bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis on the photoluminescence properties of Cs2BF6:Mn4+ (B = Ge, Si, Zr, Ti) red phosphors for WLEDs
Authors: Liu Manman , Dang Peipei , Wei Yi , Liang Sisi , Liu Guofeng , Geng Aifang , Lian Hongzhou , Lin Jun
Published: September 2019

A series of Cs2BF6:Mn4+ (B = Ge, Si, Ti, Zr) red phosphors were synthesized by a precipitation‐cation exchange route. The phase purity, morphology, and constituent were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical properties were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) spectra and high‐resolution PL. Temperature‐dependent PL examination at the range of both 273‐573 K and 10‐300 K was performed to investigate the emission mechanism of Mn4+ in these fluorides. The intensity for both zero‐phonon lines (ZPLs) and vibration coupled emission of Mn4+ in these four systems with different crystal structures was investigated systematically. These phosphors present bright red emission under blue light (467 nm) illumination, among which Cs2GeF6:0.1Mn4+ shows the highest emission intensity with ultrahigh quantum efficiency of 94%. The white light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) fabricated with this sample, blue InGaN chips and commercial YAG:Ce3+ phosphor exhibited high luminous efficacy beyond 100 lm/w with high color rendering index (~88.6) and low color temperature (~3684 K).
Prediction of nutrient digestibility in grower‐finisher pigs based on faecal microbiota composition
Authors: Verschuren Lisanne M. G. , Schokker Dirkjan , Bergsma Rob , Jansman Alfons J. M. , Molist Francesc , Calus Mario P. L.
Published: September 2019

Microbiota play an important role in total tract nutrient digestion, especially when fibrous diets are fed to pigs. This study aimed to use metagenomics to predict faecal nutrient digestibility in grower‐finisher pigs. The study design consisted of 160 three‐way crossbreed grower‐finisher pigs (80 female and 80 male) which were either fed a diet based on corn/soybean meal or a more fibrous diet based on wheat/barley/by‐products. On the day before slaughter, faecal samples were collected and used to determine faecal digestibility of dry matter, ash, organic matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and non‐starch polysaccharides. The faecal samples were also sequenced for the 16S hypervariable region of bacteria (V3/V4) to profile the faecal microbiome. With these data, we calculated the between‐animal variation in faecal nutrient digestibility associated with variation in the faecal microbiome, that is the “microbiability”. The microbiability values were significantly greater than zero for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and non‐starch polysaccharides, ranging from 0.58 to 0.93, as well as for crude fat with a value of 0.37, but not significantly different from zero for ash. Using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation, we estimated the accuracy of predicting digestibility values of individual pigs based on their faecal microbiota composition. The accuracies of prediction for crude fat and ash digestibility were virtually 0, and for the other nutrients, the accuracies ranged from 0.42 to 0.63. In conclusion, the faecal microbiota composition gave high microbiability values for faecal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and non‐starch polysaccharides. The accuracies of prediction are relatively low if the interest is in precisely predicting faecal nutrient digestibility of individual pigs, but are promising from the perspective of ranking animals in a genetic selection context.
A gain of function paradox: Targeted therapy for glioblastoma associated with abnormal NHE9 expression
Authors: Pall Ashley E. , Juratli Lena , Guntur Dhyana , Bandyopadhyay Krisanu , Kondapalli Kalyan C.
Published: September 2019

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and inevitably lethal primary brain cancer in adults. It is recognized that the overexpression of the endosomal Na+/H+ exchanger NHE9 is a potent driver of GBM progression. Patients with NHE9 overexpression have a threefold lower median survival relative to GBM patients with normal NHE9 expression, using available treatment options. New treatment strategies tailored for this GBM subset are much needed. According to the prevailing model, NHE9 overexpression leads to an increase in plasma membrane density of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) which consequently enhances GBM cell proliferation and migration. However, this increase is not specific to EGFRs. In fact, the hallmark of NHE9 overexpression is a pan‐specific increase in plasma membrane receptors. Paradoxically, we report that this gain of function in NHE9 can be exploited to effectively target GBM cells for destruction. When exposed to gold nanoparticles, NHE9 overexpressing GBM cells accumulated drastically high amounts of gold via receptor‐mediated endocytosis, relative to control. Irradiation of these cells with near‐infrared light led to apoptotic tumour cell death. A major limitation for delivering therapeutics to GBM cells is the blood‐brain barrier (BBB). Here, we demonstrate that macrophages loaded with gold nanoparticles can cross the BBB, deliver the gold nanoparticles and effect the demise of GBM cells. In combination with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition, we show this approach holds great promise for a new GBM‐targeted therapy.
Platelet‐rich plasma injections in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: A randomized placebo‐controlled crossover study
Authors: Dicle Özlem , Bilgic Temel Asli , Gülkesen Kemal Hakan
Published: September 2019

Background

Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has been increasingly used, yet there remains a dearth of data on the effectiveness of this approach.

Aim

To compare the efficacy and safety of physically activated PRP injections vs placebo in the treatment of male AGA.

Methods

Twenty‐five healthy male patients with AGA were enrolled in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover study with the treatments of PRP and placebo. Treatment efficacy was measured by calculating the hair density as the average of two independent blind measurements.

