bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poor performance of psoas muscle index for identification of patients with higher waitlist mortality risk in cirrhosis
Authors: Ebadi Maryam , Wang Connie W. , Lai Jennifer C. , Dasarathy Srinivasan , Kappus Matthew R. , Dunn Michael A. , Carey Elizabeth J. , Montano‐Loza Aldo J. ,   From the Fitness, Life Enhancement, and Exercise in Liver Transplantation (FLEXIT) Consortium
Published: September 2018

Background

Sarcopenia, characterized by low muscle mass, associates with mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Skeletal muscle area in a single computed tomography image at the level of the third lumbar vertebrate (L3) is a valid representative of whole body muscle mass. Controversy remains regarding applicability of psoas muscle to identify patients at greater risk of mortality. We aimed to determine psoas muscle index (PMI) association with skeletal muscle index (SMI) and to evaluate the capacity of PMI to predict liver transplant waitlist mortality.

Methods

We evaluated listed adult patients with cirrhosis from 2012 to 2013 at four North American liver transplant centres. From L3 computed tomography images within 3 months of listing, we determined SMI and PMI expressed by cm2/m2. Low SMI was defined as SMI <39 cm2/m2 in women and <50 cm2/m2 in men as published by us earlier. Cut‐offs for PMI to predict mortality were established using a receiver‐operating characteristic analysis. Mortality predictors were determined using competing‐risk analysis with reported results as subdistribution hazard ratios (sHRs).

Results

Of 353 waitlist candidates, 68% were men, mean age 56 ± 9 years, and Model for End‐stage Liver Disease of 16 ± 8 points. Low SMI was present more frequently in men than women (51 vs. 36%, P = 0.02). Moderately strong correlation between SMI and PMI was observed (r > 0.7, P < 0.001). Low PMI (males < 5.1 cm2/m2; females < 4.3 cm2/m2) yielded poor and moderate concordance with low SMI in men and women, respectively (Kappa coefficient 0.31 and 0.63). SMI (39 ± 9 vs. 43 ± 7 cm2/m2; P = 0.009) and PMI (4.4 ± 1.3 vs. 5.2 ± 1.1 cm2/m2; P = 0.001) were lower in women who died and/or were delisted (compared with non‐deceased patients) whereas men who died and/or were delisted had only lower SMI (47 ± 7 vs. 51 ± 9 cm2/m2; P = 0.003), but not PMI compared with non‐deceased patients. In women, both SMI (sHR 0.94, P = 0.048) and PMI (sHR 0.58, P = 0.002) were predictors of mortality, while in men, SMI was significant (sHR 0.95, P = 0.001) and PMI showed a trend to be (sHR 0.85, P = 0.09) associated with mortality. Overall, 104 patients (29%) were misclassified between SMI and PMI categories. Using PMI cut‐offs, 66% and 28% of low SMI men and women, who have a higher risk of mortality, were incorrectly classified as low risk.

Conclusions

Skeletal muscle index is a more complete and robust measurement than PMI, especially in men with cirrhosis. Low PMI identifies an incomplete subset of patients at increased risk of mortality indicated by low SMI. Given the poor performance of PMI, SMI should not be substituted by PMI.
Relationship Between Time of Class and Student Grades in an Active Learning Course
Authors: Marbouti Farshid , Shafaat Ali , Ulas Jale , Diefes‐Dux Heidi A.
Published: September 2018

Background

A factor related to students’ course performance that has seen limited research compared to other academic factors is the time of day a class is offered. Because of students’ chronotypes (i.e., preferred time of day to study or work), time of class can influence attendance, which has a strong correlation with students’ performance in a course.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between class time, students’ attendance including individual and average class attendance, and students’ final grades in an active learning course.

Design/Method

The grade and attendance records of 1,577 first‐year engineering (FYE) students enrolled in 15 sections at different times of the day were analyzed using Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference and Multi‐Level Modeling to identify whether the performance and attendance of students in the early morning sections were significantly different from those in the other sections and to differentiate the individual and class attendance in relation to students’ grades.

Results

Students enrolled in early morning and late Friday afternoon classes had lower attendance and final grades than students in other sections. Class average attendance had a significant relationship with students’ grades. Thus, in active learning classes, both an individual student's and classmates’ absences have a negative relationship with an individual student's grade.

Conclusion

FYE students are more likely to miss early morning classes. In a course based on active learning, this lower attendance has a negative relationship with student performance for all students in the class, including the ones who attend the class regularly, suggesting active learning may amplify the negative effects of missing classes.
A Multimodal Exploration of Engineering Students' Emotions and Electrodermal Activity in Design Activities
Authors: Villanueva Idalis , Campbell Brett D. , Raikes Adam C. , Jones Suzanne H. , Putney LeAnn G.
Published: September 2018

Background

This exploratory study uses multimodal approaches to explore undergraduate student engagement via topic emotions and electrodermal activity (EDA) in different engineering design method activities and with different instructional delivery formats (e.g., lecture vs. active learning).

Purpose/Hypothesis

The goal of this research is to improve our understanding of how students respond, via engagement, to their engineering design activities during class. This study hypothesizes that students would experience no self‐reported mean changes in topic emotions from their preassessment scores for each engineering design topic and instructional format nor would electrodermal activities (EDA) associate to these topic emotions throughout the design activities.

