bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accounting for health literacy and intervention preferences when reducing unhealthy snacking: protocol for an online randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ayre Julie , Cvejic Erin , Bonner Carissa , Turner Robin M , Walter Stephen D , McCaffery Kirsten J
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Health literacy describes the cognitive and social skills that individuals use to access, understand and act on health information. Health literacy interventions typically take the ‘universal precautions approach’ where all consumers are presented with simplified materials. Although this approach can improve knowledge and comprehension, its impact on complex behaviours is less clear. Systematic reviews also suggest that health literacy interventions underuse volitional strategies (such as planning) that play an important role in behaviour change. A recent study found volitional strategies may need to be tailored to the participant’s health literacy. The current study aims to replicate these findings in a sample of people who have diabetes and/or are overweight or obese as measured by body mass index, and to investigate the most effective method of allocating an action plan to a participant to reduce unhealthy snacking.

Methods and analysis

We plan to recruit approximately 2400 participants at baseline. Participants will receive one of two alternative online action plans intended to reduce unhealthy snacking (‘standard’ action plan or ‘literacy-sensitive’ action plan). Participants will be randomised to a method of allocation to an action plan: (1) random allocation; (2) allocation by health literacy screening tool or (3) allocation by participant selection. Primary outcome is self-reported serves of unhealthy snacks during the previous month. Multiple linear regression will evaluate the impact of health literacy on intervention effectiveness. The analysis will also identify independent contributions of each action plan, method of allocation, health literacy and participant selections on unhealthy snacking at 4-week follow-up.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (2017/793). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed international journals, conferences and updates with collaborating public health bodies (Diabetes New South Wales (NSW) & Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and Western Sydney Local Health District).

Trial registration number

ACTRN12618001409268; Pre-results.
Life course analysis on income and incident AMI: a Danish register-based cohort study
Authors: Kriegbaum Margit , Hougaard Charlotte Ørsted , Andersen Ingelise , Brønnum-Hansen Henrik , Lund Rikke
Published: May 2019

Background

Social inequality in ischaemic heart disease has been related to socioeconomic position in childhood, early adulthood and late adulthood. However, the impact of relative level of accumulated income periods across adult life course and the potential gender and age differences have not been investigated. The aim was to investigate the association between relative level of accumulated income across the life course and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from age 60+ years and to study if the associations differ by gender and in different age groups (30–39 years, 40–49 years and 50–59 years).

Methods

All Danes born 1935–1954 (N=1 235 139) were followed up in registers for incident AMI (42 669 cases). The accumulated proportional deviation from median equivalised income (APDMEI) for each gender/age/calendar year strata was constructed and divided in quartiles. The associations were analysed by means of Cox’s proportional hazard models.

Results

Among men, those in the lowest APDMEI quartile had an HR 1.40 (1.35–1.45) of AMI compared with the highest quartile. Those in the second and third highest quartiles had HR of 1.24 (1.20–1.28) and 1.14 (1.10–1.18), respectively. Among women, the lowest quartile had an HR of 1.78 (1.69–1.88), the second 1.45 (1.37–1.53) and the third 1.19 (1.13–1.26). The social gradient was similar across the different age groups.

Conclusion

The risk of AMI increased with lower levels of relative accumulated income across the life course. While men generally had a higher risk of AMI, the social gradient was steeper in women. There was no indication of a specific sensitive age period for exposure to relative level of accumulated income.
Beyond Messiaen’s birds: the post-verbal world of dementia
Authors: Wood Stuart
Published: May 2019

This paper investigates the use of verbatim musical transcription as a research method in dementia care. It reports on an art-based ethnographic study (Aesthetic Research in Everyday Life (Aeriel)) in which verbatim transcription was applied to everyday interactions in dementia care, making use of musical—instead of verbal—notation. Starting from the notion that medical and healthcare settings can be sites of ‘found performance’, the paper reviews literature relating to artistic methodologies within medical humanities, music, ethnography and dementia care. From this review, it proposes a research design and method of verbatim musical transcription as a potential avenue of investigating communication between carer and cared for in dementia care. The paper offers an illustrative example from Aeriel and draws conclusions from the synthesis of verbal and musical data analysis. Findings indicate an important advance in studies of dementia care communication towards a concept of the ‘post-verbal’ enabled by a musical research method and the clinical applications that it offers.
Shallow penetrometer tests: theoretical and experimental modelling of penetration and dissipation stages
Authors: Schneider M.A. , Stanier S.A. , White D.J. , Randolph M.F.
Published: May 2019

Shallow penetrometers are devices that penetrate into and measure the properties of surficial offshore sediments via multi-phase tests involving penetration, dissipation, and rotation stages. In fine-grained soils such as silts and clays, these testing stages yield undrained strength, consolidation, and friction properties relevant to subsea pipeline and shallow foundation design. This paper describes toroid and hemiball devices of the scale for use in box-core samples and associated interpretation methods for the penetration and dissipation stages. The aim of the paper is to provide all tools needed to design and interpret these tests. New large-deformation finite element (LDFE) dissipation solutions are presented, which can be used for back-analysis of the dissipation stage. Results of an extensive laboratory proof testing exercise in kaolin clay, for both the hemiball and toroid penetrometers, are also reported. These results highlight the potential of the two devices to quickly and economically assess strength and consolidation characteristics of fine-grained sediments in box-core samples recovered to the deck of a site investigation vessel.
Geomorphic diversity and complexity of the inner shelf, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, based on LiDAR and multibeam sonar surveys
Authors: Shaw John , Potter D. Patrick , Wu Yongsheng
Published: May 2019

