bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LPS‐induced inflammation desensitizes hepatocytes to Fas‐induced apoptosis through Stat3 activation—The effect can be reversed by ruxolitinib
Authors: Markotic Antonio , Flegar Darja , Grcevic Danka , Sucur Alan , Lalic Hrvoje , Turcic Petra , Kovacic Natasa , Lukac Nina , Pravdic Danijel , Vukojevic Katarina , Cavar Ivan , Kelava Tomislav
Published: February 2020

Recent studies have established a concept of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)/Fas signalling crosstalk, highlighting TNF‐α as a critical cytokine in sensitizing hepatocytes to death induced by Fas activation. However, in the exact inflammatory response, besides TNF‐α, many other mediators, that might modulate apoptotic response differentially, are released. To resolve the issue, we studied the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), one of the crucial inductors of inflammation in the liver, on apoptotic outcome. We show that LPS‐induced inflammation diminishes the sensitivity of hepatocytes to Fas stimulus in vivo at caspase‐8 level. Analysis of molecular mechanisms revealed an increased expression of various pro‐inflammatory cytokines in non‐parenchymal liver cells and hepatocyte‐specific increase in Bcl‐xL, associated with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) phosphorylation. Pre‐treatment with ruxolitinib, a selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, prevented the LPS‐induced Stat3 phosphorylation and restored the sensitivity of hepatocytes to Fas‐mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, ruxolitinib pre‐treatment diminished the LPS‐induced Bcl‐xL up‐regulation without an inhibitory effect on LPS‐induced expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In summary, although the reports are showing that the effects of isolated pro‐inflammatory mediators, such as TNF‐α or neutrophils, are pro‐apoptotic, the overall effect of inflammatory milieu on hepatocytes in vivo is Stat3‐dependent desensitization to Fas‐mediated apoptosis.
Impact of baseline characteristics on glycemic effects of add‐on saxagliptin or acarbose to metformin therapy: Subgroup analysis of the SMART study in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Fang Hui , Xu Fengmei , Du Jin , Liang Li , Li Wei , Shen Liya , Wang Xueying , Xu Chun , Bian Fang , Mu Yiming
Published: February 2020

Aims/Introduction

This secondary analysis of the 24‐week SMART study examined the efficacy of add‐on saxagliptin or acarbose to metformin across different patient subgroups with type 2 diabetes mellitus, based on baseline characteristics.

Materials and Methods

Randomized patients (n = 481) were classified into subgroups based on their baseline age (<65, ≥65 years), body mass index (BMI; <24, 24–<28, ≥28 kg/m2), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; <8%, 8–<9%, 9–<10%, ≥10%) and renal function (creatinine clearance 50–<80, ≥80 mL/min). Treatment effects on primary outcome (HbA1c) and key secondary outcomes of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2‐h postprandial glucose and homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function were assessed across patient subgroups.

Results

For saxagliptin, reductions in HbA1c from baseline to week 24 were consistent across different subgroups regardless of baseline age, body mass index, HbA1c and renal function (range −0.66 to −1.16%). Saxagliptin was associated with consistent reductions in FPG (−0.60 to −1.33 mmol/L) and 2‐h postprandial glucose (−0.48 to −1.95 mmol/L) across the majority of subgroups studied. The efficacy of acarbose on FPG attenuated progressively with increasing baseline HbA1c (+0.86 to −1.43 mmol/L); an increase from baseline FPG was observed in patients with HbA1c >9%. The effect of acarbose on postprandial glucose was also variable (+0.23 to −3.38 mmol/L).

Conclusions

As add‐on to metformin, both saxagliptin and acarbose reduced HbA1c regardless of baseline HbA1c, age, body mass index and renal function; however, only saxagliptin was effective at a stable glycemic control (FPG and PPG). The efficacy of acarbose on FPG and PPG was significantly attenuated in patients with higher baseline HbA1c (≥8%).
Shape of the glucose response curve during an oral glucose tolerance test is associated with insulin clearance and muscle insulin sensitivity in healthy non‐obese men
Authors: Kaga Hideyoshi , Tamura Yoshifumi , Takeno Kageumi , Kakehi Saori , Someya Yuki , Funayama Takashi , Furukawa Yasuhiko , Suzuki Ruriko , Sugimoto Daisuke , Kadowaki Satoshi , Nishitani‐Yokoyama Miho , Shimada Kazunori , Daida Hiroyuki , Aoki Shigeki , Giacca Adria , Sato Hiroaki , Kawamori Ryuzo , Watada Hirotaka
Published: February 2020

Individuals with a monophasic glucose response curve (GRC) during a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes than those with a biphasic GRC. However, no studies have addressed the association between GRC type and insulin clearance. Thus, we studied 49 healthy non‐obese Japanese men. We divided study participants into the monophasic or biphasic group based on the shape of their GRC. We evaluated tissue‐specific insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance using a two‐step hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp. The monophasic group had more visceral fat, lower insulin clearance and lower muscle insulin sensitivity than the biphasic group, whereas liver and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion were comparable. In conclusion, healthy non‐obese men with a monophasic GRC have lower insulin clearance and muscle insulin sensitivity.
Case report of superior mesenteric artery syndrome that developed in a lean type 2 diabetes patient and was associated with rapid body weight loss after sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor administration
Authors: Hirai Taro , Kitada Munehiro , Hayashi Yoshihiro , Monno Itaru , Takagaki Yuta , Shimada Keiji , Ogura Yoshio , Fujii Mizue , Konishi Kazunori , Nakagawa Atsushi , Koya Daisuke
Published: February 2020

