bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Esophageal Position Affects Short‐Term Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: A Retrospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Uchihara Tomoyuki , Yoshida Naoya , Baba Yoshifumi , Nakashima Yuichiro , Kimura Yasue , Saeki Hiroshi , Takeno Shinsuke , Sadanaga Noriaki , Ikebe Masahiko , Morita Masaru , Toh Yasushi , Nanashima Atsushi , Maehara Yoshihiko , Baba Hideo
Published: November 2019

Background

Anatomical esophageal position may affect the short‐term outcomes after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). A previous single‐institutional retrospective study suggested that the presence of a left‐sided esophagus (LSE) made MIE more difficult and increased the incidence of postoperative complications.

Methods

The current study was a multicenter retrospective study of 303 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent MIE at six esophageal cancer high‐volume centers in Kyushu, Japan, between April 2011 and August 2016. The patients were divided into the LSE (66 patients) and non‐LSE groups (237 patients) based on the esophageal position on computed tomography images obtained with the patients in the supine position.

Results

Univariate analysis showed that patients with LSE were significantly older than those with non‐LSE (69 ± 8 vs. 65 ± 9 years; P = 0.002), had a significantly greater incidence of cardiovascular comorbidity (65.2% vs. 47.7%; P = 0.013), and a significantly longer operating time (612 ± 112 vs. 579 ± 102 min; P = 0.025). Logistic regression analysis verified that LSE was an independent risk factor for the incidence of pneumonia (odds ratio 3.3, 95% confidence interval 1.254–8.695; P = 0.016).

Conclusions

The presence of a LSE can increase the procedural difficulty of MIE and the incidence of morbidity after MIE. Thus, careful attention must be paid to anatomical esophageal position before performing MIE.
Periodontal disease and influence of periodontal treatment on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis
Authors: Białowąs Katarzyna , Radwan-Oczko Małgorzata , Duś-Ilnicka Irena , Korman Lucyna , Świerkot Jerzy
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of periodontal disease and the effect of periodontal treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). Forty-four RA patients, thirty SpA patients and thirty-nine healthy volunteers were recruited to the study. Periodontal examination included the approximal plaque index (API), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD) and number of teeth. Samples from the deepest periodontal pockets were taken for the detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis DNA with the use of the polymerase chain reaction. All subjects with periodontitis, who completed the study, received periodontal treatment consisting of scaling/root planing and oral hygiene instructions. Disease activity scores, clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed before and 4–6 weeks after periodontal treatment. No significant difference in the prevalence of periodontal disease and the presence of P. gingivalis DNA were found in RA and SpA patients compared to healthy controls. Significantly higher API (80% vs 63%; p = 0.01) and a lower number of teeth (20 vs 25, p = 0.001) were found in RA patients. BoP was significantly elevated in SpA patients (51% vs 33%, p = 0.02). Disease activity measured by the DAS28(CRP) was significantly reduced in RA patients after periodontal treatment (p = 0.002). Clinical and biochemical parameters were not improved in SpA patients. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment had an impact on the decrease in RA activity. Periodontal examination is necessary in patients with RA to detect and treat periodontitis at an early stage.
Validation of the modified Microlife blood pressure monitor in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Authors: Huppertz Nina , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Lane Deirdre A.
Published: November 2019

Aims

Undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for 6% of all strokes, therefore early detection and treatment of the arrhythmia are paramount. Previous research has illustrated that the Microlife WatchBPO3 AFIB, an automated blood pressure (BP) monitor with an inbuilt AF algorithm, accurately detects permanent AF. Currently, limited data exist on whether the modified BP monitor is able to detect paroxysmal AF (PAF). Therefore, this study aims to assess the accuracy of the Microlife WatchBPO3 AFIB monitor to detect PAF against a pacemaker reference standard over a 24-h period.

Methods and results

Forty-eight patients with a pacemaker implanted for sick sinus syndrome and previously documented fast AF participated. Sensitivity of the atrial pacemaker lead was set to allow detection of signals of ≥ 0.5 mV. Patients engaged in their normal daily routine whilst wearing the modified BP monitor. The modified BP monitor demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 76.0% and specificity of 80.8% for detecting PAF. This sensitivity and specificity increased to 100% and 83.1%, respectively, for patients that achieved more than 80% successful BP readings. Compared to day-time readings, night-time readings also demonstrated a lower proportion of movement artefact (14.4% vs. 3.4%), and therefore, a higher sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 84.9%, respectively, for detecting PAF.

Conclusion

The Microlife WatchBPO3 AFIB device has an acceptable diagnostic accuracy to detect PAF; however, movement artefact affects the accuracy of the readings. This modified BP monitor may potentially be useful as a screening tool for AF in patients at high risk of developing stroke.
Symptomatic carotid near-occlusion causes a high risk of recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke
Authors: Gu Thomas , Aviv Richard I. , Fox Allan J. , Johansson Elias
Published: November 2019

Objective

To assess the risk of recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke in patients with symptomatic near-occlusion with and without full collapse.

