bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of a behavioral intervention, delivered by pediatricians or psychologists, on sleep problems in children with ADHD: a cluster‐randomized, translational trial
Authors: Hiscock Harriet , Mulraney Melissa , Heussler Helen , Rinehart Nicole , Schuster Tibor , Grobler Anneke C. , Gold Lisa , Bohingamu Mudiyanselage Shalika , Hayes Nicole , Sciberras Emma
Published: June 2019

Background

We have demonstrated the efficacy of a brief behavioral intervention for sleep in children with ADHD in a previous randomized controlled trial and now aim to examine whether this intervention is effective and cost‐effective when delivered by pediatricians or psychologists in community settings.

Methods

Translational, cluster‐randomized trial of a behavioral intervention versus usual care from 19th January, 2015 to 30th June, 2017. Participants (n = 361) were children aged 5–13 years with ADHD and parent report of a moderate/severe sleep problem who met criteria for American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria for chronic insomnia disorder, delayed sleep–wake phase disorder, or were experiencing sleep‐related anxiety. Participants were randomized at the level of the pediatrician (n = 61) to intervention (n = 183) or usual care (n = 178). Families in the intervention group received two consultations with a pediatrician or a psychologist covering sleep hygiene and tailored behavioral strategies.

Results

In an intention‐to‐treat analysis, at 3 and 6 months respectively, the proportion of children with moderate to severe sleep problems was lower in the intervention (28.0%, 35.8%) compared with usual care group (55.4%, 60.1%; 3 month: risk ratio (RR): 0.51, 95% CI 0.37, 0.70, p < .001; 6 month: RR: 0.58; 95% CI 0.45, 0.76, p < .001). Intervention children had improvements across multiple Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire subscales at 3 and 6 months. No benefits of the intervention were observed in other domains. Cost‐effectiveness of the intervention was AUD 13 per percentage point reduction in child sleep problem at 3 months.

Conclusions

A low‐cost brief behavioral sleep intervention is effective in improving sleep problems when delivered by community clinicians. Greater sample comorbidity, lower intervention dose or insufficient clinician supervisions may have contributed to the lack benefits seen in our previous trial.
Whole cell inactivated autogenous vaccine effectively protects red Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against francisellosis via intraperitoneal injection
Authors: Ramírez‐Paredes José Gustavo , Mendoza‐Roldan Miguel Angel , Lopez‐Jimena Benjamin , Shahin Khalid , Metselaar Matthijs , Thompson Kim D. , Penman David J. , Richards Randolph H. , Adams Alexandra
Published: June 2019

Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis is a pathogen of tilapia and other warm‐water fish for which no vaccines are commercially available. In this study, a whole cell formalin‐inactivated vaccine was developed for the first time using the highly virulent isolate STIR‐GUS‐F2f7 and the oil‐based adjuvant Montanide™ ISA 763A VG. The efficacy of the vaccine was assessed in red Nile tilapia via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection using homologous experimental infection and correlates of protection such as seral antibody production and bacterial loads in the spleen. For immunization, fish were i.p. injected with 0.1 ml of the vaccine, the adjuvant alone or PBS. At 840 degree days post‐vaccination, all fish were i.p. injected with 4.0 × 103 CFU/fish of pathogenic bacteria. The RPS at the end of the trial was 100% in the vaccinated group with significantly higher survival than in the adjuvant and control groups. The RPS in the adjuvant group was 42%, and no significant difference was seen in survival between this and the PBS group. Moreover, significantly higher antibody titres in the serum and significantly lower bacterial loads in the spleen were detected in the vaccinated fish by ELISA and qPCR, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of autogenous vaccines for controlling francisellosis in tilapia.
Morphological characterization of the adherence and invasion of Streptococcus agalactiae to the intestinal mucosa of tilapia Oreochromis sp.: An in vitro model
Authors: Vásquez‐Machado Gersson , Barato‐Gómez Paola , Iregui‐Castro Carlos
Published: June 2019

Streptococcosis in tilapia Oreochromis sp. is possibly the most important bacterial disease for fish production worldwide. In Colombia, streptococcosis is caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), but in other countries, Streptococcus iniae is also involved. Prevention of streptococcosis is required and must be addressed for economic, social, international trade and public health reasons. This research used an in vitro culture of tilapia intestine to detail the intestinal mucosal response once the pathogen contacts the epithelium. We show that S. agalactiae sheds off its capsule to adhere to the epithelium. The bacterium adheres as a single individuum, in groups or in chains and is able to divide on the apical border of enterocytes. GBS adheres at and invades exclusively through the apical portion of the intestinal folds, using the transepithelial route. Once within the cytoplasm of enterocytes, the bacteria continue to divide. On the basolateral side of the epithelium, the microorganisms leave the cells to reach the propria and travel through the microcirculation. No evidence of an immuno‐inflammatory reaction or goblet cell response in the epithelium or the lamina propria was seen during the process of adherence and invasion of the pathogen.
Effects of operating conditions during hollow fiber ultrafiltration of bitter gourd (Mormordica charantia) extract and analysis of nutritional qualities in subsequent storage study
Authors: Jain Amit , De Sirshendu
Published: June 2019

Bitter gourd extract was clarified by cross flow ultrafiltration using a hollow fiber module under total recycle mode using polysulfone based membrane. The 70 kDa membrane was found to be the most suitable among the 10‐, 44‐, 70‐, and 120 kDa molecular weight cut‐off membranes. Variations of various resistances, viz. membrane hydraulic resistance, pore blocking resistance, and fouling layer resistance with operating conditions were examined. Effect of transmembrane pressure and cross flow rate on flux and quality parameters were examined and based on these results 138 kPa transmembrane pressure and 30 L/hr cross flow rate were found suitable operating conditions for processing of extract. Storage study revealed that the ultrafiltered extract could be successfully stored for 20 weeks without any additive, preservative and flavoring agent, maintaining its natural taste, aroma, nutrition, flavor, color, smell, and other nutritional qualities at par to fresh extract.

