bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Professionalism Competence
Authors: Doublestein Barry A. , Lee Walter T. , Pfohl Richard M.
Published: February 2020

The existing medical education paradigm is not structured in a way that prepares future physicians with knowledge or the skill set to excel in professionalism. The authors provide information in the form of a case study of a professionalism competency development program that was undertaken in the Duke University Medical School Division of Head and Neck Surgery and Communications Sciences, barriers found that impede development, and offer five reforms that are necessary in order to bring about the movement toward high-value care. The authors propose to 1) prioritize professionalism competency training in medical education, 2) make curricular revisions to promote professionalism competency training across the continuum, 3) revise selection criteria for entrance to the profession that deals with basic professionalism skills, 4) institute new prerequisite requirements for entrance to the profession centered on professionalism competency, and 5) require professionalism competency training as part of certification and re-certification processes.
The Applicability of Probabilistic Calculation Methods in Building Thermal Technology and Energetics
Authors: Zdrazilova Nada , Valachova Denisa , Skotnicova Iveta
Published: February 2020

The paper deals with the possibilities of using probabilistic calculation methods for the assessment of structures in building thermal technology and energetics. The subject is particularly the performance of individual probabilistic calculation methods that can be used for this purpose and their basic principles. Following are then examples of these calculations used in practice.
Observation of Cracks Originating from Transition Area in Induction-Heated S45C Shaft under Rotating Bending Fatigue
Authors: Mizobe Koshiro , Matsushita Masayuki , Shibukawa Takuya , Kida Katsuyuki
Published: February 2020

Low carbon steel is one of the most common steels used in industry because of its low cost. If more strength is required, it can be strengthened by induction heating which is also a low-cost method. In order to investigate the effect of induction heating on large diameter shafts, we performed rolling bending fatigue tests using 10 mm diameter specimens. We found that TRO cracks originating from the boundary between the soft and hard layers governed the fatigue fracture of the shafts.
Experimental Verification of the Stiffness of a Semi-Rigid Timber Connection
Authors: Sandanus Jaroslav , Sógel Kristián , Klas Tomáš , Botló Michal
Published: February 2020

Modern fasteners offer new options for the design of timber load-bearing structures. In the design, the traditional hinged connections are increasingly being replaced with semi-rigid connections. Nevertheless, there is no feedback from the actual structures with this kind of connection regarding the accuracy of static calculations. The authors therefore decided to test one connection and compare the results with those obtained from calculation models. The paper presents the experimental verification of the frame connection in which the semi-rigid action was achieved by combining the aluminium Sherpa connector and total thread Rothoblaas screws. The timber samples were provided by Latti Extra.
A question of reframing: How LSP improves math fluency, economics, and financial literacy at the secondary level
Authors: Hill Sean
Published: February 2020

The purpose of this applied expository paper is to demonstrate how world language teachers at the secondary level can incorporate Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) principles into their courses when it is not possible to offer standalone LSP courses. Multiple examples are provided that illustrate how many traditional classroom lessons, communicative activities, and projects can be reframed to incorporate interdisciplinary connections to provide students with a skill set that focuses on global awareness and communication, as well as economic and financial literacy. One rural and persistently low-performing school district created initiatives to integrate reading apprenticeship strategies, writing across the curriculum, and number fluency into weekly lessons in all classrooms at all grade levels in order to increase student academic achievement. Beginning world language courses at the secondary level, reframed through an LSP lens, can provide valuable support to other content areas. Further, these courses may potentially increase student engagement within the classroom and cause higher achievement on state assessments across multiple disciplines.
Roadside erosion and resource implications in Prince Edward Island, with special reference to western Prince County
Authors: de Belle G
Published: February 2020

This study focuses attention on the seriousness of roadside erosion in Prince Edward lsland. Until very recently, provincial highway construction and road improvement were not accompanied by practices to prevent roadside erosion. This has resulted in the
development of an erosion problem of fairly widespread proportions.
Roadside erosion was classified and mapped along the entire paved road network in the western portion of the province , in order to demonstrate the magnitude of the problem in a specific area and to illustrate that the omission of control measures can have serious consequences. Not only is damage ca
used to the traffic pavement and the road shoulder, but sideslopes and backslopes are altered due to loss of surface material and gullying, and in creased quantities of sediment lead to clogging of ditches and can have adverse effects on water and other resources. A high degree of road and roadside
maintenance is required.
The final section of this report is concerned with the control of roadside erosion. Seeding of roadsides is emphasized, using operations in Nova Scotia as an example, and some other techniques are briefly introduced. It is shown that the cost of basic erosion control is minimal in comparison to
total road construction costs.
Table of Contents Vol 75, No 4 (2019)
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: February 2020

No abstract abvailable.
Table of Contents Vol 865, No 1 (2019)
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: February 2020

No abstract available.
Table of Contents Vol 10, No 1 (2019)
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: February 2020

No abstract available.
Recurrence of previously clipped anterior communicating aneurysm: The surgical techniques and strategies: A case series
Authors: Sharma Rajan , Asiri Ahmed , Yamada Yasuhiro , Kawase Tsukasa , Kato Yoko
Published: February 2020