Data from two surveys by multi-beam sonar and two by marine/terrestrial LiDAR are used to evaluate the geomorphology of the seafloor in littoral areas of the Canadian Arctic Channels, near King William Island, Nunavut. Submarine terrains show well-preserved glacial landforms (drumlins, mega-scale glacial lineations, iceberg-turbated terrain, recessional moraines, and glaciofluvial landforms) with only slight modification by modern processes (wave action and sea-ice activity). At Gjoa Haven the seafloor is imprinted by fields of pits 2 m wide and 0.15 m deep. They may result from gas hydrate dissolution triggered by falling relative sea levels. The Arctic Archipelago displays what might be termed inverted terrains: marine terrains, chiefly beach ridge complexes, exist above modern sea level and well-preserved glacial terrains are present below modern sea level. This is the inverse of the submerging regimes of Atlantic Canada, where glacial terrains exist on land, but below sea level they have been effaced and modified by marine processes down to the lowstand depth.
Simulating blood rheology across scales: A hybrid LB-particle approach
Authors: Falcucci Giacomo , Lauricella Marco , Decuzzi Paolo , Melchionna Simone , Succi Sauro
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we deploy the hybrid Lattice Boltzmann - Particle Dynamics (LBPD) method to investigate the transport properties of blood flow within arterioles and venules. The numerical approach is applied to study the transport of Red Blood Cells (RBC) through plasma, highlighting significant agreement with the experimental data in the seminal work by Fåhræus and Lindqvist. Moreover, the results provide evidence of an interesting hand-shaking between the range of validity of the proposed hybrid approach and the domain of viability of particle methods. A joint inspection of accuracy and computational cost, indicate that LBPD offers an appealing multiscale strategy for the study of blood transport across scales of motion, from macroscopic vessels, down to arterioles and venules, where particle methods can eventually take over.
Efficient Multi-Attribute Auctions Considering Supply Disruption
Authors: Xiang Jie , Zhang Juliang , Cheng T. C. E. , Sallan Jose Maria , Hua Guowei
Published: May 2019

Although supply disruption is ubiquitous because of natural or man-made disasters, many firms still use the price-only reverse auction (only the cost is considered) to make purchase decisions. We first study the suppliers’ equilibrium bidding strategies and the buyer’s expected revenue under the first- and second-price price-only reverse auctions when the suppliers are unreliable and have private information on their costs and disruption probabilities. We show that the two auctions are equivalent and not efficient. Then we propose two easily implementable reverse auctions, namely the first-price and second-price format announced penalty reverse auction (APRA), and show that the “revenue equivalence principle” holds, i.e., the two auctions generate the same ex ante expected profit to the buyer. We further show that the two reverse auctions are efficient and “truth telling” is the suppliers’ dominant strategy in the second-price format APRA. We conduct numerical studies to assess the impacts of some parameters on the bidding strategies, the buyer’s profit and social profit.
Canonical and Lie-algebraic twist deformations of Carroll, para-Galilei and Static Hopf algebras
Authors: Daszkiewicz Marcin
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we provide five canonical and three Lie-algebraic twist-deformations of Carroll, para-Galilei and Static Hopf algebras. Particularly, in the case of Carroll Hopf structure, we get the same result with the use of contraction schemes of corresponding canonically and Lie-algebraically twisted Poincaré Hopf algebras as well.
Interval Methods in Knowledge Representation
Authors: Kreinovich Vladik
Published: May 2019

Please send your abstracts (or copies of papers that you want to see reviewed here) to vladik@utep.edu, or by regular mail to Vladik Kreinovich, Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
Accumulation of uremic solutes in the cerebrospinal fluid in experimental acute renal failure
Authors: Mair Robert DeWolfe , Nguyen Huy , Huang Ting-Ting , Plummer Natalie S. , Sirich Tammy L. , Meyer Timothy W.
Published: May 2019

The accumulation of uremic solutes in kidney failure may impair mental function. The present study profiled the accumulation of uremic solutes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in acute renal failure. CSF and plasma ultrafiltrate were obtained from rats at 48 h after sham operation (control; n = 10) or bilateral nephrectomy ( n = 10) and analyzed using an established metabolomic platform. Two hundred forty-eight solutes were identified as uremic based on their accumulation in the plasma ultrafiltrate of nephrectomized compared with control rats. CSF levels of 124 of these solutes were sufficient to allow calculation of CSF-to-plasma ultrafiltrate concentration ratios. Levels of many of the uremic solutes were normally lower in the CSF than in the plasma ultrafiltrate, indicating exclusion of these solutes from the brain. CSF levels of the great majority of the uremic solutes increased in renal failure. The increase in the CSF was, however, relatively less than in the plasma ultrafiltrate for most solutes. In particular, for the 31 uremic solutes with CSF-to-plasma ultrafiltrate ratios of <0.25 in control rats, the average CSF-to-plasma ultrafiltrate ratio decreased from 0.13 ± 0.07 in control rats to 0.09 ± 0.06 in nephrectomized rats, revealing sustained ability to exclude these solutes from the brain. In summary, levels of many uremic solutes are normally kept lower in the CSF than in the plasma ultrafiltrate by the action of the blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers. These barriers remain functional but cannot prevent accumulation of uremic solutes in the CSF when the kidneys fail.
Interleukin-1 receptor activation aggravates autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease by modulating regulated necrosis
Authors: Yang Bo , Fu Lili , Privratsky Jamie R. , Lu Xiaohan , Ren Jiafa , Mei Changlin , Crowley Steven D.
Published: May 2019

