bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Role of Nutrient Intake and Malnutrition as Predictors of Uremic Oxidative Toxicity in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Silva Robson E. , Simões-e-Silva Ana C. , Miranda Aline S. , Justino Patrícia B. I. , Brigagão Maísa R. P. L. , Moraes Gabriel O. I. , Gonçalves Reggiani V. , Novaes Rômulo D.
Published: November 2019

Oxidative stress is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, whether biochemical and nutritional markers might be useful to stratify HD patients according to the risk of oxidative damage remains unclear. We investigated whether low-cost and easily available parameters such as the profile of nutrients intake, nutritional status, and antioxidant defenses can predict lipid and protein oxidation in HD patients. Forty-nine HD patients (women=20,men=29), ranging from 18 to 65 years of age (73.5%) were submitted to biochemical and nutritional analysis. At least 93.9% of HD patients had malnutrition. A patient’s stratification according to nutritional risk was highly coherent with anthropometric parameters and nutrients intake, which were complementarily used as markers of malnutrition. Nutritional stratification was unable to reveal differences in the oxidative status. On the other hand, carbohydrate and zinc intake, serum zinc (Zn), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and nonprotein antioxidants (npAC) in serum were predictive markers of lipid (R2=0.588,P<0.001) and protein (R2=0.581,P<0.001) oxidation. Interestingly, GPx activity, TAC, and npAC exhibited good (>80%<90%) or excellent (>90%) accuracy to estimate lipid oxidation (P≤0.01). Regarding the prediction of protein oxidation, GPx activity and TAC presented regular accuracy (>70%<80%), and Zn serum levels exhibited good sensitivity (P≤0.01). Herein, we provided evidence that clinical characteristics relevant to predict different levels of lipid and protein oxidation in HD patients can be easily obtained, during routine hospital visits by means of the combined analyses of biochemical and nutritional parameters.
Enterococci Isolated from Trout in the Bukovec Water Reservoir and Čierny Váh River in Slovakia and Their Safety Aspect
Authors: Lauková Andrea , Kubašová Ivana , Bino Eva , Kandričáková Anna , Strompfová Viola , Žitňan Rudolf , Pogány Simonová Monika
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate enterococci as lactic acid bacteria and as part of Firmicutes phylum. We focused on the virulence factor, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance and also on lactic acid production and enterocin gene detection. Intestinal samples were taken from 50 healthy trout (3Salmo truttaand 47Salmo gairdneri) collected in April 2007, 2010, and 2015 from different locations at the Bukovec water reservoir and the Čierny Váh River in Slovakia. Twenty pure colonies were identified using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification system based on protein fingerprints, and then seven identified strains were also phenotyped. Based on the identification methods used, the identified enterococci (7) belong taxonomically to four different enterococcal species:Enterococcus durans,E. faecium,E. mundtii, andE. thailandicus.They were hemolysis, DNase, and gelatinase negative with acceptable enzymatic activity. They did not form biofilm and were mostly susceptible to antibiotics. All strains produced lactic acid amounting to 1.78 ± 0.33 mmol/l on average and possessed the gene for enterocin A production. This is the first study reporting more detailed properties of enterococci from trout in Slovakian wild water sources, and it produces new possibilities for studying microbiota in trout.
A Case Report of Accidental Intoxication following Ingestion of Foxglove Confused with Borage: High Digoxinemia without Major Complications
Authors: Negroni Maria Silvia , Marengo Arianna , Caruso Donatella , Tayar Alessandro , Rubiolo Patrizia , Giavarini Flavio , Persampieri Simone , Sangiovanni Enrico , Davanzo Franca , Carugo Stefano , Colombo Maria Laura , Dell’Agli Mario
Published: November 2019

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) leaves are frequently confused with borage (Borago officinalis L.), which is traditionally used as a food ingredient. Due to the presence of the cardiac glycosides, mostly digitoxin, foxglove leaves are poisonous to human and may be fatal if ingested. A 55-year-old Caucasian woman complaining weakness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting was admitted to the Emergency Department. Her symptoms started following consumption of a home-made savory pie with 5 leaves from a plant bought in a garden nursery as borage. Digoxinemia was high (10.4 μg/L). The patient was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit for electrocardiographic monitoring. Two days after admission, a single episode of advanced atrioventricular (AV) block was recorded by telemetry, followed by a second-degree AV block episode. Plasma samples at day 11 were analysed by LC-MS spectrometry, and gitoxin was identified suggesting that this compound may be responsible for the clinical toxicity rather than digoxin. In the case of Digitalis spp. poisoning, laboratory data should be interpreted according to the clinical picture and method of analysis used since a variety of glycosides, which are chemically similar to the cardioactive glycosides but without or with fewer cardiac effects, may be incorrectly recognized as digoxin by the test, giving misleading results.
Argonautes in Extracellular Vesicles: Artifact or Selected Cargo?
Authors: Weaver Alissa M. , Patton James G.
Published: November 2019

