bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Administration of Nebulized Ketamine for Managing Acute Pain in the Emergency Department: A Case Series
Authors: Drapkin Jefferson , Masoudi Aidin , Butt Mahlaqa , Hossain Rukhsana , Likourezos Antonios , Motov Sergey
Published: February 2020

Ketamine administration in sub-dissociative doses in the emergency department (ED) results in effective pain relief in patients with acute traumatic and non-traumatic pain, chronic pain, and opioid-tolerant pain. This case series describes five adult ED patients who received nebulized ketamine for predominantly acute traumatic pain. Three patients received nebulized ketamine at 1.5 milligrams per kilogram (mg /kg) dose, one patient at 0.75 mg/kg, and one patient at 1 mg/kg. All five patients experienced a decrease in pain from the baseline up to 120 minutes. The inhalation route of ketamine delivery via breath-actuated nebulizer may have utility for managing pain in the ED.
Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Acute Abdominal Aortic Occlusion
Authors: Bloom Benjamin , Gibbons Ryan , Brandis Dov , Costantino Thomas
Published: February 2020

Acute aortic occlusion is an emergent vascular condition not encountered routinely. Given its varied presentations, including neurovascular deficits and mimicking an acute abdomen, the diagnosis is often delayed causing increased morbidity and mortality. We present a case of acute abdominal aortic occlusion masquerading as sudden onset lower extremity pain and weakness in an 86-year-old female requiring emergent thrombectomy. This is only the second case report to discuss the use of point-of-care ultrasound to expedite diagnosis and management.
Idiopathic Bilateral Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis Diagnosed by Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Authors: Aquino-Jose Victor , Johnson Jennifer , Dulani Tina
Published: February 2020

Internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is an unusual condition, especially when it develops bilaterally. This is a case of bilateral IJV thrombosis in a 77-year old female who presented to the emergency department with neck and arm swelling after discontinuing apixaban and undergoing an oropharyngeal procedure. The diagnosis of bilateral IJV thrombosis was made with the use of point-of-care ultrasound to evaluate bilateral jugular vein distention and bilateral upper extremity pitting edema found on her physical examination.
Neurosyphilis: Old Disease, New Implications for Emergency Physicians
Authors: Mercurio Laura , Taylor Lynn , Jarman Angela
Published: February 2020

Recent epidemiologic data demonstrate increasing rates of neurosyphilis, particularly among those in the community of men who have sex with men and those coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Here we discuss a case of early neurosyphilis and new HIV diagnosis in a 27-year-old previously-healthy trans woman presenting for the second time with progressive, ascending weakness and cranial nerve VI palsy. Emergency physicians should consider this rare but highly morbid diagnosis, given the rising prevalence of neurosyphilis among at-risk patients and those with new neurologic deficits.
Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder in a clinical population: gender and sub-population diferences
Authors: Reis Cátia , Paiva Teresa
Published: February 2020

Objective/Background Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) is defined by a delay in the major sleep episode relative to desired or required sleep and wake times. The objectives of this study were to evaluate DSWPD in our population and to compare it with similar clinical data, to analyse gender differences, and to identify possible subpopulations based on circadian timing and alignment.

Patients/Methods 162 consecutive DSWPD patients from a sleep clinic with a median age of 35.5 (24.0) years, 85 (52.5%) males were studied. Patient data were obtained from a clinical interview composed of socio-demographic, life events, daily habits, consumptions, and comorbidities data; and from diaries, actimetry, melatonin and PSG T1. The Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) was used to define circadian alignment or misalignment.

Results In our DSWPD cohort, there were gender differences for different age groups (p=0.028). Men were more likely to be single and women more likely to be married (p=0.034). In students, school failure was higher for women (p<0.001); for workers, absenteeism was higher in women (p=0.001). In the circadian aligned (compared to misaligned group), DLMO was later (p<0.001), sleep onset time (p=0.046) was later, total sleep time (p=0.035), and number of sleep cycles (p=0.018) were lower, as measured using PSG T1.

Conclusions In this clinical population, DSWPD is more prevalent in young men and in middle age women, although with no overall significant differences between genders. There are two different phenotypes of DSWPD: circadian misaligned and circadian aligned. Depression is prevalent in both groups. Better definition, classification and diagnostic criteria for DSWPD are still needed, and targeted therapeutical intervention should be evaluated.
Influence of Strain Amplitude on the Microstructural Evolution and Flow Properties of Copper Processed by Multidirectional Forging
Authors: Flausino Paula Cibely Alves , Nassif Maria Elisa Landim , Bubani Franco de Castro , Pereira Pedro Henrique R. , Aguilar Maria Teresa Paulino , Cetlin Paulo Roberto
Published: February 2020