Methods

Included were consecutive patients eligible for revascularization, grouped into symptomatic conventional ≥ 50% carotid stenosis (n = 266), near-occlusion without full collapse (n = 57) and near-occlusion with full collapse (n = 42). The risk of preoperative recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke was analyzed, or, for cases not revascularized within 90 days, 90-day risk was analyzed.

Results

The risk of a preoperative recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke or ipsilateral retinal artery occlusion was 15% (95% CI 9–20%) for conventional ≥ 50% stenosis, 22% (95% CI 6–38%) among near-occlusion without full collapse and 30% (95% CI 16–44%) among near-occlusion with full collapse (p = 0.01, log rank test). In multivariate analysis, near-occlusion with full collapse had a higher risk of recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke (adjusted HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3–5.3) and near-occlusion without full collapse tended to have a higher risk (adjusted HR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9–4.5) than conventional ≥ 50% stenosis. Only 24% of near-occlusion with full collapse underwent revascularization, common causes for abstaining were misdiagnosis as occlusion (31%), deemed surgically unfeasible (21%) and low perceived benefit (10%).

Conclusions

Symptomatic carotid near-occlusion has a high short-term risk of recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke, especially near-occlusion with full collapse.
Volume-outcome correlation in adrenal surgery—an ESES consensus statement
Authors: Mihai Radu , Donatini Gianluca , Vidal Oscar , Brunaud Laurent
Published: November 2019

Background

Published data in the last decade showed that a majority of adrenal operations are done by surgeons performing only one such case per year and based on the distribution of personal workloads ‘high-volume’ surgeons are defined as those doing 4 or more cases/year.

Purpose

This paper summarises literature data identified by a working group established by the European Society of Endocrine Surgeons (ESES). The findings were discussed during ESES-2019 conference and members agreed on a consensus statement.

Results

The annual of adrenal operations performed yearly in individual countries was reported to be 800/year in UK and over 1600/year in France. The learning curve of an individual surgeon undertaking laparoscopic, retroperitoneoscopic or robotic adrenalectomy is estimated to be 20–40 cases. Preoperative morbidity and length of stay are more favourable in high-volume centres.

Conclusion

The main recommendations are that adrenal surgery should continue only in centres performing at least 6 cases per year, surgery for adrenocortical cancer should be restricted to centres performing at least 12 adrenal operations per year, and an integrated multidisciplinary team should be established in all such centres. Clinical information regarding adrenalectomies should be recorded prospectively and contribution to the established EUROCRINE and ENSAT databases is strongly encouraged. Surgeons wishing to develop expertise in this field should seek mentorship and further training from established adrenal surgeons.
Formation of active species from ruthenium alkylidene catalysts—an insight from computational perspective
Authors: Śliwa Paweł , Mitoraj Mariusz P. , Sagan Filip , Handzlik Jarosław
Published: November 2019

Ruthenium alkylidene complexes are commonly used as olefin metathesis catalysts. Initiation of the catalytic process requires formation of a 14-electron active ruthenium species via dissociation of a respective ligand. In the present work, this initiation step has been computationally studied for the Grubbs-type catalysts (H2IMes)(PCy3)(Cl)2Ru=CHPh, (H2IMes)(PCy3)(Cl)2Ru=CH-CH=CMe2 and (H2IMes)(3-Br-py)2(Cl)2Ru=CHPh, and the Hoveyda-Grubbs-type catalysts (H2IMes)(Cl)2Ru=CH(o-OiPrC6H4), (H2IMes)(Cl)2Ru=CH(5-NO2–2-OiPrC6H3), and (H2IMes)(Cl)2Ru=CH(2-OiPr-3-PhC6H3), using density functional theory (DFT). Additionally, the extended-transition-state combined with the natural orbitals for the chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) and the interacting quantum atoms (IQA) energy decomposition methods were applied. The computationally determined activity order within both families of the catalysts and the activation parameters are in agreement with reported experimental data. The significance of solvent simulation and the basis set superposition error (BSSE) correction is discussed. ETS-NOCV demonstrates that the bond between the dissociating ligand and the Ru-based fragment is largely ionic followed by the charge delocalizations: σ(Ru–P) and π(Ru–P) and the secondary CH…Cl, CH…π, and CH…HC interactions. In the case of transition state structures, the majority of stabilization stems from London dispersion forces exerted by the efficient CH…Cl, CH…π, and CH…HC interactions. Interestingly, the height of the electronic dissociation barriers is, however, directly connected with the prevalent (unfavourable) changes in the electrostatic and orbital interaction contributions despite the favourable relief in Pauli repulsion and geometry reorganization terms during the activation process. According to the IQA results, the isopropoxy group in the Hoveyda-Grubbs-type catalysts is an efficient donor of intra-molecular interactions which are important for the activity of these catalysts.
Psychometric Properties of a Fidelity Scale for Illness Management and Recovery
Authors: Egeland Karina Myhren , Heiervang Kristin Sverdvik , Landers Matthew , Ruud Torleif , Drake Robert E. , Bond Gary R.
Published: November 2019