Argonaute-2 (Ago2) is a key component of the RNA-induced silencing complex that mediates downregulation of mRNA by miRNAs. Its presence in extracellular vesicles (EV) has been postulated to be important for the activity of EV-carried miRNA in modulating gene expression in recipient cells. However, whether it is in fact contained within EVs or is instead an extravesicular contaminant is controversial. In this opinion piece, we argue that the ability to detect Ago2 in EVs is a result of multiple factors, including cell source, cell signaling control of Ago2 trafficking to EVs, experimental conditions, and detection methods.
Transcription Factors Involved in Tumorigenesis Are Over-Represented in Mutated Active DNA-Binding Sites in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Capasso Mario , Lasorsa Vito Alessandro , Cimmino Flora , Avitabile Marianna , Cantalupo Sueva , Montella Annalaura , De Angelis Biagio , Morini Martina , de Torres Carmen , Castellano Aurora , Locatelli Franco , Iolascon Achille
Published: November 2019

The contribution of coding mutations to oncogenesis has been largely clarified, whereas little is known about somatic mutations in noncoding DNA and their role in driving tumors remains controversial. Here, we used an alternative approach to interpret the functional significance of noncoding somatic mutations in promoting tumorigenesis. Noncoding somatic mutations of 151 neuroblastomas were integrated with ENCODE data to locate somatic mutations in regulatory elements specifically active in neuroblastoma cells, nonspecifically active in neuroblastoma cells, and nonactive. Within these types of elements, transcription factors (TF) were identified whose binding sites were enriched or depleted in mutations. For these TFs, a gene expression signature was built to assess their implication in neuroblastoma. DNA- and RNA-sequencing data were integrated to assess the effects of those mutations on mRNA levels. The pathogenicity of mutations was significantly higher in transcription factor binding site (TFBS) of regulatory elements specifically active in neuroblastoma cells, as compared with the others. Within these elements, there were 18 over-represented TFs involved mainly in cell-cycle phase transitions and 15 under-represented TFs primarily regulating cell differentiation. A gene expression signature based on over-represented TFs correlated with poor survival and unfavorable prognostic markers. Moreover, recurrent mutations in TFBS of over-represented TFs such as EZH2 affected MCF2L and ADP-ribosylhydrolase like 1 expression, among the others. We propose a novel approach to study the involvement of regulatory variants in neuroblastoma that could be extended to other cancers and provide further evidence that alterations of gene expression may have relevant effects in neuroblastoma development.

Significance:

These findings propose a novel approach to study regulatory variants in neuroblastoma and suggest that noncoding somatic mutations have relevant implications in neuroblastoma development.
Role of Metabolic Reprogramming in Pulmonary Innate Immunity and Its Impact on Lung Diseases
Authors: Michaeloudes Charalambos , Bhavsar Pankaj K. , Mumby Sharon , Xu Bingling , Hui Christopher Kim Ming , Chung Kian Fan , Adcock Ian M.
Published: November 2019

Lung innate immunity is the first line of defence against inhaled allergens, pathogens and environmental pollutants. Cellular metabolism plays a key role in innate immunity. Catabolic pathways, including glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO), are interconnected with biosynthetic and redox pathways. Innate immune cell activation and differentiation trigger extensive metabolic changes that are required to support their function. Pro-inflammatory polarisation of macrophages and activation of dendritic cells, mast cells and neutrophils are associated with increased glycolysis and a shift towards the pentose phosphate pathway and fatty acid synthesis. These changes provide the macromolecules required for proliferation and inflammatory mediator production and reactive oxygen species for anti-microbial effects. Conversely, anti-inflammatory macrophages use primarily FAO and oxidative phosphorylation to ensure efficient energy production and redox balance required for prolonged survival. Deregulation of metabolic reprogramming in lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, may contribute to impaired innate immune cell function. Understanding how innate immune cell metabolism is altered in lung disease may lead to identification of new therapeutic targets. This is important as drugs targeting a number of metabolic pathways are already in clinical development for the treatment of other diseases such as cancer.
Demystifying Smoker's Paradox: A Propensity Score–Weighted Analysis in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Doi Suhail A. , Islam Nazmul , Sulaiman Kadhim , Alsheikh‐Ali Alawi A. , Singh Rajvir , Al‐Qahtani Awad , Asaad Nidal , AlHabib Khalid F. , Al‐Zakwani Ibrahim , Al‐Jarallah Mohammed , AlMahmeed Wael , Bulbanat Bassam , Bazargani Nooshin , Amin Haitham , Al‐Motarreb Ahmed , AlFaleh Husam , Panduranga Prashanth , Shehab Abdulla , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Salam Amar M.
Published: November 2019

Background

Smoker's paradox has been observed with several vascular disorders, yet there are limited data in patients with acute heart failure (
HF
). We examined the effects of smoking in patients with acute
HF
using data from a large multicenter registry. The objective was to determine if the design and analytic approach could explain the smoker's paradox in acute
HF
mortality.