Background: Microsurgical aneurysm (MSA) clipping is considered as the standard therapy with the endovascular coiling. Microsurgical clipping is considered superior to endovascular in terms of the recurrence rate. The management of recurrent aneurysm following previous microsurgical clipping is challenging. The management of recurrent aneurysm following previous microsurgical clipping is challenging. This study aims to explore the management of recurrent aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery (ACoM). Materials and Methods: This is a case series of three elder women who had a recurrence of ACoM aneurysm after MSA clipping. All the three patients were operated with microsurgical clipping. We studied the preoperative images of the first surgery of all the patients. The detailed case-by-case analysis was performed based on preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up radiologic examinations and operative findings. Results: All three patients who had a recurrence after MSA clipping of ACoM aneurysm and were asymptomatic. At presentation, they were diagnosed at the postoperative imaging at follow-up. The earliest recurrence was 1 year while in one patient; the recurrence was detected 8 years after the initial MSA clipping. The cerebral aneurysms were posteriorly directed in the initial preoperative images in all the cases. Conclusion: This study revealed the recurrence as the residual neck or the enlargement of the aneurysm even after MSA in these cases of ACoM aneurysm. Even with the complete clipping, there can be recurrence at the clip site due to the change in hemodynamics over the time. We should follow-up the patients regularly even after microsurgical clipping.
Trans-nasal trans-sphenoidal endoscopic resection of spindle cell oncocytoma of adenohypophysis: The first case report in a child and a review of literature
Authors: Samadian Mohammad , Mousavinejad Seyad , Khoshsirat Shahrokh , Dehghan Mahmood , Sharifi Guive , Ebrahimzadeh Kaveh , Rezaei Omidvar
Published: February 2020

Spindle cell oncocytoma (SCO) is a rare tumor of adenohypophysis, arising from the sellar region. So far, about 35 cases of SCO in the sellar region have been reported. In this report, we present the first case of pediatric SCO and review the literature concerning the tumor origin, clinical presentations, radiological features, and treatment modalities. An 8-year-old male was referred to our clinic with progressive visual loss in the left eye and headache over the past 6 months. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid adenohypophysis mass with suprasellar extension, as well as compression and displacement of the optic chiasm. The patient underwent endoscopic trans-sphenoidal resection of the tumor. The tumor was diagnosed as SCO based on the histological study. He did not receive radiation therapy. The patient's condition remained stable, with no radiological recurrence in the past follow-up 2 years after the surgery.
Cervical, intradural extramedullary solitary fibrous tumor of the spinal cord: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Glauser Gregory , Sharma Nikhil , Kritikos Michael , Malhotra Neil , Choudhri Omar
Published: February 2020

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare, spindle cell neoplasms of the mesenchymal origin. Lesions localized to the spine are exceptionally uncommon, only described in the literature in case reports and small case series. While these lesions are typically benign, there are a few reports in which they recur or present as malignancies. The patient presented in the case herein was a 72-year-old male, who presented with a 1-year history of lower extremity weakness, pain, and numbness and was found to have a cervical, intradural extramedullary tumor. In addition to the case report, the authors perform a thorough review of all previously published cases of spinal SFT.
Sodium fluorescein in brain tumor surgery: Assessing relative fluorescence intensity at tumor margins
Authors: Manoharan Ragavan , Parkinson Jonathon
Published: February 2020

Purpose: The use of intraoperative 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence has been shown to increase the extent of resection in high-grade glioma surgery. Sodium fluorescein is an alternate fluorescence agent with advantages of low cost, low adverse effect profile, and ability to visualize anatomical detail under the fluorescence filter. Sodium fluorescein-based fluorescence is not specific to tumor cells, and the significance of residual fluorescence at tumor margins has been questioned. In this article, the authors sought to correlate fluorescence intensity at tumor margins with the presence of residual contrast-enhancing tumor on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Eleven patients with a total of 12 lesions were enrolled in the study. Sodium fluorescein was administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg on induction of anesthesia. Relative intensity of fluorescence was extrapolated from intraoperative photographs through isolation of the green channel from the red/green/blue image, then graphically representing of pixel intensity through application of a thermal map. The correlation between areas of avid fluorescence at tumor cavity margins and the presence of residual contrast-enhancing tumor on postoperative MRI was evaluated. Results: All tumors demonstrated fluorescence. The presence of avid fluorescence at tumor cavity margins had a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 75% for the presence of residual contrast-enhancing tumor on postoperative MRI. There were no adverse effects of fluorescein administration. Conclusion: Quantification of relative fluorescence intensity allows easy identification of areas that are high risk for residual contrast-enhancing tumor. Graphical representation of green pixel intensity requires validation through histopathological analysis but has the potential for real-time clinical application.
Comparative outcome analysis of enterprise and neuroform stent-assisted coiling of cerebral aneurysms: A review of the literature
Authors: Goyal Ram , Kato Yoko , Kawase Tsukasa , Suzuki Kentaro , Yamada Yashuhiro , Sharma Saurabh , Balasubramanian Sneha , Tanaka Riki , Miyatani Kyosuke , Daijiro Kojima
Published: February 2020