Design/Method

Eighty‐eight freshmen engineering students completed online pretopic and posttopic emotions surveys for five engineering design activities. A subset of 14–18 participants, the focal point of this study, wore an EDA sensor while completing the surveys and participating in these sessions.

Results

Preliminary findings suggest that EDA increased for individual and collaborative active learning activities compared to lectures. No significant changes in EDA were found between individual and collaborative active learning activities. Moderate negative correlations were found between EDA and negative topic emotions in the first engineering design activity but not across the rest. At the end of the semester, active learning activities showed higher effect sizes indicating a re‐enforcement of students' engagement in the engineering design method activities.

Conclusion

This study provides initial results showing how multimodal approaches can help researchers understand students' closer‐to‐real‐time engagement in engineering design topics and instructional delivery formats.
A statistical seasonal forecast model of North Indian Ocean tropical cyclones using the quasi‐biennial oscillation
Authors: Wahiduzzaman Md , Oliver Eric C. J. , Klotzbach Philip J. , Wotherspoon Simon J. , Holbrook Neil J.
Published: September 2018

Previous studies have shown that the skill of seasonal forecasts of tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the North Indian Ocean (NIO) tends to be poor. This paper investigates the forecast potential of TC formation, trajectories and points of landfall in the NIO region using an index of the stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) as the predictor variable in a new statistical seasonal forecast model. Genesis was modelled by kernel density estimation, tracks were fitted using a generalized additive model (GAM) approach with an Euler integration step, and landfall location was estimated using a country mask. The model was trained on 30 years of TC observations (1980–2009) from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the QBO index at lags from 0 to 6 months. Over this time period, and within each season and QBO phase, the kernel density estimator modelled the distribution of genesis points, and the cyclone trajectories were then fit by the GAM along the observed cyclone tracks as smooth functions of location. Trajectories were simulated from randomly selected genesis points in the kernel density estimates. Ensembles of cyclone paths were traced, taking account of random innovations every 6‐hr along the GAM‐fitted velocity fields, to determine the points of landfall. Lead–lag analysis was used to assess the best predictor timescales for TC forecast potential. We found that the best model utilized the QBO index with a 3‐month lead. Two hindcast validation methods were applied. First, leave‐one‐out cross‐validation was performed where the country of landfall was decided by the majority vote of the simulated tracks. Second, the distances between the landfall locations in the observations and simulations were calculated. Application of seasonal forecast analysis further indicated that including information on the state of the QBO has the potential to improve the skill of TC seasonal forecasts in the NIO region.
Clinical Feasibility of Quantitative Ultrasound Texture Analysis: A Robustness Study Using Fetal Lung Ultrasound Images
Authors: Perez‐Moreno Alvaro , Dominguez Mara , Migliorelli Federico , Gratacos Eduard , Palacio Montse , Bonet‐Carne Elisenda
Published: September 2018

Objectives

To compare the robustness of several methods based on quantitative ultrasound (US) texture analysis to evaluate its feasibility for extracting features from US images to use as a clinical diagnostic tool.

Methods

We compared, ranked, and validated the robustness of 5 texture‐based methods for extracting textural features from US images acquired under different conditions. For comparison and ranking purposes, we used 13,171 non‐US images from widely known available databases (OUTEX [University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland] and PHOTEX [Texture Lab, Heriot‐Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland]), which were specifically acquired under different controlled parameters (illumination, resolution, and rotation) from 103 textures. The robustness of those methods with better results from the non‐US images was validated by using 666 fetal lung US images acquired from singleton pregnancies. In this study, 2 similarity measurements (correlation and Chebyshev distances) were used to evaluate the repeatability of the features extracted from the same tissue images.

Results

Three of the 5 methods (gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix, local binary patterns, and rotation‐invariant local phase quantization) had favorably robust performance when using the non‐US database. In fact, these methods showed similarity values close to 0 for the acquisition variations and delineations. Results from the US database confirmed robustness for all of the evaluated methods (gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix, local binary patterns, and rotation‐invariant local phase quantization) when comparing the same texture obtained from different regions of the image (proximal/distal lungs and US machine brand stratification).

Conclusions

Our results confirmed that texture analysis can be robust (high similarity for different condition acquisitions) with potential to be included as a clinical tool.
Associations of TV Viewing Duration, Meals and Snacks Eaten When Watching TV, and a TV in the Bedroom with Child Adiposity
Authors: Collings Paul J. , Kelly Brian , West Jane , Wright John
Published: September 2018

Objective

This study aimed to examine the associations of TV parameters with adiposity in early life.

Methods

Data were collected as part of the Born in Bradford (BiB) longitudinal birth cohort study. Child TV viewing duration was parent reported, and BMI, the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and waist circumference were measured at ~12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age in 1,338 children. Mixed effects models were used to quantify adjusted associations of TV viewing duration with adiposity markers, incorporating data from all time points. Linear regression was used to investigate differences in adiposity levels across frequencies of eating meals and snacks while watching TV at age ~24 months and between children who did and did not have a TV in their bedroom at age ~36 months.

Results

Every 1 h/d of TV viewing was associated with a 0.075‐cm larger (95% CI: 0.0034‐0.15) waist circumference, independent of covariates including sleep duration, dietary factors, and physical activity level. There was no evidence for any other associations.