Commercial‐purity copper (99.8%) is processed by multidirectional forging (MDF) using strain amplitudes per compression (Δε) of 0.15 and 0.30, leading to accumulated strains (ε) of up to ≈10.8. It is shown that increasing the accumulated strain causes continuous reactions at the substructural level, involving the progressive evolution of dislocation arrangements toward structures having high misorientation angles. This evolution depends upon the strain amplitude in MDF processing and is characterized by the fragmentation of the original grains due to formation and intersection of micro shear bands (MSBs) assisted by dynamic recovery processes. Higher Δε enhances the “monotonic” character of processing, resulting in a higher fraction of MSBs and band intersections, increased work hardening, flow stresses, and dislocation density, lower cell/subgrain and grain sizes, and faster grain refinement kinetics, compared with MDF under lower Δε. The yield strength of copper, measured along a direction orthogonal to that of the previous compression step, is lower than the flow stress at the end of this compression step, and this behavior becomes more prominent with increasing ε and Δε.
Electrodynamics of Magnetoelectric Media and Magnetoelectric Fields
Authors: Kamenetskii Eugene O.
Published: February 2020

The relationship between magnetoelectricity and electromagnetism is a subject of a strong interest and numerous discussions in microwave and optical wave physics and material sciences. The definition of the energy and momentum of the electromagnetic (EM) field in a magnetoelectric (ME) medium is not a trivial problem. The question of whether electromagnetism and magnetoelectricity can coexist without an extension of Maxwell's theory arises when the effects of EM energy propagation are studied and the group velocity of the waves in an ME medium is considered. The energy balance equation reveals unusual topological structure of fields in ME materials. Together with certain constraints on the constitutive parameters of a medium, definite constraints on the local field structure should be imposed. Analyzing the EM phenomena inside an ME material, the question “what kind of the near fields arising from a sample of such a material can be measured?” should be answered. The visualization of the ME states requires an experimental technique that is based on an effective coupling to the violation of spatial as well as temporal inversion symmetry. To observe the ME energy in a subwavelength region, it is necessary to assume the existence of first‐principle near fields—the ME fields. These are non‐Maxwellian near fields with specific properties of violation of spatial and temporal inversion symmetry. A particular interest to the ME fields arises in studies of metamaterials with “artificial‐atoms” ME elements.
Access to 1,3‐Dinitriles by Enantioselective Auto‐tandem Catalysis: Merging Allylic Cyanation with Asymmetric Hydrocyanation
Authors: Long Jinguo , Yu Rongrong , Gao Jihui , Fang Xianjie
Published: February 2020

Enantioselective auto‐tandem catalysis represents a challenging yet highlight attractive topic in the field of asymmetric catalysis. In this context, we describe a dual catalytic cycle that merges allylic cyanation and asymmetric hydrocyanation. The one‐pot conversion of a broad array of allylic alcohols into their corresponding 1,3‐dinitriles proceeds in good yield with high enantioselectivity. The products are densely functionalized and can be easily transformed to chiral diamines, dinitriles, diesters, and piperidines. Mechanistic studies clearly support a novel sequential cyanation/hydrocyanation pathway.
Institutional pressures and the accounting and reporting of environmental liabilities
Authors: Negash Minga , Lemma Tesfaye T.
Published: February 2020

The study explores the role of institutional forces in shaping corporate accounting and reporting for environmental liabilities practice within the context of South Africa. Drawing on the literature that conceptualizes accounting as a “social and institutional practice” and using Scott's institutional pillars approach, we qualitatively analyze data obtained through in‐depth interviews and documentary reviews and demonstrate that environmental liabilities reported on financial statements of South African companies may not reflect the full extent of environmental obligations stemming from their operations. The enabling environment for this dereliction of corporate responsibility is fostered by the following: (a) a mosaic of weakly enforced laws, acts, and regulations that constitutes the regulative pillar; (b) a cultural‐cognitive template that is still at an early stage of its development; and (c) a stronger normative pillar reinforced by relatively powerful actors who support the institutionalization of normative modes and conflicts and/or contradictions among actors who support the regulative institutions. Our findings suggest that companies in South Africa tend to adopt practices that foster production and disclosure of environmental information that comply with the normatively sanctioned scripts to maintain legitimacy with important stakeholders while decoupling these practices from the regulative prescripts that call for greater environmental accountability.
Graphene/Amorphous Carbon Restriction Structure for Stable and Long‐Lifespan Antimony Anode in Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yang Xu , Zhang Rongyu , Xu Shifeng , Xu Dan , Ma Jia , Zhang Zhongyu , Yang Shu
Published: February 2020

Sb‐based materials have attracted much attention owing to their ability to undergo a multi‐electron alloy reaction with K+. However, there are still the serious problems of volume change and aggregation of particles, which lead to rapid capacity fading and a limited lifespan. In this work, a graphene/amorphous carbon restriction structure is proposed, in which the amorphous carbon layer on the surface of Sb nanoparticles can protect the particles from pulverization, and the graphene can buffer the volume change of the material. In addition, the conductive network formed by the dual carbon structure effectively improves the rate performance of the material. Thus, the material delivers a high capacity of 550 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1, a rate capability of 370 mA h g−1 at 2000 mA g−1, and a long lifespan of 350 cycles without significant capacity fading. The dual carbon strategy proposed offers a reference for the design of high‐performance anode materials.
Synthesis of the 8,19‐Epoxysteroid Eurysterol A
Authors: Taspinar Ömer , Wilczek Tobias , Erver Julian , Breugst Martin , Neudörfl Jörg‐Martin , Schmalz Hans‐Günther
Published: February 2020