Introduction: One of the popular treatment strategies for complex cerebral aneurysms with wide necks or low dome-to-neck ratios is stent-assisted coiling. The most widely used intracranial stents for stent-assisted coiling are Neuroform (NF) and Enterprise (EP) stents. The purposes of this study are to review the recent literature of the past 5 years to compare outcomes between the EP and NF stent-assist coiling systems so as to comment on the safety, efficacy, complications, and recurrence rate of stent-assisted coiling in general. Methods: PubMed was used to search for all published literature of NF or EP stent-assisted coiling of unruptured cerebral aneurysms from January 2014 to August 2019 with the search terms of “Enterprise stent-assisted coiling,” “Neuroform stent,” and “Neuroform vs. Enterprise stent.” Results: Twenty two publications met the inclusion criteria which encompass 1764 patients and 1873 aneurysms. Out of these 1873 aneurysms, 1007 aneurysms were treated with EP stent and 866 aneurysms were treated with NF stent. The overall outcome was low rates of thromboembolic complications (4.37%) and intracranial hemorrhage (1.13%), low permanent morbidity (1.70%) and mortality (0.40%), and lower rate of recanalization (11%). Data analysis shows an overall higher rate of complication and recurrence of aneurysm and lower overall rate of aneurysmal occlusion in the patients where EP stent was used in comparison to NF stent. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The review of two stent-assisted coiling devices using EP and NF stents including 1873 aneurysms in 1764 patients revealed that overall, it is safe and effective with comparable outcomes.
Adult-onset seizure disorder secondary to schizencephaly
Authors: Okunlola Abiodun , Olowoyo Paul , Okunlola Cecilia , Babalola Olakunle
Published: February 2020

Schizencephaly is a very rare neurological disorder usually discovered during radiological evaluation of children and young adults with seizure disorders or neurodevelopmental anomalies. We present a 66-year-old patient with right-sided hemiatrophy and paresis presenting with an adult-onset seizure disorder. Her seizure was satisfactorily controlled with a single-therapy antiseizure drug. Congenital brain lesions should be part of the differential diagnoses in patients with epilepsy who have body asymmetry dated back to childhood.
Endovascular therapy for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage complicated by neurogenic pulmonary edema and takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy: A report of ten cases
Authors: Nonaka Senshu , Oishi Hidenori , Tsutsumi Satoshi , Ishii Hisato
Published: February 2020

Objective: Patients sustaining aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) can be further complicated by neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) and Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy (TCM) with dismal outcomes. The present study aimed to validate the efficacy of endovascular therapy for patients with aSAH complicated by NPE and TCM. Materials and Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with aSAH complicated by NPE and TCM and treated by endovascular therapy were retrospectively evaluated. Results: In the past 5 years, a total of ten female patients with aSAH were also diagnosed with NPE and TCM. Six of the ten were cases with high-grade aSAH (Hunt and Hess Grades IV and V), whereas four were low-grade aSAH (Grades II and III). The locations of ruptured aneurysms were the internal carotid-posterior communicating artery junctional site in five patients, the anterior communicating artery in two, the vertebral artery in two, and the middle cerebral artery in one. These aneurysms were successfully embolized by endovascular therapy without any procedure-associated complications. The clinical outcome measure at 6 months after discharge on the Modified Rankin Scale was found to be 0 in four patients, 1 in two, 3 in one, and 5 in three. Conclusions: Endovascular therapy can be a feasible, alternative measure for the treatment of patients with high-grade aSAH who also have NPE and TCM.
Reliability and interobserver variability of evans' index and disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus as diagnostic criteria for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Takagi Kiyoshi , Watahiki Ryota , Machida Toru , Onouchi Kenji , Kato Kazuyoshi , Oshima Marie
Published: February 2020

Background: The image diagnosis of idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is based on the ventriculomegaly, whose criterion is an Evans' Index (EI) >0.3. Recently, disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH) has been proposed as a morphological characteristic to iNPH. Several studies cast doubt on the reliability of these criteria in the diagnosis of iNPH. Furthermore, interobserver differences of these criteria have not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic reliability and interobserver variability of EI and DESH. Materials and Methods: The preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images of 84 definite iNPH patients were retrospectively evaluated by a neuroradiologist (NR) and physical therapist (PT). They independently assessed the EI and DESH. The MR images were evaluated preoperatively by a neurosurgeon (NS). The results were showed in mean (standard deviation). Results: The mean age was 78.4 (6.3) years (male:female = 49:35). The mean EI was 0.33 (0.04), 0.32 (0.04), and 0.31 (0.03) for NS, NR, and PT, respectively (P < 0.0001). The rate of accurate diagnosis of iNPH with EI >0.3 was 74%, 66%, and 61% for NS, NR, and PT, respectively, and there was a moderate level of agreement. By contrast, there was a substantial lower level of accuracy in assessment with DESH for all three evaluators as 50%, 44%, and 27% for NS, NR, and PT, respectively, again with a moderate level of agreement. However, the rates of patients fulfilling both EI >0.3 and DESH were remarkably lower than either of the two parameters individually at a mere 37%, 30%, and 16% for NS, NR, and PT, respectively, with a low level of agreement between the rates. Conclusion: This study suggests that DESH cannot be a diagnostic criterion for iNPH. If EI >0.3 and DESH were both necessary to diagnose iNPH, then more than 70% of patients would have been misdiagnosed and would have been deprived of the chance of treatment and its benefits. These results request a paradigm shift in the concepts of iNPH.
Application of the information-percolation method to reconstruction problems on graphs
Authors: Polyanskiy Yury , Wu Yihong
Published: February 2020