Methods and Results

The data were sourced from the acute HF registry (Gulf CARE [Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry]), a multicenter registry that recruited patients over 10 months admitted with a diagnosis of acute
HF
from 47 hospitals in 7 Middle Eastern countries. The association between smoking and mortality (in hospital) was examined using covariate adjustment, making use of mortality risk factors. A parallel analysis was performed using covariate balancing through propensity scores. Of 5005 patients hospitalized with acute
HF
, 1103 (22%) were current smokers. The in‐hospital mortality rates were significantly lower in current smoker's before (odds ratio, 0.71; 95%
CI
, 0.52–0.96) and more so after (odds ratio, 0.47; 95%
CI
, 0.31–0.70) covariate adjustment. With the propensity score–derived covariate balance, the smoking effect became much less certain (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.36–1.11).

Conclusions

The current study illustrates the fact that the smoker's paradox is likely to be a result of residual confounding as covariate adjustment may not resolve this if there are many competing prognostic confounders. In this situation, propensity score methods for covariate balancing seem preferable.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
. Unique identifier:
NCT
01467973.
Dilemmas and Contradictions in Hearing Children in Care Proceedings
Authors: Føleide Marie Hatlelid , Ulvik Oddbjørg Skjær
Published: November 2019

The article is based on interviews with 22 children’s spokespersons in the Norwegian arrangement for indirect participation in care proceedings, and presents analyses of the spokespersons’ experiences of contradictions and dilemmas in their practices. Contradictions and dilemmas may be seen in light of the epistemological positions analysed from spokespersons’ accounts: their interpretation of their mandate and the status they ascribe to the child’s contribution to the dialogue. The article’s contribution is the presentation of analytical results that call for a discussion about the inherent contradictions in the mandate of an indirect participation arrangement, and contradictions between psychological and judicial aspects of the spokespersons’ practices.
Human Rights Education as Democratic Education
Authors: Brantefors Lotta , Tellgren Britt , Thelander Nina
Published: November 2019

This article examines the teaching traditions of children’s human rights in four levels of education in Swedish early childhood education and school by drawing on a three-year long didactic (Didaktik) research project on the teaching and learning of human rights. The purpose of the article is threefold. First, the aims, content and methods used in the teaching of the four levels are compiled. Second, the main characteristics of the observed teaching are analysed. Third, the question of why rights are taught is examined using Roberts’ concept of curriculum emphases (1982). The article identifies the aims, content and methods used within each level of education and the main characteristics of the teaching of human rights and shows that the teaching of human rights often consists of the content themes interaction and the life conditions of others. When further analysed, the main conclusion is that the teaching tradition of human rights is strongly rooted in the fundamental and democratic values on which Swedish education is based (Education Act, 2010) – a democratic curriculum emphasis.
The Socialist Conception of Human Rights and Its Dissident Critique
Authors: Kopeček Michal
Published: November 2019

Much has been written about human rights language as a keystone of democratic dissent in Eastern Europe as well as about its damaging impact on the communist dictatorships—the so called “Helsinki effect.” This article analyzes the less familiar criticism of the core of the socialist theory of human rights and discusses whether this criticism proved to be particularly damaging for the socialist regimes’ legitimacy, self-esteem, and international standing, leading to their defensive stance in this sphere. Simultaneously, it will question, to some extent, the prevailing and rather one-sided “liberal” reading of dissident human rights theory itself. With this aim in mind, the article begins with the specific “developmental” socialist conception of human rights elaborated in the 1950s and the 1960s by prominent legal scholars and philosophers such as I. Szabó and I. Kovács, and outlines how this theory served as a tool of self-confident state socialist human rights politics in the first decades of the Cold War. Second, it will follow the diverging paths of this socialist human rights theory during the period of consolidation and the authoritarian turn in the late 1960s and the 1970s. Third, the article turns to some of the 1970s–80s dissident criticism of human rights abuses in communist countries. It will focus not on the best-known cases, which serve to emphasize encroachments upon civil and political rights and freedoms, but rather on critical approaches (like those of J. Tesař, J. Šabata, O. Solt, M. Duray, or the Solidarity’s Charter of Workers Rights) directed at the heart of the socialist theory of human rights, that is the abuses and unfulfilled promises in the area of social, economic, and—prominently in the Hungarian case—cultural rights.
The Eastern Bloc, Human Rights, and the Global Fight against Apartheid
Authors: Gehrig Sebastian , Mark James , Betts Paul , Christiaens Kim , Goddeeris Idesbald
Published: November 2019

