bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of modifiable risk factors and relation to stroke and death in patients with atrial fibrillation: A report from the China atrial fibrillation registry study
Authors: Jiang Chao , Lan Di‐Hui , Du Xin , Geng Yan‐Ping , Chang San‐Shuai , Zheng Danni , Chen Jin‐Bo , Yu Rong‐Hui , Sang Cai‐Hua , Long De‐Yong , Tang Ri‐Bo , Zhou Ying‐Chun , Min Yan , Lu Yuan , Dong Jian‐Zeng , Lip Gregory Y.H. , Ma Chang‐Sheng
Published: October 2019

Background

Lifestyle and risk factor management may improve outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aim to evaluate the prevalence of modifiable risk factors and how these factors impact clinical outcomes in patients with AF.

Methods and Results

Data on 17 898 AF cohort patients with AF enrolled between 2011 and 2016 was analyzed. A healthy lifestyle was defined as not smoking, not drinking, a healthy body mass index (BMI), untreated total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL, untreated blood pressure (BP) less than 120/80 mm Hg, and untreated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) less than 100 mg/dL. The association between risk factors and risk of the composite endpoint of all‐cause mortality and nonfatal ischemic stroke were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression model. Only 4.0% of patients achieved a healthy lifestyle. In multivariate analysis, current smoking, a low BMI, not well‐controlled FPG were independently and significantly associated with higher risk of all‐cause mortality and nonfatal ischemic stroke, with corresponding hazard ratio (HR) estimates 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00‐1.47), HR = 1.72 (95% CI, 1.34‐2.20), and HR = 1.25 (95% CI, 1.06‐1.46), respectively. High BP was also associated with higher risk with the outcomes (HR = 1.15, 95% CI, 1.00‐1.34). Compared with patients with no risk factor, those who failed to maintained or achieved optimal risk factor control had a progressively higher risk of death and nonfatal ischemic stroke (HR for 1 risk factor = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.07‐1.92; and more than 2 risk factors =  1.75; 95% CI, 0.99‐3.09).

Conclusions

Maintenance of well‐controlled risk factors may substantially lower the risk of death and ischemic stroke in patients with AF.
Histamine deficiency delays ischaemic skeletal muscle regeneration via inducing aberrant inflammatory responses and repressing myoblast proliferation
Authors: Abudupataer Mieradilijiang , Zou Weihong , Zhang Weiwei , Ding Suling , Zhou Zheliang , Chen Jinmiao , Li Hui , Zhang Zhiwei , Wang Chunsheng , Ge Junbo , Hong Tao , Yang Xiangdong
Published: October 2019

Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) catalyses the formation of histamine from L‐histidine. Histamine is a biogenic amine involved in many physiological and pathological processes, but its role in the regeneration of skeletal muscles has not been thoroughly clarified. Here, using a murine model of hindlimb ischaemia, we show that histamine deficiency in Hdc knockout (Hdc−/−) mice significantly reduces blood perfusion and impairs muscle regeneration. Using Hdc‐EGFP transgenic mice, we demonstrate that HDC is expressed predominately in CD11b+Gr‐1+ myeloid cells but not in skeletal muscles and endothelial cells. Large amounts of HDC‐expressing CD11b+ myeloid cells are rapidly recruited to injured and inflamed muscles. Hdc−/− enhances inflammatory responses and inhibits macrophage differentiation. Mechanically, we demonstrate that histamine deficiency decreases IGF‐1 (insulin‐like growth factor 1) levels and diminishes myoblast proliferation via H3R/PI3K/AKT‐dependent signalling. These results indicate a novel role for HDC‐expressing CD11b+ myeloid cells and histamine in myoblast proliferation and skeletal muscle regeneration.
Effects of secukinumab on metabolic and liver parameters in plaque psoriasis patients
Authors: Gerdes S. , Pinter A. , Papavassilis C. , Reinhardt M.
Published: October 2019

Background

Psoriasis is associated with metabolic, liver and cardiovascular comorbidity. Secukinumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively neutralizes interleukin‐17A, has shown significant and sustained efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.

Objectives

This was an exploratory post hoc analysis of pooled data from three phase 3 studies in plaque psoriasis patient populations. The objective was to show the course of metabolic and liver parameters under secukinumab, etanercept or placebo treatment over time. A further objective was to assess the impact of selected comorbidities and metabolic characteristics on high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), as a surrogate marker of systemic inflammation.

Methods

Data from the phase 3 randomized controlled trials [FIXTURE (NCT01358578), ERASURE (NCT01365455) and SCULPTURE (NCT01406938); n = 3010] were included in this analysis. Patients were treated with secukinumab 150 mg or 300 mg, placebo or etanercept 50 mg (FIXTURE only) as active comparator. A set of metabolic and liver parameters was longitudinally assessed over 52 weeks. Multivariate regression analyses assessed the impact of selected comorbidities and metabolic characteristics on hs‐CRP levels at baseline and under treatment.

Results

Secukinumab treatment reduced hs‐CRP levels. Body weight and uric acid levels tended to decrease over 52 weeks with secukinumab. Secukinumab showed a neutral effect on fasting plasma glucose, lipid parameters and liver enzymes. Psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome, obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, and hyperuricemia were each associated with increased hs‐CRP levels at baseline. Concomitant obesity attenuated the decline in hs‐CRP under treatment.