Practical applications

Aqueous extract of vegetables possesses many ingredients having therapeutic values and medicinal importance. Bitter gourd is one such vegetable containing many health benefits. The present work deals with development of a cold sterilization process for bitter gourd extract using hollow fiber ultrafiltration without any additives, preservatives, and subsequent in‐depth storage analysis. Novelty of the process includes identification of suitable membrane for this purpose, detailed flux decline analysis of the selected membrane, effects of operating conditions on the throughput and physicochemical parameters of the processed extract. The storage study indicates that the extract can be preserved for 20 weeks without any external chemicals maintaining the natural flavor, taste, and nutrient profiles of the original extract. Filtration experiments were conducted in scalable hollow fiber units. Therefore, this study is of paramount significance in scaling up of processing of bitter gourd extract having long shelf life.
Mixed endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma arising from laparoscopic trocar site endometriosis
Authors: Tsuruga Tetsushi , Hirata Tetsuya , Akiyama Ikumi , Matsumoto Yoko , Oda Katsutoshi , Fujii Tomoyuki , Osuga Yutaka
Published: June 2019

Laparoscopic port site endometriosis is less common in abdominal wall endometriosis, and malignant transformation of abdominal wall endometriosis is rare. We reported a case of mixed endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma arising from port site endometriosis. The patient was a 49‐year‐old woman with a history of laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometrioma. Physical examination revealed a subcutaneous solid tumor around the laparoscopic surgical scar. Imaging showed a suspicious malignancy. She underwent radical marginal resection of the abdominal wall tumor, flap reconstruction of the abdominal wall, hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy and omental biopsy. Histological examination revealed mixed endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma. Computed tomography scan showed no evidence of recurrence after six cycles of chemotherapy. This is the first case of malignant transformation from laparoscopic trocar site endometriosis.
Immigrant entrepreneurs, diasporas, and exports
Authors: Bratti Massimiliano , De Benedictis Luca , Santoni Gianluca
Published: June 2019

This paper demonstrates the positive effect of immigrant entrepreneurs on manufacturing exports over and above that of diasporas. Using small‐scale regional administrative data, our instrumental variable estimates of export gravity models imply that ceteris paribus, that is, holding constant the total number of immigrants, the expected protrade effect of a migrant becoming an entrepreneur amounts to an average increase of US$5,946 in the export flows toward her country of origin. Besides these dyadic effects, immigrant entrepreneurs unlike nonentrepreneurial immigrants raise a region's overall competitiveness and export flows toward other destinations as well.
The relationship between neighborhood design and social capital as measured by carpooling
Authors: Alrasheed Dhari S.
Published: June 2019

This paper examines whether social capital in a neighborhood is influenced by its design, taking the cul‐de‐sac as a special case. It offers two contributions: using carpooling to school as a proxy for social capital and a precise definition of the neighborhood using geo‐coded survey data from California. Living in a cul‐de‐sac neighborhood is found to increase the probability of carpooling, but the effect loses statistical significance when residential self‐selection is accounted for. The analysis reveals competing insights about the self‐selection behavior that must be resolved before neighborhood design can be considered an effective policy tool for enhancing social capital.
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE NOGAL BASIN AND SURROUNDING AREA, NORTHERN SOMALIA, PART 2: HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL
Authors: Ali M. Y. , Lee J. H.
Published: June 2019

Seismic reflection profiles and well data show that the Nogal Basin, northern Somalia, has a structure and stratigraphy suitable for the generation and trapping of hydrocarbons. However, the data suggest that the Upper Jurassic Bihendula Group, which is the main source rock elsewhere in northern Somalia, is largely absent from the basin or is present only in the western part. The high geothermal gradient (∼35–49 °C/km) and rapid increase of vitrinite reflectance with depth in the Upper Cretaceous succession indicate that the Gumburo Formation shales may locally have reached oil window maturity close to plutonic bodies. The Gumburo and Jesomma Formations include high quality reservoir sandstones and are sealed by transgressive mudstones and carbonates.

ID petroleum systems modelling was performed at wells Nogal‐1 and Kalis‐1, with 2D modelling along seismic lines CS‐155 and CS‐229 which pass through the wells. Two source rock models (Bihendula and lower Gumburo) were considered at the Nogal‐1 well because the well did not penetrate the sequences below the Gumburo Formation. The two models generated significant hydrocarbon accumulations in tilted fault blocks within the Adigrat and Gumburo Formations. However, the model along the Kalis‐1 well generated only negligible volumes of hydrocarbons, implying that the hydrocarbon potential is higher in the western part of the Nogal Basin than in the east. Potential traps in the basin are rotated fault blocks and roll‐over anticlines which were mainly developed during Oligocene–Miocene rifting.