We report the first chemical synthesis of eurysterol A, a cytotoxic and antifungal marine steroidal sulfate with a unique C8−C19 oxy‐bridged cholestane skeleton. After C19 hydroxylation of cholesteryl acetate, used as an inexpensive commercial starting material, the challenging oxidative functionalization of ring B was achieved by two different routes to set up a 5α‐hydroxy‐7‐en‐6‐one moiety. As a key step, an intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition was exploited to close the oxy‐bridge (8β,19‐epoxy unit). DFT calculations show this reversible transformation being exergonic by about −30 kJ mol−1. Along the optimized (scalable) synthetic sequence, the target natural product was obtained in only 11 steps in 5 % overall yield. In addition, an access to (isomeric) 7β,19‐epoxy steroids with a previously unknown pentacyclic ring system was discovered.
Coronary atherosclerosis in middle‐aged athletes: Current insights, burning questions, and future perspectives
Authors: Aengevaeren Vincent L. , Eijsvogels Thijs M. H.
Published: February 2020

Regular exercise training is considered healthy as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Nevertheless, athletes are not immune to the development of cardiovascular diseases and recent studies reported a higher prevalence of coronary artery calcifications and atherosclerotic plaques in athletes compared to less active controls. These observations have raised many questions among sport scientists, sports cardiologists, amateur athletes, and the general population. For example, Are athletes (not) immune for coronary atherosclerosis? How to assess coronary atherosclerosis in athletes? What about chalk (calcified plaque) and cheese (mixed plaque)? Does exercise intensity play a role? Are there sport‐related differences? Are there sex differences? Can sports medical evaluation detect coronary atherosclerosis? Do athletes get worried? Should athletes get worried? How should athletes with coronary atherosclerosis be managed? The goal of this review is to discuss the latest scientific insights and to answer these important questions. Furthermore, we will explore potential clinical implications and point out directions for further research.
Can temporal covariation and autocorrelation in demographic rates affect population dynamics in a raptor species?
Authors: Fay Rémi , Michler Stephanie , Laesser Jacques , Jeanmonod Jacques , Schaub Michael
Published: February 2020

Theoretical studies suggest that temporal covariation among and temporal autocorrelation within demographic rates are important features of population dynamics. Yet, empirical studies have rarely focused on temporal covariation and autocorrelation limiting our understanding of these patterns in natural populations. This lack of knowledge restrains our ability to fully understand population dynamics and to make reliable population forecasts. In order to fill this gap, we used a long‐term monitoring (15 years) of a kestrel Falco tinnunculus population to investigate covariation and autocorrelation in survival and reproduction at the population level and their impact on population dynamics. Using Bayesian joint analyses, we found support for positive covariation between survival and reproduction, but weak autocorrelation through time. This positive covariation was stronger in juveniles compared with adults. As expected for a specialized predator, we found that the reproductive performance was strongly related to an index of vole abundance explaining 86% of the temporal variation. This very strong relationship suggests that the temporally variable prey abundance may drive the positive covariation between survival and reproduction in this kestrel population. Simulations suggested that the observed effect size of covariation could be strong enough to affect population dynamics. More generally, positive covariation and autocorrelation have a destabilizing effect increasing substantially the temporal variability of population size.
Helicenes Fused with Hexafluorocyclopentene (HFCP): Synthesis, Structure, and Properties
Authors: Agou Tomohiro , Kohara Masaki , Tamura Yuuki , Yamada Keisuke , Shiitsuka Kazuki , Hosoya Takaaki , Mizuhata Yoshiyuki , Tokitoh Norihiro , Hayashi Yuki , Moronuki Yusuke , Ishii Akihiko , Tanaka Yusuke , Muranaka Atsuya , Uchiyama Masanobu , Yamada Shigeyuki , Konno Tsutomu , Fukumoto Hiroki , Kubota Toshio
Published: February 2020

Helicenes fused with hexafluorocyclopentene (HFCP) were synthesized by oxidative photocyclization of stilbene derivatives (the Mallory reaction). Of the newly‐obtained fluorinated helicenes, the [7]helicenes bearing one‐ or three‐HFCP units were structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The attempted synthesis of [9]helicene fused with three HFCP units resulted in the unexpected formation of a novel double helicene consisting of [4]‐ and [6]‐helicenes sharing peripheral benzene rings. Optical properties and chiral resolutions of the newly obtained HFCP‐substituted helicenes are also described.
The functional interplay of lncRNA EGOT and HuR regulates hypoxia‐induced autophagy in renal tubular cells
Authors: Wang I‐Kuan , Palanisamy Kalaiselvi , Sun Kuo‐Ting , Yu Shao‐Hua , Yu Tung‐Min , Li Ching‐Hao , Lin Feng‐Yen , Chou An‐Kuo , Wang Guei‐Jane , Chen Kuen‐Bao , Li Chi‐Yuan
Published: February 2020

