bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contributions of amino acid, acylcarnitine and sphingolipid profiles to type 2 diabetes risk among South-Asian Surinamese and Dutch adults
Authors: Muilwijk Mirthe , Goorden Susan M I , Celis-Morales Carlos , Hof Michel H , Ghauharali-van der Vlugt Karen , Beers-Stet Femke S , Gill Jason M R , Vaz Frédéric M , van Valkengoed Irene G M
Published: May 2020

Introduction

People of South Asian origin are at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the underpinning mechanisms are not fully understood. We determined ethnic differences in acylcarnitine, amino acid and sphingolipid concentrations and determined the associations with T2D.

Research design and methods

Associations between these metabolites and incident T2D among Dutch and South-Asian Surinamese were determined in participants from the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) using Prentice-weighted Cox regression. The HELIUS study includes 95 incident T2D cases and a representative subcohort of 700 people from a cohort of 5977 participants with a mean follow-up of 4 years.

Results

Concentrations of acylcarnitines were comparable between both ethnic groups. Amino acid and lactosylceramide concentrations were higher among South-Asian Surinamese than Dutch (eg, isoleucine 65.7 (SD 16.3) vs 60.7 (SD 15.6) µmol/L). Ceramide concentrations were lower among South-Asian Surinamese than Dutch (eg, Cer d18:1 8.48 (SD 2.04) vs 9.08 (SD 2.29) µmol/L). Metabolic dysregulation preceded T2D without evidence for a multiplicative interaction by ethnicity. Most amino acids and (dihydro)ceramides were associated with increased risk (eg, Cer d18:1 HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.81 to 3.12) while acylcarnitines, glycine, glutamine and lactosylceramides were associated with decreased risk for T2D (eg, LacCer d18:2 HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.77).

Conclusions

Overall, these data suggest that the disturbances underlying amino acid and sphingolipid metabolism may be predictive of T2D risk in populations of both South Asian and European background. These observations may be used as starting point to unravel the underlying metabolic disturbances.
Patients’ perspectives of facilitators and barriers to patient-centred care: insights from qualitative patient interviews
Authors: Vennedey Vera , Hower Kira Isabel , Hillen Hendrik , Ansmann Lena , Kuntz Ludwig , Stock Stephanie
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Previous studies on patient-centred care (PCC) and its facilitators and barriers usually considered specific patient groups, healthcare settings and aspects of PCC or focused on expert perspectives. The objective of this study was to analyse patients’ perspectives of facilitators and barriers towards implementing PCC.

Design

We conducted semistructured individual interviews with chronically ill patients. The interviewees were encouraged to share positive and negative experiences of care and the related facilitators and barriers in all settings including preventive, acute and chronic health issues. Interview data were analysed based on the concept of content analysis.

Setting

Interviews took place at the University Hospital Cologne, nursing homes, at participants’ homes or by telephone.

Participants

Any person with at least one chronic illness living in the region of Cologne was eligible for participation. 25 persons with an average age of 60 years participated in the interviews. The participants suffered from various chronic conditions including mental health problems, oncological, metabolic, neurological diseases, but also shared experiences related to acute health issues.

Results

Participants described facilitators and barriers of PCC on the microlevel (eg, patient–provider interaction), mesolevel (eg, health and social care organisation, HSCO) and macrolevel (eg, laws, financing). In addition to previous concepts, interviewees illustrated the importance of being an active patient by taking individual responsibility for health. Interviewees considered functioning teams and healthy staff members a facilitator of PCC as this can compensate stressful situations or lack of staff to some degree. A lack of transparency in financing and reimbursement was identified as barrier to PCC.

Conclusion

Individual providers and HSCOs can address many facilitators and barriers of PCC as perceived by patients. Large-scale changes such as reduction of administrative barriers, the expansion of care networks or higher mandatory nurse to patient ratios require political action and incentives.