The main exploration risks in the basin are the lack of the Upper Jurassic source and reservoirs rocks, and the uncertain maturity of the Upper Cretaceous Gumburo and Jesomma shales. In addition, Oligocene‐Miocene rift‐related deformation has resulted in trap breaching and the reactivation of Late Cretaceous faults.
An open‐ended primary‐care group intervention for insomnia based on a self‐help book – A randomized controlled trial and 4‐year follow‐up
Authors: Kaldo Viktor , Bothelius Kristoffer , Blom Kerstin , Lindhe Maria , Larsson Matilda , Karimi Kobra , Melder Susanne , Bondestam Viveka , Ulfsparre Charlotte , Sternbrink Klara , Jernelöv Susanna
Published: June 2019

Chronic insomnia is a common and burdensome problem for patients seeking primary care. Cognitive behavioural therapy has been shown to be effective for insomnia, also when presented with co‐morbidities, but access to sleep therapists is limited. Group‐treatment and self‐administered treatment via self‐help books have both been shown to be efficacious treatment options, and the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an open‐ended group intervention based on a self‐help book for insomnia, adapted to fit a primary‐care setting. Forty primary‐care patients with insomnia (mean age 55 years, 80% women) were randomized to the open‐ended group intervention based on a cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia self‐help book or to a care as usual/wait‐list control condition. Results show high attendance to group sessions and high treatment satisfaction. Participants in the control group later received the self‐help book, but without the group intervention. The book‐based group treatment resulted in significantly improved insomnia severity, as well as shorter sleep‐onset latency, less wake time after sleep onset, and less use of sleep medication compared with treatment as usual. The improvements were sustained at a 4‐year follow‐up assessment. A secondary analysis found a significant advantage of the combination of the book and the open‐ended group intervention compared with when the initial control group later used only the self‐help book. An open‐ended treatment group based on a self‐help book for insomnia thus seems to be an effective and feasible intervention for chronic insomnia in primary‐care settings.
Effects of experimentally induced respiratory disease on the pharmacokinetics and tissue residues of tulathromycin in meat goats
Authors: Smith Joe S. , Mochel Jonathan P. , Borts David J. , Griffith Ronald W.
Published: June 2019

Tulathromycin is a macrolide antibiotic commonly used for the treatment of respiratory disease in food animal species including goats. Recent research in pigs has suggested that the presence of disease could alter the pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin in animals with respiratory disease. The objectives of this study were (a) compare the plasma pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin in healthy goats as well as goats with an induced respiratory disease; and (b) to compare the tissue residue concentrations of tulathromycin marker in both groups. For this trial, disease was induced with Pasteurella multocida. Following disease induction, tulathromycin was administered. Samples of plasma were collected at various time points up to 312 hr posttreatment, when study animals were euthanized and tissue samples were collected. For PK parameters in plasma, Vz (control: 28.7 ± 11.9 ml/kg; experimental: 57.8 ± 26.6 ml/kg) was significantly higher (p = 0.0454) in the experimental group than the control group, and nonsignificant differences were noted in other parameters. Among time points significantly lower plasma concentrations were noted in the experimental group at 168 hr (p = 0.023), 216 hr (p = 0.036), 264 hr (p = 0.0017), 288 hr (p = 0.0433), and 312 hr (p = 0.0486). None of the goats had tissue residues above the US bovine limit of 5 µg/g at the end of the study. No differences were observed between muscle, liver, or fat concentrations. A significantly lower concentration (p = 0.0095) was noted in the kidneys of experimental goats when compared to the control group. These results suggest that the effect of respiratory disease on the pharmacokinetics and tissue residues appear minimal after experimental P. multocida infection, however as evidenced by the disparity in Cmax, significant differences in plasma concentrations at terminal time points, as well as the differences in kidney concentrations, there is the potential for alterations in diseased versus clinical animals.
Phytoplankton functional groups: Short‐term variation in a tropical tidal‐forced estuarine system
Authors: de Jesus Affe Helen Michelle , Piedras Fernanda Reinhardt , Santana Lucineide Maria , Moser Gleyci Aparecida Oliveira , Menezes Mariângela , de Castro Nunes José Marcos
Published: June 2019

