bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attribution analysis of climatic and multiple anthropogenic causes of runoff change in the Loess Plateau—A case‐study of the Jing River Basin
Authors: Gao Xuerui , Yan Chengsheng , Wang Yubao , Zhao Xining , Zhao Yong , Sun Miao , Peng Shouzhang
Published: January 2020

Over the past five decades, under the joint influence of climate change and human activity, river runoff in most areas of Loess Plateau showed a significant declining trend, which poses a great threat to ecological security and land degradation and soil erosion control. To identify the key factors controlling this decline and quantify the contribution rates of the multiple factors, a runoff simulation was established based on the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors on runoff change was calculated by comparing the results of the simulation based on different modeling scenarios. First, the impact of climatic factors on runoff change was gradually decreasing over time, and the anthropogenic factors’ impact was increasing based on the runoff observations. Second, the SWAT model proved to be reliable and acceptable for both the calibration and the validation periods, with R
2 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values both above .8. Third, the influence of climatic factors decreases from 85.70% to 42.43% but that of anthropogenic factors increases from 14.3% to 57.57% in different subperiods. Among the anthropogenic factors, the influence of the direct factor (water withdrawal) is growing the fastest, and the influence of indirect factors is increasing continuously. Therefore, future ecological management and water‐related planning in Loess Plateau should consider the importance of human activity and the relationship between humans and the Earth. Finally, a range of comprehensive countermeasures are proposed to assist with sustainable watershed management in the Loess Plateau.
Streptomyces sp. BV410 isolate from chamomile rhizosphere soil efficiently produces staurosporine with antifungal and antiangiogenic properties
Authors: Mojicevic Marija , D'Agostino Paul M. , Pavic Aleksandar , Vojnovic Sandra , Senthamaraikannan Ramsankar , Vasiljevic Branka , Gulder Tobias A. M. , Nikodinovic‐Runic Jasmina
Published: January 2020

Applying a bioactivity‐guided isolation approach, staurosporine was separated and identified as the active principle in the culture extract of the new isolate Streptomyces sp. BV410 collected from the chamomile rhizosphere. The biotechnological production of staurosporine by strain BV410 was optimized to yield 56 mg/L after 14 days of incubation in soy flour–glucose–starch–mannitol‐based fermentation medium (JS). The addition of FeSO4 significantly improved the staurosporine yield by 30%, while the addition of ZnSO4 significantly reduced staurosporine yield by 62% in comparison with the starting conditions. Although staurosporine was first isolated in 1977 from Lentzea albida (now Streptomyces staurosporeus) and its potent kinase inhibitory effect has been established, here, the biological activity of this natural product was assessed in depth in vivo using a selection of transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) models, including Tg(fli1:EGFP) with green fluorescent protein‐labeled endothelial cells allowing visualization and monitoring of blood vessels. This confirmed a remarkable antiangiogenic activity of the compound at doses of 1 ng/ml (2.14 nmol/L) which is below doses inducing toxic effects (45 ng/ml; 75 nmol/L). A new, efficient producing strain of commercially significant staurosporine has been described along with optimized fermentation conditions, which may lead to optimization of the staurosporine scaffold and its wider applicability.
RETRACTED: Comprehensive genetic structure analysis of Han population from Dalian City revealed by 20 Y‐STRs
Authors: Adnan Atif , Kasimu Kaidirina , Rakha Allah , He Guanglin , Yang Tongya , Wang Chuan‐Chao , Lu Jie , Xuan Jin‐feng
Published: January 2020

Background

Dalian is a city formed in the 1880s in Liaoning province, Northeastern China with a population of 6.69 million now. Han is the largest ethnic group not only across Mainland China (92%) and Taiwan (97%) but also considered to be the largest ethnic group of the world contributing to above 18% of world's population.

Methods

In the current study, we genotyped Goldeneye® 20Y System loci in 879 unrelated male individuals from the Han ethnic group in Dalian city and calculated the forensic parameters of the 20 Y‐STR loci.

Results

In total, we observed 855 haplotypes, among which 835 (94.99%) were unique. The discrimination capacity (DC) of overall Goldeneye® 20Y System is 97.27% and it slightly reduces to 96.93% when only Y‐filer® set of 17 Y‐STRs were used, which mitigates using the extended set of markers in this population. We found DYS388 showed the lowest gene diversity (0.5151), whereas DYS389II showed the highest gene diversity (0.7621) in single copy Y‐STR, and DYS385 showed the highest gene diversity (0.9683) among all.

Conclusion

Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis based upon pairwise Rst genetic distance showed difference among Han population from the east to the west and from the north to the south. We also predicted haplogroups using Y‐STR haplotypes, which showed the dominance of Haplogroup O (65.2%) followed by Haplogroup C (14.5%) in Dalian Han population. Moreover, we found 10 individuals showed a null allele at the DYS448 in our samples. We also performed linear discriminatory analysis (LDA) between Han and other prominent Chinese minority ethnic groups. We presented Y‐STRs data in the Y‐Chromosome Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD) for the future forensic and other usage.
The Effect of Lactobacillus fermentum ME‐3 Treatment on Glycation and Diabetes Complications
Authors: Guilbaud Axel , Howsam Michael , Niquet‐Léridon Céline , Delguste Florian , Fremont Marc , Lestavel Sophie , Maboudou Patrice , Garat Anne , Schraen Susanna , Onraed Brigitte , Foligné Benoît , Boulanger Éric , Tessier Frédéric J
Published: January 2020

Scope

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) induces organ damage associated with glycation, among other metabolic pathways. While therapeutic strategies have been tested to reduce the formation and impact of glycation products, results remain equivocal. Anti‐diabetic therapies using probiotics have been proposed, but their effect upon glycation has not been reported. Here, the effects of the bacterial strain Lactobacillus fermentum ME‐3 on glycation and T2D‐related complications in a mouse model of T2D are investigated.