Anti-apartheid advocacy allowed Eastern Bloc countries to reframe their ideological language of solidarity towards African countries into a legalist rhetoric during the 1960s and 70s. Support for international anti-racial discrimination law and self-determination from colonial rule reinforced their ties to Africa after the disenchantment of the Hungarian Uprising. Rights activism against apartheid showcased the socialist Bloc’s active contribution to the international rise of human rights language and international law during the Cold War. By the mid-1970s, however, international rights engagement became problematic for most Eastern European states, and dissidents at home eventually appropriated the term apartheid based on decades of state-mandated international rights activism to criticise socialism.
The Failure of the Socialist Declaration of Human Rights
Authors: Richardson-Little Ned
Published: November 2019

In the mid-1980s, the Eastern Bloc faced increased pressure on the issue of human rights from western governments, ngos, and indigenous dissident. Although the Socialist Bloc had claimed to represent the ideals of human rights throughout the Cold War, by 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev called on the leaders of the Eastern Bloc to work together on a coordinated response to this threat and in response East Germany proposed the creation of an international declaration based on the principles of socialist—rather than bourgeois—human rights. Within a few years, however, the project collapsed in ignominious failure as it provided a vehicle for reformers to challenge the status quo in the name of human rights by demanding greater democratization. Although the project was originally devised to refute the human rights claims of the West, it instead acted to spur on the intellectual collapse of the Eastern Bloc’s ideological unity at its time of greatest crisis.
Understanding Local Churches as Porous Living Systems: Insights from the Tavistock Tradition
Authors: Rooms Nigel
Published: November 2019

Systems thinking, organizational psychodynamics along with group relations and complexity / chaos theories have rarely been placed in dialogue with the dilemmas facing contemporary UK local churches and the systems that support them in the face of decline. In this article the author attempts such a project from his experience both as a consultant to, mainly Anglican Church systems through the Partnership for Missional Church process (pmc) with the Church Mission Society, and his 2017–18 training with the Tavistock Institute. Relevant parts of this ‘Tavistock’ tradition are explicated and thickened with narrative anecdote and research evidence from the pmc process. The article recommends moving from closed to open systems under conditions of porosity. Thus, treating churches less as mechanical objects to be manipulated, rather as non-linear living systems that need to be contained, discerned and disrupted. All of which allows for a fresh (but unfinished and incomplete) approach to the ecclesiology of local churches in relation to the activity of God, the missio Dei.
Unexpected findings in the Eocene Baltic amber forests: Ground beetle fossils of the tribe Nebriini (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: SCHMIDT JOACHIM , SCHOLZ STEFAN , KAVANAUGH DAVID H.
Published: November 2019

Occurrence of the ground beetle tribe Nebriini in the Baltic amber forest is confirmed. The nebriine taxon Archaeonebria inexspectata gen. n., sp. n., is described and imaged based on four fossil specimens preserved in the Eocene Baltic amber using light microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography. The new taxon shares likely synapomorphies with the amphipacific genus Nippononebria and is therefore proposed as its sister group. The occurrence of Archaeonebria in the Baltic amber forests supports previous assumptions that these forests grew under temperate, at least warm-temperate, climatic conditions.
Pereira traduttore e l’etica della visibilità
Authors: Feltrin-Morris Marella
Published: November 2019

La maggior parte della critica che si è finora occupata del romanzo di Antonio Tabucchi, Sostiene Pereira, si è concentrata sullo sviluppo del protagonista da una posizione iniziale di non-impegno ad una di consapevolezza del proprio ruolo di intellettuale. Ciò che la critica non ha ancora esplorato pienamente, tuttavia, è un aspetto cruciale per comprendere più in profondità la presa di coscienza di Pereira: la sua attività di traduttore. Quando viene menzionata, tale attività è semmai associata alla sua sfuggente personalità iniziale. Eppure, il potenziale di Pereira come coraggioso fautore di cambiamento emerge già dagli autori e dai brani da tradurre che seleziona per il giornale al quale lavora, e dall'evoluzione del suo atteggiamento verso l’arte della traduzione.

Prendendo spunto dai concetti di libertà e responsabilità propri dell’esistenzialismo, da testi teorici sull’etica della traduzione, da un’analisi testuale di Sostiene Pereira e dalle dichiarazioni di Tabucchi stesso sulla traduzione e sul ruolo dell’intellettuale, questo saggio intende mostrare non solo come le scelte di Pereira traduttore testimonino la sua crescita come intellettuale responsabile e persino come eroe, ma anche come la traduzione stessa costituisca il perno su cui s’incentra l’intero romanzo.
Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound of uterine fibroids: whole-tumor quantitative perfusion for prediction of immediate ablation response
Authors: Li Chenxia , Jin Chao , Liang Ting , Li Xiang , Wang Rong , Zhang Yuelang , Yang Jian
Published: November 2019

Background

In magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) treatment of uterine fibroids, the immediate ablation response is significantly affected by blood perfusion. The variability of measurement for blood perfusion is critical due to the inherent non-uniformity of tumor perfusion and its dependence on reproducible region of interest (ROI) placement.

Purpose

To investigate the value of whole-tumor ROI (ROIwt) analysis for quantitative perfusion in predicting immediate ablation response of uterine fibroids in MR-HIFU.