Conclusions

These analyses suggest neutral to favourable long‐term trends in metabolic and liver parameters under secukinumab treatment. Metabolic comorbidities were associated with increased hs‐CRP levels, reflecting the role of systemic inflammatory processes in their pathophysiology.
A new revised Graded Naming Test and new normative data including older adults (80–97 years)
Authors: Murphy Patrick , Chan Edgar , Mo Stella , Cipolotti Lisa
Published: October 2019

The Graded Naming Test (GNT) is commonly used in clinical and research settings to assess nominal functions. However, normative data for the GNT is over 20 years old and norms for the older adult population are rather limited. Hence, confounding factors such as generational familiarity due to cultural changes need to be considered when applying the currently available norms. Moreover, normative data for the older population (80–97) are virtually absent. Such factors can be powerful confounds that can lead to incorrect interpretation of test scores. We gathered data for the GNT from 326 healthy controls aged between 18 and 97 years. Surprisingly, we found no decline in performance for older adults, even for the cohort aged 80–97 years (N = 40). In contrast, the youngest cohort (aged 18–29 years) performed unexpectedly below the whole sample mean. An item‐by‐item analysis revealed that five test items were unfamiliar to the youngest age cohort. To account for this generational familiarity effect, we created a revised 25‐item GNT. The performance of the youngest cohort on the 25‐item GNT was no longer below the whole sample mean. The performance of the oldest cohort (80–97 years old) on the revised GNT was characterized by a significant decline in performance for the oldest cohort with an average NART IQ. By contrast, those with a NART IQ above the average range did not show a decline. This suggests that factors such cognitive reserve arrested the decline in performance in the oldest age cohort with higher premorbid IQ.
Sexual Experimentation in Heterosexual, Bisexual, Lesbian/Gay, and Questioning Adolescents From Ages 11 to 15
Authors: Li Gu , Davis Jacqueline T. M.
Published: October 2019

To examine adolescent sexuality development, we analyzed data from a British cohort study (N = 5,070), which assessed the same 12–14 sexual activities at ages 11, 12, 13, and 15, and sexual orientation identity at age 15. The sexual activities ranged from low (e.g., cuddling), moderate (e.g., kissing), to high (e.g., sexual intercourse) intensity. We found that most adolescents having sexual activities of low‐to‐moderate intensity with same‐sex individuals also had them with other‐sex individuals, and adolescents having other‐sex contacts of low intensity often reported them nonexclusively. Furthermore, other‐sex and same‐sex sexual activities did not reliably distinguish between sexual orientation identities. Sex differences in these phenomena were absent or small. These findings suggest that many adolescents have low‐intensity nonexclusive sexual behaviors.
Impact of Fathers' Support on Marital Satisfaction and Caregiving Strain: Viewpoints of Mothers of Persons With Intellectual Disability in Hong Kong
Authors: Leung Phil Wai Shun
Published: October 2019

Fathers' support is crucial to relieve mothers' strain as caregivers for persons with intellectual disability (PIDs), but its amount and effectiveness are unknown in Chinese families given the traditional parenting roles. This study aimed to investigate the amount of fathers' support and how it could influence mothers' caregiving strain and marital satisfaction from mothers' perspective. With a cross sectional design, this survey recruited mothers of persons with intellectual disability in Hong Kong through convenient sampling. A total of 154 mothers were recruited. 61.1% of participating mothers reported to receive less than 1 h of support from fathers in their caring work per day. The commonest type of support provided by fathers was help in managing PIDs' misbehaviors (47.7%), followed by providing training to PIDs (45.4%). Higher marital satisfaction was associated with more than 1 h of support per day and higher parenting alliance, as well as the presence of support in training, playing, and managing misbehaviors. In contrast, higher caregiving strain was to a greater extent related to the characteristics of persons with intellectual disability, namely the presence of autism diagnosis, inadequate self‐care abilities, and with challenging behaviors. Surprisingly, caregiving strain was not related to the amount of support mothers received. Fathers' assistance in self‐care and escort were both associated with lower caregiving strain, but the former was the least reported by mothers (22.5%). General linear model analyses suggested that higher parenting alliance was significantly associated with marital satisfaction after controlling other measured variables; while inadequate self‐care abilities and presence of challenging behaviors remained as significant predictors to higher caregiving strain. From mothers' perspective, fathers' support in their caring work was crucial. The findings provide important implications on how to maximize the effectiveness of support to promote higher marital satisfaction and lower caregiving strain among mothers.
Dermatomycoses in the Israeli defense forces—Epidemiological and clinical aspects
Authors: Ravid Armon , Michael Frenkel , Daniel Cohen , Esther Segal
Published: October 2019