Results

In the group that received placebo first (Group 2), we detected a significant increase in hair density at the secondary endpoints after PRP treatment (P = .014). There was a greater proportion of patients with low‐grade alopecia in this group (53.3%) compared to Group 1 (30%).

Conclusion

This study provides data supporting the positive effects of PRP treatment on AGA in males, but further studies are needed to identify those factors that might affect PRP treatment performance, such as the stage of the disease.
Research awareness among children's nurses: An integrative review
Authors: Rossi Silvia , Bagnasco Annamaria , Barisone Michela , Bianchi Monica , Bressan Valentina , Timmins Fiona , Pellegrini Ramona , Aleo Giuseppe , Sasso Loredana
Published: September 2019

Background

Developing nursing research skills, awareness and research utilisation are important for improving healthcare outcomes and are key to ensuring the full understanding and knowledge base necessary for optimal delivery of care. Nevertheless, little is known about research awareness in children's nurses.

Aims and objectives

To address this issue, an integrative literature review was conducted for studies published between January 2007 and January 2017 to obtain up‐to‐date evidence about the extent of research awareness and utilisation among children's nurses.

Methods

Using PubMed, Cochrane Library, ILISI and CINAHL databases, 21 studies related to children's nurses' research awareness were included in the final review, which was later developed and structured in keeping with PRISMA checklist and guidelines.

Conclusions

The studies isolated show that nurses' knowledge about and utilisation of research vary and that there are many existent barriers to and facilitators of evidence‐based practice in the paediatric setting. Some studies report that introducing a cultural and/or change in clinical practice change to improve research utilisation can have positive impacts on healthcare outcomes and the quality of nursing care of children. It is recommended that structured approaches to improving research utilisation be considered and additional research is needed to explore the benefits of these approaches.

Relevance to clinical practice

Despite more than three decades of the evidence‐based practice movement within nursing, barriers still exist among children's nurses in the use of research in practice. If the use of research to improve the delivery of children's nursing care is to become a reality, then nurses' research awareness needs to improve to underpin care delivery with optimal evidence in a cohesive informed manner.
Effects of the drug combination memantine and melatonin on impaired memory and brain neuronal deficits in an amyloid-predominant mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Jürgenson Monika , Zharkovskaja Tamara , Noortoots Aveli , Morozova Margarita , Beniashvili Allan , Zapolski Max , Zharkovsky Alexander
Published: September 2019

Objectives

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure. Limited treatment options available today do not offer solutions to slow or stop any of the suspected causes. The current medications used for the symptomatic treatment of AD include memantine and acetylcholine esterase inhibitors. Some studies suggest that melatonin could also be used in AD patients due to its sleep-improving properties.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated whether a combination of memantine with melatonin, administered for 32 days in drinking water, was more effective than either drug alone with respect to Aβ aggregates, neuroinflammation and cognition in the double transgenic APP/PS1 (5xFAD) mouse model of AD.

Key findings

In this study, chronic administration of memantine with melatonin improved episodic memory in the object recognition test and reduced the number of amyloid aggregates and reactive microgliosis in the brains of 5xFAD mice. Although administration of memantine or melatonin alone also reduced the number of amyloid aggregates and inflammation in brain, this study shows a clear benefit of the drug combination, which had a significantly stronger effect in this amyloid-dominant mouse model of AD.

Conclusion

Our data suggest considerable potential for the use of memantine with melatonin in patients with AD.
Indicative conditionals without iterative epistemology
Authors: Holguín Ben
Published: September 2019

This paper argues that two widely accepted principles about the indicative conditional jointly presuppose the falsity of one of the most prominent arguments against epistemological iteration principles. The first principle about the indicative conditional, which has close ties both to the Ramsey test and the “or‐to‐if” inference, says that knowing a material conditional suffices for knowing the corresponding indicative. The second principle says that conditional contradictions cannot be true when their antecedents are epistemically possible. Taken together, these principles entail that it is impossible to be in a certain kind of epistemic state: namely, a state of ignorance about which of two partially overlapping bodies of knowledge corresponds to one's actual one. However, some of the more popular “margin for error” style arguments against epistemological iteration principles suggest that such states are not only possible, but commonplace. I argue that the tension between these views runs deep, arising just as much for non‐factive attitudes like belief, presupposition, and certainty. I also argue that this is worse news for those who accept the principles about the indicative conditional than it is for those who reject epistemological iteration principles.
Oral adverse effects of drugs: Taste disorders
Authors: Rademacher Willem Maria Hubertus , Aziz Yalda , Hielema Atty , Cheung Ka‐Chun , de Lange Jan , Vissink Arjan , Rozema Frederik Reinder
Published: September 2019

Objective

Oral healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with patients using drugs on a daily basis. These drugs can cause taste disorders as adverse effect. The literature that discusses drug‐induced taste disorders is fragmented. This article aims to support oral healthcare professionals in their decision making whether a taste disorder can be due to use of drugs by providing a comprehensive overview of drugs with taste disorders as an adverse effect.