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is associated with increased chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors in the diseased kidney. We found that both isoforms of IL-1, IL-1α and IL-1β, were upregulated in ADPKD tissues. Here, we used a unique murine ADPKD model with selective deletion of polycystin-1 ( pkd1) in the kidney (KPKD1) to study the role of IL-1 signaling in ADPKD progression. In KPKD mice, genetic deletion of the IL-1 receptor [IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) knockout (KO)] prolongs survival and attenuates cyst volume. Compared with IL-1R wild-type KPKD1 kidneys, IL-1R KO KPKD1 kidneys have upregulated TNF-α gene expression, with consequent elevations in markers for TNF-dependent regulated necrosis. We further observed that regulated necrosis was increased in ADPKD tissues from both humans and mice. To confirm that enhanced necroptosis is protective in ADPKD, we treated KPKD1 mice with an inhibitor of regulated necrosis (Nec-1). Regulated necrosis suppression augments kidney weights, suggesting that regulated necrosis is required to limit kidney growth in ADPKD. Thus, IL-1R activation drives ADPKD progression by paradoxically limiting regulated necrosis.
SMAD3-dependent and -independent pathways in glomerular injury associated with experimental glomerulonephritis
Authors: Ghayur Ayesha , Padwal Manreet Kaur , Liu Limin , Zhang Jing , Margetts Peter J.
Published: May 2019

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a common cause of end-stage kidney disease and is characterized by glomerular inflammation, hematuria, proteinuria, and progressive renal dysfunction. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is involved in glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. TGF-β activates multiple signaling pathways, including the canonical SMAD pathway. We evaluated the role of SMAD signaling in renal injury and proteinuria in a murine model of GN. SMAD3+/+ or SMAD3−/− mice received anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies to induce GN. We confirmed previous reports that demonstrated that SMAD3 is an important mediator of glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis. Proteinuria was highly SMAD3 dependent. We found differential effects of SMAD3 deletion on podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells. GN led to podocyte injury, including foot process effacement and loss of podocyte-specific markers. Interestingly, these changes were not SMAD3 dependent. Furthermore, there were significant changes to glomerular endothelial cells, including loss of fenestrations, swelling, and basement membrane reduplication, which were SMAD3 dependent. Despite ongoing markers of podocyte injury in SMAD3−/− mice, proteinuria was transient. Renal injury in the setting of GN involves TGF-β and SMAD3 signaling. Cell populations within the glomerulus respond differently to SMAD3 deletion. Proteinuria correlated more with endothelial cell changes as opposed to podocyte injury in this model.
Oxygen-sensitive interneurons exhibit increased activity and GABA release during ROS scavenging in the cerebral cortex of the western painted turtle
Authors: Hawrysh Peter John , Buck Leslie Thomas
Published: May 2019

The western painted turtle ( Chrysemys picta bellii) has the unique ability of surviving several months in the absence of oxygen, which is termed anoxia. One major protective strategy that the turtle employs during anoxia is a reduction in neuronal electrical activity, which may result from a natural reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS). We previously linked a reduction in ROS levels to an increase in γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor currents. The purpose of this study is to understand how fast-spiking, GABA-releasing neurons respond to reductions in ROS and how this affects GABA release. Using a fluorescence-coupled enzymatic microplate assay for GABA, we found that anoxia, the ROS scavenger N-(2-mercaptopriopionyl)glycine (MPG), or the mitochondria-specific ROS scavenger MitoTEMPO resulted in a 2.5-, 2.0-, and 2.5-fold increase in extracellular GABA concentration, respectively. This phenomenon could be blocked with TTX, indicating that it is activity dependent. Using whole cell patch-clamping techniques, we found that fast-spiking, burst-firing GABAergic turtle neurons increase the duration and number of action potentials per burst by 26% and 42%, respectively, in response to ROS scavenging via MPG. These results suggest that the reduction in mitochondrially produced ROS that occurs during anoxia leads to increased GABA release, which promotes postsynaptic inhibitory activity through activation of GABA receptors.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is a novel study examining the response of cerebral cortical stellate interneurons to anoxia and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging with MitoTEMPO. Under both conditions burst firing increases in these cells, and we show that extracellular GABA release increases in the presence of the ROS scavenger. We conclude that in the anoxia-tolerant painted turtle brain, a decrease in ROS levels is an important low oxygen signal.
Assessment of Body Composition in Health and Disease Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA): A Critical Overview
Authors: Marra Maurizio , Sammarco Rosa , De Lorenzo Antonino , Iellamo Ferdinando , Siervo Mario , Pietrobelli Angelo , Donini Lorenzo Maria , Santarpia Lidia , Cataldi Mauro , Pasanisi Fabrizio , Contaldo Franco
Published: May 2019