Material and Methods

Thirty-one fibroids in 28 eligible patients were treated with MR-HIFU. Quantitative perfusion parameters (Ktrans, Kep, and Vp) derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI were obtained before MR-HIFU treatment. The ROIwt and single-layer ROI (ROIsl) were used for quantitative perfusion analysis. T1 contrast-enhanced MRI immediately after MR-HIFU treatment was conducted to determine the non-perfused volume ratio (NPVR). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for consistency test. Spearman’s correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to investigate the predictors of the NPVR. Received operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to test the predictive efficacy of quantitative perfusion parameter.

Results

The intra- and inter-observer ICC of the quantitative perfusion parameters from ROIwt were higher than those from ROIsl. Multivariate analysis showed that the Ktrans of ROIwt was a predictor of the immediate ablation response. ROC analysis displayed that the AUC of Ktrans of ROIwt is 0.817 in predicting the ablation response.

Conclusion

Pretreatment Ktrans of ROIwt is more reliable and stable than that of ROIsl. It could be a predictor for the immediate ablation response of uterine fibroids in MR-HIFU.
Ankle–foot orthosis design between the tradition and the computerized perspectives
Authors: Darwich Ayham , Nazha Hasan , Sliman Aleen , Abbas William
Published: November 2019

This study focuses on the drop foot case related to hyperthyroidism of the ankle joint resulting in the relaxation of the toes during walking. This condition requires treatment using an ankle–foot orthosis. Traditional orthosis techniques lack precision and depend on the skill of the fabricator. This research aims to make a bias in ankle–foot orthosis design and analysis methods, where a complete methodology of numerical design and testing has been proposed using advanced engineering software. A numerical model of the patient’s foot was generated and used to design an ankle–foot orthosis model using SolidWorks. The designed model was mechanically analyzed by the finite element method using ANSYS Workbench 16.1 under different static and dynamic loading conditions. The ankle–foot orthosis model was numerically designed and analyzed before the manufacturing process. This is believed to reduce time and material loss and foster the use of numerical models in biomedical applications. This study suggests focusing on the design and analysis of orthoses according to the patient’s measurements. This is expected to increase the comfort and raise the level of treatment. Numerical design methods also enable precise manufacturing using computerized devices such as three-dimensional printers.
Terrain and war: Measuring topographic and land cover heterogeneity in interstate wars, 1816–2003
Authors: Sutton Connor JS , Battaglia Michael J
Published: November 2019

This article introduces the War Terrain Indices and Geospatial Representation Dataset (WARTIGER). This dataset addresses a dearth of quality terrain data in the study of interstate war outcomes. It introduces three primary sets of variables for all interstate wars between 1816 and 2003, including disaggregated versions of the First and Second World Wars. The first, spatial extent, approximates the total area of a given war. The second measures topographic heterogeneity using a terrain ruggedness index. The third estimates land cover heterogeneity and presents a trafficability index. These data allow for an accurate and temporal assessment of the role of terrain as they relate to the correlates of war outcomes.
Person–Work Mismatch, Retirement Context, and the Progression of Depressive Symptoms Over Mid-Later Years: A Dyadic Analysis of Couples in Enduring Marriages
Authors: Wickrama Kandauda A. S. , O’Neal Catherine Walker
Published: November 2019

Objectives: This study investigates how person–work mismatch (PWM) and subsequent pre-retirement work circumstances lead to poor mental health in later years for husbands and wives in enduring marriages. Methods: Data from 224 dual-earner couples in enduring marriages who participated over 27 years (1991–2015) in their middle to their later years were used to test the conceptual model. Results: PWM was related to depressive symptoms in middle years, which continued into later years (a cumulative pathway). In addition, PWM contributed to a stressful pre-retirement work context, which, in turn, influenced depressive symptoms in later years (a stress proliferation pathway). Partner effects were also noted between husbands and wives. Discussion: The present study enhances knowledge about how middle-aged couples’ PWM is related to their mental health in later years through their stressful pre-retirement work context with implications for national- and state-level policies.
General Music Learning Is Also Social and Emotional Learning
Authors: Varner Edward
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this article is to highlight the relationship between general music and social and emotional learning. Social and emotional learning involves a set of social, emotional, behavioral, and character competencies that are essential to success in school, in the workplace, within relationships, in the community, and in life. Music teachers are uniquely positioned to help students become more socially and emotionally competent while simultaneously developing the skills outlined in the general music curriculum. Many general music program activities reinforce and help students understand the concepts of self-management, self-awareness, responsible decisionmaking, relationship skills, and social awareness. Activities such as improvisation, ensemble playing and singing, and defining emotions with music can be used to develop social and emotional learning skills in the general music classroom. The primary objective of this article is to help general music teachers understand that general music learning environments naturally lend themselves well to aiding in these efforts.
Parallelization of the solve phase in a task-based Cholesky solver using a sequential task flow model
Authors: Cayrols Sébastien , Duff Iain S , Lopez Florent
Published: November 2019