Methods & Results

Wild‐type LepRdb/+ and diabetic LepRdb/db littermates receive a daily gavage of either water or the probiotic ME‐3 strain (1010 CFU). Glycation markers, fructoselysine‐derived furosine (FL‐furosine) and carboxymethyllysine (CML), are quantified in four major organs and plasma using stable‐isotope dilution LC–MS/MS. After 12 weeks of ME‐3 treatment, diabetic mice gain less weight and exhibit an apparently improved glucose tolerance. The ME‐3 treatment reduces median renal levels of FL‐furosine in both genotypes by 12–15%, and renal and pulmonary free‐CML in diabetic mice by 30% and 18%, respectively. Attenuated hepatic steatosis and an improved plasma lipid profile are also observed with treatment in both genotypes, while the gut microbiota profile is unchanged.

Conclusion

L. fermentum ME‐3 has therapeutic potential for reducing the formation/accumulation of some glycation products in kidneys and attenuating some common diabetes‐related complications.
Investigating Blue‐Light Exposure from: Lighting and Displays
Authors: Bullough John D. , Peana Stefan
Published: January 2020

Concerns about the possible impacts of short‐wavelength light from solid‐state lighting and ever‐brighter visual displays on optical health are growing. But what does the research really tell us?
ID Asks / Ching W. Tang
Authors: Blankenbach Karlheinz
Published: January 2020

We spoke with “the father of OLED” Ching W. Tang about his legacy, his thoughts on winning the 2019 Kyoto Prize, and what lies ahead.
Nutrition Provider Isolation Is Related to Increased Preference for Enteral Nutrition–Support in Patients With Advanced Dementia
Authors: Douglas Joy W. , Lawrence Jeannine C. , Knol Linda L. , Turner Lori W. , Ellis Amy C.
Published: January 2020

Background

Current guidelines advise against using enteral nutrition (EN) support for patients with advanced dementia (AD) because of negative outcomes. However, research suggests that some registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in acute‐care settings still recommend EN for this patient population. The purpose of this study was to identify workplace characteristics that influence the EN recommendations of acute‐care RDNs who care for patients with AD.

Methods

A random sample of 5000 RDNs in the United States were invited to participate in a web‐based survey in which RDNs self‐reported the likelihood that they would recommend EN for a patient with AD. Inclusion criteria specified that participants were at least 18 years of age, were an RDN in the United States, and currently provide nutrition care to older adults with dementia. χ2 tests compared RDN recommendations by workplace characteristics. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with recommending EN for patients with AD.

Results

Respondents included 204 acute‐care RDNs. RDNs in rural or suburban locations were 2.4 times more likely to recommend EN compared with those in urban facilities (95% CI, 1.1–5.1). RDNs who were the only nutrition provider at their facility were 3.3 times more likely to recommend EN than those in facilities with multiple RDNs (95% CI, 1.4–7.9).

Conclusion

Acute‐care RDNs who are isolated either in rural facilities or because they lack other RDN colleagues at their facility may benefit from targeted interventions to increase knowledge and promote adherence to evidence‐based guidelines.
Low‐field benchtop NMR spectroscopy: status and prospects in natural product analysis†
Authors: van Beek Teris André
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Since a couple of years, low‐field (LF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers (40–100 MHz) have re‐entered the market. They are used for various purposes including analyses of natural products. Similar to high‐field instruments (300–1200 MHz), modern LF instruments can measure multiple nuclei and record two‐dimensional (2D) NMR spectra.

Objective

To review the commercial availability as well as applications, advantages, limitations, and prospects of LF‐NMR spectrometers for the purpose of natural products analysis.

Method

Commercial LF instruments were compared. A literature search was performed for articles using and discussing modern LF‐NMR. Next, the articles relevant to natural products were read and summarised.

Results

Seventy articles were reviewed. Most appeared in 2018 and 2019. Low costs and ease of operation are most often mentioned as reasons for using LF‐NMR.