This study examined the psychometric properties and feasibility of the Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Fidelity scale. Despite widespread use of the scale, the psychometric properties have received limited attention. Trained fidelity assessors conducted assessments four times over 18 months at 11 sites implementing IMR. The IMR Fidelity scale showed excellent interrater reliability (.99), interrater item agreement (94%), internal consistency (.91–.95 at three time points), and sensitivity to change. Frequency distributions generally showed that item ratings included the entire range. The IMR Fidelity scale has excellent psychometric properties and should be used to evaluate and guide the implementation of IMR.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03271242.
Utterance Interpretation and Actual Intentions
Authors: Leth Palle
Published: November 2019

In this paper I argue, from the consideration of what I hope is the complete variety of a hearer’s approaches to a speaker’s utterance, that (1) the speaker’s intention does not settle the meaning of her utterance and (2) the hearer does not take a genuine interest in the speaker’s actual intention. The reason why the speaker’s intention does not settle utterance meaning is simply that no utterance meaning determination, as presupposed by intentionalists and anti-intentionalists alike, takes place. Moreover, in the regular course of interpretation the hearer does not care about the speaker’s actual intention, but only about what the speaker presents as her intention: the hearer’s goal is to come up with an interpretation which the speaker will accept rather than an interpretation which corresponds to the speaker’s intention. In cases of accountability, suspicion and lying, the speaker’s actual intention is irrelevant; it is at most the speaker’s hypothetical intention which is at stake.
A Cell-Free Approach Based on Phospholipid Characterization for Determination of the Cell Specific Unbound Drug Fraction (fu,cell)
Authors: Treyer Andrea , Walday Sandra , Boriss Hinnerk , Matsson Pär , Artursson Per
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The intracellular fraction of unbound compound (fu,cell) is an important parameter for accurate prediction of drug binding to intracellular targets. fu,cell is the result of a passive distribution process of drug molecules partitioning into cellular structures. Initial observations in our laboratory showed an up to 10-fold difference in the fu,cell of a given drug for different cell types. We hypothesized that these differences could be explained by the phospholipid (PL) composition of the cells, since the PL cell membrane is the major sink of unspecific drug binding. Therefore, we determined the fu,cell of 19 drugs in cell types of different origin.

Method

The cells were characterized for their total PL content and we used mass spectrometric PL profiling to delineate the impact of each of the four major cellular PL subspecies: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The cell-based experiments were compared to cell-free experiments that used beads covered by PL bilayers consisting of the most abundant PL subspecies.

Results

PC was found to give the largest contribution to the drug binding. Improved correlations between the cell-based and cell-free assays were obtained when affinities to all four major PL subspecies were considered. Together, our data indicate that fu,cell is influenced by PL composition of cells.

Conclusion

We conclude that cellular PL composition varies between cell types and that cell-specific mixtures of PLs can replace cellular assays for determination of fu,cell as a rapid, small-scale assay covering a broad dynamic range.
Recent Developments at DG Competition: 2018/2019
Authors: Kotzeva Rossitza , Kovo David , Lorincz Szabolcs , Sapi Geza , Sauri Lluis , Valletti Tommaso
Published: November 2019

The Directorate General for Competition at the European Commission enforces competition law in the areas of antitrust, merger control, and state aids. This year’s article provides first a general presentation of the role of the Chief Competition Economist’s team and surveys some of the main achievements of the Directorate General for Competition over 2018/2019. The article then reviews the Siemens/Alstom merger, the Google Android case, as well as two state aid cases that related to a public service compensation for obligations that involved press delivery in France and Italy.
Treatment challenges in pediatric Cushing’s disease: Review of the literature with particular emphasis on predictive factors for the disease recurrence
Authors: Pasternak-Pietrzak Katarzyna , Moszczyńska Elżbieta , Szalecki Mieczysław
Published: November 2019

Cushing’s disease (CD) is a rare endocrine condition caused by a corticotroph pituitary tumor that produces adrenocorticotropic hormone. The current state of knowledge of CD treatment is presented in this article including factors that can be helpful in predicting remission and/or recurrence of the disease. The primary goals in CD treatment are quick diagnosis and effective, prompt treatment as the persistent disease is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Cooperation of a team consisting of experienced pediatrician/adult endocrinologist, neuroradiologist, transsphenoidal neurosurgeon and (if necessary) radiotherapist contribute to the best treatment effects.
The surface effect on the thermodynamic stability, half-metallic and optical properties of Co2MnGa(001) films: a DFT study
Authors: Faregh R. Ashtari , Boochani A. , Masharian S. R. , Jafarpour F. H.
Published: November 2019