Dermatomycoses, involving skin, hair and nail infections, are among the most frequent human infections with global distribution and may have a public health and economic impact. The causative agents include Dermatophytes, Candida, Malassezia and non‐Dermatophyte moulds. High morbidity may be associated with certain variables: age, gender, occupation—such as farming or military service, and climate or environmental conditions. The objectives of the present study included: (a). Assessment of epidemiological aspects of dermatomycoses in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). (b). Antifungal drug susceptibility of fungi isolated in culture from soldiers. (a) Epidemiological assessment: data based on IDF's medical registry during the period 2009‐2013 on 10 831 male and female soldiers (8164 and 2667, respectively), of which 2589 were combat soldiers. (b) Susceptibility tests: to ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine and griseofulvin of ~ 100 Dermatophyte and Candida isolates, using E test and/or disc diffusion assays. (c) Statistical analysis: logistic regression, chi‐square and ANOVA. (a) Incidence in male soldiers higher than in female soldiers (35% vs. 28%). (b) Incidence in combat soldiers higher than in non‐combat soldiers (39% vs 32%). (c) The major site of involvement—nails. (d) Infections peaked during summer months. (e) Dermatophytes constitute close to 90% of the aetiological agents (87% and 86%). (f) Trichophyton rubrum the dominant species. (g) terbinafine was the most active antifungal drug. The most significant conclusion of relevance of this study is the finding of higher morbidity rate among combat soldiers, as this may affect the activity of this group.
Updating Thought Theory: Emotion and the Non‐Paradox of Fiction
Authors: Adair Heather V.
Published: October 2019

Over the past four decades, the paradox of fiction has sparked considerable debate among philosophers. Unfortunately, the most promising solution to this puzzle, thought theory, currently earns its plausibility by way of intuition rather than evidence. I aim to address this by updating thought theory in light of recent empirical findings on affect. I will draw upon a wide range of scientific research—on the cognitive mechanisms driving emotion, the role of affect in counterfactual mind wandering and prospection, and the evolutionary function of affect—to substantiate the claim that fictions can give rise to both real and rational emotional states.
The Federal Antideficiency Act at 150—Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Candreva Philip J.
Published: October 2019

The Antideficiency Act of 1870 codified Congress's power of the purse to curb unauthorized agency spending. Is it still working? This paper analyzes all violations of the Act over 12 years by agency and type, causes and consequences, and how violations were detected. The number of violations has trended down slightly. While agency preventive controls have failed, detective controls are working. Employees and agencies are comfortable self‐reporting violations, which are neither pervasive nor material. The risk of violations increases during fiscal year transitions and periods of change. The Act remains effective at stopping unauthorized and overspending, but does not address wasteful spending.
Community transition at younger ages contributes to good cognitive function outcomes in long‐term hospitalized patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder: A 15‐year follow‐up study with group‐based trajectory modeling
Authors: Kida Hisashi , Niimura Hidehito , Nemoto Takahiro , Ryu Yonosuke , Sakuma Kei , Mimura Masaru , Mizuno Masafumi
Published: October 2019

Aim

Cognitive dysfunction is a core symptom of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, but the reported long‐term cognitive outcomes are heterogeneous. This study aimed to elucidate the long‐term trajectories of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder who transitioned to community dwelling with integrated care, and to identify predictors of successful community reintegration.

Methods

After the closure of a psychiatric hospital, 78 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (mean age: 54.6 years) were transferred to the community. We assessed patients' cognitive function over 15 years with the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and analyzed the scores every 3 years. Forty‐four patients completed all assessments.

Results

The mean MMSE score at discharge was 25.8, which changed to 26.8 after 3 years and 25.3 after 6 years. After 12 and 15 years, it had decreased significantly to 23.3 and 23.0, respectively. Group‐based trajectory modeling identified two groups of patients: a ‘poor‐outcome’ group (63.4%), showing a decline in scores after maintaining post‐discharge levels for several years, and a ‘good‐outcome’ group (36.6%), maintaining post‐discharge scores after showing improved scores.

Conclusion

Considering the significant difference in age between the aforementioned groups (P = 0.040), we suggest that community transitions at younger ages contribute to better cognitive function and adaptation to community life. Even middle‐aged and elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia spectrum disorder showed improved or maintained cognitive function at least 3 years after discharge, and the good‐outcome group maintained cognitive function over 15 years. Improvements were dominated primarily by age at discharge, with cognitive function being maintained longer in patients in the good‐outcome group.
Transient and sustained effects of dopamine and serotonin signaling in motivation‐related behavior
Authors: Yagishita Sho
Published: October 2019

Pharmacological studies of antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics have suggested a role of dopamine and serotonin signaling in depression. However, depressive symptoms and treatment effects are difficult to explain based simply on brain‐wide decrease or increase in the concentrations of these molecules. Recent animal studies using advanced neuronal manipulation and observation techniques have revealed detailed dopamine and serotonin dynamics that regulate diverse aspects of motivation‐related behavior. Dopamine and serotonin transiently modulate moment‐to‐moment behavior at timescales ranging from sub‐second to minutes and also produce persistent effects, such as reward‐related learning and stress responses that last longer than several days. Transient and sustained effects often exhibit specific roles depending on the projection sites, where distinct synaptic and cellular mechanisms are required to process the neurotransmitters for each transient and sustained timescale. Therefore, it appears that specific aspects of motivation‐related behavior are regulated by distinct synaptic and cellular mechanisms in specific brain regions that underlie the transient and sustained effects of dopamine and serotonin signaling. Recent clinical studies have implied that subjects with depressive symptoms show impaired transient and sustained signaling functions; moreover, they exhibit heterogeneity in depressive symptoms and neuronal dysfunction. Depressive symptoms may be explained by the dysfunction of each transient and sustained signaling mechanism, and distinct patterns of impairment in the relevant mechanisms may explain the heterogeneity of symptoms. Thus, detailed understanding of dopamine and serotonin signaling may provide new insight into depressive symptoms.
Reinstatement of Myelophycus caespitosus (Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyceae) from Japan
Authors: Hanyuda Takeaki , Aoki Saya , Kawai Hiroshi
Published: October 2019