Conclusion

As the spectral resolution of LF instruments is limited, they are not used for structure elucidation of new natural products but rather applied for quality control (QC), forensics, food and health research, process control and teaching. Chemometric data handling is valuable. LF‐NMR is a rapidly developing niche and new instruments keep being introduced.
Mobile no more? The innovative use of administrative data linked to a census‐based longitudinal study to investigate migration within Scotland
Authors: McCollum David , Ernsten‐Birns Annemarie , Feng Zhiqiang , Everington Dawn
Published: January 2020

This paper builds upon existing scholarship on changing patterns and processes of internal migration, especially the surprising recently documented trend towards falling internal migration intensities since the late 20th century in many developed countries. The analysis is based on new research opportunities presented by the recent linking of administrative health data into the census‐based Scottish Longitudinal Study and points to a modest recent decrease in aggregate rates of address changing within Scotland. This decline is partly driven by the population subgroups that have been conventionally most mobile, especially over longer distances, becoming less migratory. This supports the notion of an evening out of some of the main socio‐economic determinants of migration and validates calls for a greater emphasis on the drivers and consequences of population immobility within migration studies.
Analysis of Process‐Dependent Electrical Properties of Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells by Quantum Efficiency and Temperature‐Dependent Current Density–Voltage Measurements
Authors: Mudgal Sapna , Singh Sonpal , Komarala Vamsi Krishna
Published: January 2020

Amorphous silicon–crystalline silicon (a‐Si:H/c‐Si) heterojunction solar cells are fabricated by infrared (IR) radiative or resistive preheating of silicon wafers before the a‐Si:H layers deposition. The cells with IR radiative or resistive preheating lead to without S‐shape (WoS) or with S‐shape (WS) in their light current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics, respectively. The Suns‐Voc analysis shows no front/back metal contact barriers for minority carriers in both cells. The light‐ and voltage‐bias‐dependent quantum efficiencies of the WS cell show the hindrance of carrier collection at the a‐Si:H/c‐Si interface due to the band offset, whereas more defective a‐Si:H layers are observed in the WoS cell. The WS and WoS cells' temperature‐dependent dark J–V characteristics reveal that the carrier transport is through tunnel‐assisted recombination and tunneling, respectively. The IR preheating of wafers results in the reduction of the bandgap of a‐Si:H and facilitates for minimizing the band offset at the interface, whereas, the resistive heating shows the relatively better a‐Si:H/c‐Si interface passivation.
Curcumol may reverse early and advanced liver fibrogenesis through downregulating the uPA/uPAR pathway
Authors: Li Guiyu , Lin Jiyong , Peng Yue , Qin Kefeng , Wen Li , Zhao Tiejian , Feng Quansheng
Published: January 2020

Previous studies have suggested strong antifibrotic activity of curcumol in the liver; the underlying mechanisms of which, however, remain largely unknown. Aiming to investigate the role of curcumol in regulating early and advanced liver fibrosis, we designed a rat model with advanced liver fibrosis and cell model with an initial fibrotic stage. Model rats induced by CCl4 and alcohol presented advanced liver fibrosis with complete fibrous septa. The administration of curcumol (25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) resulted in reversal of liver fibrosis. Leptin‐administrated liver sinusoidal endothelial cells presented defenestration and basement membrane components deposition, including laminin (LN) and type IV collagen (Col IV), the characteristics of capillarization by scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence assays. After treatment with curcumol (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/L), defenestration was restored and the levels of LN and Col IV were decreased, consistent with the rat model. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot results revealed that increased levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)/ uPA receptor (uPAR) were observed both in vivo and in vitro, curcumol significantly reduced uPA/uPAR at both the mRNA and protein levels. Reduction of uPA/uPAR may be synergistic with matrix metallopeptidase 13 to reverse liver fibrogenesis. In conclusion, curcumol protects liver from phenotypic changes in the early and advanced fibrogenesis, possibly through uPA/uPAR pathway.
Adaptive composite suboptimal control for linear singularly perturbed systems with unknown slow dynamics
Authors: Yang Chunyu , Zhong Shanshan , Liu Xiaomin , Dai Wei , Zhou Linna
Published: January 2020

In this article, using singular perturbation theory and adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) approach, an adaptive composite suboptimal control method is proposed for linear singularly perturbed systems (SPSs) with unknown slow dynamics. First, the system is decomposed into fast‐ and slow‐subsystems and the original optimal control problem is reduced to two subproblems in different time‐scales. Afterward, the fast subproblem is solved based on the known model of the fast‐subsystem and a fast optimal control law is designed by solving the algebraic Riccati equation corresponding to the fast‐subsystem. Then, the slow subproblem is reformulated by introducing a system transformation for the slow‐subsystem. An online learning algorithm is proposed to design a slow optimal control law by using the information of the original system state in the framework of ADP. As a result, the obtained fast and slow optimal control laws constitute the adaptive composite suboptimal control law for the original SPSs. Furthermore, convergence of the learning algorithm, suboptimality of the adaptive composite suboptimal control law and stability of the whole closed‐loop system are analyzed by singular perturbation theory. Finally, a numerical example is given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Event‐triggered observer‐based robust H∞ control for networked control systems with unknown disturbance
Authors: Li Tao , Wang Ting , Zhai Junyong , Fei Shumin
Published: January 2020

In this article, the event‐triggered robust H∞ control is studied for a class of uncertain networked control systems (NCSs) subject to unknown state and variable disturbance. First, aiming to decrease the unnecessary transmissions of sampled data, an efficient adaptive event‐triggered scheme (AETS) is presented, which can reflect the full real‐time variation of addressed NCSs and help to reduce the conservativeness. Second, based on the triggered output signals and disturbance model, two effective observers are, respectively, exploited to estimate the state and disturbance, which are further utilized to reject the disturbance and design the controller. By using the overall closed‐loop system and selecting an augmented Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional, two sufficient conditions on jointly designing the adaptive event scheme, observers, and controller are established via linear matrix inequality forms, which can guarantee the global exponential stability and ensure H∞ performance. Finally, some simulations and comparisons in a numerical example are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived results.
Effects of river ice break‐up on organic‐matter dynamics and feeding ecology of aquatic insects
Authors: Blackadar Ryan J. , Baxter Colden V. , Davis John M. , Harris Hannah E.
Published: January 2020

