bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of turbulent fluctuations in aerosol activation and cloud formation
Authors: Prabhakaran Prasanth , Shawon Abu Sayeed Md , Kinney Gregory , Thomas Subin , Cantrell Will , Shaw Raymond A.
Published: July 2020

Significance

Formation of cloud droplets is a threshold phenomenon; droplets form only when the local relative humidity (RH) exceeds a critical value which depends on the size and chemical composition of preexisting aerosol particles which serve as the seeds for droplets. In the traditional view of this process, only the average value of RH is considered. However, clouds are ubiquitously turbulent, meaning they are characterized not by a single value of relative humidity, but by a distribution. We show, with laboratory experiments and theory, that cloud formation occurs in three regimes, characterized by the relationship between the distribution of RH in the environment and the critical value. Our results show that fluctuations in RH must be considered, as well the average.
Conditional cash transfer and education under neoliberalism in Nigeria: inequality, poverty and commercialisation in the school sector
Authors: Ogamba Ikedinachi K.
Published: July 2020

This briefing contributes to the debate on education and inequalities in the era of neoliberal globalisation, exploring the extent to which conditional cash transfer (CCT) expands the choices and potentials of children from poor households using the critical lens of the capability approach. It argues that the effectiveness of the CCT programme in mitigating the effects of neoliberal policies in education and addressing inequalities in and through education has been limited, highlighting the implications for education and sustainable development.
Interspecies entanglement with impurity atoms in a lattice gas
Authors: Sarkar S , McEndoo S , Schneble D , Daley A J
Published: July 2020

The dynamics of impurity atoms introduced into bosonic gases in an optical lattice have generated a lot of recent interest, both in theory and experiment. We investigate to what extent measurements on either the impurity species or the majority species in these systems are affected by their interspecies entanglement. This arises naturally in the dynamics and plays an important role when we measure only one species. We explore the corresponding effects in strongly interacting regimes, using a combination of few-particle analytical calculations and density matrix renormalisation group methods in one dimension. We identify how the resulting effects on impurities can be used to probe the many-body states of the majority species, and separately ask how to enter regimes where this entanglement is small, so that the impurities can be used as probes that do not significantly affect the majority species. The results are accessible in current experiments, and provide important considerations for the measurement of complex systems with using few probe atoms.
Experimental evidence of the multiple microclimatic impacts of bushfires in affected urban areas: the case of Sydney during the 2019/2020 Australian season
Authors: Ulpiani Giulia , Ranzi Gianluca , Santamouris Mat
Published: July 2020

This paper presents the results of a monitoring campaign conducted in the inner west of the city of Sydney during the 2019/2020 bushfire season. The combined effects of extreme pollution, heat waves and droughts are analyzed in terms of microclimatic perturbation. A compact meteorological station measured air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, wind (speed and direction), solar radiation, UV radiation, UV index, PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, at the one site. The monitoring campaign lasted from the 20th of December 2019 to the 13th of January 2020, when hundreds of bushfires were ravaging the bordering areas. A suite of dependencies emerged between PM concentration and air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rain. PM concentration was higher during the night and in the morning, especially after daytime overheating events (temperature above 35 °C). Raindrops triggered the highest and most persistent dust levels. Dense layers of PMs, in turn, strongly attenuated the UV radiation. Collected data also indicated anomalies in the intensity of the urban heat island compared to historical trends. This study is a first attempt to link together several different parameters on a local scale under weather anomalies. Future efforts will be directed to strengthening the validity of the above results and approach to broader boundary conditions.
Impact of a Modified HistoGel Method for Processing Endocervical Curettage Specimens on Diagnostic Yield
Authors: Ramia de Cap Maximiliano , Jou David , Chen Yigu , Hecht Jonathan L , VanderLaan Paul A , Chen Athena L
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Endocervical curettage (ECC) specimens may be limited by scant tissue. We evaluated whether a cellular concentration processing method could improve their diagnostic quality.

Methods

Between October 2018 and June 2019, ECC specimens were assigned chronologically to one of two groups: nonconcentrated ECC (NECC) or concentrated ECC (CECC). NECC specimens underwent routine histologic processing. CECC specimens were processed using a published HistoGel-based cell block method. We reviewed diagnoses for ECCs, concurrent cervical biopsies and/or loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEPs), and preceding Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses to evaluate the impact of processing method on ECC adequacy and discordance between Pap smear and worst tissue diagnoses.

Results

NECC and CECC adequacy was 88.2% and 84.7% (P = .06). ECC adequacy was greater if concurrent biopsy/LEEP was performed (odds ratio [OR] = 1.76, P < .01). Discordance between Pap smear and worst tissue diagnoses was 9.5% and 13.3% (P = .04) for cases with NECC and CECC processing, although processing method was not significant in multivariate analysis (OR = 0.74, P = .11). Adequate ECC sampling and concurrent biopsy/LEEP were independently associated with concordance between Pap smear and worst tissue diagnosis (OR = 0.46, P < .01 and OR = 0.65, P = .02).