The measurement of body composition (BC) represents a valuable tool to assess nutritional status in health and disease. The most used methods to evaluate BC in the clinical practice are based on bicompartment models and measure, directly or indirectly, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (nowadays considered as the reference technique in clinical practice) are extensively used in epidemiological (mainly BIA) and clinical (mainly DXA) settings to evaluate BC. DXA is primarily used for the measurements of bone mineral content (BMC) and density to assess bone health and diagnose osteoporosis in defined anatomical regions (femur and spine). However, total body DXA scans are used to derive a three-compartment BC model, including BMC, FM, and FFM. Both these methods feature some limitations: the accuracy of BIA measurements is reduced when specific predictive equations and standardized measurement protocols are not utilized whereas the limitations of DXA are the safety of repeated measurements (no more than two body scans per year are currently advised), cost, and technical expertise. This review aims to provide useful insights mostly into the use of BC methods in prevention and clinical practice (ambulatory or bedridden patients). We believe that it will stimulate a discussion on the topic and reinvigorate the crucial role of BC evaluation in diagnostic and clinical investigation protocols.
Empyema Necessitans due to Interruption of Antituberculosis Treatment
Authors: Benaragama H. N. , Pushpakumara J. , Wanigasuriya Kamani P.
Published: May 2019

Empyema necessitans is a rare presentation of tuberculous infection, commonly encountered in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis can be challenging due to the paucibacillary nature of the condition and nonspecific symptoms. Identifying the organism in culture is the gold standard method of diagnosis. We describe a patient with chronic kidney disease, who developed empyema necessitans due to interruption of antituberculous therapy. Initially, he was started on antituberculous therapy based on a clinical diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculous infection; this resulted in Stevens–Johnson syndrome needing a long course of steroid therapy. He later presented with a painful chest lump and was diagnosed as empyema necessitans. Finding the etiology for this rare presentation lead to a diagnostic dilemma, finally confirming the TB infection from the culture. This case highlights the importance of being aware of unusual complications of tuberculous infection in immunocompromised settings.
Piroxicam-Collagen-Based Sponges for Medical Applications
Authors: Ioan Daniel-Cristian , Rău Ileana , Tihan Grațiela Teodora , Zgârian Roxana Gabriela , Ghica Mihaela Violeta , Albu Kaya Mădălina Georgiana , Dinu-Pîrvu Elena Cristina
Published: May 2019

Depending on the concentration of the drug and/or the method of administration, drugs could be used in various ways. To take full advantage of the drug beneficial properties in oral medical interventions but also in other types of surgery, like plastic surgery, general surgery, or gynecological surgery, the drug concentration as well as the administration method itself will depend on the wound, type of surgery, and severity of the postoperative pain which can be very different. Generally, the local administration methods are recommended. Piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class, is generally used to relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation. Starting from the idea of the special benefit of the interference between collagen-based materials and drug beneficial properties, our work was focused on the synthesis and characterization of new collagen-piroxicam materials. These new collagen-based materials present a good water absorption, and the piroxicam release suggests a biphasic drug release profile whereas the obtained values for the release exponent revealed a complex release mechanism including swelling, diffusion, and erosion.
Improvement of Sperm Quality in Hyperviscous Semen following DNase I Treatment
Authors: Nosi Effrosyni , Gritzapis Angelos D. , Makarounis Konstantinos , Georgoulias Georgios , Kapetanios Vasilios , Varla-Leftherioti Marighoula , Venieratos Panagiotis , Papanikopoulos Christodoulos , Konstantinidou Anastasia , Tsilivakos Vassilis
Published: May 2019

Semen hyperviscosity impairs sperm motility and can lead to male infertility. This prospective study aimed at assessing the ability of exogenous DNase in improving sperm quality, taking into consideration that DNase has been found in the seminal plasma of several species and that neutrophils release chromatin in order to trap bacteria. A total of seventy-seven semen samples with high seminal viscosity (HSV) as the study group and sixty-two semen samples with normal seminal viscosity (NSV) as the control group were compared in this analysis. These semen samples were divided into three groups of receiving treatment (a) with DNase I at 37°C for 15 min, (b) by density gradient centrifugation, and (c) with a combination of the above two methods. Following a fifteen-minute treatment of hyperviscous semen, the motility of spermatozoa in 83% of semen samples increased to a statistically significant degree. On the contrary, DNase treatment of semen with normal viscosity had no such effects. The above treatment was also accompanied by a significant increase in the percentage of normal spermatozoa, resulting in a major decrease of the teratozoospermia index. Comparison between semen samples that underwent density gradient centrifugation following DNase I treatment, to those collected after density gradient treatment alone, showed that in the first case the results were more spectacular. The evaluation of each preparation in terms of yield (% total progressively motile sperm count after treatment in relation to the initial total sperm count) revealed that the combined approach resulted in 29.8% vs. 18.5% with density treatment alone (p=0.0121). DNase I treatment results in an improvement of sperm motility and morphology and could be beneficial to men with hyperviscous semen in assisted reproduction protocols.
One-Step Formation of Chondrocytes through Direct Reprogramming via Polysaccharide-Based Gene Delivery
Authors: Yu Qingtong , Wang Yan , Cao Xia , Deng Wenwen , Adu Frimpong Michael , Yu Jiangnan , Xu Ximing
Published: May 2019