A 58‐year‐old women who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 20 years earlier had been treated with antidiabetic medicines since she was aged 40 years. After sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors administration, her bodyweight rapidly decreased from 40 to 30 kg over a period of 3 weeks. She had abdominal symptoms, including nausea, especially after a meal. On admission, physical examinations and laboratory data showed euglycemic ketoacidosis, dehydration and low insulin secretion levels. Additionally, abdominal contrast computed tomography showed the finding of superior mesenteric artery syndrome. This case urges caution, including rapid excessive bodyweight loss and euglycemic ketoacidosis, on the use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 for lean diabetes patients.
Prevalence of diabetes in Japanese patients with cancer
Authors: Saito Eiko , Goto Atsushi , Kanehara Rieko , Ohashi Ken , Noda Mitsuhiko , Matsuda Tomohiro , Katanoda Kota
Published: February 2020

Cancer patients with diabetes experience a poorer prognosis, yet the population burden of this multimorbidity remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate the latest incidence and prevalence of cancer with diabetes mellitus in Japan. We used projection of cancer incidence and latest survival data from population‐based cancer registries. The incidence of cancer associated with diabetes was estimated separately for patients with pre‐existing diabetes and those without diabetes, and used to estimate the 5‐year cancer prevalence for those with and without diabetes. The prevalence of pre‐existing diabetes in cancer patients at any cancer site was estimated to be 20.7% (647,160 men and women). Among cancer sites, diabetes prevalence was high in patients with liver and pancreatic cancers in both sexes. In conclusion, our study shows a large burden of diabetes in cancer patients in Japan, which warrants further attention by health practitioners and policy‐makers.
Numerical study of rusk checking during storage
Authors: Monteau Jean‐Yves , Guihard Luc , Le‐Bail Alain
Published: February 2020

Checking is a recurring problem in the dry cereal products industry which involves hydromechanical and thermomechanical phenomena. This study focuses on the hydromechanical problem at constant temperature. The objective is to develop a model giving access to stress and the resulting strain fields in a rusk undergoing moisture equilibration during a 7‐day storage period in closed packaging to understand how checking occurs. A model was developed and implemented with Comsol Multiphysics. The effect of cells and the shape of the rusk on the stress field is investigated. Set‐ups were designed to determine the model parameters. Simulations showed that the rusks undergo shrinkage caused by moisture equilibration. Stresses reached maximal values around the cells of the matrix. The stress field varied significantly with the shape of the rusk.

Practical Applications

Checking in dry cereal products is a recurrent problem that has not yet been solved for many products, as it depends on the formulation of the latter and the processes used. Rusks, in particular, are subject to this phenomenon. This work provides elements for understanding the checking mechanism. It provides guidance to manufacturers on how to modify their processes to reduce the proportion of rusks that crack during storage.
Risk factors and a predictive nomogram for lymph node metastasis of superficial esophagogastric junction cancer
Authors: Zhu Min , Cao Bin , Li Xiao , Li Peng , Wen Zixian , Ji Jiafu , Min Li , Zhang Shutian
Published: February 2020

Background and Aim

No predictive model for lymph node metastasis (LNM) of superficial esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer exists. This study aimed to evaluate incidence, identify risk factors, and develop a predictive nomogram for LNM in patients with superficial EGJ cancers.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for model development and internal validation. Another data set was obtained from two hospitals for external validation. A nomogram was developed based on independent risk factors that resulted from a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Internal and external validations were performed to assess the performance of nomogram model by receiver operating characteristic and calibration plot.

Results

Prevalence of LNM was 11.41% for intramucosal cancer and increased to 26.50% for submucosal cancer. On the multivariate analysis, large tumor size (odds ratio [OR] = 1.42; P < 0.001), moderately and poorly/un‐differentiated pathological type (OR = 5.62 and 7.67; P = 0.024 and 0.008, respectively), and submucosal invasion (OR = 2.73; P = 0.004) were independent risk factors of LNM. The nomogram incorporating these three predictors demonstrated good discrimination (area under the estimated receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]: 0.74; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.68, 0.80) and calibration (mean absolute error was 0.012). Moreover, the discrimination in the internal and external validation sets was good (AUC: 0.73 [95%CI: 0.66, 0.81] and 0.74 [95%CI: 0.60, 0.89], respectively). Nomogram provided better clinical usefulness as assessed by a decision curve analysis.