In this paper we propose a method of proving impossibility results based on applying strong data-processing inequalities to estimate mutual information between sets of variables forming certain Markov random fields. The end result is that mutual information between two “far away” (as measured by the graph distance) variables is bounded by the probability of the existence of an open path in a bond-percolation problem on the same graph. Furthermore, stronger bounds can be obtained by establishing mutual information comparison results with an erasure model on the same graph, with erasure probabilities given by the contraction coefficients. As applications, we show that our method gives sharp threshold for partially recovering a rank-one perturbation of a random Gaussian matrix (spiked Wigner model), yields the best known upper bound on the noise level for group synchronization (obtained concurrently by Abbe and Boix), and establishes new impossibility result for community detection on the stochastic block model with

k

communities.
Optimal rates of estimation for multi-reference alignment
Authors: Bandeira Afonso S. , Niles-Weed Jonathan , Rigollet Philippe
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we establish optimal rates of adaptive estimation of a vector in the multi-reference alignment model, a problem with important applications in fields such as signal processing, image processing, and computer vision, among others.We describe how this model can be viewed as a multivariate Gaussian mixture model under the constraint that the centers belong to the orbit of a group. This enables us to derive matching upper and lower bounds that feature an interesting dependence on the signal-to-noise ratio of the model. Both upper and lower bounds are articulated around a tight local control of Kullback–Leibler divergences that showcases the central role of moment tensors in this problem.
Stein–Weiss inequalities with the fractional Poisson kernel
Authors: Chen Lu , Liu Zhao , Lu Guozhen , Tao Chunxia
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we establish the following Stein–Weiss inequality with the fractional Poisson kernel:

\begin{align*}
\tag{$\star$}
\int_{\mathbb{R}^n_{+}} \int_{\partial\mathbb{R}^n_{+}} |\xi|^{-\alpha} f(\xi) & P(x,\xi,\gamma) g(x) |x|^{-\beta} d\xi dx \\
&\leq C_{n,\alpha,\beta,p,q'}\|g\|_{L^{q'}(\mathbb{R}^n_{+}) \|f\|\{L^p(\partial \mathbb{R}^{n}_{+})},
\end{align*}

where

P(x,\xi,\gamma)=\frac{x_n}{(|x'-\xi|^2+x_n^2)^{(n+2-\gamma)/2}},

2\le \gamma < n

,

f\in L^{p}(\partial\mathbb{R}^n_{+})

,

g\in L^{q'}(\mathbb{R}^n_{+})

, and

p,\ q'\in (1,\infty)

and satisfy

(n-1)/(np)+1/q'+(\alpha+\beta+2-\gamma)/{n}=1

. Then we prove that there exist extremals for the Stein–Weiss inequality (

\star

), and that the extremals must be radially decreasing about the origin. We also provide the regularity and asymptotic estimates of positive solutions to the integral systems which are the Euler–Lagrange equations of the extremals to the Stein–Weiss inequality (

\star

) with the fractional Poisson kernel. Our result is inspired by the work of Hang, Wang and Yan, where the Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev type inequality was first established when

\gamma=2

and

\alpha=\beta=0

. The proof of the Stein–Weiss inequality (

\star

) with the fractional Poisson kernel in this paper uses recent work on the Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev inequality with the fractional Poisson kernel by Chen, Lu and Tao, and the present paper is a further study in this direction.
Глобальные экстремумы функции Деланжа, оценки цифровых сумм и вогнутые функции
Authors: Galkin Oleg Evgenjevich , Galkina Svetlana Yur'evna
Published: February 2020

Для всех натуральных $N$ и $q\geqslant2$ суммы $S_{q}(N)$ задаются равенством $S_{q}(N)=s_q(1)+…+s_q(N-1)$, где $s_q(n)$ есть сумма цифр числа $n$ в записи с основанием $q$. В 1975 г. Ю. Деланж обобщил формулу Троллопа и доказал, что $S_{q}(N)/N-(q-1)/2\cdot\log_q{N}=-1/2\cdot f_q( q^{\{\log_q N\}-1 } )$, где $f_q(x)=(q-1)\log_q x+D_q(x)/x$, а $D_q$ - непрерывная и нигде не дифференцируемая функция Деланжа. Мы нашли глобальные экстремумы функции $f_q$, с помощью чего получили точную оценку разности $S_{q}(N)/N-(q-1)/2\cdot\log_q{N}$. В случае $q=2$ эта оценка превращается в оценку для двоичных сумм, доказанную в 2008 г. М. Круппелем и ранее другими авторами. Нами вычислены также глобальные экстремумы еще нескольких непрерывных, но нигде не дифференцируемых функций. В работе введено понятие естественной вогнутой оболочки функции и доказан критерий, облегчающий ее вычисление. Кроме того, введено понятие крайнего подаргумента функции на выпуклом множестве. Показано, что все точки глобального максимума разности $f-g$, где функция $g$ строго вогнута и выполнены некоторые дополнительные условия, являются крайними подаргументами для $f$. Аналогичный результат получен и для функций вида $v+f/w$. Мы вычислили глобальные экстремумы и нашли крайние подаргументы функции Деланжа на отрезке $[0,1]$. Результаты работы проиллюстрированы графиками и таблицами.
Библиография: 16 названий.
Многозначные решения гиперболических уравнений Монжа--Ампера: разрешимость, интегрируемость, аппроксимация
Authors: Tunitsky Dmitry Vasilievich
Published: February 2020