Trial registration number

DRKS00011925
Risk factors for recurrent falls in older adults: a study protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Jehu Deborah A , Davis Jennifer C , Liu-Ambrose Teresa
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Older adults who fall recurrently (i.e., >1 fall/year) are at risk for functional decline and mortality. Key risk factors for recurrent falls in community-dwelling older adults are not well established due to methodological limitations, such as recall bias. A better understanding of the risk factors for recurrent falls will aid in refining clinical practice guidelines for secondary fall prevention strategies. The primary objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to examine the risk factors for recurrent falls in prospective studies among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive search for articles indexed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases as well as grey literature was conducted on April 25, 2019. We will use MeSH and keyword search terms around the following topics: falls, recurrence, fall-risk, ageing and prospective studies. Prospective studies with monthly falls monitoring for 12 months, investigating risk factors for recurrent falls in older adults will be included. One author will complete the search. Two authors will remove duplicates and screen the titles and abstracts for their potential inclusion against the eligibility criteria. Two authors will screen the full texts and extract the data using a piloted extraction sheet. Included studies will be evaluated for the risk of bias with the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal tools. The quality of reporting will be determined with the Strengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology. The data extraction will include study characteristics as well as sociodemographic, balance and mobility, sensory and neuromuscular, psychological, medical, medication and environmental factors. The results will be presented via figures, summary tables, meta-analysis (when possible) and narrative summaries.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethics approval will be required. Findings will be disseminated through publication and media.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019118888; Pre-results.
Validation of a clinical examination to differentiate a cervicogenic source of headache: a diagnostic prediction model using controlled diagnostic blocks
Authors: Getsoian Scott L , Gulati Surendra M , Okpareke Ikenna , Nee Robert J , Jull Gwendolen A
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Neck pain commonly accompanies recurrent headaches such as migraine, tension-type and cervicogenic headache. Neck pain may be part of the headache symptom complex or a local source. Patients commonly seek neck treatment to alleviate headache, but this is only indicated when cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction is the source of pain. Clinical presentation of reduced cervical extension, painful cervical joint dysfunction and impaired muscle function collectively has been shown to identify cervicogenic headache among patients with recurrent headaches. The pattern’s validity has not been tested against the ‘gold standard’ of controlled diagnostic blocks. This study assessed the validity of this pattern of cervical musculoskeletal signs to identify a cervical source of headache and neck pain, against controlled diagnostic blocks, in patients with headache and neck pain.

Design

Prospective concurrent validity study that employed a diagnostic model building approach to analysis.

Setting

Hospital-based multidisciplinary outpatient clinic in Joliet, Illinois.

Participants

A convenience sample of participants who presented to a headache clinic with recurrent headaches associated with neck pain. Sixty participants were enrolled and thirty were included in the analysis.

Outcome measures

Participants underwent a clinical examination consisting of relevant tests of cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction. Controlled diagnostic blocks of C2/C3–C3/C4 established a cervical source of neck pain. Penalised logistic regression identified clinical signs to be included in a diagnostic model that best predicted participants’ responses to diagnostic blocks.

Results

Ten of thirty participants responded to diagnostic blocks. The full pattern of cervical musculoskeletal signs best predicted participants’ responses (expected prediction error = 0.57) and accounted for 65% of the variance in responses.

Conclusions

This study confirmed the validity of the musculoskeletal pattern to identify a cervical source of headache and neck pain. Adopting this criterion pattern may strengthen cervicogenic headache diagnosis and inform differential diagnosis of neck pain accompanying migraine and tension-type headache.
Construction of the secondary care administrative records frailty (SCARF) index and validation on older women with operable invasive breast cancer in England and Wales: a cohort study
Authors: Jauhari Yasmin , Gannon Melissa Ruth , Dodwell David , Horgan Kieran , Clements Karen , Medina Jibby , Tsang Carmen , Robinson Thompson , Tang Sarah Shuk-Kay , Pettengell Ruth , Cromwell David A
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Studies that use national datasets to evaluate the management of older women with breast cancer are often constrained by a lack of information on patient fitness. This study constructed a frailty index for use with secondary care administrative records and evaluated its ability to improve models of treatment patterns and overall survival in women with breast cancer.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Participants

Women aged ≥50 years with oestrogen receptor (ER) positive early invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 2014 and 2017 in England.

Methods

The secondary care administrative records frailty (SCARF) index was based on the cumulative deficit model of frailty, using International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death, 10th revision codes to define a set of deficits. The index was applied to administrative records that were linked to national cancer registry datasets. The ability of the SCARF index to improve the performance of regression models to explain observed variation in the rate of surgery and overall survival was evaluated using Harrell’s c-statistic and decision curve analysis. External validation was performed on a dataset of similar women diagnosed in Wales.

Results

The SCARF index captured 32 deficits that cover functional impairment, geriatric syndromes, problems with nutrition, cognition and mood, and medical comorbidities. In the English dataset (n=67 925), the prevalence of frailty in women aged 50–69, 70–79 and ≥80 years was 15%, 28% and 47%, respectively. Adding a frailty measure to regression models containing age, tumour characteristics and comorbidity improved their ability to: (1) discriminate between whether a woman was likely to have surgery and (2) predict overall survival. Similar results were obtained when the models were applied to the Welsh cohort (n=4 230).

Conclusion

The SCARF index provides a simple and consistent method to identify frailty in population level data and could help describe differences in breast cancer treatments and outcomes.
Effect of a formalised discharge process which includes electronic delivery of prescriptions to pharmacies on the incidence of delayed prescription retrieval
Authors: Sachedina Ayaaz Kazmir , Mota Sonia , Lorenzin Julie , Allegretti Marlene , Leyser Maureen , Gob Alan , McKelvie Robert
Published: May 2020

Background

Lack of prescription adherence after discharge from the inpatient hospital setting is a barrier to the delivery of optimal patient care. Non-adherence to medication for cardiac diseases can lead to substantial morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Electronic delivery of prescriptions by fax is a potential method of improving patient satisfaction and reducing pharmacy wait times.