Materials and methods

The national drug information database for Dutch pharmacists, based on scientific drug information, guidelines, and summaries of product characteristics, was analyzed for drug‐induced taste disorders. “MedDRA classification” and “Anatomic Therapeutical Chemical codes” were used to categorize the results.

Results

Of the 1,645 drugs registered in the database, 282 (17%) were documented with “dysgeusia” and 61 (3.7%) with “hypogeusia.” Drug‐induced taste disorders are reported in all drug categories, but predominantly in “antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents,” “antiinfectives for systemic use,” and “nervous system.” In ~45%, “dry mouth” coincided as adverse effect with taste disorders.

Conclusion

Healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with drugs reported to cause taste disorders. This article provides an overview of these drugs to support clinicians in their awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of drug‐induced taste disorders.
Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis due to homozygous variants in NIPAL4 with a dramatic response to ustekinumab
Authors: Poulton Cathryn , Gration Dylan , Murray Kevin , Baynam Gareth , Halbert Anne
Published: September 2019

Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis is a genetically and phenotypically heterogenous group of scaling skin disorders. We describe a patient with ARCI caused by homozygous variants in NIPAL4, in whom the dermatologic phenotype and an associated arthropathy, markedly improved with ustekinumab.
Coordinating Lot Sizing Decisions Under Bilateral Information Asymmetry
Authors: Zissis Dimitris , Ioannou George , Burnetas Apostolos
Published: September 2019

We consider inventory management decisions when manufacturing and warehousing are controlled by independent entities. The latter possess private information that affects their choices and are allowed to communicate via a mediator who attempts to streamline their decisions without restricting their freedom. The mediator designs a mechanism based on quantity discounts to minimize the overall system costs, attempting to reach a win–win situation for both entities. Using the Revelation Principle, we show that it is in the entities’ self‐interest to reveal their information and we prove that coordination is attainable even under bilateral information asymmetry. The acceptable cost allocation is not unique, providing adequate flexibility to the mediator during mechanism design; the flexibility may reflect the relative power of the entities and is quantified in our work by a series of computational experiments. Our approach is motivated by inventory management practices in a manufacturing group and, thus, it is directly applicable to real‐life cases.
A Simple Model of Corporate Bailouts in a Globalized Economy*
Authors: Exbrayat Nelly , Madiès Thierry , Riou Stéphane
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we explore how globalization influences the decision of governments to rescue inefficient domestic firms when bailouts affect firms’ markup. We develop a model of international trade in which immobile domestic‐owned enterprises (DOEs) compete with foreign‐owned enterprises (FOEs) in an oligopolistic market. The decision to bail out DOEs leads to lower corporate tax revenues if FOEs are immobile, whereas tax revenues might increase if FOEs are mobile. Interestingly, the mobility of FOEs makes governments more prone to rescuing inefficient domestic firms because tax competition reduces the opportunity cost of a bailout policy in terms of public good provision.
Suicide Attempts: How Does the Acute Use of Alcohol Affect Suicide Intent?
Authors: Salles Juliette , Tiret Bernard , Gallini Adeline , Gandia Peggy , Arbus Christophe , Mathur Anjali , Bougon Emmanuelle
Published: September 2019

Background

Very few studies have specifically addressed the role of the acute use of alcohol (AUA) in suicide attempts.

Objective

Our study compared the suicide intent scores of self‐poisoning patients with and without AUA in order to examine the role of alcohol in attempted suicides.

Methods

We recruited 516 patients admitted to the emergency department for self‐poisoning. We screened blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) to determine whether these were positive or negative in the two groups. We collected data about covariates such as psychiatric disorders and sociodemographic and suicide characteristics. We then compared suicide intent between the groups, adjusted according to the covariates.

Results

The patients with AUA had lower scores for suicide intent, but this factor only reduced the self‐reporting score, with the scores for objective circumstances and risk similar between the groups. There was a correlation between BACs and self‐reported suicide intentionality, but this was not significant.

Conclusion

Acute use of alcohol patients presented with lower suicide intent, as particularly explained by the self‐report scores, but there were no differences between the groups in terms of risk and/or the objective circumstances. The role of alcohol in the self‐reporting of suicide attempts must be addressed in future studies.
The push for transgender inclusion: Exploring boundary spanning in the gay–straight alliance
Authors: Sutherland David Kyle
Published: September 2019

Gay–straight alliance (or gender‐sexuality alliance; GSA) is a high‐school based club aimed at providing a safer environment for sexual and gender minority youth as well as their straight allies. Yet, as a club historically rooted in addressing sexual orientation‐related concerns, less attention has been given to understanding the changing relational dynamics of internal GSA activities aimed at expanding membership boundaries through the promotion of transgender inclusivity. I address this by bridging existing scholarship on GSAs, social movements, and the sociology of culture to showcase the impact boundary‐spanning strategies are having on GSA mobilization, in‐group solidarity, and external political and social activism. My findings reveal that membership boundary negotiations around gender diversity issues are shifting the social landscape of these clubs. Emerging barriers that impede boundary‐spanning efforts are also highlighted and discussed. More broadly, I generate new theoretical insights into how boundary spanning can shape political and social activism as well as offer promising future research directions in this area.
Effects of argon and nitrogen plasma pulses on the skin and skin appendages in an in vivo animal model
Authors: Kim Heesu , Kim Hyun‐Jo , Kim Hee Kyung , Hong Jeong Yeon , Cho Sung Bin
Published: September 2019

Background

For medical purposes, plasma can be generated from inert gaseous sources in a device by ultra‐high‐frequency generators and emitted to target tissue at a pulse duration in the milliseconds.