Conclusions

ECC processing method did not significantly affect either specimen adequacy (P = .06) or diagnostic discordance (P = .11) when controlled for other factors.
Positive Effect of Helicobacter pylori Treatment on Outcome of Patients With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Authors: Elhendawy Mohammed , Hagras Maha M , Soliman Shaimaa S , Shaker Engi Seif E
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The association between Helicobacter pylori and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is controversial. Therefore, we aimed to directly diagnose H pylori by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in gastric tissue from patients with CSU and to investigate the association between H pylori eradication therapy and CSU remission.

Methods

Twenty-seven of 72 patients with CSU who were positive for H pylori stool antigen and PCR in gastric biopsy specimens were randomized to receive either anti–H pylori treatment or placebo.

Results

Patients with H pylori were found to have significantly lower hemoglobin concentrations with microcytic hypochromic anemia and a significantly higher occurrence of dyspepsia symptoms. All H pylori–treated patients (except two) showed significant improvement of the urticaria itching and red wheals after 2 weeks of therapy compared with the placebo group (P < .001). The response rate to treatment was 85.7% (12 patients; 95% confidence interval, 64.3%-100.0%). The two patients who failed to eradicate H pylori had an H pylori strain resistant to amoxicillin.

Conclusions

An association was observed between CSU and presence of H pylori infection in the gastric tissue. Whether this is a causal relationship or not remains to be discovered, but treatment of H pylori can significantly improve the symptoms of CSU.
Spatial molecular profiling: platforms, applications and analysis tools
Authors: Zhang Minzhe , Sheffield Thomas , Zhan Xiaowei , Li Qiwei , Yang Donghan M , Wang Yunguan , Wang Shidan , Xie Yang , Wang Tao , Xiao Guanghua
Published: July 2020

Molecular profiling technologies, such as genome sequencing and proteomics, have transformed biomedical research, but most such technologies require tissue dissociation, which leads to loss of tissue morphology and spatial information. Recent developments in spatial molecular profiling technologies have enabled the comprehensive molecular characterization of cells while keeping their spatial and morphological contexts intact. Molecular profiling data generate deep characterizations of the genetic, transcriptional and proteomic events of cells, while tissue images capture the spatial locations, organizations and interactions of the cells together with their morphology features. These data, together with cell and tissue imaging data, provide unprecedented opportunities to study tissue heterogeneity and cell spatial organization. This review aims to provide an overview of these recent developments in spatial molecular profiling technologies and the corresponding computational methods developed for analyzing such data.
Style transfer with variational autoencoders is a promising approach to RNA-Seq data harmonization and analysis
Authors: Russkikh Nikolai , Antonets Denis , Shtokalo Dmitry , Makarov Alexander , Vyatkin Yuri , Zakharov Alexey , Terentyev Evgeny
Published: July 2020

Motivation

The transcriptomic data are being frequently used in the research of biomarker genes of different diseases and biological states. The most common tasks there are the data harmonization and treatment outcome prediction. Both of them can be addressed via the style transfer approach. Either technical factors or any biological details about the samples which we would like to control (gender, biological state, treatment, etc.) can be used as style components.

Results

The proposed style transfer solution is based on Conditional Variational Autoencoders, Y-Autoencoders and adversarial feature decomposition. To quantitatively measure the quality of the style transfer, neural network classifiers which predict the style and semantics after training on real expression were used. Comparison with several existing style-transfer based approaches shows that proposed model has the highest style prediction accuracy on all considered datasets while having comparable or the best semantics prediction accuracy.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/NRshka/stvae-source.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
General tests of the Markov property in multi-state models
Authors: Titman Andrew C , Putter Hein
Published: July 2020

Multi-state models for event history analysis most commonly assume the process is Markov. This article considers tests of the Markov assumption that are applicable to general multi-state models. Two approaches using existing methodology are considered; a simple method based on including time of entry into each state as a covariate in Cox models for the transition intensities and a method involving detecting a shared frailty through a stratified Commenges–Andersen test. In addition, using the principle that under a Markov process the future rate of transitions of the process at times $t > s$ should not be influenced by the state occupied at time $s$, a new class of general tests is developed by considering summaries from families of log-rank statistics where patients are grouped by the state occupied at varying initial time $s$. An extended form of the test applicable to models that are Markov conditional on observed covariates is also derived. The null distribution of the proposed test statistics are approximated by using wild bootstrap sampling. The approaches are compared in simulation and applied to a dataset on sleeping behavior. The most powerful test depends on the particular departure from a Markov process, although the Cox-based method maintained good power in a wide range of scenarios. The proposed class of log-rank statistic based tests are most useful in situations where the non-Markov behavior does not persist, or is not uniform in nature across patient time.
Intranasal oxytocin enhances approach-related EEG frontal alpha asymmetry during engagement of direct eye contact
Authors: Soriano Javier R , Daniels Nicky , Prinsen Jellina , Alaerts Kaat
Published: July 2020