Methods

This study was completed in the cardiology inpatient wards at a hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. ‘Delayed prescription retrieval’ was defined as the retrieval of a prescribed medication by a patient from their local pharmacy after the documented calendar day of discharge. The current discharge process on the cardiology wards was assessed and an initial monitoring period of study participants was completed to determine the baseline delayed prescription retrieval rate (preintervention group). A formalised discharge process, which included electronic delivery of prescriptions to pharmacies by fax, was implemented for study participants (postintervention group). The rate of delayed prescription retrieval was assessed in both groups.

Results

15 of 42 patients (35.7%) in the preintervention group and 9 of 72 (14.3%) in the postintervention group had delayed prescription retrieval suggesting relative and absolute risk reductions of 65% and 23.2% (p=0.0045). Of the participants with delayed prescription retrieval, 100% in the preintervention group and 77.8% in the postintervention group were due a new prescribed medication on the day of discharge.

Conclusions

Patients who experienced a formalised discharge process, which included electronic delivery of prescriptions by fax, at the time of discharge from cardiac inpatient care had a lower rate of delayed prescription retrieval. Future studies are required to examine the impact of formal discharge processes on patient morbidity and mortality.
Apatinib plus camrelizumab (anti-PD1 therapy, SHR-1210) for advanced osteosarcoma (APFAO) progressing after chemotherapy: a single-arm, open-label, phase 2 trial
Authors: Xie Lu , Xu Jie , Sun Xin , Guo Wei , Gu Jin , Liu Kuisheng , Zheng Bingxin , Ren Tingting , Huang Yi , Tang Xiaodong , Yan Taiqiang , Yang Rongli , Sun Kunkun , Shen Danhua , Li Yuan
Published: May 2020

Background

Results of our previous study showed high objective response but short-term activity of apatinib in advanced osteosarcoma. We aimed to investigate the activity of apatinib in combination with camrelizumab in patients with inoperable high-grade osteosarcoma progressing after chemotherapy.

Methods

This open-label, phase 2 trial was conducted at Peking University People’s Hospital. We enrolled patients with advanced osteosarcoma progressed after chemotherapy. Patients received 500 mg apatinib orally once daily plus 200 mg camrelizumab by intravenous infusion every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and clinical benefit rate at 6 months, which were based on RECIST V.1.1.

Results

43 patients were enrolled between January 25 and September 4, 2018. With median follow-up time of 48.3 (Q1, Q3, 30.6, 66.6) weeks, 13 (30.23%, 95% CI 17.2%, 40.1%) of 43 patients were progression free at 6 months and the 6-month PFS rate was 50.9% (95% CI 34.6%, 65.0%). Until final follow-up, the objective response rate was 20.9% (9/43) and two patients with durable disease control were observed. Patients with programmed cell death 1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score ≥5% and pulmonary metastases tended to have a longer PFS in comparison to the others (p=0.004 and 0.017, respectively). Toxic effects led to dose reductions, or interruptions, or both in 24 (55.8%) of 43 patients and permanent discontinuation in 4 (9.3%) patients. There were no treatment-related deaths.

Conclusions

Although the combination of apatinib and camrelizumab seemed to prolong PFS in comparison to single agent apatinib in treating advanced osteosarcoma, it did not reach the prespecified target of 6-month PFS of 60% or greater. Overexpression of PD-L1 and the presence of pulmonary metastases only were associated with longer PFS.

Trial registration number

NCT03359018.
Human X chromosome exome sequencing identifiesBCORL1as contributor to spermatogenesis
Authors: Lu Chuncheng , Zhang Yan , Qin Yufeng , Xu Qiaoqiao , Zhou Ran , Cui Yiqiang , Zhu Yunfei , Zhang Xin , Zhang Jintao , Wei Xiang , Wang Min , Hang Bo , Mao Jian-Hua , Snijders Antoine M , Liu Mingxi , Hu Zhibin , Shen Hongbing , Zhou Zuomin , Guo Xuejiang , Wu Xin , Wang Xinru , Xia Yankai
Published: May 2020

Background

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples worldwide with male infertility being responsible for approximately 50% of cases. Although accumulating evidence demonstrates the critical role of the X chromosome in spermatogenesis during the last few decades, the expression patterns and potential impact of the X chromosome, together with X linked genes, on male infertility are less well understood.

Methods

We performed X chromosome exome sequencing followed by a two-stage independent population validation in 1333 non-obstructive azoospermia cases and 1141 healthy controls to identify variant classes with high likelihood of pathogenicity. To explore the functions of these candidate genes in spermatogenesis, we first knocked down these candidate genes individually in mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) using short interfering RNA oligonucleotides and then generated candidate genes knockout mice by CRISPR-Cas9 system.