Disturbance shapes the structure and function of aquatic communities and ecosystems, but the dynamics of ice are a less studied dimension of the disturbance‐regime of rivers. We investigated effects of a river‐ice regime on organic‐matter dynamics and feeding ecology of aquatic insects. Samples of biofilm and aquatic insects for gut content analysis were collected monthly from Big Creek, a sixth ‐ order tributary of the Middle Fork Salmon River in central Idaho, USA, during winter 2010–2011. Our results indicate that river ice affects both quantity and quality of organic matter available to, and used by, consumers. Specifically, scour from December and February ice break‐up events reduced biofilm biomass by one‐half and one‐third, respectively, whereas quality (chlorophyll‐a: ash‐free dry mass) increased. Diets of scrapers, Rhithrogena (Heptageniidae) and Bibiocephala (Blephariceridae), collector‐gatherers, Baetis (Baetidae), and collector‐filterers, Simulium (Simulidae) appeared to follow patterns of organic matter. Following ice break‐up events, diets of these taxa had increased proportions of diatom frustules, which are high‐quality food resources due to their relatively high nutrient content. Other taxa, such as collector‐gatherers, non‐Tanypodinae (Chironomidae), and the collector‐filterer, Arctopsyche grandis (Hydropsychidae), consistently consumed high proportions of diatom frustules and insect material, respectively, suggesting they were able to feed more selectively throughout winter. Our study indicates that ice regimes in temperate rivers can affect organic‐matter dynamics and feeding ecology of aquatic insects, a possibility that deserves additional investigation, particularly in light of potential changes to the ice regimes of rivers with changing climate.
Sediment storage and shallow groundwater response to beaver dam analogues in the Colorado Front Range, USA
Authors: Scamardo Julianne , Wohl Ellen
Published: January 2020

Enthusiasm for using beaver dam analogues (BDAs) to restore incised channels and riparian corridors has been increasing. BDAs are expected to create a similar channel response to natural beaver dams by causing channel bed aggradation and overbank flow, which subsequently raise water tables and support vegetation growth. However, lack of funding for monitoring projects post‐restoration has limited research on whether BDAs actually cause expected channel change in the Front Range and elsewhere. Geomorphic and hydrologic response to BDAs was monitored in two watersheds 1 year post‐restoration. BDAs were studied at Fish Creek, a steep mountainous catchment, and Campbell Creek, a lower gradient piedmont catchment from May to October 2018. At each restoration site, the upstream‐ and downstream‐most BDAs were chosen for intensive study in comparison with unrestored reference reaches. Monitoring focused on quantifying sediment volumes in BDA ponds and recording changes to stream stage and riparian groundwater. Despite differences in physical basin characteristics, BDA pools at both sites stored similar volumes of sediment and stored more sediment than reference pools. Sediment storage is positively correlated to BDA height and pool surface area. However, BDAs did not have a significant influence on shallow groundwater. The lack of groundwater response proximal to BDAs could indicate that local watershed factors have a stronger influence on groundwater response than restoration design 1 year post‐restoration. Systematic, long‐term studies of channel and floodplain response to BDAs are needed to better understand how BDAs will influence geomorphology and hydrology.
Two dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (0, 4) quivers dual to AdS3 solutions in massive IIA
Authors: Lozano Yolanda , Macpherson Niall T. , Nunez Carlos , Ramirez Anayeli
Published: January 2020

Abstract

In this paper we discuss an infinite family of new solutions in massive Type IIA supergravity with AdS3
×S2 factors, preserving

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (0, 4) SUSY. After studying geometrical aspects of the backgrounds we propose a duality with a precise family of quivers that flow to (0,4) fixed points at low energies. These quivers consist on two families of (4,4) linear quivers coupled by matter fields. We present various tests of our proposal.
Heating up holography for single-trace $$ J\overline{T} $$ deformations
Authors: Apolo Luis , Song Wei
Published: January 2020

Abstract

We study thermodynamic aspects of a tractable toy model of holography for extremal Kerr black holes proposed in [1]. On the gravity side, the theory can be described by the worldsheet action of string theory on a warped AdS3 background supported by NS-NS flux. Once we turn on temperature, the deformed background is described by a black string solution of type IIB supergravity that features a locally warped AdS3 factor. The dual field theory is conjectured to be a single-trace version of a

$$ J\overline{T} $$

J

T
¯

-deformed CFT at finite temperature. As evidence for the correspondence we show that the spectrum of strings winding on the deformed background agrees with the spectrum of

$$ J\overline{T} $$

J

T
¯

-deformed CFTs. Furthermore, we show that the gravitational charges of the black string match the averaged charges of a thermal ensemble in the dual field theory. Finally, we reproduce the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of the black string from the microscopic density of states of

$$ J\overline{T} $$

J

T
¯

-deformed CFTs.
JT gravity, KdV equations and macroscopic loop operators
Authors: Okuyama Kazumi , Sakai Kazuhiro
Published: January 2020