Autophagy, an important cellular homeostatic mechanism regulates cell survival under stress and protects against acute kidney injury. However, the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in autophagy regulation in renal tubular cells (HK‐2) is unclear. The study was aimed to understand the importance of lncRNA in hypoxia‐induced autophagy in HK‐2 cells. LncRNA eosinophil granule ontogeny transcript (EGOT) was identified as autophagy‐associated lncRNA under hypoxia. The lncRNA EGOT expression was significantly downregulated in renal tubular cells during hypoxia‐induced autophagy. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐EGOT functional studies revealed that EGOT overexpression reduced autophagy by downregulation of ATG7, ATG16L1, LC3II expressions and LC 3 puncta while EGOT knockdown reversed the suppression of autophagy. Importantly, RNA‐binding protein, (ELAVL1)/Hu antigen R (HuR) binds and stabilizes the EGOT expression under normoxia and ATG7/16L1 expressions under hypoxia. Furthermore, HuR mediated stabilization of ATG7/16L1 expressions under hypoxia causes a decline in EGOT levels and thereby promotes autophagy. Altogether, the study first reveals the functional interplay of lncRNA EGOT and HuR on the posttranscriptional regulation of the ATG7/16L1 expressions. Thus, the HuR/EGOT/ATG7/16L1 axis is crucial for hypoxia‐induced autophagy in renal tubular cells.
Twitter as a tool for social movement: An analysis of feminist activism on social media communities
Authors: Li Manyu , Turki Nadia , Izaguirre Cassandra R. , DeMahy Chloe , Thibodeaux Brooklyn Labery , Gage Taylor
Published: February 2020

In recent years, social media has been widely used as a tool for feminist social movements, addressing social problems such as sexual assault traumatization. This research aims at understanding how social media users utilized Twitter to describe traumatic sexual assault experiences and reasons victims chose not to disclose their experiences (Study 1), and how users became a part of the digital activism (i.e., social media movement against sexual assault) to increase social actions (Study 2). Tweets using the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport and #MeToo were extracted. Thematic analyses were used to analyze tweets across the two studies. Results from Study 1 revealed that social media victims who self‐disclosed their victimization stories often reported having serious psychological impacts, a sense of helplessness, and issues with the police. Study 2 further uncovered that social media users engaged in hashtag activism through discussing views on relevant political and social issues, sharing resources to help sexual assault victims, and promoting social actions (e.g., protests, voting).
Partial omission of bleomycin for early‐stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with combined modality therapy: Does incomplete ABVD lead to inferior outcomes?
Authors: Gunther Jillian R. , Pinnix Chelsea C. , Glober Gordon R. , Christopherson Kaitlin M. , Fang Penny , Lee Hun Ju , Ahmed Sairah , Steiner Raphael E. , Nair Ranjit , Strati Paolo , Neelapu Sattva S. , Nastoupil Loretta J. , Dabaja Bouthaina S.
Published: February 2020

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients achieve excellent outcomes; therefore, treatment de‐escalation strategies to spare toxicity have been prioritized. In a large randomized trial of early‐stage HL patients, omission of chemotherapeutic agents including bleomycin from the standard ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) regimen was not found to be noninferior; however, the effect of partial omission is unknown. We investigated the effect of bleomycin omission on outcome for 150 early‐stage HL patients. At 8 years, freedom from relapse was 99% for both patients who received complete or incomplete bleomycin, which is reassuring for patients requiring bleomycin omission due to toxicity.
Hind foot drumming: Morphofunctional analysis of the hind limb osteology in three species of African mole‐rats (Bathyergidae)
Authors: Sahd Lauren , Bennett Nigel C. , Kotzé Sanet H.
Published: February 2020

Hind foot drumming is a form of seismic signaling that plays a vital role in the communication of several Bathyergidae species. Hind foot drumming is initiated by the rapid movement of the whole hind limb by flexion and extension of the hip and knee. This study aimed to determine if morphological adaptations of the hind limb osteology were measurable using established morphometric analyses in two drumming (Bathyergus suillus and Georychus capensis) and one non‐drumming (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) African mole‐rat species. Forty‐three linear measurements of the hind limb were taken in 48 limbs (n = 16 limbs per species) and 32 indices were calculated. Mixed model analysis of variance was used to compare the three species and sexes within a species. Thirteen indices had significant differences between species. Eleven indices had significant differences between sexes within a species. Significant differences between the drumming (B. suillus and G. capensis) and the non‐drumming species were observed in three indices. The femoral greater trochanter was relatively shorter in the drumming species compared to the non‐drumming species, which is proposed to allow for increased hip joint mobility, thereby permitting drummers to move their limbs at the rapid speed required to generate seismic signals. Furthermore, the small in‐lever (shorter greater trochanter) may increase the velocity of limb motion. The robust tibias in the drumming species, as indicated by the tibial robustness index, are likely to counter the additional biomechanical load caused by the muscles involved in hind foot drumming. The relatively small hind feet seen in the drumming species allows for reduced limb weight needed for the rapid extension and flexion motion required during hind foot drumming. The significant differences reflected in the hind limb osteological indices between B. suillus and G. capensis and the non‐drumming species are indicative of adaptations for hind foot drumming.
Kinetics of water‐extractable zinc release from seaweed (Fucus serratus) as soil amendment
Authors: Oluwadare David A. , Carney Helen E. , Sarker Mosharraf H. , Ennis Christopher J.
Published: February 2020