Conclusions

TV viewing duration is independently associated with abdominal adiposity in young children. Limiting TV viewing from an early age may be important for primary prevention of obesity.
Studying children's knowledge base of one‐sided levers as force amplifiers
Authors: Leuchter Miriam , Naber Britta
Published: September 2018

Attention to core concepts in science and engineering in early education has grown recently, and understanding levers as force amplifiers can be recognized as one of these. Previous studies focused on two‐sided levers and do not provide sufficient information about children's knowledge of levers as force amplifiers, nor about their learning and its support from an education perspective. It is important to consider load distance and force distance separately, as may be done in one‐sided levers, to understand children's knowledge of levers as “simple machines” thoroughly. Moreover, children's zone of proximal development and the possibilities to foster their knowledge should be explored to understand important features of teaching. We thus directed two studies with 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children. In study 1, we conducted a paper‐and‐pencil test in the context of wheelbarrows (N = 370; age M = 6.62). We investigated whether it is possible to empirically separate the features load, load distance, and force distance as well as to determine their level of difficulty. Our study showed that children's concepts of the three aspects load, load distance, and force distance are fragmented, with children finding it continuously more difficult to judge load, load distance, and force distance correctly. In study 2, we developed a 20‐min intervention with a controlled 2 × 2 pre‐post follow‐up design for exploring the zone of proximal development of 304 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children in the domain of one‐sided levers as force amplifiers, focusing on force distance and load distance. We implemented a structured learning environment that encouraged the children to manipulate wheelbarrows and supported them with pictures and/or verbal prompts. 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children had a higher learning gain when they were exposed to scaffolds that combined pictures and verbal prompts in the posttest as well as in the follow‐up test four weeks later compared to the control group.
An examination of the interactions between museum educators and students on a school visit to science museum
Authors: Shaby Neta , Ben‐Zvi Assaraf Orit , Tal Tali
Published: September 2018

Today, science is a major part of western culture. Discussions about the need for members of the public to access and understand scientific information are therefore well established, citing the importance of such information to responsible citizenship, democracy, socially accountable scientific research and public funding (National Research Council [2009] Learning science in informal environments: People, places, and pursuits. National Academies Press). In recent years there has been an increased interest in investigating not just what visitors to informal environments have learnt after a visit, but also how visitors interact and engage with exhibits during the visit (Davidsson & Jakobsson [2012] Understanding interactions at science centers and museums: Approaching sociocultural perspectives. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers). Within the field of school visits to science museums, however, interactions between students and museum educators (MEs) remain relatively unexplored. In our study of such school visits, we are mainly interested in the interactions that take place between three agents—the students, the museum educator and the physical setting of the exhibit. Using moment‐to‐moment fine grain analysis of multiple interactions allowed us to identify recurring patterns between students and the museum educators around exhibits, and to examine the MEs’ mediational role during the interactions, and the practices they employ to engage students with exhibits. Our study revealed that most interactions between MEs and students consist of technical explanations of how to operate the exhibits. The interactions that do move past this stage often include two main practices, which the MEs use to promote students’ engagement with the exhibits: physical instruction and engaging the students emotionally. Understanding what is actually happening in the learning process that occurs during students’ interactions with exhibits can help museum educators and exhibit designers improve the experiences of students on school visits.
Semi-inclusive back-to-back production of a hadron pair and a single hadron in e+e− annihilation
Authors: Matevosyan Hrayr H. , Kotzinian Aram , Thomas Anthony W.
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Inclusive hadron production ine+e−annihilation has long been used to study both single hadron fragmentation functions (FF) and dihadron fragmentation functions (DiFF). In particular, the polarized DiFFs can be accessed in electron-positron annihilation by measuring azimuthal correlations between two back-to-back pairs of hadrons in the center of mass system, where the relevant structure functions can be expressed as convolutions of two (polarized) DiFFs. Here we explore the advantages of measuring the inclusive back-to-back production of a single hadron on one side against a hadron pair on the opposite side of the detector in two jet events. The leading twist cross section for this process contains convolutions of the corresponding single hadron FFs on one side and the DiFFs for the hadron pair on the other side, which furnishes several interesting new opportunities. A measurement of the unpolarized cross section with a number of different types of observed hadrons will help in untangling the quark flavor dependence of the unpolarized DiFFs, when the results are analyzed together with the inclusive measurements of dihadron pairs, such as those recently performed by the BELLE collaboration. Even more interesting, with a polarized hyperon on one side we can study the quark spin-dependent DiFFs of an unpolarized hadron pair on the other side. This, in turn, will allow us to test the universality of the spin-dependent DiFFs entering the cross sections of electron-positron annihilation and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering processes.
Emergent dark matter in late time universe on holographic screen
Authors: Cai Rong-Gen , Sun Sichun , Zhang Yun-Long
Published: October 2018