The neuropeptide oxytocin is suggested to play a major role in a variety of complex human behaviours, including interpersonal bonding, trust and attachment. Recent theories have suggested that the role oxytocin plays in these complex social behaviours involves a modulation of motivational tendencies of approach-/avoidance-related behaviours. However, to date, direct neurophysiological evidence supporting this notion is limited. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study with parallel design, we assessed the effects of administered intranasal oxytocin in 40 adult men on gaze behaviour and a neural marker of approach/avoidance motivational tendencies. Specifically, electroencephalography recordings were performed during the engagement of eye contact with a live model in a naturalistic two-person social context and electroencephalographic frontal alpha asymmetry, an established neurophysiological index of motivational tendencies for approach-/avoidance-related behaviours, was assessed. Compared to placebo, a single dose of oxytocin (24 international units) was shown to increase relative left-sided frontal asymmetry upon direct eye contact with a live model, which is indicative of an increase in approach-related motivational tendencies towards the presented eye contact stimulus. Notably, the treatment effect was most prominently observed in participants with lower self-reported social motivation (higher Motivation subscale scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale), indicating that participants with lower social motivation benefitted the most from the administered oxytocin. No treatment-specific changes were identified in terms of gaze behaviour towards the eye region of the live model. Together, these observations add neurophysiological evidence to the hypothesized role of oxytocin in modulating approach-/avoidance-related tendencies and suggest that inter-subject variability in person-dependent factors need to be considered to evaluate the potential benefit of intranasal oxytocin as a treatment. This notion is of particular relevance to the variety of neuropsychiatric populations such as autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder and depression, for which intranasal oxytocin is increasingly considered a potential treatment.
Frequency-specific neural synchrony in autism during memory encoding, maintenance and recognition
Authors: Audrain Samantha P , Urbain Charline M , Yuk Veronica , Leung Rachel C , Wong Simeon M , Taylor Margot J
Published: July 2020

Working memory impairment is associated with symptom severity and poor functional outcome in autistic individuals, and yet the neurobiology underlying such deficits is poorly understood. Neural oscillations are an area of investigation that can shed light on this issue. Theta and alpha oscillations have been found consistently to support working memory in typically developing individuals and have also been shown to be functionally altered in people with autism. While there is evidence, largely from functional magnetic resonance imaging studies, that neural processing underlying working memory is altered in autism, there remains a dearth of information concerning how sub-processes supporting working memory (namely encoding, maintenance and recognition) are impacted. In this study, we used magnetoencephalography to investigate inter-regional theta and alpha brain synchronization elicited during the widely used one-back task across encoding, maintenance and recognition in 24 adults with autism and 30 controls. While both groups performed comparably on the working-memory task, we found process- and frequency-specific differences in networks recruited between groups. In the theta frequency band, both groups used similar networks during encoding and recognition, but different networks specifically during maintenance. In comparison, the two groups recruited distinct networks across encoding, maintenance and recognition in alpha that showed little overlap. These differences may reflect a breakdown of coherent theta and alpha synchronization that supports mnemonic functioning, or in the case of alpha, impaired inhibition of task-irrelevant neural processing. Thus, these data provide evidence for specific theta and widespread alpha synchrony alterations in autism, and underscore that a detailed examination of the sub-processes that comprise working memory is warranted for a complete understanding of cognitive impairment in this population.
Dynamic neurocognitive changes in interoception after heart transplant
Authors: Salamone Paula Celeste , Sedeño Lucas , Legaz Agustina , Bekinschtein Tristán , Martorell Miguel , Adolfi Federico , Fraile-Vazquez Matías , Rodríguez Arriagada Nicolás , Favaloro Liliana , Peradejordi Margarita , Absi Daniel O , García Adolfo M , Favaloro Roberto , Ibáñez Agustín
Published: July 2020

Heart–brain integration dynamics are critical for interoception (i.e. the sensing of body signals). In this unprecedented longitudinal study, we assessed neurocognitive markers of interoception in patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplants and matched healthy controls. Patients were assessed longitudinally before surgery (T1), a few months later (T2) and a year after (T3). We assessed behavioural (heartbeat detection) and electrophysiological (heartbeat evoked potential) markers of interoception. Heartbeat detection task revealed that pre-surgery (T1) interoception was similar between patients and controls. However, patients were outperformed by controls after heart transplant (T2), but no such differences were observed in the follow-up analysis (T3). Neurophysiologically, although heartbeat evoked potential analyses revealed no differences between groups before the surgery (T1), reduced amplitudes of this event-related potential were found for the patients in the two post-transplant stages (T2, T3). All these significant effects persisted after covariation with different cardiological measures. In sum, this study brings new insights into the adaptive properties of brain–heart pathways.
Artificial intelligence for clinical decision support in neurology
Authors: Pedersen Mangor , Verspoor Karin , Jenkinson Mark , Law Meng , Abbott David F , Jackson Graeme D
Published: July 2020