Reinstatement of Myelophycus caespitosus Kjellman (Ectocarpales s.l., Phaeophyceae) described from western Japan is proposed based on the comparisons of DNA sequences of Japanese Myelophycus specimens, the type specimen of Chordaria simplex and lectotypified specimen of Myelophycus caespitosus. In the genetic analyses using mitochondrial cox1 and cox3, chloroplast atpB, psbA and rbcL DNA sequences, the specimens morphologically referable to M. simplex formed two distinct clades (clade‐1 and clade‐2) supported by high statistical values. Clade‐1 was distributed on the western coast of Japan (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu) from the Kii Peninsula to Tsushima and the Pacific coast of Aomori, northeastern Honshu, and clade‐2 on the Pacific coast of central Honshu from Sanriku to the Kii Peninsula. Based on the cox3 DNA sequences and the location of the type locality at Shimoda, Izu Peninsula, clade‐2 was concluded to correspond to true M. simplex. There were no recognizable differences in the representative morphological features (height and diameter of sporophytes and gametophytes, number of cells comprising cortical, subcortical and medullary layers, thickness of plurilocular gametangia, or length and diameter of unilocular zoidangia) between the specimens included in the two taxa. Analyses of the specimens of the two taxa, including sympatric populations on the Kii Peninsula, using a nuclear genetic marker ocm3 did not suggest any genetic exchanges between the two taxa. On the other hand, cox3 gene sequence of the voucher specimen of Myelophycus caespitosus collected from Goto, Kyushu, western Japan housed in the UPS herbarium was included in clade‐1. In conclusion, we propose the reinstatement of M. caespitosus and to lectotypify the specimen in UPS. Korean Myelophycus specimens reported from Cheju Island and Wando were considered to belong to M. caespitosus based on the reported rbcL sequences.
Changes in soil properties and resistance to concentrated flow across a 25‐year passive restoration chronosequence of grasslands on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Guo Ming‐Ming , Wang Wen‐Long , Kang Hong‐Liang , Yang Bo , Li Jian‐Ming
Published: October 2019

Revegetation represents an effective measure for preventing soil erosion on the Loess Plateau. However, the effects of revegetation‐induced changes in soil and root properties on soil resistance to concentrated flow erosion (SRC) remain unclear. This study sampled soils and roots across a 25‐year chronosequence from farmland to grasslands of different ages (3, 7, 10, 18, and 25 years) to quantify variations in soil and root properties (soil bulk density, SBD; soil disintegration rate, SDR; saturated hydraulic conductivity, SHC; organic matter content, OMC; water‐stable aggregate, WSA; mean weight diameter, MWD; root mass density, RMD; root length density, RLD; and root surface area density, RSAD) and their effects on SRC. Farmland and grassland SRCs were obtained using a hydraulic flume. Soil properties and root density gradually improved with restoration time. In terms of the comprehensive soil property index calculated via principal component analysis, grassland values were 0.66 to 1.94 times greater than farmland values. Grassland SRCs increased and gradually stabilized (>18 years) over time and were 1.60 to 8.26 times greater than farmland SRC. SRC improvement was significantly related to increases in OMC, SHC, WSA, and MWD and decreases in SBD and SDR over time. SRC was effectively simulated by the Hill curve of RMD, RLD, and RSAD. SDR, SHC, and RMD (0.5–1.0 mm) affected SRC the most. This study scientifically describes how revegetation improves soil quality and soil resistance to flow erosion, and suggests that vegetations rich in 0.5–1.0 mm roots should be preferred during revegetation.
The Shale Boom and Family Structure: Oil and Gas Employment Growth Relationship to Marriage, Divorce, and Cohabitation
Authors: Shepard Michael , Betz Michael , Snyder Anastasia
Published: October 2019

Shale oil and gas extraction technology has caused a large shift in the United States' energy landscape over the last decade. This had a wide range of impacts on rural communities mostly in which oil and gas extraction occurs. While many studies have focused on the economic and environmental impact of shale development, researchers have only begun to study the social changes brought on by the shale resource extraction. We examine the influence of shale oil and gas employment as a share of overall county employment on county marriage, divorce, and cohabitation rates. We find evidence that oil and gas employment growth is associated with decreased marriage rates and increased divorce rates from 2009 to 2014. We test several channels through which oil and gas development may influence marriage behaviors and find that changes in female labor force participation, county sex ratios, and median household incomes are associated with oil and gas development. We also test for differences across the rural/urban continuum and find that our results are largely driven by nonmetro counties.
Safe use of electrosurgery in gynaecological laparoscopic surgery
Authors: El‐Sayed Mohsen , Mohamed Sahar , Saridogan Ertan
Published: October 2019

Key content

It is crucial to understand the basics of electrosurgery to deliver safe and effective laparoscopic surgery.

Electrosurgical tissue effects include vaporisation, desiccation and coagulation, which help to achieve cutting, dissection, ablation and haemostasis during surgery.

Electrosurgery is delivered through monopolar and bipolar instruments.

Surgeons can avoid complications of electrosurgery by understanding the mechanisms underlying them.

Establishment of a formal training programme in surgical energy is needed for surgeons and theatre staff to provide safe laparoscopic surgery.