Для гиперболических уравнений Монжа-Ампера изучается разрешимость задачи Коши в классе многозначных решений. На решениях этой задачи, являющихся определенными, строится характеристическая униформизация, с помощью которой доказываются существование и единственность максимального решения. Установлено, что характеристики различных семейств, лежащие на максимальном решении и сходящиеся к определенной граничной точке, имеют бесконечные длины. Тем самым построена теория глобальной разрешимости задачи Коши для гиперболических уравнений Монжа-Ампера, аналогичная соответствующей теории для обыкновенных дифференциальных уравнений. Используемая при этом методика позволяет также сконструировать устойчивую явную разностную схему для аппроксимации многозначных решений и проинтегрировать в квадратурах ряд важных для приложений задач.
Библиография: 23 наименования.
Бирациональные автоморфизмы поверхностей Севери-Брауэра
Authors: Shramov Constantin Aleksandrovich
Published: February 2020

Доказано, что конечная группа, действующая бирациональными автоморфизмами на нетривиальной поверхности Севери-Брауэра
над полем нулевой характеристики, содержит нормальную абелеву подгруппу индекса не больше $3$. Кроме того, найдена явная оценка на порядки таких конечных групп в случае, если поле определения содержит все корни из $1$.
Библиография: 25 названий.
Congenital Chagas Disease in the United States: The Effect of Commercially Priced Benznidazole on Costs and Benefits of Maternal Screening
Authors: Perez-Zetune Victoria , Bialek Stephanie R. , Montgomery Susan P. , Stillwaggon Eileen
Published: February 2020

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted by insect vectors, and through transfusions, transplants, insect feces in food, and mother to child during gestation. An estimated 30% of infected persons will develop lifelong, potentially fatal cardiac or digestive complications. Treatment of infants with benznidazole is highly efficacious in eliminating infection. This work evaluates the costs of maternal screening and infant testing and treatment for Chagas disease in the United States, including the cost of commercially available benznidazole. We compare costs of testing and treatment for mothers and infants with the lifetime societal costs without testing and consequent morbidity and mortality due to lack of treatment or late treatment. We constructed a decision-analytic model, using one tree that shows the combined costs for every possible mother–child pairing. Savings per birth in a targeted screening program are $1,314, and with universal screening, $105 per birth. At current screening costs, universal screening results in $420 million in lifetime savings per birth-year cohort. We found that a congenital Chagas screening program in the United States is cost saving for all rates of congenital transmission greater than 0.001% and all levels of maternal prevalence greater than 0.06% compared with no screening program.
Solid Nucleation Mode Engine Exhaust Particles Detection at High Temperatures with an Advanced Half Mini DMA
Authors: Baltzopoulou Penelope , Melas Anastasios D. , Vlachos Nickolas , Deloglou Danis , Papaioannou Eleni , Konstandopoulos Athanasios G.
Published: February 2020

Diesel and gasoline direct injection engines emit nucleation mode particles either under special conditions or as part of their normally emitted size distribution, respectively. Currently, European legislation excludes nucleation mode particles as particle number vehicle emission measurements are limited down to 23 nm. The rationale behind such a cut-off size is based on the avoidance of significant uncertainties inherent in the sampling and measuring of sub-23 nm solid particles. However, the sub-23 nm particles have drawn increased attention since a large fraction of particles emitted by modern vehicles lies in this size range. In this study we investigate the possibility of accurate nucleation mode particles detection by using the Advanced Half Mini Differential Mobility Analyzer (HM-DMA). The Advanced HM-DMA system is able to classify aerosol particles in the mobility size range 5 - 30 nm with high resolution and fast spectrum acquisition that can accommodate a sample flow maintained at up to 200°C. The unique ability to classify particles at high temperatures permits engine exhaust measurements without the need for aerosol conditioning. Initially, the Advanced HM-DMA hot operation mode accuracy is tested with reference aerosols against State-of-the-Art instruments. Thereafter, the Advanced HM-DMA is employed for measuring nucleation mode particles generated by a diesel engine using a single hot dilution step. Advanced HM-DMA measurements are compared to measurements performed with PMP protocol-compliant volatile particle removal system. The excellent agreement between the two measurements confirms the reliability of the Advanced HM-DMA hot operation mode and indicates the possibility of using a simplified conditioning setup for solid nucleation-mode particles measurement.
Epidemiology of multiple myeloma in Poland in the years 2008–2017
Authors: Waszczuk-Gajda Anna , Szafraniec-Buryło Sylwia , Kraj Leszek , Skwierawska Kamila , Aleksandrowicz Kinga , Basak Grzegorz , Brzozowska Melania , Wierzba Waldemar , Jędrzejczak Wiesław Wiktor , Śliwczyński Andrzej
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer in Europe and accounts for approx. 10–15% of these cancers. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, prevalence, mortality and survival in multiple myeloma (ICD code: C90.0) patients in Poland in the years 2008–2017.