Functional groups have become an important tool for characterizing communities of marine and estuarine environments. Their use also holds promise for a better understanding of the temporal dynamics of phytoplankton. This study aimed to evaluate the contributions of phytoplankton size fractions and functional groups characterizing short‐term variation throughout tidal cycles and between dry and rainy seasons in a tropical estuarine system. Camamu Bay is an oligotrophic estuarine system that is under strong influence from tropical shelf waters and is characterized by high salinity and low concentrations of dissolved nutrients. Surface‐water samples were collected at nine sampling sites distributed among the three hydrodynamic regions of the bay, and at a mooring, at 3‐hr intervals during tidal cycles (12 hr each) in both the rainy and the dry season. Although the abundances of the phytoplankton fractions (pico‐, nano‐, and micro‐) were higher in the rainy season and during periods of higher tide, they were not significantly higher. The phytoplankton community in the bay comprises three functional groups: GI = “colonial” (i.e., chain‐forming diatoms and filamentous cyanobacteria); GII = “GALD >40” (i.e., pennate and centric diatoms with MDL >40 µm), and GIII = “flagellates” (i.e., species with motility via flagella). Nanoflagellates were the most abundant form in the bay, while chain‐forming diatoms, in particular, contributed to the microphytoplankton fraction during both the rainy and dry seasons. Functional groups, as defined by cluster analysis, reflected ecological strategies compatible with the high hydrodynamics of Camamu Bay, which is characterized by processes of tidal‐forced intense mixing, mainly during periods of spring tides. The phytoplankton of the bay was found to possess a series of attributes (functional traits) that endow them with some resistance to sinking. Functional diversity indexes (FEve, FDiv, and FDis) indicated a stable community without significant short‐term variation due to low variability in the environmental conditions of the system during the study period.
The Gove relict iron meteorite from Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Bevan Alex W. R. , Downes Peter J. , Henry Dermot A. , Verrall Michael , Haines Peter W.
Published: June 2019

On February 24, 1979, a deeply oxidized mass of iron meteorite was excavated from bauxite at an open cut mine on the Gove Peninsula, Northern Territory, Australia. The meteorite, measuring 0.75–1 m in diameter and of unknown total weight, was found at coordinates 12°15.8′S, 136°50.3′E. On removal from the ground, the meteorite is reported to have disintegrated rapidly. A preliminary analysis at the mine laboratory reportedly gave 8.5 wt% Ni. A modern analysis of oxidized material gave Ni = 32.9, Co = 3.67 (both mg g−1), Cr = 168, Cu = 195, Ga = 22.5, Ge = <70, As = 4.16, W = 1.35, Ir = 10.5, Pt = 21.2, Au = 0.672 (all μg g−1), Sb = <150, and Re = 844 (both ng g−1). Competent fragments of oxidized material retain a fine to medium Widmanstätten pattern with an apparent average bandwidth of 0.5 mm (range 0.2–0.9 mm in plane section). Primary mineralogy includes rare γ–taenite and daubréelite, and secondary minerals produced by weathering include awaruite (with up to 78.5 wt% Ni) and an, as yet, unnamed Cu‐Cr‐bearing sulfide with the ideal formula CuCrS2 that is hitherto unknown in nature. Deep weathering has masked many of the features of the meteorite; however, the analysis normalized to the analyses of fresh iron meteorites favors chemical group IIIAB. The terrestrial age of the meteorite is unknown, although it is likely to be in the Neogene (2.5–23 Ma), which is widely accepted as the major period of bauxite formation in the Northern Territory of Australia. Gove is the second authenticated relict meteorite found in Australia.
Oak symbolism in the light of genomics
Authors: Leroy Thibault , Plomion Christophe , Kremer Antoine
Published: June 2019

Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, human societies, political systems, and religions have appropriated oaks in symbolic representations. In this review, we explore the possible associations between recent genetic and genomic findings and the symbolic representations of oaks. We first consider the ways in which evolutionary history during the Holocene has tightened links between humans and oaks in Europe, and how this may have led to symbolic representations. We then show how recent findings concerning the structure and evolution of the oak genome have provided additional knowledge about symbolic representations, such as longevity, cohesiveness, and robustness.
Strategies for restoring the structure and function of lichen‐moss biocrust communities
Authors: Slate Mandy L. , Durham Rebecca A. , Pearson Dean E.
Published: June 2019

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are crucial components of dryland ecosystems, but they are slow to recover following disturbance. Herein, we evaluated several methods for restoring lichen‐moss biocrusts that included factorial applications of moss fragments in a water‐slurry (1) with and without lichen fragments (to restore biocrust taxonomic structure), (2) with and without clay (to facilitate establishment), and (3) with and without jute ground cloth (to facilitate establishment). Three and four years after inoculation, moss and lichen cover was up to five and eight times higher on jute ground cloth than on bare ground, respectively. Lichen cover was six times higher in plots where lichen fragments were added. Clay amendments did not increase moss or lichen establishment. To understand the effects of biocrust recovery on soil properties, we measured soil inorganic nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, and soil water availability in restoration and control plots. Restored biocrusts decreased inorganic NH4‐N availability by 67% when compared to controls 3 years after inoculation, but did not influence the availability of inorganic NO3‐N, soil water, or microbial biomass carbon. Our results demonstrate that adding a biocrust inoculant to jute ground cloth can expedite recovery of lichen‐moss biocrust and reestablish its influence on soil properties within a few years.
Nocturnal hypoxaemia in interstitial lung disease: An easy target to treat?
Authors: Ryerson Christopher J. , Vahidy Sana
Published: June 2019

See related Article
Farmers' resilience behaviour in the face of water scarcity in the eastern part of Lake Urmia, Iran: an environmental psychological analysis
Authors: Shojaei‐Miandoragh Mahdi , Bijani Masoud , Abbasi Enayat
Published: June 2019