An innovative strategy for the generation of chondrocytes was thoroughly studied in this paper. Polyetherimide-modified polysaccharides of Porphyra yezoensis (pmPPY) served as a nonviral gene vector and delivered Sox9 plasmid to directly reprogram mouse embryonic fibroblasts into chondrocytes. The gene transfer efficiency was evaluated through ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blot. The induced chondrocytes were identified through toluidine blue, Safranin O, and the immunostaining. The expression level of collagen II was finally evaluated through western blot. The pSox9/pmPPY nanoparticles (1:50) showed lower cytotoxicity as well as greater gene transfection efficiency than Lipofectamine 2000 and polyetherimide (PEI) (p<0.05). The results of toluidine blue, Safranin O, and the immunostaining of collagen II further showed that the normal MEFs were successfully reprogrammed into chondrocytes. These findings indicate that pmPPY could be a promising gene vector for the generation of chondrocytes via single-gene delivery strategy, which might provide abundant chondrocytes for cartilage repair.
Study on Permeability and Blocking Resistance of Composite Specimen with Double‐Layer Permeable Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Tian Xiaoge , Yuan Huitong , Zhang Ren , Xu Yichao , Wang Xiaofei
Published: May 2019

In order to study the permeability and antiblocking performance of composite specimens with double‐layer permeable asphalt mixture, three types of PAC‐10 asphalt mixture with different target porosity (20%, 22%, and 24%) and PAC‐16 asphalt mixture with a target porosity of 22% were designed, and the double‐layer Marshall specimen was fabricated through “hot + hot” method. Their orthogonal vertical sections were scanned with X‐ray CT. The pore distribution and its characteristics of the specimens were analyzed by digital image analysis technology. The permeability of composite specimens was studied through penetration test, and their blocking resistances were studied through using different particle sizes of fine machine‐made sands as blocking materials. The results show that the permeable capacity increases linearly with the increase of porosity. The permeable capacity of PAC‐16 with 22% porosity is greater than PAC‐10 (20%, 22%, and 24%) porosity. The porosity of the upper layer increases, and the permeability of the double‐layer composite samples increases linearly. The critical particle size causing blocking is 0.15 mm, followed by 0.3 mm. The vertical permeability coefficient decreases exponentially with the increasing of blocking times.
Mechanical Characterization of Thermoplastic Aligner Materials: Recommendations for Test Parameter Standardization
Authors: Elkholy F. , Schmidt S. , Amirkhani M. , Schmidt F. , Lapatki B. G.
Published: May 2019

Background. Understanding of the different mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials is essential for a successful aligner treatment and further developments. However, data of previous material testing studies are scarcely comparable. Aim of the current study was to evaluate the different test parameters to lay the foundations for guidelines for future, more standardized three-point-bending aligner material tests.Materials and Methods. Several parameters concerning the specimen preparation and experimental three-point-bending setup were varied. The specimens were collected from polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) Duran® foils with different thicknesses. Both raw foils and foils thermoformed using different geometrical forms were investigated. The three-point-bending tests were performed using span lengths of 8 and 16 mm and variable deflection ranges between 0.1 and 0.2 mm. The influence of water storage on the bending forces was studied using unloaded and loaded specimens. Experimental results were validated using a beam cantilever mathematical model.Results. Local macroscopic cracks after long-term loading could be avoided by keeping the deflections within a thickness-dependent individual range. The mathematical calculations confirmed that these individual deflection ranges lead to local stresses between 14 and 18 MPa. Constantly loaded specimens immersed for 24 hours in water showed a decrease of the bending force by 50%. This reduction was much smaller for the unloaded specimens (14%).Conclusion. During clinical aligner therapy, very small bending deflections are combined with small distances between the tooth surface regions supporting the aligner. In vitro aligner material testing by three-point bending should consider these geometrical aspects, while keeping the material stresses in a range between 14 and 18 MPa to avoid local microcracks. Considering these aspects, thickness-dependent deflections were established for three-point bending of the PET-G specimen for a span length of 8 mm. We recommend the application of these test parameters in future aligner material studies to achieve valid and comparable test results.
Hydrological Drought Assessment of Energy-Based Water Deficit Index (EWDI) at Different Geographical Regions
Authors: Sur Chanyang , Kim Dongkyun , Lee Joo-Heon , Iqbal Muhammad Mazhar , Choi Minha
Published: May 2019