In this study, the half-metallic properties, thermodynamic stability and optical parameters of the full-Heusler Co2MnGa compound and its four different terminations of Co–Co, Co–Mn, Mn–Ga and Co–Ga from the surface of Co2MnGa (001) have been calculated based on the density functional theory (DFT). The results confirm the ferromagnetic half-metallic behavior with a magnetic moment of 4.08 $$ \mu_{\text{B}} $$μB and a gap of 0.32 eV at the Fermi level of Co2MnGa bulk phase having a Cu2MnAl-type structure. The density of states curves showed that all possible terminations from the Co2MnGa (001) surface eliminate the half-metallic behavior except the termination of Mn–Ga case. Moreover, the results indicate that the termination of Mn–Ga with the lowest surface energy is the most stable termination for the application in spintronics. The optical coefficients such as real and imaginary dielectric function, refraction, extinction, energy loss function, optical conductivity and reflections of the bulk and Mn–Ga termination have been calculated and compared.
Can the Number of Radiofrequency Activations Predict Serious Adverse Events after Bronchial Thermoplasty? A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Yamamoto Shota , Iikura Motoyasu , Kakuwa Tamaki , Tsujimoto Yoshie , Matsubayashi Sachi , Nagano Naoko , Suzuki Tomoyuki , Sakamoto Keita , Kobayashi Konomi , Shiozawa Ayako , Hashimoto Masao , Ishii Satoru , Suzuki Manabu , Izumi Shinyu , Hojo Masayuki , Hasebe Terumitsu , Sugiyama Haruhito
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic procedure that involves the delivery of thermal radiofrequency energy to the bronchial wall for treating severe asthma. It has been suggested that too many radiofrequency activations could induce serious adverse events (SAEs) at an early stage. We aimed to examine the number of radiofrequency activations at each session and early lung function changes from baseline to determine whether these are related to SAEs.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 13 consecutive patients who underwent three sessions each of BT for severe asthma from February 2015 to January 2016. Lung function tests were performed on the day before and after each BT procedure. Since we compared the number of activations and lung function changes from baseline after each session, a total of 39 sessions were reviewed. The relationship between the number of radiofrequency activations and each lung function change from baseline was also examined by linear regression analysis.

Results

A total of 10 SAEs (4 of pneumonia, 3 of atelectasis, 2 of bronchial asthma exacerbation and 1 of hemoptysis) were observed following the 39 BT sessions. When we compared sessions with and without SAEs, there were no differences in the number of activations (mean ± SD, 71.5 ± 28.6 times in sessions with SAEs; 66.5 ± 25.1 times in sessions without SAEs;p = 0.772) and lung function changes (mean changes in FVC/%FVC/FEV1/%FEV1/%PEF from baseline; − 0.49 l/− 14.2%/− 0.36 l/− 11.7%/− 9.6% in sessions with SAEs; − 0.43 l/− 13.3%/− 0.34 l/− 12.1%/− 9.4% in sessions without SAEs;p > 0.05 for all the above). Increase in the number of activations correlated with decreased FEV1(R2 = 0.17,p = 0.0088) and %FEV1(R2 = 0.11,p = 0.0357).

Conclusions

Increase in the number of radiofrequency activations during BT is related to a decrease in FEV1and %FEV1from baseline. The number of radiofrequency activations, however, is not associated with SAEs after BT.
An innovative analytic redundancy approach to air data sensor fault detection
Authors: Prabhu S. , Anitha G.
Published: November 2019

This article presents a potential analytic redundancy approach to detect faults in the air data sensor of an aircraft. In modern aircraft, fault detection of air data sensors is performed using a complex voting mechanism, which requires the availability of redundant air data sensor in all situations. However, to continuously monitor operation and performance of these sensors, the analytic redundancy-based air data estimation and fault detection is highly preferred than estimation with air data probe measurements. The proposed algorithm uses the kinematics of aircraft to estimate air data and detect air data sensor fault. In this paper, a simple mathematical model is developed, which does not consider the forces and moments acting on aircraft and uses measurements only from the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Navigation System Data (NSD). In order to implement this approach, the Iterated Optimal Extended Kalman Filter (IOEKF) is developed to estimate air data, which provides an accurate and stable estimation. With the estimated states, the physical air data sensor measurements are compared and the residual is calculated to track each sensor performance and to detect the occurrence of a fault. The key advantage of this approach is that it does not require complex dynamic equations and is free from system uncertainties. The proposed algorithm is simulated in MATLAB software using flight simulator flight data and validated using the real-time flight data of Cessna Citation II transport aircraft.
Relationship between sexual orientation and psychotic experiences in the general population in England
Authors: Jacob Louis , Smith Lee , McDermott Daragh , Haro Josep Maria , Stickley Andrew , Koyanagi Ai
Published: November 2019

Background

Non-heterosexual individuals are at high risk for a variety of factors associated with the emergence of psychotic experiences (PEs) (e.g. common mental disorders, substance use, and stress). However, there is a scarcity of data on the association between sexual orientation and PEs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the sexual orientation-PE relationship, and to identify potential mediators in this relationship.

Methods

This study used nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Sexual orientation was dichotomized into heterosexual and non-heterosexual. Past 12-month PE was assessed with the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire. Regression and mediation analyses were conducted to analyze the association between sexual orientation and PEs, and to identify potential mediators involved in this relationship.