Soil fertilization with trace‐metal rich organic fertilizers such as Fucus serratus seaweed may be an effective way to combat micronutrient deficiency. In this study the kinetics of zinc release from Fucus serratus seaweed was investigated in a packed soil column leaching experiment over 1,776 h. The release of zinc from control (soil only) and treatment (soil + seaweed; equivalent zinc application rate of 1.42 kg ha−1) columns, measured by ICP‐MS, demonstrated two distinct release stages. The cumulative zinc release data for each phase were fitted to five kinetic models: zero order, first order, Elovich, power function and parabolic diffusion. In the first stage (0–400 hours) the release of zinc from both control and treatment was best described by a parabolic rate law, indicating release of zinc from a soluble soil reservoir. In the second stage (400–1,776 h) zinc release followed a zero order rate law indicative of slow release from an essentially insoluble reservoir. The modelled difference between the amount of zinc released from treatment and control columns in stage 1 (230 ± 11 µg) represented the total amount of zinc added via seaweed. The parabolic rate constant for seaweed zinc release was 12.09 µg g−1 h−0.5. In summary, the addition of F. serratus to soil is a viable source of labile zinc and a low cost agronomic option for mitigating zinc deficiency in soils.
Supplementation of lamb diets with vitamin E and rosemary extracts on meat quality parameters
Authors: Leal Leonel N , Beltrán José A , Marc Bellés  , Bello José M , den Hartog Leo A , Hendriks Wouter H , Martín‐Tereso Javier
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Supranutritional supplementation of lamb diets with α‐tocopherol is an effective method to reduce lipid oxidation and colour deterioration in meat products. However, alternative antioxidant sources have been proposed to replace the supranutritional vitamin E applications.

RESULTS

Indoor concentrate‐fed Rasa Aragonesa male lambs (n = 480) were supplemented with increasing levels of all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 g kg−1 compound feed), rosemary extract (0.20, 0.40, or 0.80 g kg−1 compound feed), or rosemary extract embedded in a fat matrix (0.20, 0.40, or 0.80 g kg−1 compound feed) for 14 days before slaughter. The longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle from three lambs per pen (18 lambs per treatment) were modified‐atmosphere packaged (70% O2 + 30% CO2) and maintained under retail conditions for 14 days. Supranutritional supplementation with antioxidants had no effect (P > 0.05) on average daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency. Rosemary extract supplementation (with or without fat embedment) had no effect on lipid oxidation, myoglobin forms, or colour stability parameters, regardless of the dose. All vitamin E supplementation levels significantly affected lipid oxidation, colour stability (L*, C*, and h), myoglobin forms, and meat discoloration parameters compared with non‐supplemented lambs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that, unlike vitamin E, neither dose nor protection of the rosemary extract had an effect on lipid oxidation or meat colour stability of lambs during the 14 days of storage under retail conditions. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Modifier genes in SCN1A‐related epilepsy syndromes
Authors: de Lange Iris M. , Mulder Flip , van 't Slot Ruben , Sonsma Anja C. M. , van Kempen Marjan J. A. , Nijman Isaac J. , Ernst Robert F. , Knoers Nine V. A. M. , Brilstra Eva H. , Koeleman Bobby P. C.
Published: February 2020

Background

SCN1A is one of the most important epilepsy‐related genes, with pathogenic variants leading to a range of phenotypes with varying disease severity. Different modifying factors have been hypothesized to influence SCN1A‐related phenotypes. We investigate the presence of rare and more common variants in epilepsy‐related genes as potential modifiers of SCN1A‐related disease severity.

Methods

87 patients with SCN1A‐related epilepsy were investigated. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed by the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI). Functional variants in 422 genes associated with epilepsy and/or neuronal excitability were investigated. Differences in proportions of variants between the epilepsy genes and four control gene sets were calculated, and compared to the proportions of variants in the same genes in the ExAC database.

Results

Statistically significant excesses of variants in epilepsy genes were observed in the complete cohort and in the combined group of mildly and severely affected patients, particularly for variants with minor allele frequencies of <0.05. Patients with extreme phenotypes showed much greater excesses of epilepsy gene variants than patients with intermediate phenotypes.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that relatively common variants in epilepsy genes, which would not necessarily be classified as pathogenic, may play a large role in modulating SCN1A phenotypes. They may modify the phenotypes of both severely and mildly affected patients. Our results may be a first step toward meaningful testing of modifier gene variants in regular diagnostics for individual patients, to provide a better estimation of disease severity for newly diagnosed patients.
A cavity expansion–based solution for interpretation of CPTu data in soils under partially drained conditions
Authors: Mo Pin‐Qiang , Gao Xin‐Wei , Yang Wenbo , Yu Hai‐Sui
Published: February 2020