Artificial intelligence is one of the most exciting methodological shifts in our era. It holds the potential to transform healthcare as we know it, to a system where humans and machines work together to provide better treatment for our patients. It is now clear that cutting edge artificial intelligence models in conjunction with high-quality clinical data will lead to improved prognostic and diagnostic models in neurological disease, facilitating expert-level clinical decision tools across healthcare settings. Despite the clinical promise of artificial intelligence, machine and deep-learning algorithms are not a one-size-fits-all solution for all types of clinical data and questions. In this article, we provide an overview of the core concepts of artificial intelligence, particularly contemporary deep-learning methods, to give clinician and neuroscience researchers an appreciation of how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to support clinical decisions. We clarify and emphasize the data quality and the human expertise needed to build robust clinical artificial intelligence models in neurology. As artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving field, we take the opportunity to iterate important ethical principles to guide the field of medicine is it moves into an artificial intelligence enhanced future.
Heritability Estimates of Antler and Body Traits in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) From Genomic-Relatedness Matrices
Authors: Jamieson Aidan , Anderson Spencer J , Fuller Jérémie , Côté Steeve D , Northrup Joseph M , Shafer Aaron B A
Published: July 2020

Estimating heritability (h2) is required to predict the response to selection and is useful in species that are managed or farmed using trait information. Estimating h2 in free-ranging populations is challenging due to the need for pedigrees; genomic-relatedness matrices (GRMs) circumvent this need and can be implemented in nearly any system where phenotypic and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data are available. We estimated the heritability of 5 body and 3 antler traits in a free-ranging population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. We generated classic and robust GRMs from >10,000 SNPs: hind foot length, dressed body mass, and peroneus muscle mass had high h2 values of 0.62, 0.44, and 0.55, respectively. Heritability in male-only antler features ranged from 0.07 to 0.33. We explored the influence of filtering by minor allele frequency and data completion on h2: GRMs derived from fewer SNPs had reduced h2 estimates and the relatedness coefficients significantly deviated from those generated with more SNPs. As a corollary, we discussed limitations to the application of GRMs in the wild, notably how skewed GRMs, specifically many unrelated individuals, can increase variance around h2 estimates. This is the first study to estimate h2 on a free-ranging population of white-tailed deer and should be informative for breeding designs and management as these traits could respond to selection.
Probabilistic cosmic web classification using fast-generated training data
Authors: Buncher Brandon , Carrasco Kind Matias
Published: July 2020

We present a novel method of robust probabilistic cosmic web particle classification in three dimensions using a supervised machine learning algorithm. Training data were generated using a simplified ΛCDM toy model with pre-determined algorithms for generating haloes, filaments, and voids. While this framework is not constrained by physical modelling, it can be generated substantially more quickly than an N-body simulation without loss in classification accuracy. For each particle in this data set, measurements were taken of the local density field magnitude and directionality. These measurements were used to train a random forest algorithm, which was used to assign class probabilities to each particle in a ΛCDM, dark matter-only N-body simulation with 2563 particles, as well as on another toy model data set. By comparing the trends in the ROC curves and other statistical metrics of the classes assigned to particles in each data set using different feature sets, we demonstrate that the combination of measurements of the local density field magnitude and directionality enables accurate and consistent classification of halo, filament, and void particles in varied environments. We also show that this combination of training features ensures that the construction of our toy model does not affect classification. The use of a fully supervised algorithm allows greater control over the information deemed important for classification, preventing issues arising from arbitrary hyperparameters and mode collapse in deep learning models. Due to the speed of training data generation, our method is highly scalable, making it particularly suited for classifying large data sets, including observed data.
Constraining the growth rate of structure with phase correlations
Authors: Byun Joyce , Franco Felipe Oliveira , Howlett Cullan , Bonvin Camille , Obreschkow Danail
Published: July 2020