Results

The final sample consisted of 7275 individuals aged ⩾16 years. The prevalence of non-heterosexual orientation and any PE was 7.1% and 5.5%, respectively. After adjusting for sex, age, and ethnicity, non-heterosexual orientation was positively associated with any PE (odds ratio 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.34–2.93). The strongest mediators involved in this relationship were borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits (mediated percentage = 33.5%), loneliness (29.1%), and stressful life events (25.4%).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that there is a positive relationship between sexual orientation and PEs in the general population in England, and that underlying mechanisms may involve BPD traits, loneliness, and stressful life events. Future studies with a longitudinal design are warranted to shed more light on how these factors are implicated in the association between sexual orientation and PEs.
Contingencies in the relationship between economic freedom and human development: the role of generalized trust
Authors: Graafland Johan
Published: November 2019

An increasing volume of literature has shown that human development is related to economic institutions. But previous literature has not considered that the effects of economic institutions on human development are contingent on culture. In this study, we contend that the effects of economic freedom (as an indicator of economic institutions) on human development are dependent on generalized trust (as an indicator of culture). Using panel analysis on a sample of 29 OECD countries during 1990–2015, we find that generalized trust positively moderates the relationship between economic freedom and human development. The policy implication is that free market institutions foster human development only in high trust societies, not in low trust countries.
Fluid Pulses During Stepwise Brecciation at Intermediate Subduction Depths (Monviso Eclogites, W. Alps): First Internally Then Externally Sourced
Authors: Locatelli Michele , Verlaguet A. , Agard P. , Pettke T. , Federico L.
Published: November 2019

Key Points

Mylonitic metagabbros cemented by unfoliated Omp + Grt ± Lws matrices show that pristine brecciation may occur at eclogitic conditions

Geochemical variations and sharp increase in fluid content of matrices points to local embrittlement prior to external fluids ingression

Structural and geochemical evidence suggest that eclogite‐facies brecciation can control initial strain localization within HP shear zones
Anomalous Discharge of Endogenous Gas at Lavinio (Rome, Italy) and the Lethal Accident of 5 September 2011
Authors: Barberi F. , Carapezza M. L. , Tarchini L. , Ranaldi M. , Ricci T. , Gattuso A.
Published: November 2019

The Rome region contains several sites where endogenous gas is brought to the surface through deep reaching faults, creating locally hazardous conditions for people and animals. Lavinio is a touristic borough of Anzio (Rome Capital Metropolitan City) that hosts a country club with a swimming pool and an adjacent basement balance tank. In early September 2011, the pool and the tank had been emptied for cleaning. On 5 September, four men descended into the tank and immediately lost consciousness. On 12 August 2012, after a long coma the first person died, the second one reported permanent damage to his central nervous system, and the other two men recovered completely. Detailed geochemical investigations show that the site is affected by a huge release of endogenous gas (CO2 ≈ 96 vol.% and H2S ≈ 4 vol.%). High soil CO2 and H2S flux values were measured near the pool (up to 898 and 7.155 g·m−2·day−1, respectively), and a high CO2 concentration (23–25 vol.%) was found at 50–70 cm depth in the soil. We were able to demonstrate that gas had been transported into the balance tank from the swimming pool through two hubs connected to the lateral overflow channels of the pool. We show also that the time before the accident (60 hr), during which the balance tank had remained closed to external air, had been largely sufficient to reach indoor nearly lethal conditions (oxygen deficiency and high concentration of both CO2 and H2S).
Space Physics from Both Ends of the Americas, 1949–2019
Authors: Roederer Juan G.
Published: November 2019

This is an invited contribution to the "Recollections in Space Physics" collection.
Lithospheric Structure of Northwestern Venezuela From Wide‐Angle Seismic Data: Implications for the Understanding of Continental Margin Evolution
Authors: Mazuera F. , Schmitz M. , Escalona A. , Zelt C. , Levander A.
Published: November 2019

Northwestern Venezuela is located in the complex deformation zone between the Caribbean and South American plates. Several models regarding the lithospheric structure of the Mérida Andes have been proposed. Nevertheless, they lack relevant structural information in order to support the interpretation of deeper structures. Therefore, a 560‐km‐long refraction profile across the northern part of Mérida Andes, oriented in a NNW direction, covering areas from the Proterozoic basement in the south, to both Paleozoic and Meso‐Cenozoic terranes of northwestern Venezuela to the north, is analyzed in this contribution. Thirteen land shots were recorded by 545 short‐deployment seismometers, constraining P wave velocity models from first‐arrival seismic tomography and layer‐based inversion covering the whole crust in detail, with some hints to upper mantle structures. The most prominent features imaged are absence of a crustal root associated to the Mérida Andes, as the Northern Andes profile is located marginal to the Andean crustal domain, and low‐angle subduction of the Caribbean oceanic slab (~10–20°) beneath northwestern South America. Further crustal structures identified in the profile are (a) crustal thinning beneath the Falcón Basin along the western extension of the Oca‐Ancón fault system interpreted as a back‐arc basin; (b) suture zones between both the Proterozoic and Paleozoic provinces (Ouachita‐Marathon‐related suture?), and Paleozoic and Meso‐Cenozoic terranes (peri‐Caribbean suture) interpreted from lateral changes in seismic velocity; and (c) evidence of a deep Paleozoic(?) extensional basin, underlying thick Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequences (beneath the Guárico area).
Nonlinear Suppression of High‐Frequency S Waves by the Near‐Field Velocity Pulse With Reference to the 2002 Denali Earthquake
Authors: Sleep Norman H. , Liu Tianze
Published: November 2019