We describe the parallelization of the solve phase in the sparse Cholesky solver SpLLT when using a sequential task flow model. In the context of direct methods, the solution of a sparse linear system is achieved through three main phases: the analyse, the factorization and the solve phases. In the last two phases, which involve numerical computation, the factorization corresponds to the most computationally costly phase, and it is therefore crucial to parallelize this phase in order to reduce the time-to-solution on modern architectures. As a consequence, the solve phase is often not as optimized as the factorization in state-of-the-art solvers, and opportunities for parallelism are often not exploited in this phase. However, in some applications, the time spent in the solve phase is comparable to or even greater than the time for the factorization, and the user could dramatically benefit from a faster solve routine. This is the case, for example, for a conjugate gradient (CG) solver using a block Jacobi preconditioner. The diagonal blocks are factorized once only, but their factors are used to solve subsystems at each CG iteration. In this study, we design and implement a parallel version of a task-based solve routine for an OpenMP version of the SpLLT solver. We show that we can obtain good scalability on a multicore architecture enabling a dramatic reduction of the overall time-to-solution in some applications.
Intraocular pressure measurements in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ramm Lisa , Herber Robert , Spoerl Eberhard , Pillunat Lutz E , Terai Naim
Published: November 2019

Purpose:

To investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus–induced changes on intraocular pressure measurements using Goldmann applanation tonometry, Ocular Response Analyzer, and Corvis ST.

Methods:

Measurements were done using Goldmann applanation tonometry, Ocular Response Analyzer, and Corvis ST in 69 diabetic patients. Biomechanical-corrected intraocular pressure values by Ocular Response Analyzer (IOPcc) and Corvis ST (bIOP) were used. In addition, biometry and tomography were performed and information on diabetes mellitus specific factors was collected. Results were compared to an age-matched group of 68 healthy subjects.

Results:

In diabetes mellitus, Goldmann applanation tonometry intraocular pressure (P = 0.193) and central corneal thickness (P = 0.184) were slightly increased. Also, IOPcc (P = 0.075) and bIOP (P = 0.542) showed no significant group difference. In both groups, IOPcc was higher than Goldmann applanation tonometry intraocular pressure (P = 0.002, P < 0.001), while bIOP was nearly equal to Goldmann applanation tonometry intraocular pressure (P = 0.795, P = 0.323). Central corneal thickness showed a tendency to higher values in poorly controlled than in controlled diabetes mellitus (P = 0.059). Goldmann applanation tonometry intraocular pressure correlated to central corneal thickness, while IOPcc and bIOP were independent from central corneal thickness in both groups. All intraocular pressure values showed significant associations to corneal biomechanical parameters. Only in diabetes mellitus, bIOP was correlated to Pachy slope (P = 0.023).

Conclusion:

In diabetes mellitus, Goldmann applanation tonometry intraocular pressure was slightly, but not significantly, increased, which might be caused by a higher central corneal thickness and changes in corneal biomechanical properties. However, intraocular pressure values measured by Ocular Response Analyzer and Corvis ST were not significantly different between diabetes mellitus patients and healthy subjects. The bIOP showed a higher agreement with Goldmann applanation tonometry than IOPcc and was independent from central corneal thickness.
Policy or person? The electoral value of policy positions and personal attributes in the Finnish open-list system
Authors: von Schoultz Åsa , Papageorgiou Achillefs
Published: November 2019

Under open-list proportional representation (OLPR), individual candidates compete for personal votes and representation has a distinctly individualistic dimension. This article provides a unique analysis of this individualistic representational dimension, by comparing the effects of policy positions with personal vote-earning attributes on individual electoral success within the context of the Finnish OLPR. The study confirms that personal attributes related to experience, locality and celebrity status have a strong positive effect on candidates’ ability to attract personal votes. On a more novel account, it also demonstrates that even under decidedly complex electoral settings, policy positions matter for candidates’ electoral fortunes, and that candidates who take on moderate positions within the context of their respective party are more successful than candidates who deviate from the party-median.
Travel agent’s tour selection and sightseeing bus schedule for group package tour planning
Authors: You Peng-Sheng , Chen Ming-Hsiang , Su Ching-Hui (Joan)
Published: November 2019

Two problems plague the tourism industry: (1) a scheduled group package tour (GPT) can be canceled if the number of reserved passengers does not reach a minimum number and (2) a customer’s request for a scheduled GPT will be denied once the number of reserved passengers has reached its maximum. Neither instance is desirable, because of both results in lost sales. To generate higher profit over the course of a sightseeing season, travel agent managers must schedule GPTs on suitable dates and determine the number of sightseeing buses needed. Viewing this as a portfolio selection problem, this research develops an integer programming model to arrive at an equitable solution. We offer several numerical examples to illustrate the model’s performance and the problem’s characteristics. The results show that the proposed model significantly increases revenues.
Does resource-based view explain outsourcing intention: Revenue management perspective
Authors: Altin Mehmet
Published: November 2019