Results

Four low-frequency variants were identified in four genes (BCORL1,MAP7D3,ARMCX4andH2BFWT) associated with male infertility. Functional studies of the mouse SSCs revealed that knocking downBcorl1orMtap7d3could inhibit SSCs self-renewal and knocking downArmcx4could repress SSCs differentiation in vitro. Using CRISPR-Cas9 system,Bcorl1andMtap7d3knockout mice were generated. Excitingly,Bcorl1knockout mice were infertile with impaired spermatogenesis. Moreover,Bcorl1knockout mice exhibited impaired sperm motility and sperm cells displayed abnormal mitochondrial structure.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that the X-linked genes are associated with male infertility and involved in regulating SSCs, which provides a new insight into the role of X-linked genes in spermatogenesis.
Comprehensive genetic sequence and copy number analysis for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in a Canadian cohort of 2517 patients
Authors: Volodarsky Michael , Kerkhof Jennifer , Stuart Alan , Levy Michael , Brady Lauren I , Tarnopolsky Mark , Lin Hanxin , Ainsworth Peter , Sadikovic Bekim
Published: May 2020

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most common Mendelian disorders characterised by genetic heterogeneity, progressive distal muscle weakness and atrophy, foot deformities and distal sensory loss. In this report, we describe genetic testing data including comprehensive sequencing and copy number analysis of 34 CMT-related genes in a Canadian cohort of patients with suspected CMT. We have demonstrated a notable gender testing bias, with an overall diagnostic yield of 15% in males and 21% in females. We have identified a large number of novel pathogenic variants as well as variants of unknown clinical significance in CMT-related genes. In this largest to date analysis of gene CNVs in CMT, in addition to the common PMP22 deletion/duplication, we have described a significant contribution of pathogenic CNVs in several CMT-related genes. This study significantly expand the mutational spectrum of CMT genes, while demonstrating the clinical utility of a comprehensive sequence and copy number next-generation sequencing-based clinical genetic testing in patients with suspected diagnosis of CMT.
Understanding polygenic models, their development and the potential application of polygenic scores in healthcare
Authors: Babb de Villiers Chantal , Kroese Mark , Moorthie Sowmiya
Published: May 2020

The use of genomic information to better understand and prevent common complex diseases has been an ongoing goal of genetic research. Over the past few years, research in this area has proliferated with several proposed methods of generating polygenic scores. This has been driven by the availability of larger data sets, primarily from genome-wide association studies and concomitant developments in statistical methodologies. Here we provide an overview of the methodological aspects of polygenic model construction. In addition, we consider the state of the field and implications for potential applications of polygenic scores for risk estimation within healthcare.
Old problems in need of new (narrative) approaches? A young physician–bioethicist’s search for ethical guidance in the practice of physician-assisted dying in the Netherlands
Authors: Roest Bernadette
Published: May 2020

The current empirical research and normative arguments on physician-assisted dying (PAD) in the Netherlands seem insufficient to provide ethical guidance to general practitioners in the practice of PAD, due to a gap between the evidence and arguments on the one hand and the uncertainties and complexities as found in everyday practice on the other. This paper addresses the problems of current ethical arguments and empirical research and how both seem to be profoundly influenced by the Dutch legislative framework on PAD and a certain view on ethics. Furthermore, the paper elaborates on how other approaches to empirical research in bioethics, such as found in the broad field of narrative research, could supplement the empirical and ethical evaluation of PAD in the Netherlands. This paper also addresses the challenging question of how empirical data—in this case narratives—relate to normativity. The paper is written in the form of a personal narrative of the author, a young Dutch general practitioner and researcher in bioethics. This style is intentionally chosen, to illustrate how work context and professional background influence the observations one makes and the questions one may ask about the topic of PAD. In addition, by using this style, this paper not only gives a different perspective on a much-contested bioethical issue, but also on the challenges faced when a physician–bioethicist has to navigate different disciplinary fields and (moral) epistemological paradigms, especially since the ‘empirical turn’ in bioethics.
Best interests versus resource allocation: could COVID-19 cloud decision-making for the cognitively impaired?
Authors: Parsons Jordan A , Johal Harleen Kaur
Published: May 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting the NHS under unprecedented pressure, requiring clinicians to make uncomfortable decisions they would not ordinarily face. These decisions revolve primarily around intensive care and whether a patient should undergo invasive ventilation. Certain vulnerable populations have featured in the media as falling victim to an increasingly utilitarian response to the pandemic—primarily those of advanced years or with serious existing health conditions. Another vulnerable population potentially at risk is those who lack the capacity to make their own care decisions. Owing to the pandemic, there are increased practical and normative challenges to following the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Both capacity assessments and best interests decisions may prove more difficult in the current situation. This may create a more paternalistic situation in decisions about the care of the cognitively impaired which is at risk of taking on a utilitarian focus. We look to these issues and consider whether there is a risk of patients who lack capacity to make their own care decisions being short-changed.
Occupational exposure to inhaled pollutants and risk of airflow obstruction: a large UK population-based UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Sadhra Steven S , Mohammed Nuredin , Kurmi Om P , Fishwick David , De Matteis Sara , Hutchings Sally , Jarvis Debbie , Ayres Jon G , Rushton Lesley
Published: May 2020

Background

Although around 10% to 15% of COPD burden can be attributed to workplace exposures, little is known about the role of different airborne occupational pollutants (AOP). The main aim of the study was to assess the effect size of the relationship between various AOP, their level and duration of exposure with airflow obstruction (AFO).