Learning objectives

To understand the applied physics of electrosurgery.

To describe the various electrosurgical tissue effects and the variables controlling them.

To identify the differences between monopolar and bipolar instruments.

To know the mechanisms of various electrosurgical complications and safety measures to avoid them.

Ethical issues

Is it ethical to use energy devices in laparoscopic surgery with little or no formal training about their appropriate use and safety?

Do surgeons need to know about all energy devices they use in operating theatres?

Should all allied healthcare professionals working in operating theatres undergo formal training on the use of electrosurgery?
Using biologically based objectives to optimize boost intensity‐modulated radiation therapy planning for brainstem tumors in dogs
Authors: Meier Valeria , Besserer Jürgen , Rohrer Bley Carla
Published: October 2019

Irradiated brain tumors commonly progress at the primary site, generating interest in focal dose escalation. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to use biological optimization objectives for a modeling exercise with simultaneously‐integrated boost IMRT (SIB‐IMRT) to generate a dose‐escalated protocol with acceptable late radiation toxicity risk estimate and improve tumor control for brainstem tumors in dogs safely. We re‐planned 20 dog brainstem tumor datasets with SIB‐IMRT, prescribing 20 × 2.81 Gy to the gross tumor volume (GTV) and 20 × 2.5 Gy to the planning target volume. During the optimization process, we used biologically equivalent generalized equivalent uniform doses (gEUD) as planning aids. These were derived from human data, calculated to adhere to normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) ≤5%, and converted to the herein used fractionation schedule. We extracted the absolute organ at risk dose‐volume histograms to calculate NTCP of each individual plan. For planning optimization, gEUD(a = 4) = 39.8 Gy for brain and gEUD(a = 6.3) = 43.8 Gy for brainstem were applied. Mean brain NTCP was low with 0.43% (SD ±0.49%, range 0.01‐2.04%); mean brainstem NTCP was higher with 7.18% (SD ±4.29%, range 2.87‐20.72%). Nevertheless, NTCP of < 10% in brainstem was achievable in 80% (16/20) of dogs. Spearman's correlation between relative GTV and NTCP was high (ρ = 0.798,P < .001), emphasizing increased risk with relative size even with subvolume‐boost. Including biologically based gEUD values into optimization allowed estimating NTCP during the planning process. In conclusion, gEUD‐based SIB‐IMRT planning resulted in dose‐escalated treatment plans with acceptable risk estimate of NTCP < 10% in the majority of dogs with brainstem tumors. Risk was correlated with relative tumor size.
Computational Modeling of Coupled Free and Porous Media Flow for Membrane-based Filtration Systems: A Review
Authors: Parasyris Antonios , Brady Christopher , Das Diganta Bhusan , Discacciati Marco
Published: October 2019

We review different mathematical models proposed in literature to describe fluid-dynamic aspects in membrane-based water filtration systems. Firstly, we discuss the societal impact of water filtration, especially in the context of developing countries under emergency situations, and then review the basic concepts of membrane science that are necessary for a mathematical description of a filtration system. Secondly, we categorize the mathematical models available in the literature as (a) microscopic, if the pore-scale geometry of the membrane is accounted for; (b) reduced, if the membrane is treated as a geometrically lower-dimensional entity due to its small thickness compared to the free flow domain; (c) mesoscopic, if the characteristic geometrical dimension of the free flow domain and the porous domain is the same, and a multi-physics problem involving both incompressible fluid flow and porous media flow is considered. Implementation aspects of mesoscopic models in CFD software are also discussed with the help of relevant examples.
Prediction of Poststorage Cardiac Function From Cardioplegic Effluent in an Ex Vivo Porcine Heart Model
Authors: Kappler Benjamin , van Tuijl Sjoerd , van Laar Teus J. , Pabittei Dara R. , Buijsrogge Marc P. , Stijnen Marco , de Mol Bas A. J. M.
Published: October 2019

The use of slaughterhouse-based hearts has advantages over hearts obtained from laboratory animals for preclinical testing. However, slaughterhouse hearts have greater variability in cardiac function; this has resulted in a dispute over their actual reproducibility. This study explores the feasibility of examining the cardioplegic effluent during hypothermic cardiac arrest for the presence of biomarkers to predict poststorage heart function of slaughterhouse hearts. This may enable proactive measures to optimize preservation strategies and improve the initial cardiac performance of slaughterhouse heart experiments. Slaughterhouse pig hearts (n = 9; 420 ± 30 g) were arrested and flushed with an additional liter cardioplegia after 1 h. Effluent samples were examined for ammonia, lactate, troponin, and inorganic phosphate. After 2 h, hearts were hemoreperfused in the ex vivo heart platform PhysioHeart™ to restore physiological cardiac functions and to identify correlations between biomarkers and cardiac output. There was a negative correlation between cardiac output of revived hearts and levels of ammonia (r = −0.865; p = 0.002) and lactate (r = −0.763; p = 0.01). No correlation was found between cardiac output and levels of phosphate (r = −0.553; p = 0.12) and troponin (r = −0.367; p = 0.331). The analysis approach to assess cardioplegic biomarkers was feasible and enabled the estimation of the effectiveness of organ protection and cardiac function before reperfusion. Ammonia is a predictor for cardiac dysfunction. Effluent analysis prior to heart revival can uncover poststorage cardiac dysfunction in isolated hearts and may prevent failed experiments while improving reproducibility and standardization.
Investigating Force-Feedback in Mid-Air Sketching of Multi-Planar Three-Dimensional Curve-Soups
Authors: Mohanty Ronak R. , Castillo Ricardo M. , Ragan Eric D. , Krishnamurthy Vinayak R.
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we report on our investigation of haptics-enabled mid-air interactions for sketching three-dimensional (3D) curve-soups—collections of three-dimensional multi-planar curves. We study pen-based mid-air interactions for free-form curve input from the perspective of manual labor, controllability, and kinesthetic feedback. We specifically study the role of kinesthetic feedback for two aspects of mid-air sketching, namely, drawing curves on planar surfaces and spatial rotation of 3D curve-soups. For this, we implemented a simple haptics-enabled workflow for users to draw and compose collections of planar curves on a force-enabled virtual canvas. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of our study-tasks show that there is a rich interaction design space of kinesthetic feedback methods for mid-air sketching beyond physically currently prevalent models.
Evaluating the Accuracy of RANS Wind Flow Modeling Over Forested Terrain. Part 2: Impact on Capacity Factor for Moderately Complex Topography
Authors: Morales Garza Viridiana G. , Sumner Jonathon , Nathan Jörn , Masson Christian
Published: October 2019