Revenue management (RM) in the hotel industry is fundamental as a revenue enhancer, and it is an integral part of the overall strategy of many hotel properties. However, considering the complex, technical, and costly structure of RM, not all properties can utilize it properly; consequently, they may need to outsource this function. By focusing on resource-based view (RBV), this study examined the rationale behind RM outsourcing strategy. The findings of this study provide useful information in expanding our understanding of how hotel managers make an outsourcing decision in a highly complex RM environment. The empirical findings of the study also provide a confirmation of RBV as a useful tool in RM outsourcing research.
Construction of a vascularized bladder with autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells combined with bladder acellular matrix via tissue engineering
Authors: Zhao Feng , Zhou Liuhua , Liu Jingyu , Xu Zhongle , Ping Wenwen , Li Haiyang , Xu Luwei , Xu Zheng , Zhou Changcheng , Wang Min , Jia Ruipeng
Published: November 2019

The formation of an effective vascular network can promote peripheral angiogenesis, ensuring an effective supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to an engineered bladder, which is important for bladder tissue engineering. Stromal vascular fraction cells (SVFs) promote vascularization and improve the function of injured tissues. In this study, adipose tissue-derived SVFs were introduced as an angiogenic cell source and seeded into the bladder acellular matrix (BAM) to generate a SVF-BAM complex for bladder reconstruction. The morphological regeneration and functional restoration of the engineered bladder were evaluated. In addition, we also explored the role of the Wnt5a/sFlt-1 noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway in regulating the angiogenesis of SVFs, and in maintaining the rational capability of SVFs to differentiate into vasculature in regenerated tissues. Histological assessment indicated that the SVF-BAM complex was more effective in promoting smooth muscle, vascular, and nerve regeneration than BAM alone and subsequently led to the restoration of bladder volume and bladder compliance. Moreover, exogenous Wnt5a was able to enhance angiogenesis by increasing the activity of MMP2, MMP9, and VEGFR2. Simultaneously, the expression of sFlt-1 was also increased, which enhanced the stability of the SVFs angiogenic capability. SVFs may be a potential cell source for tissue-engineered bladders. The Wnt5a/sFlt-1 pathway is involved in the regulation of autologous vascular formation by SVFs. The rational regulation of this pathway can promote neo-microvascularization in tissue-engineered bladders.
Superior cardiac mechanics without structural adaptations in pre-adolescent soccer players
Authors: Beaumont Alexander , Oxborough David , George Keith , Rowland Thomas W , Sculthorpe Nicholas , Lord Rachel , Unnithan Viswanath B
Published: November 2019

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate left ventricular structure, function and mechanics, in highly-trained, pre-adolescent soccer players compared with age- and sex-matched controls.

Design

The study design was a prospective, cross-sectional comparison of left ventricular structure, function and mechanics.

Methods

Twenty-two male soccer players from two professional youth soccer academies (age: 12.0 ± 0.3 years) and 22 recreationally active controls (age: 11.7 ± 0.3 years) were recruited. Two-dimensional conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography were used to quantify left ventricular structure, function and peak/temporal values for left ventricular strain and twist, respectively.

Results

End-diastolic volume index was larger in soccer players (51 ± 8 mm/(m2)1.5 vs. 45 ± 6 mm/(m2)1.5; p = 0.007) and concentricity was lower in soccer players (4.3 ± 0.7 g/(mL)0.667 vs. 4.9 ± 1.0 g/(mL)0.667; p = 0.017), without differences in mean wall thickness between groups (6.0 ± 0.4 mm vs. 6.1 ± 0.5 mm; p = 0.754). Peak circumferential strain at the base (–22.2% ± 2.5% vs. –20.5% ± 2.5%; p = 0.029) and papillary muscle levels (–20.1% ± 1.5% vs. –18.3% ± 2.5%; p = 0.007) were greater in soccer players. Peak left ventricular twist was larger in soccer players (16.92° ± 7.55° vs. 12.34° ± 4.99°; p = 0.035) and longitudinal early diastolic strain rate was greater in soccer players (2.22 ± 0.40 s–1 vs. 2.02 ± 0.46 s–1; p = 0.025).