Conclusions

Prevalence of LNM in superficial EGJ cancer was high. The first risk‐predictive nomogram model for LNM of superficial EGJ cancer may help clinicians to decide optimal treatment option preoperatively.
Shifting frontier dynamics in Latin America
Authors: Kröger Markus , Nygren Anja
Published: February 2020

The concepts of resource frontier and commodity frontier are often treated interchangeably. This article suggests the benefits of clarifying these concepts because frontiers remain important analytics for understanding drastic land‐use changes and other socio‐environmental transformations. Based on long‐term field research in different parts of South and Central America, we use frontier concepts as heuristic devices to analyze heterogeneous frontier situations and make broader generalizations. Our synchronic and diachronic analyses of frontier dynamics elucidate different frontier modalities and shifting frontier expansions. The concept of commoditizing resource frontier is introduced to explain recent frontier‐makings in Brazilian Amazonia and Cerrado and in the Nicaraguan Río San Juan. Although earlier frontier research took a short‐term time perspective and created conceptualizations based on a single modality of a particular period, our longitudinal analysis shows that drastic changes and complex overlappings are the hallmarks of frontier dynamics.
Pregnancy outcomes after day 5 versus day 6 blastocyst‐stage embryo transfer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Yi‐xin , Wang Jin , Sun Tian‐ze , Lv Mo‐qi , Ge Pan , Li Hao‐nan , Zhou Dang‐xia
Published: February 2020

Aim

To compare the pregnancy outcomes after day 5 blastocyst‐stage embryo transfers (BET) versus day 6 BET following vitrified‐warmed cycle and to evaluate whether the number of embryos transferred and the chromosomal status of embryo influence effect estimates.

Methods

A literature search (PubMed, Embase and MEDLINE) up to January 2019 was conducted to identify studies where women with day 6 BET were compared to women with day 5 BET. Only studies published in English language, on peer‐reviewed journal were considered eligible. The following subgroup analyses were performed: (i) number of embryos transferred and (ii) chromosomal status of embryo.

Results

From a total of 1956 articles identified, 23 observational studies were included in the meta‐analysis. We observed that day 6 BET were associated with lower implantation rate (risk ratio, RR: 1.17, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.10–1.24), clinical pregnancy rate (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10–1.24), ongoing pregnancy rate (RR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07–1.24) and live birth rate (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.33) than day 5 BET following vitrified‐warmed cycle. The subgroup analysis found that the superiority of day 5 BET compared with day 6 BET is influenced by the number of embryos transferred and chromosomal status of embryos.

Conclusion

Current evidence shows that day 5 BET is superior to day 6 BET following vitrified‐warmed cycle in clinical practice. Due to the overall low quality of available evidence, more larger and well‐conducted studies are needed to compare the pregnancy outcomes between day 5 and day 6 BET before drawing a clear conclusion.
Long‐term impact of lymphadenectomies in patients with low‐grade, early‐stage uterine endometrial stroma sarcoma
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Li Ning , Wang Wenpeng , Yao Hongwen , An Jusheng , Li Nan , Sun Yangchun , Wu Lingying
Published: February 2020

Aim

The aim of our study was to investigate the lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate and effect of lymph node dissection (LND) in patients with stage I, low‐grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS).

Methods

Patients with stage I LGESS (n = 119) that underwent surgery from July 1969 to July 2017, following up over 48 years at the China National Cancer Center were retrospectively analyzed in this study.

Results

Surgical records and consulting data for patients with LGESS were analyzed to find that 47 patients received systematic pelvic LND. The number of patients with menopause in the LND(+) group were significantly lower than those in LND(−) group (2.1% vs 22.2%, P = 0.005), meanwhile, patients received bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy procedure in LND(+) group were significantly higher than LND(−) (97.9% vs 58.3%, P < 0.001). Neither progression‐free survival nor overall survival was significantly improved in the LND(+) group even after propensity score matching although the progression‐free survival has a stronger trend in LND(+) population.

Conclusion

A systematic LND was not significantly associated with prognosis for patients with early‐stage LGESS. There is no sufficient indication for a systematic LND for patients with early‐stage LGESS. A systematic LND might be necessary if enlarged lymph nodes were detected by image graphology or observation during surgery.
Competition, Innovation and the Use of Innovations
Authors: Symeonidis George
Published: February 2020

I examine the effect of competition on the production and use of innovations using evidence from a natural experiment of policy reform, the introduction of cartel legislation in the U.K. in the late 1950’s. I compare manufacturing industries which had been collusive and were therefore affected by the policy with those that had been competitive and were not affected. The intensification of competition following the abolition of cartels caused a short‐run decrease in innovations produced, but had no significant effect in the long run. In contrast, innovations used increased both in the short run and in the long run.
Introduction: the advent of precision public health and the future of dental public health
Authors: Cappelli David
Published: February 2020

On the surface, the precision oral health movement seems to be at odds with dental public health. After all, precision oral health care focuses on the individual patient, where dental public health addresses the oral health needs of populations.

Objective

The American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) convened a colloquium to discuss the role of dental public health in the future of precision oral health.

Methods

On January 25 and 26, 2018, nine thought leaders from across the US outlined the potential role of public health, and more specifically dental public health, in the world of precision public health. Six of the speakers were invited to share their thoughts in this special edition.