Objective

To evaluate argon and nitrogen plasma pulse‐induced tissue reactions in the skin and skin appendages of an in vivo animal model.

Methods

Argon and nitrogen plasma pulses were non‐invasively delivered to in vivo rat skin at various experimental settings. Specimens were histologically evaluated following hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining.

Results

At low‐energy settings of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 J, nitrogen plasma treatments generated noticeable tissue coagulation at the depths of 31.5 ± 8.3, 94.9 ± 16.9, and 171.6 ± 19.7 µm, respectively, at Day 0. At high‐energy settings of 2.5 and 3.0 J, nitrogen plasma treatments generated marked tissue coagulation at the depths of 381.7 ± 33.6 µm and 456.3 ± 75.7 µm, respectively, at Day 0.

Conclusions

Treatment with argon plasma induces microscopic changes in the epidermis, dermis, and sebaceous glands without generating excessive thermal injury, whereas that with nitrogen plasma elicits energy‐dependent thermal coagulation in the epidermis and dermis with remarkable neocollagenesis.
Higher probability of compound flooding from precipitation and storm surge in Europe under anthropogenic climate change
Authors: Bevacqua E. , Maraun D. , Vousdoukas M. I. , Voukouvalas E. , Vrac M. , Mentaschi L. , Widmann M.
Published: September 2019

More intense precipitation will increase the flood potential from concurring storm surges and precipitation in the future.
Small-molecule inhibitor targeting the Hsp90-Cdc37 protein-protein interaction in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Lixiao , Li Li , Jiang Jingsheng , Zheng Zhen , Shang Jialin , Wang Chengxiang , Chen Weilin , Bao Qichao , Xu Xiaoli , Jiang Zhengyu , Zhang Jian , You Qidong
Published: September 2019

Directly disrupting the Hsp90-Cdc37 complex can selectively down-regulate kinase clients of Hsp90 and achieve cell cycle arrest.
Could revenue recycling make effective carbon taxation politically feasible?
Authors: Beiser-McGrath Liam F. , Bernauer Thomas
Published: September 2019

Effective carbon taxation is politically feasible when combining international involvement and revenue recycling.
Specific Xylan Activity Revealed for AA9 Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases of the Thermophilic Fungus
Malbranchea cinnamomea
by Functional Characterization
Authors: Hüttner Silvia , Várnai Anikó , Petrović Dejan M. , Bach Cao Xuan , Kim Anh Dang Thi , Thanh Vu Nguyen , Eijsink Vincent G. H. , Larsbrink Johan , Olsson Lisbeth
Published: September 2019

The
Malbranchea cinnamomea
LPMOs (
Mc
AA9s) showed activity on a broad range of soluble and insoluble substrates, suggesting their involvement in various steps of biomass degradation besides cellulose decomposition. Our results indicate that the fungal AA9 family is more diverse than originally thought and able to degrade almost any kind of plant cell wall polysaccharide. The discovery of an AA9 that preferentially cleaves xylan enhances our understanding of the physiological roles of LPMOs and enables the use of xylan-specific LPMOs in future applications.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Klebsiella pneumoniae Phages Isolated as Part of an International Effort
Authors: Yerushalmy Ortal , Coppenhagen-Glazer Shunit , Nir-Paz Ran , Tuomala Henni , Skurnik Mikael , Kiljunen Saija , Hazan Ronen
Published: September 2019

We report the genomic sequences of phages KpCHEMY26 and KpGranit, isolated in Israel during a worldwide effort against a multidrug- and phage-resistant strain of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
from a patient in Finland. These results demonstrate the importance of an efficient worldwide network for collaborating in personalized therapy for infectious diseases.
Genome Sequences of 11 Conspecific
Streptomyces
sp. Strains
Authors: Tidjani Abdoul-Razak , Lorenzi Jean-Noël , Toussaint Maxime , van Dijk Erwin , Naquin Delphine , Lespinet Olivier , Bontemps Cyril , Leblond Pierre
Published: September 2019

The genomes of 11 conspecific
Streptomyces
strains, i.e., from the same species and inhabiting the same ecological niche, were sequenced and assembled. This data set offers an ideal framework to assess the genome evolution of
Streptomyces
species in their ecological context.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Griseofulvin-Producing Fungus Xylaria flabelliformis Strain G536
Authors: Mead Matthew E. , Raja Huzefa A. , Steenwyk Jacob L. , Knowles Sonja L. , Oberlies Nicholas H. , Rokas Antonis
Published: September 2019