This study aimed to perform an environmental‐psychological analysis of farmers' resilience behaviours towards water scarcity crisis. The study was descriptive‐correlational and causal‐relational and was carried out as a survey. The statistical population was composed of farmers in Aji‐Chay Basin in the eastern part of Lake Urmia (N = 417000), of whom 384 people were selected using stratified random sampling method. The instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Its reliability was, also, verified using a Cronbach's alpha test and a pilot study (0.60 ≤ α ≤ 0.90). The findings presented the causal framework of farmers' resilience behaviour. The results of the causal analysis further indicated that the three variables of ‘place attachment’, ‘environmental attitudes’ and ‘environmental beliefs’ had the greatest impact on farmers' resilience behaviour towards water scarcity. The paper is concluded with some applied recommendations based on the findings.
Variability of Targeted Material Thermal Responses to Laser-Induced Heating in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Zohdi T. I. , Castrillon N.
Published: June 2019

A widespread use of lasers in additive manufacturing is to induce a given temperature and a phase transformation in materials deposited onto a substrate. For a laser to induce a phase transformation in the material, the power intensity must be sufficiently high to induce melting and, in all cases, stay below a vaporization or burn-off temperature of the target material. Oftentimes, there is variability in the laser input to the target zone. For a process designer, a central question is to determine the uncertainty of the resulting target state, i.e., temperature and state (solid or melted), due to uncertainty in the energy (laser) input. This motivates the present work, which integrates relatively fundamental heat transfer models that describe the thermal effects due to (a) laser irradiation, (b) heat conduction into the surface of deposition, (c) infrared radiation outwards into the surroundings, (d) convection due to an exhaust apparatus to control the cooling of the system, and (e) phase transformations, for a dry Nylon 6 powder as a sample material. One key advantage of this framework is that it is amenable to a sensitivity and uncertainty analysis with respect to any of its parameter inputs. Accordingly, uncertainty quantification studies are also undertaken to ascertain the relationship between variation in laser input to variation in the processed material state. Examples will be presented to illustrate the thermal behavior of the numerical model. Due to its simplicity, this framework is designed to be computationally implemented in a straightforward fashion. The model allows for rapid computation and sensitivity analyses, which are provided as numerical examples. Extensions are also given to include mass transport (losses) due to ablation of the target material.
Review Article: Tools and trends for probing brain neurochemistry
Authors: Beyene Abraham G. , Yang Sarah J. , Landry Markita P.
Published: June 2019

The brain is composed of complex neuronal networks that interact on spatial and temporal scales that span several orders of magnitude. Uncovering how this circuitry gives rise to multifaceted phenomena such as perception, memory, and behavior remains one of the grand challenges in science today. A wide range of investigative methods have been developed to delve deeper into the inner workings of the brain, spanning the realms of molecular biology, genetics, chemistry, optics, and engineering, thereby forming a nexus of discovery that has accelerated our understanding of the brain. Whereas neuronal electrical excitability is a hallmark property of neurons, chemical signaling between neurons—mediated by hundreds of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, hormones, and other signaling molecules—is equally important, but far more elusive in its regulation of brain function for motor control, learning, and behavior. To date, the brain's neurochemical state has been interrogated using classical tools borrowed from analytical chemistry, such as liquid chromatography and amperometry, and more recently, newly developed fluorescent sensors. Here, the authors review advances in the development of functional fluorescent probes that are beginning to expand their understanding of the neurochemical basis of brain function alongside device-based analytical tools that have already made extensive contributions to the field. The emphasis herein is on the paradigms of probe and device development, which follow certain design principles unique to the interrogation of brain chemistry.
Larger Dose Reductions of Vancomycin Required in Neonates with Patent Ductus Arteriosus Receiving Indomethacin versus Ibuprofen
Authors: Cristea S. , Allegaert K. , Falcao A. C. , Falcao F. , Silva R. , Smits A. , Knibbe C. A. J. , Krekels E. H. J.
Published: June 2019

Ibuprofen and indomethacin are commonly used to induce ductus arteriosus closure in preterm neonates. Our group previously reported that ibuprofen decreased vancomycin clearance by 16%. In this study, we quantified the impact of indomethacin coadministration on vancomycin clearance by extending our vancomycin population pharmacokinetic model with a data set containing vancomycin concentrations measured in preterm neonates comedicated with indomethacin.
Regulating, Measuring, and Modeling the Viscoelasticity of Bacterial Biofilms
Authors: Charlton Samuel G. V. , White Michael A. , Jana Saikat , Eland Lucy E. , Jayathilake Pahala Gedara , Burgess J. Grant , Chen Jinju , Wipat Anil , Curtis Thomas P.
Published: June 2019

Biofilms occur in a broad range of environments under heterogeneous physicochemical conditions, such as in bioremediation plants, on surfaces of biomedical implants, and in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. In these scenarios, biofilms are subjected to shear forces, but the mechanical integrity of these aggregates often prevents their disruption or dispersal.
YshB Promotes Intracellular Replication and Is Required for
Salmonella
Virulence
Authors: Bomjan Rajdeep , Zhang Mei , Zhou Daoguo
Published: June 2019

Salmonella
gastroenteritis is one of the most common causes of foodborne disease, possibly affecting millions of people globally each year. Here we characterize the role of a novel small protein, YshB, in mediating
Salmonella
intracellular survival. This elucidation adds to the body of knowledge regarding how this bacterium achieves intracellular survival.
Prescribing emergency oral steroids in asthma clinics
Authors: Willson Rhian , Makhecha Sukeshi , Moore-Crouch Rachel , Balfour-Lynn Ian M
Published: June 2019