The near‐field velocity pulse of large strike‐slip earthquakes brings near‐fault stiff crystalline rock into failure. The uppermost ~2 km beneath Pump Station 10 (PS10) likely failed nonlinearly during the 2002 Denali earthquake. High‐frequency S waves traversed this region during and immediately after failure with only weak waves reaching the surface. In contrast, high‐frequency S waves were briefly weak at station LUC only during the strong near‐field velocity pulse of the 1992 Landers earthquake. The observed horizontal spectra during the near‐field velocity pulse at PS10 decreased exponentially with frequency with a low apparently constant Q of ~20. This observation is incompatible with simple elastic‐plastic and nonlinear viscoelastic rheologies that do not preferentially attenuate high frequencies. Candidate rheologies involve heterogeneous crystalline rock masses where nonlinear domains act in parallel. Maxwell (spring and dash pot) elements in parallel produce apparently constant Q over a range of frequencies. This rheology may arise from pseudolinear inelastic interaction of weak stresses from high‐frequency S waves with strong low‐frequency stresses from the near‐field velocity pulse. Alternatively, inelastic deformation associated with the high‐frequency waves may interact nonlinearly with low‐frequency deformation associated with healing of damage associated with the near‐field velocity pulse. The latter process is attractive for the PS10 signal which remained weak after the near‐field velocity pulse had passed. We unsuccessfully examined aftershock records for healing of damage within the uppermost crystalline rock.
Integrating proteomic, sociodemographic and clinical data to predict future depression diagnosis in subthreshold symptomatic individuals
Authors: Han Sung Yeon Sarah , Cooper Jason D. , Ozcan Sureyya , Rustogi Nitin , Penninx Brenda W.J.H. , Bahn Sabine
Published: November 2019

Individuals with subthreshold depression have an increased risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to predict the probability of MDD onset in subthreshold individuals, based on their proteomic, sociodemographic and clinical data. To this end, we analysed 198 features (146 peptides representing 77 serum proteins (measured using MRM-MS), 22 sociodemographic factors and 30 clinical features) in 86 first-episode MDD patients (training set patient group), 37 subthreshold individuals who developed MDD within two or four years (extrapolation test set patient group), and 86 subthreshold individuals who did not develop MDD within four years (shared reference group). To ensure the development of a robust and reproducible model, we applied feature extraction and model averaging across a set of 100 models obtained from repeated application of group LASSO regression with ten-fold cross-validation on the training set. This resulted in a 12-feature prediction model consisting of six serum proteins (AACT, APOE, APOH, FETUA, HBA and PHLD), three sociodemographic factors (body mass index, childhood trauma and education level) and three depressive symptoms (sadness, fatigue and leaden paralysis). Importantly, the model demonstrated a fair performance in predicting future MDD diagnosis of subthreshold individuals in the extrapolation test set (AUC = 0.75), which involved going beyond the scope of the model. These findings suggest that it may be possible to detect disease indications in subthreshold individuals up to four years prior to diagnosis, which has important clinical implications regarding the identification and treatment of high-risk individuals.
Direct impact of cisplatin on mitochondria induces ROS production that dictates cell fate of ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Kleih Markus , Böpple Kathrin , Dong Meng , Gaißler Andrea , Heine Simon , Olayioye Monilola A. , Aulitzky Walter E. , Essmann Frank
Published: November 2019

Patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) frequently receive platinum-based chemotherapeutics, such as cisplatin. Cisplatin binds to DNA and induces DNA-damage culminating in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Interestingly, mitochondrial DNA is critically affected by cisplatin but its relevance in cell death induction is scarcely investigated. We find that cisplatin sensitive HGSC cell lines contain higher mitochondrial content and higher levels of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) than cells resistant to cisplatin induced cell death. In clonal sub-lines from OVCAR-3 mitochondrial content and basal oxygen consumption rate correlate with sensitivity to cisplatin induced apoptosis. Mitochondria are in two ways pivotal for cisplatin sensitivity because not only knock-down of BAX and BAK but also the ROS scavenger glutathione diminish cisplatin induced apoptosis. Mitochondrial ROS correlates with mitochondrial content and reduction of mitochondrial biogenesis by knock-down of transcription factors PGC1α or TFAM attenuates both mtROS induction and cisplatin induced apoptosis. Increasing mitochondrial ROS by inhibition or knock-down of the ROS-protective uncoupling protein UCP2 enhances cisplatin induced apoptosis. Similarly, enhancing ROS by high-dose ascorbic acid or H2O2 augments cisplatin induced apoptosis. In summary, mitochondrial content and the resulting mitochondrial capacity to produce ROS critically determine HGSC cell sensitivity to cisplatin induced apoptosis. In line with this observation, data from the human protein atlas (www.proteinatlas.org) indicates that high expression of mitochondrial marker proteins (TFAM and TIMM23) is a favorable prognostic factor in ovarian cancer patients. Thus, we propose mitochondrial content as a biomarker for the response to platinum-based therapies. Functionally, this might be exploited by increasing mitochondrial content or mitochondrial ROS production to enhance sensitivity to cisplatin based anti-cancer therapies.
A suite of global accessibility indicators
Authors: Nelson Andy , Weiss Daniel J. , van Etten Jacob , Cattaneo Andrea , McMenomy Theresa S. , Koo Jawoo
Published: November 2019