Abstract

We discuss a scenario that the dark matter in late time universe emerges as part of the holographic stress-energy tensor on the hypersurface in higher dimensional flat spacetime. Firstly we construct a toy model with a de Sitter hypersurface as the holographic screen in the flat bulk. After adding the baryonic matter on the screen, we assume that both of the dark matter and dark energy can be described by the Brown-York stress-energy tensor. From the Hamiltonian constraint equation in the flat bulk, we find an interesting relation between the dark matter and baryonic matter’s energy density parameters, by comparing with the Lambda cold dark matter parameterization. We further compare this holographic embedding of emergent dark matter with traditional braneworld scenario and present an alternative interpretation as the holographic universe. It can be reduced to our toy constraint in the late time universe, with the new parameterization of the Friedmann equation. We also comment on the possible connection with Verlinde’s emergent gravity, where the dark matter is treated as the elastic response of the baryonic matter on the de Sitter spacetime background. We show that from the holographic de Sitter model with elasticity, the Tully-Fisher relation and the dark matter distribution in the galaxy scale can be derived.
Supersymmetry breaking by fluxes
Authors: Sethi Savdeep
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Type II string theory and M-theory admit flux configurations that break supersymmetry below the Kaluza-Klein scale. These backgrounds play a central role in most models of the string landscape. I argue that the behavior of such backgrounds at weak coupling is generically a rolling solution, not a static space-time. Quantum corrections to the space-time potential are computed around this classical time-dependent background. This is particularly important for non-perturbative corrections. This change in perspective offers an explanation for why there appear to be many effective field theory models that seemingly evade the known no-go theorems forbidding de Sitter space-times. This has interesting implications for type IIB string landscape models.
Gravity, scale invariance and the hierarchy problem
Authors: Shaposhnikov Mikhail , Shkerin Andrey
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Combining the quantum scale invariance with the absence of new degrees of freedom above the electroweak scale leads to stability of the latter against perturbative quantum corrections. Nevertheless, the hierarchy between the weak and the Planck scales remains unexplained. We argue that this hierarchy can be generated by a non-perturbative effect relating the low energy and the Planck-scale physics. The effect is manifested in the existence of an instanton configuration contributing to the vacuum expectation value of the Higgs field. We analyze such configurations in several toy models and in a phenomenologically viable theory encompassing the Standard Model and General Relativity in a scale-invariant way. Dynamical gravity and a non-minimal coupling of it to the Higgs field play a crucial role in the mechanism.
Protective effects of quercetin against brain injury in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide‐induced fetal brain injury
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Cong
Published: September 2018

Maternal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin produced during infection, leads to disruption in fetal brain development and causes newborn brain injury. Quercetin (QR) is a multipotent flavonoid that functions as an antioxidant and protects against inflammation and neurodegeneration. In this study, we explored the potential functions of QR in alleviating maternal LPS exposure induced fetal brain damage. Pregnant rats at late gestational stages were treated with saline, LPS, QR, LPS and QR. Brain injury biomarker TGF‐1β was assessed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue of newborn rats. Pro‐inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis markers and oxidative stress indicators were evaluated. We found that LPS treatment induced an increased production of TGF‐1β which was suppressed by QR administration. LPS enhanced pro‐apoptotic Bax and inhibited anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 expression. QR reduced that ratio of Bax and Bcl‐2 that was high in LPS treated brain tissue. Additionally, QR suppressed oxidative stress induced by LPS. Finally, QR reduced the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines that were produced as a result of LPS exposure. In summary, our study indicates that QR potently alleviates maternal LPS exposure induced fetal brain injury in rats, making it a potential therapeutic for suppressing infant brain damage as a result of maternal infection.
PIGS AND PLAQUES: CONSIDERING RM. 714 IN LIGHT OF COMPARATIVE ARTISTIC AND TEXTUAL SOURCES
Authors: Konstantopoulos Gina
Published: October 2018

Rm. 714, a first millenniumb.c.e.tablet in the collections of the British Museum, is remarkable for the fine carving of a striding pig in high relief on its obverse. Purchased by Hormuzd Rassam in Baghdad in 1877, it lacks archaeological context and must be considered in light of other textual and artistic references to pigs, the closest parallel being a sow and her piglets seen in the reliefs of Court VI from Sennacherib's palace at Nineveh. Unlike depictions of pigs on later cylinder seals, where they are often shown as a dangerous quarry in hunting scenes, Rm. 714's pig appears in a more neutral, non-aggressive posture, similar to the sow in the Assyrian reliefs. Although Rm. 714's highly curved reverse would inhibit its use as a mounted or otherwise easily displayed object, the tablet may still have served as an apotropaic object or sculptor's model, among other potential functions.
Active drag reduction of a high-drag Ahmed body based on steady blowing
Authors: Zhang B. F. , Liu K. , Zhou Y. , To S. , Tu J. Y.
Published: October 2018

Active drag reduction of an Ahmed body with a slant angle of $25^{\circ }$, corresponding to the high-drag regime, has been experimentally investigated at Reynolds number $Re=1.7\times 10^{5}$, based on the square root of the model cross-sectional area. Four individual actuations, produced by steady blowing, are applied separately around the edges of the rear window and vertical base, producing a drag reduction of up to 6–14 %. However, the combination of the individual actuations results in a drag reduction 29 %, higher than any previous drag reductions achieved experimentally and very close to the target (30 %) set by automotive industries. Extensive flow measurements are performed, with and without control, using force balance, pressure scanner, hot-wire, flow visualization and particle image velocimetry techniques. A marked change in the flow structure is captured in the wake of the body under control, including the flow separation bubbles, over the rear window or behind the vertical base, and the pair of C-pillar vortices at the two side edges of the rear window. The change is linked to the pressure rise on the slanted surface and the base. The mechanisms behind the effective control are proposed. The control efficiency is also estimated.
BEHIND HARTKER’S ANTIPHONER: NEGLECTED FRAGMENTS OF THE EARLIEST SANKT GALLEN TONARY
Authors: Parkes Henry
Published: October 2018