Abstract

We study the thermal partition function of Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity in asymptotically Euclidean AdS
2 background using the matrix model description recently found by Saad, Shenker and Stanford [arXiv:1903.11115]. We show that the partition function of JT gravity is written as the expectation value of a macroscopic loop operator in the old matrix model of 2d gravity in the background where infinitely many couplings are turned on in a specific way. Based on this expression we develop a very efficient method of computing the partition function in the genus expansion as well as in the low temperature expansion by making use of the Korteweg-de Vries constraints obeyed by the partition function. We have computed both these expansions up to very high orders using this method. It turns out that we can take a low temperature limit with the ratio of the temperature and the genus counting parameter held fixed. We find the first few orders of the expansion of the free energy in a closed form in this scaling limit. We also study numerically the behavior of the eigenvalue density and the Baker-Akhiezer function using the results in the scaling limit.
Associations of dicarbonyl stress with complement activation: the CODAM study
Authors: Xin Ying , Hertle Elisabeth , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , van Greevenbroek Marleen M. J.
Published: January 2020

Aims/hypothesis

Reactive α-dicarbonyl compounds are major precursors of AGEs and may lead to glycation of circulating and/or cell-associated complement regulators. Glycation of complement regulatory proteins can influence their capacity to inhibit complement activation. We investigated, in a human cohort, whether greater dicarbonyl stress was associated with more complement activation.

Methods

Circulating concentrations of dicarbonyl stress markers, i.e. α-dicarbonyls (methylglyoxal [MGO], glyoxal [GO] and 3-deoxyglucosone [3-DG]), and free AGEs (Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine [CML], Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine [CEL] and Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)-ornithine [MG-H1]), and protein-bound AGEs (CML, CEL, pentosidine), as well as the complement activation products C3a and soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9), were measured in 530 participants (59.5 ± 7.0 years [mean ± SD], 61% men) of the Cohort on Diabetes and Atherosclerosis Maastricht (CODAM) study. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between dicarbonyl stress (standardised) and complement activation (standardised) with adjustment of potential confounders, including age, sex, lifestyle, use of medication and markers of obesity. In addition, the associations of two potentially functional polymorphisms (rs1049346, rs2736654) in the gene encoding glyoxalase 1 (GLO1), the rate-limiting detoxifying enzyme for MGO, with C3a and sC5b-9 (all standardized) were evaluated.

Results

After adjustment for potential confounders, plasma concentration of the dicarbonyl GO was inversely associated with sC5b-9 (β−0.12 [95% CI –0.21, −0.02]) and the protein-bound AGE CEL was inversely associated with C3a (−0.17 [−0.25, −0.08]). In contrast, the protein-bound AGE pentosidine was positively associated with sC5b-9 (0.15 [0.05, 0.24]). No associations were observed for other α-dicarbonyls and other free or protein-bound AGEs with C3a or sC5b-9. Individuals with the AG and AA genotype of rs1049346 had, on average, 0.32 and 0.40 SD lower plasma concentrations of sC5b-9 than those with the GG genotype, while concentrations of C3a did not differ significantly between rs1049346 genotypes.GLO1rs2736654 was not associated with either C3a or sC5b-9.

Conclusions/interpretation

Plasma concentrations of dicarbonyl stress markers showed distinct associations with complement activation products: some of them were inversely associated with either C3a or sC5b-9, while protein-bound pentosidine was consistently and positively associated with sC5b-9. This suggests different biological relationships of individual dicarbonyl stress markers with complement activation.
A multi-center, retrospective, preliminary observational study to assess the safety of BellaGel® after augmentation mammaplasty
Authors: Choi Moon Seop , Chang Jae Hoon , Seul Chul Hwan
Published: January 2020

Background

BellaGel® is the only cohesive silicone gel-filled breast implant from a Korean manufacturer, and it was first developed in 2005. It was approved by the CE in 2008, thus becoming the first Asian breast implant available in the EU. We conducted this study to assess the safety of BellaGel® in patients receiving augmentation mammaplasty.

Methods

We evaluated a consecutive series of 239 patients (478 breasts) who received esthetic augmentation mammaplasty using the BellaGel® (round smooth, round textured, round nanotextured, and anatomical textured types of implant) (HansBiomed Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) at three clinics in Korea (JW Plastic Surgery Center, BS The Body Plastic Surgery Clinic and Grace Plastic Surgery Clinic) during a period from December 1, 2015 to January 31, 2018.

Results

A total of 239 patients with a mean age of 33.1 ± 8.5 years old were followed up during a mean period of 399.58 ± 232.71 days, where there were no cases of capsular contracture in our clinical series of the patients. Other complications include one case (0.4%) of seroma, three cases (1.3%) of hematoma, and one case (0.4%) of infection. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the cumulative incidences of complications between the four types of the BellaGel® (χ2 = 2.322, df = 3, P = 0.508). Furthermore, the cumulative Kaplan-Meier survival rate was estimated at 0.979 (95% CI 0.961–0.997).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the BellaGel® is such a safe breast implant that surgeons might consider using it for esthetic augmentation mammaplasty.