Results

The special issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry shares the knowledge and insight provided by the speakers at the colloquium. It is with gratitude for their contribution, as well as, the contribution of the reviewers, organizers of the colloquium, and those in attendance who contributed their collective knowledge that we present this issue. Special thanks to HRSA for their support of this work (D88HP28510).
Quality Performance of Rural and Urban Home Health Agencies: Implications for Rural Add‐On Payment Policies
Authors: Chen Hsueh‐Fen , Landes Reid D. , Schuldt Robert F. , Tilford J. Mick
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To examine the differences in quality performance among agencies in urban areas and those in high utilization, low population density, and all other rural areas, defined in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study using 2015 data: the Home Health Compare, the Home Health Agency Utilization and Payment Use, the Provider of Services, and the Area Health Resources Files, and a file with rural categories in BBA. The quality measures included (1) hospitalizations, (2) emergency visits, (3) patient experience, (4) composite scores for improvement in activities of daily living (ADL), (5) improvement in pain and treating symptoms, (6) preventing harm, and (7) treating wounds and preventing pressure sores. We applied weighted least squares regression.

Findings

Among all quality measures, differences in emergency visits of the 3 rural categories from urban agencies were the largest. The adjusted mean emergency visit for urban agencies was 12.42%, with agencies in rural areas having 1.01‐1.96 percentage points higher rates than urban agencies (95% CI: 0.72‐1.29 for high utilization areas, 95% CI: 0.51‐3.42 for low population areas, and 95% CI: 1.28‐1.78 for all other areas).

Conclusions

The differences in the quality of care among agencies in 3 categories of rural areas were small, except for emergency visits. Given policies to reduce rural add‐on payments for home health services, continued monitoring of the services provided and the quality of care by home health agencies in rural areas is recommended.
Combining deep features and activity context to improve recognition of activities of workers in groups
Authors: Luo Xiaochun , Li Heng , Yu Yantao , Zhou Cheng , Cao Dongping
Published: February 2020

Automatic activity recognition plays an important role in addressing the efficiency issue of site management. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in vision‐based activity recognition, while its relatively low recognition accuracy and speed impede the practical application. This paper introduces a discriminative model to combine deep activity features and contextual information to improve the recognition of activities of workers on foot in site surveillance videos. Specifically, a conditional random field (CRF) model is designed based on deep activity features, which are extracted with a single‐stream deep activity recognition network, and spatial relevance, which are obtained with a tracking‐by‐detection multiple‐object tracking method. We have evaluated various deep activity features, including action features, activity features, and joint features. Also, we have parameterized the contextual information of activities in terms of spatial relevance and represent the context with graphs of K‐nearest neighbors. The experimental results show that the CRF model based on deep activity features and activity context can significantly improve activity recognition performance to 98.77% average accuracy by 22.10% from the baseline 77.67%, which is obtained using the single‐stream deep activity recognition network, with a small computational overhead of 0.025 ms per segment.
The FiberTAG project: Tagging dietary fibre intake by measuring biomarkers related to the gut microbiota and their interest for health
Authors: Neyrinck A. M. , Rodriguez J. , Vinoy S. , Maquet V. , Walter J. , Bischoff S. C. , Laville M. , Delzenne N. M.
Published: February 2020

The scientific rationale for dietary fibre intake recommendations comes from the recognition of their benefits for health based on studies first published many years ago. It remains unclear which are the key physiological effects generated by dietary fibre in view of the diversity of the food components considered as dietary fibre, of the relevance of their classification (soluble and insoluble) and from the recent discoveries putting forward their interactions with the gut microbiota. The project FiberTAG (Joint Programming Initiative ‘A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life’ 2017–2020 www.fibertag.eu/) aims to establish a set of biomarkers (markers of gut barrier function and bacterial co‐metabolites including volatile compounds and lipid derivatives), measured in different biological compartments (faeces, blood or breath) linking dietary fibre intake and gut microbiota‐related health effects. The FiberTAG consortium brings together academic and industrial partners from Belgium, France, Germany and Canada to share data and samples obtained from existing as well as new intervention studies in order to evaluate the relevance of such biomarkers. The FiberTAG consortium is currently working on five existing cohorts (prospective observational or nutritional interventions in healthy or obese patients), and a number of new intervention studies to analyse the effect of insoluble dietary fibre (wheat bran and chitin‐glucan, provided by the industrial partners) in healthy individuals or in obese patients at high cardiometabolic risk.
Vernalization shapes shoot architecture and ensures the maintenance of dormant buds in the perennial Arabis alpina
Authors: Vayssières Alice , Mishra Priyanka , Roggen Adrian , Neumann Ulla , Ljung Karin , Albani Maria C.
Published: February 2020

Perennials have a complex shoot architecture with axillary meristems organized in zones of differential bud activity and fate. This includes zones of buds maintained dormant for multiple seasons and used as reservoirs for potential growth in case of damage. The shoot of Arabis alpina, a perennial relative of Arabidopsis thaliana, consists of a zone of dormant buds placed between subapical vegetative and basal flowering branches. This shoot architecture is shaped after exposure to prolonged cold, required for flowering.

To understand how vernalization ensures the maintenance of dormant buds, we performed physiological and transcriptome studies, followed the spatiotemporal changes of auxin, and generated transgenic plants.