Prior to the famous Hartker Antiphoner (Sankt Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. 390/391), copied in Sankt Gallenc.1000, there survives no complete, fully-notated witness to the Romano-Frankish chant repertory for the Office. Scholars have long known about the related tonary, possibly a decade older, in which the Sankt Gallen repertory is to be found ordered by melody. But unrecognised until now are the remains of a second tonary (Stadtarchiv Goslar, Handschriftenfragmente MThMu 1/1), datable to the early tenth century. The combined testimony of these two tonaries, together with other surviving fragments, is taken as the basis for a reassessment of the Office repertory in tenth-century Sankt Gallen. Nineteenth-century scholarship gave Hartker’s Antiphoner an arguably undeserved reputation as an authorised monument of Gregorian Chant. This view seems unsustainable in the light of many apparent editorial interventions, yet it may be precisely what the monks had set out to achieve.
On Two Interpretations of the Desire-Satisfaction Theory of Prudential Value
Authors: VAN WEELDEN JOSEPH
Published: October 2018

This article considers two different ways of formulating a desire-satisfaction theory of prudential value. The first version of the theory (the object view) assigns basic prudential value to the state of affairs that is the object of a person's desire. The second version (the combo view) assigns basic prudential value to the compound state of affairs in which (a) a person desires some state of affairs and (b) this state of affairs obtains. My aims in this article are twofold. First, I aim to highlight that these are not mere notational variants, but in fact have quite different implications, so that this distinction is not one that the theorist of prudential value should ignore. More positively, I argue that the object view is better able to capture what is distinctive and appealing about subjective theories of prudential value, on any plausible account of what the central subjectivist insight is.
Models to represent linguistic linked data
Authors: BOSQUE-GIL J. , GRACIA J. , MONTIEL-PONSODA E. , GÓMEZ-PÉREZ A.
Published: October 2018

As the interest of the Semantic Web and computational linguistics communities in linguistic linked data (LLD) keeps increasing and the number of contributions that dwell on LLD rapidly grows, scholars (and linguists in particular) interested in the development of LLD resources sometimes find it difficult to determine which mechanism is suitable for their needs and which challenges have already been addressed. This review seeks to present the state of the art on the models, ontologies and their extensions to represent language resources as LLD by focusing on the nature of the linguistic content they aim to encode. Four basic groups of models are distinguished in this work: models to represent the main elements of lexical resources (group 1), vocabularies developed as extensions to models in group 1 and ontologies that provide more granularity on specific levels of linguistic analysis (group 2), catalogues of linguistic data categories (group 3) and other models such as corpora models or service-oriented ones (group 4). Contributions encompassed in these four groups are described, highlighting their reuse by the community and the modelling challenges that are still to be faced.
The role of acetyltransferases for the temporal-specific accessibility of β-catenin to the myogenic gene locus
Authors: Suzuki Akiko , Minamide Ryohei , Iwata Junichi
Published: October 2018

Molecules involved in WNT/β-catenin signaling show spatiotemporal-specific expression and play vital roles in muscle development. Our previous study showed that WNT/β-catenin signaling promotes myoblast proliferation and differentiation through the regulation of the cyclin A2 (Ccna2)/cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25c) and Fermitin family homolog 2 (Fermt2) genes, respectively. However, it remains unclear how β-catenin targets different genes from stage to stage during myogenesis. Here, we show that the accessibility of β-catenin to the promoter region of its target genes is regulated by developmental stage-specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs), lysine acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B), and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP). We found that KAT2B was specifically expressed at the myoblast proliferation stage and formed a complex with β-catenin to induce Ccna2/Cdc25c expression. On the other hand, CBP was specifically expressed during myoblast differentiation and formed a complex with β-catenin to induce Fermt2 expression. Our findings indicate that β-catenin efficiently accesses to its target gene’s promoters by forming a complex with developmental stage-specific acetyltransferases during myogenesis.
High-frequency pulsed electron–electron double resonance spectroscopy on DNA duplexes using trityl tags and shaped microwave pulses
Authors: Kuzhelev A. , Akhmetzyanov D. , Denysenkov V. , Shevelev G. , Krumkacheva O. , Bagryanskaya E. , Prisner T.
Published: October 2018

Distances between trityl spin labels attached to DNA duplexes were determined by 180 GHz and 260 GHz PELDOR spectroscopy applying broadband pump pulse at higher frequency.
Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular carboborylation of 1,3-diene and synthesis of ABCD ring of communesins
Authors: Tsukano Chihiro , Nakajima Motoyuki , Hande Sudhir M. , Takemoto Yoshiji
Published: October 2018

A palladium-catalyzed intramolecular carboborylation of 1,3-diene has been developed for the synthesis of iminoindolines with a quaternary carbon centre.
Cholesterol-based diazine derivative: selective sensing of Ag+ and Fe3+ ions through gelation and the performance of metallogels in dye and picric acid adsorption from water
Authors: Panja Atanu , Ghosh Kumaresh
Published: October 2018