Level of evidence: Level III, risk/prognostic study.
Chest Trauma Outcomes: Public Versus Private Level I Trauma Centers
Authors: Orlas Claudia P. , Herrera‐Escobar Juan Pablo , Zogg Cheryl K. , Serna José J. , Meléndez Juan J. , Gómez Alexandra , Martínez Diana , Parra Michael W. , García Alberto F. , Rosso Fernando , Pino Luis Fernando , Gonzalez Adolfo , Ordoñez Carlos A.
Published: January 2020

Background

The goal of our study was to evaluate the differences in care and clinical outcomes of patients with chest trauma between two hospitals, including one public trauma center (Pu‐TC) and one private trauma center (Pri‐TC).

Methods

Patients with thoracic trauma admitted from January 2012 to December 2018 at two level I trauma centers (Pu‐TC: Hospital Universitario del Valle, Pri‐TC: Fundación Valle del Lili) in Cali, Colombia, were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess for differences in in‐hospital mortality, adjusting for relevant demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results

A total of 482 patients were identified; 300 (62.2%) at the Pri‐TC and 182 (37.8%) at the Pu‐TC. Median age was 27 years (IQR 21–36) and median Injury Severity Score was 25 (IQR 16–26). 456 patients (94.6%) were male, and the majority had penetrating trauma [total 465 (96.5%); Pri‐TC 287 (95.7%), Pu‐TC 179 (98.4%), p 0.08]. All patients arrived at the emergency room with unstable hemodynamics. There were no statistically significant differences in post‐operative complications, including retained hemothorax [Pri‐TC 19 vs. Pu‐TC 18], pneumonia [Pri‐TC 14 vs. Pu‐TC 14], empyema [Pri‐TC 13 vs. Pu‐TC 13] and mediastinitis [Pri‐TC 6 vs. Pu‐TC 2]. Logistic regression did, however, show a higher odds of mortality when patients were treated at the Pu‐TC [OR 2.27 (95% CI 1.34–3.87, p < 0.001].

Conclusions

Our study found significant statistical differences in clinical outcomes between patients treated at a Pu‐TC and Pri‐TC. The results are intended to stimulate discussions to better understand reasons for outcome variability and ways to reduce it.
Measuring quality of life in bariatric surgery: a multicentre study
Authors: Poelemeijer Youri Q. M. , van der Knaap Elise T. W. , Marang-van de Mheen Perla J. , Demirkiran Ahmet , Wiezer Marinus J. , Hazebroek Eric J. , Greve Jan Willem M. , Liem Ronald S. L.
Published: January 2020

Background

Current studies mainly focus on total weight loss and comorbidity reduction. Only a few studies compare Quality of Life (QoL) after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This study was conducted to examine the extent of improvement in QoL on different domains after primary bariatric surgery and compare these results to Dutch reference values.

Methods

The study included prospectively collected data from patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery in five Dutch hospitals. The RAND-36 questionnaire was used to measure the patient’s QoL; preoperatively and twelve months postoperatively. Postoperative scores were compared to Dutch reference values, standardized for age, usingt-test. A difference of more than 5% was considered a minimal important difference. A multivariate linear regression analysis was used to compare SG and RYGB on the extent of improvement, adjusted for case-mix factors.

Results

In total, 4864 patients completed both the pre- and postoperative questionnaire. Compared with Dutch reference values, patients postoperatively reported clinically relevant betterphysical functioning(RYGB + 6.8%),physical role limitations(SG + 5.6%; RYGB + 6.2%) andhealth change(SG + 77.1%; RYGB + 80.0%), but worsegeneral health perception(SG − 22.8%; RYGB − 17.0%). Improvement in QoL was similar between SG and RYGB, except forphysical functioning(β2.758;p-value 0.008) andgeneral health perception(β2.607;p-value < 0.001) for which RYGB patients improved more.

Conclusions

SG and RYGB patients achieved a better postoperative score inphysical functioning,physical role limitationsandhealth change comparedto Dutch reference values, and a worse score ingeneral health perception.
Single-port versus multiport laparoscopic surgery comparing long-term patient satisfaction and cosmetic outcome
Authors: Raakow Jonas , Klein Denis , Barutcu Atakan Görkem , Biebl Matthias , Pratschke Johann , Raakow Roland
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Several studies and meta-analysis showed Single-port or Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SPL) to be superior over Multiport laparoscopic surgery (MPL) mainly in terms of postoperative pain and cosmetic result. But very little is known whether these results are only a short-term effect or are persistent on the long run after SPL. We therefore evaluated and compared long-term outcomes regarding cosmesis and chronic pain after SPL and MPL.

Methods

We conducted a comparative study with propensity score matching of all patients undergoing SPL or MPL between October 2008 and December 2013 in terms of postoperative cosmetic results and chronic pain. Follow-up data were obtained from mailed patient questionnaires and telephone interviews. Postoperative cosmesis was assessed using the patients overall scar opinion on a 10-point scale and the Patients scale of the standardized Patient and Observer Scar assessment scale (POSAS). Chronic pain was assessed by 10-point scales for abdominal and umbilical scar pain.

