cluster I ([EMM] [SE]: 0.064 [0.005] vs. 0.084 [0.006]; p = 0.03), cluster II ([EMM] [SE]: 0.133 [0.013] vs. 0.187 [0.014]; p < 0.001) and cluster III ([EMM] [SE]: 0.190 [0.014] vs. 0.128 [0.016]; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results are of importance, as they indicate that long-term changes in stress regulation regulated by neurotrophines are a crucial part of the symptomatology of opioid dependence, thus influencing drug consumption and the different forms of opioid-maintenance therapies.
Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Refractory Hypertension
Authors: Armario Pedro , Calhoun David A. , Oliveras Anna , Blanch Pedro , Vinyoles Ernest , Banegas Jose R. , Gorostidi Manuel , Segura Julián , Ruilope Luis M. , Dudenbostel Tanja , de la Sierra Alejandro
Published: December 2017

Background

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of refractory hypertension (RfH) and to determine the clinical differences between these patients and resistant hypertensives (
RH
). Secondly, we assessed the prevalence of white‐coat RfH and clinical differences between true‐ and white‐coat RfH patients.

Methods and Results

The present analysis was conducted on the Spanish Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Registry database containing 70 997 treated hypertensive patients.
RH
and RfH were defined by the presence of elevated office blood pressure (≥140 and/or 90 mm Hg) in patients treated with at least 3 (
RH
) and 5 (RfH) antihypertensive drugs. White‐coat RfH was defined by RfH with normal (<130/80 mm Hg) 24‐hour blood pressure. A total of 11.972 (16.9%) patients fulfilled the standard criteria of
RH
, and 955 (1.4%) were considered as having RfH. Compared with
RH
patients, those with RfH were younger, more frequently male, and after adjusting for age and sex, had increased prevalence of target organ damage, and previous cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of white coat RfH was lower than white‐coat
RH
(26.7% versus 37.1%,
P
<0.001). White‐coat RfH, in comparison with those with true RfH, showed a lower prevalence of both left ventricular hypertrophy (22% versus 29.7%;
P
=0.018) and microalbuminuria (28.3% versus 42.9%;
P
=0.047).

Conclusions

The prevalence of RfH was low and these patients had a greater cardiovascular risk profile compared with
RH
. One out of 4 patients with RfH have normal 24‐hour blood pressure and less target organ damage, thus indicating the important role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in guiding antihypertensive therapy in difficult‐to‐treat patients.
Spiking Neural Classifier with Lumped Dendritic Nonlinearity and Binary Synapses: A Current Mode VLSI Implementation and Analysis
Authors: Bhaduri Aritra , Banerjee Amitava , Roy Subhrajit , Kar Sougata , Basu Arindam
Published: December 2017

We present a neuromorphic current mode implementation of a spiking neural classifier with lumped square law dendritic nonlinearity. It has been shown previously in software simulations that such a system with binary synapses can be trained with structural plasticity algorithms to achieve comparable classification accuracy with fewer synaptic resources than conventional algorithms. We show that even in real analog systems with manufacturing imperfections (CV of 23.5% and 14.4% for dendritic branch gains and leaks respectively), this network is able to produce comparable results with fewer synaptic resources. The chip fabricated in [Formula: see text]m complementary metal oxide semiconductor has eight dendrites per cell and uses two opposing cells per class to cancel common-mode inputs. The chip can operate down to a [Formula: see text] V and dissipates 19 nW of static power per neuronal cell and [Formula: see text] 125 pJ/spike. For two-class classification problems of high-dimensional rate encoded binary patterns, the hardware achieves comparable performance as software implementation of the same with only about a 0.5% reduction in accuracy. On two UCI data sets, the IC integrated circuit has classification accuracy comparable to standard machine learners like support vector machines and extreme learning machines while using two to five times binary synapses. We also show that the system can operate on mean rate encoded spike patterns, as well as short bursts of spikes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt in hardware to perform classification exploiting dendritic properties and binary synapses.
Quantifying Strength of Chaos in the Population Firing Rate of Neurons
Authors: Kanamaru Takashi
Published: December 2017