Cholesterol-linked diazine 1 forms nice gels with Ag+ and Fe3+ ions over a series of other metal ions from CHCl3/CH3OH (3 : 1, v/v). As an application, both the Ag+- and Fe3+-gels of 1 show excellent adsorption of uranine dye and picric acid from aqueous solution.
A closer look at the transition between fully convective and partly radiative low-mass stars
Authors: Baraffe Isabelle , Chabrier Gilles
Published: September 2018

Recently, an analysis of Gaia Data Release 2 revealed a gap in the mid-M dwarf main sequence. The authors suggested the feature is linked to the onset of full convection in M dwarfs. Following the announcement of this discovery, an explanation has been proposed based on standard stellar evolution models. In this paper we re-examine this explanation. We confirm that nuclear burning and mixing processes of 3He provide the best explanation for the observed feature. We also find that a change in the energy transport from convection to radiation does not induce structural changes that could be visible. Regarding the very details of the process, however, we disagree with the details of the published explanation and propose an alternative.
A multidisciplinary approach to the spatial dimension in ecosystem-based fisheries management
Authors: Le Floc'h Pascal , Bertignac Michel , Curtil Olivier , Macher Claire , Mariat-Roy Emilie , Paulet Yves-Marie
Published: October 2018

This study considers how to reconcile different spatial scales to find the best common denominator to be used as an ecosystem-based management unit. For this, two fishery production zones differing ecologically, economically, legally and institutionally were investigated. The first case study is located within French territorial waters, in a MPA created in 2007- the Parc Naturel Marin d'Iroise (PNMI). The second case study, the Bay of Biscay, covers both territorial waters and the French exclusive economic zone. The paper adopts a multidisciplinary approach. Relevant questions concern how marine space is shared between exploited species and fishing fleets, especially the spatial mobility strategies they employ. An assessment of the institutional system established for the PNMI contributes to the discussion of changes in coastal space use. It is obvious that the area in need of protection, defined on the basis of essential fish habitats, does not solely concern the fisheries located within the coastal zone. Experiments conducted by scientists and professionals in the Bay of Biscay provide other key points for the discussion in terms of what institutional frameworks to promote.
Chronische mesenteriale Ischämie
Authors: Heiss Christian
Published: October 2018

Was ist neu?

Definition und Ursachen Der chronischen mesenterialen Ischämie (CMI) liegen Stenosen oder Verschlüsse des Truncus coeliacus, der A. mesenteria superior oder inferior zugrunde. Die häufigste Ursache ist die Atherosklerose (> 90 %), aber auch eine fibromuskuläre Dysplasie oder Vaskulitis. Endsprechend sind die Risikofaktoren Rauchen, arterielle Hypertonie, Dyslipidämie und hohes Lebensalter. Frauen sind häufiger betroffen als Männer.

Epidemiologie Die symptomatische CMI ist relativ selten (5 % aller ischämischen intestinalen Ereignisse). Die Prävalenz der asymptomatischen CMI ist nicht gut untersucht, scheint aber bei Erwachsenen im Bereich von 14 – 15 % zu liegen und ist häufiger bei der peripheren arteriellen Verschlusskrankheit (27 %) oder dem abdominellem Aortenaneurysma (40 %). Am häufigsten ist der Truncus coeliacus betroffen.

Diagnosestellung Nahrungsabhängige Beschwerden zusammen mit Unterernährung, aber erhaltenem Appetit und ein abdominelles Strömungsgeräusch können wichtige klinische Hinweise auf eine CMI sein, die zur Durchführung einer Duplex-Ultraschalluntersuchung und funktionellen Untersuchungen in einem spezialisierten Zentrum führen sollten. Zur Planung des weiteren Vorgehens kann eine CT-Angiografie notwendig sein.

Therapie Die Therapie der Wahl einer symptomatischen CMI, insbesondere bei Mehrgefäßerkrankung, ist die Revaskularisation. In den meisten Fällen wird aufgrund niedriger postinterventioneller Letalität bei meist multimorbiden Patienten und ausgezeichneter klinischer und technischer Erfolgsrate dem endovaskulären Vorgehen der Vorzug gegeben.

Sekundärprophylaxe Wie bei der koronaren Herzerkrankung und der peripheren arteriellen Verschlusskrankheit sollten bei Patienten mit Atherosklerose der Mesenterial-Arterien Lebensstilmodifikation und optimale medikamentöse Therapie mit Statinen und Aspirin zur Risikoreduktion eingesetzt werden, ohne dass jedoch Studien in diesem Patientenkollektiv existieren. Nach Revaskularisation ist Plättchen-Hemmung indiziert.
Qualitätsmerkmale und Verbreitungsgrad behandlungsbegleitender Sporttherapie bei pädiatrisch-onkologischen Erkrankungen in Deutschland
Authors: Söntgerath Regine , Freier Stefanie , Wulftange Markus , Eckert Katharina
Published: October 2018

Hintergrund Bewegungs- und Sporttherapie während der Behandlung und Nachsorge einer pädiatrischen Krebserkrankung haben großes Potenzial zur Verminderung von Nebenwirkungen und Spätfolgen der Behandlung. Der Verbreitungsgrad ist bislang jedoch gering. Ziel der Untersuchung ist die Erfassung entsprechender Angebote im klinischen Setting in Deutschland und die Überprüfung deren Qualitäts- und Strukturmerkmale.