We retrospectively reviewed children who had been prescribed emergency oral corticosteroids (OCS) in a routine tertiary paediatric respiratory clinic appointment. We subsequently assessed adherence from prescription uptake of inhaled corticosteroids or combination inhalers in the 6 months prior to the episode. In 2 years, 25 children received 32 courses of prednisolone. Median adherence was 33%, but 28% for those with repeated OCS prescriptions. Prescribing acute OCS in a routine clinic is a red flag for potential poor adherence to preventer therapies, and may also indicate the child has poor perception of the severity of their symptoms. An assessment of adherence should be carried out and help given to the child and their family to improve poor adherence when detected.
Fifteen-minute consultation: How good is this test
Authors: Waterfield Thomas
Published: June 2019

As technology evolves and cultural attitudes towards diagnosis change, there is an increasing move towards newer, faster and more accurate diagnostic testing. As new tests are developed, clinicians are increasingly required to appraise data from diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies.

The accuracy of a test is fluid and changes depending on the population, setting, timing and position within the diagnostic pathway. This article attempts to provide a short guide to understanding diagnostic test accuracy and a simple approach to appraising DTA studies.
Addition of a 161-SNP polygenic risk score to family history-based risk prediction: impact on clinical management in non-BRCA1/2breast cancer families
Authors: Lakeman Inge M M , Hilbers Florentine S , Rodríguez-Girondo Mar , Lee Andrew , Vreeswijk Maaike P G , Hollestelle Antoinette , Seynaeve Caroline , Meijers-Heijboer Hanne , Oosterwijk Jan C , Hoogerbrugge Nicoline , Olah Edith , Vasen Hans F A , van Asperen Christi J , Devilee Peter
Published: June 2019

Background

The currently known breast cancer-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are presently not used to guide clinical management. We explored whether a genetic test that incorporates a SNP-based polygenic risk score (PRS) is clinically meaningful in non-BRCA1/2high-risk breast cancer families.

Methods

101 non-BRCA1/2high-risk breast cancer families were included; 323 cases and 262 unaffected female relatives were genotyped. The 161-SNP PRS was calculated and standardised to 327 population controls (sPRS). Association analysis was performed using a Cox-type random effect regression model adjusted by family history. Updated individualised breast cancer lifetime risk scores were derived by combining the Breast and Ovarian Analysis of Disease Incidence and Carrier Estimation Algorithm breast cancer lifetime risk with the effect of the sPRS.

Results

The mean sPRS for cases and their unaffected relatives was 0.70 (SD=0.9) and 0.53 (SD=0.9), respectively. A significant association was found between sPRS and breast cancer, HR=1.16, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.28, p=0.026. Addition of the sPRS to risk prediction based on family history alone changed screening recommendations in 11.5%, 14.7% and 19.8 % of the women according to breast screening guidelines from the USA (National Comprehensive Cancer Network), UK (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Netherlands (Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation), respectively.

Conclusion

Our results support the application of the PRS in risk prediction and clinical management of women from genetically unexplained breast cancer families.
Intravenous meloxicam for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain: a pooled analysis of safety and opioid-reducing effects
Authors: Viscusi Eugene R , Gan Tong J , Bergese Sergio , Singla Neil , Mack Randall J , McCallum Stewart W , Du Wei , Hobson Sue
Published: June 2019

Background and objectives

To describe the safety and tolerability of intravenous meloxicam compared with placebo across all phase II/III clinical trials.

Methods

Safety data and opioid use from subjects with moderate to severe postoperative pain who received ≥1 dose of intravenous meloxicam (5–60 mg) or placebo in 1 of 7 studies (4 phase II; 3 phase III) were pooled. Data from intravenous meloxicam 5 mg, 7.5 mg and 15 mg groups were combined (low-dose subset).

Results

A total of 1426 adults (86.6% white; mean age: 45.8 years) received ≥1 dose of meloxicam IV; 517 (77.6% white; mean age: 46.7 years) received placebo. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in intravenous meloxicam and placebo-treated subjects was 47% and 57%, respectively. The most commonly reported TEAEs across treatment groups (intravenous meloxicam 5–15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg and placebo, respectively) were nausea (4.3%, 20.8%, 5.8% and 25.3%), headache (1.5%, 5.6%, 1.6% and 10.4%), vomiting (2.8%, 4.6%, 1.6% and 7.4%) and dizziness (0%, 3.5%, 1.1% and 4.8%). TEAE incidence was generally similar in subjects aged >65 years with impaired renal function and the general population. Similar rates of cardiovascular events were reported between treatment groups. One death was reported (placebo group; unrelated to study drug). There were 35 serious adverse events (SAEs); intravenous meloxicam 15 mg (n=5), intravenous meloxicam 30 mg (n=15) and placebo (n=15). The SAEs in meloxicam-treated subjects were determined to be unrelated to study medication. Six subjects withdrew due to TEAEs, including three treated with intravenous meloxicam (rash, localized edema and postprocedural pulmonary embolism). In trials where opioid use was monitored, meloxicam reduced postoperative rescue opioid use.