This study applied the remote sensing-based drought index, namely, the Energy-Based Water Deficit Index (EWDI), across Mongolia, Australia, and Korean Peninsula for the period between 2000 and 2010. The EWDI is estimated based on the hydrometeorological variables such as evapotranspiration, soil moisture, solar radiation, and vegetation activity which are derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imageries. The estimated EWDI was compared with the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI), the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The correlation coefficients between the drought indices are as follows: 0.73–0.76 (EWDI vs ESI), 0.64–0.71 (EWDI vs VCI), 0.54–0.64 (EWDI vs SPI-3), 0.69–0.71 (ESI vs VCI), 0.55–0.62 (ESI vs SPI-3), and 0.53–0.57 (VCI vs SPI-3). The drought prediction accuracy of each index according to error matrix analysis is as follows: 83.33–94.17% (EWDI), 70.00–91.67% (ESI), 47.50–85.00% (VCI), and 61.67–88.33% (SPI-3). Based on the results, the EWDI and ESI were found to be more accurate in capturing moderate drought conditions than the SPI at different geographical regions.
Accurate Determination of Boron Content in Halite by ICP-OES and ICP-MS
Authors: Peng Zhang-kuang , Liu Zhi-na
Published: May 2019

Boron element is widely distributed in different geologic bodies, and there are important geo-chemical applications in earth science. Halite is a common mineral found in sediment basin. However there is no good method to accurately measure the boron content in halite, which is mainly because Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) are limited by the high salt matrix interference and the instrument detection limit. Thus enriching the boron element and removing the matrix interference are necessary before the measuring. In this paper, Amberlite IRA 743 boron-specific resin was applied to enrich the boron element and remove most of the high-salt matrix. The strong acid cation resin (Dowex 50 W×8, 200-400 mesh, USA) and weak-base anion resin (Ion Exchanger II, Germany) were mixed with equal volume, which could remove the foreign ions completely: meanwhile, the relative content of boron in the solution reached above 98%, and the recoveries ranged from 97.8% to 104%. 208.900 nm was chosen as the detection wavelength for ICP-OES, and the detection identification and quantification limits were 0.006 mg·L−1and 0.02 mg·L−1, respectively.11B was chosen as the measuring element for ICP-MS, and the detection identification and quantification limits were severally 0.036 mg·L−1and 0.12 mg·L−1. The relative standard deviations ranged from 1.4% to 3.4% through six replicates under different salinities. Therefore, the process could be regarded as a feasible method to measure boron content in halite by ICP-OES and ICP-MS.
A Phase I/II Trial of Cetuximab in Combination with Interleukin-12 Administered to Patients with Unresectable Primary or Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: McMichael Elizabeth L. , Benner Brooke , Atwal Lakhvir S. , Courtney Nicholas B. , Mo Xiaokui , Davis Melanie E. , Campbell Amanda R. , Duggan Megan C. , Williams Kallan , Martin Kyle , Levine Kala , Olaverria Salavaggione Gonzalo N. , Noel Tiffany , Ganju Akaansha , Uppati Sarvani , Paul Bonnie , Olencki Thomas , Teknos Theodoros N. , Savvides Panos , Tridandapani Susheela , Byrd John C. , Caligiuri Michael A. , Liu Stephen V. , Carson William E.
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

mAbs including cetuximab can induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and cytokine production mediated via innate immune cells with the ability to recognize mAb-coated tumors. Preclinical modeling has shown that costimulation of natural killer (NK) cells via the Fc receptor and the IL12 receptor promotes NK-cell–mediated ADCC and production of cytokines.

Patients and Methods:

This phase I/II trial evaluated the combination of cetuximab with IL12 for the treatment of EGFR-expressing head and neck cancer. Treatment consisted of cetuximab 500 mg/m2 i.v. every 2 weeks with either 0.2 mcg/kg or 0.3 mcg/kg IL12 s.c. on days 2 and 5 of the 2-week cycle, beginning with cycle 2. Correlative studies from blood draws obtained prior to treatment and during therapy included measurement of ADCC, serum cytokine, and chemokine analysis, determination of NK cell FcγRIIIa polymorphisms, and an analysis of myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) frequency in peripheral blood.

Results:

The combination of cetuximab and IL12 was well tolerated. No clinical responses were observed, however, 48% of patients exhibited prolonged progression-free survival (PFS; average of 6.5 months). Compared with patients that did not exhibit clinical benefit, patients with PFS >100 days exhibited increased ADCC as therapy continued compared with baseline, greater production of IFNγ, IP-10, and TNFα at the beginning of cycle 8 compared with baseline values and had a predominance of monocytic MDSCs versus granulocytic MDSCs prior to therapy.

Conclusions:

Further investigation of IL12 as an immunomodulatory agent in combination with cetuximab in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is warranted.
Voxel Forecast for Precision Oncology: Predicting Spatially Variant and Multiscale Cancer Therapy Response on Longitudinal Quantitative Molecular Imaging
Authors: Bowen Stephen R. , Hippe Daniel S. , Chaovalitwongse W. Art , Duan Chunyan , Thammasorn Phawis , Liu Xiao , Miyaoka Robert S. , Vesselle Hubert J. , Kinahan Paul E. , Rengan Ramesh , Zeng Jing
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

Prediction of spatially variant response to cancer therapies can inform risk-adaptive management within precision oncology. We developed the “Voxel Forecast” multiscale regression framework for predicting spatially variant tumor response to chemoradiotherapy on fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging.