In this study, I considered quantifying the strength of chaos in the population firing rate of a pulse-coupled neural network. In particular, I considered the dynamics where the population firing rate is chaotic and the firing of each neuron is stochastic. I calculated a time histogram of firings to show the variation in the population firing rate over time. To smooth this histogram, I used Bayesian adaptive regression splines and a gaussian filter. The nonlinear prediction method, based on reconstruction, was applied to a sequence of interpeak intervals in the smoothed time histogram of firings. I propose the use of the sum of nonlinearity as a quantifier of the strength of chaos. When applying this method to the firings of a pulse-coupled neural network, the sum of nonlinearity was seen to satisfy three properties for quantifying the strength of chaos. First, it can be calculated from spiking data alone. Second, it takes large values when applied to firings that are confirmed, theoretically or numerically, to be chaotic. Third, it reflects the strength of chaos of the original dynamics.
An Enhanced PIRATA Dataset for Tropical Atlantic Ocean–Atmosphere Research
Authors: Foltz Gregory R. , Schmid Claudia , Lumpkin Rick
Published: December 2017

The Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) provides measurements of the upper ocean and near-surface atmosphere at 18 locations. Time series from many moorings are nearly 20 years in length. However, instrumental biases, data dropouts, and the coarse vertical resolutions of the oceanic measurements complicate their use for research. Here an enhanced PIRATA dataset (ePIRATA) is presented for the 17 PIRATA moorings with record lengths of at least seven years. Data in ePIRATA are corrected for instrumental biases, temporal gaps are filled using supplementary datasets, and the subsurface temperature and salinity time series are mapped to a uniform 5-m vertical grid. All original PIRATA data that pass quality control and that do not require bias correction are retained without modification, and detailed error estimates are provided. The terms in the mixed-layer heat and temperature budgets are calculated and included, with error bars. As an example of ePIRATA’s application, the vertical exchange of heat at the base of the mixed layer (Q−h) is calculated at each PIRATA location as the difference between the heat storage rate and the sum of the net surface heat flux and horizontal advection. Off-equatorial locations are found to have annual mean cooling rates of 20–60 W m−2, while cooling at equatorial locations reaches 85–110 W m−2 between 10° and 35°W and decreases to 40 W m−2 at 0°. At most off-equatorial locations, the strongest seasonal cooling from Q−h occurs when winds are weak. Possible explanations are discussed, including the importance of seasonal modulations of mixed-layer depth and the diurnal cycle.
Role of Air–Sea Interaction in the 30–60-Day Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Wang Tianyi , Yang Xiu-Qun , Fang Jiabei , Sun Xuguang , Ren Xuejuan
Published: December 2017

This study investigates the role of air–sea interaction in the 30–60-day boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) over the western North Pacific with daily outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), CFSR, and OAFlux datasets for 1985–2009. The BSISO events are identified with the first principal component of 30–60-day bandpass filtered OLR anomalies. Composite analysis of these events reveals that during the northward migration of BSISO, the convection can interact with underlying sea surface temperature (SST). A near-quadrature phase relationship exists between the convection and SST anomalies. An active (a suppressed) convection tends to induce a cold (warm) underlying SST anomaly by reducing (increasing) downward solar radiation but a warm SST anomaly in its northern (southern) portion by reducing near-surface wind and upward latent and sensible heat fluxes, resulting in a 10-day delayed maximized warm SST anomaly ahead of the active convection. In turn, this warm SST anomaly tends to increase upward surface sensible and latent heat fluxes via amplifying sea–air temperature and humidity differences. This oceanic feedback acts to heat, moisten, and destabilize the low-level atmosphere, favoring the trigger of shallow convection, which can further develop into deep convection. The maximum warm SST anomaly lies in the southern (northern) portion of the convectively suppressed (enhanced) area, which weakens the anomalous descending motion in the southern portion of convectively suppressed area and preconditions the boundary layer to promote convection development in the northern portion of convectively enhanced area. Such a spatial and temporal phase relationship between the convection and SST anomalies suggest that air–sea interaction can play a delayed negative feedback role in the BSISO cycle and provide an alternative mechanism responsible for its northward propagation.