The draft genome of the ascomycete fungus
Xylaria flabelliformis
(previously known as
Xylaria cubensis
) was sequenced using Illumina paired-end technology. The assembled genome is 41.2 Mb long and contains 11,404 genes. This genome will contribute to our understanding of
X. flabelliformis
secondary metabolism and the organism’s ability to live as a decomposer as well as an endosymbiont.
Draft Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli DSM 12242, a Highly Efficient Host Strain for the Isolation of Somatic Coliphages
Authors: Pacífico Cátia , Sofka Dmitrij , Carriço João André , Hilbert Friederike
Published: September 2019

Here, we report the draft genome sequence and characterization of the commercial strain
Escherichia coli
DSM 12242 (=ATCC 13706/60 =NZRM 3262) derived from strain C (ATCC 13706), which is suitable for the isolation of coliphages from environmental and clinical samples.
Complete Genome Sequence of Serratia marcescens Myophage MyoSmar
Authors: Cooper Savannah , Nguyen Quang , Newkirk Heather , Liu Mei , Cahill Jesse , Ramsey Jolene
Published: September 2019

Serratia marcescens
is an opportunistic pathogen that causes respiratory, urinary, and digestive tract infections in humans. Here, we describe the annotation of
Serratia marcescens
myophage MyoSmar. The 68,745-bp genome encodes 105 predicted proteins and is most similar to the genomes of
Pseudomonas
PB1-like viruses.
Symptomatic attachment of appendix vermiformis following a plug inguinal hernia repair
Authors: Zwaans Willem AR , Scheltinga Marc RM , Roumen Rudi MH
Published: September 2019

We describe a case of attachment of an appendix vermiformis following an inguinal hernia plug repair according to Rutkow and Robbins. A 62-year-old man presented at our outpatient clinic with a progressive sensation of tightness in the right groin area, painful urge of miction and long-lasting nausea with abdominal discomfort. During an open groin exploration, the appendix was found attached to an intraperitoneally located plug. The appendix and plug were removed with an uneventful recovery. During follow-up, the patient was free of groin pain and miction had normalised. Surprisingly, his long-lasting nausea and abdominal discomfort had disappeared as well.
Challenges in diagnosing ectopic thymus tissue in children
Authors: Claes Laura , Dendooven Amélie , van Heerden Jaques
Published: September 2019

The presentation of a fast-growing cervical mass necessitates prompt attention due to risk of the mass effect on vital structures and requires preferential screening for infections, bleeding and malignancies in an extensive list of differential diagnoses. This case report describes a 4.5-year-old boy with a fast-growing, unilateral lesion in the neck, with clinical features in keeping with malignant characteristics. Surgical excision with pathocytological examination revealed an exceptional diagnosis of haemorrhage in an ectopic cervical thymic cyst. Thymic cysts are a rare cause of unilateral masses in the neck, usually presenting as an asymptomatic, painless, slow-growing or stable mass anywhere along the thymopharyngeal duct. Spontaneous haemorrhages in thymic tissue can occur, often due to coagulation defects. Treatment of symptomatic thymic cysts is based on surgical excision. Partial resection of the thymus should be encouraged if possible, since clinical consequences of removing all thymic tissue in children are still unclear.
Rare case of pacemaker infection withMycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Radigan Alison , Jevert-Eichorn Susan
Published: September 2019

Though prevalent in the environment, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been increasingly identified as pathogenic. Sporadic reports of NTM infection of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have appeared but remain rare. This case describes a CIED infection withMycobacterium abscessus, the third reported case in the literature. A 63-year-old male presented with a 3-day history of drainage from his pacemaker extraction site. An aspirate grewMycobacterium abscessus. Together with National Jewish Health, a treatment plan was developed, consisting of an induction phase with amikacin, cefoxitin and clarithromycin followed by a maintenance phase with clarithromycin and clofazimine. The clinical course was complicated by cardiac arrhythmia, abscess formation and thoracic osteomyelitis with epidural abscess. This case highlights a rare manifestation ofMycobacterium abscessusdisease and suggests the need for further study. Treatment is complicated by unpredictable resistance patterns, complex antimicrobial regimens and the use of arrhythmogenic medications in patients with removed CIEDs.
Clinical and in vivo confocal microscopic features of neuropathic corneal pain
Authors: Ross Andrew R , Al-Aqaba Mouhamed Ali , Almaazmi Amna , Messina Marco , Nubile Mario , Mastropasqua Leonardo , Dua Harminder S , Said Dalia G
Published: September 2019

Aims

To describe clinical and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) features of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) without clinically visible signs.

Methods

Prospective, observational study of 27 eyes of 14 patients who had continuous severe ocular pain for one or more years, with minimal or no ocular surface signs and were non-responsive to topical lubricants, steroids and/or ciclosporin. All patients were evaluated using Ocular Surface Disease Index, Oxford grading scale, Schirmer test 1, Cochet Bonnet esthesiometry and response to topical anaesthesia. Central and paracentral regions of the cornea of patients and seven healthy controls were studied by IVCM. Corneal epithelial thickness and sub-basal nerve density were measured in patients and controls.