Experimental Design:

Twenty-five patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer, enrolled on the FLARE-RT phase II trial (NCT02773238), underwent FDG PET/CT imaging prior to (PETpre) and during week 3 (PETmid) of concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Voxel Forecast was designed to predict tumor voxel standardized uptake value (SUV) on PETmid from baseline patient-level and voxel-level covariates using a custom generalized least squares (GLS) algorithm. Matérn covariance matrices were fit to patient- specific empirical variograms of distance-dependent intervoxel correlation. Regression coefficients from variogram-based weights and corresponding standard errors were estimated using the jackknife technique. The framework was validated using statistical simulations of known spatially variant tumor response. Mean absolute prediction errors (MAEs) of Voxel Forecast models were calculated under leave-one-patient-out cross-validation.

Results:

Patient-level forecasts resulted in tumor voxel SUV MAE on PETmid of 1.5 g/mL while combined patient- and voxel-level forecasts achieved lower MAE of 1.0 g/mL (P < 0.0001). PETpre voxel SUV was the most important predictor of PETmid voxel SUV. Patients with a greater percentage of under-responding tumor voxels were classified as PETmid nonresponders (P = 0.030) with worse overall survival prognosis (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Voxel Forecast multiscale regression provides a statistical framework to predict voxel-wise response patterns during therapy. Voxel Forecast can be extended to predict spatially variant response on multimodal quantitative imaging and may eventually guide optimized spatial–temporal dose distributions for precision cancer therapy.
The Recurrence of Onychocryptosis when Treated with Phenolization: Does Phenol Application Time Play a Role? A Follow-Up Study on 622 Procedures
Authors: Montesi Simona , Lazzarino Antonio Ivan , Galeone Giovanni , Palmieri Raimondo , Montesi Mauro
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Chemical matricectomy using phenol (CMP) is a recognized treatment option for onychocryptosis. However, the appropriate phenol application time to achieve nail matrix destruction is still unknown. Optimal ablation leads to low recurrence rates. The aim of this research was to assess the recurrence rate of onychocryptosis in a cohort of 622 consecutive patients treated with a 4-min CMP. Methods: We recruited all patients undergoing a 4-min CMP for onychocryptosis at the Istituto Podologico Italiano, Rome, Italy, in 2008–2017. Postoperative follow-up visits were set at 24 h, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. We used adjusted logistic regression to evaluate the potential risk factors for the disease recurrence including age, gender, toe shape, comorbidities, and disease localization. Results: The risk of recurrence in all patients treated with a 4-min CMP was 1.1% (n = 622, 95% CI = 0.5%–2.3%). In the subgroup of patients with cardiovascular disease (n = 39) the recurrence risk was 5.1% (95% CI = 0.61–7.3). Young age was also associated with increased odds of recurrence (p = 0.036). Conclusion: In this observational study, 4 min with no interruptions seems to be the appropriate application time of phenol when using CMP for the treatment of onychocryptosis. A randomized controlled trial should be carried out to confirm our results.
Learning Neural Sequence-to-Sequence Models from Weak Feedback with Bipolar Ramp Loss
Authors: Jehl Laura , Lawrence Carolin , Riezler Stefan
Published: May 2019

In many machine learning scenarios, supervision by gold labels is not available and conse quently neural models cannot be trained directly by maximum likelihood estimation. In a weak supervision scenario, metric-augmented objectives can be employed to assign feedback to model outputs, which can be used to extract a supervision signal for training. We present several objectives for two separate weakly supervised tasks, machine translation and semantic parsing. We show that objectives should actively discourage negative outputs in addition to promoting a surrogate gold structure. This notion of bipolarity is naturally present in ramp loss objectives, which we adapt to neural models. We show that bipolar ramp loss objectives outperform other non-bipolar ramp loss objectives and minimum risk training on both weakly supervised tasks, as well as on a supervised machine translation task. Additionally, we introduce a novel token-level ramp loss objective, which is able to outperform even the best sequence-level ramp loss on both weakly supervised tasks.
Epicurean Preconceptions
Authors: Tsouna Voula
Published: May 2019

This paper provides a comprehensive study of the Epicurean theory of ‘preconception’. It addresses what a preconception is; how our preconception of the gods can be called innata, innate; the role played by epibolai (active mental focusing); and how preconceptions play a semantic role different from that of ‘sayables’ in Stoicism. The paper highlights the conceptual connections between these issues, and also shows how later Epicureans develop Epicurus’ doctrine of preconceptions while remaining orthodox about the core of that doctrine.
Olfactory recognition of snake cues by fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats Melomys cervinipes
Authors: Paulling Kelsey , Wilson David , Rymer Tasmin L.
Published: May 2019