Material and methods

The analysis used the data on healthcare services provided to patients with multiple myeloma defined with the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) code C90.0 and reported by healthcare entities to the National Health Fund (NFZ).

Results

In 2009, the C90.0 incidence per 100,000 inhabitants was 6.4, while in 2017 it was 8.3. The prevalence in the same period increased by 76%, from 13.6/100,000 to 23.9/100,000. The mortality to prevalence ratio gradually decreased from 78% in 2008 to 22.8% in 2017. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates in patients with this diagnosis made in the years 2009 and 2013 were 70.5%, 51.5% and 40.2% versus 78.4%, 60.3% and 48.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

The incidence and prevalence of multiple myeloma and survival rates in Poland were continuously increasing in the studied period. These trends may result from the aging of Polish society, better recognisability of multiple myeloma and/or improved access to increasingly more effective therapies in Poland. The impact of these factors on the epidemiology of multiple myeloma requires further studies.
CNTN-1 promotes docetaxel resistance and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in prostate cancer
Authors: Chen Binshen , Zhang Yiming , Li Chaoming , Xu Peng , Gao Yubo , Xu Yawen
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Therapy options for prostate cancer (PCa) typically are centered on docetaxel-based chemotherapy but are limited by the effects of multi-drug resistance. Recent advances have illustrated a role of contactin-1 (CNTN-1) in tumor chemoresistance, while the function and mechanism of CNTN-1 in the resistance of docetaxel in prostate cancer have not yet been elucidated.

Material and methods

Docetaxel (Dox)-resistant PCa cell lines of PC3 (PC3-DR) and DU145 (DU145-DR) were established, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs targeting CNTN-1 were generated to analyze the effect of knockdown of CNTN-1 on PCa progression. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, wound-healing, transwell and western blotting analysis were used to analyze cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and related protein expression levels, respectively.

Results

Knockdown of CNTN-1 in PC3-DR and DU145-DR cells attenuated cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT phenotype, and drug resistance, and increased cell apoptosis further reduced the tumorigenic phenotype. Knockdown of CNTN-1 resulted in an anti-tumor effect in the xenograft tumor model, and decreased activity of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that downregulation of CNTN-1 may be an important mechanism to reverse chemoresistance in Dox-resistant PCa progression, thus shedding light on the development of novel anti-tumor therapeutics for the treatment of PCa.
Pure purr virtual reality technology: measuring heart rate variability and anxiety levels in healthy volunteers affected by moderate stress
Authors: Aganov Sam , Nayshtetik Eugene , Nagibin Vasyl , Lebed Yuriy
Published: February 2020

Traditional approaches to stress management are difficult to learn and to implicate in daily life. Emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) have become a target of extensive study for recreational and medical purposes. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in stress response, post-stress relaxation, and recovery. This study aimed to assess the effect of modified VR intervention on short-term heart rate variability (HRV) and perceived anxiety levels in healthy volunteers affected by moderate stress. The stressors included mental arithmetic tasks. The study involved healthy adults, of both sexes, aged 20 to 60 years, without history of cardiovascular diseases, essential abnormalities on ECG, and with normal or moderate level of situational anxiety. The VR gadgets used in the study were commercially available BoboVR X1 headsets, one with modification for medical applications (Pure Purr technology) and one with none (sham technology). The investigational (Pure Purr) headset with an audio-visual sequence was modified by adding a binaural effect and was synchronised with the tract of respiratory movements and the frequency of heart rate. To track changes in the ANS, participants underwent both electrocardiography (ECG) and measurement of HRV. The findings showed a significant increase in parasympathetic activity after five-minute exposure to the investigational device compared to stress, as shown by high-frequency HRV (499.8 ms2 and 340.5 ms2, p < 0.001). RMSSD for a modified headset was higher (p = 0.02) compared to a sham headset with no modifications (RMSSD difference of 12.3% [2.6% to 23.1%]). The LF/HF ratio, however, was lower (difference of 14.5% [2.6% to 23.1%], p = 0.04). These findings suggest that a medical device with pre-installed Pure Purr software had a significant effect on the recovery of the ANS in healthy volunteers affected by moderate stress.
Outcomes of transition from premixed and intensive insulin therapies to insulin aspart/degludec co-formulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a real-world experience
Authors: Özçelik Serhat , Çelik Mehmet , Vural Aşkı , Aydın Bünyamin , Özçelik Melike , Gozu Hulya
Published: February 2020

Introduction

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transition from premixed and intensive insulin to twice-daily insulin degludec/aspart (IDegAsp) co-formulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Material and methods

In this 12-week study, patients receiving twice-daily premixed insulin therapy in group 1 (n = 55) were switched to twice-daily IDegAsp. In group 2 (n = 60), patients on intensive insulin therapy were switched to IDegAsp injected twice a day. Inter- and intragroup comparisons were made.