Results

Four patients responded to topical anaesthesia (responsive group (RG)), indicating peripheral NCP while 10 patients did not show any improvement (non-responsive group (NRG)), indicating central NCP. Schirmer-1 test was within normal limits in the RG but significantly greater in the NRG (p<0.001). None of the other clinical parameters nor corneal epithelial thickness were statistically significantly different. The sub-basal nerve density was significantly reduced (p<0.008) in patients compared with controls. Stroma of all patients demonstrated activated keratocytes and spindle, lateral and stump microneuromas. There was a statistically significant greater number of microneuromas (p<0.0001) and activated keratocytes in RG compared with NRG.

Conclusion

NCP without visible clinical signs does not represent typical dry eye disease. Distinct signs demonstrated on IVCM suggest that peripheral NCP, which responds to topical anaesthesia, and central NCP, which does not, are separate entities.
Economic burden of multimorbidity in patients with severe asthma: a 20-year population-based study
Authors: Chen Wenjia , Safari Abdollah , FitzGerald J Mark , Sin Don D , Tavakoli Hamid , Sadatsafavi Mohsen
Published: September 2019

Background

The economic impact of multimorbidity in severe or difficult-to-treat asthma has not been comprehensively investigated.

Aims

To estimate the incremental healthcare costs of coexisting chronic conditions (comorbidities) in patients with severe asthma, compared with non-severe asthma and no asthma.

Methods

Using health administrative data in British Columbia, Canada (1996–2016), we identified, based on the intensity of drug use and occurrence of exacerbations, individuals who experienced severe asthma in an incident year. We also constructed matched cohorts of individuals without an asthma diagnosis and those who had mild/dormant or moderate asthma (non-severe asthma) throughout their follow-up. Health service use records during follow-up were categorised into 16 major disease categories based on the International Classification of Diseases. Incremental costs (in 2016 Canadian Dollars, CAD$1=US$0.75=₤0.56=€0.68) were estimated as the adjusted difference in healthcare costs between individuals with severe asthma compared with those with non-severe asthma and non-asthma.

Results

Relative to no asthma, incremental costs of severe asthma were $2779 per person-year (95% CI 2514 to 3045), with 54% ($1508) being attributed to comorbidities. Relative to non-severe asthma, severe asthma was associated with incremental costs of $1922 per person-year (95% CI 1670 to 2174), with 52% ($1003) being attributed to comorbidities. In both cases, the most costly comorbidity was respiratory conditions other than asthma ($468 (17%) and $451 (23%), respectively).

Conclusions

Comorbidities accounted for more than half of the incremental medical costs in patients with severe asthma. This highlights the importance of considering the burden of multimorbidity in evidence-informed decision making for patients with severe asthma.
Growth differentiation factor-15 as a biomarker of strength and recovery in survivors of acute respiratory failure
Authors: Rosenberg Brian J , Hirano Michio , Quinzii Catarina M , Colantuoni Elizabeth , Needham Dale M , Lederer David J , Baldwin Matthew R
Published: September 2019

Muscle mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in intensive care unit-acquired weakness, but there is no serum biomarker of muscle mitochondrial function for critical illness survivors. Higher serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a biomarker of inherited mitochondrial myopathy disease and is associated with mortality in several age-related diseases. Among 142 older (age ≥ 65 years) survivors of acute respiratory failure, we found that higher serum GDF-15 measured during the week prior to hospital discharge was cross-sectionally associated with weaker diaphragm, limb and hand-grip strength, and longitudinally associated with lower rates of functional recovery over 6 months, independent of age, sex, pre-existing disability, comorbidity, frailty, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and concurrent interleukin-6 levels.
MicroRNA-24 alleviates isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus via attenuation of oxidative stress
Authors: Li Na , Yue Linli , Wang Jun , Wan Zhenzhen , Bu Wenhao
Published: September 2019

Several miRNAs have been recently suggested as potential therapeutic targets for anesthesia-related diseases. This study was carried out to explore the biological roles of miR-24 in isoflurane-treated rat hippocampal neurons. Isoflurane was used to induce neurotoxicity in a rat model. Gain- and loss-of-function of miR-24 was performed, and the size and Ca2+ permeability of mitochondria, as well as cell proliferation and apoptosis, and levels of oxidative-stress-related factors were measured both in vivo and in vitro. Dual luciferase reporter gene assays were used to identify the target relationship between miR-24 and p27kip1. In this study, isoflurane treatment decreased miR-24 expression, after which, levels of neuron apoptosis and oxidative-stress-related factors were elevated and neuron viability was reduced. Over-expression of miR-24 inhibited oxidative damage and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal tissues, and suppressed the size and Ca2+ permeability of mitochondria of hippocampal neurons. miR-24 enhanced the viability of rat hippocampal neurons by targeting p27kip1. To conclude, this study demonstrated that miR-24 attenuates isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus via its antioxidative properties and inhibiting p27kip1 expression.
The day the universes interacted: quantum cosmology without a wave function
Authors: Yurov A. V. , Yurov V. A.
Published: September 2019