Results

A total of 280 patients were included in the study with 188 patients (67.1%) after SPL and 92 patients (32.9%) following MPL. 141 patients (50.4%) underwent a cholecystectomy and 139 patients (49.6%) underwent an appendectomy. The mean follow-up time was 61.1 ± 19.1 months. The mean wound satisfaction assed by the overall scar and the PSOAS Patients scale score of the patients showed no significant difference between MPL and SPL. Patients after SPL reported more overall complains than after MPL (8.7% vs. 2.5%, respectively), but without statistical significance (p = 0.321). Umbilical pain scores were comparable between the two groups (1.4 ± 1.0 vs. 1.4 ± 1.0, p = 0.831).

Conclusion

We found no difference in long-term cosmetic outcomes after SPL and MPL. Chronic pain at the umbilical incision site was comparable on the long run.
Computational shape optimisation for a gradient-enhanced continuum damage model
Authors: Guhr Fabian , Sprave Leon , Barthold Franz-Joseph , Menzel Andreas
Published: January 2020

An isotropic gradient-enhanced damage model is applied to shape optimisation in order to establish a computational optimal design framework in view of optimal damage distributions. The model is derived from a free Helmholtz energy density enriched by the damage gradient contribution. The Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions are solved on a global finite element level by means of a Fischer–Burmeister function. This approach eliminates the necessity of introducing a local variable, leaving only the global set of equations to be iteratively solved. The necessary steps for the numerical implementation in the sense of the finite element method are established. The underlying theory as well as the algorithmic treatment of shape optimisation are derived in the context of a variational framework. Based on a particular finite deformation constitutive model, representative numerical examples are discussed with a focus on and application to damage optimised designs.
Prevention of oral mucositis with cryotherapy in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantations—a feasibility study and randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kamsvåg Tove , Svanberg Anncarin , Legert Karin Garming , Arvidson Johan , von Essen Louise , Mellgren Karin , Toporski Jacek , Winiarski Jacek , Ljungman Gustaf
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of oral cryotherapy (OC) in children and to investigate if OC reduces the incidence of severe oral mucositis (OM), oral pain, and opioid use in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods

Fifty-three children, 4–17 years old, scheduled for HSCT in Sweden were included and randomized to OC or control using a computer-generated list. OC instructions were to cool the mouth with ice for as long as possible during chemotherapy infusions with an intended time of ≥ 30 min. Feasibility criteria in the OC group were as follows: (1) compliance ≥ 70%; (2) considerable discomfort during OC < 20%; (3) no serious adverse events; and (4) ice administered to all children. Grade of OM and oral pain was recorded daily using the WHO-Oral Toxicity Scale (WHO-OTS), Children’s International Oral Mucositis Evaluation Scale, and Numerical Rating Scale. Use of opioids was collected from the medical records.

Results

Forty-nine children (mean age 10.5 years) were included in analysis (OC = 26, control = 23). The feasibility criteria were not met. Compliance was poor, especially for the younger children, and only 15 children (58%) used OC as instructed. Severe OM (WHO-OTS ≥ 3) was recorded in 26 children (OC = 15, control = 11). OC did not reduce the incidence of severe OM, oral pain, or opioid use.

Conclusion

The feasibility criteria were not met, and the RCT could not show that OC reduces the incidence of severe OM, oral pain, or opioid use in pediatric patients treated with a variety of conditioning regimens for HSCT.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov id: NCT01789658
Research on the predicting power of the revised Tokuhashi system: how much time can surgery give to patients with short life expectancy?
Authors: Mezei Tamás , Horváth Anna , Pollner Péter , Czigléczki Gábor , Banczerowski Péter
Published: January 2020

Object

The primary treatment option for symptomatic metastatic spinal tumors is surgery. Prognostic systems are designed to assist in the establishment of the indication and the choice of surgical methodology. The best-known prognostic system is the revised Tokuhashi system, which has a predictive ability of about 60%. In our study, we are attempting to find the reason for its poor predictive ability, despite its proper separation ability.

Methods

We have designed a one-center-based retrospective clinical trial, by which we would like to test the feasibility and the inaccuracy of the revised Tokuhashi system. In our database, there are 329 patients who underwent surgery. Statistical analysis was performed.

Results

A significant increase in survival time was observed in the ‘conservative’ category. Earlier studies reported OS 0.15 at the 180-day control time, in contrast with our 0.38 OS value. The literature suggested supportive care for this category, but in our population, every patient underwent surgery. Our population passes the 0.15 OS value on day 475. We propose an adjustment of the Tokuhashi category scores. We observed significant success in resolving pain. Motor functions were improved or stabilized compared to changes in vegetative dysfunction.

Conclusion

According to our results, the Tokuhashi scoring system makes very conservative predictions and prefers non-surgical palliative or supportive care. Surgical treatment increases the life expectancy of patients in poor condition. We propose modifying the therapeutic options of the revised Tokuhashi system, taking into consideration modern spine surgery techniques.
Correction to: Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal diffusion-weighted MRI
Authors: Ljimani Alexandra , Caroli Anna , Laustsen Christoffer , Francis Susan , Mendichovszky Iosif Alexandru , Bane Octavia , Nery Fabio , Sharma Kanishka , Pohlmann Andreas , Dekkers Ilona A. , Vallee Jean-Paul , Derlin Katja , Notohamiprodjo Mike , Lim Ruth P. , Palmucci Stefano , Serai Suraj D. , Periquito Joao , Wang Zhen Jane , Froeling Martijn , Thoeny Harriet C. , Prasad Pottumarthi , Schneider Moritz , Niendorf Thoralf , Pullens Pim , Sourbron Steven , Sigmund Eric E.
Published: January 2020