Results

A total of 115 patients were included in the study. There was a significant improvement in glycaemic control, median daily total insulin dose, body mass, body mass index, and hypoglycaemic events in group 1 and group 2 with the switch to IDegAsp (p < 0.05). The decrease in median daily total insulin dose requirement in group 2 was higher than that of group 1 (p = 0.001). There was no difference between groups in terms of other parameters (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The current analysis indicates that IDegAsp treatment improves outcomes, with the most notable differences observed in daily total insulin requirement, body mass, and hypoglycaemia.
Hedendaags dansonderwijs. Hiaten en ambities / Contemporary Dance Education. Gaps and Goals
Authors: Gordon Natalie , D’Haese Caroline
Published: February 2020

Dansonderwijs staat vandaag de dag voor vele uitdagingen. Zowel onze samenleving als het veld van de hedendaagse dans zijn de voorbije jaren zodanig veranderd dat dansdocenten zich genoodzaakt zien om traditionele onderwijsmethoden kritisch onder de loep te nemen. Op basis van hun tweejarig onderzoeksproject ‘The Role of Vocabulary in Contemporary Dance’ identificeren Natalie Gordon en Caroline D’Haese in dit artikel enkele van de meest prangende hiaten en ambities in de huidige danseducatie. Vanuit hun praktijkgerichte expertise formuleren ze een constructief voorstel voor het hedendaagse dansonderwijs.
Eenmaal rond de schouwburg. Wandelen als choreografische praktijk / Once around the Theatre. Walking as Choreographic Practice
Authors: Nachbar Martin
Published: February 2020

Wandelen, stappen zetten, lopen – het zijn dagelijkse handelingen die iedereen vaak onbewust doet. Maar het zijn ook bewegingsvormen die het onderwerp van choreografisch onderzoek kunnen uitmaken. In dit artikel werpt choreograaf en artistiek onderzoeker Martin Nachbar licht op hoe hij een participatieve wandelpraktijk heeft ontwikkeld die kritisch nadenkt over beweging in de publieke ruimte. Via dit fysieke experiment laat hij eveneens zien hoe choreografie niet louter draait rond het lichaam in beweging, maar ook een vorm van luisteren wordt.
De natuur aan zet. Ontstaansgeschiedenis van Maria Lucia Cruz Correia’s performance Voice of Nature: The Trial
Authors: Roels Lieze
Published: February 2020

De artistieke praktijk van de Belgisch-Portugese kunstenares Maria Lucia Cruz Correia wordt gekenmerkt door een grondige aandacht voor de ecologische uitdagingen en wandaden die het hedendaagse antropoceen typeren. Correia gaat steevast op zoek naar de meest doeltreffende strategieën om haar toeschouwers in de milieuproblematiek te betrekken en hen aan te sporen tot actie. Gebaseerd op een interview met de kunstenares, wil dit artikel inzicht bieden in de strategieën die ze aanwendt en de ontstaansgeschiedenis van haar meest recente project Voice of Nature: The Trial.
An Equal Music. Experimenteren met pommers en sackbuts. Een interview met Luk Nielandt
Authors: Schreurs Eugeen
Published: February 2020

In het onderzoeksproject An Equal Music bestudeerdet hoboïst en docent Luk Nielandt de verbinding tussen oude instrumenten (pommers of schalmeien als voorlopers van de hobofamilie) en nieuwe instrumenten (de moderne hobo). De focus laigt op de professionele rietblazers die de oude instrumenten naar hun hand zetten. Tijdens het onderzoek leerde onder andere Fritz Heller, een gerenommeerd pommerbouwer, aan muzikanten om zelf een pommer te bouwen. Jan De Maeyer en Boudewijn Buckinx componeerden nieuwe muziek voor de oudere instrumenten, waarmeeen intens betrokken musici gaven concerten gavenmet de instrumenten. Het onderzoeksproject liep af in 2017, maar nog steeds exploreert Nielandt tal van nieuwe, onbekende wegen. Eugeen Schreurs, promotor van het onderzoeksproject, gaat in gesprek met Nielandt en trombonist Jan Smets.
Prediction of body composition in mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) by using linear measurements in vivo and computed tomography post-mortem
Authors: Maas Paula , Grzegrzółka Beata , Kreß Philipp , Oberle Martin , Judas Michael , Kremer-Rücker Prisca Valerie
Published: February 2020