In this article we present a new outlook on the cosmology, based on the quantum model proposed by Michael and Hall (Phys Rev X 4(1–17):041013, 2014). In continuation of the idea of that model we consider finitely many classical homogeneous and isotropic universes whose evolutions are determined by the standard Einstein–Friedmann equations but that also interact with each other quantum-mechanically via the mechanism proposed in Michael and Hall [1]. The crux of the idea lies in the fact that unlike every other interpretation of the quantum mechanics, the Hall, Deckert and Wiseman model requires no decoherence mechanism and thus allows the quantum mechanical effects to manifest themselves not just on micro-scale, but on a cosmological scale as well. We further demonstrate that the addition of this new quantum-mechanical interaction lead to a number of interesting cosmological predictions, and might even provide natural physical explanations for the phenomena of “dark matter” and “phantom fields”.
Slow-roll inflation with exponential potential in scalar-tensor models
Authors: Granda L. N. , Jimenez D. F.
Published: September 2019

A study of the slow-roll inflation for an exponential potential in the frame of the scalar-tensor theory is performed, where non-minimal kinetic coupling to curvature and non-minimal coupling of the scalar field to the Gauss-Bonnet invariant are considered. Different models were considered with couplings given by exponential functions of the scalar field, that lead to graceful exit from inflation and give values of the scalar spectral index and the tensor-to-scalar ratio in the region bounded by the current observational data. Special cases were found, where the coupling functions are inverse of the potential, that lead to inflation with constant slow-roll parameters, and it was possible to reconstruct the model parameters for given ns and r. In first-order approximation the standard consistency relation maintains its validity in the model with non-minimal coupling, but it modifies in presence of Gauss–Bonnet coupling. The obtained Hubble parameter during inflation, $$H\sim 10^{-5} M_p$$H∼10-5Mp and the energy scale of inflation $$V^{1/4}\sim 10^{-3} M_p$$V1/4∼10-3Mp, are consistent with the upper bounds set by latest observations.
Human Gait Recognition Based on Frame-by-Frame Gait Energy Images and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory
Authors: Wang Xiuhui , Yan Wei Qi
Published: September 2019

Human gait recognition is one of the most promising biometric technologies, especially for unobtrusive video surveillance and human identification from a distance. Aiming at improving recognition rate, in this paper we study gait recognition using deep learning and propose a novel method based on convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (Conv-LSTM). First, we present a variation of Gait Energy Images, i.e. frame-by-frame GEI (ff-GEI), to expand the volume of available Gait Energy Images (GEI) data and relax the constraints of gait cycle segmentation required by existing gait recognition methods. Second, we demonstrate the effectiveness of ff-GEI by analyzing the cross-covariance of one person’s gait data. Then, making use of the temporality of our human gait, we design a novel gait recognition model using Conv-LSTM. Finally, the proposed method is evaluated extensively based on the CASIA Dataset B for cross-view gait recognition, furthermore the OU-ISIR Large Population Dataset is employed to verify its generalization ability. Our experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms other algorithms based on these two datasets. The results indicate that the proposed ff-GEI model using Conv-LSTM, coupled with the new gait representation, can effectively solve the problems related to cross-view gait recognition.
THE FLYING GEESE AND CHINA’S BRI IN INDONESIA
Authors: NEGARA SIWAGE DHARMA , SURYADINATA LEO
Published: September 2019

In recent years, China has been catching-up with other advanced economies and become one of the “leading geese” in the Asian economy. China not only plays a leading role in regional production network but also in various regional economic cooperation. Indonesia, being one of the following geese, needs to adjust its position to benefit from this change in global and regional order. While other more advanced economies have less to offer, Indonesia has gradually moved closer toward China in terms of economic cooperation. Using the flying geese model, this paper argues that China’s BRI might change trade and investment trends in Indonesia. China BRI might complement the role of Japan as a catalyst for economic development in the Asian region in general and in Indonesia in particular. There is no official BRI project agreed by Indonesia so far. However, there are a number completed and ongoing China–Indonesia projects, which arguably might pave the way for future BRI investment. Currently, apart from the Jakarta–Bandung High speed railways, most of the projects are concentrated in resource-exploitation needed by China and the fulfilment of Indonesian development needs, such as power generation, mineral smelters and industrial parks. From the Beijing’s perspective, these projects are perceived as part of BRI. Since these so-called BRI projects have not been completed, it is therefore impossible to assess their impacts on Indonesia’s industrialization at this point. However, we can still argue that BRI might have initiated a new type of investment that might in turn change the industrial trends, structure and performance in Indonesia. If this change leads to improvement in products quality or value added, industrial upgrading, technological transfer and export boost, then one may argue that BRI has brought promised benefits to the host economy (i.e., Indonesia). Otherwise, the benefits would be negligible.
EFFECTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON GOVERNMENTAL TAX EXPENDITURES FOR PRIVATE PENSIONS IN SELECTED OECD COUNTRIES
Authors: JUN BYUNG WOOK , PARK SOO JEAN , YOON SUNG MAN
Published: September 2019