We show that correlations between the phases of the galaxy density field in redshift space provide additional information about the growth rate of large-scale structure that is complementary to the power-spectrum multipoles. In particular, we consider the multipoles of the line correlation function (LCF), which correlates phases between three collinear points, and use the Fisher forecasting method to show that the LCF multipoles can break the degeneracy between the measurement of the growth rate of structure f and the amplitude of perturbations σ8 that is present in the power-spectrum multipoles at large scales. This leads to an improvement in the measurement of f and σ8 by up to 220 per cent for $k_{\rm max} = 0.15 \, h\, \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ and up to 50 per cent for $k_{\rm max} = 0.30 \, h\, \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ at redshift z = 0.25, with respect to power-spectrum measurements alone for the upcoming generation of galaxy surveys like DESI and Euclid. The average improvements in the constraints on f and σ8 for $k_{\rm max} = 0.15 \, h\, \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ are ∼90 per cent for the DESI BGS sample with mean redshift $\overline{z}=0.25$, ∼40 per cent for the DESI ELG sample with $\overline{z}=1.25$, and ∼40 per cent for the Euclid Hα galaxies with $\overline{z}=1.3$. For $k_{\rm max} = 0.30 \, h\, \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$, the average improvements are ∼40 per cent for the DESI BGS sample and ∼20 per cent for both the DESI ELG and Euclid Hα galaxies.
HRT Atlas v1.0 database: redefining human and mouse housekeeping genes and candidate reference transcripts by mining massive RNA-seq datasets
Authors: Hounkpe Bidossessi Wilfried , Chenou Francine , de Lima Franciele , De Paula Erich Vinicius
Published: July 2020

Housekeeping (HK) genes are constitutively expressed genes that are required for the maintenance of basic cellular functions. Despite their importance in the calibration of gene expression, as well as the understanding of many genomic and evolutionary features, important discrepancies have been observed in studies that previously identified these genes. Here, we present Housekeeping and Reference Transcript Atlas (HRT Atlas v1.0, www.housekeeping.unicamp.br) a web-based database which addresses some of the previously observed limitations in the identification of these genes, and offers a more accurate database of human and mouse HK genes and transcripts. The database was generated by mining massive human and mouse RNA-seq data sets, including 11 281 and 507 high-quality RNA-seq samples from 52 human non-disease tissues/cells and 14 healthy tissues/cells of C57BL/6 wild type mouse, respectively. User can visualize the expression and download lists of 2158 human HK transcripts from 2176 HK genes and 3024 mouse HK transcripts from 3277 mouse HK genes. HRT Atlas also offers the most stable and suitable tissue selective candidate reference transcripts for normalization of qPCR experiments. Specific primers and predicted modifiers of gene expression for some of these HK transcripts are also proposed. HRT Atlas has also been integrated with a regulatory elements resource from Epiregio server.
The Politics of Media in TurkeyChronicle of a Stillborn Media System
Authors: Uzunoğlu Sarphan
Published: July 2020

This chapter analyzes the politics of media in Turkey and the formation of Turkey’s so-called new media order characterized by polarization, corporatization, widespread censorship, and lack of journalistic independence. It argues that Turkey’s ongoing media crisis arose due to structural transformations starting from the early 1980s and becoming more accelerated and visible under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The chapter discusses Turkey’s media crisis in three steps. Firstly, it contextualizes Turkey’s traditional media system within globally recognized media systems and provides a historical understanding of the impact of political elites and the government on the media industry. Secondly, it discusses shifts in media consumption habits and media ownership structure under AKP rule and shows how these shifts served the party’s political agenda. Finally, it offers a critical overview of several existing prescriptive approaches to Turkey’s media crisis and argues that techno-determinist and overgeneralizing approaches are incompatible with Turkey’s social reality.
Career Counselling Effectiveness and Contributing Factors
Authors: Whiston Susan C.
Published: July 2020

This chapter explores the research related to whether career counselling is effective for individuals with vocational issues. In particular, there is considerable empirical support for career counselling related to career choice issues and searching for employment. Hence, practitioners can use this evidence to convince administrators, policymakers, parents, students, and other constituencies of the worth of career counselling. In addition, the chapter provides empirical evidence that practitioners can use to improve their effectiveness in working with people with career issues. This discussion mainly focuses on the results from older and newer meta-analyses regarding the ingredients that have a significant influence on effect sizes or the critical ingredients in career counselling. For example, there is considerable evidence that support from individuals, including the counsellor, may play an important role in the effectiveness of career counselling. Other factors that contribute to effective practice are also identified and discussed. The chapter further explores the need for additional research that addresses the most effective methods for providing career counselling. As the world of work becomes increasingly complex, it is important that researchers continue to explore the most effective strategies for assisting people in finding satisfying, meaningful, and productive work.
Fair Trade Music?: Ethical Consumerism and the Political Economy of Digital Music
Authors: Wagner Tom
Published: July 2020

This chapter explores how the music creators group Fair Trade Music International (FTMI) applies the ethos and methods of Fair Trade in attempts to reform how, and how much, music creators are paid for digital music sales. The term “Fair Trade” has since the 1980s become synonymous with “ethical consumerism,” a set of ideals and practices that seek to mitigate the deleterious effects of “unethical” capitalism. Yet the overall effects of “ethical consumerism” itself are debatable: on the one hand, it often improves the material conditions of producers, especially in the “global south.” On the other hand, it does so within—and therefore reinforces—the existing political-economic structures that produce what it seeks to mitigate. How does this paradox manifest in the context of digital music sales?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Loupy Kelsey M. , Lowry Christopher A.
Published: July 2020