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 228 614 participants from the UK Biobank study who were assigned occupational exposure using a job exposure matrix blinded to health outcome. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CI for the risk of AFO for ever and years of exposure to AOPs were estimated using robust Poisson model. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for never-smokers, non-asthmatic and bi-pollutant model.

Results

Of 228 614 participants, 77 027 (33.7%) were exposed to at least one AOP form. 35.5% of the AFO cases were exposed to vapours, gases, dusts or fumes (VGDF) and 28.3% to dusts. High exposure to vapours increased the risk of occupational AFO by 26%. Exposure to dusts (adjusted PR=1.05; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.08), biological dusts (1.05; 1.01 to 1.10) and VGDF (1.04; 1.01 to 1.07) showed a significantly increased risk of AFO, however, statistically not significant following multiple testing. There was no significant increase in risk of AFO by duration (years) of exposure in current job. The results were null when restricted to never-smokers and when a bi-pollutant model was used. However, when data was analysed based on the level of exposure (low, medium and high) compared with no exposure, directionally there was increase in risk for those with high exposure to vapours, gases, fumes, mists and VGDF but statistically significant only for vapours.

Conclusion

High exposure (in current job) to airborne occupational pollutants was suggestive of higher risk of AFO. Future studies should investigate the relationship between lifetime occupational exposures and COPD.
Oral nitrate supplementation to enhance pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: ON-EPIC a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised parallel group study
Authors: Pavitt Matthew J , Tanner Rebecca Jayne , Lewis Adam , Buttery Sara , Mehta Bhavin , Jefford Helen , Curtis Katrina J , Banya Winston A S , Husain Syed , Satkunam Karnan , Shrikrishna Dinesh , Man William , Polkey Michael I , Hopkinson Nicholas S
Published: May 2020

Rationale

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been proposed as a strategy to improve exercise performance, both in healthy individuals and in people with COPD. We aimed to assess whether it could enhance the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COPD.

Methods

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, randomised controlled study performed at four UK centres, enrolled adults with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease grade II–IV COPD and Medical Research Council dyspnoea score 3–5 or functional limitation to undertake a twice weekly 8-week PR programme. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to either 140 mL of nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BRJ) (12.9 mmol nitrate), or placebo nitrate-deplete BRJ, consumed 3 hours prior to undertaking each PR session. Allocation used computer-generated block randomisation.

Measurements

The primary outcome was change in incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) distance. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, physical activity level, endothelial function via flow-mediated dilatation, fat-free mass index and blood pressure parameters.

Results

165 participants were recruited, 78 randomised to nitrate-rich BRJ and 87 randomised to placebo. Exercise capacity increased more with active treatment (n=57) than placebo (n=65); median (IQR) change in ISWT distance +60 m (10, 85) vs +30 m (0, 70), estimated treatment effect 30 m (95% CI 10 to 40); p=0.027. Active treatment also impacted on systolic blood pressure: treatment group −5.0 mm Hg (−5.0, –3.0) versus control +6.0 mm Hg (−1.0, 15.5), estimated treatment effect −7 mm Hg (95% CI 7 to −20) (p<0.0005). No significant serious adverse events or side effects were reported.

Conclusions

Dietary nitrate supplementation appears to be a well-tolerated and effective strategy to augment the benefits of PR in COPD.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN27860457.
Subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol stimulates appetite in cats with stress‐induced anorexia
Authors: Fredley Victry , Kreisler Rachael , Miller Kirk
Published: May 2020

Background

Stress‐induced anorexia is common in cats. While medications are available to stimulate appetite, many require oral administration, have delayed onset‐of‐action or cause adverse side effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether cats diagnosed with stress‐induced anorexia given a subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol would have increased short‐term appetite as compared to those given placebo.

Methods

Anorexic shelter cats received either 1 mg/kg propofol or 1 mL saline placebo and then presented with various commercial cat foods. Grams of food consumed was measured at 15 and 30 min, and total grams compared between treatment and control groups using the Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. 12 cats were enrolled, with six cats randomly assigned to each group.

Results

The median amount consumed by the treatment group was 31 g (range: 0–72), with the median for the four cats (67 per cent) who consumed food being 45 g (range: 26–72), or 49 per cent of their daily maintenance calorie requirement. The median amount consumed by control cats was 0 g (range: 0–5), with one cat consuming food. Total grams consumed was different between treatment and control groups (P=0.05).