With the advent of an aging society all over the world, there has been a growing policy interest in the pension system that can guarantee old-age income at some level. Many countries also encourage people to join public pensions as well as private pensions. As a result, there has been a phenomenon of substituting private pensions. This study investigates the effects of various socio-economic factors on tax benefits for private pensions at the country level. The results of this study show that lower total income replacement rate of public pension and private pension assets leads to increasing tax expenditures on private pensions. And also, higher individual tax burden and governmental social welfare expenditure causes to increase tax expenditures on private pensions. Despite differences in the type of old-age income security systems by country, it is recognized that attempts to resolve the public pensions crisis caused by socio-economic changes take the form of expanding the roles of private pensions. So, this study provides politic implications that lower benefits from public pensions lead to expanded roles of private pensions supported by the government.
Optical and thermoelectric response of RhTiSb half-Heusler
Authors: Anissa Besbes , Radouan Djelti , Benaouda Bestani
Published: September 2019

Structural, electronic, optical and thermoelectric response of the cubic RhTiSb compound is reported using TB-mBJ potential. The calculated results for the band structure and DOS confirm that the RhTiSb is a nonmagnetic (NM) semiconductor with an indirect bandgap of 0.71 eV. The main optical parameters such as dielectric function, absorption coefficient, refractive index and optical reflectivity were estimated for emission upto 14 eV. The RhTiSb half-Heusler exhibits a maximum absorption in the visible and ultraviolet region. By using the Boltzmann transport equations as incorporated in BoltzTraP code, the thermoelectric characteristics were calculated. The main properties which describe the aptitude of material in thermoelectric environment such as Seebeck coefficient and figure of merit were calculated. The high values of figure-of-merit (ZT [Formula: see text] 0.7) were observed in large range of temperature indicating that RhTiSb have a good thermoelectric performance.
Fractional-pel Interpolation Algorithm Based on Adaptive Filter
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Hexin , Chen Mianshu , Zhao Qiang , Song Yingjie
Published: September 2019

In order to further improve fractional-pel interpolation image quality of video sequence with different resolutions and reduce algorithm complexity, the fractional-pel interpolation algorithm based on adaptive filter (AF_FIA) is proposed. This algorithm adaptively selects the interpolation filters with different orders according to the three video sequence regions with different resolutions; in the three video sequence regions with different resolutions, the high-order interpolation filter is replaced by low-order interpolation filter according to the correlation between pixels to realize the adaptive selection of filter. The complexity analysis results show that compared with other algorithms, this algorithm reduces space complexity and computation complexity, thus reducing the storage access and coding time. The simulation results indicate that compared with other algorithms, this algorithm has good coding performance and robustness for video sequences with different resolutions.
Energy-Aware Schedules Under Chip Reliability Constraint for Multi-Processor Systems-on-a-Chip
Authors: Salamy Hassan
Published: September 2019

Even though multi-core systems are effective architectures to overcome the limitation of single-core systems, techniques to improve reliability, throughput and power consumption are highly needed. With the increasing complexity of multi-processor systems-on-a-chip (MPSoCs) to handle the ever increasing complexity of embedded computing applications, the reliability of such systems is now a big concern in the industry. Complex MPSoCs typically have multiple execution modes with different throughput and reliability performances. These complex embedded systems are also expected to perform under minimum power and energy consumptions. In this paper, we present efficient techniques for low-energy and thermal-aware schedules that meet the deadlines under chip reliability constraints. The presented techniques under different objective functions are implemented and executed on multiple embedded applications under multiple underlying system architectures to show the performance and efficiency of the techniques.
Hadron resonance gas model and high multiplicities in p–p, p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC
Authors: Cleymans Jean , Hippolyte Boris , Paradza Masimba W. , Sharma Natasha
Published: September 2019

Recent work on the particle composition (hadrochemistry) of the final state in proton–proton (p–p), proton–lead (p–Pb) and lead–lead (Pb–Pb) collisions as a function of the charged particle multiplicity ([Formula: see text]) is reviewed. It is argued that for high multiplicities (at least about 20 charged hadrons in the mid-rapidity interval), consistent results are obtained in the thermal model.
Lorentz breaking and SU(2)L × U(1)Y gauge invariance for neutrinos
Authors: Jentschura U. D. , Nándori I. , Somogyi G.
Published: September 2019

Conceivable Lorentz-violating effects in the neutrino sector remain a research area of great general interest, as they touch upon the very foundations on which the Standard Model and our general understanding of fundamental interactions are laid. Here, we investigate the relation of Lorentz violation in the neutrino sector in light of the fact that neutrinos and the corresponding left-handed charged leptons form [Formula: see text] doublets under the electroweak gauge group. Lorentz-violating effects thus cannot be fully separated from questions related to gauge invariance. The model dependence of the effective interaction Lagrangians used in various recent investigations is explored with a special emphasis on neutrino splitting, otherwise known as the neutrino-pair Cerenkov radiation and vacuum-pair emission (electron–positron-pair Cerenkov radiation). We highlight two scenarios in which Lorentz-violating effects do not necessarily also break electroweak gauge invariance. The first of these involves a restricted set of gauge transformations, a subgroup of [Formula: see text], while in the second where differential Lorentz violation is exclusively introduced by the mixing of the neutrino flavor and mass eigenstates. Our study culminates in a model which fully preserves [Formula: see text] gauge invariance, involves flavor-dependent Lorentz-breaking parameters, and still allows for Cerenkov-type decays to proceed.