A cavity expansion–based solution is proposed in this paper for the interpretation of CPTu data under a partially drained condition. Variations of the normalized cone tip resistance, cone factor, and undrained‐drained resistance ratio are examined with different initial specific volume and overconsolidation ratio, based on the exact solutions of both undrained and drained cavity expansion in CASM, which is a unified state parameter model for clay and sand. A drainage index is proposed to represent the partially drained condition, and the critical state after expansion and stress paths of cavity expansion are therefore predicted by estimating a virtual plastic region and assuming a drainage‐index–based mapping technique. The stress paths and distributions of stresses and specific volume are investigated for different values of drainage index, which are also related to the penetration velocity with comparisons of experimental data and numerical results. The subsequent consolidation after penetration is thus predicted with the assumption of constant deviatoric stress during dissipation of the excess pore pressure. Both spherical and cylindrical consolidations are compared for dissipation around the cone tip and the probe shaft, respectively. The effects of overconsolidation ratio on the stress paths and the distributions of excess pore pressure and specific volume are then thoroughly investigated. The proposed solution and the findings would contribute to the interpretation of CPTu tests under a random drained condition, as well as the analysis of pile installation and the subsequent consolidation.
Brain activation patterns of female multiple sclerosis patients with voiding dysfunction
Authors: Khavari Rose , Chen Jessie , Boone Timothy , Karmonik Christof
Published: February 2020

Aims

We compared brain activation patterns between female multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with voiding dysfunction (VD) and those without. We aim to expand current knowledge of supraspinal correlates of voiding initiation within a cohort of female MS patients with and without VD.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐eight ambulatory female MS patients with stable disease and lower urinary tract dysfunction were recruited for this study. Subjects were divided into group 1, without VD (n = 14), and group 2, with VD (n = 14), defined as postvoid residual urine of ≥40% of maximum cystometric capacity or need for self‐catheterization. We recorded brain activity via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with simultaneous urodynamic testing. Average fMRI activation maps (the Student t test) were created for both groups, and areas of significant activation were identified (P < .05). A priori regions of interest (ROIs), identified by prior meta‐analysis to be involved in voiding, were selected.

Results

Group‐averaged blood‐oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) activation maps demonstrated significant differences between groups 1 and 2 during initiation of voiding with group 2 showing significantly lower levels of activation in all ROIs except for the left cerebellum and right cingulate gyrus. Interestingly, group 2 displayed negative BOLD signals, while group 1 displayed positive signals in the right and left pontine micturition center, right periaqueductal gray, left thalamus, and left cingulate gyrus. The activation map of group 1 was similar to healthy controls.

Conclusions

Our results support the hypothesis that distinct supraspinal activation patterns exist between female MS patients with VD and those without.
Optical Investigation of Proton‐Irradiated Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition AlGaN/GaN High‐Electron‐Mobility Transistor Structures
Authors: Freitas Jaime A. , Weaver Bradley D. , Koehler Andrew D. , Gallagher James C. , Anderson Travis J.
Published: February 2020

About 2 MeV proton numerical calculation damage indicates that a quasiflat profile is introduced into the GaN buffer layer of high‐electron‐mobility transistor (HEMT) templates. A previous transport study of such HEMT structures showed increased breakdown voltage and reduced GaN buffer layer leakage after proton irradiation. Hyperspectral electroluminescence measurements detected the emission band in the spectral region between 700 and 800 nm. This emission is assumed to be associated with the generation of trap levels responsible for the device failure. To obtain insights into the nature of radiation‐generated traps, detailed low‐temperature photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) experiments are conducted in a set of virgin and proton‐irradiated device structure templates. Both the PL and CL spectra show large intensity variations of all emission bands, in the spectral range between 330 and 890 nm, with increasing proton dosage. This is consistent with the introduction of compensating and/or nonradiative recombination centers in the GaN buffer layer. Luminescence measurements carried out under various excitation conditions show different recombination rates for emission bands observed near 420 and 550 nm, indicating different free carrier capture rates. Spectral analysis suggests that these two emission bands have different dependences on proton irradiation dosage, consistent with different chemical natures.
Eine kurze Geschichte der Rahmenbrücken in Deutschland
Authors: Pak Daniel , Seidl Günter
Published: February 2020

Stählerne Rahmenbrücken kommen in Deutschland bereits seit Anfang des letzten Jahrhunderts zum Einsatz. Wurden die ersten stählernen Rahmen noch genietet, konnten Anfang der 1940er‐Jahre mit geschweißten, vollwandigen Zweigelenkrahmenbrücken bereits Spannweiten bis 50 m realisiert werden. Mit ihrer Schlankheit kamen sie u. a. dann zum Einsatz, wenn gestiegene Anforderungen an die Verkehrslasten einen Ersatzneubau erforderten. Waren die Lagerungsbedingungen von den zunächst errichteten Zweigelenkrahmenbrücken noch klar definiert, so erforderte der Bau von Brücken mit integralen Widerlagern die Entwicklung neuer Ansätze zur Berücksichtigung der Boden‐Bauwerk‐Interaktion. Heute sind Rahmenbrücken wegen der großen realisierbaren Spannweite, welche den Mittelpfeiler bei Autobahnüberführungen überflüssig macht, sowie ihrer geringen Lebenszykluskosten zu einer wirtschaftlichen Alternative geworden. Die hier vorgestellte kurze Geschichte der Rahmenbrücken erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit, soll jedoch an ausgewählten Beispielen die Entwicklung in den letzten 100 Jahren anschaulich nachzeichnen.
Rock outcrops change infiltrability and water flow behavior in a karst soil
Authors: Zhao Zhimeng , Shen Youxin , Jiang Ruohan , Wang Qinghe
Published: February 2020