Conclusion

A subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol increased appetite in cats with stress‐induced anorexia for a 30 min period.
Survey of interseeded red clover management and perceived challenges by Ontario wheat growers
Authors: Ogilvie Cameron M. , Loucks Cora , Beach Heather , Johnson Peter , Martin Ralph C.
Published: May 2020

Interseeding red clover (RC; Trifolium pratense L.) to winter wheat (WW; Triticum aestivum L.) is a recommended management practice for wheat growers in Ontario, as it is known to provide a host of services including a significant nitrogen credit for the subsequent crop. However, fewer Ontario wheat acres are being interseeded with RC because of challenges with nonuniform stands. A survey was developed to explore why growers use the winter wheat – red clover (WWrc) system and to evaluate the management practices being used. We received 179 responses, 142 which were from growers currently practicing WWrc and the rest were from growers who had used WWrc in the past. Of those who were currently practicing WWrc, increasing degrees of tillage, wider WW row spacing, and higher RC seeding rates showed some indication of improved RC stand uniformity, and qualitative feedback from growers in the survey supports this. It is recommended that these management practices receive formal evaluation to increase the success of the WWrc system in Ontario.
The heavy quarkonium inclusive decays using the principle of maximum conformality
Authors: Yu Qing , Wu Xing-Gang , Zeng Jun , Huang Xu-Dong , Yu Huai-Min
Published: May 2020

The next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) pQCD correction to the inclusive decays of the heavy quarkonium $$\eta _Q$$ηQ (Q being c or b) has been done in the literature within the framework of nonrelativistic QCD. One may observe that the NNLO decay width still has large conventional renormalization scale dependence due to its weaker pQCD convergence, e.g. about $$\left( ^{+4\%}_{-34\%}\right) $$-34%+4% for $$\eta _c$$ηc and $$\left( ^{+0.0}_{-9\%}\right) $$-9%+0.0 for $$\eta _b$$ηb, by varying the scale within the range of $$[m_Q, 4m_Q]$$[mQ,4mQ]. The principle of maximum conformality (PMC) provides a systematic way to fix the $$\alpha _s$$αs-running behavior of the process, which satisfies the requirements of renormalization group invariance and eliminates the conventional renormalization scheme and scale ambiguities. Using the PMC single-scale method, we show that the resultant PMC conformal series is renormalization scale independent, and the precision of the $$\eta _Q$$ηQ inclusive decay width can be greatly improved. Taking the relativistic correction $${\mathcal {O}}(\alpha _{s}v^2)$$O(αsv2) into consideration, the ratios of the $$\eta _{Q}$$ηQ decays to light hadrons or $$\gamma \gamma $$γγ are: $$R^\mathrm{NNLO}_{\eta _c}|_{\mathrm{PMC}}=(3.93^{+0.26}_{-0.24})\times 10^3$$RηcNNLO|PMC=(3.93-0.24+0.26)×103 and $$R^\mathrm{NNLO}_{\eta _b}|_{\mathrm{PMC}}=(22.85^{+0.90}_{-0.87})\times 10^3$$RηbNNLO|PMC=(22.85-0.87+0.90)×103, respectively. Here the errors are for $$\Delta \alpha _s(M_Z) = \pm 0.0011$$Δαs(MZ)=±0.0011. As a step forward, by applying the Pad$$\acute{e}$$e´ approximation approach (PAA) over the PMC conformal series, we obtain approximate NNNLO predictions for those two ratios, e.g. $$R^{\mathrm{NNNLO}}_{\eta _c}|_{\mathrm{PAA+PMC}} =(5.66^{+0.65}_{-0.55})\times 10^3$$RηcNNNLO|PAA+PMC=(5.66-0.55+0.65)×103 and $$R^{\mathrm{NNNLO}}_{\eta _b}|_{\mathrm{PAA+PMC}}=(26.02^{+1.24}_{-1.17})\times 10^3$$RηbNNNLO|PAA+PMC=(26.02-1.17+1.24)×103. The $$R^{\mathrm{NNNLO}}_{\eta _c}|_{\mathrm{PAA+PMC}}$$RηcNNNLO|PAA+PMC ratio agrees with the latest PDG value $$R_{\eta _c}^\mathrm{{exp}}=(5.3_{-1.4}^{+2.4})\times 10^3$$Rηcexp=(5.3-1.4+2.4)×103, indicating the necessity of a strict calculation of NNNLO terms.
Hermeticity evaluation of MEMS wafer packages by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Qinwen , Dong Xianshan , Cui Wei , Huang Yun , Lai Ping , Yang Shaohua , Wang Yunhui
Published: May 2020

Hermeticity of MEMS wafer packaging has a major impact on the performance and reliability of MEMS devices. The test for hermeticity is usually based on the test method from MIL-STD-883. However, both theory and experiment have shown that this test standard has great limitations for MEMS wafer cavities. Raman spectroscopy has also been used to obtain the quantitative and qualitative information about the molecular composition in the small cavity of MEMS packages and then determine the leak rate of MEMS packages. However, this method is reliant on the package cap being transparent to the probing light and requires a reflective surface. In this paper, the Raman spectroscopy is used to obtain the stress of the surface of the package cap and from the information of stress change to infer the change of the gas pressure in the vacuum encapsulation cavity. The results have shown that the lower the gas pressure in the cavity, the larger the tensile stress; When packaged in the atmosphere, the sample cap has shown a compressive stress (corresponding to the reference), which may result from fabrication process. Based on this method, there is no need to use a transparent package cap, and there is no special requirement for the roughness of the cap surface. Compared with the optical deformation test, this method can directly obtain the surface stress information of the cover without knowing the relevant geometric parameters of the MEMS structure.
A new car-following model on complex road considering driver’s characteristics
Authors: An Shuke , Xu Liangjie , Chen Guojun , Shi Zeyu
Published: May 2020