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma- and stressor-related disorder that is often associated with the dysregulation of multiple physiological systems, including autonomic nervous system functioning, glucocorticoid signaling, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that persons with a diagnosis of PTSD also exhibit alterations in the composition of gut microbiomes compared to people who are trauma-exposed but do not develop PTSD. The bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome, the gut, and the brain, deemed the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB) axis, is composed of neural, neuroendocrine, and immune processes that both impact and respond to the structure of the gut microbiome. This chapter aims to outline (1) the ways in which trauma and stressor exposure may impact the gut microbiome; (2) the ways in which gut microbiome composition may influence brain function, including anxiety, and fear responses; and (3) how the bidirectional MGB axis, through interactions with several physiological circuits, may determine individual variability in resilience versus vulnerability to development of PTSD after trauma exposure.
Improved method for measuring low-concentration radium and its application to the Super-Kamiokande Gadolinium project
Authors: Ito S , Ichimura K , Takaku Y , Abe K , Harada M , Ikeda M , Ito H , Kishimoto Y , Nakajima Y , Okada T , Sekiya H
Published: July 2020

Chemical extraction using a molecular recognition resin named “Empore Radium Rad Disk” was developed to improve sensitivity for the low concentration of radium (Ra). Compared with the previous method, the extraction process speed was improved by a factor of three and the recovery rate for $^{226}$Ra was also improved from $81\pm4\%$ to $>99.9\%$. The sensitivity on the $10^{-1}$ mBq level was achieved using a high-purity germanium detector. This improved method was applied to determine $^{226}$Ra in Gd$_2$(SO$_4$)$_3{\cdot}$8H$_2$O which will be used in the Super-Kamiokande Gadolinium project. The improvement and measurement results are reported in this paper.
Comparison of Perimodiolar Electrodes: Imaging and Electrophysiological Outcomes
Authors: Mewes Alexander , Brademann Goetz , Hey Matthias
Published: July 2020

Background:

The perimodiolar CI532 Slim Modiolar electrode has been designed to bring the electrode contacts close to auditory nerve while reducing cochlear trauma during its insertion. It is currently unknown to what extent the electrode position and electrophysiological outcomes of the Slim Modiolar electrode differ from other perimodiolar electrodes.

Objectives:

The objective was to compare the electrode position and electrophysiological outcomes between the CI532 Slim Modiolar and CI512 Contour Advance electrode.

Method:

Forty-six adult patients received a Slim Modiolar or Contour Advance electrode. Electrode types were compared using intraoperative electrode impedances, evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and stapedius reflex thresholds, as well as position parameters from postoperative computed tomography or digital volume tomography images (medial-lateral position, electrode-to-modiolus distance, insertion angle).

Results:

The medial-lateral position indicates a closer modiolar placement of the Slim Modiolar compared with the Contour Advance. Individual electrode contact measurements, however, showed significantly larger electrode-to-modiolus distances and higher ECAP thresholds for the Slim Modiolar in the basal region. On contacts E20–22 the Slim Modiolar is slightly closer to the modiolus compared with the Contour Advance, but this did not result in lower ECAP thresholds.

Conclusions:

Perimodiolar electrodes can vary in their intracochlear position, leading to divergent electrophysiological outcomes. To detect these differences, investigations must be done for each electrode contact rather than using a global factor for the whole electrode array. While the electrode dislocation rate is lower with the Slim Modiolar than with the Contour Advance, electrode-to-modiolus proximity is smaller and ECAP thresholds are lower with the Contour Advance in the basal cochlear region.
Pediatric cystic lymphangioma of the retroperitoneum
Authors: Poroes Fabio , Petermann David , Andrejevic-Blant Snezana , Labgaa Ismail , Di Mare Luca
Published: July 2020

Rationale:

Cystic lymphangioma (CL) is a rare benign tumor resulting from a failure of the lymphatic system development. It may occur at any age but it is more frequent during childhood. Its clinical presentation and location are various but abdominal CL are uncommon. Among those, mesenteric presentation is the most frequent form whereas CL of the retroperitoneum are particularly rare.

Patient concerns:

Herein, we report the case of a 17-years-old patient with no medical history who presented with right-upper quadrant (RUQ) pain, but no other symptom. Physical examination showed tenderness of the RUQ without distension. Lab tests were unremarkable.

Diagnosis:

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) highlighted a retroperitoneal cystic mass potentially infiltrating the mesenterium, raising suspicion of a CL of the retroperitoneum. Diagnosis of CL was confirmed by histological analyses.

Intervention:

Patient underwent an exploratory laparoscopy that infirmed infiltration of the mesenterium and allowed for resection.

Outcomes:

Postoperative course was uneventful and there is no evidence of recurrence after 14 months of follow-up.