Rock outcrops are widespread across the surface of the earth, particularly in karst environments, and they play an important role in infiltration‐runoff processes by triggering preferential flow. However, the characteristics of the preferential flow network at the soil–rock interface and its influencing factors in karst areas remain poorly understood. To clarify how the emergence of outcrops on the land surface affects soil infiltrability and water flow behavior, soil hydraulic conductivity (K) measurements and dye tracing experiments were conducted in a karst area with two contrasting surface features (i.e., rock outcrop plot [RP] and non‐rock‐outcrop plot [NRP]) in Yunnan Province, Southwest China. Results showed that (i) in the immediate vicinity of rock outcrops in the RP, K values were significantly increased, and other soil properties and plants were also improved when compared with results 1 m away from outcrops and in the NRP; and (ii) in the RP, the soil–rock interface dominated the preferential flow network surrounding outcrops, and the connected conduits produced by plant roots and soil fauna were also involved in this infiltration process. Matrix flow was the dominant flow behavior in the NRP. We concluded that rock outcrops, by improving soil properties and building a well‐connected preferential flow network, can greatly change infiltrability and water flow behavior in karst soil. This implied that outcrops will facilitate quick infiltration after most rainfall events and thus reduce rain‐induced surface runoff and soil erosion, as well as increasing groundwater recharge and the water supply to nearby plants.
Model exploration using conditional visualization
Authors: Hurley Catherine B.
Published: February 2020

Ideally, statistical parametric model fitting is followed by various summary tables which show predictor contributions, visualizations which assess model assumptions and goodness of fit, and test statistics which compare models. In contrast, modern machine‐learning fits are usually black box in nature, offer high‐performing predictions but suffer from an interpretability deficit. We examine how the paradigm of conditional visualization can be used to address this, specifically to explain predictor contributions, assess goodness of fit, and compare multiple, competing fits. We compare visualizations from techniques including trellis, condvis, visreg, lime, partial dependence, and ice plots. Our examples use random forest fits, but all techniques presented are model agnostic.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Statistical Graphics and Visualization

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Exploratory Data Analysis

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Modeling Methods
Effective Quantum Field Theory for the Thermodynamical Bethe Ansatz
Authors: Kostov Ivan
Published: February 2020

Abstract

We construct an effective Quantum Field Theory for the wrapping effects in 1+1 dimensional models of factorised scattering. The recently developed graph-theoretical approach to TBA gives the perturbative desctiption of this QFT. For the sake of simplicity we limit ourselves to scattering matrices for a single neutral particle and no bound state poles, such as the sinh-Gordon one. On the other hand, in view of applications to AdS/CFT, we do not assume that the scattering matrix is of difference type. The effective QFT involves both bosonic and fermionic fields and possesses a symmetry which makes it one-loop exact. The corresponding path integral localises to a critical point determined by the TBA equation.
The high covalence of metal-ligand bonds as stability limiting factor: the case of Rh(IX)O4+ and Rh(IX)NO3
Authors: Domański Mateusz A. , Wolański Łukasz , Szarek Paweł , Grochala Wojciech
Published: February 2020

Rhodium, a 4d transition metal and a lighter analogue of iridium, is known to exhibit its highest VIth oxidation state in RhF6 molecule. In this report, the stability and decomposition pathways of two species containing rhodium at a potentially formal +IX oxidation state, [RhO4]+ and RhNO3, have been investigated theoretically within the framework of the relativistic two-component Hamiltonian calculations. Possible rearrangement into isomers featuring lower formal oxidation numbers has been explored. We found that both species studied are metastable with respect to elimination of O2 or NO. However, the local minima containing Rh(IX) are protected by sufficient energy barriers on the decomposition pathway, and they could in principle be prepared. The analysis of a broader set of compounds containing group 8 and 9 metals in high formal oxidation states that correspond to the group number showed that, in contrast to a standard trend, the limits of formally attainable oxidation state correlate with high level of covalent bonding character in the complexes studied.
Implementing Wilderness Medicine Training for Undergraduate Medical Students in the UK
Authors: Schulz Jonathan , Warrington Jake , Maguire Conal , Georgi Thomas , Hearn Russell
Published: February 2020

The UK General Medical Councils’ approved curricula share only 3 topics with the Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine core curriculum, suggesting an underrepresentation of wilderness medicine (WM) in medical education. We developed a 5-mo course to address the gaps between these curricula to run in parallel with the conventional curriculum. Our 71-h course is composed of lectures and practical exercises. We set out to evaluate the effectiveness of this concept and assess its suitability for use by other institutions. The course was undertaken by 18 medicine and healthcare undergraduates. Semiquantitative evaluation of the course was done using participants’ self-reported WM knowledge and interest before and after the course using a Likert scale. Participants were further assessed with a WM objective structured clinical examination. Before the course, students had a lower understanding of WM (2.8/5.0) and were not confident in prehospital medicine (2.5/5.0). After the course, knowledge and confidence increased in all teaching categories, with a mean gain of 1.4/5.0 ( P<0.05). Students demonstrated competence in a range of WM categories by completing the WM objective structured clinical examination, with a pass rate of 82%. Providing students with a WM course is effective in introducing components of the Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine curriculum and inspiring future engagement in the field. We have developed a framework for successful implementation of WM teaching and shown that the concept may be used in other undergraduate settings.
Statistical properties for compositions of standard maps with increasing coefficient
Authors: BLUMENTHAL ALEX
Published: February 2020