Conclusions

Intravenous meloxicam was generally well tolerated in subjects with moderate to severe postoperative pain.

Trial registration numbers

NCT01436032,NCT00945763,NCT01084161,NCT02540265,NCT02678286,NCT02675907andNCT02720692.
Compton scattering off pions and electromagnetic polarizabilities
Authors: Moinester Murray , Scherer Stefan
Published: June 2019

The electric [Formula: see text] and magnetic [Formula: see text] Compton polarizabilities of both the charged and the neutral pion are of fundamental interest in the low-energy sector of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Pion polarizabilities affect the shape of the [Formula: see text] Compton scattering angular distribution at back scattering angles and [Formula: see text] absolute cross sections. Theory derivations are given for the [Formula: see text] Compton scattering differential cross section, dispersion relations, and sum rules in terms of the polarizabilities. We review experimental charged and neutral polarizability studies and theoretical predictions. The [Formula: see text] polarizabilities were deduced from DESY Crystal Ball [Formula: see text] data, but with large uncertainties. The charged pion polarizabilities were deduced most recently from (1) radiative pion Primakoff scattering [Formula: see text] at CERN COMPASS, (2) two-photon pion pair production [Formula: see text] at SLAC Mark II, and (3) radiative pion photoproduction [Formula: see text] from the proton at MAMI in Mainz. A stringent test of chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) is possible based on comparisons of precision experimental charged pion polarizabilities with ChPT predictions. Only the CERN COMPASS charged pion polarizability measurement has acceptably small uncertainties. Its value [Formula: see text] agrees well with the two-loop ChPT prediction [Formula: see text], strengthening the identification of the pion with the Goldstone boson of chiral symmetry breaking in QCD.
The role of the Heisenberg principle in constrained molecular dynamics model
Authors: Wang K. , Bonasera A. , Zheng H. , Zhang G. Q. , Ma Y. G. , Shen W. Q.
Published: June 2019

We implement the Heisenberg principle into the Constrained Molecular Dynamics model with a similar approach to the Pauli principle using the one-body occupation probability [Formula: see text]. Results of the modified and the original model with comparisons to data are given. The binding energies and the radii of light nuclei obtained with the modified model are more consistent with the experimental data than the original one. The collision term and the density distribution are tested through a comparison to p+[Formula: see text]C elastic scattering data. Some simulations for fragmentation and superheavy nuclei production are also discussed.
Randomized multi-scale kernels learning with sparsity constraint regularization for regression
Authors: Dong Xue-Mei , Weng Hao , Shi Jian , Gu Yinhe
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a simple multiple kernel learning framework for complicated data modeling, where randomized multi-scale Gaussian kernels are employed as base kernels and a [Formula: see text]-norm regularizer is integrated as a sparsity constraint for the solution. The randomly pre-chosen scales provide random basis functions with diversity approximation ability and lead to extremely low computational complexity in finding the optimal solution. The random parameter appearing in the probability distribution and the regularizing factor are decided by the training data with cross validation techniques and the combination weights are solved by a well-posed linear system. Comparison experiments on one function approximation and three real-world regression problems of six learning algorithms are carried out. The way that multi-scale kernels fit the objective function is illustrated, the sparsity and the system robustness analysis with respect to the regularizing factor are given.
Glycine-induced formation and druggability score prediction of protein surface pockets
Authors: Bongini Pietro , Niccolai Neri , Bianchini Monica
Published: June 2019

Nowadays, it is well established that most of the human diseases which are not related to pathogen infections have their origin from DNA disorders. Thus, DNA mutations, waiting for the availability of CRISPR-like remedies, will propagate into proteomics, offering the possibility to select natural or synthetic molecules to fight against the effects of malfunctioning proteins. Drug discovery, indeed, is a flourishing field of biotechnological research to improve human health, even though the development of a new drug is increasingly more expensive in spite of the massive use of informatics in Medicinal Chemistry. CRISPR technology adds new alternatives to cure diseases by removing DNA defects responsible of genome-related pathologies. In principle, the same technology, however, could also be exploited to induce protein mutations whose effects are controlled by the presence of suitable ligands. In this paper, a new idea is proposed for the realization of mutated proteins, on the surface of which more spacious transient pockets are formed and, therefore, are more suitable for hosting drugs. In particular, new allosteric sites are obtained by replacing amino-acids with bulky side chains with glycine, Gly, the smallest natural amino-acid. We also present a machine learning approach to evaluate the druggability score of new (or enlarged) pockets. Preliminary experimental results are very promising, showing that 10% of the sites created by the Gly-pipe software are druggable.
Ionospheric GNSS Total Electron Content for Tsunami Warning
Authors: Liu Jann-Yenq , Lin Chi-Yen , Tsai Yu-Lin , Liu Tien-Chi , Hattori Katsumi , Sun Yang-Yi , Wu Tso-Ren
Published: June 2019