Our results demonstrate that the complex shoot architecture in A. alpina is shaped by its flowering behavior, specifically the initiation of inflorescences during cold treatment and rapid flowering after subsequent exposure to growth‐promoting conditions. Dormant buds are already formed before cold treatment. However, dormancy in these buds is enhanced during, and stably maintained after, vernalization by a BRC1‐dependent mechanism. Post‐vernalization, stable maintenance of dormant buds is correlated with increased auxin response, transport, and endogenous indole‐3‐acetic acid levels in the stem.

Here, we provide a functional link between flowering and the maintenance of dormant buds in perennials.
Cheating in arbuscular mycorrhizal mutualism: a network and phylogenetic analysis of mycoheterotrophy
Authors: Perez‐Lamarque Benoît , Selosse Marc‐André , Öpik Maarja , Morlon Hélène , Martos Florent
Published: February 2020

Although mutualistic interactions are widespread and essential in ecosystem functioning, the emergence of uncooperative cheaters threatens their stability, unless there are some physiological or ecological mechanisms limiting interactions with cheaters.

In this framework, we investigated the patterns of specialization and phylogenetic distribution of mycoheterotrophic cheaters vs noncheating autotrophic plants and their respective fungi, in a global arbuscular mycorrhizal network with> 25 000 interactions.

We show that mycoheterotrophy evolved repeatedly among vascular plants, suggesting low phylogenetic constraints for plants. However, mycoheterotrophic plants are significantly more specialized than autotrophic plants, and they tend to be associated with specialized and closely related fungi. These results raise new hypotheses about the mechanisms (e.g. sanctions, or habitat filtering) that actually limit the interaction of mycoheterotrophic plants and their associated fungi with the rest of the autotrophic plants.

Beyond mycorrhizal symbiosis, this unprecedented comparison of mycoheterotrophic vs autotrophic plants provides a network and phylogenetic framework to assess the presence of constraints upon cheating emergences in mutualisms.
Blood Metal Ion Release After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Study
Authors: Reiner Tobias , Sorbi Reza , Müller Maike , Nees Timo , Kretzer Jan Philippe , Rickert Markus , Moradi Babak
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To investigate the course ofin vivoblood metal ion levels in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to investigate potential risk factors associated with metal ion release in these patients.

Methods

Twenty‐five patients with indication for TKA were included in this prospective study. Whole blood metal ion analysis was performed pre‐operatively and at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Clinical scores were obtained using the American Knee Society Score (AKSS) and the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) at each follow‐up and patientsʼ activity levels were assessed by measuring the mean annual walking cycles at 12 months follow‐up. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the operated knee were evaluated postoperatively and at 12‐month follow‐up with regard to implant position and radiological signs of implant loosening. Correlation analysis using multivariate linear regression was performed to investigate the influence of different variables (age, gender, functional scores, number of walking cycles, and body mass index [BMI]) on blood cobalt ion concentrations.

Results

Mean metal ion levels of cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and titanium were 0.28 μg/L (SD, 0.14), 0.43 μg/L (SD, 0.49), 0.62 μg/L (SD, 0.45), and 1.96 μg/L (SD, 0.98), respectively at 12‐month follow‐up. Mean cobalt ion levels significantly increased 1‐year after surgery compared to preoperative measurements. There was no statistically significant increase of mean metal ion levels of chromium, titanium, and molybdenum at 1‐year follow‐up. Overall, metal ion levels were low and no patient demonstrated cobalt ion levels above 1 μg/L. Postoperative radiographs demonstrated well‐aligned TKAs in all patients and no signs of osteolysis or implant loosening were detected at 1‐year follow‐up. Both the AKSS and OKS significantly improved during the course of the study up to the final follow‐up. Multivariate regression analysis did not show a statistically significant correlation between the tested variables and blood cobalt ion concentrations.

Conclusion

A statistically significant increase of mean cobalt ion concentration at 1‐year follow‐up was found in this cohort of patients with well‐functioning TKA, although overall blood metal ion levels were relatively low. Despite low systemic metal ion concentrations seen in this cohort, the local effects of increased metal ion concentrations in the periprosthetic environment on the long‐term outcome of TKA should be further investigated.
Emerging trends, techniques, and equipment for airway management in pediatric patients
Authors: Stein Mary Lyn , Park Raymond S. , Kovatsis Pete G.
Published: February 2020

Pediatric patients present unique anatomic and physiologic considerations in airway management, which impose significant physiologic limits on safe apnea time before the onset of hypoxemia and subsequent bradycardia. These issues are even more pronounced for the pediatric difficult airway. In the last decade, the development of pediatric sized supraglottic airways specifically designed for intubation, as well as advances in imaging technology such that current pediatric airway equipment now finally rival those for the adult population, has significantly expanded the pediatric anesthesiologist's tool kit for pediatric airway management. Equally important, techniques are increasingly implemented that maintain oxygen delivery to the lungs, safely extending the time available for pediatric airway management. This review will focus on emerging trends and techniques using existing tools to safely handle the pediatric airway including videolaryngoscopy, combination techniques for intubation, techniques for maintaining oxygenation during intubation, airway management in patients at risk for aspiration, and considerations in cannot intubate cannot oxygenate scenarios.
Evaluation of frequency of occurrence of cognitive impairment in the course of arterial hypertension in an elderly population
Authors: Kapusta Joanna , Kidawa Tit Michał , Rynkowska‐Kidawa Monika , IrzmaŃski Tit Robert , Kowalski Tit Jan
Published: February 2020

Background

Dementia is a very serious problem with regard to geriatric population. In the population over the age of 80 the prevalence of dementia varies by up to 20%. It is very important to answer the question ‐ are arterial hypertension and its duration associated with cognitive performance?