The Chirikov standard map is a prototypical example of a one-parameter family of volume-preserving maps for which one anticipates chaotic behavior on a non-negligible (positive-volume) subset of phase space for a large set of parameters. Rigorous analysis is notoriously difficult and it remains an open question whether this chaotic region, the stochastic sea, has positive Lebesgue measure for any parameter value. Here we study a problem of intermediate difficulty: compositions of standard maps with increasing coefficient. When the coefficients increase to infinity at a sufficiently fast polynomial rate, we obtain a strong law, a central limit theorem, and quantitative mixing estimates for Holder observables. The methods used are not specific to the standard map and apply to a class of compositions of ‘prototypical’ two-dimensional maps with hyperbolicity on ‘most’ of phase space.
A Deep Neural Network Model of Global Topside Electron Temperature Using Incoherent Scatter Radars and Its Application to GNSS Radio Occultation
Authors: Hu Andong , Carter Brett , Currie Julie , Norman Robert , Wu Suqin , Zhang Kefei
Published: February 2020

The goal of this study is to present a new model for global topside electron temperature (
) using a deep neural network (DNN) that is trained using measurements from incoherent scatter radars (ISRs). This study is also an investigation into whether this model can be used to generate the electron temperature in the topside ionosphere using GNSS ionospheric radio occultation (GNSS‐IRO) data as the input. ISR is one of the most reliable and long‐term sources to measure topside ionospheric electron density and plasma temperature information simultaneously. However, a drawback of ISR databases is the relatively poor spatial coverage due to the low number of ISR stations around the world. In contrast, GNSS‐IRO can be used to measure the global distributed electron density, but
information is not directly detected. The relationship between the electron density and the electron temperature has been investigated by many researchers, but these studies have not explicitly considered the parameters that are known to influence the electron temperature, such as solar and geomagnetic activity level, and the features of electron density profile (
,
, and scale height). This study uses a DNN technique to create a new global topside electron temperature model from three submodels that have been trained using data from three ISR stations: Arecibo (low latitude), Millstone Hill (midlatitude), and Poker Flat (high latitude). This global model is trained using electron density profile information (e.g., vertical scale height [VSH],
2, and
2) and solar and geomagnetic activity (
and
, respectively) in addition to traditional spatial and temporal variables (e.g., local time, month, and latitude) as the independent variables. After the
model is developed,
information can be generated from the GNSS‐IRO electron density profiles using a newly created
model. This model's outputs are assessed with regard to out‐of‐sample ISR data and compared to the latest International Reference Ionosphere model. It is found that the electron temperature profiles from the DNN have a root‐mean‐square deviation of 259 K in the low‐latitude region (i.e., against Arecibo data), 254 K in the midlatitude region (i.e., against Millstone Hill data), and 314 K in high‐latitude region (i.e., against Poker Flat data), and all of them are smaller than the root‐mean‐square deviation from International Reference Ionosphere. An additional comparison between the model results versus the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model outputs is also conducted. A statistical analysis of the diurnal electron temperature profiles obtained from GNSS‐IRO is shown to agree with the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model outputs. The full codes and outputs can be found at the Zenodo (10.5281/zenodo.3637617).
Modes of (FACs) Variability and Their Hemispheric Asymmetry Revealed by Inverse and Assimilative Analysis of Iridium Magnetometer Data
Authors: Shi Yining , Knipp Delores J. , Matsuo Tomoko , Kilcommons Liam , Anderson Brian
Published: February 2020

We determine the primary modes of field‐aligned current (FAC) variability and their hemispheric asymmetry by nonlinear regression analysis of a multiyear global data set of Iridium constellation engineering‐grade magnetometer data from the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment program. The spatial and temporal FAC variability associated with three major categories of solar wind drivers, (1) slow flow, (2) high‐speed streams (HSS), (3) transient flow related to coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and (4) a combination of these, is characterized as empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) and their time‐varying amplitude. For the combined solar wind category, the order of the modes of variability are strengthening/weakening of (1) EOF1—all FACs; (2) EOF2—Region 2 (R2) FACs; and (3) EOF3—dayside/nightside FACs. The first two EOFs are associated with solar wind coupling; EOF3 is associated with the ecliptic components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We also find hemispheric asymmetry in FACs. Northern Hemisphere EOFs show clearer spatial features and higher correlation coefficients with solar wind drivers. The Northern Hemisphere also shows higher correlation coefficients in all seasons except winter. We find transient flow EOFs to be better correlated with solar wind drivers such as IMF Bz and coupling functions, while HSS EOFs are better correlated with solar wind plasma parameters. CME‐related transient flow EOFs also show R2 FAC variabilities that are not found in other separate wind drivers. Application of the EOF analysis to the Iridium magnetometer data shows significant promise for greater understanding of geoeffectiveness of solar wind interactions with geospace.