Abstract. The mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) belongs to the cyprinids, the world's largest and most
important fish family in aquaculture. The fat content and the fillet yield
are important parameters in the marketing of carp. Although the influence of
the environment on the body composition of the carp has been well studied,
there is little research in the field of breeding. For this purpose, precise
phenotyping is indispensable. Therefore, during this study a total of
33 mirror carps were examined using computed tomography (CT) technology.
First, the fish were examined alive. Total body weight and linear
measurements such as lengths, height and circumferences were measured, and
ultrasound was used to determine the back-fat thickness. The fish were then
slaughtered and whole body scans of all fish using CT were made. The carps
were filleted and the fillets with skin were chemically analyzed. In order to predict the chemical fillet fat content, thickness measurements
and volume calculations of the back fat were carried out using CT. Compared to
the CT-based back-fat thickness measurement correlated with the results from
the chemical analysis (R2=0.62), the CT-based volume measurement of
the back fat leads to a higher coefficient of determination (R2=0.85). Prediction results can still be improved by adding linear
measurements. The in vivo ultrasound (US) examination of the back-fat thickness was
compared with the CT back-fat thickness results. The measurements of the
back-fat thickness took place at similar positions in the fish. Coefficients
of determination (R2) of 0.63 to 0.77 were obtained. The back fat in
mirror carp proved to be an interesting area for determining the fillet fat
content. The evaluation of the fillet yield resulted in a mean value of 42.89 %
with a standard deviation of ±2.43. Fillet yield (%) correlated
with CT-based fillet thickness measurement resulted in a moderate
coefficient of determination (R2 of 0.45). A similar coefficient of
determination was achieved with selected linear measurements.
Unexpected long-range transport of glyoxal and formaldehyde observed from the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite during the 2018 Canadian wildfires
Authors: Alvarado Leonardo M. A. , Richter Andreas , Vrekoussis Mihalis , Hilboll Andreas , Kalisz Hedegaard Anna B. , Schneising Oliver , Burrows John P.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Glyoxal (CHOCHO) and formaldehyde (HCHO) are
intermediate products in the tropospheric oxidation of the majority of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). CHOCHO is also a precursor of secondary
organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. CHOCHO and HCHO are released from
biogenic, anthropogenic, and pyrogenic sources. CHOCHO and HCHO
tropospheric lifetimes are typically considered to be short during the
daytime at mid-latitudes (e.g. several hours), as they are rapidly removed
from the atmosphere by their photolysis, oxidation by OH, and uptake on
particles or deposition. At night and at high latitudes, tropospheric
lifetimes increase to many hours or even days. Previous studies demonstrated
that CHOCHO and HCHO vertical column densities (VCDs) are well retrieved
from space-borne observations using differential optical absorption
spectroscopy (DOAS). In this study, we present CHOCHO and HCHO VCDs
retrieved from measurements by TROPOMI (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument), launched on the
Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) platform in October 2017. We observe strongly
elevated amounts of CHOCHO and HCHO during the 2018 fire season in British
Columbia, Canada, where a large number of fires occurred in August. CHOCHO
and HCHO plumes from individual fire hot spots are observed in air masses
travelling over distances of up to 1500 km, i.e. much longer than expected
for the relatively short tropospheric lifetime expected for CHOCHO and
HCHO. Comparison with simulations by the particle dispersion model FLEXPART
(FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model)
indicates that effective lifetimes of 20 h and more are needed to
explain the observations of CHOCHO and HCHO if they decay in an effective
first-order process. FLEXPART used in the study calculates accurately the
transport. In addition an exponential decay, in our case assumed to be
photochemical, of a species along the trajectory is added. We have used this
simple approach to test our assumption that CHOCHO and HCHO are created
in the fires and then decay at a constant rate in the plume as it is
transported. This is clearly not the case and we infer that CHOCHO and HCHO
are either efficiently recycled during transport or continuously formed
from the oxidation of longer-lived precursors present in the plume, or
possibly a mixture of both. We consider the best explanation of the observed
CHOCHO and HCHO VCD in the plumes of the fire is that they are produced by
oxidation of longer-lived precursors, which were also released by the fire and present
in the plume.
The Development of the Storm Tracker and its Applications for Atmospheric High-resolution Upper-air Observations
Authors: Hwang Wei-Chun , Lin Po-Hsiung , Yu Hungjui
Published: February 2020

Abstract. In this study, we introduce a newly-developed upper-air observational instrument for atmospheric research. The Storm Tracker (or NTU mini-Radiosonde), is an ultra-lightweight (about 20 g including battery), multi-channel simultaneous capable radiosonde designed by the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Taiwan University. Developed since 2016, the Storm Tracker aims to provide an alternative for observation of atmospheric vertical profiles with a high temporal resolution, especially lower-level atmosphere under severe weather such as extreme thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. Two field experiments were conducted as trial runs in December 2017 and July 2018 at Wu-Chi, Taichung, Taiwan, to compare the Strom Tracker with the widely used Vaisala RS41 radiosonde. Among 53 co-launches of the Storm Tracker and Vaisala RS41 radiosondes, the raw measurements of pressure, wind speed, and wind direction are highly consistent between the Strom Tracker and Vaisala RS41. However, a significant daytime warm bias was found due to solar heating. A metal shield specifically for the Storm Tracker was thus installed and shows good mitigation for the warm biases. With the much lower costs of the sondes and the simultaneous multi-channel receiver, the Storm Tracker system has been proved to be beneficial for high-frequency observational needs in atmospheric research.