Tsunami waves can induce tsunami traveling ionospheric disturbances (TTIDs) of the total electron content (TEC). In this study, we examine the TEC derived by ground-based receivers of the global positioning system (GPS) and identify TTIDs induced by 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Simulations of the COMCOT (Cornell multi-grid coupled tsunami) model and analyses of the circle method, the ray-tracing technique, and the beam-forming technique are used to show that TTIDs can be quickly detected and confirmed after the tsunami occurrence. Finally, the ionospheric TEC derived by existing ground-based GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) receiving stations is demonstrated to be useful to support the tsunami early warning system.
Analysis of Zagreb indices over zero-divisor graphs of commutative rings
Authors: Aykaç Sümeyye , Akgüneş Nihat , Çevik Ahmet Sinan
Published: June 2019

In this paper, first Zagreb index, second Zagreb index, first multiplicative Zagreb index, second multiplicative Zagreb index, first Zagreb coindices index, second Zagreb coindices index, first multiplicative Zagreb coindices index, second multiplicative Zagreb coindices index of [Formula: see text] have been established, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are prime.
η-Einstein nearly Kenmotsu manifolds
Authors: Tekin Pelin , Aktan Nesip
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we showed that an [Formula: see text]-Einstein nearly Kenmotsu manifold with projective curvature tensor [Formula: see text], and conharmonic curvature tensor [Formula: see text], satisfy the conditions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Furthermore, we obtain scalar curvature of a projectively flat and a conharmonically flat [Formula: see text]-Einstein nearly Kenmotsu manifold.
Tectono-stratigraphy of the Dampier Sub-basin, North West Shelf of Australia
Authors: Deng Hongdan , McClay Ken
Published: June 2019

The Dampier Sub-basin, an inboard rift system of the Northern Carnarvon Basin in the North West Shelf, Australia, underwent two major phases of continental rifting in the Late Paleozoic and in the Latest Triassic to Late Jurassic. Six tectono-stratigraphic megasequences separated by regional unconformities have been identified: (1) Pre-Late Carboniferous Pre-rift 1; (2) Late Carboniferous to Late Permian Syn-rift 1; (3) Early to Latest Triassic Post-rift 1; (4) Latest Triassic to Early Late Jurassic Syn-rift 2; (5) Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Post-rift 2; and (6) Early Cretaceous to Present-day passive margin megasequences. The Late Paleozoic rifting produced a series of planar extensional faults on the eastern flank, some of which were later rotated by the Latest Triassic to Late Jurassic WNW–ESE extension to low-angles (
c.
30°). This Mesozoic extension was localized above a NE–SW-trending basement structure, resulting in en échelon inboard rift basins and overlapping boundary fault systems. The study outlines an updated basin tectono-stratigraphic model for the Dampier Sub-basin and provides new insights for structural evolution associated with the development of the North West Shelf passive continental margin of Australia.
Optimal Power Management with Guaranteed Minimum Energy Utilization for Solar Energy Harvesting Systems
Authors: Ahmed Rehan , Buchli Bernhard , Draskovic Stefan , Sigrist Lukas , Kumar Pratyush , Thiele Lothar
Published: June 2019

In this work, we present a formal study on optimizing the energy consumption of energy harvesting embedded systems. To deal with the uncertainty inherent in solar energy harvesting systems, we propose the Stochastic Power Management (SPM) scheme, which builds statistical models of harvested energy based on historical data. The proposed stochastic scheme maximizes the lowest energy consumption across all time intervals while giving strict probabilistic guarantees on not encountering battery depletion. For situations where historical data is not available, we propose the use of (i) a Finite Horizon Control (FHC) scheme and (ii) a non-uniformly scaled energy estimator based on an astronomical model, which is used by FHC. Under certain realistic assumptions, the FHC scheme can provide guarantees on minimum energy usage that can be supported over all times. We further propose and evaluate a piece-wise linear approximation of FHC for efficient implementation in resource-constrained embedded systems. With extensive experimental evaluation for eight publicly available datasets and two datasets collected with our own deployments, we quantitatively establish that the proposed solutions are highly effective at providing a guaranteed minimum service level and significantly outperform existing solutions.
Database Audit Workload Prioritization via Game Theory
Authors: Yan Chao , Li Bo , Vorobeychik Yevgeniy , Laszka Aron , Fabbri Daniel , Malin Bradley
Published: June 2019

The quantity of personal data that is collected, stored, and subsequently processed continues to grow rapidly. Given its sensitivity, ensuring privacy protections has become a necessary component of database management. To enhance protection, a number of mechanisms have been developed, such as audit logging and alert triggers, which notify administrators about suspicious activities. However, this approach is limited. First, the volume of alerts is often substantially greater than the auditing capabilities of organizations. Second, strategic attackers can attempt to disguise their actions or carefully choose targets, thus hide illicit activities. In this article, we introduce an auditing approach that accounts for adversarial behavior by (1) prioritizing the order in which types of alerts are investigated and (2) providing an upper bound on how much resource to allocate for each type.

Specifically, we model the interaction between a database auditor and attackers as a Stackelberg game. We show that even a highly constrained version of such problem is NP-Hard. Then, we introduce a method that combines linear programming, column generation, and heuristic searching to derive an auditing policy. On the synthetic data, we perform an extensive evaluation on the approximation degree of our solution with the optimal one. The two real datasets, (1) 1.5 months of audit logs from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and (2) a publicly available credit card application dataset, are used to test the policy-searching performance. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods for searching the audit strategies, and our general approach significantly outperforms non-game-theoretic baselines.