Methods

One hundred and sixty people were qualified for participation in the study, women and men, diagnosed with arterial hypertension. The patients were divided into two pairs of groups. The first pair was group 1, patients with hypertension over the age of 85 and group 2, patients with hypertension aged 75–85. The second pair was group I, patients with up to 10 years of arterial hypertension and group II, patients with over 10 years of arterial hypertension. In the study, the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used. Interpretation of impairment depended on the obtained numerical value.

Results

In the tested group of patients, for individual correlations it was found that age is the independent variable which significantly affects the MMSE score. It was found that the time of duration of arterial hypertension did not have impact on the MMSE.

Conclusion

Cognitive functions evaluated through the MMSE were correct for the entire population. The length of the course of arterial hypertension did not have a significant adverse impact on cognitive functions and on the achieved MMSE result. Significant impact of age on the lowering of MMSE results and impairment of cognitive functions was shown.
Metasemantic ethics
Authors: Ball Derek
Published: February 2020

The idea that experts (especially scientific experts) play a privileged role in determining the meanings of our words and the contents of our concepts has become commonplace since the work of Hilary Putnam, Tyler Burge, and others in the 1970s. But if experts have the power to determine what our words mean, they can do so responsibly or irresponsibly, from good motivations or bad, justly or unjustly, with good or bad effects. This paper distinguishes three families of metasemantic views based on their attitudes towards bad behaviour by meaning‐fixing experts, and draws a series of distinctions relevant for the normative evaluation of meaning‐determining actions.
Parenting and management skills: The mediator role of empathy
Authors: Nunes‐Costa Rui , Lopes Catarina , Leite Ângela
Published: February 2020

The present study aimed to test the effect of sex as well as the experience of parenting at the level of empathy and management skills and the mediating effect of empathy on the relationship between the experience of parenting and management skills. No differences were found between men and women concerning management skills. Women had higher empathy levels than men. Being a father or mother increased management skills and empathy levels. However, the experience of parenting interferes with management skills by increasing levels of empathy only in men. Career counselors need to considerer not only the processes inherent to each management task, but also the variables that intensify these competences, integrating emotional and relational dimensions.
Taking social policy personally: How does neuroticism affect welfare state attitudes?
Authors: Tepe Markus , Vanhuysse Pieter
Published: February 2020

The role of the “Big Five” personality traits in driving welfare state attitudes has received scant attention in social policy research. Yet neuroticism in particular—a disposition to stress, worry, and get nervous easily—is theoretically likely to be an important driver of welfare attitudes precisely because welfare states deliver social “security” and “safety” nets. Using cross‐sectional data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel, we study three distinct attitude types (dissatisfaction with the social security system, feelings of personal financial insecurity, and preferences for state provision) and multiple social need contexts (including unemployment, ill health, old age, and nursing care). Controlling for established explanations such as self‐interest, partisanship, and socialization, neuroticism does not systematically affect support for state provision. But it robustly increases general dissatisfaction with social security, as well as financial insecurity across various need contexts. Neurotic people are thus less happy with welfare state programmes across the board, yet they also appear to need these programmes more. This trait may be an important deeper layer driving other social attitudes.
Application of mixed straw and biochar meets plant demand of carbon dioxide and increases soil carbon storage in sunken solar greenhouse vegetable production
Authors: Zhao Yiming , Lin Shan , Liu Yanni , Li Guoyuan , Wang Jinggou , Butterbach‐Bahl Klaus
Published: February 2020

Solar vegetable greenhouse soils show low soil organic carbon content and thus also low rates of soil respiration. Processing vegetable residues to biochar and mixing biochar with maize straw might improve soil respiration and increase soil organic carbon stocks, while preventing the spread of soil‐borne diseases carried by vegetable residues. In an incubation experiment, we tested how additions of maize straw (S) and biochar (B) added in varying ratios (100S, 75S25B, 50S50B, 25S75B, 100B and 0S0B (control)) affect soil respiration and fraction of added C remaining in soil. Daily CO2 emissions were measured over 60 days incubation, the natural abundance of 13C in soil and in the added biochar and maize straw were analysed. Our result shows that (a) soil CO2 emissions were significantly increased compared to soil without the straw additions, while addition of biochar only decreased soil respiration; (b) cumulative CO2 emissions decreased with increasing ratio of added biochar to maize straw; (c) the abundance of soil 13C was significant positively correlated with cumulative CO2 emissions, and thus with the ratio of straw addition. Our results indicate that incorporation of maize straw in greenhouse soils is a meaningful measure to increase soil respiration and to facilitate greenhouse atmosphere CO2 limitation while producing vegetables. On the other hand, additions of biochar from vegetable residues will increase soil organic carbon concentration. Therefore, the simultaneous application of maize straw and biochar obtained from vegetable residues is an effective option to maintain essential soil functions for vegetable production in sunken solar greenhouses.
Soil carbon increases with long‐term cattle stocking in northern temperate grasslands
Authors: Bork Edward W. , Raatz Lisa L. , Carlyle Cameron N. , Hewins Daniel B. , Thompson Karen A.
Published: February 2020