This study evaluates the uncertainty in speed-up factors predicted using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations to model flow over moderately complex forested terrain and considers its effect on the uncertainty in wind energy calculations. All simulations are solved using the open-source software openfoam v.2.4.0 with a modified k–ε turbulence closure. The forest drag effect is calculated with two models: a displacement height model and a canopy model that estimates the pressure loss due to the forest through analogy with porous media. Two years of concurrent wind data from three meteorological masts at a potential wind farm site in Canada are used for validation purposes. In all, these experimental data are compared with the predictions of four wind flow models: (A) a terrain only model, (B) a displacement height model, (C) a uniform forest canopy model, and (D) a non-uniform forest canopy model. Overall, the canopy models provide better agreement with the mean statistical results than the displacement height model. In this case, the 2.76% uncertainty in the speed-up factor associated with the wind flow predictions of the non-uniform forest distribution model leads to an uncertainty in the energy calculation of just 5.94%.
The relationship between epicardial adipose tissue and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Petra Cristian Vasile , Albu Ariana , Pamfil Cristina , Tamas Maria Magdalena , Vesa Stefan Cristian , Rednic Simona
Published: October 2019

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and arterial stiffness (AS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), considering cardiovascular risk factors and disease characteristics.Material and methods: A total of 84 RA patients were included in this cross-sectional study. EAT and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were measured ultrasonographically while aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), the main AS parameter, was determined using an oscillometric device.Results: Mean duration of RA was 12±9.5 years and disease activity score was 4.3±1.4, as assessed by Disease Activity Score-28 using C-reactive protein (DAS-28 CRP). The correlation analysis displayed a significant positive correlation between cIMT, aPWV and EAT (r= 0.037, p<0.001; r= 0.338, p=0.002 and r= 0.317, p=0.003). When a cutoff value of aPWV ≥10 m/s was established, patients with increased aPWV had significantly higher body mass index (p=0.04), waist circumference (p=0.01), triglycerides (p=0.04), EAT (p<0.001), hypertension (p=0.03) and marginally C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that hypertension (p=0.033), increased CRP (p=0.016) and EAT (p=0.005) are the only independent predictors for increased aPWV.Conclusions: Our study found that increased AS independently correlated with EAT in patients with RA. Although the evaluation of these two parameters awaits further evidence to be included in the risk algorithms for CVD prevention, their role in patients with inflammatory diseases may be even more significant than in the general population.
Genetic regulatory variation in populations informs transcriptome analysis in rare disease
Authors: Mohammadi Pejman , Castel Stephane E. , Cummings Beryl B. , Einson Jonah , Sousa Christina , Hoffman Paul , Donkervoort Sandra , Jiang Zhuoxun , Mohassel Payam , Foley A. Reghan , Wheeler Heather E. , Im Hae Kyung , Bonnemann Carsten G. , MacArthur Daniel G. , Lappalainen Tuuli
Published: October 2019

A statistical model to find disease genes

Genetic variation is high among individuals, which makes it difficult to identify any one specific pathogenetic variant in patients with idiopathic disease, especially those that are in noncoding regions of the genome. Examining tissue-specific and population-level RNA sequencing data, Mohammadi
et al.
developed a statistical test, analysis of expression variation (ANEVA), that can quantify how one individual's gene expression fits in the context of the variation within the general population. By applying ANEVA to a dosage outlier test, the authors identified pathogenic gene transcripts in patients with Mendelian muscle dystrophy.