In order to explore the influence of driver’s characteristics in complex traffic flow, experienced, inexperienced attribution and the perception headway of the driver are introduced. Concurrently, an extended car-following model is established. The linear stability of the extended model is derived based on the control theory method, and obtains the stability conditions. This work verifies the impact of driver characteristics on traffic flow stability based on the open boundary simulation environment. The research results show that inexperienced driver will reduce the stability of traffic flow on complex roads, while experienced driver will improve the stability of traffic flow. Compared with the driver’s negative perception headway error, the positive perception headway error can improve the stability of traffic flow. More specifically, an experienced driver is good at predicting the state of the preceding vehicle, while the driver’s positive perception headway error tends to narrow the safe headway, and achieve the stability of traffic flow.
Winning Strategy Tree Construction for BDD-Based ATL Model Checkers
Authors: Nam Wonhong , Yang Haejin , Kil Hyunyoung
Published: May 2020

The Alternating-time Temporal Logic (ATL) is a temporal logic for formal verification of open systems, which supports selective quantification over paths. The open system can be represented as a game where the system and the environment pick their moves in turn or simultaneously. The ATL model checker Mocha has been developed by using Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs), and successfully employed for open system verification. However, since Mocha symbolically manipulates a set of states by a BDD, it is hard to generate a winning strategy as a witness or a counter-example. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm to efficiently construct a winning strategy tree and report that our technique has been successfully implemented on Mocha.
Virtual rational tangles
Authors: Mellor Blake , Nevin Sean
Published: May 2020

We use Kauffman’s bracket polynomial to define a complex-valued invariant of virtual rational tangles that generalizes the well-known fraction invariant for classical rational tangles. We provide a recursive formula for computing the invariant, and use it to compute several examples.
ON FRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL INCLUSION PROBLEMS INVOLVING FRACTIONAL ORDER DERIVATIVE WITH RESPECT TO ANOTHER FUNCTION
Authors: BELMOR SAMIHA , JARAD F. , ABDELJAWAD T. , ALQUDAH MANAR A.
Published: May 2020

In this research work, we investigate the existence of solutions for a class of nonlinear boundary value problems for fractional-order differential inclusion with respect to another function. Endpoint theorem for [Formula: see text]-weak contractive maps is the main tool in determining our results. An example is presented in aim to illustrate the results.
USING A PRIOR ESTIMATE METHOD TO INVESTIGATE SEQUENTIAL HYBRID FRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: NAZIR GHAZALA , SHAH KAMAL , ABDELJAWAD THABET , KHALIL HAMMAD , KHAN RAHMAT ALI
Published: May 2020

In this paper, our main objective is to develop the conditions that assure the existence of solution to a system of boundary value problems (BVPs) of sequential hybrid fractional differential equations (SHFDEs). The problem is considered under the nonlinear boundary conditions. Nonlinear functions involved in the considered system of SHFDEs are continuous and satisfy the growth conditions. We convert the system of SHFDEs to the system of fixed points problem by using the technique of the topological degree theory also called prior estimate method. We establish sufficient conditions that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of positive solution to the system under consideration. Moreover, suitable results are also developed for the Hyers–Ulam stability analysis for the solution of the considered problem. An example is also included to reveal our main result.
RESEARCH ON RISK MEASUREMENT OF SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE BASED ON FRACTAL THEORY
Authors: LIU XUN , PENG XIA , STUART MARTIN
Published: May 2020

Supply chain finance is a new financing model tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises, which integrates capital flow into supply chain management, providing commercial trade capital services for enterprises in all aspects of the supply chain and providing new loan financing services for vulnerable enterprises in the supply chain. Fractal originally is a general term for a graph, structure or phenomenon that does not have a feature length but has a statistically significant self-similarity; fractal theory is an emerging edge science that describes the complex system with a random structure and has been widely used in physics, chemistry, geography, economics and many other fields. On the basis of summarizing and analyzing previous published literature works, this paper expounded the research situation and significance of risk measurement in supply chain finance, elaborated the development background, current status and future challenges of fractal theory, proposed the improved fractal volatility model and financial evaluation model, performed risk analysis of supply chain finance through evaluation modeling and elastic fractal dimension, constructed a financial risk measurement model based on fractal theory, and discussed the importance of model parameter estimation, residual test and accuracy examination in risk measurement of supply chain finance. The final empirical analysis shows that the improved fractal volatility model and the proposed financial risk measurement model has better risk measurement ability under different out-of-sample prediction periods, and obtain more accurate conclusion of asymmetry determination of financial assets gains under the common inspection level. The study results of this paper provide a reference for the further researches on risk measurement of supply chain finance based on fractal theory.
DIGITAL IMAGING BASED ON FRACTAL THEORY AND ITS SPATIAL DIMENSIONALITY
Authors: TIAN YUAN , CUI GAOYUAN , MORRIS HARRY
Published: May 2020