Grassland management aimed at enhancing carbon (C) in soil is an important tool in mitigation of rising atmospheric CO2, yet little is known of how grassland soil C changes with livestock stocking rate (SR). We relate soil organic and inorganic C mass (t ha−1 to 60 cm depth) with cattle stocking over periods of 7–27 year for 32 paddocks distributed across nine community pastures in the mixed‐grass prairie of Saskatchewan, Canada. Initial analysis comparing Akaike information criterion models showed that cattle SR explained a greater proportion of variance in soil C, particularly soil organic C, than rainfall. Soil organic C mass increased with cattle SR (R2 = .293; p = .001), even when the latter was normalized to account for differences in vegetation composition and growing conditions among pastures. Normalized SR varied from 0.49 to 2.30 times recommended levels, over which SOC increased from 24.7 to 57.4 t ha−1. Increases in soil organic C under greater stocking coincided with increased abundance of introduced vegetation, particularly the rhizomatous grass Poa pratensis. Inorganic soil C accounted for 34.6% of total soil C, being particularly large below 30 cm soil depth, but did not vary with stocking rate. These findings indicate that both organic and inorganic C are important pools of C in northern temperate grassland soils, with soil organic C positively associated with long‐term cattle SR. Further studies are recommended to understand more fully the mechanisms regulating grazing impacts on soil C mass in northern temperate grasslands.
Finding outdoor boundaries for 3D space‐based navigation
Authors: Yan Jinjin , Diakité Abdoulaye A. , Zlatanova Sisi , Aleksandrov Mitko
Published: February 2020

Outdoor navigation is widely used in daily life, but faces various issues related to the fidelity of outdoor navigation networks. For instance, agents (pedestrians) are often guided via unrealistic detours around places without clear paths (e.g., squares) or if there are vertical constraints such as overpasses/bridges. This is partly explained by the fact that the main sources of navigation networks in current outdoor navigation are two‐dimensional road/street networks. Utilizing a three‐dimensional space‐based navigation model, compatible with some indoor approaches, is a popular way to address the above‐mentioned issues. A 3D space‐based navigation model is generated by treating 3D spaces as nodes and the shared faces as edges. Inputs of this model are enclosed 3D spaces (volumes). However, outdoor spaces are generally open and unbounded. This article puts forward an approach to enclose outdoor spaces and mimic the indoor environments to derive a network based on connectivity and accessibility of spaces. The approach uses 2.5D maps and consists of three major steps: object footprint determination, footprint classification and space creation. Two use cases demonstrate the proposed approach. Enclosing outdoor spaces opens a new research direction toward providing seamless indoor/outdoor navigation for a range of agents.
Impact of valganciclovir prophylaxis duration on cytomegalovirus disease in high‐risk donor seropositive/recipient seronegative heart transplant recipients
Authors: Imlay Hannah , Dumitriu Carcoana Allison O. , Fisher Cynthia E. , Wong Beatrice , Rakita Robert M. , Fishbein Daniel P. , Limaye Ajit P.
Published: February 2020

Background

Few data support use of 6 over 3 months of antiviral prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease prevention in donor seropositive/recipient seronegative (D+R−) heart transplant recipients (HTR).

Methods

We retrospectively assessed CMV disease and outcomes in 310 adult HTR between July 5, 2005, and December 30, 2016, at our center. Valganciclovir (VGCV) prophylaxis was given for 3‐6 months in the D+R− group. Multivariable models evaluated risk factors for CMV disease in patients who received 3 vs 6 months (±1 month) of prophylaxis, with investigation of inverse probability weighting to correct for confounding variables.

Results

The incidence of CMV disease among all patients and the D+R− group was 8.7% (27/310) and 26.5% (22/83), respectively, and included syndrome in 22.2% (6/27) and end‐organ involvement in 77.8% (21/27). In a multivariable model, 6 vs 3 months of antiviral prophylaxis was not associated with reduced risk for CMV disease (OR 2.28 [95% CI 0.66, 7.91], P = .19). CMV disease in D+R− HTR was associated with higher rates of hospitalization (87.5% [14/16] vs 6.3% [1/16], P < .001) and for a longer duration than in matched D+R− controls without disease.