Rodents rely on their sensitive olfactory systems to detect and respond to predators. We investigated the ability of a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes, to detect, recognise, and discriminate between two species of native snakes. We used snake sheds from a sympatric venomous red-bellied black snake Pseudechis porphyriacus and a non-sympatric non-venomous Stimson’s python Antaresia stimsoni. 20 mosaic-tailed rats each experienced three olfactory tests using a Y-maze. Rats were first exposed to one snake shed against a paper control, and then exposed to the other snake shed against a paper control. Which rat experienced which shed first was allocated randomly. Mosaic-tailed rats were then exposed to both sheds simultaneously. Rats could detect the snake sheds, spending longer investigating, and making more visits to, the sheds than the paper control. They also recognised the sheds as potentially dangerous, reducing their total investigation over time, but increasing their frequency of visits. However, rats did not discriminate between sheds, suggesting a general strategy for assessing the identity of reptilian predators.
Food Production or Food Distribution: The Key to Global Food Security?
Authors: Kick Edward L. , Tiezzi Francesco , Pena Diego Castedo
Published: May 2019

Major world agencies have identified a serious contemporary food insecurity problem, and sound even louder alarms that by the year 2050 around one billion people will be “food insecure.” The solution proposed by the World Bank in a 2012 Report is that the world grow significantly more food. Eyes certainly are on the us to remediate this problem by growing more livestock. Is “more food” the answer? This study uses World Bank data and path/structural equation modeling to determine the veracity of this position versus another. It is counter argued that food distribution and waste prevent food from reaching substantial segments of the world’s population. That is, the poor and dependent are unable to gain access to food that is privateered by governance systems that permit rulers and the wealthy to access food, and set food prices at unreachable levels for the poorest of the poor and, sometimes, even the middle class. Further, wages are set below the level needed to purchase basic food stuffs. The reaction has been food riots in countries ranging from Venezuela to the Middle East countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Libya, and Egypt, among others.
Decolonizing Food Systems: Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Revitalization, and Agroecology as Counter-Hegemonic Movements
Authors: Figueroa-Helland Leonardo , Thomas Cassidy , Aguilera Abigail Pérez
Published: May 2019

We employ an intersection of critical approaches to examine the global food system crisis and its alternatives. We examine counterhegemonic movements and organizations advancing programs of constructive resistance and decolonization based on food sovereignty, indigenous revitalization and agroecology. Food system alternatives rooted in intersectional critiques of the world-system open spaces for materially-grounded, commons-based socioecological relations that make just, sustainable, and equitable worlds possible beyond a civilization in crisis.
Private Health Care Expenditure and Child Health Outcomes in the World’s Poorest Countries
Authors: Yasin Jehad , Gani Azmat
Published: May 2019

Empirical studies investigating the direct effects of private health expenditure on child health outcomes for the world’s poorest countries are rare. This study attempts to fill this gap. The methodology includes empirical estimations of cross-country annual data for the period 1995-2010 for several low-income countries. The results obtained through fixed-effects estimation provide strong evidence that private health care spending has the expected negative and statistically significant effect on neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates. The findings also reveal that other than private health care spending, income, nutrition, urbanization, family size, immunization against measles, and access to an improved water supply and sanitation as other strong determinants of neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates. Some policy implications are drawn.
Before There Were Charismatics
Authors: Moudry Susan Lyn
Published: May 2019

Pentecostalism came to Pittsburgh prior to the 1967 Catholic Charismatic Movement through the life and teaching of Charles Hamilton Pridgeon. Although Pridgeon commonly appears in texts about Pentecostalism as a footnote to the larger story, he offers an interesting case study. His journey into the pentecostal ranks illustrates diversity among early pentecostal leaders both theologically and socially. Pridgeon, then, offers a lens for viewing Pittsburgh’s early encounter with Pentecostalism, while also demonstrating motives for such groups as the Assemblies of God who defined theological boundaries early in the twentieth century in response to his work.
The Reşwan Kurds and Ottoman Tribal Settlement in Syria, 1683-1741
Authors: Winter Stefan
Published: May 2019

The Reşwan were one of the most important tribal confederations in the Ottoman Empire in the eighteenth century. Yet their history remains almost completely ignored, while the few contemporary authors who refer them almost invariably fail to mention that they were Kurds. This article seeks to retrace the history of the Reşwan confederation and particularly their place in the Ottoman imperial tribal settlement (iskan) scheme of the eighteenth century. Drawing on both Ottoman chancery documents and local şeriat archives, it seeks to show that the Reşwan enjoyed relatively good relations with the Ottoman authorities and a high degree of integration with other groups in northern Syria and Mesopotamia, with individual members attaining high office in the region. While the Reşwan name has virtually disappeared, members of the confederation in Turkey today still trace their origins to the Syrian settlement initiative.
L’economia islamica: alternativa apparente o reale?
Authors: Cattelan Valentino
Published: May 2019

This article deals with the nature of Islamic economics as a scientific paradigm which claims to be alternative to conventional economic thinking.

To critically evaluate this claim, the work investigates the peculiar religious and moral principles that shape the idea of social justice in Islam. Subsequently, it outlines how Islamic economics derives from these principles a specific conceptualization of property rights and commercial relations that embraces parameters of (1) primacy of real economy; (2) transactional equilibrium; (3) and profit- and risk-sharing.

By endorsing the conceptual autonomy of Islamic economics from conventional capitalism, the article also refers to the current emergence of the Islamic financial market at a global stage, and the possible implications for a plural financial system in the future.