Science
, this issue p.
351
Conjugative Transfer of IncP-9 Catabolic Plasmids Requires a Previously Uncharacterized Gene,
mpfK
, Whose Homologs Are Conserved in Various MPF
T
-Type Plasmids
Authors: Kishida Kouhei , Nonoyama Shouta , Lukas Tim , Kawahara Shotaro , Kudo Koji , Nagata Yuji , Ohtsubo Yoshiyuki , Tsuda Masataka
Published: October 2019

IncP-9 plasmids are important mobile genetic elements for the degradation of various aromatic hydrocarbons. Elucidation of conjugative transfer of such plasmids is expected to greatly contribute to our understanding of its role in the bioremediation of polluted environments. The present study mainly focused on the conjugation system of NAH7, a well-studied and naphthalene-catabolic IncP-9 plasmid. Our analysis showed that the NAH7 conjugation system uniquely requires, in addition to the conserved components of the type IV secretion system (T4SS), a previously uncharacterized periplasmic protein, MpfK, for successful conjugation. Our findings collectively revealed a unique type of T4SS-associated conjugation system in the IncP-9 plasmids.
Klebsiella pneumoniae Expressing VIM-1 Metallo-β-Lactamase Is Resensitized to Cefotaxime via Thiol-Mediated Zinc Chelation
Authors: Karadottir Harpa , Coorens Maarten , Liu Zhihai , Wang Yang , Agerberth Birgitta , Giske Christian G. , Bergman Peter
Published: October 2019

Antibiotic-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates constitute a great clinical challenge. One important resistance mechanism in
K. pneumoniae
is the metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), which require zinc for their function. Thus, zinc chelation could be a strategy to resensitize
K. pneumoniae
to β-lactams. However, the potential role for endogenous zinc chelators for this purpose remains to be explored.
Human Enteric Defensin 5 PromotesShigellaInfection of Macrophages
Authors: Xu Dan , Liao Chongbing , Xiao Jiu , Fang Kun , Zhang Wei , Yuan Weirong , Lu Wuyuan
Published: October 2019

Human α-defensins are 3- to 5-kDa disulfide-bridged peptides with a multitude of antimicrobial activities and immunomodulatory functions. Recent studies show that human enteric α-defensin 5 (HD5), a host defense peptide important for intestinal homeostasis and innate immunity, aids the highly infectious enteropathogenShigellain breaching the intestinal epitheliumin vitroandin vivo.
Rojiroti microfinance and child nutrition: a cluster randomised trial
Authors: Ojha Shalini , Szatkowski Lisa , Sinha Ranjeet , Yaron Gil , Fogarty Andrew , Allen Stephen John , Choudhary Sunil , Smyth Alan Robert
Published: October 2019

Objective

To determine whether Rojiroti microfinance, for poor Indian women, improves child nutrition.

Design

Cluster randomised trial.

Setting

Tolas (village communities) in Bihar State.

Participants

Women and children under 5 years.

Interventions

With Rojiroti microfinance, women form self-help groups and save their money to provide loans to group members. After 6 months, they receive larger external loans. Tolas were randomised to receive Rojiroti immediately or after 18 months.

Outcome measures

The primary analysis compared the mean weight for height Z score (WHZ) of children under 5 years in the intervention versus control tolas who attended for weight and height measurement 18 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes were weight for age Z score (WAZ), height for age Z score, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), wasting, underweight and stunting.

Results

We randomised 28 tolas to each arm and collected data from 2469 children (1560 mothers) at baseline and 2064 children (1326 mothers) at follow-up. WHZ was calculated for 1718 children at baseline and 1377 (674 intervention and 703 control) at follow-up. At 18 months, mean WHZ was significantly higher for intervention (−1.02) versus controls (−1.37; regression coefficient adjusted for clustering β=0.38, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.61, p=0.001). Significantly fewer children were wasted in the intervention group (122, 18%) versus control (200, 29%; OR=0.46, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.74, p=0.002). Mean WAZ was better in the intervention group (−2.13 vs −2.37; β=0.27, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.43, p=0.001) as was MUAC (13.6 cm vs 13.4 cm; β=0.22, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.40, p=0.02). In an analysis adjusting for baseline nutritional measures (259 intervention children and 300 control), only WAZ and % underweight showed significant differences in favour of the intervention.

Conclusion

In marginalised communities in rural India, child nutrition was better in those who received Rojiroti microfinance, compared with controls.

Trial registration number

NCT01845545.
Firearm ownership in California: A latent class analysis
Authors: Schleimer Julia P , Kravitz-Wirtz Nicole , Pallin Rocco , Charbonneau Amanda K , Buggs Shani A , Wintemute Garen J
Published: October 2019

Objective

To examine whether firearm ownership and ownership-related motivations and practices can be classified into reasonably distinct types.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on firearm owners (n=429) were obtained from the 2018 California Safety and Well-Being Survey, a state-representative web-based survey. We conducted a latent class analysis using six self-reported indicators of firearm ownership: (1) number of firearms owned, (2) types of firearms owned, (3) primary reason for firearm ownership, (4) firearm storage, (5) loaded handgun carrying and (6) high-capacity magazine ownership.

Results

We identified five markedly different classes of firearm ownership. There were two classes of single-firearm owners and three classes of multiple-firearm owners. Only members of one class (9% of owners) were likely to have carried a loaded handgun and to own high-capacity magazines or assault-type weapons. Members of this class were also likely to own 5+ firearms, own for protection against people, and store a firearm in the least secure manner (loaded and unlocked).