Good access to resources and opportunities is essential for sustainable development. Improving access, especially in rural areas, requires useful measures of current access to the locations where these resources and opportunities are found. Recent work has developed a global map of travel times to cities with more than 50,000 people in the year 2015. However, the provision of resources and opportunities will differ across the broad spectrum of settlements that range from small towns to megacities, and access to this spectrum of settlement sizes should also be measured. Here we present a suite of nine global travel-time accessibility indicators for the year 2015, at approximately one-kilometre spatial resolution, for a range of settlement size classes. We validated the travel-time estimates against journey times from a Google driving directions application across 1,511 2° × 2° tiles representing 47,812 journeys. We observed very good agreement, though our estimates were more frequently shorter than those from the Google application with a median difference of −13.7 minutes and a median percentage difference of −16.9%.
Publisher Correction: Process calculi may reveal the equivalence lying at the heart of RNA and proteins
Authors: Maestri Stefano , Merelli Emanuela
Published: November 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Fabrication of atomic junctions with experimental parameters optimized using ground-state searches of Ising spin computing
Authors: Sakai Shotaro , Hirata Yosuke , Ito Mitsuki , Shirakashi Jun-ichi
Published: November 2019

Feedback-controlled electromigration (FCE) is employed to control metal nanowires with quantized conductance and create nanogaps and atomic junctions. In the FCE method, the experimental parameters are commonly selected based on experience. However, optimization of the parameters by way of tuning is intractable because of the impossibility of attempting all different combinations systematically. Therefore, we propose the use of the Ising spin model to optimize the FCE parameters, because this approach can search for a global optimum in a multidimensional solution space within a short calculation time. The FCE parameters were determined by using the energy convergence properties of the Ising spin model. We tested these parameters in actual FCE experiments, and we demonstrated that the Ising spin model could improve the controllability of the quantized conductance in atomic junctions. This result implies that the proposed method is an effective tool for the optimization of the FCE process in which an intelligent machine can conduct the research instead of humans.
Turbulence mediates marine aggregate formation and destruction in the upper ocean
Authors: Takeuchi Marika , Doubell Mark J. , Jackson George A. , Yukawa Misuzu , Sagara Yosuke , Yamazaki Hidekatsu
Published: November 2019

Marine aggregates formed through particle coagulation, large ones (>0.05 cm) also called marine snow, make a significant contribution to the global carbon flux by sinking from the euphotic zone, impacting the Earth’s climate. Since aggregate sinking velocity and carbon content are size-dependent, understanding the physical mechanisms controlling aggregate size distribution is fundamental to determining the biological carbon pump efficiency. Theoretical, laboratory and in-situ studies of flocculation have suggested that turbulence in the benthic boundary layer is important for aggregate formation and destruction, but the small number of field observations has limited our understanding of the role of turbulence on aggregation processes in the ocean surface layer away from energetic boundaries. Using simultaneous field observations of turbulence and aggregates, we show how aggregate formation, destruction, morphology and size distribution in the ocean surface layer (10–100 m) are mediated by interactions between turbulence and aggregate concentration. Our findings suggest that turbulence enhances aggregate formation up to a critical turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate of 10−6 (W kg−1), above which the smallest turbulent eddies limit aggregate size.
Assessment of hardening due to non-coherent precipitates in tungsten-rhenium alloys at the atomic scale
Authors: Bonny G. , Bakaev A. , Terentyev D.
Published: November 2019

In metallurgical applications, precipitation strengthening is of great technological importance to engineer materials with the required strength. While precipitation hardening is essential for many applications involving operation at elevated temperatures, its subsequent embrittlement can be a showstopper for the overall performance of a component. In the nuclear industry, irradiation-induced/enhanced precipitation and the resulting embrittlement often limit the lifetime of components. In fusion applications, tungsten (W) based alloys are known to harden and embrittle as a result of irradiation-assisted transmutation to rhenium (Re) and its subsequent precipitation into non-coherent precipitates. Hence, a fundamental understanding of the interaction of dislocations with non-coherent precipitates is of great interest. In the present work, the interaction of dislocations with non-coherent Re-rich σ, χ and hcp phase precipitates embedded in a bcc W matrix is assessed. Large-scale atomistic simulations are performed to clarify the interaction mechanisms and derive the obstacle strength of the precipitates in the quasi-static limit. Thereby the impact of precipitate shape, size, interspacing and composition is assessed. Based on those results, an analytical model to predict precipitation hardening of σ, χ and hcp phase particles in bcc W is proposed and compared to available experimental data from mechanical tests on irradiated materials.
Two-dimensional Peripheral Refraction and Retinal Image Quality in Emmetropic Children
Authors: Lan Weizhong , Lin Zhenghua , Yang Zhikuang , Artal Pablo
Published: November 2019