Conclusions

Cytomegalovirus disease remains a major cause of morbidity in D+R− HTR. In contrast to documented benefit in D+R− lung and kidney recipients, VGCV duration of 6 months was not associated with a lower incidence of CMV disease in D+R− HTR compared to 3‐month duration and should be reconsidered in this patient population.
Description of a rare osteochondrosis lesion of the medial aspect of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia in seven Thoroughbred horses (2008‐2018)
Authors: Kadic Lawrence I.M. , Rodgerson Dwayne H. , Newsom Lauren E. , Spirito Michael A.
Published: February 2020

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia (DIRT) is commonly identified on either the lateral to medial (LM) or dorso45°medial‐plantarolateral oblique (D45M‐PLO) projection of the tarsus. This manuscript describes a retrospective case series out of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, for which medical records and radiographic projections of the tarsus were reviewed, consistent with Keeneland's repository requirements. This original investigation identified seven yearling Thoroughbred horses between 2008 and 2018 with radiographic signs of atypical osteochondrosis lesions within the tarsus. The atypical lesions, originating along the medial margin of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia, were initially only diagnosed on the dorso10°lateral‐plantaromedial (D10L‐PMO) projection and were overlooked on the LM and D45M‐PLO views. Following the diagnosis of osteochondrosis in these seven cases, the radiographs were reviewed and re‐evaluated, but osteochondrosis and/or fragmentation could not be definitively diagnosed on the LM and/or D45M‐PLO projections alone. Our findings highlight the importance of a complete radiographic study of the equine tarsus when screening horses for OCD lesions of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia and that atypical DIRT lesions may go undetected if the D10L‐PMO projection is not performed.
Exercise improves adiposopathy, insulin sensitivity and metabolic syndrome severity independent of intensity
Authors: Heiston Emily M. , Eichner Natalie ZM. , Gilbertson Nicole M. , Malin Steven K.
Published: February 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What are the effects of work‐matched continuous versus high‐intensity interval training for 2 weeks on adiposopathy and cardiometabolic risk in obese adults with prediabetes?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Independent of intensity, short‐term exercise improves adiposopathy and insulin sensitivity. While both exercise intensities reduced fasting leptin concentrations and metabolic syndrome severity, only interval training elevated total adiponectin. In contrast to previous work, neither condition altered high‐molecular weight adiponectin. Collectively, these data suggest that short‐term exercise can improve adipokine profiles, which may aid in reducing cardiometabolic risk prior to clinically meaningful weight loss in adults with prediabetes.

Individuals with prediabetes who are overweight and obese are at an increased risk of developing endocrine disruption of fat tissue, known as adiposopathy. While short‐term exercise improves adipokine profiles, the effects of exercise intensity when matched for energy expenditure on adiposopathy are unknown. We hypothesized that high‐intensity exercise would elicit greater changes in adiposopathy compared to moderate exercise. Twenty‐eight overweight and obese adults (age: 60.9 ± 8.4 years; BMI: 33.0 ± 5.4 kg m−2) with prediabetes were randomized to twelve 60‐min sessions of either moderate‐continuous (CONT; n = 14) or high‐intensity interval (INT; n = 14) exercise training. Total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and leptin were collected to assess adiposopathy (ratio of total adiponectin to leptin; A/L). Insulin sensitivity (SIIS) was determined using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test before and after training. Cardiometabolic risk factors were measured and a z‐score was calculated to determine metabolic syndrome (MetS) severity. CONT and INT increased A/L (P < 0.01) and decreased leptin (P < 0.01) and MetS severity (P = 0.04). Neither intervention altered circulating levels of HMW adiponectin (P = 0.76) and only INT increased total adiponectin levels (P = 0.02). Both intensities increased insulin sensitivity (P < 0.01), which was associated with improvements in A/L (r = 0.47, P = 0.01). Additionally, increases in A/L tended to relate to decreased MetS severity (r = −0.36, P = 0.09). Short‐term exercise intensity, when matched for energy expenditure, does not differentially affect improvements in adiposopathy in overweight and obese adults with prediabetes. Further, 12 bouts of exercise improved insulin sensitivity and MetS severity, suggesting that improving adipokine profiles may aid in reducing cardiometabolic risk.
Self-driven Liquid Metal Mollusk Oscillations
Authors: Hao Tingting , Cui Wenyu , Yu Huiwen , Ma Xuehu , Ma Hongbin
Published: February 2020

Room temperature liquid metal (galinstan, made up of gallium, indium and tin) is driven to oscillate by the phase change of water in the self-excited oscillating heat pipe (OHP) charged with liquid metal and water. The cross section of the channel is square with the dimension of 3×3 mm2. Liquid metal is a high-performance coolant with ultrahigh thermal conductivity (nearly 27 times higher than water). During the operation of OHP, liquid metal is pushed up by the vapor expansion in the evaporator section, and moves back by the vapor contraction and gravity effects. Then, liquid metal is driven to oscillate continuously between evaporator and condenser in the OHP. Surface tension of galinstan is 10 times higher than water, resulting in a ball shape of liquid metal in the channels. And there is a thin water film existing between liquid metal and inner surface. During the oscillating motion, liquid metal presents the characteristics of a mollusk. Soft liquid metal is extended into metal filament, or breaks up into small liquid metal balls. Then, small liquid metal balls coalesce into a long liquid metal slug, resulting in surface waves due to the released surface energy during the coalescence process. The deformation and deformation recovery of the liquid metal is the result of competition between deforming pressure forces and the reforming surface tension forces. Oscillations of liquid metal will generate flow field disturbance in the base fluid of water and further enhance the heat transfer performance in two-phase flow systems.

[This research work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 21606034 and Office of Naval Research under Grant No. N00014-19-1-2006.]