Due to the complexity of digital imaging targets and imaging conditions, fractal theory techniques in existing digital imaging systems still have various shortcomings. In this paper, a digital imaging processing method based on fractal theory is proposed for the first time. For X-ray images, the rapid calculation method of H-parameters is derived based on the fractional Brownian random field model. The H-parameters of X-ray images are calculated point by point. After that, all the singular points are connected, which is the edge of the defect in the image. We apply this method to analyze and process the X-ray images with defects such as missing joints, skins and hollows. Secondly, by means of fractal geometry, the contour slice measurement of the digital imaging space of this fractal is studied. The approximate index value is the digital imaging section profile dimension (D1 dimension) and the section shadow dimension (D2 dimension), so that the dimension determines the complexity of the form and detail of digital imaging. Finally, it can be seen from the experimental results that this method is effective and explores a new way for the development of digital imaging technology. At the same time, it is of great significance to the automatic pattern recognition of the application.
STATUS PREDICTION BY 3D FRACTAL NET CNN BASED ON REMOTE SENSING IMAGES
Authors: WANG LI , WU YUXI , XU JIPING , ZHANG HUIYAN , WANG XIAOYI , YU JIABIN , SUN QIAN , ZHAO ZHIYAO
Published: May 2020

The contradiction between the supply and demand of water resources is becoming increasingly prominent, whose main reason is the eutrophication of rivers and lakes. However, limited and inaccurate data makes it impossible to establish a precise model to successfully predict eutrophication levels. Moreover, it is incompetent to distinguish the degree of eutrophication status of lakes by manual calculation and processing. Focusing on these inconveniences, this study proposes 3D fractal net CNN to extract features in remote sensing images automatically, aiming at achieving scientific forecasting on eutrophication status of lakes. In order to certificate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we predict the state of the water body based on remote sensing images of natural lake. The images in natural lake were accessed by MODIS satellite, cloud-free chlorophyll inversion picture of 2009 was resized into [Formula: see text] patches, which were collected as training and testing samples. In the total of 162 pictures, our study makes three consecutive pictures as a set of data so as to attain 120 group of training and 40 testing data. Taking one set of data as input of the neural network and the next day’s eutrophication level as labels, CNNs act considerable efficiency. Through the experimental results of 2D CNN, 3D CNN and 3D fractal net CNN, 3D fractal net CNN has more outstanding performance than the other two, with the prediction accuracy of 67.5% better than 47.5% and 62.5%, respectively.
TRAJECTORY SIMULATION OF BADMINTON ROBOT BASED ON FRACTAL BROWN MOTION
Authors: CUI GAOYUAN , ZHANG BIN , MARLENE RODRIGUES
Published: May 2020

This paper focuses on the design of badminton robots, and designs high-precision binocular stereo vision synchronous acquisition system hardware and multithreaded acquisition programs to ensure the left and right camera exposure synchronization and timely reading of data. Aiming at specific weak moving targets, a shape-based Brown motion model based on dynamic threshold adjustment based on singular value decomposition is proposed, and a discriminative threshold is set according to the similarity between the background and the foreground to improve detection accuracy. The three-dimensional trajectory points are extended by Kalman filter and the kinematics equation of badminton is established. The parameters of the kinematics equation of badminton are solved by the method of least squares. Based on the fractal Brownian motion algorithm, a real-time robot pose estimation algorithm is proposed to realize the real-time accurate pose estimation of the robot. A PID control model for the badminton robot executive mechanism is established between the omnidirectional wheel speed and the robot’s translation and rotation movements to achieve the precise movement of the badminton robot. All the algorithms can meet the system’s requirements for real-time performance, realize the badminton robot’s simple hit to the ball, and prospect the future research direction.
APPLICABILITY OF TOPOLOGICAL DEGREE THEORY TO EVOLUTION EQUATION WITH PROPORTIONAL DELAY
Authors: SHER MUHAMMAD , SHAH KAMAL , CHU YU-MING , KHAN RAHMAT ALI
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we use the topological degree theory (TDT) to investigate the existence and uniqueness of solution for a class of evolution fractional order differential equations (FODEs) with proportional delay using Caputo derivative under local conditions. In the same line, we will also study different kinds of Ulam stability such as Ulam–Hyers (UH) stability, generalized Ulam–Hyers (GUH) stability, Ulam–Hyers–Rassias (UHR) stability and generalized Ulam–Hyers–Rassias (GUHR) stability for the considered problem. To justify our results we provide an example.