Conclusion

There were distinct classes of firearm ownership in California, and all higher-risk behaviours studied were exhibited disproportionately by members of a single class. This latent class structure, which may help identify higher-risk groups of firearm owners, could inform future research on risk assessment and on focused interventions to reduce firearm injury and death.
Collapsing stellar filament and exotic matter in Palatini f(R) gravity
Authors: Manzoor Rubab , Jawad Abdul , Adeel Muhammad , Saeed Muhammad , Rani Shamaila
Published: October 2019

We explore the dynamics of collapsing stellar filament in the presence of exotic material like dark matter. We use Palatini f(R) theory to include exotic substance in the collapsing process. We derive a collapse equation by applying Darmois junction conditions on collapsing surface boundary $$\Sigma $$Σ. It is found that the radial pressure related to baryonic matter remains non-zero at $$\Sigma $$Σ. We then discuss the stability criteria of the collapsing process in the framework of three parameteric model, $$f(R)=R+\lambda R_{c}[ 1-(1+\frac{R^{2}}{R^{2}_{c}})^{-n}]$$f(R)=R+λRc[1-(1+R2Rc2)-n]. It is concluded that the stability of collapsing filament depends upon a directly proportional relation of gravitational effects of exotic terms with the radial pressure of seen matter. Stability criteria of family of polytropic filamentary structures are also discussed. For all stable polytropic filaments, it is found that the density of seen material is exponentially related to the exotic forces. Finally, we explore theoretical relation between gravitational waves and dark terms. It is theoretically predicted that the presence of exotic material can affect the propagation of gravitational waves.
Seismic Damage Mechanism of CRTS-II Slab Ballastless Track Structure on High-Speed Railway Bridges
Authors: Guo Wei , Hu Yao , Hou Wenqi , Gao Xia , Bu Dan , Xie Xu
Published: October 2019

China Railway Track System II (CRTS II) slab ballastless track structure is one of commonly adopted track systems on the high-speed railway bridge, which has been found seismically vulnerable under strong earthquakes. To investigate the earthquake-induced damage mechanism of the CRTS II slab ballastless track structure, a nonlinear numerical model of typical 7-span simply supported bridge–track system was established by the finite element software OpenSees and well calibrated by the test data and relative literatures. The nonlinear time history analysis was employed to calculate seismic responses of bridge and track parts under a suite of 10 seismic records. Results demonstrate that the sliding layer in the track structure is the most damage-prone component, especially at the bridge-subgrade transition section, and the shear alveolar may also sustain earthquake-induced fail. By analyzing the seismic damage mechanism of the track structure, this paper reveals that the nonuniform displacement responses of the girders and friction plate at the bridge-subgrade transition section are main factors that result in the extensive damage of the sliding layer and failure of the shear alveolar. However, the damage of these two components are beneficial to reduce the seismic responses of other components in the track structure and protect them from being damaged. From the perspective of engineering safety, the sliding layer and shear alveolar should be rigorously designed because the residual displacement of the sliding layer increases along with the maximum displacement and the failure of the shear alveolar may make the whole track structure failed.
The pelagic archive of short-term sea-level change in the Cretaceous: a review of proxies linked to orbital forcing
Authors: Wagreich Michael , Koukal Veronika
Published: October 2019

Deep-time sea-level oscillations in the Milankovitch-band of orbital cyclicities govern deposition in the pelagic realm mainly by varying siliciclastic input. Pelagic sediments from the Cretaceous greenhouse climate phase provide a valuable archive for sea-level change. Although sea-level variations are of negligible amplitude compared with depositional water-depths, direct physical proxy data are based on higher and coarser siliciclastic input during sea-level lowstand and regressions, and include coarser grain size and grain-size parameters as well as the heavy mineral and clay content. Chemical proxies that relate to siliciclastics are manganese, titanium and zirconium, often normalized v. aluminium. Further proxies provide the ratios of strontium v. calcium, controlled by shelf carbonate erosion, and partly redox-sensitive elements like uranium and thorium. From a mineralogical point of view, the total amount of siliciclastics and their diversity relating to heavy minerals provides sea-level information in hemipelagites, as well as the phyllosilicate content v. biogenic pelagic background deposition of carbonate and siliceous microfossils in pelagites. In addition, measurements of gamma ray emission, linked to U, Th, K content and magnetic susceptibility may relate to sea-level cycles and various other more climate-dependent proxies like oxygen isotopes of fossil calcite and compositional maturity of hemipelagic sediments.
Dynamic Graph CNN for Learning on Point Clouds
Authors: Wang Yue , Sun Yongbin , Liu Ziwei , Sarma Sanjay E. , Bronstein Michael M. , Solomon Justin M.
Published: October 2019

Point clouds provide a flexible geometric representation suitable for countless applications in computer graphics; they also comprise the raw output of most 3D data acquisition devices. While hand-designed features on point clouds have long been proposed in graphics and vision, however, the recent overwhelming success of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for image analysis suggests the value of adapting insight from CNN to the point cloud world. Point clouds inherently lack topological information, so designing a model to recover topology can enrich the representation power of point clouds. To this end, we propose a new neural network module dubbed
EdgeConv
suitable for CNN-based high-level tasks on point clouds, including classification and segmentation. EdgeConv acts on graphs dynamically computed in each layer of the network. It is differentiable and can be plugged into existing architectures. Compared to existing modules operating in extrinsic space or treating each point independently, EdgeConv has several appealing properties: It incorporates local neighborhood information; it can be stacked applied to learn global shape properties; and in multi-layer systems affinity in feature space captures semantic characteristics over potentially long distances in the original embedding. We show the performance of our model on standard benchmarks, including ModelNet40, ShapeNetPart, and S3DIS.