Methode 54 Kliniken mit pädiatrischer Onkologie wurden zur Existenz behandlungsbegleitender Sporttherapie sowie deren Qualitäts- und Strukturmerkmalen in Anlehnung an die DIN EN 15 224:2012 und weitere Merkmale der Strukturqualität befragt.

Ergebnisse 48 Kliniken nahmen an der Befragung teil (Rücklaufquote 89 %). 9 (19 %) der teilnehmenden Kliniken verfügen über ein sporttherapeutisches Angebot im Rahmen der Behandlung und/oder Nachsorge, 39 (81 %) taten dies zum Zeitpunkt der Befragung nicht. Die Sporttherapie stellt bei den jeweiligen Kliniken einen festen Bestandteil der Versorgung dar. Qualifizierung des Personals, räumliche Bedingungen und Ausstattung mit Geräten erscheinen angemessen. Die Finanzierung wird hauptsächlich über Spenden und Drittmittel realisiert.

Schlussfolgerungen Ein Großteil der an Krebs erkrankten Kinder und Jugendlichen in Deutschland hat im Rahmen der Behandlung und Nachsorge keinen Zugang zu speziellen Bewegungsangeboten. Die wissenschaftliche Fundierung der Maßnahme und die Vernetzung unter den Akteuren befinden sich im Aufbau, bislang fehlt jedoch ein Trainingsmanual für die pädiatrische Onkologie im deutschsprachigen Raum sowie eine einheitliche Finanzierungsmöglichkeit der Maßnahme über die Kostenträger.
Herzinsuffizienz behandeln mit Traditioneller Chinesischer Medizin
Authors: Hempen Moritz
Published: October 2018

Patienten mit Herzinsuffizienz haben ein um bis zu 40% erhöhtes Risiko, im ersten Jahr nach Diagnosestellung zu versterben. Entscheidend für die Überlebenschancen ist die Pumpleistung des Herzens. Die Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin kann mit Akupunktur und Phytotherapie die Beschwerden der Patienten und die Pumpleistung des Herzens entscheidend verbessern – auch in Fällen, in denen die westliche Medizin bereits an ihre Grenzen gestoßen ist. Die Effektivität der TCM ist wissenschaftlich gut belegt. Vor allem die Verabreichung von Aconitiradixlateralispraeparata, Astragaliradix und Salvia miltiorrhizaeradix verbesserte in Studien Symptomatik und Pumpleistung betroffener Patienten.
Nervenkompressionssyndrome bei Musikern
Authors: Jabusch H.-C. , Altenmüller E.
Published: October 2018

Nervenkompressionssyndrome bei Musikern sind in der Musikerambulanz häufige Krankheitsbilder. Ungünstige Instrumentenergonomie und dysfunktionale Haltungen, lange Übezeiten und psychologische Stressfaktoren tragen zur hohen Prävalenz bei.

Die klassischen Nervenkompressionssyndrome, das Karpaltunnelsyndrom und die Ulnaris-Neuropathie, sind oft durch ungünstige Handgelenks- und Ellbogenhaltungen verursacht und können gut konservativ durch Haltungsumstellungen behandelt werden. Auch das Thoracic-Outlet-Syndrome kann meist konservativ mit ergonomischen Maßnahmen, z. B. Rucksackgurten ausheilen. Seltener treten das Pronator-Teres-Syndrom und das Interosseus-Anterior-Syndrom sowie die digitalen Kompressionssyndrome auf.

Die meisten Nervenkompressionssyndrome können klinisch leicht erkannt werden, wenn die Untersuchung am Instrument erfolgt und die spezifische Haltearbeit sowie mechanische Kompression analysiert wird. Die Diagnose kann durch Nervenleitgeschwindigkeits-messungen und durch die Neurosonographie gesichert werden, wobei in der sehr sensiblen Patientengruppe häufig die Symptome im Frühstadium elektrophysiologisch nicht objektiviert werden können.
Burnout und/oder Depression?
Authors: Beschoner P.
Published: October 2018

Burnout hat sich in Deutschland im klinischen Alltag etabliert, obwohl es sich nach ICD-10 lediglich um eine Zusatzdiagnose handelt und es keine allgemein gültigen Behandlungsempfehlungen gibt. Seit Jahren wird die Sinnhaftigkeit des Konstruktes „Burnout” in der Medizin diskutiert. Eine Reihe von Studien der vergangenen Jahre beschäftigte sich mit den Überschneidungen von Burnout und Depression, ohne jedoch zu einem konstruktiven Umgang mit Burnout zu gelangen. Der Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die Überschneidungen von Burnout und Depression hinsichtlich ihrer Konzepte und der bekannten neurobiologischen Mechanismen sowie über die Erkenntnisse aus Studien zur Überlappung der beiden Konstrukte. Abschließend erfolgt ein kurzer Ausblick auf mögliche künftige Forschungsansätze zur besseren Differenzierung und Therapiespezifizierung bei Burnout und Depression im Sinne der RDoC-Initiative.
Encoding and selecting coarse-grain mapping operators with hierarchical graphs
Authors: Chakraborty Maghesree , Xu Chenliang , White Andrew D.
Published: October 2018

Coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) can simulate systems inaccessible to fine-grained (FG) MD simulations. A CG simulation decreases the degrees of freedom by mapping atoms from an FG representation into agglomerate CG particles. The FG to CG mapping is not unique. Research into systematic selection of these mappings is challenging due to their combinatorial growth with respect to the number of atoms in a molecule. Here we present a method of reducing the total count of mappings by imposing molecular topology and symmetry constraints. The count reduction is illustrated by considering all mappings for nearly 50 000 molecules. The resulting number of mapping operators is still large, so we introduce a novel hierarchical graphical approach which encodes multiple CG mapping operators. The encoding method is demonstrated for methanol and a 14-mer peptide. With the test cases, we show how the encoding can be used for automated selection of reasonable CG mapping operators.
Wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy based on picosecond supercontinuum source
Authors: Shen Yujie , Wang Jizhou , Wang Kai , Sokolov Alexei V. , Scully Marlan O.
Published: October 2018

We present a wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy setup based on picosecond-laser-pumped supercontinuum and use it to demonstrate video-rate imaging with chemical specificity. The broadband excitation allows simultaneous imaging of a wide range of Raman modes, and chemically selective imaging is achieved by applying filters corresponding to the anti-Stokes Raman bands.
Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent Couette-Poiseuille flow with a rod-roughened wall
Authors: Lee Young Mo , Kim Jung Hoon , Lee Jae Hwa
Published: October 2018

A direct numerical simulation of a fully developed turbulent Couette-Poiseuille flow with a rod-roughened wall is performed to investigate the impact of the surface roughness on the flow characteristics compared to the influence of the roughness on a turbulent Poiseuille flow. Transverse rods are periodically arranged on the bottom wall with a streamwise pitch of p = 8k. The roughness height is k = 0.12h, where h is the channel half-height. The mean velocity profile shows that the logarithmic layer of a turbulent Couette-Poiseuille flow is significantly shortened by surface roughness, although that of a turbulent Poiseuille flow with surface roughness is increased. In addition, the Reynolds stresses for the Couette-Poiseuille flow with rod roughness are decreased in the outer layer, contrary to the observation of a turbulent Poiseuille flow with rod roughness. The decomposition of the Reynolds stresses into small- and large-scale motions confirms that the large-scale features dominantly contribute to the decrease of the Reynolds stresses in the outer layer. Although a large-scale counter-rotating roll mode is observed through temporally averaged streamwise fluctuating structures, the roll mode for the Couette-Poiseuille flow over a rough wall is significantly inhibited by the surface roughness due to weakened high- and low-streaky patterns near the centerline. The energy spectrum of the streamwise velocity fluctuations shows that the surface roughness contributes mainly to organizing the entire flow field; thus, the large-scale features observed in a turbulent Couette-Poiseuille flow are significantly suppressed with little interaction between the inner and outer layers.
Characterization of Occupational Exposures to Respirable Silica and Dust in Demolition, Crushing, and Chipping Activities
Authors: Bello Anila , Mugford Christopher , Murray Amanda , Shepherd Susan , Woskie Susan R
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Exposures to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and respirable dust (RD) were investigated during demolition, crushing, and chipping at several Massachusetts construction sites.

Methods

Personal breathing zone samples (n = 51) were collected on operating engineers working at demolition and crushing sites, laborers performing miscellaneous tasks at demolition sites, crushing machine tenders at crushing sites, and chipping workers at substructure bridge repair sites. Area samples (n = 33) were collected at the perimeter of demolition and crushing sites to assess potential bystanders’ exposures. Exposures ‘with’ and ‘without’ the use of dust suppression methods were compared when possible. RD samples were analyzed for crystalline silica content with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FT-IR) according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7602. Statistical analyses of the exposure data were performed in SAS version 9.4.

Results

Chipping workers had the highest exposure levels [the geometric mean (GM) time-weighted average (TWA) for RCS was 527 µg/m3 and the GM for RD was 4750 µg/m3]. The next highest exposures were among crushing machine tenders (RCS GM of 93.3 µg/m3 and RD GM of 737.6 µg/m3), while laborers and operating engineers had the lowest exposures (RCS GM of 17.0 and 6.2 µg/m3, respectively). Personal 8-h TWA RCS exposures were higher than the new OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3 for 80% of samples collected on chipping workers (n = 31) and 50% of samples collected on crushing machine tenders (n = 8). Operating engineers (n = 9) and laborers (n = 3) had RCS exposures lower than OSHA PEL. The highest concentrations measured would have exceeded the PEL within 15 min chipping and within 2 h of crushing with no further exposure. Chipping workers’ RCS exposures were higher than OSHA PEL even when they were adjusted to account for the assigned protection factor of the half-face N95 cartridge respirators used during chipping. Exposures of crushing tenders were reduced to levels under the OSHA PEL when a water spraying system in crushing machines was utilized, but not when a water cannon machine was used. Area samples at demolition and crushing sites indicate overall lower exposures than the PEL, however, bystander workers at crushing sites could be exposed to higher levels compared to demolition sites. Real-time dust monitoring during demolition indicate very high short-term peak exposures.

Conclusions

Controlling or reducing crystalline silica exposures to levels under the new OSHA PEL of 50 µg/m3 remains challenging for chipping workers and crushing machine tenders. Even with the use of dust suppression controls, respiratory protection may be required for various tasks.