Conclusions

Highly-trained soccer players demonstrated augmented cardiac mechanics with greater circumferential strains, twist and faster diastolic lengthening in the absence of differences in wall thickness between soccer players and controls.
Scratching a Niche: How Smaller Social Media Players Such as Dribbble Reflect the Viral Phenomenon
Authors: Hemsley Jeff , Kelly Rebecca D.
Published: November 2019

Researchers have been studying the viral flow of information since the late 1990s, but this work has mainly focused on big sites like Twitter and Facebook. However, to comprehensively explore social phenomena such as virality requires us to look beyond the dominant networks. This study addresses this by looking at how users think about virality on Dribbble, a social network site with around 600,000 users that was created in 2009 for designers to showcase and get feedback on their work and to connect clients to design talent. Interviews confirm that viral-like events do exist on Dribbble. Our informants suggest that what spreads on Dribbble are elements of design (e.g., color palettes, line styles, textures), and they identify a number of factors they believe drive these viral-like events, which are the same kinds of factors that drive virality on larger sites. We briefly discuss how Dribbble feeds the gig economy in the creative industry and how virality becomes an important path for designers in a competitive environment. This work makes a contribution to the study of virality by focusing a small niche social media site and by looking at how users perceive and think about viral events.
Probabilistic performance-based seismic assessment of an existing masonry building
Authors: Giordano Nicola , Mosalam Khalid M. , Günay Selim
Published: November 2019

Existing unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings represent a significant part of the constructed facilities. Unfortunately, in case of seismic actions, their structural behavior is negatively affected by the low capacity of masonry components to withstand lateral forces. For this reason, in the past decades, URM buildings have been responsible for fatalities and large economic losses even in the case of moderate earthquakes. This article presents the seismic loss assessment of an old masonry building damaged during the 2014 South Napa earthquake using the framework of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center’s Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering. For this purpose, the performance is expressed in terms of expected monetary loss curves for different hazard scenarios. Structural and non-structural losses are considered in the analysis using a practical, yet accurate, structural idealization of the URM building, which is validated by the observed damage from the 2014 South Napa earthquake.
Transcriptome, physiological and biochemical analysis of Triarrhena sacchariflora in response to flooding stress
Authors: Wang Jia , Sun Han , Sheng Jiajin , Jin Surong , Zhou Fasong , Hu Zhongli , Diao Ying
Published: November 2019

Background

In recent decades, the frequency of flooding is increasing with the change of global climate. Flooding has become one of the major abiotic stresses that seriously affect growth and development of plants.Triarrhena saccharifloraNakai has been considered a promising energy crop for utilization in ethanol production. Flooding stress is among the most severe abiotic stressors in the production of Nakai. However, the physiological and molecular biological mechanisms of Nakai response to flooding is still unclear. In the present study, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of Nakai in response to flooding stress, the transcriptome, physiological and biochemical were investigated.

Results

The results demonstrated that significant physiological changes were observed in photosynthetic system, antioxidative enzyme activity, chlorophyll, carotenoid, proline, lipid peroxidation and soluble sugar content under normal and flooding treatments. Such as, the chlorophyll, carotenoid contents and photosynthetic system were significantly decreased. Whereas, the antioxidative enzyme activity, proline, lipid peroxidation and soluble sugar has increased first and then decreased under treatments compared with the normal plants. Additionally, a total of 8832, 6608 and 3649 unigenes were validated to be differentially expressed under different treatments, respectively. Besides, gene ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of the different expression levels of genes also presented processes, which involved in photosynthesis, sucrose catabolism, glycolysis, stress response and defense, phytohormone biosynthesis and signal transduction.

Conclusions

The results provide a comprehensive view of the complex molecular events involved in the response to flooding stress of Nakai leaves, which also will promote the research in the development of flood-resistant crops and provide new tools for Nakai breeders.
Evaluation of a new Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility system for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bloodstream infections: speed and accuracy of Alfred 60AST
Authors: Anton-Vazquez Vanesa , Adjepong Samuel , Suarez Cristina , Planche Timothy
Published: November 2019

Background

Blood stream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The time from taking blood cultures to obtain results of antibiotic sensitivity can be up to five days which impacts patient care. The Alfred 60 AST™ can reduce laboratory time from positive culture bottle to susceptibility results from 16 to 25 h to 5–6 h, transforming patient care. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid antimicrobial susceptibility system, the Alfred 60 AST™, in clinical isolates from patients with BSIs and confirm time to results. 301 Gram-negative and 86 Gram-positive isolates were analysed directly from positive blood culture bottles following Gram staining. Antimicrobial susceptibility results and time-to-results obtained by rapid Alfred 60 AST system and BD Phoenix were compared .

Results

A total of 2196 antimicrobial susceptibility test results (AST) were performed: 1863 Gram-negative and 333 Gram-positive. AST categorical agreement (CA) for Alfred 60 AST™ was 95% (1772/1863) for Gram-negative and 89% (295/333) for Gram-positive isolates. Gram-negative CA: ampicillin 96% (290/301); ciprofloxacin 95% (283/297); ceftriaxone 96% (75/78); meropenem 97% (288/297); piperacillin-tazobactam 95% (280/295); gentamicin 94% (279/297) and amikacin 93% (277/298). The median time to susceptibility results from blood culture flagging positive was 6.3 h vs 20 h (p < 0.01) for Alfred system vs BD Phoenix™.

Conclusion

Alfred 60 AST system greatly reduced time to antimicrobial susceptibility results in Gram-negative and Gram-positive BSIs with good performance and cost, particularly for Gram-negative bacteraemia.