Lessons:

Although CL essentially occur in children, pediatric retroperitoneal CL is a rare finding, with only 21 cases identified in the literature.

In summary, CL are benign tumors rarely located in the retroperitoneum. Despite performant imaging technologies, preoperative diagnosis is challenging. Whenever possible, laparoscopic resection should be the treatment of choice. Herein, we report the largest CL pediatric case laparoscopically resected, and the first review of the literature on the topic.
The predictive value of calcification for the grading of ductal carcinoma in situ in Chinese patients
Authors: Kong Jianchun , Liu Xiaomin , Zhang Xiaodan , Zou Yu
Published: July 2020

High-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) requires resection due to the high risk of developing invasive breast cancer. The predictive powers of noninvasive predictors for high-grade DCIS remain contradictory. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of calcification for high-grade DCIS in Chinese patients.

This was a retrospective study of Chinese DCIS patients recruited from the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University between January and December 2018. The patients were divided into calcification and non-calcification groups based on the mammography results. The correlation of calcification with the pathologic stage of DCIS was evaluated using the multivariable analysis. The predictive value of calcification for DCIS grading was examined using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.

The pathologic grade of DCIS was not associated with calcification morphology (P = .902), calcification distribution (P = .252), or breast density (P = .188). The multivariable analysis showed that the presence of calcification was independently associated with high pathologic grade of DCIS (OR = 3.206, 95% CI = 1.315–7.817, P = .010), whereas the age, hypertension, menopause, and mammography BI-RADS were not (all P > .05) associated with the grade of DCIS. The ROC analysis of the predictive value of calcification for DCIS grading showed that the area under the curve was 0.626 (P = .019), with a sensitivity of 73.1%, specificity of 52.2%, positive predictive value of 72.2%, and negative predictive value of 53.3%.

The presence of calcification is independently associated with high pathologic grade of DCIS and could predict high-grade DCIS in Chinese patients.
A 12 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of HT083 on mild osteoarthritis
Authors: Lee Donghun , Kim Seok Jung , Kim Hocheol
Published: July 2020

Background:

The increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis among the old population worldwide is a great concern. Two of the biggest complaints of OA patients are joint pain and inflammation. Currently, people are relying on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids to control pain and inflammation. However, long-term use of these pharmaceutical drugs has negative health consequences in the elderly, including gastro-intestinal, respiratory, and renal diseases. Natural products are receiving more attention than ever as alternative treatments against OA for their efficacies and safety. The root of Paeonia lactiflora Pal and the gum resin of Commiphora myrrha have been used as analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents since ancient time. A new herbal formula composed of P. lactiflora root and C. myrrha gum resin extracts, known as HT083, has shown promising antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in a rodent model of OA. We design this study to investigate the safety and the efficacy of HT083 to prevent OA in patients with mild OA.

Methods:

This is a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. A total of 100 eligible participants will be divided into two groups and will be given HT083 and a placebo for 12 weeks in 1:1 ratio. Treatment results will be assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), Korean-Short Form health survey-36 score (SF-36), personal evaluation, and laboratory analysis.

Discussion:

This trial is expected to provide clinical evidence on the effectiveness and the safety of HT083 as a natural treatment for mild OA.

Trial registration:

Korean Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) number KCT0004925 Registered on 2020.04.16.
Efficacy and safety of moxibustion for patients with functional constipation
Authors: Chen Ying , Xu Mingmin , Hou Tinghui , Wang Lu , Feng Xiumei , Li Ying
Published: July 2020

Introduction:

The objective of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for treating patients with functional constipation (FC).

Methods and analysis:

We will electronically search the following databases: OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane library, CINAHL, AMED, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-fang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, and other resources from inception to October 2019, without any language restrictions. Randomised-controlled trials will be included. The primary outcome is the improvement in mean complete spontaneous bowel movements and stool form (utilize the Bristol Stool Form Scale [BSFS]). Secondary outcomes involve the degree of difficulty in defecation, proportion of responders, mean transit time, health-related quality of life, and adverse events rate. The methodological quality will be assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results:

This work will summarize clinical evidence to assess the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment for FC patients.

Conclusion:

This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide current evidence of the efficacy and safety of moxibustion treating FC.

Systematic review registration:

PROSPERO, CRD42020157955.
Risk of rectal puncture due to needle entry into the presacral space
Authors: Kwon Young Suk , Lee Narea , Lee Ho Seok , Youn Eun Ji , Lee Soo Kyung , Kim Youngmi , Lee Jae Jun
Published: July 2020

During ganglion impar block, the needle may approach the presacral space and the sacrum may be penetrated during caudal anesthesia. Because the rectum is in front of the sacrococcyx and is thus at risk for puncture, it is important to determine the distance between the sacrococcyx and rectum, as well as the thickness of the sacrococcyx.