The article Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal diffusion-weighted MRI
Multiscale relevance and informative encoding in neuronal spike trains
Authors: Cubero Ryan John , Marsili Matteo , Roudi Yasser
Published: January 2020

Neuronal responses to complex stimuli and tasks can encompass a wide range of time scales. Understanding these responses requires measures that characterize how the information on these response patterns are represented across multiple temporal resolutions. In this paper we propose a metric – which we call multiscale relevance (MSR) – to capture the dynamical variability of the activity of single neurons across different time scales. The MSR is a non-parametric, fully featureless indicator in that it uses only the time stamps of the firing activity without resorting to any a priori covariate or invoking any specific structure in the tuning curve for neural activity. When applied to neural data from the mEC and from the ADn and PoS regions of freely-behaving rodents, we found that neurons having low MSR tend to have low mutual information and low firing sparsity across the correlates that are believed to be encoded by the region of the brain where the recordings were made. In addition, neurons with high MSR contain significant information on spatial navigation and allow to decode spatial position or head direction as efficiently as those neurons whose firing activity has high mutual information with the covariate to be decoded and significantly better than the set of neurons with high local variations in their interspike intervals. Given these results, we propose that the MSR can be used as a measure to rank and select neurons for their information content without the need to appeal to any a priori covariate.
(2S, 4R)-4-[18F]Fluoroglutamine for In vivo PET Imaging of Glioma Xenografts in Mice: an Evaluation of Multiple Pharmacokinetic Models
Authors: Miner Maxwell WG , Liljenbäck Heidi , Virta Jenni , Merisaari Joni , Oikonen Vesa , Westermarck Jukka , Li Xiang-Guo , Roivainen Anne
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The glutamine analogue (2S, 4R)-4-[18F]fluoroglutamine ([18F]FGln) was investigated to further characterize its pharmacokinetics and acquire in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) images of separate orthotopic and subcutaneous glioma xenografts in mice.

Procedures

[18F]FGln was synthesized at a high radiochemical purity as analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. An orthotopic model was created by injecting luciferase-expressing patient-derived BT3 glioma cells into the right hemisphere of BALB/cOlaHsd-Foxn1nu mouse brains (tumor growth monitored via in vivo bioluminescence), the subcutaneous model by injecting rat BT4C glioma cells into the flank and neck regions of Foxn1nu/nu mice. Dynamic PET images were acquired after injecting 10–12 MBq of the tracer into mouse tail veins. Animals were sacrificed 63 min after tracer injection, and ex vivo biodistributions were measured. Tumors and whole brains (with tumors) were cryosectioned, autoradiographed, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. All images were analyzed with CARIMAS software. Blood sampling of 6 Foxn1nu/nu and 6 C57BL/6J mice was performed after 9–14 MBq of tracer was injected at time points between 5 and 60 min then assayed for erythrocyte uptake, plasma protein binding, and plasma parent-fraction of radioactivity to correct PET image-derived whole-blood radioactivity and apply the data to multiple pharmacokinetic models.

Results

Orthotopic human glioma xenografts displayed PET image tumor-to-healthy brain region ratio of 3.6 and 4.8 while subcutaneously xenografted BT4C gliomas displayed (n = 12) a tumor-to-muscle (flank) ratio of 1.9 ± 0.7 (range 1.3–3.4). Using PET image-derived blood radioactivity corrected by population-based stability analyses, tumor uptake pharmacokinetics fit Logan and Yokoi modeling for reversible uptake.

Conclusions

The results reinforce that [18F]FGln has preferential uptake in glioma tissue versus that of corresponding healthy tissue and fits well with reversible uptake models.
Berufliche Identität kaufmännischer Auszubildender. Ergebnisse einer Interviewstudie
Authors: Kirchknopf Sebastian , Kögler Kristina
Published: January 2020

Die Entwicklung individueller beruflicher Identitätskonstruktionen in der dualen Berufsausbildung ist eng mit dem Erwerb beruflicher Handlungskompetenz verknüpft. Dabei sind insbesondere Fragen nach dem individuellen Berufsverständnis, berufstypischen Tätigkeiten und ihren affektiven Identifikationspotenzialen sowie wahrgenommenen beruflichen Perspektiven von Bedeutung. Vor dem Hintergrund der Theorie der sozialen Identität untersucht der vorliegende Beitrag mittels einer Interviewstudie mitN = 51 kaufmännischen Auszubildenden, ob systematische berufsspezifische Merkmale beruflicher Identität bei kaufmännischen Auszubildenden unterschiedlicher Ausbildungsberufe zu beobachten sind und inwiefern hierbei homogene identitätsstiftende Elemente innerhalb der kaufmännischen Domäne oder aber spezifische Identifikationspotenziale sowie -hindernisse einzelner Ausbildungsberufe überwiegen. Die Ergebnisse deuten auf eine Sonderstellung von Einzelhandelskaufleuten im Sinne eines vergleichsweise wenig facettenreichen Berufsverständnisses und Defiziten bezüglich affektiv identifikationsrelevanter Tätigkeiten sowie beruflicher Perspektiven hin.