The relationship between the optical properties of the eye in the periphery and myopia development is still under debate. To further clarify this issue, we provide here baseline data of two-dimensional peripheral optics results in a group of emmetropic Chinese children. Peripheral aberrations were measured under cycloplegia by using an open-view Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor (VPR, Voptica SL, Spain). This instrument allows to measure fast in the horizontal visual field from temporal 30° to nasal 30° every 1°. Two-dimensional (2D) maps were retrieved from a series of horizonal scans taken every 4° from 20° superior to 16° inferior covering a visual field of 60 × 36°. A relatively homogeneous pattern of the 2D relative peripheral refraction was found across all these emmetropic subjects. Using cluster analysis followed by manual visual refinement, the 2D maps were identified to fit into four categories. More than 70% of the subjects showed a nearly flat horizontal refraction with a slightly myopic shift in the superior retina. Peripheral astigmatism was quite constant across subjects and similar to that expected theoretically. Peripheral aberrations were also similar to those in the fovea for a large retinal area. These baseline data would offer an important reference to compare with the future evolution with time, as well as with other refractive or age groups of subjects, to better understand the role of peripheral optical properties in myopia development.
Intracellular K+ and water content in human blood lymphocytes during transition from quiescence to proliferation
Authors: Marakhova Irina , Yurinskaya Valentina , Aksenov Nikolay , Zenin Valeriy , Shatrova Alla , Vereninov Alexey
Published: November 2019

Many evidence shows that K+ ions are required for cell proliferation, however, changes in intracellular K+ concentration during transition of cells from quiescence to cycling are insufficiently studied. Here, we show using flame emission assay that a long-term increase in cell K+ content per g cell protein is a mandatory factor for transition of quiescent human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to proliferation induced by phytohemagglutinin, phorbol ester with ionomycin, and anti-CD3 antibodies with interleukin-2 (IL-2). The long-term increase in K+ content is associated with IL-2-dependent stage of PBL activation and accompanies the growth of small lymphocytes and their transformation into blasts. Inhibition of PBL proliferation with drugs specific for different steps of G0/G1/S transit prevented both blast-transformation and an increase in K+ content per cell protein. Determination of the water content in cells by measuring the density of cells in the Percoll gradient showed that, unlike the K+ content, the concentration of K+ in cell water remains unchanged, since water and K+ change in parallel. Correlation of proliferation with high cell K+ and water content has been confirmed by the data obtained in comparative study of PBL and permanently cycling Jurkat cells. Our data suggest that K+ is important for successful proliferation as the main intracellular ion that participates in regulation of cell water content during cell transition from quiescence to proliferation. We concluded that high K+ content in cells and the associated high water content is a characteristic feature of proliferating cells.
Treatment response and predictors in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy in Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gidey Kidu , Chelkeba Legese , Gemechu Tadesse Dukessa , Daba Fekede Bekele
Published: November 2019

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease with a variable therapeutic response. To design effective treatment strategies for epilepsy, it is important to understand treatment responses and predictive factors. However, limited data are available in Africa, including Ethiopia. The aim of this study was therefore to assess treatment response and identify prognostic predictors among patients with epilepsy at Jimma university medical center, Ethiopia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 404 newly diagnosed adult epilepsy patients receiving antiepileptic treatment between May 2010 and May 2015. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected for all patients with a minimum follow-up of two years. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify predictors of poor seizure remission. Overall, 261 (64.6%) of the patients achieved seizure remission for at least one year. High number of pre-treatment seizures (adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49–0.83) and poor adherence (AHR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.75) were significant predictors of poor seizure remission. In conclusion, our study showed that only about two-thirds of patients had achieved seizure remission. The high number of pre-treatment seizures and non-adherence to antiepileptic medications were predictors of poor seizure remission. Patients with these characteristics should be given special attention.
Analysis and classification of droplet characteristics from atomizers using multifractal analysis
Authors: Godavarthi V. , Dhivyaraja K. , Sujith R. I. , Panchagnula M. V.
Published: November 2019

Atomizers find applications in diverse fields such as agriculture, pharmaceutics and combustion. Among the most commonly found atomizer classes of designs are pressure swirl, airblast and ultrasonic atomizers. However, it has thus far not been possible to identify the class of an atomizer from spray characteristics. We perform multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis on the droplet inter-arrival times, diameters and axial velocities of pressure swirl, airblast and ultrasonic nebulizer sprays to quantify the differences in complexity in the respective signals. We show that the width of the multifractal spectrum of the signals of droplet diameters and the inter-arrival times, measured at the edge of the spray are robust atomizer identifiers. Further, we show the presence of correlations among the droplet diameters which are otherwise considered as random or derived from a log-normal distribution. This study can be further generalized to classify fluid mechanical systems or biological sprays using an appropriately chosen single point measurement in the flow field.