Computed tomography was used to measure the distance between the rectum and sacrococcyx, as well as the thickness of the sacrococcyx. The distances between the coccyx and rectum, sacrococcygeal joint and rectum, sacral level 5 (‘sacrum 5’) and rectum, and ‘sacrum 4 to 5 junction’ and rectum were measured. The results were compared based on the presence or absence of stools in the rectum. The thickness of the sacrococcyx was measured at the sacrum 4 to 5 junction and sacrococcygeal joint.

In total, 1264 patients were included in this study. All distances were less than 1 mm in both males and females, with the exception of the distance between the coccyx and rectum in males. In both males and females, there was no significant difference in distance between the sacrococcyx and rectum according to the presence or absence of feces in the rectum, but there was a difference in the distance between sacrum 5 and the rectum in males (P = .048). Several male and female patients showed thicknesses of less than 5 mm at the sacrococcygeal joint.

Some patients have a distance of less than 1 mm between the sacrum and rectum. Practitioners should exercise caution when applying a needle to the presacral space. If the sacrum is accidentally penetrated during caudal block, rectum puncture cannot be ruled out. Excretion of feces does not influence the distance between the sacrococcyx and rectum in females.
Cost-utility of new film-coated tablet formulation of deferasirox vs deferoxamine among major beta-thalassemia patients in Iran
Authors: Saiyarsarai Parisa , Khorasani Elahe , Photogeraphy Hasti , Ghaffari Darab Mohsen , Seyedifar Meysam
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

Thalassemia is a hereditary disease, which caused economic burden in developing countries. This study evaluated the cost utility of new formulation of deferasirox (Jadenu) vs deferoxamine (Desferal) among B-Thalassemia-major patients from payer perspective in Iran.

Methods:

An economic-evaluation through Markov model was performed. A systematic review was conducted in order to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of comparators. Because of chelating therapy is weight-dependent, patients were assumed to be 2 years-old at initiation in first and 18 years-old in second scenario, and model was estimated lifetime costs and utilities. Costs were calculated to the Iran healthcare system through payer perspective and measured effectiveness using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). One-way sensitivity analysis and budget impact analysis was also employed.

Results:

The 381 studies were retrieved from systematic searching through databases. After eliminating duplicate and irrelevant studies, 2 studies selected for evaluating the effectiveness. Jadenu was associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 1470.6 and 2544.7 US$ vs Desferal in first and second scenario respectively. The estimated ICER for Jadenu compared to generic deferoxamine was 2837.0 and 6924.1 US$ for first and second scenario respectively. For all scenarios Jadenu is presumed as cost-effective option based on calculated ICER which was lower than 1 gross domestic product per capita in Iran. Sensitivity analysis showed that different parameters except discount rate and indirect cost did not have impact on results. Based on budget impact analysis the estimated cost for patients using Desferal (based on the market share of brand) was 44,021,478 US$ in 3 years vs 42,452,606 US$ in replacing 33% of brand market share with Jadenu. This replacement corresponded to the cost saving of almost 1,568,872 US$ for the payers in 3 years. The calculated cost of using generic deferoxamine in all patients was 68,948,392 US$. The increase in the cost of using Jadenu for 10% of all patients in this scenario would be 934,427 US$ (1.36%) US$ at the first year.

Conclusions:

Based on this analysis, film-coated deferasirox appeared to be cost-effective treatment in comparison with Desferal for managing child and adult chronic iron overload in B-thalassemia major patients of Iran.
Prognostic factors for venous thrombosis in patients with peripherally inserted central catheters
Authors: Gao Yanling , Fan Xiaoyi , Han Jie
Published: July 2020

Background:

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has become increasingly popular in clinical practice because of the ease and safety of insertion and lower cost-effectiveness. The precise incidence and risk of PICC-related venous thrombosis is important to be verified in the context of growing PICC use and an understanding of the risk of venous thrombosis is an important cost and patient safety question.

Method:

We will search seven electronic databases including the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Chinese BioMedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP and Wangfang Database regardless of publication date or language. All studies with prognostic factor analysis will be included if they recruited participants with PICC. Primary outcomes will include venous thrombosis. The risk of bias will be assessed by 2 authors using quality in prognostic studies tool. If possible, a meta-analysis in fixed or random effects model will be conducted by R-3.5.1 software, otherwise a narrative synthesis will ensue focusing on prognostic factors. The confidence in cumulative evidence will be assessed by Based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.

Results:

The aim of this study is to retrieve, appraise and summarize the clinical evidence of risk assessment for PICC-related venous thrombosis.

Conclusions:

This study will assess the precise incidence and risk of venous thrombosis in patients with PICC and provide references for establishing relevant assessment tools.

Ethics and dissemination:

This study is a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factors for venous thrombosis in PICC patients. This review will be published in a journal and disseminated in print by peer-review.